# Question
Title: Why different pictures are loading on boot, and images disappearing, then reappearing on its own?
I am using a non-rooted LG V20, Android Oreo I believe.

I am having a problem in which the phone randomly loads different "sets" of pictures - sometimes current photos disappear and older pictures reappear, etc. It's almost as if there are 2 root drives/internal storage that the phone randomly load.

If you see the attached screenshot below, there are 2 pictures folders of the same name under root/sdcard (Pictures and PICTURES -- I don't understand how there can be 2 folders with the same name so this is already strange).

When I open either of these folders, it leads to the exact same folder (see the screenshots below). Note the folder names are both "pictures" technically. I think this may somehow be related to the problem.

Some days when I boot, it will just load an "older" pictures folder w/ different picture count - pictures that I've stored in the past. When that happens, my current/recent pictures will all disappear and the older set is the only thing visible.

For example: right now it shows 14 files in Instagram, 3 files in Kakaotalk, 0 files in others as you can see in the screenshot.

When my older set loads, it will a whole different set of pictures, with no pictures overlapping from the above. (see below)

I can't seem to find the trigger that reliably reproduces loading of either set - although, once I remember the phone was suddenly not reading any pictures from the instagram's gallery function so I manually ran the media scanner, when the phone loaded the older set instead.

Anyone have any ideas?

# Answer
> 1 votes
> I don't understand how there can be 2 folders with the same name

Android is based on Linux and Linux is a case sensitive OS (in fact the filesystem it uses) unlike Windows. So `Pictures` and `PICTURES` are different directories and they can coexist without any problem.

Some directories are created by Android itself on (first) boot and any app with permission `android.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE` can create a folder in internal SD card.

> When I open either of these folders, it leads to the exact same folder

One can be a `symbolic link` or `bind mount` to other. See here for details. However I can't be sure unless I investigate that particular case myself.

> it will just load an "older" pictures folder w/ different picture count

Why their contents keep on changing, you have pointed out the root cause yourself:

> so I manually ran the media scanner...

It seems to be a problem related to Media Storage database. Some file explorers and gallery apps depend on a files database (MediaStore) built by `Media Storage` app (`/data/data/com.android.providers.media/databases/external.db`) as the process `android.process.media` is invoked by some app. If this database isn't updated as the files change, file explorer will show outdated / incomplete contents. In order to force its updation, delete this file and run some media scanner app from Play Store (restarting phone may not update whole database though `MediaScannerReceiver` broadcast receiver is launched on boot). Non-root users can delete this file by clearing data of `Media Storage` app. But be cautious. It'll also clear `internal.db` which will make ringtones etc. unavailable.

Please note that the internal SD card we see is emulated from `/data/media/` using `sdcardfs` (or `FUSE` in older versions of Android). Actual contents of internal memory can be seen directly from `/data/media/` (root required).

---
Tags: photos, files, lg-v20
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to give root privileges to an app through the ADB?
The Android Debug Bridge (ADB) itself has root access (after executing the adb root command). Can that be used to give the same privileges to apps on the device? Is there a file somewhere in the system that keeps track of which user (app) has root access and can it be modified? If it helps I've already put the app in the system folder so it's regarded as a system app now.

# Answer
Nope. Though you could use e.g. `pm grant` and grant it `SUPERUSER`, but that would have no effect if the app hadn't declared that in its manifest. And if it had, it wouldn't be necessary to grant it manually.

An app must actively request superuser privileges in order to gain it – and even then it only works with a superuser app in place (acting as "gate keeper") that then pops up a message for the user to confirm.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: applications, adb, root-access
---


title: Cant do anything on my Htc one m8

text:
# Question
Title: Cant do anything on my Htc one m8
My htc one m8 was all good since yesterday. It's age is about one year. The problem is when i open any apps or do anything it's just restart automatically and vanish my previous activity. As a example I uninstall an app then it restart and after restarting the is still there. I also try to factory reset the phone but it's done nothing all my apps was there.Can anyone help. Thanks in advance.

# Answer
> 0 votes
That's because your memory is read-only! You can't write data to it: the delete operation writes to memory - at least modifies it.

Not sure about what may be causing this, but probably from malwares or as I can think of now a defective eMMC chip like you know those SD Card that suddenly becomes "Write protection enabled" .

I have myself experienced this and never found a solution so far. This seems to happen with HTC, HUAWEI and I had a case involving a Motorola phone.

---
Tags: boot-loop
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to successfully adjust predictive text for offensive words?
I am using a oneplus 5t, and Gboard. I use signal to text.

I have cleared the personal dictionary within gboard, and I have also enabled "do not make offensive suggestions" in the keyboard options. I don't believe signal has an associated settings option.

Still.. for some reason when I type 'sucking', I get 2/3 followup suggestions that are predictably offensive.

I would just rather not see words like this, and I can guarantee I've never used this particular combination of words before, so I don't understand why this is happening.

Either the "offensive predictive text" function is broken, or these words are not considered to be part of that dictionary (I find this hard to believe). Or something else entirely...

# Answer
> 0 votes
It seems that you can dis-associate the word from the phrase by deleting it as a suggestion. As per Get word suggestions & fix mistakes:

> Get word suggestions & fix mistakes
>
> 1. On your Android phone or tablet, install Gboard.
> 2. Open any app that you can type with, like Gmail or Keep.
> 3. Tap where you can enter text.
> 4. Type a word. At the top of the keyboard, you’ll see suggestions:
>     * If you see the word you want, tap it.
>     * **If you don’t like a suggested word, touch and hold it, and then drag the word to Trash.**

I tried it out and I don't get the test word I moved to trash as a suggestion for the one that I dis-associated it from, but I still get it as a suggestion after other words.

---
Tags: sms, keyboard, dictionary, text-prediction
---


# Question
Title: What is a "Download Agent" and what is it for?
I've seen this phrase referenced in the context of MediaTek devices. I don't know what it is. It's been brought up in conversations about flashing the preloader when the preloader is wiped or corrupt, usually with some file called `MTK_AllInOne_DA.bin`. it also appears that is signed, too, from what I can gather from online discussions involving it. Is it signature-checked by the boot ROM?

# Answer
Its a file used in flashing roms (or parts of the rom) for example for the SP Flash Tools. This file has info in it that tells the tool how to flash to the device.

You don't flash the DA file so it wouldn't be checked by the boot ROM. But what you are flashing would be checked.

Check out SP Flash Tool
> 2 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, flashtool, mediatek
---


# Question
Title: Speech to Text apps stop after a few words
I am trying out a few Speech to Text apps. All of them don't perform as I need them to. I have several pages of text, but I get no further than a half a sentence before the app stops. It records what I am saying, but just stops.

Am I doing something wrong?

# Answer
Try calibrating your talk to 51st in the settings menue. It will have you repeat a few words a couple times until it has full voice recognition.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I have an old Galaxy Lite with the same problem: the microphone would cut off after a few words. Finally, I opened the Google app, opened the menu (on mine it's at the bottom right labeled "more"), then Settings\> Voice\> "OK Google" detection\> then under "OK Google" Voice Model, tap "Retrain voice model" and follow the prompts. That worked for me. I'm not sure how newer versions of Android get there, but the goal is to get the Google app to retrain to recognize your voice. Good Luck.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: voice-recognition
---


# Question
Title: Backup/dump kernel image (and full ROM) without root for Mediatek Devices
I would like to pull the boot image of my device Pipo N7. I don't have root. I found the following link:

Backup/dump kernel image without root or twrp/cwm\`

But when I try to `find /dev -name 'by-name' 2>/dev/null` I can't get it to work it seems I need root.

Is there any other way to get the boot image pulled without root?

P.S. I would have commented on that link but I'm not allowed to since I don't have enough reputation.

# Answer
> 8 votes
To answer my own question!

**Warning, in some very rare cases this doesn't work or could be dangerous. For example, Amazon Fire devices refuse to communicate with these tools despite being MediaTek. Tools like SPFT uses a DA (for Download Agent) to communicate with the MediaTek bootloader, but the MediaTek bootloader has some configurable settings so that it only accepts DA signed by the manufacturer. There are some generic devices bricking after sending an unsigned DA.**

**Use at your own risk.**

There is a post on Hovatek Forum that guides you thru the process of downloading the full ROM of your device without the need of being rooted. Here is the link to that post. **\[Tutorial\] How to use Wwr\_MTK + SP Flash tool to backup Mediatek rom**

This will provide you with the full rom divided into its separate image files.

This should work for any Mediatek device that's not locked.

Following is a a shortened copy of that post:

Requirements

Steps to download your devices ROM

1. Extract WwR\_MTK to a folder of you choosing. Go into folder and start `WwR_MTK_2.exe`.
2. Select `Auto mode` from the Tabs menu.
3. In number 1 on this screen Select your devices chipset type from the list \*). You should be able to find that info in `Settings->About` on your device.
4. Then select Memory Type. I just went with `EMMC` (I'm not sure where to find this info for your device).
5. Click on `Create and save as..`. Save the file and note the folder you saved it to. This is temp "Scatter File" (Later you will be making a new full Scatter file with more information. This one only has info for the preloader).
6. Goto the folder you just saved the file to. Open in a text editor and look for the following info: `physical_start_addr: 0x0
partition_size: 0x80000
region: EMMC_BOOT_1`

mark down this info as it appears in your file. (These are only example info from my file)
7. Extract Sp Flash Tool to a folder of your choosing. Go into folder and start `flash_tool.exe`.
8. Select the `Download` tab. By `Scatter-loading File click on`choose\` and select the scatter file you saved in step #5.
9. Select `Readback` tab. Click on `Add`, this will add a new line. Double click on this new line leave the name as `ROM-0`. Mark down the folder where you are saving this then click `Save` to save the file.
10. When you click `Save` a new dialog pops up in this dialog set the info as per the info you marked down from step #6 then click `OK`. `physical_start_addr -> Start address
partition_size -> Length
region -> Region`
11. Make sure you device is powered off and disconnected from the computer (if you can take out the battery take it out for about 1 minute, then replace it).
12. Click on `Read Back`, now connect you device to the computer via usb cable. You should see the bottom of the screen a red progress bar then a yellow progress bar. This may take some time (about 1 - 2 minutes) until your device is recognized. Wait untill there is a pop up dialog that says "Download OK".
13. Return to Wwr\_MTK tool, then Click on `Select File` at the top right hand corner. Navigate to where you saved the `ROM_0` file in step #9, select this file.
14. Select `Preloader` tab from the Tabs menu. Click on \`Preloader analysis, there may be incorrect info on the screen ignore it.
15. Click on `To extract preloader and save as..` (at the bottom left of screen). Rename the file to `preloader.bin` and select the same folder you selected in step #5 for the temp scatter file then click `Save` to save.
16. Now we will get the length of the total ROM this is needed in order to be able to download the ROM. We will preform a RAM test in SP Flash Tools to get that info. (if you have problems with the following directions please look Here and Here)
17. Return to SP Flash Tools, select `Memory Test` tab only tick the box for `RAM Test`, make sure the rest of the boxes are unticked.
18. Turn off you device the same as in step #11. Click on `Start` at the top right of the screen. Connect you device via usb to computer. wait for the "Format Ok" dialog. mark down the HEX number under `EMMC_PART_USER`, this is the size of the full ROM.
19. Select `Readback` tab to preform a full read back of the ROM. Click on `Add`, double click on the new line added. Leave the name as `ROM-1`, click `Save`. Turn off device as in step #11, click `Read Back`, connect device via usb. Wait for the dialog stating that it went OK. This will take a while depending on the size of your ROM. Don't disconnect you device while this is working.
20. Return back to the Wwr\_MTK tool. On the `Auto mode` tab in number 3 click on `Select File` then navigate to the location of the `ROM_1` file and select it. the tool will scan the file and prompt you for the file containing the preloader select either the file 'preloader.bin' or `ROM_0`.
21. At the bottom left of screen click on `Create scatter file..`.
22. The items highlighted in PINK color are usually not needed when flashing, untick them (You may want to untick the userdata and cache as well especially if you are downloading from a device that hasn't been used or has been factory reset.).

23. Note that the partitions highlighted in PINK will not be appear in SP flash tool when you select the scatter file. If there is a partition highlighted in PINK which you want to include, then use the scroll bar to move to the right then change FALSE to TRUE by double clicking on it (see NVram as an example).

24. Go to `Auto mode` tab, Click on `To build the firmware (Cut to partitions and create scatter file)`, Select the folder you want to download the ROM to. (Its a good idea to save it to an empty folder). When the tool is done you will see `Done!!!` in the empty space above number 4 in the tools screen.

**Congratulations!!! You are now done and have a copy of your ROM in the folder you selected in step #24.**

\*) If your chipset doesn't appear in Wwr tool then you can manually add it in order to create the temporary scatter file.

---
Tags: backup, boot, kernel
---


# Question
Title: Determine android:installLocation in Play Store BEFORE install
I'm familiar with moving apps from internal to external memory. In fact I have to with the limited internal memory I have.

Some apps don't allow that. I know it's the `android:installLocation` line. I try to avoid the apps that don't allow moving to the external memory. The only way I know is to install it, and try to move it. Seems like an impractical method to me.

**So, the question is: Is there a way to determine this setting before installing?**

Specs if needed. Phone: Samsung Galaxy S5, SM-G900V, Android ver 6.0.1, not rooted.
Computer: Windows 10 Pro.

# Answer
You will need to examine the app manifest on PC to determine if the app can / cannot be moved to external SD card

Manifest declarations that determine this are explained in my answer here App can't be moved to SD Card , Option not available. To summarize

> Only if android:installLocation is set to `auto` or `preferExternal` it can be moved to external SD

For more details on reading the manifest file on PC see this SO question
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, external-sd
---


title: How to reset an unknown Google account?

text:
# Question
Title: How to reset an unknown Google account?
how do I reset a google acct if the info is unknown. I was given a Samsung G7 phone. but I don't know the google email or password. Im wanting to reset it & add my google information to it.

# Answer
If you are able to open the mobile

**To remove old Account**

1. Go to settings -\> Accounts -\> Google **or** settings -\> sync -\> Google depending on your system
2. Tap on the account you want to remove
3. Tap more -\> remove account

**To Add New Account**

1. Go to settings -\> Accounts **or** settings -\> sync depending on your system
2. Click Add Account
3. Select Google and add your google account.

You can also add new google account from gmail app.

Hope this helps.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-account
---


title: Can't enable System UI Tuner

text:
# Question
Title: Can't enable System UI Tuner
I am running Lineage OS (14.1-20170324) on my Asus Zenfone 2 (Z00A). I know that System UI Tuner can be enabled by holding up settings cog for about 10 seconds. But it is not enabling on my device.

System animations are enabled but the cog is not spinning.

> Root is enabled on my device.

# Answer
> 1 votes
It seems that the *System Tuner UI* was removed starting with LineageOS 14.1, see this reddit post. The settings which were to be found there are claimed to be integrated with the standard settings – and from the screenshot of the *UI Tuner* I've seen, this indeed seems to be the case (My BQ is also running LOS 14.1, and I can't enable the *UI Tuner* either).

---
Tags: settings, 7.0-nougat, asus-zenfone-2, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Something eating CPU on Sony XPeria XZ, how to find out what it is?
I have two Sony Xperia XZ devices, bought both very recently in UK as used-with-warranty. One is working great, but the other (which has a 3 logo come up when booting) apparently has something using CPU all the time. Why I think so:

* Phone is warm even when not used
* CPU-Z and the like show frequency not falling under 1200 MHz, and usually over 1400 - while the other has it hovering under 1000 and sometimes hitting 330.
* Antutu and especially GeekBench 4 results are worse than the "good" phone

So how can I catch the "perpetrator" and get rid of it? AVG and MalwareBytes scans find nothing. And the phone behaved like it was just factory-reset when I started it, so I'm not sure a factory reset would be of much help.

# Answer
Use ADB and its `logcat` feature to see log of system and activity of processes.

Also you use `adb shell top` to see processes and consumptions
> 0 votes

---
Tags: troubleshooting, resource-monitoring, cpu
---


# Question
Title: Linux on Dex - Can you install additional programs? R? Vim?
Linux on Dex is on an Arm processor, not Intel processor. Does this mean I can't install most *normal* programs? If you have Linux on Dex could you try and install these two programs, run them, and confirm this will work? I know it just came out, but would like to know before laying out a grand on a Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

R Statistical Package

```
apt-get update
apt-get install r-base
R

```

Vim Editor

```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install vim
vim new_project.c

```

*And to quit Vim press `Esc` then press `:`. The cursor should appear at the lower left corner of the screen beside a colon prompt. Enter the following `q!` and Vim will quit.*

# Answer
Both of these Linux packages load and run fine on Dex (Note 9):

R:

vim:
> 4 votes

---
Tags: applications, samsung, installation, linux
---


# Question
Title: Why WhatsApp is suddenly unable to open any APK shared by users?
As of 13-11-18, I was sharing APK files on WhatsApp, for testing apps within a circle of people, with no problem whatsoever. But as of today, if I try to open an apk, I get an error toast saying:

> You may not have the proper app to view this content.

Did they change their policies and decided not to let people share APK files on their platform?

I don't use third party websites for sharing APKs, where mostly Chrome spooks most people saying that "This type of file may harm your device".

# Answer
> 4 votes
Well as per my understanding this is how files are opened from WhatsApp making use of file extensions:

* File type is determined from extension (getMimeTypeFromExtension) and intent.action.VIEW is launched provided with file path `dat=` and file type `typ=`.
* If the file extension is not known, file is treated as octet-stream mime type.
* List of preferred apps (`/data/system/users/0/package-restrictions.xml` which is built from user selected defaults and files at /system/etc/preferred-apps/\*.xml) is checked for activities that can handle this file type.
* If there is only one app that can handle this mime type, that app (activity) is launched. You can see which app handles what mime type by:

```
dumpsys package preferred-xml

```

Use `adb shell` or one of `permission.DUMP` or `root` is required.
* If there are multiple apps (more than one matching activity for the given intent) available and no preferred app is already set, ResolverActivity (from Android framework resources) is launched (not intent.action.CHOOSER) showing a dialog to select app (for `Once` or `Always`).
* If the file type is apk (typ=application/vnd.android.package-archive) and PackageInstaller is set to handle this file, `action.INSTALL_PACKAGE` is invoked.
* Now if Android version is Oreo or above and WhatsApp is updated, it would need permission.REQUEST\_INSTALL\_PACKAGES to install unknown package. Once granted, app will be installed.

You can use logcat to view how this whole process goes on. Use `adb shell` or one of `permission.READ_LOGS` or `root` is required. You can share results here to help me and others understand where the chain breaks.

**Workaround:**
Make sure that files are sent and received with correct extension i.e. .apk. If WhatsApp is unable to handle downloaded apk file for any reason, use a File Manager. Explore to `/sdcard/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Documents` and install apk file.

**RELATED:** Alternative “File Open” (not stack “DocumentsUi”) for WhatsApp?

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, apk
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to have Google Assistant work with screen off?
When I'm out and about, I usually have wireless headphones (with mic) on, and my phone in my pocket, usually listening to a podcast.

Quite often I want to add something to my todo list- and I'd like to have Google Assistant do that for me.

But the problem is that it seems that Google Assistant requires screen on to work - is it possible to get around this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
To use Google Assistant with features as shown in this article on Google Assistant headset instruction videos you'll need to be using `Headphones optimized for the Google Assistant` or `Made for Google`:

See: Official Google Assistant on Headphones Documentation

---
Tags: google-assistant
---


title: fastboot doesn't see device

text:
# Question
Title: fastboot doesn't see device
I've read a lot of articles about this problem but I can't resolve it. I decided to install my developer application on phone using wifi. To do this I need to do some things with my phone. The first step is to unlock bootloader. I stack on step 8, `fastboot oem get_identifier_token` shows info `< waiting to device >`. `adb` sees my device but `fastboot` can't. An idea?

My phone is `HTC Wildfire S` and these are steps which I am following:

1. I restarted phone and entered into `FASTBOOT USB` mode
2. I tried to run `fastboot oem get_identifier_token` command but without success.

I use Windows 7 Professional and my phone is recognized as `HT1CSTR05155`.

# Answer
Problem solved. At the end I saw that drivers for android were not installed. I installed drivers from this site http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2126036 and device is visible by `fastboot`. One thing I don't understand is why `adb` saw device and `fastboot` not.
> 16 votes

# Answer
Linux/OSX

Run fastboot as root or with sudo.

Other OS: credits
> 34 votes

# Answer
Are you rebooting the device into the bootloader and entering fastboot USB on the bootloader menu?

Try:

`adb reboot bootloader`

Then, look for on-screen instructions to enter fastboot mode.
> 33 votes

# Answer
ADB and fastboot require different USB drivers.

Whilst you may see your device under adb when your phone is on it will not be detected by fastboot until you install the driver for it and hence will show "waiting for device".

You can follow the steps below to do so:

1. Open your device manager and reboot your device into fast boot by pressing volume up, down and power button simultaneously
2. You will notice that device manager refreshes and now your phone has a yellow icon
3. Download the Google USB driver, it is a zip file so go ahead and unzip it in your local directory
4. Right click on the yellow triangle for your device and update driver, select the option update from local storage and select the folder "usb\_driver" under extracted files in previous step
5. You are good to go now, fastboot oem unlock will detect the device now
> 13 votes

# Answer
**Issue:** adb and fastboot modes for the same Android device are recognized as separate devices under Windows

**Scenario:** the device is visible with `adb devices` but is not detected with `fastboot devices` and the other suggestions here don't work; you still end up with "waiting for device" on Windows and aren't able to choose a driver to install via rahul pandey's answer using the Google USB driver.

**Possible Solution:** manually update the driver for your device in *Device Manager* while it's connected in fastboot mode

Steps:

1. Download and install the Android USB drivers for your device. For example, Samsung drivers for Samsung phones or the (venerable) Google Galaxy Nexus
2. Reboot device into fastboot mode using `adb reboot bootloader` or by pressing `Volume Up` \+ `Volume Down` \+ `Power` buttons simultaneously
3. Open *Device Manager*
4. Unplug/plug in your Android device so you can easily find your unrecognized device in the list
5. Under *Other Devices* find your Android phone with a yellow triangle
6. Right-click on it and select:`Update driver` \> `Browse my computer for driver software` \> `Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer`
7. Look for the driver you just installed and select it. For my Google Galaxy Nexus it was `Samsung Android ADB Interface`.

With any luck that will solve your problem. Now you can use the bootloader unlock method for your device (or, in my case, flash an OEM ROM).

Thanks to: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/106468/52235 for pointing me in the right direction.
> 9 votes

# Answer
I didn't realize it right away, but there are different ADB drivers and Fastboot drivers. I had installed the google usb drivers with the SDK extras and ADB worked great but I got the "waiting for device" trying to flash in fastboot mode.

I went to device manager from the control panel and saw the "Android 1.0" device with the yellow icon showing it wasn't working right. I had to update the driver and pick from the list of existing drivers which had a fastboot entry.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I had the same problem described by 'pepuch' on my HTC Desire S. I tried different drivers on relatively new computers running Windows 8 and Windows 10. In the end I found a link suggesting that I should try the (same) procedure on an older (desktop) computer which I did and the computer managed to detect my Desire S in fastboot USB mode and I managed to read the ID token. The link which steered me to the solution follows: http://forums.androidcentral.com/htc-one-rooting-roms-hacks/345350-htc-one-pc-doesn-t-recognize-bootloader.html

The only thing I did before starting in fastboot USB was to install the HTC drivers for the phone on the Windows 7 box and verify that the phone is detected when Android is up and running.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If no drivers work on Windows 10 or 8.1/8 and your goal is to just use fastboot to flash boot.img (Probably because you have S-ON), there's the way of the Linux: Get a USB stick ready and use Live Linux Creator and install a Live Linux like Ubuntu or Lubuntu onto the stick. Boot to the Live version (maybe you can use VirtualBox VM on Windows, not sure). Open Terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T. Type (without comments with // ofc):

```
sudo apt-get update //updates apt get
sudo apt-get install android-tools-fastboot //installs fastboot
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb //optionally get adb
sudo fastboot devices // should show the device, don't forget the sudo!!
sudo fastboot flash boot ~/pathto/boot.img //sudo is doing the trick here, which is missing on Windows !!!

```
> 1 votes

# Answer
try reinstalling fastboot driver

while in fastboot

1. open device manager
2. expand android
3. there should be one device
4. right click
5. uninstall
6. uncheck "delete driver software"
7. click on pc with magnifying glass (in toolbar)
8. if not fixed, repeat, but check delete driver (you may need to download it)
> 0 votes

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


title: Battery shuts down at 25%

text:
# Question
Title: Battery shuts down at 25%
I've read that battery calibration apps are only a placebo effect and they do nothing. Is this true? What to do if your phone suddenly shuts down at 25%?

# Answer
Battery calibration being a myth was asked here Bought a new battery, do I need to calibrate it? \- incidentally by you :-), so yes to repeat, it's a myth (see Izzy's answer that stressed this)

To address shutting down at 25%:

* If the battery is old or heavily used I would first change the battery
* Check if the behavior persists in safe mode. If it does go to next step. If it doesn't it's caused by some app you installed (unlikely)
* Do . If it continues, flash stock ROM (updated if available) or custom ROM
* If none of these help head to service center get an estimate and choose between repair or replacement of the device
> 2 votes

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


title: Rooting Gionee P5W

text:
# Question
Title: Rooting Gionee P5W
When I tried Kingroot apk to root, it says that there is no root strategy available for my phone. Is there any working method available for rooting my android phone?

# Answer
> 1 votes
**Disclaimer I take no responsibility for this info whenever you root a device there is a chance that you will brick your device.**

1. To root follow my answer at this post Backup/dump kernel image (and full ROM) without root for Mediatek Devices
2. Now copy the boot.img file you got from this procedure and place it in the Download folder on your device.
3. Download Magisk Manger from here \[2018.10.22\] Magisk v17.3 - Root & Universal Systemless Interface \[Android 5.0+\]
4. Install it on your device and run it.
5. Select Install and then select again install. Now select Patch Boot Image File.
6. The app will tell you where the file was created, flash this file to your device and you should be rooted.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Download the .zip file of latest version supersu to your computer

Connect your phone to the computer using a USB cable

Drag the SuperSU zip to device internal storage or SD card

Reboot your phone into TWRP recovery (Method to boot each device into TWRP recovery varies and Google for correct method for your device)

Make sure to back up the device in tWRP recovery\]using Backup option

Click the Install button

Scroll down find SuperSU ZIP file you transferred

Tap the SuperSU zip

Swipe to confirm the flash

When the process is completed, tap the “Wipe cache/Dalvik” button that appears and swipe to confirm

Tap the “Reboot System” button to boot back into Android

Now the device is rooted and you will be asked to install SuperSU APK.Do not let TWRP install SuperSU APK itself do it yourself.

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, rooting
---


title: Stream audio source to hearing aids

text:
# Question
Title: Stream audio source to hearing aids
I just started wearing hearing aids (ReSound LiNX Quattro). My audiologist says that the Android developers are working on a solution that would allow me to stream audio content (music, calls, etc.) directly to my hearing aids. I am surprised that IOS has allowed this for years and Android doesn't have it yet.

Presently, my hearing aid app silently connects to my aids via Bluetooth and allows me to control them. I am able to use the Bluetooth control panel to pair the phone (LG Stylo 3) to the aids, but then my app can't pair to them. Even when the phone is paired to the aids, I can't stream audio to them.

What is the status of this feature for Android? Will it be rolled out as part of a new version of the OS (such as Q or R)?

# Answer
> 4 votes
So from what I can determine:

* Google announced native support for hearing aids with a specification called ASHA
* Based on this article on XDA Developers, it appears that only Pixel devices are enabled in AOSP, but that doesn't mean that manufacturers can't enable it for their own devices.
* Looking at the ASHA specification it looks like a new service on top of the Bluetooth Low Energy specification with additional implementation details for Bluetooth 5.

So what does this mean to the average user:

* Google Pixel devices with Android P and up would be the first set of devices which would support the ASHA protocol.
* Hearing aid manufacturers would need to support it via a software update or would need to release devices with compatible Bluetooth chipsets/firmware.
* Bluetooth support has always been a problematic area for Android (just search for pairing/disconnect issues in your favorite search engine) due to the variety of Bluetooth radio chips used by manufacturers.

So what should you do if you are looking for this feature:

* Wait for your hearing aid manufacturer to officially announce which devices and phones are supported as they would have done the testing to make sure the feature work. If you have both that means it should work. If you have a non-listed phone that has Android P and up, and you have a hearing aid with the new software, it may work or it may not.

---
Tags: lg, accessibility
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to read IMEI from emergency call dialer?
I am looking for the method to read IMEI from emergency call dialer, before the phone is activated. When I try \*#06# it says that this is not emergency number.

# Answer
> 1 votes
No. The system does a check against a list of numbers (provided by system property ril.ecclist/ro.ril.ecclist; by detecting the current country or locale) and if that doesn't match with the available numbers, it doesn't proceed with the dialing and informs the user.

Related read: Do all Android phones come with emergency call (power button pressed thrice) feature?

---
Tags: phone-app, imei, dialer-codes, emergency-calls
---


# Question
Title: Cannot connect android phone to tp link router
I have TP Link TD-W8968 wireless router.

I can connect my laptop to the router but not a phone since few days.

I am facing a problem since a week, when I turn a wi-fi on on my android device HTC Wildfire S and scan for wifi, phone doesn't show up my router in scanned list, by the way it shows other wi-fis in the list but not my one.

I guess there could be some problem in my router. How can I solve this?

# Answer
**Improvement on previous Answer:** Well i do partially agree with @Divin3 only a slight glitch i found was: All new routers are fully backward compatible with older devices hence a router built on Wireless-N will be fully compatabile with device capable of receiving only Wireless-G or older version. Difference will be that while serving to a device with W-G the router built on W-N will go only be able to serve it at the max bandwidth which is device W-G is capable of receiving. Read more details on a device manufacturer support site here

**My Addon to the Previous Answer:** Now lets back on the question, my very own personal experience has been bit different in this case. Sometimes older devices aren't able to scan WiFi networks setup with newer security methods. I noticed this when i switched one of my router's security from WEP to WPA2. Few older devices which earlier used to stay latched to the same router, actually stopped identifying it.

So a little bit of workaround could help people facing issues related to this.
> 1 votes

# Answer
This issue might occur if your router and the network adapter in your PC might not work together.

To work, the network adapter in your PC must use a wireless standard that is equal to or older than the router’s wireless standard. For example, if the network adapter in your PC uses the 802.11n wireless standard (also called Wireless-N) but your router uses 802.11g (also called Wireless-G), you won't be able to connect because the Wireless-G standard is an earlier version and doesn’t recognize Wireless-N. However, if the router uses Wireless-N but the adapter in your PC uses Wireless-G, you should be able to connect if the router is set to mixed mode.

Source:
http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows8\_1-networking/can-see-other-ssids-on-my-laptop-but-i-cant/f38b08d0-4bf4-4244-bbe7-0081d458bb2c

In other words, try to set your router to mixed mode and your phone to 802.11b/g compatible. That should do the trick.
> 0 votes

# Answer
My TP-Link router is a dual band router (2.4 and 5.0). If both bands have the same name, your phone may be confused. I gave each band (2.4 and 5) a different name. My phone can see both bands. I can now setup access to either band.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Problem: PC was able to connect to WIFI but my mobile ( android 6.1) was not able to obtain the IP address from TPlink Router.

Solution: Disable ' Enable Short GI', which is used for high data rate. But wifi adaptor in mobile is not able to obtain IP address due to this short Guard time.

How to Do: To disable this option, Go to **Router home page - Wireless Advanced - Disable ' Enable Short GI'.**
> 0 votes

# Answer
The phone or tablet in use may not support the Wi-Fi channel number specified by that TP-Link router.

Try changing the channel number and see if it works.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, router
---


title: Escape key on bluetooth keyboard

text:
# Question
Title: Escape key on bluetooth keyboard
I have a bluetooth keyboard connected and working with my Android phone, but with one annoyance: the escape key does not appear to do anything. This is particularly problematic for a *vi* user like me.

Is there a way to fix it so the escape key works, at least in the terminal application? Is /system/usr/keylayout/qwerty.kl a potential approach or is this something harder?

Hardware specifics:

* SMK-LINK Bluetooth compact keyboard, Model VP6630
* Android Dev Phone 1 with Cyanogenmod 6.1

# Answer
> 1 votes
The solution that has worked for me is:

Upgrade to a Nexus S running Cyanogenmod 10.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try this, it worked for me: `Ctrl` \+ `[`

# Answer
> 0 votes
I use a zagg BT kbd. I have used others, but not with this app.

I use the External Keyboard Pro app from the Play Store to reassign keys. My one kvetch, and it is a serious one, is that I cannot reassign the 'Home' key that takes me back to the 'home screen' with it. And I hate that. I don't want any sort of magical keys on my kbd. That's why I'm using a kbd. And I don't think there are that many people using an external kbd with an android device who are not professional typists to some degree. Users who hunt & peck are going to be fine with the OSK. And the rest of us are going to hate life everytime we hit the 'Home' key and exit our apps. That being said, I have the 'Return' key and the F2/Mic-ON key mapped to ESC on my ASUS 10.1 tab.

It's sufficient to keep me from plucking out my eyes and warning kings of dire times ahead, or wandering around in the day time shining a lantern in poeple's faces. This is a good thing, but there must be a way to make things 'better'. The app isn't awesome, but it works and it'll get you close to what you want. I am 85% happy. I found it via: http://www.howtogeek.com/175267/the-htg-guide-to-using-a-bluetooth-keyboard-with-your-android-device/

# Answer
> 0 votes
Switch on keybaord and before typing press Fn + Q at same time to set keyboard in iOS mode. ( Fn + E = Windows mode ) ( Fn + W = Android mode ) ( Above works on my Arteck HB030B keyboard )

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, external-keyboard
---


# Question
Title: How can I make a symlink (or equivalent) inside /storage/emulated/0?
So, I have rooted my phone (GT-i9505 with android 5.0.1) and I would like to move my WhatsApp folder to my external SD card to save 3GB on internal storage. This is what I tried so far.

## EDIT: solution found

So, after all the option #2 seemed to be the right one, but it needed some tweaks to make it work. As suggested by Irfan Latif , the problem was that the mount point has to be created in a global mount namespace, otherwise other apps will not see it, so the commands to use are:

```
su -mm
mount -o bind /data/sdext2/AppData/WhatsAppMedia /sdcard/WhatsApp/Media

```

But that may not be enough! It still didn't work until I made sure that the namespace of root was global. To do that I don't know any universal way, but what worked for me was going in the SuperSU app settings and uncheck the option `mount namespace separation`.

That really depends on the SU app that you have installed.

## Option 1: symlink

The first thing that I thought was to make a symlink, so that was the command that I used:

```
ln -s "/data/sdext2/AppData/WhatsAppMedia" "/sdcard/WhatsApp/Media"

```

I had already created a second partition on my external SD card (ext4) that is mounted in `/data/sdext2`

However that returns `operation not permitted` when using the terminal emulator (yes I did `su`) and an error with any root file manager app that I tried.

After some research I figured out that for some reason, although `/storage/emulator/0` is in an ext partition, it is treated in a differente way so that it doesn't support symlink inside (correct me if I'm wrong).

So, onto the next thing

## Option 2: mount

According to this question, the following command should mount the folder on external SD card in another folder in the internal SD card, without the need for a symlink

```
mount -o bind "/data/sdext2/AppData/WhatsAppMedia" "/sdcard/WhatsApp/Media"

```

However, while running the command doesn't return any error the folder in `/sdcard/WhatsApp/Media` is still empty, so I don't really know how to handle this.

## Option 3: symlink in /data/media/

I followed the instructions on this post and made the symlink in `/data/media/0` instead of storage, so using this command:

```
ln -s "/data/sdext2/AppData/WhatsAppMedia" "/data/media/0/WhatsApp/Media"

```

This time the link is created! However ...

Although an `ls` in `/data/media/0/WhatsApp/Media` revealed that the link was successful, `cd /sdcard/WhatsApp/Media` returns a very irritating `no such file or directory` and that is confirmed by the file explorer that shows an empty folder with a blank file icon.

## My thoughts

First of all, I now discovered that I really hate android. Now, stated this, here's what I think might help doing:

* **moving my sdcard files somewhere else:** if the rest of the root filesystem supports symlink (which it seems like it does), I might even move the folder `/storage/emulated/0` somewhere else and make a new link to it, but I don't know if that would solve the problem

That's it for now, I will update with more options when I think about them...

# Answer
> 14 votes
**ANDROID STORAGE:**

On Android 5:

```
/sdcard >S> /storage/emulated/legacy >S> /mnt/shell/emulated/0
/mnt/shell/emulated >E> /data/media

```

On Android 6+:

```
# USER-ID of current user in case of multiple users, normally "0"

# for apps
# VIEW is one of "read" or "write" and /storage to VIEW bind mount is inside a separate mount namespace for every app
/sdcard >S> /storage/self/primary
/storage/self >B> /mnt/user/USER-ID
/mnt/user/USER-ID/primary >S> /storage/emulated/USER-ID
/storage/emulated >B> /mnt/runtime/VIEW/emulated
/mnt/runtime/VIEW/emulated >E> /data/media

# for services/daemons/processes in root namespace
/sdcard >S> /storage/self/primary
/storage >B> /mnt/runtime/default
/mnt/runtime/default/self/primary >S> mnt/user/0/primary
/mnt/user/0/primary >S> /storage/emulated/0
/storage/emulated >B> /mnt/runtime/default/emulated
/mnt/runtime/default/emulated >E> /data/media

```

<sup>`>S>` for symlink, `>E>` for emulated and `>B>` for bind mount</sup>

In short, `/sdcard` points to `/data/media/0` through `FUSE` or `sdcardfs` emulation. This is to restrict unauthorized access of apps/processes to private media on SD card. Read Android's Storage Journey.

**SYMLINKS:**

Now `/sdcard` is not a real but emulated storage which represents a FAT/vFAT/FAT32 filesystem (for backward compatibility and permission management) which doesn't support symlinks (and other things including \*NIX permissions and `ioctls` like `FS_IOC_FIEMAP`). So the Option 1 and 3 of yours won't work whether you create symlink directly on emulated storage or try to emulate the symlink already created on ext4.

**BIND MOUNT:**

This is the commonly used alternate of symlink for FAT family of filesystems. What you have tried in Option 2 should work. This is what apps like `Apps2SD` do. But there is again a constraint: `mount namespace`. You need to bind mount in global/root mount namespace so that the mount is visible to all apps:

```
su -mm -c 'mount -o bind "/data/sdext2/AppData/WhatsApp Media" "/sdcard/WhatsApp/Media"'

```

On Android 6+ this needs to be bind mounted on each VIEW (default, read, write) separately for all apps to work.

You can make it permanent by setting ***Mount Namespace Mode*** to ***Global*** in Magisk or by disabling ***Mount Namespace Separation*** in SuperSU. For details see this answer.

---

**RELATED:**

# Answer
> 1 votes
Install MiXplorer from this XDA thread here → browse to the path using MiXplorer → click on `+` at the bottom → choose "Create symbolic link".

---
Tags: rooting, external-sd, internal-sd
---


title: Change "Note to self" email address

text:
# Question
Title: Change "Note to self" email address
When I ask my phone to "take a note" or say "note to self" from Google Now or Google Maps, it asks me what the note is, and then it emails me the note at a specific email address that I designated a long time ago. This is a non-Google email address, by the way.

It works fine, but I now want to change the email address that the note is sent to. For the life of me, I can't remember where I set the destination email address years ago, and I can't find where to change it now.

Where is this setting found?

I do NOT have Google Keep installed, so I assume that this feature is associated with Gmail, but I'm not 100% sure. Where do I go to see/change which which app is associated with "take a note" / "note to self"?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Ok, I finally found the answer. The option was a lot more buried than I thought it would be.

1. Open the Google app on your phone.
2. Press the More (hamburger) menu button, then choose "Settings".
3. Under "Google Assistant", tap "Settings".
4. Switch to the "Assistant" tab, then tap "Routines".
5. Scroll through the list and find "Take a Note" or whatever your command is and tap on it.
6. Under "My assistant should...", you should see, "email ". Tap on the gear next to it and edit the email address.
7. Tap then back arrow, then tap the check mark to save the change.

---
Tags: gmail, google-maps, google-now, notes
---


# Question
Title: Reinstall a new OS on zigo nebula 6.9 tablet
I have no idea about hardware, installing and configuring Android OS. I have Zigo nebula 6.9 tablet, which has MediaTek 1.3 GHz Dual Core - Cortex-A7 processor and 512MB ram. The tablet's OS is corrupted. I want to know:

Can I install stock android on this? If yes which version? How?

If not can I install any other android version after jellybean? If yes, How?

If both of above is impossible can I reinstall the same OS it has now?

# Answer
NEBULA6.9\_V46\_MT6577\_V1.26 FIRMWARE :

NEBULA6.9\_V46\_MT6582 FIRMWARE :

FIRMWARE FLASH TOOL WITH SUPPORT

The above links should be everything you need,
from what i can gather, your device comes in two different CPU Models, a MT6582 and an MT6577.

You'll need to identify your exact model before attempting to "DOWNLOAD" the system partition only.

DOWNLOAD ?
SP Flash Tool has a few different options when you flash a new firmware, The first being DOWNLOAD, the next is FIRMWARE UPGRADE ...
You should never use FIRMWARE UPGRADE, EVER ... It is specifically for changing the entire android partition scheme, meaning that you will loose alot of partitions that aren't included in online firmware's such as the NVRAM, among other partitions, that hold your IMEI number and modem information, these partitions can not be restored after FIRMWARE UPGRADE and will need to be rebuilt by another software, however most imei, nvram repair tools no longer work on many newer MTK device's.

HOW TO USE THE FILES ?
• Download & Extract the correct firmware
• Download / Extract / INSTALL SP Flash Tool v 5.16+ ( link is 5.17 )
• Open SP Flash Tool
\- select load scatter
\- find and select the MT65xx\_Android\_scatter.txt file from the extracted firmware
\- unselect all partitions except system to be flashed
\- select DOWNLOAD as the method of flashing
NEVER SELECT FIRMWARE UPGRADE !!!

• Turn Off your device and remove the battery
• Put the battery back in, and DONT turn it on.

• Place a USB cable into the computer, and then select START or FLASH "I can't remember the exact text"

• NOW Quickly insert the other end of the USB into your switched off device

• You should see the it loading and changing colors

• After it's finished, a big green OK sign will pop up if it was successful

NO GREEN OK SIGN ?
Usually this is caused by a mismatched firmware, however their are a few different errors that may occur..

Incorrect Scatter File

Chipset Mismatch

Partition Scheme Changed in Firmware

Sometimes you'll get the wrong error response for the wrong reason, I'll explain.

First we need to look at the scatter file with a non destructive text editor like notepad++ , Wordpad and Notepad will change line endings to a different format and destroy a good scatter file, so don't use them.. and if you do, don't replace or add any line endings, like pressing Enter.. at all.

Ok so let's say i change my scatter file to say it's for an MT6578, now SP Flash Tool will say Chipset Mismatch, instead of incorrect scatter file...

If i correct the chipset in the scatter file to correspond with my device, it'll bypass that problem with chipset mismatch, but i can only do this if I'm sure that the firmware is designed for my device...

Usually with a working device, you can cross reference the scatters partition scheme by looking at your devices partition scheme...

on your device or adb, you'd use the command

```
adb shell cat proc/partinfo

```

or

```
cat /proc/partinfo

```

and then crosscheck the partitions are correct.

In your case, their are methods of checking SP Flash Tool log files to find the partition scheme mismatch information, that'll include your devices scheme, and the scatter files scheme ( as to compare them )

Their is many ways to fix any flash errors, but using FIRMWARE UPGRADE is not one of them !

If you must try, use notepad++ and edit the scatter file, it's the only way for a successful flash...

Even if the system partition is from a different firmware with the same Android Version and Kernel Version and bit version x32 or x64, it can be used... This is because it purely contains system software that is designed for the corresponding hardware.

All other thing's like graphics drivers, modem drivers etc, are stored in separated partitions from the system partition.

Anyway, good luck on your endeavor. I have had lots of valuable lessons breaking my MTK's and needing to do exact clones to get it back ( not recommended ) ... and i hope some info here will help save you a few bucks, while also stop you from making the many mistakes that i have.

P.S Every new Flash attempt, requires removing the USB cord from your device and then plugging it back in for a new connection to the preloader.

HANDY TIP :
I wish someone had of told me this years ago, but i know that it's kept pretty quite for good reasons, but here's how to put SP Flash Tool into Advanced Mode

1 - Open SP Flash Tool
2 - Hold CTRL + ALT + V and release

You should see it change to Advanced Mode in the title, this allows full read write access to every single partition on your device, so be careful !

You can now READ your device and WRITE back to it at any partition sector, this allows you to ignore the devices partition scheme, as with FIRMWARE UPGRADE, but without the Automatic removal of all sectors.. meaning you can still flash a file to an exact location represented as hex start position and length of image to flash ( you essentially become the scatter file ).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: installation, stock-android, stock-rom
---


title: OnePlus 3 repair issue

text:
# Question
Title: OnePlus 3 repair issue
The screen on my **OnePlus 3** phone was beginning to peel away from the bezel. There was already a noticeable separation all the way along the top, and the problem was spreading downward along the sides. Other than a touch-screen test I had to perform every time I activated the smartphone, it worked fine. (It must have sensed something was weird with the screen, and made me touch four randomly placed circles before it would activate.)

I brought it to a local, independent smartphone repair shop about 12 days ago. They told me the battery was bloating, which is what was causing the screen to be pushed away from the bezel. Since I don't have experience with this sort of thing, I just took their word for it, and let them order another battery. Now I'm suspicious; battery life was fine. I could use the phone (YouTube, games, phone) for 8 or more hours without needing a charge. The phone would not be hot nor have a hot spot.

Ten days later (yesterday) they phoned me late afternoon, letting me know the battery had come in, and said I could bring it in today. Their Saturday hours are 11 to 3, and the person on the phone was confident it could be completed same-day if I brought it in around 11. I did.

The tech told me he could have it ready in a little over an hour. I gave him 2 hours and went back. The tech told me they must have gotten the wrong battery. It fit, the connector was correct, and the phone came on, but it told him it had the wrong battery. He showed the original to me. I could not see swelling, but the black paper backing was wrinkled as if perhaps it had maybe bloated and remained stretched out after the battery went back to normal size due to no load. At least that is what the tech said. He showed me three round holes on the back which he said had been caused by the failing battery. He told me it would be a very bad idea to put the original battery back. He wanted to glue the screen in place over the new battery and see what the phone's status would be then. So I'm doing that, and have another 40 minutes before I go back to check. (I can't call; he has my only phone...)

**Am I getting the run-around from a clueless, perhaps dishonest shop?**

Unfortunately I prepaid for the battery and screen repair. If it is not working when I get back, I am not going to wait 10 days for another, possibly wrong, battery. If they can't resolve the problem by the end of the day Monday, **what are my reasonable options?**

# Answer
**Your repair guy is either ignorant /or taking you for a ride or both**

Bad battery story by the repair guy is flimsy.

1. You had good battery life - 8 hours is actually pretty decent
2. Batteries are not balloons - if they are swollen, they stay swollen and don't regain original shape (on no load as you mention). See picture of badly swollen battery

Swollen battery *spin test* is one way of making sure it is bad. For details, see this nice answer with embedded video

3) Batteries don't make *round* holes if defective. They puncture, or explode at worst

You are being taken for a ride, sorry for that, but there is no polite way of saying that.

The only sensible option I see is take your phone to an authorized or reputed repair agency and forget this guy and the money lost
> 3 votes

---
Tags: battery, screen
---


title: Pervasive Kingroot app avoids uninstall

text:
# Question
Title: Pervasive Kingroot app avoids uninstall
I managed to root my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet with Kingroot, but I'd like to remove it and switch to using SuperSU (because of KingRoot's aggressive practices and somewhat shady reputation). Even after uninstalling it and deleting everything labelled kingroot or superuser in /system, I still get `Binary Occupied` from the SuperSU app.

I believe there is a hidden process somewhere monitoring attempts to delete it and replacing the binary. For example, in `system/usr` there is a directory called `iku` (kinguser?) which replaces itself immediately after being deleted. Similarly, in `system/xbin` there is `ku.sud` and `start_kusud.sh`, which I can delete but instantly reappear.

This may be a quirk of the Samsung system, or some kind of hidden or inaccessible process. I've followed numerous online tutorials, and tried to run the `Replace_Kingroot_With_SuperSU.zip` method, but to no avail. Anybody know of a workaround?

Edit: here is part of the stdout form a script I ran. Note where it says **operation not permitted**:

```
rm failed for /system/xbin/ku.sud, Operation not permitted
rm failed for /data/data/com.kingroot.RushRoot, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/data-lib/com.kingroot.RushRoot, No such file or directory
rm failed for /data/data/com.kingroot.kinguser, Directory not empty
rm failed for /data/data/com.kingroot.master, No such file or directory
rm failed for /system/bin/.usr/.ku, Operation not permitted
rm failed for /system/bin/rt.sh, No such file or directory
rm failed for /system/bin/ddexe, Operation not permitted

```

# Answer
You did it wrong I guess. There's a "safe" uninstall feature within Kingoroot app. This removes completely the app and the binaries from your device.

* Open the app
* Click the three dots upper right, find settings menu.
* Click "Remove Root".

Your device will be rebooted and root should be removed.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: rooting, samsung, tablet, superuser, supersu
---


# Question
Title: Whenever I connect my Samsung Galaxy S6 to the wifi at home, everything else connected to the internet begins to have connectivity issues
This isn't exclusive to one wifi network either, it's happened at three different locations using three different sources of wifi.

If I connect my phone to the wifi, the computer and other phones and laptops connected to the same wifi will run slowly; videos buffering for indeterminate amounts of time or not at all, web pages failing to connect, ping issues while someone is playing games on the computer and also issues with packet loss (so I'm told).

I never had an issue with this while using these same wifi connections in question, until I updated my phone a couple of months ago. I couldn't definitively say the version of Android software that I updated from because I'm not really savvy with this kind of thing and I can't remember. But the version I'm running now is 7.0.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Same issue at my home, I know what's for me: my phone starts uploading photos to my Flickr account, takes a lot of upload band and, of course, download slows down; it is enough to pause Flickr transfer to go back to the usual transfer rate. Maybe you have any App backup or sending huge amount of data on to the InterNet; you could start to check your data usage statistics on your phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
1. Do maintenance first and get rid of every network not needed.
2. Go to advance settings and turn off the " Device share" option.

---
Tags: wi-fi, updates, connection-issues, samsung-galaxy-s-6
---


title: How to send an encrypted s/mime e‑mail?

text:
# Question
Title: How to send an encrypted s/mime e‑mail?
Simple question, but I couldn’t find the answer anywhere…

I need to send encrypted e‑mails through using s/mime (talking about security, even most of metadata should be unknown). The problem is I’m not part of Google app organization (and I don’t need it since it’s not free).

How do I configure Gmail or the Samsung e-mail app to use the CA trusted certificate (which only contains public key) I installed on the device for sending enciphered e‑mails through s/mime ?

I also need to manually select the certificate which will be used for encryption (The company generate the paid certificate for me so it match my e-mail address and not company one).

# Answer
> 2 votes
For the Samsung email app (on my Galaxy Tab A anyway) you need the following ▪An exchange activesync account - for some reason s/mime is not enabled for any other email type ▪Your public and private keys for your exchange account as a PKCS#12 cert uploaded to your tablet already or in your download directory ( root/sdcard/Download directory ) ready for import.

Go to the email settings \> exchange account \> security options screen and select the encryption certificate option then import. It should show you the PKCS#12 file and let you select it, enter any needed password and import it to your keystore with a friendly name of your choice. Repeat for the signing key - typicallly this is the same PKCS#12 file. Set it to sign all outgoing mail if you wish - that'll help distribute your public key and maybe raises peoples awareness of s/mime. It's probably not worth encrypting all outgoing messages by default as you'll get a warning for each recipient that you don't have their public key.

Send yourself test signed and then encrypted emails to prove this is working - preferably using a second device to test thoroughly. The three-dot menu on the send email will let you pick security options to sign and encrypt for individual messges.

The next stage is to try to exchange signed email with other real contacts - if you've defaulted to sign all this should just happen and they should be able to validate the signature.

The last stage is to send them an encrypted email, for that you need their public key / cert. If you've been exchanging signed email you should have it - hopefully you're also using exchange contacts and their record has their key else you'll need to add it from a received email.

Slightly concerning that you say the recipient has a copy of your private key - this should never happen as your private key should always remain private to you. Officially you should revoke you key and get a new one. The practical upshot is things will get very confusing as to what's going on if you've got keys mixed up between public and private and sender and recipient. Good luck.

I don't think Samsung mail lets you easily swap your certs either - you can go into settings and change them but unless youre doing something interesting you should only have one email address on your exchange account.If you're trying to use encrypted group email I don't think Samsung email is going to help, and I don't know of any other mail client that can either.

# Answer
> -1 votes
You need to use a mail app that supports, S/MIME. Check out Blackberry Hub app, K9 Mail, or others.

You can set up your gmail account as imap so that you send and receive using your gmail account.

# Answer
> -1 votes
First you need an S/MIME certificate including private key for your selected E-Mail address.

If you don't have this you don't have to look for apps. AFAIK there is no "Let's Encrypt" for S/MIME therefore you have to buy the certificate for your e-mail address.

If you want to use your GMail account you have to enable IMAP on it.

Now you need an Android app that supports S/MIME signing and verifying. AFAIK the Google for enterprise apps are different form the regular apps, therefore the Gmail app won't work. As far as I know the following two apps should fully support S/MIME:

---
Tags: samsung, gmail, 8.0-oreo
---


# Question
Title: How a boot loop prevents access to TWRP?
I found an old Samsung Note 4 of mine which I flashed a few years ago (Lineage OS if memory serves me right) and which I wanted to reuse for my son.

It is unfortunately stuck in a boot loop:

1. If booted normally, it goes though the "Samsung Galaxy Note 4" initial screen (black and white and then after some time there is a vibration and it reboots (in a loop)
2. If booted with `Home``Power``Volume-Up`, a blue \`RECOVERY BOOTING...." appears together with the Samsung Note 4 screen above, then it reboots (in a loop)
3. If booted with `Home``Power``Volume-Down` it goes into Download Mode

I tried to flashed the latest TWRP (3.2.3) via Odin - no changes

**What is the reason of such a boot loop?** Is there a bootloader missing? (I found a bootlader and flashed it, the flash was successful but the problem is still the same)

My main goal is to boot into TWRP in order to wipe and reinstall a new Lineage OS

Note: Following up on the comments and answer, I wanted to clarify a few things:

* the Note worked fine with Lineage OS installed
* it was then left aside
* it was then (not sure here) probably wiped via TWRP (the only thing sure is that at most the wipe functionality of TWRP was used, to do a factory reset). This is new information obtained after the one who had the phone in hands told exactly what she has done.
* and then the problems started

This is to make it clear that it used to have a functional TWRP and a functional Lineage OS, then a wipe in TWRP occured, and then it cannot boot to TWRP (or Lineage)

# Answer
> 1 votes
**A boot loop can be caused by several reasons.**
• Incompatible Boot and Recovery Image's.
• System Modifications
• File Permission Errors
• File Owner Errors
• Incorrect Formatting Of Files
• Knox And the last one i can think of is incorrect settings ( build.prop edits etc.. )

Yours seems to be the first one, or the last, Incompatible Recovery and Knox

Obviously you have had a working TWRP on that device before, so maybe you still have it from flashing the device years ago. Custom firmware like Lineage OS can also require it's own recovery image, that is dependent on the corresponding Kernel version.

If your Lineage OS installation was for an UPGRADED Android version like 4.4 to 5.1, then a new kernel for 5.1 will have overwritten your 4.4 kernel, and now that possible working TWRP is useless... This became a huge problem with people trying to downgrade device's, as it requires a factory level flash. Odin may have the ability the downgrade the devices boot image ( kernel ). and TWRP will work again, but Knox will stay triggered.

---
Tags: boot-loop, samsung-galaxy-note-4
---


# Question
Title: Why did my phone reboot after copying an so file to the system/lib folder?
I ran the following command and the phone automatically rebooted after copying. Why? Was it because the `so` file was in use?

```
$ adb shell 'mount -o rw,remount /system && cp /sdcard/libfoo.so /system/lib'

```

My phone is rooted and enters as root when issued the `adb shell` command. My Android version is 5.1.

I also tried the following commands and the phone still restarted.

```
$ adb remount
remount succeeded
$ adb shell 'cp /sdcard/libfoo.so /system/lib'

```

# Answer
If you don't want the phone to reboot, push the `so` file directly to the `system/lib` folder. Don't make the `sdcard` folder an intermediary. So you do:

```
$ adb remount
$ adb push libfoo.so /system/lib

```
> 1 votes

---
Tags: adb, mount, system
---


title: Export sleep data from S-Health

text:
# Question
Title: Export sleep data from S-Health
I am using a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and a Galaxy watch to record sleep with the S-Health app.

Is there a way to export the data? I notice I can easily export heart rate data, however the sleep section doesn't offer the option.

I found the following question from a few years ago: Is it possible to export the S-Health data from a Samsung S6 into a usable data format?

However is there a way to get the sleep data without resorting to developer type solutions as above? Perhaps a 3rd party app the can connect to S-Health?

# Answer
> 3 votes
It's not so convenient to do on a daily basis but you can export all your data from Samsung galaxy health.

1. In the top right corner click on the three dots
2. Choose settings
3. In the "Data" section choose "Download Personal data"
4. Click "Download" at the bottom of the screen
5. Verify your Samsung account password

It will download a bunch of csv files to My Files \> Internal Storage \> Samsung Health \> Download \> Samsunghealth\_\[your username\]\_\[download date and time stamp\].

One of them will be "com.samsung.health.sleep.\[download date and time stamp\].csv

Some of the information is useful, some is not.

---
Tags: samsung, sleep, export
---


# Question
Title: mount: mounting /dev/block/vold/179:98 on /data/sdext2 failed: Device or resource busy
When I open Link2SD, it asks to recreate mount scripts: I use ext4. After a reboot, when I open the linked application, it gets stuck and black screen till reboot.

I use ext4 as the 2nd partition, but it shows ext2 in Link2SD, and all my applications are now stuck.

```
mount: mounting /dev/block/vold/179:98 on /data/sdext2 failed: Device or resource busy

```

How to fix this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Check with `mount` the mount points for `/dev/block/vold/179:98`. `umount` the according to mount points to free the device. Beware there could be damage if you interrupt a writing process.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If the 2nd partition is mounted by Android itself, then try to unmount it in the Android System settings. After that, create the mount script by Link2SD again.

That helped me, but after rebooting, I have to do it again.

---
Tags: link2sd
---


# Question
Title: Core GMS package Suddenly started Malfunctioning (old Huawei Honor 8, ~2 years in use)
I have been using my Huawei Honor 8 for about 2 years now. I live in the US. And I have been using Google Play Store and other apps without any issues. Last night my phone ran out of charge and died. When I plugged it in and turned it on, I received tens of notifications stating: "Get Google Play Services. \[App name\] won't run without Google Play Services which are missing from your device". I Double checked it, and Google Play Services are still installed. However, whenever I attempt opening any Google-related app, I get an error message saying: "Core GMS packages. Install core GMS packages to use \[App name\]".

Has anyone encountered this problem before? What could cause it? And how could it be resolved?

Model Number: FRD-L04 Build Number: FRD-L04C567B398 EMUI version: 5.0.4 Android Version: 7.0

# Answer
The issue was resolved. Since only certain Google-related apps were affected, I was able to back up everything else I had on the phone, including data and apps. After that I ran the Factory Data Reset and used my back up to make the process of setting up the phone and all the apps, I had been using, easier. The problem was resolved immediately after the reboot and I was able to set up the phone with my Google account.

/Posting this answer to end the thread/

P.S.: Prior to running a factory reset, I attempted clearing cache and data for the affected and related apps and resetting phone settings without deleting all data. That did not work.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: huawei, google-play-services, emui
---


# Question
Title: Huawei P20 lite double grey circle in screen?
I had my phone (Huawei P20 lite) in ultra battery saving mode and manually set the light to lowest possible (went hiking for 2 days and tried to save as much battery as possible) and when I tried to use it during the day, everything was so dark I didn't knew what I was pressing.

Since then, I have additional grey "button" on screen, which does...something weird. If I just put finger on it, I can drag it across the screen and leave it wherever I want. But, if I hold my finger on it for ~2 seconds, then it acts like a cursor and if I move it left/right/up/down, it just does same thing as I would press the most right button on the bottom of the phone (square).

How can I disable this "action" or how it is even called? I would take a print screen of the desktop, but the circle isn't shown on it. But here's a drawing, how it looks like.

# Answer
It is the navigation dock which can be disabled from Settings → System → navigation system

**Source - Reddit**
> 5 votes

---
Tags: huawei-p20
---


title: Missing MENU button

text:
# Question
Title: Missing MENU button
I have an application, which uses MENU button for navigation purposes. Some devices doesn't have this button. I have tried long pressing app switch button, but it is not working.

# Answer
It depends on device.

Device has menu button

If device does not have menu button then Menu items appear on `App ActionBar` and/or with overflow button
> 1 votes

# Answer
This used to drive me crazy. I have an app where it is critical to be able to use the button. I was sitting, and my headset cable fell across my phone, and I saw the button pop up.

After playing around I found out, that pressing the two outer buttons, and holding them pops up the menu button!

I was on a Samsung Galaxy S7 with Android Nougat and Oreo with this issue. On an S9 with 8.1 Oreo there is an extra button on the toolbar for this menu. I.e. It came back on my new phone.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, buttons, menu
---


# Question
Title: How can my employer change my Andriod security settings?
I got the following email from my employer:

> Passwords required on all mobile devices
>
> In order to protect College data stored on portable devices, from Tuesday 20 November ICT will enable a feature which requires all mobile devices (Android, iOS phones and tablets) used to access College emails to be protected with either a PIN password or biometric recognition, such as fingerprint or face recognition. This applies to all portable devices, whether College or personally owned.
>
> At a minimum, ICT will enforce the use of a PIN for access to the device. Devices that do not meet the minimum requirement will be prevented from accessing College email accounts until the device has been appropriately secured.
>
> You can manage your security settings from the ‘settings’ menu of your device. Please get in touch with the Service Desk if you have problems doing this. If you do not wish to secure your device, then you may not be able to access your College email account from your

Is there a feature in Android that I don't know about that will enable them to change the settings on my phone?

# EDIT **The Plot Thickens**

On my way to work this morning popped up on my phone screen when I tried to check my meetings for the day.

Now I am worried. I don't want to give my work admin access to my personal phone. What will they be able to do? Delete my emails? Reset the phone? Lock me out of the phone? Track my location?

I can see how this is fine on devices supplied by an employer but it normal for personal devices.

# Answer
Your employer is informing you of the security *you* need to implement on your device to access company mails / apps etc. This is a standard practice to endure that company confidential information is not compromised owing to your not having secure lock screen etc. They are not changing it for you. They are asking you to change it. Going by the screenshot, it's simple - agree to implement yourself those measures or not access college mails etc.

But, there are variations like BYOD / Company owned device etc, which can exercise far more control on your device. See here for details.

**Edit:**

From discussion on comments added a very useful input from Izzy. The app which you are installing to read the mail should **not** have *device manager* permission as only such apps can do a factory reset (aka Google Device Manager on case of stolen devices)
> 5 votes

# Answer
If your employer has installed a management app, then they can do a lot of things. There are many MDM (Mobile Device Management) products for all the platforms. (iOS, Android, Windows, Blackberry, etc). .

If your email is done via ActiveSync, that protocol allows the mail client to manage device settings (With permissions, but with the permissions, it can do it) and to lock down security.

(MS Exchange, Office365, and GroupWise can all use ActiveSync for email, instead of IMAP/POP).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: security, settings, email, android-enterprise
---


title: software bricked android 7

text:
# Question
Title: software bricked android 7
I have a Moto G (xt1032) and few weeks ago I tried to install cm14.1. But somewhere it didn't work. Since then I cannot boot. And I can't install a new custom rom. I have Cyanogenmod Recovery. When I try to use fastboot/adb it did not work. because the device is unauthorized. The only thing that is working is adb sideload. But when I tried to install a custom rom a error happend:

```
This package is for device: xt1032, ...
this device is .

```

I tried to remove the assert command from updater-script, but when I reziped the file and tried to install it, a signature validation error occurred.

# Answer
As mentioned, hard-bricks are the rare write-offs.

For the vast majority of soft-bricked devices (FRP errors, blocked custom binaries, etc) the following can erase the device and reinstall the orginal firmware (Samsung example given below). Alternatively, install TWRP and latest AOSP firmware.

**These instructions are for experienced technicians. Proceed with due caution.**

* Backup your existing firmware (optional, if permitted by brick)
* Download **latest** version of Odin to a WIN10 computer.
* Enable BL, AP, CSC, etc firmware types in Odin.ini
* Download SamFirm (or visit Updato \- generic firmware) to fetch from Samsung's firmware archives by providing **EXACT** model/provider (eg. SM-G935W8/BMC = S7Edge/BellMob)
* Extract BL, AP, CSC, firmware (\*.tar.MD5) from firmware archive
* Connect mobile device to WIN10 computer with USB data cable.
* From off, PWR+VOLDWN+HOME to enter bootloader.
* Load firmware in Odin and hit start (do NOT change defaults)
* Device firmware will be erased and flashed with new firmware.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, adb, unbricking, motorola-moto-g
---


title: Distorted text rendering in Chrome

text:
# Question
Title: Distorted text rendering in Chrome
About a week or two ago I started having font rendering issues in Chrome on my Note 4 (SM-N910V). It's not always, but frequent enough that it's driving me crazy. I have cleared the cache, uninstalled/reinstalled Chrome and still the same issue. When it happens, it's like only part of the text characters are displayed or even complete words are missing, but they're still there because if I highlight and select the blank areas around the partial displayed text, the remaining text will usually finally display. Sometimes they will correct themselves if I scroll down a few. Also, sometimes the text on a page may render perfectly and appear fine, and then while I'm reading it, suddenly just change to the distorted text as I mentioned above. It seems to be specific to Chrome and Chrome Beta, because I installed Firefox, and so far, no issue with text rendering in Firefox. I hope someone more knowledgeable than me can explain what is happening.

I have pictures which should help a lot. 1st pic shows the text at its worst, 2nd shows after I select a word and how it clears up the text in that section, 3rd shows when I select more than one word, how the remaining text area corrects itself also. Then an extra one for another example.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Had the same problem with Chrome on Samsung Note 4. My chrome was 71.0.3538.80 and it behaved like you've described.

I've installed Chrome Beta 71.0.3578.55 and it renders correctly so far.

---
Tags: samsung
---


title: Locked out of secure startup

text:
# Question
Title: Locked out of secure startup
Recently I encrypted my LG Tribute HD. I was doing something in recovery mode a couple days later, I accidentally hit the "wipe all data on phone" button. I pressed no. I rebooted my phone and all of the sudden secure startup was enabled and it had a password instead of a pattern. I tried a couple passwords but none of them worked. The attempts count only went down 1 time for some weird reason. I don't want to factory reset my phone. I just did a couple days ago, and I don't want to again.

# Answer
Well I've ended in same place as you but with entering number in a dialer. White screen with only text box to enter password, and counter was going only to 29/30 tries left no matter how many times you enter password. This one? One user said that this happened after he tried to clear dalvik/cache from stock recovery on LG (I think it was about K10). My guess that this action wipes the encryption key so when you try to boot after clearing it prompts you this, and you probably need to enter key which I'm sure you don't know for this user and me too factory reset was only way out. See this and this and this
> 2 votes

# Answer
I've read on a couple of forums where people have had the issue of their phone randomly rebooting and starting up to a lock screen that reads (something like):

> Secure startup 1/25 attempts

If you use a pattern code to unlock your phone, the PIN number will be the digits that your pattern lock follows.

I don't know how else to word it. Say, your pattern followed the corners to 7391, then your secure startup PIN would be 7536951. So, if you use a very complex pattern, it will just be every digit used that the pattern follows.

The attached visual reference would be 1598753.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: lg
---


# Question
Title: How to disable notification sound in Facebook application
I have the Facebook application installed and I can't seem to figure out how to turn off the (really loud and sharp) notifications sound, what I tried so far was

1. go to `Settings > App Settings > Sounds in the App` and untick the option
2. go to `Settings > Notifications Settings` but I couldn't find a relevant setting

I don't want to mute or lower the device volume because I have other apps with notifications that are actually important for me, I use a OnePlus2 with Oxygen3.6.1 if it helps

# Answer
If that's the case. Edit the app with Apk Editor from Play Store. Delete the .ogg files compile it and install. If not so, check whether your phone has notification sound scheme at settings and notifications since you want other apps notifying.
> 0 votes

# Answer
According to the article How do I turn off in-app sounds?, you should be able to disable the sounds under the **Media and Contacts** entry at the bottom the of the Setting section. However on my Wife's Samsung Galaxy S9 (SM-G960U1) that section was missing:

Instead, I was able to open that section using **Find Friends -\> Contacts -\> Settings**. No idea why the section was missing from the main settings page, but any changes you make still seem to work once you can get into that section.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: notifications, facebook, oneplus-two
---


title: Deleted Email on Samsung Device

text:
# Question
Title: Deleted Email on Samsung Device
On Samsung phone I meant to click on an email message but instead I swiped it and it disappeared. How can I undo this? It didn't go into the Bin/Trash or Spam.

# Answer
Click on All Mail on the left. When you see the message, open it, and choose the Move to Inbox option to "un-archive" it.

Just to add, the 'All Mail' system label on the left is not visible by default. To show it, click on the cog button on the top right \> Settings \> Labels \> Show (next to the All Mail system label).

Alternatively, you can use the search feature to locate the message (the search box should be towards the top of the Gmail page).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: gmail
---


# Question
Title: How Install Google Play Store In Samsung J3 Pro Korean Set?
Recently I bought Samsung J3 Pro Korean set. There is no Google Play Store in Samsung J3 Pro Korean set. When i install applications, This message interrupts

```
This App Relies on Google Play Services

```

When i install Google Play Services following message interrupts

```
Unfortunately Google Play Services Has Been Stopped

```

Can anyone tell me how to install Google Play Store in Samsung J3 Pro Korean Set. Do i have to buy other phone that supports Google Play Store.

Is there any way to allow Google Play Store In it?

My Country: `pakistan`

Thanks In Advance.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The google play store comes pre-installed in all the Samsung Phones.

However, phones locked to some network operators will have the Google Play app stored in a folder named Google.

To move Google Play out of the Google folder, simply touch the folder to open it, press and hold on Google Play and then drag Google Play out of the folder on to the home screen.

If you still can't find the Play Store you might have disabled it mistakenly while deleting trash data.

Follow the below steps to check whether the Play Store has been disabled, and enable it:

1. Go to the "Settings"
2. Scroll down and tap on "Application Manager"
3. Choose DISABLED OR All apps, followed by Disabled
4. Scroll down to find Google Play Store and tap on it.
5. Tap Enable

This would resolve your problem.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is a way of injecting the Google Play services, but you will need to install a custom recovery. I recommend TWRP.

* Download the following files:

1. Samsung ADB Drivers. Install them.
    2. TWRP Recovery image for your phone (Samsung J3)
    3. ODIN Flashing utility
    4. An OpenGApps package of your choice. Make sure the processor architecture and Android version is correct. - http://opengapps.org/
* Put your phone into Download Mode and start ODIN. To put your phone into Download mode, turn off your phone then turn it on again pressing a few of the physical buttons (usually holding the power button and volume up at the same time). This puts you into the bootloader menu, and you use the Vol Up and Down keys to select Download mode.
* On the AP tab in ODIN, select your TWRP image and hit 'Start'
* Do the whole bootloader menu thing again, but this time select Recovery.
* When TWRP loads up, put the OpenGApps package onto your device the same way you would any file in any other given situation. Once it is fully copied, select 'Install', install from zip, find the OpenGApps zip package (if you get lost, try to look for /sdcard/) and swipe to install.
* Reboot the device.It may take a few minutes and will bring you through a Google setup screen.

---
Tags: google-play-store, samsung, google-play-services
---


# Question
Title: Huawei P20 Pro charging in USB host mode
I'm seeing several related questions here. However, most of them are ancient (as in 2012) and refer to micro USB and maybe the USB-C standards are different with regard to host mode charging.

I'm using my P20 Pro as a tactical flight computer with two connected devices. The first one is a single row mini usb keyboard and the second a flight vario which sends position and elevation data to the software.

```
   P20Pro
     |
mini USB-Hub
  /     \
KBD     Vario

```

What I'm missing in this setup is how to power the phone.

I would need something like this:

```
   P20Pro
     |\
     | \Portable Power Bank
     |
mini USB-Hub
  /     \
KBD     Vario

```

This is just some background info. The question could also be *How to charge the P20 Pro while a usb keyboard and mouse is connected?*

Basically (at least according to Huawei's online chat support) the device supports charging in host mode since their MateDock 2 adapter also charges the phone.

However, the MateDock 2 would be an overkill since I don't need a HDMI/VGA port. In addition I'm not sure what the MateDock is exactly and if it also redirects *non standard* USB devices.

Another solution would be wireless charging but the P20 doesn't support this technology.

So what is the the 2018 answer to charging in USB OTG host mode ?

# Answer
I managed to achieve this (and use an HDMI monitor) by using a USB C Power Delivery hub, and a PD charger. The hub included as well an HDMI output, but it's cheap (around 30€). I think I used this one here.
I bought two different ones but the second one does not seem to be available anymore on Amazon and the link does not work anymore.
The charger I used is an USB C PD 41W charger from Auckly.
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: Can you allow certain contacts to bypass the silent mode on Huawei P20 pro?
I like my phone on silent through the night but need to have a certain contact to be able to ring (elderly relative). Not a problem when I had an iPhone, but can't find a way on Huawei P20 Pro.

Is there a way you can allow certain contacts to bypass the silent mode on a Huawei P20 Pro?

# Answer
You can find that in Settings → Sound → Do not disturb → Advanced parameters.

You will need to define a Priority Interrupt. Use 'Only contacts on whitelist', and add that contact to the whitelist.

My P20 pro is in French. I translated the menu words, though, not sure my wording is 100% identical to the original.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: contacts, silent-mode, huawei-p20
---


# Question
Title: Music app overlay with control on volume level change
I'm newbie in android world (recently switched from windows phone). And I really miss the music overlay that comes into place when you press volume level button.

In desktop windows it looks like this, something like that on the phone.

I really miss this overlay hence it allowed to pause music fast and fluid. I can't do it now on my phone. Only option I offered is lock screen widget but it's not handy - I use my fingerpring to unlock phone and actually never see lockscreen. And while using phone I have to go into music app and switch track or use its widget. That's pretty annoing. Is there any options to have similiar with windows functionality here?

# Answer
I have tried a number of media players and I don't think such a feature is offered by any of them. However, as a workaround, I offer this solution:

Whenever you would press a volume button, provided a music is playing, the status bar would automatically drop down, giving access to persistent notification of your music player along with its media controls.

Follow these instructions:

1. Install MacroDroid.
2. Go to Accessibility settings in your Settings app and enable both the accessibility services of MacroDroid.
3. Launch MacroDroid → Add Macro:

* **Trigger**: Volume Button Pressed → Use Accessibility Service → Volume Up → Update Volume
    * **Action**: Expand/Collapse Status Bar → Expand Status Bar
    * **Condition**: Music Active → Music Playing
4. Make an another macro with same action, same condition, same action but choose Volume Down, instead of Volume Up.
5. Play a song, and test the volume buttons.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: music, 8.1-oreo, overlay
---


# Question
Title: How to enable/disable apps using ADB (Android 8.x)?
I cannot get apps enabled or disabled using ADB.

* Android: 8.0.0
* Device: Samsung Galaxy A520 (SM-A520F)

I don't have root access to my device.

To get the list of the disabled packages I use:

```
$ adb shell pm list packages -d
package:com.samsung.android.game.gamehome
package:com.microsoft.skydrive
package:com.google.android.webview
package:com.google.android.videos
package:flipboard.boxer.app
package:com.samsung.android.ststub
package:com.sec.android.emergencylauncher
package:com.samsung.android.dlp.service
package:com.samsung.upsmtheme

```

Q1: Oddly, this list doesn't seem to include the apps I really disabled in the Apps section:

* Briefing
* Google Play Movies & TV

Why is that?

Then I run through the list and enable every package, e.g.:

```
$ adb shell pm enable com.google.android.webview
Package com.google.android.webview new state: enabled

```

Q2: Despite some packages are reported as "enabled" they are still in the disabled list:

```
$ adb shell pm list packages -d | grep com.google.android.webview
package:com.google.android.webview

```

Why is that?

Q3: How can I get the list of packages that I myself disabled in the Apps section and how can I manage this list using ADB?

# Answer
> Q1: Oddly, this list doesn't seem to include the apps I really disabled in the Apps section:
>
> * Briefing
> * Google Play Movies & TV
>
> Why is that?

Your output already listed the two apps. `com.google.android.videos` for Google Play Movies and `flipboard.boxer.app` for Briefing app.

Optional: see my answer to know how to find an app's package name easily.

For your other issue:

This seems to be a problem in your ROM per se. My experiences with stock Android ROMs on Nexus 6 device and a near stock Android ROM on OnePlus 6 (Android 8.1.0) tell me this shouldn't happen.

Normally, the apps disabled using shell user are not listed in Settings app, but any app disabled by any means are listed in `pm list packages -d` or `cmd package list packages -d`.

Disabling and enabling an app without root access is simple. Run:

```
adb shell pm disable-user PACKAGE_NAME  # disables the app for the current user
adb shell pm enable PACKAGE_NAME        # enables the app for the user, regardless of how the app was disabled.

```
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, adb, samsung, 8.0-oreo, samsung-galaxy-a5
---


title: How do I encrypt a new SD card?

text:
# Question
Title: How do I encrypt a new SD card?
I'm on Android Nougat with an encrypted phone. I added a new SD card but cannot find an option to encrypt it too.

How do I go about encrypting the new SD card?

# Answer
Don't know if this helps, but I'm also on Nougat (Gal. S8). I found in Settings\>Lock Screen and Security\>Encrypt SD Card. Good Luck...
> 0 votes

# Answer
On my Moto G4 running Android 7.0:

* Settings -\> Storage; select the SD card (OK to mount the SD card if prompted to do that). This shows the contents of the SD card.
* From the drop-down menu in the top-right corner (3 vertical dots): choose "Storage Settings".
* Choose "Format as internal"
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 7.0-nougat, disk-encryption
---


# Question
Title: Where can I get more information on the sm tool (command) used in the Terminal
I have seen the `sm` tool used a few places for example here.

The way I understand it, it is a storage management tool but I haven't been successful in finding any more info about it.

Where can I find more information on this tool?

# Answer
> 0 votes
The `sm` tool is not an Android tool, it's a linux shell command. Android devices have some shell commands located in `/system/bin` \- the variety of these usually vary by version, OEM, and platform.

You can issue this `adb` command to see what tools are available:

```
adb shell ls system/bin

```

You can ask for help on each tool - for example, with `sm`:

```
$ adb shell sm -help
usage: sm list-disks [adoptable]
       sm list-volumes [public|private|emulated|all]
       sm has-adoptable
       sm get-primary-storage-uuid
       sm set-force-adoptable [true|false]
       sm set-virtual-disk [true|false]

       sm partition DISK [public|private|mixed] [ratio]
       sm mount VOLUME
       sm unmount VOLUME
       sm format VOLUME
       sm benchmark VOLUME
       sm fstrim

       sm forget [UUID|all]

       sm set-emulate-fbe [true|false]

```

---
Tags: terminal
---


# Question
Title: Import SMS messages from Samsung .nef file to Sony Xperia S
How can I import my SMS message from a Samsung phone to a Sony one?

New PS Studio gave me a `.nef` file that I can't import to my Sony phone.

# Answer
Use SMS Backup & Restore assuming those are both Android phones and you shouldn't need to deal with a `.nef` file.
> 1 votes

# Answer
The `.nef` file is actually a normal database, which can be opened (and exported, and edited and ...) by Microsoft Access. The only thing is that it has an unrecognizable extension. Rename the file to `xxxx.mdb`, and you can open it in Microsoft Access by double-clicking it.

See also https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15359323/open-a-standard-jet-db-4-0-file-vmd
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, samsung, import, sony-xperia-s
---


title: How to Copy Link from android app?

text:
# Question
Title: How to Copy Link from android app?
Hello sir/mam how can i copy a link from any android app that has link inside pages

I have some whatsapp group joining link inside app Every pages has a link of Whatsapp group i want to copy that link can u help me.... Your help is highly appreciated...

App link is

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.whatsappgroupinvite

# Answer
> 0 votes
**How To Create WhatsApp Group Invitation Link**

Only Group Admin can create Invitation link to let join other people using this. Other participants of the Group cannot see this link until this link is shared by the Group Admin. You can create WhatsApp Group LinkTo create WhatsApp Group Invite Link, just follow the simple steps given below:

Step 1:
Open your WhatsApp Group –\> Tap the subject of the Group, here just scroll down and you will get the list of participants with two more options: ‘Add Participants‘ and ‘Invite via link‘.

Step 2:
Tap on ‘Invite via link‘ and on the next screen, you will get ‘Join Link’ for your WhatsApp Group. Now you have to share this link with anyone to join it.

For sharing the link, you will get a direct option to share from this screen ‘send link via WhatsApp’ or you may also use ‘Copy Link’ & ‘Share Link’ options as well.

In case if you want to cancel/revoke this link, just tap on ‘Revoke Link’ option. The old invite link will not be working anymore. You can again create a new invitation link for the same WhatsApp Group.
That’s It.

This feature is widely used where you want to add a number of people in your Group. Instead of manually adding one by one manually, just a share will work for you.

*REFERENCES*

create-whatsapp-group-invitation-link-join - mashnol.org

# Answer
> 0 votes
I guess you need to decompile the app APK file. Assuming the links are hard-coded, you could be able to get them in the source code.

# Answer
> 0 votes
search google play for open with and pick an app from the list and install it

I assume you will have notepad app or office app on your android

from open with app choose the notepad app to open links

now go to your app and click the links you want

copy links from the notepad app

---
Tags: applications, stock-android, android-versions
---