Android: Drains Battery When App Not in Use

[Cdog02mustgt]

I am noticing that even when I have Pandora stopped and cleared (not used) it is still running and using up battery. Only way to fix it is to apply a force stop to it. Anyway to get this to stop?

mod edit: changed title for clarity

[GeraldPandora]

Sounds good @McJamminz, let us know how it goes and if it'll help!

If your battery is still draining due to Pandora, I would like to share your experience with our engineers so that they can take a closer look. Can you please provide the following:

• Model:
• Carrier:
• Android version (Settings > About Phone):
• Build number (Settings > About Phone):
• Android Security Patch Level, if noted on your device (Settings > About Phone):
• Pandora version:
  • If you can open Pandora, go to Profile, then select Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the screen for the version number.
  • If you can't open Pandora: from Android Home screen > Android Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > Find Pandora

Are you connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data when this is happening?

Have you identified any other patterns or notable information?

Hope everything works well!

[csdaniels]

I am having the same problem from time to time seems to happen even when I don't directly use pandora with android auto however it is launched in the background when in my truck and drains my battery extremely quickly!  Pixel 6 pro...

[GeraldPandora]

Hi @csdaniels

Thanks for posting and being a part of the Community! 👋

I've enabled a trace on your account so that we can take a closer look at what's going on. For this trace to be helpful, please perform our Android Troubleshooting steps.

In addition, we do have an internal ticket about this and I'd like to report your issue to our engineering team. Can you send over a bit more info about your device?

• Model: Pixel 6 Pro
• Carrier:
• Android version (Settings > About Phone):
• Build number (Settings > About Phone):
• Android Security Patch Level, if noted on your device (Settings > About Phone):
• Pandora version:

Are you connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data when this is happening?

Have you identified any other patterns or notable information?

Thanks for your help with this! 🤝

[billbillw]

This is still a major issue. Android 13, Galaxy S22+. I use Pandora in the car, but I'm usually not driving more than an hour a day. Yesterday, I took only a short 18 minute round trip drive. Pandora was responsible for 34% of my battery usage in the background. I have to force it closed. This is consistent over weeks of use.

[GeraldPandora]

Thanks for posting and sorry to hear about the high battery usage @billbillw.

If you haven't already, please complete our Android Troubleshooting to see if this helps decrease battery usage.

If you continue to notice high battery drain, can you please send me a screenshot of your device settings showing you the amount of battery usage that Pandora is taking up?

In addition, I'd like to report your issue to our engineering team. Can you send over the current Pandora version you're using? 

• Pandora Version: (Go to Profile, then select Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the screen for the version number)

Looking forward to your response!

[billbillw]

 The screenshot will look like above. Pandora uses 34-36%. No other app uses more than 2%. I have cleared app memory and re-logged in this morning.

Version 2301.1 (Android Tuner 31011002).

I will report back after a week or so (since clearing App memory) and report whether there is any improvement.

[GeraldPandora]

Thanks so much for providing those details @billbillw. This is extremely helpful information. In the meantime, I've shared this with our engineering team so that they can investigate. 

We appreciate your patience during this process. 🎧

[billbillw]

A day later (after clearing app memory settings) and there is no improvement. Today, after 7 hours and no Pandora useage (in car or otherwise), it has taken 18% of my battery. This is not acceptable. No other app uses power like this in the background. For power settings, I have it as Optimal. Further look at the app usage shows  only 1 minute active.

Additional info: Device, Galaxy S22+ (SM-S906U1), Software Version S906U1UES2BWA2, Security Patch January 1, 2023.

[jkoopman]

Hi,

Same problems as all the other posters over the last year plus.  Android Auto Wireless starts Pandora when I drive, and then after I finish driving Pandora continues to suck battery power unless I force stop the App.   Because Pandora is started by Android Auto there is no App card to close and swiping away the Now Playing status area changes nothing.

I have tried trouble shooting steps, deleted cache and data and uninstalled, reinstalled app with no change.

Can you please fix this!  If music is paused for 10 minutes save state and shutdown service!   Clearly from this thread this problem is occuring for multiple users for more than a year.

If not solved soon I'll take the pain and switch to one of the other music streaming services.

Phone: Google Pixel 4a

Android Auto Wireless, problem does not occur for me on Wired Android Auto if I turn off support for Android Auto Wireless.

Streaming on cellular service, provider Cricket which runs on AT&T network

Android version:  13

Build: TQ1A.230205.002

(Latest production build)

Pandora version 2302.2

[AdamPandora]

@jkoopman Can you please do me a favor and send me a screenshot of your battery usage as well?

(Please note you won't be able to attach images via email - you will need to open this Community link in a web browser in order to provide attachments)

Thanks!

[kesmoon]

I am seeing a large battery drain with the Android app.

[AlyssaPandora]

Hey there, @kesmoon. 👋

Thanks for reporting your experience and for including the screenshot. Sounds like you may have already run through the standard: Android Troubleshooting

I can share this with our tech team on your behalf. It's helpful to know:

• Device:
• Carrier:
• Android version (Settings > About Phone):
• Pandora Version: (Go to Profile, then select Settings. Scroll to the bottom of the screen for the version number)
• Are you connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data when this is happening?

I appreciate your help with this additional details. 🎧

[jeskelton]

I recently upgraded my phone (with in the last week) and went from a Samsung to a Pixel. When I listen to Pandora on my new Pixel, the battery drains.  I went into battery saver and changed the setting from Optimized to Restricted.  However, when it is on Restricted, Pandora shuts off and won't run in the background.  This never happened to me before on my old Samsung.  What can I do?

[Yepvegas]

Same issue the app turns itself back on even after a force stop without driving. This issue is so bad it causes my phone to overheat and drains as much as 20% of my battery in an hour or two. I have a pixel 6 pro and this issue has been going on for way too long.

[TannerPandora]

Hi @Yepvegas! Sorry to hear this is happening.

I'm happy to pass along your information. Can you please confirm your Android version and Pandora version? Let me know if you need help finding this.

Thanks for the help!

[Vegas771]

I really like this app and the music it provides, but this has been going on for a number of years with different Android phones.  There is NO reason I can see to have this app running in the background when you aren't using it, yet in the background it drains as much as 18% overnight.  I even restricted the background, still slurps up the battery juice.  The only way to stop it is to (1) force stop the app or (2) restart the phone.  That's a hassle and I forget to do it (thus, the 18% drop).  I would subscribe, but not with this occurring.  Right now I only have it on my computer and have uninstalled it from my phone.  WHY can't you have this thing fully exit upon closure?   Why can't you at least give me the option to do this?

[AlyssaPandora]

Hi there, @Vegas771. 👋

Sorry to hear that you've had some trouble. I moved your post over to this existing thread: Android: Drains Battery When App Not in Use

Looks like you may be using a Pixel device. I would recommend checking out these steps for the battery draining: Fix battery drain problems on a Pixel phone

Exiting and Closing Apps:

• You can exit the app by navigating to the Recent Apps menu, finding the Pandora app and then swiping it away. 
• You can also find out more information about closing apps on Android devices in Find, Open & Close Apps on Android 
• As you mentioned, the other option is to try force closing the app.

In the meantime, I've gone ahead and shared your feedback with our tech team. Thank you for sharing your input around this. 🎧

[Mugsy1st]

I'm about to cancel my Pandora subscription because they clearly, very
clearly, don't care about this issue. Happens all the time and no
resolution. Pandora support was engaged - by me - and they simply just
stopped working on the ticket. They have 1 more month to fix it or I move
to Spotify.

[Vegas771]

So you linked me to a page that says, "...a downloaded app could be using too much battery."  No kidding?  I thought that's what I said!  Further, the recommendations are what I already referred to, i.e., restrict background, force stop, uninstall the app.  Are you really sending people to a page that tells us to uninstall your app?  Your company evidently could care less about the users and that's ultimately lost revenue for you.  A shame, because as I said, I really like the music curation.  Count me as a lost potential subscriber.