diff --git a/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/NotificationHelper.java b/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/NotificationHelper.java
index 9be96879..77e806ae 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/NotificationHelper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/NotificationHelper.java
@@ -85,25 +85,29 @@ public Notification getNotification(String title, String text, String largeIcon,
         }
     }
 
-    public static void registerAllChannels(Context context) {
+   public static void registerAllChannels(Context context) {
+        // Create the NotificationChannel, but only on API 26+ because
+        // the NotificationChannel class is new and not in the support library
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-            String appName = ResourceResolver.newInstance(context).getString(("app_name"));
-            // Create the NotificationChannel, but only on API 26+ because
-            // the NotificationChannel class is new and not in the support library
+            String backgroundServiceChannelName = ResourceResolver.newInstance(context).getString(("background_service_notification_channel_name"));
             android.app.NotificationManager notificationManager = (android.app.NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
-            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createServiceChannel(appName));
-            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createSyncChannel());
-            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createAndroidPermissionsChannel(appName));
+            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createServiceChannel(backgroundServiceChannelName));
+            // comment out these lines as the main app is not using sync service and permissions channel
+            // TODO: consider dynamically register this notification channel based on config
+            // notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createSyncChannel());
+
+            // String permissionChannelName = ResourceResolver.newInstance(context).getString(("android_permission_notification_channel_name"));
+            // notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createAndroidPermissionsChannel(permissionChannelName));
         }
     }
 
     public static void registerServiceChannel(Context context) {
+        // Create the NotificationChannel, but only on API 26+ because
+        // the NotificationChannel class is new and not in the support library
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
-            String appName = ResourceResolver.newInstance(context).getString(("app_name"));
-            // Create the NotificationChannel, but only on API 26+ because
-            // the NotificationChannel class is new and not in the support library
+            String backgroundServiceChannelName = ResourceResolver.newInstance(context).getString(("background_service_notification_channel_name"));
             android.app.NotificationManager notificationManager = (android.app.NotificationManager) context.getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
-            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createServiceChannel(appName));
+            notificationManager.createNotificationChannel(createServiceChannel(backgroundServiceChannelName));
         }
     }
 
@@ -120,6 +124,7 @@ public static void registerSyncChannel(Context context) {
     public static NotificationChannel createServiceChannel(CharSequence name) {
         NotificationChannel channel = new NotificationChannel(SERVICE_CHANNEL_ID, name, android.app.NotificationManager.IMPORTANCE_LOW);
         channel.enableVibration(false);
+        channel.setShowBadge(false); // avoid badge count due to background service notification
         return channel;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/SyncAdapter.java b/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/SyncAdapter.java
index 9c713e98..3dd4c651 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/SyncAdapter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/marianhello/bgloc/sync/SyncAdapter.java
@@ -73,7 +73,9 @@ public SyncAdapter(
         batchManager = new BatchManager(this.getContext());
         notificationManager = (NotificationManager) getContext().getSystemService(Context.NOTIFICATION_SERVICE);
 
-        NotificationHelper.registerSyncChannel(context);
+        // comment out this line as the main app is not using sync service
+        // TODO: consider dynamically register this notification channel based on config
+        // NotificationHelper.registerSyncChannel(context);
     }
 
     /*
diff --git a/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 2b938a08..32a1a4ff 100644
--- a/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
 <resources>
     <string name="app_name">app_name</string>
+    <string name="background_service_notification_channel_name">Background location service</string>
 </resources>
\ No newline at end of file