List Wifi without enabling location service - android

While developing an app where I scan the WiFi, I found that it does not work if I turn off the location service on my phone. I have provided the app with all the necessary permissions. - ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION.
This is my code:
WifiManager manager= (WifiManager) getApplicationContext().getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
manager.startScan();
In the receiver:
int found = manager.getScanResults().size();
This question answers part of the problem.
Wifi scan results broadcast receiver not working
My questions are:
Is there a way for the app to list the Wifi access points if the location service is turned off?
If location service is absolutely necessary, is there a way for the app to turn on the location service while the app scans the wifi access points?

The only way to get the scanResult without GPS turned on is to set the app's targetSDKversion to 21 or lower.
This will work even on Lolipop and above.

Android 8.0 and Android 8.1:
A successful call to WifiManager.getScanResults() requires any one of the following permissions:
ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION
ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION
CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
If the calling app does not have any of these permissions, the call fails with a SecurityException.
Android 9 and later:
A successful call to WifiManager.startScan() requires all of the following conditions to be met:
Your app has the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission.
Your app has the CHANGE_WIFI_STATE permission.
Location services are enabled on the device (under Settings > Location).
To successfully call WifiManager.getScanResults() ensure all of the following conditions are met:
Your app has the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission.
Your app has the ACCESS_WIFI_STATE permission.
Location services are enabled on the device (under Settings > Location).
If the calling app doesn't meet all of these requirements, the call fails with a SecurityException.
This is from https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/connectivity/wifi-scan Google Documentation.
Probably they needed the "Location services are enabled on the device" requirement for Android 6.+ because it is the version this permission restrictions first revealed, but they don't seem to had this requirement in documentations since no one has answered this question until now.

Is there a way for the app to list the Wifi access points if the
location service is turned off?
Yes, only system apps can get scan results without the location with the following permission:
android.permission.PEERS_MAC_ADDRESS
permission

Related

Why do I get "requesting permission to use WLAN. Allow?" prompt window in real mobile phone?

I use the Code A to set the enabled status of WiFi, it works well when I use Android Emulator with both API 26 and API 23 in Android Studio 3.1.3 , and none of prompt window display!
But I get a prompt window "An App is requesting permission to use WLAN. Allow?" in real mobile phone with Android 5.1 when I run the code A.
How can I make the prompt window not to display in real mobile phone? Thanks!
BTW,the real mobile phone is Samsung SM-J5008 with Android 5.1
Prompt Window
I have set the permissions
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE" />
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE" />
Code A
fun setWiFi(aWiFiDef: WiFiDef): Unit{
val wifiManager =mContext.applicationContext.getSystemService(WIFI_SERVICE) as WifiManager
wifiManager.isWifiEnabled=aWiFiDef.status
}
Android 5.1 does not have such runtime permission, so I assume, that this is a wrongly implemented permission request rational, which is shown even though the app does not need to. You wrote, that you tested with API level 26 and 23, which is Android 6.0 and higher, so these versions already have runtime permissions. Maybe you haven't seen this issue, because you haven't tested on devices below Android 6.0...
Please check if you somewhere call AppCompat.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale() and if it is surrounded by SDK level checks or at least with a checkSelfPermission as described here: https://developer.android.com/training/permissions/requesting. Test your code in an emulator with Android 5.1 and Android 6.0. Then you should be able to reproduce that issue also on real phones.
You also need to add this to your manifest:
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
According to the website below: *App on Marshmallow needs ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission and Location services should be enabled to get wifi scan results. Google probably sees scanning for wifi as a security concern, and wanted to add the location permissions as well.
I would recommend following the blog post below if you are having trouble after adding the ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission to your manifest.
https://www.intentfilter.com/2016/08/programatically-connecting-to-wifi.html
EDIT
For the people down voting, please include a comment explaining why. Was my answer flat out wrong? Did I overlook somthing?
Some more information on google's geolocation service:
Google maintains a huge database for its geolocation service ("Access coarse location" permission). It consists of:
Wifi access point mappings: Wifi MAC address resolve to a geolocation
Cell tower mapping: Cell tower ID's resolve to a geolocation
So it is very possible that this user didn't include this permission and is getting this dialog box.

Android 6.0.1 - App details vs App permissions details vary

I have LeEco2. I am working on an app and I see something strange.
In my App permissions in Location, I see that location has been disabled for app but in Location->Location Access, it shows Allowed
In App Management, I see Permissions has no access to location
Location->Location Access in the settings is to enable the GPS and the Permissions in your app settings is Permission for your app to use the Location Service.
You can have the following.
You can request for Location Permission and It can be given while the GPS is still turned off.
LOCATION SERVICE could be on and your app could have got the permission but then user can go back and turn off either of them.
I suggest you always check if GPS is ON before triggering location permission and before using it as well.

Beacon detection stops when giving ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission in Marshmallow

I have set beacon background scan using this tutorial in BaseApplication class but in Marshmallow running device it shows this log:
Caught a RuntimeException from the binder stub implementation.
java.lang.SecurityException: Need ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION or ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission to get scan results
And finally with this and this reference i was able to give location access for Marshmallow running device to detect beacons.
My Problem:
Even when i give Location access it doesn't detect beacons and also stops to show above Log. Is it the problem as in this ISSUE. My Nexus 5 Build number is MRA58N
UPDATE: When i turn on Location manually now it works. But it's strange. Is it right way to detect beacon?
Android Marshmallow introduces an entirely new spin on application permissions,Users now have the ability to revoke runtime permissions whenever they desire. This means that you can’t assume the app has access to the permission, even if it had been granted previously. You can refer this lib or this guide. And you can create a interface listener location changed after enable GPS, when location != 0. After enable GPS you must resume. I Hope this will help you out.

Location needs to be enabled for Bluetooth Low Energy Scanning on Android 6.0

After upgrading to Android version 6.0 Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning will only work if Location services are enabled on the device. See here for reference: Bluetooth Low Energy startScan on Android 6.0 does not find devices
Basically, you need to have the permission enabled for the app as well as on for the phone. Is this a bug? Is it possible to scan without location services actually enabled? I don't want to have to have location for all my apps.
EDIT
I failed to mention that I am using the startScan() method in BluetoothLeScanner provided in API 21. I am okay with the course and fine location permissions in the manifest that this method require. I just don't want the users of my app to have to enable location services on their device (GPS, etc.) to use my app.
Previously, the startScan() method would run and return results with the Location services disabled on the phone. On Marshmallow, however, the same application would "scan" but silently failed and returned no results when location services were not enabled on the phone and course/fine location permissions were still in the manifest.
No, this is not a bug.
This issue was brought up to Google where they responded saying that this was the intended behavior and they won't fix it. They directed developers to this site where it points out that location permission is now needed for hardware identifier access. It is now the developer's responsibility to make their users aware of the requirement.
In the issue, however, it doesn't address why Location services (GPS, etc.) are required and it doesn't seem like they are going to revisit the issue to explain this since it has been marked as the intended behavior.
To answer the second part of the question: Yes, it is possible to scan without enabling Location services. You can do a Bluetooth classic scan using BluetoothAdapter.getDefaultAdapter().startDiscovery() and that will work with Location services off. This will discover all Bluetooth devices, BLE and otherwise. However, BLE devices won't have a scan record that they would have had if they were seen as a result of startScan().
I solved this by setting targetSdkVersion to 22 in the Gradle file.
You must declare ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION in the manifest but, BLE scanning will work even if the user denies this permission from App Settings.
This is just a hack to avoid requesting location permission. It's better to target the latest android versions.
Edit
This solution should no longer be used as Google Play will require that new apps target at least Android 8.0 (API level 26). Apps should request for location permission for BLE scanning.
What I found is that after Android 6 you must grant ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission. But on some devices is also necessary your phone location service (GPS) to be switched on, so you can discover peripheral devices. I found that using Nexus 5x, with Android 7.0.
I also tried this on manifest but did not request permission, not sure why. Is you app prompting for Location permission on startup? If it's not, we need to request for permission on runtime.
Also you can check this to test if your app is working fine:
Open Settings > Apps > YourApplication > Permissions
and enable Location and then try to scan for results.
Location will be listed here only if you have provided ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION on manifest.
You can use BluetoothAdapter.startDiscovery().
It will scan for both Bluetooth Smart and classic Bluetooth devices, but location services do not need to be enabled.
(You still need ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permissions on Android 6.)
You can call BluetoothDevice.getType on found devices to filter for Bluetooth Smart / Low Energy devices.
after you add ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION to Manifest,
ask for permission on runtime:
public void checkPermission() {
if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 23) {
if (checkSelfPermission(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED && checkSelfPermission(android.Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION) == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
} else {
ActivityCompat.requestPermissions(this, new String[]{
Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION,
Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION,}, 1);
}
}
}
#Override
public void onRequestPermissionsResult(int requestCode, #NonNull String[] permissions, #NonNull int[] grantResults) {
if (requestCode == 1 && grantResults[0] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED && grantResults[1] == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
} else {
checkPermission();
}
}
worked for me!
You can scan BLE devices without location access using CompanionDeviceManager (API26).
https://developer.android.com/reference/android/companion/CompanionDeviceManager.
Well, I have looked at my code written in Eclipse and I use there the startScan (API 21) function without declaring location stuff in manifest file. I still get the proper callback.
Have you tried running the code without the location declaration?
In the other hand - you can use the deprecated startLeScan (API 18) which does not require these permissions. However, in my opinion searching and reading desired characteristic in service is more complicated with API 18 methods.
From what I recently noticed on android 8.0, it is not required to turn on your GPS to do a BLE Scan, but you have to declare it in the manifest, but the user must allow the permission.
Android will prompt the user to allow location permission when you attempt to do a scan with startScan() method. Your scan will fail if the permission is not allowed.
Starting with API 31, you can use a new BLUETOOTH_SCAN permission instead of location permission.
If the app does not derive physical locations, you can add the android:usesPermissionFlags="neverForLocation" attribute to the BLUETOOTH_SCAN permission declaration:
<manifest ...>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT" />
<uses-permission
android:name="android.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN"
android:usesPermissionFlags="neverForLocation" />
...
</manifest>
And then:
val requiredPermissions = if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.S) {
arrayOf(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION)
} else {
arrayOf(Manifest.permission.BLUETOOTH_CONNECT, Manifest.permission.BLUETOOTH_SCAN)
}
requestPermissions(requiredPermissions, 9999)
More: https://xizzhu.me/post/2021-10-05-android-12-bluetooth-permissions/

Android Permissions and API Calls

can two different api calls each requiring a different permission produce the same results?
e.g. to get device coarse location, from Android documentation, it is an approximate location derived from network location.. can an app retrieve network location using another api call that does not require ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission?
In other words, according to Android documentation, regarding LocationManager, "A location provider provides periodic reports on the geographical location of the device....some providers require GPS hardware and visibility to a number of satellites; others require the use of the cellular radio, or access to a specific carrier's network, or to the internet" and all requires either ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION or ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permissions.
if an app doesn't ask for these permissions yet it asks for ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE, ACCESS_WIFI_STATE, and INTERNET can the app infer location? if so, what API calls are responsible for this to happen, I read the API guide, connectivity part, and searched the classes under android.net.wifi but could not find what would create such situation.
is there any work or a resource that groups Android api calls by required permissions?? e.g. a list of all api calls under ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION permission, a list of all api calls under ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission and so on!
Hope I clearly asked my questions and thanks in advance!
According to the documentation:
Note: If you are using both NETWORK_PROVIDER and GPS_PROVIDER, then you need to request only the ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission, because it includes permission for both providers. (Permission for ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION includes permission only for NETWORK_PROVIDER.)
You should take in consideration that coarse location (battery friendly) is not so precise as fine location (not battery friendly), AND usually they are required both because a user can decide to enable from device network location and disable GPS, it's your duty to optimize your app so it will not kill the battery. Information from above (and more about location) can be found here http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/location/strategies.html
the previous link has some explanations about the location, with some examples.
And for future reference, you might find this table useful http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-feature-element.html#features-reference

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