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Battery dying quickly

groston

groston

Well-Known Member
The phone in question is a Samsung Note 4 running Android 5.1.1 (rooted / stock). Up until about six months (or so) ago, the phone’s battery performance was perfectly acceptable. By that, the discharge rate when the phone was idle, e.g., overnight, was about 1% per hour. Something must have changed because the discharge rate is now almost 4% per hour, i.e., even if I do not use the phone, it completely runs down in one day.

Please note that I
  • There have been no system updates for more than a year
  • Wiped the cache using TWRP, but this did not help
  • Have turned off auto-start for the vast majority of the apps on my phone
  • Do not keep the WiFi or Bluetooth turned on unless being used and rarely have the GPS on
  • Use an app (Greenify) that disables background apps
  • Have run two virus scanning programs and neither found anything amiss
The first thing I tried was installing a new battery – that did not help.

I then installed two apps to try to get a better understanding of the problem: AccuBattery and Wake Lock Detector (WLD).

AccuBattery is telling me the following: The screen-off discharge rate is 3.7 %/hr. What seems to be driving this is that the phone never enters deep sleep (0 m of deep sleep time shown). The data from WLD does not show anything that is waking the phone up for long periods of time – over a 12+ hr period, the total wake time is shown as 95% and the sum total time shown for apps that wake the phone is around 12+ minutes (with the vast majority being on-screen apps).

This is leading me to think that the issue is that something is preventing the phone from entering deep sleep to begin with. My guess is that if I can identify that process, I may be able to resolve this problem. Does this sound reasonable? If so, what tool(s) can I use to identify the problemsome process? If this approach is not correct, what should I try?

Thank you for your help.
 
groston said:
The first thing I tried was installing a new battery – that did not help.

I then installed two apps to try to get a better understanding of the problem: AccuBattery and Wake Lock Detector (WLD).

AccuBattery is telling me the following: The screen-off discharge rate is 3.7 %/hr..
Click to expand...

Is that for the new battery or the original battery?
 
groston said:
...
This is leading me to think that the issue is that something is preventing the phone from entering deep sleep to begin with. My guess is that if I can identify that process, I may be able to resolve this problem. Does this sound reasonable? If so, what tool(s) can I use to identify the problemsome process? If this approach is not correct, what should I try?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if this is more folly than practical but presuming you have a terminal app installed on your rooted Note 4, if you run the 'ps' command (process status) this will result in a thorough listing of all the processes currently running. At a root prompt (#), it might be more suitable to instead run:
ps > processes.txt
the result being a txt file that you might find easier to peruse in more detail later as you try to determine if there's some app/process that needs to be reigned in. (An example from my Galaxy S3 at the bottom.)

And just hypothesizing on why the newer battery isn't showing any significant improvement, it could possibly be approximately the same age as your original battery. The Note 4 being four years old it's not likely that any battery manufacturer is continuing to make new batteries for older, dated phones, especially since the trend is to NOT have phones with user-replaceable batteries. There's simply no profit margins involved. So that 'new' battery you bought was most likely sitting untouched in storage for a long time, the issue being any smartphone battery that doesn't get at least a minimal charging after a couple of years will age prematurely just from inactivity. More details on battery storage here:
https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/how_to_store_batteries
Don't suppose you recall the charge state of that battery. When first got it, was it pretty low and you needed to recharge it (i.e. below 20%) or was it still in a pretty high percentage?



Results of 'ps' command:
USER PID PPID VSIZE RSS WCHAN PC NAME
root 1 0 1388 1112 c014a744 000578b8 S /init
root 2 0 0 0 c009ed8c 00000000 S kthreadd
root 3 2 0 0 c00880f0 00000000 S ksoftirqd/0
root 5 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/u:0
root 6 2 0 0 c00d170c 00000000 S migration/0
root 7 2 0 0 c00db8e8 00000000 S watchdog/0
root 12 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S khelper
root 13 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S suspend_sys_syn
root 14 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S suspend
root 15 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/0:1
root 17 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/203-msmdata
root 18 2 0 0 c011aef0 00000000 S sync_supers
root 19 2 0 0 c011c028 00000000 S bdi-default
root 20 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kblockd
root 21 2 0 0 c047e608 00000000 S khubd
root 22 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S l2cap
root 23 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S a2mp
root 24 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S cfg80211
root 25 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S rpciod
root 26 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S modem_notifier
root 27 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smd_channel_clo
root 28 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smsm_cb_wq
root 29 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/u:1
root 30 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S qmi
root 31 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S nmea
root 32 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S msm_ipc_router
root 33 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S apr_driver
root 34 2 0 0 c00db2ec 00000000 S khungtaskd
root 35 2 0 0 c011435c 00000000 S kswapd0
root 36 2 0 0 c0170874 00000000 S fsnotify_mark
root 37 2 0 0 c0222b38 00000000 S ecryptfs-kthrea
root 38 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S nfsiod
root 39 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S cifsiod
root 40 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S crypto
root 58 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mdp_dma_wq
root 59 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mdp_vsync_wq
root 60 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mdp_pipe_ctrl_w
root 61 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mdp_cursor_ctrl
root 62 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/675-esd_det
root 63 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S hdmi_hdcp
root 64 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/111-hdmi_ms
root 65 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S dtv_work
root 66 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S vidc_worker_que
root 67 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S vidc_timer_wq
root 68 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/387-sii9234
root 69 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S sii9234_msc_wq
root 70 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smux_notify_wq
root 71 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smux_tx_wq
root 72 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smux_rx_wq
root 73 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smux_loopback_w
root 74 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S k_hsuart
root 75 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S diag_wq
root 76 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S hsic_diag_wq
root 77 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S hsic_2_diag_wq
root 78 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S smux_diag_wq
root 79 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S diag_cntl_wq
root 80 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S diag_dci_wq
root 81 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kgsl-3d0
root 82 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kgsl-2d0
root 83 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kgsl-2d1
root 85 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/357-mpuirq
root 86 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S spi_qsd.0
root 93 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S usbnet
root 94 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mdm_bridge
root 95 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ks_bridge:1
root 96 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ks_bridge:2
root 97 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ks_bridge:3
root 98 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ks_bridge:4
root 99 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S k_rmnet_mux_wor
root 100 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S mtp_read_send
root 101 2 0 0 c04c7e28 00000000 S file-storage
root 102 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S uether
root 104 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kpsmoused
root 105 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/299-mms_ts
root 106 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/355-max1704
root 107 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/648-smb347
root 108 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/340-smb347
root 111 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S iewq
root 112 2 0 0 c009ea1c 00000000 D kinteractiveup
root 113 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/657-msm-sdc
root 114 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S binder
root 115 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/637-proximi
root 116 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S cm36651_prox_wq
root 117 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S cm36651_light_w
root 118 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S bmp180_wq
root 119 2 0 0 c05a59f8 00000000 S mmcqd/0
root 121 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/u:3
root 122 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/u:4
root 123 2 0 0 c05a59f8 00000000 S mmcqd/1
root 124 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S msm-cpufreq
root 125 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S bam_dmux_rx
root 126 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S bam_dmux_tx
root 127 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S rq_stats
root 128 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S deferwq
root 129 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S sec_jack_wq
root 130 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S sec_jack_button
root 131 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/330-cypress
root 132 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S cypress_touchke
root 133 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S sec-battery
root 134 1 1104 700 c014a744 000578b8 S /sbin/ueventd
root 136 2 0 0 c01ff0f0 00000000 S jbd2/mmcblk0p14
root 137 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
root 139 2 0 0 c01ff0f0 00000000 S jbd2/mmcblk0p15
root 140 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
root 142 2 0 0 c01ff0f0 00000000 S jbd2/mmcblk0p17
root 143 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
root 145 2 0 0 c01ff0f0 00000000 S jbd2/mmcblk0p16
root 146 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
root 148 2 0 0 c01ff0f0 00000000 S jbd2/mmcblk0p11
root 149 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
root 150 2 0 0 c00dcf20 00000000 S irq/302-fsa9485
root 151 1 1436 4 c0173830 000118e4 S /sbin/healthd
system 152 1 1016 176 c05da630 b6f65730 S /system/bin/servicemanager
root 153 1 26536 8104 ffffffff b6e89028 S /system/bin/vold
system 159 1 2144 316 c0085298 b6f52f94 S /system/bin/qseecomd
system 162 1 2288 532 c00a346c b6f90028 S /system/bin/edmaudit
root 163 1 10140 1316 ffffffff b6f07028 S /system/bin/netd
root 164 1 2284 896 c066b000 b6ecf424 S /system/bin/debuggerd
system 167 1 4556 876 ffffffff b6eefaac S /system/bin/npsmobex
radio 168 1 25288 5224 ffffffff b6f71028 S /system/bin/rild
root 169 1 916 320 c0011000 b6f862b4 S /system/bin/sh
system 170 1 4504 704 ffffffff b6f8a028 S /system/bin/smdexe
system 171 1 2516 1020 c014a744 b6ed787c S /system/bin/connfwexe
radio 172 1 2012 240 c014a744 b6db087c S /system/bin/diag_uart_log
system 173 1 70428 10708 ffffffff b6e898e0 S /system/bin/surfaceflinger
root 174 1 529660 58804 ffffffff 4011687c S zygote
drm 175 1 16288 6156 ffffffff b6ea4730 S /system/bin/drmserver
media 176 1 57800 16432 ffffffff b6f3a730 S /system/bin/mediaserver
install 177 1 2292 924 c071a298 b6ee046c S /system/bin/installd
system 183 169 4064 192 ffffffff b6fae424 S /system/bin/ddexe_real
keystore 184 1 4064 1420 c05da630 b6f67730 S /system/bin/keystore
system 185 1 1376 436 c066b000 b6e5e424 S /system/bin/drsd
system 187 159 4248 456 ffffffff b6f53fa8 S /system/bin/qseecomd
system 191 1 932 192 c014a744 b6edf968 S /system/bin/qrngd
system 192 1 9988 2996 ffffffff b6f54730 S /system/bin/bintvoutservice
camera 194 1 2164 508 c014a744 b6f17968 S /system/bin/mm-qcamera-daemon
system 195 1 3536 660 ffffffff b6f4c87c S /system/bin/imsqmidaemon
vibe 196 1 932 128 c014a744 b6f70968 S /system/bin/immvibed
root 199 1 1004 252 c066b000 b6eba424 S daemonsu:mount:master
radio 202 1 5156 1656 ffffffff b6eef87c S /system/bin/at_distributor
system 203 1 10184 3260 ffffffff b6ef88e0 S /system/bin/cnd
system 206 1 2664 840 ffffffff b6f17314 S /system/bin/mm-pp-daemon
system 207 1 4060 440 ffffffff b6e02968 S /system/bin/ssr_diag
system 208 1 24024 8176 c00c19ac b6f17aac S /system/bin/gsiff_daemon
system 209 1 6528 692 ffffffff b6f72aac S /system/bin/time_daemon
nobody 215 1 7280 568 ffffffff b6f1687c S /system/bin/rmt_storage
system 216 1 8632 3376 c014a744 b6d4487c S /system/bin/secure_storage_daemon
radio 217 1 11076 620 ffffffff b6f4687c S /system/bin/qmuxd
shell 219 1 3552 4 ffffffff 00018324 S /sbin/adbd
root 223 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S k_gserial
root 254 2 0 0 c0171c4c 00000000 S pkgld
root 445 2 0 0 c015dfbc 00000000 S flush-179:0
system 452 174 678524 97132 ffffffff 401178e0 S system_server
root 495 1 5100 280 ffffffff b6eba424 S daemonsu:master
root 628 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S RPCRPY_CNTL
root 630 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ipc_rtr_smd_rpc
u0_a214 1007 174 597600 69796 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.android.systemui
root 1123 2 0 0 c0171c4c 00000000 S pkgld
u0_a21 1133 174 630348 77560 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.android.gms.persistent
radio 1148 174 570352 50224 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.android.phone
nfc 1156 174 562348 37376 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.android.nfc
u0_a1 1164 174 584008 71536 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.app.launcher
root 1184 2 0 0 c0404754 00000000 S loop0
root 1185 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kdmflush
root 1201 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kcryptd_io
root 1202 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S kcryptd
root 1203 2 0 0 c009af10 00000000 S ext4-dio-unwrit
smartcard 1281 174 540616 28944 ffffffff 401178e0 S org.simalliance.openmobileapi.service:remote
audit 1366 1 2232 952 c014a744 b6ecc968 S /system/bin/auditd
root 1371 2 0 0 c00d23b0 00000000 S kauditd
u0_a10 1382 174 538344 29496 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.provider.logsprovider
u0_a10 1432 174 546968 37136 ffffffff 401178e0 S android.process.acore
u0_a21 1445 174 540348 29584 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.process.location
sprintextension 1477 174 545328 29556 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.sprextension
u0_a177 1487 174 538056 29000 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.pagebuddynotisvc
u0_a85 1507 174 542108 29752 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.tgrape.android.radar
radio 1530 174 538048 27792 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.sprextension.phoneinfo
system 1537 174 537992 27236 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.knox.eventsmanager
system 1559 174 538336 27340 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.knox.seandroid
root 1591 1 19904 704 ffffffff b6f00aac S /system/bin/thermald
system 1610 174 613700 77156 ffffffff 40116730 D com.sec.android.inputmethod
u0_a99 1680 174 540208 28756 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.phone
root 1783 1 7280 500 ffffffff b6f68aac S /system/bin/mpdecision
u0_a123 1846 174 619568 75976 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox:search
u0_a10 2274 174 577716 46536 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.android.contacts
u0_a111 2345 174 552716 30488 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.widgetapp.alarmclock
u0_a127 2424 174 557024 36788 ffffffff 401178e0 S dev.ukanth.ufirewall
root 2444 495 3052 352 c066b000 b6eba424 S daemonsu:10113
u0_a127 2502 2424 1004 168 c014a744 4007a87c S su
root 2508 495 6124 376 ffffffff b6eba424 S daemonsu:10127
root 2516 2508 944 480 c0142314 b6ecc46c S tmp-mksh
root 2526 1 473728 23180 ffffffff 4009caac S app_process
u0_a127 2538 2424 1004 168 c014a744 4006187c S su
root 2543 2508 920 460 c014a744 b6f0987c S tmp-mksh
u0_a191 2657 174 553648 34336 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.app.keyguard
system 3307 174 556516 34560 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.samsung.syncservice
u0_a25 3536 174 540368 32136 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.samsung.android.providers.context
system 4136 174 539716 34532 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.samsung.InputEventApp
u0_a56 4181 174 557188 45548 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.app.controlpanel
u0_a43 4669 174 627364 78432 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.android.apps.maps
u0_a34 5499 174 625532 65624 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.dropbox.android
u0_a122 5629 174 553452 44592 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.coremobility.app.vnotes
system 5675 174 571252 94680 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.android.settings
u0_a92 5899 174 574528 46540 ffffffff 401178e0 S org.thoughtcrime.securesms
u0_a1 5970 174 544084 30980 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.widgetapp.SPlannerAppWidget
root 8019 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/0:0
u0_a60 8896 174 539524 31288 ffffffff 401178e0 S net.tntapp.battery_current
u0_a23 8985 174 542308 28532 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.app.clockpackage:service
u0_a37 8998 174 539732 29344 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.widgetapp.dualclockdigital
u0_a38 9013 174 539684 29264 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.widgetapp.dualclockdigital4x2
u0_a90 9025 174 538028 27628 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.favoriteappwidget
u0_a23 9037 174 543584 30660 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.app.clockpackage
u0_a21 9052 174 597848 49692 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.process.gapps
u0_a21 9118 174 602320 55268 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.google.android.gms
u0_a113 9178 174 545788 35324 ffffffff 401178e0 S eu.chainfire.supersu
u0_a318 9260 174 576960 61560 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.speedsoftware.rootexplorer
u0_a318 9278 9260 916 320 c0142314 400e046c S /system/bin/sh
u0_a33 9285 174 555844 39344 ffffffff 401178e0 S android.process.media
u0_a318 9301 9260 920 456 c0011000 400af2b4 S /system/bin/sh
u0_a318 9323 9260 924 320 c0142314 400a246c S /system/bin/sh
u0_a318 9371 9301 1004 168 c014a744 400c087c S su
root 9374 495 6124 396 ffffffff b6eba424 S daemonsu:10318
root 9376 9374 920 456 c0142314 b6e9046c S tmp-mksh
u0_a148 9574 174 572512 47560 ffffffff 401178e0 S jackpal.androidterm
u0_a148 9588 9574 928 476 c0011000 400a32b4 S /system/bin/sh
u0_a148 9596 9588 1004 168 c014a744 400c887c S su
root 9599 495 7148 400 ffffffff b6eba424 S daemonsu:10148
root 9602 9599 7156 644 c014a744 b6eb987c S daemonsu:10148:9596
root 9606 9602 932 496 c0011000 b6f502b4 S tmp-mksh
system 9621 174 552364 42404 ffffffff 401178e0 S com.sec.android.inputmethod:ACService
root 10215 2 0 0 c009b19c 00000000 S kworker/0:2
root 10468 9606 2512 944 00000000 b6ee146c R ps
 
Try running the 'top' command. It'll list the processes consuming the highest percentage of CPU time.
 
Good suggestions, thank you - will try. With regard to the battery, AccuBattery indicates that the battery is healthy and operating at near capacity. Further, a) that the phone never enters deep sleep is probably the root cause of the problem and b) the change in performance was sufficiently abrupt that it cannot be explained by battery degradation - that would lead to a more 'tapered' degradation.
 
dontpanicbobby: Yes, when it is being actively used. Otherwise, it seems to remain at ambient temperature.

Update: I installed BetterBatteryStats and have learned more:
  • The game alphacross (crossword puzzle) was preventing the phone from going into deep sleep. I froze the app (Titanium Backup) and the idle battery consumption fell by a factor of two.
  • WiFi is shown as on and running 100% of the time. I switched the setting to dropping WiFi when the phone is asleep, but the on percentage remained high. I suspect another misbehaving app - need to figure out how to track it down.
  • I re-enabled Greenify - this will hopefully stop WhatsApp, GasBuddy and Aquamail from making so many background requests.
This is a continuing process, but the good news is that the major culprit has been caught. Need to keep digging to fin the other bad actors.
 
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