UPDATE: Potential work arounds for folks having problem in sleep policies not working correctly have been put in version 1.2.0 onwards. Please redownload to test and let me know. Read below for more details.
Latest Version: 1.4.4 (See below for change log history)
Are you frustrated by your downloads getting broken or worse, switching over to slow and expensive mobile data connections like GPRS/Edge/3G when your wi-fi connection gets dropped by your Android phone when the screen goes off? If yes, then look no further. Here is my app that allows you to choose your desired Wi-Fi Sleep policy. You can choose from the following options:
1. Default -> This means that wi-fi will turn off whenever the screen goes off.
2. Wi-Fi On on sleep if plugged -> This means that if your phone is plugged into a USB slot or wall charger, then wi-fi will not turn off even when the screen goes off.
3. Wi-Fi Never goes off -> This means that your wi-fi will not shut down whenever screen turns off, even if you are not plugged into USB/charger.
Please note that this app just changes the sleep policy and does not change the wi-fi state by itself. You can still control wi-fi turning on/off manually.
Few folks were having issues with their devices that the inbuilt handling of this wi-fi sleep policy in their phones wasn’t being done properly by Android. To take care of this, there are a few workarounds added to the app now which can be accessed by clicking on “Advanced Options” on the configuration screen (This configuration screen can be accessed by launching the app or it will also show up whenever you add a widget). Enable any one or all of the workarounds mentioned in advanced settings depending on what works best on your device as there are lot of variants due to different manufacturers and different Android versions on different phones. Please also note that you should enable these workarounds only if the app is not working fully well for you without enabling them as some of them can cause your battery to drain a bit faster.
Another thing to note is that I’ve added a widget for it. So, you can install the app and instead of having to open the app and change the setting every time, you can just add its widget to your home screen (Long press on home screen. Then choose Widgets->Wi-Fi Keep Alive). Now, you can just touch it whenever you want to change your setting and it will automatically cycle through the options listed above.
Dark/Sepia Widget Icon -> Default setting
Purple Widget Icon -> Wi-Fi On on sleep if plugged
Green Widget -> Wi-Fi never goes off
Please try it out and let me know if you face any issues or have any suggestions 
Known Issues:
1) Known issue with “on when plugged in” policy is that if you are already plugged in while changing anything in the app, workarounds don’t take place until you plug out and plug in again
2) This is not a known issue with the app but with wi-fi on some devices itself that it stops working on leaving it idle even if the phone is not sleeping. This is not the purview of this particular app and it might not solve it, although few folks say that this app helps in this scenario as well.
3) Some routers/settings are also known to cause issues with wi-fi in sleep. The correct pattern has not been identified yet but many people report that they can stay connected to wi-fi in sleep with some routers but with other routers, it fails. (Work Around 3 might help in such cases but not always)
4) While adding widget, the main app screen will pop-up for widget configuration. You need to choose any one policy (even if desired one already selected) otherwise widget will not be added
Notes:
1) Please press Menu key in the app and select “Help” to see details about policy and workaround options.
2) Please report any bugs here along with these details so that i can fix the issues:
Changelog:
16-August-2010 -> 1.4.4
* Fix widget icon colors (Note: If the new icons don’t appear on existing widget, please delete the widget and add it again)
13-August-2010 -> 1.4.3
* Fix widget icon resolutions to make them look sharper on home screen (Note: If the new icons don’t appear on existing widget, please delete the widget and add it again)
02-August-2010 -> 1.4.2
* Better looking & smaller icons (including widget). Thanks a lot to “rori” from xda-developers to design the icons (Note: If the new icons don’t appear on existing widget, please delete the widget and add it again)
* Space optimization so that the app takes lesser space on phone.
22-July-2010 -> 1.4.1
* Fixed a bug that can cause wi-fi to keep reconnecting in quick succession in certain situations.
22-July-2010 -> 1.4.0
* Added workaround 4 (Re-associate automatically with access point if all else fails. Needs workaround 3 to be enabled)
* Support for small screens (e.g. XPeria X10 mini)
* Widget/Icons size optimizations for older Android versions
* Resource optimizations for lesser space and faster loading
* Misc. under-the-hood UI tweaks for better/consistent layouts across different screen sizes/densities/android versions.
11-July-2010 -> 1.3.0
* Added workaround 3 (Ping the router gateway regularly)
* Lot of optimizations for battery savings.
* Apply workarounds without needing to select the policy again
06-July-2010 -> 1.2.1
* Bug Fix for a Force Close
* More Optimizations
* Help and Info Menus
* Option to disable/enable debug logging
04-July-2010 -> 1.2.0
* Added workarounds to take care of sleep policies not working on some phones
* Optimized the code a bit for faster operations
* Added Configuration screens to widgets (pops up whenever widget is added)
28-June-2010 -> 1.1.0
* Added Widget
27-June-2010 -> 1.0.0
* Initial Version
Screenshots
Download:
Search for “Wi-Fi Keep Alive” in Android marketplace or simply scan the below QR code:
Nice lil app, but it seens that it doesnt work on my Nexus 1 (FRF83 with MCR aditions). Regardless of your app or spare parts settings, wifi goes off after the screen times out. What system have you tried on?
@takeshi: I have tested it on my nexus one with FRF50. Some other users with FRF83 have mentioned the same problem to me. I’m adding some workarounds that should potentially fix it for you. Update will be coming around weekend if I can get enough time out from work
[...] finished uploading the new version 1.2.0 of my android app Wi-Fi Keep Alive to the Android market. This version has a lot of optimizations and also a few workarounds to [...]
There’s a known bug with wifi sleep policy on the N1 and other devices with broadcom wifi chips where on some configurations, wifi sleep policy is ignored.
http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/android/thread?tid=01a47ff5b0a92d52&hl=en&fid=01a47ff5b0a92d5200048abc4a80fbf2
[...] [...]
Thanks for making the app, I’m testing it now. Could you please update your post with a description of the “workarounds”? Thanks!
Nevermind, I found a description of those options in the Settings menu on the Advanced Options screen.
The app is not working for me though.
Device: Nexus One (T-Mobile version), running official Froyo Build FRF91. Not rooted, or otherwise modified.
App version: 1.2.1
Workaround Combinations Tried: All six.
Logcat: Turned on Debug mode but no idea how to send this.
I have a very common and popular Linksys WRT54GL router, with DD-WRT firmware installed. I also tried changing the wireless security algorithm from TKIP to AES and neither works. I’m totally and absolutely lost.
I got my Nexus One just a few days ago, and am running vanilla Froyo FRF91. I couldn’t be a more typical Nexus One user. If I’m having this problem, then a lot of others will be having it too for sure.
It is not working for my Samsung Eclair 2.1 either. The Notification showing Wifi but cant ping to the android ip. Wifi can remain connected only when I have the charging cable connected. Maybe if you can trick Android that phone is charging, wifi could always stay connected.
Guys, please try the new 1.4.0 version with all workarounds enabled and let me know how it works out for you
[...] out a new update to my Android App Wi-Fi Keep Alive today. This update brings in another work around for the issue where the wi-fi is alive on the [...]
If my phone is within a workaround zone Wi-Fi is on. Always ON. No way to switch it off. Just to go somewhere outside the workaround zone. Wi-Fi on doesn’t mean it is working. It is just on – so 3G is off and I have no Internet. I have to switch off Wi-Fi after sleep and it comes back by itself and works until next sleeping period. Un-installing and reinstalling the program doesn’t help. N1 Enomther v2.10.2
@Igor: Are you using some other wi-fi related apps as well? Because wi-fi keep alive does not turn wi-fi on or off. It comes into effect only when some other app or user turns the wi-fi on.
I used to use a widget to switch Wi-Fi on-off. Now it doesn’t work. I did a nandroid backup after wipe it didn’t solve the problem. I did a clean install and still not able to switch off Wi-Fi. Everything was working before I installed Wi-Fi keep alive
Sorry, bro. My fault. I’ve found the problem. Not Wi-Fi Keep Alive.
no problemo.. glad that you figured it out
I was not able to maintain a Wifi connection when the screen sleeps with Wi-Fi Keep Alive and an HTC Aria with CM6 Froyo.
[...] issue. I came across this as well when few people mentioned that they couldn’t find my app Wi-Fi Keep Alive in the X10 mini marketplace. On some digging into the android docs and the X10 mini specs, I found [...]
I did not have success with any of the workarounds on the nexus one. When I enabled workaround 3 and then 4 the phone become sluggish. The keep alive application was no longer very responsive and often android asked if it should be forced closed, or wait which is what I did to turn it off each time. Not sure if this helps.
Thanks for the feedback, Rob. This helps a lot. I got a report for the non-responsiveness in my developer dashboard but there was no information present about the situation/stack trace etc so I didn’t know when/what was causing this. I’ll try to fix this with the next release.
No problems. If you would like me to run it up again later on to see if it is still affecting response time I can do that. I however did not have success in keeping the wifi connection from sleeping on the nexus one.
[...] Also, I've been using an app called "Wi-Fi Keep Alive" by Shantanu Goel It has several modes that include partial wake locks and 10 sec ping to keep connection alive. I use it primarily because it has a handy widget so you don't have to go through system settings to find it. Free in the Android market. Wi-Fi Keep Alive | Shantanu's Technophilic Musings [...]
[...] an app (free but can donate) called "wifi keep alive", you can read about it here Wi-Fi Keep Alive | Shantanu's Technophilic Musings, its available in the Market, open it and select "always on", click "advanced [...]
I am trying the workarounds as I cannot keep wifi on on xperia 10 mini pro. I noticed that if u change the setting on the app it doesnt change the widget. So you could change the app to always on and the widget stays orange or white etc. Works ok the other way round though -If u change the widget it changes the app.
[...] I pushed out a couple of updates to my android app Wi-Fi Keep alive a few weeks ago (mainly related to fixing the resolution and colors of the widget icons) taking the [...]
Hi Shantanu,
I tried to download the latest Wi-Fi Keep Alive but unfortunately I’m using a China-made tablet that has no Market Android access.
Do you have a URL link of the APK file where I can directly download it? Worst comes to worst, can you please send it to my email?
Thank you. Hope to hear from you.
[...] energetico del wifi Ottimo, altrimenti ti segnalo questa applicazione: Wi-Fi Keep Alive. Wi-Fi Keep Alive | Shantanu's Technophilic Musings Potrebbe tornare utile nel [...]
[...] out it’s a farely well known fault with some Android phones, but thanks to a handy app called Wi-Fi Keep Alive my problems are solved. Samsung Galaxy [...]
Lease do not reconnect WiFi when airplane mode is enabled
Is this project still ongoing?
I have a rooted Nook Color that will not keep Wifi on even though the system is set to never sleep. I have tried your program, with all workarounds, but it does not work for the Nook.
Android ver 2.1
Wifi chip is a TQM679002 802.11b/g/n WLAN/BT from triquint.com
In Android if screen is off then network switching 3G -> Wifi doesn’t work, right? If right, can Wi-Fi Keep Alive help?
I wonder how can I make my X10 Mini Pro (Android 2.1) switching to Wifi when I go to office/home even if screen is off.
Wi-Fi Keep Alive default installation (without workarounds) doesn’t fix that.
masvil, wi-fi keep alive will not help in switching the connection. It can only help if your wi-fi already enabled and connected.
[...] a geek, so set out to resolve this on my own. I installed data monitor app and another to keep my wi-fi connection alive. Lo and behold, this month is almost over and my total data usage for a normal month of use is less [...]
My Optimus didn’t have the Advance Wi-Fi Configuration so I couldn’t change the settings, but your program fixed it, thanks! If I don’t enable any workarounds, the program should work like the stock configuration, right?
Hi, I would love to be able to use this program also via Locale.
Example:
Create a condition in Locale that WiFI is always on when at home WLAN.
There is already an app that does exactly that but it stopped working with Froyo and has never been updated since 2009. Would be great if your program could fill this gap!
TIA
ThyMaster
Works perfectly on Optus ZTE V9. I tried many others and this is only one that works as it is intended. Best wifi keep-alive app out there!
sir
I used your app. despite keeping on wifi never sleep &turning on option 3&4 in advance setting wifi turns off when idle .I use galaxy s gingerbread 2.3.3.please help me. I have wifi connection at home but I can’t use it fully because of this issue.
Hi Shantanu,
I have a samsung galaxy s2 just a couple of days old with factory settings not rooted , I tried many workaround apps since yesterday wififixer,wififixerfree,Advanced wifi lock, blade wifi fix, wifi static,fxr wifi fix and rescue and now your app wi-fi keep alive.
I’m using speedtest.net app to test the connection. Yesterday I was able to get some success with wifi static and Advanced wifi lock together. Speedtest showing speeds of DN:5622kbps UP:9356 PING:34ms
But today again I was facing the same issue of network connection getting lost.
So I uninstalled wifi static, downloaded your app enabled work around 3 and 4 , and kept wifi lock as it is.
Again first time it worked for good speeds in speedtest. but second time speed test reported network connection issues.
So next i uninstalled wifi lock and enabled all your work arounds. but still I have the same problem speedtest reports network connection issues.
I’ve turned on the log. Please let me know where to find the log so that i can send it to you if you need to take a look at it.
Thanks
MM
So far seems to work … this is such a issue ..seems I am always struggling to find something to keep wifi alive..
Can you tell me where to find the log file
Thanks for the app
ehsiii
SE Xperia mini pro sk17i tried everything his is my last resort.
If anyone knows please help (what workaround if default setting not working) ?
Thank You
I accidently deleted logcat once and now the app isn’t creating any logs eventhough i hv reinstaled the app
HTC Desire froyo2.2
None of workarounds make it work, have an update for this?
When screen goes off the WiFi also I notice it because i like on-line radio and it doesnt play when screen goes off. Pleasse help
Nothing I do achieves uninstall.
Please help!
Razr- running 4.2.1