# Question
Title: No WLAN connection for one Xiaomi MiA2 mobile phone?
We bought some days ago a new WLan Router (FRITZ!Box 7530). Everything went fine, only one single mobile doesn't connect properly. We reseted all settings of this phone to (Xiaomi MiA2), tried to connect - didn't work.

We switched on and off the power of the mobile and the router several times. Chose "delete network" at the mobile and wrote the password again. No change. Furthermore, and that's really weird: If we build a WLAN bridge from another mobile, then *this* WLAN connection works with the Xiaomi. Therefore, the WLAN ability of this phone is not broken. Seems to be only something wrong with the settings.

How can we connect this mobile to our network?

Addendum:

When we try to connect it shows "connection saved" ("gespeichert" in German). But no connection is established. The mobile doesn't appears in the Connection list of the Router.

What security method does the new Wi-Fi use (WPA2, WPA3, etc.) and to your knowledge is the phone compatible with that security method? I *think* it's WPA2

What version of Android is the phone running (is it up-to-date on its security updates, etc.)? Android 10. No Updates available (2021)

# Answer
I would try with to connect with other WIFI security protocols/settings. If your router supports multiple WIFI networks, you could try creating another network to test older security protocols without breaking the already set connections of other client devices.

Also could try WPS authentication.
> 1 votes

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Tags: wi-fi, router
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title: Device stuck in a bootloop

text:
# Question
Title: Device stuck in a bootloop
My Samsung Galaxy J7 SM-J700F is stuck in a bootloop after flashing. Now I need to clear cache, but my volume buttons are broken, can someone please help me to resolve this?

UPD: Somehow managed to enter download mode by a safety pin, any ideas what I should do next? I had a custom rom installed and I flashed a stock rom after which the bootloop started.

# Answer
> 1 votes
To fix your device if you can't fix the buttons in order to enter recovery/fastboot mode, you'll have to use Odin tool combined with download mode which you've successfully entered. Odin is a tool made for flashing the original firmware of Samsung devices, it is being used to fix any sort of bricking, whether hard or soft bricking. If you have a PC/laptop, just download Odin tool form a trusted website, download your device complete and specific firmware from a supported website and then follow the steps in flashing your Samsung device using Odin tool from a tutorial. I don't currently own any Samsung device, so I don't have any links for the resources needed, but if you do your research, you'll find all the resources needed to flash your samsung device using Odin mode, as it is popularly called.

That's all you need to do in fixing your Samsung device. Good luck .

NB: Odin is the popular tool for flashing Samsung android devices in download mode, that's why it's usually called Odin mode.

---
Tags: recovery-mode, boot-loop, dalvik-cache
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title: Where is the saved .vzm file?

text:
# Question
Title: Where is the saved .vzm file?
I am trying to save text messages for a particular caller.

In the Message+ app, in the "Conversations" window I long press on the caller and select Save messages. The next window "Save Conversations" shows a default file name (which I can change if so desired). Then I click Save and that window closes and it returns to the Conversations window.

If I long click again and go to "Save Conversations" it shows the file I save (see screenshot).

I want to know where this file is on the filesystem or be able to send that file in an email. As it is, I can only Restore, which is not what I need.

Looking in the file browser, I do not see this file in Downloads, or anywhere.

Mobile service is Xfinity/Verizon. I called them and they were not able to help

Device: Pixel 6a Android version: 14

# Answer
> 1 votes
Note that if the file is saved in app directory, it may not be accessible to you unless your device is rooted

Since Verizon isn't helping you, you may like to explore a third party solution as explained in my answer here

To summarize :

1. Install SMS Backup and restore and take a back up of your SMSes.
2. > From the app see "Backed up (time)" and tap *view details*. It will list SMS Backup. Tap on that to *view conversations* and all your conversations are listed. From the 3 dots menu against the conversation you want select *print conversation* and it will be printed as a PDF file with date and time stamps. It will show both sent and received SMSes.
3. Send the PDF file by mail.

---
Tags: sms, verizon, message+
---


title: Modifying /data/data file from PC

text:
# Question
Title: Modifying /data/data file from PC
I have an android app (uses sqlite db) that I created and installed on my device. It's an app for my personal use. It's debuggable and its /data/data folder is accessible from the PC with adb pull. Even overwriting the sqlite database file is possible from device explorer from within Android Studio on the PC. The device is not rooted.

I was wondering if there is a way to modify the sqlite db file within /data/data from outside Android Studio. Since AS allows modification from PC, I guess, there shouldn't be any security concerns for allowing access from outside AS from the same PC.

I have a desktop app that needs to modify the database and every time uploading the file through Android Studio device explorer is cumbersome. It would be great if I could either create a symlink or write a script to automate the process.

# Answer
There is no simple command for uploading a modified database file into the app-private data directory of a debuggable app. What Android Studio does when uploading a file using Device File Explorer is this:

1. Upload the file via `adb push` to `/data/local/tmp/<random file name>`
2. Execute `adb shell run-as com.myapp sh -c 'cp /data/local/tmp/<random file name> /data/data/com.myapp/<path>/<final file-name>'`
3. Delete the temp file via `adb shell rm /data/local/tmp/<random file name>`
4. Get the updated view for Device File Explorer using `adb shell run-as com.myapp sh -c 'ls -al /data/data/com.myapp/<path>/'`

I discovered this by capturing the adb traffic on TCP port 5027 using Wireshark.

Note: If you overwrite the database file while the app is still running the app will most likely continue to use the old database (if the database is kept open while the app is running) until the app process is killed. I would recommend to kill the app before uploading the modified database file.
> 4 votes

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Tags: root-access, data
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# Question
Title: How to upgrade Android past the device's supported limit
Bought a cheaper tablet and it only supports Android 8.

I'd like to install OneNote for Android but Android V8 does not support it.

Is there a way to force the upgrade of the Android OS version past the device's supported version limit?

Is there a way to force OneNote to install on an unsupported Android OS version?

# Answer
> 2 votes
> Bought a cheaper tablet and it only supports Android 8. I'd like to install OneNote for Android but Android V8 does not support it. Is there a way to force the upgrade of the Android OS version past the device's supported version limit?

Not in general. Android has some important differences from Linux and Windows, which are biting you here.

## Were you sold this device as compatible with Microsoft OneNote?

If so, return it, because it isn't, and buy one that runs a modern version of Android: 12 or later.

Assuming not:

## Upgrading Android is hard when the manufacturer doesn't help

This is sadly intrinsic to the way Android is developed, customised and distributed.

### The hardware is much less standardised than on PCs

The world of Windows and Linux PCs started off with clones of the early IBM PC, XT and AT machines, and still has some compatibility with those 40-year-old computers. That means that the machines all have a lot in common. In contrast, Android devices' hardware varies a lot, even though they all use the same kind of CPU, and most of them look pretty similar on the outside.

### Device drivers are proprietary

"Device drivers" are the add-on pieces of software for operating systems that let the operating system control hardware. They are different for each operating system: you can't use a Linux device driver on Windows or Android (there are some obscure and highly technical exceptions to this, but they won't help you here).

Windows and Linux ship with lots of device drivers, enough to let them install on many models of computer, and run well enough for them to download the *right* device drivers.

Android is not set up to allow downloading and installing of device drivers. Device drivers are written by the hardware manufacturers, and are not open source. They normally get distributed as part of a complete Android system image, which is specific to a model of device (or *sometimes* a few closely-related devices).

The hardware manufacturers keep their source confidential. One reason for that is that they're afraid of their hardware being copied by other manufacturers, who can sell it cheaper, because they haven't had to pay the development costs.

The reason for the closed-up, locked-down setup is that Android devices have to be usable by people with no technical skills, and thus need to be quite hard to mess up. Desktop and laptop computers are more flexible, but easier to disable by tinkering with their software.

## The resulting problem

Producing an Android image to install on a device requires having the source for appropriate device drivers. If the device manufacturer does not produce a new version of Android for a device, you are stuck, to a first approximation.

Manufacturers of cheap tablets rarely produce updates for them, because it's work for which they don't get any money. They'd far rather sell you a new tablet.

## You *might* find a workaround here ...

There are lots of groups that produce alternative Android distributions. They can do this because the core of the operating system is open source. None of them are within light years of supporting all the devices available. Supporting a device requires reverse-engineering the hardware well enough to write open source device drivers for it. That takes enough time that most of the devices that are supported are obsolete. The most widely-used one is LineageOS, and there are lists of them here, here, and here.

## OneNote probably needs Google Play Services

Sadly, Microsoft OneNote probably requires Google Play Services. That's Google proprietary software that device manufacturers have to license from Google if they want to use the Android trademark. There is an alternative implementation, MicroG, that comes with some of the alternative versions of Android. I don't know if OneNote runs on it.

---
Tags: rooting, root-access, android-versions
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# Question
Title: Play audio of flash video while screen is off?
I want to listen to the audio portion of flash on my Droid preferably with the screen off. Sites like InfoQ.com have great interviews in flash that I want to just listen to.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have had to keep my phone on and the screen off to save power before. I have made use of this app and it works well for me.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.japp.blackscreen

This app needs the ability to display over other apps, but it has saved me a lot of battery. Hope it helps!

# Answer
> -2 votes
This may be a silly thing to say, but have you tried loading a site with flash, and letting it play? I would have thought it would just continue even if the screen goes blank.

If it does stop when the screen goes blank, can you download it and play it using one of the audio players that supports .flv and has the option to continue playing in the backgound? Is there an app that can play .flv?

Regarding playing non-MP4 or H.264:

Here's a SO question about having trouble *stopping* flash when leaving the browser.

HTH

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Tags: 2.2-froyo, adobe-flash
---


# Question
Title: Pixel 6 Pro - system taking up over 200gb of memory
* Pixel 6 Pro
* Android 14
* 256Gb storage

About a week ago my phone began complaining about a lack of storage - there was only about 2Gb left! I've done a bit of a tidy up and freed another 4Gb but yesterday I realised the System is taking up 224Gb!!

I've spent the last 24 hours googling and searching on YT and on here but without rooting it I can't see any way to clean up this storage (which appears to be at least 100Gb more than it should be) or even see what's happening.

I'd rather not do a factory reset but that's what I'm facing if I can't find a solution here!

# Answer
> 2 votes
Since it's the `/system` partition gobbling up huge space, I doubt if there is anything that can be done by the user (even on a rooted device, since the partition is "read only"), except:

1.

**Caveat**: I haven't tried the options below on my Pixel 4a/6a

2. Flashing the stock ROM again *without* the `-w` before running the `flash-all` script to prevent data wipe.
3. Flashing factory image flashing in fastboot with force option on (see this guide for both options 2 and 3).

IMO it's best to jump to option 3 with *force* option enabled (without wiping data), since this involves dynamic partition sizing glitch. The force option apparently fixes dynamic partition sizing based on what the *developer* of PixelFlasher, a GUI tool for flashing / updating / rooting / managing Pixel phones says here:

> Full OTA is indeed full ROM, but based on observation, when it comes to switching firmware, or even downgrading, it does not work, I suspect that *it does not do partition resizing.* I do quite a bit of messing up on my test phone and often *I had to resort to factory image flashing in fastboot with force option on.*

(Emphasis supplied)

I wanted to put all this in comments since I haven't tried these options but it was getting to be too long, so made an answer of it, more as a pointer towards possibilities then a definitive course of action.

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Tags: storage, google-pixel-6, android-14
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# Question
Title: Is there a way to find the IMEI on a Pixel with a completely damaged screen?
A couple weeks ago my Pixel XL 2 (or Pixel XL, not sure) started to have black blotches all over the screen. They grow, enlarge and eventually engulf the entire screen. Now except for a sliver on the upper right corner, the screen is pitch black regardless if it is on or off. What kind of damage is this? There had been no physical damage to the phone. As far as I can remember, the phone has never been dropped or otherwise subjected to excessive physical forces.

I am trying to find the phone's IMEI, but I am not sure how to go about doing it without being able to see anything on the screen.

Also when it is plugged in to my laptop via a USB-C cord, my Windows 10 recognizes the phone, but I don't see an additional drive. How should I access the files on there? Is there a way to reset the phone and clear the data?

# Answer
Yes you can find IMEI of your damaged Pixel Device or any Android device if you have or had your google account logged in .

Check Google My Devices or alternatively logon to Google Find my devices @ https://www.google.com/android/find

on your device list click the ( i ) information icon, you can see your device IMEI.

Hope this helps.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Another source of a phone IMEI and serial number is the package box the phone was bought in.

On the outside of the box there are usually the device serial number and IMEI printed as text and small 2D barcode.
> 1 votes

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Tags: screen, google-pixel, imei, google-pixel-2
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# Question
Title: Way to circumvent charge-protection on start?
When I plug my old phone in, it says

> Battery too low, charge for a while before powering on.

Is there a method to circumvent this message and power the phone on anyway? It's a sealed phone, and I assume the battery is totally shot.

# Answer
No, because Android devices are always powered via the battery rather than the AC outlet.

So, your battery must have the least amount of charge to run your phone while it gets topped up by itself.
> 2 votes

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Tags: oneplus-7-pro
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# Question
Title: Increase hotspot connection limit on Android
I see this question has been asked several times over the years, but I don't really see a good practical solution. The question is - is there any way to increase the number of simultaneous connections to my Android hotspot? My limit is 8 connections.

So, my Android phone receives GSM data and I then turn on "Mobile Hotspot" to distribute this to other devices using WiFi.

8 connections seem to be very few these days especially with family members wanting to connect to it.

I'm curious as to why only Google limits it to 8, perhaps heat reasons as some devices are heavy on the data but then others a light. For example, my smart TV can stream Netflix or conversely, I have a Brilliant light using very little data.

Does anyone know of a way to modify hotspot? Perhaps using an app.

# Answer
> -1 votes
> > I'm curious as to why only google limit it to 8, perhaps heat reasons as some devices are heavy on the data but then others a light for example my smart TV can stream Netflix or conversely I have a Brilliant light using very little data.

Tech giants don't want us to use smartphones as power-frugal small computers.

Smartphones are designed to draw little power compared to PC's and servers, yet they are compact, fast, and equipped with a battery that lasts 2 days in case of blackout.

Do you think that Tech giants will allow us to replace PC's and servers with smartphones?

They already lost the servers' war with Linux and FreeBSD.

---

> > Does anyone know of a way to modify hotspot? Perhaps using an App.

I don't think we can.

I got an Android One phone. When I turn on the hot spot I can't change the address class of the the DHCP server. It's fixed.

All Wi-Fi chips have a hardware limitation: they can serve a maximum number of Wi-Fi stations (clients) because the Wi-Fi protocol has very strict timing requirements.

---

You may want to take a look at this answer here. I agree with that answer: the maximum number of clients is hard coded and it depends on the WiFi hardware chip that has limitations stated in its datasheet.

Increase maximum number of connection of Wi-Fi hotspot

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Tags: wifi-hotspot
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# Question
Title: How to distribute Android device for my customers so they don't need to create Google accounts?
I'm seeking a solution for the distribution of my Android-based devices (tablets) to end-users. I have a tablet with a custom Android 11 OS, and I've developed an application that is publicly available on the Google Play store.

In the future, I plan to sell these tablets to my customers. The challenge I'm facing is that I'd like to avoid a situation in which **they** need to create individual Google accounts (some of them might not have their own Google account or might not be technically capable of creating one).

I haven't found a feasible solution to this issue yet. I considered using something like 'zero-touch enrollment,' but if I understand it correctly, it's more geared towards IT administration, and I would need to have an authorized manufacturer that supports this feature.

Another solution I'm contemplating (not sure if it exists, though) is customizing the OS in a way that it automatically starts my application on startup. However, I'm uncertain if I would need my own CDN for software updates, etc. I'm not sure if such a thing is even possible.

Do you have any ideas?

# Answer
If nothing else works and you want to supply the tablets, you could create just one Google account for this purpose.

* Give it a suitable name such as "myapplicationname registration".
* Disable all syncing on the tablets
* Disable all syncing on the accounts from a browser

One is allowed to have multiple accounts on a device, so the end user can still create their own account `instead of`/`in addition to`.
> -1 votes

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Tags: google-account, customization, accounts
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# Question
Title: I can't disable Parental Control on Google Play Store
Since I transfer my daughter's data from Redmi Note 8T to Samsung A52 4G I noticed that in the Google Play Store the Parental Control has been activated and I cannot disabled it at all. I already tried all the procedure found in the web (clear Play Store's data, delete Google account and restore it back, perform a factory reset) but no of them seem to work. Does someone else get the same issue and know how I can solve? Maybe some settings in the Google account that I forget to check. (My daughter is 18 year old, so I can't really understand why the Parental Control has been activated)

Here is a short video showing the issue: https://youtu.be/\_5wB4xaAwXc

# Answer
> 2 votes
I found out there is a procedure to verify the age on Google account: https://myaccount.google.com/age-verification

After verification, the Parental Control switched off automatically!

# Answer
> 0 votes
In my case, I just had to restart the tablet after disabling the parental controls.

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Tags: google-play-store, parental-control
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title: Reset wm setting overrides

text:
# Question
Title: Reset wm setting overrides
A mere ~15 minutes ago I was messing with the "wm" command under android to get Avelog's Mouse Simulator to run better (this worked!).

Not knowing these overrides are persistent on these modern versions of android, I essentially soft locked myself out of the tablet by setting the density to 440.

Can't click "Allow" on the adb shell dialog, so THAT'S not an option!

The "wm" command also doesn't work under TWRP recovery.

Any help please? I don't intend to factory reset, even if it only means losing 30 minutes worth of data.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Alright, this took way WAY *WAY* too long to get an answer to. Modern android has SO MANY abstractions that it gets really difficult to find out what happens at the low level. Everything changing every major release (like partition layouts) does NOT help.

---

Open /data/system/users/0/settings\_global.xml:

> vi /data/system/users/0/settings\_global.xml

Find the size override:

> /display\_size\_forced

Delete this line. Do the same with display\_density\_forced (...maybe?)

Write, sync, and reboot.

Despite messing with the density, I couldn't find that "display\_density\_forced" line anywhere in that file.

So... where is it? I don't know! Was able to boot up and run "wm density reset" though.

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Tags: adb
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title: How to back up Google Keep data

text:
# Question
Title: How to back up Google Keep data
How do I back up my Google Keep data?

Is there a way I can download everything in one single large .tar.gz tarball or other contiguousing and compression format?

Thanks.

# Answer
Use Google takeout and select only Google keep. It will export in the format as shown:

Compress it any format you want,with the tool of your choice. I use MiXplorer, which can compress in the formats shown:
> 10 votes

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Tags: backup, google-backup, google-keep
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# Question
Title: How to Force Dark Mode if "Force Dark Mode" from developer options doesn't work?
Even after activating the dark mode option from developer options in the setting,

some apps still have a white screen.

>

Although few apps have been successfully forced in the dark mode.

Is there a way to force the app to have black background somehow?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Note that aside from @MorrisonChang 's answer, you can still give these a try:

* Many devices have a native accessibility setting called "high contrast" mode; this will usually achieve a similar effect to Dark Mode. Note that there is generally a similar feature called "invert colors" which, while not as aesthetically pleasing, can at the very least help with the glare when you have an app that doesn't work with Dark Mode.
* Note that Chrome itself (or ***potentially*** your native browser, YMMV based on make and model) has at least two flags that can be toggled for Dark Mode (actually, these may also vary based on device and architecture), they *might* help with apps that call the webview class through intent:
`chrome://flags#enable-force-dark`
`chrome://flags#inherit-native-theme-from-parent-widget`

# Answer
> 4 votes
**TLDR: Ask the developer of the app to support Dark Mode.**

Android 10 added support for Dark Mode/Dark Theme in apps. Prior to Android 10, light/dark mode was supported via theme/style library. As you've discovered there is a 'Force Dark Mode' setting in Developer Options. From the documentation:

> Force Dark analyzes each view of your light-themed app, and applies a dark theme automatically before it is drawn to the screen. Some developers use a mix of Force Dark and native implementation to cut down on the amount of time needed to implement Dark theme.
>
> Apps must opt-in to Force Dark by setting `android:forceDarkAllowed="true"` in the activity's theme.

So it is on the developer of an app to support Dark Mode.

Also realize that the developer may be using a third-party framework similar to a game engine which doesn't check any theme state.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Another option is to try the DarQ application for Android 10 and higher.

> DarQ provides a per-app selectable force dark option for Android 10 and above.
>
> It uses a root or Shizuku (ADB) service to apply the theme seamlessly and quickly, without needing an accessibility service. DarQ also provides an option to apply the system dark theme (as well as selectable force dark).

Refer to detailed instructions for setting up shizuku

This works perfectly for apps that have an option to force dark mode see sample screenshots below:

Credits: Quinny899 XDA images

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Tags: applications, android-11, dark-mode
---


# Question
Title: Cannnot turn on "control device permission" in Anydesk on Android
I use Anydesk software on my devices and recently I've faced a problem with controlling my Android device with my Windows machine. Once I try to connect to the Android phone through Windows, I can see the phone's screen but I can't control it. I noticed that on my phone, "control device's mouse and keyboard" permission is off and I can't turn it on.

.

I've already installed the AD plugin.

How can I resolve this issue?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The AnyDesk plugin ad1 has also to be installed - activated and accepted.

Furthermore, you have to manually turn it on in Settings - Accessibility of Android - Locate 'Anydesk Control service' - turn it on.

Then you can choose full control and you will be able to access the mouse and cursor.

# Answer
> 0 votes
how to unlock (use) the **control my device** option in any desk for Android phones?

1. install (**ADControl AD1**) from play store.
2. go to settings and search for (**Accessibility**).
3. find your installed services and click on (**AnyDesk Control services AD1**).
4. then you have to manually turn it on.

you are good to go now ^\_^

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Tags: remote-control
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# Question
Title: Can one downgrade a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from Android 14 to Android 13?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra running Android 13. I am considering upgrading it to Android 14. Can one downgrade a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from Android 14 to Android 13?

I found https://flash.android.com/ but Samsung Galaxy is not listed amongst their supported devices.

# Answer
> 0 votes
One can use Samsung's Odin (firmware flashing software) to downgrade a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra from Android 14 to Android 13 (by flashing the device to Android 13, which means all data/settings will be lost):

> Although none of the publicly available downloads are authorized by Samsung itself, XDA-Developers consider the files offered on their Forum (Patched Odin v3 3.13.1 for windows) (Odin v4 1.2.1 for linux) the safest option.

Alternatively, one may use Heimdall (open-source).

Thanks Reddit for pointing me to Odin.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I've seen a couple of videos saying it's possible but I don't think it works on all devices, it could be for some specific versions of bootloader. I tried downgrading mine from Android 14 (One-UI 6.0) to Android 13 (One-UI 5.1) but failed when trying to flash with Odin. I was only able to flash the latest version and not old versions. My Samsung is S23 Ultra (SM-S918B)

Error encounter: `sw rev check fail abl fused 3 binary 1`

---
Tags: downgrade, android-13, android-14, samsung-galaxy-s-23
---


# Question
Title: Smartphone cannot read NFC tag I use to enter my building
I have a tag that I use to enter my building.

And I see someone else in my building using his smartphone instead of the tag.

I have downloaded the NFC tools app and it doesn't read the tag. It doesn't even show any response, nothing. Note that the NFC on my phone works without problems.

What is the problem?

# Answer
The tag in your photo is not an "NFC" type tag; it's an 125 kHz RFID tag. (You can tell from the number stamped on it... which, by the way, is the entire "tag data" that's stored inside. Knowing the number is enough to clone the RFID tag!)

NFC "Mifare" tags also exist in the exact same shape, which might be why your building has a reader that's capable of reading both types. However, they work in completely different frequencies, and I don't think any phones support 125 kHz tags. (I'm not really good at this whole RF thing, but I *suspect* that it would need a somewhat larger antenna than a smartphone can fit.)

Try asking the other person (or your building's security) about the app they use.
> 2 votes

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Tags: nfc
---


title: How can I edit a music playlist?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I edit a music playlist?
I have a lot of music on my phone and I think I use it rather differently than most people:

* all the music is actually on my phone as mp3s. I do not stream music from anywhere
* my playlists are long - 8 hours, 12 hours, kind of thing
* I generally don't shuffle but want to play them in order, because there's a pattern to the music
* I get new music from time to time and don't just want to stick it on the end

I have tried various things to make playlists but what they all seem to have in common is that "add to playlist" adds it at the end and there's no way to move things around. I understand if you had a 10-song list you could delete 5, add the new thing, then add those 5 back but I'm not doing that with hundreds or thousands of entries.

I don't need to edit the file on my phone -- copying a file out to my PC and editing it with a text editor, then copying it back would be fine for me. After all, I generally add music to the list only when I'm near my PC, where I keep the originals of the music files. I can handle XML, json, or other semi-human-readable formats without complaint.

I'm really not invested in any other features of a music player. I want to bring up the playlist, put my headphones in, hit play, and stop interacting with my phone at that point. I appear to be using "Samsung Music" which came with the phone, but I see I have VLC also installed. I will cheerfully install something different if it gives me the capability to truly edit a playlist.

# Answer
> 2 votes
VLC for Android, as of version 3.5.4, supports reordering media entries in a playlist. To reorder an entry in a playlist:

1. open the playlist;
2. touch and drag the *two horizontal lines* icon (see below image) for a media entry to wherever you want to within the playlist;

---
Tags: music-player, editing
---


# Question
Title: Clock icon on a single WhatsApp chat message on both side
Today, I was talking with one of my friends on WhatsApp and suddenly a clock icon showed on some messages.

First, I assumed that there might be an internet issue, so I sent messages to other contacts on WhatsApp and they were delivered. But for half an hour, my friend's chat was still showing a clock sign, and the same issue was faced by my friend.

I faced this issue for the first time in my life. Why is that so?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try to close the app in the background and open the app, by the time it processes the messages might have been sent from your side;

Otherwise, turn on and off flight mode.

Sometimes if there is a sufficient amount of reception and it is not sending or receiving any texts, then it is better to take some time to reset back to default mode.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try logging out from all **'Linked Devices'**. That worked for me.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Same issue here, although I've never faced such problems on Telegram. This solves my problem:

1. Find Whatsapp here phone setting \> application manager and Force Stop it.
2. From there tap the the storage button and clear cache (Not clear data!)
3. Start the app again

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: Require password to turn off for all Android devices
A relative of mine recently lost his phone and someone turned it off immediately and now the phone is missing. Find My Device was unable to locate the phone as it had been turned off.

I have a few other devices that are running Android 12 or less, is there a way to force the user to enter a password to turn it off?

I did a search and it seems there is such a feature in newer Android devices by some manufacturers. One suggested way was to set up a macro on the longpress of the power button hence preventing it from shutting down.

Is there a way I can achieve this even if it means rooting my phone or using third-party apps?

# Answer
> 1 votes
There is no such feature. Even if a phone would have this feature this would be a conflict with the "force reboot" function which nearly all Android phones have: press and hold the power button for 10-30 seconds to force a reboot (just like the reset button on a PC).

This force reboot feature is very important since the phone batteries are built-in and can not be removed to force a shutdown. In case the OS gets into an unresponsive state this force reboot function is the only way to recover the phone without having to wait hours until the phone has run out of battery.

Note that the force reboot function is usually a hardware implemented function, thus even on a rooted phone you can not disable this function.

---
Tags: security, password, lost-phone, power-on, power-options
---


# Question
Title: How can I view timestamps in my Chrome browser history (on Android)?
For security reasons, I need to check exactly when I accessed some websites on my phone a few days ago. The activity is stored in my mobile Chrome's browser history, but apparently the timestamps cannot be viewed - just the dates.

I know the timestamp information is stored because when I sync with my desktop Chrome, the timestamps appear there. However, for everything but the current day, it only seems to sync explicitly typed addresses and not Google searches (unlike the mobile Chrome app's history which has both, but no timestamps). This is frustrating to no end.

I was hoping to be able to do this without rooting my phone, though installing third-party apps would be fine.

# Answer
Perhaps, if you go to Google My Activity, you will be able to see this information. You can use the filter and choose "Chrome" so that only your browser history is visible for convenience.
> 5 votes

# Answer
This functionality is built-into Chrome. Just hover your mouse over a date, and the time stamp appears.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, browser, search-history
---


# Question
Title: Which process floods my logs with SQLite migration error and how can I cure it?
Phone: Xiaomi Mi Max 3, MIUI 11, Android 10. Using a custom ROM from xiaomi.eu.

The start of the flood is captured in LogCat, it happens every single millisecond, and I'm suspecting some system component. Possibly that `hwservicemanager` which has a couple of entries right before the flood starts, plus the DB migration failure is about a SQL table named `ThermalInfo`. The migration gets into an infinite loop when it fails every time at the 24th step out of 27. However I can go only by what I see int he LogCat.

Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/F3v0Cha7

Longer log attached in a GitHub issue: https://github.com/TrackMyIndoorWorkout/TrackMyIndoorWorkout/issues/475

# Answer
> 0 votes
The full logcat output contains the process-id creating the entries (not sure about the logcat you have posted, the format doesn't look like standard logcat output I get from my device).

Using the process-id you can get the app name (or the process path and name) by executing

```
adb shell cat /proc/<process-id>/cmdline

```

In case the logcat entry was created by an app you will get the app name.

---
Tags: xiaomi, logging, sqlite
---


# Question
Title: What does "network time" mean on a WiFi-only device?
I have a tablet (no phone network, just WiFi) running Android 12. In the Settings | Date and Time sub-dialog when I select Automatic date & time, there is a 3 way choice:

* Use network provided time
* Use GPS provided time
* Off

What does the first option mean? It sure sounds like NTP, but there is no interface to pick a NTP server. Some wifi routers provide a NTP server address with their DHCP replies, but I don't think mine does, and in any case a mobile device can't rely on that, right?

Strangely on my phone, also Android 12, the Automatic Date & Time widget is just a binary switch, on or off (though the phone definitely has GPS). I think "on" here means the mobile network. But how come this interface differs between two devices with the same Android release?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Network time means Android will get the time from a NTP server.

By default Android uses to my knowledge the server `time.android.com` (see here) but different manufacturer may change this in their devices so the default NTP server in Samsung or other devices may be different.

Android has no UI to change the NTP server but I think changing it via adb should be possible.

You can get the configured NTP server using this command (tested on Android 13 & 14):

```
adb shell cmd network_time_update_service dump

```

It outputs something like:

```
mPollingIntervalMs=PT18H
mPollingIntervalShorterMs=PT1M
mTryAgainTimesMax=3
mTryAgainCounter=0

NtpTrustedTime:
getNtpConnectionInfo()=NtpConnectionInfo{mServer='time.android.com', mPort='123', mTimeoutMillis=5000}
mTimeResult=TimeResult{mTimeMillis=2024-01-04T00:54:46.354Z, mElapsedRealtimeMillis=PT292H1M14.032S, mCertaintyMillis=9}
mTimeResult.getAgeMillis()=PT7H24M43.324S

```

Since Android 14 and higher multiple NTP servers are supported. On a Samsung device located in Germany I have seen the following time servers configured:

```
ntp://time.android.com`
ntp://europe.pool.ntp.org
ntp://2.android.pool.ntp.org
ntp://de.pool.ntp.org

```

---
Tags: settings, gps, date-and-time, dhcp
---


# Question
Title: Google Messages: Contact names are not displayed
Recently, I've found that Google Messages doesn't show a contact name for most of the messages. It's just a phone number displayed. When I click on Details, there is no contact information. When I go to contact via Contacts (Google) app then the number is here.

It doesn't show contact both on the phone and at https://messages.google.com.

The app has permission to allow Contacts.

App version: `messages.android_2022101_01_RC02.phone_dynamic`

Mobile OS: MIUI 13.0.15 / Android 12 SKQ1.210908.001

Any ideas on how to fix it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
This has been fixed in the `messages.android_2022107_04_RC02.phone_dynamic` version.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same issue. Uninstalled/reinstalled, did not fix.

Some contact did not have a 1 in front of the number - adding a 1 made them appear.

Even easier - I changed the current country from "automatically detected" to US in the messages settings.

---
Tags: contacts, sms, android-12, google-messages, miui-13
---


# Question
Title: Access point name settings are not available for this user / Samsung A14 5G from Tracfone
Samsung A14 5G SM-S146VL from Tracfone (part of Verizon) was bought for cheap from QVC. Phone was unlocked after 2 months of service using the code received from Tracfone. US Mobile SIM card inserted. Calls and SMS work. Mobile data does not work. When I go to the APN settings it shows "Access Point Name settings are not available for this user". "Add" option is greyed out. "Reset to default" option under three dots is greyed out.

So, it seems like Verizon prohibited using their phones with other carriers even after unlocking them?

Any ways to solve this issue? NO root, BL not unlocked. Thank you!

# Answer
I found the solution. What I managed to do is to install My Tech Suite app (published by TheSheryar) from Play Store.

It allowed me to forcefully manually add APNs to the system when I was locked out of the standard way to do so in Settings.

So, I did the following (worked for US Mobile carrier, but vzwinternet access point should work for any MVNO using Verizon network):

Start the app, push "Add New APN" and enter the following APN settings:

APN name: Verizon 2 APN: vzwinternet Multimedia Messages port: 80 MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms MCC: 311 MNC: 480 Apn protocol: iPv4/iPv6 Apn roaming protocol: iPv4/iPv6 APN type: default,supl Add the APN \> Click the 3 dots \> Hit save and close the app.

APN name: Verizon CBS APN: VZWAPP MMSC: http://mms.vtext.com/servlets/mms MCC: 311 MNC: 480 APN type: cbs,mms APN Protocol: iPv4/iPv6 APN Roaming Protocol: iPv4/iPv6 Add the APN \> Click the 3 dots \> Hit save and close the app \> Reopen the APP

APN name: Verizon IMS APN: VZWIMS MCC: 311 MNC: 480 APN type: ims,ia APN Protocol: iPv4/iPv6 APN Roaming Protocol: iPv4/iPv6

Add the APN \> Click the 3 dots \> Hit save and close the app \> Reopen the APP After that, 5G data and MMS started working immediately. Hope this helps somebody. :-)
> 4 votes

---
Tags: samsung, verizon, apn, tracfone
---


# Question
Title: Google Play Store: "Country not supported" error when making Family Library
I see a few related questions but I still ask this question (android.stackexchange.com#246629 mentions the same error although the situation is not exactly the same with mine).

# Issue

On Play Store I see this message and doesn't seem to be able to set up `Family Library`.

```
Country not supported
Confirm the country associated with your account

```

# Operation to reproduce the issue

On Play Store, choose Setting -\> Family -\> Sign up for `Family Library` -\> SIGN UP then move on choosing yes or equivalent.

## Things attempted but didn't seem to take effect

* VPN (`nordvpn`) to a US location before doing what's in operation section above.

# Environment

* All of my payment methods are in a country A. I'm seeing this issue in country B where I came for a week-long vacation.
    + Country A: the US, B: Canada
    + ~~I've never tried the operation in my home country A~~ UPDATE 2024/01/03: Now I'm back to my home country and tried the same operation but still seeing the same issue. VPN disabled.
* I tried from both of the following:
    + Android
    + ChromeOS 119.0.6045.212 (Official Build) (64-bit)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Not exactly sure what was a fix, but today after the following things are done, signing up "`Family Library`" finally went through. Not I'm back to my home country for 4 days by today.

1. Made sure VPN was off. Btw today I used Ubuntu Linux while I used ChromeOS for my OP. Hope this OS difference is irrelevant.
2. On another Google account of mine, I found a "`Family Group`" was set up with someone (my siblings) who might be based on yet another country (say country C). I removed them from this "`Family Group`", which I don't recall we've ever used.
3. On the Google account in question, on Chrome web browser I went to "Family Sharing" setup page (myaccount.google.com) -\> In "Other products and subscriptions you can share" choose "`Google Play Family Library`". Then follow signing up process -\> Success.

So, sorry as I don't have definitive solution but hope this helps others who run into the same issue.

# Answer
> 1 votes
```
Country not supported
Confirm the country associated with your account

```

Please ensure you set your home country in your google account. Your home country is the country where you live permanently and where your official government and banking documents are sent to. When you publish apps, answers to the questions asked by the google app store wizard will set the regulations your apps will be subjected to. That's the reason the app store is giving you a hard time and will continue until you match your home country (the one you set when you created your google account originally). Your IP locale does not apply here since you mentioned that you're back home and are no longer using your VPN.

---
Tags: google-play-store, chrome-os
---


# Question
Title: Setting permissions for which networks an app can access
Is there a way to restrict which networks an app can use? For example, I don't want to use a location-based dating app (or similar, e.g. Snapchat) on my work/university/school network. I would prefer those apps to only access the internet from my home network (private) or cellular data (again private). This is to avoid legal issues, etc.

I've set network settings to "restrict background usage" and also restricted networks. But as far as I can tell, this only stops apps from accessing the internet in the background.

I'm using Android Lollipop on a Samsung in case that makes a difference.

How should I go about restricting the particular networks (WiFi, cellular) that an app can access? Is there an app I need? Do I need to root?

# Answer
You can try **NetGuard - no-root firewall** to block internet access for apps selectively (forbid an app access to WiFi or cellular data). It works without Root as name suggests. It's available from Google PlayStore as well as from F-Droid.
You can use it to disable particular apps from accessing internet while you're connected to your work/university/school network.
> 2 votes

# Answer
You can use Google One to Connect to a virtual private network (VPN) on Android.

This will hide you traffic from your network you are connected to.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, wi-fi, permissions, mobile-data, internet
---


# Question
Title: How to turn on the Wi-Fi hotspot using ADB?
Do you have any idea how can we configure and turn on the wi-fi hotspot using the command line (ADB console)?

# Answer
You could try this:

```
  adb shell am start -n com.android.settings/.TetherSettings
  adb shell input keyevent 20
  adb shell input keyevent 66

```

The first command opens the Settings page for *Tethering and Hotspot* while the latter simulate key presses: `Down` and `Enter` respectively.

**Note:** For different Android versions you may have to adjust the simulation of key presses depending on where the hotspot setting is located under settings.

---

**Special Credits : Firelord and Kristopher**

<sup>*Firelord originally posted this as a comment, so I put this as an answer as comments are easily deleted or difficult to find*</sup>
> 10 votes

# Answer
EDIT: To start/stop Hotspot through adb with the help of Automate, all what you'd need to do is to create a flow in Automate implementing the logic through simple block programming, copy its URI and the use broadcast it through a shell using Activity Manager

```
adb shell am broadcast -a com.llamalab.automate.intent.action.START_FLOW \ -d FLOW_URI_YOU_COPIED_HERE \ -n com.llamalab.automate/.StartServiceReceiver

```

This will immediately execute whatever logic you have created in the flow. In our case, that was enabling Hotspot. You could also pass on extras to the flow to have more functionality

Example for sending over extra information while starting the flow

```
adb shell am broadcast -a com.llamalab.automate.intent.action.START_FLOW \ -d FLOW_URI_YOU_COPIED \ -n com.llamalab.automate/.StartServiceReceiver \ -e key1 value1 \ -e key2 value2

```

The information sent then gets captured in the Payload section of the flow beginning

Searched up the whole internet couldn't find out anything BUT then I remembered about one POWERFUL app called Automate.

Using this app, you could create a complex set of instructions to be executed in your phone by something called flows.

The app has some really beautiful UI.

Here's a video demonstrating some really simple things you could do:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i53Yd30TFrU

Simply speaking, you could access ALL sorts of Android APIs that would be extremely complicated to access otherwise through ADB alone. It's a universal solution for all phones to this hotspot problem and countless others.

It also has a vibrant community tab through which you could access the millions of flows created by other people.

The app is freemium, doesn't contain ads whatsoever. The only limitation is that you could run 30 blocks simultaneously at a time.

How to start/stop an Automate flow through ADB:
https://groups.google.com/g/automate-user/c/IPmrJ4HjXwk?pli=1 https://www.reddit.com/r/AutomateUser/comments/qqmpms/how\_can\_i\_start\_a\_flow\_via\_adb/

App Link
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.llamalab.automate

App Documentation
https://llamalab.com/automate/
> 1 votes

---
Tags: adb, wifi-hotspot
---


title: PDF always open in Drive from Files

text:
# Question
Title: PDF always open in Drive from Files
When opening PDFs in "Files by Google" it always opens in Drive PDF Viewer. I want them to open in Adobe.

I've looked online and got a lot similar issue, but none of the fixes work for me.

Here is what I found in other posts and tried:

* Clearing cache and storage in Drive and Files.
* Selecting "Don't allow app to open links" in "Open by Default" for both Drive and Files.
* There is no PDF option in "Setting"-\>"Apps"-\>"Default apps" for me to change.
* Denying Files the "Modify system settings" permission.
* Temporarily installing another PDF viewer to force a default app prompt when opening PDFs from Files (which it doesn't).
* Temporarily installing another file manager and selecting Adobe as my default PDF viewer. It doesn't carry to Files.
* Disabling Drive, opening the PDF from Files while Adobe is my only viewer. It opens in Adobe automatically but goes back to Drive as soon as I enable it again.
* Disabling Drive, opening the PDF in Files while I have multiple viewers available, selecting Adobe and clicking "Always". It goes back to opening in Drive as soon as I enable it again.

I am using a Google Pixel 8 Pro with Android 14. I had the same problem with my Pixel 6 for the past two+ years and possibly my older pixel 3, but I don't quite remember.

# Answer
It sounds like you already found one solution -- disable Drive, and nothing will open in that app.

On my Samsung Galaxy S23, if I open the app settings, the app info for Drive has a "set as default" option, and when I click on it, there's an option to clear defaults. If you look inside the app's settings instead of going for a general "default app" menu, that might accomplish what you want. I used to have a Pixel 3, but I don't remember if it would have the same thing. It's still worth trying, though. Good luck!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-drive, pdf, android-14, google-files
---


# Question
Title: Bypass 4GB limitation of Android File Transfer on macOS
Both my phone and my SD card (exFAT formatted) support big file sizes. However, the Android File Transfer app does not allow sending files bigger than 4GB.

Is there a way to bypass the limitation?

# Answer
> 24 votes
According to Android.com:

> Browse the files and folders on your Android device, add folders, copy files **up to 4GB** to or from your Mac, delete files, and more.

As a workaround, install an FTP server on your Mac, and transfer the file via Wi-Fi or mobile data.

OR, via ADB using the Android SDK, `adb pull` to transfer from the phone and `adb push` to transfer to the phone. Source.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can install android-platform-tools with Homebrew to install ADB.

```
brew cask install android-platform-tools

```

And then use `adb pull` or `adb push` like the geffchang's answer above.

# Answer
> 1 votes
A simple solution is to use the free app AirDroid to transfer files over your WiFi network directly to your tablet. All you have to do is install it on your phone/tablet, enable it, and then visit the device's IP address and port number from your web browser. You can then browse the device's file system and transfer files over 4 GB with no issues. The only downside is that the speed of the transfer is dictated by the speed of your WiFi network and especially your device's connection to it. Generally, I have found it to take about 1.3x as long on my 2013 Nexus 7 when compared to a USB 2.0 transfer.

There are also other apps besides AirDroid that serve as analogs, but I have found this app to be the easiest to use, the most reliable, and the fastest.

Hope this helps anyone who comes across this question as it is more of a layman's answer.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Use Xender (available for both iOS/Android). Worked like a charm. Can transfer on all platforms, provided you have WiFi connectivity.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Another limitation with Apple systems. Just install Windows via Boot Camp or Parallels. Connect and go. Will save you time and effort.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try using a split archive.

You can make these with 7-zip (Windows), Keka (Mac), or using standard \*nix utilities if you're good with the command line. By making the archives 4 GB, you can batch transfer and decompress on your phone using something like RAR, then delete the archives. Keep in mind you will be using around double the space temporarily (depending on the compression ratio, if any), so you need space first.

In Keka (which judging by your tags, you will use), put "4 GB" in for the "Split:" option. Copy all resulting files after compression (the ones labeled .001, .002, and so on to your phone. Use RAR on the first file, and the file will decompress. You can then delete the archive files from your phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
On Mid-2012 MacBook Pro, Catalina (10.15.3), I couldn't use Homebrew; needed additional downloads that weren't found on the server.

Instead, I used Wondershare Dr.Fone (Mac App Store and USB-C cable). On Moto Stylus 5G (2021), Android 11, I got ~1 GB/minute (24 minutes for 23 GB) using the Export function.

Also, have "Android File Transfer" and "HandShaker" for smaller jobs.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Connect using an ethernet cable and copy it.

https://web.archive.org/web/20150216012748/http://support.apple.com/kb/PH18710

---
Tags: file-transfer, macos
---


# Question
Title: YouTube video in fullscreen mode being cropped
I have a phone Xiaomi Mi 9T with Android 9 and I have MIUI installed on it. My problem is that when watching videos on the mobile version of YouTube in fullscreen mode, videos are being cropped. Here is an example: YouTube video on my phone and PC.

On PC

On the phone in mobile version, you can see that the bottom part has been cropped.

I tried on Firefox and Chrome, it seems that every browser on my phone uses the same player, so videos are being cropped everywhere.

Also, if I use the desktop version of YouTube and open videos in fullscreen, then the player is cropped at the bottom.

On phone in fullscreen

Do you know how I can fix these?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I had the same issue as you. Try using the Firefox browser, it worked for me.

---
Tags: browser, youtube
---


# Question
Title: WizTree: Difference in values of "Total size" and "Size" of disk
Here is the screen shot of the file tree of my phone's internal storage:

Why the total space available (shown at the top) is 48.8 GB but size on disk is just 20.5 GB, isn't it supposed to be 48.8 GB? How can i see the hidden 28.3 GB of files?

Thank you!

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you connect an Android device to a PC the PC does not get access to the storage system of Android. Instead Android exposes some folders to the PC using the Media Transfer Protocol (MTP).

Furthermore Android uses multiple partitions, usually one or more system partition(s), and one partition for user data. The entries "Total Space" and and "Space Used" refer to this user data partition. The system partitions (depending on the device and Android version) usually have a size of about 8-25GB, thus the user data partition can only be as large as the remaining space. In your case I assume your phone has 64GB flash storage. The user data partition has 48.8GB which means the system partitions consume the other space of 15.2GB.

The user data partition there are again several sections:

* Shared storage (`/sdcard` or `/storage/emulated/0`)
* App private data (`/data/data`)

MTP only allows you to see shared storage, so the shown storage tree only covers this part of the user data partition. Therefore you only see 20.5Gb of 48.2GB via MTP.

---
Tags: storage
---


# Question
Title: How to prevent child from calling friends?
Even when the phone is locked to the maximum extent (bedtime on Google Family Link / Huawei parental controls), children are able to call friends. This is not what I want, especially during nights.

I have spent a lot of time on looking for a solution. This seems like something easy to implement (even locking the whole dialer app), however it looks like one would have to root the device to achieve this.

I found one trail, MMGuardian, that claims to allow contacts white list, but this is paid software and I'm looking for a free solution.

There is a Google topic about this, on which a lot of people voted.

How come such a seemingly obvious functionality is not available?

# Answer
I haven't been able to test this (due to a lack of that setting on my daughter's card), but it seems one can achieve it by setting FDN (fixed dialing number) \- a SIM setting, though changing it doesn't seem very easy comparing to other parental controls.

> Fixed Dialing Number (FDN) is a service mode of a GSM mobile phone's SIM card. Numbers are added to the FDN list, and when activated, FDN restricts outgoing calls to only those numbers listed, or to numbers with certain prefixes. A notable exception is that emergency calls to 000, 112, 911, 999 and the like are exempt. Incoming calls are not blocked by FDN.
>
> One practical application of FDN is for parents to restrict the phone numbers their children can dial. The SIM card's PIN2 must be entered beforehand or when applying such settings.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: phone-app, parental-control
---


# Question
Title: Bluetooth headphone volume buttons make big steps
When I change music volume using the volume buttons on my bluetooth headphones, each click moves the volume 2 or 3 volume steps (compared to when I change volume using the volume buttons on my phone itself). This often means that it jumps right from too loud to too quiet, so I have to dig out my phone to get the volume to a comfortable level.

I've already tried Developer Options \> Disable absolute volume, which didn't seem to make any difference. I'm using a Pixel 2 (stock Android 11) with Soundcore Life Q20 headphones.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I have the same prob (with a Samsung, Android 14) and tried this option, too (which is the only hint I found yet). The option is effective only after disabling bluetooth and reconnecting afterwards. But for me the effect is that volume control is not at all effective on my BT device (except setting zero volume works).

---
Tags: bluetooth, volume
---


# Question
Title: CA certificate somehow not taken by browsers on android
This is a follow up question related to this answer.

In short: I am importing the self signed Root CA certificate into android system via

`Settings -> Security -> Trusted Credentials -> install from SD`

path slightly differs on different android versions.

Then point any browser (tested with Firefox, chrome and opera) to the secure (java script based) resource and I receive a socket error. The resource is an index.html with js web-socket logic to securely connect to a mosquitto broker.

If I on the other hand point the browser to `"https://myserver:<mysecure port>"` I receive a privacy warning, can continue unsafe and this somehow sets a cookie or other storage thing thus I am able to do future requests over the js based secure resource.

It feels, that browsers on android do not make use of the system's user imported CA certificates although they are listed in the trusted certificates "user" tap and in the trusted credentials area.

Tested with android 7.1.2 and 10. All desktop browsers work fine, tested on ubuntu / mint & raspi.

How to accomplish browser based TLS requests on android without accepting unsafe privacy risks?

**Additional test:**

I've tested the same thing on a ios 13.3 IPhone 7, importing the CA certificate, putting the secure resource on a proper web space since local file access isn't possible on ios. Worked out of the box.

So it seems to be a real android issue. It might make sense to put this question to an android space. Could someone make a suggestion please?

**Further research:**

Here is a detailed explanation, on how to get a custom certificate into the system's certificate section. But to be honest, that's not a usual way to go. Root access is not for ordinary mortals plus it might not work for more recent android versions.

User certificates are for android applications written by your own. You can have a view lines of property settings in app.config to work with your self signed user certificates.

Chrome browser and others on the other hand are kind of system applications or applications from vendors not being made to be aware of specific user certificates. And that's the only valid reason, why it will not know of certificates in the user section. It only knows of system certificates.

So the only way remaining, seems to be making your own application or somehow recompile a whole browser application configuring it to look for user certificates.

This is quite cumbersome and unsatisfying, since the web would give you all you need on any device, except android of course, which forces a detour.

# Answer
> 5 votes
This worked for me on Firefox 97.3.0:

1. Install the self-signed CA certificate into Android (for me, this was under Settings -\> Biometrics and security -\> Other security settings -\> Install from device storage -\> CA certificate). My certificate had to be DER format.
2. Open up Firefox Settings -\> About Firefox
3. Click on the logo 5 times (until "Debug menu enabled" popup appears)
4. Go back to Settings - there should be a "Secret Settings" option now. Choose that.
5. Enable "Use third party CA certificates"

# Answer
> 0 votes
# Firefox on Android

You don't have to add your custom root CA certificate to Android to let Firefox trust it. Similar to the Desktop Firefox versions Firefox maintain an own root CA certificate store you can add certificates to.

The only difference to the desktop version is that there is not management UI for adding certificates.

Instead you simply have to download a root CA certificate (DER format not PEM format) using Firefox Mobile then a dialog appears where you can mark the certificate as trusted for identifying web sites and/or mark the certificate as trusted for identifying e-mail users (pretty useless on Firefox on Android but it can be selected).

# Answer
> 0 votes
The only workaround I found to intercept HTTPS traffic on Android 11 (Waydroid) even if the website uses HSTS preload is to use the default Android web browser but there was an error ERR\_UNKNOWN\_URL\_SCHEME to open apps from the browser URL scheme (necessary to log in on some apps) so I have to save the login link in an HTML file (for example with nano in Termux) that I open with another web browser like Chrome to click on the link. Simply copy-pasting the link in other browser URL bar did not work. To make the login work, the app needs to be in a state where it is waiting for the login link.

Here are other answers I found useful to make it work:

https://stackoverflow.com/questions/13644712/launch-application-from-browser-url-scheme/13646068#13646068

Is it possible to create a plain text file in android?

---
Tags: firefox-for-android, certificates
---


title: How to delete miscoded file in Android

text:
# Question
Title: How to delete miscoded file in Android
I transferred two files from a Windows device to an Android device via xftp.

The names of these two files appear as garbled characters on my Android device, for example, `�������ѹ�͵���Ĺ�ϵ.ts`

Files can be opened but cannot be deleted or otherwise operated on. For example, one of them is .docx file, I can be opened with Microsoft 365(Office)

But when I try to delete it, I get a message that No such file or directory

> The file was transferred via xftp (I don't seem to have changed the default encoding Settings), and the original name of the file was Chinese.

#### More information about the file

```
~/storage/downloads $ ls -il
total 189320
320255 -rw-rw---- 1 root everybody         0 Aug  4 13:05 ''$'\241\266''ˮ䰴'$'\253\241\267''.docx'
449669 -rw-rw---- 1 root everybody 193668200 Aug 17 19:07 ''$'\265\347\301\367\323\353\265\347''ѹ'$'\272''͵'$'\347\327\350\265''Ĺ'$'\330''ϵ.ts'
~/storage/downloads $

```

#### Device version

* Samsung SM-A5260 (Galaxy A52 5G)
* Hardware version: REV0.4
* One UI version: 5.1
* Android version: 13

### Try

1. I tried to delete the file using the file manager, but I could not find the two files in the system default file manager. I could find the two files in other file managers but there was an error when performing the deletion.

* I tried to empty the folder (keep only these two files in it), show two items in the folder in the system default file manager, but it appears empty after opening the folder (even if Show hidden files is checked)

2. I try to use termux perform operations, and when I enter `rm �������ѹ�͵���Ĺ�ϵ.ts`, it returns `rm: cannot remove '�������ѹ�͵���Ĺ�ϵ.ts': No such file or directory`
3. I also try to use the adb shell executive `rm �������ѹ�͵���Ĺ�ϵ.ts` still get the same results
4. When I try to delete the entire directory `rm ./Download -r`, the terminal returns

```
rm: ��ˮ䰴���.docx: No such file or directory
rm: �������ѹ�͵���Ĺ�ϵ.ts: No such file or directory

```
5. Commands such as' rm \*.docx 'are invalid
6. Eventually I tried it

```
$ ls -i
320255 \241\266ˮ䰴\253\241\267.docx  449669 \265\347\301\367\323\353\265\347ѹ\272͵\347\327\350\265Ĺ\330ϵ.ts
$ find -inum 320255 -delete
$ ls
\241\266ˮ䰴\253\241\267.docx  \265\347\301\367\323\353\265\347ѹ\272͵\347\327\350\265Ĺ\330ϵ.ts

```

Although there is no error message when executed, the file still exists after `ls` again.

* I also try `find./ -inum 320255 -print -exec rm {} \\;` or other similar instructions. I get the same result (no errors but the file still exists)

7. I also tried to change the encoding of the terminal but without success.

# Answer
I have the same problem with a . webm file. I proved this:

```
rm -i *.webm

```

And worked!

So try this

```
rm -i *.ts
rm -i *.docx

```

I think this happened because there are characters not fully recognized by the terminal.

Hope it helps!
> 0 votes

# Answer
I think you're hitting problems because you have single-quote characters as part of the filenames. First, make sure you have *only* the two problematic files in the directory, `cd` there in the ADB shell, do an `ls -A` to make sure there isn't anything else in the directory, and then do

```
rm -i *

```

That will prompt you to confirm each deletion, and may well do the job.
> -1 votes

# Answer
Here's a different answer. Again, make sure you have *only* the two problematic files in the directory, `cd` there in the ADB shell, and do an `ls -A` to make sure there isn't anything else in the directory. Then try this:

```
ls -b

```

That should get you the files' names with fully-escaped characters. If that seems to work, try this:

```
rm -i $(ls -b)

```
> -1 votes

---
Tags: file-management
---


# Question
Title: Count time difference between some date time in the future and the current time in Automate
I am struggling to count the time difference between the next new year, 0 o'clock at January 1 and the current time and to obtain the number of days, hours, minutes and seconds.

According to the LlamaLabs help, `Now` gives a unix timestamp for the current time and `date()` a timestamp of for the specified time date.

However, computing the number of days, hours etc. in the obvious way from the timestamps doesn't yield the expected result.

I also don't find appropriate blocks for the flow.

How would you solve that in Automate?

# Answer
You can try the steps described below.

**Explanation**

We add a variable called `nextyear` whose initial value is derived from extracting the year from the current date and time, then adding 1 to get next year (Step 1). We then parse it to a date (Step 2). We calculate the difference between the two date using `durationFormat` function (Step 3). Then, optionally display the result (Step 4).

1. Add `Variable set` block

* Variable: `nextyear`
    * Value: `dateFormat(Now, "yyyy") + 1`
2. Add `Variable set` block

* Variable: `nextyear`
    * Value: `dateParse(nextyear ++ "/01/01 00:00:00", "yyy/MM/dd hh:mm:ss")`
3. Add `Variable set` block

* Variable: `diff`
    * Value: `durationFormat(nextyear - Now, "dd H'h'm'm's's")`
4. (optional) Add `Toast show` block

* Message: `diff`
> 2 votes

---
Tags: automate
---


# Question
Title: Why is there a blank space between app icons on App screen (launcher)?
There's a blank spot between my apps on the App screen of the Samsung Galaxy S23. I'm confused about it.

# Answer
There are two possibilities.

* You accidentally shifted the icon or accidentally removed it from the home screen.
* The app that was there has updated and moved elsewhere. Sometimes, when an app updates, it has a different signature and parts of the OS/firmware can't match it with the original.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: launcher, app-icons, samsung-galaxy-s-23
---


# Question
Title: Is it safe to use a phone while charging it with a powerbank?
Is it safe to use a phone while charging it using a power bank or is it as dangerous while using it with a charging cable?

# Answer
> 3 votes
It is perfectly safe to use the phone while it is being charged. If the battery is very depleted, the phone may get a bit warm to hot. This is normal, but do not cover it with any material.

It is definitely not a good idea to put in under the pillow while it is charging.

---
Tags: charging
---


# Question
Title: How can I voice type :-) using Google speech recognition in French?
In English, I can type :-) by voice by saying "smiley". How can I voice type :-) in French? I use Google speech recognition on Pixel 6 + Android 12.

# Answer
> 0 votes
According to Utiliser l'Assistant Google pour saisir du texte avec votre voix (English version Use Google Assistant to type with your voice), you must say "Emoji souriant".

> Pour ajouter un emoji, dites le nom de l'emoji, par exemple "Emoji souriant".

English version

> To add an emoji: Say the name of the emoji, like 'Smiley emoji'.

---
Tags: android-12, voice-recognition, google-pixel-6
---


# Question
Title: Why Google Apps have TikTok APIs and Libraries?
I'm new to Android app development, but a privacy Enthusiast who looks into the Activity's of Apps to see what kind of **tracking** does the specific apps use. And while doing so, I came across, **TikTok's APIs** and **Libraries** that are related to Account and all. And I've a very little amount of knowledge about that.
**BELOW IMAGE:** Receivers that Google App has. \[App is Warden\]

I've turned off those TikTok's things(I'm not sure whether they're libraries or APIs or any other and sorry for that).

I've searched the internet and got no results that are related to my query but related to usage of TikTok's APIs.

Editing's are welcome. Waiting for **knowledge** about these.:)

# Answer
> 2 votes
According to the Google Xander (which is "Gold Product Expert") on the support:

> Tiktok is an internal component in Google used by many apps, it was written and named like that before the social network existed and is absolutely unrelated.

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


# Question
Title: How does freezing an app work technically?
Apps like Link2SD and Titanium Backup are able to "freeze" other apps, that is disable them without removing them. What do these apps do to achieve this?

# Answer
> 27 votes
Titanium Backup etc just use in-built `Package Manager (pm)` to freeze an app. `pm` has a feature to prevent apps from running & from appearing in Launcher. To use it, Titanium Backup etc execute following command:

> # pm disable {package\_name}

You can freeze apps by yourself without using a dedicated freezer app. Just use the above command in Terminal Emulator or `ADB Shell`.

For example, if you want to freeze `Stock Web Browser`, open `Terminal Emulator` & switch to root using `su` command. Then, execute `# pm disable com.android.browser`.
It'll return `#Package com.android.browser new state: disabled`. Done!
Restart your Launcher (some devices may require reboot) to see the app icon gone.

To defrost the app, just replace `disable` with `enable` in the command.

# Answer
> 14 votes
I found how `pm disable` works:

If you run `cat /system/bin/pm`, it gives:

```
# Script to start "pm" on the device, which has a very rudimentary
# shell.
#
base=/system
export CLASSPATH=$base/framework/pm.jar
exec app_process $base/bin com.android.commands.pm.Pm "$@"

```

So apparently it is the same as the PackageManager we use from Java, it is calling it - just in a root context that no user app can directly access.

You CAN check if something is frozen, using

```
getPackageManager().getApplicationEnabledSetting( the package name ) ==
        getPackageManager().COMPONENT_ENABLED_STATE_DISABLED)

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
`pm disable` can be bypassed by the app re-enabling the component. A better way to do this is to use the undocumented feature of Intent Firewall as such: https://github.com/lihenggui/blocker

# Answer
> -6 votes
In Unix systems, files have 3 authorizations: read, write, and execute.

(For 3 categories of people: the owner of the file \[usually its creator\], a group of people, and everyone else, but it is out of the subject).

If you remove the execute authorization of the file, it cannot be launched (executed) anymore.

---
Tags: disable-app
---


# Question
Title: Xiaomi Mi Unlock "Not connected to the phone"
I am going insane here and I need help now.

I am trying to unlock my **Xiaomi Mi Note 4**'s bootloader since almost 2 weeks, but I am stuck in this problem where the **Mi Unlock** tool can't recognize that my phone is connected.

Yes, I already have applied for and received permission from Xiaomi to unlock my device. Yes, I have waited for more than 4 days already. The problem here is that the Mi Unlock tool simply can't see my device in bootloader mode. And it is connected, as I can see it in the Device Manager:

Mi Unlock simply can't see it:

If I click on the gear icon on the top, it says that the drivers aren't installed:

But if I click to check, it says they are installed:

Fastboot also sees the device:

What's going on here? I really need help. I am on **Windows 10 Professional 64-bits**, all latest updates installed.

All help appreciated.

# Answer
> 4 votes
I had the same problem, figured it out eventually.

Just extract the Mi unlock tool files into a new folder directly in the C Drive.

Hope this helps.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try using 15 seconds ADB Installer but remember to turn of your windows defender or any other antivirus and you are all set for detecting and unlocking your device.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I manually selected the WinUsb -\> ADB Device as the driver, when in Fastboot mode, and now it suddenly works.

---
Tags: fastboot, bootloader, xiaomi
---


# Question
Title: LG - Fastboot doesn't recognize my device
I'm trying to get flash a custom recovery on my LG p760, however when I type `fastboot devices` in the command prompt (while booted into fastboot mode) nothing shows up. `adb devices` works fine though. I have installed all necessary drivers as well.

I have read that sometimes it doesn't show up but it still works to flash etc. But In my case that's not true. If I try to flash something it just says `<waiting for device>` all the time and nothing appears on my phone screen.

This is really frustrating because I have searched for a fix everywhere without success.

# Answer
As someone who literally just had to fix this issue for my LG V30, this is an issue with incorrect drivers being assigned to the fastboot device by windows. USB3 is not an issue.

What happens is the device is assigned *Android ADB Interface* driver when running normally. Then when the device switches into fastboot mode, windows does not correctly assign the *Android Bootloader Interface* driver to the fastboot device (no idea why).

Here are the steps to fix this issue, taken from this site. This assumes that your device is **already being correctly recognized by adb**. If not follow the directions there to install adb drivers and get your device connecting to adb first.

1. Get the latest windows drivers from Android Studio download page (usb\_driver\_r13-windows.zip at time of writing)
2. Extract the contents of the zipfile to a folder. Ex: `C:\drivers\usb_driver_r13-windows\`
3. Connect the device to your computer and use adb to reboot into fastboot: `adb reboot bootloader`
4. Verify fastboot does not detect the device by running: `fastboot devices`. If your devices is not listed, continue on, otherwise stop now.
5. Open device manager and look for your device under `Other devices`. Mine was listed as `Android`
6. Right click the device and select `Update driver`
7. Select `Browse my computer for drivers`
8. Select `Let me pick from a list of available drivers on my computer`
9. The next screen asks to select the device's type. Select `Show All Devices` and click next.
10. Click the `Have Disk` button.
11. Click `Browse` and select the android usb driver. `C:\drivers\usb_driver_r13-windows\usb_driver\android_winusb.inf` then press `OK`
12. When it asks you to select the device driver you want to install, select `Android Bootloader Interface` and click Next.
13. You will be prompted with a dialog box `Update Driver Warning`, this is expected as windows couldn't identify which driver to use for this device anyway. Click `Yes` to continue.
14. You should hear sounds of windows disconnecting and reconnecting the device. Verify the device is now recognized by running `fastboot devices`

I realize this is now almost 2 years after your post, but I found this as someone looking to fix the exact same issue and wanted to make sure a correct solution was available.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I had same problem and it was because of USB3 PORT. When I changed usb cable to USB2 port fast boot drivers get installed and the error gone.
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: Earbud as a microphone and phone/tablet as a speaker
Basically, I want my earbud to serve as a bluetooth microphone then connect it to my tablet to serve as a speaker. Is it possible to do this?

# Answer
Speakers in the old telephone (POTS) could have been used this way (because they were constructed differently). Modern earbuds, microphones and speakers are of a different construction. Even if you could get them to work in a reverse fashion, they wont be very good. They havent been designed for that. The dynamic range and sound quality would be terrible.

Just buy headphones with microphones. You can get over the ear, around the ear versions. Cheap ones are not that expensive and will still give you better quality sound than your current thinking..
> 0 votes

---
Tags: tablet, microphone, speaker
---


# Question
Title: How to measure sound decibel in Android?
Since Android device can play music using in-built music player or using external apps such as `YouTube` or `TuneIn Radio`, I wonder if it is possible to "**measure**" the sound being played by Android through earphones/headsets?

**For example**: I am using Google Music App to play music through headset/earphone. ***Is there a way(any tool or app)to know how much sound in decibel it is generating?*** Already checked Sound Meter, but it seems to be monitoring only the external sound/noice around phone , not really catching the sound output from earphone.

As discussed in this Health.SE post, there seems to be health implications (related to hearing loss etc.) if one hears the music at higher decibel volume. Hence, its better to check what sound level you are hearing your music at for safer media experience.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you could measure the power output of the headphone jack then look on the spec sheet of your headphone/earphone for the sensitivity, you would be able to determine how much decibels you are being exposed to.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The easiest way by miles to do this is to borrow another Android phone and install the free (with ads) app Sound Meter on it. Then you can simply measure the decibel level using the borrowed phone's microphone.

You may also be able to install Sound Meter on your own phone and use that, but arranging playback at the same time as measurement seems like more of a fiddle (I don't use my phone to listen to music, so I don't know how to do this).

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


# Question
Title: Do I need to use a physical security key if already use Passkeys?
If I use Passkeys, do I need to enable 2fa and mfa or a physical security key?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Short answer: you don't *need* to.

Passkeys are FIDO credentials, the way you unlock your Passkey is up to the platform managing your Passkeys, eg. if your passkeys are managed by Google Password Manager on your Android phone, it will prompt for the method you would like to authenticate: it can be a hardware key like a Yubikey, or it can be your fingerprint, or any biometrics. On Apple phones it usually is the Face ID (and probably only that).

2FA (2-Factor Authentication) and MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) are both ways that service providers use to enforce multiple authentication steps, they can also be completely unrelated to FIDO2 and Passkeys (eg. first step username & password, second step QR Code or magic link). A service provider could also enforce a security key / biometrics authentication (it *can* be a passkey authentication) as the *only* step to login (but I haven't seen many so far).

Hope I have clarified your question a little bit.

---
Tags: 2fa, passkey
---


# Question
Title: Cannot backup WhatsApp to Google account on Family Link
I have Family Link control over my daughter. Now, we bought her a new Android phone. The phone is under her own account we created on Google. Now, we have installed WhatsApp. But when we go to backup options in WhatsApp trying to backup the WhatsApp data to her Google account, WhatsApp comments that this cannot be done. I suspect it is due to the Family Link.

After approving all apps for her with zero limitations, I still cannot back up WhatsApp data to her Google account.

How to solve such an issue?

# Answer
> 1 votes
WhatsApp backs the data up to a Google Drive account and I don't think Family Link accounts for under-13 accounts allow Google Drive. So, that might be why WhatsApp fails to back up the chat history.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I also found not possible to restore a WhatsApp backup from a gmail account under Family Link control

This is how I resolved:

* Removed the Family Link controlled gmail account from the older phone
* Added another temporary gmail account to the older phone
* Backup WhatsApp from the older phone to the temporary gmail account
* Added the temporary gmail account to the new phone
* Installed Whatsapp and restored the Backup on the new phone
* Removed the temporary gmail account
* Added my daughter gmail account to the new phone

---
Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger, google-drive, google-family-link
---


# Question
Title: ADB command to permanently disable Android 12 microphone & camera indicators
I want to permanently disable the microphone and camera usage indicator on Android 12.

I tried the following ADB command, but it only disable for some minutes: `adb shell cmd device_config put privacy camera_mic_icons_enabled false default`.

I also tried these commands but nothing changes; it only works for some minutes.

```
echo off
adb shell cmd device_config put privacy camera_mic_icons_enabled 0
PAUSE
adb reboot
(
echo echo off
echo PAUSE
echo adb reboot
)> adbReboot.bat
Enter
adb reboot

```

How to permanently disable these indicators?

# Answer
The following answer is provided by community member Bose:

> ```
> adb shell cmd device_config put privacy camera_mic_icons_enabled false default
> adb shell cmd device_config set_sync_disabled_for_tests persistent
>
> ```
>
> If run in sequence, the second line will disable permanently provided it is Android 13 (on Android 11, this command will not work).
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, camera, microphone
---


# Question
Title: termux: running termux via adb without *any* direct interaction with the device?
I know how to open the `termux` app, run (for example) `sv up sshd`, and then interact with the Android device via `ssh`, `rsync`, etc. This is just an example, and the same is also true for any other `termux` initiated procedures.

However, to do this, it's necessary to perform that manual open and manual `sv up sshd` command in `termux` on the device itself.

I want to be able to perform that initial termux interaction from my desktop computer via `adb` without ***any*** direct interaction with the device itself, aside from plugging in the USB cable.

I have looked for solutions, but it seems like no one has come up with any way to interact with `termux` except by first actually manually opening that app on the device, which I do not want to do.

However, could I have overlooked something? I'm hoping that I indeed missed something, and that ***somehow*** I can start `termux`-initiated procedures via `adb`.

Does anyone know how that might be done?

Thank you in advance.

# Answer
You can use `run-as` to access your Termux environment from adb without root or ssh.

Run `adb shell` and then:

```
run-as com.termux files/usr/bin/bash -lic 'export PATH=/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin:$PATH; export LD_PRELOAD=/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/lib/libtermux-exec.so; bash -i'

```

This will give you a Termux shell.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Per the comment by Irfan Latif above, the following works:

1. Launch `termux`
2. Do the following:

```
echo 'sv up sshd
sshd started' > .profile

```
3. Run this whenever I want to start `sshd` via `adb`:

```
adb shell am start -n com.termux/.HomeActivity

```
> 4 votes

# Answer
```
adb shell am start -n com.termux/.HomeActivity
adb shell input text "your command here"
adb shell input keyevent ENTER

```
> 4 votes

# Answer
**2024 proper solution**

Termux allows you to start the run command service through am allowing you to pass extras as well

```
adb shell /system/bin/am startservice --user 0 -n com.termux/com.termux.app.RunCommandService \
-a com.termux.RUN_COMMAND \
--es com.termux.RUN_COMMAND_PATH '/data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/sleep' \
--esa com.termux.RUN_COMMAND_ARGUMENTS '10' \
--es com.termux.RUN_COMMAND_WORKDIR '/data/data/com.termux/files/home' \
--ez com.termux.RUN_COMMAND_BACKGROUND 'true' \
--es com.termux.RUN_COMMAND_SESSION_ACTION '0'

```

In this command notice how I set the background option to true which is important so that it automatically runs in the background(the notification will show you that a task is being run in the background)

In the example above, we are executing the sleep command and passing in 10 as an argument which will make termux basically execute sleep 10 Once the execution is completed, termux will automatically exit

More information can be found here

https://github.com/termux/termux-app/wiki/RUN\_COMMAND-Intent#basic-examples

\[Message to mod who deleted my previous post(how do I contact you?)\]
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, termux
---


# Question
Title: What happens when you fail to pay your Google One subscription?
I do all of the following from my Android phone. I use access to 100GB of storage with my Google One subscription, of which I have used, roughly, 75GB. The default amount of Google storage is 15GB. By paying, a minimal amount, I have my cloud storage quota increased to 100GB. However, it may happen that when the automatic payment is processed, the funds are not available on my card.

Someone suggested that in this case some of your files may not be available, and they may appear deleted.

Is this the case? What happens to your files, and how does file access/inaccessibility present itself when payment fails?

# Answer
There was an interesting question asked on WebApps StackExchange about this.

I'll just quote the important part:

> if you exceed your storage quota for 2 years, your content across Gmail, Drive, and Photos may be deleted. Gmail You can’t send or receive messages. Messages sent to you are returned to the sender. Google Drive You can’t sync or upload new files. You can’t create new files in Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard. Until you reduce the amount of storage you use, neither you nor anyone else can edit or copy your affected files. Syncs stop between your computer's Google Drive folder and My Drive. Google Photos
>
> You can’t back up any photos or videos. If you want to add any more photos and videos,

Current google support Link of the same
> 2 votes

---
Tags: google-one
---


# Question
Title: Where's Lamedh in Gboard's Hebrew Keyboard?
I'm trying to type Hebrew into Duolingo on the Android app, and I'm mostly able to use the Gboard keyboard.

However, it appears to be missing the letter Lamedh.

Here's a sample screencap of the keyboard in use:

Now, I don't speak Hebrew, and I'm new to Gboard, but am I correct in that this letter isn't present?

It's preventing me from typing many common Hebrew words, so I'm guessing I'm missing something. Is it there but in a font or style I'm just not seeing?

# Answer
I don't speak Hebrew. However, the character you are looking for is not missing from Gboard Hebrew keyboard.

It's located on the 2nd row, 3rd character from the right. This is the result after pressing it: `ל`.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: keyboard, gboard
---


title: Permanently locked Tab S7

text:
# Question
Title: Permanently locked Tab S7
After using the pattern unlock too often, the tablet is now permanently locked, and I'm advised to contact Samsung customer service. They tell me, the only way to unlock is to factory reset and lose all my data. Anybody know another way, please? Also, cannot do factory reset as power+volume down combo never boots into recovery mode.

# Answer
Found this

How to factory reset via recovery mode

> * With your Galaxy S7 turned off, press and hold the Power, Home, and Volume Up buttons at the same time.
> * Keep holding down Power, Home, and Volume Up until you see Recovery Booting at the top of your screen (in the case of my Exynos S7, a dancing Android robot). When you see that, then you can let go of the buttons.
> * Now please wait a moment while it boots into Recovery Mode. Once you’re in Recovery Mode, you will see a list of options.
> * Scroll down using the Volume Down button until wipe data/factory reset is highlighted.
> * Push the Power button to select this option.
> * It will ask you to confirm.
> * Press the Volume Down button to select Yes and confirm the reset.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery, samsung-galaxy-s7
---


# Question
Title: How to record video with different sound effects on starting and stopping?
The stock camera app on my Moto G62 5G has a "shutter" sound that is played when I start OR stop recording. The problem is that I'm vision impaired and I'm never sure whether I have just began shooting a video or have just stopped shooting it.

It would be great if I knew a way to play 2 different sounds in the two cases. Any ideas?

I used to use an alternative cam app called HedgeCam 2 which does this. But unfortunately this app has recently become buggy on my device.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This app does it:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intermedia.hd.camera.professional

It has many of the same features as HedgeCam 2 too.

---
Tags: camera, camera-sound
---


# Question
Title: Can't open Google Takeout backup files on Android
I am running Android 12 on a Realme 8 phone. Recently, I've downloaded some Google Takeout backup files I created at the Google Takeout site, to my Android device. Here are some screenshots.

However, as the attached images demonstrate, I was unable to open the files on my Android device.

How can I open them on Android directly?

# Answer
These are .zip files by default, so you'll need an app that can handle this type of file. There are plenty available on the Play Store, most of which can handle the .zip and .tgz files that can be output by Takeout. I've preferred X-plore File manager for a long time, because it allows you to browse inside them without un-zipping, but I'm sure there are plenty of others with this functionality too.
> 1 votes

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Tags: zip, google-takeout
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title: Refresh web page with Google assistant

text:
# Question
Title: Refresh web page with Google assistant
Is there a command to make it refresh the web page currently shown in the browser on my phone? I tried multiple variations of "Hey Google ... Refresh the web page" but it instead shows me search results or opens Wikipedia. Argh. Want this to refresh it when I have dirty hands, so no touching, must be just voice.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This article from ComputerWorld seems to indicate that you can say "Reload" on the *new* Google Assistant on Pixel 4 and up. Fair warning, I tried this on my Pixel 8 Pro though, and I was unable to get it to work for me.

> All right, fair warning: The rest of these commands are connected specifically to that "new" Assistant we were just talking about. Google had originally said that would be making its way to more Android devices sometime in 2020, but as far as I'm aware, it's still for some reason available only on those aforementioned Pixel phones. So unless you've got one of those devices (or your non-Pixel phone is a lucky exception to the rule), these remaining options probably won't work for you.
>
> For those of us in the Pixel-4-and-up camp, though, some especially powerful browser-manipulating possibilities are out there and just waiting to be used. And I don't know about you, but I had completely forgotten about all of them up until just now.
>
> So refresh your noggin with me, you silly, silly sea fish. To start, while viewing any site within Chrome on your phone, make yourself a mental note that you can hop around the browser by bringing up Assistant and saying any of the following phrases:
>
> 1. Go back
> 2. Go forward
> 3. Reload
> 4. Bookmark this page

As a (bad) workaround, you could ask the Assistant to open the same URL of the page you're on, although this admittedly works best for simply-accessed pages (such as facebook.com or reddit.com, where the content you're after is at an easily requestable URL).

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Tags: google-assistant, google-voice-actions
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# Question
Title: Mute Google Meet's audio completely without muting the participants
In the Google Meet app, I want to watch the presentation of the meeting, but I don't want to *hear* anything. I can't just mute people because that will mute them for other participants.

I can't seem to find an output mute control or volume control in the app itself. I tried turning the volume all the way down on my Android device, but the volume slider won't go all the way to the bottom. Even if I set my device to silent, it doesn't seem to affect Google Meet.

How can I mute Google Meet's audio *output* completely? If it matters, the device is a Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 (2016) (SM-T580).

# Answer
> 0 votes
This seems to work: Use Companion mode for hybrid learning & collaboration - Google Meet Help https://support.google.com/meet/answer/11295507

I tried opening a meeting in the app with a link like: **https://meet.google.com/abc-defg-hij?companion=1** and that let me turn the volume all the way down. If that doesn't work for you, you might check the icon under the volume for more volume controls.

When I want to screen record a meeting on a desktop, I just mute the mic, and use an external display for the speaker device which I also mute. A Bluetooth earbud, wired headset, or wireless speaker with volume control, might do the job as well on a phone. Since this article came up when I did a search like how to come in to a Google Meet muted, I thought having this answer with the url argument (parameter or query string) "?companion=1" here which works on all platforms might be handy.

# Answer
> 0 votes
As of January 2024, the Google Meets app (v221.0.x, earliest version unknown) supports muting the audio output.

On the top bar, besides the meeting code, there's an icon to control the audio output. One of the options is to mute the audio output.

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Tags: google-meet
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