# Question
Title: opening problem with youtube and hangout apps
I am using Android 4.4.2 on Kyocera Hydro Icon.

Since a few weeks ago, I experienced problems with opening youtube and hangout apps (there may be other apps with the same problem, but I don't remember as they are not those apps that I use often). With hangout, sometimes I can still use text but not hangout dial, despite the error at opening.

My workaround for both apps is to uninstall their recent updates (I then still nned to install update for hangout but not for youtube to open them), and then I can open them successfully.

But soon, probably after automatic updates without my action, everything is back to the original problems again.

What might be the cause and solution of the problems? Thanks.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Ryan Radford found a fix the app crashing issue and his full solution is posted in the thread linked below. Kyocera did not include libpredtm.so in system/lib, so if you root your phone, you can place the copy of libpredtm.so that Ryan supplied and paste it into your system/lib directory. It has fixed the app crashes for a lot of users already.

http://androidforums.com/threads/google-play-services-not-working.944032/page-13#post-7124154

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, youtube, google-hangouts
---


# Question
Title: flashing twrp on lg g4 no error, but no twrp
I'm trying to flash twrp to my lg g4. I've reached the part where I run

```
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

```

And everything seems to work fine, but when I try to enter recovery mode, I get the default lg recovery (restore factory mode options) and not twrp.
Here's what it prints out when I run the flash command:

```
target reported max download size of 536870912 bytes
sending 'recovery' (32060 KB)...
OKAY [  0.827s]
writing 'recovery'...
OKAY [  0.341s]
finished. total time: 1.168s

```

What am I doing wrong?
I tried doing it from a different computer and tried flashing older version of twrp.

# Answer
I solved the issue..
Apparently, when you enter recovery mode, the phone asks you whether you'd like to do a factory reset, and you choose `yes` it boots into TWRP :)
Hope it helps someone.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: fastboot, twrp, lg, lg-g4
---


# Question
Title: Audit app permissions easily in one place?
Is there anyway to list all the applications installed on your phone and the permissions they require all on one page, or export the list so it can easily be audited?

# Answer
> 14 votes
Use market applications like *Permission Watchdog* or *Permissions*. Also, there are several others.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Another app that I ended up using instead of Permissions is RL Permissions. I prefer the interface. As far as which one works better, I don't know.

# Answer
> 2 votes
aSpotCat is also a nice app for permission audit.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Permission Friendly Apps will list installed apps by their order of most demanding to least demanding permissions requirements. (It doesn't actually track or audit or adjust their behavior, though.)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Since no Android version is mentioned in the question, I'm proposing a command-line based answer relevant to Android version 4.2.1 and above. This ideally is an OS-independent solution, OS on PC, that is.

## Dependencies

* Requires to be setup in PC.
* Requires *busybox* binary. If the device is rooted, install Busybox app. Else, download busybox binary from official source, rename the binary to *busybox*, set Linux compatible executable permission on that binary for everyone and move it into device using

```
adb push LOCAL_FILE /data/local/tmp/   # LOCAL_FILE is the file path where busybox binary is located in PC

```
* Requires *aapt* binary. If you're running a CM or its derivative ROM then ignore this requirement. Otherwise, for Android 4.x, you can consider downloading the binary from here, rename the binary to *aapt*, set Linux compatible executable permission on that binary for everyone and move it into device using

```
adb push LOCAL_FILE /data/local/tmp/   # LOCAL_FILE is the file path where busybox binary is located in PC .

```

For Android 5.x users, ask Google for assistance.

Here's my little script that does the magic:

```
#!/system/bin/sh

# Check if the busybox binary exists under /data/local/tmp/ or /system/xbin. Set the detected binary's path into the variable busybox or exit if file doesn't exist or executable permission not set
[[ -x /data/local/tmp/busybox ]] && busybox=/data/local/tmp/busybox || { [[ -x /system/xbin/busybox ]] && busybox=/system/xbin/busybox || { printf "busybox binary not found or executable permission not set. Exiting\n" && exit; }; }
# Check if the aapt binary exists under /data/local/tmp or /system/bin or /system/xbin. Set the detected binary's path into the variable aapt or exit if file doesn't exist or executable permission not set
[[ -x /data/local/tmp/aapt ]] && aapt=/data/local/tmp/aapt || { [[ -x /system/bin/aapt ]] && aapt=/system/bin/aapt || { [[ -x /system/xbin/aapt ]] && aapt=/system/xbin/aapt || { printf "aapt binary not found or executable permission not set. Exiting\n" && exit; }; }; }

# List package name of all the installed apps and save them in the file packages.txt under /sdcard
pm list packages | $busybox sed 's/^package://g' | $busybox sort -o /sdcard/packages.txt

# For each package name in the output we just saved, get the app's label using $path and $label, print a line and then finally list the permissions granted to the app
while read line; do
    path=$(pm path $line | $busybox sed 's/^package://g');
    label=$($aapt d badging $path  | $busybox grep 'application: label=' | $busybox cut -d "'" -f2);
    $busybox printf "Permissions for app $label having package name $line\n";
    dumpsys package $line | $busybox sed -e '1,/grantedPermissions:/d' -e '/^\s*$/,$d' | $busybox sort;
    $busybox printf "\n";
done < /sdcard/packages.txt

```

Demo output:

```
Permissions for app DisableService having package name cn.wq.disableservice
      android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE
      android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Permissions for app Indecent Xposure having package name co.vanir.indecentxposure
      android.permission.RECEIVE_BOOT_COMPLETED

Permissions for app Tags having package name com.android.apps.tag
      android.permission.CALL_PHONE
      android.permission.NFC
      android.permission.READ_CONTACTS
      android.permission.WAKE_LOCK
      android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
...
...
Permissions for app Themes Provider having package name org.cyanogenmod.themes.provider
      android.permission.ACCESS_NOTIFICATIONS
      android.permission.ACCESS_THEME_MANAGER
      android.permission.INTERNET
      android.permission.READ_THEMES
      android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS
      android.permission.WRITE_SETTINGS
      android.permission.WRITE_THEMES

```

Save the script in PC into a file named `perm_script.sh` and move it into /sdcard using

```
adb push LOCAL_FILE /sdcard/   # LOCAL_FILE is the  path where you saved that file into PC

```

Run that file

```
adb shell sh /sdcard/perm_script.sh > OUTPUT_FILE   # OUTPUT_FILE is the path where you want to save the final output

```

The greater the apps installed in the system, the greater the time will be for the command to complete execution. In my device, it took around three minutes.

Related: Is there a native way to find all the installed apps that have access to a phone feature?

---
Tags: applications, security, permissions, privacy
---


# Question
Title: S2 with working Lollipop Custom ROM, stuck on boot , won't reinstall ROM in CWM
Someone gave my daughter a (hardly) used Samsung Galaxy S2, still on Gingerbread.

Did a lot of research online (rooting for dummies guide, S2 specific sites, youtube videos, etc) and managed to

1. Successfully Root it and installed CWM based recovery v6.0.5.1
2. Installed Resurrection Remix Lollipop specific for my S2 device (i9100)

It was a successful install, for 2 weeks. My kid used the new Lollipop ROM with no problems (except the occasional freeze, but still reboots OK).

Then one day, it just froze and won't reboot to OS anymore.

Symptoms:

* Boots up, shows the logo for 2 secs, then shuts down. We took out the battery for hours, recharged the battery, still the same.
* Entered back to Recovery Mode, Wiped cache partition, Dalvik cache (and later, various storage area space) and tried to Install a ROM zip again (Resurrection Remix).

AT FIRST, it shows that its installing for a few seconds, then shuts down.

After several repeated attempts, it won't even show any progress, as soon as I choose the file and select it, the device *shuts down*.

Then it reached a point where even *wiping cache* will cause the device to *shut down*.

Plus, its getting increasingly difficult to enter Recovery Mode. It now takes me several attempts to boot back into Recovery Mode.

Download mode (Odin Mode) I can get into without much difficulty though.

I even downloaded a different ROM (CYANOGEN+OS+12.1S+V.1.0+s2+GT-I9100) but it won't install either (also shuts down).

Now Device just boots and gets stuck at the Samsung logo, and as I said, it's really difficult now to get back into recovery mode.

Is this a hardware issue or is there something else I can try?

# Answer
Using Odin, I'd reflash the original official rom for your device (you can download from sammobile.com), this is to restore the original partitions. I'd format all current partitions in recovery, check your mounts that they all are unmounted. The system partition should be mounted before formating (I usually mount everything then format all). Reboot into download mode, hoping that your recovery options allow that. Plug into odin and flash official firmware, you might lose your root access and custom recovery should you be unable to use the hardware buttons to boot into recovery immediately after the flashing completes. If so, repeat your rooting procedure, custom recovery installation and finally, lollipop again... P.S. Without a log, chances of getting specific assistance is greatly reduced. Use ADB to diagnose any exceptions and errors thrown.

Remember to always make a full backup of the complete system before flashing new roms, or have the official ROM should such things occur, and they do...

Try a different ROM, or even better, look into building your own ROMs in the future... That's where the fun is...good luck and happy flashing
> 2 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-2, custom-roms, clockworkmod-recovery, 5.1-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: After phone reset - how to download all my apps from google play store?
In the web front end all my apps are still there and I added the google account in my phone. Now how do I get the apps down to the phone?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I installed them all again. While google play knew my apps, it did not automatically install them again. So pressing install on every app brought them back.

About backup, I found that the android sdk has a backup function that backups everything, installed apps as well, next them I use that, maybe this makes reinstallation of apps unnecessary.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Just press down on the app in your list. It will select, then click on all you want reinstalled. Then click install once.

You will have to click accept repeatedly. It's easy: same spot, just tap tap tap...

---
Tags: google-play-store, factory-reset
---


# Question
Title: After reinstalling Android from stock images, why do updates complain about modified /system files?
After discovering the hard way that ~~rooting~~ ~~modifying `/system`~~ looking at `/system` the wrong way breaks updates, I've decided to drop all of the power-user stuff and just go the sanctioned route—no custom recovery system or rooting or *anything*; just pure, stock Android. To that end, I set about ~~performing a factory reset~~ `[unrooting]`, so to speak.

These are the steps I've followed:

1. Acquire the `platform-tools` for your computer's operating system. Extract them and add the resulting directory to your `$PATH`.
2. Download a stock-Android image, making sure that the model identifier matches that of your device, but that the version is *not* the latest (this is necessary for step 8). Verify the image using the hash included in the table, then extract it. Fire up a shell if you haven't already, and change to the extracted directory.
3. Unlock the bootloader (`fastboot oem unlock`).
4. Reinstall Android (`./flash-all.sh`). Be sure to catch the device before the last reboot by holding down the boot-to-recovery key combination as soon as the script prints `rebooting...` after writing the cache image (this saves you having to reboot again for the next step).
5. Lock the bootloader (`fastboot oem lock`).
6. Reboot. Wait for Android to…do whatever it does when you boot a new version for the first time.
7. Go through the initial device setup. (I personally connect to a Wi-Fi network, and then skip everything else to save a bit more time).
8. Check for, download, and install an Android OS update. Wait some more while that happens.
9. Observe the following on the device's screen, with the text `Error!` in white beneath it:

10. Bring up the recovery menu and choose `View recovery logs`, then `/cache/recovery/last_log`. Scroll to the bottom and look for an indication of why the update failed. Transcribe the most relevant lines, along with the version and build ID of the image from step 2.

My device is a Nexus 5, purchased in November of 2013 from the Play Store. So far, I've tried this using Android 6.0.0/MRA58K and Android 5.1.1/LMY48M, which produced the following in the recovery logs:

6.0.0/MRA58K:

```
failed to stat "/cache/saved.file": No such file or directory
script aborted: "/system/priv-app/SetupWizard/oat/arm/SetupWizard.odex" has unexpected contents.

```

5.1.1/LMY48M:

```
Remounting and verifying system partition files...
script aborted: assert failed: sha1_check(read_file("/system/fonts/NotoSansTC-Regular.otf"), some_hash)

```

In both cases, the problem seems to be a file under `/system` with contents that aren't equal to the ones the update installer is expecting. This is exceptionally frustrating, given that my procedure *specifically* calls for official stock-Android images, retrieved from none other than Google's website and verified using the hashes they publish (and yes, I make sure to use TLS).

Did I miss a step? What's going wrong here? And how do I get back onto the blessed path and be once again deemed worthy to receive the long-sought-after over-the-air updates?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I don't have an explanation for you, but try more versions in general, and build MRA58N in particular.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Reverting back to original rom requires a full format as partitions as well as their attributes are usually different on different ROMs. This will solve your problem with the advent of a possible change in the device's info such as IMEI or similar. Another setback is the reduction in memory from formatting, especially if your partitions contained a lot of user data during the format.

Suggestion: repeat your steps again, but this time make sure to mount your /system partition and format it as well, unmount it after (it should automatically unmount).

Now. Let the flashing begin...

---
Tags: nexus-5, stock-android, unrooting
---


title: How bulk move apps' data to SD card?

text:
# Question
Title: How bulk move apps' data to SD card?
Ever since I bought my phone, I've never used SD card, since the storage is full. Using one now. I've got like 50-60+ apps and games. I manually can't go into each App's page and move to sd card.

There are apps to move the data to sd card, but as far as I've seen, there are no apps to automate the process or bulk move it.

Is there any app to do it? It's so hard to go into each app's page and wait for it to get moved to sd card.

Any suggestions would be appreciated! :)

# Answer
You can use app like app2sd to easily see what program can be moved to SD card.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, internal-storage, external-sd
---


# Question
Title: I cannot find my current location while offline in google maps
Before I could easily find my current location being offline using offline maps but at present in the updated Google maps I am not able to use it. It shows the location while I am online, and once I go offline the location no longer appears. What to do?

# Answer
To get a location fix while offline, GPS (not just location) needs to be enabled. You must have either "High accuracy" or "Device only" enabled under Settings-\>Location-\>Mode. "Battery saving" does not allow use of GPS.

When you are offline, the time to get a location fix is much higher than when you are online.

There are two reasons for this:

1. WiFi based location is very fast. Without being online, you cannot use WiFi location.
2. GPS works much faster when you are online, due to the benefits of Assisted GPS. Without Assisted GPS, your GPS receiver needs to do a search for satellites itself which can take a few minutes. GPS also requires sufficient visibility to satellites, so don't try to use GPS while underground or in so-called urban canyons with lots of skyscrapers blocking the sky.

---

Summary: make sure GPS is on and wait a few minutes in an outdoor space where you can see the sky. Your location should appear.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-maps, geolocation
---


# Question
Title: couldn't sign in/there was a problem communicating with Google servers - Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro
I have a new Redmi 2 Pro and I am unable to sign in to my google account. I have `Android 4.4.4 KTU84P` version and `MIUI 77.00.99`.

I'v already tried to login with other google accounts, I disabled 2-step-verification and DisplayUnlockCaptcha. I Cleared data/cache of play store, account manager, service framework. All tries were unsuccessful. I can login to my gmail through the browser on my phone.

The error message: **Couldn't sign in/There was a problem communicating with Google servers/ Try again**.

Apps used to sign in: `Google Account Manager 4.4.4-1227136` and `Google Play store version 5.4.12` (these apps are initially installed on the phone)

Steps to sign in on the phone:

1. Add google account -\> Existing account -\> user+password -\> error message
2. Start Google Play Store -\> Existing account -\> user+password -\> error message

**UPDATE**

After a long night search, I found out that the phone came with a vendor specific ROM, namely `77.00.99.00`. The official version looks like `7.1.0.0`. So, I'm thinking to flash the ROM. I have no idea what else is installed beside the official package.

# Answer
Actually the problem was with the ROM, Gearbest replaced the official one with a buggy one. I flashed the `latest stable global ROM MIUI 7.1.1.0` with a little trick described by **Bilhouse** in the miui global forum here

The steps are as follows:

1. downloaded the `Latest Stable Global ROM` from here for `Redmi 2 version 2014813` file: wt88047\_global\_images\_V7.1.1.0.KHJMICK\_20151209.0000.6\_4.4\_global
2. downloaded the `China ROM` for mobile version `2014811`, I used the one mentioned in this post here. file name wt86047\_images\_5.4.3\_4.4\_cn\_94aabfc129
3. from the China ROM I copied `NON-HLOS.bin` file and replaced the one in the Global ROM - if you don't do this than you wont have a functional network module and you wont be able to connect to any network.
4. Flashed the ROM with `fastbool` as described in my first link.
5. At my first try of flashing, I encountered an error massage: **mismatching image and device** in fastboot, which I solved by changing the name of the folder from `wt88047...` to `wt86047...` after this I was able to flash the ROM and tired again but this time the folder name should start as ti was originally wt88047...
> 1 votes

# Answer
1.- Root your device (of course)

2.- Editing the file

You will need a proper editor

On your device open your browser and go to: www.ghisler.com/android.htm

Download and Install Total Commander for Android... and open it

OR DOWNLOAD BELOW

3.- Browse with Total Commander to root/etc

(hint: on the right side of the screen there's a shortcut to system folder.. look for etc/ and you will find it)

Long tap on "hosts" \> edit file \> Totalcmd-Editor

Open etc/hosts and edit the file. Just put # before 74.125.93.113 android.clients.google.com.

4.- SAVED

Edited file should look like this:

127.0.0.1 localhost

# 74.125.93.113 android.clients.google.com

remember: based on my own observation it should be look like this:

127.0.0.1(just one space)localhost

# 74.125.93.113(just one space)android.clients.google.com

5.- Turn OFF your device.

6.- Got it on Recovery Mode

7.- Factory reset, wipe data.

8. Reboot your device.
9. Once the phone reboots, input your google account information when the phone asks for it.

10.- Sync to your account and contacts

METHOD 2:

1. Make sure you have a ROOT ACCESS on your Device.
2. Install Root Explorer, Run App, Grant SU Access.
3. Browse root / etc... at the top of your screen you will see mount R/O and mount R/W...

4.Tap mount R/W

5.Look for host file, long press it and open with text editor.

6. just Add # (pound sign) on the first number.

like this:

# 74.125.93.113(just one space)android.clients.google.com

SAVE IT and Reboot.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, 4.4-kitkat, google-account, miui, xiaomi
---


# Question
Title: Disable alarms for all day events in google calendar
When I have an all-day event in my calendar (a friend's birthday perhaps) I find that my phone will notify me to the start of the event at 11:50pm the previous day and every few minutes after that.

Generally I don't need a notification for all day events, but find notifications for events with a specific time to be useful.

Is there a way to disable notifications for all-day events?

Or is there a way to disable calendar notifications between say 11pm and 8am (I'd be happy if the alerts sounded after I woke up) but I imagine that's harder to set up.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I suspect that the events for which you get notifications have a reminder set in them. So the easiest way to get rid of the notifications is to turn off the reminders in the events themselves. Typically, you would not have a reminder in the birthday event but if the event came from somewhere else (like Outlook or other phone) then the reminder might get added to it. I had this problem on some phones... however, it could be very tedious to remove reminders individually if you have many events with unwanted reminders.

The second part of the question: I'd use Tasker app for that. However, you have to pay for it. I am aware of a free automation app AutomateIt (*sorry can't add a link because I don't have enough rep here*) and from description it looks like it can also kill sound based on a rule but I have not used it myself so will not comment. For Tasker there are instructions on how to implement "*Sleep mode*" with which the phone with "shut up" at night. If you go down this path I can assist more since I have set this up on my phone and it works quite well.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I've just published the new version of Nudnik Calendar Notifications. This app integrates seamlessly with your Google Calendar. There is a quiet hours feature so you can set not to be notified for certain hours. You will get the notifications when the quiet hours are over.

Check it out - it has the best nag features (popup, sound, led, vibrations) + other cool stuff like Shake-to-stop/snooze, notify events without reminders, quite hours, and much more!

https://market.android.com/details?id=amProgz.nudnik.full

Thanks :)

# Answer
> 1 votes
if it's an HTC, theres an option to set "Reminders" to "None" instead of the default 10 minutes. it's just under the "Description" box in the new event screen.

**\*****\*****\*******\*i'm stupid. You said Google calendar, i skipped that part when reading the post title.

If you go to your online calendar (google.com/calendar) you can edit the event and click the "x" next to "Reminders", and that will remove the alarm on your calendar (and device, as long as device syncs).

Hope this helps!

# Answer
> 0 votes
I found a solution: select *All day event*, type 0 and the time when you wish to be notified.

---
Tags: calendar, notifications
---


# Question
Title: What exactly is the procedure while granting root access on a device?
I have read a lots of articles regarding root. But I haven't found any specific information on what's the proccess and the steps that are required to grand root access on a device. For example. If I copy "su" script and install Superuser.apk, I immediately grant root access?

And last but not least, I want to program a temporary root application.(Root until device reboots) Does that even possible?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Every phone model and manufacturer will have different processes for gaining root access. Make absolutely sure that you are following the specific instructions for the device, kernel and software version for the phone. Otherwise, you can easily "brick" your phone, effectively turning it into a paperweight.

That being said, here is a great resource for rooting Android devices.

---
Tags: root-access
---


title: Android lollipop Wi-Fi murders battery

text:
# Question
Title: Android lollipop Wi-Fi murders battery
I have an unrooted galaxy S6, Verizon, and Android 5.1.1 on it.Each night I fully charge my phone, and it never leaves my pocket after 6 am or gets used until 2 pm. At 2, the battery may be around 90% or it may be at 50% without any use. I discovered the battery was much lower if I had Wi-Fi on, even though I was never connected to Wi-Fi. Battery chart in settings says Google services or Google play services used all the battery.Please help, I've tried everything I can think of, and I'm usually good at this sort of thing.

# Answer
Google Play services runs in the background to keep applications up to date and to sync your information to Google.

* One possible cause of the battery drain could be if you have **multiple accounts** on your device. Your device will drain more battery to keep up with the demands on the services
* Another possible cause of the battery drain could be a third-party application running in the background and using data from Google Play services

To fix either of these problems, you may want to boot your phone into **Safe Mode**. This will ensure that the Google Play services or anything else that could drain the battery aren't running. But at the same time, you can freely use Wi-Fi or any application that you choose to run.

## To boot into Safe Mode:

* Turn off your device and wait about 2 minutes
* Once it is off, hold down the **power button** and the **volume down button**. You may release the power button when you see the screen turn on, but **do not** release the power button until the phone is completely turned on.

(Google Play services battery drain is from this source)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, battery-life, 5.1-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: How to remove balloon/ripple effect while entering pin on lock screen?
Recently I updated my phone to android lollipop. When I type my pin in lock screen a balloon/ripple effect or a circular thing is observed near the key which I pressed/touched. I don't want that effect in my mobile. Can I remove it without rooting my phone?

# Answer
Without rooting there are 2 ways at least. Neither are that great, but they do produce the desired behaviour.

# Developer Settings

1. Activate developer settings by tapping the build number 7 times
2. Adjust the animation speed (Animator Duration Scale). Either make it much faster or disable it completely

This has the downside of disabling all the lovely material design animations universally :/ Fortunately, transitions can still be preserved so it isn't all that terrible.

# Power-Saving Mode

This is essentially toggling power saving mode as required because this too will disable the lockscreen ripple animation. Whilst it also disables all animations, this may be preferable as it's easier to toggle (fewer taps) than digging into developer settings.

# Rooting

Rooting and installation of xposed for Lollipop is of course much more preferable, and opens up many more options, but without that, you still have the above two options.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I know you asked if it can be done **without** root. I don't think that's possible. I tried creating a theme for cm12 that would disable the ripple system-wide but it seems "ripple\_material\_light" and "ripple\_material\_dark" is ignored in android/res/values/colors.xml (works fine when set directly for each app, that definitely is possible).

Instead I have created a simple patch to disable the ripple effect altogether (but it requires root): https://github.com/luv/android5\_noripple
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: Disabling SwiftKey autocompletion on Asus Transformer Pad
is there any way to disable completely the autocompletion (guess it's called SwiftKey) ?

Especially with the Gmail/Email apps the 'intelligent' autocompletion ends up slowing me down!

Many thanks in advance.

# Answer
> 2 votes
SwiftKey simply is a keyboard app. You might want to check in *Settings→Language & Input→Keyboards and Input methods* which keyboard is active/checked, and check its configuration. Many keyboard apps allow to turn off autocorrection: so does the default keyboard on my *Wildfire* (running CM 9.1/Android 4.0.4).

If your keyboard does not support this, you might want to check for an alternative. Hacker's Keyboard is a good choice here (I use it on my tablet), and for sure allows to turn off autocorrection (I use it this way). You still get the word recommendations and can tap words for auto-complete -- but nothing gets replaced anymore without your explicite consense.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Swiftkey allows for disabling of the auto-correct when a physical keyboard is being used.

To Disable Auto-correct during physical keyboard use:

1. Open Swiftkey's settings
    1. Open the Swiftkey app from your App Launcher
    2. Long press on the Swiftkey Logo/123 button when the Swiftkey keyboard is up
2. Go To `Advanced`
3. Scroll to the bottom
4. Check the option for `Physical keyboard space behavior` which will "Disable autocomplete for physical keyboards.

I just checked on my Droid 3, which has a physical keyboard, and it disabled it. This was checked using Swiftkey version `4.0.0.106`.

# Answer
> 1 votes
To Disable Auto-correct in Swift 3 keyboard in ICS:

1. Go to `Settings` and then in `Language & Input`
2. Go To `Swift 3 Setting`
3. Then Go To `Advanced`
4. Now in `Spacebar will` select `always insert a space`.

# Answer
> 0 votes
As of SwiftKey 6:

1. Open SwiftKey
2. Go to Typing -\> Voice and other Input
3. Toggle the "Autocorrect" option

---
Tags: asus-eee-pad-transformer, auto-correct, swiftkey
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 10 not recognized on Debian Wheezy/mac OS/Windows 8 with adb
I'm trying to connect my tablet nexus 10 + android 4.4 + cyanogen-mod 11 to my desktop computer where I have installed debian wheezy using adb. It worked until some time ago,now it doesn't anymore neither with debian linux nor with windows 8 or Mac OS. Check here :

```
root@localhost:/home/marietto# lsusb

Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0003 Linux Foundation 3.0 root hub
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 148f:2573 Ralink Technology, Corp. RT2501/RT2573 Wireless Adapter
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0a5c:2121 Broadcom Corp. BCM2210 Bluetooth
Bus 001 Device 004: ID 05e3:0608 Genesys Logic, Inc. USB-2.0 4-Port HUB
Bus 001 Device 009: ID 04d9:1503 Holtek Semiconductor, Inc. Shortboard Lefty
Bus 001 Device 010: ID 046d:c05a Logitech, Inc. Optical Mouse M90

root@localhost:/home/marietto# adb devices
List of devices attached

```

The devices is attached to the computer with a common usb cable but it seems that it is not recognized. I've already enabled the usb debug on the nexus 10 configuration panel and I have installed the adb tools under debian with the following commands (taken from this site :

http://bernaerts.dyndns.org/linux/75-debian/280-debian-wheezy-android-tools-adb-fastboot-qtadb

```
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:nilarimogard/webupd8
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

```

This is the version of the adb bridge installed on my debian wheezy :

```
root@localhost:/home/marietto# adb version
Android Debug Bridge version 1.0.31

```

On the nexus 10 I have enabled the root access for adb and applications. I don't know what to do

# Answer
> 0 votes
Have you tried changing between MTP and PTP. Tap the USB debugging sybol and it gives you the option.

---
Tags: applications, adb, android-versions, samsung-nexus-10
---


# Question
Title: How can I enable the internet on other apps other than the web browser?
The wifi that I am using requires me to input a username and password for it to work. I can successfully do this on the web browser (chrome) as it brings up a webpage (ie 192.168.1.1/login). However, I can't access any other apps as I believe that I haven't inputted my username and password into those corresponding apps(and I don't think I'm actually able to either (like with gmail or spotify)).

So I was thinking that a solution to this would be to find an app that would allow me to globally access internet to all apps. Any suggestions?

# Answer
You normally can login in your browser i.e: http://1.1.1.1 (or any local address) and put your credentials, user and password.

If are valid, your mobile its accepted to use the network for all apps, until you disconnect.

Otherwise you can set a proxy for some apps, as social apps or browsers.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, wi-fi, internet
---


# Question
Title: Can a hacker simply copy shared prefs from one device to another to hijack a user session/state?
I'm an Android apps developer. I'm trying to address a security concern in one of my apps.

I need to test a scenario in which someone will try to copy the shared prefs file (or files) from one Android device to another in order to have the same state that the original user has and use the app as if he is the original user (hijack his existing sessions for instance).

I tried to copy the shared prefs file from one device to another (where I had installed a fresh copy of the app with an empty shared prefs file). Copied the file from the original device using adb , copied it to the sd card of the target device and move it to the right shared prefs directory using a file management app with root privileges. This didn't work.

When I start the app on the target device - I can see that the shred prefs file get "rolled-back" to its initial form. Maybe Android has some kin of mechanism to prevent manipulation of an app's files/data.

So my question is - how can I test this scenario in other ways? any way to transfer the shares prefs from one device to another ?

Thanks!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Normally you need to copy de data folder from app.

Every app cotains cache to restore you own data. If you run your app \> generates a shared prefs \> minimize/close app \> and remove that shared prefs. When you open/resume the app, the system restore that sessiom data from the cache. Somethimes, this depends of the size and content from sharedprefs.

If you are worried about "hack" your app you can protect the saved data with some encrypt method. like base64 + salt, hash + salt, or any method what you want. Reversible or not.

Or simple you can storage your persistent data in a custom path/file and protect how you can with above methods.

---
Tags: applications, rooting, adb, security
---


title: Google Maps forces offline mode

text:
# Question
Title: Google Maps forces offline mode
I've been able to use Google Maps as normal at home (strong WiFi; 2 bars in 3G) with no problems for ages. Suddenly it says it is in Offline mode so won't plan a route; tapping the message bar does nothing. I understand that offline mode is now available, but why should that disable online mode? How can I get it back online?

# Answer
It's not the version, and permission to access Internet is on. I think it may have been a temporary glitch: after an hour, it was back to normal & has been ever since, so hopefully problem solved.
> 1 votes

# Answer
You may have accidentally turned off the permission required by Google Maps to access internet.

Applies to rooted Lollipop+ devices: go to Settings -\> Privacy -\> Privacy guard -\> look for Google Maps and grant it the permissions you want.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-maps
---


# Question
Title: Sony Xperia M4 Start Screen almost black
After a reboot, my new xperia always starts with this screen:

I have the same problem in 'Safe Mode'.

What can I do? I want to fix this problem without a factory reset.

Edit: I found more people with same problem on Sony's forum. I fixed reseting to factory using PC Companion: https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-M4-Aqua/M4-Aqua-won-t-start/m-p/1025996/thread-id/1311

# Answer
I found more people with same problem on Sony's forum.

I fixed reseting to factory using PC Companion: https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-M4-Aqua/M4-Aqua-won-t-start/m-p/1025996/thread-id/1311
> -1 votes

---
Tags: screen, sony-xperia
---


# Question
Title: Can you limit data for a number of apps and leave others unlimited?
I've got a monthly plan that gives me 100mb of data for use with any app except for WhatsApp, Facebook (messenger) and Twitter, which are unlimited and will not consume my data. Is there a way to limit the cumulative data usage for all the other apps while leaving the other four without a limit? I've already restricted apps in the mobile data and installed no root firewall, but I'm looking for something more specific that will limit my data consumption when I've hit 100mb with everything else except the apps I mentioned before. I have an Xperia Z3 running Android 5.1.1 unrooted

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are multiple approaches you could take:

* You could restrict background-data for selected apps. That way they can only use your data plan when you're running them in foreground. See: How does “Restrict background data” work?
* You could use a Firewall app to block selected apps completely from accessing the internet. Usually those apps distinguish between mobile data and WiFi, so you will have no restrictions on WiFi if you don't want to. Though most of these solutions require a rooted device, there are also several solutions for non-rooted devices, e.g. NoRoot Firewall.

Setting up a "cumulative limit for selected apps" has no easy solution AFAIK. I won't say it's not possible – but still, I know of no such solution.

---
Tags: data-monitoring
---


# Question
Title: Will plugging the Samsung fast charger into a outlet rated 10W/2.1AMP slow down the charge rate?
The S6 comes with a fast wall charger, but how does it work exactly?

I want to plug it into a “one outlet Belkin” with surge protection, that is 2.1AMP for the ome USB port and 10W for the single AC outlet.

Now my question is will plugging the charger into the Belkin slow down the fast charge time?

# Answer
First part of your question **How do fast Chargers work**

Firstly one needs to understand C-rate or charge rate. Quoting from the linked article

> C-rate is a measure that governs at what current a battery is charged and discharged. At 1C, a battery rated 1,000mAh charges at a current of 1,000mAh. In an ideal world the battery would be fully charged in 60 minutes. At 1C, the same battery discharges at 1,000mA.

**Normal Charging**

* Li-Ion or Li-PO (both have same charge/discharge characteristics) -typically charged between 0.5 C to 0.8 C, more often closer to 0.8 C being the recommended rate. Quoting from BU-401a: Fast and Ultra-fast Chargers

> The longevity (*of Li-Ion batteries*), can further be prolonged by charging and discharging bellow 1C; 0.8C is the recommended rate.

* Li-Ion batteries go through three stages of charging of battery charging Figure 1 of Charging Li-Ion batteries\- Constant Current, Saturation Charge (current decreases), Ready (almost zero current). If you plot current drawn using an app like Ampere while charging a battery from 10% or lower to 100%, you would observe similar graph (you will not see the first stage unless fully drained and measured by proper electrical equipment)

**Fast Charging**

* Essential difference is the C-rate or Charging rate. These chargers typically work by charging at 1 to 3 C rate
* When you charge by such chargers, the second stage of charging (saturation stage ) is skipped and the battery reaches the third stage (ready stage) **without being fully charged** Quoting from this

> .... chargers may use the simplified “charge-and-run” method that charges a lithium-ion battery in one hour or less without going to the Stage 2 saturation charge. “Ready” appears when the battery reaches the voltage threshold at Stage 1. State-of-charge (SoC) at this point is about 85 percent, a level that may be sufficient for many users

* **Is it good for the Battery?** **No**. Figure 2 here graphically shows deterioration in long term battery life measured in **Cycles** and the graph shows cycles for 3C charging dropping to 400 cycles compared to 500 for 1C ( I have no idea at what C, Your charger works. I Couldn't locate any OEM information)

Second part of your question **Will plugging the charger into the Belkin slow down the fast charge time?**

* Going by the specs provided by you: **Probably No** (linking your Belkin model would help as there are many variants going by your description) USB rating is same as that of standard USB and power rating of 10W doesn't make a difference (chargers will use as much power as required and not more just because outlet is capable of providing more)
* You can compare the charging times reported So, We Fast Charged the Samsung Galaxy S6 and This is What Happened here and update your findings in your question to help others
> 2 votes

# Answer
Simple answer: NO.

A Samsung fast charger puts out 2 A at 5 V. Even if your Belkin unit's output rating is at USB voltage, it's got enough current rating to cover the Samsung's needs. If it's at 120 V, it's got roundly twenty times the power required (maybe less than that, since most low voltage power supplies draw more power than they supply).

As a confirmation of this, I routinely charge my Galaxy S4 through a USB cord and 12V USB charger rated at 2.1 A, but not made or sold by Samsung -- which I bought because the USB port in my car didn't supply enough current, even with the Samsung's fast-charging cord, to give a net positive charge rate when running navigation software.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: charging, samsung-galaxy-s-6
---


# Question
Title: Does WhatsApp keep my status when I change phone?
I am also changing my phone, maintaining my same number. Will my status be restored to "Hi there using whatsapp"?. i.e., the default?

# Answer
> -1 votes
No. The status is stored on WhatsApp's servers along with other basic information about your account, such as phone no, profile picture, last seen and changing your device **doesn't** automatically change them.

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: How to restore android phone system folders
I have deleted my rooted android phones system folders from pc and when I turned off phone, than turned on it doesn't turning on. how can I install new ROM when it is turned of. it is only showing phone brand logo (Huawei G700)

# Answer
> 0 votes
You'll need to boot into the bootloader, and if not already done flash a custom recovery (ClockworkMod or TWRP). After that boot into recovery from the bootloader. In your custom recovery, you should have the option to flash a package. Use your favorite custom ROM or your stock ROM as flash package and flash it. If it succeeds and you haven't deleted your data partition, you should be able to boot into your ROM without loosing any data (apps, settings accounts, etc.)

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, restore, huawei-ascend-ii
---


# Question
Title: Create a profile to disable other profiles
I have a couple of profiles defined in Tasker that I would only like to enable while traveling abroad. As Tasker cannot recognize the state "traveling abroad", I would like to set this state manually which should then disable all the profiles related to this meta profile "traveling abroad".

I envision this in Tasker:

* Category: Traveling abroad (switch off/on)

+ Profile 1 (switch off/on)
    + Profile 2 (switch off/on)
    + Profile 3 (switch off/on)
    + ...

# Answer
> 4 votes
Disabling a profile constitutes as an action so you need to do something in a task only. Tasker supports toggling the status of profiles from a task.

Create a new task and use this action: Tasker → Profile Status

* Name: name of the profile to be toggled
* Set: On/Off/Toggle

When would you or how would you like to run this task is upon you to decide. You can setup a location profile, a time trigger or perhaps, bind the task into a widget (1x1) to toggle all those profiles from a single touch on a shortcut.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can create a Profile that is always active when it turned on, then use the %pactive variable state in the other profiles so that they are only able to be active when the main profile is.

---
Tags: tasker
---


# Question
Title: How to fix "error: device not found" when I try to use ADB
I'm trying to get my phone (JiaYu G3T) working under adb on Windows 8 x64 (worked fine on Windows 7 x64 before reinstalling my OS).

Driver Android Composite ADB Interface, version 8.0.0.0, works fine.

My adb won't list any devices (`adb.exe devices`).

I tried:

* installed Google USB driver
* enabled debugging mode in phone
* added my device's hardware IDs to the Google USB driver inf file and installed
* installed Moborobo (phone works fine in there but adb still won't find the device)
* tried switch Settings \> Storage \> Menu \> USB Computer connection to "Camera (PTP)"
* tried two different version of adb (1.0.31 and 1.0.26)

Those were some of the advices I found so far.

# Answer
Finally it works, I'm using the Google USB driver. The problem is that I have to keep killing adb.exe before doing anything really (e.g. building and pushing an apk to the phone), otherwise it can't find the device.
> 0 votes

# Answer
The drivers that come with PdaNet may work. Give it a shot
> 0 votes

# Answer
Try installing the Microsoft User-Mode Driver Framework (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2685813). It will require a restart.

Worked for me, Nexus 5, Windows 7 SP1.

I tried the Google USB Driver (http://developer.android.com/sdk/win-usb.html) but it didn't fix the issue for me. The Microsoft User-Mode Driver Framework, however, did.
> 0 votes

# Answer
While I was able to `adb push` from within android OS, I wasn't in recovery mode.

Turns out the culprit was Cyanogen Bootloader. Once I flashed to TWRP, I could use ADB again from recovery mode.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I had a similar issue (with a Nexus S, but I don't think it matters here). I could manually install the Google driver and it started without reporting problems. Nevertheless, `adb devices` did not list any device. Two things looked suspicious (and are probably related), but I could not use them to get a clue to the solution:

* The hardware ID reported in device manager did not containe the part "&MI\_01".
* The driver installer warned me that the driver would not match.

Finally (and just by fluke) I found the solution that worked for me: somehow my Windows 7 installation had lost the files usb.inf and usb.pnf from C:\Windows\inf. I followed the advice in https://superuser.com/a/515823/341332 to repair the issue (basically: find the missing files in c:\windows\system32\driverstore\filerepository and copy them back), then I uninstalled my Nexus S in device manager and reinstalled it. I had to select the Google driver manually again, but this time: no warnings, the hardware ID ends with "&MI\_01", and most important: `adb devices` now lists my device :-)

I hope this helps others that get stuck like me.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, usb-debugging, usb-drivers
---


title: Flash a ROM without using recovery mode

text:
# Question
Title: Flash a ROM without using recovery mode
I have an LG Prada 3.0 p940, running Android 2.3.7.

I have a problem accessing recovery mode. Is it possible to flash CyanogenMod ROM on stock ROM through PC without installing custom recovery?

Does anyone know a software that is trustworthy to do that, or to back up my current ROM?

# Answer
> 1 votes
No. You can not delete the system while it is running. If you have root access, you could "program" the stock recovery to flash your custom ROM on the next reboot by using a specific command line in a terminal.

There is LG Flash Tool for your device, but it is not official.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, rom-flashing, flashtool
---


title: Tablet as a secondary monitor

text:
# Question
Title: Tablet as a secondary monitor
Do I have any option to use my Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (2014 edition) as a secondary screen?

I want to use it for Photoshop, which runs on the PC, but I control it on the tablet. I know I can draw with the tab, and there are apps for drawing, and I've already used Sketchbook (Autodesk) but it has a lot of limits with the layers and brushes.

I have already tried applications like "Splashtop" via the internet but it was very laggy, and I also gave a chance to "Slide" (because of the USB connection) but the installation didn't work.

I don't really trust apps which work via the internet because it might be very slow and laggy, and it's a big deal in computer drawing, so I look for a solution which works via HDMI or USB cable.

Does anyone have an idea how can I make it work?

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can try :

---
Tags: samsung, tablet, secondary-display
---


title: What does the circle with dots mean?

text:
# Question
Title: What does the circle with dots mean?
I have this circle with dots that showing up on my apps. Where did it come from and how do I get rid of it?

I've attached some screenshots:

It sort of floats on top of it. I can move it around but it doesn't seem to respond to anything.

Disclaimer: I wrote the app shown but I don't know where this came from and I don't see it on other apps.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's either **Floating Toolbox (Floating Launcher)** which is a shortcut application or the **Samsung Galaxy S5/S6 Toolbox**. These `Floating Toolbox` apps gives you access to your apps from anywhere by pressing the Floating button.

Here is a link to the Floating toolbox app:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.toolbox.shortcuts

You should be able to disable / uninstall them from settings -\> application manager.

# Answer
> 0 votes
That icon is definitely the same than the toolbox one, if it's not for that, then the only logic explanation is that something was activated on the Accessibility options, is the only place now where all this hidden features should be enabled, so I'm guessing the OP should have unintentionally turned on one of this settings, OP, were you playing on the Accessibility menu by any chance? If so, do you remember what you were doing?

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Why does my phone say I am roaming when connected to my "home" network?
I recently got a new phone, the Elephone P7000 and it runs stock android 5.0. Everything seems to work perfectly apart from the fact that most of the time the top status bar says I am roaming.
When I check which network I am connected to, it says I am connected to my actual provider network, so why does it say I'm roaming. The only partial fix to this issue is manually selecting the cellular network, and this only works for around 10 minutes with no roaming shown in the status bar, after that it switches (? – I don't know if it actually does since I still seem to be connected to the same network) ***by itself when I am not moving*** and I get the roaming indication again.
So far, this does not seem to affect my ability to make calls or receive messages, but I find the roaming indicator in the status bar to be very unsettling.

*Edit to clarify:<br>On my network operator selection screen, I see the same operator name multiple times and only upon selecting one specific (the topmost) option I get no roaming indication.*

Any help or clarification would be appreciated.

# Answer
Let me guess, you're on EE? Or a network that uses EE for it's coverage? (like Virgin or Asda). These swap between the Orange and T-mobile masts depending on which has the strongest signal, and when that happens the phone thinks it's then "roaming".

When you see 2 versions of the same network operator, you'll often see different capitalisation, e.g. "virgin" and "Virgin". One of these is actually Orange and the other is T-Mobile.

It doesn't have any negative effects.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Internally, mobile networks identify themselves through a Mobile Country Code (MCC) and a Mobile Network Code (MNC). The MCC and MNC of "your" network are stored on your SIM, along with other data with which your phone identifies itself to the carrier.

Each cell tower transmits a cell ID, which also contains the MCC and MNC. When you are connected to a mast whose MCC/MNC pair differs from that on your SIM, the phone assumes you are roaming on a different network. This is usually the case when you are traveling abroad, but there is also "national roaming" (the MCC is the same but MNCs differ).

However, some carriers have multiple MNCs within the same country. US carriers have a handful of MNCs. In Europe this is less common, but occasionally mergers between carriers have resulted in multiple MNCs being assigned to the same carrier.

**Edit:** I recently saw a portion of the Android source code which has lists of which networks are not considered “roaming” for a SIM issued by a particular carrier. Thus, if you are running a recent version of Android and you’re on a network which uses multiple MCC/MNC pairs, Android will not show the roaming icon. However, this will only work if your phone runs a version of Android which already “knows” about these MCC/MNC pairs being part of the same network. If it doesn’t, Android will mistakenly report your status as roaming.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, mobile-network, roaming
---


# Question
Title: Can an app enable/disable the wifi-hotspot without root?
I want to setup my Verizon Samsung Galaxy S6 (stock/not rooted Android 5.1.1) so that the wifi-hotspot can be automatically enabled and disabled. I was able to set things up nicely with the Trigger app, except that the wifi-hotspot isn't actually enabled and disabled. I tried a few other apps that were unsuccessful as well.

Manually enabling works fine with the stock Mobile Hotspot button. Is there a way that an app can automatically enable/disable the wifi-hotspot with the default settings on this phone or does Android 5.1.1 or the Verizon modifications block this?

**Update:** This is the log of the WiFi Tether action of Tasker:

```
21.16.19/E current state: 1
21.16.19/E WiFi Tether: cur: false new: true
21.16.19/M lastWifiDisableAgoMS: 1452568579452
21.16.19/E check AP state
21.16.19/E AP state: 1
21.16.19/M lastWifiDisableAgoMS: 1452568579452
21.16.19/E current state: 1
21.16.19/E curval: 1
21.16.19/E WiFi: cur: false new: false
21.16.19/E wait for 200ms
21.16.19/E wait finished
21.16.19/E WiFi Tether: setWifiEnabled()
21.16.19/Mirror setWifiApEnabled: InvocationTarget: java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException, java.lang.SecurityException: ConnectivityService: Neither user 10278 nor current process has android.permission.CONNECTIVITY_INTERNAL.
21.16.19/E WiFi Tether: enable failed
21.16.19/E Action WiFi Tether failed.

```

# Answer
> 1 votes
I don't like this solution for my needs. It's documented in case someone else has a use for it.

Create a task in Tasker with the following actions:

1. Secure Settings plugin with the "Actions" -\> "Launch Activity" configuration

* Select "Settings" as the app.
    * Choose "\[Mobile Hostspot\] .wifi.mibileap.WifiApSettings" for the activity to launch.

This action opens the Mobile Hotspot setting screen where the hotspot can be turned on and off.
2. AutoInput plugin use the "Action" configuration to record the click on the switch.

This solution has the following drawbacks:

* Screen needs to be unlocked. (It may be possible to add steps to check if screen is locked and unlock the screen if it is.)
* The "AutoInput" service needs to be enabled under the Android Accessibility setting. This allows the AutoInput app to interact with the gui.
* It's a hotchpot of paid apps, fragile setup, and weakens the security of the device.

---
Tags: wifi-hotspot, samsung-galaxy-s-6
---


# Question
Title: Do modern Android devices regulate AC mains power similar to a laptop?
There have been a lot of discussions about lithium-ion battery life across the internet. However, within these discussions I have found contradictory details about the way power is regulated between battery needs and device needs when a mobile/Android device is fully charged. It's clear that the charging process itself is a "smart" process (multiple stages with different current, overcharge protection, etc.), but what happens when the charging stops and the device is still in use? My understanding is that in these situations most laptops have regulators that divvy AC power between directly powering the device and "topping-off" the battery as it looses charge to ambient factors. Do modern Android devices (and iPhones for that matter) do the same thing?

Consider the following hypothetical situation:

* Device is plugged-in to AC mains with 1 Amp supply
* Battery is charged 100%
* Current ongoing device use draws \< 1 Amp
* Battery naturally looses 5% charge in 3 hours when not in use (I have not idea what an actual real word value would be here, but the point is that there is a slow loss even when no power is drawn from the battery)

In this case is the battery bypassed completely as long as the active needs of the device do not exceed 1 Amp, or does the battery remain an active power source regardless of charge state and cable connection status? If the battery is in-fact bypassed, does the device wait for some charge-level threshold (say 95% charge) before touching the battery to minimize accumulating (micro)charge cycles?

It's possible that this is more of an electrical engineering question, and though it has certainly come up in that context (such as here), the related discussion seems either too broad or too specific to laptops.

**Update**

I've been learning a bit more on the correct terminology (thanks to @beeshyams). I see that the concept of "parasitic load" plays a very important, and detrimental, role in *charging* efficiency. However, I am led to believe that it is not necessarily a key variable in the fully-charged state described above. Anyway, without getting too deep into semantics, it seems like the key variable would instead be "self-discharge" (the natural 5% loss in my example).

My original thought was that this self-discharge effect would be so small, and lead to extremely infrequent topping-off (micro)charge cycles, that it would have a negligible effect on the cumulative charge cycles of the battery. Therefore, by isolating the active load of the device to AC mains (keeping it plugged in most of the time), instead of drawing from the battery, one could potentially prolong battery life. Even though everyone says "don't do that" they never really say *why*, and that's really what led to this question.

What I'm now starting to see, and which someone will hopefully confirm, is that any charge cycles (even small and infrequent) are really *really* bad news when they happen near full charge:

* They happen much faster than one would expect (the effects of self-discharge are increased near full charge).
* They are really detrimental (it looks like a 5% cycle between 95%-100% can lead to several magnitudes more "wear" on the battery than a 5% cycle between, say, 45%-50%.
* They exacerbate the negative effects of heat (heat at high change seems to be much worse for battery wear than the same heat at low charge).

So I suppose it's safe to say that these negative factors, even if only considering self-discharge as a catalyst for cycling, nearly always outweigh the benefit of diverting normal operational power away from the battery?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Good question and to give a definitive reply is not possible since OEMs use different battery charging algorithms both at hardware level and OS level. Details of these are deemed "proprietary" and not available on public domain.

By way of providing the background to understand:

1. Battery Charging circuits have a dedicated "Power Management IC (PMIC) to take care of battery charging operations. See PMIC from Wikipedia. The complexity of these chips has increased with multi core processors. These ensure that **Power required for charging is *pulled* rather than *pushed***\- meaning to say that chargers draw what is required rather than what they can possibly draw from the outlet
2. Battery Charging circuits "isolate" power required for charging the Battery and providing power required to use an application. For a detailed understanding of this,see my answer https://android.stackexchange.com/a/131169/131553. For purposes of this question, **keeping the device on while charging constitutes a load**, however small it may be
3. Refer Battery University post on charging Li-Ion batteries, which clearly depicts at Fig 1, various stages of battery charging-*Constant Current stage, Saturation stage, Ready no current stage and Standby mode*

Coming to your question,

> \*In this case is the battery bypassed completely as long as the active needs of the device do not exceed 1 Amp, or does the battery remain an active power source regardless of charge state and cable connection status?

* Battery remains as an active power source. That is what is depicted in *standby mode* of referred battery charging article which shows current flow to " top up" depletion of charge. As to what level this topping starts send to be dependent on OEM implementation. For my Huawei Honor 6 device, it starts at around 97% and for Samsung Note 2, it starts way below at around 91%. In both cases, cable is plugged in and charger is switched on
* *Cable connection status* as asked in your question is answered partly above, but if the cable is disconnected, there is no point of discussing charging!!

> If the battery is in-fact bypassed, does the device wait for some charge-level threshold (say 95% charge) before touching the battery to minimize accumulating (micro)charge cycles?
* As clarified above, it seems to be device and OEM dependent
* Coming to *micro cycles accumulating* and resultant *parasitic load* (not asked specifically by you but micro cycles of charging and discharging cause parasitic load)- this aspect had been investigated by me and vetted by Battery University, in my answer is-power-consumed-from-battery-to-run-the-phone-when-Charging/. In this experiment, a load equivalent to **mobile data download (by keeping screen on at 50% brightness" was loaded when charging was ongoing** to study micro cycles and parasitic load and results submitted to Battery University for their views. Quoting Bruce Huang verbatim (emphasis mine)

> I don't think the parasitic load is going to prevent the current drop forever. I guess the parasitic load only delay the current drop for a period of time. **In this test, the parasitic load may be too small (turning on screen with 50% brightness is not huge load)** to create a significant delay to the current drop.

**tl:dr;**

* "Smart" management of battery charging is done by Power Management IC (PMIC) in Android phones. Key aspects relevant to question are:

+ Battery charger *pulls* power it needs
    + Battery charger *isolates* charging requirements from usage requirements and unless the latter is extremely high, will not affect adversely
* At what level of battery will charging re-commence to top the battery seems to be OEM dependent
* Micro cycles accumulation (and consequent parasitic load) are **negligible** in the situation described by you
* *Is it safe to keep the Battery plugged in after full charging?* Short answer **NO** , due to heating effects which causes internal stress. Detailed explanation on this available at Battery University article linked above, which clearly shows the deleterious effects of heating on battery health (Related: See this is your battery gauge lying to you (and it's not such a bad thing)

**Edit:** In response to edit by OP

As you have rightly concluded but packaged it differently, I do agree with your line of thinking but haven't come across any study which confirms it. You could consider this portion as a separate question in SE Electrical, which may elicit a suitable reply. My approach (simplistic?) would be to factor the potential damage at high voltage to the battery cycle life and that should be of more importance from end user perspective

---
Tags: battery, charging
---


title: S Note larger canvas?

text:
# Question
Title: S Note larger canvas?
The S Note application seems to have a limitation I can't get by. The only workable area is the exact size of the screen. Is it possible to change the size of the canvas?

# Answer
As far as I know it is (still) not possible. You can now "zoom" the canvas which might suit your purposes. The original physical extents of the canvas remain.

As an alternative, I highly recommend Squid (formerly named "Papyrus". I have looked for apps specifically for an "infinite" canvas and find Squid quite suitable.

My only beef with Squid is that it cannot be configured to replace Samsung's action notes (Samsung's fault; not Squid's). It would be nice to be able to capture notes using Squid without unlocking the phone.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, s-note
---


title: cant access google play store

text:
# Question
Title: cant access google play store
i lost my first gmail account password and have tried using other passwords like excellency, excellently and so on to see if i can access it but to no avail so i re-opened a new account with the name johneunice025 yesterday and still i cant use it to access google play store rather my first account keeps on appearing for me to add my password and log in which i cant remember anymore. pls what do i do?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Creating a new account does not automatically add it to your phone. You have to add your new account in Settings -\> Accounts&Sync.

Keep in mind that, as **beeshyams** correctly mentioned, using another google account you will not be able to restore any of your paid apps or any game data.

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


# Question
Title: Google play services doesn't get installed
I just wanted to upload a video on YouTube but after updating the app to the latest version , it says that it needs Google Play Services to run. I tapped different places of the screen because it sometimes works with other apps, but this case is not the same. I tried hitting the back button and it just quit. I installed that Google app several times but it doesn't get installed. What should I do?

# Answer
You can download it from here, you need to search for your android version. http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-services/ you need to download for your android version\>4.1/4.4/5.1/6.0 or try to reinstall YouTube

I have the same problem.

I just download play services and problem was fixed.

EDIT:they support android 2.3+ im using old android phone now,and I can confirm that they support ,also confirm that it's working for 4.0.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, youtube, google-play-services
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to migrate apps and their data from one unrooted Android phone to another?
## I would like to migrate apps and their data from one phone to another **without too much faffing around**, like:

* rooting (very convoluted device specific process with a lot of ambiguity around it and often involving running closed source software from random vendors that you have to believe does the right thing),
* using app specific backup export/import facilities if at all exist (too manual, seems the only option though).

## I am ok with:

* using a PC to help facilitate the process,
* manual copying/pasting files (within reason).

## Ideally, I would like to have a process that works something like this:

1. select apps that I would like to have in their current state on the other phone,
2. bundle them together and store somewhere (external SD card or PC),
3. put that bundle on the other phone and somehow install and recover their state.

A bit like PortableApps works.

## So far I have tried :

* Super Backup \- unfortunately, like many others, requires rooting,
* Helium \- seemed promising but *Helium has never been, nor ever will be, compatible with any device running anything less than Android 4.0* and it does not work on certain phones.
* App Backup & Restore \- *Q: Does it backup data of apps? A: No, currently it only backup the apk files of apps.*
* and skimmed through a number of articles including this one (looks like even if I was willing to root I would have a hard time).

# Answer
> 4 votes
> Helium has never been, nor ever will be, compatible with any device running anything less than Android 4.0

First things first: What you want cannot be achieved on not-rooted devices running a lower version of Android. Only with ICS (4.0), permissions of the ADB daemon have been alleviated to enable this (see: Full Backup of non-rooted devices).

For compatibility: What *Helium* does directly on the device, can be achieved from a computer connected with the device via USB, using the ADB tools: You can use the `adb backup` and `adb restore` commands, as described by answers to the linked question. There should be no compatibility issue, as long as your computer recognizes the device.

I have just had a similar issue: My main device needed to go for repair, so I had to migrate stuff to one of my "backup devices". Completely different brand, even different Android version. The above mentioned worked fine (working app-by-app, only "moving in" those ones I required). Just to ease the process (which I might need once more, or others might need), I wrote myself a little helper: If you're using Linux (or some other \*nix coming with Bash), you might wish to take a look at **Adebar** – which not only creates you the scripts needed for backup/restore, but also to "re-freeze" apps you might have frozen on the original device, and additionally creates you a little "device documentation". Feedback welcome – and again the disclosure: I'm the author of that script.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I only tried it on one app so far though but here goes. you must be able to access 'phone storage' on both phones.

1. plug in the usb and connect the phone to your com.
2. open phone storage. open 'Android'
3. look for the app files you want and copy paste into your com. both from 'data' and 'obb'. If there's nothing inside the obb file don't bother copying, it doesn't make a difference. Remember their locations, etc which file is in obb/data.
4. check if there are any files of your app that is not in the 'Android' file. copy paste
5. plug in your other device. enter phone storage.
6. return your copied files into 'data' and 'obb' under 'Android' (or if they were not in 'Android') into the new phone.
7. download your app from app store. it should load within seconds.
8. hope for the best

im really sorry if it didn't work, i only tried it on one app.

---
Tags: backup, restore, data-transfer, import, device-migration
---


# Question
Title: is there a cardboard/VR emulator available?
i need to check out the content of some VR apps, but i dont have a set of VR glasses. is there any app or emulator or anything that can just show me the split 2-D views side by side?

i dont need the "full experience". a basic rendering will do just fine

i scoured the web but couldnt find anything like this

thanks!

here's a screenshot. i'm using droid4x

# Answer
> 2 votes
Just run the app. The Google Cardboard is just a way of attaching the lenses and phone to your face. The phone doesn't know whether it's in the headset or not. The app just displays the two views on the screen, whether it's in the headset or not.

---

Note that this **only** applies to Google Cardboard apps, not to Samsung Gear VR. Gear VR has its own electronics supplying extra sensor data to the phone, so apps written to work with Gear VR will only work with an actual Gear VR headset.

---
Tags: emulators, google-cardboard
---


# Question
Title: Discrepancy between sizes of apps listed in Play Store vs. actual installed app size
The Play Store lists the size of all apps available in their store. When a user downloads and installs apps, the actual sizes reported by Android are often larger than the sizes listed by the Play Store.

Of **importance,** this discrepancy occurs before applications are even run for the first time.

What is the reason for the discrepancy?

# Answer
> 7 votes
Apk and zip files are essentially the same, compressed. Before the system can use the file it needs to decompressed. So the file is one size when downloaded and another size when installed.

Also note sometimes when apk's are installed, after being opened some data may need to be downloaded. So file size file will increase again.

Differences in size are noticeable when comparing between Android markets, one shows one size and play store shows completely different size.

# Answer
> 7 votes
The Google play store, and other app stores, only list the main application (APK) size, not the total app size, which includes the OBB (Opaque Binary Blob) expansion files. OBBs are the extra files that an app downloads to run. There should be no difference in file size before the extra files are downloaded.

From the Play Store Developers section:

> The maximum supported size for a single APK is 50MB. If you need to store additional assets (images, for example), you can upload expansion files.
>
> If your app needs more than 50MB of memory, you can use expansion files to store additional APK assets. You can store two expansion files per application. Each expansion file can be up to 2GB in size.
>
> Expansion files are hosted at no additional cost. When possible, Google Play will download expansion files when apps are installed or updated. In some cases, your app will need to download its expansion files.
>
> When you use expansion files, one file is the main file and the other is an optional patch file. Optional patch files are usually used for small updates to the main file.

OBB files use the same compression as APK files do, which is a standard zip compression. APK and OBB files are kept compressed in the file system, and files inside are decompressed into memory as needed, on the fly. So no, the compressed size, which is the space occupied on the device by the APK, is not different from what the Play Store should list.

Finally, the Play store allows multiple APKs per app listing. This is because some bigger apps (mainly games) need to target different resources (graphics engine, display size/resolution, etc.) and they cannot fit that inside of a single APK (due to the size limitation). If you look at the same Play Store page on different device types, you will likely see a different app size listed.

# Answer
> 3 votes
The Google Play Store no longer lists sizes when you're logged in with an account that has multiple devices attached.

The maximum size for an APK has gone up to 100MB since 28 September 2015 (ref: Android Developers Official Blog)

Because of the decompression and different versions and devices, the install size of an app depends on the device - "Varies with device". Only for some apps, you can see how big they are by visiting the play store without logging in.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Because Play Store shows download size, and download file (probably apk) is compressed. When you install app, apk is decompressed and larger.

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, installation, storage, apk
---


# Question
Title: HTC Rapid Charge 2.0 overheating battery
Since a few days ago I am charging my `HTC One M8` using the `HTC Rapid Charge 2.0` charger. It does indeed charge fast, but I have noticed that the battery gets really hot. After installing the `DU Battery Saver`, I can see that during charging the battery temperature gets up to 45C and even the app is notifying me that the battery is overheating.

* Is this normal?
* Will I have long term problems with the battery by using this fast charger?

# Answer
Excessive Heating of battery is a typical, inescapable effect of using " fast or rapid " chargers. Reason behind this is the charging rate. Normal charging uses 0.5 to 0.8 C (C is the charge rate) whereas fast charging uses anything between 1 to 3C. In simple words, this is pushing more current to charge faster. Heat produced is related to Power and governed by the equation

`Power = I² * R` where I is current.

So increase in current has a significant effect on increase in power (being proportional to *square of current*) , therefore heating, and the same is being reported by your app

**Yes, it does have adverse effects**:

* In **Short term:** meaning when you charge and use, the Battery delivers less performance (another way of putting it is what charges faster Will also drain faster)
* **Long Term** the battery life is reduced

Refer to my answer here for detailed technical explanation and a **graph showing adverse effects** How does fast charger work?

**Edit:** A helpful note on heat increase while charging from All about Battery Chargers

> Li-ion should not rise more than 10ºC (18ºF) above ambient when reaching full charge.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: charging, battery-life, htc-one-m8
---


# Question
Title: Why is it acceptable to supply devices without root capabilities?
It seems bizarre to me that Android devices that you have bought and paid for are not capable of providing a built in root session, so you can gain full control over your own device!

**Why is this acceptable?**

I understand that the functionality / stability of a device may be compromised by the use of the root user, but surely if you accept the void warranty and so forth and the device clearly warns you of the risks, an official root mechanism has to be better than downloading un-trusted binaries off a random locker site and trying to root the device yourself, with all the potential headache this might bring.

**It irritates me that I need to do this to gain full control over a device I own.**

**EDIT:** This question has been criticized its answers being primarily opinion based, and I admit it is practically rhetorical in its nature. BUT ... I personally believe this is the **"elephant in the room"** concerning the (current and future) freedom of users of portable devices, to control what they legitimately own: I challenge the received thinking which seems to be: "Do not dare question the authority of the device manufacturers to have ultimate control over a device **you** own".

If you own a smart phone and are not simply bovine marketing statistic, **this affects you.**

# Answer
Because most users don't want this functionality, understand what it means, wouldn't care about it even if they did understand, and would probably break their phone with it if they did. If it weren't acceptable, phones where rooting is not supported would have a much smaller market share than phones where rooting is easy and supported by an official process (e.g. Nexus phones).

Compare the situation with Android's main competitor, iPhone. Their nearest equivalent to rooting is jail-breaking. Jail-breaking isn't just unsupported, Apple goes out of their way to make it impossible, and each OS update makes old jail-break methods stop working. Unlike Android, where rooting a device just gives you more control over it, once you've jail-broken your iPhone you can't even use Apple's App Store any more.

This state of affairs, which is even more restrictive than the most restrictive Android builds, isn't just acceptable, it is viewed as a benefit to many people. Some kind of users think of it as a security benefit. Enterprise customers in particular, who want to lock down phones they issue and to be able to remote-wipe them if they're lost, like to know that the phones won't be rooted as soon as the users get their hands on them. And certain kinds of app developers (generally those with DRM, or games that need to prevent cheating) want to know that their app's private data can't be copied or modified by the user.

All these groups of stakeholders (enterprise users, security developers, and carriers) view restricting the platform more as a benefit. It's only the tinkerers who find it a negative. And even then, making the rooting process harder makes it **more** attractive to some kinds of tinkerer, because it is an interesting challenge for its own sake, with a cool perception, not just the first step to controlling your device further. Rooting your device is exciting in a way that turning on the "Unknown sources" switch in the security settings is not.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rooting
---


# Question
Title: How can I view SMTP headers in the Gmail app?
I'd like to view the full SMTP headers of a message in the Gmail app, but I haven't found a way to do so. I've also tried the Web client, but it displays a tablet-specific view, even when I've checked "request desktop site".

How can I view SMTP headers in the Gmail app?

If relevant, the device is an Asus Eee Pad Transformer tablet running on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.

# Answer
Sadly there's no such option in the official Gmail app.

You can try using a third party mail client with more options such as K-9 Mail: https://k9mail.app/
> 8 votes

# Answer
It is not possible to view headers in the Gmail app; you will need to open the Gmail web app in your browser instead.

Using Chrome (mobile, 47.0.xxxx.xx) on Android (5.0.2), for example,

1. Go to gmail.com.
2. Use the three vertical dot menu at upper-right \> request desktop site (not sure this step is necessary, but I did it, and it worked).
3. Use the gmail menu (three vertically-stacked horizontal bars) to the left, above the main window.
4. Scroll to the bottom and choose "View Gmail in ... *Desktop*"
5. Open the email message for which you'd like header information.
6. Click *Show Original* just above the window containing the message body.
7. The header info will appear.
> 7 votes

# Answer
Well, yes SMTP headers can be seen over the Gmail apps.

1. Login to your e-mail account (Which I am sure you are logged in over your Gmail app).
2. Click over the email you wish to see headers on.
3. On the upper right portion of the message box, you will see a Reply or Reply-to-All button, with a small downward pointing arrow.
4. Click the small arrow.
5. You will see the message sub-menu, and an option for "Show Original"
6. Click "Show Original"

Is that you are trying to do ?
> -4 votes

---
Tags: gmail
---


# Question
Title: How do I make permanent changes to files in root (/) directory?
Every time I edit a file in /, /sbin, or /system/bin it overwrites on restart (device is rooted and in r/w mode). I assume this is because Android mounts a temporary root? Or maybe it's just a problem on my device?

How do I make a permanent change to root files? Can I do this through adb? Do I need to edit the system image, and if so can anyone point me in the right direction on where to start on this?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The root file system (`/`) and the files therein (plus several more in some sub-directories) are overwritten at boot time from the so-called InitRd ("initial RAM disk", or "boot image"). So if you must change/add stuff there, you will have to modify that image.

If you just want to store some additional binaries/scripts, you should rather do so in **`/system/xbin`** (which usually is also contained in the `$PATH`) – though files in `/system/bin` should survive a reboot as well (`/system` is a separate partition usually mounted read-only, and thus not touched except for OS updates).

---
Tags: file-system, mount, partitions
---


# Question
Title: Apps break after they are moved to SD card
I am running a custom ROM (so it might be that). I have write permissions. But when I move apps to SD card after a reboot they are gone. Going to the app manager a toast appears "App isn't anvalible" (I know I spelled that wrong). What is my problem here exactly , and if you know can you help me out?

# Answer
The ROM had issues, so there's another way around it. Root the device, make a second logical partition on your SD card,and install Link2SD. Also don't forget to backup.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: 5.1-lollipop, app2sd
---


# Question
Title: Help me identify this tablet Vivax TPC 8150
Yes, this is a bit out of topic but I need to identify this tablet VIVAX TPC-8150

AND YES BEFORE YOU ASK I DID ALLOT OF RESEARCH BEFORE DOING THIS.

All I need is a update image that will remove a adware/virus stuck in the /system folder or partition (I don't even care).

And no I can't open the tablet because it has a fully metal cover.

The closest thing I found (by build number is MK808b *which isn't even a tablet*)

System specs:

```
Android 4.2.2 Jellybean
Dual Core ARMv7 A9 Rockchip 3066 Processor @1.5 GHz
1 GB of DDR-3 RAM
8" TFT 1024x768 4:3 display
HDMI 1.2 (I think)
USB-OTG 2.0
Bluetooth 4.0
Micro-SDHC slot
...etc..etc

```

To help out I discovered a few things:

1. How to root this beast (King root)
2. How to get in recovery mode (Hold Vol. Up and Power and after boot screen let go of Power)

Misc info:

Recovery system v4.2.41

```
C:\Users\NotGettingMyUsername>adb shell "cat /system/build.prop | grep "product""
ro.product.model=TPC-8150
ro.product.brand=rk30sdk
ro.product.name=rk30sdk
ro.product.device=rk30sdk
ro.product.board=rk30sdk
ro.product.cpu.abi=armeabi-v7a
ro.product.cpu.abi2=armeabi
ro.product.manufacturer=rockchip
ro.product.locale.language=hr
ro.product.locale.region=HR
# ro.build.product is obsolete; use ro.product.device
ro.build.product=rk30sdk
ro.product.usbfactory=TPC-8150
ro.product.version=1.0.0
ro.product.ota.host=www.rockchip.com:2300

```

All I need is a similar to model (WHICH IS COMPATIBLE) to reflash the device.

Also if possible get CWM or TWRP running on it :)

Any help will be appreciated :D thanks

# Answer
This is a partial answer and may give you a head start, by way of correct product model details

* **Retail Branding:** SK Telesys
* **Marketing Name:** ITP-R208W
* **Device:** rk30sdk
* **Model:** ITP-R208W

**Source:** PDF at this link List of all devices supported by Google Play

Seems to be a Chinese product called "Thinkle"

This Russian site points to github source when I googled for custom ROM
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean
---


# Question
Title: Insufficient storage available but have enough space
I read all other questions of "Insufficient storage available" but none of solution works for me.

I have Samsung Galaxy S3 (GT-I9300). I have 5GB free space on internal memory. A couple days ago WhatsApp and Viber were gone (In the application manager instead WhatsApp I saw com.whatsapp.. same for viber- saw the package name and the two apps's size is 0)

I tried the following solutions:

1. Clear cache of google play store, services, and also clear updates of those apps.
2. Got root access and delete com.whatsapp-2 folder from /data/app-lib as described at XDA
3. wipe cache partiotion via recovery
4. clear dalvik cache
5. Download manually the apk from whatsapp.com and not from Google Play
6. Backup WhatsApp from other device and restore with titanium backup to my device -same error...
7. change default install location with pm set-install-location to 0 then 1 then 2. none worked.
8. Deleted cache of all other apps in the device.

I can install any other application from Play store, just viber and whatsapp causes the "Insufficient storage available" error.

I don't want to do factory reset. Could you help me and suggest another solution, please?

# Answer
Maybe you should try to install or update the app with the apk you just downloaded from a mirror with adb and then you should know if any package installer is having trouble. Samsung devices have always given me some trouble concerning storage issues. If that does not work you can always try the old fashioned kinda noob way by installing some Cleaning app and see if it can solve any cache issue.
> 0 votes

# Answer
My only suggestion to overcome all these issues regarding sdcard space management on Samsung device is to revert to custom rom, Lollipop 5.1 as I did. You wouldn't ever more experience such stressful situations. Try Archidroid-3.1.5, great ROM for s3 gt-i9300.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Have you trimmed (applied `fstrim` to) your device's partitions? If not, access the Android shell and then run these commands:

* Become root:

```
su -

```
* Trim the `/data` partition:

```
fstrim -v /data

```
* Trim the `/cache` partition:

```
fstrim -v /cache

```
* Remount `/system` as read-write:

```
mount -o rw,remount /system

```
* Trim the `/system` partition:

```
fstrim -v /system

```
* Reboot your device:

```
reboot

```

In order to run these commands as root (the "superuser"), you have to have rooted your device and need to have a previously-installed terminal emulator. If you don't have a terminal emulator, you can alternatively use ADB (Android Debugger) after you install it on your computer. If you don't have ADB yet, install the Android SDK Tools Only. After you install it, access its folder and you'll find a `platform-tools` folder where the ADB executable binary file (`adb.exe`, in Windows, or `adb`, in Linux/OS X) is available.

If you intend to use ADB, use a USB cable to connect your Android device to such computer where ADB is installed, then go to your Android **Settings**, **Developer Options**, activate **USB Debugging**, afterwards run your computer OS's shell (Linux / OS X) or "command prompt" (Windows), use it to access the folder where the ADB executable binary is present, then run ADB followed by the **shell** word:

```
adb shell

```

Now that you're inside the Android shell, you can run all the commands mentioned before (`su -`, `fstrim -v /data` et cetera).

If you don't have the `fstrim` binary, you can run the Android package manager (`pm`) in order to trim the caches:

```
pm trim-caches

```

...or, alternatively, you may want to try manually installing the **Trimmer** app (see the footnotes).

If this doesn't solve your issue, you may want to go back to `/data/app-lib` and delete all the other **duplicate** folders (not only Whatsapp's) except those with the **bigger** number. Example: if inside `/data/app-lib` there are the folders `com.waze-1`, `com.waze-2` and `com.waze-3`, you have to delete `com.waze-1` and `com.waze-2`, but **do not** delete `com.waze-3`. Repeat these steps for every appication folder under `/data/app-lib`.

After deleting all duplicate folders, restart (`reboot`) your device and run Google Play Store app again. Did it fix the issue?

If you're still experiencing the issue, go back to the terminal emulator or ADB shell, become root again (`su -`), then run `cd /data/app-lib` and finally run this command in order to **recursively fix ownerships**:

```
chwon system:system *

```

Now restart your system (`reboot`) and cross your fingers. Sometimes another app messes with the ownership of these folders, hence making **system** their *owner* and *group* fixes the issue.

Good luck.

---

Footnotes:

* If you don't have `fstrim` in your Android system, you can download **Trimmer** (`com.fifthelement.trimmer-1.apk`) straight from my OneDrive and then install it manually. The manual installation doesn't require the Google Play Store app, but you'll have to go to **Settings**, then **Security**, and then activate the **Unknown sources** option. After you do this, you can use any file explorer on your rooted device in order to access the folder where you downloaded `com.fifthelement.trimmer-1.apk` to, then touch the file and install it.
* If you're in terminal emulator (or ADB shell) and you're already connected as root, you can `cd` into the folder where you've put the `com.fifthelement.trimmer-1.apk` file and then run this command:

```
pm install com.fifthelement.trimmer-1.apk

```

...in order to manually install the APK using Android's **package manager** (`pm`).
* You can then use the GUI (graphical user interface) of Trimmer in order to trim the `/data`, `/cache` and `/system` partitions. However, because `/system` is mounted read-only, you need to first go to shell, become root (`su -`) and then run `mount -o rw,remount /system` in order to make `/system` read-write. Only after doing so, run Trimmer and select all the three partitions for trimming.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, samsung-galaxy-s-3, installation, insufficient-memory, 4.3-jelly-bean
---


title: remount /mnt as read-write

text:
# Question
Title: remount /mnt as read-write
I am getting error "Read-only filesystem" when trying to add a new directory in /mnt via Terminal Emulator. So, I tried :

```
su
busybox mount -o remount,rw /mnt

```

in order to remount filesystem for /mnt as read-write; but I am getting error "can't find /mnt in /proc/mounts".

What is this error for !?

PS. My ultimate aim is to then mount an external storage on that new directory; say /mnt/myextdrive

# Answer
Use these commands

```
su -c 'busybox mount -o remount,rw /'    # this will remount rootfs at / in rw mode
su -c 'mkdir /mnt/"NEW_DIR"'             # replace NEW_DIR with the name of the directory you aim to create under /mnt

```

Note that in Android `/mnt` is not a mount point for any real or pseudo-filesystem but its sub-directories are (actually, `/mnt` is a sub-directory of the `/` (rootFS), which is why you'd have to remount that to apply changes here). Also note that mnt directory in Android is created by kernel at every boot1 so any modification would be lost after shutdown.

---

1: mnt doesn't exist in a persistent filesystem but in a specific ramfs named rootfs \- a filesystem which exists in RAM only.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: file-system, mount, file-permissions
---


title: Want to play 2 audio files at once

text:
# Question
Title: Want to play 2 audio files at once
Is there an audio app that will play a stereo file in the background, even if I start playing audio in another app? In other words, when I try this using Google play music and Poweramp, Google play will do it but pauses itself when I start a new track in Poweramp. I would like it to continue playing as background to everything I'm doing.

Thanks!

# Answer
Certain players have an "audio focus" setting that will allow it to ignore other apps and actions. I found Rocket Player and Poweramp are two of them.
> 2 votes

# Answer
You can try DUAL Music Player and Multi Audio Player
> 0 votes

---
Tags: music, background-process
---


title: My android phone instal app on it own

text:
# Question
Title: My android phone instal app on it own
I use Evercoss AT1A and I have problem with my phone. It installs applications on its own, without my permissions.

Can someone tell me how to fix it? It doesn't update any applications, it installs new application, that I don't know and don't want to install.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Some trojan/viruses do those kind of things, once they got the superuser privilege on your device they will auto install applications from playstore without any intervention from you, try to scan it with Malware bytes or Dr Web Antivirus to check if you are infected. I so far encountered 2 phones behaving same as what you described and found out it is infected. By the way those two phones are never rooted and all applications installed on it all came from google playstore.

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Use an usb printer from an Android device
I have an old usb printer and I'm wondering if it's possible to use it to print from an Android device.

I'm thinking a micro-usb-to-usb adapter and then just plug it in... Will it work? If not out of the box, how simple is it?

# Answer
It likely wont. Because two things:

1) **Drivers:** Android wont know how to operate that printer. All ends here.

2) Even if printer has some Gandalf's spell to be detected by android, AFAIK android doesn't have a mechanism to pass out binary pixel data to printer to print the image.
> 3 votes

# Answer
There are a couple of options out there, here is a good article detailing them -
Everything You Need to Know About Printing From your Android Phone or Tablet

Personally, I've had some luck with my old printer using an OTG cable and the PrintShare app. It seems to have a good library of drivers.

PrintShare - Google Play:
> 2 votes

# Answer
I would plug the USB printer into a nearby computer and enable network sharing, meaning you should be able to find a way to print from your Android; I use Google's cloud print app to print from my my phone to a shared network printer.

As for a direct connection between the printer and the Android, I don't think it's possible.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb, printing
---


title: How to install cynogenmod on Moto E?

text:
# Question
Title: How to install cynogenmod on Moto E?
I have Moto E with android 5.1.

I like install cynogenmod. What are the steps I need to follow?

# Answer
Go on to Latest Cyanogenmod for Moto E Go on to Latest Cyanogenmod Recovery

Wipe Dalvik Cache while changing the OS, NO NEED FOR Factory Reset Take backup of important system apps as they get lost after installing any other ROM. IMPORTANT: TAKE BACKUP OF YOUR CURRENT OS BEFORE CHANGING OS. YOU DO NEED 5-6 GB FOR BACKUP(NANDROID BACKUP). YOU NEED A ROOTED DEVICE. YOU NEED PATIENCE. all done!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, rooting
---


# Question
Title: Retrieve photos backed up from Android and transferred to another phone via SD card
my old android died and I replaced it with a new different one. my old phone came with an option to hide pictures so that I could keep some private. now that I have the new phone I cannot see these pics in the backup or on my SD card which I transferred to my new phone. It was an option already on the phone not an app that I downloaded. can any help me recover my pics? I know the pics are still there in the backup and on the SD card because they were never deleted and by the size of space used on the card itself.

Can someone help me retrieve my pics?

# Answer
If you have hidden images through gallery app, their name is Changed to start with a "." Download a file Explorer like Es-file Explorer. I'm menu - \>tools-\>show hidden files. Then select those pics and batch rename them. If the name is " .name.jpg" change them to name.jpg Hope that helps.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery, photos
---