# Question
Title: Would my phone have to be reactivated after factory reset?
I want to know if I will have to reactivate my phone since it is already currently on through boost mobile. It is a LG tribute for which I paid a full $35 for a prepaid plan on June 27,2015. It is now July 3, 2015.

# Answer
> 6 votes
In your question, reactive might have two meanings:

1. Reactivation/registration is a process which is one time, at the time you purchased a device inserted your carrier SIM to make handset useable. It sends a message to the Device Company that this device is now active and registered.( This process is one time, your carrier may charge this message as per your plan.)
2. If you mean by setting up your device as new handset. So answer for this is

'Yes', you have to setup/register/reactivate all the things/accounts by yourself. Factory Reset will make your device completely clean(internally) as it was at the time when took out of the box.

# Answer
> 2 votes
No. The IMEI will be registered by Boost with the towers so it should reset back onto the network without any work on your part.

Source: I did it with Sprint all the time

---
Tags: factory-reset, activation
---


# Question
Title: Apps force close on a Galaxy Ace GT-S5830i
Every app I use needs to be forced closed after less than 5 minutes. Even apps I haven't even opened \[before\]. I've turned off my phone and restarted it multiple times and nothing seems to work. Does this mean I have to do a factory reset?

# Answer
> 6 votes
• First is make very sure you've free space of memory. My One Plus handset makes this behaviour when it is near to 'out of storage'.

• Second is make sure you have not deleted any root directory by opening file manager with some specific app explorer. (This might create problem as once i meshed up with those folders and end up tolerating crashes.)

• Third is the last option do a factory reset .

# Answer
> 1 votes
This sounds like a file permissions issue on the data directory.

The only fix would be to wipe, however if rooted and/or have a custom recovery, you should first try the fix permissions option.

Otherwise, you will have to do a factory reset.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-ace, force-close
---


# Question
Title: My Samsung Galaxy trend plus wifi wont turn on
I recently bought a Samsung Galaxy trend plus and and my wifi wont turn on evey time i try to turn it on it says turning on for abit and then turns off or a second and then says turning on again but it never actually turns on. Can anyone please help me im having the same problem with my bluetooth as well. I tried the factory reset already and it didn't work anyone else have any ideas?

# Answer
> 6 votes
# Do you have applied any update(custom or OTA) ?

Custom: If you have upgraded your ROM before official release, high possibilites are there to face these type of problems.

OTA: Very rare but possible if your manufacturer provides an OTA and this problem is occurring after updation of device.

Solution:

• If you think it is occuring after update, you should degrade your Firmware version by custom ROM.

# You have not updated device since a long time ?

In this case high possibilites of facing such problems.

Solution is please go to nearby custmore care or look for OTA update in you handset *Software Update* section which falls under *About Phone* .

\[If your device is out of warranty and don't want to spend bucks on it now, please upgrade by custom ROM.

# Answer
> 2 votes
There are quite a few ways to fix this, but the easiest way is to format your tablet THIS WILL DELETE EVERYTHING SO **BACK UP**:
**Go into settings (Click home button, Go into app drawer and open click on settings)
Click on Backup & Reset, then click on 'Factory data reset'
Follow the instructions to reset your tablet
More Detailed Instructions**

---
Tags: wi-fi, bluetooth
---


title: Profile based on location(s)

text:
# Question
Title: Profile based on location(s)
I am an independent contractor who has trouble keeping his time sheet up to date.

Is it possible to create a tasker profile or task to do either of the following?

When leaving from this list of locations between a certain time and day of the week, remind me to make a note of what I did (possibly using S Memo).

Between certain times and days of the week, record phone calls from this list of people and note how long the conversation is.

Want to know if this is possible before buying Tasker. Most of these places will have wifi, but a few will not. I have a Samsung Galaxy S4. Have at it. Please let me know and any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your patience.

# Answer
> 1 votes
you can easily achieve the first with Llama, a free app (easier to use than Tasker, its location sending works with cell towers) but for the call recording I think you would need tasker for that (as call recording is not that easy to achieve on android)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Location Based hours tracking has recently become available using the GeoFence technology. I would recommend taking a look at the following apps:

But since these apps are more focused on a work log and time sheets, they do not have any features related to call recording.

---
Tags: tasker
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to make developer options inaccessible via tapping build number 7 times?
I want the developer options can only be accessed through a shell, please explain how to do it

# Answer
> 1 votes
To disable developer options:

1. Go to Settings and scroll all the way down to Developer Options.
2. If you manage to identify a button (toggle) next to Developer Options, go ahead and tap it. All the options inside the tab will be grayed out, meaning they are disabled.
3. Open the Settings menu of your Android device.
4. Scroll down and tap on Apps (Applications). On Samsung, you need to go to Apps \> Settings \> Applications \> Application manager.
5. Make sure you have the ALL apps filter selected.
6. Scroll down and tap on the Settings app.
7. Tap on Storage and hit Clear data and confirm by tapping Delete.
8. Go back to the Settings menu and check to see if Developer options is gone. If it’s still present, restart your phone and check again.

---
Tags: settings, developer-options
---


title: How to use Dirty COW exploit?

text:
# Question
Title: How to use Dirty COW exploit?
I got Sony Xperia M4 Aqua with a locked bootloader, Android 6.01, and July 1, 2016 security patch, but no DM verity. I would like to freeze a few factory apps via ADB's `pm disable` command (or any other way possible). I've tried to run `su pm disable package.name` but the `su` command is not recognized for some reason.

I am a Linux noob but I got Android Studio with SDK and NDK installed on a lubuntu machine (got it also on Windows 7 machine).

Can someone explain to me the steps to take in order to gain root shell access with the Dirty COW exploit (or any other way) to be able to freeze apps?

# Answer
> 4 votes
The reason the command isn't working for you is because "su" is a binary that gets installed by rooting your device. Without a proper root, you have no "su" command.

In order to use the Dirty COW exploit, you have to compile the binary for your device's architecture.

* Head over to https://github.com/timwr/CVE-2016-5195 and download or git clone the files.
* (Optional) If you do not know your device architecture, then on the phone, install the "Droid Hardware Info" app from Play Store, open it, and swipe left to get to the System tab. Next to the label "Instruction Sets" will be your supported architecture.
* On your computer, open a terminal and navigate to where the Dirty COW files are (extract if needed). Then simply type `make (insert architecture here)`. This will create two binaries inside the folder at `libs/(your_architecture)/` called `dirtycow` & `run-as`. Alternatively, if you have USB Debugging enabled, then simply attach the device and type `make root` and it will push the binaries into your device at `/data/local/tmp`, then automate a few ADB commands to exploit and grant you a *limited* root shell.
* If you don't see the terminal user icon as `#` and instead see a `$`, then the exploit didn't work at some point. Since the files are still on the device, I would suggest to then try and manually patch `run-as` by using `adb shell` and typing the following...

```
chmod 777 /data/local/tmp/*
dirtycow /data/local/tmp/run-as /system/bin/run-as
/system/bin/run-as

```

If this doesn't prompt you as root user (#), then the exploit won't work for your device in this fashion and you'll need to do some digging into why not. If this happens, try opening an Issue on the Github repo, it's still pretty active so you should have an answer before long.

# Answer
> 1 votes
To supplement therealjayvi's answer, note that compiling and using CVE-2016-5195 from timwr *requires* both ADB and NDK to be installed as well, prior to `make [architecture]` and `make root`, and that this must be done from a Linux environment.

All were either assumed that the prerequisites were obtained before doing this, prerequisites may have been added after comment, or little to nothing was known about exploit CVE-2016-5195 from the person who made the comment.

Anyways, this can all be done through: first, being in Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, Mint, ext.) and assuming that `adb` is in your list of repositories for `apt` as it usually is by default but not all the time. If `sudo` isn't present, use `su`.

```
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb

```

Get latest Linux download from here, then extract and run:

```
export PATH=$PATH:/root/directory/of/ndk/

```

You may need to re-run `export` if you close the current terminal, as I cannot find a solution that stays.

Once all that is done, then you can follow @therealjayvi's way of going about this.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Dirty COW on Marshmallow cannot do anything because of SELinux restrictions.

therealjayvi's answer is a good explanation of 'how to compile the Dirty COW proof of concept'. But it cannot even `ls` the current folder where it is run.

```
/data/local/tmp$ run-as
/data/local/tmp# ls
opendir failed, permission denied

```

---
Tags: root-access, 6.0-marshmallow, superuser
---


# Question
Title: Adoptable storage and nandroid backup - All apps included?
I have an SD card in internal storage mode (adoptable storage) and want to do a full backup of my device. In this mode the SD card has folders equivalent to /data/app, /data/data and /data/media. If I do a nandroid backup with TWRP, are any of these folders included in the backup?

In case they are not included: What would be the best way to do a full backup of my phone with all apps?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I can confirm that TWRP -- the latest version as of writing, at least -- recognizes, decrypts, backs up, and restores the contents of adoptable storage correctly. Note, though, that just as it ignores `/data/media/`, it also ignores `/external_sd/media/`, so be sure to backup that folder manually.

---
Tags: backup, adoptable-storage, nandroid
---


title: Droid Explorer cannot find device

text:
# Question
Title: Droid Explorer cannot find device
As the title implies, Droid Explorer cannot detect my Samsung Galaxy Tab A. I've enabled USB debugging and set up Droid Explorer with Android SDK Platform-Tools 28.0.1. I can detect the device with `adb devices` which shows:

```
5200dfccec4a940d    device

```

I can send commands to it as well, running `adb reboot` will cause the device to reboot, but Droid Explorer still cannot detect it.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Droid Explorer is pretty old and unmaintained for years.

Some years ago Google changed the API of `adb`. If you are using a recent version of `adb` together with Droid Explorer which was developed for the old adb version this may end up in several non-functional features.

You should better check for an adb based tool that is still actively developed and maintained.

---
Tags: droid-explorer
---


# Question
Title: Tethering won't work claiming data connection is unavailable
When I try to turn on tethering/mobile hot spot it gives me the system message "Unable to connect, data connection not available." However it worked in the past with this carrier/phone and the internet still works. I can browse the web on my phone fine.

Things I tried so far:

* restarting my phone
* Taking it in and out of airplane mode
* turning wifi off and on
* turning on and off power saving
* turning sync on and off
* turning off high performance mode.
* resetting all network settings

# Answer
> 0 votes
I never did figure out what was causing this issue. I finally was able to fix the issue, though, by completely resetting the phone to factory settings and setting it up again.

---
Tags: system-error, data-connection, wifi-tethering
---


# Question
Title: Unable to Send or Receive MMS on LineageOS on T-Mobile S6
NexusOS 9.0 (LineageOS for Galaxy S6 T-Mobile)

MMS sending hangs Messenger

MMS receiving downloads forever

# Answer
I had to go to

Settings \> Network \> APN \> Hold finger down on current APN setting

and change **APN Protocol** from `IPv6` to `IPv4/IPv6` per T-Mobiles APN Docs

*NB: I also downloaded the T-Mobile and T-Mobile Visual Voicemail app and switched from LineageOS messenger app to Textra, but I doubt those steps were relevant.*
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lineageos, mms, 9.0-pie
---


title: Kindle Fire Freetime questions

text:
# Question
Title: Kindle Fire Freetime questions
We have 2 kindle fires for each of our kids: 7 YO and 10 YO. Like most kids all they want to do is watch YouTube. I'd like to let them do that but with time limits and blocking inappropriate content (I know the blocking isn't perfect). It seems like if I enable free time, there's no possibility for accessing YouTube.

Freetime also seems to have weird ideas of what websites are appropriate for a 10 year old child. I tried setting the age range in Free Time to the range 10-13+ and it's still recommending "Paw Patrol" and "Nick Jr. Preschooler." This is for a 10 year old whose read the whole Harry Potter series and reads a 300 page young adult novel every week.

Other than me having to set a stopwatch or something is there an easy way to set time limits on a Fire without using Freetime. The Windows parental controls, which I also use, seem to work a lot better.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Unfortunately, i do not believe there is any way, unless you are on a 3rd generation and up version of the kindle fire.

If you do have a kindle fire 3 and above, you could attempt to install google play store unofficially on the tablets, and find apps there that can do just what your asking, including youtube kids for them, and set an age limit on that app.

I personally do not recommend amazon tablets, as they dont come with a google play store pre-installed.

As to this link, it states that you must:

1. "Go to settings \> Security \> click on enable unknown sources"
2. Download Google Account Manager on your device
3. Download Google Services Framework on your device
4. "If you have the 2017 Fire HD 8 download" Google Play Store - Fire 8 otherwise Google play store - other
5. Install apps from .apk in order (Google account manager, Google Services Framework, Google Play Store)

The above method is for a tablet that has not been rooted, if you dont know what rooting is, it probably is not rooted.

I hope this helped

---
Tags: amazon-kindle-fire, amazon-appstore
---


title: Transfer and import .VCF Contacts

text:
# Question
Title: Transfer and import .VCF Contacts
Samsung Galaxy S3 i9300, 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. I have a Nokia phone with .vcf Files of Contacts to be transferred to the Galaxy S3. My contacts are more than 4000 in quantity which I want to transfer along with their pictures and each & every detail without any loss. Any Reliable Suggestion / App that can do this?

# Answer
If I remember correctly, Android natively reads **VCF** files for import

Just put your **`.vcf`** file in any folder in the sdcard. Then open your *Contacts* app. Look for the *3 grey dots* on the upper right of the screen and press it. Select *Import* from the list. Next, select *Import from external memory*.

Wait for a while for it to finish. Close the app after importing your contacts and open it again to refresh the data. You should start seeing all of your contacts after that. Unfortunately *VCF* file can only contain information, no pictures, it is still stored on your nokia's memory
> 7 votes

# Answer
Have you tried this app here:ContactSync

I'm using it to sync my vcards to my new galaxy and it worked fine.
> 0 votes

# Answer
There's many cases where the native (Google or Samsung Contacts) VCF importer fails for android, because they have two bugs (one bug causes only a partial import, and one bug fails outright for older VCF formats).

I suggest this free alternative called ContactsManager by hubin, I found it after trying over a dozen options. It was able to import an old VCF with over 1,400 contacts in it in the first try. It is 100% free. I am in no way related to the app or the apps developer.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, file-transfer, import
---


# Question
Title: Why is the first step always 73.73 kB while downloading from Google Play Store?
My phone is a OnePlus 5T running Android 8.1. While downloading or updating apps from Google Play Store, the first step is always 73.73 kB.

I'm just curious. Is there any technical reason (e.g. file system) for that?

# Answer
The answer to the question depends on a few different variables, such as specific internet types, always come with high latency and low bandwidth, such as some satellite hookups, or dial up hookups if used.

If you do not have a stable internet connection, and your bandwidth is not consistent enough to be that bandwidth at all times, then perhaps your phone's wifi/data chip is only pulling that fast, or there could be background network applications running that are taking up all the bandwidth. If applications besides the one you are downloading something on are open, or apps have background processes using the network, that could be a cause of it.

The last option that i can think of is you could be getting throttled by your router, check your router for anything limiting, throttling, or prioritizing anyone's IP or mac addresses. Generally 10.0.0.1, 10.0.0.2, 192.168.1.1, 192.168.0.1, 192.168.1.0 or if you know you router is using another local ip address, login using that and sometime the default user is admin, with password of admin, password, or blank in most cases.

All else fails, it must be some sort of bug in your device, the apps, or some code between your device and the server.
> -3 votes

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


title: Can't uninstall an app

text:
# Question
Title: Can't uninstall an app
I downloaded a locator app not thru google play and after turning off all permissions, it still in my applications.

# Answer
Have you tried using safe mode? If not, then try it. I, myself had a similar problem. Using safe mode, I uninstalled it easily.

If you dont know, how to use safe mode, search on google how to enable it on your device.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung, uninstallation
---


# Question
Title: Android viruses infected my phone (Tecno)
My phone has been infected with viruses for nearly a year. At first it was just a virus in disguise called 'settings', but then it spread to my Chrome, opening a site called 'aiboo.com' SmartSite. I had to disable Chrome, and now there are 3 other viruses on my phone: One called Magic, which pops up ads on my phone screen, Lake worth ISD or something, Then one called System with the note saying 'Guerilla exe.' I use Eset Mobile Security to remove them, but every time I get access to internet, they get installed again. Sometimes they get installed even if I don't have network connection.

Someone please help!

# Answer
If you do get a virus, you could perform a factory reset to get rid of it, but that means you’d lose all your data. Your photos, saved games, text messages, and everything else will be gone if you didn’t back them up. Obviously, a factory reset should be your last option.

There are also other malware removal tools without factory reset: * Malwarebytes * Bitdefender Antivirus Free
> 1 votes

# Answer
You can use NoRoot Firewall for preventing malware activities such as this.

If the malware appears as an app, then you can use Advanced Task Manager app to uninstall the apps you don't recognise.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: virus
---


# Question
Title: Malicious Virus/Trojan on my phone, hard to remove
I have been recently concerned about a malicious software on my phone, basically - the trojan/virus acts silently in the background, it increases battery drain, gives regular (and system apps) overpowered permissions and installs 'icon' programs that are a link shortcut to a possibly malicious website which I would rather not like to open.

The built-in browser is like an infected zone in which I do not go because its filled with ads, fake 'virus' warnings for every site I open.

Some of the recent 'icons' that have been downloaded are named 'loopscoop' and a what seems to me - possibly named Japanese or Chinese game, can't really tell by the letters. Here are the images.

INFO: **Factory resets did not work, nor did Malwarebytes or any other antivirus detect it. It's a VIVAX FLY 3 phone.**

# Answer
Those malwares install as system apps and cannot be removed by uninstalling as regular apps, even hard resetting won't get rid of them. The only solution is either to flash the whole phone or manually remove the aps with ADB shell but root privileges is a must. You need also to know the package name of the app.

* Root your device
* Install USB drivers for your device
* Install BusyBox (adds extra commands that help with sticky malwares that even root can't uninstall, such as those with *immutable* attribute...)
* Install Minimal ADB and Fastboot
* Enable USB debugging (Settings \> About \> Hit 7 times on build number \> Back in settings \> Developer Options \> USB debugging)
* Connect the device with USB cable then open minimal ADB and Fastboot.
* A Windows terminal should comes up. type `adb devices` : Displays some serial numbers which means the phone is detected.
* Type `su` : To get root privileges. Check on the phone screen for any prompt.
* Now mount the file system as read-write: `mount -o remount /system rw`
* Now go to the app folder: `cd /system/app` then list all installed apps: `ls`
* Now simply delete any suspicious app with `rm malwareName.apk`

Note: You may encounter with malwares that refuse to be unistalled. This is where BusyBox comes to the rescue.

* First check for their attribute: `lsattr`
* Those which can't be removed should have the *immutable* attribute, therefore even root cant delete such file.
* Clear the *immutable* attribute : `chattr -i *.*` or specifically `chattr -i malwareName.apk`
* Now you should be able to remove that malware.

Hope this helps you.
> 2 votes

# Answer
*WARNING: This method is highly technical, and requires finding a precise compatible ROM first, and will erase everything on the phone, and may cause bugs*

Use Odin (or heimdall --flash) to load TWRP on the device, boot into recovery mode, wipe everything, format the system partition, and use adb to sideload a the specific stock rom for your device (or, my preference, a compatible lineageOS rom+pico gapps) on it. You may need to reconfigure you APN to make sure MMS still works aftewards. Continue at your own risk.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: unknown-sources
---


# Question
Title: Android 7 Bluetooth intermittent disconnecting
Android 7 phone once paired with earphones or car headset disconnects and reconnect, causing annoying drops in music play

# Answer
1. Go to **Location settings**, put *mode* in **Battery saving** mode. This helps with battery drain. Then press the *3-dots* -\> select **Scanning** -\> disable **Bluetooth scanning** and also disable **WiFi scanning**.
2. Go to **Battery** -\> click *3-dots* -\> **Optimization**. Select **All apps**, then don't optimize **BT tool**.
> 2 votes

# Answer
My HUAWEI 3a drops off the car phone system. I had replaced the car system to overcome this issue previously but it still did it.

Eventually found that when the phone went to sleep (in my case 2 min) it shut the bluetooth down and any calls ceased.

I reset the phone to 30 min which is the longest it goes to and now no problems.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth
---


# Question
Title: New SD card and won't let me transfer apps
Bought a new **SD card** to use on my **Samsung Galaxy Emerge** and formatted it. I was able to transfer videos and music and I have 28GB free storage left but when I try to transfer apps it comes up as not enough room. How do I fix this problem?

# Answer
The apps can only be accessed on the device that SD card was in when apps were saved onto card.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: Can't create a primary, not a logical partition in SD Card
## 1. Summary

I can't set primary, not logical partition in my SD Card.

After my attempts, I can't write anything to SD Card.

---

## 2. Hardware and software

### 2.1. Smartphone

1. ARK Benefit S401,
2. Android 5.1.1,
3. CyanogenMod 12.1 ROM,
4. Rooted, Busybox installed,
5. TWRP Recovery,
6. Successful worked with another and non-mounted SD Cards.

### 2.2. PC

1. Windows 10 Enterprise LTSB EN,
2. MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition 10.0,
3. EaseUS Partition Master (Free) 12.8.

### 2.3. SD Card

1. OSMR 8 GB (7,5 de-facto),
2. 10 class,
3. Error checking:
4. Surface Test:
5. I have card reader as well.

---

## 3. Steps to reproduce

### 3.1. Reason

I have 1,7 GB User Partition in my phone, it's not enough for me. I want to move my apk + dex + lib files to SD Card. **I read**, that I need to use Link2SD and to create new primary partition in my SD Card.

### 3.2. Partition creating

I create backup all my MicroSD data.

I try to create partitions, use these instructions:

1. **How to use Link2SD App for Partition SD Card — Full Guide**,
2. **\[TUT\]How to Create Partition in SD card/MicroSD for Windows user**.

---

## 4. Result

1. I select primary, but in result I get logical, not primary partition:
2. I can't move my apk + lib + dex to SD Card:

> Second partition not found
3. After my operations I can't to make screenshots, download applications to SD Card. I probably can't write any data to SD card. I get errors:

> Can't take screenshot due to limited storage space, or it isn't allowed by the app or your organization
>
> Mod.apk\_download: open failed: EROFS (Read-only file system)

---

## 5. Not helped

1. I create logical, not primary partition for 2,5 GB again.
2. I create ext2 and ext3 partitions instead of ext4.
3. I try partition recovery:

---

## 6. Formatting

### 1. SD Memory Card Formation

I try format my SDCard use **SD Memory Card Formation**. Quick and overwrite formatting failed.

### 2. Diskpart

I try to format my MicroSD use **diskpart**:

```
C:\System Volume Information>diskpart

Microsoft DiskPart version 10.0.14393.0

Copyright (C) 1999-2013 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: DESKTOP-EEOT0TN

DISKPART> list disk

  Disk ###  Status         Size     Free     Dyn  Gpt
  --------  -------------  -------  -------  ---  ---
  Disk 0    Online          931 GB  4096 KB
  Disk 1    Online         7681 MB      0 B

DISKPART> select disk 1

Disk 1 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> attributes disk clear readonly

Disk attributes cleared successfully.

DISKPART> select partition 1

Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

DISKPART> active

DiskPart marked the current partition as active.

DISKPART> format fs=fat32

    0 percent completed

DiskPart has encountered an error: The parameter is incorrect.
See the System Event Log for more information.

DISKPART> exit

Leaving DiskPart...

```

### 3. chkdsk

```
chkdsk g: /f /r
The type of the file system is FAT32.
Volume Serial Number is 0352-6F30
Windows is verifying files and folders...
File and folder verification is complete.
Windows is verifying free space...
Free space verification is complete.

Windows has scanned the file system and found no problems.
No further action is required.
    5,231,600 KB total disk space.
            4 KB in 2 hidden files.
        1,236 KB in 295 folders.
    1,902,568 KB in 1,076 files.
    3,327,788 KB are available.

        4,096 bytes in each allocation unit.
    1,307,900 total allocation units on disk.
      831,947 allocation units available on disk.
Cannot write boot sector.

```

### 4. HDD Low Level Format Tool

After these actions nothing has changed.

---

## 7. Do not offer

1. Please do not suggest me to buy new telephone/SD Card/PC.

# Answer
## 1. Answer

Unfortunately, in this case you need buy a new SD Card.

---

## 2. Argumentation

> Если у вас не записываются новые данные на карту, а старые после удаления появляются вновь, и форматирование не помогает — карта труп, и восстановить её не удастся!

Translate on English:

**If**:

1. New data don't write to SD Card (4.3 item of my question)
2. Old data show again
3. Formatting doesn't help (6 item)

**That**:

* You lost your SD Card.

I could not refute this in my case.
> 1 votes

# Answer
To be clear. You're not going to move Dalvik Cache to sdcard because the Dalvik Virtual Machine is set to prepare application classes cache to the data partition that claims your internal storage. You can move the app files to sd because they are in the user end but the dalvik cache is managed from the system end by DVM. You can create the partition but having system apps' classes there, there ain't a way. Or did you just mean apps to sd? Which is possible?
> 0 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, sd-card, partitions, link2sd, ext4
---


title: How to fix "App not installed"?

text:
# Question
Title: How to fix "App not installed"?
I have Galaxy S4 GT-I9500, plus I have much free space. Some apps have trouble to be installed which end after pressing "Install" and telling me "App not installed".

Please I need a solution for this weird issue.

# Answer
This means the SD card hasn't been fully checked and mounted, and the app you're trying to run is on the SD. That's why you see the icon, but can't run it for awhile.
> 1 votes

# Answer
try disabling security checks in Security preferences Goto Settings-\> More -\> Security -\> Uncheck Verify Apps and check Unknown sources
> 1 votes

# Answer
## 1. Summary

Try install your app via ADB → find information about error, that you get, in Google.

---

## 2. Demonstration

«**Почта России**» («Russian Post») app in my case.

* Before:

* After:

---

## 3. Disclaimer

Causes of `App not installed` in your case may be another, than in my example.

But the actions are the same as in **Summary** section.

---

## 4. Prerequisites

You need:

1. **Rooted** device
2. **Enable** **USB debugging**
3. Install **ADB** to your PC; simple way in Windows — **using Chocolatey**

---

## 5. Installation via ADB

1. Connect your Android phone to PC with enabling USB debugging
2. Download to PC apk file, that you can't install to Android
3. Try install your app from PC, use command:

```
adb install <<path-to-your-app>>.apk

```

### 5.1. Example

```
D:\SashaDebugging\Android>adb install postal.russian-5.0.apk
* daemon not running; starting now at tcp:5037
* daemon started successfully
postal.russian-5.0.apk: 1 file push… 3.1 MB/s (5024614 bytes in 1.528s)
        pkg: /data/local/tmp/postal.russian-5.0.apk
Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_UID_CHANGED]

```

---

## 6. Finding information about problem

I search in Google `Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_UID_CHANGED]` → I read **most popular Stack Overflow answer** → I navigate to `data/data` in my Android file manager → I find data of my «Почта России» app:

I delete selected folder → I try install «Почта России» again via APK Installer → installation was successful.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: installation
---


# Question
Title: Redmi 2014818 says "unfortunately com.android.systemui has stopped"
I have Xiaomi HM2 LTE IN. Also called Redmi 2014818. Every time I try to open any MI app the phone says "unfortunately process com.android.systemui has stopped".

Then when I tap "view summary" the lock screen appears.

So it has made using the phone difficult.

Luckily this error message doesn't appear when I open any non MI app like WhatsApp, Chrome.

# Answer
Solved it myself.

1. Downloaded update.
2. Renamed it `update.zip`.
3. Pasted it in SD card "in" the phone from another "in" the phone folder using the RAR app.
4. Used power and volume buttons, etc. (in followed recovery instructions).
5. Did it. Much relieved.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: xiaomi
---


# Question
Title: An Android phone on my network keeps connecting to a malicious site
My wifes phone keeps reaching out a malicious site (udmserve.net), and it is being blocked by my router's Trend Micro network scanner. I ran Trend Micro's virus scan, as well as Clean Masters, but there are no results on her phone. Any idea of how to fix this? I enabled real-time protection from Trend Micro as well. It's a Samsung Galaxy Halo, which is a low-end Galaxy.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It sounds like the phone is infected by some kind of malware. You could do a factory reset to try to get rid of it. Doing a factory reset will remove all data (photos, sms, files, apps etc)! Don't forget to back up your data if you want to keep it.

After the factory reset, only install trusted apps (use your instinct / google) or you might end up getting the malware again. Not everything on google play store is safe.

You could also try to identify the malware and delete it if you think you are capable. You could try to look for apps installed on the device that have the internet permission (since the malicious app is trying to reach that website, it must have the permission) and use google to see if the app is known malware.

---
Tags: antivirus, virus
---


# Question
Title: USB DAC not working with Galaxy S9+ on Android 9
I just got a USB DAC/AMP for my S9+ and I can't get any audio to be sent over USB.

Things I've tried:

* Updating from Android 8.0.0 to Android 9
* Confirmed the cable is OTG
* Used Included OTG adaptor with DAC/AMP's included cable
* Confirmed Setup works on friends Galaxy S8

When connecting the DAC/AMP to my S9+ it recognises that the USB device is connected but when I tap to change the USB settings it says that the USB connection is being controlled by the external device but when I tap to switch it to being controlled by the Phone is says "Couldn't Switch" and the DAC/AMP switches off because the connection has been refused.

When connected to my friends S8 it worked straight away no need to change any settings

# Answer
> 1 votes
I found that turning on Hardware Acceleration in Developer Options fixed the issue.

---
Tags: samsung, usb, audio, usb-on-the-go, samsung-galaxy-s-9
---


title: Change physical keyboard layout

text:
# Question
Title: Change physical keyboard layout
I want to use my Filco Convertible 2 TKL keyboard with swedish layout on my Samsung S8, but cannot get any other layout than US. I want Swedish.

The other questions I could find in here did not help.

Here is my Settings menu for physical keyboard:

I've also seen the Swiftkey help and tried their suggestion, to no av. Their input menu shows nothing related to layout, beside a link to the Android options.

As you can see I have four input there, three stock android languages, and Swiftkey. I've tried both the stock swedish, and Swiftkey in swedish. The shortcut menu says that switching language is done with shift+enter. That does nothing more than putting an actual space in my text.

---

Edit: I've now removed the stock keyboards from the **non physical** keyboard, and they also disappeared from the physical keyboard menu (which is strange, but ok). I now have nothing more than Swiftkey, both for on-screen and physical keyboards. In Swedish. Still, the physical keyboard writes with US layout.

# Answer
The solution involved deactivating all keyboards from the **on-screen** keyboard options.

After doing so, the only one that was left (as on-screen) was also the only one left in physical. Even SwiftKey Swedish (not External keyboard helper) now works.

With several possible keyboards in on-screen, I still cannot select which one is default (the options show up with radio buttons, but are not selectable), but I think I can live with it.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, external-keyboard
---


title: LPM reboot Samsung Galaxy S7

text:
# Question
Title: LPM reboot Samsung Galaxy S7
I'm trying to have my Samsung Galaxy S7 phone start up into normal operation when USB power comes on. I have tested all the suggestions in this post and several others, but whatever I do the phone will not reboot into normal operation. My result is no reboot or reboot into Recovery mode.

I have also tested several ROMs with same result. There seems to be a problem when the `\system\bin\reboot` is called in LPM (Low Power Mode) mode.

Script:

```
#!/system/bin/sh
/system/bin/lpm_orig &
while [ true ]; do
  sleep 1
  ps | grep lpm_orig && sleep 3 && /system/bin/reboot
done

```

(The "lpm\_orig" is the original lpm file). Linux owner and execution rights have been checked. Does anyone have an idea what to try next?

# Answer
> 3 votes
This has been hell to figure out. Might as well put it out here to help anyone else googling around.

For the Samsung Galaxy S7, first the script:

```
#!/system/bin/sh

# Script to reboot the system as soon as the charger is inserted
# https://android.googlesource.com/kernel/common/+/android-trusty-3.10/Documentation/sysrq.txt

# Enable kernel commands.
su -c "echo 1 > /proc/sys/kernel/sysrq"

# Send an immediate reboot request.
echo b > /proc/sysrq-trigger

```

And to install it, you first backup and replace the /system/bin/lpm file. As OP already mentioned, replacing the file will cause it not to work (explained here)

The inode (file unique identifier) of the lpm file has to remain the same before Android will accept it, so instead we have to replace the *contents* of the existing file.

That's easily enough done:

```
echo /system/bin/lpm > /system/bin/lpm.bak

```

And dump our script code into it:

```
echo /sdcard/reboot_on_charge.sh > /system/bin/lpm

```

Of course this will require root, and to remount the system folder as read-write:

```
su
mount -o rw,remount /system

```

And that's it! That's how I got this to work for the S7.

Undoing the changes should be as simple as doing:

```
cat /system/bin/lpm.bak > /system/bin/lpm
rm /system/bin/lpm.bak

```

Edit: \- To add an extra detail, make sure the file is using Linux (LF) line endings as opposed to CR\_LF (Windows). My git repo switched them out from under me and I was left debugging why the phone suddenly started going to recovery mode again when it reboots.

---
Tags: reboot, samsung-galaxy-s-7-edge
---


# Question
Title: How to Remove persistent "Samsung Account" notification? It keeps showing up regardless of settings
I have been struggling to find out how to turn off (or otherwise hide) the notification that says:

> Samsung account
> Tap here to use your Samsung Account

I've read elsewhere online about ways to stop this, but they don't seem to be working. I tapped the notification, held down and went to "Details" on the Notification.

According to that screen, I shouldn't be getting these notifications but still am.

How can I turn this off (*without* signing in to Samsung or creating an account)?

(Galaxy S8 Active, Android 8.0.0, Samsung Experience Version 9.0)

Edit: 9 November 2018 - Now the notification is showing and making a "text message" noise. I still can't figure out how to stop this!

Edit: 17 Dec. 2018 - Still getting the notification *multiple times per hour* sometimes, and it makes the text message noise. I've done everything I can find online and there's no solution still...

Edit: Nov 2020 - whelp my s8 galaxy bit the dust and I got an S10. It doesn't appear to have this issue, but unfortunately am no closer in learning how to stop the notification

# Answer
Constantly had the notification appearing and making noises, tried everything but nothing worked until I tried this;

1. Settings
2. Select "Notifications"
3. Tap "Advanced" (top right corner)
4. Tap the 3 dots in the top right-hand corner and select "Show system apps"
5. Scroll down to "Samsung Account"
6. Turn off
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung, notifications
---


# Question
Title: Will "deleting" an icon from the home-screen only delete the icon, or also uninstall the app?
I want to remove the icon for McAfee Security, without uninstalling the application.

I long-press and drag the McAfee icon, but there's only "delete" option at the top of the screen:

Then, there's a prompt:

I am not getting separate options:

* remove icon
* uninstall app

I can't tell if its going to delete the icon/shortcut only, or also uninstall the application.

Will "deleting" an icon from the home-screen uninstall the associated app?

# Answer
Deleting an icon usually only removes the icon, not the app itself. However, if your launcher's home screen is merged with app drawer of the launcher, then it is likely it would delete the app. In the former case, launchers know that it is just the icon that is to be removed, so no user approval in the form of dialog is required.

I suggest you try to find it out on your own what actually would happen. Install a fairly harmless app, such as this one, and try to remove its icon. You would have your answer right away.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If it is in home screen and you **remove** the icon, it won't uninstall the application. It is just a mere shortcut for the app. But if you **delete** the application then it will be uninstalled from your phone.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: home-screen-shortcuts, home-screen, app-icons
---


# Question
Title: One specific game/app refuses to install
As the title says, one single game on the app store that I had installed beforehand without issues, now refuses to install at all. The playstore keeps giving me error -506 over and over, and that's when it installs the game, it downloads the game as it should but does not get past the installing stage because it keeps tossing error -506. Googling didn't help either because googling it only gives me topics about other error codes that are not related to mine at all. Please, if anyone knows the solution or possible fixes to this, suggest them to me here so I can finally play the game again.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Possibly the error is because you have got a dead data directory corpse somewhere from that one specific app from a previous install of the app. Once you uninstalled it it did not clean up after its self properly. You can try adb to get the remnants of the app with the command:

`adb uninstall (package_name)`

Looking like:

`adb uninstall com.one.specificAPK`

If that does not work and you have rooted privledges then use a root explorer and navigate to `/data/data/` once there look for that one specific apps corpse. It should be a white file delete it.

If that is unsuccessful then there is an app called SdMaid (no affiliation) that has a corpse cleaner that should do the trick.

If that does not work then try Google's suggestion of one of the following:

METHOD 1:

> Go to Setting \>\> Go to Application Setting (In some devices application setting is named as apps). Go to, All the apps \> \>Find the Google Play Store \>\> Clear Data and Cache Once you have clear everything, Next you need to Force Stop the application. Similarly, Find the Google Play Service \>\> Clear Data and Cache Also, Find Google Services Framework \>\> Open Google Services Framework \>\> Clear cache and data Now, Restart your device and try to download the app. It has worked for many users and hopefully it will work for you also. If it didn’t worked for you, go to next method.

METHOD 2:

> Go to Setting \>\> Storage \>\> Scroll down and select “Unmount SD card” Open Google Play Store \>\> Download the app again that was giving you the error message After successful installation, Go back to Settings \>\> Storage \>\> tap on “mount SD card” If above steps didn’t work, also try removing your SD card before installing.

METHOD 3:

> Go to Setting \>\> Accounts \>\> Google Remove all your Google accounts Go back to Google play store and Sign–in your account information Accept all the Google terms and setup Google settings then Run Google Play Store and download the app. Removing and adding the Google Account has solved the issue for many users as there was problem with the Google account. If this help you to fix the error then the job is done otherwise head to next method.

METHOD 4:

> Most of the users have found this solution to be working fine. After changing the storage setting users were able to download the app without any error message displaying on-screen. Steps to change the Storage Setting:
>
> Go to Setting \>\> Storage \>\> Preferred install location Tap on Preferred install location, a box will pop-up with different option Select “Let the system decide” option Open Google Play Store \>\> Download the app again that was giving you the error.

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


# Question
Title: How to grant write access to external SDcard using ADB in Android tv?
I can't get ES file explorer and winrar to write (copy or cut from internal storage and paste to external storage) to SDCard external storage in Android TV. It says that there will be an "open from" window where I can enable it, but the window won't appear like it did in my android tablet. Is there an ADB command to grant writing access to external SDCard?

I tried to use these commands:

```
adb shell appops set com.estrongs.android.pop WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE allow
adb shell appops set com.estrongs.android.pop READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE allow

```

That was the code for es file explorer, for winrar I just replace com.estrongs.android.pop with com.rarlab.rar The codes executed with no errors, however, I still can't write to the external SDcard, the suggestion to enable it in the supposedly upcoming popup window still appears and the popup window still did not appear. Please help

# Answer
Android Marshmellow (API 23) or above you need to grant runtime permission. This can be done through an adb shell with the command:

```
adb shell pm grant com.your.app.package android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

```

If you ever need to revoke the permission the use this command:

```
adb shell pm grant com.your.app.package android.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

```
> 1 votes

---
Tags: storage, adb
---


# Question
Title: How to automatically send an SMS if a call is missed?
Due to a busy schedule, missed call are a constant, and many times the person calling insists on keep calling until I answer.

The ideia is to automatically send an SMS with a pre-defined message to let the caller know that I'm on the phone or otherwise busy, and that I will be returning the call as soon as possible.

So, how can I send an automatic SMS for missed calls?

# Answer
Here is a workaround using Tasker:

**Profile (or Trigger)**

Create a Profile which allows sending to contact with the missed call:

* Goto Profiles Tab and click the "+"
* Event \>\> Phone \>\> Missed Call
* Tap back to exit from this window

**Task**

You will notice as soon exit, you will be prompted to link this to a Task

* Scroll all the way up the Task list select "New Task + "
* You can name this Task *SendSMSmc* or anything.
* Click "+" to add new Action
* Phone \>\> Send SMS \[Number:%CNUM Message ( e.g I am currently busy at the moment, I'll call later)
* Tap back to exit from this task
* Press back all the way to exit (Your task is saved)

*Explanation: When a call is received, and even if you are not able to answer it, the "Missed Call trigger" allows Tasker to send a message containing the body test: "I am currently busy at the moment, I'll call later" to the missed call number" where %CNUM is the missed call number.*

Hope this helps other users well
> 2 votes

# Answer
Press and hold the RED button when the call arrives, this will show you the message icon, then drag your RED button to the message icon which will give the SMS message options while disconnecting.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: sms, automation, missed-calls
---


# Question
Title: How can I control both volume and track skip on my Android device from my headphones?
How can I control both volume and track skip on my Android device from my headphones? I.e with a set of headphones having 3 buttons

* **Button 1**: Volume +
* **Button 2**: Play/Pause/Skip Forward/Skip Backward
* **Button 3**: Volume -

All android headphones I've seen to date *only* have a single button for skip control. I've been looking around the web for a clear answer very extensively, most of the answers revolve around either

1. Use Bluetooth headphones OR
2. Install app that converts the skip button to a volume control

Why can't android headphones have both features? Such controls have been available on Apple devices, Nokia Phones and Sony Phones etc. all through the simple headphones jack.

# Answer
> 4 votes
I will answer your question in the meaning "How can I control both volume and track skip on my Android device from my headphones?". This might not be supported by the system itself, but the Playstore holds a number of solutions available. Depending on your headset and Android device, one of them might work better than the other:

Ordered by their Playstore rating. These apps seem to share the same pattern -- and it is a pattern you use with the one-and-only button on your headset:

* tap 1x for play/stop (or to accept an incoming call)
* tap 2x for skip-to-next (or to reject an incoming call)
* long-press to increase volume
* tap 1x and then long-press to decrease volume

Plus more (up to 4x tap), but you've got the idea. I tried JAYS, which is the most configurable (1x tap and vol+ worked fine, but even after 3 weeks only 1 out of 10 tries for the other combinations worked, which might be due to hardware (headset) incompatibility) and the Philips Headset (which worked out of the box for all the above mentioned combinations -- no wonder, my Headset is a Philips, and that app was developed with this headset in mind). So if you have no luck with one of those, try another :)

# Answer
> 2 votes
Stock Samsung headphones have 3 buttons, volume +/- and pause. They also have a mic. They are only $5 on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-EHS64AVFWE-Premium-Stereo-Headset/dp/B007C5S3AU/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362357220&sr=8-1&keywords=samsung+headphones

Admittly, they aren't the best sounding and I don't like the remote being so close to the ear.

# Answer
> 1 votes
try these - HTC Stereo Ear Bud Headset for EVO 4G SHIFT 36H00880-04M the sound quality is pretty good, and the next\ previous buttons work for volume up \ down on my galaxy s4. they have a similar functionality as apple's ear buds, but for android.

# Answer
> 0 votes
With my Android 8.0 device and Bluetooth headset, skip+ and volume+ are on the same key, but differentiated by the length of pressing. By pressing for a long time during playback you skip forward, whereas by pressing briefly you increase the volume. It works analogously for for skip- and volume-. Not all apps seem to support this functionality though.

---
Tags: music, headphones, volume-control, headphone-jack
---


title: Disabled apps keep coming back

text:
# Question
Title: Disabled apps keep coming back
I followed the instructions found in this StackExchange post to disable the YouTube app on my phone.

Everything seemed to go well at first; the updates were uninstalled and the icon was hidden away to oblivion. However, a couple minutes later, I saw a notification that the YouTube app was being updated from the Google Play Store. Lo and behold, the app reinstalled itself and returned to its former place in my app drawer.

No matter how many times I try to disable the YouTube app, it just keeps coming back. Is there any way to permanently disable it?

I'm running Android 5.1.1 on an Xperia Z1 Compact.

# Answer
Try using **Greenify** app to hibernate Youtube app (if you are a rooted user). Once hibernated, it won't come into picture unless explicitly opened.

You can also use **Titanium Backup** to freeze Youtube app, if u want to permanently disable it. You can unfreeze the app later anytime you want.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Try Force Stopping them, before disabling. It was frustrating for me too but it worked for all the default google apps that I didn't need.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, uninstallation
---


title: Prompt for filename for screenshot

text:
# Question
Title: Prompt for filename for screenshot
I have an S7 with Android 8 and Samsung Experience 9

Is there a way to be prompted for a filename when you take a screenshot?

Thanks

# Answer
The Android built in screenshot function does not support to specify the filename.

One alternative way for triggering a screenshot would be to use `adb shell` via USB or Wifi from a connected PC. On the shell you can execute `screencap /sdcard/screenshot1.png` and therefore specify the filename.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: file-management, screenshots
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to use Android Emulator to pass identity confirmation via Android Device?
My google account is requiring I confirm my identity using an Android device, but I have no android devices. I had logged in with one over 4 years ago, but no longer have any (switched to IOS for work). I do have some Windows VMs and thought to possibly run the Android Emulator to simulate an Android device, but had thought from past experience that Google Play Services wouldn't run through the emulator, so likely many of these types of features wouldn't work.

Thoughts on how to get past it without having to buy a $50 TracPhone, which just seems like simple extortion? I see no google-groups or other means of contacting google-account-services support.

# Answer
> 1 votes
***UPDATE*** I likely won't install the ADK and Emulator as I was able to resolve the issue without it. The solution to the problem was to acknowledge all recent logins into my account. The reason it wanted extra verification was that I had already passed 2FA, but since that login was not acknowledged (via my recover email), it took all 2FA as "tainted". This is why it wouldn't allow me to verify via recovery phone number. To solve this issue, this is the procedure I did.

1. Log into the account
2. Click on the user icon on the top right of GMail and select ***Google Account***
3. From the Account page click ***Security***
4. Look for a "***Secure Account***" link under first main heading for Security. You may see an open lock with an exclamation mark.
5. Try to resolve all the name security issues listed.

Alternatively you may likely just look for security alerts listed in your "Recovery Email" account

---
Tags: google-account, 9.0-pie, 2fa
---


# Question
Title: Open DJVU files on Android (set default app)
I have an android phone. I have two apps on the phone, both are able to open djvu files (FBReader & EBookDroid). But when I'm trying to open a djvu file in "my file", the android system says that it is unable to find an application toopen the file. How I could set a default application to open djvu files?

# Answer
This is usually a problem with bare-bones file managers. Switching to a more feature rich file manager should solve it.

Head to Play Store and try a famous file manager. I can recommend Solid Explorer because I own it and use it, and it gives the option of assigning an app for a file type (subject to mime-type limitations).
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, settings, documents
---


# Question
Title: How can I find preinstalled apps via adb?
Is there a way to find for example a preinstalled WhatsApp?

So before I delete WhatsApp I can check if for example Samsung has a pre-version installed on the device (and so I can’t fully remove it)?

With the normal „path“-command I got the actual WhatsApp path! But the Preinstalled WhatsApp-Path must be somewhere different!

Greetings

Dossy

# Answer
> 2 votes
```
adb shell pm list packages com.whatsapp
adb shell cmd package list packages com.whatsapp   # works on Android Nougat and above

```

Any of those commands would show whether WhatsApp is installed or not.

To know where the APK is installed, run:

```
adb shell pm path com.whatsapp

```

To get all the paths where both user installed APK and inbuilt APK is, run:

```
adb shell dumpsys package com.whatsapp

```

Look under the category 'Packages:' and 'Hidden system packages:'. The line with ResourcePath shows the path of the APK.

If your intention is merely to ascertain the existence of that app, then using adb is an overkill. An app can easily achieve the required objective. See my answer here for that.

---
Tags: adb, whatsapp-messenger, installation, apk
---


# Question
Title: What are the differences between these adb and fastboot packages?
In my Bash shell, I have the packages: **adb** vs **android-tools-adb** as well as **fastboot** vs **android-tools-fastboot**.

For reference I am trying to root my device, and later use these tools to learn about how Android works etc.

What are the differences between the packages? Is each one a subset of the other?

# Answer
The shorter named packages, adb and fastboot are part of android-platform-system-core, and are minimal versions. Likewise, their longer named counterparts belong to android-tools, and are the full versions. `apt show <package name>` doesn't say much about their differences, except that the adb will break android-tools-adb. The same goes for fastboot.

This is the homepage for the longer named versions, but it makes no mention of fastboot.

The shorter versions' homepage is here.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: adb, rooting, usb, bash
---


title: Coolpad 3622a. No USB recognition on PC

text:
# Question
Title: Coolpad 3622a. No USB recognition on PC
I had an earlier cool pad a few years ago and it wouldn't show up either.its a metro pcs.that has been factory reset stops at the Google pre owner login. I used the keyboard work around got into phone went on web and none of the you tubes FRP were exactly helpful. It let me rename startup apk and of course it stops at the metro logo on boot now considered adb. Called metro they don't have any info on that imei #. I was only requesting old phone number because the sim I put in it was receiving calls (and with previous workaround could dial out). But no recognition from USB?

# Answer
FRP locks everything. Don't expect your device to be detected while FRP is enabled! By the way, you need to enabled USB debugging in the developer options to get ADB work which is locked as well.

So just keep trying to find a suitable method to bypass the lock on your device since Google actively patchs loop hole so none of the methods found on YouTube videos works anymore.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb-debugging
---


# Question
Title: How do you install Google Play on Huawei Enjoy 7?
Recently I purchased a Huawei Enjoy 7 from China and brought it back to Canada. (This phone is available only for purchase in China but it works perfectly fine in Canada and the states)

Basically it isn't that easy to get Google Play / Other Google Apps (beacause the phone was meant for China)

I have tried just getting the Google Play Store, as well as Google Play Services from a APK downloader online, but it just shows "Install Core GMS Packages to use google play" This is my main problem.

Huawei phones like the Mate series or the P series (meant for America) can just download an APK for the GMS Installer. But on the Huawei Enjoy 7, it doesn't work. (same message when opening google play)

Here's where I find that it gets tricky, according to this forum post and this other stack exchange post, you need to use TWRP to install GMS. (the stack exchange one isn't exactly relevant to my situation because it is a Mate 9)

To anyone experienced with computers/android using TWRP or something that has full access to your phone can have damaging consequences if done wrong. The forum post has a small guide that can somewhat help but it isn't very clear. This other stack exchange post also shows how to use TWRP (there are also links to official guides) but it isn't exactly the same as what the forum post suggests me to do.

My phone is currently running 7.0 nougat and not rooted (EMUI 5.0 I think). And I have the correct "Open GApps project" file on my computer and my phone.

What I want is a **very clear and detailed guide that has official information to back it up** to show my how to properly install Google Play on a Huawei Enjoy 7 using TWRP. Or if there are any other methods on how to do so.

# Answer
There are two methods here. If **Method 1** fails or you don't want to go through with it, try **Method 2**.

## Method 1:

I'm going to try something here. It may or may not work. I don't have any phone without play services to test this on.

1. First, download Google installer from Google drive link: Google installer
2. To install the file you will have to go to Setting \>\> Security \>\> Allow Unknown Sources. Once you check this option you will be able to install the files.
3. Tap the downloaded APK to initiate the installation process.
4. After completion, launch Google Installer by tapping open or from the home screen. It will have a Chinese name.
5. In the app, tap the big blue button at the bottom to start the install process.
6. It will then prompt you to install the necessary packages one after the other

## Method 2:

There is a thread in the XDA forums for your exact problem with the Huawei Enjoy The steps you need to follow are linked here.
**This method requires you to unlock your bootloader, flash a custom recovery** and install the OpenGapps package of your choice. For your convenience, I am copying all the steps here, but I would suggest you follow the instructions from their source.
**(Bonus note: with help from Google Translate, you can get some more clarifications here)**

1. Download a Chinese version of TWRP from here. You don't need an account, just press the download button
2. Unlock your bootloader. Google will help. You need to get unlock code from Huawei. Go here, apply and follow the instructions. **All data will get wiped. Backup important data.** Once done you will get a screen with "Phone Unlocked!" written in the bottom
3. Then in the twrp folder you had downloaded you will find a batch file named something like "recovery-twrp一键刷入工具.bat". Run the batch file. The text in the console will be in Chinese but in Windows 10 you can copy and paste the contents of the console into Google Translate. Follow the directions and press 2 when prompted to boot into the recovery.
4. Download from www.opengapps.org and copy the compatible OpenGapps package of your choice (I suggest the micro) into your phone beforehand and then boot into TWRP, choose install, select the package you had copied earlier and then swipe to install. Once done, reboot.

I have not actually tried any of this, but if you get stuck somewhere, please share the screenshots and I'll try to help the best I can.
> 1 votes

# Answer
There is a special GMS installer for Huawei Enjoy 7. Here's the link.

I was getting the same issue, but when I used this GMS installer it worked just fine. You can check this video. Unfortunately, it's not in English, but still, it is clear.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, root-access, twrp, huawei
---


# Question
Title: How to setup an alarm with no dismiss, no snooze and only one time media play?
Is there a way to set an alarm or a notification that plays just one custom sound once on weekdays only and requires no snoozing or dismissing?

Following are the apps I've tried and the details of the problems I have with them:

* Simplest Reminder - no custom sounds for individual alarms, shows a notification
* Androids built in alarm clock - you must press snooze or dismiss it
* Alarm and Pill Reminder - shows a notification (but doesn't interupt)

# Answer
Alarm Clock Xtreme has several options for how to dismiss and snooze alarms. Snooze can be disabled altogether, and dismissal can be set to automatic after ringing for a specified amount of time, the shortest being 1 second and the longest being 90 minutes. The default is to never auto dismiss. One manual dismiss method needs to be set as well, and the automatic dismissal happens if you don't manually dismiss before the limit is reached.

You can also set the alarm sound individually for each alarm, and if you set the auto dismiss limit as closely as possible to the length of you sound of choice, you'll essentially get an alarm that plays your selected sound once, then stops.

Alarms can be set to repeat on specific days.

I'm not in any way affilliated with AVG Labs, I'm just a happy user.
I'm using the paid version of the app, and some features described here may not be available in the free version.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: alarm
---


title: Messages app stuck notification bubble

text:
# Question
Title: Messages app stuck notification bubble
I have had an odd problem where the Android Messages app had a notification bubble with a number of 1 or higher. That is, the app acts as if there is one unread message. Looks kinda like this:

But when I check inside the sms messages app, I see no unread messages, no unsent messages, no drafts. There shouldn't be a notification bubble. The app acts as if there's a hidden message always there.

How can I get rid of this number?

# Answer
> 0 votes
The OP originally wrote this in the question, so I'm posting it as an answer so the question stops showing up as "unanswered":

> I dealt with this for a year or so, as it wasn't super significant, it just bugged me. I use an Xperia Z5, where Sony has their own messaging app clone, which I disabled soon after buying the phone. I used hangouts before finally switching to Android Messages, where I experienced this notification bug. To fix the problem, I simply enabled the built-in Xperia messaging app, and found a sneaky unread message: an undownloaded mms image sent to me a year ago. I deleted the message and the notification bubble went away. I went back to the Android Messages app and the notification bubble didn't come back.
>
> For those who have a pure android experience and use the default messaging app, I suggest switching to another sms app. If upon choosing said app as your default sms app, said app shows you the same ghost notification bubble, then you have a ghost message that didn't show up in the Android Messages app for some reason or other. I hope this helps a brave googler somewhere.
>
> ### tl;dr
>
> Temporarily switch to another SMS app. You may have a ghost message that isn't showing up in the app you normally use. Delete the ghost message and switch back.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Click the 3 dots @ top right corner and MARK ALL MESSAGES AS READ.

# Answer
> -1 votes
I went to settings--storage and clicked Apps. Then chose messenger and clicked clear data. That removed it.

---
Tags: sms, sony-xperia, home-screen
---


# Question
Title: Get rid of Messages' notifications when application is connected to a PC
I am using and very enjoining the fact I can connect my base Android Messages application to its web counterpart on my PC and get much more flexibility in writing and managing all my SMSes.

But, I am pretty much irritated that it displays so many notifications about the fact that it is being connected to this or that PC:

I think that I see it dozen of times:

* daily, each time I start a PC,
* each time I restart my browser and
* even each time my Messages application / mobile phone looses and regains connection to the Internet and thus Messages application and its browser counterpart reconnects each other.

Is there any way to disable this pseudo-security messages?

I can't find corresponding configuration option in either Messages application on my Android phone or in its web counter part. And I am afraid to force-block notifications from this mobile application in my Android settings becuase I think that I will loose all the notifications from it, i.e. not just those about being connected, but also notifications about received SMS message.

The same goes for notification about using mobile plan, in web counterpart:

Is there any way of getting rid of it permanently or do I have to close this nag everyday, every time I restart my browser?

# Answer
For disabling first notifications (i.e. the one that appears on the phone when it is connected to PC) one must:

* tap such notification (or select *Messages for web* from three-dot menu in Messages application),
* tap three-dots menu and select *Notifications* and
* uncheck *Show presistent notification* option.

As for disabling second notifications (i.e. the one appears in PC / Chrome / web browser version of Messages for web, about phone using mobile data) this is most likely solved in the Google-way.

Thus there is no way to disable this because Google thinks that you must see this and doesn't actually care what you really need or want, sorry.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: notifications, sms, notification-bar, motorola, motorola-moto-z2-play
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy S7 - How to back up stored email mailboxes with ADB?
I've been through several threads on Stack Exchange / XDA to find a solution that yet eludes me for the following task :

As we all know, when we create an email account with our Android device and use the default email app, in my case **Samsung Email**, the synchronized emails are stored on our phone, in my case (**rooted** Samsung Galaxy S7 edge - Android 7.0), in this location: `/data/data/com.samsung.android.email.provider/` with folders : App Cache App Databases

The idea, from what I have read, is to back up all those folders and the databases stored within them with ADB and then use SQLite tools to convert the databases into usable/readable information.

The problems I have encountered until now:

* when I use ADB backup function, the stored backup is less than 1kb size, meaning the backup didn't work, this can be the result of the wrong app name or no `Allow_Backup` Flag on that app (system app)
* I have used several tools to get the exact name of the app, in my case `com.samsung.android.email.provider` or `com.samsung.android.email.provider-1` but still no result
* I have tried to use the `backup -all` command, and that's how I realized some apps were not backed up in the resulting file, including the email app for my device.
* I have read that in order to backup an app, it needs to have the `ALLOW_BACKUP` flag, and the app (system app) does not have that flag

What do you think? what should I do from here? (Important: the idea is to extract/backup the whole mailboxes and be able to access the contents of these mailboxes on a Windows/Mac mail client. I have no use for the 'export email to file (.eml)' available in the Samsung app, as that would require to do it for each email one by one).

Sources:

# Answer
> 1 votes
What you want to do is simply impossible. The app *Samsung Email* (`com.samsung.android.email.provider`) contains the entry `android:allowBackup="false"` in its `AndroidManifest.xml`.

This entry totally disables ADB backup for all of its app data. Whatever you do, the adb backup will therefore never contain the email data.

If the app has no integrated bulk backup/export function for the whole mailbox, you can not gain access to its app data unless you have a rooted device or you use a root exploit.

---
Tags: adb, backup, email, samsung-email
---


# Question
Title: Where's the auto-replace function of the keyboard
I've looked in the whole parameters of my Nexus 5 (Lollipop 5.1) and I can't find the way to customize the auto-replace function.

What I want to do is simple, I want some abbreviation like `asap` to be automatically changed for `as soon as possible`, or `swag` to be replaced by `NEVER USE THIS WORD MORON`

# Answer
This functionality is covered by the operation of the Personal Dictionary. Settings \> Language and input \> Google Keyboard \> Text correction \> Personal Dictionary. Select the language to which you would like to make the addition.

Finally, the '+ Add' button allows you to define a word or phrase, and, optionally a shortcut.

So for your example, Word = 'As soon as possible', shortcut = asap.
> 6 votes

# Answer
April 2017 This works in Note5, Android 7. Settings Language & Input Virtual Keyboard Samsung Keyboard Predictive Text (click on predictive text) Text Shortcut

Hope this'll help you. :-)
> 1 votes

# Answer
download thumb keyboard from playstore. link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.beansoft.keyboardplus in keyboard settings go to text substitution and add words of your choice. I am using this keyboard.
> 0 votes

# Answer
On my phone, you go to Virtual Keyboard, not Google Keyboard, then to Gboard \> Personal Dictionary \> English \> then click the + symbol in the top right.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, text-input
---


title: Is GetApk Market application trustful?

text:
# Question
Title: Is GetApk Market application trustful?
Is "GetApk Market" application trustful or malicious? Will it affect one's smartphone or tablet?

I have checked via VirusTotal & it mostly detected as **Android.Riskware.Downloader**:

Can anyone please help me out by confirming that, is it malicious for the tablet or not? Should I install it on the tablet?

# Answer
GetAPK seems to specialize in warez. It takes pride in hosting paid Apps from Play Store for free. Putting aside the blatant violation of intellectual property rights for the moment, paid Apps for free are infamously known to infiltrate the user's device as a malware.

It would be unwise to proceed installing such app even if Virustotal doesn't show anything suspicious. However, curiosity sometimes cannot be put to rest, so if you want to test this app, I suggest you try it in a virtual machine in a PC using Android-x86 or the likes of it.

You can also use a disposable Android device and see how well the app is behaving. Even than, that could only increase your confidence slightly. The risk would always linger as long as you continue to use such an app.

In short, if you plan to install paid Apps for free whether directly or via a market, be prepared to have your data (assume everything that rests or is loaded in the phone) misused and taken hostage.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, malware, alternative-markets
---


# Question
Title: Create playlist once in Windows and use in Android
Is there a way to do this? I have .mp3 files in a folder on my Windows PC and the same folder on android.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It is possible but you must modify the playlist file by changing the path to the files because they (the files) are not located in the same folder. In Windows, the path will look like `C:\Users\A_User\Your_Folder\music.mp3` will on your device it will be like `/sdcard/your_folder/music.mp3` (find the path to your files on your device using your file manager).

After creating the playlist, open it with Notepad. If your playlist has `m3u` extension (it might differ, see note below), it will look like this:

```
#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:279,Papa Wemba - Maria
file:///C:/Users/Reddy/Desktop/New%20folder%20(5)/Music/Maria.mp3
#EXTINF:217,Papa Wemba - Okoningana
file:///C:/Users/Reddy/Desktop/New%20folder%20(5)/Music/Okoningana.mp3

```

Change the path by removing `C:/Users/Reddy/Desktop/New%20folder%20(5)/Music/` in the example above with `sdcard/your_folder/`. Thus, the playlist will change to:

```
#EXTM3U
#EXTINF:279,Papa Wemba - Maria
file:///sdcard/your_folder/Music/Maria.mp3
#EXTINF:217,Papa Wemba - Okoningana
file:///sdcard/your_folder/Okoningana.mp3

```

Transfer the file to your device, and you will be able to play it.

Note: The playlist in the example was created using VLC media player in a Windows machine and playing it using VLC for Android. Yours may differ a bit depending on the media player used or file extension ( `xspf`, `m3u8`, even `m3u`, etc). However, the principle is the same: change the path.

**Disclaimer:** I am only a VLC user, not its developer(s) or related to him/her/them.

---
Tags: windows, mp3
---


# Question
Title: How to get reliable download for old Android Samsung?
What is reliable? I need **reliable Android**, to install "from zero", cleaning all the old firmware of the old smartphone.
... So, the first and main step is to **download a reliable and complete set of firmware files**: where the reliable domains if there are no "official source"? Where the reliable tools to help in the (ideally simple and plug-and-play) installation process? Where the reliable community (suppose here!) to help to select what is reliable?

## COMMENTS

---

**Rationale**

As Wikipedia noticed as Mobile Malware,

> As wireless phones and PDA networks have become more and more common and have grown in complexity, it has become increasingly difficult to ensure their safety and security against electronic attacks in the form of viruses or other malware.

And, in nowadays, the most commom and danger type of attack is against old-Android (with discontinuing support), malware that install itself in the Android operating system, so infects the so-called firmware.

The only two 100% reliable way to avoid after detected contamination is to pay for a new smartphone or to **reinstall all firmware**... The the only cheap option is to *reinstall by yourself* (supposing that to pay for reliable certificated service is the cost of the old smartphone).

The old or infected Android must be replaced by a new reliable Android operating system.... The so-called "firmware flash process".

---

There are no direict solution to the problem... So, the best that we can do is to votate.... **This question is a voting pull** about the main options:
...after a lot of research I discovered that there is no magic, no easy and super-reliable way to *reinstall all firmware by myself*, but there are two (or perhaps more) main options. Please post your answer as Wiki.

## Illustrative example and scenario

Even for generic answers, to avoid long and abstract discussions we can use a **typical smarthphone as reference**. Suppose a *Samsung Galaxy S-III GT I9300*.

In this device, after hard reset, there are options for 1. `reboot system`, ..., 3. `apply update from external storage`, 4. `wipe data/factory reset`, ...

Suppose that I used the options 4 and 1, but the virus persist. Now I need to use option 3, but the main problem is **"where the reliable Samsung S-III downloads"?**, there are no official download in the official domains like `samsung.com` or `android.com`...

# Answer
## Use a transparent source

Open-source is transparent, so **it is reliable when there are a big community** with many eyes inspecting. http://lineageos.org and Heimdall are the most (positivally) cited,

1. Reliable download of an *open firmware*...
E.g. from https://download.lineageos.org/i9300 (open sources at Git/android\_device\_samsung\_i9300)
resulting e.g. `lineage-14.1-20190117-nightly-i9300-signed.zip`
2. Reliable download of an open *TWRP*...
E.g. from https://dl.twrp.me/i9300/ (open sources at Git/android\_bootable\_recovery)
3. Confirm sha256 of the firmware,
E.g. by the Linux command `sha256sum lineage-14.1-20190117-nightly-i9300-signed.zip` and comparing with lineageFile.zip's sha256
4. Reliable install of Heimdall.
E.g. at reliable UBUNTU installation use `sudo apt install heimdall-flash`
check version with the command `heimdall version`.
PS: it is the last from gitlab.com/BenjaminDobell/Heimdall
5. Follow the instructions to install firmware in your smartphone using Heimdall.
E.g. https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/i9300/install
> 0 votes

# Answer
## Closed/commertial most cited

Hum... This is (seem after some research) the *most cited* mode, but all **is "dark and closed"**, and commertial — even when seems free, with nothing to pay, you "pay" signing up and seeing a lot of advertising before to see some useful information.

1. Find your device... E.g. sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s-/GT-I9300
(a page with some advertising)
2. Donate some personal data to **sammobile.com** database, to create your login
(a lot of more advertising)
3. Download the "no-community open homologation" files... Perhaps you must to pay for download updated files.
4. Download non-open (no-community open homologation) software to manage the process, Odin. Example (where the checksums? can I confirm checksums with community?)
5. Run **Odim** using the files.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: downloading, system
---


# Question
Title: Asus Zenfone 3 Zoom broken power/volume key - How to boot
I got big problem with my phone (ASUS Zenfone 3 Zoom)

I broke the plug that connect the power/ volume cable so I am not able either turn on the phone or turn to safe mode.

Also the USB debugging mode was not enable so I would appreciate very much could you help me to back up the data and turn on the phone.

I appreciate and thank you very much for your help.

I tried with ADB command but the phone did not seem to be recognized Thank you so much

# Answer
> 0 votes
plug in your phone. immediately after plugging in , hold the volume down key until asus splash screen appears. now connect your phone to pc. install adb ("sudo apt install adb" is the command in linux). enter "adb devices" command.check the device is appearing on your terminal. then give "adb reboot" command.

This worked for my asus phone.Thank you

---
Tags: boot, hardware
---


title: Setup Android for kids?

text:
# Question
Title: Setup Android for kids?
How to setup Android so that the phone app is completely usable without a pin, but all others apps need unlocking

# Answer
First of all, question is very nice. You can do whatever you want for your kids simply by creating another account like a Guest.

> But, Google already launched their app called "Google Family Links". Here you can control whatever apps you want your kids to use and also how long they've access to the apps. You also track their usage by your phone and can lock (Blocking them from more usage) the phone.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: security, protected-apps
---


# Question
Title: How to download .docx document to the phone from Google Drive?
Currently using Google Drive version 2.18.252.01.45 and I have a .docx document in my drive that doesn't download to the phone as a .docx document. It downloads as a .pdf document. I tried looking for options similar to those found in a web browser which allows you to '**Download as**', but the Android app doesn't have that option. It automatically converts the .docx document to PDF and then downloads it.

Any way to download a document to Android from Google Drive in its original format?

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can download `docx` documents as stated here:

> Which file formats can I download?
>
> You can download files in these formats:
>
> * Documents: HTML, RTF, DOCX, OpenOffice, PDF, EPUB, Text.
> * Spreadsheets: CSV, HTML, ODS, PDF, XLSX, TXT (only for a single sheet).
> * Presentations: PDF, PPTX, TXT.
> * Drawings: PNG, JPEG, SVG, PDF.

Using version `2.19.013.08.35` of Google Drive, it does not convert `docx` documents to `pdf`.

1. Open Google Drive, go to the folder your file is located.
2. Click on the 3-dot, then click `Download`.

If you are still unable to download documents as `docx`, verify that you have not by mistake converted it to `pdf`,

---
Tags: google-drive
---


# Question
Title: How to turn off keyboard sound on Nexus 7 2nd gen
I already have touch sound turned off, but still hear keyboard sound.

# Answer
I believe this will fix it:

Go to Settings, Language & input, Google or Android keyboard settings then untick the box next to "Sound on keypress".
> 2 votes

# Answer
Go to settings, sound and notification, other sounds, touch sounds.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-7
---


title: Undo remove word from autocorrect

text:
# Question
Title: Undo remove word from autocorrect
In the newest versions of Android, you can click and hold a suggested predictive/autocorrected word, and drag it into a bin (title "remove") to prevent it from being suggested again.

I accidentally deleted the word "I", so now when I type "i" it doesn't automatically autocorrect to "I".

Two related questions:

1. I tried shaking my phone to undo the accidental word removal (like I would undo things on an iPhone), but it didn't do anything. Is there a way I could've undone my action immediately after it happened?
2. Now that it's a few days after the face, how to do I add "I" back to the suggested words without having to completely erase all the things my keyboard has learned about my typing habits?

# Answer
The solution is to type the deleted word, in your case the "I", many times in a sentence or sentences. Gboard will re-learn about it, and start suggesting it again.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Reset personal data on your keyboard, so your keyboard data will be reset.

Settings \> Device \> Language and Input \> Press the keyboard that you use \> clear personal data
> -1 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, gboard, auto-correct, 8.0-oreo, text-prediction
---


title: Increase multi-touch points on Android

text:
# Question
Title: Increase multi-touch points on Android
Is it possible to change the number of touches in Android 6.0 without root? The default is 2, but I need 3 or 4.

# Answer
Each phone's touch screen has a limited amount of touchpoints. As far as I know, nowadays all the smartphone has a maximum of 10 multi-touch points. Whereas, the older phones will give you almost 5 multi-touch points. I think there is a mistake in counting your multi-touch points. I hope your phone has a minimum of 5 multi-touch points.

Unfortunately, there's no way to increase or decrease multi-touch points no matter your phone is rooted or not. Nothing can help.

It's the hardware that has a limit and it's controlled by software. And software has to obey the instructions using the limited ability of hardware.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: multi-touch
---


title: OnePlus 5 Black Screen after Pie

text:
# Question
Title: OnePlus 5 Black Screen after Pie
My OnePlus 5 after the Pie OTA update wont show the screen. after rebooting, it only shows the 'android' logo and then the screen goes completely blank(black). I can sense that the phone is turning on and working since I can feel the vibrations on the lock screen and random apps opening. I tried going to the recovery but even the recovery is blank but I can feel the touch vibrations. Please Help!

# Answer
> 0 votes
I sucessfully upgraded my One Plus 5 T to Anroid 9 last night and this morning it was just a black screen and I could do nothing. I knew it wasn't the battery as it was on charge for the upgrade. I got it to work again by holding the volume down key and the power key for 10 seconds then it rebooted and my phone is alive again.

EDIT: Since posting this I have realised that once the phone locks again I can't unlock it! :(

---
Tags: updates, boot, screen, 9.0-pie, oneplus-5
---


# Question
Title: How to check what file formats Google Docs app supports?
I went to *All apps* in the Settings app, and then when looking at one, for example, Google Documents, I was gonna disable it but I got to looking at the information on the app. It says, some defaults set. Now, I do let some family members use my phone. I don't use Google Documents, never have.

My question is how I can know which apps are using Google documents as a default?

# Answer
Google Docs app can handle a large number of office text format files (.e.g MS Word `.doc` .`docx` `.rtf` ...).

If you try to open such a file format using an app that can't read those format itself it sends the document to another app that supports this format. Which app is used is not app-specific, the association is saved for each document type system wide. Therefore there is no such thing like a setting for apps that are *"using google documents as a default"*. You can see see and mange the file associations in the system settings.

Also any app can make use of Google Docs, e.g. a mail program that uses an external program to view attachments. Therefore there is no way to detect apps that can make use of Google Docs. Therefore theoretically any installed app can make use for Google Docs. To narrow it down you can say that any app that handle files (from file-system, mail, chat, file sharing, ...) can make use of Google Docs.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-drive
---


# Question
Title: Is Qualcomm safe to keep on phone or is it a security threat?
I have a lot of stuff downloaded on my phone like `com.qualcomm.qti.simsettings`, all starting with Qualcomm.

Should these be on my phone? What little I did read it said security threat. Should I delete all these?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Yes. They are completely safe to have.

In fact, they are helper programs for Qualcomm parts, for example the SoC, the modem, or another chip in the phone.

**Do not** try to remove or disable them - your phone will sooner or later run into random issues.

---
Tags: settings, downloading, system-apps
---


# Question
Title: What does nl="true" mean in the package-restrictions.xml file?
When you disable an app using the following command:

```
$ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.videos

```

the three attributes will be added to the `/data/system/users/0/package-restrictions.xml` file:

```
<pkg name="com.google.android.videos" inst="false" stopped="true" nl="true" />

```

I know what `inst="false"` and `stopped="true"` mean, but what does `nl="true"` mean?

# Answer
> 3 votes
`nl` implies "not launched". From what I could understand it is used with respect to the state of a component and shows whether the component had ever been started by Android itself. You can check the following links to reach this conclusion:

1. PackageUserState.java
2. PackageSettingsBase.java
3. Settings.java

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: I've accidentally given permission to message app to receive and send text messages
This is because my messages won't send on my new Huawei y6 2018. I'm trying to rectify this but how is the question. Cheers Kevin

# Answer
You should be able to revoke that permission from that app by going into Settings app, into All apps or something similar that shows installed apps list, use a toggle if system apps are not shown by default (usually from a three dot line in the top section, towards right and below status bar on the screen). Click on the entry of your message app, go into Permissions option and toggle the permissions you want.

You can alternatively clear data of that app. Clearing data revokes all the permission ever enabled for an app. It however would also delete all your custom settings and preferences.

Furthermore, your phone may also have a feature to enable or disable permissions separately. You should browse the Settings app for it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms
---


# Question
Title: Can a malware compromise safe-mode of non-rooted device?
Was there any known malware running on Android (let's say since Nougat) which can compromise non-rooted Android device in a way that the malware is active also in the safe mode?

So when booting non-rooted into the safe mode, the malware is still running. Was there such a malware in the wild?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Look no further than the one-click root apps as an example. They exploit a vulnerability (usually on phones no longer updated or supported by their vendors) in the Android to gain elevated privilege to install a persistent piece of software, which usually is a system app in the form of a root access manager, but can also add daemons and other files wherever they deem fit.

When the device boots into safe mode only the system apps are available for the user to use, which also includes that superuser manager app in the aforesaid example. If an app installed a system app malware, then it would be booted even in safe mode.

Do note that it is not necessary that an app explicitly exploits a vulnerability to install a malware. Some vendors exploits their users' trust by turning factory shipped system level app into a malware, usually done by shipping a security or Android update to the devices. Some vendors even ship such hidden malwares from the very beginning. This is usually observed in low-end devices, but not limited to them.

We have many questions covering a number of Android versions and devices. Just search for the terms such as "malware", "system", "persistent", "factory reset" individually or in combination. Some examples of system level malware:

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Tags: malware, safe-mode
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# Question
Title: Why are Google Maps 9.5.1 running slow/freezing?
My Google Maps tend to freeze whenever I interact with them. Sometimes I can move around the map and it loads fine, but as soon as I do something else, like picking a location, like a restaurant or a bookmarked position, it freezes, which ends in either app completely crashing, or it unfreezing after ~15 seconds. Sometimes it even crashes the SystemUI. Even when I exit the app, the whole system runs slow and laggy until I remove it from recents.

I believe that the issue is not related to phone performance, as I've ran games like GTA III and Need For Speed Most Wanted on it smoothly (It's an Xperia T). I'm using CM12. I've tried deleting the data and cache, but that didn't help. The version of the Maps is 9.4.1.

# Answer
The Google Maps App is dependent on the Google Play Services app. Whenever you point out a location or a route, or even load a particular area of the map regularly, it records your actions so as to provide a better prediction the next time you access that particular app.

Those recorded actions are linked to your Google Account through the Google Play Services app, which runs in the background. This might overburden the RAM, and to free more space for it, the system terminates other activities which might be linked to the SystemUI. When they terminate, the SystemUI crashes.

When you deleted the data and the cache, it just made the app rebuild its data. The records would be with the Google Play services, which would be relinked with the app again.

When you wiped the data, all previous records would be erased even in Google Play services, so there would be much less data for the app to read while it loads. Hence the speeding up after a data wipe.
> 1 votes

# Answer
It seemed to be a problem related to system performance, after all. Looks like they system used too much RAM, leading to having slow Maps. After wiping the device, Maps work as expected.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Same happened with me ... Here is what I did -

Open installed apps from settings Select maps Clear all data and cache Uninstall updates . . . NOW WORKING WELL. this is a bug in an update .
> -1 votes

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Tags: google-maps, system-freeze, maps
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# Question
Title: Photos directly to dropbox, discarding local copies automatically
Is there a possibility to take photos directly to dropbox?

Currently Dropbox offers the Camera-Upload option, but it doesn't move, but copies files to Dropbox. This still leaves me to delete the local files by hand, hoping that the photos have already been uploaded.

Similiarily there are solutions like FolderSync, but general purpose synchronization software is liable to misconfiguration and increased maintenance requirements compared to special-purpose software.

Ideally I'd like to have a photo app, that doesn't keep local copies of the image, e.g. something like Cambox but for Android instead of iOS.

# Answer
I believe what you're referring to is covered by http://www.uploadcamapp.com/

They accept upload to Google Drive and Dropbox. Sadly, as of writing this, not OneDrive/365

I also don't know what happens if the service is down / no internet (does it sync later etc)
> 0 votes

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Tags: camera, dropbox, instant-upload
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# Question
Title: "SIM Tool Kit: Error in application" pop-up always shows on Lenovo Vibe K5
I have a Lenovo Vibe K5. The phone screen always shows a pop-up message saying:

> **SIM Tool Kit**
>
> Error in application

How to fix this issue?

# Answer
Check if both SIMs are activated or not. If not, kindly recharge and activate it. The pop up will not come.

Ex. I got this error due to Airtel SIM and my SIM's incoming outgoing was already stopped. I also got the same error, also tried all things posted on internet and YouTube. I recharged RC 35 and it automatically resolved.
> 0 votes

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Tags: sim-card, system-error
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# Question
Title: Taking photo and storing it directly to OneDrive/365
At work, we draw on white boards a lot and at the end of the session, we take pictures of the boards (with our personal camera phones) with a goal of putting the pictures on our intranet.

Whilst it's minor, having to plug my phone in to the computer via USB, find the relevant images, copy them to my computer and then add them to our Office 365 storage / OneDrive is just an additional process I'd like to remove.

I can't sync the DCIM folder because it would include personal pictures as well.

Is there way to always save images to OneDrive/365? I found http://www.uploadcamapp.com/ which is perfect other than it only uploads to Drive and Dropbox

It needs to be OneDrive/365 as that is what the business uses.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It appears as if OfficeLens does this, but it is slow and manual. With uploadcam the photo was just automatically uploaded where as OfficeLens asks you to choose where to upload on each photo taken

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Tags: camera, storage
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