I just bought an HTC One M8 and updated to Android Lollipop 5.0.1 through Verizon's OTA update. Now I'm getting constant WiFi notifications in the status bar and pull-down bar, one saying "WiFi networks available" and another saying "Connected to [the WiFi SSID]". I've unchecked everything related in Settings > WiFi and anything else that looks related to WiFi notifications, and they don't stop. It's constantly making me think there's an important notification or getting in the way of other notifications, pushing them off the screen.
Every forum post I'm reading on the internet is saying these can't be disabled except through root. I contacted Verizon customer support through chat and they said "The notification simply lets you know when you are connected to wifi if this did not show up and you were under the impression you were on wifi but really using data that would be an issue this is just there to prevent that." The problem is that it only happens while I'm on WiFi, and shows "Connected to", completely killing the point. If Verizon thinks I was under the impression that I was on WiFi while I wasn't, they would show a notification while WiFi is off.
The only way to stop these notifications is to disable WiFi, meaning I'm more likely to go over my data plan and pay them the extra fee. So it appears to be extortion. If nothing else, there should be a class-action lawsuit to at least give us the option to disable the notifications, as they only happen while WiFi is on.
Do you leave your Wi-Fi on all the time? Does it alert your multiple times about the same wi-fi you are connected to even if you don't leave the area; for instance every x amount of minutes?
Do you leave your Wi-Fi on all the time?
Yes, I've always left WiFi on since I've had a smartphone, it's on by default in Android, it's assumed normal behavior of most people.
The notifications only happen while WiFi is on, there's no setting to turn them off (believe I've tried changing everything I could find, all forum posts say they can't be disabled except through root), so having to disable WiFi to get rid of them is basically extortion by Verizon, otherwise they'd have a notification that WiFi is off (going by their logic that they want to remind you to connect to WiFi to save data, which is negated by the "Connected to" notification). There is a file in Android system to turn off the notification but it requires root and Verizon locks the bootloader.
Does it alert your multiple times about the same wi-fi you are connected to even if you don't leave the area; for instance every x amount of minutes?
As I said in the original post, it alerts me when it connects to WiFi, and alerts me when WiFi networks are available (meaning it's not connected to any WiFi). I don't connect to unsecured networks, and even if I set it to automatically connect to any network regardless of security (I'm not even sure that's possible), it would still add a notification that I've connected.
I don't know that your statement is true, though I don't know that it is false, but I personally never leave my Wi-Fi on because it drains the battery when I am not using it.
It must be an HTC One feature because when I go into my Wi-Fi, use the settings menu button within, I have "Wi-Fi Notifications: notify me when wi-fi is available or connected" and it can be unselected. Verizon is half right, it is to let you know when you're connected, but it also seems to be device specific.
Wi-Fi is more true and Constant more reliable than the Network if you have a Good Router there for it Doesn't pull on the Battery as much as its the only source the phone is pulling from if you have it set up Correctly I know as I've done several Test with my Equipment..
Different OS's might treat it Different mine what I'm using does well.. with Wi-Fi..
I find my network connection and Wi-Fi to be equally as reliable. That is of course as long as I have 4G and for the most part I always do.
Yup it can be.. On Network I usually Get anywhere from 8 to 20.00 mbps upload) on my NetGear N600 Cox Premier I get anywhere from 50.00 mbps up to 105.00 depending on from what source I'm pulling the speed Test.. Cox Premier can haul the Mail for sure
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I think my average download speed on 4G is around 13mbps during high traffic times, while my download speed via wi-fi is 60mbps during high traffic times. Thankfully nothing to complain about - except Comcast customer service.
I've heard it can be the Berries..
@MiiHere I personally never leave my Wi-Fi on because it drains the battery when I am not using it.
If that's the case, then by Verizon's logic you get a constant reminder to turn on WiFi, because, you know, they don't want you using data when you don't have to *ahem* ***cough***. Maybe you missed where I said the notifications aggravate you into disabling WiFi so that you're more likely go over your data plan.
"Wi-Fi Notifications: notify me when wi-fi is available or connected"
The HTC One M8 for Verizon doesn't have that option; Verizon intentionally turned on this notification by default for the phone and removed the option to turn it off. This means every time it connects, I get a notification. Every time it wakes from deep sleep (which disconnects from WiFi or the router just times it out), I get the notification. It's pointless, obtrusive, and makes me want to disable WiFi, therefore making it more likely that I go over my data limit and pay them more money.
Also, this isn't just on the HTC One M8, Verizon has been doing it to phones since the Galaxy S3 in 2012:
It's now a huge annoyance among many users on many Verizon phones, and is becoming a standard on their Android Lollipop phones, including the Nexus 6.
Relentless WiFi Notifications - Pg. 2 | Verizon HTC One (M8) | XDA Forums
Yes, you could be right. Getting people to go over their data so they will call in irate is the perfect end game.
My S5 has the exact option I mentioned. Are you just getting a pop up or does your phone break out into song and dance? I just fail to see what is so intrusive if it's not the latter. Or are you more upset about Verizon's devious plan to make you go over your data limit?
This kind of snarky reply is what makes Verizon smirk and feel better about at putting more garbage on our phones that get in the way or strip out useful features that came from Google. If you really think it's OK to have a non-stop notification every time your phone connects to WiFi or a network is available, I'm sure you'll be OK with another notification saying "Location Found" all the time, which is what I saw on their Nexus 6, LG G4, and HTC One M9, and can't be disabled. This is Verizon inserting their own way of doing things into your phone regardless of how bothersome it is. If you like this stuff, make fun of people complaining about it. Otherwise, be honest and say that you don't like it either, and they'll remove it.
But first, tell me: If you were one of many people who had a useless empty box with a label that said "You're here!" put in their hallway by some government worker that they had to move or step around every time they got up to walk across the hallway, another box outside your door as you left or returned that you had to move or step over each time, and then every time your phone went to sleep for longer than 10 minutes another box appeared in front of you that you had to move or move around, and then also every time you went to work or left, would you be making fun of the people complaining about it or would you also complain about it and try to do something about it?
This is exactly what Verizon is doing, but on their phone screen. No, it doesn't start a fire or poison my children, but it's endlessly obnoxious and can push an important notification off the screen, so why do you want to live with it if you didn't have to? Android doesn't do this by default, Verizon forced it on you, and I don't want that happening any more than I want our government forcing us to have to deal with constant boxes in our way all the time with useless information on them.
Please, tell me what other Android or manufacturer features you'd love removed or overridden by Verizon, and which useless things you'd like them to put in your way constantly. Maybe excessive battery drain isn't enough, maybe they can force you to use their apps without being able to disable them, just like they're forcing me to see and handle these useless notifications because they don't provide an option to turn them off.
Verizon didn't program lollipop. And the wifi pop up is on all versions of lollipop on all carriers.
if you looked at my screen shot, I always show weather and wifi. They don't clear.
@mama23dogs, Verizon gets the software from the manufacturer before they'll release the phone on their network, at which point they make their own customizations which the manufacturer reviews. When they both agree, they push the OTA updates. So no, they didn't program Lollipop, they just modify it after the manufacturer does. It's how Google's open-source license works with Android.
The WiFi notifications are not on all Lollipop phones nor on all carriers; Lollipop had various WiFi Advanced settings checkboxes through its various versions that let you disable the ones I'm complaining about, and the most recent (on the Nexus 5) rolls them up into one and it doesn't have the popups when unchecked.
This is literally Verizon changing a setting in a file in the phone's software, which is defaulted to 0 but they change it to 1, and they removed the option for you to turn it off. It was confirmed to me by a Verizon tech that they did this, but they said their next Lollipop update will either have this back to 0 or will give us an option to disable it.
Also, if you do a Google search and read the forums, they're saying it's only on Verizon phones and other people either don't get the notifications or can disable them. It's completely Verizon's fault on this one, and their tech and manager said other people have complained and threatened to return phones or cancel service if they don't turn them off or give them the option to.
So please, before you reply, know what you're talking about.
Verizon Wireless and the other carriers don't touch the code. So before you reply, KNOW what you are talking about.
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
Really, so all of the articles I've read saying the manufacturer has finished the update but Verizon is behind again because of their customizations really only meant that Verizon just requested specific changes like the system settings.db file wifi_networks_availible_notfication_on be set to 1 so that these pointless WiFi notifications happen and then having the option to disable them removed, that was all just requested by Verizon to the manufacturer through email, a telephone call, or Twitter?
Android is open source, Verizon developers can get in there and modify it all they want as long as it's compatible with the phone and doesn't cause the manufacturer too many problems that can't be paid for. I'd really love to know where you discovered that Verizon doesn't modify Android phones, because it's exactly the opposite of what I've been reading for years now.
Regardless of how it got changed, the end is result is it's only on Verizon phones, and their updates are typically behind other carrier's OTA updates. The end result is Verizon wanted some things a crappy way that negatively impacts customers but supposedly pads their bottom line. So either way, Verizon effectively changed the source code or files, period.
ATT customers make the same complaint.
THe process is, manufacturer releases updates to carriers. Carriers send it back with the requested customizations. Manufacturer codes the customizations and sends it back to the carrier.
the bootloader is locked by the manufacturer, so why you think otherwise is puzzling.
YOu you never did respond to what the notice is. Sound? Or just the pop up like in the screen shots I posted.
Regardless of how it got changed, the end is result is [these constant WiFi notifications that can't be disabled are] only on Verizon phones, and their updates are typically behind other carrier's OTA updates.
I have Lollipop on a Verizon Wireless branded phone and a wifi only tablet. Neither of them have constant wifi notifications because I turned it off. Either the OEM changed the code for their preferences or you haven't looked deep enough in the wifi settings of the phone.
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
@Ann154 Which phone and tablet do you have? We already know that turning off WiFi stops the notifications, and that's not a solution because it means that it has to use cell data unnecessarily.
I've gone through every setting on the phone that we could find, meaning me and a Verizon store rep and a manager and a tech over the phone, and the tech admitted that it's a Verizon customization and said that it will be fixed in a future update.
If it is a Verizon customization then why is it on an AT&T branded device?
I'm most definitely NOT a VZW employee. If a post answered your question, please mark it as the answer.
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