the GPS can be toggled by exploiting a bug in the power manager widget. see this xda thread for discussion.
here's some example code i use
private void turnGPSOn(){
String provider = Settings.Secure.getString(getContentResolver(), Settings.Secure.LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED);
if(!provider.contains("gps")){ //if gps is disabled
final Intent poke = new Intent();
poke.setClassName("com.android.settings", "com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider");
poke.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_ALTERNATIVE);
poke.setData(Uri.parse("3"));
sendBroadcast(poke);
}
}
private void turnGPSOff(){
String provider = Settings.Secure.getString(getContentResolver(), Settings.Secure.LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED);
if(provider.contains("gps")){ //if gps is enabled
final Intent poke = new Intent();
poke.setClassName("com.android.settings", "com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider");
poke.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_ALTERNATIVE);
poke.setData(Uri.parse("3"));
sendBroadcast(poke);
}
}
use the following to test if the existing version of the power control widget is one which will allow you to toggle the gps.
private boolean canToggleGPS() {
PackageManager pacman = getPackageManager();
PackageInfo pacInfo = null;
try {
pacInfo = pacman.getPackageInfo("com.android.settings", PackageManager.GET_RECEIVERS);
} catch (NameNotFoundException e) {
return false; //package not found
}
if(pacInfo != null){
for(ActivityInfo actInfo : pacInfo.receivers){
//test if recevier is exported. if so, we can toggle GPS.
if(actInfo.name.equals("com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider") && actInfo.exported){
return true;
}
}
}
return false; //default
}
Answer from Ben H on Stack OverflowVideos
What’s the difference between GPS and GPS on Android?
How do I use GPS on Android phone for offline maps?
What is GPS on an Android phone, and how does it work?
the GPS can be toggled by exploiting a bug in the power manager widget. see this xda thread for discussion.
here's some example code i use
private void turnGPSOn(){
String provider = Settings.Secure.getString(getContentResolver(), Settings.Secure.LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED);
if(!provider.contains("gps")){ //if gps is disabled
final Intent poke = new Intent();
poke.setClassName("com.android.settings", "com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider");
poke.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_ALTERNATIVE);
poke.setData(Uri.parse("3"));
sendBroadcast(poke);
}
}
private void turnGPSOff(){
String provider = Settings.Secure.getString(getContentResolver(), Settings.Secure.LOCATION_PROVIDERS_ALLOWED);
if(provider.contains("gps")){ //if gps is enabled
final Intent poke = new Intent();
poke.setClassName("com.android.settings", "com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider");
poke.addCategory(Intent.CATEGORY_ALTERNATIVE);
poke.setData(Uri.parse("3"));
sendBroadcast(poke);
}
}
use the following to test if the existing version of the power control widget is one which will allow you to toggle the gps.
private boolean canToggleGPS() {
PackageManager pacman = getPackageManager();
PackageInfo pacInfo = null;
try {
pacInfo = pacman.getPackageInfo("com.android.settings", PackageManager.GET_RECEIVERS);
} catch (NameNotFoundException e) {
return false; //package not found
}
if(pacInfo != null){
for(ActivityInfo actInfo : pacInfo.receivers){
//test if recevier is exported. if so, we can toggle GPS.
if(actInfo.name.equals("com.android.settings.widget.SettingsAppWidgetProvider") && actInfo.exported){
return true;
}
}
}
return false; //default
}
All these answers are not allowed now. Here is the correct one:
For all those still looking for the Answer:
Here is how OLA Cabs and other such apps are doing it.
Add this in your onCreate
if (googleApiClient == null) {
googleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(this)
.addApi(LocationServices.API).addConnectionCallbacks(this)
.addOnConnectionFailedListener(Login.this).build();
googleApiClient.connect();
LocationRequest locationRequest = LocationRequest.create();
locationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
locationRequest.setInterval(30 * 1000);
locationRequest.setFastestInterval(5 * 1000);
LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest.Builder()
.addLocationRequest(locationRequest);
// **************************
builder.setAlwaysShow(true); // this is the key ingredient
// **************************
PendingResult<LocationSettingsResult> result = LocationServices.SettingsApi
.checkLocationSettings(googleApiClient, builder.build());
result.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<LocationSettingsResult>() {
@Override
public void onResult(LocationSettingsResult result) {
final Status status = result.getStatus();
final LocationSettingsStates state = result
.getLocationSettingsStates();
switch (status.getStatusCode()) {
case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SUCCESS:
// All location settings are satisfied. The client can
// initialize location
// requests here.
break;
case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.RESOLUTION_REQUIRED:
// Location settings are not satisfied. But could be
// fixed by showing the user
// a dialog.
try {
// Show the dialog by calling
// startResolutionForResult(),
// and check the result in onActivityResult().
status.startResolutionForResult(Login.this, 1000);
} catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
// Ignore the error.
}
break;
case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.SETTINGS_CHANGE_UNAVAILABLE:
// Location settings are not satisfied. However, we have
// no way to fix the
// settings so we won't show the dialog.
break;
}
}
});
}
These are the implmented methods:
@Override
public void onConnected(Bundle arg0) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
}
@Override
public void onConnectionSuspended(int arg0) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
}
@Override
public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult arg0) {
// TODO Auto-generated method stub
}
Here is the Android Documentation for the same.
This is to help other guys if they are still struggling:
Edit: Adding Irfan Raza's comment for more help.
@Override protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (requestCode == 1000) {
if(resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK){
String result=data.getStringExtra("result");
} if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_CANCELED) {
//Write your code if there's no result
}
}
}
No, it's impossible, and inappropriate. You can't just manage the user's phone without their authority. The user must interact to enable GPS.
From Play Store:
"Cerberus automatically enables GPS if it is off when you try to localize your device (only on Android < 2.3.3) and you can protect it from unauthorized uninstalling - more info in the app configuration."
You can do something like this:
startActivity(new Intent(android.provider.Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS));
I think we have more better version to enable the location without opening the settings just like google map works.
It will looks like this -

Add Dependency in gradle - compile 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:10.0.1'
public class MapActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
protected static final String TAG = "LocationOnOff";
private GoogleApiClient googleApiClient;
final static int REQUEST_LOCATION = 199;
@Override
protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
this.setFinishOnTouchOutside(true);
// Todo Location Already on ... start
final LocationManager manager = (LocationManager) MapActivity.this.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
if (manager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER) && hasGPSDevice(MapActivity.this)) {
Toast.makeText(MapActivity.this,"Gps already enabled",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
// Todo Location Already on ... end
if(!hasGPSDevice(MapActivity.this)){
Toast.makeText(MapActivity.this,"Gps not Supported",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
if (!manager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER) && hasGPSDevice(MapActivity.this)) {
Log.e("TAG","Gps already enabled");
Toast.makeText(MapActivity.this,"Gps not enabled",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
enableLoc();
}else{
Log.e("TAG","Gps already enabled");
Toast.makeText(MapActivity.this,"Gps already enabled",Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
}
}
private boolean hasGPSDevice(Context context) {
final LocationManager mgr = (LocationManager) context
.getSystemService(Context.LOCATION_SERVICE);
if (mgr == null)
return false;
final List<String> providers = mgr.getAllProviders();
if (providers == null)
return false;
return providers.contains(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
}
private void enableLoc() {
if (googleApiClient == null) {
googleApiClient = new GoogleApiClient.Builder(MapActivity.this)
.addApi(LocationServices.API)
.addConnectionCallbacks(new GoogleApiClient.ConnectionCallbacks() {
@Override
public void onConnected(Bundle bundle) {
}
@Override
public void onConnectionSuspended(int i) {
googleApiClient.connect();
}
})
.addOnConnectionFailedListener(new GoogleApiClient.OnConnectionFailedListener() {
@Override
public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult connectionResult) {
Log.d("Location error","Location error " + connectionResult.getErrorCode());
}
}).build();
googleApiClient.connect();
}
LocationRequest locationRequest = LocationRequest.create();
locationRequest.setPriority(LocationRequest.PRIORITY_HIGH_ACCURACY);
locationRequest.setInterval(30 * 1000);
locationRequest.setFastestInterval(5 * 1000);
LocationSettingsRequest.Builder builder = new LocationSettingsRequest.Builder()
.addLocationRequest(locationRequest);
builder.setAlwaysShow(true);
PendingResult<LocationSettingsResult> result =
LocationServices.SettingsApi.checkLocationSettings(googleApiClient, builder.build());
result.setResultCallback(new ResultCallback<LocationSettingsResult>() {
@Override
public void onResult(LocationSettingsResult result) {
final Status status = result.getStatus();
switch (status.getStatusCode()) {
case LocationSettingsStatusCodes.RESOLUTION_REQUIRED:
try {
// Show the dialog by calling startResolutionForResult(),
// and check the result in onActivityResult().
status.startResolutionForResult(MapActivity.this, REQUEST_LOCATION);
} catch (IntentSender.SendIntentException e) {
// Ignore the error.
}
break;
}
}
});
}
}
Implement LocationListener :
@Override
public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {
}
@Override
public void onStatusChanged(String provider, int status, Bundle extras) {
}
@Override
public void onProviderEnabled(String provider) {
}
@Override
public void onProviderDisabled(String provider)
{
if (provider.equals(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER))
{
showGPSDiabledDialog();
}
}
Show dialog to open Settings:
public void showGPSDiabledDialog() {
AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(this);
builder.setTitle("GPS Disabled");
builder.setMessage("Gps is disabled, in order to use the application properly you need to enable GPS of your device");
builder.setPositiveButton("Enable GPS", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
startActivityForResult(new Intent(android.provider.Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS), GPS_ENABLE_REQUEST);
}
}).setNegativeButton("No, Just Exit", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
@Override
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
}
});
mGPSDialog = builder.create();
mGPSDialog.show();
}
In your onCreate Method call :
LocationManager mLocationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(LOCATION_SERVICE);
if (ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED && ActivityCompat.checkSelfPermission(this, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION) != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
return;
}
mLocationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 0, 0, this);
And override onActivityResult method to test if the user activated GPS correctly.
@Override
protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
if (requestCode == GPS_ENABLE_REQUEST) {
if (mLocationManager == null) {
mLocationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(LOCATION_SERVICE);
}
if (!mLocationManager.isProviderEnabled(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER)) {
showGPSDiabledDialog();
}
} else {
super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);
}
}
Full example :
/**
* Function to check if best network provider
* @return boolean
* */
public boolean canGetLocation() {
return this.canGetLocation;
}
/**
* Function to show settings alert dialog
* */
public void showSettingsAlert(){
AlertDialog.Builder alertDialog = new AlertDialog.Builder(mContext);
// Setting Dialog Title
alertDialog.setTitle("GPS is settings");
// Setting Dialog Message
alertDialog.setMessage("GPS is not enabled. Do you want to go to settings menu?");
// Setting Icon to Dialog
//alertDialog.setIcon(R.drawable.delete);
// On pressing Settings button
alertDialog.setPositiveButton("Settings", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog,int which) {
Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_LOCATION_SOURCE_SETTINGS);
mContext.startActivity(intent);
}
});
// on pressing cancel button
alertDialog.setNegativeButton("Cancel", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() {
public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) {
dialog.cancel();
}
});
// Showing Alert Message
alertDialog.show();
}
Here is the doc : http://www.androidhive.info/2012/07/android-gps-location-manager-tutorial/ (copied point 7)