Compatibility

Locale X is compatible with Android 9 through Android 17. Locale supports all screen resolutions and screen sizes. Locale supports phones, tablets, media players, and even TVs. Locale is tested extensively on a wide variety of Android devices in our lab from nearly every manufacturer.

Although Locale X is compatible with thousands of Android devices, there are a few known issues which are documented below. New devices are tested as soon as they are available, and this list is continuously updated.

OS Compatibility

• Android 14 (U) and later

  • There are no known issues with Android 14

• Android 13 (T) and later

  • Ongoing notification behavior is significantly changed in Android 13. Locale no longer displays an ongoing notification, unless the app is given explicit permission to display a notification. Users upgrading from Android 12 won’t see a behavior change, but a fresh install of the app will.
  • The free Locale X Helper app will be required to enable the Bluetooth setting. Locale X will prompt for this within the app when it is needed.

• Android 12 (S)

  • A feature of Android 12 is to change system colors based on the wallpaper. If you have a Wallpaper setting configured in Locale, other apps may flicker during these color changes if they are open at the same time that Locale happens to change the wallpaper in the background
  • The app may flicker when opening, with two different versions of the app logo displayed

• Android 11 (R)

  • There are no known issues with Android 11

• Android 10 (Q) and later

  • Android Go (low memory devices for developing countries) does not allow Locale to launch apps.

• Android 9 (P) and later

  • The free Locale X Helper app will be required to enable the Wi-Fi setting. Locale X will prompt for this within the app when it is needed.

Device Compatibility

• Samsung

  • Samsung devices have a “memory cleaner” that prevents Locale from running in the background. Locale needs to be allowed to run following these instructions.
  • The Galaxy S22 does not support the Face Down condition, because this device does not have an infrared proximity sensor.
  • The Face Down condition can sometimes behave intermittently on Samsung devices, due to a firmware issue with the proximity sensor. Rebooting will work around this issue

• Huawei

  • Some Huawei devices running Android 9 will display a dialog every time Locale tries to toggle Bluetooth.

  • Huawei devices have a “battery saver” that prevents Locale from running in the background. Locale needs to be allowed to run following these instructions.

  • Huawei devices running Android 10 or later block Locale from performing Wi-Fi scans in the background, which reduces Location accuracy. To enable background Wi-Fi scans:

    • Enable Developer Mode on your phone

      1. Go to Android Settings
      2. Go to About
      3. Scroll down to find the Build number
      4. Tap on the Build number 10 times

    • Enable USB debugging on your phone

      1. Go back to the top level of Android Settings
      2. Go to System
      3. Go to the newly enabled Developer Options
      4. Ensure that USB Debugging is enabled

    • Install the Android Developer Command Line Tools on your computer

    • Disable Wi-Fi Scan Throttling

      1. Attach your phone to your computer by USB
      2. On your phone, allow the computer USB debugging access
      3. On your computer, open a Terminal window with the working directory set to the place where you installed the Android Developer Command Line tools
      4. On your computer, run the following terminal command: adb shell settings put global wifi_scan_throttle_enabled 0

• Xiaomi

  • Some Xiaomi devices running Android 9 will display a dialog every time Locale tries to toggle Wi-Fi. Workaround: Open the Android settings, go to Apps, find Locale, and change the permission option to allow Locale to control Wi-Fi.
  • Face Down is unavailable on Xiaomi devices, because they block reading sensors when the screen is turned off

• OnePlus

  • Some OnePlus devices have a switch on the side to control the ringer mode between ring, vibrate, and do not disturb. Depending on what position the switch is in, Locale may not be able to change the ringer volume.

• LG

  • LG devices running Android 9 have an option in the Android settings for “Use Volume keys for media.” When this option is turned on, it prevents Locale X from correctly changing notification volume. We recommend turning this option off.