Distances do not update in Golf Pad watch app when phone screen is off

If GPS distances update fine on the watch while phone screen is on, but stop updating when phone screen is turned off or shortly after, this typically means that the system puts down Golf Pad phone app to sleep to save battery. In other words, it does not allow it to run in background while you play. 

Usually you can fix it by doing one of the following:

1. Standalone mode: if you have Apple Watch (series 4 or later) or a Wear OS watch, Golf Pad is capable of running in standalone mode using watch GPS (no phone connection is required). Please make sure GPS location is enabled on the watch and Golf Pad is configured correctly. You can find more details for Apple Watch here and for Wear OS watches here.

2. Location permissions: (Android 10 or later) Check if "All the time/Always" is enabled in Location permissions for Golf Pad app.

3. Power saving mode: disable power saving (also sometimes called 'battery optimizer') mode on the phone if you have it enabled. Some phones have manufacturer specific settings for background app optimization:

         Samsung devices

• From Android settings, select Apps, tap the menu icon in the upper right corner, select Special Access / Optimize Battery Usage, choose to show All Apps, scroll to Golf Pad and turn off the Optimized toggle.
  
• From Android settings, select Apps, find Golf Pad, tap on Battery, then turn on the 'Allow background activity' toggle.
  
• From Android settings, select Device Care / Battery, then choose to show usage for 1 week. Tap Golf Pad in the list, then turn off the 'Put app to sleep' toggle.
  
• From Android settings, select Device Care / Battery, tap the menu icon in the upper right corner and select Settings, Sleeping Apps. If Golf Pad is in the list, long-tap it and select to Remove from the sleeping list.

       Huawei devices

• From Android settings, select Battery, turn off Power saving mode or Ultra power saving mode.

       Google Pixel 

• From Android settings, select Battery, tap the menu icon in the upper right corner, select Battery optimization, choose to show All apps, scroll to Golf Pad and turn on the 'Don't optimize' toggle.

4. App power monitor: some Android phones have 'app power monitor' or similar built-in functionality that will force-put apps to sleep. If you have one, disable the monitor during the golf round or add an exception for Golf Pad. Here's a page with instructions for Samsung phones;

5. Battery optimizer apps: check if you have any 3rd party battery optimizer apps and disable them during the golf round or add an exception for Golf Pad;

If you checked the steps above and the problem is still not solved, there is a couple of ways to work around it:

- (Android 5 or later) Enable screen pinning and pin Golf Pad during the round.

- Enable Golf Pad TAGS in Golf Pad settings (even if you don't have Golf Pad TAGS tracking system). This will keep the screen on throughout the round and automatically dim it. Note, this will increase power usage, but ensure Golf Pad stays active in background.