Unable to clear mock location?

Question

This is how I set a mock location in my app:

public void startMockLocation(String latitude, String longitude){

    FusedLocationProviderClient locationProvider =  new FusedLocationProviderClient(getApplicationContext());
    locationProvider.setMockMode(true);

    Location loc = new Location("gps");

    mockLocation = new Location("gps");
    mockLocation.setLatitude(Double.valueOf(latitude));
    mockLocation.setLongitude(Double.valueOf(longitude));
    mockLocation.setAltitude(loc.getAltitude());
    mockLocation.setTime(System.currentTimeMillis());

    mockLocation.setAccuracy(1f);
    mockLocation.setElapsedRealtimeNanos(SystemClock.elapsedRealtimeNanos());
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        mockLocation.setBearingAccuracyDegrees(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setVerticalAccuracyMeters(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setSpeedAccuracyMetersPerSecond(0.01f);
    }

    locationProvider.setMockLocation(mockLocation);
}

However I wasn't able to clear the mock location and set the real location back using this code below. What should I write instead?

public void clearMockLocation() {
    locationProvider.setMockMode(false);
}

Answer 1

Update:

---

As far, your problem is following these steps such as:

1. Setting your mock location for Gps
2. Going to GoogleMaps and see your mock location
3. Turn back your app and want to stop mocking

---

Here I am giving you some techniques to disable mock locations.

---

Method.1

Spoofing or faked locations can be avoided by using the Location Manager's API.

For this you first have to import the google play services LocationServices (must visit) API:

You need to import:

import com.google.android.gms.location.LocationServices;

And in App-level build.gradle:

implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-location:17.0.0'

Your Class must implement these interfaces:

public class TestMapsActivity extends FragmentActivity implements OnMapReadyCallback,
    LocationListener,
    GoogleApiClient.ConnectionCallbacks,
    GoogleApiClient.OnConnectionFailedListener { ...}

Then, you need to Override these methods such as:

 @Override
    public void onConnected(Bundle bundle) {

    }


    @Override
    public void onConnectionSuspended(int i) {

    }

    @Override
    public void onConnectionFailed(ConnectionResult connectionResult) {

    }

    @Override
    public void onLocationChanged(Location location) {

    }

Now, We can remove the test provider before requesting the location updates from both the providers (Network or Gps):

LocationManager locationManager = (LocationManager) getSystemService(LOCATION_SERVICE);

try {
    Log.d(TAG ,"Removing Test providers")
    locationManager .removeTestProvider(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
} catch (IllegalArgumentException error) {
    Log.d(TAG,"Got exception in removing test  provider");
}

locationManager.requestLocationUpdates(LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER, 1000, 0, locationListener);

Now, If you look into the Android documentation of the LocationManager:

removeTestProvider() throws 
IllegalArgumentException    if no provider with the given name exists

You will get a better intuition from this android-issue. For that specific thread, You can try using Criteria.ACCURACY_FINE instead of LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER such as:

LocationManager locationManager = (LocationManager)context.getSystemService( Context.LOCATION_SERVICE );

Criteria criteria = new Criteria();
criteria.setAccuracy(Criteria.ACCURACY_FINE);
String locationprovider = locationManager.getBestProvider(criteria, true);

if ( locationprovider == null ) {
    Log.e(TAG, "location provider is not available.!");
    return;
}

---

Method.2

If the above method still doesn't work for you, you can silently enable /disable mock settings as follows:

// disable mocking. 
Settings.Secure.putString(getContentResolver(),
       Settings.Secure.ALLOW_MOCK_LOCATION, "0");

You can also get better intuition here and here.

---

Method.3

There is another way you can do that to get an accurate understanding whether GPS/Network providers are enabled or not:

ContentResolver contentResolver = context.getContentResolver();
boolean gpsEnabled = Settings.Secure.isLocationProviderEnabled(contentResolver, LocationManager.GPS_PROVIDER);
boolean networkEnabled = Settings.Secure.isLocationProviderEnabled(contentResolver, LocationManager.NETWORK_PROVIDER);

---

Other Steps to follow.

---

You should have to follow these steps to clear/reset your mock location such as:

• Enable mock locations in the development panel in your settings.

• Add permissions to your Manifest.xml i.e.

  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_MOCK_LOCATION" />

• Now again open GoogleMaps, and wait until the Gps provider to receive a new realtime-location. It could be a bit of time-consuming i.e. (1-3 minutes).

So while removing the provider, just let the Gps receive a new fresh location, then it will be resolved and fixed. If in case, it is not working again, then you can further do these steps:

Go to the app settings, Clear the App-Cache and Restart the Mobile Device.

I hope that it would work really fine. You can also visit these references to get better intuition:

• Android-mock-location-on-device
• Remove-mock-location

Answer 2

as i see your code , you are calling two methods one to set mock location and other to disable it but in other method i am not sure which object of location provider you are using , i would prefer you to declare a global object of location provider and use it anywhere

FusedLocationProviderClient locationProvider;

public void startMockLocation(String latitude, String longitude){

    locationProvider =  new FusedLocationProviderClient(getApplicationContext());
    locationProvider.setMockMode(true);

    Location loc = new Location("gps");

    mockLocation = new Location("gps");
    mockLocation.setLatitude(Double.valueOf(latitude));
    mockLocation.setLongitude(Double.valueOf(longitude));
    mockLocation.setAltitude(loc.getAltitude());
    mockLocation.setTime(System.currentTimeMillis());

    mockLocation.setAccuracy(1f);
    mockLocation.setElapsedRealtimeNanos(SystemClock.elapsedRealtimeNanos());
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        mockLocation.setBearingAccuracyDegrees(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setVerticalAccuracyMeters(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setSpeedAccuracyMetersPerSecond(0.01f);
    }

    locationProvider.setMockLocation(mockLocation);
}

then in other method

public void clearMockLocation() {
if(locationProvider!=null){
locationProvider.setMockMode(false);
if(mockLocation!=null){
mockLocation.setLatitude(real_latitude);
    mockLocation.setLongitude(real_longitude);
    mockLocation.setAltitude(real_altitude);
    mockLocation.setTime(System.currentTimeMillis());
    mockLocation.setAccuracy(1f);
    mockLocation.setElapsedRealtimeNanos(SystemClock.elapsedRealtimeNanos());
    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
        mockLocation.setBearingAccuracyDegrees(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setVerticalAccuracyMeters(0.1f);
        mockLocation.setSpeedAccuracyMetersPerSecond(0.01f);
    }

    locationProvider.setMockLocation(mockLocation);
}

}

}