Wi-Fi turning on automatically - what am I missing?

[jebb]

This is currently the biggest gripe I have with my stock/non-rooted ICS 4.04 RAZR MAXX HD and I can't seem to get to the bottom of it. Something is automatically enabling the wi-fi. It seems to happen at random. It does it while I'm sleeping and the device hasn't physically moved anywhere (but some nights it's fine), randomly during the day, and it seems to commonly happen when I drive and show up at a new location (work, etc). This would lead me to believe it's one of the Smart Actions or Google location services. But I've turned that stuff off.

I have the following disabled and Wi-Fi is still enabling itself:

Settings->Wi-Fi->Auto-Connect Wi-Fi
Settings->Wi-Fi->Advanced Wi-Fi->Keep Wi-Fi on during sleep
Settings->Location services->Google location services
Settings->Location services->Location & Google search
Settings->Location services->Standalone GPS services
Smart actions - all location-based triggers
Smart actions->Settings->Motorola Location Services
Maps->Settings->Location sharing (Latitude)
Play Store->Settings->Google AdMob Ads
Facebook->Settings->Messenger location services
Facebook->Settings->Refresh interval->1 hour
Evernote->Settings->Sync Notes->Sync automatically->Every 1 day
Evernote->Settings->Other Options->Use GPS Satellites

 

[Maddog241]

There is only one thing I can see that I have unchecked that is not in your list. At the top of the list of wi-fi settings is "Notify me blah blah blah" I have this unchecked and I do not get the wi-fi prompts. Have you tried a reboot after changing the settings?

I use the location services and some smart actions, so I don't think they are your problem.

 

[jebb]

There is only one thing I can see that I have unchecked that is not in your list. At the top of the list of wi-fi settings is "Notify me blah blah blah" I have this unchecked and I do not get the wi-fi prompts. Have you tried a reboot after changing the settings?

I use the location services and some smart actions, so I don't think they are your problem.

I forget to list that one - yes, it has been unchecked for some time. I have done several reboots.When I got up this morning Wi-Fi was on again. I looked at the battery usage stats and it appears to have turned on shortly after midnight. I then disabled it, and a literally few minutes later I see it come on again (screen was still on, still using the phone-I think I was in Taptalk). Just to be sure all my settings had taken affect, I did a reboot prior to leaving for work. So I reboot, don't open a single app, pull into work and bam, Wi-Fi is on AGAIN.

The only smart action I have enabled is a sleep rule. (Triggers: Timeframe, Actions: Ringer volume, VIP caller mode, & Brightness)

 

[Maddog241]

I had issues when I used the built in "sleep rule". What I did for my nighttime smart action was create one from scratch. Beyond that, the only other thing I can think of is possibly an app causing the problem. In the app settings you can see all that are running. They can be running and affecting things and not be "opened" by you. You might want to try to stop some of the ones you added one at a time and see if you can narrow it down.

Another less attractive option would be FDR. Sometimes a lot of work, but sometimes the only way to eliminate problems that can't be identified.

 

[jebb]

I am working on narrowing down my apps - the only one I see right away is Skype - it has the ability to toggle the wi-fi state, according the app list. I force closed it, cleared its data, and uninstalled it but that didn't do the trick.

I just deleted and recreated my sleep rule from scratch to and performed a reboot. Wi-Fi enabled again itself within 10 minutes. Wiping the device is sounding more appealing the more time I spend on it without results. Thanks for your continued support and suggestions.

 

[Maddog241]

Have you looked at the apps that are actually running? That list might help you narrow it down. As much of a pain as FDR is, it might be the only way to eliminate the problem. If you do that, I would suggest unchecking Notify Me and Auto connect Wi-fi before you restore anything. Those are the only 2 I have unchecked from your original list. Then, only restore one app at a time and see if/when the problem returns.

 

[jebb]

Found the culprit - MobileIron app.

 

[Maddog241]

Found the culprit - MobileIron app.

Excellent! Glad to hear that. Now I bet you battery life will improve some as well.

 

[dirkbonn]

Glad to hear you fixed the problem. I didn't have the problem but I was following this thread cuz I might learn something.

Just out of curiosity I looked up Mobileiron. In the discription was a little note that said, "automated access to corporate wifi and VPN networks."

I learned that when checking out apps I may want to install on my phone, I should read everything in the description section. For that I thank both Maddog and LN2.

Now I'm patiently waiting for my next smartphone (I have the Maxx HD) to be released sometime in the summer of 2014!

 

[jebb]

This is what made me suspicious - if you navigate to Settings->Apps and view the downloaded list, select the app, scroll down to "permissions", and under "System tools" it reads "change Wi-Fi state".

MobileIron can automatically populate Wi-Fi settings with SSIDs and passwords provided by your employer, hence the "automated access to corporate wifi and VPN networks." The ability to enable Wi-Fi might be for location related features. Regardless, the developer has been contacted. Hopefully they fix the bug soon.