The built-in Android battery saving mode is actually quite powerful. The only disappointment is that none of this is configurable out of the box. This is where Buoy comes in. Buoy makes it possible to use the built-in battery saver in any situation. If you want to make slight savings during the day without compromising performance, it can be done. If you need to squeeze the last ounce of power out of your device, it can be done. And If you want something in between, you can do it!

Buoy uses the hidden Android settings to specify the custom behavior of the built-in battery saver. Features include the following toggles:

♠ Advertising on other applications for which the low consumption mode is activated
◾ Android data saver for Wi-Fi or measured mobile data connections
♠ Integrated dark mode
◾ Launch Boost to speed up the start of the application
♠ vibration
◾ Display of window and activity animations
♠ Allow applications to use the SoundTrigger HAL
◾ Defer full device backups for later
♠ Postponement of application settings backups for later
◾ Using the built-in web firewall to protect against potentially malicious sites
♠ Changed location access mode restrictions for apps
◾ Reduce the maximum brightness of the panel
♠ Force all applications in standby mode
◾ Force all apps not to check data in the background
♠ Deactivation of unnecessary sensors
◾ Use of the permanent display
♠ Put the device in deep standby as soon as the screen goes off

The buoy also allows for something called the “sticky” low power mode. Usually, when the device is plugged in and unplugged, the low power mode is deactivated. However, the permanent mode reapplies the low power mode afterwards to continue to save the battery.

Note that this app requires WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission which can be granted with EITHER a PC using ADB or root. Root is NOT required for this application, it is optional. Android 8.0+ is supported, with more features enabled on Android 10+.

Uninstalling the app will not reset the battery saver configuration. You must click on the Reset button to undo any changes made by Buoy.

This project is FOSS in the sense that the source code is available for free at https://www.github.com/tytydraco/Buoy. It can be compiled using Android Studio Canary at your convenience. Although I offer support for the app, I cannot help you compile the app from source.

What’s New?

– Fix reset button taking two presses to work
– Remove now-redundant plugged-in message
– Do not automatically apply battery saver mode; this caused some devices to get stuck in battery saver mode