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B
boleshomeservices
March 20, 2026
Solved

Why is the QuickBooks Online mileage tracker not tracking automatically, and how do I fix it on iPhone or Android?

  • March 20, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 54 views

Everything was working great until an update in either December or January in which the tracker now only tracks sporadically. I changed nothing in my settings (I did turn it off and back on to see if that helped). I’ll go days with having to enter my trips manually then one day it will work then it’s back to not tracking at all.

Best answer by sofiamdc-2341

When mileage tracking gets sporadic, it usually means the QuickBooks app lost a background permission it needs to track your drives properly. App updates and iOS updates on your phone can sometimes reset these settings without warning, so let's walk through how to get everything turned back on.

 

On iPhone or iPad

Start with your device's location settings, since this is the most common culprit after an update:

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll down, and select the QuickBooks app.
  2. Select Location, then pick Always. Avoid selecting "While Using the App" or "Only While Using", as those will stop tracking whenever the app isn't open.
  3. Turn on Motion & Fitness, Background App Refresh, and Cellular Data.
  4. If a prompt about background location appears, select Always Allow.

 

Also check these settings that can interfere with background tracking:

  • Low Power Mode: When Low Power Mode is on, it can stop apps running in the background, including QuickBooks. Turn it off during trips, or keep the QuickBooks app open and active on screen if you need to use Low Power Mode.
  • Do Not Disturb: Make sure it's off (or scheduled off) during trips, as it can close background apps.
  • Significant Locations: This helps QuickBooks track trips. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services, scroll to System Services, then Significant Locations, and turn it on.

 

Then open QuickBooks, go to Menu, Settings, Mileage, and select Troubleshooting to review the settings list. A green check means it's set correctly; a (!) means you need to follow the on-screen prompt to fix it.

 

On Android

  1. In the QuickBooks app, go to Menu, Settings, then Mileage.
  2. Make sure the Auto-tracking switch is on.
  3. For Android 11 and above: set location permission to While using the app, then select Always allow in the follow-up prompt.
  4. Check the Avoid missed trips section. Green checks mean everything is set up right, while an exclamation point (!) means you should follow the on-screen steps to fix it.
  5. Go to your device's Settings, find the QuickBooks app, select Mobile Data, and turn on Allow background data usage, Allow unrestricted data usage, and Allow app while data saver on.
  6. If you're connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot while driving, try disconnecting from it. A connected hotspot can sometimes interfere with trip recording.

 

For both devices: update the app and your device iOS

If you haven't already, update the QuickBooks mobile app to the latest version, and make sure your device is running a current version of iOS or Android. The mileage tracker requires iOS 12.2 or later.

 

If you try all of these and your trips are still dropping, feel free to reply with your device model and iOS version so we can take a closer look together!

 

Check out: Fix mileage tracking issues in the QuickBooks mobile app

 

4 replies

J
JaneDave_IQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
March 20, 2026

Hello there, boles. Are you using an iPhone or an Android? QuickBooks normally records your trips automatically once tracking is enabled, but updates can sometimes reset background permissions.

 

If you're using an Android, since you've already tried toggling the tracker off and on, let’s perform a deeper check of your app's health. We can start by going to Menu ☰ > Settings > Mileage > Mileage Settings.

 

From there, you can review the Avoid missed trips list. If you see a green checkmark next to everything, the app is set up correctly. If you see an exclamation point (!), tap it and follow the prompts to restore the connection.

 

Another tip to consider is your data restrictions. Sometimes an update triggers Data Saver modes that disable background tracking. We can address this by adding the QBO mobile app to your permissions lists.

 

For a full walkthrough of these steps, you can check out this guide: Fix mileage tracking issues in the QuickBooks mobile app.

 

However, if you're using an iOS device, I recommend directly contacting our Live Support team for further assistance. Our live experts can help you with real-time support to fix this unusual behaviour.

 

In the meantime, you can continue to record your trips manually to keep your records up to date.

 

Feel free to reply to this post if you need further assistance.

B
boleshomeservicesAuthor
March 20, 2026

Thanks for the reply! 

 

I'm an iphone user.  From what I can see in the app's troubleshooting section everything is configured properly.  

C
ChristineJoieRQuickBooks Team
QuickBooks Team
March 20, 2026

Hello there, Boles. I appreciate your effort in confirming your situation. For iOS users, we can contact our QuickBooks Online live support team to investigate this further.

 

I recommend logging in to your QBO account via a web browser on your iOS device to contact them. Our QBO live support team is available to assist you in real-time with resolving any unusual issues related to mileage tracking.

 

If you have follow-up questions, let me know by leaving a comment below.

sofiamdc-2341
sofiamdc-2341Community ManagerAnswer
Community Manager
August 19, 2026

When mileage tracking gets sporadic, it usually means the QuickBooks app lost a background permission it needs to track your drives properly. App updates and iOS updates on your phone can sometimes reset these settings without warning, so let's walk through how to get everything turned back on.

 

On iPhone or iPad

Start with your device's location settings, since this is the most common culprit after an update:

  1. On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, scroll down, and select the QuickBooks app.
  2. Select Location, then pick Always. Avoid selecting "While Using the App" or "Only While Using", as those will stop tracking whenever the app isn't open.
  3. Turn on Motion & Fitness, Background App Refresh, and Cellular Data.
  4. If a prompt about background location appears, select Always Allow.

 

Also check these settings that can interfere with background tracking:

  • Low Power Mode: When Low Power Mode is on, it can stop apps running in the background, including QuickBooks. Turn it off during trips, or keep the QuickBooks app open and active on screen if you need to use Low Power Mode.
  • Do Not Disturb: Make sure it's off (or scheduled off) during trips, as it can close background apps.
  • Significant Locations: This helps QuickBooks track trips. Go to Settings, then Privacy, then Location Services, scroll to System Services, then Significant Locations, and turn it on.

 

Then open QuickBooks, go to Menu, Settings, Mileage, and select Troubleshooting to review the settings list. A green check means it's set correctly; a (!) means you need to follow the on-screen prompt to fix it.

 

On Android

  1. In the QuickBooks app, go to Menu, Settings, then Mileage.
  2. Make sure the Auto-tracking switch is on.
  3. For Android 11 and above: set location permission to While using the app, then select Always allow in the follow-up prompt.
  4. Check the Avoid missed trips section. Green checks mean everything is set up right, while an exclamation point (!) means you should follow the on-screen steps to fix it.
  5. Go to your device's Settings, find the QuickBooks app, select Mobile Data, and turn on Allow background data usage, Allow unrestricted data usage, and Allow app while data saver on.
  6. If you're connected to a Wi-Fi hotspot while driving, try disconnecting from it. A connected hotspot can sometimes interfere with trip recording.

 

For both devices: update the app and your device iOS

If you haven't already, update the QuickBooks mobile app to the latest version, and make sure your device is running a current version of iOS or Android. The mileage tracker requires iOS 12.2 or later.

 

If you try all of these and your trips are still dropping, feel free to reply with your device model and iOS version so we can take a closer look together!

 

Check out: Fix mileage tracking issues in the QuickBooks mobile app

 

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