fix(android): remove background location mode

apps/android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml

@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@
         android:usesPermissionFlags="neverForLocation" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION" />
-    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.CAMERA" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RECORD_AUDIO" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SEND_SMS" />

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/LocationMode.kt

@@ -3,12 +3,12 @@ package ai.openclaw.app
 enum class LocationMode(val rawValue: String) {
   Off("off"),
   WhileUsing("whileUsing"),
-  Always("always"),
   ;
 
   companion object {
     fun fromRawValue(raw: String?): LocationMode {
       val normalized = raw?.trim()?.lowercase()
+      if (normalized == "always") return WhileUsing
       return entries.firstOrNull { it.rawValue.lowercase() == normalized } ?: Off
     }
   }

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/NodeRuntime.kt

@@ -82,7 +82,6 @@ class NodeRuntime(context: Context) {
     location = location,
     json = json,
     isForeground = { _isForeground.value },
-    locationMode = { locationMode.value },
     locationPreciseEnabled = { locationPreciseEnabled.value },
   )
 

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/DeviceHandler.kt

@@ -170,13 +170,6 @@ class DeviceHandler(
               promptableWhenDenied = true,
             ),
           )
-          put(
-            "backgroundLocation",
-            permissionStateJson(
-              granted = hasPermission(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION),
-              promptableWhenDenied = true,
-            ),
-          )
           put(
             "sms",
             permissionStateJson(

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/LocationHandler.kt

@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@ import android.content.Context
 import android.content.pm.PackageManager
 import android.location.LocationManager
 import androidx.core.content.ContextCompat
-import ai.openclaw.app.LocationMode
 import ai.openclaw.app.gateway.GatewaySession
 import kotlinx.coroutines.TimeoutCancellationException
 import kotlinx.serialization.json.Json
@@ -17,7 +16,6 @@ class LocationHandler(
   private val location: LocationCaptureManager,
   private val json: Json,
   private val isForeground: () -> Boolean,
-  private val locationMode: () -> LocationMode,
   private val locationPreciseEnabled: () -> Boolean,
 ) {
   fun hasFineLocationPermission(): Boolean {
@@ -34,19 +32,11 @@ class LocationHandler(
       )
   }
 
-  fun hasBackgroundLocationPermission(): Boolean {
-    return (
-      ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(appContext, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION) ==
-        PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
-      )
-  }
-
   suspend fun handleLocationGet(paramsJson: String?): GatewaySession.InvokeResult {
-    val mode = locationMode()
-    if (!isForeground() && mode != LocationMode.Always) {
+    if (!isForeground()) {
       return GatewaySession.InvokeResult.error(
         code = "LOCATION_BACKGROUND_UNAVAILABLE",
-        message = "LOCATION_BACKGROUND_UNAVAILABLE: background location requires Always",
+        message = "LOCATION_BACKGROUND_UNAVAILABLE: location requires OpenClaw to stay open",
       )
     }
     if (!hasFineLocationPermission() && !hasCoarseLocationPermission()) {
@@ -55,12 +45,6 @@ class LocationHandler(
         message = "LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUIRED: grant Location permission",
       )
     }
-    if (!isForeground() && mode == LocationMode.Always && !hasBackgroundLocationPermission()) {
-      return GatewaySession.InvokeResult.error(
-        code = "LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUIRED",
-        message = "LOCATION_PERMISSION_REQUIRED: enable Always in system Settings",
-      )
-    }
     val (maxAgeMs, timeoutMs, desiredAccuracy) = parseLocationParams(paramsJson)
     val preciseEnabled = locationPreciseEnabled()
     val accuracy =

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/OnboardingFlow.kt

@@ -1376,7 +1376,7 @@ private fun PermissionsStep(
     InlineDivider()
     PermissionToggleRow(
       title = "Location",
-      subtitle = "location.get (while app is open unless set to Always later)",
+      subtitle = "location.get (while app is open)",
       checked = enableLocation,
       granted = locationGranted,
       onCheckedChange = onLocationChange,

apps/android/app/src/main/java/ai/openclaw/app/ui/SettingsSheet.kt

@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
       viewModel.setCameraEnabled(cameraOk)
     }
 
-  var pendingLocationMode by remember { mutableStateOf<LocationMode?>(null) }
+  var pendingLocationRequest by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
   var pendingPreciseToggle by remember { mutableStateOf(false) }
 
   val locationPermissionLauncher =
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
       val fineOk = perms[Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION] == true
       val coarseOk = perms[Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION] == true
       val granted = fineOk || coarseOk
-      val requestedMode = pendingLocationMode
-      pendingLocationMode = null
 
       if (pendingPreciseToggle) {
         pendingPreciseToggle = false
@@ -131,21 +129,9 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
         return@rememberLauncherForActivityResult
       }
 
-      if (!granted) {
-        viewModel.setLocationMode(LocationMode.Off)
-        return@rememberLauncherForActivityResult
-      }
-
-      if (requestedMode != null) {
-        viewModel.setLocationMode(requestedMode)
-        if (requestedMode == LocationMode.Always) {
-          val backgroundOk =
-            ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION) ==
-              PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
-          if (!backgroundOk) {
-            openAppSettings(context)
-          }
-        }
+      if (pendingLocationRequest) {
+        pendingLocationRequest = false
+        viewModel.setLocationMode(if (granted) LocationMode.WhileUsing else LocationMode.Off)
       }
     }
 
@@ -309,7 +295,7 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
     }
   }
 
-  fun requestLocationPermissions(targetMode: LocationMode) {
+  fun requestLocationPermissions() {
     val fineOk =
       ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION) ==
         PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
@@ -317,17 +303,9 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
       ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION) ==
         PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
     if (fineOk || coarseOk) {
-      viewModel.setLocationMode(targetMode)
-      if (targetMode == LocationMode.Always) {
-        val backgroundOk =
-          ContextCompat.checkSelfPermission(context, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_BACKGROUND_LOCATION) ==
-            PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED
-        if (!backgroundOk) {
-          openAppSettings(context)
-        }
-      }
+      viewModel.setLocationMode(LocationMode.WhileUsing)
     } else {
-      pendingLocationMode = targetMode
+      pendingLocationRequest = true
       locationPermissionLauncher.launch(
         arrayOf(Manifest.permission.ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION, Manifest.permission.ACCESS_COARSE_LOCATION),
       )
@@ -783,20 +761,7 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
             trailingContent = {
               RadioButton(
                 selected = locationMode == LocationMode.WhileUsing,
-                onClick = { requestLocationPermissions(LocationMode.WhileUsing) },
-              )
-            },
-          )
-          HorizontalDivider(color = mobileBorder)
-          ListItem(
-            modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
-            colors = listItemColors,
-            headlineContent = { Text("Always", style = mobileHeadline) },
-            supportingContent = { Text("Allow background location (requires system permission).", style = mobileCallout) },
-            trailingContent = {
-              RadioButton(
-                selected = locationMode == LocationMode.Always,
-                onClick = { requestLocationPermissions(LocationMode.Always) },
+                onClick = { requestLocationPermissions() },
               )
             },
           )
@@ -816,13 +781,6 @@ fun SettingsSheet(viewModel: MainViewModel) {
           )
         }
       }
-    item {
-      Text(
-        "Always may require Android Settings to allow background location.",
-        style = mobileCallout,
-        color = mobileTextSecondary,
-      )
-    }
       item { HorizontalDivider(color = mobileBorder) }
 
     // Screen

apps/android/app/src/test/java/ai/openclaw/app/node/DeviceHandlerTest.kt

@@ -87,7 +87,6 @@ class DeviceHandlerTest {
         "camera",
         "microphone",
         "location",
-        "backgroundLocation",
         "sms",
         "notificationListener",
         "notifications",

docs/nodes/location-command.md

@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 ---
-summary: "Location command for nodes (location.get), permission modes, and background behavior"
+summary: "Location command for nodes (location.get), permission modes, and Android foreground behavior"
 read_when:
   - Adding location node support or permissions UI
-  - Designing background location + push flows
+  - Designing Android location permissions or foreground behavior
 title: "Location Command"
 ---
 
@@ -12,15 +12,15 @@ title: "Location Command"
 
 - `location.get` is a node command (via `node.invoke`).
 - Off by default.
-- Settings use a selector: Off / While Using / Always.
+- Android app settings use a selector: Off / While Using.
 - Separate toggle: Precise Location.
 
 ## Why a selector (not just a switch)
 
 OS permissions are multi-level. We can expose a selector in-app, but the OS still decides the actual grant.
 
-- iOS/macOS: user can choose **While Using** or **Always** in system prompts/Settings. App can request upgrade, but OS may require Settings.
-- Android: background location is a separate permission; on Android 10+ it often requires a Settings flow.
+- iOS/macOS may expose **While Using** or **Always** in system prompts/Settings.
+- Android app currently supports foreground location only.
 - Precise location is a separate grant (iOS 14+ “Precise”, Android “fine” vs “coarse”).
 
 Selector in UI drives our requested mode; actual grant lives in OS settings.
@@ -29,13 +29,12 @@ Selector in UI drives our requested mode; actual grant lives in OS settings.
 
 Per node device:
 
-- `location.enabledMode`: `off | whileUsing | always`
+- `location.enabledMode`: `off | whileUsing`
 - `location.preciseEnabled`: bool
 
 UI behavior:
 
 - Selecting `whileUsing` requests foreground permission.
-- Selecting `always` first ensures `whileUsing`, then requests background (or sends user to Settings if required).
 - If OS denies requested level, revert to the highest granted level and show status.
 
 ## Permissions mapping (node.permissions)
@@ -80,24 +79,11 @@ Errors (stable codes):
 - `LOCATION_TIMEOUT`: no fix in time.
 - `LOCATION_UNAVAILABLE`: system failure / no providers.
 
-## Background behavior (future)
+## Background behavior
 
-Goal: model can request location even when node is backgrounded, but only when:
-
-- User selected **Always**.
-- OS grants background location.
-- App is allowed to run in background for location (iOS background mode / Android foreground service or special allowance).
-
-Push-triggered flow (future):
-
-1. Gateway sends a push to the node (silent push or FCM data).
-2. Node wakes briefly and requests location from the device.
-3. Node forwards payload to Gateway.
-
-Notes:
-
-- iOS: Always permission + background location mode required. Silent push may be throttled; expect intermittent failures.
-- Android: background location may require a foreground service; otherwise, expect denial.
+- Android app denies `location.get` while backgrounded.
+- Keep OpenClaw open when requesting location on Android.
+- Other node platforms may differ.
 
 ## Model/tooling integration
 
@@ -109,5 +95,4 @@ Notes:
 
 - Off: “Location sharing is disabled.”
 - While Using: “Only when OpenClaw is open.”
-- Always: “Allow background location. Requires system permission.”
 - Precise: “Use precise GPS location. Toggle off to share approximate location.”