Airplane mode makes the app silently crash, VPN stays connected

[DefectInsect]

Do you use TrackerControl from Google Play/F-Droid/other?
Current release from GitHub. Bug exhibited in every version and on multiple phones.

Describe the bug
In general, when switching airplane mode on or off the phone stays connected to the local VPN.
Upon switching airplane mode off or when having airplane mode turned on for too long, there is a good chance for TC to silently crash in the background. The phone still stays connected to the VPN, but Apps will be unable to access the internet until TC is restarted. TC crashes when opened.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Turn on airplane mode.
2. Wait some time (e.g. overnight)
3. Turn off airplane mode.
4. Apps won't work anymore.

To Resolve

1. Open TC-App
2. Crash message appears
3. Send bug report/dismiss
4. TC restarts and works again

[kasnder]

Sorry to hear about this. I went into my emails and didn't find that you sent me the bug report. Could you please do that? You'll need an email app on your phone for this. Otherwise, it'll nearly be impossible for me to fix this issue.

[DefectInsect]

Hey there, it just happened again and I sent a bug report. Thanks for caring!

[kasnder]

Thanks. This seems to be the error:

java.lang.RuntimeException: Unable to create service eu.faircode.netguard.ServiceSinkhole: android.app.ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException: Service.startForeground() not allowed due to mAllowStartForeground false: service net.kollnig.missioncontrol/eu.faircode.netguard.ServiceSinkhole
	at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:5086)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.-$$Nest$mhandleCreateService(Unknown Source:0)
	at android.app.ActivityThread$H.handleMessage(ActivityThread.java:2428)
	at android.os.Handler.dispatchMessage(Handler.java:106)
	at android.os.Looper.loopOnce(Looper.java:226)
	at android.os.Looper.loop(Looper.java:313)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.main(ActivityThread.java:8757)
	at java.lang.reflect.Method.invoke(Native Method)
	at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit$MethodAndArgsCaller.run(RuntimeInit.java:571)
	at com.android.internal.os.ZygoteInit.main(ZygoteInit.java:1067)
Caused by: android.app.ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException: Service.startForeground() not allowed due to mAllowStartForeground false: service net.kollnig.missioncontrol/eu.faircode.netguard.ServiceSinkhole
	at android.app.ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException$1.createFromParcel(ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException.java:54)
	at android.app.ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException$1.createFromParcel(ForegroundServiceStartNotAllowedException.java:50)
	at android.os.Parcel.readParcelableInternal(Parcel.java:4787)
	at android.os.Parcel.readParcelable(Parcel.java:4755)
	at android.os.Parcel.createExceptionOrNull(Parcel.java:3018)
	at android.os.Parcel.createException(Parcel.java:3007)
	at android.os.Parcel.readException(Parcel.java:2990)
	at android.os.Parcel.readException(Parcel.java:2932)
	at android.app.IActivityManager$Stub$Proxy.setServiceForeground(IActivityManager.java:6991)
	at android.app.Service.startForeground(Service.java:743)
	at eu.faircode.netguard.ServiceSinkhole.onCreate(ServiceSinkhole.java:2546)
	at android.app.ActivityThread.handleCreateService(ActivityThread.java:5073)
	... 9 more

[kasnder]

So, I further had a look at the bug report and it seems that you're using a TC version that's more than a year old. Could you please try updating to the latest version first? I might also be looking at the wrong bug report, so it would be helpful to mention this GitHub discussion in your bug report.

[DefectInsect]

Hey ksander, thanks again for looking into it.
I'm using 2023.08.09 and included my Username in the bug-report, which I sent minutes before making my last comment.
By bug-report you mean the window, that pops up, when the app crashes, correct?

[kasnder]

yes, exactly. sending the bug report only works though if you have an email programme installed. if you could indicate in the subject line of that email that you're referring to this issue, that'd be fantastic. i still can't identify it. sorry!

[DefectInsect]

Hmm.. I have the GMail App, as well as FairEmail set up. However, whenever TC crashes, I am given a small message box with a textbox + the option to "Send" its contents. No Mail-App opens and no subject can be chosen. Also no corresponding mail within my sent items.

[DefectInsect]

Here's another one.

[kasnder]

I don't receive these bug reports sadly. Alternatively, you could try to run adb logcat on your device and send me the output, but it's a little tricky to run. If you get it to work, then send the report to hello@trackercontrol.org