Connect with people around you, without sharing your location.

Start by creating an account, choosing a nickname, creating your first group, and enabling location and notification permissions. Once that's done, you're ready to invite members and turn on tracking.

Some Android devices apply aggressive power-saving rules that may stop NearJoy from running in the background. To ensure the app works reliably, we recommend adjusting the following settings:

• Disable battery optimization. Android may limit background activity to save battery, which can delay location updates and notifications. Go to Settings → Apps → NearJoy → Battery → Battery Optimization and set it to Don't optimize.
• Disable "Manage unused apps". If Android labels NearJoy as "unused," it may automatically remove permissions or restrict background processes. Go to Settings → Apps → Special App Access → Unused App Settings and turn off the switch for NearJoy.
• Android stopping background services. Some manufacturers apply additional app-killing mechanisms beyond standard Android settings. For device-specific details, visit dontkillmyapp.com.

For groups with a small proximity range, enabling precise (fine) location helps you reliably see who's nearby. Coarse location may be enough for general sharing, but it can miss people or show them inaccurately in tight ranges.

Your location is always anonymized before being stored, whether you use fine or coarse location, so your privacy is protected.

To enable precise location, go to Settings → Location → App permissions → NearJoy, and turn on Precise location. You can also check on the app's map how your device shares location, to see the difference between coarse and fine accuracy.

The app is designed for efficiency, minimizing its impact on your device's battery and data usage. Background operations are carefully managed to preserve battery life, and network activity is optimized to reduce unnecessary data transfers. Don't just take our word for it - try it out and check battery consumption in your device settings.

If you're not receiving Proximity Alerts, it could be due to one of these reasons:

• Location & notification permissions. Make sure the app has permission to access your location, even when running in the background, and that notifications are allowed as well.
• Battery optimization. Some devices restrict background activity to save battery. Check that NearJoy is allowed to run in the background. Details vary by manufacturer - see dontkillmyapp.com.
  Battery settings walkthrough
• Android stopping background service. Some Android devices automatically limit or shut down background services when an app hasn't been used for a while, which can prevent real-time location updates. Many manufacturers add their own battery-saving or "unused apps" systems. Review your device's battery and background activity settings and disable restrictions for this app - device-specific instructions are at dontkillmyapp.com.
  App settings walkthrough
• App updates. Ensure you're using the latest version of NearJoy.
• Network connection. Proximity Alerts require a working internet connection. Make sure your device is online.
• Notifications. Confirm that notifications are enabled for the specific NearJoy group.

NearJoy uses your location in the background to provide timely and accurate Proximity Alerts and group notifications. This ensures that:

• You receive notifications when nearby users or groups are in proximity, even if the app isn't actively open.
• Group data and interactions remain accurate and up-to-date without manual refreshes.
• Battery and data usage are minimized - location updates are managed efficiently and only when necessary.

Your location data is never shared with other users. To protect privacy, your location is anonymized before it's stored on our servers. You can review and manage your location settings in Location & Privacy Controls.

We are committed to maintaining a safe and secure platform that protects children from exploitation, abuse, and harm. We strictly prohibit any form of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation (CSAE) and take all necessary steps to prevent, detect, and report such content and activity on our platform.

Please review our CSAE policy and feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.