# Question
Title: Battery draining fast because of Android System
I'm on a HTC Droid DNA with 4.4.2, not rooted. My battery is going down really fast. When I look in power settings it shows that the main offender is Android System with 92% of power usage. I know that android system is a collection of apps, so how do I figure out which ones are doing this?

It's only been bad like this for the last few weeks. Before that I usually had no problem making it through the day.

**I'm hoping there is a way to find the culprit without having to guess.**
Since it may be more than one sub system at fault, and since there isn't an easy way to determine battery usage outside of controlled conditions, I don't want to have to shut off a system, wait a day to see if it *seems* like things have gotten better, and then move on to the next one, hoping to divine the correct sequence by chance, while taking normal usage into account.

I'd try Better Battery Stats, but I don't think it will work right since I'm not rooted.

# Answer
> 0 votes
mine had the same problem too. just turn off any connections. turn on airplane mode, disable location services, wifi, bluetooth, all kind of those. Reset your phone and let it be idle for a couple minutes and things should get back to normal.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Unfortunately, the only way to jurasticly improve your battery life is by getting a new, more efficient phone. However, there are definitely compromises you can take to make it last longer.

One of the main killers is using 4G mobile data. Hence why turning on aeroplane mode uses like 3% an hour, so switch over to 3G when not needed, or turn off mobile data when connected to wifi (if you haven't already enabled in developer settings).

Another is location. Turn it off because chances are you won't need it most of the time.

Thirdly brightness ( obviously ). Huge killer. To see if this is the case, go into settings \> Battery \> 3 Dots top left \> Battery Usage \> Show full usage. You can then see in more detail what's draining the battery.

Another big consumer is Instagram, Snapchat. Try switching over to apps like Messenger lite or Facebook lite when possible. This uses far less mobile data and battery.

Use dark mode. Helps massively. Trust me.

Again if you're in need to message people, try use SMS if you already don't.

Or bring a powerpack, but we all know that's effort.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, battery-life
---


# Question
Title: Google Drive: transfer files only over wifi keeps turning on
In my android version 7.1.1 mobile, I am unable to upload files to `Google Drive` over mobile network. I am not able to disable `transfer files only over wifi` field from the `settings` of `Google Drive`. When I disable that it appears to be disabled there. However when I recheck this by clicking back button and coming to `settings` again, I can still see that `transfer files only over wifi` is enabled.

# Answer
upgraded Google Drive and that fixed the issue.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, google-drive, uploads
---


# Question
Title: Zebra MC220K not working with local DNS server
I need help debugging something. My company recently purchased an `Zebra MC220K`, and it is unable to resolve internal DNS domains. I have tried all of the following:

1. Forget the network.
2. Enable / disable airplane mode.
3. Change the wifi configuration to 'static' and manually put in the DNS server that we use.
4. Install termux and doing a DNS lookup, which resulted in the correct ip should be referring to.
5. Factory reset the device.
6. Check a dozen other android devices (S8, S10, S20, Galaxy Tab, Google Pixel, etc), all of which work as expected.
7. Run an android 10 vm, which also works as expected.

I am at a loss, I have no clue why I am still getting `ERR_NAME_NOT_RESOLVED` when using Chrome / Firefox / Edge / Samsung Internet / Brave / Opera. Literally any browser throws this error, clearly indicating something wrong in the software.

Are there any other tests I should perform, or do I just yeet back the product because it doesnt work?

# Answer
> 1 votes
For whoever is banging their head against a wall, turns out it is an actual Zebra issue. They do not use the DNS provided in the DHCP config and *always* default to another DNS resolver. The affected versions are OS build 10.16.10 LG44 or LG79.

If you require a hotpatch, feel free to reach out to their customer support, they will be able to provide one to you.

---
Tags: wi-fi, android-10
---


# Question
Title: AOSP Android 11 Kernel build for Pixel3a/Sargo Touchscreen not working
**Intro:** I had an issue getting the build to compile, but finally got it to successfully build/compile, & installed on my phone, as covered here: mkbootfs command not found while trying to build aosp kernel I followed the guide here: https://source.android.com/setup/build/building-kernels

BUT... I made **NO CHANGES to the kernel** as I want it to work first. My phone boots fine, but the touchscreen doesnt work! Am I missing something?

To say it again if I wasn't clear, I have vanilla AOSP Android 11, made no changes, compiled the kernel, flashed it to my phone, and the touchscreen doesnt work.

If I can't figure this out, at least I'm sharing a complete guide on how to build this...without a functional touch screen!

Here's exactly what I did:

**PREREQS:**

```
Unlock bootloader (not covered here)

Install kernel-build-tools (not included in repo for some reason):
cd ~/
mkdir kernel-build-tools
git clone https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/prebuilts/build-tools
ls -l kernel-build-tools
nano ~/.profile
Add lines to path: (this will work as current user NOT SUDO!!)
# add Kernel tools to path
if [ -d "$HOME/kernel-build-tools/build-tools/linux-x86/bin" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/kernel-build-tools/build-tools/linux-x86/bin:$PATH"
fi
Refresh environment: source ~/.profile

Install/Setup adb & fastboot
Download adb & fastboot & unzip:
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
sudo apt-get install unzip
unzip platform-tools-latest-linux.zip -d ~
nano ~/.profile
Add lines:
# add Android SDK platform tools to path
if [ -d "$HOME/platform-tools" ] ; then
    PATH="$HOME/platform-tools:$PATH"
fi
Update environment: source ~/.profile

Install build tools:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y bc bison build-essential ccache curl flex g++-multilib gcc-multilib git gnupg gperf imagemagick lib32ncurses5-dev lib32readline-dev lib32z1-dev liblz4-tool libncurses5 libncurses5-dev libsdl1.2-dev libssl-dev libxml2 libxml2-utils lzop pngcrush rsync schedtool squashfs-tools xsltproc zip zlib1g-dev

Create build directories:
mkdir -p ~/bin
mkdir -p ~/android/lineage

Install Repo cmd:
curl https://storage.googleapis.com/git-repo-downloads/repo > ~/bin/repo
chmod a+x ~/bin/repo

Fix Python:
sudo ln -s /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/python

Configure Git:
git config --global user.email "[email]"
git config --global user.name "[user]"

Turn on Caching to speed up build:
export USE_CCACHE=1
export CCACHE_EXEC=/usr/bin/ccache
ccache -M 25G

```

**STEPS:**

```
AOSP REPO:
cd ~/
mkdir aosp && cd aosp
repo init -u https://android.googlesource.com/platform/manifest -b android-11.0.0_r38 --depth=1
repo sync

AOSP KERNEL REPO:
cd ~/
mkdir aosp-kernel && cd aosp-kernel
repo init -u https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/manifest -b android-msm-bonito-4.9-android11-qpr2
repo sync

KERNEL CONFIGS: (I did NOT do this; left here for reference for others)
ls -l ~/android/aosp-kernel/build.config -> [symbolic path to actual file]
->~/android/aosp-kernel/private/msm-google/build.config.bonito_no-cfi
Edit this file:
(orig) POST_DEFCONFIG_CMDS="check_defconfig && update_nocfi_config" ->
POST_DEFCONFIG_CMDS="update_nocfi_config"
*Note: This file indicates the kernel config file: bonito_defconfig
Edit & add to: ~/android/aosp-kernel/private/msm-google/arch/arm64/configs/bonito_defconfig
# Kevin added - IPTables TTL support
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_HL=y
CONFIG_NETFILTER_XT_TARGET_HMARK=y
[Need a blank carriage return at bottom!]

BUILD Image.lz4 via AOSP Kernel repo: (I tried both)
build/build.sh
-OR: BUILD_CONFIG=./private/msm-google/build.config.bonito_no-cfi build/build.sh (if you want to specify a different build that the default)

CONVERT Image.lz4->boot.img via AOSP repo:
Copy newly created \aosp-kernel\out\android-msm-pixel-4.9\dist\Image.lz4
-> \aosp\device\google\bonito-kernel\
cd ~/android/aosp
source build/envsetup.sh
Setup device:
lunch aosp_sargo (Just lunch to get device list)
Make only boot image:
m bootimage

FLASH TO PHONE:
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot reboot

```

# Answer
> 1 votes
I'd to know how an issue like this still exists, but here's the fix:

**File:** aosp-kernel\private\msm-google\arch\arm64\configs\bonito\_defconfig

**Change these to "y"** & rebuild:

`CONFIG_TOUCHSCREEN_SYNAPTICS_DSX_CORE_v27=m CONFIG_TOUCHSCREEN_SYNAPTICS_DSX_RMI_DEV_v27=m CONFIG_TOUCHSCREEN_SYNAPTICS_DSX_FW_UPDATE_v27=m CONFIG_TOUCHSCREEN_SYNAPTICS_DSX_TEST_REPORTING_v27=m`

Also found here: https://github.com/facebookexperimental/ExtendedAndroidTools/issues/3

---
Tags: kernel, vanilla-android, aosp
---


# Question
Title: Cannot change wallpaper on Xiaomi devices
Since the last update on my MI 11 Lite 5G, I'm unable to set my wallpaper to one of my own photos. The only choices given are supplied wallpapers - there is no longer a 'Local' or 'Gallery' option.

Does anyone know if the option is now available somewhere else, or have they blundered on this release?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I found a way to do it. I found the photo I wanted in my photo gallery and hit 'more', then chose 'set as wallpaper'.

---
Tags: xiaomi, wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: How can I export all my open Firefox Tabs to a text file?
I've been trying to find a method to export all my currently open tabs in the Android Firefox browser. Unfortunately this seem impossible from default browser installation and very hard to do from command line as the SQLite3 database that Firefox is using, contains too many tables and hard to find the right query.

Apparently this is possible for Google Chrome using THESE hacks.

I would like to have each URL on a separate line in a text file.

# Answer
> 7 votes
**Note**: this solution requires a rooted Android.

In a terminal emulator app, execute:

(Requires Busybox if running Android 5.1.1 or below. For Marshmallow, remove the term *busybox* from the following command.)

```
su
content query --uri content://org.mozilla.firefox.db.tabs/tabs/ --projection url | busybox cut -d '=' f 2 > /sdcard/firefox_tabs.txt

```

Explanation of the second command:

* `content query`: to query a Content Provider
* `org.mozilla.firefox.db.tabs`: a content provider from Firefox.
* `--projection url`: list data from the `url` column only

(Click image to enlarge)

Or if you have the `sqlite3` tool in Android, then you can do:

```
su
sqlite3 /data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/*.default/browser.db "SELECT url FROM tabs ORDER BY position" > /sdcard/firefox_tabs.txt

```

I've assumed that you have a single Firefox profile and its name has not been altered. If you've a multi-profile setup or if you did change the profile's name, then instead of `*.default` provide the correct name of the profile of whose tabs you want in your list.

# Answer
> 7 votes
On **Android** system you can use **Termux** (**No** root required):

1. Navigate in Firefox to URL: `file:///data/data/org.mozilla.firefox/files/mozilla/`
2. Choose the link of `***.default` folder of your profile
3. Choose the `sessionstore.js` file
4. Copy content of this file and save it in `sessionstore.js` file on local storage
5. Run the command in Termux to output your tabs urls:

```
cat ~/storage/shared/sessionstore.js | sed -n 's@{\"url\":\"@&\n@g; s@\",\"title\"@\n@gp' | sed '/^[:{]\"/d'

```

Or, this command to save your tabs urls in file `sessionstore.txt` on your local storage:

```
cat ~/storage/shared/sessionstore.js | sed -n 's@{\"url\":\"@&\n@g; s@\",\"title\"@\n@gp' | sed '/^[:{]\"/d' > ~/storage/shared/sessionstore.txt

```

# Answer
> 5 votes
Apparently there is an Android specific Firefox browser plug-in called Tabs Backup. This seem to work like charm! It places a text file in `/storage/emulated/0/Android/tabs_backup/` (**Aka.** `/sdcard/Android/tabs_backup/`) called `backup_DDMMYYY_hhmmss.txt`.

However, it would still be interesting to know how to do this from command line.

---

UPDATE: **2018-08-15**

Since some time back, *Tabs Backup* no longer works for the recent versions of Android Firefox. Instead, use Tabs Export. You also need a separate plugin, to import Tabs.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Currently, if you open the list of tabs, there's simply a "Share All Tabs" button and you can easily save that as a text file.

---
Tags: firefox-for-android, browser-add-ons, browser-tabs
---


# Question
Title: How to get out of TWRP without touchscreen and functions
I am running LineageOS 18.1 on my Raspberry Pi 4 with 4 GB (using this ROM: `https://konstakang.com/devices/rpi4/LineageOS18/`). It worked, until I tried getting into TWRP to root the device. But, since TWRP is touch and I didn't knew this before, I got stuck since I have no touchscreen. Now, if I turn the device off and on again after a few seconds, it still boots into TWRP and asks me if I want to install it to /system. But how do I get into the normal Android mode again. And since the RPi4 has no buttons like Volume Up, Down and Power, I can't boot normally into the system. So how can I modify the files to get out of there or is there any other way to get out of TWRP without buying a touchscreen?

# Answer
I now found something interesting. I can't (somehow) connect to it via ADB, but I could connect the USB-C power cable to my laptop and could somehow control my mouse. Thanks to everybody who helped.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: twrp, boot, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Why isn't my phone recognized by my computer in Fastboot mode?
I have recently bought a Samsung Galaxy S42 5G, and was messing around with boot combinations. While I was doing this, I found out that the phone had Download mode, but also a Fastboot mode. I was trying to get this to work with my ADB and FastBoot tools on my computer, but it doesn't seem to be recognized by Fastboot, and in the device manager, my phone shows up as "Android" With a yellow warning mark. Anyone know what is happening? I can't really find much info on this device.

# Answer
I think I have came across a fix. I disabled window's protection against unsigned drivers, and opened google's android drivers, and added my own phones Hardware ID into the list. I Installed the driver and it's working fine!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, samsung, fastboot
---


# Question
Title: How to get pass FTM on my ZTE Android mobile device trying to turn on?
My ZTE Android Edition by SFR, StarAddict is unable to turn on. I cannot get pass the Android logo. I have long pressed on Volume Down and Power buttons at the same time but it only ended me up at FTM. What next? Please help me reset or turn on my phone. The only external buttons on this phone are: Volume Up or Down, Power, Menu,Home and Back.

Thanks in advance.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Hold the volume up and power and when reboot screen comes up select reboot device by scrolling with the volume and then select with the power button

# Answer
> 0 votes
I just had mine continuously restarting last night. It would not turn off no matter what I did. I finally had a lightbulb moment and I put my phone in the freezer. I left it there for 30 minutes and guess what, it finally restarted my phone and put it in regular mode. I was worried that my phone was broken as pressing the buttons had no effect.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Follow these instructions:

1. Hold Power button and Volume Up button simultaneously until the phone vibrates and turns on.
2. Once the screen has turned on, you will have an option to select Recovery mode, Fastboot or Normal mode. Select Recovery mode using Volume Up button.
3. To enter the selected choice (Recovery mode), enter using Volume Down button.
4. You would receive an Android (No Command) image. You will need to rapidly click Volume Up button and Power button together a few times until you get past Android (No Command) image.
5. You will then be able to get into Boot loader, Recovery mode. Select Factory reset.

---
Tags: factory-reset, recovery-mode
---


title: Phone doesn't respond to ping

text:
# Question
Title: Phone doesn't respond to ping
I'm trying to develop an application that knows when I am home based on my phone being on my wifi network or not. I'm running into a weird issue in that I can only ping the phone if I have recently (within the last minute or so) tried to access a web page on the machine I am pinging on. I'm not even able to get an ARP reply unless I've tried to recently access the machine.

So, do Android phones have a very restrictive firewall by default? Is there any way that I can change this?

I don't believe it to be a network issue, because I can ping the phone at any time from my router, it just doesn't respond to other clients on the network.

# Answer
I believe this is simply because Android puts the Wifi to sleep to save power when the screen is turned off. You can try setting the Wifi Sleep Policy: `Settings > Wireless & Network Setting > Wifi Settings > Press Menu button > Advanced > Wifi sleep policy` to `Never` and see if your problem still persists.

Alternatively though, instead of having your server ping your phone, I think it will be easier for the phone to "ping" (or make a HTTP request or through other methods) the server when it is connecting to your Wifi network. Your application can register to the system to receive a broadcast Intent when certain Wifi events occurred.
> 6 votes

# Answer
If you have Droidwall, allow access to "(kernel) - Linux Kernel".

On my phone this is definitely the reason why Android answers or not to a ping or tracert.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I've been experiencing this still with Android Q still today (2019). I'm going to go with an IFTTT solution using webhooks to send the REST command I need sending. My original script was written such that I checked when my phone was "away" over the course of a minute. If it came back "home" within that time I wouldn't flip the security cameras on. Now, I'll have to shift that programming to a different type of device (Universal Devices ISY). The timer feature is important as a phone may need to be rebooted, etc.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Solved: need to make the phone aware is on a lan network. Install a whatever network management app "Ip Tools" and click on "Lan scanner" you will see all the other devices connected in the network, and now check again ping will works!
> 0 votes

# Answer
I have the same issue with my Android device that runs Android 11 only. I don't know if this is Android 11 issue or my new phone issue.

On other devices that runs Android 10, I never have problem.

I've to install PingTool to ping my PC first so that the PC will have the ARP entry of that device. I really don't like this.

Because of this, it gives extra step to connect Android Studio to that device through ADB.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Android doesn't accept connection from ip addresses missing in arp cache. I think that's a bug.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, firewall
---


title: Chrome new grid layout for tabs

text:
# Question
Title: Chrome new grid layout for tabs
I've tried with *chrome://flags/#* disabling *tab-grid-layout* reloading several times the browser, but no change works.

I've read a lot of articles on the web, some of them indicate this procedure, others to disable also flags like *tab-groups*, and so on, but currently nothing seems to work. (In fact, *tab-groups*, on the last Chrome realise, isn't available.)

Any solution?

# Answer
This is not an answer, more of an information. Even if you find that flag and modify it as per your need, the very next version of Chrome may not have that flag at all. So, it is better to stick with what's provided or move to a new browser which fulfill your needs. Because after all we are not the controllers.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, browser-tabs
---


# Question
Title: Transfer SMS message history, without Google account
How can I backup and restore SMS message history, and restore on a later Android version — using only the SD card storage?

I am upgrading from one device to another:

Both devices have full root access in the operating system.

I have **no Google account**, and no non-free software. This means no Google Play, no GMail, etc.

The devices have existing means to transfer data, so Google should not need to be involved in this process at all. I'm looking for a solution that doesn't involve Google Play nor any proprietary services.

Apps which have failed so far:

* The built-in Messaging app. There appears to be no “export” and “import” feature. Kind of an obvious omission, a great shame the Android basic apps don't have this.
* Slight Backup easily backs up the messages, and I can restore them on CyanogenMod 11. But then the Messaging app shows “No conversations”.
* SMS Backup+ has the same problem: it can backup and restore (via my choice of IMAP host), but after restoring all the messages it reports “1 item restored (NNN dups removed)”. The Messaging app shows “No conversations”.

How can I **transfer the message history from the old device** and have it imported to the new device's message history of conversations?

**UPDATE**: The new restrictions on SMS data access in Android KitKat is likely a major hurdle to this goal.

How can this be done?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I successfully used SMS Backup+, version 1.5.7 installed via F-Droid package.

That version addresses an issue (#460) for SMS Backup+ to account for the sudden changes in SMS data handling in Android 4.4 KitKat.

(*Update, 2021*: Six years later and SMS Backup+ – now version 1.5.11 – is still the SMS restore app I use any time I need to transfer identity between devices.)

# Answer
> 2 votes
There are several apps supporting to Backup SMS/MMS (and of course also to restore them), running *locally* in "user-mode" (if you prefer cloud storage, which by the question you do *not*, there are also ways to Backup SMS into the Cloud).

As your devices have support, you might consider using Titanium Backup – which allows you a.o. to export your SMS/MMS as XML files (and also to restore that, of course). This solution should definitely work with CyanogenMod (while above mentioned apps should as well).

A note on the "backups via ADB" RossC referred to in his comment on your question:

* Can adb be used to recover SMS messages while in permanent “Safe Mode”? deals with backing up the corresponding *database file*. When chosing that approach, you should make sure to only restore that *on the very same device, ROM and Android version* (e.g. after a , but *never after a ROM/Android upgrade* or on a different device). Otherwise you might run into trouble (says one who had that issue in the past, so you can believe it ;))
* How do I backup data (SMS/contacts) from a device with a broken screen? has answers with the same approach (to which the same warning applies), but some answers also mention tools simply utilizing ADB to access the device. I've never used any of those (as most seem to be Windows-only – like Moborobo, **Myphone Explorer** (most famous solution for Windows-people, offering a lot more than just SMS), Mobogenie, **DroidExplorer** (the dev is active here!) – and I'm on Linux – my only windows are for light and fresh air), but I'd assume they do more than simply "copy the database file", so they might fit your requirements. Still, for above reasons, read their instructions carefully.

# Answer
> 1 votes
QKSMS (free software, available on F-Droid) does the job. It is a messaging app that has a *Backup and Restore* feature. *Backup* exports messages to a JSON file, and *Restore* inserts messages from that file into the Android SMS database. You can use the stock AOSP messaging app later on with the restored messages.

MMS are not supported by *Backup and Restore*.

Be sure that the messages you are importing aren't already into your database, because there is no detection of duplicates.

Android 5.0 or newer is required, which shouldn't be an issue now.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The best method to backup/export sms(and others like contacts) is using Titanium Backup app.

Note: While importing use setting "Let me choose myself." This is recommended for inter-version import/export.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is a branch of slight backup which has the Fix for Android 4.4, but it seems like there are not prebuilt apks for it (yet):

https://github.com/handschuh/Slight-backup/tree/smsrestore\_4.4

# Answer
> 0 votes
SMS Backup and Restore did the job for me when I migrated from my Atrix to Nexus 4. The app is free but the developer accepts donations if you like his software. The app backs up messages as an XML file.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, sms, backup
---


title: Maps launches Android Auto

text:
# Question
Title: Maps launches Android Auto
Google Maps has started launching Android Auto almost immediately after touching "start" to navigate. A Google microphone and four sector grid that could bring up Android Auto appears at the bottom of the screen while using Maps. It happens when I'm driving, but also just sitting here.

This never happened before and I don't believe I've changed any settings.

The only suggestion I've found was to disable and force stop Auto, but it would just restart when I started navigating with Maps. There's a lot about Auto launching Maps, but this is the other way around.

How can I fix this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
This appears to work: Maps - profile icon (upper right) - settings - navigation settings - google assistant settings - driving mode - off.

I'll have to test to see if this works when driving, but at least it works sitting here.

---
Tags: google-maps, android-auto
---


# Question
Title: My Galaxy A71 photos aren't being picked up in Google Photos
I've got a relatively new Galaxy A71. With all my previous Android phones, my camera photos automatically got picked up in Google Photos. This phone, for some reason, doesn't work that way; if I want my photos to upload to Google, I have to select and share them manually. Inside Google Photos itself, in the section to select "Device folders", it tells me "Your camera folder is automatically backed up." But, fact: it's not.

How do I fix this?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Open Google Photos app and turn on backup by tapping on the profile icon on top right (if you havent already)

then somewhere in google photos settings, there's an option which default sets your device to backup only on wifi : choose that to be allowed while on mobile data too.

i hope this helps

---
Tags: samsung, camera, google-photos
---


# Question
Title: Sharing a directory between Termux and another application (PasswdSafe)
I have a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0". I haven't rooted the device (and don't really want to).

Until today, I was running Android 10. Today I installed an update that upgraded it to Android 11.

I'm using Termux (now installed from F-Droid) and PasswdSafe. (CORRECTION: I *thought* I was using the F-Droid version.)

Until now, I've been using Termux commands to copy my password database into a directory under `/storage/emulated/0/data` and using PasswdSafe to access it. After the update from Android 10 to 11, I can no longer access that directory from Termux. (The Unix permissions imply I should be able to; obviously there's an Android-specific restriction.)

```
$ ls -ld /storage/emulated/0/data
drwxrwx--- 4 root everybody 4096 Jun  9 21:12 /storage/emulated/0/data
$ groups
u0_a192 inet everybody u0_a192_cache all_a192
$ cd /storage/emulated/0/data
bash: cd: /storage/emulated/0/data: Permission denied
$

```

Ideally, I would like to have a directory such that both Termux and PasswdSafe have read/write access. Read/write access for Termux and read-only access for PasswdSafe would also work.

I also have an SD card mounted as `/storage/0000-0000`.

**UPDATE**: I thought I was using the version from F-Droid rather than from the Play Store, but both the Play Store and F-Droid on the device say I have termux version 0.101, while https://f-droid.org/packages/com.termux/ says the current version is 0.117. There may be a conflict, perhaps introduce when I did a factory reset a few weeks ago (it may have automatically reinstalled the Play Store version). I'll try completely uninstalling termux from the Play store and then installing from F-Droid.

**UPDATE 2**: I had *thought* that updating to the latest version Termux from F-Droid had fixed the problem, but there's still something odd (and possibly sporadic) going on. I'm not currently able to update files under `/storage/emulated/0/data`, or to `cd` to that directory. But I have files under that directory that were updated after I upgraded to Android 11, so I was able to at some point. I'll try to narrow down the problem.

# Answer
get termux from f-droid . The play store version isnt capable of doing advanced stuff on modern versions of android
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, storage, termux
---


# Question
Title: 'No Internet Connection' on Certain Apps
I'm running Android 11; in some apps, such as Chrome, I see 'No Internet Connection' at the top, but everything is fine; I can browse.

Similarly, on Spotify, I get 'No Internet Connection' and am unable to use it, but other items such as Album Cover and other information are loaded.

I'm having similar issues with other apps, such as Google Keep, which won't sync properly.

I've tried reinstalling, restarting, clearing data and cache, resetting network settings.

Is there any way I can,say, view the logs and figure out the problem ?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Assuming that you're on mobile data, go to settings and locate APN (access point names) settings; then set apn protocol and apn roaming protocol to ipv4 only from ipv4/ipv6 mode and then save it.

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, internet, spotify
---


# Question
Title: Why don't I have MTP option in the USB menu
I used to be able to use the phone for debugging. Now I have USB debugging enabled, and in it threr is a menu for default USB configuration. But it doesn't have an MTP option. The other options don't enable debugging either.

I see in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5B8KdbH5Do that it should have other options.

(Checked Where is the MTP and PTP option in Android 9? and older topics.)

# Answer
> 2 votes
"Transferring files" means "MTP" and "Transferring images" means "PTP". I guess, to make the functionality of MTP and PTP meaningful to a larger set of people, the words were replaced with something that would make sense to anyone instantly on reading the new labels.

In the future, perhaps "USB tethering" might also get replaced with "Share Internet over USB" or something.

---
Tags: usb, mtp
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way/app to automatically change DNS server based on connection?
Let say on my home Wifi, I want to use DNS server "X" and on work WiFI, I want to use another DNS-server: "Y", on cellular a server "Z" and so on. Is this possible to do this automatically? (Preferably without root) There seems to be loads of "DNS-apps" on play store, but I can't find any that do this. (have not tried them all)

# Answer
> 10 votes
The solution below will set Private DNS to "Automatic" on SSID: 'SSID-1' and 'SSID-2' Everything else will set Private DNS to your entered Private DNS hostname in settings.

1. Install Tasker.
2. Set up tasker as follow: (Change SSID-1/SSID2 to your name)

```
 Profile: AutoPrivateDNS
         State: Wifi Connected [ SSID:SSID-1/SSID-2 MAC:* IP:* Active:Any ]
     Enter: Anon
         A1: Custom Setting [ Type:Global Name:private_dns_mode Value:opportunistic Use Root:Off Read Setting To: ]
     Exit: Anon
         A1: Custom Setting [ Type:Global Name:private_dns_mode Value:hostname Use Root:Off Read Setting To: ]

```
3. Grant Tasker WRITE\_SECURE\_SETTINGS permissions via ADB with following command:

`adb shell pm grant net.dinglisch.android.taskerm android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS`

4. To set Private DNS to Off instead of 'Automatic' use the value 'Off' instead of 'opportunistic'.
5. Tested with Android 11, Samsung S10E, no root.

# Answer
> 3 votes
You can setup a Tasker profile that is based on either a location or a WiFi network to trigger the task. Set the task to change the custom setting for private DNS with the hostname dependent on which network you are on.

---
Tags: applications, wi-fi, automation, dns
---


title: "Breaking" into Samsung phone

text:
# Question
Title: "Breaking" into Samsung phone
One of my colleagues has recently passed away and I am left with a task to retrieve data (especially pictures) from his phone - Samsung Galaxy A3 (2017).

Unfortunately, he set a numerical code to lock the screen and I was unable to get through it with any conventional methods I found online - all require access to the Samsung account, or Google account, or some other prerequisites, that are not fulfilled in this case.

Does anybody have any trick to get past the security?

# Answer
If you have his phone number, could this work for you:

1. Call the phone
2. Accept the call and press the back button without disconnecting
3. Now you should have access to the device completely.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung, security, lock-screens
---


title: Multilingual spell check

text:
# Question
Title: Multilingual spell check
I have found a few similar questions but no answers yet.

I use the Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard so I can type in both English and Dutch simultaneously (without having to switch between them). This works great but the system spell checker still put red lines under all my words. I have set the spell checker to 'use system languages' but it only uses the first one in the list. If I select manually, I can only use one language. Is there a way to get multilingual spell check?

# Answer
> 2 votes
My experience has been that this may not be possible, but probably depends on which phone you're using. My current and past two phones flat out would not allow me to set SwiftKey as the global spell-checker. (I can *autocorrect* with it, but with two languages plus dialect plus slang in the "learned" dictionary... this is not especially useful.)

I would check that your default spell-checker is actually, or even can be, set to SwiftKey. On my current Samsung with android 11, the spell-checker setting is completely integrated and only available under "Samsung keyboard settings" (meaning I can only use the native Samsung keyboard if I want to enable it), while on the older Huaweis (android 6 & 9), it was called "Spelling correction," but the only selection possible was Gboard.

(Someone elsewhere on SO suggested this was a change in android 5, and looking at the releases, the SpellCheckerService class pops up in API 14/android 4, so it may be that the global function didn't even exist until then.)

Edited to reiterate: N.B. that I'm specifically responding to the question as to "spell-checker" and **not** "autocorrect" (as it sounds like @metshein is referencing below), which (somewhat confusingly) are actually two different settings. The OP mentioned "red lines" below words, which is a spell-checking function separate from autocorrect, which can be enabled or not within SwiftKey.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I'm using Samsung Galaxy A7 and I have 3 languages in my keyboard and spell checker and it works just fine. Maybe like 1% of the time it might correct my Estonian word to a Swedish one but that's because the words can be quite similar. And I'm also using the Swiftkey keyboard so I guess it really might depend on the phone but it shouldn't..doesn't make much sense xd

---
Tags: languages, spell-check
---


title: Photos not visible in gallery

text:
# Question
Title: Photos not visible in gallery
I'm using Samsung S Duos 7582. My phone was hanged and i restarted it , after that the pictures in my device storage and SD card is not visible in Gallery. And not able to select the mp3 songs as my ring tone, I've restarted the mobile device many times. But no change , kindly suggest.

# Answer
It seems your SD Card has been corrupted.

Here i will suggest check with another device so it will be clear that what's the main problem.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Check whether your memory card got corrupted. If it is not so then copy contents to your computer and then format the memory card with your phone... Again copy contents from your computer to card .. Now it should work...
> 0 votes

# Answer
I know it's too late to answer this now but I think someone else will find this helpful.

Go to file manager you'll find a folder named `DCIM` change its name to `DCIM0` or something like that. Then create a new folder named `DCIM`. Reboot. It should be alright after this. You can move the pictures and videos in `DCIM0` back to `DCIM` after this if you want.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: gallery
---


# Question
Title: What content (exactly) is transferred during setup by cable, that is not transferred by other means? Pixel warns a cable required for "most content"
The exact official warning message shown on a modern Google Pixel 5 is a cutely worded *"Copy another way? You'll get the **most content**, including photos, videos, and MMS messages, if you use a cable."*

I am in the initial setup process/instructions, booting for the first time, and my Original Google Pixel 1 does not have enough battery strength to accomodate the risque "Battery Sharing" required for a cable setup, so given the limited options, if a cable Phone-to-Phone transfer is not able to work because you have battery issues, I want to know exactly what I am missing in my data.

What does "most" mean?

*Error message reading ""Copy another way? You'll get the **most content**, including photos, videos, and MMS messages, if you use a cable." (emphasis added) as given at first boot, if you try to not use a "cable" method.*

# Answer
> 0 votes
# A) Cable = `"MOST DATA"` = `"ALL DATA"`

# B) Non-Cable = `"SOME DATA"`= `"CLOUD DATA"`

Hesitatingly, I finally asked in a Google Fi support ticket and that is the response I had to wrestle from the reps (who did not want to use the word "Cable" specifically, and in their wisdom specifically avoided the word).

**Their support documentation does not use the same language as their User Interface, leading to misleading directions and ideas about what it means.** (I gathered that some of the front-line support representatives did not know about the "cable" part from reading their own documentation pages they copy/pasted me as responses, before I finally got a clear answer. Meaning a random user who does not have the greater technical literacy, would be at their whim. That is not acceptable User Data Policy, for an adult company writing documentation, to not catch that glaring lack of clear language, and should have been noticed long before I had to formalize this report.)

On an official documentation/inteface-level that is appallingly not warning users of the **SEVERITY of not using a cable transfer**, saying "most" is definitely not clear/mature enough for a final warning message. (If you heard or thought that not using a cable would work to keep data that is not in the cloud, multiple Google representatives also thought so it seems, and I am thinking about the rules for proving the whole email support ticket, because there is a disconnect if connecting user's devices (especially when internally between Google the same provider) is not treated as important as enterprise data retention policies, why do companies get 100% guarantees but I get just a a cable warning, we're going on the sixth generation of Google Pixels and there need to be user-specific standards for once.)

*It is already appalling that GPixel is not designed with removeable batteries (and we break our warranty if broken and repaired), and egregious to add insult to injury by making Battery Sharing the only way, to save your life's data. Can you imagine the abuse of an enterprise being told they need to use a terrible battery/cable or else?*

**There is not a technical reason for this** that is not opinionated infosec policy (a policy that is not codified or codifiable into law, because it's stupifying opinionated conjecture \[the idea you Users need a unreliable error-prone asking-for-problems "Battery Sharing" cable, and can not be trusted with the ancient litany of other great official trusted methods known to transfer data well and reliably just fine instead like Bluetooth and Wifi too\] written as a wise/official-sounding User Interface security warning dialog as-if it is just "good advice" for a user who needs dumbed-down 1-sentence language yet is given a 100-page Terms of Service policy? Users paid your bills too, hello. My data is more important than saving face that "Battery Sharing" was a good idea for primary backup), thus unlike enterprise Data Retention policies which would GUARANTEE a connection and archival (and say Hello politely in every email personally and not using canned responses, for an enterprise superuser customer), we users are not given full information standards, our US congressional law does not speak the same language as coders, **and thus users are forced by this to go through hoops.**

In the Warning Dialog, **We might as well write 'Fix with a new battery, or sacrifice your data'**, to save someone's life's data, which should be the point if not a corresponding documentation law, the User's Data should be sacrosanct.

If during setup "Battery Sharing" is not working, you must fix your battery first at all costs because **there is not an alternative option**, *or your data will not survive,* (Raw ROM copying is not a user-friendly alternative option, & Google could do much better realistically, it's not the user's fault if there are not full backup redundancies built-in, why are we forcing the only one option that may be physically challenging) so please make sure to do a full cable-only transfer to be complete.

---
Tags: data-transfer, google-pixel
---


# Question
Title: OK button on Bluetooth pairing PIN popup only activates after at least 16 characters are entered
This is on a Samsung Galaxy S20e which came with Android 9 and was upgraded to 10.
If I enter only 4 characters, the OK button remains inactive.

# Answer
> 2 votes
*Usually* such problems are triaged by:

* First, clear the cache of Bluetooth app (you will need to enable showing of system apps in your app list from settings)
* If it doesn't help, do the same on the device being paired
* If still no luck, delete the data of Bluetooth app on both devices (all previously paired devices information would be deleted and hence as last option)

---
Tags: samsung, bluetooth, android-10, bluetooth-pairing
---


title: Routing ringtone through headset

text:
# Question
Title: Routing ringtone through headset
I just bought a Samsung Galaxy S8+. Everything is working great, but there is one little thing I can't seem to figure out and that is the ringtone uses only the speakers.

Can I route the ringtone through a headset when it is connected?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Sadly there's no way to do that presently. There's a very old question here that tried achieving it in Android 2.2. You can try setting up Tasker to do it for you. Android doesn't have anything built in for this as far I know.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Did you ever resolve your question? It appears that Samsung Sound Assistant can do what you want.

However, you might want to check my question about this \- just so you are aware of the problem I am having.

---
Tags: ringtone
---


title: Notification drawer pops up at random

text:
# Question
Title: Notification drawer pops up at random
I have a new Nokia 5.4 TA-1337 with Android 10. Every so often, the notification drawer that's supposed to come up when swiping down from the top of the screen (darkening the screen, showing the Wifi, Bluetooth, Do Not Disturb, Flashlight, Auto-Rotate and Battery Saver buttons/tiles, as well as any outstanding notifications) comes up at random.

It doesn't appear to be related to whether or not there are any new notifications. Sometimes it's also the other way around (the notification drawer disappearing when I actually wanted it).

It happens *constantly* (multiple times while writing this question alone).

What causes this? What can I do to fix it?

# Answer
**Some devices have the "swipe fingerprint for notifications" feature.**

On some devices (e.g. Nokia, Google Pixel), swiping down/up the fingerprint scanner on the back may show/hide the notification panel. This is known as the "swipe fingerprint for notifications" feature.

> **Swipe fingerprint for notifications**
>
> To check your notifications, swipe down on the fingerprint sensor on the back of your phone.

The setting for this feature can be accessed from:

* Settings - System - Gestures - Swipe fingerprint for notifications
* Settings - Apps & notifications - Notifications - Advanced - Swipe fingerprint for notifications
* (or search for "swipe")
> 6 votes

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: How do I backup Device Folders and Camera Photos to different Google accounts?
Currently, my camera folder is by default synced to my personal Google account. I would like to backup my Whatsapp Media folder to another account. However, Google photos settings don't let it so. They can be backed up to the same account.

A method I found after searching is creating another User profile. I am using Redmi Note 10 Pro and have options to create a Second Space, but the crux is that the second space starts from fresh.No wifi settings, No apps downloaded, Nothing is set up. Even when I try 'Move data' to move Whatsapp (for both the spaces), all it does is install a fresh Whatsapp. Moving the Whatsapp media folder to the Second space might be an option. But it's not practical.

1. I want to continue using Whatsapp in the first space itself. So, I would have to transfer manually now and then
2. The option for 'Move Data' in my device shows only app settings to move. There is no option to move files and folders.

Moreover, I am not very sure that a Second space can really solve this problem. Would backup from Second Space go on when I using First space? I won't be able to spend a lot of time on Second space, making the backup option yet ineffective.

A solution to this problem would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

# Answer
You can use this Shelter App. This app uses the work profile settings of your phone to basically create two separate users files and apps in the same space. Work profile will have separate app drawer and icon for identification. Give it a try. It's perfect for your use case.

Hope this helps!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: backup, xiaomi, google-photos, android-11, google-backup
---


title: Using Google Voice Recognition offline

text:
# Question
Title: Using Google Voice Recognition offline
### Question

How to force *Google Voice Recognition* working in offline mode even if an internet connection is available?

### Background

I know *Google Voice Recognition* has an offline mode**1**, using "speech recognition packs" one can download.**2** I'm also aware that this offline-mode is limited, compared to what it can do via Internet. Still, being a little paranoid on Google's data collection I rather avoid using its online facilities – and so I currently don't use *Google Voice Search* at all.

I'd like to give it a try, though – but always switching to airplane mode for that is not practical. My devices are all rooted, and have the XPosed Framework installed. I know about the GoogleOfflineVoice module – but that hasn't been updated since 9/2014 and is reported to be non-operational with the current *Google Search* app (plus it's unclear if the dev will pick up the work; I've just asked about that, answer was "Honestly no idea" (dev lacking time)).

### Other benefits

It's reported that *Google Voice Search* is much faster in offline mode. So if one doesn't need the "extended capabilities" of its online mode, faster reaction will certainly be welcome – which makes this question interesting not only for "privacy fetishists", "conspiracy theorists" and "paranoid users" :)

### Question (refined):

So I'm looking for alternatives: simple settings preferred, commands definitely accepted, root-solutions are fine. If it requires an app, that app itself should require none or only minimal permissions itself. I'm also open to speech-recognition suggestions not involving *Google Voice Search* as long as they work offline and don't invade privacy**3**.

### Note:

I'm mainly interested in giving voice commands and maybe doing some dictation.

### Related information

---

**1:** see: How to use speech-to-text offline?
**2:** see Google Voice Search requiring internet access even when offline speech recognition pack is installed
**3:** Internet permission just to download voice-packs is OK, as I can block it as soon as the download is completed. Manual download (placing the files on the SD card) preferred :)

# Answer
I have been able to block the shady online service and force offline mode (for `termux-speech-to-text`) by identifying the user which (only) runs the offending `googlequicksearchbox` processes (from a root shell):

```
# /system/bin/ps -Awo uname,cmdline | grep -m1 -E " com\.google\.android\.googlequicksearchbox:search$" | cut -d" " -f1
u0_a41

```

(note: I specified Android's built-in `ps` path to avoid conflicts with other user-installed versions of `ps` which don't take the same parameters - ie. on Termux)

...and adding a firewall rule to block all outgoing traffic for this user's processes:

```
# iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner u0_a41 -j DROP

```

(this rule will go away after rebooting or running the same command with `-D` instead of `-A`)
> 2 votes

# Answer
I have examined this issue and found the following to be true:

Google's Android OS seems to be configured to send all voice recognition tasks to the "cloud", as there are no provisions in the OS to allow for hardware voice processing, even if your device supposidly supports this nonexistent feature.

In other words, Google has taylored their Android OS to send all voice commands to their "cloud". This provides them with the ability to constantly update a user's voice profile with every command by processing audio data on their servers, giving them access to a great wealth of data for analytical and commercial uses.

Remember, personal data as well as "group" data is an assett to Google and its affilliates. The "big data" industry, which includes the sale and processing of all types of personal data (digital photos, live video, video files, voice recordings, web search/visit history, online purchases, etc...) is projected to be a 500 billion dollar industry by 2025.

Google needs Android to capture audio and video data (and all other usable personal digital information) and send it to their servers for analysis. Their business model is heavily dependent on the analysis and sales of your personal data, without restriction.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: voice-recognition, voice-command, google-voice-actions
---


# Question
Title: Android TV box MAC address keeps changing
I had a MAC address when I was using IPTV on my Android TV box in Turkey. Since I've returned to the UK and plugged it in here, the MAC address keeps changing, and now I can no longer access my IPTV service as it's tied to the other MAC address. The supplier wants me to change my MAC address back, but I can't find any way that actually works.

Why would my MAC address keep changing?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I just had an issue with a generic droid TV box with the free "IPTV" app Live NetTV v4.8.6 and figured out what was going on kind of by accident. But it was with the IP and not the MAC address. The app has no EPG and no server config so it is not true IPTV but does have several hundred live channels from all over.

I was giving my network devices friendly names in the Access Control section of Attached Devices in my Netgear router when I noticed one of them had the address of 5.128.58.--- (obviously not a home network address). A quick Tracert and google search indicated it is a Russian IP. Gopher.com and a google translation gave the following:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ IP address, 5.128.0.0 - 5.128.255.255 (92274688 - 92340223). Domain name, l5-128-0-0.novotelecom.ru. Result (IP), Unaccounted for ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

That was kind of concerning so I blocked the device in router's Access Control and found that the TV Box lost internet connectivity. With the app closed I unblocked the device and the normal DHCP assigned address appeared after I refreshed the Attached Devices list.

Knowing that the app has some mild advertising and has to receive the live streams from somewhere, I went ahead and gave the box a friendly name in the router and saved the settings. I then fired up the app on the TV box and it and other apps worked properly. Back at the router the Russian IP appeared but with my friendly name.

This box is wireless. Another wired box with the app does not have the problem. It could be that some router / TV box combinations do not release this data automatically and might lead to confusion about the MAC.

---
Tags: android-tv, mac-address
---


title: Any way to access Google Drive Backup?

text:
# Question
Title: Any way to access Google Drive Backup?
I recently lost my phone and bought a new one. unfortunately I've bought one of those new Huawei phones that come without GMS. Now i still want to restore my google drive backup of my lost phone. I tried resetting an old phone with Android 3.X on it but it didn't give me any recovery options. Is there any way to either extract the google drive Backup or to recover the Data using an Android VM?

# Answer
> 0 votes
one workaroud would be visiting drive.google.com from any browser on the huwaei phone

Or You can install F1 VM which comes with Google services framework. BUt note that the restored backup would only run on the emulated Android - so you gotta keep this app forever .

https://f1vm.com/

---
Tags: backup, google, restore, google-drive
---


# Question
Title: Whatsapp calls get laggy the longer the device is running
On my older Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 (GT-P3100) with Android 4.1.2, which I only use for messaging, both calls and videocalls start to get laggier and laggier the longer the device is running. If I make a call immediately after rebooting the tablet, both audio and video are streamed perfectly to the other device, but, after some time, they start to get worse until the call drops, usually with the message "Call ended because there's a problem with your phone's microphone. Try restarting your phone and try again". Is there something I can do about it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Maybe try removing useless touchwiz system apps using adb so that the device gets a bit lesser workload.

Speaking practically, I'm afaid it's time to give up on that device - Ageing is the reason the hardware is degrading ; nothing could improve it

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, 4.1-jelly-bean, calls, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7, video-calling
---


# Question
Title: Require password for each application to install
Since I will be lending my phone to someone else, I want my phone to ask my Google account password (or alternative authentication) each time an app is installed.

If I go to *Google Play* -\> *Three bars menu* -\> *Settings* -\> *Require authentication for purchases*, the options are:

1. For all purchases through Google Play on this device.
2. Every 30 minutes.
3. Never.

The first option seems to be what I am looking for. Nevertheless, I am not asked for any authentication for installing apps.

**Can this be done? How?**

Using a Samsung Galaxy J7, with Android 6.0.1.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Apps that are free don't have to be purchased -\> no purchase means no password prompt.

I see two possibilities for you:

1. Delete your Google account from the device. Google apps usually sync everything to the cloud, therefore by re-adding the account everything will be restored.
2. If the device has the possibility to create a guest user account set a difficult password on your primary account and create a guest user. Guest users aren't allowed to install new apps, however they can use every app that is already installed and the app data is stored in a separate directory therefore the guest can use the apps but don't access your app data.

# Answer
> 1 votes
A bit extreme, but consider that Google will not allow you control over installations...

Disable google play.... It wont be uninstalled, and can be re-enabled from settings, but its one more extra step at least...

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is an app for that! Applock will give you that functionality. To require passwords for select apps, thus allowing you to share yet protect sensitive data, or in my case, finance or $ portfolios. On Android anyhow it's called Applock.

> * AppLock can lock Facebook, WhatsApp, Gallery, Messenger, Snapchat, Instagram, SMS, Contacts, Gmail, Settings, incoming calls and any app you choose. Prevent unauthorized access and guard privacy. Ensure security.
> * AppLock can hide pictures and videos. Hidden pictures and videos are vanished from Gallery and only visible in the photo and video vault. Protect private memories easily. No pin, no way.
> * AppLock has random keyboard and invisible pattern lock. No more worry people may peep the pin or pattern. More safe!"

Hope that helps you! This is what you need.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Guest account is the best method.

If your phone does not support guest user account feature:

Then probably check XDA developers - find model number of your phone-root it- Install the stock Android - then you should get a lot of options that are better than factory installed ROM.

---
Tags: google-play-store, password, authentication
---


# Question
Title: After Enable adoptable storage in my Root Galaxy ... play Store Cant Update Any App
i root my Device (A320F)(Galaxy A3 2017) and after that enable adoptable storage via TWRP zip installer package ... every things is OK and with Titanium Backup Move All my app To adoptable storage ...

but now when i want to Update my app via play Store give me Error

and this is Full LogCat of Finsky : Download

i thinks interest line in log is

```
07-22 11:07:16.405 31501 31710 E Finsky  : java.io.IOException: Cannot automatically move com.alopeyk.customer from decf87e0-1c08-4b00-8cee-3a4d11ad36cc to internal storage

```

and with Install with adb from my PC this is Error :

and this is what happen when i try update any apps ..

**I think if i fix mount point SD card address issue will be fixed but how ? please help**

this is mount point in my device

# Answer
Check that on developer menu and all issue fixed
> 0 votes

---
Tags: root-access, adoptable-storage
---


# Question
Title: Android: how to increase system partition and decrease data partition?
A very bad situation I want to install the Lineage 16 OS on Nexus 5 Without apps it install Ok With google apps(I select pico package arm, wich is under 100 MB) not and give error system partition space not sufficient. This is the actual situation

```
Filesystem           1K-blocks      Used Available Use% Mounted on
tmpfs                   949772        28    949744   0% /dev
tmpfs                   949772        44    949728   0% /tmp
/dev/block/mmcblk0p28
                      28061148    643132  27418016   2% /data
/dev/block/mmcblk0p28
                      28061148    643132  27418016   2% /sdcard
/dev/block/mmcblk0p27
                        706392     13084    693308   2% /cache
/dev/block/mmcblk0p25
                       1045804    899652    146152  86% /system

```

I have tried a parted binary for resize but said ext4 is not supported! And with fdisk allow me to delete only the gpt partition(!) number 1 How to resize the partition n25 /dev/block/mmcblk0p25? My idea is to decrease sdcard of 2GB and increase system with 2GB is possible?

# Answer
I have followed this method: shrink data and recreate system partition; which is not too "kind" but works.

**Warning**: this method is ok for a fresh installation from scratch. You will lose all data, so follow it only if you're sure of what you're doing. I'm not responsible for data lost, bricked devices, etc. **You have been warned**.

You must have TWRP installed, a USB connected smartphone and ADB, fastboot on PC:

1. Get `parted` and `gdisk` from here
2. Reboot in recovery mode

```
adb reboot recovery

```
3. Push `gdisk` and `parted`

```
adb push parted /
adb push gdisk /

```
4. With `parted`, resize the data partition. In my case, it is 28 and we resize from 30G to 27G

```
adb shell
umount /data
parted /dev/block/mmc0blk0
resizepart 28 27G

```
5. Now exit from `parted` and open `gdisk`

```
umount /system
gdisk  /dev/block/mmc0blk0
d #delete, select the system partition, in my case is 25
n #new,I select the new size of 3G for my system partition and 0700 as fsid
w #write

```
6. Now, reopen with `parted` and rename the partition `25` as `system`
7. Reboot in recovery mode from TWRP or ADB

```
adb reboot recovery

```
8. The command

```
fdisk -l /dev/block/mmc0blk0

```

must report correct sizes
9. Now, create the `ext4fs`

```
make_ext4fs /dev/block/mmc0blk0p25

```
10. Resize the `fs`

```
umount /system||echo ok
e2fsck -f /dev/block/mmcblk0p25
resize2fs /dev/block/mmcblk0p25

```
11. Eventually, correct the `/etc/fstab`. The command `mount /system` must complete successfully. With TWRP, try to wipe the partitions `data`, `system`, etc. The command must complete successfully.
12. Install Android ROM or recover from a backup.

---

I see my Lineage OS image resize automatically the partition to 1G (sic!) so I'm trying this workaround:

1. Install Lineage OS
2. Reboot and wait for Android OS
3. Reboot in TWRP
4. Resize the partition
5. Install the other zips
> 6 votes

# Answer
Another workaround to LOS resizing of the System partition during the install process:

1. resize the System partition (as described above, I shrinked the `cache` partition instead)
2. install LOS via ADB sideload
3. run `resize2fs /dev/block/mmcblk0p25` to resize the EXT4 partition again
4. install the GApps via sideload
> 3 votes

---
Tags: system
---


title: Make an IAP in a Restricted Profile

text:
# Question
Title: Make an IAP in a Restricted Profile
My boy is playing Scribblenauts on an Android 5.0 tablet, under the control of a restricted profile.

He's done all the levels, and there is an IAP required to purchase the rest of the levels.

Can't do the IAP from within the restricted profile, because no play store access.

I've purchased the levels on the parent account, but they don't show up in his restricted profile.

How can I get the new levels for him?

# Answer
You could try temporarily unrestricting the account. Your phone must be rooted. I haven't tried doing this and have no idea whether or not it'll work. It's just idle speculation.

1. Make a full backup of the entire device, including all priceless user data such as documents, photos, and home videos. Store the backup on your home computer, or on a MicroSD card kept in a safe place.
2. Root the device. This carries risks, which I shall not list here.
3. Install SuperSU.
4. Temporarily convert the restricted profile into a non-restricted profile. Right now, I'm too tired to prepare a full set of instructions on how to do this. Instead, for now, you can pay a technician to look at this post. Upon seeing the post, she'll be able to figure out what to do.
5. Try to make your in-app purchase.
6. Set the profile to be restricted again.

I wonder if the in-app purchase would work, though. Would the temporarily-unrestricted profile have a Google account associated with it? If not, could it still make in-app purchases?

Maybe you'd have to add a Google account to the temporarily-unrestricted profile then remove it from that profile after making your in-app purchase?

Please leave me some comments about whether or not this worked for you.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You could try creating an almost-restricted account and letting your son use that account.

For instructions, follow this link.

I haven't tried doing this and have no idea whether or not it'll work for your situation. It's just idle speculation.

Please leave me some comments about whether or not this worked out for you.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Check into which third-party ROMs work on your device.

Pick one.

Contact fellow users of this ROM. Tell them what you'd like to do. Ask them whether or not the ROM allows it.

If the ROM doesn't allow it, contact the ROM developer(s) in their preferred way (maybe through their issue-tracking system) and ask if they could please make it possible.

Please leave me some comments about whether or not this worked for you.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can create a kids account though Google play and while you setting it up there's an option called ask a parent. Active that and make a password then if your child to the last free level of a game it will pop up on the screen, ask a parent. Then just put your password in and buy more levels. Hope this helps
> 0 votes

# Answer
I read on a site that the updates may be higher (e.g. PG) than the rating you have set (e.g. G) in the restricted profile.

Try the following: either turn the Parent controls off to allow updates, or adjust the maturity rating (temporarily) so the game can update. Once updated, turn controls back on/or adjust maturity rating back to the previous choice.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: in-app-purchase, restricted-profiles
---


# Question
Title: What is the APK (and package) name of the Google App?
On my Android 4.1.2 I can see force stop, uninstall updates, clear data, clear cache and view permissions of my installed apps via `Settings` \> `Manage apps` but I am unable to tell their APK and/or package name.

I am particularly interested in knowing the name of the Google App (that's the name appearing next to its icon in App info). Its latest version as downloaded from Google Play just now is `4.1.24.1672412.arm`.

Is there a way to get its APK name and package name?

# Answer
> 11 votes
Answering my own question, thanks to the method found on this View app's full package name? thread and the hint provided by Google App's URL in Google play.

I typed:

```
 adb shell 'pm list packages -f searchbox'

```

And received:

```
package:/data/app/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1.apk=com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

```

# Answer
> 3 votes
To see the actual package name of the Google App installed on your device, connect to a PC, enable USB debugging, download the adb source from https://developer.google.com and run the following commands.

1. launch the adb Shell: `adb shell`
2. Show a list of all the packages: `pm list packages`

Scroll through the list of packages, you should see `package: com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox` which is the package name for the Google App.

Alternatively, you can install an application called Activity Launcher on the device, it will also display the package names for you.

---
Tags: apk, google
---


# Question
Title: Why does temperature disappear from At A Glance and the lock screen?
It disappeared out of the blue a few weeks ago. I searched the web and did a trick to make it reappear. It was shown for weeks and then suddenly disappeared again a few days ago.

What causes this, a bug?

# Answer
> 0 votes
*While reporting bugs like this, mentioning your Device Model and Android build would be beneficial for the community to help answer the question properly*

I've also faced this.

This is a known issue in Google App's Beta versions.

Temporary solution : add one more At a Glance Widget and if you see weather on existing widget , remove the newly added widget.

Permanent workaround:

1. Remove the At a Glance widget .
2. Unroll from beta and wait a few minutes patiently.
3. Clear data and cache of Google app and add the widget back .

( Incase the widget is not removable for your device, just try step 2 and 3 )

---
Tags: lock-screens, home-screen, weather
---


title: Local Calendar events disappeared

text:
# Question
Title: Local Calendar events disappeared
I tried to remove a repeating calendar event from the unsynchronized **Local Calendar** account using the stock calendar app1. At first I thought that *all* calendar events were deleted (not just the repeating event), because the calendar was now completely empty.

But then I realized that I could still export all calender events using Calendar Import - Export. And sure enough, inspecting `/data/data/com.android.providers.calendar/databases/calendar.db` revealed that all events were still there.

I tried the following to have the events displayed again in the calendar app:

* Checking the proper calendar account was selected (it was, there is only one)
* Using another app: DigiCal also displays no events (which it previously did)
* Resetting the calendar app
* Restoring the calendar app from a backup
* Clearing the cache (not the data) of the *Calendar Storage* app that provides the database file mentioned above
* Manually adding a new event works, but all other events are still missing. Exporting all events again now also includes this new event.

Nothing of the above fixed the problem. I could purge the data from the Calendar Storage app, clearing the DB and importing all events that I previously exported. But I'm hestitant to do so without understanding what's gone wrong and how I can properly fix it so it won't happen again, and I'm not sure this would even work.

What's going on here? How can I have all the events displayed again?

1 I'm running Xiaomi.eu's MIUI 12.5.2.0

# Answer
Absent other ideas, I purged the data from the *Calendar Storage* and reimported the events.

This worked: All events are now displayed again, though it remains unclear what actually went wrong in the first place. Let's hope this won't happen again.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: calendar, miui-12
---


title: Endless updates on every boot

text:
# Question
Title: Endless updates on every boot
I have a treadmill (manufacturer gone out of business so no support there) that runs on Ubuntu 14 (2016) Android version 4.4.4. Every time I power on it goes through the "Android is updating" process

I can run update packages through the file manager that I have previously saved to a thumb drive. I can't run app updates through Google Play. (I suspect a minimalized browser setup). It is connected through WiFi to the internet. I have tried setting up an SSH connection to control it from my PC but no success there (probably my ignorance). There are no other connection points (ethernet, RS232, etc.) that I'm aware of besides the USB input. I need the "treadmill" software to not be damaged as I do not have a system image backup.

Ok on to the questions. The way I see it is that:

1. I need to make a system image backup before doing anything
2. I need to be able to get remote access working so that I can identify exactly what is going wrong and then fix it
3. I need to probably update to a newer version of Android/Ubuntu without losing the treadmill functionality (or find an alternative treadmill control program)
4. Or I have to live with the constant updates :-)

Suggestions, please.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I rephrased the problem and posted it here https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/659568/setup-ssh-to-android-device/659610#659610 to try and get SSH to work so that I could understand what was happening.

Spent way too long getting the problem sort of fixed. The problem is the minimalistic kernel and lack of pre-loaded apps especially the lack of support for Google apps. I deleted all apps that were flagged as "downloaded". This fixed the "Android is updating" boot message. I also stopped WiFi as I suspect it was sending usage statistics to a non-existing website. I turned off Bluetooth and location support. Finally, I went through all the developer options and turned force GPU, etc one at a time (reboot & next...). I added Google keyboard input but whilst it fixed the Chinese characters I got the boot updating message again.

The software is now usable for the main functionality with much less lag. Long term I probably have to control the treadmill through a new standard tablet. With the tweaks I can now watch videos while running (off the USB not live) should I choose.

Thanks, Robert for the advice. Yep I was worried about bricking the device.

---
Tags: updates, ssh
---


# Question
Title: TWRP crashes on Redmi Note 8 Pro after custom rom
I tried to root my phone and succeeded without any errors, then I wanted to try installing a Custom ROM(lineageOS), I did it via TWRP(I forgot to reinstall TWRP before rebooting) then I tried to boot again to TWRP(as expected it was gone) then I reinstalled TWRP via fastboot(`fastboot flash recovery filename.img`), the command exited without any errors but when I tried to boot to recovery nothing shows up:

• Black Screen

• After a few seconds reboots back to lineage

I downloaded the latest TWRP image from the official Website and tried to install that, same command, install success and able to boot to TWRP

BUT after a few seconds in TWRP mode(idle or not) it closes and reboots back to lineage

What I tried:

• Installing older TWRP version

`adb erase recovery` and reinstall

Notes:

• Lineage OS works as expected

***EDIT***

I haven't mentioned it but what i need the most is a way to install zip files from fastboot, i can extract the zip but some OSes have system.new.dat.something and i cannot find a way to install that, if you could at least help mart with this i'd be greatful.

# Answer
> 0 votes
it is because the lineage os you're running came shipped with lineage os recovery and now the partition is someway corrupted while you tried to install twrp.

try booting to lineage turning adb on and from your computer using platform tools, execute `adb shell reboot recovery`

---
Tags: custom-roms, twrp, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Screen showing vertical coloured lines and is not responding to touch
I have an Infinix Zero 5, and its screen has stopped working. It is just displaying multi-coloured vertical lines and is not responding to any touch. The power and volume buttons of the phone are still functional, the fingerprint scanner still works (as the display turns on when it is scanned) and the display even dims when the phone reaches the display timeout.

The phone hasn't been dropped or anything, and the screen initially appeared after taking it out of my pocket. When I restarted the phone the first time (by holding down the power button), it started working again, but now even when restarting the phone, the display still shows these lines. I know the phone is still in working order as off and on the phone vibrates for notifications.

Is this a display issue for which I have to replace the screen or is there some other problem with the phone?

# Answer
> 0 votes
first of all, force reboot your device by holding

while it reboots, if the infinix logo appears without those lines, then thats a software issue and if you see lines there too, then time to get a new display

---
Tags: screen
---


# Question
Title: How to break in a new cell phone battery?
Whats the best way to break in a new cell phone battery?

I just got a replacement battery for my Motorola Droid and so far through 2 cycles it is barely lasting a few hours.

# Answer
> 4 votes
You may need to recalibrate the device for the new battery, especially if you got a 3rd-party replacement:

1. Allow the phone to drain completely to the point where the device no longer powers on
2. Plug the device in and allow it to charge completely. Do not use your device during this time.
3. After the device charges completely, keep the device connected to the charger for an additional 2+ hours.
4. Repeat this process once more to ensure that the device is being charged to maximum capacity.

If this doesn't cure your battery problems, make sure you don't have apps running in the background wasting power. Culprits include zealous Twitter clients and apps that constantly use the GPS.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You don't need to "break-in" a typical cell phone (lithium-ion) battery. It doesn't help the battery at all.

Having said that, as Kyle mentioned, calibrating it may be necessary.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Is it a lithium polymer battery battery? Discharging it probably won't have any effect:

> This used to be true for NiMH batteries, where discharging fully was thought to help extend both voltage depression effects (where cell voltage would start to drop more quickly when in use) and general capacity (the "memory effect").
>
> Fully discharging cells cures voltage depression in NiMH cells, but if you fully discharge a whole NiMH battery pack then the stronger cells in the battery will "reverse" the weaker ones. The weaker ones go flat first, and then get charged backwards by the others. This is bad for the weaker cells, and will kill a NiMH battery pack more quickly. Model enthusiasts will use a proper electronic discharger that discharges the cells without damaging them.
>
> There is no need at all to purposefully discharge a lithium polymer battery. The chemistry is totally different. Each cell in a lipo pack has a working voltage between 4.2v (fully charged) and 3v (fully discharged). If you run any lipo battery based RC models then you'll know how carefull you have to be.. fly your lipo helicopter for a few minutes after the power has dropped each time and then youll have to chuck the battery away within a few charges as youve completely messed it up! A laptop will switch off when any of the cells in the pack reach 3v to protect the battery. Then when it is charging it will charge each cell individually and balance them all out. There is no memory effect though.
>
> Model enthusiasts preserve your lipo batteries when not in use by keeping them in the fridge. Even better if they are discharged half way (apparently).
>
> Totally impractical for a laptop battery, but a cold laptop might be nice on a warm day.

(Lifted from this discussion on laptop batteries, but pertinent anyway)

# Answer
> 1 votes
Discharging the battery is not about the battery, it's to calibrate the phone to the batteries capacity. It needs to go from 0 to full a couple times to know what 0 and full are. Makes no difference what chemistry the battery is

# Answer
> 0 votes
You are ALL very WRONG! Discharging ANY LiPo to 0V makes it puff up. Do it every day and your battery will suffer the very first week I guarantee. There is no "Battery Level Calibration". That is an imagined myth. The Battery % is a table of Voltage Vs. % Capacity, with some guard band to save your battery from total discharge, which will hurt it!

---
Tags: battery, motorola-droid, battery-life
---


# Question
Title: How do I get rid of broken, invisible files that take up lots of space?
I tried downloading a pretty big mp4 file, but that failed because i didn't have enough space.

However, it filled up all my leftover storage. I tried getting rid of it but it doesn't show up in the file explorer. I checked hidden files.

Checking device care -\> storage, it seems like it's in the "other" category.

I'm kinda desperate because i need the storage space to work. How do i clear it up?

Samsung galaxy Tab S4, Amdroid 10

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can copy all the necessary files from your internal storage to somewhere else and do a factory reset. Then copy the files back. Should work.

---
Tags: internal-storage
---


# Question
Title: How do I "forget" an out-of-range Wi-Fi network on a Galaxy S7?
I want to remove old saved networks that are no longer in range. I can forget visible networks, but out-of-range networks are not visible anywhere so I can't do the standard long-tap =\> "Forget Network" action.

There is no option for "Saved Networks" or "Manage Networks" under the built-in Wi-Fi app's "More" menu.

I have tried a third-party app, WiFi Manager, where the networks are visible but reported an error on forget:

> Android 6 allows apps to change (edit password, forget) only those networks that were originally "created" in same app.

I quite distinctly remember being able to view saved networks on previous Android phones...

---

My phone *is* rooted, so methods requiring root are acceptable, but it's better if that's not necessary.

---

I have an Australian (CSC XSA) Galaxy S7 Edge (SM-G935F).

---

Apparently this was a problem with the S6, where the 'solution' was to use third-party Wi-Fi management apps that no longer work in Marshmallow.

But that no longer works, as per the error message above...

# Answer
> 3 votes
Looks like this was (re-)added sometime between the initial release and the Android 7 Nougat update!

From the Wi-Fi menu, go to `Advanced` (top-right corner) and then the `Manage networks` option near the top of the page. You'll get a list of known networks and the ability to edit/delete them, even when out of range.

# Answer
> 5 votes
The method described in this answer does not require root, but it does require that you have a Wi-Fi access point ("router") you control.

---

One possible but very tedious and hacky solution is to host the SSIDs on a Wi-Fi access point you control, so that they are visible on the S7. Then you can "forget" them through the normal Wi-Fi settings page. The list of saved SSIDs can be retrieved (but not altered directly!) with third-party Wi-Fi management apps.

Having an access point capable of hosting "guest" networks/SSIDs is particularly helpful here. Otherwise, you'll need a wired connection so you don't kick yourself out by changing the SSID around.

Of course, this is quite a terrible solution in every way except that it works. So hopefully someone will have a better solution available.

# Answer
> 5 votes
As your device is rooted, you could directly edit the `/data/misc/wifi/wpa_supplicant.conf` file and remove the networks there. The block for each network looks like this:

```
network={
        ssid="network_ssid"
        psk="secretpassphrase"
        key_mgmt=WPA-PSK
        priority=1
}

```

Remove the blocks of the networks you want to get rid off, save the file, reboot – and they should be gone.

For app-based solutions, be welcome to check my list of apps for Global WiFi Configuration. Super WiFi & Internet Manager e.g. claims one of its features being: *Single click to remove wifi network which has not been used since a long time or you wish to remove the one.*

# Answer
> 3 votes
Found the only way to reset the saved network settings after searching for 2 hours on forums.

Go to Settings. Go to Backup & reset. Now tap on the “Network settings reset” option. Hit the “Reset Settings” button. You will be given another warning, hit the “Reset Settings” button again.

Your welcome!

# Answer
> 2 votes
I figured it out. You're all over complicating it. Go to settings backup and reset and then reset the network and connection part. It'll ask for your pin. Then it clears it all out

# Answer
> 1 votes
Settings, Data Usage,Wi-fi, More, Restrict Networks, then select from the list the ones your phone has accumulated which you no longer wish to access.

# Answer
> 1 votes
5 years on -- Android 8 now has a Wifi advanced setting entitled "Manage networks: Manage your saved Wi-Fi networks" ... look ma no root!

---
Tags: wi-fi, settings, 6.0-marshmallow, samsung-galaxy-s-7-edge
---


# Question
Title: How do I avoid the server-specified security policies for my work e-mail?
When I signed into my e-mail for work (we're on Microsoft Exchange) there were a number of server-specified security policies (See below) *How do I avoid these?*:

I just received a Nexus 7 and signed into my work's exchange server. When I did so I told me that the server was requiring some security settings. I don't really like those. Especially the one (not really mentioned in the image) which disables NFC which I wish to use for Google Wallet.

---

**So my question could be answered by**:

* A *non-rooting* method to disable these settings;
* A different app which would allow me to still connect to the server but not enforce these security settings;
* Anything else which I may be missing.

# Answer
> 8 votes
A co-worker said he found a work-around with this app: Moxier Mail. I'm using the trial right now and I like it a lot. I really like that it lets me separate my work from the rest of my tablet. It also doesn't fall under the security requirements. It does require a pin for the app itself and there are useful widgets. All-in-all it seems even better than the built-in E-mail app. The full version's expensive, but my co-worker says it's worth it.

# Answer
> 9 votes
First off, talk to your Exchange administrators. See if they deliberately are setting the mobile device security settings so tightly. I would have a discussion with them to see if they can loosen up the security settings.

If you only want email you could try K-9 from the app store. It uses IMAP to get the mail from the server so your exchange server will have to have that turned on.

# Answer
> 7 votes
I highly recommend MailWise. It has an Exchange override that allows you to turn off the server's influence over your device. Use it at your own risk (your employer may get whiny about it) but I can say it does work very well.

In order to use the Exchange Security Bypass, you'll need to go to MailWise's FAQ and follow the instructions. You basically just select the override option in a settings menu, enter in a code (supplied on the FAQ) and re-enter your Exchange mail information. Don't bother making a work account in MailWise until you do this, as doing it deletes the old account and requires you to make a new one.

Once this is done, you have total control again and your work admin can't force certain security measures on YOUR device.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Here it is the modified Email.apk. (This is for Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.1 Only! )

This tool bypasses security restrictions (the client claims it will enforce the hard reset policies but it won't in fact).

Please use it with **extreme caution**. There is a specific reason why an administrator configures such a policy, and I would recommend it to everyone. **If your phone gets stolen nobody will be able to read your company's email**, which is a **secret**. Lots of industrial accidents occurred because employees lost their mobile devices (laptops included) with sensitive data not protected enough.

If you fear that a misconfiguration will someday format your device, **backup** is your best option!

# Answer
> 5 votes
I know of three alternative mail/calendar/contacts apps that can get you around the Exchange security policies assuming that you cannot have the policies turned off and you do not have IMAP/SMTP access:

* **Microsoft Outlook for iOS/Android (free)** \- I personally use this for *all* of my email accounts now and love it. It has cloud storage support (Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.). **It even makes contact groups in the official contacts system!** This way you can still have people show up as contacts in other apps even when you're not using the built-in system for contact accounts. It's not that advanced as far as functionality goes, but it's fantastic for the money (free) and battery life.
* **Boxer (free for 1 non-Exchange account, pay for multiple accounts and Exchange support)** \- I have some friends that have this and adore it. They constantly want me to switch to it. The calendar is in a separate companion app that is definitely appealing. **This does not bypass the security policies.**
* **TouchDown (trial, paid)** \- I tried this one until the trial ran out. It's very feature-rich, but it was a little slow for me and looks kind of old. I didn't end up buying it.
* **Mail Wise (free)** \- I didn't like this one because of its privacy policy. It also didn't bypass the Exchange policies at the time, but it looks like that have that feature now.
* **CloudMagic (free)** \- I tried this one a while ago, but I forget what I didn't like about it.

You can set up an Inbox Rule to redirect or forward you messages in the form of an MMS message to get notifications and then look at the full message later in OWA from the mobile browser. I did not like the "send a text message" Inbox Rule because it would cut off the message and not show all of the data about it, so I set it to forward the message to my phone number's email address. This depends on your carrier (i.e. 5551234567@tmomail.net for T-Mobile or 5551234567@vtext.com for Verizion).

# Answer
> 2 votes
I wouldn't bet a non-root procedure exists to bypass Android server-enforced security policies. Even for rooted phones the procedure involves patching or directly replacing the existing email client (Email.apk), which isn't anything one could do without root privileges.

Anyway, extreme care must be taken as bypassing security checks you may not just be turning your device more vulnerable and yet most important, likely compromising the data it stores, but may as well be violating your working contract/Code of Conduct by doing so.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You might want to try TouchDown (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nitrodesk.honey.nitroid&hl=en) It is not a free app, but it does work perfectly with my work email and calendar (ActiveSync) without enforcing those extremely restrictive security settings.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Although this question was asked 8 years ago, the problem still exists, and none of the answers given above still work properly (at least for me they didn't). I've been using TouchDown and MailWise for quite some time in the past, but then they started glitching and I didn't get notified of new emails correctly, and access to my inbox would take several minutes of loading screen. I also tried the Exchained app, but that almost grilled my Pixel 5.

By now I've switched to Nine app, which complies with the admin security requirements just on app level and not on device level (I mainly don't want to change my device security settings, and I absolutely don't want to give the IT morons from my company the power to wipe my phone).

The drawback is you have to enter a 4 digit pin each time you open the app, but the upside is that apart from that small inconvenience it works really well. It took me several hours and going through multiple apps to find this, so I thought I'd share it here if anyone else still has that problem.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I had some luck with Enhanced Email. It does exactly what you are looking for - it lets you override the security setting enforced by your admin. It worked with exchange 2003, but I haven't tested with exchange 2010 or 2013. I got the application for free from the Amazon app store a while ago and it is been working fine on my GS3 phone.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Another option is to use the Exchained app. This allows you to keep using Android native mail clients, including gmail, bypassing exchange policies and working from Android 4 to Android 7.1

# Answer
> 1 votes
I can't suggest Nine Mail enough. It won't let you bypass your exchange security policies completely, but it sandboxes your email so that you don't have to give your exchange administrator complete control of your device. i.e. PIN is only enforced on the email app, they can only wipe your email app not the entire device, etc... It is packed full of features and has a great UI.

No affiliation to application at all. Just someone who has used Enhanced Email, hacked apks, and everything else to prevent my work exchange admins from having total control of my device. This is the best solution I've found.

Google Play Link

Nine Website

# Answer
> -2 votes
I found best option to be gmail, add your account as exchange. In addition to mails, you get contacts integration too

---
Tags: security, exchange, device-administrator
---


title: Galaxy s20+ HDMI cable not recognized

text:
# Question
Title: Galaxy s20+ HDMI cable not recognized
I have a galaxy S20+ and a generic USB c to HDMI cable. I connected the phone to a Philips monitor but I don't see anything on the monitor and in the USB settings I only see USB controlled by: connected device. And when trying to switch it to This device, I get an error saying "couldn't switch". Not sure if this cable isn't compatible by phones or if there's any settings I can change.

# Answer
It turned out it was a faulty cable. I used another cable and the connection worked without issues
> 0 votes

# Answer
1. Open the Settings menu on your Samsung device.
2. Tap on Connections which should be the topmost setting.
3. Now scroll to the bottom and tap on More connection settings.
4. Select HDMI mode from the options.
5. A small window should appear with the HDMI options — Samsung DeX and Screen mirroring.

Select either of the two based on your preference.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Just a guess, maybe you should press dex in the drop down menu quick panel icons? You might need to edit the quick panel and drag it down.

Otherwise, you can try (search "dex settings" in settings) to enable auto start when hdmi is connected.

I find it easier to search in settings, because searching in finder requires more keywords.

Sometimes it's easier to edit the Dex settings when you first connect it wirelessly to windows, because there are more settings when it's turned on.

Finally, I'm not sure Dex needs to be used at all when connecting to a display. Check your HDMI cable if it supports the right protocols (usb 3.1, mhl, hdmi alternate mode).

And ofcourse, set the input source of your Philips dislay to HDMI.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-20
---


# Question
Title: Whenever I press home on my Gionee s10b or reboot the phone I am stuck with this
Whenever I reboot or press home on my Gionee, I am stuck on this page, and it doesn't load at all

# Answer
I uninstalled the Google Play Services updates and all was well. I updated it back though. All was still well
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store
---


title: How to get battery status in terminal?

text:
# Question
Title: How to get battery status in terminal?
I have a phone with dropbear installed. I usually access my phone over WiFi & run commands in putty.

I want to get battery status & percentage in terminal. Is there any command or program to obtain battery info ?

# Answer
Query the system service `battery` (possibly requires root access)

```
dumpsys battery

```

Output would be like

```
Current Battery Service state:
  AC powered: false
  USB powered: true
  Wireless powered: false
  **status: 2**
  health: 2
  present: true
  **level: 70**
  scale: 100
  voltage:3950
  temperature: 260
  technology: Li-ion

```

`level: 70` is the battery percentage here.

---

Not sure about Android 2.3 but this is relevant for at least Android 4.2.1 and above:

(Prefix *adb shell* next to every command to run the command using adb.)

* This would give you a list of all the historical broadcasts as well as the sticky ones:

```
dumpsys activity broadcasts

```

In the output search:

```
Sticky action android.intent.action.BATTERY_CHANGED:

```

The lines next to it, until you encounter a new sticky broadcast, are useful to us. In my devices, they are listed as:

```
Intent: act=android.intent.action.BATTERY_CHANGED flg=0x60000010
Bundle[{icon-small=17302819, present=true, scale=100, **level=100**, technology=Li-ion, **status=4**, voltage=4140, invalid_charger=0, plugged=0, health=2, temperature=200}]

```

Assuming that your Android has `grep` utility, you can shorten the search by using:

```
dumpsys activity broadcasts | grep -A2 "Sticky action android.intent.action.BATTERY_CHANGED:"

```

(Source: Monitoring the Battery Level and Charging State)
* **Alternative:** it is possible to query the battery info from `/sys` or I should say the Linux kernel.

`/sys/class/power_supply/battery/` has some files with useful information. The file named `capacity` is equivalent to current battery percentage. You can get an accumulated info from `uevent` file as well.

For more and related info, read my answer here.
> 10 votes

# Answer
### Script to show battery status on terminal (root required)

Using only the alternative method @Firelord mentioned.

```
#!/system/bin/sh # might need to change to your sh bin

print_battery_status()
{
    ctype=`cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/charge_type`
    capacity=`cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/capacity`
    charging=`cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/charging_enabled`
    health=`cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/health`
    status=`cat /sys/class/power_supply/battery/status`
    printf "# %s # %s # %s # %s # %s #\r" "Capacity: ${capacity}" "Charging: ${charging}" "Type: ${ctype}" "Health: ${health}" "Status: ${status}"
}

while [ true ]
do
    print_battery_status
    sleep 1 # 1 second of wait
done

```

You might need to adapt the script a bit. Some file names used above are device specific. For example, `charging_enable` should be replaced by `charge_now` and some devices, and so on.

It runs and shows status like bellow. To stop it use CRTL+C.

```
./batery_status.sh
# Capacity: 63 # Charging: 1 # Type: Fast # Health: Good # Status: Charging #

```

I use this since I do remote ssh on my device. It works even with zygote stopped.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: battery, terminal, ssh
---


# Question
Title: Whatsapp: "The download was unable to complete. Please try again later" for received voice messages and stickers
Received voice notes or stickers don't download since a few days ago. The message shows a down-arrow icon, I click it and the circle around the icon spins for a few seconds and then shows this error:

Any ideas on what else to try for this error or how to debug it? This is what I have tried, to no avail:

* Internet connection is fine, other phones with Whatsapp using that connection work and every other app in this phone works fine. Tried WiFi and mobile data connection
* Phone date and time is correct
* Enough disk space
* Cleared Whatsapp cache and also wiped Android cache partition in recovery
* Whatsapp updated to last version
* Backup messages, uninstall Whatsapp, install Whatsapp, restore messages
* Tried with auto or manual download in Whatsapp options

# Answer
As a workaround, it works using Whatsapp Web
> 1 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---