Can't endBackgroundTask: no background task exists with identifier *, or it may have already been ended

Question

My app monitors user location updates (not necessarily significant location change) with:

someLocationManager = [[CLLocationManager alloc] init];
[someLocationManager setDelegate:self];
[someLocationManager startUpdatingLocation];

When app (in simulator) is in foreground everything works ok, but when suspending it to background (not terminating), I get this error to the log:

Can't endBackgroundTask: no background task exists with identifier *, or it may have already been ended

All other answers for this error have no connection to location services, but only generic background task issues.

It's fine to post your own question/answer but at least make your "question" an actual question. And no need to mention that you are going to answer your own question. — rmaddy, Jun 18 '15 at 13:34
I think that acting like it's a real question has no benefit. Presenting a real problem - that's the point, and so I did. — mllm, Jun 18 '15 at 13:48

mllm · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-18T13:44:52.287

1

So it appears that the following 3 settings should be made in order for background location update to work properly. Do this and fix the problem:

Make NSLocationAlwaysUsageDescription key is set (with value as a reason for the permission) in info.plist.
Make sure to call [someLocationManager requestAlwaysAuthorization]; when asking for permission.
Enable Location Updates in Background Modes in Capabilities section in your target settings. Not sure about this one, but sounds right.

Enjoy!

edited Jun 18 '15 at 13:44

answered Jun 18 '15 at 12:58

mllm

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@AshishKakkad That's perfectly fine. – rmaddy Jun 18 '15 at 13:32
You don't mention whether the three posted steps actually fix the error or not. Do they? – rmaddy Jun 18 '15 at 13:35
"...should be made in order for background location update to work properly", so yes, it fixes the problem. I edited it to be more clear. – mllm Jun 18 '15 at 13:45

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 28 '15 at 13:49

Add the below code at the time of getting location authorization from the user. Because apple changed the default allowsBackgroundLocationUpdates NO from iOS9.

'if ([[[UIDevice currentDevice] systemVersion] floatValue] >= 9) {
    locationManager.allowsBackgroundLocationUpdates = YES;
}'

Can't endBackgroundTask: no background task exists with identifier *, or it may have already been ended

2 Answers2