Permissions
Background BLE scanning requires specific permissions on both iOS and Android. Skipping any of these steps will cause the app to stop forwarding when the screen turns off.
Android
Step 1 — Location permission (Always allow)
Android requires location permission for background BLE scanning.
- Go to Phone Settings → Apps → Alpik Forwarder → Permissions → Location.
- Select Allow all the time (not "only while using the app").
Without "Always allow", scanning stops as soon as the app moves to the background.
Step 2 — Disable battery optimisation
Android's battery optimisation will kill the app after a few minutes in the background if this is not disabled.
- Go to Phone Settings → Apps → Alpik Forwarder → Battery.
- Select Unrestricted (or "Don't optimise", depending on your Android version).
Many Android manufacturers add a proprietary battery management layer on top of Android's standard settings. If forwarding stops unexpectedly, check your manufacturer's specific settings:
| Manufacturer | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Samsung | Settings → Device Care → Battery → Background usage limits |
| Xiaomi / MIUI | Settings → Battery → App battery saver → Alpik Forwarder → No restrictions |
| Huawei | Settings → Battery → App launch → Alpik Forwarder → Manual → all toggles ON |
| OnePlus | Settings → Battery → Battery optimisation → Alpik Forwarder → Don't optimise |
| Oppo / Realme | Settings → Battery → Battery optimisation → Alpik Forwarder |
Step 3 — Nearby devices (Android 12+)
On Android 12 and later, BLE scanning requires the BLUETOOTH_SCAN permission separately from location.
- Go to Phone Settings → Apps → Alpik Forwarder → Permissions → Nearby devices.
- Enable Allow.
iOS
Step 1 — Bluetooth permission
- Go to iPhone Settings → Privacy & Security → Bluetooth.
- Enable the toggle for Alpik Forwarder.
Step 2 — Background App Refresh
iOS requires Background App Refresh to be enabled for the app to scan while in the background.
- Go to iPhone Settings → General → Background App Refresh.
- Ensure Background App Refresh is set to Wi-Fi & Mobile Data (or Wi-Fi only if you prefer).
- Scroll down to Alpik Forwarder and enable its individual toggle.
iOS allows continuous background BLE scanning for apps that declare the bluetooth-central background mode. The app remains active in the background. However, if Low Power Mode is enabled, iOS may reduce scan frequency.
Step 3 — Notifications (recommended)
Enable notifications so the app can alert you if the backend connection is lost.
- Go to iPhone Settings → Notifications → Alpik Forwarder.
- Enable Allow Notifications.
Verifying permissions
Back in the Alpik Forwarder, go to Settings → Diagnostics → Permission check. All items should display a green checkmark. Any item marked in red includes a link to the relevant system setting.