# Question
Title: Nexus 5, I'm getting remote: flash write failure while trying to fix a bootloop
Before I say anything I just want to say I didn't install any custom ROMs nor rooted my phone.

I've downloaded the factory images from here https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#hammerhead

I put my phone into bootloader and I start the flash-all.bat script from the folder I've downloaded above. It runs this script:

```
PATH=%PATH%;"%SYSTEMROOT%\System32"
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-hammerhead-hhz12d.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
ping -n 5 127.0.0.1 >nul
fastboot flash radio radio-hammerhead-m8974a-2.0.50.2.22.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader
ping -n 5 127.0.0.1 >nul
fastboot -w update image-hammerhead-lrx22c.zip

echo Press any key to exit...
pause >nul
exit

```

I get the following output:

```
OKAY [  0.307s]
writing 'bootloader'...
**FAILED (remote: not supported in locked device)**
finished. total time: 0.407s
rebooting into bootloader...
OKAY [  0.050s]
finished. total time: 0.050s
< waiting for device >
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
sending 'radio' (45521 KB)...
OKAY [  1.732s]
writing 'radio'...
**FAILED (remote: not supported in locked device)**
finished. total time: 1.842s
rebooting into bootloader...
OKAY [  0.046s]
finished. total time: 0.046s
< waiting for device >
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
archive does not contain 'boot.sig'
archive does not contain 'recovery.sig'
failed to allocate 1005027540 bytes
error: update package missing system.img
Press any key to exit...

```

I've noticed the bolded lines so I unlocked the phone using a command *fastboot oem unlock*. It unlocks it, however if I reset the phone, it's locked again. People on the Internet say that if this happens then the phone is dead. I hope it's not the case.

I've tried running the script again when the phone is unlocked:

```
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
sending 'bootloader' (2579 KB)...
OKAY [  0.202s]
writing 'bootloader'...
**FAILED (remote: flash write failure)**
finished. total time: 0.402s
rebooting into bootloader...
OKAY [  0.090s]
finished. total time: 0.090s
< waiting for device >
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
sending 'radio' (45521 KB)...
OKAY [  1.709s]
writing 'radio'...
**FAILED (remote: flash write failure)**
finished. total time: 2.939s
rebooting into bootloader...
OKAY [  0.100s]
finished. total time: 0.100s
< waiting for device >
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
archive does not contain 'boot.sig'
archive does not contain 'recovery.sig'
failed to allocate 1005027540 bytes
error: update package missing system.img
Press any key to exit...

```

As you can see I get the FAILURE (remote: flash write failure).

I've tried removing the commands that reset the phone so the phone stays locked and I get this output after running the modified script:

```
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
sending 'bootloader' (2579 KB)...
OKAY [  0.300s]
writing 'bootloader'...
**FAILED (remote: flash write failure)**
finished. total time: 0.492s
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
sending 'radio' (45521 KB)...
OKAY [  1.716s]
writing 'radio'...
**FAILED (remote: flash write failure)**
finished. total time: 1.894s
target reported max download size of 1073741824 bytes
archive does not contain 'boot.sig'
archive does not contain 'recovery.sig'
failed to allocate 1005027540 bytes
**error: update package missing system.img**
Press any key to exit...

```

Again, the FAILURE (remote: flash write failure) occurs but I don't understand why it can't find "system.img" because it is in the folder where the script is.

I've also tried the tutorial from this Youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJnoiMTw5cY

When I try the first command which is "fastboot flash system system.img" I get the same error.

So, is my phone dead or can I still fix it?

EDIT: I've RMA-ed\[1\] the phone and they've sent me a replacement. I hope this thread will help future people.

\[1\] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Return\_merchandise\_authorization

# Answer
> 0 votes
In this thread they told me my emmc is fried because I can't lock / unlock my phone so I RMA-ed it.

# Answer
> 4 votes
The flash-all.sh script does not take into consideration that your bootloader is locked after each restart.

I opened the shell script and executed each command one by one, re-unlocking with the following after each command:

```
fastboot oem unlock

```

I flashed each image with no errors, but it did not seem to write to memory regardless.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The interesting point is: Although you don't get these "only allowed in unlocked state" warnings anymore, is your bootloader really unlocked? What output do you get when you run the following command in unlocked mode?:

`fastboot oem device-info`

And: Can you still boot into recovery?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Wipe cache from recovery, make sure you have latest adb and fastboot files. In the recovery menu, execute these commands.

```
adb shell
recovery --wipe_data
recovery --wipe_data

```

The supplied commands :

```
 *   --wipe_data - erase user data (and cache), then reboot
 *   --wipe_cache - wipe cache (but not user data), then reboot

```

Use Nexus Root Toolkit to do the job done : http://www.wugfresh.com/nrt/

# Answer
> 0 votes
Here is how you can get into adb from an unwriteable emmc:

1. Download twrp, extract it so you see `recovery.img`.
2. Unlock using `fastboot oem unlock`. do not reboot.
3. Boot into the custom recovery (not flash) using `fastboot boot recovery.img`.

You will now be rebooted in twrp, from where you can access `adb` and `adb shell`.

---
Tags: nexus-5, boot-loop
---


# Question
Title: Android continues rebooting and 'optimizing'
My S5 was running Fusion ROM 5.0. I downloaded 5.1 and installed using ROM manager. After the installation, Android continues rebooting and saying "Optimizing app 1 of 8. Facebook...", then reboots a few seconds later into the same process.

What do I do to break this cycle and get my phone back?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It may be problem by the rom

* clear the data
* clear dalvik cache
* reinstall ROM

This may help cause you may have directly the ROM without clearing data

---

Footnote: Though in Android 5, Dalvik was replaced by ART, parts of the Dalvik stuff are still used (`/data/dalvik-cache/arm/*`; also see e.g. Should Dalvik Cache be wiped in ART). While in the end, apps will run from native Elf binaries, ART creates those via `.oat` files. Details can be found e.g. in this Wikipedia article. So don't be confused about "clearing Dalvik cache" here. You could still make sure to remove ART cache by running `rm -rf /data/dalvik-cache/arm/*` as root via e.g. `adb shell` when in recovery.

---
Tags: updates, rom
---


title: How to upgrade my Android from Linux?

text:
# Question
Title: How to upgrade my Android from Linux?
Using Asus Zenfone 5, which I want to upgrade to Android Lollipop.

The instructions say that I have to copy the OTA files to my SD card from my PC, but unfortunately I use Linux (ubuntu and mint). I cannot connect to my sd card via the usb cable. Is there any way to copy the files to the SD card from my Linux platform? Otherwise, can I use dropbox to get the file to the SD card somehow?

# Answer
The answers given were great but I felt something needed to be added: If you boot into Android, you should be able to download the OTA file directly from your web browser.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Download adb by typing in terminal: `sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb` **Setup adb**: You'll find plenty of tutorials on internet to setup adb.

Now type this in the terminal:

`adb push /path/to/file /path/to/paste`

Replace the paths with your corresponding ones
> 0 votes

# Answer
There are many ways to copy the files from PC into your SD card. Simplest is the Android's native MTP mode, which you might be having trouble with detecting the device in Ubuntu/Mint.

### Method 1

You can use ADB as mentioned here by Izzy. Setup ADB and detect device on your PC (see Is there a minimal installation of ADB), open terminal and enter:

```
adb push <SOURCE> <DESTINATION>

```

where `<SOURCE>` would be the file location in your PC like `~/Downloads/OTA.zip` and `DESTINATION` would be file location in your Android device like `/sdcard/`.

E.g.:

```
adb push ~/Downloads/OTA_Lollipop.zip /sdcard/

```

### Method 2

Some users report problems while setting up ADB in their PC. In that case, see this method by ykasidit.

You would need to install an Android app named MTP-Alternative USB drive. (See **Method 4** for its detailed usage.)

### Method 3

Use Airdroid which I covered here.

### Method 4

If all the above method fails to work somehow, then try my guide here. See **Method #1** there for **MTP-Alternative's** usage, or try my **Method #3** there.

---

**Note** that all the aforesaid methods would work with Wi-Fi hotspot and USB-tethering.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, updates, linux, ota-update, asus-zenfone-5
---


title: SD card won't mount to Moto G

text:
# Question
Title: SD card won't mount to Moto G
I've had a 64g card in my phone for months now, then all of a sudden (I believe after I updated to Lollipop) I began to receive errors saying the card was unexpectedly removed even though it was still in my phone. So I've tried to remove it and put it back in while the phone was both turned off and on with no success. My external storage settings don't even show the card is in my phone. I'm not super tech savvy so I don't know how to reformat and all that. Any simple fix?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Unfortunately, reformatting the card seems to be the best option but may not help anyway. There probably isn't a simple fix. There's lots of guides on how to format an SD Card in FAT32 but I'll give a quick overview for a Windows PC. Please be aware that this will wipe all data from the SD Card:

1. Backup data from the card using Windows Explorer.
2. In `Computer` or `This PC`, right-click your SD card and click 'Format'. Make sure FAT32 is selected and then confirm the operation.
3. Power off your device and insert the SD Card.
4. When the device boots, it should (hopefully) recognise the SD Card.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, external-sd, sd-card, motorola-moto-g, mount
---


# Question
Title: Toggle location services via adb in Android 5
I see this answer from 2013, but now there are options for High Accuracy, Battery Saving, and Device Only. Also, there was no command for disabling location.

# Answer
> 5 votes
You may check-out my updated answer dealing with the question in entirety, or consider the following info:

* High accuracy: `gps,wifi,network` or `gps,network` (if you don't want Wi-Fi enabled)
* Battery saving: `wifi,network` or `network` only
* Device only: `gps`

E.g:

```
adb shell settings put secure location_providers_allowed gps,wifi,network

```

### To disable Location mode

```
adb shell settings put secure location_providers_allowed ' '

```

---
Tags: adb, geolocation
---


title: how to mount emmc partition using adb

text:
# Question
Title: how to mount emmc partition using adb
Yesterday, I tried to root my Micromax Unite 2 smartphone. I followed this tutorial. Before flashing the zip files I had the latest Android Lollipop installed.

I flashed all the zip using the sp flash tool. After completion, I got OK message. Then according to procedure I needed to wipe data factory, so I started my phone in recovery mode and tried to wipe content but I got error **Unable to mount internal storage**.

I have no idea about how should I mount. I tried to mount through recovery but failed to mount.

Does anybody having any idea how could I mount internal SD card back. Currently it is showing internal storage 0 MB.

I newbie in adb usage I tried to mount using adb but I didn't got any useful information.

# Answer
to mount all the partitions as R/W from adb execute this commands

```
adb kill-server
adb root
adb remount

```

if there is any error message let me know so I can update the answer
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, 5.0-lollipop, partitions
---


title: How do I zoom web pages?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I zoom web pages?
I'm using Android 4.2.2 on my Q.mobile. I am trying to zoom a (or any) web page on Chrome by double tapping or by swiping two fingers but nothing happened. I also tried the same thing using the built-in browser but also in vain. How do I zoom web pages?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Yes, some web pages do not let you zoom in. However, this can be overridden in *Chrome*.

Go to *Settings* -\> *Accessibility* and tick mark *Force enable zoom*.

This overrides a web page's request to prevent zooming in. So then you can zoom into pages without trouble.

Hope this helps.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Take your index finger and thumb, spread them apart to zoom in. Conversely take your index finger and thumb, pinch them together to zoom out.

Make sure you have selected desktop view, mobile view won't zoom by default.

# Edit:

Double tapping does work in many browsers as well.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It depends on the website (or its mode) if zoom is supported.

Usually, you can't zoom if the site is on mobile mode. For Facebook, the URL would be https://m.facebook.com. However, some browsers like Dolphin or Boat have a setting to configure the default zoom, but sometimes they don't work. (e.g. Dolphin's setting doesn't work if Dolphin Jetpack is also installed)

On desktop mode, a site can be zoomable. For Facebook, the URL would be https://facebook.com.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You may try by swipping two fingers or by double tapping on your display. Sometimes,some webpages don't support zooming, make sure that you have enabled desktop view because mobile view won't support zooming by default.

---
Tags: browser, chrome-for-android, zooming
---


# Question
Title: sdcard appears empty for sshdroid, samba fileshare etc, but not for total commander
I have rooted lenovo p780 with VIBEUI 2.0 (not sure that this matters). The issue is well described in subject. When I enter /storage/sdcard0 directory via remote terminal it appears empty. It's all the same for samba - I can see nothing. But in Total Commander I can see that there are actually a lot of files. What could be the reason? I thought it is not mounted but could it be unmounted only for certain apps?

```
130|root@P780:/storage/sdcard0 # ll /storage
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jul  7 10:02 sdcard0
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jul  7 10:02 sdcard1
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jul  7 10:02 usbotg
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jul  7 10:02 usbotg1

```

,

```
root@P780:/storage/sdcard0 # ll -a /storage/sdcard0
drwxr-xr-x    2 root     root             0 Jul  7 10:02 .
drwxr-x--x    6 root     1028             0 Jul  7 10:02 ..

```

,

```
root@P780:/storage/sdcard0 # ll /sdcard
lrwxrwxrwx    1 root     root            16 Jul  7 10:02 /sdcard -> /storage/sdcard0

```

,

```
root@P780:/storage/sdcard0 # mount
rootfs / rootfs ro,seclabel,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /dev tmpfs rw,seclabel,nosuid,relatime,mode=755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=600 0 0
none /dev/cpuctl cgroup rw,relatime,cpu 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,relatime 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,seclabel,relatime 0 0
selinuxfs /sys/fs/selinux selinuxfs rw,relatime 0 0
none /sys/fs/cgroup tmpfs rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=750,gid=1000 0 0
none /acct cgroup rw,relatime,cpuacct 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/secure tmpfs rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=700 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/asec tmpfs rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/obb tmpfs rw,seclabel,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
/emmc@android /system ext4 ro,seclabel,relatime,noauto_da_alloc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0
/emmc@usrdata /data ext4 rw,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime,discard,noauto_da_alloc,data=ordered 0 0
/emmc@cache /cache ext4 rw,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime,discard,noauto_da_alloc,data=ordered 0 0
/emmc@protect_f /protect_f ext4 rw,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime,nodelalloc,noauto_da_alloc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0
/emmc@protect_s /protect_s ext4 rw,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime,nodelalloc,noauto_da_alloc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0

```

# Answer
> 2 votes
Just three words: 'supersu namespace separation'. I use *SuperSU* as root access management tool on my device, which has an option for "namespace separation". I missed the point that this option must be disabled for my firmware.

1. Open SuperSU application (if you don't have it, then the solution is not applicable to you)
2. Go to Preferences tab
3. Scroll down to 'Namespace separation' option and uncheck it
4. Reboot the device.

This solved the issue on my device.

---
Tags: root-access, external-sd, sd-card, mount
---


# Question
Title: Will i lose my facebook acount if I force- stop it?
My facebook account is causing my mobile phone to run slow and it keeps restarting. Is it safe to force stop facebook?

# Answer
First, it's not your account that is slowing down your smart phone, it's the app itself (don't worry, even I had the same problem).

Your phone is probably weak or you are running too much of apps and processes at the same time, saving less resources for *facebook*.

So, to answer your qustion: **No, your account will not be deleted if you force stop facebook (or any other app like *google+*).** Deleting an account is a totaly different process. For that you will have to request facebook to delete your account. But what's hapening in your case is simply stopping the app (for geeks: the front end part) from doing further work. Your account detailes and stuff are perfectly safe at facebook's server (for geeks: back end).

So go ahead, force stop your app. You can still use facebook from their mobile site, which is not heavy and much resource consuming.

Happy facebooking =)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: Install update in recoverymode delte phone?
I installed CyanogenMod 11 about a half a year ago on my phone (Sony Xperia Z aka. yuga) and now I want to update to CM12 manually. I know how to do that but my question is: does the Recoverymode reset your phone if I choose "Install Zip", so do I have a new Android on my phone without any Apps, because in every install guide they're telling me to flash gApps again. I don't want do reinstall all my apps again and setup my phone again, because it's a lot of pain in the a\**. Hope you understand my "problem"...

Thanks for your answers

# Answer
> 1 votes
## To answer your question:

Installing the zip will delete (or change some apps) but not all. When you flash the zip it overwrites the "system" partition on your phone and so it changes which system apps are on your phone. Since google apps are system apps, but are not included in the CM zip, this is why you have to reflash gapps after because they get deleted. However, the zip does not overwrite the "data" partition which is where most of the user apps are (apps that you installed from the play store and such). But, flashing the zip without wiping the system and the "data" partition, and consequently all of your applications, is known as dirty flashing and is not recommended. It is **especially** not recommended when making a large jump such as from CM11 to CM12. Regardless, you should **always** perform a android backup before flashing anything just to be safe.

## Now for a solution:

There are apps such as Titanium backup which allow you to back up your applications before wiping and flashing and then restore the applications once you've upgraded.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, updates, stock-android
---


# Question
Title: Show app above the lockscreen (i.e. Google Maps)
i have a pattern lockscreen enabled. Now i have an app which plays audio files, but if you want to skip or pause the track, you have to unlock your phone.

So i want that my desired app is above the **lockscreen** and when i hit return or something else, than it shows me the lockscreen. You can do this for example in Google Maps.

Is that possible?

**Device: N4, Lollipop 5.1, Root, Tasker installed**

# Answer
*There might be a better solution out there, but for now this might help.*

---

You can use screen pinning option.

**Instructions to pin an app on the screen:**

1. Go to Settings →Security→Screen pinning
2. Enable screen pinning and also the option "Ask for unlock pattern before unpinning"
3. Now open the app you want, then switch over to the overview menu
4. Tap on the pin icon on the app.

You are good to go!

---

To get out from pinned screen, hold Back and overview button at the same time.

By doing this you get to interact with the app without unlocking the screen, and also as an additional benefit the unpinning gesture helps you from accidentally exiting from the app!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, lock-screens
---


# Question
Title: Google Play not able to sign-in into Clash of Clans app
I'm playing Clash of Clans on my Android device, and I have already downloaded Google Play and signed in as well. But when I am trying to log-in into Clash of Clans the loading ring just rotate for a while, but I am not able to sign in and save the game.

What should I do now?

# Answer
Have you installed Google Play Games? It should be signed in, to allow you to log in Clash of Clans to Google Play Games.
> 1 votes

# Answer
You need the Google play games app now to log in to games.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: clash-of-clans
---


title: My android tablet is not working

text:
# Question
Title: My android tablet is not working
My android tablet is displaying an error message 'Unfortunately, the process com.android.phone has stopped'. The message occurs so quickly that I am unable to touch any application.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try this:

1. Quickly press OK on the error dialog so you can follow the rest of the steps.
2. Navigate to **Settings \> Apps \> All**.
3. Scroll down to **Phone** and click it.
4. **Clear cache** for it. If the problem persists, **clear data** as well.

If this does not help, try clearing cache and data for the **Sim Toolkit** app as well.

# Answer
> -1 votes
The only way I know to fix this problem is to restore to factory settings in Settings-Backup&Reset.

# Answer
> -2 votes
Recovery mode \> factory reset and Clear cache

---
Tags: applications
---


title: Android Auto-Shutdown

text:
# Question
Title: Android Auto-Shutdown
I own a Samsung Galaxy S4 (Lollipop 5.0.1) and have recently had the problem if it automatically shutting down whilst in mid-use. I would try turning it on again only for it to quickly shut itself down after the Samsung logo appears on the screen.

However, the problem goes away once I plug it into a power source and then turn it on.

Has anyone any experience on how to remedy this problem - if it is a application causing the auto shutdown or if it is due to something a little more sinister?

Thank you!

# Answer
The most probable reason of your Auto-shutdown could be low battery. (I know its "duh", but bear with me)

# Reason 1: Wrong Battery Stats:

This is most probably the problem, because some time ago, I was also in the same position as yours.
Here, you will see that your battery is well above 15%; yet it shutsdown in middle of it, and act asif the battery is finished (not booting there-after).

The thing is, that the battery *is* finished, but your phone is actually getting the wrong or messed up battery stats.
So when your battery is 1%, your phone is showing 20%.
And then **BOOM** your phone shutsdown unexpected to both user and the phone.

For me, In order to reset the battery stats, I have to pull out the battery and plug it in again, then with charger on, boot it and it will show correct battery stats.

**The culprit?**, well it was Easy Tether app.
I used it to connect to my PC and use the WiFi-internet on PC.
As I connected my phone to the PC, it was charging.
And Easy Tether, *somehow*, messed up my Battery Stats.

(I simply switched to PDAnet+ to get resolve it.)

**Solution:** You can re-calibrate your battery stats, by deleting the **batterystats.bin** system file (take precautions tho!).

UPDATE: @Arch gave a very good source about Re-calibrating Battery Stats Please take a look at it!

### Reason 2: Damaged Battery.

Well, nothing can be done about this. Find a new battery and see if the problem persist.

---

If these dont work, try to be more specific about your circumstances.
You have hardly given any information you know.

Kudos!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: shutdown
---


# Question
Title: how do i get my stolen phone& pictures back?
On 7 july 15 someone broke in my house and stole my galaxy note 3 it did not have service it has been disconnect for about 6mo now i would like to get my phone back because it had picture of me and my dad who died the day after father day this past june & other family pictures that can not be replaced.how do i go about getting those back?

# Answer
I'm very sorry for what happened, but there isn't much that can be done.

You can only get your photos back if you had backed them up.

Try to remember if you had copied them to your PC, pendrive or CD.

Or if you had shared it with someone who might still have them.

If you had shared it in apps like *hangouts* then they will be backed up by *google+ photos*. And if you had set *photos* to back up all your images you can retrieve them easily by opening your account in another device. Every thing will be stored safe in google's servers.

Or probably you would have them on your *Google Drive*, *Dropbox* or any other cloud service.

And also, if you had your whole phone backed up by your google account (every time you log in to a google in your phone, google askes you if you want to back up your phone), then you can get back all your stuff like contacts and bookmarks back by logging in a different phone.

Hope this helps
> 2 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: how to disable "choose wallpaper from" prompt in KitKat?
I have a new Acer tablet running v. 4.4.4 No Wallpaper (black) is selected , and I use this device for e-reading. The prompt to "select wallpaper from" constantly pops up and is an irritant. Can it be disabled?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Download and set this as your wallpaper and see if the problem persists.

---
Tags: wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: Does Cyanogenmod 12.1 support the Samsung S4 Mini Smart Cover?
I have successfully installed the Cyanogenmod 12.1 (version as of 11.07.2015) for my Samsung Galaxy S4 Mini and I was wondering if it supports the Samsung Galaxy S4 MINI I9192 S-View Premium Flip Cover Black, as can be seen here when it is closed:

It currently does not show the screen like this when closed, but parts of the vanilla Cyanogenmod screen which does not help at all. Any ideas how to change that behaviour?

# Answer
Since CyanogenMod is close to Stock Android. **The answer will have to be no.**

However though, there are many apps that bring this function.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, samsung-galaxy-s-4-mini, smart-cover
---


title: Galaxy Tab 3 won't boot - dead battery?

text:
# Question
Title: Galaxy Tab 3 won't boot - dead battery?
I'm kind of disappointed, this morning I wanted to start my GT3 but I get this logo instead (sorry for the poor quality) :

I've try AB testing with my Nexus 5 battery loader, both works on my Nexus. The GT3 flash sometimes and boot a few times but stop after less than 1 min.

I can't launch the tests (`Power` \+ `Vol +`) because it "needs battery to be above 3.4V.

Is the battery dead ?

# Answer
Have you tried powering it off and charging it for 6 hours? If not, that should be your first course of action. If after charging it still doesn't power on, you may have either a bad charger or a dead battery (or some other strange bug I've never run into). If you have a different charger, give that a go for 6 hours and see what changes.

On my Galaxy Note 10.1 I've had that logo show up when I have very low battery. It won't actually power on until the battery is partially charged once you've taken the battery all the way down to zero.

Also, youtube: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CEQQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dl1jrrVcQ8f8&ei=3HPSU9LIOIqiyASgmoCwDw&usg=AFQjCNH9B0sbXK8q\_fWhhpNVUnHmlmcXxg&sig2=lVcDHD3B7ilruFW4gPiMQA&bvm=bv.71667212,d.aWw
> 1 votes

# Answer
After reading all the posts I tried to open the unit, but without luck. I then thought my computer USB port may be 3.4v or more, so I plugged in the Galaxy 10.1 in the USB port, waited about 20 minutes tried turning on the unit and walla it was charging. I did not see this fix noted anywhere in the posts and it may just be coincidental that it worked, but does not hurt to give it a try yourself....so glad I did not have to fool with the inside of my tablet.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I found the solution on this forum (in french, thanks god I'm french).

Your battery is too low, chances are you've left you tablet discharged and unused for quite a while.

Anyways, you need to unconnect the middle connector on top of you battery (you can see it in practice in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=humtforaj2w) then reconnect it and it should work again.

I'm amazed Samsung left such hardware bug in its device (Planned obsolescence?) but that's how it is.

Good luck
> 0 votes

---
Tags: battery
---


# Question
Title: Can I recover photos and contacts from lost/stolen phone days ago?
Lost phone (LG Optimus) 2 days ago, anyway to recover photos and contacts? Reported phone to sheriff's dept and Sprint.

# Answer
Yes, there is a way to recover both if your Android phone was synced to your Google account. All you have to do is just sign-in on a new Android phone and all of your data should be redownloaded.

In order to see if your photos were backed up, just go to Google Photos and you can view your photos there.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery, lost-phone
---


# Question
Title: Can anybody help me root my lg-ms690 2.2.2
I need help rooting my lg ms690 2.2.2. I have tried to get the root kit for my phone but all the links seem to be not valid anymore.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are a variety of ways you can root your Android phone. Here are 4 apps you can download to root your phone without the use of a PC:

Good Luck Rooting!!

Overall link of all apps (You might have to reload the webpage if it shows up as error)

---
Tags: rooting
---


title: Google Playstore

text:
# Question
Title: Google Playstore
When I enter my playstore it asks for existing account I put it in and it says that I need to have a better connection would sit right next to my router and same thing please help

# Answer
> 0 votes
You might have to do a factory reset after all that's what Google customer service told me to do after the same problem happened to me. It should work fine after that though.

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


# Question
Title: Clear SD Card on Galaxy Tab 10.1 gt-p7510
I know how to factory rest my tablet but all of the information on my sd card remains. Because the sd card isnt removable is there a way to wipe everything from it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you have no option to wipe internal SD card during factory reset you still can clear it manually with any kind of file explorer/manager you'll find at Play Store (navigate to your SD card, and delete all content there). Just make it before factory reset and you're done.

<sup>\[credits: Izzy and our little conversation in the now deleted comments\]</sup>

---
Tags: sd-card
---


# Question
Title: Internal storage space on a Motorola android phone
I only have 6 games downloaded and moved to my SD card but my internal storage is running how can I find out why that is? And how can I fix the problem?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Firstly, what's the size of your device's internal storage, and what are these games you've downloaded? Because if you have 4GB of storage and downloaded something like Dead Trigger it would be obvious that you would run out of storage space.

If it's still unclear why you ran out of storage, I would recommend two steps for you:

1. Download file manager from play store (I personally use FX Explorer) and search for large files you've in downloads folder (or any other folders you could possibly junk).
2. Download SD Maid and let it optimize storage for you.

That should help in most cases, if not, let me know ;)

---
Tags: internal-storage, insufficient-memory
---


# Question
Title: How to backup data on a non-booting, unrooted phone?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 (SGH-I747 for AT&T) that is not rooted. Recently it started shutting down in the middle of use and not start up again. At first, plugging it into the charger would get it to boot up and work. But after a few days it progressed to the point that it does not boot up at all anymore. I can get it into Recovery Mode and Download Mode but nothing else. Before I proceed further in trying to fix the phone, is there a way to backup the data -- mainly pictures and sound recordings? (No, it did not have an sdcard installed. And yes, I know it should have.)

I have never worked with this type of thing before (rooting, CWM, ADB, etc), but I have a remedial understanding of programming and I'm willing to get my hands dirty, as long as the instructions are clear. So please answer as if I have no idea what you're talking about (which most likely I don't).

Based on my preliminary research on this site and elsewhere, ideally I would make both a Nandroid backup and an ADB backup. I read that the ADB backup requires USB Debugging to be enabled. But if the phone won't turn on, that can't be done, right? Or is there a way to enable USB Debugging from recovery/download mode? I am assuming it can't be done and that the ADB option is out.

That leaves making a Nandroid backup. If I understand the procedure correctly, I need to download USB drivers, Odin, and ClockworkMod onto my PC, then install CWM onto the phone. From there, use CWM to make a backup onto an external sdcard. Once the phone is fixed, root it, install Titanium backup, and use Titanium to extract the data from the backup. Does that sound right? Would this work?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Personally, I am a Nexus user. But having repaired a friend's international variant S3 before, I do know some things about Samsung. And since you don't have custom recovery, you cannot access `/data` (the partition where data is stored). So the way I know of will use a custom recovery to backup/restore data. **This voids your warranty.**

* I am assuming you already know the rooting process. So root and install CWM recovery (this will be our link for data transfer).
* Power on to recovery.
* Backup the `/data` from recovery (you can backup in internal SD card, won't really matter).

Now there are two approaches from here:

***Approach 1***: You are ready and willing to use custom ROM (you can switch to stock anytime of course).

* Download any custom ROM from PC and transfer to some external SD card. Put the SD card in phone. **Make sure the ROM is same Android version as the stock ROM you had in your phone.**
* Go to recovery (power off phone and power it on by pressing and holding `power+volume up+home` buttons. May take a few tries before you successfully get into recovery) and wipe `data`, `cache` ,`dalvic` (will not wipe your user data. Just don't factory reset, but manually wipe data partition).
* Install ROM from external SD card. Restore Backup of `data` that you made earlier. Wipe `cache` and `dalvic cache` once again and reboot. It may take a while to boot up, but you should have your apps and data back.

***Approach 2***: You don't want to use custom ROMs.

If this is the case, you will have to use **ADB**. The reason is recovery backup does not include backup of your personal files in user-memory partition. So for that, you will have to use ADB.

* Power on to recovery mode and connect phone to PC.
* Open up CMD/Terminal (we are going to use ADB to pull your personal files that weren't backup before).
* Enter the command: `adb pull /sdcard/* D:/Backup`. This will start copying your personal files to your PC in a folder named `Backup` inside `D:/` drive. This backup includes the `/data` backup you made earlier in recovery.
* Go to sammobile and download the stock firmware for your phone. Again, **make sure the ROM is same Android version as the stock ROM you had in your phone** (else app backup may not work).
* Flash the ROM using ODIN.
* Now you will have to flash CWM again.
* After flashing CWM again, power on to recovery. And again, open up CMD/Terminal and run the command: `adb push D:/backup /sdcard`. This will copy over your personal files back to phone.
* Now to restore apps, simply use `Restore` feature of recovery and select the `/data` backup you made earlier. Wipe `cache`, `dalvic cache` and reboot phone.
* First reboot may take some time but you will have your files and apps back.

***Note:*** As silly as it might be, but personally, I have never used Titanium Backup (or any sort of backup apps for that matter. I always perform manual backups). So I do not know if what role could TB have played here. But if you stick to this guide, you will have your data back.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3, adb, backup, clockworkmod-recovery, data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: Why isn't Xposed framework available on Google Play?
So why isn't Xposed framework available on Play Store? Also, why are modules available there?

# Answer
> 8 votes
From XDA - Xposed FAQ,

> **Why isn't the Xposed Installer available via Play Store?**
>
> I \[read: the developer\] have several reasons for that. I wrote about it in this post. And as I learned, Google does indeed sometimes remove apps which interfere with other apps.
>
> From my point of view, you are free to publish the modules you develop on Play Store (at your own risk - Google might remove them). However, be careful if you plan to get money from them. Paid apps are stored in encrypted containers, which means Xposed can't load them at boot time.

From "this post", which explains a number of reasons,

> Currently, I don't plan to release the framework elsewhere. I had some vague plans to release it on Play Store, but there are some reasons for me not to do it:
>
> 1. The **rudeness in comments and ratings** is unacceptable. This isn't for single apps, it's the overall feeling I have. I spend much time on Xposed and everything around, I don't want someone to insult me for it.
> 2. **Limited supporting capabilities**. I think you can reply to comments now, but a dialog with the affected user would be required to fix bugs that may occur.
> 3. **Unexperienced users**. In the best case, you just need to install the Xposed Installer, click the button, install a module and activate it. Restart and you're done. But problems do occur, sometimes resulting in bootloops. I hope that most users here will be able to make their phone boot again (if only by restoring a nandroid backup). I don't expect that from the average Android user, even if the description says "ROOT" and "BE CAREFUL!!!". I recommend these users stay off from risky modifications like this one.
> 4. When somebody writes a module and publishes on the Play Store as well, their users might have trouble using it. Then these users will need to communicate with the developer of the module, but they might also contact me directly. Or if the developer doesn't know the answer, he might contact me. I would have to expect more support requests on different channels. **More time spent on support =\> less time for private life and coding =\> less fun**.
> 5. Not sure what **Google** thinks about apps which interfere on such a deep level with their baby.

---
Tags: google-play-store, xposed-framework
---


title: Add Location to Photos

text:
# Question
Title: Add Location to Photos
I know this is possible with third party applications, but is it not possible to add location to an image using the standard Google Photos app, either from the website or mobile app ? Just realized I had the location turned off on my Camera app after a trip, and would like to be able to search the pictures by location.

I have seen this question which suggests there is a way, although I believe this is an older version as I cant find that option anywhere.

# Answer
I'm afraid it's not possible using the standard google photos app, you would need to use some photo-processing software to set locations for photos after they were taken (Picasa comes to mind). Alternatively, you can use the G+ page https://plus.google.com/photos/yourphotos to edit the GPS information, but then again i'm afraid you can only do this one by one. Maybe it's best to just turn on the location feature while taking the photos and you're done
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, photos, 5.1-lollipop, moto-x, google-plus-photos
---


title: 'Unknown Artist' in Music Player.

text:
# Question
Title: 'Unknown Artist' in Music Player.
I have some 'unknown artist's in the Equalizer + Music Player. I know this question has been asked before but I do not know how to edit it. I have MusicTag on my laptop. Can someone please give instructions on how to fix this. Thank you.

# Answer
The default Music Player app does not inlcude an option to edit your tags. You need to either use a Album Editor software or use an app from the playstore to edit song name, album art, track number etc. I have used Rocket Player to edit/update mp3 tag information. Using Rocket player you can edit tags like Title, Artist, Album, Genre, Disc Number, Track Number, Year and Album Art information.

For advanced operation like adding or updating lyrics, Character encoding etc look into the list available on Google PlayStore under id3 tag editing apps for which ever corresponds to your needs.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: music-player, id3-tag
---


# Question
Title: Picasa photos in gallery don't show up in photos app or google+ photos
I have some photos that show up in gallery\>picasa, but not in the photos app. I know these photos were downloaded pictures from a previous phone, off a received email I believe. I may or may not have deleted them before on the google+ photos list on the web. After switching to a new phone with the same SD card, they are still there, unable to delete in gallery because they supposedly come from picasa web. Please help.

# Answer
Look here, they are all the photos uploaded into your account. you can also check this. If they are on either site, they must also be visible in google photos app (if you are connected to the internet). Don't forget to turn on sync all photos in the google photo app, aftewards they will show up or they do not exist.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: photos, gallery, google-plus, picasa
---


# Question
Title: How to uninstall an application without removing the user data?
The title says it all. Say I have an application, a game for instance. Which I wish to uninstall from my phone, and reinstall sometime in the future. However, I don't want my game save to be lost.

Is it possible to uninstall an app but to keep its data?

Thanks in advance.

# Answer
> -2 votes
Eventually, simply uninstalling and reinstalling normally worked! Turns out data is saved this way or another.

# Answer
> 12 votes
# My technique

If you don't want to root your device, you can use adb and `pm` instead. These steps will be hard to follow unless you already are familiar with the use of command-line tools.

1. Install adb on your computer, and set things up so that it can communicate with your device. Don't forget to enable USB debugging on your device. It's a big hassle to get adb working for the first time; the consolation prize is that you only have to do it once.
2. Use a USB cable to connect your computer with your device.
3. Use `adb shell` to connect to your device.
4. Use `pm list packages` to see a list of installed package IDs.
5. Use `pm uninstall -k` plus your package ID, to remove the package but keep your user data.

See also this related post.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Try this program SD Maid.

Open program, go to AppControl tab and click the app you want. There is an option called, "Remove app but keep its data".

Edit:

I'm not sure but it might require root.

---
Tags: applications, uninstallation
---


title: How to get imei number galaxy s5active

text:
# Question
Title: How to get imei number galaxy s5active
My phone was left in a friends car and I need the imei number

# Answer
You can visit https://www.google.com/settings/dashboard from your Desktop/PC.

Provide your Google Account details to sign-in(username and password) that you used while setting up your Android device.

You need to expand the Android tab. Here you will see List of all Android devices that are connected to your Google Account and it will list the IMEI number of your phone as well.

Below is the example:
> 1 votes

---
Tags: hardware
---


# Question
Title: Changing PATH, HOME env variables of dropbear ssh session
I made a dropbear multi binary that has android patch. But everytime , when i login via ssh using dropbear as ssh server. On checking environment variables, I get :: HOME=/sdcard PATH=/sbin:/system/sbin:/system/bin:/system/xbin

I found no flag for changing these in dropbear help.

```
-A Android Mode, specify a user explicitly
-N Android Mode, user name
-C Android Mode, password
-R Android Mode, public key file (authorized_keys)
-U Android Mode, UID
-G Android Mode, GID
-b bannerfile   Display the contents of bannerfile before user login
            (default: none)
-d dsskeyfile   Use dsskeyfile for the dss host key
            (default: /data/data/br.com.bott.droidsshd/files/etc/dropbear_dss_host_key)
-r rsakeyfile   Use rsakeyfile for the rsa host key
            (default: /data/data/br.com.bott.droidsshd/files/etc/dropbear_rsa_host_key)
-F              Don't fork into background
-E              Log to stderr rather than syslog
-w              Disallow root logins
-s              Disable password logins
-g              Disable password logins for root
-p [address:]port
            Listen on specified tcp port (and optionally address),
            up to 10 can be specified
            (default port is 2222 if none specified)
-P PidFile      Create pid file PidFile
            (default /data/data/br.com.bott.droidsshd/files/run/dropbear.pid)
-W <receive_window_buffer> (default 24576, larger may be faster, max 1MB)
-K <keepalive>  (0 is never, default 0)
-I <idle_timeout>  (0 is never, default 0)

```

How can I change default PATH & HOME variables in dropbear ?

# Answer
> 0 votes
It is not possible to change the default HOME and PATH variables in Dropbear but you could create a symlink to the directories you want.

You don't mention why you need to change the default variables?

---
Tags: root-access, ssh
---


title: Forgot Android Password

text:
# Question
Title: Forgot Android Password
I've tried waiting for the reset via google account to show up, but it didn't. I've tried to use Android Device Manager, but when I try to reset the password, it says "Since Google has verified that a screen lock is already set, the password you entered won't be needed." and nothing happens to my phone.

This is with Android 5.0 lollipop.

# Answer
Unfortunately Google removed the option to reset your password using your Google credentials or Android Device Manager in Android Lollipop. If you're rooted, you may be able to remove or reset your password using adb but this seems very hit and miss and the methods vary. Apart from that, a factory reset from recovery is your only option.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Is your Android version 4.4 or below? If it is, a button should appear below the lock screen pattern to unlock your phone using your Google password.

If it isn't, you should be able to use Android Device Manager in your browser and (using the "lock" button) create a temporary password for your phone (I have tried this and it works).
> -1 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, recovery-mode, password, locked-out
---


# Question
Title: How do I enable Airplane mode using Tasker on Android 4.2.2?
How do I enable airplane mode automatically at 01:00 AM using Tasker on Android 4.2.2?

The Airplane mode setting inside Tasker under **Action -\> Net -\> Airplane mode** cannot be activated:

> Airplane mode is not available in Android 4.2+, try the Secure Settings plugin and a rooted device.

My device is rooted. How do I properly use the Secure Settings plugin to enable Airplane mode automatically at the said time?

# Answer
**Notes:**

* The answer is tested on a rooted Android 4.2.1 running Tasker v4.6u3m and Secure Settings v1.3.6.
* Secure Settings may needs to be installed as a System app (it has the provision under `SYSTEM+` in its GUI).

---

Since you're already aware of making profiles, tasks, and actions, I would come to point:

1. Make a profile having time as the context, and create a new task in it.
2. Under that Task, the action would be **Plugin → Secure Settings → Configuration** (pencil icon) → **System+ Actions → Airplane Mode → On → Save** (floppy icon), and save your action under the task.

Now whenever the time would come Tasker would execute Airplane mode, and everyone would be happy!

You can automatically disable the Airplane Mode as well, by choosing `Off` or `Toggle` over `On` in the aforesaid step.

---

For Readers: If you don't happen to have Secure Settings or it's not working somehow, then you can use the following action as an alternative. (Credits to Andrew T. and DavisNT for their answer)

Action: **Code → Run Shell**, and enter these details:

* **Command**: `settings put global airplane_mode_on 1; am broadcast -a android.intent.action.AIRPLANE_MODE --ez state true`
* Check **Use Root**

That would execute the Airplane mode based on your profile.

To automatically disable the said mode, create an another action in a different profile and copy the aforesaid action with exception of `0` over `1` and `false` over `true`.

You're good to go now!
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean, tasker, airplane-mode
---


# Question
Title: Connect to a device with WiFi, but use 4G for Internet
As the title states, is there a way to connect to a WiFi device (my drone), yet use another app on 4G? Right now when I'm connected to my drone using WiFi, I can't use 4G, but is there a work around?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Samsung devices have a direct connect with option via Wi-Fi (Wi-Fi Direct), it acts as a hotspot for your other devices but uses your mobile data for internet. Other manufacturers and carriers offer similar features also, take a peek in your settings and see what you've got.

---
Tags: wi-fi, 4g
---


# Question
Title: Google Sky Maps does not follow pointing direction. How can the sensors be calibrated?
I have a new Lollipop device (Moto G 2. Gen) and wanted to use Google Skymaps. This worked like a charm on my old device. Now the display is not following the movements of the phone in the right way.

I think this is due to missing sensor calibration. I am missing a corresponding item in the Sky Map menues and I neither could find it in the general settings. How can i calibrate compass and accelerometer on my Lollipop device?

# Answer
I guess you mean to physically wave the phone in a pattern of a three dimensional infinity symbol (or simply a figure of 8). This YouTube video gives a good demo.

Moto G2 has gyro in addition to what Moto G1 have. Hence it should work like a charm and the issue you are facing should be a calibration issue at a low level.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sensors, calibration
---


# Question
Title: Creating and enabling an internal storage swap partition on rooted Android Kitkat
**System:** Rooted Android 4.4 phone (actual rom: CM 11 Milestone 6) with 1GB ram, plenty of internal storage, but no sdcard slot. My phone's partition scheme is unmodified CyanogenMod 11.

**Problem:** lowmemorykiller/OOM handler on my phone keeps killing vital system processes such as the lockscreen, or incallui, or acore, causing at best long freezes, and more often soft and hard system lockups. I'm probably running apps that push RAM beyond system minimum, and it's making a suboptimal choice of background process to kill. I looked into fine-tuning lowmemkiller but got nowhere.

As ram and not CPU is the issue, I want to try enabling internal storage based swap instead of zRAM as a workaround, which the phone should handle. But I can't find clear instructions how to do so. Every instructional page I found is either desktop not Android specific, external (SDcard) storage specific ("partition using USB+windows"), assumes you want file not partition based swap, or suggests a Google Play app to use. None explain step by step how to actually do it.

Assuming I've read the warnings and know the risks, and want to go ahead anyway, how do I do it? I really just want to get a list of the example console commands for using partition-based swap. I assume it goes something like this:

1. Resize existing partition(s) or subpartition(s) to create spare space for a dedicated fixed-size swap partition.
2. Create or define a new partition in the free space, and ensure it's formatted as swap, or the OS will format or use it as swap on boot.
3. Edit some other system files to ensure swap will be mounted and enabled appropriately on boot, so the OS can recognise and use it. (fstab, or something else?)
4. Disable or deprioritise zRAM, and edit swappiness to about 20-30.
5. Reboot, cross fingers, and hope I did it right.

**My current \*nix experience level:** I know Linux uses partitions and subpartitions, that new partitions and partition changes probably need me to manually edit fstab or other files, and manual edits may also be needed to ensure partitions will be mounted/enabled/used at boot. I'm haven't used the actual commands or changed the actual files so I don't know what to expect. I'm comfortable with console, but this is a bit of a new area for me.

How do I do this, step by step, and what are the commands I'd use if they aren't obvious. I can figure the rest from that.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Just a raw idea, not tested/verified by myself:

Swap can also be established using a swap file, so you could easily test whether it works at all. Try via `adb shell` or a terminal app, after becoming root, whether the `dd`, `mkswap`, and `swapon` commands are available. If so, you can try:

```
# create a file to be used for swapping
# (adjust the filename to where the file should reside, and the count
# to the size in kb it should occupy)
dd if=/dev/zero of=</path/to/swapfile> bs=1024 count=65536

# initialize the file for swap use
# (use the file created in the previous step)
mkswap </path/to/swapfile>

# enable swapping
swapon </path/to/swapfile>

# to disable swapping to that file:
# swapoff </path/to/swapfile>

```

There are ways to fine-tune this (e.g. setting specific values for swappiness) – but with the steps described you can easily test whether it works at all, without big danger of breaking things. Not even a reboot is required. In the best case, it simply works – in the worst case it does not, and you might have to manually delete the `</path/to/swapfile>` ;)

# Answer
> 3 votes
I was having the same issue. Tried 4 apps all failed. I know how to do this in other Linux distros, also shown manually above, still failed. Tried other ideas given above: moving to other mount points. Most you are denied, others are too small to be worth it.

Then noticed when running `df`

I saw an output like this:

```
/storage/sdcard0
/mnt/media_rw/sdcard0

```

Using the `/mnt` instead of `/storage` or `/sdcard` appears to have allowed me to enable swap successfully.

---
Tags: swap
---


title: 3G and wifi tweaks explanation required

text:
# Question
Title: 3G and wifi tweaks explanation required
Where ever I check for build.prop tweaks to enhance 3g or wifi connectivity I see this tweak , can anyone explain what these values are exactly?

> what is "**ro.ril.hep**" means ?
>
> why given the value **0** for it ?
>
> **can anybody explain the below given tweaks** ?

```
# RIL settings
ro.ril.hep=0
ro.ril.hsxpa=2
ro.ril.gprsclass=12
ro.ril.enable.dtm=1
ro.ril.hsdpa.category=8
ro.ril.enable.a53=1
ro.ril.enable.3g.prefix=1
ro.ril.htcmaskw1.bitmask=4294967295
ro.ril.htcmaskw1=14449
ro.ril.hsupa.category=6

# net speed tweaks:
net.tcp.buffersize.default=4096,87380,256960,4096, 16384,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.wifi=4096,87380,256960,4096,163 84,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.umts=4096,87380,256960,4096,163 84,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.gprs=4096,87380,256960,4096,163 84,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.edge=4096,87380,256960,4096,163 84,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.hspda=4096,87380,256960,4096,16 384,256960
net.tcp.buffersize.hspa=4096,87380,256960,4096,163 84,256960

# Wireless Tweaks:
net.ipv4.ip_no_pmtu_disc=0
net.ipv4.route.flush=1
net.ipv4.tcp_ecn=0
net.ipv4.tcp_fack=1
net.ipv4.tcp_mem=187000 187000 187000
net.ipv4.tcp_moderate_rcvbuf=1
net.ipv4.tcp_no_metrics_save=1
net.ipv4.tcp_rfc1337=1
net.ipv4.tcp_rmem=4096 39000 187000
net.ipv4.tcp_sack=1
net.ipv4.tcp_timestamps=1
net.ipv4.tcp_window_scaling=1
net.ipv4.tcp_wmem=4096 39000 187000

```

# Answer
Parts of those `build.prop` tweaks (and several you did not mention) are explained in the attachments to this XDA post. Let's see what of yours is covered – which are mostly the RIL settings (Radio Interface Layer):

* **ro.ril.hep :** unknown and undefined … may not even exist
* **ro.ril.hsxpa :** 1:HSDPA, 2:HSDPA/HSUPA, 3:? (HSUPA only?)
* **ro.ril.gprsclass :** see: GPRS classes
* **ro.ril.enable.dtm :** Dual Transfer Mode. Only set this to 1 if your network allows simultaneous transfer of Circuit switched (CS) voice and Packet switched (PS) data over the same radio channel (ARFCN)
* **ro.ril.hsdpa.category :** HSDPA speed class; e.g. 21 = 23.4 MBit/s
* **ro.ril.hsupa.category :** dito for HSUPA; 6 = 5.76 MBit/s
* **ro.ril.enable.a53 :** gprs encryption algorithm; "may not even exist"
* **ro.ril.enable.3g.prefix :** show "3g" on lock screen next to network name
* **ro.ril.htcmaskw1.bitmask :** (not there; maybe HTC specific?)
* **net speed tweaks:** (not documented there)1
* **wireless tweaks:** (not documented there)2

**1:** also see What range of tcp buffer size do you suggest for slow and fast networks? and TCP buffers - smaller can actually be BETTER!. By the latter, the values here stand for "ReadMin, ReadInitial, Readmax, WriteMin, WriteInitial, WriteMax".

**2:**

* **net.ipv4.ip\_no\_pmtu\_disc:** "Set this if you want to disable Path MTU discovery - a technique to determine the largest Maximum Transfer Unit possible on your path." (Source)
* **net.ipv4.tcp\_mem:** "The tcp\_mem variable defines how the TCP stack should behave when it comes to memory usage. ... The first value specified in the tcp\_mem variable tells the kernel the low threshold. Below this point, the TCP stack do not bother at all about putting any pressure on the memory usage by different TCP sockets. ... The second value tells the kernel at which point to start pressuring memory usage down. ... The final value tells the kernel how many memory pages it may use maximally. If this value is reached, TCP streams and packets start getting dropped until we reach a lower memory usage again. This value includes all TCP sockets currently in use." (source: Network / TCP / UDP Tuning)

I won't explain all the TCP settings here (they are not Android specific, so this doesn't really belong here). You can find most of the missing settings at Obscure Settings.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, 3g, system
---


title: Android Kiosk Mode

text:
# Question
Title: Android Kiosk Mode
It would be great if someone can verify my current understanding of the Android Kiosk mode:

In earlier versions than Android 5.0 there is no comparable function like the Pin Screen (turning your device into a kiosk mode) - at least not out of the box from the standard functionality of the operating system.

Since Android 5.0 we have the pin screen function which allows us to specify the use of only one app (without leaving it or doing anything else except using this app). If you choose google chrome as the app of your choice (for the kiosk mode) there is no way to prevent the user from changing websites. Is that correct?

What we want to do:
We developed a website which shall run on Android devices in Google Chrome. We want to put this specific website into a kiosk mode. The problem we think we will have is that the user can still change the url and therefore leave our website.

Do you know if there is any way to prevent that? And are we right that before Android 5 no kiosk mode exists?

# Answer
> 2 votes
AirWatch Browser could be exactly what you're looking for - you can whitelist URLs and landing pages so you don't navigate away from your preferred page. I don't believe the native Android browser or Chrome have those kinds of options.

---
Tags: kiosk-mode
---


title: How to scrape data from Android apps?

text:
# Question
Title: How to scrape data from Android apps?
How could you scrape data from an Android app (one without an available API)?

There are some apps that contain personal data I've entered that I'd like to be able to hook into and extract (rather than manual transcribing by hand).

# Answer
> 7 votes
The app likely uses an undocumented API to communicate with their backend server, so to reverse engineer what this is you need to monitor the app's network traffic. Fortunately this is straightforward for Android:

1. install the Chrome extension ARC Welder so that you can run Android apps on your computer
2. download the app's APK and load it in ARC Welder
3. interact with the app and use a tool such as Wireshark or Fiddler to monitor how the app loads the data you are after from their backend server
4. then replicate this network call to scrape the data directly

See this blog post for more details.

---
Tags: applications
---


title: Booting into recovery from terminal

text:
# Question
Title: Booting into recovery from terminal
How can I boot into the recovery from terminal? I'm using LG p970/CM10/cwm5

# Answer
Try `reboot recovery`, though it doesn't work on all devices. You might also need root for this, so first try `su`.
> 5 votes

# Answer
It may not work if you have not-always-compatibile busybox reboot symlink in a PATH that is more privileged than /system/bin (or /system/bin toolbox symlink has been overwritten), it may lie in /sbin if using custom kernel with bb included for example. If so, try: "toolbox reboot recovery" (jb) "/system/bin/reboot recovery" (kk - however which one will work my be also dependent from the manufacturer...)
> 0 votes

# Answer
If you are running CM11 or CM12 you can simply go to Settings\> About Phone\> and tap Build Number 7-10 times to unlock Dev Options. Once unlocked you can go to Setting \> Developer Options and select Advanced Reboot, this will add a "Reboot to Recovery" option to your reboot menu. Easiest method I have found to get unto recovery without installing a 3rd party app or using a terminal command if your phone doesn't want to accept a multi button sequence. Also note that in Cyanogenmod 12 you have to enable the Superuser root access in the Dev options first I believe.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, recovery-mode, terminal
---


# Question
Title: Moto X (2nd generation) international travel
I want to get a motorola moto x (2nd generation) but I am unsure if the phone can work in other countries outside of the United States, specifically China.

# Answer
> 0 votes
According to the spec sheets, YES, a Moto X 2014 will work in China *at 3G speeds*.

China provides access to their GSM network over the 2100MHz (HSPDA, or 3G) and 2500MHZ (LTE) spectrums, shown here. A Motorola Moto X (2nd Gen) purchased in the United States (from either Verizon or AT&T) covers that 2100MHz band for 3G, but doesn't touch the 2500MHz for LTE, as seen here. In fact, the spec sheet shows it should work, *to some degree*, almost anywhere in the world that provides GSM service.

---
Tags: motorola, gsm
---


# Question
Title: Dismounting the emulated sd card to be used as internal storage and use the physical sd card instead?
Any way to Dismount the emulated sd card to be used as internal storage and use the physical sd card instead?

# Answer
I was *surprised* when I recognized, that the 4 Gbyte storage of my Android 4.2 device is partitioned such stupid way (1 G for system, 1 G for internal storage and 2 G for "internal SD card"), it makes the whole device unexpandable. I assume, you have the same problem.

I'm not an Android Guru, so I did just a little trick: I've *swapped SD cards* in the configuration: I've edited `/system/etc/vold.fstab`, and swapped `sdcard0` and `sdcard1` in mount commands.

> dev\_mount sdcard /storage/**sdcard1** emmc@fat /devices/platform/goldfish\_mmc.0 /devices/platform/mtk-msdc.0/mmc\_host
> dev\_mount sdcard2 /storage/**sdcard0** auto /devices/platform/goldfish\_mmc.1 /devices/platform/mtk-msdc.1/mmc\_host

Now "internal SD card" is my real SD card, and the 2 Gbyte partition (was: "internal SD card") is not accessible for the most of the apps (except factory ones, which can handle two SD cards, and ones which can use specified path).

**Caution**: if you don't know how to do it, you're probably shouldn't do it. If you make mistake in configuration files, your device may not boot up. Always make backup, install recovery etc. Anyway, if your SD card configuration is wrong, it's not a fatal error, the only effect is that you'll have no SD card mounted. So be sure that all the tools needed (file manager, root manager, SSH server etc.) are installed on the internal storage.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I was able to make it. Just follow this tutorial:

http://blog.163.com/san\_stars/blog/static/13683188020139404417393/

Step by step it only works if you make what he says. The application Root Internal 2 External is not in the store anymore so you need to look for the APK.

After that you can install Link2SD for a complete solution.

I recommend a complete wipe before using this method but is not neccesary

Regards
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: Making an applications stay on the phone "permanently"
I would like to be able to make an Android application remain on the phone even after a factory reset and/or a system upgrade.

Some people suggested that the way to accomplish this is to root the phone put the desired application in the system/app and unroot the phone.

What I was wondering is - is there a less aggressive way (avoiding rooting the phone) to accomplish this? What would be the standard way to accomplish this?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I would say no.

If you want to completely copy app from phone to another storage you need usually root. And for making app as a system app, you need unfortunately root as well.

---
Tags: rooting, system-apps
---


title: On screen notifications for Samsung s4

text:
# Question
Title: On screen notifications for Samsung s4
I have a Samsung Galaxy Gt 19505. I am currently running andriod 4.4.2 I was wondering if there's any way to get on screen notifications for messages etc whilst using other apps. I used to have an iPhone, but switched to Samsung because of how customisable Android is. However, the onscreen notifications are something I'm greatly missing. I am aware of message previews in the lock screen, and have that enabled, but I would absolutely love to have in screen notifications whilst using other apps. I am willing to download other apps to be able to do this. Please please please help Thank you

# Answer
> 0 votes
I really like "HeadsUp" from Google Play Store and I use it myself.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, sms, notifications, samsung-galaxy-s-4
---


# Question
Title: How to know if the GPS signal has fixed my position on Lollipop?
On Jellybean when the phone was trying to find my GPS location there was a flashing indicator in the status bar and a static one when the location was found.

On lollipop the indicator doesn't flash, so how do I know if the phone has a GPS fix or not?

# Answer
Try this app: GPS Status It will show a hollow notification icon when an app requests location, and the icon gets filled in when the GPS fix is acquired.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: gps, 5.1-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: "Can't reach Google at the moment" when using Google Now
I have Nexus 4 running on Lollipop 5.0. Everytime I input a command via voice, or typing to set a reminder in Google Now, I get

> Can't reach Google at the moment

I've changed languages from English (US) to English (IN) with no results.

Does anybody know a fix for this? Alternatively, is there another way to set reminders via voice command just like Google Now?

# Answer
> 8 votes
I had issue with reminders not working and that was "fixed" by going into app settings and then Accounts & Privacy, turn ON Search with Google.com

Now commands work properly? Must be a local server issue.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I only had this problem while connected to my home wifi. It would only work once in a blue moon. The other voice to text functions worked fine though.

I decided to log into my router and change the default DNS servers to some free opendns servers. Fixed the problem right away. Hope this helps someone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have the note 4 and I had to go into settings \>\> Accounts \>\> Google \>\> Search. There the option 'Voice & Audio Activity' was paused. I selected and turned the switch on 'On' and google voice search is back into action.

# Answer
> -2 votes
In Google now cards...Settings\>Now Cards\>Delete card preferences

This will disable now cards.

Re-enabling will bring it back.

---
Tags: google-now
---


# Question
Title: How to make lock and home screen backgrounds separate
I have a Moto G 2014, and it's running 4.4.4. I cannot seem to find away to get my lock screen and home screen wallpapers different from each other. How can I go about doing this? I haven't rooted yet.

# Answer
> 0 votes
By default there is no setting to change lock screen wallpaper. One way is to have a lock screen app like Go Locker which will allow to set lock screen wallpaper different than the home screen wallpaper. Another is to install a custom ROM like Cyanogenmod 11 which gives much more features over stock OS.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I also have a Moto G and I don't have the wallpaper background to be different from the lock screen. I figured out, by going through every setting, that there is no possible way for your wallpaper background and your lock screen to be different. But there is a solution. Either you can get a whole new phone (in which you can have a lock screen) or, you can suggest to the Motorola company to get a new setting to put up a lock screen.

---
Tags: wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: Use Bluetooth Headphones with Phone and Old Laptop
I am wondering if there is a way for me to play audio that is coming into the headphone jack on my phone out of my phone's bluetooth. I have bluetooth headphones that do not work with my old laptop but I could easily plug a male-male headphone cable from my computer into my phone. If I did this is there a way to make the sound coming out of my laptop be played over my phone's bluetooth?

Alternative solutions are also encouraged, however I thought this one was the most plausible.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The solution that I used was to plug the male-male headphone cable mentioned in my question from my laptop speaker output into my microphone input jack of the same type. Then I ran an internet radio server program from the laptop on my LAN. The radio program played sound that was coming in from the microphone jack which was just the output of the speaker/headphone jack; in other words, I was playing the output of my speakers through the internet radio server. Then I played the sound out of my phone with an internet radio p

Works like a charm, though there is a slight (3 second) delay in the sound due to the internet radio server, but I would recommend doing it this way for anyone who needs to play sound out of their non-bluetooth enabled computer through bluetooth headphones if they have access to an Android phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I am not sure this will exactly fulfil your requirements. But i think USB Bluetooth Adapter Dongle would enable Bluetooth connectivity to your old laptop and you can play directly via laptop.

When you have easy access to your Bluetooth headphone from mobile then why don't you transfer audio files into your phone :-)

What I have understood from your question is :

---
Tags: bluetooth, audio, bluetooth-audio, headphone-jack
---


# Question
Title: How to transfer both SIM and phone contacts to a new phone?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace2 and a new Samsung S5 Mini. I have completed the smart switch but it has only transferred contacts from the phone not the sim.

Can you please suggest me a solution to transfer all the contacts(including SIM contacts) to my new phone?

# Answer
You can try using the adb pull command

```
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts2.db

```

from your Samsung Galaxy and restore it to your Samsung S5 mini
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, samsung-galaxy-s-5, data-transfer, samsung-galaxy-ace-2
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to permanently disable mobile internet on Android 4.0.4 so that I don't get charged even if I accidentally enable it
I use Android 4.0.4 (ICS).
The problem is that sometimes mobile internet (not Wifi) accidentally gets enabled (i.e. the notifications window gets pulled down and the "Data" button gets pressed).
Then, any of the apps I use, be it gmail, twitter, instagram, viber, etc might connect to the internet, so I get charged for mobile internet usage

**So, is there a way to permanently disable mobile internet<br>so that I don't get charged even if it's accidentally enabled?**

I've tried making a new APN account in
`Settings | More... | Mobile Networks | Access Point Names`
with all it's settings empty (i.e. I just set a name to it, and making it active)
but I'm not sure if that's enough.

Is it a solution to manually "set mobile data limit" to `zero`?
(Can I do that? I'm asking because that setting only appears after you enable mobile internet, and I don't want to do that because I would get charged)

Or is there another way?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Sadly, the Mobile Data Manager on Android only lets you set a minimum of 5MB until it cuts you off, so that won't work for you. A quick search through the Play Store reveals a lot of apps that let you conveniently toggle that setting (which is not what you're looking for), or apps that claim to be able to but have lots of users saying it doesn't work (and I assume you'll want this to work the first time, all the time).

A more sure-fire solution would be to contact your wireless service carrier and have them disable the data on their end. You can't get charged if they never let you use it, even if the feature is turned on. However, it can only be enabled by another phone call, and services like MMS depend on that data (even though you may not get charged for it - refer to your personal wireless plan details for that).

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, mobile-data
---


# Question
Title: Will deleting a photo on device, also delete the synced photos on Google?
My SD card and internal storage are full, and I want to free up some space. Is it safe to delete photos if the photos show that they are being synced to my Google account?

# Answer
> 2 votes
* Google Photos synchronize your photos to your online storage (your online storage is limited to 10Gb if you choose synchronizing the original size of the photos ,and unlimited if you choose the high quality upload size , this setting can be edited under `Photos >> settings >> backup and sync >> upload size` ) now when Photos app synchronize you photos you end up with two copies, one on your local storage (sdcard) and the other one on your google photo storage so deleting the local version of the photo will not delete the one on your google Photos online storage.
* **However** if you had chosen the high quality option under the app's settings the app will not synchronize the original size of the photo but it will re-size it and then upload it so in this case you have two copies of the photos one with the original size on your SDcard and one re-sized on the server deleting the local copy will make you lose your original photo but your re-sized photo will still be on the server.
* Saving space on SD cards is one of the purpose of Google sync photo.

---
Tags: storage, photos
---


# Question
Title: Why are Clean Master, Daily Racing, DU Booster, MP3 Downloader, SnapTube and TouchPal installing themselves?
One day I found myself having some weird apps in my phone I didn't remember installing. After uninstalling them, they appeared again after after some time.

These apps are:

* Clean Master
* Daily Racing
* DU Booster
* MP3 Downloader
* SnapTube
* TouchPal

How did they install themselves and howcome they appear again after uninstalling?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I found out this was most probably caused by **SnapPea**.

Not only this app installed itself after connecting my phone to my PC (where I did have SnapPea program installed), but also installed those 5 more rubbish apps. If I go to Google Play on the web and look up those self-installed apps, it shows me they are not actually installed. If I open the apps up in Google Play on my phone, it gives me uninstall option, but I can't rate them.

As SnapPea cannot be installed from Google Play, even though it looks quite professional on both phone and PC, the product is certainly a malware.

I strongly recommend uninstalling SnapPea from everywhere.

---
Tags: applications, malware
---


# Question
Title: Problem of lack of storage space in the system storage
Partitioning LG Optimus L3 E405F, i need space in system storage to download applications from google play.

My device is LG Optimus L3 E405F.

* System storage: I think 220-odd MB
* Internal Storage: 1GB

How to increase System Storage, i have access superuser (root) on my device.

# Answer
> 0 votes
First you need to do partition of your SD card using a SD card Partition app (by partitioning, all data of SD card will be erased). Then you will have to use 'Link2sd' app to move your installed apps in the SD card (needs superuser access). By moving apps to SD card, not the whole app will be moved to SD card but about 40-50% of the app's memory will be stored in that partition of SD card.

---
Tags: storage, partitions, lg, operating-system
---


# Question
Title: Clearing all the app data on an Android tablet without using factory reset?
In Android, is there a way to clear all the app data at the same time without using the factory reset? I work at a library and we have Android Tablets for checkout for patrons to use and after the patron is done using the tablet we want to delete the username off any and all apps the patron may have used so that their username is not left on the app. I know the "Clear Data" button in Application Manager will clear the username but we would have to do this for every app and would rather do this in one instance rather then one at a time. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

# Answer
> 2 votes
That could be done via ADB and a little scripting – though I'm currently not sure whether it might require root (surely you understand I do not want to try that on any of my working devices right now ;):

```
#!/system/bin/sh
for app in $(pm list packages); do
  pm clear ${app:8}
done

```

This snippet you could save into a file (e.g. `clear_data.sh`), or directly execute per copy-paste when connected to the device using `adb shell`.

---

Some explanation of what that does, as there was some trouble on the OP's end:

* `pm list packages` gives a list with package names of all installed apps, one per line.
* `for app in $(pm list packages); do` would loop over that list, and execute the "inner command" for each package separately
* `pm clear ${app:8}` deletes the data from each package specified by `$app`, cutting of the first 8 chars (`pm list` prepends each app name by the string `package:`, which we need to cut off)

To verify at the command line, you can copy-paste the following one-liner:

```
adb shell 'for app in $(pm list packages); do echo pm clear ${app:8}; done'

```

(note: when run from a Windows command line, you'll have to use ***double quotes*** (thanks to Jesse for this hint!) – on Linux/Unix/Mac stay with the single quotes or the variables would be expanded "on the wrong end")

That's a "dry run", not doing anything but *listing* the commands above code block would execute directly. You could use the output from that to delete the data from each app manually, picking the ones you're interested in.**1**

To give an example command produced by this: `pm clear com.facebook.katana` would delete the data of the Facebook app.

---

**1:** This might prove to be an important part, as the loop would really clear data from *all* apps (including system apps) – which might not be exactly what you're after. You can automatically restrict that to e.g. user-apps by passing the parameter `-3` (for "3rd party apps only") to the `pm list` command, i.e. `pm list packages -3`.

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, tablet, tablet-apps
---


# Question
Title: Easiest way to resize and email pictures?
I have some clients that need to take high quality photos with their cell phones, send the photos via email, but keep the original size for later. (don't ask :P )

I'm looking for the easiest way to resize a bunch of pictures and email them, without modifying the original photo.

I guess ideally there would be a setting in the mail app that could downsize all the photos, but I don't see that in any Android mail apps. Another ideal thing would be an Android app like Instasize that could resize multiple photos and then email them. I can't find one.

Anyway, what's the most efficient way to resize 10-30 photos and email them?

Thanks!

# Answer
Android doesn't have such a feature built-in. But there are several apps available a.o. at Google Play which can help you out (for a list, see Other photo editors on my site). One of those is JustResizeIt!, which also offers batch-resizing:

> JustResizeIt! mobile free lets you resize and share your pictures with all your friends and family with only a few taps.
>
> It can send entire albums via email to many recipients, add resized photos to your online gallery, upload original images to a FTP/FTPS server or create new albums.

Its feature list explicitly names:

> * send many pictures to many recipients with only a few taps
> * create a reusable widget for each purpose
> * resize pictures to any desired resolution
> * resize as much pictures as you want

So this should perfectly match your needs.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: photos
---


# Question
Title: How to make phone play a custom sound after pressing physical button?
I have LG G2 Mini with Lollipop.

In Settings there is an option that allows the phone to quickly launch apps at the locked screen. So when you press and hold volume down it can open the Camera, and with volume up it can run QuickNote.

I want to replace this volume up gesture. Instead of running QuickNote I want it to play a custom sound.

# Answer
> 0 votes
OK, I found an answer by myself :-) To add action to volume button I used Key Plus app (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.apptuners.keyplusapp). Then I created a task with Tasker (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.dinglisch.android.taskerm&hl=pl) which set media volume to max, play a sound, wait till it ends and revert volume to previous value:

---
Tags: applications, 5.0-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: How can I link to a local image from my home screen?
We are able to create a link to a website and put this link on our Home screen by using the `Add shortcut to home` inside the browser's context menu.

I would like to do the same for an image that is local to my phone, so that I can click on the button and have that particular image display.

How might I achieve this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are actually many ways to achieve the goal.

### Method 1

1. Install ES File Explorer -- I'm suggesting it because I know that it provides a file widget.
2. In your default launcher, go to Widgets → choose **ES File Explorer** → locate and select the image you want to be launched by the shortcut, and it would be placed on your home screen now.

### Method 2

You already know it.

Open your browser, enter `file:///` in the URL bar → locate to the folder where the image is located and then tap on it so that the browser should load it (show it, not download it) → use "Add shortcut to home" so that the shortcut can be created on the home screen.

**Note** that I tested this method on Firefox for Android and works well, but Chrome doesn't work.

### Method 3

Find the activity responsible for showing the image in your default gallery app, input the data (image URI) into it, and use them in the Tasker to create a shortcut. (Use my answer for *know-how*.)

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-4, home-screen-shortcuts, images
---


title: Unistalled Updates on pre-installed app

text:
# Question
Title: Unistalled Updates on pre-installed app
So my Facebook wasn't working, and would only load for a while then crash when I tried to open it. I uninstalled the app updates, then tried to install them again but when the updates were installing, a screen text would appear saying "Error Code 505." The app was already on the phone, and I don't think I can uninstall in the app without rooting the phone, which is something I rather not do. Anything I can do to fix this?

# Answer
Try installing FAcebook APK manually following this steps :

1. on your phone go to `settings > security` and check the unknown source check box
2. Download the latest (to the date of this answer) facebook apk from here
3. after the download is finish click on the apk in the list of Downloaded items or go to /sdcard/downloads with a file manager app like es file explorer and open the apk file.
4. the installation screen should appear showing the permissions asked by the app click on `install` at the botton of the screen.
5. wait for the installation to finish then click on open to open facebook app. (now you have the latest facebook app let's fix the playstore issue)
6. Now go to Settings \> Applications \> all ,search the play store app and click on it.
7. The info about the play store appear ,wait until the delete data button is click-able then click on it and confirm.
8. Now go back to your hame screen and launch the play store and wait for it to load you account then go to `my applications` tab you should see the facebook app there (if it's not try rebooting your phone).
9. You are all set facebook is to latest version and will be updated normally from play store.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, facebook, crashes
---


title: Android external keyboard layout switch

text:
# Question
Title: Android external keyboard layout switch
I have and Android tablet and using external keyboard with it.

Is there any shortcut or another quick way to change keyboard layout on the fly (like on desktop, e.g. Alt+Shift)?

# Answer
Try Shift + Space Bar It works with Samsung TabS on Logitech Keyboard
> -1 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, keyboard-shortcuts
---


# Question
Title: Connection to home server via https – works with WiFi, but not with 3G
I have a very weird issue with my phone (Alcatel 997D running Android 4.0.4). Let me start at the beginning. I provide certain services (mostly syncing stuff, Firefox and Cal/CardDAV) on a server with self signed SSL keys that is in my home network. To provide connectivity, I poked a small hole in my router's firewall and have a domain registered which is set to my WAN IP address regularly.

All worked fine some time ago (6 months, I think). But now my phone can't connect to my server when it uses the 3G connection (with all the sync apps, Firefox, Cal/CardDAV sync apps, Firefox with my WAN IP as address), but all works fine when I connect through the local WLAN.

Basically, the only things I changed are the SSL keys on my server, and maybe I installed some small Android updates on the phone. To rule out that it is a problem with the 3G network, I poked another hole in my router's firewall and sent the traffic to one of my other computers (displaying a small web page over http). To my astonishment, the phone could connect to the page over 3G.

This is very unsettling. To rule out that the phone is the problem, I still need to check 3G connectivity on another machine, and try to connect to my server over a foreign WLAN. ~~But just in case: How can I get more information on the Android side? All apps provide more or less meaningless output.~~

While googleing, I found out that there are more options available for debugging, like installing curl. I'll do this, but ask this question anyway in hope that somebody has seen something similar, or can point me to a trivial error on my side.

---

There are errors in the system log which indicate SSL handshake problems over the 3G connection. Here are some log entries:

```
[ 08-24 12:30:02.508 19763:0x4d6c E/NativeCrypto ]
Unknown error during handshake
[ 08-24 12:30:08.274 19763:0x4d6c E/NativeCrypto ]
Unknown error during handshake
[ 08-24 12:30:08.275 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
javax.net.ssl.SSLHandshakeException: javax.net.ssl.SSLProtocolException: SSL handshake aborted: ssl=0x18e8508: Failure in SSL library, usually a protocol error
[ 08-24 12:30:08.275 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
error:140770FC:SSL routines:SSL23_GET_SERVER_HELLO:unknown protocol (external/openssl/ssl/s23_clnt.c:683 0x4027f522:0x00000000)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at org.apache.harmony.xnet.provider.jsse.OpenSSLSocketImpl.startHandshake(OpenSSLSocketImpl.java:460)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at org.apache.harmony.xnet.provider.jsse.OpenSSLSocketImpl.startHandshake(OpenSSLSocketImpl.java:257)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpConnection.setupSecureSocket(HttpConnection.java:210)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpsURLConnectionImpl$HttpsEngine.makeSslConnection(HttpsURLConnectionImpl.java:486)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpsURLConnectionImpl$HttpsEngine.connect(HttpsURLConnectionImpl.java:450)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpEngine.sendSocketRequest(HttpEngine.java:282)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpEngine.sendRequest(HttpEngine.java:232)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpURLConnectionImpl.connect(HttpURLConnectionImpl.java:80)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpURLConnectionImpl.getOutputStream(HttpURLConnectionImpl.java:194)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.276 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at libcore.net.http.HttpsURLConnectionImpl.getOutputStream(HttpsURLConnectionImpl.java:280)

[…]

Caused by: javax.net.ssl.SSLProtocolException: SSL handshake aborted: ssl=0x18e8508: Failure in SSL library, usually a protocol error
[ 08-24 12:30:08.277 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
error:140770FC:SSL routines:SSL23_GET_SERVER_HELLO:unknown protocol (external/openssl/ssl/s23_clnt.c:683 0x4027f522:0x00000000)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.278 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at org.apache.harmony.xnet.provider.jsse.NativeCrypto.SSL_do_handshake(Native Method)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.278 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]
    at org.apache.harmony.xnet.provider.jsse.OpenSSLSocketImpl.startHandshake(OpenSSLSocketImpl.java:410)
[ 08-24 12:30:08.278 19763:0x4d6c W/System.err ]

```

---

Connection to other SSL pages, e.g. Mozilla Add-Ons, works with 3G. So I guess that there is something about my SSL keys that the telco or Android do not like. I'll run some tests with other devices and keys.

---

I tested the 3G network of my provider with a mobile USB modem attached to my Mac, and all just worked, calendar, address book etc (I deactivated Ethernet and WLAN on the Mac, and the application provided by the telco showed 1 MB throughput, and all was a bit sluggish). I think that proves that Android has something to do with this mess.

---

OK, something that just came to me: I had one app used for calendar syncing that couldn't sync over WLAN after the SSL certificate switch anymore. It threw an exception that complained about an unsupported or unknown critical extension. I think that is the key to solve the problem.

---

I changed my server certificate and let Android trust the CA, now I have no trouble with untusted certificates over WLAN, the 3G issue remains however. I dug up this about

```
SSL23_GET_SERVER_HELLO:unknown protocol

```

according to this, the *error:140770FC* I got would point to a DNS issue, which would explain why it happens over 3G only, but not why it doesn't happen on the Mac.

To gather a bit more information, I tried to open one of my web pages with Chrome. It issued a

```
Error 111 (net::ERR_TUNNEL_CONNECTION_FAILED)

```

which was connected to SSL issues here, but I can't acknowledge that the error disappears after a switch to the standard port. I need better tools for further investigation, maybe I ask another question later.

# Answer
As you say that the problem exists only on 3G and not on WiFi, this is probably because of some problem with the Access Point of the your network provider. I faced a similar issue sometime back which was because the default access point had a proxy which didn't allow SSL Tunneling. After removing the Port and Proxy from the access point, this problem got resolved.

Source: http://lifepluslinux.blogspot.in/2015/07/errtunnelconnectionfailed-on-mobile.html
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, wi-fi, data-connection, https
---


# Question
Title: Understand why an app cannot be installed
I installed CM12.1 on my Samsung S3 mini and realised that there's no FM radio app. So I extracted it from the stock backup and tried to install it but the operation ended with a message "app not installed".

I would like to know **why** wasn't the app installed. Is it because the system lacks a driver? Is there some dependency requirement? This is the first step to diagnose the issue.

# Answer
> 0 votes
In Cyanogenmod ROMs there is no Radio app that comes with system.

When Stock Radio App was created there was no Android Lollipop, latest was JellyBean 4.1.2. Things and workflow in Lollipop was changed, so JellyBean Radio App is not compatible with Android 5.1.2.

Without code change and debug-able version, you can't make it work, because you can't see what is problem, and what to change. And you will not get it because it is closed source...

Best way to have radio app on your system is to install app called SpiritFM. I know it worked on Novafusion CM 11 - 4.4.4, but I'm not sure for CM12.1, but you should give it try.

---
Tags: installation, apk
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 5 updated to 5.0.1 using OTA but is now stuck at boot animation for more than 10 minutes
Yesterday I've bought my first Nexus phone.

I've tried updating it to Android 5.0.1 through standard procedure (download -\> update from Settings), but now it is booting (boot animation is playing) for 10 minutes already. Any idea what could that be and what should I do to the phone to get back to normal working Android?

# Answer
On some phones it can take very long, even to half an hour, so try to wait a little more.

If that does not help you should try to do a factory reset and wipe `/cache` & `/dalvik` partition (from Recovery, if you have access to it). Usually this procedure would solve the issue: stuck on boot animation/reboot loops.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: updates, nexus-5, boot-animation
---


# Question
Title: Wet phone, charge symbols shows, but won't turn on
My Galaxy S6 got wet and I dried it out as much as possible. When I plug it in, the charge symbol shows up on the screen and it shows that it's fully 100% charged, but when I press the power button, it doesn't turn on.

What's the possible cause and how to remedy it?

# Answer
Not going to beat around the bushes here - take it to a repair shop as soon as you can.

The problem with water damage is that it's impossible to diagnose the extent of the damage by just seeing what the average user can do (ie. turning it on and off). It needs to be opened up and inspected by someone who knows what they're doing so they can let you know if it's salvageable, if parts need to be replaced, or if it's a goner.

If the battery icon shows up on screen but doesn't turn on, that tells me that there could be some damage to the board. Best case scenario - it can be saved if the internals are dried out properly (it may need to be taken apart for this). Worst case - the main logic board has some irreparable damage to it from the water and it's either a hefty repair bill and loss of data, or you may want to look into replacement options.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: power-on
---


# Question
Title: How to exit Toddler Lock without touchscreen
My touch screen broke while Toddler Lock was enabled. Is there a way to disable it without touching the four corners?

My device is rooted and developer options are enabled. So I can access it via "adb".

# Answer
Simulate input events for touch screen via adb:

```
FOUR CORNERS:
adb shell input tap 10 100
adb shell input tap 510 100
adb shell input tap 510 950
adb shell input tap 10 950

OKAY:
adb shell input tap 350 900

```

Edit: Note: The coordinates of the taps depend on the screen size resolution. These coordinates work on a device with a resolution of 960 x 540 pixels.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: locked-out
---