# Question
Title: What data can I delete to clear up space?
I am confused as to what data I can delete without losing valuable files or screwing up my system processes.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Android by default won't let you delete system files. So do not worry.

IMHO, the first step to free up storage, would be to uninstall your unnecessary apps, followed by deleting old/not required media files like images or videos. These are the main storage consuming parts as such.

---
Tags: cleanup
---


title: Unbrick "hardbricked" Moto G8 Power

text:
# Question
Title: Unbrick "hardbricked" Moto G8 Power
I tried to install LineageOS on my Moto G8 Power. After a reboot to recovery mode (done because the installer said it was needed for the a something) it didn't boot.

All I get is that

> a QUSB(...) device is available...

I have tried all button combo's. Is it possible to unbrick it? ADB and Fastboot wont see the device.

# Answer
Your device is in QDL mode and moto devices use a blankflash method.

Try this if not already done: https://xdaforums.com/t/request-blankflash-for-g8-power.4172795/
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, recovery-mode, unbricking, motorola-moto-g
---


# Question
Title: When will RISC-V Android devices be available?
Google announced in December 2022 that Android would support RISC-V devices. More recently, Qualcomm have announced that they're working on a RISC-V chipset for Wear OS with Google.

When will we be able to buy RISC-V Android devices?

# Answer
> 2 votes
# What is RISC-V?

It's a new species of CPU, which is meant to compete with ARM and x86 for general-purpose computing, including smartphones and tablets. The design work started at the University of California at Berkley, and is their fifth RISC design family, hence the name. The design seems reasonably sound, although it hasn't been built in forms that compete with the fastest ARM cores yet.

The unusual thing about it is that the essence of the design is open source, and can be used by anyone without license fees or royalties. Many people and organisations have contributed to the design, just as happens with open source software. However, the design doesn't include a realization as electronic circuits. Organisations that want to build RISC-V processors have to design that part themselves, or license a realization from someone else.

# What are the advantages?

The simplest advantage over ARM is cost. There are no architecture license fees, although most organisations will have to pay royalties on the electronics design(s) they use.

The other advantage is that it is open source, and nobody can forbid you from using it. A few years ago, when it looked as if ARM Holdings were going to be bought by Nvidia, and thus become an American-controlled company, this was important. Huawei is one of China's largest smartphone manufacturers and a major target of US trade restrictions. They started work on porting Android to RISC-V, so as to have a fallback if their ARM license was lost. At present, ARM Holdings has had an IPO as an independent company, and there's no *immediate* prospect of the US government requiring ARM to cut off Huawei, but that could change in the future.

Even if you're a US or European company with no fear of loosing your ARM license, having a competitor to ARM ready to go is a useful bargaining chip.

# Google's work on Android

Since RISC-V is a very modular architecture with many optional parts and extensions, Google needed to define a minimum standard so that software could be portable between devices. The first pass of that has been done and was presented at the June 2023 RISC-V summit in Europe.

However, the Android kernel team feel that RISC-V needs better "atomic" instructions, which will require a new extension to the RISC-V instruction set.

Google's Android team need to complete the port of AOSP to reference RISC-V hardware and get it working *properly*, at the same level of quality as ARM Android. That is underway, and as of October 2023, ASOP can be built for RISC-V and run on Cuttlefish virtual devices.

The was an announcement about the above in October 2023. As of then, ART was not generating fully-optimised RISC-V code for the full Android standard, the compilers likewise weren't generating fully optimised code, and the NDK ABI wasn't released.

You can track their progress on Github here.

Here's a talk from SiFive, a RISC-V core vendor about their work with Android on RISC-V.

# Device builders' work

SoC designers who compete with Qualcomm, like Huawei and other Chinese companies, will be designing and prototyping their SoCs and getting them ready to offer to device manufacturers. With that, Android devices can be built and sold. Google expects wearables to be the first Android devices available, presumably because they don't need as much compute power as high-end smartphones or tablets.

# App suppliers' work

RISC-V Android should run pure Kotlin or Java apps just fine, once ART is complete, but it won't run NDK libraries built for ARM or x86. Rebuilding NDK libraries needs an NDK that can compile for RISC-V, plus upgrades to the Android SDK so that it knows of RISC-V and can manage the builds, and those aren't available yet. A way to tell if they are forthcoming is to check the web page that lists Android NDK ABIs. The RISC-V ABI was expected by the end of 2023, but is delayed. It is going to be based on the RVA22 profile family, which tells us that there will be no 32-bit RISC-V Android.

# Device availability?

This can't be predicted at present, because of the need for better atomic instructions. Those need to be added to the standards, and new cores designed that have them, before Android can be released.

---
Tags: arm-processors, risc-v
---


# Question
Title: How to navigate and interact with a HUAWEI P30 Lite with a broken screen using an external keyboard
I have a HUAWEI P30 Lite with a broken screen, and I'm attempting to save my data. I've connected an external USB keyboard and mouse, as well as inserted an SD card for backup. However, I'm encountering issues when trying to interact with the device.

I can navigate the menu but face problems when I try to select options, such as initiating a backup or toggling settings like Bluetooth. When I encounter a Toggle-Button or a Link-Button (the ones with an arrow on the right), pressing "Enter" on the keyboard or clicking with the mouse doesn't produce any response.

Is there a special shortcut or workaround to effectively interact with these kinds of buttons and do my data backup?

# Answer
> 1 votes
In the case of USB Debugging enabled, best way is to install scrcpy on your computer and connect the phone and launch scrcpy. It will mirror the phone to your PC.

---
Tags: backup, settings, keyboard, mouse
---


# Question
Title: Rearrange homescreens on Pixel 5, Android 12
I want to rearrange my homescreens on Google Pixel 5, Android 12 stock, Pixel Launcher. Since Android P, it is not possible anymore to rearrange homescreens with vanilla launcher:

I tried searching for alternative launchers to use temporarily to switch them back but without luck. The same goes for searching apps that have an app organizing feature.

Is there a way in which I rearrange my apps and home screens easily for Pixel Launcher? Otherwise, do apps on unrooted devices have the privileges of changing app orders?

# Answer
I used a workaround. Basically deleting my current setup and then setting it up from scratch. Deleting works by clearing data of the pixel launcher app. It's at least a bit faster to start from scratch without rearranging and takes just 5 to 10 min

Thank you for your Comments and your help :)
> 0 votes

# Answer
I realize this question is a little dated, but I landed on it today, trying to figure out the same thing.

I see one suggestion for an alternate launcher, but I have chosen to use Nova Launcher instead of the Pixel Launcher.

Nova Launcher in Google Play Store

Nova Launcher is extremely customizable and can be made to look identical to the Pixel Launcher layout. Additionally, it allows you to combine several apps into a group, saving space when you have several apps with nearly the same functionality.

You can shuffle pages, change which one is the home screen, change the animation between pages, change the shape, size, and grid size of icons, select alternate icon packs, etc

Beyond that, Nova Launcher has a significant number of options that can satisfy your needs for customizing your Android look, functionality, and even custom gestures.

You can even make a backup of your configuration, layout, and icon positions, so if something drastic happens, at least you don't have to start all over from scratch.

Should someone happen on this question, looking to solve the same problem, I wouldn't want them to miss out on the option to give Nova Launcher a try as an alternative option.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: home-screen, google-pixel, android-12
---


# Question
Title: How to have two applications play sound simultaneously?
I want the music to keep playing in the background while I practice Spanish on the Duolingo app. The music player stops while Duolingo is trying to play sound as of now.

Is this possible?

# Answer
> 9 votes
As for my device, whenever I play Duolingo and music at the same time, then the audio fades slightly with CM 12 built-in player

Now if you are OK with any third-party application, here is what you need to do.

1. Install and open Poweramp Music Player
2. Go to Settings
3. Then click on Audio
4. Select Audio Focus
5. Uncheck Short Audio Focus Change

(Click image to enlarge)

# Answer
> 6 votes
You CAN play two audio simultaneously. I don't think it's possible with the stock Music player. You can install a third-party music player. In Rocket Music player, you can configure the Audio Focus to ignore the other audio apps while this player is playing. You can do so by setting the option under the `Rocket Player Settings > Sound > Audio Focus`,

Screenshot - Rocket Player (Click to enlarge)

While I tried to play a song in the Google Play Music app and played a song in the ES File Explorer, the Play Music song stopped. But while doing the same in Play Music and then in Rocket Player, the songs never paused. They both played simultaneously.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Samsung's SoundAssistant does this and allows you to adjust the volume of both apps separately.

Not sure if Samsung's app store (Galaxy Store) or the app itself is available for non-Samsung devices, but it may be possible.

# Answer
> 1 votes
MPV for Android continues playing audio as well. If you connect an external keyboard, you can adjust the volume independently of other apps with the `9` and `0` keys.

# Answer
> 0 votes
For a free app alternative that allows playing in the background: **SoundAura**

> SoundAura can also switch between an audio focus respecting mode, and a 'play in background' mode that ignores audio focus rules and allows SoundAura to play audio alongside other apps.

# Answer
> -3 votes
As far as I am aware, I don't think this is possible as yet. The OS can only play one sound at a time through the speakers (i.e. it cannot play multiple sound streams simultaneously).

# Answer
> -4 votes
You can play multiple videos on YouTube or stream audio in multiple tabs in Mozilla Firefox, but it gets closed after some time around 15 minutes, maybe due to low memory.

---
Tags: applications, audio, music, music-player
---


title: How to backup BirdNET?

text:
# Question
Title: How to backup BirdNET?
I'm using BirdNET application to collect data about birds. However, the app does not support registration and data synchronisation, or even import/export.

I asked support if they provide the way to backup data, but there is no such way; info from the support:

> Thanks for reaching out to us. Users can save and text/email the sound file of their recordings from the app; however, it does not offer the option of backing up the observations and transfer them to a new device. Sorry for any inconvenience.

Question: How can I backup that data? Is there any app that would do that auto

# Answer
It is possible to export and import all observations in the BirdNET application now:

\> Show observations \>  \> Export Observations
> 1 votes

---
Tags: backup
---


# Question
Title: How to view/delete read-only contacts with Google contact
I have 550 contacts. 450 have Google account, and 100 are read-only contacts.

I want to clean up my phonebook. So I want to do one of these:

1. Delete all 100 read-only accounts with no Google account in bulk.
2. See a list of 100 read-only contacts that don't have any Google account.

# Answer
I have 2 apps installed, both of them will do this job.

1. Contacts Optimizer. This runs on the phone and will allow you to see these contacts and edit, delete, merge them.
2. My Phone Explorer. The client runs on the phone and a companion app runs on Windows. The data is dynamically pulled into Windows, where you can individually alter the contacts.

Please note, I am not associated with either.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, google-contacts
---


# Question
Title: A contact not showing in my phone but in WhatsApp
I wanted to delete a contact from my phone, but to my surprise, when I searched for their name in my phone's contacts, nothing showed up. No one with that name or number was in my contact list. Their name, profile picture, status, etc. are all showing normally on WhatsApp and Telegram though. I tried to clear the cache for WhatsApp and also refreshed the contact list. Nothing changed.

I was curious and checked a few other contacts that I saved through WhatsApp. They don't show up in my phone's contacts either. So I have their number but somehow cannot delete them.

Does anyone know what to do here?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Whatsapp makes a copy of your contacts, so they are separate. Depending on your Phone and Android, you may or may not be able to see these.

But you can use My Phone Explorer app. It has a Windows companion App, where you can see all the contacts and their details and you can delete them from there. I am not associated with this app in any way.

However, you don't need to delete the contact. If you dont want to interact with them, just block them in WhatsApp.

---
Tags: contacts, whatsapp-messenger
---


title: ADB not responding

text:
# Question
Title: ADB not responding
Multiple times per day, ADB suddenly stops responding. After this occurs, every `adb` shell command fails to finish or produce any output. IntelliJ and Android Studio no longer recognize my phone(s).

The solution is straightforward: run the command

```
killall adb

```

However, I find myself needing to do this repeatedly, approximately every 15-30 minutes, which significantly hampers my development workflow. Each time I perform this action, I have to restart my Flutter application. Do you have any suggestions for resolving this issue?

I am using a New M2 MacBook Pro with Ventura 13.6, and ADB was installed via the Jetbrains SDK Manager (SDK Platform-Tools):

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have never used adb on macOS, but I had similar problems with it on Linux, and cured them by starting adb manually with sudo.

Kill any existing server demon with:

```
sudo adb kill-server

```

Then start it with

```
sudo adb start-server

```

Then see how things go from there.

---
Tags: adb, macos, android-studio
---


title: I Can't List Zipped Images in TWRP

text:
# Question
Title: I Can't List Zipped Images in TWRP
I'm new to the Android world when it comes to these matters, so I ask for your patience if I say something wrong.

I have a Motorola Moto E5 Plus cell phone and I used my Linux Ubuntu to help with the commands. With all the tutorials I've seen, basically what I did was:

1. I downloaded the TWRPAPP APK, transferred it to my cell phone and installed it;
2. I ran the application and downloaded the latest version of TWRP (`3.7.0_9-0-hannah`):
    1. NOTE: After downloading the image, I also transferred it to my computer.
3. I activated USB debugging and OEM unlocked;
4. I restarted the phone into the bootloader with: `adb reboot bootloader`
5. I unlocked the bootloader:
    1. I got information from the OEM: `fastboot oem get_unlock_data`
    2. I registered on the Motorola website and got the unlock key and executed: `fastboot oem unlock <key>`
    3. *Everything went well and the bootloader was unlocked...*
6. Back at the bootloader screen, I started TWRP with the command `fastboot boot twrp.img` (as it was the only way I could get it to start);
7. *And now the problem begins...*
8. When TWRP finishes loading, the first screen asks for a password to decrypt:
    1. I didn't really know what that password was. When I researched, I understood that this password was the same password to unlock the cell phone when it is on, however, the cell phone did not have a password.
    2. So I clicked "Cancel" on the start screen and it continues to enter TWRP but on the logs screen it shows mounting errors and that was bad because I couldn't see anything inside the phone's folders and consequently I couldn't see the zipped image to flash.
    3. From the tutorials I verified that I needed to: `Wipe > Advanced Wipe > Check "Data" > Swipe to Wipe`
    4. Then return to the main menu: `Wipe > Format Data > Type "yes" > Press Enter Button in Keyboard`

After that I restart in TWRP and in fact I no longer have any password to enter and it even goes directly to the main menu, however, I also no longer have the GSI image that I downloaded.

PS: After all these things I tried to use OTG but I also couldn't get it to be recognized in TWRP.

# Answer
In the end, the sideloading process didn't load, but I solved the main problem by moving the image to MicroSD and I was able to flash the image.

Unfortunately, after that (and for other reasons), no system starts.

Follow-up: No Operacional System Android is Installed
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, rom-flashing, twrp, fastboot, motorola-moto-e
---


# Question
Title: How can I see which system update Android wants to install?
I use a Samsung Galaxy S23 ultra with Android 13 and One 5.1. I see:

How can I see which system update Android wants to install?

# Answer
**The update information on Samsung One UI can only be seen from the "Download and install" menu.**
> 3 votes

---
Tags: updates, operating-system, samsung-galaxy-s-23
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra (Snapdragon) - is it possible to manually flash Android 13?
Is there any way at all to upgrade my Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G (Snapdragon) to Android 13? It's stuck on Android 11, and I've been with Google Fi, and now US Mobile, with still no OTA updates ever available. It's:

* Model: SM-G988U (SM-G988UZKEXAA)
* CSC Country: USA/US
* Active CSC Code: XAA
* Bootloader/PDA/Baseband Version: G988USQS2DUE2
* CSC Version: G988UOYN2DUE2

It was sold to me brand new 2 years ago as "Unlocked," but Samsung checked the IMEI for me and told me it's "Originally Carrier Locked to Sprint but now T-Mobile."

A custom ROM would be awesome, but I'm totally happy just to finally get to upgrade to Android 12 or 13. I've read all over XDA, Reddit, etc, that an unrooted phone can be flashed with a non-custom ROM, but I can't find any definitive answer regarding this thing's unlockable bootloader getting in the way of that.

Do I have any hope here, without paying to unlock the bootloader? If so, can someone tell me *exactly* which firmware I should download and flash?

# Answer
> 1 votes
First, you might check to see if updates have been disabled through ADB first.

From a prompt with ADB installed on your PC:

* adb shell pm enable-user --user 0 com.sec.android.soagent
* adb shell pm enable-user --user 0 com.wssyncmldm
* adb shell pm enable-user--user 0 com.samsung.sdm
* adb shell pm enable-user --user 0 com.samsung.sdm.sdmviewer
* adb shell pm enable-user --user 0 com.ws.dm

Some of these commands may not take, but may solve your issue.

Second, in the recovery partition there is an option to manually update via ADB or SD card. You should be able to download an official build (Sammobile or some other site) and sideload this in. You can search for the latest builds based your device model and current carrier.

Both of these options work without the need to root the device. I am not sure if the BL lock gets in the way of the sideload, but then why does the option exist in recovery otherwise. Provided the update is official, there should not be an issue with the BL lock.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Hello I've found the problem you have the CSC code set to \*** which stopped receiving updates in 2021 you can change it to (TMB) which is T-Mobile or (USC) US Cellular if you don't use mobile data it's highly recommended to change CSC to receive the latest security updates, You can lookup online for Samsung secret dail codes which should bring up a factory menu and an option to change CSC codes and yes you'll start receiving OTA updates that will take you to Android 13 plus these steps don't require a computer.

---
Tags: samsung, updates, operating-system
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to force a country code on messages which automatically sent via apps?
I am trying to use an application which requires me to send a message to its service from my phone number. The service is in a different country than where I am so the messages are being sent to the wrong number. I am trying to get these messages to be sent to the correct country. I don't have any ways of changing this through the app.

Would there be a setting or a 3rd party app which can force a country code on all messages being sent?

# Answer
> 1 votes
No, a 3rd party app cant change another app like that, nor the server's code thats actually processing the requests. Try contacting support.

---
Tags: sms, international-prefix
---


# Question
Title: How does Samsung's Voice Recorder's Speech-to-text function store the text and sync it with the audio?
I am using Samsung Galaxy S7 and recently, I used the speech-to-text feature in the default Voice Recorder application. When I play one of the audio files that was recorded with that feature, the application is able to show the text in sync with the audio. I saw that there was the text stored in another text file together with the audio file, but it was just the raw text. I'm trying to figure out how this works.

Is this information for syncing the text and audio stored in the audio file? In this case, all the recordings are only in M4A files. Hence, I tried searching what M4A files can store, like if they can store subtitles because it would seem that it could be subtitles that enable this syncing. However, I can't seem to find any information on this. Or it could also be that the application just has this information stored in some sort of storage or cache, which would mean that if I moved the files over to my computer, there would not be any text synced with the audio.

# Answer
I guess I have found the answer after looking within the M4A files themselves. The text and the timestamps, if I am correct, are stored in the M4A files.

I looked through the binary data of the file using a hex editor and just the normal Notepad application in Windows and I found all the text within a location and it looks like Java was used. I am guessing this is only a feature designed particularly for the Samsung Voice Recorder application.

A sample is shown here (with some parts and most of the weird characters removed):

```
;com.sec.android.app.voicenote.common.util.VoiceRecorderData
mCategoryNamet Ljava/lang/String;L mEffectNameq ~  java.util.ArrayListx sizexp 2com.sec.android.app.voicenote.common.util.TextData ConfidenceScoreI dataTypeJ durationJ elapsedTimeJ   timeStamp[ mTextt [Ljava/lang/String; [Ljava.lang.String;{
t The pppppppppsq ~
t
recording pppppppppsq ~
t to pppppppppsq ~

```
> 2 votes

# Answer
Here's a Python function that extracts the text of a given `.m4a` file path:

```
from codecs import decode

def extract_text_from_audio_data(audio_path):
    with open(audio_path, 'rb') as f:
        binary_data = f.read()
        utf8_data = decode(binary_data, 'utf-8', errors='ignore')
    index_start = utf8_data.index('Ljava.lang.String')
    index_end = utf8_data.index('com.android.version')
    substring = utf8_data[index_start:index_end]
    lines = substring.split('q\x00~')
    pattern_end = ' pppppp'
    pttrn_start = '\n'
    tokens = [l[:(l.index(pattern_end))] for l in lines if pattern_end in l]
    words = [t[t.index(pttrn_start)+4:] for t in tokens]
    phrase = ' '.join(words) + '.'
    return phrase

```
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung, audio, voice-recognition, samsung-voice-recorder
---


# Question
Title: Google Calender: Prevent the notification of an event disappearing after the event time?
Say, I have set a monthly event at a specific time and date on Google Calender. I have enabled "1 minute before" notification for it. The notification shows up at the expected time, but if I happen to be doing something else and think I will do the event later, after that time, the event notification automatically disappears from the phone, even though I have not swiped it out. This sometimes makes me forget that I should do the event.

Is there a way to make the event notification NOT go away even after the time of the event, until I manually swipe it out?

# Answer
That's the designed behavior of events and Google Calender doesn't provide a way to keep notification alive.

You can instead enable reminders on your calendar and set up a reminder so that notification stays alive till you manually dismiss.

For more see What is the difference between Events, Reminders and Tasks? and What is the difference between a reminder and an event in Google Calendar?
> 1 votes

# Answer
I've been using a workaround for this for some time - it's an app called Events Notifier (I have no affiliation with the app). You turn off notifications from your calendar app and allow the notifier to present the notifications instead. The notifications will not disappear unless you explicitly dismiss them.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: calendar, google-calendar
---


# Question
Title: How do carriers block tethering on Android?
I have two SIM cards with data bundles from different carriers. One is working fine with (WiFi) tethering, but with the second SIM card, I cannot use tethering.

Searching online, I saw that tethering can be blocked by blocking browsers' user-agent headers or alternatively, by using torrenting software headers, and other PC-related application headers. In my case, I cannot even `ping 8.8.8.8` from my laptop using the second SIM card, while I can from my Android using a terminal emulator.

The tethering problem with the second SIM card existed from the beginning. Perhaps I just loaded one web page with it (or it seemed like loading, but in reality, the browser retrieved it from its cache).

So in my case, how does the carrier block the tethering? Of course, the purpose of this question is to bypass this block. There is also the possibility that there is no block at all, but something else is causing the problem, but I am baffled because this should happen with both SIM cards, right?

# Answer
> 0 votes
If the APN settings didn't resolve the issue, consider this:

SIM is a processor. Modem has its own processor (source). These enable the carrier to send/receive short codes to/from the phone. If the phone manufacturer is in cahoots with the carrier, they can design the OS so that even if your phone is not carrier-bound, tethering gets enabled only with carrier's permission (usually after extorting extra fees). Rooting/jailbreaking could potentially come in handy in those circumstances.

# Answer
> 0 votes
From revision 3 of the question by the asker (with copyedit):

> After paying $20 for my working SIM card to Google around, I solved it myself. I discovered that USB tethering was possible with the second SIM card. I found this strange, and checked (Android 6.0) the 'Mobile data \> Mobile networks \> Access point names \> ''carrier name'' Internet (or sth similar)' for both SIM cards.
>
> This is a long list of settings (Name, APN, Proxy, Port, etc...). The difference was in the 'APN type'. In the working SIM, it was filled with 'default,dun,mms,supl'. In the "faulty" SIM with 'mms' only! So I wrote 'default,dun,mms,supl' and now tethering works fine with a WiFi hotspot.

---
Tags: tethering, wifi-tethering
---


# Question
Title: How to change a child’s Wi-Fi network remotely?
Our Wi-Fi hasn’t worked right since a day or two after the Xfinity guy left, it connects “strong” but has no internet. We have been searching for my kid’s emergency phone for quite some time, and finally looked in Family Link today. The phone is still at 5%, not sure how it’s not dead. The last ping was Aug 18, but it is connected to a Wi-Fi network that does not seem to let me pull the location or ring it… my guess would be our home internet.

Is there a way to switch it over to a hotspot without having the phone in hand? It should already know the hotspot password. The kid's phone is a Samsung Galaxy S9 if that info helps or is needed.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If the phone's battery registered at 5% 2 months ago, its battery is now depleted. Sorry. You are likely looking at stats from the last measurement taken while the phone still had some charge.

Even if it had battery power, I don't think there is a way to change its connectivity.

Your best bet is to observe your offspring's height, and look for hiding places within the reach of someone that height. Under furniture and beds is a favourite hiding spot for missing phones, as well as between sofa cushions!

Good luck!

P.S. That's a fancy phone for a kid's emergency phone. If you need to replace it, you'll be able to buy a replacement for a lower cost.

---
Tags: wi-fi, google-family-link
---


# Question
Title: How to acquire wakelock with Termux on Android 13?
In previous versions of Android, one "Aquire Wakelock" by going to notifications-list, and tapping on the Termux in the list, then Aquire Wakelock is an option.

But on Android 13, there are no Termux notification to tap on at all, so how do you do it on Android 13? (observed on Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra updated to Android 13~)

(I can theorize that Termux not showing up in the notifications list is a bug, and that the procedure is supposed to be the same, but that is just a guess)

# Answer
> 1 votes
**The procedure for Termux to acquire wakelock on Android is still the same; through the notification.**

However, since Android 13, Termux needs to have the *newly introduced Notification runtime permission* allowed for the app to show ("post") a notification.

> Android 13 (API level 33) and higher supports a runtime permission for sending non-exempt (including Foreground Services (FGS)) notifications from an app: `POST_NOTIFICATIONS`.

> ### User selects "Allow"
>
> If the user selects the **allow** option, your app can do the following:
>
> * Send notifications. All notification channels are allowed.
> * Post notifications related to foreground services. These notifications appear in the notification drawer.

> ### User selects "Don't allow"
>
> If the user selects the **don't allow** option, your app can't send notifications unless it qualifies for an exemption. All notification channels are blocked, except for a few specific roles. This is similar to the behavior that occurs when the user manually turns off all notifications for your app in system settings.

If the notification is not shown and the app does not request permission on startup, then the user must manually enable the Notification permission from the app info (e.g. from the Android Settings, or long-pressing the app icon, etc.)

---
Tags: termux, android-13, wakelock
---


# Question
Title: Download apps from Play Store to a designated folder on desktop
I am running Android 12 on a Realme 8 5G phone. I would like to test a set of note-taking apps. In order to do this, I need to search and download them from Google Play. However, they will be hard to find because they will be arranged alphabetically by app name and I have a lot of apps on my desktop.

So, I would like to be able to create a folder, set the folder and the download location, and then go and download the apps from the Google Play app (so that these go to the set folder).

Is it possible to do this? Do I need a special launcher app on Android to do this?

# Answer
It isn't possible to do this in the order you specify, but you can end up with the same result.

# Preparations

You'll have to install the aps you want from the Play Store. That's inescapable. Once you've done that, then you need to organise them into folders.

# Put icons onto home screen

Swipe up on the home screen to get to the list of installed apps. Find one of the apps you want to put into a folder, which I'll call App-A. Tap and hold it and when a menu comes up, tap "Add to Home."

Do the same for another of the apps, which I'll call App-B

# Create the folder

On the home screen, tap and hold App-A and drag it onto App-B. Android creates a folder with the two app icons in it.

It then shows you the folder, with the name "Folder Name" displayed above it. Tap on "Folder Name" and you'll be able to edit it to the name you want.

Tap the "Back" control to get back to the home screen.

# Open the folder

Just tap on it. One it is open, you can interact with the apps on it as if they were on the home screen. Tap the "Back" control to get back to the home screen.

# Add more apps to the folder

Put them onto the home screen, then drag them into the folder.

# Removing apps from the folder

Open the folder, and then drag apps out of it. They move to the home screen.

When you remove the last-but-one app, the folder is removed and the app left in it re-appears on the home screen.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, launcher, home-screen, home-screen-folders
---


# Question
Title: Can you broadcast to a Shoutcast server from Android?
I run a shoutcast station for a small group of people. I would like the ability to broadcast to my server from my phone so that I could do live broadcasts away from home.

So far I have not found any software to do this, because searching only yields ten zillion results for streaming radio apps for listening, not broadcasting. Someone I asked tried to suggest that it was not possible to stream efficiently over a 3G connection, but frankly this is rubbish because I have streamed to my server from my laptop via a 3G stick before, and on my phone I have streamed audio and video to services like UStream etc.

Does anyone know of any software for android capable of broadcasting to a shoutcast server ? Thanks.

# Answer
> 2 votes
In 2023, I am using the app OnAir - Live.

Not sure if it's from the same publisher as the previous one, but works fine. I have also used MediaCast for a while, but it has several problems that have been a bit painful.

The main benefits I see on OnAir:

* I can lock my screen, change apps, and the stream doesn't stop
* Supports Shoutcast V1, V2 and Icecast
* Simple setup
* Can record stream locally

---
Tags: shoutcast
---


# Question
Title: "Allow USB debugging" keeps on popping up
We are doing automation testing on mobile devices with Appium, but the testing fails because of the popup 'Allow USB debugging?' even though the device is already connected through `adb connect` and `adb devices`.

I already checked the 'Always allow from this computer', but still, sometimes it pops up and causes the test to fail, and other times it works just fine; not popping up at all.

How to address this issue?

# Answer
> 6 votes
### Change the USB cable

My proposed solution is not general, but may work in in some special cases.

Here is my story: Once I used an old USB cable for connecting my 10 smartphones to my computer. It worked well for 9 phones, except for 1 phone where “Allow USB debugging” kept on popping. Then I changed to a newer USB cable, and the problem went away.

# Answer
> 3 votes
In my case, I was continually getting prompted with one fingerprint. I revoked all debugging permissions and next time the dialog popped up, I noticed the fingerprint had changed. So far I haven't been prompted again.

So: try revoking all debug permissions and then allowing USB debugging again.

# Answer
> 1 votes
One possibility for this problem may be located on PC side: May be you are running multiple adb daemons with different private keys. The private key is used for identifying the "**this computer**".

The relevant files that contain the cryptographic identify are `adbkey` and `adbkey.pub` located in the folder `.android` folder within the user home directory:

* Windows: `C:\users\%username%\.android\`
* Linux: `~/.android/`

Make sure those two files don't change. Some other software may overwrite these files.

Another possibility would be a problem on device side that e.g. the adb server crashes and losses the data on previous authorized computers. Or it may be a bug in adb that causes the identification of the computer to fail.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Make sure the cable is fully plugged on both ends. On computer side it was a bit loose. It solved the problem.

---
Tags: usb-debugging, automation, developer-options
---


# Question
Title: How can I install Greasemonkey, Tampermonkey, or similar in Firefox Android?
I have Firefox 94.1.2 on a Pixel 3XL with Android 10. I'm trying to install a user-script extension like Greasemonkey Tampermonkey.

addons.mozilla.org shows these are both available for Android: Greasemonkey Tampermonkey

When I open the Add-on menu in Firefox, I see one add-on I have Enabled, and about 15 other "Recommended" (not of interest). I find no way to search for additional add-ons in addons.mozilla.org.

I found this article that said this issue would be fixed about a year ago, but I'm still not able to install add-ons.

This article implies that running Nightly versions of Firefox might allow more add-ons. Is there any other way to install these extensions?

# Answer
On Firefox you need to enable the debug menu by going to settings -\> about Firefox then pressing the Firefox logo at least 5 times. The same applies to Mull and other forks.

Once you had done that, in settings under addons you now have the option "custom addon collections" where you can enter a name and the id of an user who has the addons you want in their collection.

This is not as simple as it is in desktop and other mobile browsers, and it requires either having a Firefox account or the user id of someone with an account.
> 2 votes

# Answer
With Firefox and Chrome both incapable, the best answer is to install yet another Browser. I chose Kiwi. From the main menu, choose the Extensions page. Touch the "+(from store)" button - it will take you to chrome.google.com. Searching on Tampermonkey offers "Tampermonkey" "Tampermonkey Beta" and "Clipcopy for Tampermonkey". Choose "Tampermonkey" but do not use the Android "Get it" link - it goes to the Play Store and offers an App, not an extension. Click the link to the Tampermonkey.net site which contains a link to "Install in Chrome". Select it and it will install in Kiwi.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: firefox-for-android, scripts
---


# Question
Title: Whatsapp chats and media from internal storage
A few days ago, my Whatsapp deleted all my messages and media. Luckily those are still in my internal folder.

Is there any way to restore my Whatsapp chats and media from my internal storage as there is no backup for that?

# Answer
* In the internal storage, look for the databases folder with chat backup and rename the last backed-up file to msgstore.db.crypt12.
* For the media, make sure all of it is in the "Media" folder.
* If you re-install Whatsapp, they ask you if you want to restore data. you may try that as the last resort.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, internal-storage, chat
---


# Question
Title: How to replace Google Contacts with an alternative?
I want to disable stock Google Contacts app. I tried using Simple Contacts app. However, the Google Phone app, as Google Messages app, could not access Simple Contacts entries.

How do I use alternatives that replace Google Contacts/Phone/Messages and still interoperate, or is this not even possible?

Android version Oreo. Not rooted and no plans to root.

# Answer
**In general, 3rd-party contacts apps that have access to the *Contacts permission* to use the *Contacts Provider* can be an alternative to Google Contacts (or any other stock contacts apps).**

The Contacts Provider is the standard approach to share and use contact info between apps.

> The Contacts Provider is a powerful and flexible Android component that manages the device's central repository of data about people. The Contacts Provider is the source of data you see in the device's contacts application, and you can also access its data in your own application and transfer data between the device and online services.

The Contacts Provider will interact with the system app Contacts Storage, which is independent of any contacts apps. So, even though the user uninstalls/disables all their contacts apps, the contact info is still stored on the Contacts Storage and can be read by other apps like phone apps, messaging apps, email apps, etc.

So, any famous & reliable 3rd-party contacts apps that request access to the Contacts permission should be feasible as an alternative to Google Contacts.

---

In the case of Simple Contacts app, it actually has the Contacts permission, and any contacts that are created from this app to a registered account on Contacts Provider can also be accessed by other apps.

On the other hand, the app also allows the contact to be saved on "Phone storage (not visible by other apps)". Based on its source code, this is actually another way to store contacts by using their own local database, which other apps do not know about its existence and do not have permission to access it, thus the contacts cannot be read.

In conclusion, the Simple Contacts app is actually a feasible alternative\* for Google Contacts.

<sup>\*Tested by creating 2 contacts; one with the answerer's Google account which then can be read by Google Messages, another with the phone storage which cannot be accessed by Google Messages.</sup>
> 2 votes

# Answer
**First step: Save your contacts.** You should be able to do this through your mobile phone contacts application (export to .cvc file).

Your contacts are probably saved on Google Contacts, so you can also open your email, click on the sandwich menu top right, check the “export” option.

The point is, be very sure that you exported your contacts and stored them somewhere safe.

**Second step: Order the contacts** Your contacts should be saved in a single neat .cvc file. So, if you have more than one file (for example, downloading multiple contact sheets from multiple google accounts), you should merge them and have a single neat .cvc file.

How? On Ubuntu, I downloaded “vCard studio”, opened and merged several sheets and ended up with one. I also downloaded “Evolution”, then opened that same sheet and saved it as it is (somehow the vCard studio format wasn’t good for the steps afterwards).

**Third step: Download the good apps** On F-droid (it is an open source app store, if you do not have it download it) download:

* DAVx → this is a software which enables synchronization from your phone to your server (cloud)
* Simple Contacts Pro SE (by Stephan Ritscher, it is a fork of simple contacts app developed by Tibor Kaputa) → this app supports synchronization, it will be your contact book.

**Fourth step: Open your framagenda account** framagenda.org offers you an account of 15MB for free. This is more than enough to synchronize your entire contact book:)

Once you opened your account, you will have your cloud.

**Fifth step: connect everything** Go on DAVx app. Check the “login with URL and user name”. In “base url”, start typing framagenda and select the option that pops up. Your username and password are those that you used to open your framagenda.org account (your username should be your email).

Once it connects, make sure the app is connecting your contacts (swipe “Contacts” so that it toggles orange).

You can test this. If you go on framagenda.org, on the menu dedicated to contacts, try creating a test contact. Then, open your phone, and check the contacts app we downloaded. You should see it there. It should also work the other way around (but on the phone app, make sure you save the contacts not on google drive, but on framagenda. This is the last field on the contact).

**Sixth step: the point of no return (not true but I wanted something sounding drastic)** Delete all your contacts and disable the normal contact book app. They might interfere and we need a blank slate to start the synchronization process. Your new contact book app will be the one downloaded (simple contacts pro se). Even if you delete your contacts, you have them backed up.

**Seventh step: upload your contacts on framagenda** You will see, on your account on framagenda.org, that there is a “Contacts” tab. Check the sandwich menu, then “Contacts settings”, and “import contacts”. There, you will be able to import the neat .cvs file that you prepared.

*Tricks:*

* on framagenda.org, you might want to delete all of your contacts, and do the import again. You have to go on the address books again, but if you only have one address book, you cannot delete it. You need to first create another address book (give it any name then click on the arrow), then you can delete the first contact book.
* on simple contacts pro se app, on your phone, when you create a new contact, you need to make sure to save it in a way that it connects to the framagenda server, not to a google account. You can choose this by sliding to the last field.

**Eight step: Google good bye** Go on google drive, go to the google contact app, check all your contacts, delete them.

Take a step back. Breath deeply. You made it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-contacts
---


# Question
Title: Music only plays for a second and then ends?
When I successfully copy my music to my SD card, each song only plays for a second and then continues onto the next song. I was able to remedy this by copying each song over individually, but obviously this is untenable in the long-run. Might this be an issue with my new SD, am I copying too fast, or what else might it be?

I was able to replicate this for skipping to the center of a song. I can't hear an entire second, but it does seek to the center of the song and play a bit of it. If I try to go back to the beginning of the song after every skip, the Music Player eventually crashes.

For any of the mp3s with these issues, if I restart my phone it deletes these songs.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The most obvious explanation is that the file is incomplete: there's only a small fraction of the file there, or only the first section of the file is readable. Given that the symptoms you report in your other question point to SD card failure, that seems the most likely cause for this too.

If this is a different SD card, it could be that the card itself isn't at fault: rather, whatever you're using to copy files to the card could be corrupting the filesystem, or a dodgy USB connection to a card reader could be interrupting file transfers.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I had this problem. The song worked fine in iTunes, but not in Google Music. The song has an audio glitch in it from recording it from a burned CD, and that is around the spot where the song skips. It's not the MP3 or the song; it's something about Google Music doesn't like the song.

My work around: I made an AAC version in iTunes, uploaded that, and it worked. So my original mp3 must have been glitchy.

# Answer
> 1 votes
An incomplete songplay is mostly due to the corrupt file which you have downloaded. Although it may show around 7 MB for a file, if the file is corrupt, then it won't play any part of it, or in some cases, just plays the start and skips to the next.

**What exactly a corrupt file is**

A corrupt MP3 file means that some audio bits and tunes are missing or contain some bugs. The MP3 player usually plays these bits if all are there in the proper order. If some bit of data is missing, then it simply skips to the next track.

The corruption of the file can be judged by the amount of file that is playable. If you can only play the start, then the whole MP3 is corrupt. It is a waste of trying because sometimes you could get only to the middle and later by default, it skips.

**Detect a corrupted MP3 or MP4 file:**-

The best way to check a corrupted file is to do a simple fast forward (don't do a 4x fast forward for you will not know when the file is fast forwarded very fast) till the end of the file. In fast forward, it will skip to the next available data point. As you are able to only fast forward till the middle, the remaining portion of the file is missing/corrupt. If fast forwarding jumps directly to the last, then the whole song is corrupt and needs to be deleted.

For an MP4 file, when the video turns pixelated during a fast forward instead of the smooth audio/video, then that video is corrupt. A complete video plays the audio and video with ease even if you fast forward.

If the file is partially or completely corrupt, you have to delete it because a corrupt file will never play completely.

**How to avoid a corrupt file**

1. Always download files from a reputable source. Some sites don't have proper files, which many fall trap to. If you download from good sources, then you will not have that issue at all. (My suggestion is to avoid using free downloads as far as possible as it's against the law-piracy issues and also you got cheap audio with these kinds of issues)
2. There are some download managers that check for the link and file before downloading. If the link or file is missing/corrupt, then you can avoid this issue.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had a problem like this on my default Android music player, then I got a clue to the problem.

On another player, there was a setting that said "show music less than 60 seconds" that was turned off. Well, my music is all around 3 minutes, but not showing up. I changed this setting, and then all the music was listed and played fully.

So there must be something in the music file about length that is wrong.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same issue. Simple solution, use Samsung Music app. Google apparently doesn't like it if your music library was not purchased from them. I have an extensive library of music ripped from my CD's etc. that work fine on any other music player.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Today I solved this: it fully depends on the embedded picture inside the MP3 file.

Please note: the MP3 files are not corrupted! Just the picture file is reader-unfriendly (tested with 2 different readers, and both had the same problem).

So, delete the embedded pictures, or change them with a smaller or different version (with a simple batch process), and it will be OK.

# Answer
> -2 votes
When you transfer music files, do not transfer multiple files at the same time.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s, sd-card, music, music-player, mp3
---


# Question
Title: Why can't this 8K video recorded with an Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra be viewed as 8K in YouTube?
I recorded an 8K video with a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra running Android 13:

I uploaded it to YouTube using the YouTube Android application. YouTube offers to view it in 4K but not 8K:

Why?

This issue happened with the 5 videos I recorded in 8K.

# Answer
Reddit user thedankonion1 mentioned that the YouTube Android application can only see up to 4K. It doesn't allow uses to view videos in 5K or 8K. I had checked YouTube via a computer too, but I got mislead by `https://studio.youtube.com/video/[video id]/edit`, which only indicates 4k and not 8k:

However, looking at the actual video via `https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=[video ID]` with a computer, I do see the 8k option. So that explains the situation.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: video, youtube, samsung-galaxy-s-23
---


# Question
Title: How can I disable "Simulate Secondary Display" when the simulated secondary display prevents me from reaching the button?
**My Question will get more information over time.**

I got a smartwatch (h1-c-aladeng) on my birthday, I very love it but I make a serious problem that I can't fix.

Its specification:

* Screen resolution is 240x240, very hard to read and type on a keyboard, and a slight misalignment of the touch screen.
* Running Android 9.0.
* The model (display in "Find My Device"): Lanix Ilium LT510

My problem:

* A lot of features have been turned off. That is why I use the developer option and turned some features back on, but I accidentally touched "simulate secondary display" and put a display on the screen, The "Simulate Screen" blocked the screen, and I can't reach the "none" option in the setting.
* During that time I have USB Debugging turned on and "always allow this computer". After that, I accidentally turned the developer option off, I turned it right back on and I didn't know that action will clear all the authorized computers connected to it.

Before authorized cleared:

* I can still use ADB, recovery mode, but it just shows "No Command" and auto restart.
* Boot to fastboot makes it put the "fastboot" on the screen after that it just auto restarts. I try anything I can't make it disappear.

I'm stuck with a second screen. and there is a way I can turn it off?

More:

* I don't think I can get the answer but I will still waiting...
* I have tried to factory reset like *here* but it is in a different way I think.
* Is there no way to factory reset it with just one physical button?
* I think this watch doesn't have a real screen, it is likely this screen is just a small monitor like a PC and has software simulate it because it has too much delay like I'm going to left. It needs to be around 0.5 seconds to actually go into my point. It doesn't behave like a real phone that has mostly no delay.
* I have searched and there is a mode called EDL mode but I didn't know how to access it.
* I have an idea. I can connect to my phone using a micro-to-type C USB cable. Is there an app that can config the option of the OTG device?
* I am able to make the "Restore factory settings" tab pop up by pressing the button multiple time but I wasn't able to touch the "confirm" button:
* I open up my watch (don't worry my warranty is still there I didn't scratch anything) and here is the circuit in that:

# Answer
Give scrcpy a try if possible, might just work! It shows whatever resolution you tell it to. scrcpy is very versatile and can allow you to play with the options (via --help) to get the button you need pressed. For instance, MOD+f enables fullscreen mode. etc etc. There's also guiscrcpy if you want a graphical front-end.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Use the following command to disable the display overlay via ADB

```
adb shell settings put global overlay_display_devices null

```
> 0 votes

---
Tags: settings, screen, developer-options, smartwatch
---


# Question
Title: Added simulated external display in Developer Settings and can't boot now
Got my S3 Mini with CM11 stuck at boot after adding external display simulation in Developer Settings. Just after that UI froze and I had to reboot. After that it freezes on "Android is upgrading" popup and the progress circle isn't even running.

I tried going to Safe Mode but the only difference is that the progress circle is running all the time but nothing happens for another hour.

Logcat says something like this:

```
I/DisplayManagerService( 2137): Display device added: DisplayDeviceInfo{"Nak┼éadka nr 1": 720 x 480, 60.000004 fps, density 160, 160.0 x 160.0 dpi, touch NONE, rotation 0, type OVERLAY, FLAG_SECURE, FLAG_PRESENTATION}
E/gralloc ( 1671): gralloc_alloc: gralloc_alloc_framebuffer (google) failed, Out of memory
E/FramebufferNativeWindow( 1671): fb buffer 0 allocation failed w=480, h=800, err=Out of memory

```

Is there any way to remove the additional display without having to do data wipe? I have full access to ADB and recovery. Just this one thing stops Android to boot further.

# Answer
You can try wiping cache and dalvik before entering the safe mode. A similar problem is addressed on an XDA thread here.

If the above doesn't work, you can restore the previous backup (hopefully a NAndroid one). If that doesn't work, you can try flashing CM again. Finally, if none of the above works, you can do a full data wipe and factory reset and flash + restore again.

Yet another approach is manually editing the developer options database via ADB as discussed here.

```
adb shell
sqlite3 /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
delete from global where name="overlay_display_devices";
reboot

```

If the above doesn't work, then as said in above XDA thread, delete the developer settings manually as follows (all system specific settings will be reset), first mount /data in recovery:

```
adb shell
cd /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/
delete settings.db
reboot

```

If nothing works, the problem could be something different than the secondary display.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Use the following command to disable the display overlay via ADB

```
adb shell settings put global overlay_display_devices null

```
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, 4.4-kitkat, external-display
---


# Question
Title: How to turn off overlays if I can't touch the screen?
My cell phone is a Samsung Galaxy Pocket 2 (SM-G110B/DS) running Android 4.4 KitKat. I found the developer options, and "by mistake", I selected one of the overlays. The problem is that the overlay has a bigger resolution than what my screen supports, and it doesn't let me touch the screen (Overlay #1 1280x720).

I have turned the phone off and on again and it didn't work, I took off the battery, pinched it, and tapped on it several times... nothing changed, but that overlay is still there and doesn't let me touch the screen.

How can I turn this overlay off?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Use the following command to disable the display overlay via ADB

```
adb shell settings put global overlay_display_devices null

```

# Answer
> -1 votes
I had the same issue. I long-pressed on the *overlay#1* window, dragged it down, and then turned off the *Developer options*.

Hope it helps in a way.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, developer-options, overlay, touch, samsung-galaxy-pocket
---


# Question
Title: What's the best practice for Google recovery phone?
I have a question about Google account recovery phone. The succinct question is, is it best to have the Google recovery phone set to my single Android device or to use another mobile (non-Google) phone?

I have a single Android 13 phone, which has my primary phone number and my primary email account (Google) on it. I have a recovery email set to another non-Google email account not immediately accessible on the phone. I am wondering if I should use another phone number as the Google recovery phone.

If I lose my phone with the phone locked, then I am not concerned much because the SIM is locked, the phone PIN is long, messages don't show contents on the notification screen, and I think I'll have time to recover.

If I get robbed and am forced to hand over the device PIN, then they can use my phone to totally change stuff on my Google account, as it is my recovery phone, and Google prompt is the default 2FA for Google account.

On the other hand, Google says that the recovery phone should:

1. be able to receive SMS,
2. I should use it regularly, and
3. I should have it with me all the time.

If I use an extra recovery phone, 1 & 2 are possible, 2 at least on a daily basis, but 3 sounds tough.

What do you do? What is the best practice in regard to Google recovery phone number?

Thanks.

# Answer
Since nobody has taken a crack, I thought I might, in hope that it will benefit people who ask a similar/related kind of question, or it would further stimulate discussions.

The short answer is yes, you will have the best chance of recovering your Google account from a hacker/phone robber if you have a recovery email and a recovery phone number that is not associated (not on, cannot be access, etc.) with your stolen Android device.

The answer above is based on parts of Google recovery workflow, information that Google has published (https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/7299973?hl=en), and speculations. Why speculations? Because it appears that the recovery workflow is fairly complex and is not fully documented, and I haven't tested all the possible paths in the workflow.

Observations on Google recovery work flow / securing the device remotely:

1. "Secure device" in the find Android webpage does lock the device by PIN immediately when the device responds. You can do this silently by not giving the webpage a text or a phone number, and silencing the "Find device" notification of Google play beforehand. Or you can make the lock obvious by giving it a text and a phone number (which will allow the person with the phone to call you at the number with the phone).
2. "Secure device" doesn't remove the default 2FA Google prompt authentication immediately (I didn't test how long it took), and more importantly it didn't remove the forced Google account passkey on the device immediately: it took approximate 5 minutes once the device locks.
3. If the person still can respond to the Google prompt and the recovery phone is the device itself, the person will be able to take over your Google account, but you need both factors for this.
4. If the person has your PIN, they also have your Google passkey, and they will be able to take over your Google account without other factors beyond having your phone.
5. So, even if you have "secured" your device, there is a windows (in my case, 5 minutes) that the person will be able to screen-shot, change your account information enough (change password, remove/add passkeys, remove/change TOTP authenticator) that a) you will be seriously hampered trying to recover your account b) \[speculation\] they might be able to recover the account with the recovery phone and the information associated with your account that they have downloaded or changed, even after you have "recovered" your account.
6. On all the recovery workflow I tried, Google always asked for 2 various pieces of information, never one. The information I got asked were code sent to the recovery phone, code sent to Google email, code sent to the recovery email, TOTP authenticator code, and 2FA recovery code.
7. The surest pieces of information that the person cannot change associated with your Google accounts are a) recovery phone b) recovery email and c) your previous passwords. Recovery phone and email are shown on the account and can be changed, but Google "promises" that even after changes, the old ones will be usable for a week. Previous passwords are not shown.
8. Google advises that to be able to recover your account, you should have your recovery phone, recovery email, and 2FA backup codes, although the UI doesn't enforce that your phone number mustn't be the same as your primary/single Google phone. Does it allow the same Google email and the recovery email? I don't know since I didn't test, and mine has always been different.
9. Your 2FA backup recovery codes can be regenerated. It's unclear if the old ones would still work. It doesn't make sense that they do, but who knows.
10. Remember that if they have your PIN and your phone, they virtually have biometrics to prove to the different apps on your phone. Unless you uses PIN/password based authentication to lock your TOTP authenticator, they might have your TOTP codes/secrets as well.

So, you should have a recovery phone number and a recovery email that cannot be accessed on your Google Android device. If you only use those for recovery and such, and their accesses are not stolen along with your phone and PIN, then you will always have 2 factors to definitely prove to Google it's you.

If someone steals your phone with PIN, you want to wipe it remotely, disabling/recovering the primary phone number as needed, and check/reset the security of your account (password, 2FA, passkeys, email settings, app access, etc.) Heck, you may want to do this even before reporting to the authority.

As far as Google recommendations that:

1. the phone should be used regularly
2. the phone should be with you
3. the phone should exclusively belong to you

You want a regular use to make sure that it still works. The phone should be with your because you only have a week to recover your account with the phone if the hacker changes your recovery number. The phone should exclusively belong to you because of security and because Google most likely sends account update notifications to it, so it would be annoying for someone else.

Having your passkeys protected by the two factors (having the phone and knowing the PIN) seems bad to me. I wouldn't leave Google passkey on my phone if I have the choice. This problem will be the same for other passkeys you let Android platform protect.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: security, google-account
---


# Question
Title: Android OPEN_DOCUMENT activities failing on OnePlus 8T (KB2005)
I have OnePlus 8T (KB2005), OxygenOS 13.1.0.581 (KB2005\_13.1.0.581 (EX01)). Rooted with Magisk (26300), Zygisk enabled.

When an app attempts to bring up a file opening dialogue, it either crashes or fails for some reason. For instance, I can't attach files in the Gmail app or open a ROM in My Boy!, and this issue seems to occur with all apps.

The problem appears to be related to handling `ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT_TREE` and also `ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT`.

Here's an example of the exact error taken from logcat:

```
notifyUnstableAppInfo: Bundle[{unstableTime=1697596562427, reason=crash, userId=0, exceptionMsg=No Activity found to handle Intent { act=android.intent.action.OPEN_DOCUMENT cat=[android.intent.category.OPENABLE] typ=*/* (has extras) }, exceptionClass=android.content.ActivityNotFoundException, app_channel_type=unstable, packageName=com.fastemulator.gba, unstable_restrict_switch=true}]

```

This seems to suggest that none of the apps I have support this particular activity, even though I have around five different file managers, including the 'default' Google one. Therefore, at least one of them should have worked.

I'm not sure if this issue is related to rooting, which I did using Magisk. I couldn't find anyone else online with this specific problem. I'm hoping that someone might be able to shed some light on what might be happening here or help me investigate it further.

Link to XDA thread: https://xdaforums.com/t/android-file-folder-activities-failing-on-kb2005.4636820/

# Answer
> 0 votes
This exception occurs when there is no installed application that can be used as a DocumentsProvider.

Try installing a file explorer application that can be used as DocumentsProvider (e.g. ES File explorer). File explorer applications that does not has the code bellow in their Manifest will not work:

```
<intent-filter>
   <action android:name="android.content.action.DOCUMENTS_PROVIDER" />
</intent-filter>

```

Assuming that the apps that crashed (Gmail) does not handle this case or catch the exception.

If the problem persist with ES File Explorer you can try if Signal or ImagePicker works as they catch this exception and use Intent.ACTION\_PICK or `ACTION_GET_CONTENT` (does not rely on `DocumentsProvider`) instead of `ACTION_OPEN_DOCUMENT`.

**References**

---
Tags: root-access, files, oneplus-one, intents
---


# Question
Title: How to permit secondary profile to create/manage hotspot
How can I modify the permissions of my Android's secondary profile/user to be able to create & manage a WiFi hotspot on the device?

I'm running Android 11 (LineageOS). I have a secondary user that I would like to be able to manage the hotspot. However, when I navigate to Settings -\> Network & Internet -\> Hotspot & tethering, I see the following error message:

> Tethering settings are not available for this user.

I also have the credentials for the primary user profile.

I also have root on this device.

How can I modify the permissions of this secondary user profile such that they can create and manage the hotspot settings on the handset?

# Answer
Hotspot from the admin account then switch to the user account. Otherwise it is not possible to hotspot from the user account. Set up all your hot spot from the admin account before switching to the user account.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: root-access, permissions, wifi-hotspot, profiles
---


# Question
Title: Revvl 6 5G - A/B Root??? - W/O recovery.img
I have a Wingtech - Revvl 6 5G \[Mediatek-MT6833\] that has an A/B boot partition with vbmeta, OEM unlocked, Debug Mode, and Bootloader Unlocked (Via MTKClient). I've tried rooting the easy way with KingRoot, KingoRoot, iRoot, and the sort to no avail. I've tried flashing magiskpatchedboot.img to boot\_a by itself, and with the following command to patch vbmeta:

```
fastboot flash vbmeta --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta.img

```

Each method produces either Bootloop or Freeze on Logo/Loading Screen and requires flashing of the original boot\_a/b.img's from the Stock Rom to return to functional order (boot\_b.img flash is required even though I didn't replace it).

I've also tried booting a generic non-device specific twrp-recovery.img from the main TWRP website as one has not been crafted for this handset as of yet, and I'm pretty sure that there is no recovery.img for the Revvl 6 5G (Though there is a Recovery Mode). There isn't a recovery.img in the payload dump, nor is there one on the partition list in FastbootEnhance, nor the Stock Rom. I've also tried to boot the magiskpatchedboot.img directly:

```
C:\Platform-Tools>fastboot boot recovery.img
Sending 'boot.img' (28266 KB)                      OKAY [  0.768s]
Booting                                            FAILED (Status read failed (Too many links))
fastboot: error: Command failed

C:\Platform-Tools>fastboot boot magisk_patched-boot_a.img
Sending 'boot.img' (40960 KB)                      OKAY [  1.092s]
Booting                                            FAILED (Status read failed (Too many links))
fastboot: error: Command failed

```

Neither worked...

Someone said try it this way:

```
C:\Platform-Tools>fastboot boot boot magisk_patched-boot_a.img
fastboot: error: cannot load 'boot': No such file or directory

C:\Platform-Tools>fastboot boot boot_a magisk_patched-boot_a.img
fastboot: error: cannot load 'boot_a': No such file or directory

```

Neither worked..

I'm not sure what to try next. Are there any other rooting methods that I'm not thinking of? I could use assistance.

# Answer
Seeing as I solved my question, I figured I would provide the answer. It took piecing several guides together from XDA forums as well as the Hovatek forums.

I should note this guide is for Android 12. It should still work for Android 13 if the firmware can be obtained.

I am not responsible should anyone brick their device. I personally bricked mine many times, and have had to flash with the original Firmware to repair the damage.

As of current, there is no available Android 13 Rom/Firmware that I can find. Though I have made some requests. I have opened ann issue with the Magisk Github page, working to achieve Root off an Android 13 backup file I made through using MTKClient. At current, it has been unsuccessful but everyone is working on correcting the issue.

Appreciation is expressed to all the techniques acquired by other/original sources.

Here is my path, step for step:

1. Netork Carrier/SIM Unlock = After my year of service was up, I just tapped Network Unlock, and the SIM Unlocked.
2. Unlock Developer Mode - Settings \>About Phone \>Build Number, Tap 7 times and unlock Dev Mode.
3. Toggle OEM Unlock and Debug Mode in Developer Options.
4. I then followed the - Hovatek Bootloader Unlock Guide. -Install Current Adb and Fastboot/Platform-Tools -Extract to C:/

-Install Medatek Drivers -Install Git -Install Python -Install MTKClient -to C:/platform-tools -Install UsbDK from MTKClient Github Page.

5. Download the Revvl 6 5G - MT6833 - Stock Frimware - Android 12. -Extract to C:/platform-tools/mtkclient
6. Open File Explorer to C:/platform-tools, Type `cmd` in the search bar, and open Command Prompt.
7. Type: `cd mtkclient` -And we are ready to begin.
8. Next, Type (If you installed Python from the Microsoft store, this step can be skipped):

python setup.py install

Then Type:

```
pip3 install -r requirements.txt

```

or

`py -3 -m pip install -r requirements.txt` (works too)

9. Run this Command to Wipe User Data (Each MTKClient Commad will require Reconnecting the Device in BRom Mode):

python mtk e metadata,userdata

MTKClient will go into a Ready and Waiting for the Device to Connect State.

Now Power off the phone, and entered BRom Mode by Pressing Volume Down and Power while connecting to the PC.

10. Next Type:

python mtk xflash seccfg unlock

or

`python mtk da seccfg unlock` \- (This is the One That Worked for Me)

11. Bootloader is now Unlocked. Disconnect and Reboot by holding Power and Volume Down until the phone restarts.

Magisk v26.3\+ is Needed

Extract the boot.a.img from the Stock ROM. Then Push the boot\_a.img to the SDCard:

```
adb push boot_a.img <Path to SDCard>

```

(Important to use "adb push" as MTP Transfer will corrupt the file).

Also:

```
adb push magisk_26.3.apk <Path to SDCard>

```
12. Install Magisk. Go to settings, and choose Stable Version. Go back and update Magisk. Then tap the top install, select the boot\_a.img from the SDCard, and patch. Then pull the magisk\_patched\_boot.img from the internal download folder using:

adb pull /storage/emulated/0/Download/magisk\_patched\_boot.img

(MTP Transfer will corrupt the file and bootloop your device, use "adb pull")

13. Then extract the vbmeta\_a.img from the Stock Rom and move it to the platform-tools folder. Next, reboot the device to fastbootd by Typing:

adb reboot fastboot
14. Now enter:

fastboot devices

And Flash the boot\_a partition with the Magisk Patched boot\_a.img with this command:

```
fastboot flash boot_a magisk_patched-boot.img

```
15. Then flash and patch the vbmeta partition with this command:

fastboot flash vbmeta\_a --disable-verity --disable-verification vbmeta\_a.img

Reboot with:

```
fastboot reboot

```
16. Open the Magisk App to check, but the device should have Root now. The App will take further steps to Harden the Root job. Then Tap the first Install again and perform a "Direct Install."

And that's it.

---

If you by chance Bricked or Bootlooped the device, follow these steps to Fix the Phone.

-First enter this Command to Wipe User Data:

```
py -3 mtk e metadata,userdata

```

Then run this command to Flash the Stock Firmware:

```
python mtk wl <full path to Stock Firmware Folder>

```

**Warning**: **Remove/Delete** the **nvram.img** and the **nvdata.img** from the Stock Firmware Folder to preserve the original **IMEI** number. Flashing these files will erase the **IMEI** and **Baseband**. Which will make the Device unable to read Sim Cards.
> 1 votes

# Answer
In mtkclient, use the terminal version, and use the `seccfg unlock` command which will officially unlock the bootloader and allow you to boot the Magisk-infused `boot.img`.

You can check after, by using the command `fastboot getvar all`. Use that command in the bootloader version and it will tell you.

Also, *do not forget, if caught in bootloops after flashing a patched boot, you always have to erase userdata*. If not, you will inevitably bootloop no matter what you do.

Also, there is no TWRP recovery for this device, I've lobbied for it and also have done most of the device tree if someone wants to edit for errors and finish it. Go to GitHub and search "revvl 6 device tree". I'm sure I'm the only that has worked on it, so it will be the only search result.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: root-access
---


title: Android wheelchairs

text:
# Question
Title: Android wheelchairs
I was wondering whether there exist any Android wheelchairs that run Android.

These could allow people that were unable to move their limbs but could still use voice to control their wheelchair through voice by talking into a phone in the front part of the wheelchair connected to the wheelchair via Bluetooth.

Currently, Android has something known as voice access to control your phone via voice.

But it could be nice, if, this mechanism could be extended to connect to a wheelchair via Bluetooth and control it via voice.

Perhaps the phone can also be powered on and off via a voice command.

Not sure about the charging part, but I think a robotic part that could find the wall socket and charge wheelchair and phone simultaneously would be nice.

This would be very useful to people with no arms and legs or to people whose arms and legs were paralyzed such as paraplegic or tetraplegic people, but who could still use their voice to connect to their phone, operate their wheelchair, move about and communicate.

Thank you.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Some steps towards this exist. Examples include:

A web search will find plenty more.

---
Tags: voice-recognition, accessibility, voice-command, google-voice, voice
---


# Question
Title: Resetting Samsung A13 without PIN & reset PIN
I have a Samsung A13 phone that has been used, but have no PIN code. The phone is turned on, but locked. To reset the phone I need to shut it down, but to shut it down I need the PIN.

The battery is at 100%. I want to fix this before tomorrow. (I could turn on the flashlight, so I'm doing that to drain the battery.)

This unlockjournal about the A13 mentions that I repeat entering the PIN to get alternative options to unlock the phone. The only thing that happens is that I get a 30 second time out.

---

**Update**

As @Robert suggested, I could restart the phone after holding Power + Volume Up + Volume Down for about half a minute. Then I could restart in Boot menu while holding Power + Volume Up. Then I did a factory reset and rebooted.

Guess what! The PIN is still needed, so this is not a reset to factory settings. Wiping the cache partition didn't make a difference.

Samsung knows the phone and expects an ID of some kind. It offers the option to login using a previously used Google account, but what if that is not possible?

**Question**

How do I reset the PIN?

# Answer
> 0 votes
* Pressing all three buttons and keep them pressed until the phone restarts.
* At restart press the Power + Volume Up buttons and keep them pressed.
* You enter the boot menu, where you can choose to reset to factory settings.
* Complete the reset by rebooting.

---

**Solution**

The account has 2FA with Yubikey/Webauthn. When I log in, I press the key against the back of the phone, and I see a checkmark that the key is recognized and accepted. I then remove the key, after which the login is rejected.

It turns out that I need to keep pressing the key to the back, until a redirect follows and the login is completed. Apparently Google says the login is accepted before it is actually accepted.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The process to reset an A13 is extremely finicky. The timing matters.

* Press VOL DOWN + POWER and hold for exactly 10 seconds
* While keeping POWER held down, release VOL DOWN and and hold VOL UP
* When the Samsung logo appears, immediately release both POWER and VOL UP

If this process doesn't work, connect the phone to a USB C power source and try again.

This video may help with the timing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1VHVQd3M6o

---
Tags: locked-out
---


# Question
Title: Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 bootloop after trying to flash TWRP, boot partition is damaged, unable to boot into recovery or fastboot
I have a Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 (128GB/4GB RAM). I have unlocked my bootloader. Then I tried to install TWRP. I got into the fastboot mode, then executed:

```
fastboot devices
fastboot flash recovery [file].img
fastboot flash vbmeta [file2].img
fastboot flash misc [file3].bin
reboot

```

or something like it. And when I push the volume(-) and power buttons while rebooting, it just reboots into the Xiaomi logo, again. I can not even turn it off.

Now, it is stuck on a bootloop showing the Xiaomi logo. I am unable to boot into the bootloader. When I connected it to the PC and tried to boot into the bootloader -with no success-, the PC made the sound of something being connected but it quickly made the sound of something being disconnected.

What should I do?

Note: I am a complete newbie in this.

I went to different repair shops and they told me it needs software or worse a new ROM.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I fixed the phone. I got out of "EDL stuck". I bypassed the authentication. Then I used SP Flash Tool to flash a new ROM using a firmware upgrade. Its bootloader is locked again. Now the phone is unbricked.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Your phone has a MediaTek chipset, and there is a tool available on GitHub called MTKClient, which you can use for this purpose. This procedure is irreversible so you should read well and comply strictly with the instructions of the manual. I recommend deleting the recovery partition and then rebooting the device using `python mtk e recovery` command.

---
Tags: rom-flashing, twrp, fastboot, boot-loop, xiaomi
---


title: Manage printers on Android tablets

text:
# Question
Title: Manage printers on Android tablets
We have a number of Android tablets at my workplace for access to an internal web application. We would like to print from this application from the tablets and have a number of compatible printers on our network.

However every tablet can "see" every printer and the users become confused as to which printer they should print to, sometimes printing to a printer that is not even in the same building let alone near them.

Is there a way of managing the list of printers in Android to restrict (and ideally rename) which printers each tablet can "see"?

# Answer
If you have access to the router and Waps then the easiest way would to put the printers on their own subnet and create a Wifi network on that subnet just for the tablets. If desktops need to communicate with the tablets, then you can configure the desktops to use two subnets.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: printing
---


# Question
Title: Does Samsung Galaxy Note 10 support USB C-to-HDMI?
Can Samsung Galaxy Note 10 do video over USB C to HDMI?

I called one of the companies that makes a USB C hub with HDMI and they said no. They said my phone does not support DisplayPort Alt Mode, but the Samsung website shows an adapter like that.

How can I display my Note 10 on a monitor or TV? My Note 10 screen is broken, so I can't make any changes on the phone.

# Answer
I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ and my screen is also broken.

I've been using my phone through Samsung DeX for the past 3 years with the screen broken.

So the answer is yes. You can get a Type C to HDMI cable or a Type C HUB and connect your phone to an external monitor and use your phone while the phone screen is broken.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung, hdmi, samsung-galaxy-note-10.1, usb-c
---


# Question
Title: Google Voice Input special characters and symbols no longer working?
I use Google's default voice input all the time, for texting and navigation and searching and such. Previously, if a scenario arose when I needed to include a symbol (such as an exclamation point!) or a special case, like a smiley face ":-)", I simply said these into the voice input:

```
text mom i love you exclamation point smiley face

```

used to yield

```
Text to: Mom
Message: I love you! :-)

```

now yields:

```
Text to: Mom
Message: i love you exclamation point smiley face

```

I noticed the change after upgrading to ICS (AOKP, latest builds) but realized the issue now happens across OS usage, which I would attribute to Google's interpretation methods changing. Does anyone else have this problem or know how to fix it? I loved this feature!

# Answer
> 1 votes
This was fixed somehow after switching back to Cyanogenmod 7.1. Sorry I don't know exactly what caused it, but for anyone with the problem, I'd suggest flashing a more stable ROM (if you're rooted).

# Answer
> 1 votes
The keywords "period" "comma" "exclamation mark" and "question mark" have always worked for me using Gboard voice typing. These can be fluently integrated into your dictation and Google should insert the appropriate symbols.

However, I have found this to not be the case for other functions like "new line" and "new paragraph". I am now on Android 12 on my OnePlus 7T pro and when I hit the mic button (top right corner of gboard), the word 'Initializing' briefly appears (directly to the left of the mic button) followed by 'Speak now'. The moment I start speaking, this changes to 'Listening...'. Once I pause my speech, Google types what I said and the status returns to 'Speak now', but the microphone remains active for another second or two.

Now here's the trick: Once you start speaking and the status changes to 'Listening...', you must pause and wait for it to change back to 'Speak now' before saying 'new line' or 'new paragraph'. You must also say these by themselves without other following words. If you say these along with your speech without pausing, Google will just write them out as words. If you wait for 'Speak now', the action takes place.

I have experimented a bit and found that "enter" also works the same as "new line". It also looks like this is global so this works regardless what app you are speaking into. For example, it works in Google Keep when I want to

---
Tags: sms, voice-recognition, voice-command
---