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Location Cache: manual delete. ***no longer need to be Rooted

andruoid

andruoid

Android Expert
If you are rooted here is a way to delete the Location Cache files manually. Location Cache records all the areas you have been to and stores them on your device. I'm not overly paranoid about this sort of tracking but, I do clear those files of at random times during the week. It's just like deleting cookies in a browser.

Using a file manager (I use Root Explorer) navigate to /data/data/com.google.android.location/files and delete the 'wifi' and 'cell' files. In Root Explorer I also bookmarked the above location to get there a bit faster.
 
Good question SURoot, I just assumed root was needed. Can anyone who is not rooted confirm this?
 
As far as I can tell, you can not navigate to /data/data in the internal memory on an unrooted phone. On an unrooted device I tried using Explorer (same people who make Root Explorer) and ES File Explorer with no luck. That's why I assumed earlier that you need root to access the directories in the internal memory.
 
andruoid said:
As far as I can tell, you can not navigate to /data/data in the internal memory on an unrooted phone. On an unrooted device I tried using Explorer (same people who make Root Explorer) and ES File Explorer with no luck. That's why I assumed earlier that you need root to access the directories in the internal memory.
Click to expand...

Confirmed.

Unrooted, I tried ES File Explorer, and also via command line with no luck.

Applied Temproot with VISIONary+, and was able to delete these files
 
I can't see anything in data/ with astro even rooted. I have no experience of ES.

Can someone download "android Mate" and see if you can read /data please?
 
SUroot said:
I can't see anything in data/ with astro even rooted. I have no experience of ES.

Can someone download "android Mate" and see if you can read /data please?
Click to expand...

I tried the free version and Android Mate could not get into /data either (on an unrooted phone).
Root Explorer works (on a rooted phone) like a charm.
 
Also, just tried Super Manager. I can navigate unrooted on the internal memory however, /data does not appear for some reason. ES File Manager and Explorer does show /data but I can't open it. Odd.
 
OK, without the need for a file manager I think I have found the Location Cache. Simply go to Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > All (tab) > scroll to Network Location and click on it, finally click on 'Clear data'.

I have no way of confirming if this is indeed the Location Cache. Maybe someone with a rooted only device could install Location Cache off the Market, view the map log but don't delete anything; try my findings and clear it that way, then view the map log again in the Location cache app. If its clear then cool, if not, what can I say? ;-)
 
Have a look at Quick App Manager.
It has a cache cleaner without root.

EDIT: I like this app for its nice overview of all app's cache.
The option for automatic cleaning of all app's cache I haven't tried yet.

Harry
 
andruoid said:
I tried the free version and Android Mate could not get into /data either (on an unrooted phone).
Root Explorer works (on a rooted phone) like a charm.
Click to expand...

Ok thanks for clarifying. I know android mate definitely gets into /data on a rooted phone so you are indeed correct about needing root.

Thanks :)
 
SUroot said:
Ok thanks for clarifying. I know android mate definitely gets into /data on a rooted phone so you are indeed correct about needing root.

Thanks :)
Click to expand...

Did you check my post #10, looks (potentially) as though I can access the Location Cache without a file manager or root.
 
*** Confirmed! ***

On an Unrooted phone (Desire 2.2) you can clear the Location Cache without any 3rd party program:

Settings > Applications > Manage Applications > All (tab) > scroll to Network Location and click on it to open and click on 'Clear data'.

I tried it on my unrooted Desire last night, then rooted this morning and checked the location cache using Location Cache. The only place that was logged was my current location (home). I was around town yesterday so I know other places would have been logged but they didn't show up. Good news for unrooted phones.
 
On a rooted phone, you can use ES File Explorer, if you enable Root User option in the Settings AND if you are on a CM ROM.

Otherwise, simply use Diskusage. This excellent application can go everywhere where Root Explorer can go. Together with OI File Manager you can browse and delete all you want in all "secret" partitions/directories. :)
 
I recently had the location problem too, though I'm in Michigan, USA. The weather widget only showed "current location" and would not update to where I actually was. All the correct options were checked and Google Maps found my location with no issues. I have an HTC Amaze and it's unrooted.

I followed the above mentioned "clear location cache" procedure, rebooted and reloaded the weather and it started working correctly again.

Thanks for the tip!
 
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