# Question
Title: Reliable information on permissions required
Whenever I look for an app in Play Store, the description states the list of required permissions.

1. Is that list (taken from the Manifest?) up to what the developer declares, or is it automatically generated in some way?
In other words, can that list be not representative of what actually happens?
2. If so, is there an alternative way to get a reliable such list?

# Answer
The permission list shown to the user on installation time bases on the data in `AndroidManifest.xml`. Apps like App Inspector can display what apps request what permission.

Permissions in `AndroidManifest.xml` have to be added by the developer. But Android development systems also all libraries to define permissions and if the app includes the library the permissions are automatically added to `AndroidManifest.xml` when the developer builds the app.

But from user perspective it is irrelevant how the permissions are added to `AndroidManifest.xml` as Android enforces the permissions. This means if the developer forgot to add a permission to `AndroidManifest.xml` the app will fail to use methods that require this permission.
> 1 votes

# Answer
**Is that list up to what the developer declares?** Yes. That list is in `AndroidManifest.xml`, and it is edited by hand by the developer.

**Is it automatically generated in some way?** No. Part of it is not, which implies that, overall, no.

**Can that list be not representative of what actually happens?** Yes, but only for "false positives". I.e., a permission listed in `AndroidManifest.xml`, but not actually used by the code, will be granted by the OS to the app (with no use). "False negatives" would not happen. I.e., a permission not listed in `AndroidManifest.xml`, but required by the code, will not be granted by the OS to the app. So it will probably not perform as intended.

**TL;DR**

The permission list shown to the user, e.g. under View details

bases on the data in file `AndroidManifest.xml` included in each `apk` installer.

That file contains a list of required permissions, which is composed of:

1. A hand-edited part by the developer.
2. An automatically added part from the list of permissions required by each linked libraries. (Each of these lists follow "recursively" the same criteria here).

The OS will give the App the permissions in this list, and nothing else.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: permissions
---


title: Reboot to secondary user

text:
# Question
Title: Reboot to secondary user
So, my kids phone. I need her to be able to reboot the phone and access her account without going through primary account. How can this be done (without rooting). I don't want her be left without call access if her phone reboots or battery runs out.

Why I had to set her as secondary user is that as primary user she was able to circumvent parental control restrictions by creating and switching to guest account before parental control could prevent it. She figured that the lag works for her benefit because she can buffer commands by clicking icons where they will appear while the phone still lags behind.

# Answer
I suppose that the limiting factor is the encryption of the file system. The primary user has be to logged into the device so that the file system is (fully) decrypted. Then the secondary users can also get access.

*"User 0 must log into the device first as it is a special user."*
> 1 votes

---
Tags: reboot, multi-user
---


# Question
Title: How do I eliminate the left-swipe Google Snapshot page from my home screen? (S21 Ultra)
Recently got a Samsung S21 Ultra. When I swipe left from the home screen I get Google Assistant "Snapshot", which I have no use for.

So I disabled Google Assistant via **Google app \> Settings \> Google Assistant \> General**

So now when I swipe left from the home screen I get an EMPTY page with Google Snapshot at the top! I don't want ANYTHING left of the home page. How do I get rid of that?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I can give you an answer that worked on an earlier device, so should work on the S21.

The Snapshot that you see is simply a widget of the app. Press and hold the Snapshot, a recycle bin icon will appear, drag the Snapshot to the bin.

That will leave you with an empty page. You can add the launch icons or widgets of your choice.

---
Tags: google
---


# Question
Title: Install Google Play on Android SDK Emulator
How can I install google play on the Android SDK Emulator? I start my emulator like this:

```
./emulator -avd my_custom_device_API_26 -dns-server 8.8.8.8 -writable-system

```

and I tried it How to install Google Play services on an Android 6.0 emulator?, but it doesn't work. Although I'm staring emulator as writable, I get:

```
remote couldn't create file: Read-only file system

```

Also, I've bit different APKs as mentioned in that answer namely: `PrebuiltGmsCorePix.apk` instead `GmsCore.apk` and I can't find `GoogleLoginService.apk`. I have the Open GApps 8.1 Pico version. I've also tried to install APKs but was unsuccessful.

# Answer
For that, you have to install the Google Play image from the Android Studio SDK Manager. But you can't get it for API level below 24
> 5 votes

# Answer
Remember that to display all those submenus you have to tick `Show Package Details` on `Android SDK` setting:

Also the download may be about 2GB but on hard drive may take 10GB once decompressed.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Other comments don't mention it, but after installing the Google Play you also need to create an emulator again (there will be +Store in the description)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, android-emulator, google-play-services
---


# Question
Title: How to handle Play store accounts in a medium sized company
What is the best way to handle Play Store in a medium company where it is not needed a google account for each user?

We have about 30 users with Android, they don't have and don't need a google account, the only problem we are facing is to install and keep updated all the apps. I don't like the solution to let them register with a new google user account because so they will start using google address-book, mail, drive and not the official tools of the company.

# Answer
Either use an MDM -mobile device management- or send them link of the APKs files through whatsapp-telegram or gmail.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: How to install GSI on Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3
I am trying to flash an Android 12 GSI onto my Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3. Goal is to install the GSI without root / voiding the warranty. My company produces an app which is primarily used on Android on Galaxy Tab Active devices. It's expected Galaxy Tab Active3 will get Android 12 update in the next few months and we wanted to do some regression testing in advance of that. Hence the need to get Android 12 GSI onto the Tab Active3.

Device is an arm64 so I downloaded the arm64+gms version of Android 12 GSI (from Google's website). I have successfully unlocked the bootloader, and enabled DSU support. The device supports Project Treble and the VNDK isolated namespace, so in theory should support GSIs.

Everything I tried so far has failed. Any ideas to get it working?

## Manual DSU

I have tried to install the GSI by manually starting the DSU via activity manager. Every time it just says "Installation failed" after reaching about 50% progress. I have tried setting different sizes for the USERDATA: 8GB (Google's recommended size), 2GB and 1GB. I get the same error every time. The device has around 40GB free space and the GSI image size is around 2GB, so it shouldn't be anything to do with the space requirements.

Logcat reports an error:

```
11-11 13:10:09.620  1103  3695 I DynamicSystemService: Failed to install system
11-11 13:10:09.621 16445 23403 E InstallationAsyncTask: java.io.IOException: Failed to start installation with requested size: 1257738436

```

This doesn't help unfortunately; it is thrown from the following file and this is just thrown if there is any error in the underlying dynamic installation:

https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/refs/heads/master/packages/DynamicSystemInstallationService/src/com/android/dynsystem/InstallationAsyncTask.java

PS: Unfortunately the device does not support DSU Loader even though it's running Android 11 (searching for "dsu" in the settings returns no relevant results). Apparently none of the Samsung devices are supporting DSU Loader.

## Fastboot and FastbootD

The device can be rebooted into fastboot mode (`adb reboot bootloader`) but every command just hangs forever (except for `fastboot devices`, which does detect the device). I tried `fastboot reboot fastboot`, but it just reboots into the standard mode of the device and does not enter a fastboot userspace mode (fastbootd mode) as some have suggested it should.

## Heimdall

At least one person has said they can patch GSIs using Heimdall: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/can-i-flash-gsi-roms-with-odin.4029921/

That person was able to flash their GSI to the SYSTEM partition, but my device doesn't have a SYSTEM partition. The partitions are like SUPER, PRISM, etc.

I'm not able to get Heimdall working properly on Windows 10. I have tried with WinUSB, libusb0 and libusbK, but the same is true for all of them. After rebooting the device into ODIN mode, the device can be detected with `heimdall detect`, but I can't do anything more including `heimdall print-pit`, as I get a "Failed to access device. libusb error: -12" error.

I managed to set up Heimdall on an Ubuntu instance of WSL and map the USB using USBIPD. Inside WSL, `heimdall print-pit` does work but I can't get further to flashing anything (I tried to flash the GSI to SUPER, not sure if this was a good idea but anyway it failed) as I get a "Protocol initialisation failed!" error.

## Odin

I am not sure if Odin even supports GSIs and I can't find anyone saying it supports them. I have tried flashing the GSI as an AP in Odin 3.12, 3.13, 3.14 and the patched 3.14 which removes signature checks. But every time it just fails.

## Custom recovery

Just to also note, it seems none of the custom recoveries (TWRP, SHRP, Orangefox etc) support the Tab Active3, or I could have tried to flash those using Heimdall/Odin and then use them to flash the GSI. But I feel it's likely I would have had the same issues, at least with Heimdall.

## EDIT: Heimdall on native Linux

@Robert in the comments below suggested I run Heimdall on native Linux rather than on WSL or the Windows version. This worked better and fixed the issues I was having before with Heimdall.

I then tried to flash VBMETA (the one which is bundled with the GSI) using Heimdall which worked, however my device is now soft-bricked, can only boot into Download Mode, and gives the following error:

```
ODIN MODE (AVB fail)
vbmeta: Public key used to sign data rejected. (5)
vbmeta: VERIFICATION_DISABLED bit is set.
CUSTOM VBMETA
VBMETA : No sign info
VBMETA ,

```

@alecxs in the comments had suggested flashing a VBMETA generated from avbtool instead; I tried this also, but got almost the same situation and a very slightly different error output:

```
ODIN MODE (AVB fail)
vbmeta: Error verifying vbmeta image: OK_NOT_SIGNED (3)
vbmeta: VERIFICATION_DISABLED bit is set.
CUSTOM VBMETA
VBMETA : No sign info
VBMETA ,

```

## EDIT 2: Heimdall on WSL again, VBMETA findings, and how I got DSU working

I found that both Heimdall on native Linux and Heimdall on WSL actually suffer from the same problem. You can only post one command to the device, then subsequent commands fail with "protocol initialisation failed". On WSL I was doing things like `heimdall print-pit --no-reboot` and that's why I was facing issues when flashing. Basically, if you get protocol initialisation failed, just reboot the device and it should work.

Samsung devices seem to do a signature check on VBMETA and only accept official Samsung-signed ones. I found two different VBMETA images in my stock ROM - `vbmeta.img` and `vbmeta_samsung.img`. I happened to notice that `vbmeta_samsung.img` has the same file size as the vbmeta disable images. By the time I'd got this fixed I'd flashed `vbmeta_samsung.img` and then done a factory reset. I'm not sure if this was strictly necessary though, as after flashing `vbmeta.img` it still worked. Not sure if re-flashing original stock `vbmeta.img` will have re-enabled AVB though. Although I'd say it's unlikely, as even Google themselves say you need to disable AVB in order to use DSU.

How I got DSU fixed eventually (aside from the above) - I had made a really stupid error when running the DSU command. For `KEY_SYSTEM_SIZE` I was passing the gzipped system size, not original system image size. This is why the installation always failed after 50%, because it was only installing 50% of the system image. Also another really important thing to note is that after running DSU, you have to restart the system from the DSU notification and not from the normal power menu of the device.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Just posting this for future reference - I did manage to install Android 12 GSI on the Samsung Galaxy Tab Active3 using DSU (not DSU Loader) eventually, and the problem turned out to be something really stupid. When supplying the value for `KEY_SYSTEM_SIZE` in the DSU install command, I had supplied the gzipped size rather than original image size. This is why the installation failed after 50% because it was only processing 50% of the uncompressed image (compression ratio was approximately 50%).

There was lots of discussion in the question comments about disabling AVB - I want to note that you do **not** have to disable AVB in order to follow these instructions. I verified this with a colleague who had a brand new device and we were able to install the GSI with DSU without disabling AVB.

There is little point in me posting detailed steps because they're essentially just the vanilla steps from Google to installing any GSI through DSU. At a high level:

1. Enable OEM unlock in your developer options (if you can't see it and your device is fairly new, there are a number of guides online you can follow around setting your device clock manually to "trick" the device into thinking it's not such a new device)
2. Unlock the bootloader (power off device, hold down vol up+down, plug in power cable (connected to a computer USB not to a regular power socket), long press vol up, press vol up again to confirm)
3. The device will automatically factory reset - go through setup again and make sure you enable WiFi
4. Enable the DSU feature flag: `adb shell setprop persist.sys.fflag.override.settings_dynamic_system true`
5. Launch DSU: see https://developer.android.com/topic/dsu#launch (make sure when you supply the `KEY_SYSTEM_SIZE` this is the original image size not gzipped image size which is where I went wrong)
6. Make sure you reboot your device from the DSU notification (you have to expand it to see the restart option) and not from the normal power menu

---
Tags: samsung, rom-flashing, fastboot, heimdall, gsi
---


# Question
Title: Dialog "Amazon AppStore Required" - apps prevented from starting
Many of my apps were downloaded from the Amazon AppStore as part of their "Free App of The Day" (henceforth FAoTD) program. This program was recently discontinued in favor of `Amazon Underground` \- an all-encompassing shopping app, similar to any number of their other shopping apps for Android. Since I was not interested in continuing with `Android Underground`, I uninstalled the `Amazon App`, AKA `Amazon Shopping`, AKA `Amazon for Android apk`.

The next time I tried to run one of the apps from Amazon from the FAoTD, I encountered a dialog and immediate shutdown of the app when acknowledged with the OK button:

> Amazon Appstore Required
>
> It looks like you no longer have an Amazon AppStore on your device. Please install an Amazon AppStore and sign in with your username and password to use this app.

# Answer
The solution is as stated, though it was not easy: re-install Amazon AppStore. `Amazon Appstore` is not distributed from Google Play any longer (though it was when I first installed it). It must be installed from amazon.com (as a 3rd party app - `Settings > Security > Unknown Sources` must be enabled), and updated to the latest version - `Amazon Underground` for the dialog to stop appearing when starting "Free App of The Day" apps. This left the device with an unwanted app with necessary space consumed unnecessarily.

After the installation, I was able to test the correct opening of certain apps I got through the FAoTD program. I tested starting them both ways: from the "Your Apps" list from within `Amazon Underground`, and outside that environment, directly from the launcher:

1. 2Do (which had a lot of checklists for Books and Movies I would have lost),
2. DoggCatcher,
3. mSecure,
4. Monument Valley, and, I presume, the re-enabled startup of
5. Nearly 2 dozen other apps and games.
> 0 votes

# Answer
After changing devices, I just started to receive this message as well on certain apps installed from the Amazon Appstore.

The only workaround I've been able to find is that these problematic apps only run without error when the Amazon Appstore is loaded into memory. That is to say I must first open the Amazon Appstore, return to my home screen without ending the process, then I can launch the app I wish to use. If the Amazon Appstore is not running, the app fails to detect that it is installed and refuses to load past the "Amazon Appstore required" message.

This is a frustrating issue and a less than ideal workflow for me, but hopefully this helps others experiencing the same problem. It certainly ensures I won't be buying any apps from the Amazon Appstore again!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: amazon-appstore
---


# Question
Title: Files share in BlueStacks 4 is not working
I am trying to drop files from my PC into the BlueStacks 4 Android emulator. I put them in: C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\Engine\UserData\SharedFolder. I see some of them in sdcard/DCIM/SharedFolder.

However, I only see three (random?) documents. All the maps are not transferred, all the other documents in those maps are not transferred either.

I have plenty of storage left in BlueStacks.

Please help!

# Answer
I solved this!

I had a similar problem. My shared folder is this same thing. I'm using Bluestacks 4, build 4.180.0.9002 and Windows 10 Ver.1909, build 18363.657.

My media manager open... but I get stuck in a gray screen with no icons at all (it must the main screen of the app)

None os the searches I did worked =( However found 1 tip that help: a folder named mnt (/ -\> mnt) that have a path /sdcard/windows/bstsharedfolder...

I made some tests... I put 1 picture in the C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\SharedFolder\ and found it in the bluestacks file search. But when I see the FULL path... Surprise MTF: it was in mnt\windows\bstsharedfolder (NOT IN mnt\sdcard\windows\bstsharedfolder)!

With the app EZ File Explorer I found in this 'mnt' folder, this another WINDOWS folder (before the sdcard folder of the tip above). SURPRISE! All the folders (bstsharedfolder, documents, pictures...) was there, WITH MY WINDOWS FILES! So, all I did was copy and past in this bstsharedfolder. Now C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\SharedFolder\ has all my BST files that I need!

Summing up: the 2 folders that share files between BST and Windows are: Windows: C:\ProgramData\BlueStacks\UserData\SharedFolder\ Bluestacks: mnt\windows\bstsharedfolder

Note: I tried copy to the pictures folder (out: mnt\windows\pictures; in: C:\Users\YourUser\Pictures\BlueStacks) but it asked permitions. So the bstsharedfolder worked with no problems.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If anyone is still struggling with this and needs a quick, non-permanent solution, you can also go into the "Media Manager" application in BlueStacks and select "Import from Windows". That seemed to grab everything and update the media cache without issue.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Go to the sdcard/windows/bstsharedfolder, thats where your files should be,and use the built in Media manager, third party app dont seem to be working.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: files, bluestacks
---


# Question
Title: WhatsApp didn't restore local backup, where can I find them?
I wanted to clear & restore WhatsApp to make sure it deploys encrypted Google Drive backups. I've never done a Drive backup, only local. I made a local backup on the fly, then wiped WhatsApp data using app settings.

I re-registered to WA, but my chat history was totally blank! I found that the local directory `/sdcard/WhatsApp` was missing in Google Files app.

Panic again. I am now restoring a NAS backup of my WA directory, but I am surprised to see that, while the last synchronization occurred one week ago, all backup files are dated April 25th, 2021.

Does WhatsApp still store data in `/sdcard/WhatsApp`? Does it get deleted automagically when you clear WA data from settings? If I have to format my device and don't have Google Drive backups, what directories should I back up? Have I lost months of chat history?

If it matters, the device is Google Pixel 5, Android 12.

# Answer
> 1 votes
In the end, it was because the Android file system policy has changed. I'll share it for reference.

Before Android 11, WhatsApp saved files under `/sdcard/WhatsApp`.

Starting from Android 11, and anyways since someday around April 25th, 2021, WhatsApp now stores data under `/storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp` to comply with A11 storage APIs.

I had FolderSync to sync all my `/sdcard` directory. In my own case, **except** for `/sdcard/Android` because of file permissions issues. So while the `/sdcard/WhatsApp` folder was already gone on my device, the last sync was made on April 25th (WA backups chats every day).

In the end, I lost 6 months of chat, not 10 years.

More, there's a **pitfall**. Deleting app from settings wipes `/storage/emulated/0/Android/media/com.whatsapp`, wiping backups and media. Uninstalling WA prompts for keeping or deleting data, but when you uninstall/reinstall WA, you have to register again.

In the end, I'll have to open another question why WA didn't deploy e2e encrypted backups.

---
Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger, android-12
---


# Question
Title: Total Commander for Android : multi rename tool
I am sure I am missing something here and a quick fast dirty attempt yielded nothing.

I would like to rename all files in a specific directory using total commander for Android multi rename tool so that all extensions have JPG and only the first five letters of the filename are included in the rename.

```
asssdd.0
sloppyjoeontop.0
gghhhh.0

```

results

```
asss.jpg
sloppy.jpg
gghhh.jpg

```

How can this be done?

I tried to replace everything aka `*` with name placeholder aka `[N1-5]` and then the extension. This respects the extension and changes it but there is no change in the name.See screenshot

# Answer
> 2 votes
**Source**

After breaking my head for an hour figured it out and it turns out to be quite simple!(see source)

From my call recorder files in `mp3` format, I picked up two records and changed the file name to conceal identity/number in the file name . I wanted to convert them to `jpg` files with only the first five letters in file name.

That is

`nonsense name 914850098765678902345.mp3``nonse.jpg`

`abracadabra 2021-09-24 14.19.44_O_P330.mp3``abrac.jpg`

All you need to do is to enter `[N1-5]` in the name mask, which means retain first five characters in the file name and enter the desired extension. Nothing else.

Click `START!` and you are done!

Here are the changes in the folder for these two files

You can also undo the changes by selecting the changed files, going to Multi-rename tool and `...` → undo last operation. If you need to do these operations frequently, from the 3 dots options save as a profile and use that profile to save yourself the bother of setting it up again.

---
Tags: file-management, files
---


# Question
Title: how to measure the RSSI strength signal between peers using wifi direct?
there is no feature to measure the `RSSI` between peers in Wifi-direct, so how to get `RSSI` between them.

actually i go under API for WIFI to see how they measure WIFI `RSSI` So i see that they send Command as parameter to native method, but i can't catch this command!!!

in this method `wifi_send_command` in **wifi.c** from this link.

as i know Android is under linux, the `iwconfig` is linux command to get the wireless information interface, if i used it can i get the Wifi direct information ? or it is just return the access points network information?

anyone have any idea about this ?

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can get this information inside **wpa\_cli**. Open wpa\_cli in wifi-direct interface and do a **scan** and **scan\_results** as below.

```
adb shell wpa_cli -i<wifi-direct interface name> -p<socket path> scan
adb shell wpa_cli -i<wifi-direct interface name> -p<socket path> scan_results

```

You will get small info about connected peer(device address, channel,rssi etc). Hope this works!

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you want to measure the RSSI between 2 peers before connection, just try:

* In linux under wpa\_supplicant

```
sudo wpa_cli p2p_peer 74:da:3f:58:5c:f0

```

(where 74:da:3f:58:5c:f0 is the MAC address of the second peer.)
* In Android, it should be something like this (guessed and untested)

```
adb shell wpa_cli -i <wifi-direct interface name> -p <socket path> p2p_peer 74:da:3f:58:5c:f0

```

After that you will get a big string. Then search for the word Level (the RSSI comes in dBm).

# Answer
> 0 votes
For non-rooted devices try the following:

Device A: Linux Device B: Android

1. Get the P2P group name of one device. This can be seen by using `wpa_cli` on the linux device. `<3>P2P-GROUP-STARTED p2p-wlan0-0 GO ssid="DIRECT-Gw" freq=2462 passphrase="Vz4GVojX" go_dev_addr=02:04:4b:e0:80:73`
2. Open an adb shell to the Android device.
3. Type:  `dumpsys | grep "DIRECT-Gw"`
4. Look at the output:

```
 - SSID: DIRECT-Gw, BSSID: 02:04:4b:e0:00:73, capabilities: [WPA2-PSK-CCMP][RSN-PSK-CCMP][ESS][WPS], level: -61, frequency: 2462, timestamp: 104993415063, distance: ?(cm), distanceSd: ?(cm), passpoint: no, ChannelBandwidth: 0, cen
terFreq0: 2462, centerFreq1: 0, standard: 11n, 80211mcResponder: is not supported, Radio Chain Infos: []

```

---
Tags: wi-fi, 4.1-jelly-bean, networking, linux, wifi-direct
---


# Question
Title: Are contacts stored in Contacts Provider under one application's account visible to all other applications?
I have read about the Contacts Provider API, but it is not clear to me how applications interactions are regulated. If an application stores contacts in an account specific to that application, can any other application given permission to access contacts still read the information of those contacts (i.e., of the other application)? Or does each application have access only to its own accounts and any contacts manually entered via the (default) Contacts application?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes, all data stored in Contacts Provider is visible to all apps with `READ_CONTACTS` permission and if the user has given the permission. From the official documentation of Android Developers - Retrieve a list of contacts,

> **Request permission to read the provider**
>
> To do any type of search of the Contacts Provider, your app must have `READ_CONTACTS` permission. \[...\]

This is why contacts apps can generally show multiple account types for the same person (e.g. Google, WhatsApp, Microsoft), and also why social messaging apps (e.g. WhatsApp) and social media apps (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram) can detect registered accounts based on phone numbers and/or emails stored in the Contacts Provider.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Whenever you start using an app, it asks you for permissions to perform the tasks the app is supposed to do - like access to camera, to contacts, and so on. Those permissions are app specific. You can view the permissions when you go to your phone's **configuration -\> privacy -\> manage permissions**.

If you wish, you can revoke permissions of any app you think it shouldn't have that specific permission - it will not harm the app itself, and when the app needs that access again, it will ask you.

---
Tags: contacts, permissions
---


title: How to adjust brightness on Android TV?

text:
# Question
Title: How to adjust brightness on Android TV?
I have a TCL U55P6046 (EU version of the TCL 55P607). The EU version comes with Android TV instead of Roku TV.

I am trying to change the brightness on this TV, but I can't seem to find it anywhere. I did find the backlight, but changing it does not seem to help.

I have the latest Android TV version available for me which is 6.x.

How to adjust brightness on Android TV?

# Answer
Settings \> Frequent settings \> All settings \> Picture \[settings\] \> Brightness

At least my Android TV has this path.
> 1 votes

# Answer
in TCL Android Pie TV

Settings \> Picture \> Brightness
> 0 votes

---
Tags: android-tv, screen-brightness
---


# Question
Title: Disable notifications per app and time frame
I would like to know if there's any app or any Tasker plugin that would allow me to block notifications on the weekends.

I got two email accounts, one personal with the Gmail app and the other work-related with the Inbox app. I receive like eighty emails on the last one per day (even on weekends), I would like to automatically block the Inbox app notifications from Friday night to Monday morning. Right now I do this by hand every weekend (and sometimes I forget to enable them again on Monday).

I found plenty of answers on how to block notifications per app, but not per time frame.

(If it matters, the phone is a non-rooted Samsung Galaxy S6)

# Answer
> 8 votes
In Settings open Notifications (under Device heading) ➡ Do not disturb ➡ Automatic rules ➡ + Add rule ➡ Type \[Rule name\], select \[Time rule\] or \[Event rule\], select OK ➡ select options for the new rule: Days, Filter notifications. Start time, End time, Do not disturb type.

# Answer
> 3 votes
This can be done quite easily via Tasker but requires root.

1. Create a profile using the 'Day' and 'Time' triggers
2. Create a task which turns off notifications for XXX app via Secure Settings
(Create Task, go to Plugin, Secure Settings, Root actions, Package notifications, select app, toggle)
3. Set the profile to trigger the task.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I have had the same problem for quite some time. I have just developed an app that allows you to cancel notifications from specific applications on the day and time you want. Also, you can set a notification title and/or content, so only notifications of selected app with that title or content will be cancelled.

For example, you could cancel WhatsApp/Telegram notifications from chat group called "Work", between 7pm and 10am during weekdays, and whole weekends.

Here is the app: Disconnect

# Answer
> 1 votes
I use IFTTT to put my phone in Do not Disturb (DnD) mode based on date and time. Then set exclusions from DnD on the apps I want to get notifications on during that time frame. It will suppress all notifications based on time but let through the excluded apps.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I use this app called Notification Blocker from the Play Store, it is perfect. The only thing is it will only allow you to block during a specified time frame and not by days of the week. You could always try and set up two rules though, one for the weekday and one for the weekends.

---
Tags: notifications, automation
---


# Question
Title: Android 8: enable and disable notification for certain apps during certain hours
I only found answers to this question for older versions of Android and they did not work for me: how do I enable and disable notification of certain apps (Outlook for example) during certain hours automatically WITHOUT using an additional app? The context is that I use my phone for both private and professional emails and I would prefer not to be bothered by work emails outside of my working hours.

On older versions of android I was able to set a schedule (like this: How to disable notifications per app and time frame?), but now I do not find how any more. Am I just being stupid or was the notification subsystem changed?

I have a Samsung Galaxy S7 on Android 8.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have had the same problem for quite some time. I have just developed an app that allows you to cancel notifications from specific applications on the day and time you want. Also, you can set a notification title and/or content, so only notifications of selected app with that title or content will be cancelled.

For example, you could cancel WhatsApp/Telegram notifications from chat group called "Work", between 7pm and 10am during weekdays, and whole weekends.

Here is the app: Disconnect

---
Tags: 8.0-oreo
---


# Question
Title: Force resize widget smaller than allowed
The default launcher on Google Pixel Android 12 does not allow some widgets to be resized as small as they could be. Chronos fit+ for instance is a 2x2 sized widget, so even when configured as a small 1x1 icon it still takes up extra space:

This is likely an application issue, but you use to be able to resize them as small as needed. Any workarounds?

# Answer
This post found a workaround where you change the **Display Size** option in Android settings to **Small**, resize the widget, and then change back your display size.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: launcher, app-widgets, google-pixel
---


# Question
Title: Cannot install app from Play store - fail to connect
Installing an application from the Play store fails to download, a brief message states

> "please open my apps to establish a connection with the server"

Search and update work as expected. Only downloading fails.

*This issue pertains to any application on both Wifi and cellular networks. Restarting the phone or connection (e.g. Toggling flight mode) fail to resolve this particular occurrence of the issue (but worth trying first!). Also if it was a generic connection issue search and update would likely be impacted. Hope this helps someone in the future.*

# Answer
> 1 votes
Clear play store data, and try again. On samsung device, S7 specifically go to:

Settings \> Apps Manager \> Google Play Store \> Storage

*Clear data*

(Clear Cache is also an option but does not seem sufficient to resolve this error)

---
Tags: google-play-store, installation, application-error
---


# Question
Title: How can one disable incoming videos on Zoom?
How can one disable incoming videos on Zoom? I use Samsung Galaxy S9 with Android 10.

E.g. in MS Teams one may do it as follows:

# Answer
> 1 votes
From Zoom support-How to stop incoming video-Android

> * Start or join a meeting.
> * Tap the More `...` option in your meeting controls.
> * Tap Meeting Settings.
> * Find and tap the toggle next to the Stop incoming video option.
> * To resume videos, tap the toggle next to Stop incoming video to disable.

---
Tags: video-conference, zoom-cloud-meetings
---


# Question
Title: "fastboot reboot fastboot" boots into TWRP, not fastbootd
I am trying to reinstall Oxygen OS on my Oneplus Nord N100, and you need to boot into fastbootd or else it will say cannot flash critical partition. But, the command to do so just boots into TWRP.

In fact, in the TWRP Reboot menu, if you click on the "fastboot" option it just restarts TWRP but you cannot tap on anything. I am very confused, also I cannot use my phone because no OS is installed. I tried looking it up, but it seems it hasn't happened to anyone else.

I think it might have something to do with having no operating system so it boots into recovery automatically. Because when I turn on my phone it automatically boots into twrp, but I don't get why it does that for fastboot.

# Answer
Did you tried run the command:

```
fastboot flashing unlock_critical

```

and then flash through fastboot instead of fastbootd
> 0 votes

---
Tags: fastboot, android-11, oneplus
---


# Question
Title: How to Install an application that requires android 5.0+ on android 4.4.4
I have a phone running android 4.4 and the app requires android 5.0 or higher. I want to install this app on android 4.4. Do you have any way, help yourself. Thank you very much.

# Answer
Sometimes an app has the ability to run on an old device, but there is also something in an app's apk file, indicating the oldest version that can install this app. For example, maybe an app CAN be run on android 4.4 but the author of the app set the minimum supported version to android 5.0.
So it is possible to change it. Afterwards the app ***might*** be able to run on old devices, while it may also crash.

An android app downloaded from Google Play or somewhere else is an apk file, which is actually just a zip compressed package, containing multiple files, e.g. dalvik bytecode, pictures, text resources. To learn more about apk file's structure you can just google it. One of the files is AndroidManifest.xml, that was originally a xml file before the author "compile" and publish the app. You don't have to know what is xml but it was "human readable" before being published and become unreadable when the app finally reached you. The AndroidManifest.xml have a line looks like `android:minSdkVersion="8"` , sdk version 8 means Android version 2.3, sdk version 23 means Android 6.0, search for "android sdk versions" to get a full list. Now however, this line had already been converted to something unreadable. We need something else.

One of those things is apktool, it can "decompile" an xml or even the whole app back to what we can read and edit, then "compile" it back to apk. There're plenty of blogs about how to use apktool so I won't run into details. Using apktool you can decompile the apk, change the `minSdkVersion` to a very small number or just 1, compile the app back, then install.

Notice:
1. You have to "sign" the apk after compiling it back. Google for details.
2. You have to uninstall the previously installed version of the app before reinstall the modified one.
3. Do not publish a modified apk, it's illegal.
4. Don't expact too much from this method. The app may still crash.
5. Though I often do this but it's really complicated for non-programmers to do the modification so feel free to ask, and prepare to give up at any moment.
> 7 votes

# Answer
there is no way to run to run apps with higher from your android version try old versions of the app and the last option is rooting and it have so so many risk of bricking your phone so using old versions is the best choice
> 2 votes

# Answer
Upgrade the android even I had android 4.3 jelly bean I installed an AOSP for my device. The AOSP was android 7.2.2 nougat.

Now I can enjoy all the app that were not compatible with Android 4.3.

I am answering from the same device, don't worry about getting your device bricked even my device got into bootloop 2 times while installing. I fixed it by flashing with my stock ROM.

Before installing any custom ROM or even before installing custom recovery get the stock ROM for you device as a safer side, if you need any help go to XDA forum and get help from top developers.

Hope that helps..

EDIT -

I have Xperia M (C1905) you can check the official stock ROM for this device the last revision given by Sony was Android's 4.3, But a developer from XDA forum ported AOSP for Xperia M.

Thanks to that guy, If you need some proof I can add some links to the AOSP rom page.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Here's a possible workaround that worked for me with the Google Home app:

1. The Google Play store recognized the smartphone running Android 4.4.4 and would not install the latest version which required Android 5+.
2. I found an archived version of the Google Home app on apkmirror and used it to install that supported version using the Adroid Debug Bridge (ADB) from the Android SDK (see: https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-home/google-home-2-14-50-11-release/google-home-2-14-50-11-3-android-apk-download/download/ )

The basic ADB command is: adb install \[PackageName\].apk

This assumes you have your smartphone/tablet connected to your computer via a USB connection and the the smartphone/tablet has USB Debug mode enabled to allow a 'push' install from the computer to the device you want to install the app to.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If you're a rooted user, you can simply change your android version by editing the /system/build.prop , for this find the following line and edit the way you want:

```
ro.build.version.release=xx

```

where xx is the android version you want, after that restart your device.

If you're not rooted user you can modify the Androidmanifest.xml file of the apk and modify the minSdkVersion, there's alot of tools that do this.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, 4.4-kitkat, 5.0-lollipop, compatibility
---


# Question
Title: How to run .sh script (iptables commands) on start up
I am using LineageOS 18.1

When I was on LOS 16, I used to edit the file `/system/etc/init.d/00banner` and put my iptables commands there, e.g.:

```
#!/system/bin/sh
sh -c 'iptables -A OUTPUT -m owner --uid-owner 10195 -d 203.205.255.78/23 -j REJECT'

```

All iptables commands I put in there used to run on phone start up. But in LOS 18.1, the `/system/etc/init.d/` directory was deprecated.

**1.** I created and filled the custom script with the *iptables* commands above:

```
touch /system/etc/custominit.sh
chmod 0755 /system/etc/custominit.sh

```

**2.** Then I edited `/system/etc/init/hw/init.rc` and I added to the end:

```
chmod 0755 /system/etc/custominit
exec /system/etc/custominit

```

**3.** I also tried adding:

```
service custominit /system/bin/custominit.sh
    disabled
    oneshot

```

But none of this worked.

What is it that I doing wrong? I have root access but I do not want to install any additional apps on my phone for this, as it was possible to do on LOS 16.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Issue was solved by following instructions here:

https://ch1p.io/lineageos-run-shell-script-at-boot-as-root/

The main issue turned out to be missing full path of executables, e.g.:

/system/bin/iptables instead of iptables

# Answer
> 1 votes
Once you added your service as "disabled" on init.rc you must call it on boot, add the following lines:

```
on boot
    custominit your_params

```

I hope it solves your problem

---
Tags: lineageos, iptables
---


# Question
Title: INSTALL_FAILED_NO_MATCHING_ABIS on Android 9
I am trying to install an apk that contains armeabi-v7a native libraries, on an emulator with KVM enabled. When I try to install the apk on to the running device I am facing this error: `Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_NO_MATCHING_ABIS: Failed to extract native libraries, res=-113]`

As per https://developer.android.com/studio/releases/emulator#30-0-0 the error above shouldn't occur on Android 9 or 11

> Android 11 system images You can now create an AVD that runs Android 11 by selecting either of the available API level 30 system images:
>
> x86: Includes both x86 and ARMv7 ABIs. x86\_64: Includes x86, x86\_64, ARMv7 and ARM64 ABIs. Support for ARM binaries on Android 9 and 11 system images If you were previously unable to use the Android Emulator because your app depended on ARM binaries, you can now use the Android 9 x86 system image or any Android 11 system image to run your app – it is no longer necessary to download a specific system image to run ARM binaries. These Android 9 and Android 11 system images support ARM by default and provide dramatically improved performance when compared to those with full ARM emulation.

My environment is `Ubuntu 18.04 (LTS)` Here are some of my setup commands:

tools `https://dl.google.com/android/repository/commandlinetools-linux-6200805_latest.zip`

`sdkmanager --install "system-images;android-28;default;x86" "emulator" "platform-tools" "platforms;android-28"` (at this step feel free to replace `x86` with `x86_64`) Note I have tried with google-apis/playstore services and it allows the installation but fails at runtime.

`avdmanager create avd -n "x86" -k "system-images;android-28;default;x86"` (same steps of replacement apply)

`emulator @x86 -no-boot-anim -noaudio -no-window -verbose -wipe-data -partition-size 1024 -qemu -enable-kvm`

Is it something I'm missing? editing the `build.prop` file doesn't help.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Even though Google states that this works for the Android 9 and 10 images as well from my experience it works only for the Android 11 preview images.

I have tested this on Windows using the latest default x86 Google enabled images shown in the emulator manager for Android 10 and 11. As test app I used an Telegram armv7 only apk file from 2019:

* Android-R - (Android 11 preview) Google Play Intel x86 Atom System Image (revision: 1)
    + Installation success, app start success
* Android-29 (Android 10) - Google Play Intel x86 Atom System Image (revision: 8)
    + Installation failed `INSTALL_FAILED_NO_MATCHING_ABIS`

Therefore my results contradict to the Google description you quoted in your question. At the moment only the preview x86 images of Android R seem to be capable of running armv7 apps.

Test environment: Windows 10 64 bit with Intel Haxm installed.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The other answer is great, but I wanted to add a little more detail. The comment about Android 9 or 11 is correct, but it depends on the APK.

If the APK is `armeabi-v7a`, then Android 9 (API 28) will work. Also the emulator should be `x86`.

If the APK is `arm64-v8a`, then Android 11 (API 30) will work. Also the emulator should be `x86_64`.

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/36414219/install-failed-no-matching-abis

---
Tags: 9.0-pie, android-emulator, emulators, arm-processors
---


title: Cold boot: snapshot failed to load

text:
# Question
Title: Cold boot: snapshot failed to load
Sometimes I start Android Emulator with the GUI, and sometimes I start with the CLI. If I keep using the same method, everything is fine, but if I switch between methods, it causes problems. For example if I start the emulator with the CLI, then shut down, then start again using the GUI, I get this:

```
Cold boot: snapshot failed to load

```

If I start with the GUI, then shut down and start with the CLI, I get this:

```
qemu-system-i386.exe: Failed to load virtio-blk:virtio

```

Here is the command I use with CLI:

```
adb start-server
emulator -writable-system -avd Pixel_2_API_24

```

Am I doing something wrong?

# Answer
> 2 votes
This isnt really an issue for me anymore, as I no longer use `emulator -writable-system`. I was previously using it, so that I could install a system certificate. However another method is available, that doesnt require an Emulator flag:

```
adb shell mkdir /data/local/tmp/cacerts/
adb shell cp /system/etc/security/cacerts/* /data/local/tmp/cacerts/
adb push c8750f0d.0 /data/local/tmp/cacerts/
adb root
adb shell mount -t tmpfs tmpfs /system/etc/security/cacerts
adb shell mv /data/local/tmp/cacerts/* /system/etc/security/cacerts/
adb shell chcon u:object_r:system_file:s0 /system/etc/security/cacerts/*

```

https://github.com/httptoolkit/httptoolkit-server/blob/master/src/interceptors/android/adb-commands.ts

---
Tags: android-emulator, avd-manager, android-studio
---


# Question
Title: What is the difference between "Improve accuracy" and "Google Location Accuracy" settings?
After visiting the location settings we see two similar options, both mentioning improving the location accuracy using WiFi and Bluetooth.

The "Improve accuracy" option is part of the system dialog in the location settings and contains two switches ("WiFi scanning" and "Bluetooth scanning").

The "Google Location Accuracy" is part of "Location Services" list and contains one switch ("Improve location accuracy"). Toggling one setting does not automatically toggle the other so they appear to be separate.

What's the difference?

# Answer
It seems that Google's location accuracy uses a combination of:

* GPS
* Wi-Fi
* Mobile networks, and
* Sensors (such as an accelerometer)

In contrast, Wi-Fi scanning most likely uses more than just your own Wi-Fi and uses other Wi-Fi signals (which is why it says it works offline) from around you to identify your location.

In general, Google's location service works better. If you're worried about battery usage all the time like I do, I would say the difference in turning either on is negligible as long as a service is not using your location. You'll know this if you see the location icon in the status bar.

---

Sources:
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, bluetooth, gps, geolocation, location-services
---


# Question
Title: Android 11 - What exactly does "allow background activity" do?
From what I understand, it simply allows apps that are manually ran to update and send notifications faster while in the background. Is that all it does, and if so should you turn it off for most apps if it saves a good amount of battery?

Does not allowing background activity interrupt any other function of an app other than updates and notifications?

Edit: If you do disable it, will the app still start by itself to update regardless if you open the app or not and take up RAM?

# Answer
"Allow background activity", under Battery, refers to whether apps are allowed to run in the background (when you're not using them onscreen, or the app is not visible to you) or not. The battery optimization option that disables background activity just adds a control for apps that have been running for a long time in background aiming to save battery life.

If you want any app to keep running without restriction, you can remove it from the optimization list.

My answers source: Source 1 and Source 2. Also, this link is for developers, but reading it might help you understand how the background apps actually behave and what can be considered background activity.

Also, I've just found this link that explains how to deal with background apps and save battery. This can add some details on how that feature works and how to toggle it on/off.

In addition, the app doesn't actually stops running in background - this configuration prevents the app from using battery, according to this link. Quoting them:

> You've prevented that app from using your battery when it's not in use, but if you open up the application manager, you'll see that application might still be running in memory. To close the app, open the application manager and swipe the app from the list. This will close the app and prevent it from using your battery.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: battery, android-11, background-process
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to export/share "favourite" gallery images?
I have selected a few hundred images as "favourite" in the stock Galaxy S3 Photo Gallery app. I can view these photos by tapping on the "Albums" drop down and choosing "Favourites". Once in this view I can open individual images or start a slideshow. There is no multi-select option like in "albums" view which allows for bulk sharing of images.

Does anybody know a novel way to export/share *all* favourite images?

I have tried other gallery apps in the hope they shared the "favourite" database but each has their own. AirDroid also does not have a "show favourites" option.

Or does anybody know if the list of favourite images can be exported from some sqlite database and I can script out the file names for copying?

Thanks!

# Answer
> 2 votes
You need to use the Photos app instead (it no longer requires a Google+ profile) which has the option you are looking for in the latest 2018 version. But you cannot export or migrate your favorites out of Gallery and the Gallery app is removed by Lollipop.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Tap a photo so that the thumbnail views appear at the bottom. Then long press on one of the thumbnails and you then get an option to select all

Additional Hint: "Select all" you will find in the upper option bar where you usually choose your album "Favorites". Use the Share-Button and one of the given options to save the files to another folder (e.g. use "ES Explorer Save as"-Option).

# Answer
> 1 votes
I'm from 2017. Here 3 years into the future the Gallery App does support the option to "share" favourite photos, by selection and hitting the share option in the menu above.

HOWEVER, in the case you want to "save" these to a local folder of their own you're are screwed. Sure you can "share" them over WiFi through the social media apps, but simply transfer/move them locally into an organised folder - no chance - thanks Gallery. Cutting edge stuff! It cannot be hard to add this option here. I mean the option exists outside of favourites, so why not inside. Makes life painful and no sense!

Finally found a solution though thanks to @greenux 's contribution above! With the ES Explorer File Manager App installed you can save the Favourites locally through ES Explorer using the "share". Gallery should provide this natively.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Here is the trick :

1. Create a New Folder in the Gallery
2. Click on Add photo icon "+"
3. In the options you can see Favorites Folder
4. Select the pictures you want to export and then select Copy/Move option.
5. Done :-)

---
Tags: photos, gallery
---


# Question
Title: Why can I no longer share a URL to Brave or Chrome?
Within the last couple of months a change in Brave had affected my typical article reading workflow. This also affects Chrome, so I'm assuming it's a change in the underlying shared codebase.

I use Pocket to manage articles to read, and I would typically open an article in the Pocket app, click the share button, and then share the article URL to the browser. Recently this stopped working. Brave (and Chrome) no longer show in the list of all of the apps. Edge, however, does still show in that list.

I originally thought that Pocket had changed the way it was sharing, but I get the same results sharing a URL directly from one of the browser apps (though that app's *Print* action does show in the share options). Sharing from Pocket goes directly to the full app list, while sharing from the browser shows just the top options, then your have to scroll right and click *More…*.

My new workflow is to use the copy action (which includes the article title as well as URL), and then paste it into the browser, and then delete the article title so it's just the URL, then navigate.

Is there something I can configure to get this browser sharing feature back? Does anyone know what the underlying change was for?

# Answer
> 0 votes
After a couple of months, the Chrome share action returned, and then a couple of months later the Brave share action returned. I assume it was due to some changes in their apps.

# Answer
> 1 votes
1. Open Chrome, type: `chrome://flags/#chrome-sharing-hub`
2. Set it to Disable. Restart Chrome. After restarting, you will have the normal sharing sheet.

The process should be the same with Brave.

**Note:** Google may remove the flag in future releases of the app.

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, android-10, share-menu, brave-browser
---


# Question
Title: How do I share apps with my kids in Android 10?
I upgraded the family tablet from a HUDL2 to a Teclast P20HD. In the HUDL (Android 4.4.2) when I bought/installed new apps I was given the option to share them with other (restricted) users on the tablet. When I clicked on the user in the user settings, I got a list of installed apps that could be enabled/disabled for each user (my kids). This system was simple and effective.

With the Teclast (Android 10) I only have the option to add and delete users. No app control whatsoever.

I setup a Google account for my youngest (5yo) which I can manage through family Link (as I do with my older child's devices) but then there is no way to share apps from my own Google account to his (the family library feature is only for teenagers and won't cover the apps I've already purchased anyway). I have purchased dozens of kids apps over the last couple of years and I obviously want these available in my son's account.

I tried sharing apps with the Family Link feature inside the play store app on my account, but of the 100+ apps I've purchased, only 19 got shared.

I tried adding a second Google account from inside my son's tablet user space (my own Google account, so I could get the apps again on the play store with my credentials), but it won't let me; expecting all further accounts inside that user to be my kid's school accounts and such.

So I'm stuck. Is it possible to get the kids apps I have purchased into my son's user space on this tablet?

If not, is it possible with some other tablet (I could send this one back and get something different) or is the KitKat way of things now deprecated and I'm stuck with having to re-purchase hundreds of pounds of kids apps?

# Answer
Robert is correct. Damn. I tried multi-user on different device and it's just as plain.

For anyone coming here from Google, I have further information and a couple of solutions..

Firstly, you can now setup child accounts at google for under 13s and, once added to the family group, they can legitimately access apps from your main account, so long as you setup Family Library and manually enable it for *each* app on the app's play store page (as mentioned, only 19 apps came over automatically when I first enabled this - I mistakenly believed this was the sum total of eligible apps). This is tedious but works but once enabled, future purchases can be added automatically (in your Family Library preferences at the Play Store).

This also works for apps that were "purchased" for free, during sales in the last five years.

Note: At the time of writing, setup of Google Family Library still states that users must be over 13 to receive apps, but this is evidently no longer true.

Before realising all this, I deleted my son's Google account from the new Android user, then used my own Google account to quickly install all the apps (from my Play Store apps list). Once done, replaced my account with my son's and we're in business.

Except with a different tablet. This rubbish-with-no-sensors is going back. If you came here considering buying a Teclast P20HD, I recommend you reconsider.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, android-10, multi-user, paid-apps
---


# Question
Title: Cannot scan QR code for WhatsApp web even when mobile data only
I am on the very last version of WhatsApp for Android: it can't no longer connect to WhatsApp Web (it worked fine for ages)

I tried all older tricks found in this forum: mobile data only(no wifi), rotate QR code by 90°, clean up camera lens, etc. Nothing works

Does anybody have this issue as well? What else should I try ?

My phone is a Samsung S10 (patched to very last firmware & Android)

Thanks for your help!

Didier

# Answer
> 0 votes
In the meantime, my problem got solved : I got an update of WhatsApp on both my phone (2.20-2005.169 and my Mac (Version 2.2047.10). With those 2 versions, I can connect WhatsApp Web and WhatsApp Mac with my Samsung phone again.

NB: for it to work, you MUST on the phone use ...\>WhatsApp Web and then scan the code even for the Mac App. Do NOT go ...\>Settings\>QR code (top right)\>Scan Code: you'll get a scanning error message saying *"Use the WhatsApp Web scanner to scan this QR code"*

I hope that it help others facing same problem.

Didier

# Answer
> 0 votes
To clarify what NB said above, open whatsapp app on your mobile, tap on the 3 dots in the upper right corner, select "WhatsApp Web", then scan the QR code displayed on your computer with your phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This could be an issue of screen brightness. Make sure that you're not using apps that can dim the screen or have it at full brightness.

Apps like deluminate and dark mode may affect the scans. You can try adjusting your screen brightness/contrast till it can take the scan.

---
Tags: samsung, whatsapp-messenger, samsung-galaxy-s-10, qr-code
---


title: How To Map Joypad Axis To Button?

text:
# Question
Title: How To Map Joypad Axis To Button?
How do I map a joypad (specifically the HAT switch/DPad) axis to a button with a key-layout file in `/system/usr/keylayout/`? I currently have this line in the appropriate file: `axis 0x10 split 0x7f BUTTON_L1 BUTTON_R1`.

I'll explain the line token by token. First token refers to the input type. `axis` means I'm binding an axis.

Second token is the axis ID. The axis I want to remap is `0x10`.

The Android developer's wiki page concerning key-layout files mention you can split an input axis into two outputs with `split` so I'm using it. The split is at the value immediately following `split`, in this case `0x7f`.

Input values below the split threshold map as the 1st token after the split threshold token. Here it is `BUTTON_L1`.

Input values above the split threshold map as the 2nd token after the split threshold token. Here it is `BUTTON_R1`.

However, when I use the line metioned above the axis does not map to anything anymore. Are you able to map device axes to Android buttons in the first place? If so, what is the proper syntax for it?

# Answer
From the Split axes documentation:

> A split axis maps a Linux axis code to two Android axis code names, such that values less than or greater than a threshold are split across two different axes when mapped. This mapping is useful when a single physical axis reported by the device encodes two different mutually exclusive logical axes.

In the example they split a combined gas/brake axis into separate `GAS` and `BRAKE` axes:

`axis 0x01 split 0x7f GAS BRAKE`

Axis index `0x01` is the Linux input event code `ABS_X`. We're taking the `ABS_X` axis with a logical range of `0x00` \< x \< `0xFF` and splitting it so that x \> `0x7F` is mapped to `AXIS_GAS` and values below `0x7F` are mapped to `AXIS_BRAKE`.

In yours:

`axis 0x10 split 0x7f BUTTON_L1 BUTTON_R1`

Axis index `0x10` is special, it's the Linux input event code `ABS_HAT0X` which is a synthetic axis generated by the Linux input subsystem to make it easier to deal with hat switch inputs. Internally, HID gamepads don't represent D-pads as buttons or as separate X and Y axes. They're usually represented as a single rotational "hat switch" axis. Linux converts the rotational value into `ABS_HAT0X` and `ABS_HAT0Y` axes normalized to -1 \< x \< 1. These are seen as axis `0x10` and axis `0x11` in the key layout mapping.

So, the first problem is your threshold is wrong. To split the `ABS_HAT0X` axis you should use a threshold of 0.

The second problem is you're trying to map the split axes to button events, which isn't supported. You can only split an axis into separate axes.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: root-access, buttons, game-controllers
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to install Docker using Termux?
I'm just tinkering with my Android tablet and was wondering if I can get Docker running on it.

I've tried `dkg install docker` and also `apt install docker` both gave me `unable to locate package Docker`

I probably need to add Docker's repo into list of repositories. Have you ever done it ?

# Answer
> 5 votes
**March 2021: Possible with root & compiled kernel**

From termux-root Issue #60 it appears that it is possible to use Docker without QEMU, but requires root & a custom kernel.

Details can be found in this gist

**No, not possible**

From: https://www.reddit.com/r/termux/comments/av6z2s/how\_to\_install\_docker\_on\_termux/

contains a reply from a Termux dev:

> This is not possible.
>
> Docker requires features that are not available in typical kernel installed with Android OS. This is why docker is not packaged for Termux and likely never be - 99% of devices (even if rooted) won't be able to run it.

with the additional comment.

> Termux does not emulate Linux. It just terminal application with own tools added to PATH.

# Answer
> 4 votes
in my case (htc u11) it was possible by running (as @Nuninoo said)

```
pkg install root-repo
pkg install docker

```

and if docker-compose is also needed it can be loaded via python

```
pkg install python3
pip3 install --upgrade pip
pip3 install docker-compose

```

(in my case that wont work since i have no rust-compiler installed (and i dont think there is one currently for aarch64-linux-android)

# Answer
> 2 votes
**Yes, possible**
**But indirectly through emulating the kernel with `qemu`.**

We can use `qemu` to create an emulated kernel, as well as an emulated architecture (x86\_64), on top of which we can run Docker and most modern containers and images (albeit slower).

You can find some instructions to do just this here.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I installed Docker on Termux. It was in the `root -repo`.

1. `pkg install root -repo`
2. `apt install docker`

I don't know if it works with every Android device. Mine is a Lenovo tablet TB-7304F.

---
Tags: termux
---


# Question
Title: Why can’t I install/update an app from Play Store?
I use a Samsung S5 Neo, yes quite an old phone, but it works. Recently an app called „EBay Kleinanzeigen“ stopped working, so I wanted to update from the Play Store, which was not possible because it said „not compatible with your device“. At that time so ran the Samsung stock which was Android 6.

Now I updated to the latest Lineage OS which comes in version 17.1 based on Android 10. Everything worked fine, I reinstalled my apps, but EBay Kleinanzeigen still is shown as not compatible with device.

The app in question is https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ebay.kleinanzeigen and according Ronny understanding it should work from Android 5 to Android 11, hence what is wrong here?

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/marktplaats-b-v/ebay-kleinanzeigen-for-germany/ebay-kleinanzeigen-for-germany-13-6-0-release/ebay-kleinanzeigen-your-online-marketplace-13-6-0-2-android-apk-download/ reports:

Min: Android 5.0 (Lollipop, API 21) Target: Android 11 (API 30)

Inhaber no idea, what I am missing here.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Let us check what features/versions are required of that app:

I the `AndroidManifest.xml` is noted:

* `<uses-sdk android:minSdkVersion="21"`
    + -\> Minimum Android 5.0
* `<uses-feature android:glEsVersion="0x00020000" android:required="true"/>`
    + -\> requires OpenGL ES 2.0 (supported by Android 2.2) so it is a rather old version and should be supported by your device

There are more requirements but those are marked as "not required" (-\> optional): camera, camera2, location, location.gps, telephony, wifi, touchscreen, screen.portrait, accelerometer.

In Play Store meta-data there is a dependency marked:

```
dependency:
    packageName: "com.google.android.gms"
    minVersionCode: 12451000 (the version code seems to belong the a version just released some days ago)

```

I am not sure if this is an optional or mandators dependency. So on a Google free device it may not work but as you have Play Store installed your device should have com.google.android.gms installed, not sure if the version is new enough.

Another potential restriction can be your selected Play Store country (the app seems to target Germany only). An app developer can also restrict to certain mobile network provider, but for this app such a restriction is unlikely.

**Finally according to Play Store this app is age restricted (age 16+)**, the chance is high that this is the problem. Have you set-up your birth date correctly in the used Google account?

---
Tags: applications, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Force fullscreen mode in Chrome for Android
I want to put my Chrome browser in fullscreen mode without having to scroll down first.

Is it possible? Alternatively, are there any browsers that have this feature?

If it matters, my device is a Samsung Galaxy Tab E, Android 4.4.2. Not rooted.

# Answer
> 16 votes
Yes, you can do it by just running a line of JavaScript on the webpage. To do so, you can just type in the URL bar this code:

```
javascript: (function(){document.querySelector("body").requestFullscreen();})();

```

To avoid typing this manually, you can add this as a bookmarklet. For this, you have to just add any page in your bookmarks and edit the URL to the code above. After bookmarking, search for it in the url bar and you will be able to run the code.

# Answer
> 5 votes
There is a great article in How-To Geek on how to force that for any app with Chrome as sample. It's difficult for non-technical people though.

The approach is to execute a command from a connected computer to put chrome on a "full-screen state". You must connect the tablet via USB-Cable to the PC. I paste the steps for accessibility here:

* Enable USB debugging on Android.
* Install the Android SDK and ADB on PC.
* Find Your App’s APK Name *(Something like “com.android.chrome.”)*
* Verify Your Device Connection with ADB
* Choose Your Immersive Mode (Command line)

This is the command to be executed from the connected PC:

```
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.full=com.android.chrome

```

Detailed instructions can be found in the source article.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Settings \> display \> expanded desktop

That works on lineageOS, but last time I told someone to looks here, they said their phone didn't have it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's not possible with Chrome, at least not in current point in time.

Since you said another browser with that feature will also help:

**There were comments (thanks) about the fact that it's really outdated, and probably has some security issues, so it's not really recommended.**

# Full Screen Browser

**From the app page:**

> Web browser that allows for full screen viewing. Used in many kiosk applications and similar products.
>
> * Hide or dim navigation bar (Home, Back etc).
> * Hide Action bar.
> * Hide status bar.
>
> Support for desktop and mobile versions of web pages.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I don't know why chrome doesn't give a option for fullscreen mode.

But you can view a webpage totally fullscreen using another browser such as

1. Brave
2. Full screen browser
3. Samsung browser
4. Mozilla Firefox browser

All the above browsers are in google play store.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you only need fullscreen for a specific site:

1. Open the site in Android Chrome
2. Tap the menu (3 dots at upper right) and choose "Add to Home Screen"
3. It will prompt you to change the title. Tap Ok.
4. Go to your phone's home screen and you should now see a new icon for the site. It opens in full screen like a separate app. (Since my home screen was almost full, the new icon got dumped into a new home screen reachable by swiping left on the main home screen.)

---
Tags: chrome-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Phone's download speed doesn't go over 10 Mbps(1.2 MBps)
I have an ASUS Zenfone Max Pro M1(X00\_TD). Lately, I have noticed that my phone's downloading or uploading speeds don't go over 10 to 15 Mbps. It has a 2.4 G wifi and easily used to give me 40-60 Mbps 2-3 months ago. But now I don't know why the speeds never go above 15 Mbps.

Initially, I thought my ISP maybe down or the server may not be giving off above 15, but I cross verified it 50 times with other devices.

It doesn't go above 15 Mbps even on cellular data.

The ISP is fine(100 Mbps). It doesn't go above 15 even in speed tests. How can I fix this? Thanks in advance

# Answer
The issue got fixed, the issue was with the ROM. I had flashed a stock ROM from ASUS' website a month or so ago and due to that even factory resetting didn't help. I flashed a new Pixel Experience ROM on it by unlocking the bootloader and it fixed the issue. I'm now getting full speeds, 50 Mbps+
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, networking, network-signal
---


# Question
Title: Why does Google Maps ask me to rate places I haven't been to?
I am asked to rate places Google Maps thinks I have visited. I have not been there and I click on "I have not been there". But the next time, I still get asked to rate those places I have chosen as "I have not been there" before.

How can I stop Maps from asking me to rate places I haven't been to?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you were near a business for enough time to count, Maps might guess the you visited the business.

GPS location is imperfect, esp. with multiple businesses in the same building or GPS signal reflections among tall buildings.

WiFi location might also apply, and sometimes WiFi base stations get moved to new locations.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If someone else is logged in to your Googe account on another device and visits the place in question it might push the notification to your device.

---
Tags: google-maps
---


title: Install WhatsApp in Amazon Fire

text:
# Question
Title: Install WhatsApp in Amazon Fire
Amazon Fire has no Google Play Store, but an article on How-To Geek took care of it. Another problem is that I have some application that is not compatible with the tablet.

At first, I thought that's because Amazon tablet doesn't have location. It has location. I can just enable it. The reason is because Amazon tablet doesn't have SIM slots. Now that's tricky. However, APKPure solves that problem.

When I need to verify my SMS by inserting a one-time code, I just proceed as usual.

Usually, there is an error message saying

> {THIS\_APP} is having problem with Google Play Service

However, for most apps, it doesn't matter. SMS got sent anyway. I just receive it from another phone and insert the OTP (One-Time Password). Voila. Everything is set.

For WhatsApp, I never get SMS. It's as if WhatsApp realizing there is an error doesn't do even bother sending SMS. I wonder why.

Other apps see an error and send SMS any way that I can verify. Not WhatsApp.

Anyone has a way to bypass this?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I figured it out. When it fails, just keep pressing the button that says they will send OTP and keep pressing next. It doesn't always work on the first try. But keep doing it works.

So basically install and get OTP like usual. However, if it doesn't work keep pressing it. Try again and again. Eventually, it works. So far so good.

The only reason why I need SIM is for the internet. I very rarely use my phone. So I can WhatsApp and use any apps I wish.

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, amazon-kindle-fire-hd
---


# Question
Title: Can I delete old trichrome library under /data/app?
I have around 50 trichrome library folders in `/data/app` using around 3 gb.

What varies is the alphanumeric string after the package name denoting version: `com.google.android.trichromelibrary_410408383-VgzblS0EY8swXcjTqN6reQ==`

Can I delete all but most recent to clean my system and regain some space?

Or is it like WinSxS folder in Windows where all revisions of the same dll are stored for different programs to use?

###UPDATE AUGUST 2022###

Latest Trichrome updates (I'm now on 511.209.733) seem to take care of old versions disinstalling them and leaving only the latest, no more need to manually delete in `/data/app` and `/data/data`

# Answer
I deleted all but last using `rm -r com.google.android.trichromelibrary_41*`(then 42, 43, 44...) in `/data/app/`, `/data/data/`, `/data/user_de/0/`, `/data/misc/profiles`, `/data/system/package_cache`, working fine, 3 gb freed.

Should be safe to issue the `rm` command of above straight in `/data` just for convenience.

Then you should purge your `/data/system/packages.xml` file from orphaned entries as explained here: Purge /data/system/packages.xml from manually deleted packages
> 2 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, debloat, trichrome
---


title: Feed an image to Genymotion Camera

text:
# Question
Title: Feed an image to Genymotion Camera
Context:

I use WhatsApp on Genymotion. Chatting in the WhatsApp via Genymotion is fine, except, I wish to enable the WhatsApp web too, so I could free myself from bringing up the genymotion window all the time, instead, could just have all in my host machine browser.

To enable WhatsApp Web, it requires to scan a QR code generated on the web.

What I want to do:

* Open web.whatsapp.com
* Take a screenshot, crop the QR code only
* Make the image available in Genymotion
* Feed that image into the preview camera, which would be in turn available when I bring up the WhatsApp Web activation in WhatsApp.
* The WhatsApp app would then think of the feed as coming live, thus enable the authorization.

Summary:

I wish to feed an image to show in the Genymotion camera preview. How do I do that?

# Answer
I failed to get this working on Ubuntu 18.04. Here's what I found:

* The Ubuntu repos contain a program called Webcamoid which can create a virtual camera that uses your desktops as the camera input.
* *However*, the version of Webcamoid that's installed by `sudo apt install webcamoid` at time of writing (version `8.1.0+dfsg-7`) dies with a segmentation fault. You can get around this by downloading from the webcamoid website.
* To create a virtual camera with Webcamoid, you also need to install v4l2loopback, e.g., using `sudo apt install v4l2loopback-utils`.
* The virtual camera will be created as `/dev/video*` (e.g. `/dev/video0`).
* Even with all this, Genymotion does not detect the camera. I suspect it is looking for USB devices rather than just looking at `/dev/video*`. The Webcamoid wiki says, "If the programs detects the webcams by listing USB devices, the programs will be not able to detect the webcam, but it will be possible in a future."

So the answer on Ubuntu seems to be that it's not yet possible but may be in future. I suspect that any other Linux software that tries to create a virtual camera will run into this same issue.

**Update 2020-03:** I notice that the Webcamoid wiki now shows that development versions of Webcamoid support using akvcam as the virtual camera driver. I have not tested it, but their compatibility table suggests that many programs which did not find the camera using v4l2loopback *do* find it with akvcam.
> 3 votes

# Answer
I made it work using the 2010 Manycam version 2.6.1, since *Manycam* latest version has restrictions.

As you can note when scanning it (https://www.virustotal.com/gui/file/057cb7702e9ad97ee34f8d127d08699c11b6580a02c3f60500ecf4d345b141a4/detection) the software includes a toolbar. So, pay attention while installing to uncheck the toolbar installation.

The app tried to connect to Internet (perhaps was checking for updates, but I had no time to analyse it, I blocked it with my firewall without any use problem. *Genymotion* detected the cam as "webcam 1", open *Manycam* and **you can use a still image with the QR as source**.
> 1 votes

# Answer
If you are using **Windows** you can use something like Manycam to emulate a camera and provide it with any image you like (Source: https://softwarerecs.stackexchange.com/questions/36515/fake-virtual-camera-and-microphone-for-windows)

For **Linux** and **macOS**, you can use a progam like WebcamStudio (Source and Guide: http://marcelog.github.io/articles/android\_emulator\_linux\_virtual\_webcam\_video\_device.html)

In Genymotion you can then choose to use that emulated camera and there you go.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I managed to solve this problem in Ubuntu by using DroidCam. I believe it can work on Windows too. Here is a good tutorial on how to install it:

http://ubuntuhandbook.org/index.php/2016/12/install-droidcam-ubuntu-16-04/
> 0 votes

# Answer
I just had the same problem and thus found this post. I managed to solve the problem (however simply by taking a picture with my phone of the QR-Code and scanning it in Genymotion by using the computer's webcam which was easily able to connect).

However, the next problem is, that in order to use Whatsapp Web (or, as I tried, using Franz), the "phone" needs to be connected to the internet, which it is not, when I close Genymotion, which was the reason why I wanted to do that.

Just in case anyone else finds this and has the same situation ;-)
> 0 votes

# Answer
**Using Xubuntu 20.04 I got this working.**

What you need for this is `ffmpeg` and `v4l2loopback`; they are both in apt. Be sure to `modprobe` and `rmmod` on v4l2loopback anytime you do anything to completely reset the dummy device. You can debug a bit with Webcamoid, which is less picky than Genymotion for the virtual device. The trick is the image or video (at the present version of Genymotion 3.2.1 in my case) **must be 640x480**. The developers said they are looking into this, but as of yet it is not available. You will then do something similar to the following (replacing `/dev/video2` as needed for your Dummy)

`ffmpeg -f x11grab -r 60 -s 640x480 -i :0.0+0,0 -vcodec rawvideo -pix_fmt yuv420p -f v4l2 /dev/video2`

Now with this small resolution, you need to shrink the WhatsApp Desktop window as small as you can, hold down Alt to grab *any part of the window* with the mouse to keep moving it further, as even the top toolbar will need to be off the top of the screen...

The QR code appears in the upper left, the emulated device in Genymotion will easily see it (click the camera item and select this Dummy camera in the emulated device, it will show a preview), and you can enable WhatsApp.

As was stated, however, Genymotion needs to be running *somewhere* otherwise none of the messages will come through to the WhatsApp desktop.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: camera, android-emulator, emulators, genymotion
---


# Question
Title: Multiple numbered copies of com.google.android.gms inside /data/app using up all the space on a device
I have an old Nexus 5X running Paranoid Android 6.0.1. I've started noticing that disk space is constantly running low despite not really adding any new files, and poking around with root I found that the main culprit are 30 duplicate copies of `com.google.android.gms`, sequentially numbered `com.google.android.gms-1` to `com.google.android.gms-30` under `/data/app/`, each taking up 300 to 400 Mb, ultimately adding up to little over half the entire disk space available on the device. The first one has been created back in 2016 when the phone was new and the 30th just last week. Similarly I have 35 copies of `com.google.android.vending`, but at the very least they take up considerable less space.

I'm aware that this is supposed to be the app for Google Play Services but I don't understand why there are so many of it. The folder sizes are different, the lower numbered being smaller and constantly rising, so they aren't the exact same files either.

Currently it's getting to the point that it's impossible to update apps because Play Store requires a lot of free space to initiate any update and any time I free up enough space the phone seems to start creating yet more copies of the app with no end in sight.

Basically my question boils down to:

* Why are there so many copies of these files, is this intentional or a bug?
* Can I somehow safely reclaim any of this space? What would happen if I deleted some of them?

# Answer
> 2 votes
As per Robert's comment on the question, I checked under `/proc/PID/fd` to see that indeed the GMS process is using only the highest numbered files under `/data/app` in my case (Where `PID` is the GMS process ID which you can find, for example, by running `ps` in the terminal or any of the countless "process monitor" -style apps available on Play Store).

Aftwerwards, I proceeded to simply delete all of the `com.google.android.gms-1` thru `-29` folders, freeing up all the used space. I have since rebooted the phone and tried starting most of my apps, and so far I'm seeing no adverse effects. GMS process is still running and happily using the latest files. Whether the next GMS update will go under `31` or the first free index remains to be seen. While this wont fix the root cause and undoubtedly I'll get duplicates of the files in the future as well, at least it happens slowly enough that periodically deleting them manually is at most a minor inconvenience.

**As for the obligatory disclaimer**: This solution suggests poking around in system folders using root access and directly deleting files in them. Your mileage may vary: While my phone appears to work *now* I cannot *absolutely* rule out the possibility of having any issues down the road, nor can I guarantee that doing this on your phone has the exact same effects as it did on mine. **You do this at your own risk. Do the prudent thing and take backups before messing around with system files**, and if you do, do be extra careful to only delete what you intend to and nothing more.

---
Tags: internal-storage, google-play-services
---


# Question
Title: How to backup a full stock firmware image
I'm rocking a OnePlus Nord 2 5G here that just recently came back from assistance because I had wiped the partitions with the IMEI stored in it...

I had made a Nandroid backup, but it didn't backed up all the needed partitions to be able to restore it.
So, I went searching for an alternative way to backup ALL the partitions of the phone. Mainly by the use of **adb shell** while booted in TWRP to gain root access without being rooted + **dd** for the backup. And I've made some good progress so far, but now I'm stuck.

For comparison, I've donwloaded a **full stock firmware** from a third party, and these are all the files it contains:

```
audio_dsp.img
boot.img
boot_para.img
cache.img
cam_vpu1.img
cam_vpu2.img
cam_vpu3.img
cdt_engineering.img
dpm_1.img
dpm_2.img
dtbo.img
expdb.img
flashinfo.img
frp.img
gz1.img
gz2.img
lk.img
lk2.img
logo.img
mcupm_1.img
mcupm_2.img
md1img.img
metadata.img
misc.img
my_carrier.img
my_engineering.img
my_heytap.img
my_manifest.img
my_product.img
my_region.img
my_stock.img
ocdt.img
odm.img
oplus_custom.img
oplusreserve1.img
oplusreserve2.img
oplusreserve3.img
oplusreserve5.img
oplusreserve6.img
otp.img
para.img
param.img
pi_img.img
product.img
recovery.img
scp1.img
scp2.img
sec1.img
seccfg.img
spmfw.img
sspm_1.img
sspm_2.img
super.img
system.img
tee1.img
tee2.img
vbmeta.img
vbmeta2.img
vbmeta_system.img
vbmeta_vendor.img
vendor.img
vendor_boot.img

```

Now, these are all the partitions I was able to find in `/dev/block/platform/by-name` and backup:

```
audio_dsp.img
boot.img
boot_para.img
cache.img
cam_vpu1.img
cam_vpu2.img
cam_vpu3.img
cdt_engineering.img
dpm_1.img
dpm_2.img
dtbo.img
expdb.img
flashinfo.img
frp.img
gz1.img
gz2.img
lk.img
lk2.img
logo.img
mcupm_1.img
mcupm_2.img
md1img.img
metadata.img
misc.img
nvcfg.img
nvdata.img
nvram.img
ocdt.img
oplus_custom.img
oplusreserve1.img
oplusreserve2.img
oplusreserve3.img
oplusreserve5.img
oplusreserve6.img
otp.img
para.img
param.img
persist.img
pi_img.img
proinfo.img
protect1.img
protect2.img
recovery.img
scp1.img
scp2.img
sec1.img
seccfg.img
spmfw.img
sspm_1.img
sspm_2.img
super.img
tee1.img
tee2.img
vbmeta.img
vbmeta_system.img
vbmeta_vendor.img
vendor_boot.img

```

---

As you can see, I'm missing a couple of partitions:

```
my_carrier.img
my_engineering.img
my_heytap.img
my_manifest.img
my_product.img
my_region.img
my_stock.img
odm.img
product.img
system.img
vbmeta2.img
vendor.img

```

Including `system`, which is pretty strange since it's one of the main partitions.

**I've no idea how to find the directory of these partitions, with their labels, and how to back them up.**

---

These are all the solutions, tools, and similar questions I've already tried, without success:
How to list all major partitions with their labels?
Command to list partitions?
How can I view the Android internal partition table?
https://github.com/for2ando/dump-android-partitions
https://github.com/IzzySoft/Adebar
https://github.com/dlenski/tetherback
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ma.wanam.partitions&hl=en\_US&gl=US
I just obtain the same list of partitions I'm finding, or straight not working / the directories do not exists. *Maybe because it's a MTK device?*

The only app that made a difference is FX file explorer. By going in the "file systems" section I can see the `my_*` partitions and their directory, but no system, vendor, or others. And I'm searching for a command line solution ofc.

I've contacted the user that posted the unofficial full stock firmware on XDA. I'm still waiting for the full response on what specific method he use to extract it, but for now I know he used some root solution, if that could help.

Root solutions are completely fine by the way, just, no "Nandroid" as an answer please.

# Answer
Found them!

All the missing partitions are listed with their labels in `/dev/block/mapper`
> 2 votes

---
Tags: adb, backup, fastboot, partitions, stock-rom
---


# Question
Title: How to download apps on 4gb storage so I can move it to the SD card?
I have a HTC Wildfire S, and it's only got 4GB storage. I have a 16GB mirco SD card, but I can't download things because I'm out of the 4GB space (I don't know how ... ), so I can't get them installed so I can then move them to the SD card. I'm not great with technology, so I may be missing something, but this is just really annoying.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Welcome to Android Enthusiasts Stack Overflow!

To answer your question, you will need to move apps to your SD card off of system storage after their downloaded. You can't download directly to the SD card, unfortunately.

Once an app is downloaded, open up Application Management in Settings and click the check box next to the apps you want to move to SD. This should free up some space. Be advised, however, that not all apps can run from the SD card.

It's in your best interest to clean up as much as you can, rather than trying to stuff apps on your SD card. In the Data section of Settings, you can see what items are taking up the most space.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You'll need to move apps from the internal storage into the SD card. Go to `settings app -> apps -> (select large apps)`. Next, you'll need to move the apps you've installed on that list. System apps are not allowed to be moved. In the app settings under storage, there is usually a move to SD card option, although not all apps support it. Look for ones you can move. You can move some apps to get your 4gb storage clear without uninstalling any application

I've added some photos of where you'll find this setting.

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Tags: insufficient-memory, storage
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# Question
Title: Is possible to charge the battery even If I erase boot and system partitions?
Is it possible? Or the device needs at least a kernel to be able to charge? I have a device in bootloop that every 3 seconds it vibrates and I'm not sure if its does not charge because I erased boot and system partitions or because its consume power everytime it vibrates preventing to charge enough for me be able to turn on fastboot mode and fix it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Assuming you already know what TWRP is, you should just install and boot into it and charge. However in your case you cant install it i guess. So best way is to plug into pc and fastboot mode the device. This will supply it with some power at least and try flashing twrp to it using adb/fastboot services. Then you can boot into twrp and charge the device from there. And if in future you're ever going to touch a phone's system/other important partitions..make sure to install twrp beforehand.

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Tags: battery, charging, fastboot
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# Question
Title: Upgraded Samsung device to Android 12, but Quick Panel still looks like the last Android version
After updating Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra to Android 12, I expected the Quick Panel to look completely different like I seen in some Android 12 reviews. But my Quick Panel looks exactly the same as before the upgrade.

The About Phone says: One UI 4, Android 12

What did I miss?

# Answer
The looks of your UI are completely dependent on your software provider, in this case: stock (Samsung). So, no matter what Android version you are running, if the UI version is the same, the looks will be the same too.

So let's say your device has One UI version 4. Even if you were to get an Android 13 update (hypothetical) and the One UI version remains 4, your device UI would be exactly the same as the one you have right now.
> 0 votes

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Tags: samsung, quick-settings, android-12
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title: Turn off bluetooth on bedtime

text:
# Question
Title: Turn off bluetooth on bedtime
Is there a native way to turn the bluetooth off every day between certain hours?

I now use ITTT, but couldn't find a native way.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I found this app that seems to do what you need. It's description:

> Bluetooth Scheduler offers you the posibility to turn On and turn Off bluetooth module in different moments of the day, and/or through the week with day independent configurations, making you to save battery charge.
>
> There is 2 different modes (1 active each time):
>
> Simple mode: Lets you make schedules independent of the day, that should apply everyday.
>
> Weekly mode: Lets you easily configure schedules for each day of the week.

I didn't find a way to do it without an app (a native way). However, if you didn't like this app and you are a developer, you can check the functionalities available and build yourself your app for that.

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Tags: bluetooth, google-pixel
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# Question
Title: Quick way to send a link to a Google Play store app via SMS
I feel like I'm not seeing something obvious.

I have several apps installed via the Google Play store on an Android device. I want to send links via SMS to the appropriate Google Play store pages so the recipient can click on the links, have them open in the Google Play store app, and then decide if they want to install them.

This seems like obvious functionality, but I'm not seeing any way to do it in Android Nougat.

How can this be accomplished without installing a separate app for the task?

# Answer
> 1 votes
OK. I must be losing my mind. Before writing the above question, I searched for a **Share** menuitem in the Google Play store. I swear there was none.

Now, when I try the same thing, I see a **Share** menuitem that does exactly what I want: I can SMS a link for an app to someone else.

I can't explain why it wasn't displayed before.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I came here for the same reason and it looks like you have to have the app installed before you can share a link to it. I hate modern UX.

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Tags: applications, google-play-store, sms, share-menu, hyperlinks
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# Question
Title: Is there any way to make WhatsApp read data from shared storage root instead of from /Android folder in Android 11?
I am fed up searching literally everywhere and on forums. It's been so many days since Android 11 was released and so many phones now run Android 11. But WhatsApp media and all data are moved to a new folder inside the Android folder.

So, it is very difficult to back up every time, and also the whole folder gets automatically deleted when I uninstall WhatsApp. And if I manually keep all the files inside the `/Android` folder only, WhatsApp is reading it. (Earlier, the folder used to be in the root itself). The problem is that in my Phone file manager (tried with multiple file managers), it is very difficult to deal with files in the `/Android` folder such as knowing their size or folder.

So, the WhatsApp folder inside the shared storage root folder itself instead of inside the `/Android` folder is very convenient. Is there any workaround for this?

# Answer
Android 11 has limited (if not completely restricted) the users' access to the `/Android/data` folder(s). Even if WhatsApp developers tried to move the default `/data` storage to an SD card, it'll be quite a hazzle since they'll have to take special permissions from Google. So, the simple answer is no, you can't.

However, if you want to change the default storage location for the media folder(s), you can try a lot of apps, XInternalSD, though root is required for this.
> 0 votes

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Tags: whatsapp-messenger, file-management, android-11
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# Question
Title: Recover data from Moto X with broken display
I have a Moto X (Lollipop 5.1) whose display is broken. I have some files and photos in it which are very important. Unfortunately, I didn't use Dropbox or Google Drive to backup my content. I tried the following ways to recover the data but with no help:

* Control a device with a broken screen but unfortunately USB debugging is not enabled. Also, the pc doesn't recoganize the device (I figured that out with `lsusb` on my linux).
* The phone doesn't have any apps like AirDroid installed to allow it to be accessed remotely on a PC.

The phone works and I was able to locate and ring it via Android Device Manager. Is there a way to get access to the phone's data in my current situation?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Most if not all Android phones will connect via USB cable to a computer (Windows, Mac, or Linux) as a mass storage device or media device; either should let you use your computer's file manager to copy the files from the device to the computer's storage.

The device needs to be powered up to do this, but you don't (in my experience) need to make any settings changes in the device, so it shouldn't matter that the display is destroyed -- that is, if it works well enough to ring, you should be able to access and copy your files.

If the device won't mount as mass storage or media on a USB cable, you may still be able to recover files if they're stored on an SD card -- you'll just need to power down the phone and pull the SD card, then insert it in a compatible reader connected to your computer.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I would install AirDroid or something similar via the Google Play website, you can select which device you want to install on.

Alternatively, I would connect it to a PC, copy everything and if there's still something missing I would connect it to a new Samsung Galaxy S7 phone and use that phones transfer features, http://www.samsung.com/us/smart-switch/

# Answer
> 0 votes
I was in a similar situation, find a USB OTG online and connect a USB mouse to it. If you can at least see your screen, you're in luck. If it's a dead screen you'll have to use your muscle memory and guess work to figure out where to click. Good luck!

# Answer
> 0 votes
follow these approaches

* PC does not recognize device ? device drivers are missing. Install 'em
* 3rd party software Easus or fonepaw might do the trick - they install the drivers under the covers

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Tags: broken-screen, moto-x
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