# Question
Title: Help: LineageOS 20.0 stuck in boot animation
I have **LineageOS** on **Google Pixel 4A**.

Yesterday I restarted it, and it was stuck in the boot animation!

I tried upgrading my LOS 19.1 to *LOS 20.0* using instructions here https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/sunfish/upgrade But it looks the problem isn't solved, and the phone is still stuck in boot animation.

Can someone help me please? I'm currently without a phone and I don't want to lose my data..

# Answer
I ended up formatting the phone completely..
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Why would one phone be compatible on a network but another not?
I lost my Asus Zenfone 8. I'm borrowing another one which has all the same specs per imei.info.

However, when I check the device's compatibility with the Cricket network, his phone shows as incompatible. When I enter my lost phone's IMEI, the site says it's compatible.

I'd like to understand how this could be. i.e. why would phones with the same hardware be listed with different compatibilities on any given network?

# Answer
> 0 votes
After contacting both Cricket and Asus support, Asus mentioned my friend's phone was intended for use in Taiwan. They determined this based off the serial number.

This doesn't fully make sense to me since I believe the phone has the hardware support that Cricket says is missing - specifically VoLTE/HD-voice. I found when I restarted the phone and swapped my SIM card into it, I could use the unsupported Asus phone for around 5 minutes before some automated process disabled both 5G and VoLTE (the icons on top-right were there, then disappeared after ~5 minutes).

So although I'd like to understand the lack of support at a deeper level, hearing the phone was intended to be used in Taiwan works well enough for me as he did buy it off eBay.

---
Tags: mobile-network, imei
---


# Question
Title: Rename a Whatsapp conversation from a former employee to the new employee
We use WhatsApp a lot at work. We had an employee leave and now her replacement logged in and it comes up as the former employee.

How do we change it at both ends to make sure everyone knows who she is when we message?

# Answer
She can rename herself on her phone but only the photo is propogated yo other accounts. Her name is whatever someone has named that contact.

Get her to send a message to others requesting them to rename her contact entry.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: Using WhatsApp on emulator, how to scan the QR for WhatsApp web?
I am using WhatsApp on a laptop with BlueStacks (Android emulator), and I cannot scan the QR code. I don't have any Android phones.

How can I link my WhatsApp profile with WhatsApp web?

# Answer
You can easily do it via downloading LDPlayer. It has a built-in feature which gives you a small screen to drag to where the QR code is on the screen

To avail of the feature, just click the link device on the emulator WhatsApp and choose the "capture screen" option, not the "camera" option on the right. It will simply give you a screen to drag to anywhere on the screen where the QR code is.
> 1 votes

# Answer
You have to have a camera. Try with an external webcam installed on the PC. Or hope some root programmer shell guide. Keep on googling.
> 0 votes

# Answer
How to scan QR code in the same PC using WhatsApp and BlueStacks:

1. Open WhatsApp web from where to scan the QR code in half window
2. Also, open BlueStack in half window
3. Click on WhatsApp web from BlueStacks' WhatsApp
4. Take a mirror and wait until the scan is completed

Enjoy if you have no smartphone but you have a laptop.
> 0 votes

# Answer
First, open WhatsApp on BlueStacks and ensure it is minimized so that it doesn't occupy the entire screen. Next, open WhatsApp Web on Chrome, which will display the QR code. Again, minimize the Chrome window to make both BlueStacks and Chrome visible simultaneously on the screen. Now, using a mirror, position it in such a way that it reflects the QR code from the Chrome window onto the WhatsApp window within BlueStacks. Focus on the reflected QR code within BlueStacks, and it should scan successfully.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, android-emulator, bluestacks
---


# Question
Title: Silence notifications from specific contact at certain times
(Pixel 7, Android 13) I currently use bedtime mode to put my phone into DND at night before I go to bed to silence all notifications and all that jazz. I know you can set specific contacts to be able to get through DND for important calls/etc.

I actually want to do the *opposite*. I want to be able to enable a DND mode for specific contacts at night so I don't receive messages/calls from them after a certain time.

Ex: I don't want to receive texts or calls from Billy after 9pm because he's a party animal and drunk texts me all night. Everyone else is fine and lets me sleep.

Is there anything in Android built in to do this? I'm open to using other apps too.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This post led me to what I was looking for. MacroDroid seems to be what I need for this, and it has a lot of ways to go about it (monitoring SMS received, clearing notifications, or clearing notifications with specific text, etc.). I've already started looking into using it for things other than what I originally got it for too!

As suggested, the macro that worked for me in MacDroid was very simple:

* Triggers
    + Notifications Received
        - Contains: \[contact name\] (Messages)
* Actions
    + Clear Notifications
        - Any Content (Messages)
* Constraints
    + Time of Day: \[start time\] - \[end time\]

Screenshot of the macro where the crossed-out pieces are the contact name(s).

It effectively silences notifications from those specific contacts during the provided window, I'll only see their messages if I go to the main messages inbox, even if it's in group chats!

---
Tags: notifications, google-pixel, android-13
---


# Question
Title: Android 4.4.2, Google Play Store error: No connection, but pages loads fine in browser
The Android version is 4.4.2. When I open Google Play Store, it says "Error, no connection"But when I open browser I can load pages like `Google.com`.

I tried clearing cache, logging with other Google account, but it isn't working.

Any ideas to resolve the issue?

EDIT: I downloaded Anututu and it says that there is root access..

# Answer
I had this issue once too when flashing a custom ROM. Download an Play Store apk for Android 4.4.2 and install that.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Try going to **Settings \> Applications** and finding **Google Play Services**. Clear the cache and force stop the app. If that doesn't work, try clearing data instead of cache and then force stopping it.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: `fastboot devices` command returns a device with question marks
I am trying to root an Acer Iconia Tab A200 tablet using a script. I have adb working and fastboot works too, however, command `fastboot devices` returns question marks. E.g.:

```
List of devices attached
20819705215     device

$ fastboot devices
$ adb reboot-bootloader
$ fastboot devices
????????????    fastboot
$ _

```

Original screenshot of the terminal screen

I execute the command `fastboot devices` in the bootloader which is already unlocked. Using Ubuntu 14.04, udev settings are already set (the file with vendors IDs) according to the ID result of the command `lsusb`:

```
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ATTRS{idVendor}=="0502", ATTRS{idProduct}=="3201", MODE="0666", GROUP="plugdev", OWNER="ln"

```

What can I do to get the correct result? How can I make fastboot work well?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It can be a cable fault. Change the cable. In my Redmi 3 on a cable from an old Xperia P, I've had question marks. When I replaced the cable with a newer cable from Redmi Note 2 and voila - the correct number was displayed instead of the question marks.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Since you're on Linux, try `sudo fastboot devices`. I found that was needed with a later Linux than you have (RHEL7.9).

# Answer
> 0 votes
In my case, it was the phone, an unsupported/rogue Chinese firmware that had the option "fastboot" but was really just a nickname for a type of connection supported by their own software. Tried my setup (cable + PC) on different, 3, phones and it all worked except this one. Even the brand was murky with the only label on it being "k48".

---
Tags: rooting, adb, fastboot
---


# Question
Title: How to go through initial setup of Samsung Galaxy S23 without using Wi-Fi or SIM card with data
How can Samsung S23 initial setup be finished with no internet connection - no Wi-Fi and no SIM card with data?

When the phone is started with no SIM card inserted, initial setup wizard page "Choose a Wi-Fi network" can't be skipped. When the "Skip" button is clicked, a popup is shown with message:

> A netwok connection is needed to continue setup. Connect to Wi-Fi, or insert SIM catd and use mobile data.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Well, if it's not letting you, then you probably can not.

As part of the initialisation, it

* does updates and
* disables features on your phone that are not allowed in your country.

There may be other things it needs to do as well.

**One solution is to root it. But you have to go through the initialisation process first.**

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, activation
---


# Question
Title: Is there a universal ADB interface for microcontrollers?
ADB is a great tool to communicate between my PC and android device. I was wondering to save space with hobby projects, if it is possible for ADB to be used by a microcontroller? The only reference of such an attempt I've come across is from an XDA post where the author created an ADB interface for the microcontroller, which would enable control of sensors and motors directly from the phone. However, the provided links were mostly inactive regarding source and didn't have detailed explanation of the process leading to the final product.

# Answer
I never heard of it before. Pretty interesting.. and also a great website (talking of the content lol)

*This is a partial answer - About the inactive links*

Seeing that the website was working, I was sure that the links must have been changed without the proper redirects and apparently I was correct.

> Not working links on the XDA post:
>
> `http://robots-everywhere.com/re_wiki/index.php?title=PropBridge` (only source for now)
>
> `http://robots-everywhere.com/re_wiki/index.php?title=Serial_on_Android_using_the_audio_port`

I couldn't find what it's refering to by "PropBridge" in the first link, but I found the second link:

https://www.robots-everywhere.com/re\_wiki/pub/web/Cookbook.AudioSerial.html

You can find the list here:
https://www.robots-everywhere.com/re\_wiki/pub/web/Cookbook.Cookbook.html
> 3 votes

---
Tags: adb
---


# Question
Title: How to install an app that is available on older and newer Android versions but not on mine?
I have Bluetooth MIDI Connect installed on my Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 tablet which is currently running on Android 10. My kids are using it to connect to the Bluetooth piano. My understanding is that it cannot be upgraded to a newer version of Android due to the decisions of Samsung and/or Google. I can't upgrade the tablet to a newer version of Android.

Recently, I created a second account on the same tablet for my second child. When I wanted to install the app on the second account on the same device, I realized that I can't because it's not available in the Google Play Store, meaning that when I search in the Play Store, this app does not come up in the list. On the second account, I went via Chrome directly to the link of the app, and the reason why I can't install it is:

> This app isn't available for your device because it was made for an older version of Android.

I tried from my phone running on Android 13 and I can install it.

My understanding is that Google changed something and now it does not allow apps that are not explicitly compiled using some of their APIs to be available in the Play Store for that particular version of Android. But I could be wrong.

Just to show that I've done my research, I see the following options:

1. Try to find the APK of the older version and install it manually on the tablet as a third-party app. The problem here is that I do not know which site to trust.
2. Somehow take the app files from the first account on the tablet and install them on the second account. From what I've seen for other apps that were on the first account, when I installed them on the second account on the same device, I went to the Play Store and I had a feeling that the app was not even been downloaded. It might be that the app as in the compiled code is the same for the two accounts, just maybe with separate data elements. I could be wrong on this one, it is just a hunch.
3. Somehow download the APK that is currently available for Android 13 in the Play Store and hope it will work on Android 10. I see the risk here that it may not work.

I do not want to root the tablet. I can't seem to find this app on APK Mirror, and I tried it with several other apps, but I can't connect my piano to it.

How can I install this application on my Android 10, Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8.0 tablet? How can I install this app that has older and newer versions?

# Answer
Android apps have a manifest file that describes software features, capabilities and permissions required. These then define which OS/phone/format the app will work on.

> **App manifest overview**
>
> Every app project must have an AndroidManifest.xml file, with precisely that name, at the root of the project source set. The manifest file describes essential information about your app to the Android build tools, the Android operating system, and Google Play.
>
> Among many other things, the manifest file is required to declare the following:
>
> * The components of the app, including all activities, services, broadcast receivers, and content providers. Each component must define basic properties, such as the name of its Kotlin or Java class. It can also declare capabilities, such as which device configurations it can handle, and intent filters that describe how the component can be started. Read more about app components in a following section.
> * The permissions that the app needs in order to access protected parts of the system or other apps. It also declares any permissions that other apps must have if they want to access content from this app. Read more about permissions in a following section.
> * The hardware and software features the app requires, which affects which devices can install the app from Google Play. Read more about device compatibility in a following section.

From Android Developers\>Docs\>Guides

---

If you find an old copy of the apk on another site, you have to risk virus attacks if you decide to trust them.

---

The only very remote possibility is to download the **apk** (it is a zip file), hack into it, and change the manifest. **Be warned** that if the app actually needs those features then it is liable to just crash.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, installation, android-versions, compatibility
---


# Question
Title: Without back up info and unable to receive verification code,, how can I access my Google account
I cannot access my Google account because I lost my back up info and I cannot receive a verification code, because I no longer have access to my old phone. How can I get into my Google account?

# Answer
Try Account Recovery. It will ask you some questions.

The complete process is here

> **Forgot your password**
>
> 1. Follow the steps to recover your Google Account or Gmail. Recovery
>     * You'll be asked some questions to confirm it's your account. Answer the questions as best as you can.
>     * If you have trouble, try the tips to complete account recovery steps.
> 2. Reset your password when prompted. Choose a strong password that you haven't already used with this account. Learn how to create a strong password.

If that doesn't work, then the help suggests that you create a new account. And this time, give it your phone number for recovery.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: gmail, password
---


# Question
Title: Huawei P30 Pro locked out with "Android System: User Data Locked" error
Just checking if anyone faced an issue with "Android System: User Data Locked" on Huawei P30 Pro.

My Huawei P30 Pro got locked after a middle-of-the-night auto-update. I keyed in the usual password the next morning but the login failed. I tried all different passwords and it still doesn't work. To make matters worse and for whatever reasons, the phone went into airplane mode after a few restarts of the phone.

I cannot afford a factory reset as it contains all her work and personal stuff. We went to Huawei Service Centre and they are unable to help as well.

Any way to force kick the phone out of airplane mode?

# Answer
You have probably tried this, but have not indicated it in your question.

---

**Clear Cache Partition** from Guide on how to wipe cache partition of Huawei P30 or P30 Pro:

> 1. First of all, turn off the phone using the “Power button”.
> 2. Now press and hold the power button and volume up button.
> 3. Keep on pressing the buttons till you see “Huawei” written on the screen.
> 4. Now, you will be in recovery mode. You will see a number of options.
> 5. Use the volume button to navigate to “Wipe Cache Partition” and use the power button to make the selection.
> 6. Wait for the phone to format the cache partition. Once it is done you will see it on the screen. Do not reset while the cache partition is being cleared. Otherwise, it can brick your phone.
> 7. Once you are done with clearing cache partition of Huawei P30. Use the volume button to navigate to the “Reboot System Now” option. Use the Power button to make the selection.

---

**Safe Mode** From \[HOW TO ENTER SAFE MODE ON HUAWEI P30 PRO\](HOW TO ENTER SAFE MODE ON HUAWEI P30 PRO)

> * Turn off the device.
> * Press and hold Power button.
> * Tap Restart.
> * When the device is restarting, press the Volume Down and Power buttons simultaneously.
> * When the device logo appears, release the Power button and continue to press the Volume Down.
> * If you see Safe Mode in the lower-left corner after the device restart, Safe Mode is on, otherwise you need to repeat the process.

If you can get into safe mode then one of your apps is the problem. You can try deleting them, starting with ones that don't have of your data.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: huawei, locked-out, system-error, airplane-mode
---


# Question
Title: Have more standard apps in "Limit apps and home screen"
I like Samsung's power saving option "Limit apps and home screen", but 4 apps is just not enough. As a result, some apps shut off when you close which I would like to keep running.

Can you add more than 4 apps to the set of apps that are allowed to run in the background somehow?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I don't think you can. Even in developer options, the maximum is 4.

---
Tags: samsung, background-process, battery-saver
---


# Question
Title: Photos and videos vanished from "second space" on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro
I have (for 2 years) the "second space" in use (Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro, MIUI 12.5.8.0 RJZEUXM, updated about 1 year ago), and it works wonderfully - two separate phones in one. But because I couldn't use the SD card in the second space and so lack of memory, I finally mounted the card as shared memory the week before last. Yay! Much more memory! But, a few days ago, the system deleted all pictures and videos in the second space that I had made since then (kayak tour). But only in the second space; the ones in the "first phone" are all there.

I hadn't changed anything before, no reboot either (except after the incident, but I didn't do anything). Various undelete apps found nothing; the memory card can't be it. Took a media scan also, but nope.

So:

1. How could this happen on the part of MIUI and
2. How can I (maybe, hopefully) get my pictures and videos back in second space?

# Answer
Xiaomi has sent out a mail to its users advising them on the closure of the cloud service for gallery items:

> Dear Xiaomi Cloud user,
>
> We're in the process of terminating cloud sync services for Gallery items. To avoid losing any of your data, we recommend following the instructions below to transfer or download your Gallery items as soon as possible.
>
> 1. Transfer items stored in the cloud to Google Photos
>
> First, make sure that your Gallery app is updated to the latest version (3.4.9.8). In the app, tap the dialog on the Start page or the notice at the top of the screen to start the transfer process, then follow the instructions. You can back up all your photos and videos to Google Photos.
>
> 2. Download items stored in the cloud to your device
>
> In your browser, visit i.mi.com, then tap the Gallery icon or select the dropdown menu next to your profile photo. Follow the instructions on the screen to download your items.
>
> Please note that you can only choose one of the above options.
>
> As of July 31, 2023, we will cease to offer transfer and download services for Gallery items, and any remaining Gallery items stored in Xiaomi Cloud will be permanently cleared. For more information on the specific service termination timeline in your region, visit: https://i.mi.com/announcement/stop\_service?\_locale=en\_US
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sd-card, xiaomi, redmi, parallel-apps
---


title: Incorrect name on WhatsApp

text:
# Question
Title: Incorrect name on WhatsApp
When someone saves my coordinates using WhatsApp, They see a wrong name which is being reflected as Default ( Probably an old short name of mine), how do I correct this issue. I use an Android Phone ( Pixel 6)

# Answer
> 1 votes
As far as I know, on Whatsapp, the name comes from their contact list. If they add you for the first time, then it defaults to whatever you have called yourself. The photo however comes from your account.

* To change the name, the recipient has to do it in their contact list.
* If it's a Group Name, and if you are an admin, then you can change the group name.
* If they have not changed the name, then it is possible that it will change if you change it.

1. Start WhatsApp
    2. Press the three dot menu
    3. Press Settings
    4. Press your photo
    5. Press on the pen icon next to your name

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: Cannot control Nvidia Shield volume while streaming to TV
My setup:

* Nvidia Shield is connected to the TV
* I use the optical out of the TV to connect two speakers
* I use the Nvidia Shield remote to control the Shield volume out (not the TV volume or the speaker volume: just the Shield volume)

This setup has worked just fine for years, but I recently changed my TV from an old Panasonic plasma TV to a QLED from LG and it doesn't work anymore.

What happens is that I can change the volume just fine if I'm in the dashboard or if I play a file locally. But if I stream something (I tried Netflix, HBO Max, and Disney+), the volume doesn't change and I get the pop-up saying that I have to go into settings and set up the remote control. This ONLY happens when streaming, and it did not happen with my old TV.

I can change the volume just fine if I set the output to be the TV speakers instead of the optical out, but obviously that's not what I want. I have tried checking/unchecking IR, CEC, and HDMI fixed volume control in the Shield's settings but no luck. I also try to set up the remote again but also there, no luck.

I'm looking for suggestions on how to be able to make it work also during streaming. Thanks!

# Answer
> 1 votes
It turns out that the issue was due to the new TV reporting being able to do surround.

The old TV did not do this, but what happens now is that because this one allegedly supports "surround", Shield expects that the remote for the surround system has to be used.

The workaround was to disable surround in the sound settings of Shield, and now the remote works just as before.

Still, it'd have been helpful to have a better message than "set up your remote", used in pretty much every kind of situation.

---
Tags: volume-control, streaming, smart-tv, nvidia-shield
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy A50 shows SSID of my hidden network
I have a network with hidden SSID on my Mikrotik router. There are only three devices that connect to it. All other devices connect over another, guest, virtual access point, with other SSID.

Today I wanted to add my friend's phone, Samsung Galaxy A50, to the guest network, but found that it shows the SSID of my hidden main network, which it has never connected to. At first I thought that it is a bug in recent router firmware, but all other devices of other models do not show this network at all.

When I change the network name, it disappears from the list on this Galaxy A50. When I change the name back to the original one, it is shown again.

How is it possible? Is there a spy service on one of out devices that leaks data about my network to, say, Google?

# Answer
> 1 votes
One possibility is that your friend may previously have connected to another Wifi with the same SSID.

The Phone does not know its a different Acesss Point, it goes by the name.

To test

* Goto Wifi settings and forget or delete saved networks
* Restart the phone
* Rescan for networks

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


# Question
Title: Enable Display Over Other Apps Android 10-11 Go Edition (Nokia 1.4) when "feature is disabled because it slows down the phone"?
I have a Nokia 1.4 (TA-1322) running on **Android 11 Go Edition**. I have some apps which need to display over other apps, but whenever I try to enable it in settings, I see this message:

> Feature not available
> This feature has been turned off because it slows down your phone.

---

### SCREENSHOTS

| Image 1 | Image 2 |
| --- | --- |
|  |  |

Please help me because I really need this feature, or maybe a workaround.

Any help will be appreciated.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Here are some potential solutions.

***\[Edit\]: Non PC Solution added below!***

# PC METHOD

## Requirements

# Step 1: Enable USB Debugging on Android Phone

1. Open **Settings** on your android phone..
2. Navigate to **About Phone**
3. Click **Build Number** several times until developer settings are unlocked. Usually a toast is displayed showing "*You are now a developer*".
4. Now navigate to **Developer Options**. (Which are now unlocked in your settings)
5. Scroll to **USB Debugging** option and enable it.

# Step 2: Connect Android Phone to ADB

1. Open PC/Mac with **ADB installed**. Check here for ADB installation instructions.
2. Connect Android Phone to PC/Mac via USB cable.
3. Click the notification popup on Android Phone and select **File Transfer**.
4. Open Commmand Prompt/Terminal in the **ADB folder** on PC/Mac (Skip if ADB is installed system wide)
5. Run command `adb devices` for a list of connected devices. The connected device should be available under list of devices! i.e

```
 $ adb devices
List of attached devices
xxxxxxxx            device
 $

```

# Step 3: Determine Android App Package Name

There are many ways to determine the package name of the android app whose permissions are to be enabled, including some below;

1. Making a google search :).
2. Using third party apps i.e Package Name Viewer.
3. Checking the folder on Android phone `Android/data` etc.

Package name may appear like `com.android.testapp`

# Step 4: Enable Permissions

Finally, to enable *Display Over Other Apps* permission for the application, **type below command carefully** into the Command Prompt/Terminal;

**Note:** Replace `<package name>` with package name of your application!

```
adb shell pm grant <package name> android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW

```

**OR**

```
adb -d shell appops set <package name> SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW allow

```

Now return to your phone settings and check the permissions for the app, they should be granted.

# NON PC METHOD

## Requirements

* Shizuku app (Download from here).
* App Ops (Download from here).
* Obviously the phone :).

# Step 1: Install App Requirements

1. **Download** and **install** **Shizuku** app and **App Ops** from Playstore or from below links;

# Step 2: Start Shizuku App

1. Open **Start Shizuku** by following the instructions here.

I recommend **Start** using **wireless debugging** method for those who **don't** want to use **PC** or **root**.

# Step 3: Open App Ops and Grant Permission

1. Now **open App Ops**.
2. You will receive a **prompt** to **chose a working mode**, click on **Shizuku** then **Continue** and **allow shizuku access** from **popup dialog**.
3. If **Shizuku is running**, and **permission granted** to **App Ops** successfully--
4. A list of installed apps will be shown.
5. Click on the app whose permissions are to be modified and--
6. Under **Other**, you will see **Display Over Other Apps** permission.
7. Click and **Grant/Allow**.

Enjoy diplaying windows in Other Apps.

Note: I **have tested** these solutions **on Nokia 1.4** and they **worked successfully**, ***no guarantee for other phones!***

---

---
Tags: settings, android-10, overlay, android-go
---


# Question
Title: SSL certificate fails only on Chromium browsers in Android
A client of ours has a website that works on most browsers. However, when trying to open it in Chrome (114), Edge (114) or Samsung Internet (21) on Android, there is an error message saying

> Your connection is not private ERR:ERR\_CERT\_AUTHORITY\_INVALID.

We tried several phones with Android 12 and 13, but the results are all the same.

Also:

* Firefox on Android works
* Chrome and Safari on iPad and iPhone work
* Chrome, Edge and Firefox on Windows desktop work

Because it works in almost all browsers, I think it's safe to assume there is nothing wrong with the certificate, and the problem lies with Chromium.

My question is, how can I further investigate this issue?

(I realize this question may not necessarily be about Android, but I'm not sure where else to post it)

# Answer
> 4 votes
In my experience, recent versions of Chrome for Android now require certificates that are issued by a root CA which participates in the certificate transparency program.

This program records all issued certificates by a CA in a public log (you can see this log in real-time e.g. on certstream.calidog.io, scroll down on this page and click the `OPEN THE FIREHOSE` button). Therefore, if a CA is (or becomes) malicious and issues a certificate for `www.google.com` but the CA has no relation to Google, this will be recorded in the certificate transparency list and Google would see this malpractice. In the end, the CA would be banned from the trusted root CA lists in common browsers and OS.

---
Tags: browser, certificates, chromium
---


# Question
Title: Customizing the formatting of phone numbers
Mobile operators in Brazil have added a leading digit, but *only* for São Paulo numbers. Now, both landline numbers (in São Paulo and otherwise) and mobile numbers from other states have 8 digits, while São Paulo mobile numbers have 9 (in addition to the optional area code that's 2 digits).

I'd like 8-digit numbers to be formatted like 1234-5678 and 9-digit numbers formatted like 123-456-789. Is this possible?

I've read the answers to following questions and none of them anwers this question:

# Answer
> 0 votes
What I will do with the same problem :

# Answer
> 0 votes
I use MyPhoneExplorer to do tasks like this. It will download contacts to the PC, where you can use the tool to edit the contacts and write them back. But it's only one at a time.

I find it much easier to use this to tidy up all my contacts, periodically.

Screenshot of this feature from their website. I am not associated with it any way, just been using it for forever.

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, calls, localization
---


title: Can't restore /data (non-gsi)

text:
# Question
Title: Can't restore /data (non-gsi)
Redmi 7A (Pine). Some LineageOS ROM was working for years, but I decided to update Magisk via the app, that was a big mistake...

The system failed to boot so I backed up only `/data` without `/data/media` via TWRP. Flashed LineageOS 17.1, and it loads fine, flashing again but restoring `/data backup`. It fails to load, only a loading logo for several minutes and it goes to recovery'

Tried LineageOS 18.1 (https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/rom-arm64-unofficial-lineageos-18-1-for-redmi-7a-pine.4267861/), the same. Hope somebody will help me restore my data :`\ Backup` is called 2023-07-05--12-45-26\_RQ3A210605005\_test-keys and has structure of four archives and some info: data.ext4.win000, win001, win002, win003, and sha2 for each archive, data.info and recovery.log

# Answer
I outplayed the problem. TWRP makes a backup of the "Nandroid" type, using Titanium Backup Pro (used v8.3.1.2) restored the application with data, copied the TWRP folder (in which BACKUPS) to internal storage (example /sdcard/TWRP/BACKUPS/...) , because it does not see the SD card (written in additional F.A.Q. - https://4pda.to/forum/index.php?showtopic=152562&st=28820#entry57719632):

> "Question: I can not restore data from a nandroid backup. Writes backup not found. What should I do? Answer: On some firmwares with Android 6 and higher, this behavior is available, or in TWRP the path to the backup has been changed, which Titnium cannot see. The solution is here В® Titanium Backup (Post vasilyevaa # 69824786) Or use third-party utilities to work with nandroid backups."

If after restoring the application + data the application does not start, then use SD Maid Pro (used v5.5.10 b50510) to completely delete the application, install the latest version or the same version, but from the full APK and restore only the data, it helped me. Do not delete the backup in any case (it will always come in handy) and do not unpack (the chmod and chown attributes and some other attributes will disappear in Windows)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: backup, twrp, lineageos, restore, redmi
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to automatically share Google Photos of someone in real time?
I take a lot of pictures of one person and this person always wants me to share them. Google Photos is really good at identifying these pictures and so I was wondering if there was a way that Google Photos could share these photos with them "in real time" i.e. some way that when I took a new photo of this person they would automatically be able to see it.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The closest thing this can be achieved is by **creating an auto-updating shared album**.

> ### Create a shared album
>
> \[steps omitted, see below\]
>
> **Important:**
>
> * You can share directly to anyone with a Google Account if they're in your contacts or by search using their email address or phone number. For everyone else, you can create a link to share.
> * When you share a link to your album, anyone with the link can view the photos and add to the album. Learn how sharing controls give your photos more privacy.
> * If you share an album that automatically adds photos of face groups, anyone with access to the album can view photos as they're added.

There are multiple ways to set up:

1. Choose:
    * From the **Search** tab, select the **person**, then tap **Share as album**.
    * From the **Sharing** tab, tap **Create shared album**, choose **Select people & pets**, select the person, tap **Confirm** in the top-right corner.
2. Input the **album title**
3. Tap **Share** in the top-right corner, then tap **OK** on the confirmation dialog
4. Choose:
    * Select the Google Account of the one you want to share, then tap **Send**
    * Select an app, confirm **Create link**, then proceed to share the link from the app.

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


# Question
Title: "Sign in to Google Assistant to make it yours" - but I don't want to!
I don't use a Google Account on my phone; nor do I use Google Assistant. However, for the past few... weeks, I guess, my phone keeps getting into a screen which tells me I must log into a Google Account to use Google Assistant. I think it happens mainly/only when I turn on the monitor after it's been off due to idling.

Can I get rid of that notification somehow? Or maybe my phone not try whatever it is it's trying?

Note: Xiaomi MI 9 SE phone (Android v11, MIUI Global 12.5)

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can disable the "Google" app which hosts Assistant and that should completely disable all it's related functionality.

If, for whatever reason, you want to still keep using that app, you can try to set "Default Digital assistant" app to "None". It should be under Apps section in Android settings.

---
Tags: google-account, google, google-assistant
---


# Question
Title: My phone puts me into wrong position inside buildings
I have a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3, updated to the latest possible Android 13, OneUI 5.1. Usually, whenever I'm inside a building, my phone (Google Maps) shows me a blue icon instead of a gray one at a completely different location.

I tried restarting the phone. I checked, and there is no mock location app.

What shall I do? It bothers me a lot.

# Answer
GPS signals don't penetrate solid objects well. So other methods can be employed to add to it, such as Wifi and Mobile tower. Even if the GPS could be accurate, it does not support height. So different elevations are just going to produce an incorrect result.

Apps for malls and airports tend to use more precise wifi based locations and methods such as beacons. Many of the advertising boards have cameras (you can see them, if you look closely). These follow you around.

> GPS signals are carried through waves at a frequency that does not move easily through solid objects. A GPS device relies on a series of satellites in order to determine where it is physically located. The signals sent from these satellites do not penetrate all kinds of barriers with ease. When you use a GPS inside a building, a wide variety of physical barriers and potential interference sources make it difficult for the device to pinpoint your location accurately.

From Why Doesn't GPS Work Inside a Building?

I am not associated with this site, it was the first one in my search, to corroborate my statement.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Unfortunately there's not that much you can do - since you don't have GPS signal, your phone falls back to locating via WiFi. The WiFi equipment in the problematic building(s) was probably moved lately and has wrong location recorded in Google databases.

You can try reporting an issue in Google Maps - tap on blue dot and report a problem. But that also won't work immediately, you'll need to wait for the Google database to update over time.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: gps, geolocation, location-services
---


# Question
Title: Where can I find out when I installed an app?
Is there a Play Store log file?

Or should I be looking where apps are installed on the phone for time/date stamps?

# Answer
TitaniumBackup also displays this when you go to the batch (backup/restore) tab. You can have it sort your apps by date of installation, name, size and so on.

It should be noted that you need to root your phone to do so.
> 8 votes

# Answer
There are many third-party apps which shows the install and update time of the installed apps. I've tested three of them and have given instructions to use them for the task at hand.

## App Manager

Install it → tap on three dots line in upper-right area → Sort → Last update.

If you click on an app entry there you can also see its Installer name in the App Info (scroll down to the bottom) section.

## Applications Info

Install and launch the app → tap your app's entry.

## Solid Explorer

Install and launch the app → from the left sidebar select *Applications → User apps* → tap on your app's entry.

<sub>(Click an image to enlarge it; order of images: Applications Info, and Solid Explorer)</sub>

---

# Command-line

If you want a command-line way, follow these instructions:

Setup in PC and execute the command:

```
adb shell dumpsys package

```

You might end up with overwhelming information about all the installed packages including the date/time stamp you're seeking. If you want the said stamps for a specific package whose package name you're aware of, then enter:

```
adb shell 'dumpsys package PKG_NAME | grep -e "firstInstallTime" -e "lastUpdateTime"'     # replace PKG_NAME with the package name of your app

```

Its output possibly would be like,

```
firstInstallTime=2015-07-04 15:49:50
lastUpdateTime=2015-07-04 15:49:50
```

**Note** that the info is originally available in the file */data/system/packages.xml*.

Alternatively, if you've Google Play Store installed, then take its backup using ADB, extract the backup to locate the database *localappstate.db*. Open that file in PC using an SQLite database viewer like DB Browser for SQLite or on Android using apps like SQLite Editor / aSQLiteManager. The said apps may need root access so I recommend to stick with the SQLite viewer for PC.

The table *appstate* in that file has the columns *first\_download\_ms* *delivery\_data\_timestamp\_ms*. The latter shows when the app was installed and the former shows when the download was initiated by Play Store.

**Limitation:** Play Store wouldn't show date/time stamp for side loaded apps.
> 16 votes

# Answer
I didn't find a place in the stock-system which tells this. But there are useful tools around like AppMonster which display this information along (besides, AppMonster allows you to backup your apps, and in the Pro-Version even does so automatically on install as well as update -- so you can revert to a previously installed version easily in case of trouble with an update).
> 4 votes

# Answer
One can use Smart App Manager (gratis) to view the installation date of an application. I tested it on Android 12 with a Pixel 6 and it worked. Screenshot:
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, installation, logging
---


# Question
Title: Ineffective setting: Wi-Fi non-persistent MAC randomization
Sometimes I want to use a certain hotspot providing free 1-hour Wi-Fi multiple times, but the provider remembers the MAC address of my smartphone.

I enabled the developer setting "Wi-Fi non-persistent MAC randomization" and enabled the advanced connection option "Use randomized MAC". However, no matter how many times I click "Forget" on the connection next time the phone assigns the same MAC address.

So currently I can only connect two times: with the "randomized" address and then switch to the physical address.

The phone is Pixel 3 XL, Android 12

# Answer
> 0 votes
It seens that the MAC address is assigned each time you activate Wifi. So turn off wifi and then turn it on again.

More discussion here

---
Tags: wi-fi, mac-address
---


# Question
Title: Audio not transferring from USB in Oppo A53
I have Oppo A53. The 3.5mm jack did not work properly so I bought a USB type C to 3.5mm converter, but this is also not working with my phone which is running on Android 12.

Does anyone know how to solve this problem?

# Answer
Note that not all devices and/or converter dongles play nice. Here's an excerpt from an article by CableMatters.com to this regard:

> ...The biggest problem with USB-C audio is its lack of standardization, which is ironic considering USB-C’s purpose is to standardize USB connection types. The problem lies not with the USB-C specification, but with the companies that design smartphones, dongles, and headphones. Here’s why this can be such a confusing mess: (Note that the remainder of this article will only reference USB-C headphones. Keep in mind that the same principles apply to USB-C dongles as well.)
> Some smartphones send audio data through an onboard DAC (usually embedded in the phone’s processor) before sending it out through the USB-C port. If this is the case, almost any pair of USB-C headphones will work. If the audio stream is converted to an analog signal before it goes through the USB-C port, then connected headphones do not need their own DAC. These are known as “passive” headphones.
> However, some devices send audio data through the USB-C port as a digital signal. As such, connected headphones will need their own onboard DAC and amp to convert the audio stream from a digital format to an analog format. USB-C headphones with an onboard DAC/amp combination are known as “active” headphones...

Also note, there may be configuration-side factors to consider, e.g., the `Disable USB audio routing` setting in developer options (formerly known as `allow USB audio pass-through`, if I remember correctly). This may vary depending on your specific make, model, and Android version.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb, audio, kernel
---


# Question
Title: 2018 Honor 10 Lite/HRY-AL00, DOESN'T CHARGE USB data works fine, ADB works fine
Not sure how the brand of the phone really helps, but from what I gathered:

* Phone doesn't have a fast charge protocol. **Very basic micro-B USB.** Supports any 5V-1A USB charger. 3400mAh battery. The OS version is Android 10.
* A while ago no cable would charge the Phone. I took it to a repair shop, and they replaced the charging port. I bought a new cable (specced for 2A), and found no issue for a while. This didn't last long.
* **Currently no cable will charge it normally anymore.**
* May have physical damage, as I have to twist the Phone-side plug hard for the Phone to respond.
* If the phone is connected to a USB wall plug, the Phone still says it is charging, which normally has never occurred. Indicated battery percentage does not go up.
* If the Phone is connected to a PC over USB, with USB debug mode turned on, PC side `adb shell dumpsys battery` returns a growing "charge counter" (uAh) but decreasing "level" (percentage). SOMETIMES the percentage may go up, but it's not guaranteed. The USB session is generally stable.
* I have no USB multimeter yet, so no other info can be inferred from any charge session.

How should I troubleshoot this issue? Is the charging IC in the Phone somehow faulty?

# Answer
Since you mention that you have to twist the connector at the phone, it almost certainly means that either the connector is damaged or the electrical connection to the pcb is damaged (broken solder or connector wire).

Take it back to the same repair shop (under warranty), perhaps they did not solder the new port properly.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, usb, charging
---


# Question
Title: How can one delete all text message threads except for a few ones on Pixel 6?
I have plenty of text messages for OTP or similar automated services on my Google Pixel 6. I'm doing some cleaning. How can one delete all text message threads except for a few ones on Pixel 6?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Be aware in newer versions of Messages, you can go to

```
Profile Pic - Message Settings - Message Organization

```

and enable the option "Auto-delete OTPs after 24 hours"... this can help a lot.

Otherwise Messages doesn't have the kind of granularity to mass delete multiple entire threads, you would have to switch to Textra or something like that to do that.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There exists no built-in solution to delete all text message threads except for a few ones on Pixel 6. Android does not offer any built-in solution for that use case.

---
Tags: delete, google-pixel-6, google-messages, cleanup
---


# Question
Title: ROOT: How to allow "install unknown apps" by default for an app?
Since Android 8.0 `adb shell settings put secure install_non_market_apps 1` no longer works because we now have to enable it for a specific app.

I am using Android 9.0 and I have root access on my device. Is there a way (using adb or other means) to allow my app to "install unknown apps" by default? I want my app to be able to update itself without opening settings.

# Answer
I found the solution using `appops`.

```
adb shell appops set <package name> REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES allow

```

I haven't tested this for unrooted devices but it definitely works for my rooted device.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: adb, root-access, unknown-sources
---


title: Turn off Samsung account Notifications

text:
# Question
Title: Turn off Samsung account Notifications
In my company we recently decided to put all the company phone on one Samsung account. So if an employee loses there phone or forget there passcode we can help him. The only issue every time we add a new phone to the account everyone gets a notification. Is there a way to stop this and let only one phone get the notification?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had a look around and its possible that one of these settings may help you. I couldn't find desriptions for all of them, so it's trial and error.

* Goto Settings
* Scroll Down and select `Apps`
* In Search field type in `play service`
* There are probably two `Google Play Services`
* For each press `Notifications`
* Scroll Down and press on `Notification Categories`
* It will look like the image below
* Try turning off `Devices` and `Devices with your account`

---
Tags: samsung, notifications, multiple-devices
---


# Question
Title: How to modify the "systemless hosts” file under the newer Magisk?
It seems to be under `/system_root/etc` but the `hosts` file really is just a symbolic link to `/system/etc/hosts`.

How to modify the "systemless hosts” file under the newer Magisk?

# Answer
> 3 votes
In recent versions of Magisk and "Systemless Hosts" module you can no longer directly edit the file `/system/etc/hosts`.

Instead you have to modify the hosts file in the Magisk modules directory of the `hosts` module (the internal name of the "Systemless Hosts" module).

1. Open Magisk -\> Settings -\> touch `Systemless hosts` (this will create the necessary directory structure and the `hosts` file.
2. Use an editor of your choice and edit the file

```
/data/adb/modules/hosts/system/etc/hosts

```

Any change to that file will directly be visible in `/system/etc/hosts` respectively `/etc/hosts`.

The Magisk modules directory and it's file-system structure is explained here: https://topjohnwu.github.io/Magisk/guides.html#magisk-modules

---
Tags: magisk, hosts
---


# Question
Title: How to automatically power off device after a period of inactivity?
I want my phone to power off after being idle for some time (say, 15 minutes). This is a common feature in computers, but I couldn't find it on my Android settings, nor an app to help me out.

I don't want a scheduled shutdown, but a shutdown after inactivity.

Is that possible?

# Answer
> 1 votes
you need an automation app like MacroDroid or Tasker.

1. Set a trigger that is related to inactivity, like screen off or no movement detected by the sensors
2. Add timeout before executing the power off command
3. The power off command

If your phone is rooted, it is a very easy thing to do. If your phone is not rooted you can use Shizuku.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Following theggputest55's response,

Using MacroDroid:

1. Set trigger: screen off
2. Set an action: wait before next action, set to 20 minutes
3. Set an action: if clause, if screen off, i.e. Is the screen still off after 20 minutes?
4. Set an action: reboot/power off (power off)

---
Tags: automation, power-on
---


# Question
Title: Installing another TTS language for Speech Services by Google on Moto G22 with Android 12 (OSMand navigation)
I have a Moto g22 with Android 12 and am trying to get German language navigation in OSMand. I have set the language for voice prompts to German in OSMand (for the relevant profile: Configure Profile → Navigation settings → Voice prompts -\> Language → TTS/German). English language navigation works fine using Google TTS, but when I set it to German I hear nothing. When I go to Settings → System → Languages & input → Text-to-speech output, set the language to German, and tap "Play", I hear nothing. If I set the language to English and then tap "Play", I hear a voice speaking in English. The engine is set to "Speech services by Google".

As a workaround, I could download OsmAnds pre-recorded voices, but that's suboptimal as it doesn't include street names, so I would prefer to get Google Text-to-Speech to work for a German language output.

How can I get Speech Services by Google on the Moto G22 with Android 12 to speak German to me? Do I need to download a language pack on an additional app in some way?

On my tablet (Lenovo Tab M10 with Android 10) German voice prompts work fine in OSMand as well as when I press "play" in the "Text-to-speech output" settings.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You have to **download the voice data** first.

Setting the voice language to German is not enough to trigger Android to propose to install missing German voice data, nor to warn that such voice data is not currently installed. Rather, it simply says nothing (literally).

From the "Text-to-speech output" settings, there is another settings menu accessed to the right of the "Preferred engine" entry. Here, tap "Install voice data", then the relevant language.

After doing this, the voice prompts work in the settings test and in OSMand.

---
Tags: text-to-speech
---


# Question
Title: How do you pair a Device for Wireless Debugging with a QR Code?
There doesn't seem to be much written on this, but I see an option to pair my device with a QR code scanner. Is there a way to pair my phone with my computer by generating a QR code on my computer and scanning it from my phone?

I'm running Ubuntu 20.04.

I'm using the Pixel 4a running Android 11.

# Answer
*This answer explains the background history of the built-in feature in Android Studio. For the technology used and 3rd-party software, you can read my answer here.*

---

As of 26 January 2022, the feature can be used on the stable version of Android Studio Bumblebee 2021.1.1 with Android 11+ devices. Though, the performance may still be buggy on some platforms.

### Background History

While the revamped wireless debugging has been known since

* the source code commits in October 2019 by XDA
> On the user-side, Google plans to add a new “wireless debugging” switch in Developer Options that supports pairing devices by scanning a QR code or entering a 6 digit code.
* the release of Android 11 DP2 in March 2020, as reported by 9 to 5 Google and Android Police

it was first introduced officially on Android 11: Developer Preview 3 in April 2020.

> **Wireless Debugging** \- In Android 11, we’ve completely revamped the debugging experience using ADB over a Wi-Fi connection. With limited USB ports on laptops, and a myriad of USB cables & connections to manage, the Wireless Debugging feature in Android 11 can help you be more productive. Unlike the existing TCP/IP debugging workflow, Wireless Debugging on Android 11 does not need a cable to set up, remembers connections over time, and can utilize the full speed of the latest Wi-Fi standards. In DP3, use the pairing code workflow to get started with this developer feature. ***We plan to add an integrated experience for Wireless Debugging with QR code scanning in a future Android Studio release***, but we want to get your early feedback on the command line tool offered in Android 11 DP3. For details, see the documentation.
>
> (Emphasis added, link fixed)

However, it was not until December 2020 that the new Android Studio Canary version, Android Studio Arctic Fox (2020.3.1) shown the pairing interface for the first time.

> Lastly, for those running MacOS (other platforms are coming soon) with the latest Android Platform tools and an Android 11 device, you can try out the IDE integration for the Wireless ADB feature by going to the **Run** device selection dialogue → **Pair Devices Using Wi-Fi**.
>
> *Menu to access Wireless ADB feature*
>
> *Wireless ADB Setup Window*
> 12 votes

# Answer
You can pair your phone wirelessly using ADB by following these steps:

1. Make sure your phone and laptop are on the same network.
2. Open the following menu on your phone: `Settings`\>`Developer options`\>`Wireless debugging`. Enable the feature and then click on `Pair device with pairing code` on the same screen.
3. Open a terminal on your laptop and use the below command to pair your phone with your laptop:

```
adb pair host:port code

```

You can find `host`, `port` and `code` on your phone screen after clicking on `Pair device with pairing code` in the `wireless debugging` menu.
4. Run the below command to make sure the pairing has been done successfully:

```
adb devices

```
> 8 votes

# Answer
*This answer explains the technology used and 3rd-party software. For background history of the built-in feature in Android Studio, you can read my answer here.*

---

**Android 11 and ADB utilize multicast DNS (mDNS) for its wireless pairing.**

ADB 30.0.0 added support for wireless pairing, including commands like:

* `adb pair` to pair the Android device with the host machine using pairing code
* `adb mdns check` to check which mDNS daemon is used

+ On Windows, using Openscreen discovery added in ADB 31.0.2:

    ```
    C:\android-sdk\platform-tools> adb mdns check
    mdns daemon version [Openscreen discovery 0.0.0]

    ```
    + On Windows, using Bonjour service

    ```
    C:\android-sdk\platform-tools> adb mdns check
    mdns daemon version [2140303]

    ```
* `adb mdns services` to list available mDNS services created by the Android devices

```
C:\android-sdk\platform-tools> adb mdns services
List of discovered mdns services
adb-941AY0HXWG-r8Nucn   _adb-tls-connect._tcp.  192.168.0.147:37387
adb-941AY0HXWG-r8Nucn   _adb-tls-pairing._tcp.  192.168.0.147:42885

```

In addition to the built-in feature in Android Studio, there is also some 3rd-party software that simulates the same process by generating a QR code to initiate the wireless pairing:

* GitHub - benigumocom/debug\_from\_qr.py: an executable Python 3 script
    + Dependency packages:
    + Demo video: YouTube - BENIGUMO.COM - Pair device with QR code - Android11
    + Sample

    ```
    C:\> py .\debug_from_qr.py
    █████████████████████████████████
    █████████████████████████████████
    ████ ▄▄▄▄▄ █ ██▀▀ █ ▀█ ▄▄▄▄▄ ████
    ████ █   █ █  ▀█▄█▄▀▄█ █   █ ████
    ████ █▄▄▄█ █▀  █ ▄ ▄▄█ █▄▄▄█ ████
    ████▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▄█ ▀▄▀ █▄█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄████
    ████ ▄██ ▄▄▀██▄▀▀▀ █ ▀█ █▄ ▄▄████
    ████▄▄▄▄▀▀▄▄▀ ▄█▄▄▀▄███▄▄████████
    ████ ▄▄ ▄█▄▀▀▀▀▀▀ ▄▀█▀▄▀▀ ▄▄▄████
    ██████▄█▀█▄▄ ▄██▄▄▀▄▄▄▀▄█▄▀▄▀████
    ████▄▄██▄█▄▄ ▄▀▀▄▀ ▀ ▄▄▄   ▀▀████
    ████ ▄▄▄▄▄ █▀▄█▄▄▄▀▄ █▄█  ▀██████
    ████ █   █ █▄ ███▀▄█ ▄▄  ▄▄▄ ████
    ████ █▄▄▄█ █▀▄█▄▄▄▀▀ ▄▄▄█▄▀ ▀████
    ████▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▄█▄█▄▄█▄████▄▄██▄████
    █████████████████████████████████
    █████████████████████████████████
    Scan QR code to pair new devices.
    [Developer options]-[Wireless debugging]-[Pair device with QR code]
    Press enter to exit...

    Service debug._adb-tls-pairing._tcp.local. added.
    service info: ServiceInfo(type='_adb-tls-pairing._tcp.local.', name='debug._adb-tls-pairing._tcp.local.', addresses=[b'\xc0\xa8\x00\x93', b'\xc0\xa8\x00\x9f'], port=40067, weight=0, priority=0, server='Android-2.local.', properties={}, interface_index=None)

    adb pair Android-2.local.:40067 123456
    Successfully paired to Android-2.local.:40067 [guid=adb-941AY0HXWG-r8Nucn]
    Service debug._adb-tls-pairing._tcp.local. removed.
    Press enter to exit...

    List of devices attached
    adb-941AY0HXWG-r8Nucn._adb-tls-connect._tcp. device product:sargo model:Pixel_3a device:sargo transport_id:3

    ```
* GitHub - saleehk/adb-wifi: an NPM command line interface (CLI) tool
    + Install: `npm i adb-wifi -g`
    + Usage: `adb-wifi`
    + Sample

    ```
    C:\> adb-wifi
    [Developer options]->[Wireless debugging]->[Pair device with QR code]
    ▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄
    █ ▄▄▄▄▄ █▄▀ ▀ ▀ █▄▄█▄▀▄▄ ██ ▄▄▄▄▄ █
    █ █   █ █   █▀  ▀▀█▄ █▀ ███ █   █ █
    █ █▄▄▄█ █▄█▀ ▄█▀▄█▄▄ █ ██▀█ █▄▄▄█ █
    █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▄█ █ █ █▄▀▄█ █▄▀▄█▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█
    █  ▄▄▀▀▄█▄█ ▄   ▄▀ ██  ██▄▄██▄▄▄▀ █
    █▀▀▀▀▄▀▄▄▄  ▄▄▀▄▀▀███▄█▄▄▀▀ ▀▀ ▄█▄█
    █▄▀ █▄▀▄█▀ ▄▀ ▄▄▄▀█▀▄▄▀ ▄  ▀ █▄▄█ █
    █▀ ██ ▀▄ ▀▀▀ █▄▀█ ▄▄ █ ▄▀ ▀  ▄█▀█▀█
    ██▄ ▄█▀▄█▄▀▄█▄ ▀▄█▀▄ ▀   ▀▄▄▀▀█  ▄█
    █▄▀▄▄  ▄▀█  ▀█▄▀▄ ▀ ▀ █ ▀█ █▄ ██ ▀█
    █ █▄ ▄▀▄ █  ██ ▄█▀▄▄▄▀   ███ ██▀▄▄█
    ██▀▄██▄▄ ▄ █▀▀ ▄█▄▄▄█ ██  ██▄ ▀█▄ █
    █▄█▄█▄▄▄▄ ▀█ ▄▀▄▄ ▀█▀  ▄▄ ▄▄▄ █▄ ▀█
    █ ▄▄▄▄▄ ██ ▀▀ █ ▀▀▄▀▄▄▀▀▀ █▄█ ▀▀▀██
    █ █   █ █▀ ▄▀▄▄█▄█▀▄█▀▀  ▄▄▄  ▄█ ▄█
    █ █▄▄▄█ █ █▄██▄█▄▄▀▀█▄▄▄▀█▀▀▀▀▀█▄▀█
    █▄▄▄▄▄▄▄█▄██▄▄██▄█▄███▄█▄█▄▄██▄▄███

    stdout: Successfully paired to 192.168.0.147:38629 [guid=adb-941AY0HXWG-r8Nucn]

    ```

**mDNS Compatibility**

Since this feature depends on mDNS, different operating systems may have different compatibility:

---

Additional references:
> 7 votes

# Answer
Just wanted to add that if you try to scan the QR code directly from the camera, like on a Pixel by pointing it at the QR code and clicking the link, it won't work. You will get an error message that says "QR Code contains incorrect WiFi password". This error message is a red herring, it has nothing to do with the WiFi password, you just can't pair with the QR code by scanning it with the camera

Instead, like is mentioned in Yandirr's answer, you have to go to:

Settings --\> System --\> Developer options --\> Wireless debugging (Yes you can click the text) --\> Pair device with QR code

Then when you scan the QR code it should work. I think it's bad UI design that you have to click on the "Wireless debugging" text since it looks like that's just a single radio button to toggle the Wireless debugging option, but in actuality there's an entire sub-menu hidden behind it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, qr-code, wireless-debugging
---


# Question
Title: In Android Google Sheets, "enter key" (->|) won't move to cell below. How to fix?
I don't know when or how I changed the behavior of the "enter key" (-\>|) in Google Sheets for Android. It used to enter the text I was typing (if any) into the current cell and then move to the cell below the current cell. This is what I want.

But for no apparent reason, "enter" now adds a line feed to the end of the text being typed and does NOT go to the next cell below.

Wrap Text is NOT selected and never has been.

How do I make touching the "enter" key move to the cell below the current cell and NOT merely add a line feed to the text being typed into the current cell?

\*** EDITED \*** FWIW, I just noticed that touching "enter" twice puts a line feed at the end of the text being entered and THEN moves to the cell below the current cell, a bit surprising--why not add a second line feed? After all, if we're allowed to enter entire paragraphs into a cell, why not a generally-accepted properly-formatted second paragraph (blank line between the two)?

Surely the vast majority of users would prefer to have "enter" move to the next cell below the current line (or simply staying in the current cell) than adding a linefeed for possible (but rare) additional lines. I don't get it.

Why is there not an option to specify "enter" key behavior, as in Excel? (Or is there one and that's what I can't find?)

# Answer
> 2 votes
It depends on the keyboard you are using. I tested it first with Gboard and secondly with Hacker's Keyboard and Microsoft SwiftKey Keyboard. With Gboard pressing `Enter`, insert a new line on the same cell. With Hacker's keyboard and Swiftkey, it takes you to the cell below. So, a possible solution is to use another keyboard (if GBoard is your default keyboard) while using Google Sheets.

> Why is there not an option to specify "enter" key behavior, as in Excel?

That's a question Google developers (Gboard) will answer better than us as to why their keyboard behavior is different from the other (I have not found a webpage yet a reason for this behavior).

> (Or is there one and that's what I can't find?)

There isn't one (for now).

**Disclaimer:** I am just a user of the mentioned keyboard apps.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Using Swiftkey and probably any other keyboard, you can long press the text input box to bring up the menu and select "Insert line break". (Sheets Version 1.23.242.03.9 - 26 June 2023 with Android 13)

Using Hacker's keyboard, you can do Alt + Enter

# Answer
> 0 votes
My workaround: put a blank space at the end of each line of text in cells where you want Enter to always move down to the cell below the active cell. Then Enter moves to the next cell below.

Adding end-of-text spaces is a **sufficient** way to get "dropdown" cursor movement. But sometimes the cursor moves down *without* a space at end of text in a cell. So it's not a **necessary** thing to do.

I haven't tried to study the end-of-text characters to find a pattern or a rule for when adding a space is necessary and when not. Won't try anytime soon. Maybe someone knows or will do exhaustive testing and notetaking to find the rules.

---
Tags: google-sheets
---


title: Samsung Galaxy A10 stuck on lock screen

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy A10 stuck on lock screen
My Samsung Galaxy A10 SM-A105FN (running Android 11) is stuck on the lock screen, and whenever I enter the correct pattern, the screen goes black for a few seconds before coming back to the lock screen

The phone has TWRP 3.7.0, is rooted with Magisk 26.1 and uses EdXPosed, but neither of these have any mod/module installed. EdXposed is disabled. Also, when I press the lock button on the side, to turn the screen off then on, the background changed, despite no setting having changed that.

What I tried :

* Soft reboot/reset
* Hard reboot/reset
* Clearing Dalvik/ART folder
* Clearing Cache Partition
* Reinstalling Magisk
* Unfreezing all apps

Is there any way to fix it please ?

EDIT : I decided to reset my phone as I couldn't do anything else at the time.

However, an interesting solution has been suggested after my reset, but I have no idea whether it could've worked or not.

# Answer
From TWRP's File Manager go to `/data/system` and delete

* gatekeeper.password.key
* gatekeeper.pattern.key
* locksettings.db
* locksettings.db-shm
* locksettings.db-wa

If any of these is missing, let it be.

Reboot. Lock Screen should be removed now. Set a new one and check if the problem persists.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, android-11
---


# Question
Title: Why there's no proxy support in Android browsers?
Android supports both Chromium-based and Firefox-based browsers since long now.

While those browsers have full support for HTTP/SOCKS proxies under all other OSes (Linux, OSX and even Windows), they are lacking it completely under Android. There's no setting at all to configure one.

I can easily configure a SOCKSv5 proxy on my Android device with, say, `ssh -D` to be used over whatever connections I have (wifi, ethernet, mobile data...), but I cannot use it with my browsers.

There's some system-wide support when you configure wifi, but that's not what I talk about. **I mean the good ol' *application-level* proxy support**. I don't want to send **all** traffic through a proxy, but just that for a specific browser on demand.

For the curious, I am asking this because I need and can compare results on my landline Internet link, but I cannot do the same on my mobile one.

Please, **forget about VPNs** which are also system-wide solutions like wifi proxies. I need to configure a proxy on a *per-browser* basis, just like I can do on a PC, and not a VPN.

So, why this lack?

# Answer
> 2 votes
There's no apparent "technical" reason for that lack. I suspect it'd be something related to the "Android Program Policy" (or whatever else it's called). In my opinion it looks like an intentional choice as the system-level proxy you can normally configure could be leaking information for some reason or bug.

Anyway, we can configure the SOCKSv5 proxy for Firefox for Android prior to version 68.11, but there seems to be no way to do the same for Chrome/Chromium.

Provided that you already established such a proxy, for example with a suitable SSH client (`-D` option).

1. In Firefox address bar type: `about:config`. A page full of settings will pop up.
2. In the search box type `network.proxy` to reduce the settings to those we are interested in.
3. For a SOCKv5 proxy you can set:
4. `network.proxy.socks` to the proxy IP address
5. `network.proxy.socks_port` to the proxy TCP port
6. `network.proxy.type` to `1` for *manual proxy configuration*
7. (optional) `network.proxy.no_proxies_on` to address that need not to be proxied (or clean it up to reach remote loopback addresses)
8. For a "*regular*" HTTP proxy, any other proxy type or even any other setting that's not available in the setting menu, please refer to the above settings page and to the official online documentation.

**N.B.** Starting with **v68.11** Firefox for Android doesn't provide anymore access to settings via the `about:config` pseudo-page, even if it's listed in `about:about` pseudo-page. This is not mentioned within the release notes and means that there's no way anymore to use a proxy within a browser. However Firefox Nightly releases still allow users to access about:config, you can install theses builds to use a proxy.

# Answer
> 0 votes
For now you can use Bromite. Bromite is a Chromium fork with ad blocking and privacy enhancements

# Answer
> -1 votes
There is actually a plugin to Firefox on Android called Foxyproxy https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/android/addon/foxyproxy-standard/ that handles the proxy settings for Firefox

---
Tags: browser, proxy
---


# Question
Title: Android no sound in plugged-in loudspeaker?
I have a Samsung Android tablet with an external loudspeaker plugged into the sound jack socket. However, the tablet keeps speaking in Youtube throuh its own internal loudspeaker (quiet-murmurer I would call it).

I checked that the external loudspeaker works OK with a phone and the jack is firmly inserted and the volume control is at the maximum (anyway, the sound does come from the internal quiet-murmurer). Can this be an Android configuration problem ? What else can I check ?

# Answer
In my case, just rebooting the tablet helped.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: audio, youtube
---


title: How to sign out of Google Play Games?

text:
# Question
Title: How to sign out of Google Play Games?
I'm developing an app with Google Play Games' achievement system, but I want to test the flow when a user is not signed into Google Play Games.

How can I sign out of Google Play Games to test this flow?

# Answer
I found how to sign out per-game. It seems to test that workflow.

1. Open the *Play Games* app
2. Go to ⋮ (menu) \> Settings \> (Your Data heading) \> Change account for games
3. Find your game in the list
4. Tap *Change* to get options:
    * Select an account (default)
    * Ask each time
    * Sign out
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-games
---


# Question
Title: How to quickly draw something and send as image directly from the keyboard?
The usual keyboard lets handwrite something, but it digitizes the handwrite before sending it. On the other hand, many apps allow direct sending of an image or gif.

How can I quickly prevent digitizing and send the handwritten text or drawn image like an image file?

# Answer
> 1 votes
These are ways you can get done what I think you want done. Its possible to share your handwrtitten screenshot as an image. But that is *limited by the app your sharing it with rather than gboard ( e.g. some messenger or whatsapp )and its permissiveness to allow pasting images besides text*. Other alternatives to gboard IMHO do not allow handwriting input e.g. swiftkey though they may offer a `clipboard` feature

-- Turn `Gboard` into a handwriting pad area. Under `settings`\- thee is a `handwriting option per language` if its available. Most languages have it available. When you use the handwriting input feature on `Gboard`, your handwritten text is converted into typed text in real-time. As you write, Gboard recognizes ( or may mistake depending on how good your writing was ) the characters you’re writing and converts them into typed text, which is then entered into the text field of the app you’re using. This means that you can use handwriting input with any app that allows text input, just like you would use the regular keyboard. Gboard does not convert your handwriting into an image.

To do this take a screenshot and it will be stored into the clipboard ( see following pt below ) and share the screen shot ( provided that app allows image sharing )

-- Use a `keyboard` app that allows `Image sharing. Gboard` has this feature. To use it turn on the `clipboard` toggle ( have the latest version btw ) - take a `screenshot` ( `Gboard` automatically stores any image you put in `clipboard` memory ) and then head to the app that you want to share it with ( e.g. Whatsapp or gmail ) . As long as it :

* permits the text input space ( aka lets a `keyboard` open )
* allows you to "drop" an image. You can get this done and that image is in your `clipboard` for a hr or so. After that it gets deleted . To make it permanent `pin` the clipboard and it will be there forever and you can share it as many times as needed.

-- Use the app that generated the image / scribble. E.g. in `Google Keep` \- you can scribble stuff and use the `system share` dialogue of that app to share it with other apps like `WhatsApp`. Here is a small guide

These are the fundamental approaches to get done what you want

---
Tags: keyboard, images
---


# Question
Title: Low signal in my Samsung Galaxy Note 10 5G
Yesterday, I bought a Galaxy Note 10 5G smartphone that was previously used but it looks like a new one. I inspected the phone before buying it and everything was alright. However, after inserting the sim , there was a problem in the signal that was too low even though the 4 lines sometimes appear full.

I tried almost every method of solving the issue after googling it like restarting the phone, resetting network settings, deeping into the safe mode and manually choosing a network operator. Yet, restarting my phone seemed to work for several seconds but the issue remained. Is there a fix to it ?

Keep in mind that when I moved to the city centre, the signal improved significantly (but still not perfect). And note that my previous phone used to have a really consistent signal with the same sim card in all circulstances.

# Answer
It could be a phone cover/case that has too much metal in it.

But most likely the phone is damaged. Phones effectively have multiple aerials for RF, wifi and bluetooth. It sounds like the RF aerial may be damaged or not connected properly.

Take it to a repair shop and they may be able to prove it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-note, network-signal
---


title: Reading a text in two voices

text:
# Question
Title: Reading a text in two voices
Is there a way to read aloud a text in two voices automatically?

For example, male voice for questions and female voice for answers. Or, even paragraphs with one accent and odd paragraphs with a different accent.

Preferably in French.

# Answer
> -1 votes
I did not find a free and easy solution. Free readers seem to offer only single voice reading.

There are some paid solutions (with free trials).

* murf.ai mobile and web-app with a convenient editor and script. For French, 2 male and 2 female free voices. Canadian French voices are only available for a fee. I did not figure out how to change voices to paragraphs automatically, had to assign voices manually via GUI. The free trial (no credit card) allows one produce up to 10 min of dialogues.
* tableread PRO app - several days trial, need PDF script, formatted professionally (such as on simplyscript.com) and some voice assistant already installed on the device. The free version of the app seems single voice.

Also, I imagine there is a way to use a voiced GPT version to get help here. There could be a way to generate voices for each personage separately and then mix everything in one file.

There is plenty of free reading tool but in a single voice.

---
Tags: text-to-speech
---


title: Block SMS without number

text:
# Question
Title: Block SMS without number
In India, we often receive SMSs which do not actually have a number, but instead, have a name like 'VK-AMSWAN'. SMS blockers like Truecaller don't have any facility to recognise such senders and keep asking for a number to block.

When using third-party SMS apps like Chomp SMS, there is an option to show the contact number below the contact name. Guess what it shows for the spam?

* VK-AMSWAN (name)
* VKAMSWAN (where the number shows up for other contacts)

How do I block such senders? I cannot blanket block all unknown SMSs because even banking information comes from such named senders.

It seems SMS blocking isn't as well developed as call blocking is. Truecaller actually rejects spam calls without you ever knowing about them. No SMS blocker I've seen has this facility so far. All they do is receive the messages and hide them. If someone can locate a method to fully block spam SMS, please do tell. :)

# Answer
> 2 votes
Since you told DND doesn't block these kinds of messages, you can use Textra SMS from the Play Store, select the message that you received, and select the "Blacklist" message option to stop receiving the SMS.

If you still want those messages to be received but not to get a notification, you can select the "Crossed Bell" icon at the top to not notify on receiving the message so that it is stored in your inbox for future use but will not be notified to you.

Using Textra, I found another feature to find out the number of those `LM-*`, `TM-*`, and `VK-*` series kind of SMS messages. Open Textra and swipe the message to the left to reveal the call feature. Double-tap the call button and it calls the number. So, now you've got the number, and this way you can block those numbers from receiving those text messages. I tried that and showed the numbers to me for every message in my inbox with `XX-*` SMS messages. ;)

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you're using the Hangouts app, open the conversation that the sender has sent. Once in it, select the Menu button (3 vertical dots in the top right) and select "People & options". On this screen, you should see the option to "Block VK-AMSWAN" (or whatever the sender's name is).

This article has a more detailed description of these steps with screenshots.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can block SMS messages from a specific sender like this using stock Android on a Google Pixel or similar phone, using the app Messages by Google. For example, if you receive a message from "VK-AMSWAN" (with no phone number), you can block all further SMS messages from "VK-AMSWAN". There isn't a way to block messages from all senders without a phone number all at once, though.

Other phone manufacturers have their own SMS app, and they might not provide this functionality.

---
Tags: sms, sms-blocking
---


# Question
Title: Blue light filter turns on automatically at sunset, but often doesn't turn off at sunrise
I have a manufacturer-unlocked Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge (purchased directly from samsung.com), which came with Marshmallow but has been updated OTA to 7.0 Nougat, and is not rooted.
One new feature Marshmallow brings is the Blue Light Filter, which has options for automatically turning on and off, either according to a schedule you specify, or at night based on your local sunset and sunrise.

I'm using the latter option, and while I've found the filter to reliably turn on every day at sunset, I frequently have to manually turn it off the next day. It's not 100% of the time though, and in fact, on rare occasions, I have woken up before sunrise and been *using* my phone when the filter suddenly turned off, so I know it is at least *capable* of working properly. (Note that it has never, to my knowledge, failed to turn *on* at sunset, regardless of whether I'm using it at *that* time or not.) I'm speculating that maybe it's failing to turn off if the phone is in deep sleep mode at sunrise. The times of sunset and sunrise are determined based on your location, so an as-yet-unnoticed issue with Location Services could theoretically be a factor as well.

I did a Google search and was able to find informational articles about the feature in general, as well as multiple forum posts from users experiencing problems getting the feature to turn *on* or work *at all,* but found no reports of it otherwise working properly, but not automatically turning *off.*

Am I the only one experiencing this issue? Is it something specific to the S7 Edge, or to Samsung builds in general, or is the same problem known to occur on other devices? And of course, most importantly: **How can I get the Blue Light Filter to *reliably* turn off at sunrise?**

# Answer
> 2 votes
It turns out that it seems to be related to the power-saving features on the S7. Apparently at some point, the background process that automatically turns the filter on and off at scheduled times got added to the list of processes to be managed by the power-saving mechanism, after which point, any time my phone was in power-saving mode and had not been used recently, the scheduled toggle of the filter's state would not fire. I'm assuming that was just never the case at sunset, as I'm much more likely to have used my phone recently at sunset than at sunrise.

# Answer
> 1 votes
> The times of sunset and sunrise are determined based on your location, so an as-yet-unnoticed issue with Location Services could theoretically be a factor as well.

This is indeed another possible cause.

This sometimes happens on my Google Pixel 3a with the equivalent Night Light feature since I usually turn off the location service. It seems when the current location is very stale/outdated, the feature will be automatically paused.

When this happens, I can just turn on the location service for a moment and wait until the device is located, then the Night Light will be enabled/disabled automatically again, then I can turn off the location service afterward.

---
Tags: 7.0-nougat, samsung-galaxy-s-7-edge
---


# Question
Title: Stock Android always using 100% physical memory. How to free it up with ADB?
I have a non-rooted phone. I just realized why Android is bad at memory management. I'm monitoring running progress in ADB shell with `top`. I can see the memory is about 100% used.

Image resized. Click for full-size

How do I stop unnecessary processes with ADB shell?

Also, I can't scroll down `top` command. It shows weird char `^[[b`. I think that's because the shell uses `sh` instead of `bash`.

Any idea how to free up memory with ADB? Maybe `pkill` or what.

# Answer
> 8 votes
Android memory management works differently than traditional OS. The main principle is to keep apps in RAM even if they are not used at the moment because the OS never knows when the user switches back to that app or the app becomes active in the background because of other reasons (e.g. incoming push message). Therefore, apps are kept in RAM unless another app really needs that RAM.

From the Android perspective, having free RAM means that RAM is unused and thus wasted.

It is because when an app has been removed from RAM, it needs to be loaded from flash and then perform the start-up phase. This will always be slower and consume more CPU resources (-\> more battery usage) than just switching to an app that is already loaded and present in RAM.

However, RAM always takes the same battery no matter if it is free or used.

If Android OS needs RAM, then it simply closes or kills the oldest unused app (not sure how the OS RAM management decides which app to exit). All Android apps have to be implemented to be resistant to this out-of-memory exiting. In detail, the Android OS will first send a notification to an app it has selected to be exited. If an app receives this notification, it has a very small time span to do some clean-up. If the app does not respond in a certain time, Android will simply kill the app process and thus regain needed RAM.

As you can see, having a system with about 60-100 MB of free RAM is just normal on Android.

---
Tags: adb, shell, ram, processes, background-process
---


# Question
Title: Can't update or install app with new Google Account
I have two accounts on my phone

1. institutional google managed workspace - x@school.com
2. private gmail - me@gmail.com

The institution that manages (x@xchool.com) ended relationship with Google and switched to Microsoft instead. I am no longer able to use that email address as my Google Account.

I am now logged in with my private gmail - (me@gmail.com), but I can no longer update nor install existing apps linked to my obsolete account (x@school.com). I get Google Play Store error "oops something went wrong" - even if I uninstall the app and try to install it brand new.

How do I fix this?

Do I just have to remove my old gmail account (x@school.com) from the phone? If I do this, will I lose everything on my phone (i.e. all my apps will be removed?)

# Answer
> 4 votes
I removed my old google workspace account (x@school.com), and I am now able to install the app with my logged in (me@gmail.com).

I was just too scared to do that before. The existing apps still work, so I can now slowly uninstall/reinstall them at my leisure.

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


# Question
Title: Is it possible to rescue data from a Google Nexus 5 which is stuck in bootloop with locked bootloader and no working recovery mode?
I have found my Google Nexus 5 which I had problems with in 2016 concerning the infamous stuck power button. At some point, the phone was stuck in a restarting loop. Then, I managed to leave this loop by pressing the power button multiple times.

After that until this day, when I start it, it is stuck in the Google booting animation of the spinning colored balls. It stays in this animation forever, it has now been in this state for the last 12 hours. Interesting is, that when I turn it off by pressing the power button, it automatically restarts, coming back to this animation screen. Looks like this (animated and moving):

I don't care about the phone anymore, but I care about my data. Some important things:

* phone is not rooted
* bootloader is locked
* fastboot mode works (Power + VolumeDown)
* recovery mode doesn't work (Select it from fastboot mode and then "No command" is shown and I press Power + VolumeUp)

So, I can use fastboot commands but not adb commands.

Things I have tried / researched (feel free to correct me):

* Connect the phone in fastboot mode to my PC and start recovery mode via fastboot command from here. Doesn't work either, the phone restarts then and stays in booting animation.
* Tries to start a custom recovery image in fastboot mode via fastboot command, but this requires the bootloader to be unlocked.
* Found out that the phone uses an eMMc for storage which you can't remove from the phone and connect it somehow to your PC to access the data (is there really no option to get the data if I remove the eMMc?)

Please, in 2023, is there ANY WAY in this world I can rescue my user data under these circumstances or at least some more things I could try?

# Answer
> 0 votes
After many hours of trying to make my Nexus 5 start again, I have given up on my data and wanted to make it work again at all. I have unlocked the bootloader via `fastboot oem unlock` and tried to flash a factory image. However, it said `FAILED (remote: 'flash write failure')`. When I tried to erase cache via fastboot, it said `FAILED (Write to device failed')`. So I couldn't write at all.

Also, when I rebooted bootloader after unlocking it, the bootloader was locked again. I have learned that therefore, it seems like my eMMc chip is dead. RIP.

See this.

---
Tags: adb, fastboot, data-recovery, bootloader, nexus-5
---


# Question
Title: How to read signal strength of all frequencies received by antennae
Since all smart phones have antennas, and these antennas are capable of detecting and receiving many types of signals including wifi, 2g, 3g, 4g, and 5g, then "we" should be able to make apps that help us observe the strength and presense of all these signals independent of the SIM card we happen to have and whether or not our phone is in airplane mode, correct? However, the signal-detector type Android apps I see out there only work when the radio transmitter is powered on, and even then it's limited to the particular service addressed to our SiM. Am I missing some vital factoid? I feel I must be. Something is not adding up for me.

I do have a dedicated EMF detector "Electro-smog Meter". It doesn't have transmitters yet it's antennae seem to work just fine.

# Answer
Here is my output in `/dev`:

```
RMX1911:/ $ ls /dev
ls: /dev/event-log-tags: Permission denied
ls: /dev/.coldboot_done: Permission denied
ls: /dev/cgroup_info: Permission denied
__properties__     gpiochip1            memory_bandwidth   pts                     smd8            v4l-subdev17
adsprpc-smd        gpiochip2            msm-rng            qce                     smdcntl8        v4l-subdev18
adsprpc-smd-secure gpiochip3            msm_aac            qg                      snd             v4l-subdev19
apr_apps2          graphics             msm_aac_in         qg_battery              socket          v4l-subdev2
ashmem             hw_random            msm_alac           qseecom                 stderr          v4l-subdev20
at_mdm0            hwbinder             msm_amrnb          ramdump_a610_zap        stdin           v4l-subdev21
at_usb0            hypnus               msm_amrnb_in       ramdump_adsp            stdout          v4l-subdev22
at_usb1            i2c-0                msm_amrwb          ramdump_cdsp            stune           v4l-subdev23
at_usb2            icesdcc              msm_amrwb_in       ramdump_ipa_fws         subsys_a610_zap v4l-subdev24
avtimer            iceufs               msm_amrwbplus      ramdump_md_a610_zap     subsys_adsp     v4l-subdev25
binder             iio:device0          msm_ape            ramdump_md_adsp         subsys_cdsp     v4l-subdev26
blkio              iio:device1          msm_audio_cal      ramdump_md_cdsp         subsys_ipa_fws  v4l-subdev3
block              input                msm_evrc           ramdump_md_ipa_fws      subsys_modem    v4l-subdev4
btpower            ion                  msm_evrc_in        ramdump_md_modem        subsys_venus    v4l-subdev5
ccid_bulk          ipa                  msm_g711alaw       ramdump_md_venus        tty             v4l-subdev6
ccid_ctrl          ipaIpv6CTTable       msm_g711alaw_in    ramdump_memshare_DIAG   ttyHS0          v4l-subdev7
cg2_bpf            ipaNatTable          msm_g711mlaw       ramdump_memshare_FTM    tun             v4l-subdev8
console            ipa_adpl             msm_g711mlaw_in    ramdump_memshare_GPS    uhid            v4l-subdev9
cpu_dma_latency    ipa_odl_ctl          msm_hdcp           ramdump_microdump_modem uinput          vga_arbiter
cpu_variant:arm    ipa_tethering_bridge msm_hweffects      ramdump_modem           uio0            video0
cpu_variant:arm64  jpeg0                msm_mp3            ramdump_venus           uio1            video1
cpuctl             kgsl-3d0             msm_multi_aac      ramdump_wcss_msa0       urandom         video2
cpuset             kmsg                 msm_qcelp          random                  usb-ffs         video3
dcc_sram           loop-control         msm_qcelp_in       rfkill                  usb_accessory   video32
device-mapper      mdmreason            msm_rtac           rmnet_ctrl              usf1            video33
dpl_ctrl           mdmrst               msm_sps            rpmsg_ctrl0             v4l-subdev0     video4
dri                media0               msm_wma            rpmsg_ctrl1             v4l-subdev1     video5
ecryptfs           media1               msm_wmapro         rpmsg_ctrl2             v4l-subdev10    video6
fd                 media2               mtp_usb            rpmsg_ctrl3             v4l-subdev11    video7
freezer            media3               network_latency    rtc0                    v4l-subdev12    vndbinder
fscklogs           media4               network_throughput sensors                 v4l-subdev13    wlan
full               media5               null               smcinvoke               v4l-subdev14    wwan_ioctl
fuse               memcg                ppp                smd11                   v4l-subdev15    zero
gpiochip0          memdev               ptmx               smd7                    v4l-subdev16

```

Based on the provided list, the following entries are related to the modem cellular:

* at\_mdm0: This entry typically represents the modem device in Android systems. It is commonly used for communication with the modem for tasks such as AT commands.
* ipa: This entry refers to the Internet Protocol Accelerator (IPA), which is responsible for handling various network-related tasks, including cellular connectivity.
* mdmreason: This entry is associated with the modem and is used for managing modem reset and initialization operations.
* mdmrst: This entry is also related to the modem and is used for modem reset functionality.

These entries suggest the presence and functionality of the modem cellular in the device.

Rooting a phone can grant greater access to system files and settings, potentially allowing you to access modem devices and perform actions like reading signal strength without a SIM card. However, the ability to interact with modem devices after rooting depends on the specific device, operating system version, and modifications made during the rooting process. Tools like Android Debug Bridge (ADB) commands or modem-specific utilities can be used to retrieve signal strength information, but caution is necessary as accessing and modifying modem devices can lead to instability, loss of functionality, or even damage to the device. Additionally, the availability of signal strength information without a SIM card may vary depending on the device's hardware and software capabilities. Thorough research, consulting reliable sources, and proceeding with caution are recommended before attempting any modifications or accessing modem devices.

Based on most voted answer in this (https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12855482/sending-at-commands-via-adb-android), you can perform AT command from given modem device in `/dev` directory, in my phone case is `at_mdm0`

```
echo -e "AT\r\n" > /dev/at_mdm0

```

Now, try `AT+CSQ` to check siqnal quality with modem without SIM card
> 2 votes

# Answer
Smartphones do have the hardware capability to detect various `signals`, the ability to access and observe this information is controlled by the phone’s `operating system` and hardware. This is deliberate design for security reasons.

Most `signal detector apps` available on the `Google Play Store` work by accessing the phone’s built-in signal strength measurement tools. These tools are typically only active when the phone’s `radio transmitter` is powered on, which is why these apps may not work when the phone is in `airplane` mode or when the `SIM` card is removed.

I included some helpful links above as well as here and here May you can try to tweak a custom recovery like `TWRP` and include a command line functionality in it for this purpose.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cellular-radio
---


title: Tab key on Google Keyboard?

text:
# Question
Title: Tab key on Google Keyboard?
Any way to get a tab character out of a Google Keyboard on Android? The goal is to indent bullets in Google Keep to make sub-bullets.

Checking through the various character sets, etc. find nothing. Searching the Internet finds nothing relevant.

# Answer
> 4 votes
You can insert a tab as follows:

1. Copy from somewhere (I used Simplenote) a tab.
2. Go to Parameters → Dictionaries → Personal dictionaries from the Google Keyboard.
3. Choose your language and click on "add".
4. Paste the tab in the first field and define some shortcut.

Now if you type your shortcut, Gboard will propose the tab in the auto-correction bar. I tried with Simplenote and Keep and checked on my computer (using both the desktop and web apps) that the tab has been correctly inserted.

This is similar to what suggested in a previous answer (but now it works).

# Answer
> 2 votes
# Short answer

I could not find a Tab key native within the Google Keyboard on Android Phone.

## I suggest two workarounds

Your question relates to Google Keep, but these could be applied to other apps.

1. Open Google Keep on your PC. Pressing the Tab key is not helpful. However, the ASCII for `HT` (Horizontal Tab) code can be entered using Alt+09. Resume work on your Android phone and select and copy the blank tab space entered in your note. Paste where needed.
2. The personal dictionary within Google Keyboard allows the addition of words and shortcuts. Unfortunately, pasting the Tab code as a word and adding a shortcut `HT` did not successfully create a working method. However, this autocorrect type function was successful using an alternative product Texpand Pro.

Interestingly, the tab code showed only as a single space when viewed in Google Keep on my Android phone; but the same note showed as a complete tab when viewed on my PC. The tab code shows as expected when entered into a Google Doc on an Android phone.

---

Note: Within Google Keep, you can create nested dot points:

* Primary bullet point hierarchy
    + secondary bullet \[double space indent\]
        - tertiary bullet
        - another tertiary bullet

Reference: https://plus.google.com/+MichaelMichelmore-Fegg/posts/QirAmXdRDFv

Note: Texpand from https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.isaiasmatewos.texpand --- there are links to a paid Pro version too.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you are trying to tab right or left for bullets, for example, you can use the icons with right and left arrows, respectively, at the top of the screen (just to the right off the bullet icon.)

# Answer
> 0 votes
This answer may not satisfy yours but it may satisfy others looking for a way to add a tab character in a Google Docs script.

If you are trying to add a tab via script, the tab character is the escape character `\t`

If you were using the Google scripting API, it might go something like this:

```
var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
var doc_body = doc.getBody();
var doc_paragraphs = doc_body.getParagraphs();

```

(Identify the paragraph number requiring a tab by using a `for-loop` and a `Logger.log` call-out.) Once you've found the right paragraph, append it with a tab character.

```
doc_paragraphs[<the paragraph number you identified>].appendParagraph("\t");

```

That'll add a tab to the end of that paragraph.

# Answer
> 0 votes
NextApp's Technical Keyboard (available on Google Play) may do what you want.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Horrible hack, but good enough for my note-taking using Google Docs and Google Keyboard:

Press bullets button, then press back / delete button.

---
Tags: gboard
---