# Question
Title: How to prevent play store from detecting VPN?
I live in China so in order for me access play store I must use a VPN. Play store however, has disabled me from accessing and downloading updates via VPN.

I can activate (after each time I upgrade the system) play store by not being in China or setting up a VPN on a router and then connect my phone to the router. Either way is a bit annoying.

Then when I need to download updates or a new app, I must first navigate to a specific page, tap update or install, and then switch off the VPN for play store to start downloading and then quickly switch on the VPN before the download fails. This is quite annoying too.

Is there a way via some root trick that I can just disable play store from knowing I am using a VPN?

I am on Android-10 and play store 18, some older devices don't have this problem, btw.

# Answer
One of the most successful methods I use (which you can also use in this case) to bypass VPN detection is using an anonymous or elite proxy.

To implement the proxy on a per-app basis you can use ProxyDroid or any similar application.

After connecting the VPN simply grab an elite/anonymous proxy from paid or free sites like this one: hidemy.name.

Open ProxyDroid and input the elite proxy and filter to use with Google Play (or other apps if desired).

Connect and download.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, vpn
---


# Question
Title: Unlock bootloader using fastboot using Ubuntu/Linux
I am trying to unlock bootloader for my HTC Legend.

I have ADT (Android SDK according to release 21.1) on my Ubuntu/Linux box.

While following the HTCDev instructions to unlock bootloader of HTC Legend.

I can `adb devices` that results as under

```
List of devices attached
HTXXXXXXXXXX    device

```

But `fastboot devices` does not result any thing.

When I reboot my phone to `FASTBOOT USB` mode and plug in the USB cable to phone and connect to PC/Ubuntu.

`fastboot oem get_identifier_token`
results as following and sit idle. `< waiting for device >`

I have cross checked for certain things:

* The default USB mode is Charge Only
* The USB Debugging is enabled

But on my ubuntu box there are no drivers and no HTC Sync installed.

What am I missing here? Can I do it from Ubuntu, as I don't have windows?

---

UPDATE: My device's HBOOT is 1.00.0000

---

UPDATE2: I just tried with `sudo fastboot devices` and returned.

```
HTXXXXXXXXXX    fastboot

```

Now when I do `sudo fastboot oem get_identifier_token` it returns:

```
...
(bootloader) [ERR] Command error !!!
OKAY [  0.010s]
finished. total time: 0.010s

```

# Answer
> 3 votes
It looks like your HBOOT needs to be upgraded to v1.02.0000 in order to use the HTCdev unlock method. The reason for this is that the Legend's bootloader did not originally ship with unlocking capabilities, so you need to upgrade to the version that added it.

Unfortunately, the HTCdev site will give you an RUU to run, but since it's an .exe file it won't do you much good on Linux (even with wine it probably will balk). However, you can perform a manual flash instead:

1. Download this LEGEIMG.zip1 file. This is the new 1.02 bootloader packaged as a zip.
2. Copy the zip file to the **root** of your SD card (as in, not in any subfolders)
3. Reboot to your bootloader however you like (`adb reboot bootloader` works, for example)
4. When HBOOT starts up it should tell you that it found an upgrade package on the SD card. Check the on-screen prompt and select "Yes" to let it flash the zip.
5. Reboot your phone into your bootloader again and verify that it's been updated to version 1.02. At this point you can follow the HTCdev unlocking instructions.

---

1Regarding this file: "eldarerathis", you say, "I'm sure you're a trustworthy chap and all, but how do I know that this Mediafire download is legit?" Well, since your bootloader is currently *locked*, it will only flash images that have been digitally signed by HTC. Since modifying the contents of the zip file would invalidate the signature, you can rest assured that it is genuine and has not been tampered with.

For complete instructions, including how to actually get the zip from the RUU yourself (which requires Windows), refer to this XDA post.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Linux users: If you're stuck in "waiting for device", make sure you run fastboot as root, such as:

```
$ sudo ./fastboot oem get_identifier_token
...
(bootloader)
(bootloader) < Please cut following message >
(bootloader) <<<< Identifier Token Start >>>>
(bootloader) C8750A7847621A009AAC7949E9B41A52
...
(bootloader) 7206C18600834B50AB6FA9F4A9AFC71C
(bootloader) <<<<< Identifier Token End >>>>>
OKAY [  0.004s]
finished. total time: 0.005s

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
Here a example to flash TWRP and LineageOS on a HTC One M8:

```
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot oem get_identifier_token

# Download Unlock_code.bin from htcdev.com
https://www.htcdev.com/bootloader/token-submitted

fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin
fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.4.0-1-m8.img
adb sideload lineage-17.1-20201009-nightly-m8-signed.zip
adb sideload open_gapps-arm-10.0-micro-20201010.zip

```

---
Tags: linux, fastboot, bootloader-lock, htc-legend
---


title: Mobile data management options disabled

text:
# Question
Title: Mobile data management options disabled
I have a pair of unlocked Samsung A10s. In both cases when I go to settings to manage mobile data usage ( set the billing cycle, set warnings etc.) The 'Billing cycle and data warnings' option is greyed out and doesn't respond when tapped.

What could have caused this and what can I do about it?

# Answer
> 6 votes
Ok, this is embarrassing but I'll self answer in case anyone else falls into this.

The billing cycle and warning options are disabled if mobile data is turned off. If you turn it on they become enabled again.

---
Tags: samsung, settings
---


# Question
Title: Android Chrome - enable auto-fill for the site
Android 10, Chrome 86. I have keepass2android installed and it works like a charm. The question is: if I accidently tapped 'do not use autofill for site XXX' in the dropdown on the login field, how to turn in back on for that site? Cannot find any settings for that neither in system nor in chrome.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You should be able to re-activate this in settings -\> app -\> password access -\> Autofill -\> disabled autofill targets
In android 9 pie this can be found in the Keepass2android settings under "password entry access" -\> "autofill service" -\> "disabled autofill targets"

This issue was already created on the github page.. Hope it helps

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, auto-fill
---


# Question
Title: What actually determines whether I see H+ or 4G in the top panel?
So, I read the answers to What are the different signal indicators avalable on the notification bar? and as one answer says:

> * **3G**: UMTS (384 kbit/s to 7.2 Mbit/s)
> * **H**: HSPA (enhanced 3G, sometimes shown as **3.5G**; up to 21 Mbit/s)
> * **H+**: HSPA+ (even more enhanced/faster HSPA; up to 42.2 Mbit/s)
> * **4G**: LTE (thanks to eldarerathis for confirmation); up to 300 Mbit/s

I'm guessing that these speed definitions are determined by some international convention or something like that.

I have different SIM cards from different carriers.

When I use **Carrier A** I see **H+**, **H** or **3G** in the panel. I get speeds ranging from 4 to 12 megabits per second.

When i use **Carrier B** I **always** see **4G** in the panel. However, I get speeds ranging from 1 to 2 megabits per second.

By the way, these are general trends for these carriers in various areas, not isolated instances of speed.

So, it seems that what symbol I see in the panel needs not matter so much for the actual speed? (Except for **E**, which is **always** terrible regardless.)

If not speed, what is the real reason for what symbol I see? Is it arbitrarily set by the carrier? Can they simply choose to call their network whatever they like? Or does it have to do with what sort of technology they have in their tower? Maybe Carrier B actually does have 4G towers, only their networks are overloaded and therefore cannot supply proper speeds to all the users?

I am in India where 4G is still new. AFAIK, **Carrier B** might have more traffic than their network can handle.

# Answer
> 0 votes
* It is the speed that determines what is shown in the indicator
* For the conventions regarding the symbols and speed , see this \- which are in line with what is mentioned in your question
* Advertised throughput speeds are not the actual, real world throughput speeds experienced by the end user. See this for factors affecting the speed

Coming to your main concern regarding different speeds and variance with symbols displayed:

Situation described is India specific and regulated by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. AFAIK, they are aware of operators delivering lesser speed than advertised and are in the process of streamlining it. Details are being skipped here being broad / opinionated

* Operators are *not* at liberty to falsify speeds - some typical practices have been covered in comments
* It is best to reach out to the carriers and or TRAI to get to the operator version of it

# Answer
> -1 votes
The speed has nothing to do with the icon being displayed so that statement is incorrect, the icon is specifying what technology is being used to connect to the mobile network. The handset is not evaluating performance and making a judgement about the icon. A slow 4G connection will still show 4G.

4G has much higher theoretical speeds and therefore should in general be significantly faster. However, numerous other factors will affect overall performance, such as:

* Signal strength (a 1-bar 4G may be worse than a full-bar 3G connection for example)
* Traffic shaping at the carrier or other restrictions
* Contention or other back-end infrastructure performance issue at the carrier
* Local network performance e.g. mast equipment at the carrier

If you've got a 4G-capable carrier that is performing worse on a like-for-like basis than a 3G+ carrier then this is of course a significant problem but it is a carrier problem nonetheless.

---
Tags: mobile-network
---


title: How to upgrade to a new micro SD card?

text:
# Question
Title: How to upgrade to a new micro SD card?
I have a 16 GB SD card and would like to upgrade to a larger one
How do I do so without losing any data?

Most of my search results for this just end up advertising a 3rd party program
There are just so many n I don't feel like going through each of them until one works
I'd like to not mess with the SD card in my phone until I have to

# Answer
I'm quoting someone who gave the correct answer as a comment
I had already done this since I was trying to figure it out on my own as well
But they worded it better than I could have

> If it's removeable storage, it is literally just remove the old card, insert the new card and format it as removeable, then using a PC copy the contents of the old card to the new card and insert it into the phone and you're done

2020 approved
> 2 votes

---
Tags: sd-card
---


# Question
Title: Are security patches only applied to the latest Android version?
I've got a Pixel phone from Google, but it really doesn't matter, I guess the question would apply to any AOSP-based device. They state that they provide 3 years of version updates and security patches.

I've got an update notification on my phone that it's ready to update to the next Android version (11), but the point is that I don't want to switch, I want to stay on my beloved old version that I'm used to, yet still I want to get security patches to keep my phone safe and bug-free. When looking at Android security bulletin page I see a list of bugfixes and the Android versions they apply to, and some of them span as far as 4 versions back, which practically means the manufacturer is theoretically able to release a patch for my Android version. Thus, I'd like to understand:

What's the Android release lifecycle when it comes to pushing new Android versions and releasing security patches? What role does Google Play system update play in this?

My current situation: Android 10, security patch level - Aug 5, Google Play system update - Sep 1. When clicking on Pixel security bulletin link, nowhere is mentioned that the security patch would apply specifically to version 10 or 11, it just lists the bugfixes.

Does this mean that it's assumed the user would be running the latest Android version, and the patches are built against that latest version he was supposed to have, and he won't be able to receive those unless he upgrades the Android version?

# Answer
> 5 votes
Google provides security updates for older AOSP major versions, but they do not provide updates for Pixel phones.

You can see this easily in the list of available Firmware images for Pixel devices:

Take for example the Pixel 3a:

* The available Android 9 releases are dated from March 2019 to August 2019
* The available Android 10 releases are dated from September 2019 to August 2020
* The available Android 11 releases are dated from September 2020 to October 2020 (now)

As these are all factory images available for the Pixel 3a you can see that there are no (security) updates for Android 9 based images after Android 10 has been released and the same is true for Android 10 which stops after Android 11 has been released.

The provided images are not OTA updates received by regular bootloader locked devices, but I would assume that Google does provide the same versions as full firmware images and OTA updates.

# Answer
> 4 votes
**Security patches are (almost) always applied to the latest Android version.**

It may be easier to imagine the Android version as codebase A and the security patch as codebase B. Each Android version can apply each relevant security patch if it's compatible, e.g.

* Device X on Android 10 with September 2020 security patch (end of Android version + security update)
* Device Y on Android 10 with October 2020 security patch (end of Android version update, still get security update)
* Device Z on Android 11 with October 2020 security patch (still get both Android version + security updates)

However, the final ROM image is baked from a specific Android version codebase with a collection of security patches, which will be delivered through OTA or flashing the image file manually. Thus, *end-users cannot selectively apply a newer security patch without updating the Android version.*

This was the case back when Google's Nexus-line devices generally only provided 2 years of Android version updates but 3 years of security patch updates; a year-long security patch update without a new Android version.

However, custom ROMs with older Android versions can still apply the latest security patches if supported. For example: LineageOS 17.1 (based on Android 10) for Google Pixel (build 20201010) has applied security level for Oct 5, 2020 (which has been applied on AOSP version 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, and 11).

.

---

Regarding Google Play system update, it's not related to the Android version and security patch.

---
Tags: security, android-versions
---


# Question
Title: Do you pay comission twice when your app works both in Android and iOS?
If my app user bought subscription in Android store and paid commission - do I have to pay the commission again at the iOS store ?

# Answer
Google Play Store and Apple Store are platforms managed by two different entities. What you bought on one store is not reflected/extended to the other. So, you will have to buy/pay for the same app on both stores.

If you can access your app with the same account, for example a game, what you bought might be reflected thanks to using the same account on both platforms.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, ios
---


title: Turn off the Cell Radio?

text:
# Question
Title: Turn off the Cell Radio?
Any way to simply turn off the cell phone radio?

This need has come up in ZOOM sessions using the zoom app because that app uses the "phone audio" rather than "media audio"

As a result, it is impossible to include meeting audio if you ChromeCast the session. The video works, but the audio only outputs using the phone's speaker or audio jack. Testing using an android tablet rather than an android phone shows that since the tablet does not have a cellular radio, the meeting audio is cast with the video.

Airplane mode is not an option since that would prevent connecting to the internet.

In addition, trying to address the audio using a bluetooth speaker doesn't work either... while it's possible to initially send bluetooth audio to the speaker, something unknown turns that off after a few minutes.

Any thoughts on addressing this would be appreciated. Beverly Howard

# Answer
Ok, just finished a long test session using ZOOM in an attempt to setup a ChromeCast viewing session with ChromeCast transmitting both video and audio ;

android cellphone OS 8.1.0

The goal was to be able to participate in a remote class using a cellphone and ChromeCast to enable the use a large screen

ChromeCast "mirror screen" works to get the phone video mirrored on the large screen, but the Zoom App only uses the "Call Audio" which is not seen by ChromeCast

Connecting to a Vizio soundbar and connecting via bluetooth does not project the Zoom audio

Using a Bluetooth headset does connect to the Zoom Audio (this is probably bluetooth device specific)

It is also possible to use the phone's audio jack to connect and amplify the Zoom audio output.

Using Airplane Mode did not address Zoom App's use of "Call Audio"

Removing the Sim Card did not address Zoom App's use of "Call Audio"

It has been suggested that using a mobile browser app for the zoom interface might also work... have not tested that yet.

Hope this info will be helpful to others with the same need.

Beverly Howard
> 0 votes

---
Tags: audio, chromecast, zooming
---


# Question
Title: Flashing TWRP.img on Xiaomi Mi A3 to root the device does not work
Working on Ubuntu 20.04. I want to root my device to uninstall some apps (.apk) and possibly also install Ubuntu Touch. I want to uninstall almost all Google apps because I don't have a Google account and I don't want to. Without a Google account, you cannot use most Google applications (Gmail, YouTube, Drive...).

A few months ago when I bought the device, I unlocked the bootloader, but I didn't have time to root it. Now I want to root it.

I followed these TWRP for Xiaomi Mi A3 instructions and cannot flash or boot the TWRP.img.

1. I downloaded: twrp-installer-3.4.0-0-laurel\_sprout.zip and twrp-3.4.0-0-laurel\_sprout.img renamed it to **twrp.img** and **twrp-installer.zip**.
2. I copied the files to the device in **/sdcard**

---

```
adb devices
adb push ~/Downloads/twrp.img /sdcard
adb push ~/Downloads/twrp-installer.zip /sdcard
adb reboot-bootloader

```

---

```
fastboot devices

```

---

```
fastboot flashing unlock
...
FAILED (remote:         Device already : unlocked!)
finished. total time: 0.000s

```

---

```
fastboot flashing unlock_critical
...
OKAY [  0.026s]
finished. total time: 0.026s

```

---

```
fastboot flashing get_unlock_ability
...
(bootloader) get_unlock_ability: 1
OKAY [  0.000s]
finished. total time: 0.000s

```

---

```
fastboot boot twrp.img
downloading 'boot.img'...
OKAY [  1.174s]
booting...
FAILED (remote: unknown command)
finished. total time: 1.175s

```

---

```
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
target reported max download size of 804261888 bytes
sending 'recovery' (39892 KB)...
OKAY [  1.172s]
writing 'recovery'...
FAILED (remote: (recovery_a) No such partition)
finished. total time: 1.174s

```

---

Did I do something wrong? How can I root the device?

To recover the device follow this instructions: https://c.mi.com/oc/miuidownload/detail?guide=2

--EDIT--

```
fastboot getvar current-slot
current-slot: a
finished. total time: 0.002s

```

---

```
fastboot --set-active=b
Setting current slot to 'b'...
OKAY [  0.039s]
finished. total time: 0.039s

```

---

```
fastboot flash boot twrp.img
target reported max download size of 804261888 bytes
sending 'boot_b' (39892 KB)...
OKAY [  1.181s]
writing 'boot_b'...
OKAY [  0.207s]
finished. total time: 1.388s

```

Press and hold **volume up button** on device and enter the command **fastboot reboot**
Back in Fastboot

---

```
fastboot --set-active=a
Setting current slot to 'a'...
OKAY [  0.039s]
finished. total time: 0.039s

```

Press and hold **volume up button** on device and enter the command **fastboot reboot**

Do not press any key boots in Android-OS

# Answer
If your active slot is A, change it to active slot B. Then flash `twrp.img` and reboot the phone while pressing the volume key "+". Now you are in the recovery and you have to reinstall it in slot A. For doing this, change the active slot to A and press install, and select again `twrp.img`.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: twrp, xiaomi, sim-unlocking, mi
---


# Question
Title: Why do I have an alarm symbol on my notification bar when I don't have an alarm set
I recently started seeing the alarm icon on my notification bar even though I don't have an alarm set.

Why is this happening? What can I do to find what's making this show? I don't want to disable the icon since I want it show when I do have an alarm set.

# Answer
> 2 votes
When you enable Tasker it starts showing an alarm icon in the status bar. there is a setting in Tasker that is the culprit for this. "Preferences -\> Monitor -\> Use Reliable Alarms" when set to always on it puts the icon there. Set it to When Off and the icon goes away.

See This post

---
Tags: notification-bar, notification-icons, alarm
---


# Question
Title: How to export phone usage time data to json/csv/sql/txt raw form?
There are many apps like Google's Digital Wellbeing and another famous app called Action Dash.

These apps show your data about how many times the phone unlocked, per-app usage stats, no of times an app launched, no of notification etc.

How can I get all these data in raw format from my android phone?

I basically want to use python to perform some analysis on these data.

# Answer
> 1 votes
There are some apps in the play store that let you see more.

1. App Usage - Manage/Track Usage This app lets you export the data.
2. Action Dash This has a great amount of data that is being analyzed in the app. (This makes me think that the data is stored somewhere).

Take a look at the folders and files in "/data/data/com.google.android.apps.wellbeing" you may find something useful files there. There are some files there that look promising. You will need to be rooted to access this folder.

---
Tags: notifications, digital-wellbeing
---


# Question
Title: Backing up WhatsApp to two different Google Drive accounts
I have had my WhatsApp account backed up to my personal Google Drive account, taking up a total space of 841 MB. I now have access to a Drive account with more space, and I'd like to switch the backup to there.

I tried changing the settings on the phone to back up to the new account, but I only get 549 MB there.

Why would the two backups be so different? I'd like to delete the original one to free up space, but not if it means losing data.

# Answer
> 0 votes
WhatsApp stores the last 7 backups. You can see it by checking your File manager -\> WhatsApp -\> databases and there, you can see almost 7 files. The size of files varies from each day.

Since you changed your Google account, only *the last backup file* will be stored in G Drive and previous backups will not be uploaded there. So, after 7 days, you can see that the size in G Drive becoming 841 MB.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I've got a bit of experience in this and know exactly how it feels to lose chats. This method will consume a little data, but it's safe.

1. In WhatsApp, back up the chats again to save the latest ones (twice to be sure)
2. Open file manager copy the WhatsApp folder somewhere else (as a backup in case you messed anything up). Now you have 2 copies of the WhatsApp folder.
3. Go to Settings \> Apps \> WhatsApp \> Storage \> Clear data.
4. Log in to your WhatsApp account now (make sure it asks about the GDrive thing. accept it)
5. Restore the chats from the same (old) account. (This is because sometimes there is some syncing problem, the difference in size might be because of this)
6. After the backing up is done, go to Settings, change the Google account there and tap backup.

---
Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger, google-account, google-drive
---


title: How setup WiFi proxy in Android 9?

text:
# Question
Title: How setup WiFi proxy in Android 9?
I need to setup a WiFi proxy on Android 9 but it seems they removed the feature , all tutorials I found refers to old versions of Android.

# Answer
> 12 votes
The wifi proxy settings are still configured under the advanced options for your wifi network.

The reason you can't find them is just bad Android UX. They're in a scrollable area that doesn't look scrollable (it looks like it just says 'metered'). If you try scrolling down in the wifi settings window you'll see it immediately.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I found you can't edit proxy of an existing WiFi profile anymore, I dunno why they removed the feature. But you can just remove your saved Wifi profile and add a new, then you will easily find proxy options under advanced drop down.

# Answer
> 2 votes
click on the pencil to edit network details. A popup appears to change your wifi password, and it doesn't look scrollable but if you scroll you'll see the advanced options and Proxy Settings. Horrible UI design

---
Tags: settings, proxy
---


# Question
Title: Whatsapp restore error on new phone, stucks at %24
I got error while transfering whatapp from old phone to new phone.

My old phone is mi5s plus xiaomi

New phone is red mi note 9 pro xiaomi.

I uploaded to drive and put to local. So, I have backup both place, drive and local. Then I put local file backup to pc and get from pc to red mi note 9 pro. And put to whatsapp/databases folder

I tried everything here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/help/whatsapp-restore-stuck-24-restoration-t3816605/page3

I enter my number, I got verification code. THen it asks to restore from drive or skip. I tried both. I have problem at %31 while restoring from drive.

If i disable and click skip for drive restoration, it finds local but this time it stucks at %24 and then it goes to application settings, profile photo. But i immediately force stop and open again but again comes as I would start application so i clear data and it again asks verification code . But i have to wait hours when i want a code. Now, I have to wait 12 hours for example. It increases for every try.

There is only crypt file. Please help me to fix.

Size is 1.25 gb but whatsapp show 3.9 gb to restore. in whatsapp folder, there is 3.9 gb data. I tried lots of things but it keeps failing.

For old phone, I still could not enable internet so whatsapp is still there logged. I can do backups, it makes again 1.25 gb. I think if i enable wifi, it will logout.

# Answer
I fixed. I tried for days. Every time I requested a new verification code, the time I had to wait increased every time. Last time, it was 49 hours. Luckily, I fixed and did not wait so much.

I tried lots of time but i will tell what i did for latest try.

Firstly, I deleted drive backup. I did not disable sycn or google accounts.

I had 2 local backups. Deleted one.

And maybe those are important: I gave all permissions from settings to whatsapp. I gave also autostart permission and I gave no battery restriction.

Sim card is on different phone. This is not important i think.

I started to restore. It restored local backup. When it came to %24, i was worried. So, I switched to screens once a second, to settings screen.

Normally it was showing 3.9 gb at first. But when it reached %24, it was 3.18 gb when I was switching to settings screen, i saw it. And 2.5 millions messages are restored and it is 3.18 gb.

I waited it to be 3.9 gb when it was at %24. So that is why i was switching to check but it did not stuck this time. Maybe because i was switching.

Maybe because i removed from drive. This was the first time i tried after removing from drive.

So, switching a lot of times between settings of whatsapp and restoring screen, showed succesfull screen at last. IT said "restored 2.5 millions messaged"

I was shocked. I went to check. 5 days ago, i wrote last message and that 5 days messages also came.

If it was stuck again, i would force stop and continue without waiting restore. I read it from somewhere. But i fixed, i am happy :)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: "Device password" required when adding a new profile
I'm trying to add a new profile to my Android phone, but during the profile setup I am asked to enter my device password:

> **Re-enter your password**
>
> Enter your device password to continue

I don't remember ever setting up a device password, so I have no idea what this password is, and where I can change/set it from the admin account.

It is not the main account's unlock PIN.

I can't continue the profile setup without the device password.

Any help will be appreciated!

**EDIT:**

Model: OnePlus 5
Android version: 9

# Answer
Oneplus devices have a bug with device passwords. There are a number of community threads complaining about Device Passcodes not working

I also experience this on my OnePlus device. As mentioned in the linked thread, the workaround is to reboot the device any time you are told the device password fails. I have to do this every other time the phone turns on. I can't boot the device as the device passcode is constantly rejected as incorrect, and yet rebooting the phone any trying again will work first time.

Sadly this workaround fails for the scenrio you are describing, creating a new user profile will constantly reject the device password, rebooting doesn't resolve this for me in this scenario. What's especially annoying is, when cancelling out of the create new user screen, you are prompted for the device passcode to get back into your own account, and this works.

Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a solution to this other than the reports of factory resetting the phone solving the issue. I have personally put up with this for too long on multiple OnePlus devices and won't be buying OnePlus again.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: password, profiles
---


# Question
Title: Update Sony Xperia C5303 ( with Android 4.3 ) to new version?
Is it possible upgrade or update Sony Xperia C5303 ( with Android 4.3 ) to Android 8.1 with Xperia Companion software ?

Or any description else ?

# Answer
A simple and clear NO.

Using the Sony companion app you can only install official updates. Your device is so old that Sony stopped supporting this device long before Android 8 was released.

Keep in mind that Android is not like Windows, every update has to be adapted to your device. Therefore providing updates for a device costs a lot of money which is the reason most manufacturer drop device support very early. Some cheap devices never get a single update.

Therefore the only newer Android releases for your device are unofficial (aka customROM, community builds by skilled Android developers) if they exist. Check xda-developers forum for your device for newer firmware updates. But for installing them you need to root and unlock your device which can go wrong and brick your device. If you are lucky you may find an Android firmware based on Android 5 or 6. I doubt that there are newer ROMs.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: updates
---


# Question
Title: How can I turn OFF Google Lens search, permanently
I really don't like google lens. I've been searching for ways to turn it off. Searching on line usually brings up an answer like this:

> On your Android phone, you go into your settings/apps and click on the 3 dots at the top right of the screen. Choose show system. Scroll down to the Lens, Qlens (or both depending on your phone) and then click Force Stop and Disable (if available). This should stop the service from running until you click on it again or it updates.

The problem is, when I do that on my Andriod phone there is ***no*** Lens nor Qlens listed among the apps (even after clicking show System Apps).

I did find one thing that says to "Disable" (or Uninstall, but Uninstall is not an available option, but disable more-or-less the same) the Google App, and re-enable it. **This works, but only for about 1 day**, after which Google Lens magically re-appears. For three days now I have Disabled the Google App once a day.

***Is there any way to permanently get rid of Google Lens? It's horrible.***

# Answer
> 2 votes
I discovered an approach that, at least for two weeks now, seems to have worked.

I tried a twist on this approach which I had mentioned above:

> I did find one thing that says to "Disable" (or Uninstall, but Uninstall is not an available option, but disable more-or-less the same) the Google App, and re-enable it. This works, but only for about 1 day, after which Google Lens magically re-appears. For three days now I have Disabled the Google App once a day.

The "twist" is **I did NOT re-enable the Google App**. This seems to have permanently removed Google Lens (Yay!!), and I have not noticed any other functionality missing from my phone since I did *not* re-enabled the Google App. Yay!!

* Update: It's been over three months and Google Lens has ***not*** come back since I implemented this approach! Very satisfied.

# Answer
> 5 votes
This link shows how to disable the feature.

It's hard to follow at first, just replay it a few times.

Basically type chrome://flags in your chrome browser, which give you a "search flags" prompt, type in lens, then disable each of the items that appear. Type Relaunch (to relaunch Chrome); close Chrome; Lens will still be there. Re-boot phone; Lens is gone!

https://youtu.be/6PlEuLNPxqY

Good luck.

---
Tags: google-account, google, images, google-search
---


# Question
Title: What storage data does keyboard apps on Android accumulate?
On my Android phone I have installed the Gboard keyboard. After some small use, I see that it has accumulated 20 MB of data!

Why can a keyboard app accumulate 20MB of data?

# Answer
> 8 votes
Keep in mind that GBoard provides a lot of language specific functionalities like automatic word correction or offline speech recognition.

It seems like GBoard downloads these language specific data on first use. For example the directory `com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/files/superpacks/delight` seems to contain the offline language specific speech recognition data file(s).

Therefore a user data of 20MB seems to be reasonable even if GBoard has not been used for a long time. Most of this storage space seems to be occupied by language specific downloaded data.

# Answer
> 7 votes
Remember that current keyboards are a bit different from keyboards from 10-15 years ago. Back then, their main purpose was just typing and writing. With time, emojis and gifs images became features also provided by keyboards, plus learning from your habits.

If you have a file explorer that is able to read/view `/data/data/com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/cache`, there is a folder named `image_manager_disk_cache`. It contains many files. You can copy some files found there to another folder. Then change their extension to `jpg` for example. You will notice they are images. That folder (at least in my case) is close to 30 MB. My example might not be conclusive as I have not given links to official Google or GBoard documentations or sources. However from my checking the folders, I think the images are the reason why GBoard is taking so much spaces.

# Answer
> -3 votes
Depending on its detailed content, a keyboard app could accumulate every stroke you make.

---
Tags: keyboard, storage, gboard
---


# Question
Title: Network stack broken after uninstalling AFWall?
Since uninstalling AFWall and rebooting, I "connect" to LTE/3G/2G and wifi but there is always a little X on the icon and never any network access (can't actually access anything with browsers or apps). GSM voice and SMS works normally.

No connectivity problems via LTE and wifi prior to today. I was messing around with AFWall, applied some rules and enabled/disabled it a couple times. Rebooted once or twice and decided the firewall wasn't blocking/allowing traffic reliably and wasn't logging and showing notifications accurately so uninstalled AFWall and rebooted.

I've had this phone (Zuk Z1) since 2015 and it has been solid. It has been running LOS 16 android 9 for the past 2+ years or so without issue. I've had this same SIM card and provider for over 2 years also.

Troubleshooting already tried:
SIM in other phones works fine
cleared dalvik
cleared SIM tools cache and data
rebooted a couple times
reset APNs

Questions:
Am I missing something obvious? Any suggestions welcome.
Is there an equivalent to "netsh int ip reset" (in windows) for android?
Can I somehow reset iptables to LOS "factory"?
Should I try re-installing AFWall? (if yes, then what?)
I will flash another ROM if necessary, but I'd like to try all other options first
Thanks for reading!

# Answer
I wanted to mention that there also exists an option in the reset portion of the settings menu to reset the wireless adapter.

I would have been curious to know if that made a difference.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: Nexus 6P wifi issues, wont connect, no internet
This hasn't been addressed in other 6P threads. Nexus 6P running Nougat can connect to my 5Ghz Wifi network in my home.

I'll connect to my 5Ghz band of my wifi network, but the status on the phone will either say "connected, no internet" or even "connected" but the internet wont work. Phone shows good signal strength and link speed, but browsing or trying to download anything doesn't work.

Everything on LTE works fine though. And I have other devices connected to my wifi network (on the 2.4Ghz band) and they work fine as well. Plus my desktop has no LAN issues, so I'm guessing it's not a router problem.

Here are the solutions I've tried thus far with no avail:

* With or without VPN
* 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz bands
* Restarted in Safe Mode, same problem. Will connect to my networks but internet wont work
* Powered off, waited a minute, powered on
* Disabled security authentication for the network on the router
* Re-enabled security authentication
* Factory reset router
* Factory reset Nexus 6P

# Answer
I came across a solution using airplane mode on another forum. The method is turn on airplane mode, then turn WiFi on again. After it settles, turn airplane mode off. I did this and it made a difference. Like it was trying to connect but was still struggling.

So then I noticed that the time was not set correctly. Like it did it was 10am and it was actually 5pm. So quite the difference. I fixed the time and bam! Everything back to normal. I hope this helps some one!
> 1 votes

# Answer
You may have been able to fix it without an RMA, your 6P probably had some artifact in its settings that caused the issue. I had a similar problem where the 6P would not connect to my 2.4GHz network, but it did connect to my 5GHz network.

**The Fix:** In your 'Wireless & Networks' expanded menu, click on 'Network Settings Reset'. This gives you a clean slate to try and reconnect to your networks.

^For anyone else stumbling onto this thread
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, 7.0-nougat, nexus-6p
---


# Question
Title: How to Screen Record on Samsung Galaxy A30s
My goal is to record my screen. Coming from a Huawei, I would have in the upper area icons an option with "Screen Record". I'm now using a Galaxy A30s with Android 10 and these are the only options available

and

So, no screen record.

If I go to Settings and search for "screen record",

If I search under apps,

How should I do it?

---

## Edit

As pointed by Robert, I tried to enable the screen recorder via adb but didn't get the desired result.

1. Download Platform Tools and unzip the folder in location of your choice
2. Open Command Prompt in that location

3. Connect the phone with the computer allowing USB Debugging
4. Run

adb shell settings put global settings\_screenrecord\_long\_press true

and this opens up the following in the phone

5. Click "Allow" and run the command again

and appears to be working.

6. Long press power button. This is what I see

So, still no option to record screen. I restarted the phone as well just in case but that wasn't enough either.

# Answer
According to Android 11 announcement page, we can expect a Built-in screen recording

> Screen recording lets you capture what’s happening on your phone. And it’s built right into Android 11, so you don’t need an extra app. Record with sound from your mic, your device or both.

Considering Samsung releases new OS updates relatively fast, I'll just wait until December 2020 or so in order to update the Android version and then won't have to uncomfortably download an app from the store for this job.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can install a screen recorder app from google play store. There are many different ones available. Just do a search on "screen recorder".

For instances,
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung, screencast
---


# Question
Title: How can I change the resolution of Iriun 4K Webcam?
I use Iriun 4K Webcam for PC and Mac to use your Android phone's camera as a wireless or USB webcam in Windows 7 SP1 x64 Ultimate. It is supposed to support resolutions up to 4K. (Max resolution depends on the phone).

I use a Samsung Galaxy S9 with Android 10. However on Windows 7 SP1 x64 Ultimate it says that the resolution of Iriun is 640x480:

I don't see any option on the phone:

and https://iriun.com/ (mirror) seems to have no documentation.

How can I change the resolution of Iriun 4K Webcam?

---

Skype doesn't allow me to change the webcam resolution (clicking on "webcam setting" doesn't do anything):

# Answer
Upgrading Iriun 4K Webcam from 2.5.7 to 2.5.8 on Windows fixed the issue:
> 1 votes

# Answer
had the same problems with you by the version of 2.5.7 but I figured out the version of 2.5.4 has worked to change its resolution. maybe upgrade problems?
> 0 votes

# Answer
Turns out you have to change the resolution in whatever program you're using the webcam with and Iriun will sync with that resolution. For example I use OBS and in OBS you can change the res in Sources\>Video Capture Device. If you're using Skype, Discord or whatever, you're gonna have to change the res in the settings. Once you do that the Iriun window will also change it's resolution to whatever you selected. Hope this helps.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb, camera, usb-connection-mode, webcam
---


title: adb reboot vs adb shell reboot

text:
# Question
Title: adb reboot vs adb shell reboot
I run the commands from my laptop. But, I can't understand what is the difference. It looks like both commands just restart the mobile device.

What is the difference between `adb reboot` and `adb shell reboot`?

# Answer
> 6 votes
No difference. Ultimately both set `sys.powerctl` property to `reboot,<reason>` (, ). `init` then handles the property to proceed a proper shutdown or reboot (). `reason` string optionally describes why the device was rebooted (see `persist.sys.boot.reason` property after reboot).

When executing `adb shell reboot` you make `adb` run shell: `/system/bin/sh` which then executes `/system/bin/reboot` binary. You can also set the system property manually:

```
~$ adb shell setprop sys.powerctl reboot,just_testing

```

---
Tags: adb, linux
---


# Question
Title: 'Storage space is running low' while I have plenty of space remaining
I have an LG-D855 smartphone having 16 gigs of internal storage and running Android Kitkat 4.4. Although I have plenty of space remaining, the phone prompts `Storage space is running low.`. I had only installed an obb file of 1.2 gigs, which was of Fifa 14; and a few apps which sum up to around 3 gigs out of the total 16 gigs, yet the phone prompts so.

I deleted the obb files and it freed up around 8.5 GB of memory. Likewise, I guess 3 GB worth of apps filled up whole 16 GB. I have tried factory reset over and over, but in vain. Please help me.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This is really a common question from android users.

The answer is that Android has two type of space: app space and file space. When you install an app, it will use the App space (that is usually around a couple of gbs). When you do a factory reset, you will remove all installed apps (from app space) but file space will not be touched.

A common solution to this problem, is going to Settings -\> Apps and try to move as much app as possible to the external sd storage.

Good luck

# Answer
> 0 votes
I would like to suggest you to clear the storage cases of each apps and fix the SD card as Downloadable docs, images, music, video etc.
Try to use most usable apps and not use an app in duplicates. Lastly if you do not get any way then Fix the SD Card as Internal Memory and run the Cellphone by rebooting. Thanks Tarik

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, insufficient-memory, storage
---


# Question
Title: Why will my Pixel 3a XL no longer take screenshots?
I have a Pixel 3a XL phone running Android 11.

Until recently I was able to take screenshots by holding down the power button and then selecting screenshot from the menu.

However, over the past week or two, something -- I don't know what -- has changed and when I hold down the power button, I get a different menu as shown below.

I don't remember exactly when this started, nor do I know how to see a list of apps on my phone sorted in order of most recently installed.

So how can I get my screen-shot functionality back??

# Answer
> 3 votes
Basically, it's gone and you can't just "get it back"...

A quick Google search would have answered this from multiple sources including Google itself, but I will to answer it. They (Google) removed that screenshot method from Android 11 and replaced it with a screenshot tool in the task switching screen using "swipe up and hold" gesture. This does require you to use Gesture Navigation though. However the long time Android standard for screenshots of POWER+VOL DN still works and has since about Android 2.1.

Google asked about this: https://support.google.com/pixelphone/thread/72969834?hl=en

How the new gesture system works: https://www.androidcentral.com/how-take-screenshots-and-select-text-multitasking-pane-android-11

Again, you must be using Gesture Navigation for the later method to work, otherwise you have to use the old POWER+VOL DN method. This may change in the future or not, it is a very polarizing subject among Android users, it's about a 50/50 split of people who want the old way and people who prefer the new way.

---
Tags: screenshots
---


# Question
Title: How to send notifications to an Android device from a PC via USB?
I have seen Pushbullet, but it works over the internet

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can use adb shell and Notify4Scripts

source: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=69859668&postcount=18

date: 30th November 2016, 02:32 PM

Two years ago I was in need of a simple notification tool that could have been run by a command line in a script. So far the best I found was this thread and the tiny app made by corruptor64. That wasn't exactly what I was looking for so I finally decided to try to make the tool by myself. Starting from scratch (I am not an Android developer) in a few days of studying and developing I ended up with a working small app, that I named Notify4Scripts and I made it public only this past June, here on GitHub https://github.com/halnovemila/Notify4Scripts

Note that since the app is basically a service that has to be launched by the Android's shell "am" (activity manager) command, the Android system needs to be rooted first in order to be able to use such am command and have notify4scripts executed.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try AirDroid3 ,I know you have specified this via USB but just in case you need to work with wireless setup.

Well with this you don't need USB cable to connect to your pc or mac. Airdroid3 on web as well as desktop client. ***Notification Mirror*** is a feature introduced in AirDroid v2.0.9. It allows you to view all the app and system notifications on your computer. WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, Facebook, Twitter... all user and system app notifications are supported:

**How to enable Notification mirror??**

1. Go to **Settings** in AirDroid App\>**Notification Mirror**\>**Notification Mirror Service**:
2. Check the box next to **AirDroid Notification mirror service** and tap OK:

3.Setting is done now. You can go back to **AirDroid Settings** and **create a test notification** to see if it works:

A notification will pop up at the bottom right corner (you need to sign in to web.airdroid.com first): You'll also receive a pop-up on your computer if you've signed in to AirDroid Windows/Mac: If the service is working perfectly, you will get a notification on your Android as well as on your desktop (if you have AirDroid open in one of your browser windows.) saying "**Awesome. AirDroid notification mirror service is working**". The third option is ***"Allowed Apps"***.You can choose the apps whose notifications you want to receive on your desktop. For example, you might not want to get email notifications on your desktop if you already have an email client running on your computer, or you might not want notifications from gaming applications. Note: To receive **desktop notifications** when you are not focusing on **web.airdroid.com**, you need to enable **desktop notifications**(and even choose the language in which you wish to be notified) on **web.airdroid.com \> Account \> General**:

Well it not only gives text notification but also you can send and receive notification for phone call and you can reply back with text message if u cannot pick up call when you are busy working or your phone is not around .You can see this in the links provided..

For more information check following links:

Android3 brings android device mirroring, desktop clients and more...

Airdroid3-how to control android device..

Offical Site oF AirDroid

Other Apps you can give try :

* IF you don't need to go for browser based services You can try **DeskNotifier** with this currently your phone and PC need to be connected to the same WiFi network or via USB cable.
* **AndroidNotifier** works with WiFi and Bluetooth only,

Hope This Helps!!!

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can use adb + Termux \+ Termux:API like this:

```
adb shell "export PREFIX='/data/data/com.termux/files/usr' ; export HOME='/data/data/com.termux/files/home' ; export LD_LIBRARY_PATH='/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib' ; export PATH="/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin:/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/applets" ; SHELL='/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/bash'; cd $HOME ; /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/bash termux-notification --sound --vibrate 500 -c 'test notification'"

```

source

TIP: I've wrapped the part of the command before "/usr/bin/bash" in a script, so i can easily launch similar Termux:API commands.

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: ADB dumpsys batterystats - How does one read it?
Why on earth does the `adb shell dumpsys batterystats` command not print regular timestamps? (Like `usagestats` does for example, or literally anything else on the planet.)

Instead, it gives you a "RESET TIME" within the file, and the lines after that show how much time has passed since that time. "RESET" times mostly appear just once at the beginning, sometimes however they appear multiple times within the log, sometimes even skipping hours, seemingly at random.

And as if that isn't bad enough.. Let me just show a real-life example:

```
adb shell dumpsys batterystats

```

Gives me (among other things of course) this:

```
                0 (9) RESET:TIME: 2020-01-29-01-37-39

```

Good. So the time starts at `2020-01-29-01-37-39`. Alright. Only reset time in the output.

I just turned the screen on. Here is the entry in the log for that:

```
      +21h44m19s484ms (4) 057 +wake_lock=1000:"PhoneWindowManager.mPowerKeyWakeLock" +screen screenwake=1000:"android.policy:POWER"

```

Great. `+21h44m19s`. It is now (well, it was when this happened) `2020-01-30-00-16-00`.

"RESET" time of `2020-01-29-01-37-39` \+ `21h44m19s` = `2020-01-29-23-21-58`. **?????**

---

Okay, down to my actual questions:

1. Why does `dumpsys batterystats` not use normal timestamps?
2. How does one read those timestamps? They seem beyond broken.
3. Is there a way to change it to "normal" timestamps?

---

(My goal is to track when exactly the screen (and optionally WiFi) was on and when it was off. If there is any other way to do that besides `batterystats`, please leave a comment.)

# Answer
> 2 votes
This is a partial answer that needs more details through the full dump to understand whats the and read the output of what the system is trying to convey.

The data unit is a number taken from the following list: 1: Number of objects 2: Number of bytes 3: Number of milliseconds 4: Number of allocations 5: Id 6: Percent s: Number of seconds (monotonic time) Default value for data of type int/long is 2 (bytes).

Breaks down to what I think is:

The data unit is a number taken from the following list:

1: Number of objects = (4)

2: Number of bytes {057}

3: Number of milliseconds. +21h44m19s484ms wake\_lock=1000 screen screenwake=1000

4: Number of allocations wake\_lock=1000, screen screenwake=1000

5: Id. android.policy:POWER

6: Percent s: Number of seconds (monotonic time) Default value for data of type int/long is 2 (bytes).

https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core/+/master/logcat/event.logtags

The time value starts at boot to current breaking the time down to.

+21h44m19s484ms First the time since thw device was bopted and reads like:

21h is 21 hours.

44m is 44 minutes

19s is 19 seconds

484ms is 484 milliseconds.

However there is more going on since it reads line by line meaning one line is not the complete story. In order to understand whats going on the full log or dump is crucially needed.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The energy consumption by Android devices is estimated based on the amount of time certain hardware components are residing in different states (e.g., WIFI ON, WIFI OFF, etc.). For each hardware component, there is a power value for each state of the component provided by the manufacturer. So with the amount of time a hardware component resides in a certain state times the power value, the actual energy consumption is calculated.

Each time a state change is triggered, an event is recorded in the batterystats tool. The batterystats tool collects the events based on a timestamp starting from 0 at the mentioned `RESET` event.

Your questions:

(1) The timestamps in the batterystats output start from the last reset of the batterystats tool. You can manually reset the timestamp with then `batterystats reset` command. I don't know what are the exact triggers within the Android system to reset the batterystats, probably when the battery is fully charged.

(2) As you mentionend you have the system time of the `RESET` event. You read the example `+21h44m19s`: 21 hours 44 minutes and 19 seconds since the `RESET` event.

(3) Whatever you mean with "real timestamps" you transform them to any date format you like by adding the batterystats timestamp to the reset time. The batterystats output cannot be changed.

---
Tags: adb, usb-debugging, battery-history, dumpsys
---


title: How to put restrictions on android?

text:
# Question
Title: How to put restrictions on android?
Is it possible to install android on a tablet and then restrict its use case scenario? What i mean is can i make it so that no apps can be installed (Not even by using an external apk) except the one I pre-install on it?

Something like how normal users/ guest users can't install software on windows without admin password if they don't have the necessary permissions?

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can use Automate app.. It will automatically check if an app is installed and then perform relevant action. You can also set that if package manager is opened, force close it or press home key. You can choose to uninstall it as soon as it's installed if you have root permissions OR you can delete its files from storage to render it useless OR you can set that the home button is pressed and not responding pop up is shown whenever the app is opened.. LOL

Further you can download AppLock to prevent uninstalling of Automate app or any other app too.

With Automate you can do many more further hacks.

Hope it helps...

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


# Question
Title: Suppress "autoplay" when external USB drive connected
On some phones, when an external USB drive is connected to the phone, there is sort of an autoplay function where it automatically brings up the "My Files" screen. Is there a way to suppress this?

This occurs on my Note 2 with Android version 4.1.2, but not on my Note 1 with version 4.0.4. Just to be clear, I want the drive to automatically mount in the background as usual, but just not bring up the "My Files" screen. I have an app that expects a USB drive to be plugged in and searches for specific file types and this behavior is annoying because it takes the screen away from my app.

# Answer
I was hoping to be able to programmatically suppress the default "My Files" system app from starting when a USB storage device is plugged in, but it looks like it is not possible.

However, I did find a workaround. First I installed a new file manager/explorer from the market (I used ES File Explorer). Then I went to Android Settings -\> Applications and then selected the My Files app from the list and disabled it. Now it no longer interferes with my own application that I am developing for my USB storage device. Not the ideal solution, but it works for now.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Deep sleeping apps will never run in the background.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb-host-mode, auto-start
---


# Question
Title: Please help me do data recovery from a phone stuck in bootloop
I bought a Huawei Honor 5C Pro phone 2 years back and so far it had been working well. Two nights back, the phone shut down because of empty battery and I slept without putting it on charge.

The next morning, I started to charge it but the red light started blinking continuously for some time. Then, the honor logo was repeatedly flashing on and off without it reaching the lock screen.After every two or three times of flashing honor logo, it flashes emui with reboot,factory reset and clear partition cache options but it doesn't stop for me to choose any option.

This bootloop happens continuously while it is charging and if I remove it from charging, it still bootloops and doesn't shutdown no matter what. It bootloops until all battery is drained and then shuts down.

Only one time did it open while charge was 10% but after that, it shut down and hasn't stopped bootlooping.

Unfortunately, the battery is not removable.

Also, the problem is, when I put it on charge, for some time a red light blinks and then without any input from user, the phone switches on, boots to Honor logo and after every 2-3 honor logo flashes, it flashes to emui (with reboot, factory reset and clear partition cache option) but the screen immediately blacks out before I can choose any option.

The morning it happened, after many tries, it did open once at 10% charge. But it again switched off and hasn't stopped bootlooping since.

I don't care if the phone doesn't work. I just need the data stored on the ROM. If the phone can work, that's great but the data is more important.

As long as the phone keeps charging, this boot loop keeps happening despite me trying to switch off the phone. When I remove it from charging, it still boot loops until battery is low.

**Please help me get back control of the phone or atleast recover the data stored on the phone's ROM.**

# Answer
When your Android's system files stop communicating correctly, the device may end up having difficulty starting. Boot loops are the result of system files not knowing how to function during the initial start-up phase and can be caused by a variety of things, from downloading new apps to accidentally changing system files.

**Soft Reset the Android Phone**

The first step in dealing with a boot loop is performing a simple soft reset. Turn off your Android phone and remove the battery. If you're unable to remove the battery on your specific model of phone, leave the device powered off for at least five minutes. Turn the device back on to see if the boot issue has been resolved. Sometimes a quick soft reset is all it takes to shake bugs out of the startup process.

**Factory Reset the Device**

Factory resetting your phone will completely wipe it of data and restore it to the original factory settings. Power down the device and boot it into Recovery Mode. The exact steps for booting into Recovery Mode depend on the phone's manufacturer – consult your user manual. From there, select “Wipe Data/Factory Reset” and start the process. After the wipe, select “Reboot System Now” from the main menu.

**Using CWM Recovery**

If your phone is rooted already with CWM, the steps for wiping the device are different. Power down the phone and launch it into CWM Recovery Mode by pressing the Home, power, and volume up keys at the same time (this key combination may be different for your specific Android phone). Select “Advanced,” choose “Wipe,” and then pick “Dalvik cache.” Next, choose “Mounts and Storage” and then use “Wipe /cache.” Reboot the phone and the issue should be resolved.You can do same things if you have TWRP recovery.

**Use Dr. Fone and RecoverIt from Wondershare**

This is app for pc. Download this programs(for premium functions you can install cracked version) and connect your phone to pc. Click on data recovery and you will see "Recovery from bricked phone". It can work when your phone has hard brick or soft brick. After that press on recovery and it will work. If something is not clear for you, you can watch tutorials from YouTube and etc.

These are the ways I know. I hope these methods can help you.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: boot-loop, huawei
---


title: Windows doesn't show device in Explorer

text:
# Question
Title: Windows doesn't show device in Explorer
After updating my Nexus 7 to the latest version of Android (4.4.4 at this point), Windows decided that it would no longer show the device in Explorer in MTP mode. PTP worked fine, but obviously this is no good for putting files into the device. How do I solve this?

# Answer
So there are many different threads and posts all over the internet trying to solve this issue for various Android devices. It seems that sometimes these work, but not always. I think I've finally found a step that works most of the time (it excludes hardware issues for example). Start off with your device connected.

Essentially, there is an issue with the driver on Windows. To fix this open the device manager (see here for how to do this on Windows 7 or Vista, here for XP and here for Windows 8). Now, at this point most posts and threads advocate finding anything mentioning your device (in my case the nexus 7) and uninstalling the driver. This seems to be the right thing to do, but first there is a very important step. At the top, click "View" and then select "Show hidden devices". *Now*, you can find all mentions of your device. Right click, and select "Uninstall driver". If there is a tick box for deleting the driver as well you should select this.

After completion, disconnect your device. The device manager will flash. Give it a few seconds and then plug your device back in. Windows will now reinstall the driver. At this point, it *should* work correctly.

Note that if you use ADB, you will have uninstalled this in a previous step and will have to reinstall it using your preferred method.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You will need probably install the usb driver. You can download it here.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, windows, usb-drivers, mtp
---


# Question
Title: How to prove an Android device is hacked? Retrieving logs from recovery booting
I'm having trouble with my new branded Vodafone Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge.

How can I get a copy to the full logs (and other files), without rooting, for places I do not have the required access? I can read the logs in recovery booting, but how can I transfer digital copies of these logs as text to for example my email?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I would try a good file explorer app for your device. The link in a good one for non-rooted devices and it's free. Also, you can remote access your file system on another device. I don't think it will be in real-time, but a way to monitor or link to someone that can help you with this.

I would also hook your device up to a computer if you have access and make sure you have all your settings right on your device (refer to this YouTube video). At the very least, copy the entire file system. Even if you cannot make heads or tales of it, someone can.

I would also download a system cleaner app (after copying the files) like SD Maid. Clean up your cache, history, passwords, etc. Then change all passwords. Run cleaner again. Re-hook up to the computer make another copy of everything save to compare later. Extreme, factory reset your device in recovery if you can. Re-setup your device the way you like it, even the exact same way through your Google account, and make another copy. Then make a copy every now and then to see to have on file.

Ideally, I would root your system for the benefits of having some third-party APKs.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If the attacker has control of your device, look for Bluetooth modules loaded in the kernel, you will see it in recovery logs.

If they have control, you can't root it, not even with Odin unless you build or buy a signal jammer. Then you can do `adb pull` and that might give you what you are looking for.

There is no app or malware anything, no security of any kind that will help you. You will have to decompile the kernel yourself and or `lsmod` and remove what shouldn't be there.

I've dealt with this for 12 years. My ex-sociopath still takes over every device I get and destroys them remotely. I have a BLE network hidden somewhere that serves as a network where all my devices stream audio and video and she somehow uses my Raspberry Pi to assist in this. 3 iPhones 4 Android devices, iMac, and smart TVs all play a role.

---
Tags: recovery-mode, malware, logging, samsung-galaxy-s-7-edge
---


# Question
Title: No service on Blackview BV 5500 Pro with Lineage 17.1
# The issue

I installed Lineage OS on my blackview BV 5500 Pro and am facing the "No Service" issue since. There does not seem to be any hardware issue and I've exhausted all the options I could think of.

---

# Specifications

---

# What I've tried

Here's what I've tried:

* Restarted the phone.
* Activated the Airplane mode, waited, and de-activated it.
* Set the values for data and MMS manually, using the carrier's recommendations.
* Tried to select manually the carrier (more on that below).
* Checked the sim card in a different phone -- it works.
* Enabled the cellular data.
* Allowed roaming.
* Checked the phone with a different OS (it was working just fine before I flashed the OS).
* Made sure my sim card was correctly inserted.
* Called `*#06#` and checked that my sim had an IMEI / ESN (it does, I actually have two since this phone accepts two sims).
* Tried the other sim slot.
* Called `*#*#4636#*#*` and checked the information about my phone:
    + It does have a IMEI and IMSI,
    + I can ran a ping test,
    + Radio band is set to automatic,
    + Selected GSM / WCDM, LTE only, and other various network types,
* Re-installed Lineage.
* Re-installed Lineage with GApps nano.

---

# Possible issues?

## Manually select the carrier

When I try to manually select a carrier, I'm faced with cryptic choices ("310830", "311490", "311480", …), and all of them returns an "impossible to connect to this network" error message.

## Comparison

I have the same phone with the same carrier at home, but with the stock rom on it (Android 9, build BV5500Pro\_E535\_V1.0\_20191105V6). If I check in `*#*#4636#*#*`, I can see that the Network Mode is set to LTE / UMTS auto (PRL). However, that choice is not available on my phone.

## Baseband?

Between the stock rom and Lineage OS, I've tried another rom (`BV5500Pro_EEA_E535_V1.0_20190514V8`) to test that I could flash my phone. Could that have messed with the baseband, or something else? My current baseband is `E535_39_P0_LWTG_V0.1.4_S190402`.

# Answer
# Update

So, actually, I've tried to install magisk, which I believe is the culprit.

Following the documentation, since this model does not have Ramdisk memory, I've patched the `recovery.img` file using their Manager application, and then flashed my recovery partition, using

```
 fastboot flash recovery /path/to/magisk_patched.img

```

After rebooting, their application was still not detecting magisk's installation, and my OS could not detect my SIM card anymore. After flashing back the stock `recovery`, the sim card was back.

This seems to be a fairly common issue, judging by

---

# Original Message

Ok, so I've done the following:

* Installed the official rom, `BV5500Pro_E535_V1.0_20191105V6`, that blackview shared directly with me: the sim card was not even recognized!
* Flashed everything, installed a previous version of lineage (`lineage-16.0-20191017-UNOFFICIAL-treble_a64_bvN`): sim card still not recognized.
* Installed another official rom (that they share here, called `BV5500Pro_EEA_E535_V1.0_20190514V8`): the sim card is back, and I can connect to the network!
* Re-installed `lineage-17.1-20201012-UNOFFICIAL-treble_a64_bvS`. The sim card is still detected, and I can now connect to the service!

Needless to say, I have no clue what actually solved my issue. My network is set to `GSM / WCLMA / LTE (PRL)` and I have not noticed any value or configuration that would have changed…
> 2 votes

---
Tags: lineageos, 4g, cellular-radio, carriers
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to block ports when using my Android device as a hotspot?
I often use my Android as a hotspot. I would like to block port 25 for all devices using my hotspot.

Is this possible with Android?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yes, you can, but the catch is you have to have the root privilege on your Android phone.

With root privilege, you can use `iptables` to block access to ports of your choice. To block access on port 25, issue these commands:

```
iptables -I INPUT -p tcp --dport 25 -j DROP
iptables -I OUTPUT -p tcp --dport 25 -j DROP

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
Your best option is to use Nmap through your computer. Make a hotspot, connect your PC to it, and use Nmap and `ipconfig`. Not sure if that works, but there isn't any other alternative as far as I know.

In theory, there are some firewall apps, but those rarely work as intended, and you are much better at configuring your Android ports through a PC.

---
Tags: networking, wifi-hotspot, internet
---


# Question
Title: How to change the modified date of a file without root?
How do I change the modified date of a file, specifically PNGs, on Android without root?

Total Commander failed to do it with a permission error `Access Denied`.

# Answer
**SHORT ANSWER:**

You can simply `touch` the file or provide any time and date in past or future:

```
~$ touch /sdcard/test_file
~# debugfs -R 'stat media/0/test_file' /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/userdata | grep crtime:
crtime: 0x5c926e0d:2d61b810 -- Wed Mar 20 21:45:01 2019
~$ touch -d '2009-2-13 14:32:55' /sdcard/test_file
~$ stat /sdcard/test_file
[...]
Access: 2009-02-13 14:32:55.000000000 +0000
Modify: 2009-02-13 14:32:55.000000000 +0000
Change: 2019-03-20 21:45:38.067021025 +0000
 Birth: -

```

Some file explorers like MiXplorer also have options to change Modified Time.
You don't need super user privileges to change `mtime`. Only the file should be writeable by your user ID (app in case of Android).

**DETAILS:**

`touch` uses utimensat to update time of access (`atime`) and modification (`mtime`) provided that filesystem supports the timestamps be saved in inode along with file's data.

Birth/creation time (`btime`/`crtime`) - a part of extended file status which requires at least 256bytes inode size - is not standardized, thus rarely supported by filesystems. In above commands `debugfs` is used with root privileges to get creation time of file on `ext4` because some `stat` binaries aren't updated to use statx yet (requires at least Linux Kernel 4.11), so `btime` is empty.

Both `btime` and change time (`ctime`; inode/metadata modification time) are supposed to be handled by system, not simply changeable by user.

Since Android is based on Linux, it inherits the concept of inode and timestamps from UNIX world. Common Linux filesystems like `ext4` and `f2fs` support timestamps, including the emulated filesystems used by Android on SD cards. Other OS and filesystems have similar concept with slightly different terminologies. E.g. on Windows' `NTFS`, `MFT``Entry Modified` time is very identical to UNIX's `ctime`.
> 7 votes

# Answer
Total Commander - file system - mark one or more files - long touch - properties - change the displayed date to what you need (there is also a "Now" button) - Save - voila !

BTW Total Commander is an excellent tool - in all areas and on all platforms !
> 1 votes

---
Tags: file-system, permissions, file-permissions, date-and-time
---


title: Sending data/obb to external SD card

text:
# Question
Title: Sending data/obb to external SD card
I had a phone with CM11 and I was used to having an option, on the app detail screen, to send an app to the SD card. Now I have bought a new phone, with near-stock firmware (4.4.2), and that option is missing. The phone only has 8Gb of internal storage (~5.5 after OS), so I really need to move some larger apps (San Andreas for instance) to the external SD card (32Gb C10). Is there a straightforward way to do this? I am rooted and I have xposed installed, but I can't find any simple solution to my problem.

I could technically manually move the relevant data/\* or obb/\* to the external SD and use Lucky Patcher or some tool to bind folders, but this seems like such an important point (with 1-2Gb games being common; how I am supposed to install Bard's tale?) that I wonder if there is a simple tool to achieve this.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As your device is rooted, and you even have Xposed running on it, you have a pool of choices – e.g. Obb on SD would probably be your first choice, as it exactly matches your requirements. It lets you move all or only selected OBB to the *external* SD card. There are several alternatives; be welcome to check my list of helpers with storage media for that.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If your rooted you can make system link or make data partition for sd and mount it. system link will be easy solution. ln -s command will do the job. Careful you may not able to start phone in case of storage card(mmc) is removed or corrupted.

second method for easy steps is check magisk custom module method to mount your own obb /data/data every booting.

---
Tags: external-sd, sd-card
---


# Question
Title: Android Outlook IMAP: Microsoft account interference in configuration
I have various IMAP accounts which all work fine both from Outlook on Windows and from MailDroid, Thunderbird, Samsung Email, Windows 10 Mail, etc.

One particular email address gives a login error every time on Outlook for Android, both via autodetect and with manual input, despite my entering exactly the same values as on Outlook for Windows etc. (servers, user names, passwords, SSL/TLS port numbers).

I tested the setup against the Microsoft IMAP tester here https://testconnectivity.microsoft.com/tests/O365Imap/input and it passed. In particular there are no material SSL certificate issues.

The account works fine with Outlook for Android on a brand new Android installation (BlueStacks) but not on my 'phone or tablet.

I have also tried (against my better judgment) using the non-SSL ports (which the email server supports) - same login error experienced.

(edited to remove superfluous/confusing material)

# Answer
The problem here turned out to be the specific email address involved (autodetect was working as well as it could given some absent DNS entries; and anyway, as I now realise, autodetect/autodiscover means something different to every email client, and autodiscover specifically is really just an Exchange thing anyway).

I got suspicious once I had tried another email address in the same domain and it worked perfectly.

I had an old Hotmail account set up on the 'phone and tablet for various things (Windows Phone Companion, OneDrive, etc.) This Microsoft account had at one stage included an alias of the offending email address. I had got rid of this alias right at the beginning of this episode, but clearly the 'phone still thought it was there, and in particular Android Outlook was confused by it. Once I had tried on a brand new Android instance (via BlueStacks) and it had worked perfectly, I realised the situation, removed the Hotmail account from the 'phone, and Eureka.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: outlook, imap
---


# Question
Title: Does MMS messages with pictures always use your data?
I have the Pixel 3a running android 11. My Wi-Fi is always on. And my mobile data is always off. I have the app "My Data Manager" installed so I can see when my mobile data is being used. When I send an MMS text, no data is used. But when I send a MMS text with a pic, then I can see that my data is being used. The following app is using the data "org.codeaurora.ims". Is this normal? Because my phone plan is supposed to offer unlimited text messaging with pictures. But everytime I send an MMS text with a pic, it's eating away at my data plan. Thanks for your help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
No, it does not take your data(Internet connection) but it takes the balance of your sim.

---
Tags: applications, sms, mms
---


# Question
Title: ZH960 tablet, suspicious hardware parameters, what to do?
I've bought a recent, middle (or top) category Android tablet model ZH960. It specification says 8GB RAM and 128GB flash, with an astonishing 1280x2560 display.

However, after I've tried it, it simply did not work so. It is slow (particularly using recent browsers), the display resolution is clearly worse than specified (pixels are well visible), contrary that the "Settings" -\> "About this tablet" says the values specified by the reseller.

What to do? How to check it?

# Answer
> 2 votes
This is a fake.

Probably the "producer" bought tablet with 1 GB RAMs, and flashed them with a firmware lying about their hardware. However, some simple adb shell commands show the real hardware capacity:

Fact is that the device has 1GB RAM and a 16GB flash. It is today a low-end device, overwritten by a firmware which falsify the reported hw parameters.

The internet is full with

* Unclear / contradicting "specifications" of this hardware.
* Warnings about the scam (example).

I could not find any trace of the producer. Most likely, the model does not even exist.

If you bought this table, here is the time to initiate a customer complain. If you can not, my sincere condolences.

---
Tags: tablet
---


# Question
Title: Where to find description of all "/system/bin/service" calls?
In one answer I was adviced to use `service call phone 2 s16 "$number"`. It works, but in `service list` I see other useful things I don't know how to use and can't easily find the information on the Internet.

I don't see any introspection in `service` apart from `service list` to findout myself...

Where to find more complete description of "service" calls and their parameters?

# Answer
> 7 votes
**In Short**

> Code related to service call command are just the arguments of the function and order at which the function occur in the aidl file of that service.Here is a syntax
>
> ```
> service call <your_service_name> <number at which the function appears in your_service_name.aidl> <type of the argument like i32 or i64> <argument>
>
> ```

**In Detail**
I faced a lot of problems to know about it and hence I will share the solution with the help of clipboard service.
First you need to know about the service you are interested in -
For that you need to look for all the service that is there for particular android system by typing

```
adb shell service list

```

Here is what you will get -

```
.
.
.
59  ethernet: [android.net.IEthernetManager]
60  wifip2p: [android.net.wifi.p2p.IWifiP2pManager]
61  rttmanager: [android.net.wifi.IRttManager]
62  wifiscanner: [android.net.wifi.IWifiScanner]
63  wifi: [android.net.wifi.IWifiManager]
64  overlay: [android.content.om.IOverlayManager]
65  netpolicy: [android.net.INetworkPolicyManager]
66  netstats: [android.net.INetworkStatsService]
67  network_score: [android.net.INetworkScoreService]
68  textservices: [com.android.internal.textservice.ITextServicesManager]
69  network_management: [android.os.INetworkManagementService]
70  clipboard: [android.content.IClipboard]
71  statusbar: [com.android.internal.statusbar.IStatusBarService]
.
.
.

```

As I am interested in clipboard service, here is how it look

```
70  clipboard: [android.content.IClipboard]

```

So from here we can summarise that the service name is clipboard service and the package path is android.content.IClipboard

Then you need to know the complete path where the IClipboard.aidl is.
To know that you need to search on google for IClipboard.aidl.
You need to look for something from android.googlesource.com website in the results, like in my case-

```
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base.git/+/android-4.2.2_r1/core/java/android/content/IClipboard.aidl

```

So after +/android-4.2.2\_r1 is where your path lies.Let that path be path\_of\_clipboard.aidl=

```
/core/java/android/content/IClipboard.aidl

```

As these service call codes are dependent on the android system, hence you need to know your android os name- In my case it is 8.1.0
So I will go to the following website where google puts there code and select my os version from the left hand side for the page -

https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/

In my case it is android-8.1.0\_r50.I will click on it and then after that my url will look like this

```
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/android-8.1.0_r51

```

And then after adding path\_of\_clipboard.aidl, my complete url will look like

```
https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/android-8.1.0_r51/core/java/android/content/IClipboard.aidl

```

Here there will be many methods in the interface.Like in my case

```
    void setPrimaryClip(in ClipData clip, String callingPackage);
    ClipData getPrimaryClip(String pkg);
    ClipDescription getPrimaryClipDescription(String callingPackage);
    boolean hasPrimaryClip(String callingPackage);
    void addPrimaryClipChangedListener(in IOnPrimaryClipChangedListener listener,
            String callingPackage);
    void removePrimaryClipChangedListener(in IOnPrimaryClipChangedListener listener);
    /**
     * Returns true if the clipboard contains text; false otherwise.
     */
    boolean hasClipboardText(String callingPackage);

```

So the code for the first method i.e. setPrimaryClip will be 1 as it occured at first place and that for the last method i.e hasClipboardText will be 7 as it occured at seventh place in the aidl file. Similarly for the other methods.
So if I want to call the seventh method I will type

```
adb shell service call clipboard 7

```

As you might have seen that I have not put the callingPackage name as it is not required.

If the method need arguments, then you can pass it like as show in this example.
Let us assume a method whose code is 8 in clipboard and that looks like this -

```
getDemo(String arg1, int arg2, boolean arg3)

```

So I will call it like this

```
adb shell call clipboard 8 s16 "first_argument" i32 12 i32 1

```

Here i32 stands for 32 bit integer and s16 for the string. We can, even pass boolean value as an integer as shown in the example.
In boolean integer 1 stands for true and 0 for false.
**TIP** Keep the logcat open(like in android studio) to check for any error that occured while executing that adb command.
Source

# Answer
> 6 votes
The real problem with `service call` is that transaction codes are not only undocumented, but also not guaranteed to be stable — they can be silently changed between Android versions. Because of this, `service call` commands should never be used except for private debugging, when you know what Android version is used.

Example:

(Here `FIRST_CALL_TRANSACTION` = 1, so the actual transaction code which should be used in the `service call phone` command is the number seen in the source plus 1.)

Note that in the new version `TRANSACTION_supplyPuk` was inserted in the middle, and all following codes are now shifted by 1. Anything that used `service call phone` to perform those transaction will horribly break when used on Android 4.2.2 — the same codes will result in calling completely different methods, possibly with disastrous results.

# Answer
> 4 votes
There is no documentation. But you can find all the information you are looking for in the android source code. `service list` gives you the package name. So for the `phone` service it is `com.android.internal.telephony.ITelephony`. You will find all possible parameters for `service call phone` listed in `com/android/internal/telephony/ITelephony.java` for your Android version.

# Answer
> 0 votes
android-svc makes this way easier.

List services:

```
android-svc --adb list-packages'

```

List all methods of a service:

```
android-svc --adb list-methods clipboard'

```

Get method signature of a service method:

```
android-svc --adb method-signature 'clipboard.setPrimaryClip'

```

Call a service method:

```
android-svc --adb call 'phone.dial("555-0199")'

```

You can also use the long name instead. E.g. `android.content.IClipboard` instead of `clipboard`

And if you omit --adb you can even run it directly on your phone (in Termux).

This gif is taken from the repository:

---
Tags: adb, command-line, services
---


# Question
Title: Need absolute path to "Download" on Android 6.01
...Due to the developer / maintainer of Terminal-IDE moving on, I'm trying to find equivalent capability and after hours of research found "Terminal Emulator for Android" (which is the same app as "Android Terminal Emulator"). But of course, it doesn't have all the tools necessary. I looked for some hours - not an exhaustive search but how many hours are you going to look?! - and found nothing that appears to have the tools already built in (other than Terminal-IDE).

Rather than develop them myself, I found K-Box which provides "standard Linux utilities in a stock, non-rooted Android device" and which has its main example using the Android Terminal Emulator as a starting point. Sounds perfect!

I was following the basic directions there, however, I can't hardly get started because I can't seem to find the path to the "Downloads" directory?! Frustrating.

In doing my research, I found this interesting and thoughtful writeup, but didn't get to a successful answer.

To be clear, to get this installation going, I have to transfer a file from ANY LOCATION into the Terminal Emulator environment, and that brings the tools that then make the terminal emulator more of a real Linux environment on the Android. The location does not have to be "Download", but that directory was easily enough mapped by my desktop computer's file system browser upon plugging in the USB connector... In fact, that's how I installed the Terminal Emulator - by putting the apk file (and for several other "side load" apps) into Download and then telling Android to install them. So the real trouble is, I can't seem to find that location from within the Terminal Emulator!

Locations I can find but for which I have no permissions include:

```
/storage/emulated
/data/media/0/Download
/data/media/0/Downloads

```

In each case, it returns:

```
"Permission denied"

```

Ideas?

# Answer
For me on Pixel 3 XL using Termux, the absolute filepath was

```
/storage/emulated/0/Download

```

If I remember correctly I got a permission error when trying to `ls` (or pressing `Tab` after typing) in `/storage/emulated/`, but if you type out the full path, it should work.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Try mounts folder at mnt

```
mnt/sdcard0/folder

```

or

```
mnt/sdcard1/folder

```

for external !
Some devices are different, for example it could be

```
mnt/ecysf- encoded name -34243/folder

```

Also on android 5.1.1 it's

```
mnt/media_rw/sdcad1/folder

```

or

```
mnt/sdcard/folder

```

for internal storage
> 0 votes

# Answer
A short one would be: /sdcard/Download
> 0 votes

---
Tags: file-system, downloading
---


title: Force USB Host Mode

text:
# Question
Title: Force USB Host Mode
I am trying to use an USB-serial device that has USB-A connector via USB OTG. How do I "force USB host mode" so I can use USB-A to USB-C cable instead of using OTG adapter?

OTG works fine with other devices such as sd-card to type c adapter

Rooted Pixel 1 with Android 10

# Answer
To force your device into USB host mode, try connecting your USB-serial device via USB hub. Connecting a USB hub to your OTG adapter sets it automatically as host.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb, usb-on-the-go, usb-host-mode
---


# Question
Title: Replacement SD card not mounted properly in device
I have an Android 8.1 device (encrypted, not rooted) that is configured to use an SD card as internal storage. That SDcard broke down and needed to be replaced.

After inserting a fresh replacement card, the device recognized it and asked how it should be formatted. I chose "internal", and the format went though without issues. The card shows up under "Storage" with the correct capacity, just as the old one did.

However, *using* this card is not possible. All apps that try to access it (like camera, browser downloads, file managers) show "SD card not available" errors.

When I connect to the device through `adb shell` to check how the file systems are mounted, I can see a difference. This is what shows up when the old card is inserted:

```
bbb100:/ $ mount
[...]
/dev/block/dm-3 on /mnt/expand/beb7cb3c-0c09-43cf-83b8-ce1eac90a92b type ext4 (rw,dirsync,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime)
/mnt/expand/beb7cb3c-0c09-43cf-83b8-ce1eac90a92b/media on /mnt/runtime/default/emulated type sdcardfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,noatime,fsuid=1023,fsgid=1023,gid=1015,multiuser,mask=6,derive_gid)
/mnt/expand/beb7cb3c-0c09-43cf-83b8-ce1eac90a92b/media on /storage/emulated type sdcardfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,noatime,fsuid=1023,fsgid=1023,gid=1015,multiuser,mask=6,derive_gid)
/mnt/expand/beb7cb3c-0c09-43cf-83b8-ce1eac90a92b/media on /mnt/runtime/read/emulated type sdcardfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,noatime,fsuid=1023,fsgid=1023,gid=9997,multiuser,mask=23,derive_gid)
/mnt/expand/beb7cb3c-0c09-43cf-83b8-ce1eac90a92b/media on /mnt/runtime/write/emulated type sdcardfs (rw,nosuid,nodev,noexec,noatime,fsuid=1023,fsgid=1023,gid=9997,multiuser,mask=7,derive_gid)
bbb100:/ $

```

and this appears when the new card is inserted:

```
bbb100:/ $ mount
[...]
/dev/block/dm-3 on /mnt/expand/49d563a3-0905-4173-a1b3-8c29e3917d2c type ext4 (rw,dirsync,seclabel,nosuid,nodev,noatime,data=ordered)
bbb100:/ $

```

So it seems the new card is not initialized correctly and/or several directories do not get mounted for whatever reason.

Things I tried to no avail:

* re-formatting the card
* eject, mount
* reboot the device
* ran `sm partition disk:179,64 private` in `adb shell` just to see if there are any errors on the console (via) - there is no error
* tried with different SD card (also brand new) - same behavior
* copied device- and partition UUIDs (PTUUID, PARTUUID) from old SD card to new card using `gdisk`, hoping that Android would recognize the new card as "known" and mount it. It doesn't.

What's going on here and what else can I do to make the card work?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Okay, I figured it out (hat tip to @IrfanLatif). What's going on is this:

Android focuses on one single "primary" SD card that can be used to permanently enhance internal storage, e.g. by moving apps to it.

When it is removed, the system remembers that apps and settings are still stored there, and waits that it shows up again. Other SD cards can be formatted for internal use, but they won't actually be *usable* until all ties with the known SD card are broken.

This means the card must be explicitly forgotten. The option to *Forget* a card is available from the *Storage* menu when that card is not currently inserted.

* Be sure to backup everything you need before doing that.
* Eject the card via the menu and remove it from the slot.
* Tap the card's name in the storage menu and then "Forget".
* Confirm the warning that all data on that card will be lost forever, since the card is encrypted and Android is about to delete the encryption keys.

Only after that, Android will accept a different SD card as its primary storage and make it available to the rest of the system.

---
Tags: internal-sd, 8.1-oreo
---


# Question
Title: How to disable popup/heads up notifications globally in Android 9 Pie?
I recently upgraded to a Samsung Galaxy S9 with Android 9 Pie installed. It has an annoying feature, each time I e.g. get a message via Telegram, a pop-up window appears over any other application I am currently using on top of the screen:

I want to disable that for *all* apps. I found this reddit answer:

> When you're in notification settings for an app, there's the label for the notification channel and the checkbox next to it. Checking the checkbox enables/disables notifications entirely. Tapping the label, as unintuitive as it is, brings you to the advanced settings where you can disable pop up/sound/vibrations.

If I go to e.g. Settings\>Notifications\>Telegram, I can tap each single chat and disable pop-ups. This is tedious, surely there is a global option to turn this invasive feature off?

# Answer
Yes there is!

1. Set-up adb. Use THIS for reference
2. Enter `adb devices` and make sure your device is there
3. Enter `adb shell settings put global heads_up_notifications_enabled 0` And you're done!

If you want to enable it again then just replace the command in step 3 with `adb shell settings put global heads_up_notifications_enabled 1`

Simple as that!
> 3 votes

# Answer
My S9+ is running Androud 10 UI2 and Telegram 6.0.1
I had the same issue which I finally solved. I went all through the app settings, then i tried android-apps-telegram settings with no luck. I finally looked in android-settings-notifications and down at the bottom it says "looking for something else?" Click on the Smart pop-up view option and shut telegram off.
> 1 votes

# Answer
The in-app solution for Telegram 7.1.3 on Android 10:

`Menu` -\> `Settings` -\> `Notifications and Sounds` -\> `Private chats` (or `Groups` or `Channels`) -\> set `Importance` from `Urgent` to `High`
> 1 votes

---
Tags: notifications, 9.0-pie, popup
---


# Question
Title: TWRP is stuck at the boot screen when trying to flash twrp on Mi A2
I am trying to root my Mi A2 android phone. I am following this tutorial. When I try fastboot boot path/to/twrp/image the phone gets stuck on the boot screen. What am I doing wrong?

Is it because a) I don't have required drivers or because b) I have to disable force encryption? If a) I have to install new drivers what are they, where do I get them and how do I install them? If it is b) about disabling force encryption then how to do it?

# Answer
> 2 votes
The twrp-3.3.1-0 works for me, so download the twrp-3.3.1-0-jasmine\_sprout.img and twrp-installer-3.3.1-0-jasmine\_sprout.zip from here and issue the following commands on fastboot/bootloader mode

```
fastboot set_active b
fastboot flash boot twrp-3.3.1-0-jasmine_sprout.img
fastboot reboot recovery

```

or just

```
fastboot boot twrp-3.3.1-0-jasmine_sprout.img

```

enable side-loading mode in advance options in twrp recovery mode and issue

```
adb sideload twrp-installer-3.3.1-0-jasmine_sprout.zip

```

and download Disable\_Dm-Verity\_ForceEncrypt\_03.04.2020.zip from here and get Magisk-v21.0.zip and MagiskManager-v8.0.0.apk from here or here and then in twrp recovery mode, select Wipe-\>format Data and select partition 'a' on reboot tab on twrp menu but do not reboot. Now activate sideload from advance menu and issue

```
adb sideload Disable_Dm-Verity_ForceEncrypt_03.04.2020.zip
adb sideload Magisk-v21.0.zip

```

and then rebooting into system should enable root on your phone. I used this link for the answer. Also you can look into these links, link1, link2 and link3.

# Answer
> 1 votes
A low or dead battery can cause this issue. Before flashing always make sure the phones battery is at least 70%

---
Tags: rooting, twrp, fastboot, boot, mi-a2
---