# Question
Title: How do I get my Android tablet on my network without getting stuck in a reboot loop?
I recently acquired an Android tablet PC (this thing: http://yourfirstsmartphone.com/android-tablet-pc/). I have not altered it at all from the factory fresh settings (in fact in attempt to solve the problem I'm having I did a factory reset) and yet whenever I attempt to connect to a wifi network the tablet will reboot, the os will load and work for about 30 seconds, then it will reboot again and the same thing just goes on endlessly. It's running on android version 4.4.2, firmware is version 4.4v2.0, kernel version 3.4.39 Ipp@Android #252. What do I do?

# Answer
> 0 votes
> What do I do?

Send it back. You've bought a computer that doesn't work, and fixing the problem is the responsibility of the vendor.

---
Tags: boot-loop, stock-android, troubleshooting
---


# Question
Title: Text multiple people on Nexus 5 - KitKat / Hangouts 2.3
I have been unable to figure this out. I have seen multiple instructions online but none of them describe what I see on my phone. I am running the latest KitKat and Hangouts and I want to create a new SMS and add multiple recipients from my address book.

I start by typing a name, for example "Bob", and then choose Bobs number from the list that pops up as I'm typing. It then jumps to the current SMS conversation I am having with Bob. There is literally no where for me add another person to send the text to. I don't seem to be able to start a fresh SMS conversation with multiple people.

So basically how can I send a text message to several people?

EDITED: Added some screen grabs below to show y'all what I'm seeing. Yellow marks are me tapping that area and the next image is what happens after the tap.

# Answer
> 10 votes
According to Google, this functionality is no longer available unless you enable group MMS. Unfortunately, MMSs are much more expensive for me and aren't displayed correctly on some older feature phones.

Once again, Google doesn't care about non-Google communication protocols, possibly in an attempt to force people onto Google products or out of sheer ignorance. They did the same with the mail client in Kitkat which is unusable to me because of severe IMAP bugs, so I switched to K9. Seems like I have to find an alternative SMS app as well.

**Edit:** Google now offers an SMS app called *Messenger* (yeah, like the Facebook app) that supports group SMS. It looks similar to Textra which I used before, but now this is my default SMS app.

**Edit:** This feature has been reintroduced in Hangouts version 3.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I just looked at my version of Hangouts. It's not the exact same situation as you, as I'm running CM 11S on my OnePlus, but I am running hangouts 2.3 so it should be the same.

1. In the left tab, choose a text number. Alternatively, in the right tab, hit the plus button in the top right of the screen.
2. Choose one of the individuals you would like to text.
3. At the top of the screen, there should be a gray "Anyone Else?" box. Touch that.
4. The screen's title will no be "New group MMS". Add the next contact.
5. Repeat.

There have been situations where the option to add members to a group MMS has not shown up. I'd try adding an individual both ways I mentioned. Let me know how your device is behaving and I'll try to help further.

---
Tags: sms, 4.4-kitkat, nexus-5, google-hangouts
---


title: Phone on, No Display

text:
# Question
Title: Phone on, No Display
So my aunt told me to fix her android phone and here's the problem. After the android logo and text splash screen during the boot up, the screen is all black but I can still open applications ( just by randomly tapping the screen ) and I know they work.

Is it a hardware related problem?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I think you need to flash stock rom in your device , the working of applications ensures that your device is not bricked.You might not be able to boot your phone in recovery mode which will not allow you to Factory Reset(you woun't see any content displayed due to splash screen) so you need to flash stock rom by third party applications from PC such as SP Flashtools,Odin,etc according to your device.

---
Tags: screen, boot
---


# Question
Title: How do I retrieve my contacts from my google account to my phone!
So I saved all my contacts by selecting the google account instead of saving on the phone.

But I removed the accounts from the phone, and when i added back the accounts to the phone, i could not find most of the new numbers..

Please help!

# Answer
> 4 votes
As MemCtrl mentioned, go to http://contacts.google.com and see if your contacts (with the new numbers) are there. If not, you can restore them using "Restore contacts..." option (hit the "More..." button to see it), provided they weren't deleted more than 30 days ago.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to contacts.google.com - see if you can find them there. If not, then I'm afraid you're out of luck.

---
Tags: google-account, google, google-contacts
---


# Question
Title: Does USB tethering degrade droid batteries?
I want to know if tethering with my Xperia Neo V via USB will affect the battery capacity in any negative manner other than the usual.

# Answer
No. There's no relation between those two things.

If you connect your phone via the USB it gets charged. It doesn't matter if you don't use the USB connection at all or transfer files or tether your data connection or do any other stuff while it's connected.

The charging circuit doesn't even know that it's connected via USB and that there's data flowing. It just happily charges the phone with the power supplied via USB.

Side note: The battery (LiIon) degrades over time, if you use it or not. There are however differences in the speed of degradation, depending on usage, storage temperature and charging state (best is around 60-70% charged as far as I know). This is however the **usual** degradation which you asked not to factor in. And this degradation definitely doesn't change if you tether or not.
> 6 votes

# Answer
All batteries have some recharging cycle. If you repeatedly use USB that means you are charging repeatedly. This reduces battery life by consuming recharge cycle early.

And contrary to manufactures demand to have 50% battery for updating the software, you can updated it even with 5% if it lasts until your software update is complete. I've done it in my Sony W8. In Sony W8 I've updated in just 10% of battery, even though Sony is worst performer in battery.
> 2 votes

# Answer
yeah it would certainly shorten your battery's life. Every battery has a maximum number of charge-discharge cycles. So when the phone is tethered via USB, battery is charging. The more FREQUENTLY you charge your battery, the more you shorten its life. This applies not only to tethering/data transfer, but also to the habit of many of charging phones for a short duration, then again discharging it , then again charging it. This drastically reduces the battery's lifespan.

The best habit is , Charge the phone to 100% . Then use it till its down to 15-20%. This is the best time when you should plug in your device. Mind that discharging to 0% also has adverse effects on backup of a battery.

**So IMO Bluetooth tethering is the best solution for 3G speeds.**. It is available since ICS . If you want to utilize full 4G speeds, prefer WiFi tethering. While tethering, when the phone's battery comes down below 20% , consider charging it. It's always handy to carry a spare battery with your Droid.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: battery, usb-tethering
---


title: Android Wear Bluetooth Version Issue

text:
# Question
Title: Android Wear Bluetooth Version Issue
I recently bought a Moto 360, and whilst waiting for it to arrive, have been prepping my other development gear. I have an Android device running 4.4 (4.3 is required) and the Android Wear app installed, although my device only has Bluetooth 2.0.

Will Android Wear function with the lower level of Bluetooth? I haven't been able to find any definite answers crawling the web (they all say Bluetooth is backwards compatible), but I am wondering if Android Wear requires it?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can visit http://g.co/WearCheck on your phone to see if it supports Android Wear.

---
Tags: bluetooth, android-wear
---


# Question
Title: Tasker: How to disable profile while phone is locked
guys, I have started using Tasker,and I absolutely love it.

I figured out I could write a recipe for me to start Google Now bt simply shaking the phone, and it worked.

One problem, though. If the phone is locked and the display is off, shaking the phone won't start the app, obviously, but if the phone is locked but the display is on - in lock screen - if I shake the device, it won't unlock, fortunately, but I hear the Google Now beep,and as soon as I unlock my phone, Google Now is there, open, and I have to cope with constant beeping while I'm running listening to music,or receiving a whatsapp text (what makes the display on while it's locked sometimes), and I always have to close the Google Now app, cause it will launch as soon as I unlock my phone, even if I accidentally shook the device even when it's locked.

What I want to do is have this profile disabled when the phone is locked, regardless of wether the screen is on our not. I have explored all the apparent solutions, and I have come to a conclusion that it can probably only be solved with a var (which I can't write).

Any ideas?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Here is a fairly simple solution that does not require the use of a variable.

You will need to set up two additional profiles and also ensure that you name the profile you created to trigger on your shake context. To name your existing profile, if you haven't already, long press on the profile and then touch the A on the top bar to name it - let's use 'Google Shake' for this example. In order to control the status of a profile through a task action it must have a name.

The first new profile you need will trigger on Display Off. The associated task should set the Profile Status (find this under Tasker in actions) of your Google Shake profile to Off.

The second new profile you need will trigger on Display Unlocked (rather than Display On). This will ensure that it only runs when the device is actually unlocked rather than the display turning on and remaining on the lock screen. The associated task should set the Profile Status of your Google Shake profile to On.

That's it! Test it out. Note that it may take a second or two for the Google Shake profile to be turned off and on when the two triggers happen so don't shake too quickly after turning the display off and/or unlocking it.

---
Tags: tasker, google-now
---


title: Secure ADB connection over network

text:
# Question
Title: Secure ADB connection over network
I am using Geniatech ATV Android Set Top Boxes running android 4.2.2 for a current project. I might put some of those devices in public places like shopping centers. These boxes are connected to the local network there by cable or wireless.

I have a VPN connection to ssh remotely into the boxes (using debian kit) and on the boxes USB debugging is enabled, so that i have ADB access, which I use for chrome browser observation as well as for updating or installing new applications.

The problem is that everyone on the same local network as the box can also use adb to connect to the boxes and then have full access to everything, which is a big security problem.

What I want to do is restrict the interface of adb to only work over the vpn connection.

Alternatively I need a way to stop and start the adb daemon using my ssh connection to the box. The problem here is that I only connect to a debian kit instance running on the same box, which uses the same filesystem but doesn't have access to the start or stop adb commands.

Does anyone have an idea how to achieve this? I can't find a lot of information on this special requirements.

# Answer
> 1 votes
What I ended up doing was starting another ssh server in the android environment using another port, from which I then can stop and start the adb daemon. Not nice, but it gets the job done.

---
Tags: adb, security, networking, ssh, vpn
---


# Question
Title: full backup for deployment and reproduction
I am currently working on a project on a Geniatech ATV1220 Device running Android 4.2.2. I need some applications on this device with specific settings like Debian Kit with openssh, openvpn, nodejs and also a firefox browser with fullscreen addon as well as a terminal emulator with specific command line.

I have it all set up to work perfectly according to my needs on one box but now I want to achieve the exact same thing on other boxes (also Geniatech ATV1220s), without having to do the process of manually setting up each box individually, since I might have to do it to a lot of boxes.

What would be the best way to backup the whole filesystem including debian kit, all applications, all settings of those applications and all the stored data and then restore it on another device to basically make them 2 identical boxes?

I tried adb backup with the following command:

```
adb backup –all -apk -shared –f backup.ab

```

But that didn't seem to do the trick, as when I restored the backup on another device, debian kit for example wasn't running at all. I also have a way to sign images for that device, which I used to remove unnecessary apps and services, if that helps in any way.

Has anyone had to do something similar and knows the best way to do it?

Kind regards egon

# Answer
> 0 votes
What I ended up doing was adding a packed debian image into an android image, which then gets included into the system on the first boot up by a setup application.

---
Tags: backup, restore
---


# Question
Title: Display viewport only at the right bottom of the screen
I have a Geniatech ATV1220 android set top box running android 4.2.2 and am using an arduino with motion sensor connected to it to modify content on a website when someone is in front of the sensor via NodeJS.

This works great, but what I would like to do is to manipulte the complete system viewport of the android system. For example if someone steps in front of the sensor, the whole system should be displayed in a reduced size like 1/4 original at the bottom right side of the screen while the other area should just display black or basically nothing.

It is really hard to find something because of the pretty common keywords like display, viewport, size and so on. I could probably do it dependent on individual applications but I also want to use it in third party applications, which I cannot modify.

Currently I am sometimes using commands like this:

```
echo 1 >/sys/class/graphics/fb0/blank

```

to modify the actual content that is displayed, in this case it all turns black/blank and I wonder if there is a similar way to achieve what I want to do. Any help is greatly appreciated.

# Answer
What worked in the end was using the Xposed Framework and installing "One-handed mode" like explained here: How to get a one-handed mode on almost any rooted Android device.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: screen, external-display
---


title: What's the point of disabling USB HOST?

text:
# Question
Title: What's the point of disabling USB HOST?
After searching and debuging like an idiot, I found out that my phone has the USB host installed but disabled. Is this the default on Android? If so, is there a security reason behind it – or what is the point here?

# Answer
> 1 votes
**My phone has the USB host installed but disabled, what's the point of disabling USB HOST?**

USB Host would be required to allow USB On-The-Go, often abbreviated USB OTG. It is a specification that allows USB devices such as digital audio players or mobile phones to act as a host, allowing other USB devices like a USB flash drive, mouse, or keyboard to be attached to them.

**Security** \- by disabling USB OTG, a device manufacturer may want to limit support calls of third party devices or enhance security by disabling all chances of low-level commands being sent via USB port at the cost of user functionality.

**CPU/Memory Performance** \- when a USB OTG device is plugged in, the device needs to process the new resource. This can be loading additional kernel modules or cataloging the files for presentation to the user. On a low-end phone with limited processing power and/or memory, a design decision may have been made that it be better to appear to always be fast rather than risk having more features, but a more laggy user experience; hence disabling the feature altogether.

**Battery** \- a device connected will draw power from the device's battery. Although this issue can be resolved by using a Y cable to draw the power from a secondary source.

**Is this the default on Android?**

It is typically common for higher performance Android devices to have USB OTG enabled.

**OTG enabled devices**

http://www.corsair.com/en-us/landing/otg-compatibility-list

http://www.kingston.com/us/usb/otg

http://usbotghelper.wordpress.com/confirmed-devices/

---
Tags: usb-on-the-go
---


# Question
Title: Sending a message to all contacts in WhatsApp
I need to send a message to all my contacts (309 phone numbers) via WhatsApp.

Is there a way to send a message for all my contacts, because the application just allows 25 contacts at once?

# Answer
Use the broadcast function, see: http://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/android/23130793

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Press the \[Menu Button\]
3. Tap \[New broadcast\]
4. Type your contacts' names or press the \[+\] button to choose from your contact list
5. Tap \[Next\]
6. Type your message and optionally attach media
7. Tap the send button
> 9 votes

# Answer
I don't think this is possible since it's a limitation of the app itself. The best you can do is to put a status message so everyone can see, but you won't know for sure. Or you message them in groups of 25.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Easiest is to select:

1. Chat icon at the bottom screen
2. Broadcast list OR new Group at the top screen
3. Create your contacts
> -1 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: HTC One won't play any video after update
My Android HTC One is currently running Android Version 4.4.2, a few days ago it updated a bunch of apps, about 27 I think. I honestly can't remember which updated and which didn't.

Since then it won't play any videos. It won't play any video files from my memory card and it won't play any videos from YouTube, Facebook etc...!

Screenshot (click for larger variant)

A similar error pops up for every application.

Has anyone else encountered this issue?

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can go to the play store and view the 'my apps' section. This should list your most recently updated apps. You can check the top 27 or so and see if it helps you determine, which one may be affecting video playback.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you are using a third party video player of your device,say, VLC Media Player, then go to setings\>Apps\>Manage Apps\>VLC\>Clear Data, and reset the data. Once done, use a system cleaner app like Cleaner Master and clear the Junk on your device. This should solve he problem.

If the problem still persists, opt to reinstall the video player app.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Turn your phone on and off it worked for me

---
Tags: updates, video, htc-one, video-streaming
---


# Question
Title: Many problem on Mega 6.3 GT-i9205 after rooting
After rooting my phone, (Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 GT-I9205), I can't turn my WiFi back on but the important part of it is that my device storage is totally empty. It causes some apps/games to force close because all the files are gone, however, my rooting succeed...

Look at this image, it shows that my memory suddenly becoming very low after rooting!

# Answer
From the thread you linked to (highlighting my own):

> **The root via vcore doesn't work any more**. Please get it looked up. Lots of people online are getting this problem as they flash the root. **Problems are all of the internal storage are gone**, left with 8gb and all apps in storage wont work.

Which seems to be the issue you are having. This appears to be that this root method does not work with the newer, Knox enabled bootloaders.

This method is the new way to root the device.

Right now, your best bet is to go to SamMobile and get the stock ROM for your device, restore back to stock VIA Odin, and try re-rooting, once you confirm your WiFi is working and your internal storage is back to normal.

It's always worth reading into a thread on XDA before attempting anything, to get a feel for what issues people might be having, and if there are any work arounds. I always put a big "READ, READ, READ" in my advice for rooting, as it can (and indeed does) go wrong and is not a nice feeling. Restoring to stock appears to work, and is mentioned in the thread you provided. Good luck fixing it and we'll be here to help if you need it.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, rooting, storage, force-close
---


title: Load large google docs faster

text:
# Question
Title: Load large google docs faster
I am using a gdoc quite often on my android smartphone. It's my basic ToDo-List. I have even put it on `Keep on device`.

However, the gdocs is still so large, so that it takes up to 5 minutes to load the doc.

Any recommendations how to fasten this process up?

I appreciate your answers!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Use an dedicated app instead of a browser (if appliable), and remove formatting from document.

Consider upgrading to a cellphone with more memory.

---
Tags: google-drive
---


# Question
Title: how to move application from internal storage to phone storage or sd card
i am using HTC Desire SV and android version is 4.0.4. In it there are three types of storage- 1) internal storage 2) phone storage and 3) storage card. My internal storage is almost full and i am not able to do upgrade the apps or download new apps. I want to move few apps to other storage but not able to as it does not show the option to move to phone storage or sd card. Please help me as soon as possible.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can't move apps to SD card if the option is not available (as per the new rules of Google). You need to Root (**which voids warranty**) the device to be able to move apps from device memory to SD card and to remove default apps.

---
Tags: internal-storage
---


title: Validate a OTA.zip

text:
# Question
Title: Validate a OTA.zip
Can i validate a ota.zip for my phone? I want to check, if a downloaded OTA from somewhere origins to the manufacurer. I thought about signatures.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Found a solution. It is all explained on http://nelenkov.blogspot.de/2013/04/android-code-signing.html I compared the PEM certificate within the ota.zip (META-INF/com/android/otacert) with the one stored on my phone in /security/etc/otacerts.zip.

To verify the whole ota.zip wit openssl:

```
openssl smime -verify -in /META-INF/CERT.RSA -inform DER -content ota_seperated.zip otacert.pem

```

---
Tags: stock-android, ota-update, device-firmware, manufacturers
---


# Question
Title: Note 3, Android 4.4.2, forgets wifi password
since an update 5 months ago my note 3 occasionally forgets my wifi passwords. Sjnce I have it set to jump to 4G cell data, I am accidentally using up my mobile data allowance.

This happens only every 2-3 weeks and I cannot find any logic to it.

Is there a way to see what has occured?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

PS. It is an Australian Telstra branded unrooted phone.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As always, there are several things that could cause this. I'm just trying to guess some:

* Prior to Android 4.3 Wifi passwords were stored in a plain text file (no hash) on the device. In the beginning shell access was enough to get the passwords. Later on, they made it read only by system users. Starting with Android 4.3 Samsung added this file to the Knox secure storage partition. If you have an (access) issue with knox or it's partition, the wifi password was lost. Even if you were never using Knox. It's also the only thing not working if you remove knox. As fare as I know, google did something about the wifi passwords too in newer Android versions. Perhaps you were changing a knox setting or password?
* chances are high it's just a bug in the wpa\_supplicant binary of your firmware, the csc or Samsung binaries. Try to get latest updates.
* do you loose all wifis stored? Or just one? Could it be your router?

---
Tags: wi-fi, password
---


# Question
Title: Screen goes off as soon I dial or receive a call. CyanogenMod 7.1- stable
In stable mod 7.1, I am facing this problems. I don't know if its a bug or what, please help me out.

**My screen goes off as soon I dial or receive a call. After that I am unable to end the call as it never wakes up. Pressing the power button has no effect.**.

The problem is not just related to ending the calls. I am unable to do anything on my phone as it never wakes up. Then I have to either pull off the battery and restart the phone or plug in the charger to wake it up. It never happened on stock ROM so no hardware problem. I checked the solution for this problem and it was "It seems to be the screen protector is at fault. CM7.1 doesn't play nice with it. I just cut a hole where the proximity sensor is and it basically fixed it. " But IMHO if the proximity sensor does not work properly with cyanogenMod then why does the power button also stop responding.

But if they are related then can you guys please tell me with an image where the proximity sensor is located on a Defy? So that I may try the other solution (cutting the screen protector).

# Answer
> -1 votes
I faced the same problem. After rebooting for bout 5 times its working fine. And it has nothing to do with the settings.

# Answer
> -1 votes
I had the same problem and found out it was due to the proximity sensor being blocked.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, calls, screen, motorola-defy
---


title: HTC desire 816 insufficient space error

text:
# Question
Title: HTC desire 816 insufficient space error
I have an htc desire 816 that I just recently bought and it was fine at first but it stared giving me the error message that there was "insufficient space on the device" when I tried to download any app. I went and bought myself an SD card but even with the SD card in it, the phone is still giving me this error message. Any ideas why or how to fix it?

# Answer
It looks like Android 4.4 does not support installing apps to SD Card. Your best bet is to root your phone, then install an app that will enable you write to the SD Card. Those steps will get you as far as writing to the SD Card. I don't have a device that I can test this on, but these steps look like they might work for having apps install to the SD card by default. Let me know if you have any luck!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: internal-storage, insufficient-memory
---


title: install apps on sd card

text:
# Question
Title: install apps on sd card
My BLU Studio 5.5 won't allow me to install anymore apps. I have a 18G SD card installed. When accepting to install it says "Error downloading phone had insufficient space". What do I do to install more apps.?

# Answer
> 0 votes
You have to create a partition on your SD that you can then mount to your phone storage.

Here is a tutorial about it.

http://www.skyneel.com/2013/10/Increase-internal-memory-in-Android-Mobiles-in-easy-steps.html

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 7's MTP does not connect in mass storage mode anymore
I've had a Nexus 7 for a year now and since the day I've got it, I could easily connect it to my PC and transfer file to/from it in MTP mode. But some weeks ago I tried installing Ubuntu on it and since I failed, I downloaded and reinstalled Android on it. But ever since, it is not recognized as a mass storage on my PC!

Does anyone know how I can fix this?

# Answer
I've occasionally seen a new (or factory reset) N7 refuse to appear on a PC until you change the storage mode to camera then back to MTP. From memory (I don't have my N7 to hand) go to Settings, Storage, tap the three dot menu and there is an option to change the storage mode there.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Most likely a hardware issue. I recommend you get your device repaired by sending it to Google/Asus.
> -1 votes

# Answer
Try uninstalling drivers.

There is a tool in the Nexus root toolkit

http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/
> -1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-7, mtp, usb-mass-storage
---


# Question
Title: "Brendon's url" and Chinese apps on home screen. Is it a virus? How do I fix it?
My tab was charging when I noticed there were notifications in Chinese and unknown home screen shortcuts created. Some were named "Brendon's URL" and the others were in Chinese. The notifications were also in Chinese. Is there anything wrong? Is it a virus? How do I fix it?

Image taken from an XDA forum thread, click to view the larger version.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This is downloaded by "Software Update" App Version 09.05. Force stop it and disable for time being.

# Answer
> 0 votes
try this: cut off any connection by activating Airplane mode. if you have wechat installed on your android then uninstall it first. after that remove all the brandon's url u have. restart your phone and wait...see it if IT appear again. IF not appear then restore your connection/OFF your airplane mode.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try to freeze the ota updater apps using TB or any third party app that can freeze apps. This works on my co-group member in our facebook group.

---
Tags: notifications, home-screen-shortcuts, malware
---


title: zip file signature verification?

text:
# Question
Title: zip file signature verification?
In the custom recovery TWRP, what does the option "zip file signature verification" do? How do I know if it should be checked when installing something?

# Answer
> 9 votes
Basically the Zip File Signature Verification flag will enable flashing only if the zip file is signed properly by the developer. This is (almost) the same method used signing Jar files in Java.

From here

> Basically, before executing any third-party program you want to make sure that it hasn't been tampered with (**integrity**) and that it was actually created by the entity that it claims to come from (**authenticity**). Those features are usually implemented by some digital signature scheme, which guarantees that only the entity owning the signing key can produce a valid code signature. The signature verification process verifies both that the code has not been tampered with and that the signature was produced with the expected key.

Note from the above, that this (obviously) cannot detect if the code itself is malware etc, just that it is as it was when it was signed by the developer. You have to trust the developer of any software you flash.

An example of this is that you cannot flash a custom ROM through a Stock Recovery as the stock recovery will look for a signature from the manufacturer.

It can also detect if a zip is corrupt but is **not** a definitive check, you would be better verifying the MD5 sum of the file and comparing to the one provided by the ROM developer.

"*How do I know if it should be checked?*" This is probably going to vary depending on what you are doing, I generally have it left at the default value of the particular recovery I'm using, and I've never actually had to check or uncheck it for any Zip files. Keep in mind some perfectly functional packages might be signed incorrectly and may install perfectly if you disable the verification, but conversely it could be a corrupt file and bootloop the device.

I leave it checked, and if someone on a thread / the developer says it's ok to install then I will make a backup and try flashing it with the signature verification turned off. (ALWAYS make a backup!)

Here is an example of trying to install a custom ROM on a stock S4 Recovery:

> Finding update package...
> Opening update package...
> Verifying update package...
> E:**No signature** (188 files)
> E:Verification failed
> Installation aborted.

Here's a link to the more technical information on GitHub which is a bit out of scope to go into on here.

---
Tags: twrp, zip
---


# Question
Title: Transferring pdfs from computer to android
When trying to transfer pdfs from computer to Galaxy Note II, Samsung Kies reports 'No App to read file'. I have several pdf readers including adobe for android and downloads direct to Note 2 work fine.

# Answer
There are multiple ways to copy files between your computer and your Android device:

* simply connect the two using an USB cable, and mount your Android device's storage to the computer -- then deal with it like with any other drive
* create "shared folders" on your computer, and use an Android app which can deal with them, like e.g. ES File Explorer File Manager
* Use an app which can share your Android device to your computer, for even more manageability -- like e.g. AirDroid
* use cloud services like e.g. *Dropbox* or *Google Drive* which are accessible from both, your computer and your Android device, to share documents between the two
* lame, but also listed for completeness: Send the files to your Google Mail account, and then save the attachments from the GMail app

Far from being complete -- but it should give you an idea of what's possible.
> 2 votes

# Answer
you can simply send them by bluetooth
> -1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-kies, pdf
---


# Question
Title: Sync the position / page of sideloaded EPUB books between Android device and Nook Touch?
Is it possible to sync the current position / page of an EPUB book between two devices?

# Answer
Check out PageTurner on Google Play. It's supposed to do what you want, although there are some mixed reviews. It's worth a try though.

> PageTurner is an open-source e-book reader that allows you to sync your reading progress across devices, without needing a DropBox or Google Drive account... just enter your e-mail address and it works!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sync, epub
---


title: CyanogenMod and Privacy

text:
# Question
Title: CyanogenMod and Privacy
This question is a follow up to: What information does stock Android send to Google by default, and how do I opt-out? and Disable Location History in Android

I did a factory reset and flashed Cyanogen Mod 11 on my phone. I love the ROM and am using it without any Google Applications. I didn't even add a Google Account. For apps, I am using a third party app to download apk and installing them manually on my Android smartphone. My questions:

1. In Location for Cyanogen Mod, it provides three options - only GPS, only Mobile Tower / Wifi, both GPS and Mobile/Wifi. I know that in stock Android ROM, Google location history sends data about my whereabouts to Google. Will this happen in Cyanogen Mod too? Since I did not add any google account or google app, I'm guessing this is unlikely. I want your advice.
2. If I use Wi-Fi, does Google know about my Wi-fi, its adapter id, blah blah..?
3. Does Google know about any other info if I use this ROM?

As you may have noticed, I am quite paranoid. But I do not want to give away anything to Google.

PS: Before flashing CM, I used google account and play on same phone on previous ROM. And the device was added to Google Play.

# Answer
CyanogenMod is not focussing on user privacy, FOSS or google-less ROMs. See the FSFE Wiki for some info on proprietary parts of CyanogenMod. You may want to take a look on OmniROM as they put a focus on privacy and security - without being to paranoid.

You mentioned that you're using your phone without any Google Applications. I assume that there are no Google Applications *installed* on your phone - if you install CM without their Installer (flashing zip from recovery), you can skip installing the so called GAPPS. If you install CM with the official installer, you won nothing: Google already re-associated your device by comparing the unique wi-fi mac address, it doesn't matter (from perspective of privacy) if you re-add your account on-device or not.

I'll answer your questions above, assuming that you did not have a single google application installed:

1. Locating with Wi-Fi/Mobile network on Android KitKat is done using Google Play Services. If it's not installed you can tick or untick this locating feature - it won't do anything.
2. When using Wi-Fi, the first thing Android does after connecting is to contact google by doing a basic http request to http://google.com/generate\_204. This is to measure if the wi-fi is using a captive portal. This request does not contain sensitive information, but you may want disable it anyway. Beside that, no tracking or scanning comes with the source of Android which is used by CyanogenMod.
3. Yes they do. As mentioned on the FSFE Wiki, CM uses Google Analytics for tracking their usage on every device by default. This behaviour is opt-out, so you can disable it. If you do not trust this option (the underlying code is not completely open sourced), it's possible to remove Google Analytics using freecyngn.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: privacy, cyanogenmod
---


title: Manage Emergency contacts remotely

text:
# Question
Title: Manage Emergency contacts remotely
I'm looking to manage multiple Android devices and put ICE Contacts on all of them. Unfortunately EMM/MDM solutions are prohibitively expensive, and all I've looked at don't actually do any contact management (that i can see).

I realize we could just setup a bunch of gmail accounts, and set the contacts that way, but most of the phones have Google contact sync turned off, and there would be quite a few accounts to login to.

We are using ActiveSync with them, but i've not been able to get ActiveSync to actually push Emergency contacts the right way. That may be the easiest solution if we can do that.

Are there any good inexpensive/free solutions to push out emergency contacts?

Alternatively is there a way to manage from a central location, sync settings for gmail accounts? So we wouldn't have to touch each phone directly.

# Answer
So i figured this out, and it was deceptively simple. It seems to be an 'undocumented' feature that if you set up a category within outlook with the name of ICE, it will automatically (at least on samsung phones) set contacts tagged with that category into the ICE group on the phone.

I ended up writing a script that ensures whoever has outlook gets the category, and then contacts tagged with that category.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, remote-control
---


# Question
Title: Buying an album from Google Play of which I already have some songs
I want to buy an album, but I already have some songs from it which I bought from the Play Store. Will there be duplicates of the ones I already have? Also, will some money be deducted from the cost of the remaining album like on iTunes, or will I have to pay the cost of the whole album? Thank you!

# Answer
In my experience... Yes, you will be charged full price for the album even if you already have some songs on that album. You will not have duplicate songs in your library if the copy of the songs you previously had were from that exact same album and also purchased from Google Play.

However, if the songs you already had were from a different album than the one you are purchasing (eg. a regular album vs deluxe edition album vs a single or an artist album vs a soundtrack with the same song on it), then you will end up with a duplicate copy of that song in your library even if both were purchased from Google.

You'll also get duplicates in your library if the songs are from the same album but from a different source like iTunes, Amazon or ripped from a personal CD and uploaded to Google Music, but in your case you already said they were purchased from Google Play so this added comment is for others that might have this situation.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-music
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 not rooted, issue with SuperSU when updating su binary
After I root my Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3 (GT-i9205), I downloaded SuperSU from XDA Forums. After I open SuperSU, it asks me to update my `su` binary.

> The SU binary needs to be updated. Continue?

But after a long time, it got stuck on

> Installing, please wait. If you see this message for more than five minutes please restart and try again.

Then I tried to check whether my phone is rooted or not by using a root checker. At last, the answer is *does not have proper root*.

Please help!

# Answer
> 0 votes
I faced the same problem when I tried rooting a Chinese phone having Samsung Galaxy S2 stock ROM. I searched and here is what I found.

Firstly, try installing binary through BusyBox Installer on Play Store. Internet is required to download and then try every version.

If it didn't work out for you, then download Kingoapp. It's a one-click rooting method. Kingoapp has successfully. In some cases, it will ask you to install custom recovery in order to root your device if it failed to root your device in an ordinary way, so if you don't want to lose your stock recovery, just cancel the rooting procedure.

---
Tags: samsung, rooting, supersu
---


title: Android tablet stuck at boot screen

text:
# Question
Title: Android tablet stuck at boot screen
I have a non-branded, non-rooted Chinese tablet with model number X5. It is working fine for a few days. But one day, when I started the tablet, it got stuck on the Android screen. After 10, 20, and even 30 minutes, it remains there and then goes off.

How to fix it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I am not an expert on the subject, but if you hold down the power key for ten to maybe thirty seconds, you can get them to reboot completely. Mine got stuck on a screen when I first got it. It just stuck on some arbitrary screen but I think that's how I got it to reboot. But I am not sure how long you have to hold down the button, but it is some length of time.

# Answer
> -2 votes
Press the power key and volume up key to enter recovery mode. Delete user data and restart the device.

---
Tags: boot-loop
---


# Question
Title: Cannot revive Galaxy Note 2: Kies says "This device version cannot be updated"
I have had a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (GT-N7100GSMH) for almost 2 years now. Never rooted it, was always installing all recommended OS upgrades. After the latest one, the phone started rebooting itself randomly now and then. I was going to take a look into it but never had time. A few days ago, during such reboot, it got stuck at the logo screen (white Samsung Galaxy text). I've read it was called *bootloop* and, following info on the web, tried to wipe the cache. Having entered the recovery mode (Power Up + Home + Power), I received multiple messages `E:cannot mount xxx (file or directory not found)`, with xxx being /system, /cache etc. I still tried to wipe the cache, it seemingly did so, and then displayed the same set of error messages. Then I tried the factory reset, again some activity and the same screen with all the error messages. This is what it shows exactly after the dead Android with red exclamation triangle:

```
E:failed to mount /efs (No such file or directory)
E:failed to mount /system (No such file or directory)

# Manual mode #
-- Appling Multi-CSC...

E:failed to mount /system (No such file or directory)
E:Can't mount /system (No such file or directory)
E:failed to mount /cache (No such file or directory)
E:Can't mount /cache/recovery/last_recovery
E:failed to mount /data (No such file or directory)
E:Can't mount /data/log/recovery_log.txt
E:failed to mount /system (No such file or directory)
E:failed to mount /cache (No such file or directory)
E:Can't mount /cache/recovery/log
E:Can't open /cache/recovery/log
(a few more such errors)

Android system recovery <3e>
KOT49H.N7100XXUFNE1

Volume up/down to move highlight; power button to select
(here goes the blue menu)

```

Then I went the Kies way: Installed Kies (not Kies 3) on Windows 7, went into download mode (Power Down + Home + Power), and tried Tools/Firmware Upgrade and Initialization. Kies accepted the model and serial numbers, downloaded something, showed the window with the instructions and check boxes and then, after hitting `Start upgrade`, told me "This device version cannot be updated". I then went to Tools/Emergency firmware recovery, and received an empty list of devices that require recovery. This is what the phone shows in the download mode:

```
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: GT-N7100
CURRENT BINARY: Samsung Official
SYSTEM STATUS: Official
KNOX WARRANTY VOID: 0
RP SWREV: A2

```

Finally, I tried Kies 3, with the same lack of success. Additionally, it was saying that I was using the wrong Kies version.

I don't know if it's important, but my phone was encrypted (company policy).

Is there anything useful you can guess from the above and recommend me doing before sending it to Samsung for a probably rather costly diagnostics/service?

# Answer
I have eventually brought the phone to the service, and they diagnosed problems with the motherboard. It turned out these phones have a 2-year warranty, so they sent it to Samsung for repair for free. Nicely, it "died" just one month before the end of warranty, so it was a good luck.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: boot-loop, samsung-galaxy-note-2
---


title: Deauthorize an app

text:
# Question
Title: Deauthorize an app
I installed MightyText the other day.

But I haven't used it so I uninstalled it.

Then I remembered it required links to my Google account - so I went to Google Account security.

But it doesn't list the app - when I reinstall MightyText it doesn't prompt me for authorization again - it says it's "linked". There is an "unlink" button - but I have no way of knowing if it actually does it.

Where can I find the Google interface to revoke this permission?

# Answer
> 6 votes
Your app doesn't do Oauth/OpenId, instead it uses Android's integrated auth model via a special permission:

```
YOUR ACCOUNTS
USE THE AUTHENTICATION CREDENTIALS OF AN ACCOUNT
Allows the app to request authentication tokens.

```

ColorNote, for example, doesn't need this permission and thus must get an auth token via the browser. It ends up in the list in the link you provided if you authorize it and you can revoke given permission for ColorNote via your assumed method.

That's why you won't find Google's Drive, Youtube, Maps and so on in the list either as they also use Android's integrated auth token permission.

Pro/Cons:

* Integrated: less friction for the user, depends on Google Apps and a Google account
* OpenId: no Google Apps required, works with accounts from any OpenID provider (see this site's login support for any provider)

# Answer
> 1 votes
Answering a two year old question since this is the first link I found.

You go here: https://security.google.com/settings/security/permissions

You can find under your account settings than security tab. The above link will help since it is a bit tricky to find.

I hope this helps someone in the future!

---
Tags: applications, google-account, permissions
---


title: Nexus 5 freezing often

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus 5 freezing often
I have a new Nexus 5. Ever since I got it, it tends to freeze. Once or twice a day, I would pick it up, try to press something and see that the screen is completely nonresponsive. The only thing I can do is press the power button for 8 seconds until it resets.

Why is this? What can I do about it?

# Answer
> Why is this?

It's faulty.

> What can I do about it?

Return it to the vendor for repair or replacement. Nobody should expect this kind of problem with a new phone. It's not on you to fix it.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, lg
---


# Question
Title: i want my phone to use the sd card i put instead of the phone memory
Im using a Samsung galaxy s3 mini and my problem is that my phone uses the memory when I have got a sd card which still has got space

# Answer
> 1 votes
To fully locate Apps such as Live wallpaper, etc in SD resulting in more free space on your Internal Memory.

1. Root your phone.
2. Get Link2SD from Play Store (it would be better if you get Link2SD Plus) because Ordinary Link2SD lacks "link Private Data" which it links Data files of app and gives you more space on your internal memory.
3. Create a 2nd partition in your high class SD Card set it as (Primary EXT-3 or EXT4; EXT4 is the fastest one ) 2nd can be 1G.B or even 2G.B (The smaller the size the faster apps will be opened) using Minitool Partition 8 or 7 (watch a TUT. For that)

4.Insert your SD card to your phone \> open Link2SD \> a box will pop up asking you about the format of your 2nd partition EXT3 Or 4 and other formats) \> Reboot Your phone after choosing format if the same box pops up again after rebooting that means Your 2nd is not recognized yet or it's not identified by the system Try to change its format between EXT2 or EXT3 or EXT4 to check tap on "storage info" and see. 5. Tap on the app you want to link to SD Card \> tap on "create Link" button Check the available options in there "Link apk /app if the app was installed to internal memory, Link Davlik Cache, Link Libraries, Link private data (available only on Link2SD plus).

6. Link or remove bloatware (they're the apps pre-installed on your phone since you bought it). BE CAREFUL DON'T LINK SYSTEM APPS!!
7. From settings check "Auto Clear cache" to free up more space you can exclude some apps if you want too. For apps that they store their files in Internal memory as (Google Translate Offline packages) I found interesting forum on XDA-Developers explaining how to move these files to SD.

---
Tags: settings
---


# Question
Title: What really happens during a factory reset? Does it securely erase all data?
When you "factory reset" an android phone, are you formatting the phone storage by securely erasing all data and writing over them with zeroes, or are you simply deleting the files by hiding them from the file system? If it's the latter, the data can still be recovered, correct?

If I'm trying to sell my phone, will a factory reset securely erase all my data, or will the next user still be able to recover it with some technical wizardry?

# Answer
A factory reset reformats the phone's user-data partition, but it's not a "secure" wipe; it doesn't overwrite everything with zeroes. If you want to be sure everything is erased, you can encrypt the phone first (which overwrites all the data with encrypted versions of itself), then do a factory reset (which sets up a new unencrypted filesystem).

(**Update:** Most newer devices — those that shipped with Android 5 or later — are encrypted by default, so there's no need for a manual encryption step before wiping. I expect that a factory reset should erase the master encryption key, rendering all the old data unreadable — though Google's documentation doesn't *explicitly* say so.)

Note that a factory reset leaves the phone's system partition (the "ROM") untouched. If you've made any changes to the system partition (such as rooting), those will remain.
> 10 votes

---
Tags: factory-reset, data-recovery, privacy, delete, formatting
---


# Question
Title: Move to SD card not enabled in Sony Xperia M
HI i have a sony xperia M Mobile. I'm trying to move downloaded apps to SD card. For that first i installed android sdk in my pc and connected my Device in USB debugging mode. Later i started adb and changed the installed location to external card by using `pm set-intall-location 2` No errors are shown here. But after disconnecting the usb i still can't find move to SD tab in my device for any of the downloaded apps.

After setting adb i viewed adb devices i saw the devices list there is only one device connected with some name. I assumed it as my device as there are no other devices connected but how can i know that it is my device only.

My device is not rooted

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can't move apps to sdcard on the Sony Xperia M. Unless your device is rooted.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Sony Xperia phones don't support moving applications to SD Memory card anymore. That's an official confirmation from Sony. I queried about this topic directly with them. The only thing you can do is to Rooting the device which obviously voids the warranty. Rooting is an easy process but finding a good Custom ROM is the issue.

---
Tags: stock-android, sony-xperia
---


# Question
Title: On Galaxy S3 with Jelly Bean, how can I make long-pressing the home button activate Google Voice Search?
I have a Verizon Galaxy S3 with Jelly Bean on it.

What I want is to long-press the Home button and hear a beep to prompt me to provide a voice command.

I had it set up this way before I installed the official Verizon version of Jelly Bean. I had Cyanogenmod before.

I know that I can long-press the "Menu" soft-key to open up Google Now, but that's not what I want, especially since it doesn't even activate the voice search.

# Answer
You could install an alternate launcher like Nova and assign the buttons to do different things. Alternatively you can flash a ROM that has the home button going to Google Search by default.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Galaxy S3 stock ROM has S-Voice on home key double press (do a double click like with a mouse), its not Google's app but its not so bad at all.

If you want to launch another app (like Google's Voice Search), you need to decompile, edit and recompile the framework.jar of your phone to add that function. I would suggest you ask about the change in the Cyanogenmod forum, since it should be fairly simple.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Stock roms hardly comes with enhanced options. IMO you should switch back to Cyanogen based ROMS or any other custom roms. I prefer/rely Cyano as I am using it past 3 years and has lots of revealed options which is good and bad as well. Currently I own a OnePlus One with cyanogen 11S. Alternatively you can root your phone and look for any such app that will help you in modifying the internal stuffs like JRummy Toolbox etc.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-s-3, voice-recognition, home-button
---


title: Video and game lags after rooting S3

text:
# Question
Title: Video and game lags after rooting S3
I recently rooted my phone, and am now using Paranoid and I love it. However, whenever I play videos and games it lags really noticeably. This never happened before I rooted my phone. I'm using Samsung Galaxy S3 and have tried using Seeder with no luck. Can I fix this poor performance?

# Answer
This is probably a bug in the custom ROM you've installed. You should report it to the developer of the ROM, and either wait for it to be fixed in an update, or use a different ROM.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, root-access, performance
---


# Question
Title: How can I disable usb charging on Android phone (Nexus 5)
I use my Nexus 5 as development device, so I plug-in and plug-out into computer usb very often. What makes me worried is that too many this way "li-on" battery charging cycles get wasted too fast.

My Nexus 5 is rooted. I want it to charge only when connected to wall socket.

I saw there are similar questions but I haven't found any concrete solution yet. Apart "sync only cable". but does it really exists?

Thanks in advance

# Answer
Don't worry about battery. There is nothing like fixed cycle count counter. Plugging it very often is actually better than cycling it 10%-\>100%-\>10%-\>100%.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: charging
---


# Question
Title: How to Create Additional Google Play Account Under 1 Google Account?
I have just set up new Google Account on my tablet that uses new Google Play account. I want to add another Google Account that I use **as main that already has history of apps I bought** in the past and payment method associated with it.

So instead of using new Google Play account with no track record and bought apps, I want to remove it from existing Google Account and **link to it established Google Play account**.

How to do that without adding another Google Account to device only to have everything synced and mixed up? After all this is short term purpose because after adding apps I already bought, will mean removing that Google Account and switching back to previous. What if I want to download paid application again? Here we go again..

# Answer
You have a very strange use case, and Dan Hulme's duplicate suggestion is actually correct.

If you want to use the apps from an OLD account, you need to add the OLD account, switch to the OLD account, and install the apps through the OLD account. Then, you switch back to the NEW account, and remove the OLD account. If you want to install a new app from the OLD account, you need to repeat the same procedure.

As I said, you have a very strange use case, and this is the only workaround. If what you wanted were possible, it would be open to abuse. You could share the account to several people, and let them install apps using that account.

EDIT #1: As per Izzy, removing the OLD account can break the installed apps, as the license checks will fail. So, best to keep both OLD and NEW accounts, but disable the sync on the OLD account (as you suggested).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, sync, google-account
---


# Question
Title: Find application size on Google Play Store
Google Play site on PC doesn't show application size. Additionally, after last update, Play Store application doesn't show application size either.

Is there a way to find application size without downloading/installing it?

# Answer
> 6 votes
In the app and in the website, you can only get the size of the APK.

But for additional downloads (extensions), it's usually not documented, but they can go to as much as 4GB. See this SO question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/21330911/max-size-of-an-android-application

In some cases, it just says "Varies with device".

# Answer
> 0 votes
If that doesn't work, or if they remove it, you can alway tap on install. When you see the size, cancel it. :D

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


title: Insufficient memory

text:
# Question
Title: Insufficient memory
I have a 4.2.1 android version phone. In internal storage there is 114 MB free space but I cannot download or update any app because I get an error saying "insufficient memory in internal storage". I tried all the first aid listed in this site but no gain :( .

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try cleaning cache/junk and unused apps first https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cleanmaster.mguard

---
Tags: ram
---


# Question
Title: Exchange calendar syncs to Android, but not to Google
I feel as though I am missing a simple configuration change on my Android device. I recently setup my work Exchange account on my Galaxy S4. My calendar entries from Exchange show up on my Android calendar just fine. However, I want those entries to actually get pushed to my Google calendar.

Is there an easy way to have my Android device push those events to my Google calendar instead of keeping them local to the phone calendar itself?

# Answer
Share the ICS URL of your Exchange to Google Calendar.

From an Oregon State University HOWTO:

1. Click on `Calendar` in the lower left corner
2. You should see all your calendars in front of you. On the left side of the window, you should see the list of calendars and their names. Under My Calendars, right click the one you wish to add to your Google account.
3. After right clicking your chosen calendar, right click, go `Share > Publish This Calendar (Publish This Calendar to the Internet)`
4. A new window will pop up. Select the options for which best suit you.
5. When complete, press `Start Publishing` in the lower right corner.
6. A couple of urls will show up for you to copy. Find the one that ends in .ics and copy that whole url.
7. Go to Google Calendar
8. When logged in to view your calendar, go find `Other Calendars` on the left side of the window
9. After finding Other Calendars, there should be a box with `a triangle` in it to the right of the text. Click that box and find `Add by URL`.
10. A popup will show up. In this popup, you want insert the .ics URL from your Outlook here.
11. Press `Add Calendar` below.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sync, 4.4-kitkat, calendar, exchange
---


# Question
Title: need to reinstall widget category on nexus 7
I have tried to find answers to this problems at several different forums. I went to the all apps screen where the widgets category tab should be and it was gone. I even tried to down load a widgets launcher from play store and it didn't work.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Many APPs have widgets that you can install on a panel of your home screen. Long click on a panel of your home screen that still has sufficient empty space left for your widget(s) and then click on Widget then on the widget's app you want. If there was no space left on the home screen panel you were on, you would not be able to see widget choices to be able to install a widget.

You wouldn't find Widgets on the App Screen unless it is an individual widget App. There is a resemblance between apps screen and home screen, and that is what you probably remember.

You could have possibly answered your own question here, by clicking on the "Widgets" tab on your question, or better by clicking on tag at the top of the page and they typing "widget" into the tag search box, or using the search box at the top of the page.

---
Tags: app-widgets
---


# Question
Title: Is Galaxy Apps a legimate App? (kitkat, samsung galaxy app 3)
So on my samsung galaxy tab 3 running android kitkat, I noticed something in the notification bar. An app named samsung apps was downloading new apps, as if it was like the normal app store. One was Samsung billing.

After each download I was prompted, "Google may regularly check installed apps for potentially harmfull behaviour. Learn more in Google Settings \> Verify apps."

It was followed by an accept and decline. I just pressed the back button and it went away. Then I noticee samsung apps was renamed Galaxy Apps.

Is this a legitimate new update? Did anyone else get this? (If you use a samsung device).

# Answer
Galaxy Apps is the new name of Samsung Apps.

Samsung Billing is also legit, as per Informer answer:

> The application is used to purchase apps through Samsung Store application that is delivered with Samsung phones. Samsung Billing acts as bridge between Samsung Store and payment servers. Without it, you will not be able to purchase anything. It's safe to be removed because it can be installed at a later date in case you actually need it.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: samsung-apps, samsung-galaxy-tab-3
---


title: Google Play No Connection

text:
# Question
Title: Google Play No Connection
I have tried all suggestions in the answer and everything the asker did specified on this question without any luck. I reflashed GApps and CyanogenMod at least 13 times, as I have lost count. The only things that seem to be malfunctioning is Google Play. Although sync says it's having "errors" but it is syncing so I'm not sure what is going on there...

What is working:

* Google+
* Gmail
* Apps with the "login with Google" that uses the Google+ API

What's not working:

* Google Play

What's half working:

* Sync, it says it's having errors but it is syncing

System Details:

* CyanogenMod 10.1.3
* Android 4.2.2
* GApps for CyanogenMod 10.1
* Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 (GT-P5113)

/etc/hosts

```
127.0.0.1 localhost

```

I have the Xposed framework installed, but it's never caused problems before so I wouldn't think it would be a problem now. The time is as it should be, so it's not the problem. Cleared the cache and data on Google Play 37 times.

*P.S.: When I say "reflashed", I mean I wipe /system /cache and the dalvik cache and install GApps, CM 10.1.3 from zip in recovery.*

# Answer
I don't know exactly what was wrong, but it seems to me that whatever the problem was, it w had something to do with a permission in /data as when I wiped it, it worked as expected.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, cyanogenmod, gmail, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10.1
---


# Question
Title: Unable to install apps on new Android one device due to google play 489 download error
I bought a new Android One device from Amazon.in but I'm unable to install or update any applications from Google Play Store on it when I'm connected to wifi. The error message is a 489 download error.

I found the problem documented at a few other places on the internet like this but there doesn't seem to be a know solution for this.

I have tried to delete my account and add it again, do a factory reset and try again none of these has helped. If however I switch to 3g I am able to update the apps, but my 3G plan is limited and I like to use it when I'm on the go. I have a pretty decent wifi at home which I want to use for updates and app installs. Living on just 3g is not even an option.

Does anyone know of a fix for this? Since I got the phone from Amazon, they are pretty customer friendly and I should be able to return the phone easily should I do this?

I was able to install Amazon App store and have been successful in installing apps using it over wifi but this isn't a scalable approach for me either as I won't get the android updates and things like Whatsapp seem to be missing from the Amazon App Store.

My hunch is that there is some software issue with Google Play but I don't know if that is the case or if it will be fixed. What is the best thing for me to do in this case?

# Answer
Happened to me as well when I first got my Nexus 4, but it was somehow sorted out. It is possible that I "forgot" the WIFI network and then connected to it again but I'm not sure.

Try to see if you can download apps through the web version of the play store: (from your computer, I mean) https://play.google.com/store

This isn't an issue that should get you to return the phone to Amazon, I'm pretty sure it is a software problem.

**Solutions that I came across**

*Solution 1*

1. logging in Google App store using your gmail id in your pc.
2. Select the App that you want to install.
3. Click on install .
4. Make sure at the same time you mobile is connected to wifi. Then App will automatically get downloaded and installed in you mobile.

*Solution 2*

I not only tried all the above steps I also got my mobile formatted but it didn’t work. More so, I got it replaced. Still not sure what’s the problem – maybe it’s the mobile maybe it’s the google app store. whatever it is, I found a way to use wifi to download from play store. It’s quite simple actually, start downloading using your normal data connection and quickly switch wifi. It will automatically start using wifi to download stuff. Use Go widget for switching if you want to.

I don't know if they will work but it's worth a shot...
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: Why wifi file transfer does not work in my S5?
I got my S5 yesterday. I have tried to use Wifi transfer pro and dooblou wifi file explorer to transfer file to my S5 external SD card, but they don't work. What I see is that my external SD does not show on the Wifi transfer pro and dooblou wifi file explorer pages. Normally, I will see my SD card available space in their pages.

Please help

# Answer
Yes, I believe these kind of apps don't show for some reason your external SD card. What I can suggest to you is:

1. Try another app like Airdroid. Maybe there it will work.
2. Somewhat of a workaround - transfer the file to the internal SD card and then use a file explorer (on your phone) to transfer it to the external SD card.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, file-transfer, samsung-galaxy-s-5
---


title: Owner Information on Galaxy S3

text:
# Question
Title: Owner Information on Galaxy S3
I just had a software upgrade on my Samsung Galaxy S3 phone. The Android version is 4.3.

How do I update the owner information on the locked screen?

There is no option under "security" in the setting.

# Answer
> 1 votes
From SM: Go to Settings → My Device → Home Screen Mode and select "Standard Mode", then hit "Apply".

Next, go to Settings → My device → Lock screen. All will be active now.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Settings \> Lock Screen \> Lock Screen Widgets \> Personal Message/Personal Information.
That should be what you're looking for if I understand correctly.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: Can you execute sqlite3 outside xbin directory?
When sqlite3 is installed you can execute the binary e.g. via a terminal emulator.

If sqlite3 is not installed per default and you do not want to root the phone to install it, is there any possibility to use the binary outside the xbin directory?

# Answer
If you've got the binary available, you could upload it to your device and use it from there. Note, however, that this won't work from SDCards – but the following approach should do without rooting:

```
adb push sqlite /data/local/sqlite
adb shell "chmod 0755 /data/local/sqlite"

```

Then you can always invoke it using the full path, e.g. `/data/local/sqlite somedatabase.db`, from within a terminal app or `adb shell` session.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sqlite
---


# Question
Title: How to backup Android system and Apps with their configurations?
I ve been trying to find way to do a image backup then restore it back to a re-set device.

I dont think `adb backup / adb restore` can do this.

1. I installed all Apps and configured all settings for system and apps.
2. I did a \[adb backup -all -f c:\xxx.ab\] also tried other parameters. basically i backed up everything.
3. I reset my andriod back to factory state.
4. I did a \[adb restore\]
5. I dont see any app show up on my android and no system settings has been configured.

How can I do a whole system image backup with all apps installed? The whole point is i need to used this back to restore into other same devices, so i dont have to go through the whole app install process again and again.

---

Some more info, The reason that I am trying to do this is that we have 60+ android devices (MK902 Android box)need to be pushed out in our building, on each device, I have to root it, install all Apps, configure system and apps. it is painful to go through this process on all devices. So I am thinking if there is any way to make a whole system image just like what we do on windows, then I can put that image into rest of devices, and change the device name later.

I used RK batch Tool to load a rooted img file into device for rooting. this img file contains boot.img, kernal.img and so on. I was trying to install all Apps and configure everything then make a img pack. but looks like it is too hard for me....i dont find any easy way or software to make this `.img` file.....

# Answer
So from what I understand, you managed to back up and restore the ROM itself (system partition) but not the apps. Basically I'd recommend:

1. Backing up the ROM with the backup option on recovery. I don't remember if it means your apps will be backed up as well but I think it does.
2. You can use Titanium backup or Hellium to back up your apps. The backups will be saved on your phone so after your backup, transfer the backup files from your phone to your computer and once you're done restoring, transfer those same files from your computer to your phone and use one of these apps (whichever you chose) to restore your apps. Notice that you can backup system apps as well but it is not recommended as it might give you FC's (force close).
> 2 votes

# Answer
A whole system image backup is not possible without root access. If you have root access, this can be achieved via . However, if you create a full image, reset the device, and restore the image – you've just spent a lot of time for nothing, as Nandroid makes full file system images. So this makes more sense when creating a backup while the device is in "perfect order", and do the reset/restore to return to that state.

If you're after apps and their settings alone, backup should be the right approach (root or not). As you've tried that and failed: This might be a bug in your ROM. I have some devices acting the same: while I can make an `adb backup`, an `adb restore` always fails. On all other devices, however, it works fine.

Third option was already pointed out by Eran: Use Titanium Backup. This is a powerful tool not only for backups (actually one of the first paid apps I obtained, and use until today) – but again, it requires root access.

For additional hints, you might wish to visit our backup tag-wiki. There you should find a lot of relevant information, and links to other posts here on this site dealing with this and similar issues.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: backup
---


title: How to set default browser used by NFC?

text:
# Question
Title: How to set default browser used by NFC?
I have a Samsung S4 mini, stock Jellybean ROM. I have several browsers installed, one of which is Firefox configured for browsing through a proxy. When I tap on an NFC tag, Android opens up Firefox - I want it to open up a different browser. How?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Normally, only apps that specifically support NFC will work, not just any browser. If you've tried resetting Firefox as a default app, as Izzy suggests, and you still don't get a choice of browser, it may be because your other browsers don't support NFC.

In this case, you can use my app bURLy to choose any browser. It's a free download from Google Play, and it supports NFC and lets you choose any app that understands the URL in the tag: whether it's a browser, the YouTube app, the Facebook app, or any other site's app, regardless of whether the app supports NFC.

You can choose the app each time if you like, you can set a single default app, or if you like, you can add rules for particular URLs, sites, or other conditions. For example, you might want one site to open in Firefox, another site in Chrome.

---
Tags: nfc, stock-browser
---


# Question
Title: How do I upload photos from Android phone to Google Plus without sharing?
I would like to upload photos from my SGS4 to my Google+ without sharing to anyone. How do I do that?

# Answer
If you turn on the "Auto Backup" feature of Google+, your photos will automatically be uploaded and will only be viewable by you (until you share them, of course).

If you want to do it manually, simply share with G+ and choose yourself as the only person you share with. I like to keep a Circle around with no one in it that I can share things to and so I'm the only one who can see them (kind of a "read it later" thing). You might prefer to do that, since it's quicker to choose a Circle to share to than a person.
> 3 votes

# Answer
I was looking to do the same thing. If you want another way to do it other than adding yourself to your own circle (seems dumb to have to do that) or using Auto backup (this sucks because it does ALL your photos, what if you only want certain ones and also want them in a specific album then I have to move them after the upload) you can use the app Picasa Tool for Google + Photos in the Google Play Store. Just select your photos in Gallery and share then select Picasa Tool and you can Choose an existing album or new one, resolution size and also if you want them to be private. Everything one would want and expect for the upload experience. Google needs to get with it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-plus, google-plus-photos
---


title: How to update cyanogenmod custom rom

text:
# Question
Title: How to update cyanogenmod custom rom
If i install a cyanogenmod custom rom with all the risky complicated procedure on bootloader and next upadte of cyanogenmod comes out with android l so should i have to again go though bootloader and install it or can i install it simply on going to setting upadte update and android update without going to bootloader.

# Answer
The unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery is a one time procedure, for future updates you just need to flash the zip file and you are good to go. Having said that, since you feel it is a risky complicated procedure, in case you have a phone that is mentioned on this Page then the whole process becomes a lot more simpler and opaque to you! At the end you will have a phone with the last stable release of CM for your phone, what this also does is take care of the messy steps, so if you are unable to root your phone just using CM Installer will unlock a whole new world.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Nope unlock bootloader and installing CWM is one time (unless you want to update the Recovery) Update or install Zip file it via Custom Recovery
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, cyanogenmod, rom-update
---


title: No operating system/no anything!

text:
# Question
Title: No operating system/no anything!
I have a Samsung Galaxy s3 SGH-I747, I had rooted the phone and had success and tried different ROM's before deciding one I wanted to go back with and stick with. I had booted my phone into recovery however and left it laying out (ADHD sidetracked me) returned and discovered a friend had accidentally wiped everything- INCLUDING MY BACKUP-he thought I said the backup was on the external sd card, which he noticed wasn't in. So I have no back-up, no operating system and no firmware because of something with Kies? (it says this on the phone screen???) which has me completely baffled, because I rooted with Odin. So, no os, no rom, nothing.........what do I do?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Copy a ROM from your PC to your phone. Flash the ROM in recovery. You may have to reinstall the Samsung drivers on your PC.

Don't worry about this. You still have recovery intact. Keep yourself a SD card with a ROM and GApps on it.

`*Always Do a Backup*`

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, samsung
---


# Question
Title: Add manually installed android apps to Google Play account
I regularly install a number of frequently used applications on new android devices.
Since I do this often, I download and the latest versions of these apps and sideload the APKs onto the devices in order to save internet bandwith among other reasons.

The problem I encounter with this is that new applications I install via sideloading do not appear in the user's application list in Google Play even though the apps are free.

How can I get these new apps added to the user's application list?

# Answer
Sideloaded apps are not linked to Google Play. You will have to update them manually (i.e. sideloading)

What you could do is install Titanium Backup (needs root), and use its `Attach to Market` feature.

Another solution would be to use AppBrain instead of Google Play, because AppBrain scans the apps in your phone, and informs you of any updates.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, installation, side-loading
---


title: What is the use of Google Settings app?

text:
# Question
Title: What is the use of Google Settings app?
I'm using low config Android mobile, Google Settings app occupy my phone memory so I wonder to know what are the uses of behind this app and once I delete how come get back this app.

# Answer
This app is actually part of the Google Play services app. Google automatically updates Google Play services on all supported devices via Google Play Store to ensure API consistency across devices and versions, and to deliver fixes and new features in a timely fashion.

It is installed on any Android device running Android 2.2 or higher and is updated every 6 weeks and the updates are pushed silently to all supported devices meaning if you uninstall it then it will be re-installed automatically.

It also allows Google to patch some vulnerabilities in Android without requiring a full O/S update or involving manufacturers/carriers.
> 8 votes

# Answer
This will contain all settings related to your Google Account like search settings, Ads settings, location and others. And more importantly, you will not be able to uninstall this app.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-settings
---


# Question
Title: Trying to perform a system update crashes the Settings app
I've bought a Lenovo A7 3300 16GB tablet running Android 4.2.2. I tried to updated my tablet to the last version of Android by going into `Settings > About phone > System update`, but when I tap on "System update" this message appears on the screen:

> Unfortunately, settings has stopped.

In addition, my GPS is not working properly. I can turn it on, but it doesn't locate my position on Google Maps or other GPS apps.

My tablet is not rooted and **I don't want to root it**. I've tried factory reset many times, just for the record.

1. Is there any way to fix these problems without rooting?
2. What causes these problems?
3. Is this a hardware problem or a software problem?
4. Should I bring my tablet back to the seller?

# Answer
There a couple of things you can try out, in any order you like!

1. New Tablet? Surprising, try a factory reset if you have nothing on it. This should fix it for most cases.
2. A single application crashing could be due to some stale values associated with the data it has cached, you could try force stopping the settings application and then clearing the storage.

If this doesn't work, check for the latest stable build of a rom for your device from the vendor itself, you might have to flash it.

Edit:

Just saw Jeff Chang's comment, and my answer is similar to the one on the link he provided. If it works, you can ask him to answer it for you and award him the bounty.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: updates, 4.2-jelly-bean, gps, lenovo
---


# Question
Title: "USB Debugging" mode not visible, Samsung Galaxy Note II
**resolved (see below)**

The only options I see are "Media device (MTP)" and "Camera (PTP)", I can browse the phone files and download images from the camera directory, so the USB plug and cable are fine.

I tried following the steps on this page from Google.

I am only trying to access browser tabs (for inspect element on mobile device web development). The only software installed so far is the Samsung driver from the Samsung site and any drivers installed when the phone is plugged into the USB port.

1. I have the "Developer options" enabled, and "USB debugging" is checked
2. When going through the list on the page I did not install Samsung drivers first, as it is out of order on the page, so I went back into Device Manager and removed the drivers that installed from first plug in of the phone thinking this was the problem
3. I then followed the steps again, installing Samsung driver first then plugging in my phone.
4. After all drivers installed I rebooted (as computer told me reboot required), plugged my phone in again, and USB debugging is still not an option.

Computer OS: Windows 7 (64 bit) Phone: SCH-1605 (Samsung Galaxy Note II - Verizon) Phone OS: Android 4.4.2

**resolution**

using this howtogeek link provided in the accepted answer I was able to install the Java JDK and Android SDK, which apparently is necessary to get it to work as expected and put my phone in debugging mode when plugged in

# Answer
> 3 votes
Apologise for my ignorance as I dont have a Galaxy Note II but since you have the SAMSUNG Android ADB Interface I am presuming when you run command (and get this from google too)

```
adb.exe devices

```

Do you at least see a Serial Number??

I had a similar issue with my Nexus 5 and noticed I too have the same drivers however for my computer to connect to the device I had to make sure my device is:

* NOT in a Locked State (meaning the phone is not on the lock screen)
* Debugging is enabled (You already have)
* And accept the adb connection physically on the phone (just do the adb connection and it'll prompt your device for privileges.)

EDITED - 01/08/2014

# Answer
> -1 votes
To get the usb debugging on a samsung note 2: go to "about device". Under about device, scroll to build number. It will not be highlighted. Tap it repeatedly until you receive a message. It will state that you will become a developer in three steps. Keep tapping it until no more messages. You will see developers options. Click on developers options, scroll down to usb debugging.

---
Tags: usb, stock-android, usb-debugging, samsung-galaxy-note-2
---


# Question
Title: Stop WhatsApp from being used on lost phone
I lost my Android phone, but my WhatsApp is still on. How I can stop someone who is using it?

I don't have the SIM with me. The people who found it is using my WhatsApp account. When they went online, I tried to talk but they did no reply.

# Answer
> 5 votes
From Whatsapp:

> **What do I do if my phone is lost or stolen?**
>
> In the unfortunate case that your phone gets lost or stolen, we can help make sure that no one can use your WhatsApp account.
>
> As soon as possible you should call your mobile provider to lock your SIM card. Then, it will not be possible to verify the account on that phone again as you need to be able to receive SMS or phone calls to verify an account.
>
> After you have locked the SIM in your stolen phone, you can use a new SIM with the same number to activate WhatsApp on your new phone. This is the fastest way to deactivate your account on the stolen phone. WhatsApp can only be activated with one phone number on one device at a time.
>
> If you are not ready to activate WhatsApp on a new phone with the same number we can deactivate your account. Email us with your phone number in the full international format as described here. Please note that we are not able to help you locate your phone. Remote WhatsApp deactivation from another device is not possible.
>
> Important: Even with the SIM card locked and phone service disabled, WhatsApp can be used on Wi-Fi if you do not contact us with an account deactivation request.
>
> **More important details about deactivated accounts**
>
> 1. When your account is deactivated, it is not completely deleted.
> 2. While your account is deactivated:
>
> * Your name is still on your contacts' Favorites / Select Contact lists.
>     * Your contacts can send you messages, which will remain in a pending state for up to 30 days.
> 3. If you reactivate your account before it is deleted, you will receive any pending messages on your new phone and you will still be in all of your group chats.
> 4. If a deactivated account is not re-activated within 30 days, it will be completely deleted.
>
> **Note:** Since your chat history is stored on your device, we cannot retrieve your previous messages.

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, lost-phone
---


# Question
Title: Will I keep the credits that I redeemed from a Google Play voucher if I get a new phone?
I bought a new phone, and I have redeemed a £25 Google Play voucher on my Play Store account.

I need to take back my phone. If I get a new phone, will I still have the £25 on my Google Play account?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes, the credits / load is tied to your account. So, it will still be there, as long as you use the same Google account.

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


# Question
Title: Where can I find SIM settings in Huawei Ideos X5?
I want to unlock my SIM card password. I was looking around Android settings, but I couldn't find SIM settings to unlock password.

# Answer
> 1 votes
*I have an Samsung Galaxy S4 using a custom ROM*. Maybe something like `Settings > Security > Set up SIM/RUIM card lock`, but it's different for every phone.

For your Huawei Ideos X5, `Settings > Location & security > Set up SIM card lock`.

---
Tags: settings
---


title: android S3 wifi problems due to update

text:
# Question
Title: android S3 wifi problems due to update
After the update, my phone tries to connect to wifi networks (which my tablet connects to just fine) and then says "internet not available". How do i solve this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Goto settings\>WiFi\> select SSID, you'll have options for forget and connect. Select forget. Then select SSID. Enter passphrase. Then select connect

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


title: sd card installation in s7582

text:
# Question
Title: sd card installation in s7582
I am having a problem with my sd card installation. After inserting sd card in my phone, still its showing "insert sd card". Can anyone help me out with this problem?

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you have another memory card try it out and see if it works. If it does then your first memory card may be corrupt or damaged. If the second memory card doesn't work either then it's possible there is a problem with your SD card slot on the phone. If the problem is the SD card slot then you may need to look into a warranty replacement for the phone, if that option is available.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, samsung-galaxy-s-2
---


# Question
Title: How to change android primary google account
During the "in-app purchase" I am unable to switch the Google account I would like to use for "in-app purchase". Currently, in order to change the primary Google account on Android operating system, we have the following ways:

* Remove other Google accounts, leave only one Google account.
* Perform factory reset on our devices.
    + If we perform factory reset, we will lose all data that we have not backed up or unable to do backup. And, we have to re-install the applications that we need to use.

If we choose to remove other Google accounts from our systems and leave only one Google account, if there are applications installed from Google Play Store by using the Google account that we want to remove from our systems, then we will not be able to remove the account from the system unless we remove those applications. However, sometimes we may forget which account we used to install an application from Google Play Store.

My question is that is there any other way to switch between the accounts?

# Answer
I believe I had a similar problem. I just bought the Moto X on Verizon. I linked 3 Google accounts to this phone (including my wife's to sync our calendars.) The phone chose my wife's account as the primary so when I sent text messages they would be sent from my wife's Google account. SOLUTION: I went into the Google+ account app, logged out of her account and then the phone asked me which one to log into. Problem solved to change my primary account without factory reset.
> 5 votes

# Answer
Here is a good description, on how to do this. To cite the main facts:

## If your phone is NOT rooted

> If your device isn’t rooted, the only thing you can do is perform a hard reset on the device. You can normally do this under Settings \> Privacy \> Factory data reset. Doing this will wipe all data and settings from the device.
>
> Unfortunately, if you really need to change the main Google account, this is the only option unless you gain root access.

## If your phone is rooted

> * Navigate to the /data/system directory.
> * Tap and hold the accounts.db file, then select Rename.
> * Rename the file to accounts.db.old to make a backup of the file.
> * Restart your Android device.
> * Once the device restarts, open an app that requires a Google account such as Market, Gmail or GTalk. You will be prompted to create a new account or login using an existing account. That’s all there is to it.
> 5 votes

# Answer
I used the following procedure:

1. Uninstall the app
2. Go to Play Store and switch to the account you want to use to pay from
3. Using Google Play web version (you may need to login first), find the app and install again
4. Make your in-app purchase

Source: Change Gmail account to make in-app purchase?
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, google-account, in-app-purchase
---


title: How install gapps with adb commands

text:
# Question
Title: How install gapps with adb commands
How can I install google apps with adb commands ? I don't know how to unzip . I used busybox. But it is not useful. Please guide me . Thanks to all and everythings. :)

# Answer
> 21 votes
If you have a rooted phone with a custom recovery, you can do it:

1. Reboot to recovery
2. Go into Sideload (might be under advanced - if your recovery doesn't have this feature, then you need to update your recovery.
3. On your computer, run `adb sideload <gapps-version.zip>`
4. Reboot.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Good question. While it's technically feasible (mount /system rw, unpack the zip, install the apks), I don't think that it is currently possible.

The gapps are usually installed with help of the recovery. For more information see "How can I install the Google Apps Package (Play Store, …) on my Android device?"

---
Tags: adb, google-apps
---


title: TWRP Stuck on Boot Screen Nexus 7

text:
# Question
Title: TWRP Stuck on Boot Screen Nexus 7
I have installed TWRP onto my Nexus 7 (2012) and have gone into Recovery Mode. This has led me to be stuck on the Google Boot Screen. What do I do to fix this? I have been using this guide: http://itsfoss.com/root-nexus-7-2013-ubuntu-linux/

# Answer
You need to follow a guide for the **2012** Nexus 7 instead, which the model is called **Nakasi (Grouper/WiFi, Tilapia/3G-WiFi)**. You're using the wrong image, **2013** Nexus 7, which the model is called **Razor (Flo/WiFi, Debian/3G-WiFi)**, for your device. That's why its not wanting to get past the boot screen. Download from the link below or go to XDA Forum.

Here is the link to the factory images for Nexus devices

Scroll down to the Nexus 7 2012 and select which model you have.

Here is a link for Universal Nexus Linux Toolkit

You can get the image from inside the program. *This will run on Linux and Mac OSX*. This will take care of all the commands.

---

**Edit** I did see at the bottom of the guide you used that it states for the 2012 model to use a earlier (older) version of TWRP, but it doesn't show anywhere a link to any 2012 images - just to the 2013 image.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rooting
---


# Question
Title: how to really permanently delete everything on samsung s4 active?
I will give my phone to technical service due to a problem on battery. I am a little paranoid about technical service employee and don't trust them in terms of personal privacy.

I read that factory reset does not permanently remove everything on phone: http://blog.avast.com/2014/07/09/android-foreniscs-pt-2-how-we-recovered-erased-data/.

I would like to delete everything on phone in a way that in which even high level forensic recovery softwares can't recover anything.

By the way, i am not an expert user on android so please describe the solution in detailed form.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Here are the steps -

1) Power off your device completely.

2) Press and hold Volume Up, Home and Power buttons simultaneously.

3) Select wipe data/factory reset and Wipe cache

Here's a Video for further help - www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNfRb13i7vI

---
Tags: factory-reset, delete
---


# Question
Title: How to force built-in apps to update on a brand new android device?
I've just unpacked a new phone Moto G 2nd Gen and noticed that the Google Play My Apps is completely empty (it's for my wife, she didn't use android before).

So I updated several essential apps (chrome, gmail, maps) manually by searching them in play store manually and clicking "Update". Now they appeared in the list of apps.

But how can I ensure that all built in apps eventually update automatically as soon as they are not in the list?

It's painful to do that manually - some apps are not even in App Drawer (like Google Keyboard).

**UPDATE**:

Just to let you know: all the built in apps updated automatically and appeared in the list of "my apps"

PS: to be precise only some of them updated, others just appeared there waiting for granting more permissions

# Answer
> 5 votes
Open up the PlayStore, open menu and select settings.

Select second option from the top **`auto-update apps`**. Then chose if you want to update from just WiFi or incur data charges.

Sooner or later apps that have updates will want to update.

You can also go into the apps and select auto update if available.

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Tags: google-play-store, 4.4-kitkat, application-autoupdate, motorola-moto-g
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# Question
Title: Will a Factory Reset lock my phone (Samsung Galaxy S2) if it is unlocked, but factory locked?
I know that formatting the SD card will not lock my phone again.

But if I Factory Reset my phone, will it re-lock the phone or not?

# Answer
> 2 votes
A factory reset will not change the status of the phone with regards to "device lock" (Can I connect to other networks?) or to "bootloader lock" (Can I use custom ROMs?).

# Answer
> 2 votes
It is still kind of unclear what you exactly mean.

In general: a factory resets formats the whole userdata(data) partition. The data partitions contains your installed apps, databases where your customized settings for the android system are stored(for example if you changed your homescreen; added some shortcuts/widgets etc.). Also the cache of the virtual machine resides on this partition....as the name already says it's mainly used for userdata.

If you are talking about a rooted phone(windows term: administrator): **a factory reset usually does never remove your root access**. Normally rooting procedures install a "su" binary in /system/xbin/su or /system/bin/su, this is obviously stored on the system partition which is never touched by a factory reset.

As already mentioned the bootloader is shipped unlocked and won't be locked again.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Samsung Galaxy S2 is shipped with an unlocked bootloader, so it won't be locked when you Factory Reset it. If it's rooted, it will not be unrooted, but SuperSU or Superuser app itself may be removed (If it's not installed in system partition), so you'll just have to reinstall it. And if it's a factory unlocked carrier specific version of the phone like i777 (AT&T), then it may get carrier/network locked again (Booting up the first time after a factory reset it may ask you to enter the Network Unlock Code if you use a non-AT&T SIM), although in most cases this won't happen.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, bootloader-lock
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title: Possible to root Archos 79 Platinum

text:
# Question
Title: Possible to root Archos 79 Platinum
I want to root this device:

Archos 79 Platinum

Is it possible, and can someone link me to a guide please? (I couldn't find a clear cut answer whether it is rootable or not)

# Answer
**YES!** It is possible to root the **Archos 79 Platinum** using the following methods:

VROOT-root exe file for use on Windows machines

And to replace the superuser-app with an English version:

English Superuser and busybox etc

Yoy may also first want to check out the following link to make sure USB works properly (also google on how to enable developer-mode and USB-debugging on Android devices in general):

Enable Archos USB devices

I just rooted my device, so I know for sure that it works.
> 0 votes

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Tags: rooting, tablet
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# Question
Title: After Uninstall, Android Device Manager still shows in Device Administrator List
I enabled Android Device Manager a while ago, and then realized it wasn't useful for me so uninstalled it.

I just now noticed that it still is listed in my Device Administrators list despite not being installed on my phone (and if I log in to their website I can STILL track my phone)

Am running Android 4.2.2 on an HTC One X (unrooted)

# Answer
The Android Device Manager app doesn't control whether your device is tracked by ADM. It simply allows you to see and manage your other Android devices.

You need to go to the Google Settings app, choose "Android Device Manager", and un-check "Remotely locate this device".
> 6 votes

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Tags: android-device-manager, device-administrator
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