# Question
Title: Logon failure with ES File Explorer and Windows LAN
With ES File Explorer when I try and access my Windows 7 pc under LAN I'm greeted with the error *"Login fail. This may be caused by: plain text passwords are disabled."* I am sure the username and password entered when adding the server to LAN page are correct.

Login fail screenshot

How do I enable ESF to use encrypted passwords?

Failing that what do I need to do in Windows to make plain text passwords work? (not really desirable, but I need the ability to copy files to the pc more...)

# Answer
# Solution

**Restart the Server (LanmanServer) service**, restart ESF on the Android device, browse to LAN connection, done. Doesn't require plain text passwords or any other registry hack.

Make note of any dependent services that may also need to be restarted:

```
The following services are dependent on the Server service.
Stopping the Server service will also stop these services.

   Media Browser
   Computer Browser

Do you want to continue this operation? (Y/N)

```

On Android, make sure ES File Explorer is closed completely, not just exited (suspended). Samsung's \[Close All\] seems to be effective (don't remember the Nexus equivalent).

Interactively:

> Start \>\> Run \>\> Services.msc \>\> select "Server" and Restart

Command Line:

```
Sc \\server stop  LanmanServer
Sc \\server start LanmanServer

```

---

## Research

*a.k.a sources a.k.a. other paths which might be fruitful for you if the above isn't.*

### Suggestion: Enable Plain Text Passwords in Windows

> …you could attempt to enable plaintext SMB authentication just to see if it fixes your problem, though. Its unclear to me whether this would work on Windows 7 or not, but you could try setting the DWORD value "EnablePlainTextPassword" to "1" at "HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanWorkStation\Parameters". Reboot (or stop and restart the "Workstation" service) and see what that does.
>
> Check out Chris S comment below. It's very likely that the default LMCompatibilityLevel of Windows 7 (which is "3", meaning "Send NTLMv2 only") is causing your problem if your LaCie device is using an older SMB server (like a Samba version pre-3.0.21, for example).

From https://serverfault.com/questions/145666/how-to-enable-old-networking-protocols-in-windows-7/145675#145675

This is what I did last time this irritated me enough to do something. However when I checked that setting now, it's still set.

### Suggestion: Reboot Server

> …a dirty workaround: reboot your Windows file server. All your Android devices will immediately be able to connect again... for a time being. For me it usually lasts 1-2 days. Then SOMETHING happens - obviously on the Windows side, and it's again "login fails" from all Androids with ES, yet Windows machines keep being able to access all the shares.

From http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2165494/connect-win7-share-android-fine-windows-machines.html

### Suggestion: Re-enable SMB Protocol

> I had the same problem and fixed it by reenabling the SMB protocol as described here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2696547?
>
> To enable or disable SMB protocols on an SMB Server that is runningWindows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Vista, or Windows Server 2008, use Windows PowerShell or Registry Editor. \[…\] paste the following cmdlet into the powershell:
>
> Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters" SMB2 -Type DWORD -Value 1 -Force
>
> and hit enter. Reboot.

From http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-2165494/connect-win7-share-android-fine-windows-machines.html

### Suggestion: Enable Server File Sharing Mode

> WIN7 machines when left on for a while, tend to have their shares just "disappear". There are registry setting that can fix this PC to PC problem \[…\] in the release of WIN7. \[…\] They changed the numbers in two registry settings, and that caused your PC-to-PC shares (in your home network which has no server) to disappear. \[…\] By changing the registry *BACK* to normal settings, you essentially tell it to act like all the other versions of Windows did. The recommended settings for a machine that has shares in use, is
>
> HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Session Manager\Memory Management\LargeSystemCache=1 HKEY\_LOCAL\_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\LanmanServer\Parameters\Size=3

From http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-1938243/access-win-android-phone-wifi.html

An answer on Super User to Connect from Android (ES File Explorer) to Windows 7 Share suggests the same.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: windows, es-file-explorer, lan
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to enable 4G/LTE band 40 in Nexus 5 D820?
I have a LG Nexus 5 D820 model purchased in USA. Now I am in Chennai, India on Airtel network. As I understand Indian LTE/4G bands are 3 and 40 and unlucky me my service provider Airtel seems to be in band 40. D820 does not support both band 3 and 40.

I have seen few XDA posts that explain how to enable band 3 in D820. I could not see any posts for the same for band 40 and few comments then and there say it is not possible.

Has any one tried enabling band 40 on their D820? Even more better has anyone tried using their Nexus 5 D820 in India on LTE/4G with Airtel?

# Answer
I followed the procedure said in a XDA forum (the very first post) and I got the LTE working in my phone.

I confirmed the same and added a confirmation to that thread as:

> I am using Nexus 5 (D820) purchased in USA and being used in Chennai on Airtel network. I read through many resources about the LTE bands that the phones (D820 and D821) support, about the bands that different service providers support. After reading through the posts in this thread I was aware band 3 can be enabled on D820. Even at this moment of writing (after enabling the band 3 on D820) I believe from various links Airtel uses band 40 in Chennai.
>
> To my surprise when I enabled band 3 (after few tensed moments) I saw LTE indicator in my mobile. The screen shot is as below:
>
> The app LTE Discovery did report that my mobile is in LTE when I made it to work in "LTE mode only". However it does not report the band that is being used.

I tried Speed test, but it showed a disappointing speed as good as 2G (1.5mbps download). I need to try this at other places and see whether really 4G is enabled in my phone or not.

Edit: The download speed in other areas of Chennai are in par with 3G. However surprisingly, I could see the upload speed is as good as download speed in 4G.

In the following image, the middle entry is 2G and rest are 4G.

Also I used Nexus 5 Field Test Mode app and it says I am using band 3 - surprise.

**Edit:** This was performed in my Nexus 5 D820 running stock Android 6.0.1, stock kernel, rooted and with custom recovery TWRP.

\**Edit2:\**This change seems to be permanent. I had OTA updates installed and after a point of time reinstalled latest ROM and even tried locking boot loader. In spite of all these changes still LTE is working in my phone.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, 4g
---


# Question
Title: "Google Now" swipe from Home button is not working in Marshmallow
After updating to Marshmallow I was playing around with settings. I don't know what I changed, but now when I swipe from the bottom, "Google Now" is not coming.

I used to assign that with Greenify to lock the screen. How to get it back?

# Answer
> 9 votes
There are actually 2 issues here:

1. No swipe from Home button gesture
2. Cannot change the action from Google Now to other apps (e.g Tasker, or Greenify)

The first issue is caused to accomodate a new feature called Now on Tap. Now, instead of swiping the Home button, you just need to hold it to access Google Now screen (or "Now on Tap", if enabled). AFAIK, this behaviour cannot be changed natively (enabling/disabling "Now on Tap" doesn't affect this).

The second issue is caused by the addition of explicit setting for assist app (before Marshmallow, you need to clear defaults the app that you assign to before). The setting can be accessed from **Settings - Apps - Advanced (cog wheel icon) - Default Apps - Assist & voice input - Assist app**. By default, it is "Google App" (i.e. Google Now), and you can change to any apps that support this feature (i.e. Tasker, for my case).

# Answer
> 4 votes
Simply go to:

Settings \> apps \> setting icon \> default apps \> Assist & voice input \> assist app

In there you will find a list of apps, you choose google, now it will be selected. I use the home button to lock my phone with screen lock app. You should find greenify in there too,if you have it.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I figured it out. Actually in marshmallow, the swipe up gesture is replaced by the 'holding the home button' gesture. If you turn off the 'now on tap', the google now will launch if you hold the home button. I guess this is one of marshmallow's changelog...

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can actually leave the 'now on tap' on and still get to google now by scrolling up from the 'now on tap' screen and tapping the 'G' button below.

---
Tags: google-now, 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: Changing the default login credentials to internet on my samsung phone
I bought a Samsung galaxy chat phone a few weeks back. I experienced difficulties downloading whatsapp at the workplace, where we have access to wifi. As a result, I enlisted assistance of a technician, who ended up using his credentials to login to wifi, and successfully downloaded whatsapp and few other apps into the phone.

Each time I have to login to wifi at work, the login screen comes with the technician's username and (the dots at the password window - for) his password. I have to delete these each time before typing-in my own, and it is rather inconvenient, even frustrating. How do I get rid of these default credentials of the technician and have mine (or blanks) instead?

Will greatly appreciate your assistance. Thanks Silas

# Answer
Mentioning your Android version would have made it easier to provide specific instructions, but then it's pretty easy

Press or tap *Menu* button →*Settings**Wireless & Networks**Wi-Fi*

Long press your office *Wi-Fi* network → *Forget*

Go back to *Wi-Fi* settings page, your office network will show up (if it doesn't *Scan* for it). Enter your username and password and save. Subsequently, it will connect automatically and show your office network name instead of technician
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to set up a Google account for Gmail only?
As the title says, is it possible to setup a Google account on an Android device in a way that it will only be used to access Gmail?

I have several apps from the big G installed on my phone (obviously, I dare say), namely Gmail, Play store, Maps, Keep, and so on.

I also have three different Google accounts, the main purpose of this is the need of having distinct email addresses. Let's call "A" the main account (the one that I also use for other Google services like Play Store, Contacts, Calendar and so on) and "B" & "C" the remaining two, only used for email.

I'd like to setup "B" & "C" so that they are only used with Gmail app, and won't pop up in every other Google app, where they are not needed nor wanted. Is it possible to do so?

I have already set them to just sync with Gmail and not other things like contacts and calendars, but that's not what I'd like to accomplish. I want them out of the way where they are not needed.

# Answer
> 12 votes
I found a workaround for my problem that works splendidly.

After having installed the latest version of the Gmail App, I have discovered that when I go to `Settings > Account > Add account`, I can configure a generic email address (i.e. not necessarily a Gmail one) to be used with the said App. It supports both IMAP and POP3 protocols.

(sorry for the Italian, but it should be understandable nonetheless).

I suppose that this feature was meant to use email addresses from other providers inside the Gmail App, but it will accept any email configuration, even a Gmail one.

So I selected IMAP for my second and third email addresses, and now I can access those accounts just for Gmail; this way they won't be able to get in they way on other Apps.

On Google Help Center I have found the settings required to configure an IMAP account on an external client, which I have used. I'm reporting them here for completeness.

> To configure the 'Email' app on an Android device for access to Gmail, just follow the steps below:
>
> ```
> 1. Enable IMAP in your Gmail settings.
> 2. Open the Email application.
> 3. Tap Menu and the Settings
> 4. In the top corner, tap  select Next to get started with setup.
> 5. Enter your full Gmail address and password, then select Next.
> 6. On the next screen, you can give the account a nickname and choose the name to display on your outgoing messages. Tap Done.
>
> ```
>
> And you're done. You can verify your settings from the Inbox view by tapping Menu, select Account and then scroll to Server settings.
>
> ```
> Incoming settings
> IMAP server: imap.gmail.com
> Port: 993
> Security type: SSL (always)
>
> Outgoing settings
> SMTP server: smtp.gmail.com
> Port: 465
> Security type: SSL (always)
>
> ```
>
> Now that your account is set up, learn how actions in your client sync with Gmail.

# Answer
> 5 votes
While you add the Google account or even afterwards (from account settings), you can select the content and services to sync. You can select only Gmail, leaving alone all the other services you don't want like Google+, drive, sheets, docs etc.

There's no need to setup a third party email client. All (most) Google apps are aware of this functionality and will work correctly.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Just use AOSP/alternative email client for the second account instead of adding another account to your phone just to use it for mail. You can also forward your mails automatically to your main account and label it as you wish.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As you have mentioned you are using Kit-Kat, just open alternative email client as user87790 has said.It just comes as separate app named as Email. Open the app. Select add new from the bottom left corner with add new mark(Plus mark with pencil). Add new account enter your account details. Add both the accounts b and c in the same way you enter the password with email in Gmail app. If you want to see emails from B an C separately just select the account from drop down. Or if you want to see everything from both the accounts select Combined view from drop down.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This not necesserly Android-related, but you mentioned you use those accounts only for emailing. Please see this and this link.

It is possible to send and receive mails from different addresses using only master account and therefore you would have no need to add separate accounts to your Android device.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Using "IMAP email account" instead of "Google Account" works great if email is the only thing you need.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Use the F-Droid repository to install K-9 Mail. (https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=com.fsck.k9). This way you do not have to use a Google account to install a mail application, and while you access GMail through the non-Google app, you can also take advantage of additional features of K-9 such as OpenPGP support (https://f-droid.org/repository/browse/?fdid=org.thialfihar.android.apg).

# Answer
> 0 votes
It is very well possible. Sign in with that particular account only from gmail app and it will not sync with anything else.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, gmail, google-account, google-apps, accounts
---


# Question
Title: How do Xiaomi and YU! (CyanogenMod) phones have Google Play Store in India?
Earlier I had asked a query on how CyanogenMod is it from Android. The answer mentioned an interesting point:

> CyanogenMod is not permitted to ship the Google-Apps with their ROMs, you have to install them manually (if you want them), or leave them out.

Now phones like Xiaomi and YU! are being launched in India, both running forked version of Android - Xiaomi's own MIUI OS and CyanogenMod respectively.

From the earlier answer and this article I understood that the forked versions of Android will not be Google approved and thus will not be able to access Google Play Store. But both these phones have access to Google Play Store and come pre-installed with them. How and why?

Also why does Amazon's Fire OS still is unable to access Google Play Store (hope I am right on this one)?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Core Android ROMs have pre-installed google apps. Nexus mobiles have Core Android ROM. Nowadays each manufacturers have their own custom roms such as Lg has its own os(Forked versions of Android) same as Xiaomi(MIUI). Samsung , Sony , Micromax have also started to customize their OS in order to achieve better performance.

Google apps needed only plateform Android. Custom Roms make no difference to installation and support of google apps. Each android custom roms support all google apps. Sometimes they have given pre-installed google apps ans sometimes not. At that time we just need to download it.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, google-play-store, micromax-yu-yureka, xiaomi
---


# Question
Title: How to configure portable WiFi router in Xiaomi mi 4
I hv miui 6 version of rom. How can I configure my connected users like allow or block them etc that r connected to my hotspot which I created on my mi4.... Plz help

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can block them by their mobile's MAC(Physical) address. But the better way is to change your Wi-fi hotspot password if you do not want to share your internet connection with others.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat
---


# Question
Title: Global readable private keys found in storage/emulated/0/data - Possible security risk?
I found following global readable files in `/storage/emulated/0/data/IMS`:

`cert.pem`

`private_key.pem`

I have full access to this files with my file-manager/text-editor, so I think any other app will have full access too! It seems to be a privacy/security issue.

Information:

`Cert.pem line 6: "Issuer: CN=Samsung RCS Client"`

(Wikipedia: RCS="Rich Communication Services") I moved `private_key.pem` to another directory, it has been replaced by a new different `private_key.pem` file.

Is this a possible security risk?

# Answer
> 2 votes
A globally-readable private key is almost certainly a vulnerability. A globally-readable certificate is generally not. You appear to have both, so you've very likely found a vulnerability.

Your next step would be to either report it to the vendor (probably Samsung) or find a security researcher who can investigate further.

According to a blog post, Samsung Mobile security issues can be sent to `mobile.security@samsung.com`. In theory, that email should be staffed by someone clueful about security (unlike first-tier customer support), so you should get a reasonable response. When contacting them, you should let them know about this question, so they realize it's already been disclosed.

---
Tags: encryption, privacy
---


# Question
Title: Installing CM13 Nightly as MultiRom in TWRP fails
I've downloaded `cm-13.0-2015-1209-NIGHLY-flo.zip` and tried to install it as MultiROM in TWRP 2015-06-30 (v2.8.7.0) on my Nexus 7 (2013 wifi):

Advanced → MultiROM → Add ROM → Zip File.

But installing fails:

What to I have to do to make the install succeed?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Try this workaround: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63431628&postcount=50

"Delete all the lines after "ui\_print("Verifying the updated system image...");" until "show\_progress(0.020000, 10);". once you have done it save the file and copy it back into the location inside the rom zip file and flash it on your phone."

Worked for me.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Quoting from official Cyanogen site Nightlies are not recommended unless you can handle issues arising out of it, since they are not tested

> ...We have the Nightlies, which are as volatile as a firmware can get. These releases keep coming at an interval of a day or two and if you do end up trying one of these, do not be alarmed if your device goes cuckoo on you. These ROMs are largely untested, and as advised by CyanogenMod, not meant for use for an average user. These releases, are meant to test untested waters that may or may not break your phone

Hence, you should attempt with a stable version, more so when you are trying to install it on Multi ROM

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, rom-flashing, twrp, multirom-manager
---


title: Google Play Store does not open

text:
# Question
Title: Google Play Store does not open
i have a alcatel onetouch, since two days ago i try to open the Google Play store, but it does not show up, i looks like it will open but it get closed inmediatly, i don't know why does anyone can help ?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try to clean cache and other data to Google Play Services & Google Play Store (Menu--\>Configuration--\>Application). If it does not work try to remove updates from google play store.

---
Tags: google-play-store
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# Question
Title: Core Prime G360T(5.1.1) soft brick TWRP issue
My main objective is to root the phone; as expected from an android newb. I bricked by phone, though this is a bit complicated than the usual.

Here's what I did. 1. Apply Kingroot One-click root (from pc) 2. Installed SuperSU = \[failed to update\] -- checked (anyway) root from Root Checker = FAIL

3. Tried http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-core/development/kernel-root-root-sm-g360t1-5-1-1-t3203522 -- checked root from Root Checker = FAIL
4. Tried installing TWRP (Odin method) (here's where things get messy)

a. Download mode (Vol up + home + pwr) goes straight to TWRP recovery BUT b. TWRP touchscreen controls do not work.

any solutions guys? I'd appreciate all the help! (And I'm also kinda desperate)

# Answer
> 2 votes
Touch is not working in the official TWRP release for Galaxy Core Prime. Current solution is to install modified TWRP for G360T1, the MetroPCS variant. Find it here. You should still be able to get into download mode again and Odin flash new TWRP.

---
Tags: recovery-mode, unbricking, twrp
---


title: Force menu button in Android Lolipop

text:
# Question
Title: Force menu button in Android Lolipop
I have a HTC One M8 with the 5.0 ROM (Play Edition) flashed on it. It's rooted.

I previously used VenomRoms which had an option to force the menu button, is there something similar on the default Lolipop rom?

# Answer
> 1 votes
By default, I assume you mean stock? Then no. Google did away with the menu button in Android 4.0. It's officially unsupported and appears (now called the "Action Overflow button") only when an app ignores design guidelines and requires it anyway. Google provides no direct way to force it, as it's officially no longer a part of Android.

Only custom ROMs or toolkit like Xposed modules can bring it back. An example module that includes such information is App Settings, although I can't speak to its Lollipop compatibility, especially since I think Xposed is still in early beta for Lollipop.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Long press the recent apps button, and you'll get the app menu. At least, that's what works on LG lollipop phones.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: "/sdcard/Sounds" folder appears empty in Windows 7 for Samsung Galaxy S3
For some reason, the folder that once allowed me to access all my recordings using the default Sound Recorder app appears empty in windows even though the files are still there according to ES File Explorer. My phone is not rooted.

(Similarly, some files in my Downloads folder are not visible from Windows.)

I've also begun having an issue where deleting folders in the "Music" directory gives an error "cannot delete \_____ the storage is write-protected.", but I don't know if this is related. I really need these recordings without having to "share" every single one of them individually in ES File Explorer.

What is going on?

# Answer
Being aware it is not a full-fledged solution but rather a workaround (it's still unclear what's causing the underlying issue), this answer sums up what we figured being a work-around at least:

As the files/directories don't show up the usual way via "sharing the SDCard", they can still be accessed by other means. One example is using ADB: using `adb pull` files can be transferred from the device to the computer, and with `adb push` in the other direction. Examples:

* `adb pull /sdcard/Sounds/ E:\audio\phone` would take the entire folder `/sdcard/Sounds` and save it as `E:\audio\phone` on the computer
* `adb push E:\audio\phone /sdcard/Sounds/` for the opposite

The culprit: types of "source" and "target" must match. If "source" is a file, "target" must be a file as well: `adb pull /sdcard/Sounds/some.mp3 E:\audio\phone` would fail as the source is a file and the target a directory.

Other draw-backs can be worked around as well: if you prefer a graphical solution over tinkering with the command line, there are several good GUIs available, e.g.

And several more. As a side-effect of installing ADB, you've got a powerful tool ready which will certainly help you with many other things!

For getting ADB to work without installing the full SDK, please refer to Is there a minimal installation of ADB? More ADB related information can be found via our tag and its tag-wiki.

Alternatives include several "WiFi file managers", which are too many to be listed here. So if you rather want a "simple app installed" on your Android device, and then do everything with your browser, you might wish to take a look at the following lists:
> 1 votes

# Answer
An alternative I found after the fact is to use ES File Explorer or something of the like to move the files into a different folder. They're visible to windows in the new folder.
> 0 votes

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, file-system, windows, file-permissions
---


# Question
Title: Does blocking app notifications stop app from accessing internet?
On Android smartphone, we can hold finger on any notification from app and after clicking on "i" it shows option to block any further notification from the app. Say for example, I do this for gmail then it won't show me notifs about new email.

Does this disable the app from accessing the internet or only the display of notifications is disabled?

# Answer
As it says - notifications only. The app will continue to work as usual, just won't show any notifications until you enable them again.
> 3 votes

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Tags: notifications, push-notifications
---


# Question
Title: Can I found a contact photo in Android 6.0?
I want to add a photo to contact. So I found the person I want to add photo. And I click the camera icon then it took me to the camera and I took a photo of him. After that it crop the photo into square. However I cannot found the contact photo and I cannot even found this photo in my phone. So can I find this photo in my phone? or any cache of this photo in my camera application?

# Answer
There are 2 possibilities:

* The photo is indeed saved but in a folder which is set not to display media in your multimedia apps like gallery, music etc (contains the .nomedia file). You need to look it up somewhere on your storage using a file manager app instead of gallery.
* The photo is saved in the contact you associated it with, on your Google account. Meaning the photo itself when shot, was saved in the contact, and then the file was deleted from the storage.

I think the 2nd possibility is probably what happened, because if you wanted to take a photo and save it on your phone, you would have taken it with a camera app, not through contacts.
> 0 votes

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Tags: contacts, 6.0-marshmallow, contact-photo
---


# Question
Title: How to Pinch Zoom on device with no touchscreen, like an Android Stick?
I have some Android TV "sticks", such as the RK3188, which is basically a tablet minus the screen. You control them using keyboard and a mouse.

The problem is, I have no way to zoom in or out in the browser. There's no way for me to do a "pinch" gesture, and Ctrl +/- etc. don't seem to work in any browser, like Chrome, FireFox, and Dolphin.

I'm using the box as a display screen in a public area and not being able to scale the content to fit the whole TV is a serious limitation.

EDIT: Double tap only offers 2 zoom levels "close" and "far".

# Answer
I just found this info with a quick google http://www.pcworld.com/article/184656/android\_keyboard\_shortcuts.html

I hope it helps.

Android Keyboard Shortcuts: Browsing

• Menu + I: Zoom in

• Menu + O: Zoom out

• Menu + J: Go back a page

• Menu + K: Go forward a page

• Menu + R: Refresh current page

• Menu + F: Find on page

• Menu + B: Open bookmarks

• Menu + S: Open social network sharing menu

• Menu + H: View browsing history

• Menu + S: Open browser settings
> 5 votes

# Answer
As aureljared points out, apps offer alternative zoom mechanisms. Google officially recommends that apps use either double-click or double-click-and-drag to zoom. (That is, click once, then hold the mouse button down and drag vertically to zoom in and out.)

Android's "manifest" system for apps requires apps to state explicitly if they work with non-touchscreen pointing interfaces like a mouse, joystick, or trackpad. If the manufacturer of your TV stick set it up correctly, it will only show you apps which can be used **fully** with a mouse and keyboard, including zooming.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This way works for me - double klick with left mouse button and hold it down at second klick, then drag up or down to zoom in or out.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: browser, zooming
---


# Question
Title: Prevent Screen from rotating in Android VM
Using VirtualBox, I have created a Virtual Android. My problem is that certain apps will rotate the screen, but virtual box doesn't flip.

Here is my guide:

http://www.howtogeek.com/164570/how-to-install-android-in-virtualbox/

How do I either rotate the screen or keep it from rotating?

I tried disabling the "Auto Rotate Screen" option, but there are some apps that force the screen rotation.

# Answer
Well, I wasn't able to make the rotation NOT happen in Android on VirtualBox, but I found another virtual platform for Android called Andyroid. Andyroid still provides Android within a virtual machine, AND the Andyroid wrapper provides methods of rotating the Android for you (not the same as using the keyboard commands in Virtual Box). So I didn't solve the very problem, but I solved the situation.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I encountered this problem when trying to run QQ on Android 4.4 running in VirtualBox. F9-F12 were ineffective as soon as QQ started. The app "Ultimate Rotation Control" does the trick but does not resize the QQ window. So part of it gets to lie out of the virtual screen. Finally, I ended up redefining the screen size of the virtual Android to 360x640 (portrait) as described here. It seems that QQ detects which side of the screen is longer and rotates according to this. So if you start with a portrait aspect ratio it will not rotate sideways. I do not about pheed, but guess it operates the same way.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, virtualbox
---


title: Problems with partition table

text:
# Question
Title: Problems with partition table
I have a Prestigio 5044 Duo (PAP5044) with MTK6589. Basically, what I was trying to do was to resize /data partition, beacause it was only about 950Mb, by shrinking Internal SD card (/emmc) partition. For that I used Meteos MTK6589 Apllication.

After going all the steps I found out that Android OS was hanging during boot (like half-way to boot up, and it freezed with no error messages). Though, recovery (I have CWM) boots well.
After doing some research I found out, that partition table of the device was messed up after `/cache` partition. So, all system and recovery partititons are fine.

Here is fdisk output:

```
~ # fdisk -lu /dev/block/mmcblk0
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5
Warning: ignoring extra data in partition table 5

Disk /dev/block/mmcblk0: 3853 MB, 3853516800 bytes
1 heads, 16 sectors/track, 470400 cylinders, total 7526400 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes

              Device Boot      Start         End      Blocks  Id System
/dev/block/mmcblk0p1            1024        1022  2147483647+  5 Extended
Partition 1 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/block/mmcblk0p2           26624       47103       10240  83 Linux
Partition 2 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/block/mmcblk0p3           47104       67583       10240  83 Linux
Partition 3 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/block/mmcblk0p4           93184      105471        6144  83 Linux
Partition 4 does not end on cylinder boundary
/dev/block/mmcblk0p5          134144     1465343      665600  83 Linux
/dev/block/mmcblk0p6         7556096        1022  2143706111+ 83 Linux

```

And here are `/proc/partitions` and `fstab`:

```
~ # cat /proc/partitions
major minor  #blocks  name

 179        0    3763200 mmcblk0
 179        1          1 mmcblk0p1
 179        2      10240 mmcblk0p2
 179        3      10240 mmcblk0p3
 179        4       6144 mmcblk0p4
 179        5     665600 mmcblk0p5
 179        6     129024 mmcblk0p6
 179        7    2901504 mmcblk0p7
 179       64       2048 mmcblk0boot1
 179       32       2048 mmcblk0boot0
 179       96   31338496 mmcblk1
 179       97   31334400 mmcblk1p1
~ # cat /etc/fstab
/dev/block/mmcblk0p6 /cache ext4 rw
/dev/block/mmcblk0p7 /data ext4 rw
/dev/block/mmcblk0p8 /emmc vfat rw
/dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system ext4 rw
/dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /sdcard vfat rw
/dev/block/mmcblk1p2 /sd-ext auto rw

```

So, on `mmcblk0` there must be 10 partitions, and now there are only 6, according to fdisk.

I have two ideas how it is possible to restore partitions: 1) manually with `fdisk`, though it doesn't seem like a very good idea 2) I've found some info about **scatter file** for MTK-based devices, seems like it contains all the partitioning info; I have no idea how to get and use that file, though.

What should I do to recover my device?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I don’t know the asked partition restore process, but there is a solution that works, and the phone will work again. You will need 1. 1.0.42 full image ROM for Flashtool 2. SP Flashtool 3. EBRtweak 4. CWM 6.0.4.4

Solution: 1. Extract 1.0.42 ROM 2. Copy the EBRtweak into the ROM folder, and run with the asked option (like 2,5 GB) 3. Delete the EBR\*.bak from the ROM folder 4. Copy the CWM 6.0.4.4 recovery.img to the ROM folder 5. Run CheckSum\_Generate.exe 6. Flash with SP Flashtool the MT6589\_Android\_scatter\_emmc.txt file from the 1.0.42 ROM folder. 7. Boot into recovery mode and go to mounts and storage: format /data, format/cache 8. Reboot system.

If you need any of those files, write me and I'll send it to you.

---
Tags: data-recovery, clockworkmod-recovery, partitions
---


title: NTLM authorization proxy on Android

text:
# Question
Title: NTLM authorization proxy on Android
Is it possible to run NTLM authorization proxy on Android? It is written in Python, and should provide proxy compatibility.

See also this question:

How to set HTTP proxy and proxy authentication credentials in wifi?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Not an answer to your question exactly, but it solves the main issue. I have coded a solution for this, you can download the apk on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1083284. It uses a cntlm binary to process the authentication.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can find a non-root NTLM proxy here: http://humanos.uci.cu/2015/03/humancode-llega-la-version-3-9-de-ucintlm/ The site is in spanish but the app works for english too. I'm the developer of this app.

---
Tags: authorization, proxy, ntlm
---


title: Can't reboot to recovery mode

text:
# Question
Title: Can't reboot to recovery mode
I have a galaxy grand prime.when i try to reboot into recovery mode with 3 button combo, clock mode dosn't start. it booted normally.how to solve this.

# Answer
> 1 votes
On some samsung devices (rather newer, e.g. Galaxy A3), there is no need for root access to reboot into recovery mode.

Enable the Developer options on your device (Settings \> About device \> pushing several times "Build number") and switch on the USB debugging.

You need to install adb http://lifehacker.com/the-easiest-way-to-install-androids-adb-and-fastboot-to-1586992378/ and to run the following command:

```
adb shell reboot recovery

```

This should reboot your device into recovery mode without root.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, recovery-mode, factory-reset, odin
---


# Question
Title: Transfer image after completely wiping Nexus device
I've completely wiped my Google Nexus device. I still have Team Win Recovery Project. But, seems that the device isn't detecting USB.

Executing `adb shell` returns `error: no devices found`.

Executing `adb devices` doesn't return my device.

Tried it out on bith Windows 8 and OSX (El Capitan).

# Answer
I've resolved it. Used a different USB cable and got everything fixed!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, recovery-mode, nexus-5, data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: How do I tell which Nexus 5X 6P stock firmware variant to download?
I need to restore my factory image, but there seems to be many version of the images: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images?hl=en

This is for the Nexus 5x and 6p. How do I know which variant do I need to download? Where do I compare these variant numbers? And what is the difference from each image?

# Answer
> 2 votes
First, you **must** flash the appropriate image for your device. Flashing a 6P image onto a 5X will not work.

Second, pick which version you want (*i.e.* 6.0.0 or 6.0.1). Within each version there are multiple download options. These are the different monthly security updates. For instance, 6.0.1 has two options for the 5X - MMB29K and MMB29P. These always increase within the same version number (*i.e* in this case, in the last digit P comes after K in the alphabet; However, sometimes it increases more fundamentally, such as the change from MDA89E in the first 5X 6.0.0 to MDB08K in the next security update for 6.0.0 on the 5X. In this case it is the third digit which increases from A to B that is the fundamental change; But in all cases, they increase).

Generally, just grabbing the last option within the version is fine. If you grab a previous one, since it is a stock image, you will get a prompt for an Over-The-Air (OTA) update to the latest security patch anyways.

---
Tags: rom-flashing, factory-image
---


# Question
Title: Error "mount: operation not permitted" when trying to mount system as read/write
I am trying to mount system as `r\w` and every app couldn't do it including root explorer and link2sd. I am using Xperia z2 android v4.4.4 and I the device is rooted and I have restarted the phone.

I get the following eeors when trying to do this:

`mount -o mount,rw rootfs /
 mount: operation not permitted`

# Answer
> 1 votes
This is how you remount root as read-write:

```
 mount -o remount,rw /

```

If you want to remount the system partition as read-write:

```
mount -o remount,rw /system

```

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, root-access, mount, system-error, sony-xperia
---


title: How to enable adb in bootloader mode?

text:
# Question
Title: How to enable adb in bootloader mode?
Is it possible to enable `adb` in bootloader mode? I've already managed to enable it at boot following this, but couldn't figure out yet how to enable it in bootloader mode (if it is even possible?).

Does anyone have any idea?

# Answer
> 1 votes
That's not possible – as in Bootloader mode, there's no real OS loaded yet (see XDA Wiki and AddictiveTips). Quoting from AddictiveTips:

> In literal terms, bootloader is code that is executed before any Operating System starts to run. The concept of bootloaders is universal to virtually all Operating systems that inculcates operating systems on your PC, laptop, smartphones, and other such devices. Bootloaders basically package the instructions to boot operating system kernel \[…\]
>
> Every Android phone has a bootloader ***that instructs the operating system kernel to boot normally.***

<sup>(emphasis mine)</sup>

As there isn't any OS running yet in this mode (especially no Android), there's no ADB that can be run. That applies all the same to "Download mode" with Samsung devices, or HBoot with HTC (just different names for the same thing).

---
Tags: adb, boot, bootloader
---


# Question
Title: Can I use Google Play Services geofences to get location profiles without a service running all the time?
Apps like Llama let you use location-related properties (such as Wi-Fi network visibility) to trigger automation actions such as putting the phone on silent, but they do this by running as a background service and polling for Wi-Fi networks or directly for location.

The Google Play Services library contains a geofencing facility, which allows apps to define geofences and to be started in response to (the phone) entering or leaving those geofences.

Since Google Play Services already needs to run and update my location for things like Google Now and Location History to work, I'd like to be able to use this to have it automate things on my phone, without having an extra service in memory all the time and running periodically. Is there a way I can set this up on my phone? Perhaps there's an app like Llama but using Google Play Services geofences instead of Wi-Fi, or a way to configure Tasker so that it only runs when triggered by a geofence I define. (I've never used Tasker.)

# Answer
> 1 votes
The AutoLocation add-on for Tasker allows you to do this. It makes use of Google Play Services Geofences, and is put out by one of the most reputable Tasker add-on designers around.

To set it up once you've installed Tasker and AutoLocation, create the geofences in the AutoLocation app and click **start geofence**. Then in Tasker you can set profiles to start from an **Event**. Choose **Plugin**, then **AutoLocation**, then **Geofence**, and set up the condition. Be sure Tasker is enabled (if the app icon in the action bar isn't coloured, long-tap it). Tasker does have a foreground service (always-on notification) by default: you can disable it from Tasker's preferences.

One shortcoming of this technique is that AutoLocation's geofences only create events in Tasker, not contexts, so you can't have settings changes automatically undo themselves when leaving the geofence.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Most automation apps support geofencing, using either the Google Play Services or the standard proximity alert APIs. Automate has built-in support for both, see settings. However, the Google Play Services geofencing is no longer the default as it has proven to be the most unreliable.

---
Tags: automation, geolocation
---


# Question
Title: Videos are directly streaming onto my default player. Want to open in Opera so I can download it
I have been using Android for the last week.

I have Opera for browsing. I download videos from a website directly thru Opera. While downloading it asks me whether to open the video in Opera or default video player of my mobile.

Accidentally I once clicked on the "make it default" option and it was directly streamed to the video player. After this it never open in my Opera to download.

Because of this I can't download videos into my mobile. If I try to search the name of the video player I cant find it. And please help to restore as it was before.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You *shouldn't* need to uninstall anything. You just need to clear the default.

Go into your settings and the app manager. Find the default video player. (You'll probably have to change your view from "Downloaded" to "All" in order to find it. I expect it's called "Video" or similar.) In the settings for the app should be a button labeled "Clear defaults". Tap that and remove the existing default settings for the app.

Now when you go back into Opera and click a link it should prompt you again. Be careful about that "make it the default" button.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If all the other answers look too complicated, or are not suiting you for other reasons: There are apps available helping you to Manage Default Apps. Two examples of that are Clear Defaults and Default App Manager:

The former simply lets you *clear* the default for an action type, while the letter also lets you chose which app should be the default, which might come in handy – though it's not strictly required, as Android would ask you the next time anyway if there is no default set.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Trying uninstalling the Opera browser:

```
 Settings > Applications > Manage applications

```

and then reinstalling it.

Alternatively download a new web browser (e.g., Dolphin) and once that is installed, launch your video and it should give you the option of selecting Opera as your default.

# Answer
> -2 votes
Just install another Video Player app.

As this adds a new possible choice, it will reset the "default" setting as a side-effect – and save you the work of finding the app currently set as default.

---
Tags: default-applications, opera-browser, video-streaming
---


# Question
Title: How to edit hidden settings from Developer options?
I have a chinese tablet with very specific Android 4.4.2 ROM - it's Developer options menu has only USB debugging available, and all other settings are hidden.

The problem is that i switched off the Developer options toggle by mistake, so now all settings are back to their defaults, including the transitional animations (when changing tabs) period.

They was not active before, so it was the default behavior of the ROM.

The device is not rooted.

Is there any way to edit the hidden settings?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'm uncertain on bringing those lost options in GUI back other than to recommend clearing data of Settings app from Settings → Apps → All apps → Settings → Clear data. Reboot and see what happens. In the event of failure, you can consider .

That said, if you're simply concerned with changing Window/Transition animation scale and/or Animator duration scale, then you can use `settings` or `content` tool which do not require root access. You can refer to Christopher Galpin's method for an approach requiring root access.

<sub>(Solution tested on Android 4.2.1, 4.4.2, 5.0.2 and 5.1.1.)</sub>

Setup in PC and execute

```
adb shell settings get system  window_animation_scale    # for Window animation scale. Some ROMs have this key under global table instead of system. So replace system if command gives null
adb shell content query --uri content://settings/system --where 'name="window_animation_scale"'  # an alternative to above command. Make replacements as appropriate

```

If the first and the second command returns you a decimal and a string beginning with `Row:`, then you're on the right track. Now do

```
adb shell settings put system  window_animation_scale VALUE   # Replace VALUE with a decimal, such as 0.75 or 2.0. The minimum and maximum I've seen are 0.0 and 10.0
adb shell content update --uri content://settings/system --bind value:s:VALUE --where 'name="window_animation_scale"'  # an alternative to above command. Make replacements as appropriate

```

In order to change Transition animation scale, replace `window_animation_scale` with `transition_animation_scale`. For Animator duration scale, replace with `animator_duration_scale`.

---
Tags: settings, menu, hidden
---


# Question
Title: How to download an app from another region/country?
I've found duplicate posts, but they are outdated. The solutions no longer work as some of the apps have been deprecated, and things have changed since 2013. My phone is NOT rooted, I have a HTC ONE M8, running Android 6.0.

I'm in the Middle East (but my Google account is based in the USA since I live there), and I'm trying to download an app that is only available here in the Middle East. However, when I search for the app in my play store, I'm finding only the USA equivalent, which doesn't have the features I need while I'm here. I'm physically not in the USA though, and my sim card is a local one from the Middle East so when I access the play store its weird how I'm still getting US based apps.

I've tried changing my country in payments.google.com \> settings, and erased all data of my play store and play services, went back in and its still showing me results for the USA. The only thing that makes sense to me is that somewhere in my google account it still has my country/region as USA. How can I change this? Would creating another account be a good idea? I just don't want to have to sign out of my google account, but if its the only way I guess I'll try that.

If the best solution is creating a google account, I've actually gone ahead and done that, but how do I switch accounts? I don't want to lose any data in the process of switching accounts.

# Answer
> 3 votes
There were two ways I was able to solve this. I preferred to use the APK method, but the other method was to create a google account in that country and add it. APK method was cleaner.

# Answer
> -1 votes
The best solution I found for this issue which also works for things like getting Netflix content for other regions, is to use a VPN service.

I personally use VPN Unlimited at the moment though there are plenty of others available. However, for the vast majority of these you are required to pay some sort of subscription (luckily I got mine on an offer of lifetime usage for $29.99).

I am in the UK and all I need to do with this app is open it, select a server in the region of choice and then turn on the VPN service and for all intents and purposes any website or app that looks for a region thinks I am in the same region as my chosen server (I usually use one in the US).

I am sure there may be cost free versions available but I suspect they will be at some performance cost such as limited download usage or bandwidth but its worth looking into.

# Answer
> -1 votes
You could try just downloading the APK file and try installing the app that way.

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


# Question
Title: New keyboard app not listed in Language & input settings page
I downloaded and imported Android SDK's Softkeyboard example (an app) to Android studio and installed it into my Sony xPeria Z3 running Android 5.1.1. That said, I do not see the app name in **Language & input** settings page.

I checked the list of installed apps on my phone and I see that *SoftKeyboard* is installed and in Android Studio, there is no error.

Can you show me a way to fix this problem?

# Answer
> 1 votes
**Note**: the commands in this solution requires setup in PC and the solution is tested on Android 4.2.1, 5.0.2 and 5.1.1.

---

Whenever an app equipped with an IME service is installed in the system, in order to connect its IME to the system, the device's owner must explicitly allow the app to become part of enabled input methods.

So how does it happen? We know that we can use command-line but that's not what ordinary users do.

It happens this way. When you launch that app, you're or would be asked to enable its keyboard. You are then redirected to a sub-activity of Settings app. In ROMs close to stock Android, a user can access that sub-activity from **Settings → Language & input → Current Keyboard → Choose Keyboards**. This is how it looks like in some devices:

<sub>(Click image to enlarge; image courtesy of OP)</sub>

You can use command-line as an alternative to show that sub-activity

```
adb shell am start -a android.settings.INPUT_METHOD_SETTINGS
adb shell "am start 'intent:#Intent;action=android.settings.INPUT_METHOD_SETTINGS;end'"  # alternative to above command

```

For an app, the moment you turn the slider towards right in that sub-activity, its IME's id is appended into the value of enabled\_input\_methods \- a secure setting. The app then gets listed under **Settings → Language & input**, among those already enabled as input methods.

Since only one IME can remain as a default IME in system, the app then shows you a dialog to select a keyboard app as default. That dialog can be accessed from **Settings → Language & input → Current Keyboard**. Whatever entry you choose there becomes the default keyboard in the device.

Now that you know the details, you can now easily add a keyboard into enabled input methods, including your example keyboard app.

---

# Enabling keyboard using command-line

There's an another way too. All the enabled input methods can be listed by this command:

```
adb shell ime list -s

```

Example output

```
com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME
net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard/.CtrlVKeyboard

```

All the available (enabled or not) IME services can be listed through

```
adb shell ime list -a

```

Example output

```
com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME:
  mId=**com.android.inputmethod.latin/.LatinIME** mSettingsActivityName=com.android.inputmethod.latin.settings.SettingsActivity
  mIsDefaultResId=0x7f070000
  Service:
    priority=0 preferredOrder=0 match=0x108000 specificIndex=-1 isDefault=false
    ServiceInfo:
      name=com.android.inputmethod.latin.LatinIME
      packageName=com.android.inputmethod.latin
      labelRes=0x7f08003a nonLocalizedLabel=null icon=0x0 banner=0x0
      enabled=true exported=true processName=com.android.inputmethod.latin
      permission=android.permission.BIND_INPUT_METHOD
      flags=0x0
net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard/.CtrlVKeyboard:
  mId=**net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard/.CtrlVKeyboard** mSettingsActivityName=null
  mIsDefaultResId=0x0
  Service:
    priority=0 preferredOrder=0 match=0x108000 specificIndex=-1 isDefault=false
    ServiceInfo:
      name=net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard.CtrlVKeyboard
      packageName=net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard
      labelRes=0x7f0b0015 nonLocalizedLabel=null icon=0x0 banner=0x0
      enabled=true exported=true processName=net.zhdev.ctrlvkeyboard
      permission=android.permission.BIND_INPUT_METHOD
      flags=0x0
com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.KeyboardService:
  mId=**com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.KeyboardService** mSettingsActivityName=com.touchtype.settings.TouchTypeKeyboardSettings
  mIsDefaultResId=0x0
  Service:
    priority=0 preferredOrder=0 match=0x108000 specificIndex=-1 isDefault=false
    ServiceInfo:
      name=com.touchtype.KeyboardService
      packageName=com.touchtype.swiftkey
      enabled=true exported=true processName=com.touchtype.swiftkey
      permission=android.permission.BIND_INPUT_METHOD
      flags=0x0

```

The highlighted strings next to `mId=` are the IDs of the keyboard apps available in my system.

In any ID, the string before `/` is the package name of the keyboard app. Example: for Swiftkey keyboard, the mId is:

```
com.touchtype.swiftkey/com.touchtype.KeyboardService

```

The string `com.touchtype.swiftkey` is the package name of Swiftkey app. Package name is what will help you to find the appropriate mID that you should use to enable a particular keyboard app.

To know the package name of an app, follow View app's full package name?

In order to add or remove an IME into enabled input methods, do

```
# replace ID with mId of the keyboard app which you want to add or remove

adb shell ime enable ID
adb shell ime disable ID

```

To make an IME the default IME of the system, do

```
# Note that it doesn't matter whether the IME is added into enabled input methods or not. Consider this a direct override.

adb shell settings put secure default_input_method "ID"
adb shell content update --uri content://settings/secure --bind value:s:"ID"  --where "name='default_input_method'"  # alternative to above command

```

---
Tags: keyboard, input-methods
---


title: Root S4 mini SGH-i257M

text:
# Question
Title: Root S4 mini SGH-i257M
A year or so ago I was looking into rooting my S4 mini SGH-i257M. This is the Canadian version, Android 4.4.2 from Rogers. At the time there was no reliable method available, and no hope of there being one in the near future. I am wondering if anyone has found a reliable root procedure for this phone since then.

```
S4 mini SGH-i257M
Baseband version i257MVLUBNG2
Kernal Version 3.4.0-2254622
Build number KOT49H.i257MVLUBNG2

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
The answer is yes, a simple reliable root procedure has been found for this phone. It is **CF-Auto-Root** by **Chainfire**. Here is a quote from Chainfire's initial post outlining the philosophy of this procedure ...

***CF-Auto-Root is the root for "rooting beginners" and those who want to keep as close to stock as possible. CF-Root is meant to be used in combination with stock Samsung firmwares, and be the quickest and easiest way for your first root. In essence, it does nothing but install and enable SuperSU on your system, so apps can gain root access.***

Here is the link to the actual procedure ... http://androidmtk.com/root-samsung-galaxy-s4-mini-sgh-i257m

Here is a link to my post on xda with the details of my results ... http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64690687&postcount=1329

Note that the procedure is for Build number KOT49H.i257MVLUBNG**1** but i took a bit of a risk with my phone which has Build number KOT49H.i257MVLUBNG**2** and it works flawlessly.

---
Tags: root-access, samsung-galaxy-s-4-mini
---


title: How to flash Stock Recovery without PC

text:
# Question
Title: How to flash Stock Recovery without PC
I'm trying to get back to stock recovery. Currently I don't have access to a PC. A few days ago, when I tried flashing the recovery.tar file via Odin, it failed. How can I get back to stock recovery? I have the recovery file in both formats i.e. .img and .tar. Any help will be appreciated.

My Device : Galaxy Tab 4 SM-T531 Android 4.4.3 Stock

# Answer
Oooo also download pem it generates passwors for when you extract the tar file in mobile odin other way is twerp flashing it
> -1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, rooting
---


title: Location showing inaccurate movements

text:
# Question
Title: Location showing inaccurate movements
Google showing that I left work for almost an hour. It has me located at s nearby restaurant. I never left is this possible? How is thus happening? It shows moving and leave, arrive times. I don't understand. Please help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
GPS is by definition not always accurate. If it functions normally, it should give you your position within a radius of 30 metres around you. However, it might malfunction and place you somewhere else.

In addition, your phone uses the list of connected telephone masts to triangulate your position. If GPS was turned off, your location would be found from this. This kind of triangulation is very inaccurate, and changes to your telephone network by the provider could influence it at any point in time.

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Change the speed of games in Android / SpeedHack for Android
Is there a way to slow down / speed up the actual game speed? For Windows PC, there is the Cheat Engine SpeedHack that does it nicely. Is there anything (requiring root or not) to achieve similar effect on Android?

Check the Cheat Engine wiki (linked above) for the description in the functionality.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Use GameGuardian. It perfect works on all Android versions include Lollipop and Marshmallow.

It have speedhack worked on arm and x86 devices, include x86 emulators like Bluestacks, Droid4X, Andy and others.

---
Tags: applications, performance
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to speed up games with an accelerator?
Title + what i'm looking for is like the cheat engine "speed hack" equivalent, or for another example, on the iOS jailbroken app, xmodgames there is an accelerator feature. Is there something like this for android?

Note: I am not looking for something to speed up my phone, I just want the game to be sped up so things move faster in-game.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try use GameGuardian. It perfect works on all Android versions include Lollipop and Marshmallow.

It have speedhack worked on arm and x86 devices, include x86 emulators like Bluestacks, Droid4X, Andy and others.

# Answer
> 0 votes
GMD or something speeds up time based games being farming/energy if it is OFFLINE, just google it. If you mean the actual game like in some RTS to skip boring parts some cheat engines have that along with memory editor...

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Location Consent & undo Remeber This Setting
Like many, I found the Location Consent prompts to be annoying. I was excited when Google finally extended the option to 'remember this setting' in the latest update, but dismayed when I could only have the phone remember a 'yes' answer.

Unfortunately, when I handed the phone to a friend to coordinate GPS while driving she checked 'Remember this setting' and consented into the program. I would like to undo this, but cannot for the life of me find where this setting is stored on my phone. It does not appear to be listed in the 'Location' or by clearing the cache of the LocationServices app (which doesn't appear to actually work)

How can this be undone? Phone is a Motorola Razr HD running 4.4.2

# Answer
> 5 votes
geffchang's answer is correct. That said, it is meant for a rooted Android so users of non-rooted Android devices may not find it of much use.

Those users, if willing to sacrifice third-part apps' data associated with their Google account, can consider clearing data of Play services' app as a solution.

Set location mode to Device only for once, disable location mode, launch Settings app → Apps → All apps → Google Play services → Force stop → Manage Space → Clear data → Force stop again → optionally reboot.

Now try enabling the location mode. It should default to Device only and should you attempt to change to High accuracy, that Improve location accuracy? dialog for agreement would be shown to you.

# Answer
> 3 votes
If you have root access, edit this file:
`data > data > com.google.android.gms > shared_prefs > nlp-prefs.xml`

Change the value of `confirmNlp` to `true`.
`<boolean name="confirmNlp" value="false" />`

Source.

---
Tags: settings, permissions, location-services
---


# Question
Title: What is the standard voltage and current levels for an android battery?
I am using Micromax Canvas Nitro A310; recently, I bought a new USB cable and it seems its not doing the job as required.

My phone is not getting charged as it was before. Either it takes too long or the battery indicator not change to even 1% after being plugged on for 2-3 hours.

I am using **Ampere** app to check current and voltages with different USB cables and found that the one which I bought recently is showing very low current observations (230-250mA).

Need to know what are the normal ratings.

# Answer
> 3 votes
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who helped me understanding what can be the problem exactly; I am posting it as an answer because this is what solved my issue.

The problem was neither with the charger nor with the USB cable. The real culprit was an *extension cord* which was offering very high resistance probably.

Since my socket is at a certain height, i was using an extension cord to extend my USB. I observed readings from both ends, keeping extension cord and then removing it. I found huge difference in the current ratings. It came as 230 mA and 770mA respectively.

Now, I am using a home made mobile holder while charging and removed the extension completely from the circuit. Everything seems to be working as expected.

Hope this helps someone else who is encountering same issues using extension cables.

# Answer
> 7 votes
Firstly one needs to understand C-rate or charge rate. Quoting from the linked article

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

1. Li-Ion or Li-PO (both have same charge/discharge characteristics) -typically charged between 0.5 C to 0.8 C, more often closer to 0.8 C (as a thumb rule, depends on a lot of other factors like charging algorithm,"quick charging" ,OEM specific charging protection methods etc)
2. Next, one has to account for charging efficiency which is typically 90% for Li-Ion chargers, so effective charging rate would be about 0.7C (=90% of 0.8 C)
3. Your device battery is 2500mAh as per information on net, so the charging rate in mA =0.7\*2500= 1750 or less = 900 mA ( =90% of 0.5C\* 2500) if your charger is charging at 0.5C (**Edit** OP has confirmed in comments that his charger is 1A rated, so the charging rate appears to be 0.5 C)
4. This is the current your app should show using standard 2A,5V wall charger (rare to find lesser rated chargers these days)
5. USB charging is much slower as USB 3.0 give only 900 mA and USB 2.0 gives 500mA (refer linked Wikipedia)
6. Current drawn for charging is NOT uniform. Li-Ion batteries go through three stages of charging of battery charging Figure 1 of Charging Li-Ion batteries\- Constant Current, Saturation Charge (current decreases), Ready (almost zero current). If you plot current drawn using your app while charging a battery from 10% or lower to 100%, you would observe this. So this had to be borne in mind while measuring. As a typical example of this graph plotted on charging my phone see this

**tl:dr;**

So much for theory, coming to your question:

1. *Need to know what are the normal ratings* Explanation above should have made it clear that there is no normal or standard rating being dependent on C-rate, battery capacity, charging efficiency, charging algorithm, source of charging and in which stage of charging it was measured
2. It is not clear from your question whether the readings are obtained while charging from a wall charger (definitely very bad if that is the case ) or from USB charging from laptop (bad)
3. USB cable purchased seems to be a suspect. While buying USB cables go in for shorter and thicker USB cables (they offer less resistance to current) compared to longer and thinner cables as normally available (offer more resistance to current and hence slower charging). You can always test the current using your app before buying. Alternatively Google for *24/28 awg micro USB* cable and purchase that. I would suggest latter option, though more expensive but lasts across many phones you may own over a period of time (A robust Blackberry cable purchased ten years ago is still doing good)
4. To estimate charging time required considering all the factors enumerated, use the Battery Charge Time Calculator

# Answer
> 1 votes
The voltage and current rating of your battery won't be the problem. It will be the quality and rating of the cable you are using.

Different qualities of cable will handle different amounts of current and this is what will allow your battery to charge at different rates (assuming a suitable charger is used).

The fastest type of cable would be a USB 3.0 compatible one as these are designed to handle much larger currents by default. At this time a standard Android device is likely to require at least a USB 3.0 compatible cable so that it can handle enough current to charge your device at a reasonable rate. You also want to buy a reasonable quality one and not just any old cheap variety.

Based on the battery your device is shipped with (Li-Ion 2500 mAh battery), you want a cable that is capable of handling at least 2.0A (2000mA) - the more the better as the device will draw what it needs and certainly no more than your charger can supply.

The other thing to check is that your battery is not "dying" and not holding charge.

---
Tags: usb, battery, charging, battery-life, calibration
---


# Question
Title: Method or Methods To View & Copy Notes Besides On Your Device
Recently i had been working on my mobile instead of my laptop and that turned into a problem. I had been writing notes and saving documents on a word processor. When i finally got home i found out that though i could transfer the documents to my laptop i had saved i couldn't transfer the notes files. My friend suggested that i copy the notes on a word file and then transfer that. Is their a quicker way or ways to copying my notes. Thank You In Advance for Any Help You Provide

# Answer
> 0 votes
I use Evernote, which can be used offline and can be synched at a later time. It also has a web app for online access, and a desktop app as well.

---
Tags: file-transfer, notes
---


# Question
Title: How do I safely "copy" my gpg keys from kgpg on Linux to an Android app like openkeychain?
The title says most of it. I have a key pair setup on kgpg running under Kubuntu 12.04 Linux on my notebook. My smartphone (Galaxy S3) has no SD card slot.

I want to be able to transfer files between my notebook and my smartphone. Since I don't have a card reader for the phone yet, I figured I could do it using email or dropbox.

But both of those ways expose the files to other people and I would prefer they were encrypted.

The first file I want to send is my password vault from my notebook and although it's encrypted itself, I really need to be sure it's locked tight before it gets anywhere near the Internet.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The main objective here is to keep the file local in order to minimize the risk of an outsider deliberately stealing your keys.

**Method 1 (recommended)**

Hook up your phone via the USB charging cable that came with it. In order to do this, plug in the small micro-USB connector into the respective slot on the bottom of your phone. Then plug in the large USB2 connector into your computer.

You should now have a notification on your phone prompting you to enable mass storage. If you do not see this notification, download and install the Samsung USB Drivers. Now do enable mass storage.

Open the device with your computers file manager and copy the desired file over.

**Method 2 (potentially less secure)**

Some apps allow you to run an FTP Server on your phone. This allows you to remotely access your phone from within your local network. The downside is that allows any other machine on the network to grab the data while it is being sent.

From my experience, ES File Explorer does the best job at this, supplying a ton of other useful features as well.

Once you have installed the app, launch it and press the Menu key. Scroll down to "Remote Manager" and hit "Turn On". Type the supplied address into your computers file manager. Now copy the desired files to the desired destination.

**Method 3 (potentially less secure)**

If your computer supports Bluetooth, you can exchange files using it. Again, the downside is that allows any other machine on the network to grab the data while it is being sent.

Turn on Bluetooth on both your phone and your computer, and set one of them to be visible. Then connect to it from the other machine. You will have to confirm the connection, and potentially type in a code displayed in the other machine.

You can now open the device in your computers file manager and copy the desired files to the desired destination.

# Answer
> 1 votes
DropBox is pretty safe for this purpose. It is encrypted:

> Dropbox uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) to protect data in transit between Dropbox apps and our servers; it's designed to create a secure tunnel protected by 128-bit or higher Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) encryption.

---
Tags: security, encryption, file-transfer
---


# Question
Title: Cannot start Nexus 9 screen mirroring to Viera TV
Nexus 9 currently runs Android 6.0.1 (MMB29S) with ElementalX kernel 4.05 and Chainfire's SuperSU 2.66 (if that matters); on the TV side, - it is Panasonic Viera TX-42CSR610 and it has screen mirroring function. WiFi direct finds the device, I am also able to send videos with sound from Nexus to it (as well as from a Windows 10 pc). However if I start the "Cast screen" from Nexus, it says "No devices available"; also when I invoke screen mirroring app on the TV, WiFi direct loses it.

I've tried about dozen playstore apps with no avail, including Chromecast, Mirror beta, Wifi display, Wireless display (Miracast) and others, all of them failed in different ways.

Presumably it will work with additional hardware like Chromecast, what I want to know is whether it is supposed to work as is, and if yes, why does not it work.

I found some similar questions here, they are about some different hardware/software combinations. Is there a known common problem?

# Answer
Managed to do it thanks to this: after adding `persist.debug.wfd.enable=1` to `build.prop` the option to enable wireless display appeared in cast screen options. It took several attempts to connect and I don't really know what did it work after all, but it works now.

One drawback remains though - when mirroring display I don't have access to the wireless router, so I cannot display any new content from, say, facebook, only the stuff that was cached beforehand. But this is obviously the matter of a different question.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: dlna, screencast, miracast, screen-mirroring
---


title: How does fast-charge work?

text:
# Question
Title: How does fast-charge work?
* How does Fast Charge work?
* Does it actually charge your device faster, and if so,
* Is there a downside to using it?

# Answer
**Fast Charging** can be achieved in two ways

First part of your question **How does fast charging work? Does it actually charge your device faster**

This has been covered at length here (linking it rather than copy-paste) Will plugging the Samsung fast charger into a outlet rated 10W/2.1AMP slow down the charge rate?.

To summarise, normal charging is done at **0.5 to 0.8 C** (C is charge rate) and fast charging done at **1 to 3 C**. Please note that the exact or indicative charging rate is not revealed in any OEM documentation despite extensive search and it is unlikely that OEMs will reveal such details, deeming it "proprietary"

Coming to the second part of your question **Is there a downside to it (Fast Charging)?**

**Yes**, in two ways:

A common feature while using fast chargers is raise in temperature of battery (since more current is being pumped in and **power (read heat) is proportional to square of current**) and this is inimical to good health of battery, which is extensively covered here.

* **Short Term (Battery capacity after charging)** Battery is not really fully charged as it does not undergo charging spending enough time in all stages, compared to conventional charging. In simple words battery may deliver typically 85% of performance compared to regular charging. Details on this are available here
* **Long Term (Battery life span)** Battery life is specified in **Cycles or discharge cycles**. OEMs/ Battery resellers may specify this number, for example, it is 550 Cycles for Samsung Note 2

Quoting from BU-501: Basics About Discharging

> What Constitutes a Discharge Cycle?
>
> A discharge/charge cycle is commonly understood as the full discharge of a charged battery with subsequent recharge, but this is not always the case. Batteries are seldom fully discharged and manufacturers often use the 80 percent depth-of-discharge (DoD) formula to rate a battery, meaning that only 80 percent of the available energy is delivered and 20 percent remains in reserve. Cycling a battery at less than full discharge increases service life and manufacturers argue that this is closer to a field representation because batteries are commonly recharged with some spare capacity left.
>
> There is no standard definition as to what constitutes a discharge cycle.

This does not mean that every time you charge you are consuming a cycle

> For example, if you discharge a battery to 50 percent one day, charge it back to 100 percent, then discharge it 50 percent again the next day, that is counted as one "cycle" of the battery. So shallow discharges, in all these regards, are ideal for a Li-ion battery.

Now that battery life in cycles has been explained, let us see how fast charging adversely affects long term battery life

Figure 2 from BU-401a: Fast and Ultra-fast Chargers graphically shows deterioration in long term battery life. Note **deterioration in charge holding capacity and life of battery are both affected adversely**

Figure 2: Cycle performance of Li-ion with 1C, 2C and 3C charge and discharge Charging and discharging Li-ion above 1C reduces service life. Use a slower charge and discharge if possible. This rule applies to most batteries.

**Bottom Line:** Use fast charging when you *"have to"* due to time constraints else if possible stick to normal charging if you care for your battery( if you have read this lengthy answer, it's because you care:). But a relevant question is what can be done if your cell is equipped only with a fast charger? Answer would be to use a battery pack for normal use and fast charging when you really need it. This way, you could end up spending more but wouldn't need to bother about battery health

Perhaps realizing that ill effects of fast charging would be negative, Samsung has come up with user selectable enable/disable fast charge option

---

See FoneArena Labs : Best Fast Charging Standard in the market for performance comparison of different charging techniques
> 12 votes

# Answer
When you plug your phone into a PC, or other device that communicates with the phone, the phone uses a USB "Data mode", so to speak. In this mode, there is a 500ma maximum draw from the USB port.

When you plug your phone into a regular AC wall charger, there is no data connection. The phone then uses whatever amperage is supported by both the phone and charger (typically between 500ma and 2.1amps)

There are USB charging cables that have the data pins re-wired to disable a data connection. This makes the phone think it's plugged into a regular AC charger, and *allow* more than 500ma to flow. That does not mean the USB port has more than 500ma to begin with. Typically, USB ports on PCs have 500ma, or USB 3.0 ports may have 900ma.
Theoretically this is safe because it's just disabling a data connection. It's not using more power than it should. Phone's are designed not to accept more amps than it can handle.

There are also apps that allow for fast charging by forcing the phone into using the AC charging mode instead of data. *However you still need a compatible kernel or it won't work*. (For standard users, changing the kernel is a complicated and risky procedure.)
Please note that there are *reported* cases of people's phones not supporting regular data modes after attempting to activate fast charge via an app (notably the nexus 4).
> 9 votes

---
Tags: battery, charging, battery-life
---


# Question
Title: Disable Display Standby when in Developer Mode missing in Android 2.3
I'm a little bit confused about the missing Option to deactivate the Display Standby in Developer Mode.

In 2.2 there was a switch in Application --\> Development. But in 2.3.3 this switch is vanished and it is really annoying if the Phone gets black every 10 minutes.

So my Question, how can I override the Display Timeout in Developer Mode, is the switch at another Place or is it outpatched?

Phone is a Samsung Galaxy I9000.

Thanks.

# Answer
Try this app: StayAwake, worked for my stock I9000 (now running a custom rom, still works most of the time but a bit buggy).
> 4 votes

# Answer
If StayAwake is too buggy, try Tasker. I created a task which activates when usb is plugged in to keep the screen awake.

Seriously, with a rooted phone the following create a nirvana environment:

```
Titanium Backup
DroidWall
LBE Privacy
Tasker

```

You get pretty much total control over everything except the stupid 100% battery beep (you need a special ROM for that).
> 1 votes

# Answer
Although it doesn't answer the actual question, but may be helpful for few of the users who are looking for the answer.

**For android 4.2 and above**, I created an app for this purpose (Keep Awake for Debugging). It will keep your phone unlocked and screen awake **only** when you have USB/wireless debugging enabled.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, 2.3-gingerbread, screen
---


title: Can't save Shared photos

text:
# Question
Title: Can't save Shared photos
There is an option on Facebook messenger that lets you view shared photos I can't save any of them to gallery. After I long press on photo it opens but there is no options.

# Answer
Once the photo is open there should be three vertical dots in the bottom right corner (if you don't see them initially tap once on the image/screen). Tapping on the dots will open a menu that includes the save option.
> 1 votes

# Answer
You need to go to Settings within the Messenger app, then to Photos and Media and select "Save photos". After that, all photos will be saved automatically. This is the only way AFAIK.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: facebook-messenger
---


# Question
Title: Remove google app (velvet) from android marshmallow
I want to remove bloatware Velvet apk (Google app) from stock Android Marshmallow on a Nexus 5. I had no problems on Lollipop removing the Google app. It worked perfectly. But on Marshmallow, I get a bootloop if I remove it.

# Answer
> 3 votes
You need to go settings/apps/configure apps (cog)/default apps/assist & voice input select NONE then Reboot, uninstall Google app and reboot and you have no bootloop enjoy!!

---
Tags: nexus-5, 6.0-marshmallow, bloatware
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 10 - Android 5.0.1 OTA upgrade, “no command” and suggested steps failed
I did rooting with Kingo root, and also i did factory reset. but i still can't use OTG When I press power+voldown, boot menu starts and immediately shows "Downloading... Do not turn of target!" then i tried Hold Power + Volume Up + Volume Down, and then i can see recovery mode, but it still not working - no command ... I still see "System update download" , still failed. what can i try more?

# Answer
If you are planning on installing a custom rom you need to install a recovery to flash the the ROM. TWRP is good

To get Marshmallow on the Nexus 10 Omnirom is your best bet. You'll need to flash gapps and supersu for root too.

The nexus 10 received 5.1.1 security updates until April 2016 that you can get OTA on a stock device or install manually, but manual installs will wipe the content of the device each time.

The Unified Android Toolkit is good but the information is out there on the Nexus 10 Cyanogenmod page on how to flash a custom ROM from the command line.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-nexus-10
---


title: Flash losing space

text:
# Question
Title: Flash losing space
I am using Samsung Galaxy Superior running on cm 12.1, and I am losing space on my flash(Internal Storage). I tried to delete all the files on it, but I find I am still lack of space. The composition I get in the `Settings` \> `Storage` is :

1. 1 giga apps
2. some small media files (less than 10MB)
3. free space 1 giga.

My drive is 4 GB so I am losing 2GB of it. When I turn to `ES File Explorer`, it tells me that there are some 2 GB "other files". How can I fix this problem? Please help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You are not "losing space", it's just left-overs from a past Android update. Back then when your device was running Jelly Bean 4.1.2, `/data/media` was the place your internal SD card was allocated. With 4.2, this location changed to `/data/media/0`, see Why did /sdcard/ turn into /sdcard/0/ with 4.2?

So when your device was updated to Lollipop, it located the internal SD card in `/data/media/0`, but did not migrate the contents from the old location. You've propbably thought then the card was "wiped" during that update (as was I when updating from 4.1.2 to 4.4.4 on one of my devices), but Android simply left the content where it was. Moving it to your SD card (as you did) thus was the perfect solution.

Hint to other readers: Moving that content will most likely require root powers, as without root you cannot access directories below `/data` directly.

---
Tags: storage
---


# Question
Title: How do I change the default search app in MIUI?
I'm running MIUI 11.20.90 on my HTC Incredible. I recently updated the Google Search app via the Android Market and now the default search app has changed from Google Search to MIUI's built-in Sidekick search app. To be clear, this is only when single-pressing the hw search button; long-pressing the search button brings up Voice Search (as desired) and the default setting for that action is still configurable. I really prefer Google over Sidekick and would like to change it back.

I tried resetting the default search app but can't - under the Google Search app's properties "Launch by Default" says "No defaults set" and the "clear defaults" button is grayed out. I can't find the Sidekick app in the applications list.

I also tried to uninstall/reinstall Google Search but the market only allows me to revert from the update with the message "Do you want to uninstall all updates to this Android system app?" When trying to uninstall Google Search in the OS I get the error "Unable to remove system application."

I think it's silly to have the Google Search bar/widget taking up homescreen real estate when I have a dedicated hw search button, so I'd really like to find a way to get the default corrected.

# Answer
This in terminal app and restart afterwards did the job for me:

```
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
cp /data/app/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1.apk /system/app/QuickSearchBox.apk

```

Found the answer here.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I have couple of additions to the solution dhill provided here. After opening terminal, we need open shell on device with command `adb shell`. For replacing builtin search, we must replace folder with command `cp -r source destination`. So, the complete script is:

```
adb shell
mount -o rw,remount /system
cp -r /data/app/com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1 /system/app/QuickSearchBox
reboot

```

Unfortunately, after system update I must repeat those commands.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, htc-droid-incredible, miui, google-search
---


# Question
Title: Change android Jelly Bean google account with no data loss
How to do it?

What I'm doing:

1. add new account in phone settings
2. sync new account
3. remove old one

Is that correct?

Android Jelly Bean version.

# Answer
That should be the correct steps. Up to step #2 I can say so with certainty, while I don't want to give guarantees for step #3:

* on Android 2.x, removing a Google account also removed associated calendar/contact data. You didn't specify which Android version you're asking about, but assuming Android 4.x or higher this no longer should happen. However, I've not verified that myself (my devices run without Google apps, so I cannot verify even).
* if you've used that account to buy apps, those apps might no longer run with the account removed (they are bound to the account), and you definitely can no longer update them.

So instead of removing the old account, you might wish to simply make the new one the "default account". For that, please refer to How to change the account for Android Market?
> 2 votes

---
Tags: google-account
---


# Question
Title: Reformat / reset an unrooted phone and wipe /system
I'd like to reformat / reset my verizon Samsung S4 (SCH-I545, baseband \**OF1, Android 5.0.1). After doing a number of tests and experimentation, I believe that there is a malicious binary sitting in /system which is causing me to follow a random Russian porn Instagram account. I'd like to get rid of whatever is causing the auto-follow (it's not even good porn), so I thought a hard reset / reformat would be ideal... HOWEVER, I believe that a factory reset does not touch /system. Is there a recommended approach with a non-rooted phone to essentially start with a blank slate?

The phone itself was never rooted, but it did come refurbished a year or so ago from Verizon. Since it's running a OF1 baseband, I believe rooting it is out of the question? If it's possible to root, that might solve a lot of problems.

# Answer
The easiest way to fix it (without even voiding warranty because we will be flashing an official firmware image) consists of a few small and easy steps:

(Assuming you have already installed Samsung's USB drivers) I take no responsibility for damaging, bricking or otherwise damaging you or your phone, but that's how I flashed since a few years now and it never failed me, even when I was at the glimpse of a hard-brick.

1. Get your firmware image: SamMobile has you covered on nearly all the Samsung firmware images. Get the latest image from Sammobile for your device by creating an account and downloading the `.tar.md5` file. (Don't change the extension, even though you can open the `.tar` like usual, it prevents Odin from verifying the checksums)
2. Get Odin from Sammobile.
3. Boot your phone to download mode by shutting it down and then holding `HOME + Volume-Down + Power` until you are greeted by the bootloader. Then press `Volume-Up` to confirm that you want to install a firmware.
4. Open Odin and select the `.tar.md5` as `PDA` or `AP`, leave everything else untouched (uncheck `Re-Partition` just in case! It can mess with your storage layout and is usually not needed)
5. Connect your phone to your PC (if you haven't already) and make sure it's recognized by Odin.
6. Hit the `Start` button
7. Wait until your phone automatically reboots and you are done. No factory reset is needed, the `/system` partition will be checksum-exact with the one in the firmware image.

(All images with a solid, non-grayed out KIES logo are exact with the one available form Samsung's KIES software)
> 0 votes

# Answer
I'm not sure why you are certain that malware has written to /system. As pointed out by @GiantTree, no 3rd party should have been able to write to it. This partition is protected at all costs by your system, which is also what makes rooting so difficult on your device. **In practice however**, there is a rather high chance an exploit was found and not made public (regarding recent news kindly pointed out in the comments by @Izzy).

A google search lead me to believe that there is in fact a way to root your phone (please regard the edit below). This would probably be the easiest method to solve your problem. Once rooted, either re-flash your stock ROM or any custom one, as you wish. This gives you a completely fresh and new /system partition, removing any malware that was mysteriously able to write to it.

Another option might be to go to a service center and ask if they could possibly reinstall the firmware without rooting the device.

**EDIT:** I was able to dig up an xda thread that deals with rooting a previously unrooted S4 from Verizon with your firmware version. There is a youtube video about it here. **HOWEVER**, some reports indicate that this does not actually work and will brick your device. What to do is up to you, but **be careful** and don't blame me if anything goes south.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-4, factory-reset, malware, reformat
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to stop the GPS from 'jumping' on a MT6592 phone?
I'm using a MT6592 phone. On the first sight, the GPS reception is not so bad - it gets a 3D fix within 1 or 2 minutes.

There's a problem though: on apps like Google Maps, I noticed that my position 'jumps' within a range of ~30 meters. This is definitely a problem when using Google Maps for car navigation because at times I receive the wrong directions.

Is there a way to fix this? I've tried MT GPS EPO Fix but that didn't help for the jumping issue.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Within 30 metres is sadly within the specification of GPS, so legally your phone works perfectly fine and does not qualify for warranty (refund or repair).

The issue seems to be common with your chip, and a software fix is known for rooted devices: http://www.chinasmartphonereview.com/gps-test-and-fix-for-mt6592-octa-core/. I don't know however if this is any different from the fix you tried, but it sure is worth a shot.

1. Ensure your device is rooted
2. Download Mobileuncle Mtk Tools
3. Launch the app and go to "Power GPS Search". Tap "GPS Set" and reboot.
4. Ensure you are connected to the internet and have all location settings enabled.
5. Launch the app again and go to "Engineer Model (MTK)" –\> "Location Base Service". Tick GPS ON.

---
Tags: gps, navigation
---


# Question
Title: How can I install Cyanogenmod on an up-to-date LG G2?
I acquired an LG G2 (LG-D802T 32 GB) that is running the most recent stock firmware. I'm trying to install Cyanogenmod on it. However, I cannot root it. The most recent firmware is patched against various rooting tools, including ioroot and Stump Root. I cannot find an alternative way to root this phone.

Are there other ways of rooting the LG G2? Is it necessary to root the phone in order to install Cyanogenmod, or are there other alternatives (e.g. "download mode")?

(I think I can first revert to an earlier firmware version that is unpatched, but cannot find an image for my model.)

# EDIT

I've attempted rooting with the "New Root Method for LG Devices", adapted for Linux. This did not work. I also tried the more recent "Newest Root Method for LG devices", adapted for Linux, which also did not work.

I'm wondering what the dangers are for flashing the wrong firmware for my model. I know that there is an image for the Australian LG-D802T, but I don't know if this is for the 16 GB or the 32 GB. After downgrading to this image, this may hopefully re-expose the vulnerability required for rooting. If I accidentally flash the (incorrect) 16 GB version, but immediately install a custom ROM anyway, would that be a problem?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I booted into Windows, and again attempted the most recent "Newest Root Method for LG devices". Similarly to when I tried it in Linux, this did not work, with the terminal freezing on the `Send_Command.exe` step. However, I cancelled this (with `Ctrl`+`C`) and tried this step again. This time it worked and I was able to root my phone. (Possibly, if I had tried it multiple in Linux it may have worked.)

I could then install Cyanogenmod as per the wiki, with a few caveats.

* FreeGee did not support my device, so I used AutoRec instead.
* The latest nightly `cm-13.0-20160108-NIGHTLY-d802.zip` refused to boot, so I used the latest release build `cm-12.1-20151117-SNAPSHOT-YOG7DAO1KI-d802.zip` instead, which is working fine.

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Tags: cyanogenmod, rooting, lg-g2
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# Question
Title: "Lock & Erase" feature on my android phone
I lost my android phone and tried using Android Device Manager. Normally when you got to Android Device Manage it gives you three choices: "Ring", "Lock", and "Erase". For some reason, on the phone that I am looking for, it only gives you two choices: "Ring" and "Lock & Erase". Here are my questions: 1. If I select "Lock & Erase", will it give me a choice between the two? 2. If I select "Lock & Erase", and it doesn't give me a choice will it ask me "Are you sure" before proceeding? 3. If the Android Device Manage "erases" and puts the phone back to factory default, will the "finder" of my phone be able to re-activate the phone? Thanks!

# Answer
The Android Device Manager is only able to work if:

1 .You enabled it on your phone.
2. Your phone has an active connection to the internet.
3. At the time its connected to the internet, your google account is still signed into the phone. If your finder performs a hard reset on your phone or resets it to factory default settings, your google account is erased effectively rendering ring lock or erase useless.
Are you using a web browser to access the ring lock and erase feature?
> 0 votes

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Tags: android-device-manager
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# Question
Title: Prevent stock keyboard app from being activated while/after connecting physical keyboard?
I have a Samsung I9305 with rooted stock 4.4.4.. I have Xposed framework.

I use SwiftKey.

When I use a Bluetooth or OTG keyboard, SwiftKey is automatically disabled and the stock keyboard is enabled.

Is it possible to

1. Prevent the change of keyboard and have SwiftKey continue even while using the physical keyboard?
2. At least make the system automatically change back to SwiftKey after the physical keyboard is disconnected?

# Answer
I used Root App Deleter to disable the stock keyboard app. That way I just keep using *SwiftKey* whether using physical keyboard or not.

**Note:** SwiftKey only lets me use the English layout when using a physical keyboard. I normally type in both English and Norwegian, and like to switch between layouts. The Samsung stock keyboard let me easily do this by pressing `alt`+`Shift`. As far as I can see, Swiftkey has me locked onto English layout when using a physical keyboard. **If you want to be able to switch between different layouts, you will be better off using the Tasker method suggested by Izzy.**

With SwiftKey, the soft keyboard disappears from the screen as soon as the physical keyboard is connected. One catch is that there is annoying message I have to click `OK` to every time I connect the physical keyboard, but that is okay. It just amounts to a simple press of the `Enter` key.

### Warnings:

* This method worked on my particular device and ROM, but there is no guarantee that it will work on other devices and/or ROMs. The app I linked to above requires root. ***Do NOT delete the stock keyboard app of your device,*** just disable it. Even disabling the stock keyboard app of your device may in some rare devices and ROMs cause the system to misbehave. If that happens to you you can use the same app to reenable the stock keyboard app again, and use the Tasker method suggested by Izzy in the comments instead.
* A very small number of Android ROMs may be unable to reenable apps after having disabled them with this app. The app has a test module that you should run before disabling any apps, to make sure that reenabling them again will work.
* With the OS default keyboard unavailable, there *might* be issues with lock screen (enter password/pin) as well as encryption (same thing), which might rely on the "stock keyboard". Such cases already have been reported here – see e.g. How to enter password for decrypt without system keyboard on android. Especially for the encryption password, this is a logical consequence: the user-installed keyboard app is stored on the user partition (`/data`), which is encrypted – so the keyboard cannot be loaded before that partition is decrypted, which requires the user to enter the passphrase; a typical dead-lock situation..
* In general, use this (and all other) root apps at your own risk, and backup your system with / regularly if you have a rooted device and use root-applications.
> 1 votes

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Tags: external-keyboard, swiftkey
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