# Question
Title: How to save YouTube downloaded video to phone gallery
I have downloaded a youtube video in my youtube app and I want to save this video to my phone gallery. What steps should I have to follow to do this?

# Answer
You can use Y2mate for this purpose. All you need to do is to open the web site and paste video url in it. Rest will be done automatically.

https://y2mate.com/
> 1 votes

# Answer
I'm using Termux and youtube-dl python script. Here you have steps to install required software.

1. Install Termux https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.termux
2. Run Termux and paste following commands:

`apt update`

`apt install python`

`pip install youtube-dl`

Now you can download movies from YT

`youtube-dl <link to YouTube movie>`

But this is not comfortable way. Here are more steps to make it more user friendly.

1. Create dir in home:

`mkdir ~/bin`

2. Create file with your favorite editor. My is `vim` so I used it

`vim ~/bin/termux-url-opener`

3. Paste following content:

`youtube-dl $1`

and save file.

4. Make file executable:

`chmod 700 ~/bin/termux-url-opener`

5. Make Termux internal storage accessible.

`termux-setup-storage`

Accept access for Termux to internal storage

6. Create config file for youtube-dl:

`mkdir -p ~/.config/youtube-dl`

`vim ~/.config/youtube-dl/config`

7. Paste following config:

`-o /data/data/com.termux/files/home/storage/movies/%(uploader)s-%(title)s.%(ext)s`

Now if you want to save movie from YT simply open YouTube app, find movie, tap Share and choose Termux.

Movie will be saved in Movies directory in internal storage.
> 2 votes

# Answer
YouTube gives you an option to download Videos to Watch them Offline later. These videos get saved in encrypted ‘.exo’ format that can only be opened with YouTube App.

So, If you want to use it with Other Media Player, you have to download it on your Android Device. Get the best way to do it, Below:

Step 1: First Download & Install: TubeMate YouTube Downloader App on your Android Device from here

Step 2: Launch TubeMate App &. Tap on ‘3 Horizontal Bar’ icon from Top Left Corner and Go with ‘Youtube’.

Step 3: Now search for any video on YouTube that you want to download.

Step 4: Once you run any video, you can download that video by simply ‘Tapping’ on ‘Green Download Icon’ from the Top. To Get Full Pictorial Guide: Check Out Here NOW… here

Step 5: It will give you the option to download that video in different quality. Select the desired Quality and Tap on ‘Green Download icon’ from the bottom.

Note: Google considers that downloading YouTube Videos without authors permission is illegal. That’s why All YouTube Videos Downloading App has been removed from Google Play Store. Use TubeMate YouTube Downloader App to save a copy only for backup.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can do it by copying the \**video link \** and copy that link on \**savefrom.net \** site. You will be able to do it successfully
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google, youtube
---


# Question
Title: Make home screen icons round again, after Huawei update
Yesterday I installed a suggested update on my Huawei nova3i, to EMUI version 9.1.0

There is one change which I don't like. Many apps installed from the app store used to have round icons, but now they have square icons.

See in this before and after, how the 'Calm', 'MeeWee' and 'Vimeo' icons have changed shape:

(We can also see that the icons grew a little bit larger, which I don't really find appealing either.)

**Is it possible to restore the old look, with smaller round icons for apps from the App Store?**

(I am willing to install a theme if I have to, but I don't really want the default icons, wallpapers and text to change!)

# Answer
> 0 votes
I guess the device somehow lost my theme, and this ugly look is the fallback "no theme found" behaviour.

Anyway, I downloaded the "Legend" theme from this website, and used these instructions to apply it.

After I applied that theme (although I think any theme would do), I got a reasonable compromise: smaller icons and rounded-square borders. This is certainly improvement.

Now I just need to reset the font and wallpaper, which I can do.

Still, if anyone knows how to get the really round icons again, I would like that.

---
Tags: huawei, home-screen-shortcuts, app-icons, emui
---


# Question
Title: App not showing up in app store search result
I am trying to download this app in samsung galaxy s4 with android 5.0.1

I have tried looking for it in another phone with android 4.2 but it doesn't show up when I search for it in the playstore (even though the search box autocomplete shows me the exact name of the app when typing the first few letters). I assumed this was because the app says it's for Android 4.4 and up so I tried the samsung phone with Android 5.0.1 but the problem is still same. In both phones the search results are similar, but neither one of them shows me the one I want

Why is this happening? The two phones are signed into app store through different google accounts. Is there any way to go directly to the page for this app using the Play Store app, instead of searching for it? I cannot do this through the browser because I don't have the google password for the Android 5.0.1 phone.

# Answer
It's because **the app is not compatible with your device**, and thus Google Play Store app filters those out because the user won't be able to install from it anyway (APK sideloading is always possible though).

As stated in Android Developer's official documentation,

> ### How filters work on Google Play
>
> Google Play uses the filter restrictions described below to determine whether to show your application to a user who is browsing or searching for applications from the Google Play app.
>
> *When determining whether to display your app, Google Play checks the device's hardware and software requirement, as well as its carrier, location, and other characteristics. It then compares those against the restrictions and dependencies expressed by the application's manifest file and publishing details.*
>
> If the application is compatible with the device according to the filter rules, Google Play displays the application to the user. **Otherwise, Google Play hides your application from search results and category browsing, even if a user specifically requests the app by clicking a deep link that points directly to the app's ID within Google Play.**
>
> <sup>(Emphasis mine)</sup>

Note that app developer can also exclude individual device model manually.

> ### Exclude your app from certain devices
>
> **Manage excluded devices per app**
>
> To prevent app crashes, you can exclude your app from being available to individual devices on Google Play. Making this change manually excludes your whole app—you can't exclude individual APKs.
>
> By manually excluding devices with known compatibility issues, you can help provide a better experience for your users.

---

For this specific case, NextRadio Free Live FM Radio depends on the FM receiver chip on the user's device. The update since January 2, 2019 also states that it doesn't support streaming anymore and only use FM-radio.

> **WHAT'S NEW**
>
> NextRadio is going back to basics. Streaming is no longer supported, but you can still tune to your favorite local stations on FM-enabled devices.

On the other hand, Samsung Galaxy S4 doesn't have FM radio, and it will be pointless to install the app since it won't work properly. Note that the user can always sideload the APK if they want.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, downloading
---


# Question
Title: How to unlock my device after blocking with "Find my device"?
I lost my phone in a taxi and blocked it using Find My Device. I managed to get it back but now it has a button to call my home and a lock icon, but won't unlock.

# Answer
> 4 votes
You must restart your phone. Turn it off. When you turn it on again you'll be able to enter your password.

**Update**: after doing this, it will lock again. You must really login again using your account in "Find my Device". The option is somewhat hidden in the suspension points button. See:

Maybe you don't need to restart your phone after login in "Finde My Device". The restart allows you to enter your device with your password, but sometime latter it will be blocked again. You must really go to the "Find My Device" web page.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I saw text message notifications on my screen. All I did was tap it and it then prompted me for my phone access password. I entered the password and my phone opened up as per normal. It was just chance I tried this after having no success in the Find My Device app. The suggestion above about turning the phone off and on again could work if it then prompts you for your password. If you have no password not sure what wold happen. Worth a try!

This worked for me! How good is Find My Device. I left my Samsung phone on a bus from Mt Buller to Mansfield at night. I think it fell out of my pocket when I changed seats in the dark! googled Find my Device on my home PC once I got home (when I realised i did not have it after driving from Mansfield to Melb)). OMG! I could see on the location map it had gone back up the mountain to Buller late at night. I locked it and left my email address and husband's phone number to call. The bus driver called the number which appeared on my phone screen to call. Lucky for me a friend was catching a bus down the mountain the next day. I organised for the bus line to give it to her and to ask her for ID so no one else could claim it. They called her to arrange it. Thank you MMBL bus lines and shuttle service! I now have back my phone all intact. I felt happy as soon as I could locate it and lock it at least knowing that no one cold use it and I had a chance of getting it back if it fell in the right hands! I would have even driven up there again just to get it or have someone post it as registered mail and reimburse them or I think you get get reverse charge post so you pay when pick it up from a post office. If you have no messages try asking someone to send a text message to see if it appears on your screen then tap it open. The you can access the messages if you put in your password and the phone will open up as normal and you can then access everything.

Tip: "Location" must be turned 'on' on your phone for Find My Device to work. You can do this in the pull down screen. If lost google "android device manager" or "find my device" from a pc or someone else's device. When you see your phone located on the map take a photo or screenshot of your pc screen with someone else's phone and that photo showing it's location could be sent to someone else to help locate it, even the police, if someone has stolen your device.

---
Tags: locked-out
---


# Question
Title: Google Search app cannot find installed apps
My Android phone is Samsung Galaxy Grand (I9082). I rooted it and flashed Google apps into it. Everything works well except for this: Google Search just cannot find installed apps for me. I believe my settings are correct.

Here are some screenshots:

As you can see in the screenshots, I have Kindle installed, but Google Search simply cannot find it for me. Actually, it cannot find any installed apps for me.

Any idea what could possibly cause this?

# Answer
This is just Google wanting you to use the search box to generate paid clicks for them. It doesn't make them any money to help you find apps on your device, the search box is there for a reason - to send you to the web and click on ads.
> -1 votes

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Tags: google-search
---


title: Get rid of Google Play

text:
# Question
Title: Get rid of Google Play
I would like to freeze, or in any way disable Google Play on my Android 2.3.6. I tried to prevent the autorun: it always finds its way. I tried to freeze it with Gemini App Manager: even blocked it starts.

How can I definitely block or even uninstall this damned application ? Has someone succeeded in doing so ?

The reason: every time it starts, my whole phone becomes extremely slow, barely usable.

# Answer
Not sure how well this works but if you have root you could try this F-Droid app.
> 1 votes

# Answer
The most straightforward method would be to just flash a custom ROM without GApps, so you would have a clean device. Just backup all your apps with TitaniumBackup or oandbackup before doing it.
> 0 votes

# Answer
* If your phone is rooted, then you can rename Google Apps APK file extension to .\_ap\_k or something like that. You can also move it outside the system/app folder. This will definitely prevent it from starting.
* You can also use startup manager and task killer apps to kill it.
* If the disable option is available in Settings -\> Apps - All, then it you can disable it. Otherwise, try to disable Google Framework or Google Account. Google Apps is dependent on them.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If your phone is rooted you can use the pm command in terminal.

Instructions: 1. Install https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jackpal.androidterm 2. In the terminal emulator type "su" (without the "") and hit enter in order to obtain root permissions. 3. Then you need to type

```
pm disable package_name

```

Replace the package\_name with the package name of the app you need to disable. It should work.

To enable a package do the same but replace disable with enable.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, uninstallation, google-play-services, disable-app
---


# Question
Title: Was unable to install any app - how to find out what was blocking the installs?
I was unable to update/install any apps earlier today, using either Play Store, F-Droid, or Play Store in my work partition, even though I had over 500MB free on my phone (Pixel XL running Android 9.0).

I have 2 theories about why this happened, and I would like to find out more low-level information to try to figure out definitively why it happened. I think it's happened before, as well.

Theory 1 is that the flash memory on the device is being wear-leveled, and some of it has become unusable because it has been written to too many times and is "dead", but for some reason Android, or maybe the underlying Linux kernel, is still reporting the unusable blocks as "free space". So while it looked like I had 500MB free, I really had less.

Theory 2 is that Play Store in my work partition is somehow silently causing installs on my personal partition to fail until it "gets its way" and manages to install the updates it wants to install. (This seems very unlikely to be intentional, if so - there was no warning about this in any of the terms and conditions I signed up to when I created a work partition, to my recollection. Also, it doesn't explain why even 500MB free is not sufficient to install a relatively small update.)

When I freed up even more space (by uninstalling 2 apps in my work partition) Play Store in my work partition was able to update all 5 apps that were due to be updated, when I manually hit update on them. Then F-Droid was able to update apps again. So it looks like I'm good, for the time being... oh wait, I spoke too soon, it's happening again.

The two work apps that were uninstalled then automatically got pushed to my device and reinstalled, which to me casts doubt on the theory that it was about lack of space / unusable space (theory 1).

I uninstalled them *again*, and now I'm able to install apps again... for now.

Can I get some additional information on what was going on using adb or something like that?

I've already tried `df` in termux and it's not showing me anything useful - only one partition's free space is changing. I've read through the wall of text of previous solutions but they either don't seem to be relevant or are not making a lot of sense to me.

# Answer
**There is a low space threshold of about 500MB (depends on the device), and any app install or update that would take you over this limit always fails**. No-one really explains this, least of all Android itself.

This is actually a badly-implemented "feature" - it is supposed to prevent you hitting 0% free so that system apps don't start failing, but it doesn't fully prevent that. You can still hit 0% free - and get into a terrible situation where system apps pop up error notifications every fraction of a second - by uploading/downloading files to the phone.

(The reason the 2 apps were able to reinstall themselves, is probably because I cleared some caches for some of the apps in settings as well as uninstalling those apps.)

The only way around this problem involves root access \- which I am not allowed to do because it violates the terms and conditions of my work partition on my phone.

So the only thing to do is free up enough space...
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, installation, insufficient-memory, f-droid
---


# Question
Title: How can I import a list of words and shortcuts into my Android Personal Dictionary?
jc able

ab about

bv above

ac account

This is a sample of the words and shortcuts that I'm trying to add into my Personal Dictionary. I've tried exporting my current dictionary with shortcuts and the text file inside of the zip contains this:

\# Gboard Dictionary version:1

q ing

\# From OS

jc able
t the

I'm able to import the above file, but as soon as I copy and paste my words into it I'm hit with an "Import failed" toast.

Here"s the full wordlist that I'm trying to copy and paste into the other file.

I've also tried the User Dictionary Manager app with no success as it doesn't seem to support shortcuts for words. It just assumes that the shortcut is part of the word.

Why isn't this working? What do I have to do too make it work?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I had a look at your file and couldn't import the words to Gboard either. There are 3 errors that make Gboard ignore your words and shortcuts: space between words & shortcuts and no language for the words.

## Error 1: Space between words & shortcuts

Your words and shortcuts are separated by spaces. That's not correct. They must be separated by `Tab`. I didn't know that either. I created some words and shortcuts, then exported them. When I opened the exported file in a code editor, only then could I see that the separator was not a space but a tab character.

## Error 2: No language for the words

This error is minor. Your words didn't belong to any dictionary language. It seems when you don't add the language, the words & shortcuts are not imported or GBoard just decides to ignore and select a language for you (I have not checked why). So, you must add a language at the end of each words separated of course by Tab characters.

## Error 3: No dictionary version

Add the dictionary version at start of the file. GBoard ignores the language (see Error 2) which is bad if like me you have many languages enabled.

I have not found yet how to add words to the "All languages" dictionary (although you didn't ask).

---
Tags: 9.0-pie, gboard, dictionary
---


# Question
Title: How to limit charging to a user defined limit?
My UleFone Armor 2 has a 4700mAh battery and I would like to limit the charging to 60% to reduce battery aging. The batteries in most of the phones are not user-replaceable and I am worried that a factory/service battery replacement might affect water resistance negatively.

How can I limit the charging to 60%? (But not limiting charging speed. I love fast charging.)

Lenovo ThinkPads have a built-in feature that does this, called *“battery preservation mode”.*

# Answer
> 25 votes
There now is a hardware+app solution for that, it's called Chargie. https://chargie.org

Basically, Chargie is a Bluetooth switch that is linked to an app on your phone. You set the desired level of charging, the app runs in the background and stops the charge at the percentage you set.

\*disclosure: I am the CEO of Lighty Electronics, we have developed this solution and this isn't meant to be a spammy post with a link, but rather a very relevant solution to this issue. As far as I know, there are no other manufacturers of such devices.

# Answer
> 13 votes
Many ways - all of course, need root. Without root, it's not possible and you can only be notified either by automation or using an app as suggested in Chang's answer

Above modules not tried by me

**Edit:** Advanced Charging Control (acc) Magisk Module is a very versatile module with an associated front end app, which allows you to create profiles and even run profiles on schedule

It allows the phone to charge up to a certain point and then be powered by USB only. For example, you set the cut off at 80%,beyond 80% it doesn't charge the battery but draws a low current to keep the phone running. So when you disconnect charging, your phone is still at 80%! This feature requires to be supported by kernel though. I am using this currently on my One Plus 7 with Kirisakura kernel. For details see this Don't charge the battery but use connected power to run the phone

# Answer
> 9 votes
AccuBattery can notify you when the battery charge reaches a certain level. It won't stop the charging, unfortunately, but it's still worth a try. :)

# Answer
> 6 votes
My solution is to just use a CountDowntimer on the power outlet, set at 1:20 for me. One hit on the CD button to start the power (ON), and after 1:20 it's OFF again which will be at about 80% charge.

I use this: https://www.clasohlson.com/se/Digitalt-kopplingsur/32-8618

Today you can buy a smart power outlet controlled with an app. It shouldn't be long until that app can turn of the power outlet charging the cellphone when it reaches 60%.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If your phone is rooted, do prefer an opensource **Advanced Charging Controller** module to flash either from **Magisk** or **Twrp** or any root solution u have choose. Here is the Github link for all details.

My experience in this module is, I am using this on my **Oneplus 5** for about a year now, it doesn't disappoint me. It creates a charging loop. You can change it's default preference by typing **acc** commands. 80% is the default stopping point. And there is heating machining where its charge/discharge on & off if ur phone is expected to reach a peak point, which is a nice way to tackle the heating issue which is generally seen while charging.

*If any problem occurs u can ask him on telegram or create an issue on Github.*

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


title: Live wallpaper selection on Pie?

text:
# Question
Title: Live wallpaper selection on Pie?
I find the new Wallpaper app on Pie doesn't let you pick live wallpapers. Even when I downloaded the APK and installed it, it says 'cannot install'.

It's not as though 9 doesn't support them, the first time I installed a live wallpaper, I was able to click 'open' on the package installer and set it, but now since it doesn't provide an app icon I can't go back to it if I change to something else. I'm running the LineageOS 16 based Resurrection Remix custom ROM on a OnePlus 3.

# Answer
Overkill - I had to install the Pixel 3 live wallpaper collection that weighs in at 159 MB. It lets me choose my own live wallpapers in addition to the built in ones (that made it so bloated).

I've marked this as the answer - but open to other alternatives too.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You should install a third-party launcher for your Android phone. This will enable you choose Live wallpapers. Your custom ROM launcher doesn't support live wallpapers.

Also, for future references, contact the developers of the custom ROM to include the ability to include live wallpaper option in their next versions.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 9.0-pie, live-wallpaper
---


# Question
Title: Can i add money to a google play gift card and how
Can I add funds, and how if I can. If I had a 10 pound Google play card and I needed 14 pounds on it can i add 4 pounds to it?

# Answer
Answer is to your question is No, you cannot add an amount to a gift card after purchase. You'll have to purchase another gift card & redeem both in order to accumulate the desired amount.

**As per the Comments**

There is no information which actually states this. but this document says that user can use multiple gift cards to complete the purchase. What I've seen is, third party seller sells the gift card & updates the gift card number with the amount to google. so I don't think there is any provision to update amount later. otherwise they would have stated that way. https://play.google.com/intl/ALL\_ALL/about/card-terms/
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: Is it possible to install windows in android tablets?
I want to have Windows in Android, Is it possible to install windows in android tablets?

# Answer
This article explains how to install Windows on an Android tablet. **But as it stresses, the app and methods are unsupported, so if something happens to your device, then you are on your own.**

From the article, here are the steps:

> First, you first must install the Change My Software application on your Windows-based PC. There are several versions of the app, each for a different version of the OS (Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 and Windows 10).

After installing the software mentioned above:

> 1. Make sure your Windows PC has a high-speed internet connection.
> 2. Connect your Android tablet to your Windows PC, via a USB cable
> 3. Open the version of the Change My Software tool you want to use.
> 4. Select the Android option in Change My Software, followed by your desired language
> 5. The Change My Software app should then start downloading the required drivers from your Windows PC to your Android tablet.
> 6. Once that’s done, click “Install” to begin the process. Obviously, you should keep your tablet connected to your Windows PC for this entire time. If you want to dual boot between Windows and Android on your tablet when the process is finished, you should not check the “Remove Android” box in the Change My Software app.
> 7. Once Windows has been installed on your Android device, it should either boot directly to the Windows OS, or to the “Choose and operating system” screen if you decided to make the tablet into a dual boot device. After that, your version of Windows should then begin its own normal setup process.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, windows, emulators
---


# Question
Title: android x86 - play AgeOfZ - app exits on launch
I'm running android x86, in kvm (virtual machine manager) VM, installed from the iso. It loads great, and i have the playstore.

When i install a game "Age of Z" it exits everytime when i launch it ?

How can i debug this further, or is there things that i could try to resolve this. I am not sure if it requires the screen to be portrait, as that is how the game normally runs on a mobile phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Goto "Settings" \> "Android-x86 Options" and enable "Enable native Bridge"

---
Tags: android-x86
---


# Question
Title: How to find the firmware update history for a specific model?
My Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime phone has received an update from July 2019. I would like to know the previous firmware version (February era) to install that previous version, or if there is any way to return to the previous update.

Note: both have the same version of Android 8.1.0.

# Answer
It is possible to get the full list of updates that has ever been released for your device but you simply cannot downgrade your device without **formatting your phone**.

If you still want to proceed with the downgrade, I strictly recommend you to **backup all of your data, contacts, important personal informations, pictures etc. to a safe place like your PC**

**Once you proceed, there is no turning back and all of your data would be lost forever.**

You can get the full list of updates that has ever been released for your device by typing in your exact Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime model in the search box of https://samfrew.com/all/.

**This step is very important, make sure you select the correct model for your device. Selecting the wrong model would result in bricking your device and rendering it unusable without getting help from professional services.**

You can find your exact model on the phone's original box or by using "Settings". First on your phone, go to "Settings" --\> "About Phone" --\> "Model Number"

Note: If your phone model has a "/DS" behind it, you can safely ignore it.

Example: **SM-G610F/DS**

You would search your model without the "/DS" like this "SM-G610F" in the search box.

In this case, my J7 Prime's exact model is "SM-G610F/DS". So, I would type in "SM-G610F" as the model in the search box and proceed with selecting the country and the choice of firmware that you would like to download that is around February 2019.

Once you've download the firmware file, you should have a file like this "xxxxx.zip" where xxxxx is your firmware file name.

For example I want to download J7 Prime firmware for my country Malaysia (XME) and I want the latest firmware. So my firmware file name is "XME-G610FDXU1CRL2-20190108182010.zip"

After completing all those steps, continue with the following:

Step 1:

Step 2: Use your original Samsung USB cable that came along with your original box like the image above

Step 3: Unzip the Samsung USB Drivers file and install the driver. Follow all of the instructions in the driver installation wizard.

Step 4: Unzip your firmware file (the xxxxx.zip file) and you will get a file with xxxxx.tar.gz, xxxxx.tar.md5 or xxxxx.tgz

Step 5:
<sub>(source: xda-cdn.com)</sub>

Unzip Odin 3.13.1 zip and open up the application. Once inside, tick the box beside "AP" like the image above.

Step 6: Press "AP" and select where your firmware file is located (the xxxxx.tar.gz, xxxxx.tar.md5 or xxxxx.tgz file)

Step 7: Boot your phone into download mode. Press and hold "Power" button + "Volume Down" button + "Home" button together until you see a green background with text like the image above then read the warning carefully and make sure you want to proceed. Press the "Volume Up" button to accept

Step 8: Plug in the Samsung USB cable to your PC and connect it to your phone

Step 9: Press Start in the Odin app on your PC to start flashing the firmware

After flashing, Odin app will show a big green sign with "PASS!" and this indicates that your firmware flashing is successful like the image above

Reboot your phone, wait for Android to start loading everything. Complete the first setup and go to "Settings" --\> "About Phone" and you should see that your firmware has been downgraded to February 2019 firmware
> 1 votes

---
Tags: updates, device-firmware
---


# Question
Title: LG phone seemingly stuck on "Firmware Update"
This may or may not be off-topic; feel free to point me to a better place to ask this.

My father brought home a cell phone he found in the woods, and I thought I'd charge it and turn it on to see if I can find out anything about the owner. (Needless to say I got no further than the lock screen.)

The phone is now turned off and plugged in via USB (not connected to the computer, but directly to the electrical outlet). However, the screen now reads "*Firmware Update - do not unplug the USB connection until the process is complete*", with a progress bar stuck at zero. It also refuses to be turned on again.

What's the best course of action? That is, can I safely unplug the device? I would assume so since it's only connected to the electrical outlet, but who knows what's going on behind the scenes, and unplugging it may leave it in an inconsistent state. I'd also like to avoid connecting it directly to my computer.

I'm probably being overly cautious, but I have no experience with LG devices and it's someone else's to boot, so I'd like to make sure I'm not making any of the stupid mistakes I'm prone to making. Better safe than sorry.

I can post a picture of the phone if needed — from the looks of it, it's some kind of LG G Flex.

# Answer
Once when I plugged the LG phone to give it a full charge, it did this firmware update stuck on 0% thing. I fixed it by just holding the power button on the right and the volume up button on the left for a few seconds. It reboots just fine.
> 4 votes

# Answer
Take out the battery while it is plugged into a laptop, computer, or maybe the wall, then leave it out for a few seconds. A battery with a red exclamation point should show up and that is when you insert the battery and turn it back on.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Press Volume Down and On/Off at the same time for up to 10 seconds.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Had the same **problem with** **LG flex2 frozen firmware screen**:

"*Firmware Update - do not unplug the USB connection until the process is complete*", stuck on 0% while plugged into charger all night long without any progress, no response from any button or button combination; not even 2 minutes of holding down the power button. I have no idea how it got to that state. I think it happened at low battery level.

**What worked for me** : Remove plastic snap on back cover. Remove the tiny screws and remove the plastic part to get to the battery. The battery didnt appeared to be removable, but at the top left a flat short cable pops out of the battery and its terminal can be unplugged. Just slide your fingernail under and the tiny plug detaches without lots of pulling force. I waited some 10seconds and plugged the battery back in. Et voila the phone screen went straight into normal startup. The battery level at that stage were 11% (so not flat at all)
> -1 votes

---
Tags: charging, device-firmware, lg
---


# Question
Title: What are .vm files inside /mtklog/audio_dump folder?
When I walk through the system folders of my old Android phone to clean it, I could see that there was a **mtklog** folder containing an **audio\_dump** folder, itself containing many files in the form **VMLog\_%Y\_%m\_%d.vm** in the **Internal Storage** folder.

As the name of the folder suggests that I have to make audio files, I tried to play them as a PCM RAW file, without success. Despite several searches on the file format, I did not find any information.

Someone knows what these files are, if it is possible to read them to know what they are, or just if there is a risk to delete them because I would not like to make the system unstable by deleting them?

# Answer
A MediaTek SoC based Android phones usually ships with a lot of "MediaTek Apps" that much of the apps has logging turned on by default. Logging is used to debug or in layman's terms "Identify bugs, problem or issues easily" so that it would be ready for production use or "normal user's daily driver".

They didn't turn off logging when the phone ships because maybe they are plain lazy or they "forgot". It has been over a decade that MediaTek phones has this "mtklog" folder.

You can safely delete this folder as it has no use at all for a normal user. It doesn't affect anything in the phone's ecosystem and this option is supposed to only be used in factory or the manufacturer and deleted before a device is sold to normal users.

**Technical Information** (Advanced users only):

I have seen this folder everywhere when I use a MediaTek device. It takes up a lot of space because I think the logging level is set to "Debug" mode. It usually takes up to 70MB and it is basically useless unless you want to fix an app or the system's services or you want to study the MediaTek environment. Nothing is inside the "mtklog" folder besides "every single move that has been captured" and saved to a log file of an app or service. It might introduce vulberabilities if personal information are logged.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: files, logging, mediatek
---


# Question
Title: Does Android 8 has journaling enabled in its ext4 files sytem?
Android 8 uses stackable file sytem called `sdcardfs`, which emulates FAT32 on `ext4` on the data partition. Does `sdcardfs` recognize the `ext4` file system and journaling?
In other words, files written using `sdcardfs` has journal history information created?

On Android 8 it's not clear how the `journaling` works e.g. can it be used to recover data? Is the new data written to empty fresh areas or first the deleted areas are used?

# Answer
> Does Android 8 has journaling enabled in its `ext4` files system?

It depends on a few factors. OEMs can possibly disable journaling e.g. on `system` partition as it's always supposed to be used R/O. These days `ext4` and `f2fs` are commonly used filesystems on Android, so first make sure you have `ext4` on `userdata` partition. `f2fs` is by-origin a `log-structured` filesystem which is a `circular buffer`, that's what a journal is but the functionality differs.

Filesystems are part of Linux kernel, not Android (AOSP) itself. `ext4` by default is created with journal, though it depends on `mke2fs.conf`, and can be disabled with `mke2fs` or `tune2fs` option `-O ^has_journal`. Journaling support can be checked from filesystem features by executing `tune2fs -l /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/userdata | grep has_journal` (or use `dm-0` block device if `userdata` has FDE) but it requires root. As alternate if `mount | grep 'on /data'` shows `data={journal|ordered|writeback}` option then journal is enabled for sure.

> Does `sdcardfs` recognize the `ext4` file system and journaling?

`sdcardfs` itself doesn't have a journal, but since emulated filesystem is stacked over `/data/media` (which is `ext4`), the files created through `sdcardfs` are recorded in underlying filesystem's journal.

> On Android 8 it's not clear how the `journaling` works e.g. can it be used to recover data?

Yes definitely, if you have root already and the data isn't overwritten. We have tools like `extundelete` which are very effective. But do consider factors like `TRIM` and others described below and in given links.

> Is the new data written to empty fresh areas or first the deleted areas are used?

Well that's a different question, again it has nothing to do with Android. The question is ***how often a filesystem overwrites deleted data blocks*** and it's not simple to answer. Create a new `ext4` filesystem, create a file *foo* inside it and delete it. Create new file *bar* and it will take the inode block and data blocks freed by *foo*. Delete *bar* and create file *baz*, it will occupy the same space. However in actual things are complicated. Will the data blocks of deleted file be immediately overwritten or not depends on whats the size of new file is, how much fragmented your filesystem is, how much free LBAs you have before the logical location of deleted file etc.

**PS:**
Things are different on `f2fs`, it's the **F**lash **F**riendly **F**ile**S**ystem, so as a wear-leveling strategy it preferably writes data to new empty blocks (free segments), so that `FTL` doesn't have to Erase cells, trying to reduce the E/P counts on flash memory. Later it does background garbage collection (GC) synchronized with FTL to release LBAs corresponding to deleted data. But the tools like `debugfs` aren't readily available for `f2fs` to explore deleted inodes and to lookup corresponding data blocks from `journal`. So from data recovery's view, `f2fs` isn't very *friendly* (AFAIK and experienced).

**RELATED:** What Makes Recovery of Deleted Data Difficult / Impossible?
> 1 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery, file-system, internal-sd, operating-system, ext4
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to get pictures out of a nonfunctional Samsung Note 4?
My Samsung Note 4 has been acting up lately and is now practically dead. It doesn't turn on whatever the method is. As much as I want to let it go, it holds a lot of pictures that I didn't put on my memory card that I don't think I want to disappear. I have been consulting it to numerous people and they suggested to reprogram it, which means to wipe out every single thing on it. I thought of removing the physical internal memory of the phone and put it to another Note 4 and access the pictures there, maybe even the whole phone itself.

Is there a better option to salvage my pictures? Thanks a lot :)

# Answer
> 0 votes
For the highest chance of getting important data back in a situation like this, it would be best to find a reputable company that has experience fixing this for other people.

I would look for phone repair specialists first, to see if you can get the phone turning on again.
And if not, there are (pricey) businesses that can do data recovery on the storage chips themselves, but you may run into issues with encryption. From my quick research, it looks like the Note 4 was released with Android 4.4, which is after Google had implemented full-disk encryption. I'm not sure if it's enabled by default on your Note 4, and software updates over the years may have enabled it afterwards as well.

I wouldn't recommend attempting to swap the storage chips on 2 phones yourself, unless you have some equipment, and recovering your data isn't super critical. Here's an entertaining video on what the process of soldering these types of chips can sometimes look like: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Shn7LdIrViQ

My overall recommendation is call a few businesses, see what their professional opinions are, and decide if the price would be worth it to you. It would probably still be cheaper than buying a few spare practice-phones and trying repairs at home.

---
Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: How can I launch a system app that doesn't appear in the app drawer?
Just for context, I have an unrooted OnePlus 6. There's a system app called "Zen Mode" (not in the play store) that gives you notifications when you use your phone for 2 hours. I tapped on the notification, it opened the app, and there was a button to disable the notification, and I disabled it. But now it's not going to give me notifications anymore, so I don't have a way to open the app, so I cannot change those settings?

---

I'm using NovaLauncher, and I've verified it is not just set to "hidden" in my launcher. It just won't appear in the launcher whatsoever.
I can still view the app details in settings, but there is no "launch" button or similar.
Looking on the app details page, it looks like this app doesn't support being opened by any links, so I can't take advantage of that by typing a URL into the web browser for example.

I found a similar question here: How can I run an installed system application that doesn't appear in the app list?
however the answers on that post suggest using an "am" command that isn't working for me (error is "adb: usage: unknown command am")
and the other answer suggests the app is disabled, but in my case it isn't disabled (and in fact, the "disable" button in the settings is grayed out, unclickable.)

# Answer
Since you have Nova Launcher installed, try adding an Activities widget and flip through the available activities list to see if one of the activities is what you're looking for.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, settings, launcher, system-apps, oneplus-6
---


# Question
Title: Samsung galaxy gt-19070, wiped system in twrp
I use Samsung galaxy gt-19070 that runs under cyanogenmod with rooted and bootloader unlocked. I recently wiped my system in twrp and my phone is stuck in "android is starting". Please help! Thank you.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You only said that your "/system" partition is wiped so it means that only your "/system" partition is clean and other partitions are untouched. You also said you used TWRP. So, I assume you still have access to TWRP.

What you would need is:

* TWRP access
* Your original CyanogenMod Custom ROM zip file

Since you didn't state your TWRP Recovery version, I assume you are using version 2.x

Step 1:

(Skip this step if you still have your CyanogenMod ROM zip file)

Download your CyanogenMod ROM zip from where you originally downloaded it.

Step 2:

Boot into TWRP Recovery

Step 3:

Still in TWRP, go to "Mount" and tick the box with "Internal Storage" and "External Storage"

Step 4:

Go to "Install" and find the CyanogenMod ROM zip file that you originally flashed.

Note: the folder "sdcard" is your "Internal Storage" while the folder "sdcard1" is your "External Storage" or "SD Card"

Step 5:

After the flashing is completed, go to "Advanced" --\> "Reboot" to reboot your phone

Your phone should now work normally as usual and CyanogenMod will load as per normal!

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, samsung, twrp
---


# Question
Title: Accidentally rebooted OnePlus 6 with no OS installed, how to get back to TWRP?
In the process of installing LineageOS on my OnePlus 6 A6003, I accidentally pressed "reboot to system" when there was no OS installed. How can I get back to TWRP? I've tried holding Power+Vol Down but it just boots with the oneplus logo then unlocked bootloader warning then black screen with the status LED on.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I solved my problem with this tool.

Instructions:

> Download the zip;
> Unpack the zip in a folder;
> Reboot the OnePlus 6 in fastboot mode (Power and volume-);
> Connect the OnePlus 6 to PC;
> Run flash-all.bat flasher you need;
> Wait until the process end;
> The phone will automatically reboot.

Downloads: https://www.androidfilehost.com/?w=files&flid=271877

# Answer
> 0 votes
You need to press **vol-up + power** and then **briefly (1-2 secs) let go** of the power button (don't let go of the vol-up button yet!) and hold it down again until you see the TWRP splash screen.

---
Tags: recovery-mode, custom-roms, twrp, lineageos, oneplus-6
---


# Question
Title: How to enter recovery mode in a watch with one button (power)?
I try to enter recovery mode in watch with one power button and no additional buttons , but failed to do that.

**Is it possible to enter recovery mode with this single button ?**

I try this with 2 different watch: microwear H5, kingwear 98

One of them is using android 5.1 , the other android 6.

Thank you

# Answer
It seems that OP got an answer from Xda-developers for Microwear H5.

> You can enter recovery mode via adb command or installing a reboot to recovery app from play store.

The adb command is the usual one for rebooting to recovery:

```
adb reboot recovery

```

The answer also applies for Kingwear KW98.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: recovery-mode
---


# Question
Title: Does Google Play Store change apks with time
I have a trivial app up at the Play Store. It calculates its own keyed checksum and displays the results.

The Play Store checksum is always different than that of the uploaded apk file. I understand Google is adding its own special sauce to the apk, presumably in the manifest.

The Play Store checksum has changed since the app was first available. Is Google Play changing the apk from time to time?

# Answer
When uploading an APK file to PlayStore Google add another signature to the APK file.

This "Google PlayStore Signature" (also known as "frosting") allows to identify if an APK file has been retrieved from Google Play Store.

Based on the APK signature scheme v2 an APK file can have multiple signatures.

You can't add add every signature in the signed content the signatures are ignored when verifying the APK (or in detail the complete APK signing block is ignored). Therefore adding the frosting signature does not invalidate any signatures you have created.

This may be the reason that a APK file retrieved from PlayStore has a different check sum that the one you uploaded.
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: How is the list of apps allowed to install another apps populated?
On Android 8.1,

If I go to `"Settings" > "Apps & Notifications" > "Advanced" > "Special App Access" > "Install unknown apps"`, what determines which app are in this list ?

On my phone, I see : `Chrome, Drive, Files, GMail, Messanger, WhatsApp`.

Yet I have a lot more apps installed and running.

# Answer
> 4 votes
It lists apps that have the permission to install other apps. The permission is found on the apps' manifest. For example, a file manager can install an apk, same case with a browser or Whatsapp if a contact sends an apk to you.

They are labelled Unknown apps because the apps are not installed via Google Play Store, thus not trusted by Google (that does not mean that there is something wrong with the file).

From @Andrew T's comment, the permission is REQUEST\_INSTALL\_PACKAGES that:

> Allows an application to request installing packages. Apps targeting APIs greater than 25 must hold this permission in order to use Intent.ACTION\_INSTALL\_PACKAGE.

**Note:** API 25 is for Android 8.

# Answer
> 5 votes
Just to add some related details to @ReddyLutonadio's answer, `android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES` is the one which defines which apps would appear in the list you have mentioned, and it's required on Android 8+ to install apps from sources other than Google Play. But this permission alone doesn't define if the app is allowed to install unknown packages or not. It has protection level `Signature`:

> The system grants these app permissions at install time, but only when the app that attempts to use a permission is signed by the same certificate as the app that defines the permission.

It means that user apps will never be allowed this permission. The apps which are allowed in `"Settings" > "Apps & Notifications" > "Advanced" > "Special App Access" > "Install unknown apps"` are those which have AppOps operation `OP_REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES` allowed. You can also check from `adb shell`:

```
~$ appops query-op REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES allow

```

Results must be same as in Settings. To deny any of the apps:

```
~$ appops set org.fdroid.fdroid REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES deny

```

And it will appear as `Not allowed` in Settings.

Other permissions which are controlled with AppOps can be seen with `dumpsys package | grep -A100 'AppOp Permissions:' | sed '/^$/q'`.

---

**RELATED:**

---
Tags: 8.1-oreo
---


# Question
Title: How to enter in TWRP/recover on Huawei P9 lite with keys?
I have a p9 lite Huawei. I can boot into twrp with this command

```
adb reboot recovery

```

But without adb, I cannot enter in recovery mode. If I push `Volume Down`+`Power`, it goes into bootloader (I can see a green droid logo). If I push `Volume Up`+`Power`, it opens the EMUI recovery. How to get recovery mode with twrp?Is possible with fastboot? I have installed the twrp with

```
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img

```

# Answer
> 1 votes
I have found a workaround to enter in recovery.

```
a)Turn off device
b)Push power+VolumeDown
c)We enter in bootloader mode, with volumeup key we select the "recovery" and press power
d)Device reboot to twrp

```

# Answer
> 1 votes
The basic process of installing TWRP on every phone is to boot into TWRP itself first so TWRP could overwite the recovery partition and replace the stock Android recovery with TWRP itself.

Step 1: Boot into bootloader / fastboot mode

Step 2: Make sure that your device's boot loader is unlocked. If not, please follow this tutorial on forum.xda-developers.com by user Mandrigan. https://forum.xda-developers.com/huawei-p9lite/how-to/guide-unlock-bootloader-twrp-root-t3405701

Step 3: Boot into fastboot mode again. Type in the command `fastboot flash xxxxx.img`

Where xxxxx.img is your TWRP image file name.

Step 4: Immediately boot into recovery (make sure you don't boot into Android!!!)

Step 5: While in TWRP, Press "Mount" and tick on "System" box. Then go to "Advanced" --\> "File Manager" find a folder with the name "system". Go into that folder and scroll down until you find a file with something like "recovery-from-boot.xxx". Press on the file name and press on "Rename" and add ".bak" at the end of the file name and it should look like this "recovery-from-boot.xxx.bak"

Step 6: It is recommended to flash either SuperSU or Magisk so TWRP stays and it doesn't get overwritten by stock Android recovery.

Installation is done and you should have TWRP as your permanent recovery!!

---
Tags: twrp, huawei
---


# Question
Title: When I tap on a phone number, why doesn't my HTC automatically call it?
Please see the screenshots beneath. When my grandma tapped 'Mobile' beneath in screenshot #1, her HTC Desire 825 failed to, but ought've, instantly connected. Rather, a "No Internet calling account" message appeared.

But when she input that 647 number manually, her phone connects perfectly as in Screenshot #3.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Do you have an application called "Voice Changer" installed? I've heard that it can cause this. Likewise, if you have google voice installed, do you have it set to "Never Dial with Google Voice"?

If those are not the reason, do you have any other "Telephone Linking" applications or "Sip Dialers" etc, remove them and check whether your issue stops.

If none of these options above work go to:

**Settings \> Call \> Use Internet Calling**
Change this setting to **"Just for Internet Calls"** Additionally, Change WI-Fi Calling to Disabled

---
Tags: htc
---


# Question
Title: Disable default Internet app on Android 6.0.1 on a Samsung Galaxy Tab S2
I'm trying to disable the default "Internet" app. I can't deactivate it via the app manager. I need it disabled, because the Tablet should not be allowed to use an internet browser, but other apps should still be able to connect to the internet. The device is hardened and only a few apps are allowed. But through the settings the user can reach the user manual, which opens the default internet app. Therefore I need to uninstall or disable it.

Has anybody an idea how to get rid of built in apps without rooting the device?

Thanks alot!

# Answer
From https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/:

> **WARNING** Uninstalling system applications can be dangerous so please know what you’re getting rid of before you complete these steps. Failing to do so could result in your phone becoming unusable until you perform a factory reset. Of course, by removing any given system application, another system application that may depend on it may also break so be careful what you remove.

1. Install the USB drivers for your device (Google has a list of some universal USB drivers here)
2. Download the ADB binary for your particular OS (Windows, Mac, Linux)
3. Extract the zip file into a folder that you can quickly access.
4.

On your phone, go to Settings and tap on About Phone. Find the Build Number and tap on it 7 times to enable Developer Options. 4. Now enter Developer Options and find USB Debugging. Enable it. 5. Plug your phone into the computer and change it from "charge only" mode to "file transfer (MTP)" mode. 6. On your computer, browse to the directory where you extracted the ADB binary. 7. Launch a Command Prompt in your ADB folder. For Windows users, this can be done by holding Shift and Right-clicking then selecting the “open command prompt here” option. 8. Once you're in the command prompt/terminal, enter the following command: `adb devices` 9. You will see that the system is starting the ADB daemon. If this is your first time running ADB, you will see a prompt on your phone asking you to authorize a connection with the computer. Grant it. 10. Now if you re-run the `adb devices` command, the terminal will print the serial number of your device. If so, then you’re ready to move on. 11. Enter the following command: `adb shell` 12. Execute the `pm list packages | grep '<OEM/Carrier/App Name>'` command to find `package names.package list`

> **ALTERNATIVELY:** You can also easily find the package name of an installed system application by installing the App Inspector app on your phone. I prefer doing it this way so you know exactly what the app name is of the application that you are about to uninstall.

---

## **If you have App Inspector follow the steps below:**

Step 1: Tap on "App List"

Step 2: Find the app you want to uninstall. (eg. "Compass")

Step 3: Find the package name under the App Name (eg. "com.huawei.compass")

---

14.

Execute the command like so: `pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package>` command to uninstall a specific system application.
> 3 votes

# Answer
You can go to Settings \> Applications \> Application manager and navigate to all apps tab then found your browser in this list and tap on it and then you see turn off button, when you disable it using this button, browser should disappear from applications menu. If this is not working for you, there is no other way, you will need to root your tablet.

**Update:**

After you root your device, you need to download root explorer, total commander or ESFile Manager and go to system/app where you should find browser and delete or cut it from here. **IF YOU DELETE IT FROM HERE, THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO RESTORE THIS WITHOUT REFLASHING ENTIRE ROM!**

But there is a second way, which I recommend to you. With downloading Titanium Backup from Google Play Store and freezing your browser from this powerful app. After this you could restore it any time you want.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Download "Package disabler" from google playstore,open it and scroll down to find "internet" disable it,it automatically vanishes from your app drawer.You dont need to need root access.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Go to app manager, select Samsung Internet, then disable all permissions, you will reach a point where you are asked if you would like to uninstall all updates and to go back to the factory stock of the app, just click ok. It will uninstall, and when you go to your default apps, Samsung Internet is no longer there. Just did this!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, internet, uninstallation, disable-app
---


title: Wileyfox Swift won't turn on

text:
# Question
Title: Wileyfox Swift won't turn on
My WileyFox Swift phone's battery somehow emptied itself overnight and now the phone won't turn on at all.

Battery is 68% full. When I plug the charger cable in/out the phone vibrates and the Wileyfox logo appears as well as the battery icon but no other reaction whether connected or not. I always download the latest Android updates and regularly delete photos/videos to free up storage space. I don't drop it often, screen is not broken or anything and I didn't dowload anything dodgy.

Any idea what's going wrong there and how to fix it?

What I tried without success:

* long pressing power button to provoke a restart/boot
* long-pressing power button while phone both connected and disconnected to USB charger cable - nothing.
* removed battery, microSD and SIM as well as SIM2 and put them back several times – no change.

when charging, the LED light is on, so something must be working right?

I tweeted support for help. I have limited knowledge on all things phone and so I haven't tried anything else.

Please help. This is the best phone I've had and I love it. I don't have any back-up phone so I'd appreciate if this could be troubleshooted online! Thank you.

# Answer
Probably too late for you, but in case others stumble across this page while seeking help, like I did.....

I had a similar problem and contacted them via their chat function on their website. I was advised to hold both the power and the volume down buttons for 30 seconds. This brought up the android recovery screen - I followed the instructions and the phone is now working fine.
> 3 votes

# Answer
My phone kept restarting because of empty battery. The red light was flashing but it didn't charging. I pressed volume down and power button ant it opened recovery mode. I left phone around 10 minutes and when I came back, battery charge level was18%. Then I restart phone and it worked.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: battery, hardware, reboot, power-on, troubleshooting
---


# Question
Title: How to watch chrome history of my friend, who is logged in from my gmail id?
**What i did** \- I have signed in, one of my friend's android phone (its samsung j2) with **my gmail id**.

**What i want** \- I want to monitor his phone's youtube and chrome browsing history using **my gmail id**

is this possible?

# Answer
Congratulations! You are a spy now! what you can do? goto google.com & click on search bar & you'll see search history Or just tap on the google search bar on your phone & you'll see last searches.

To get the full activity history click here: https://myactivity.google.com/myactivity
> 1 votes

---
Tags: gmail, chrome-for-android, history
---


# Question
Title: How to access GBoard clipboard manager without turning on 'Show suggestion strip'?
Is there anyway to access clipboard manager in google keyboard without enabling suggestion strip? It seems I can't find a shortcut or way to access it. I'm using the latest version from Playstore

# Answer
For the time being, the only way to access the clipboard manager is when the suggestion strip is enabled in Gboard settings. There are no shortcuts on the keyboard nor is there an option for it in the settings.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, keyboard, 9.0-pie, gboard
---


# Question
Title: How to display the console logo during recording of a gameplay
I am using the Google Play Games app for creating recordings. During recording of a game play, there is a console logo which gets recorded, too, as well as notifications.

How to avoid that?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The console logo when using Google Play Games appears when you are only recording the screen and not yourself. You can't remove it. It's either the console logo or your face (unless you block the front camera, then it will be a black circle that will be shown on your videos).

Your alternative is to record games using the screen recorder that comes installed with your phone (check if yours has one) or download a screen recorder apps from Play Store.

---
Tags: video-recording
---


title: How does degoogling affect battery?

text:
# Question
Title: How does degoogling affect battery?
Google apps especially play services show on top in RAM consumption and always have few processes running. Also these apps are very bulky.

By degoogling I mean disabling GSF & Google play services. But is there some sort of push service-like stuff that can be done more efficiently with GSF? (Considering a person is very likely to use Whatsapp, telegram, Facebook, instagram, reddit etc.. even after disabling these google stuff). Do anyone have micro benchmarks on these?

# Answer
You can run Google free device, however you really have to know what you are doing. Removing Google apps and services from an existing device isn't a recommended way. You may run into serious problems. The common way to get a Google free device is installing a custom ROM without Google apps (for license reasons most custom ROMS don't include Google services/apps).

If you disable GSF apps will loose the push notification service (if they still run at all). For a large number of apps GSF is a requirement.

Some apps have an alternative custom push system implemented but now every app has to run it's own background service. For example signal has such a service but the authors warn that it causes "reduced reliability or performance" and as every app has to open an own connection to listen for messages the overall power consumption increases.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, whatsapp-messenger, battery-life, google-play-services, instagram
---


# Question
Title: How can I enable swipe for back in Chrome for Android
Recently bought a new tablet, its running Android 6.0. On my touchscreen Windows 10 laptop, I can swipe the screen with one finger to go back and forward in chrome.

How can I do the same the same on Chrome for Android?

I've searched the internet, but can only find custom apps to perform this function. I have never installed anything custom to get this working on Chrome for Windows.

# Answer
> 1 votes
With newer version of Chrome for Android, it's possible to go back or forward by swiping left or right from the edge of the screen. If it's not enabled by default, follow the steps below:

1. In the address bar, type `chrome://flags`.
2. In the flags search box, type "history navigation".
3. You will either find depending on your Chrome version "Enable gesture navigation" or "Overscroll history navigation". Click on Default, then select Enable.
4. Restart Chrome.

Swiping left or right from the edge of the screen on tabs will take you back to the previous page or forward to the next page.

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, gestures
---


# Question
Title: Can system reserved memory be recovered after debloating?
Say I have a rooted phone, and I "debloat" it by removing some system apps. This means removing apk files from `/system` folder. On the other hand, user-installed apps on internal memory go to `/data/app` folder, according to this answer.

Does this mean the system reserved space is still not available for app installation unless I use something like an app-systemizer (that forcibly stores apk files in `/system` folder)?

# Answer
You are totally right, removing pre-installed apps from the system partition has absolutely no effect on the free space of the user data partition where apps and their data are stored into.

The only chance to be able to use the free space of the system partition would be to decrease the size of the system partition and use the now unpartitioned size to increase the user data partition. However these complex operations may end up in a total data loss even if the used tools support to perform it without data loss.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: bloatware
---


# Question
Title: Creating app shortcuts on main screen will consume lot of memory?
Latest android devices have enough RAM and Storage so when I was using 512 MB of RAM android phone customer care advised me to do not create shortcuts on main screen.

Now I'm using 3GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM android device running on Android 9.0
So may I know is it same for latest devices. Does it consume much space on RAM?

# Answer
> 2 votes
What consume memory are the apps that sit in memory. Shortcuts are just links to apps, there are not the "main" programs themselves and are not running. Many launchers are efficient and can handle a lot and lot shortcuts.

You have enough RAM and should not worry too much about how many shortcuts you have on your screen. Even if you only have 512MB, you should only worry if you had opened too many apps or apps such as games that might require a lot of memory thus reducing RAM and potentially slowing down the device.

A good point made on the comments is that launchers fetch shortcuts' icons, create a string for their names, etc, and that increase the memory used. However even then, it is argued that the memory usage won't have noticeable effects on the device.

---
Tags: ram, 9.0-pie
---


title: Delete system image file on kenzo

text:
# Question
Title: Delete system image file on kenzo
As the subject line suggests .Can i delete the system image partition on my kenzo?Theres a system partition as well.Both show up on twrp recovery. Ive been looking everywhere for an answer, but cannot seem to find one . Im trying to free up some space . Can anyone help?

# Answer
You're probably confusing TWRP backups with existing partitions here. TWRP backs up in two different ways:

* image: a disk image (i.e. a block-wise copy)
* tar: disk contents (i.e. a file-wise copy)

So you have two backups of the same partition here. Also see my answer on Trying to understand the options in TWRP backup for more details.

Moreover, if you want to "free up space", `/system` is the wrong place to start. Rather check with the questions linked from our insufficient-memory tag wiki for this task.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: storage
---


# Question
Title: Developer options switch is disabled, hence not able to turn it on
I'm having a Samsung Galaxy S5 Android phone. All these days I was able to debug apps using USB debugging from the Developer options menu in my phone. But suddenly I noticed the switch in the developer options screen is disabled (See Screenshot). Only Running services item is enabled in the Developer options screen.

Note: I have a "Software Update" system warning, which is an update that is already automatically downloaded but not yet installed. I'm wondering if the developer options is disabled because of this system

Has anyone faced the same problem ? Do you know what to do to enable the switch, so that I can turn on the usb debugging ?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I have a Samsung phone and if I turn that switch off, the options just disappear and to re-enable them, I have to tap build number 7 times again. It basically makes it look like I have never even tried to enable developer options. Probably, if you tap build number 7 times, it will get it fixed.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I found from this post that some recently added app might be cauing the security issue.

Hence I uninstalled my corporate app that I installed prior to getting that greyed out issue, and that fixed that problem, I'm now able to slide the switch on/off in Developer Options screen.

---
Tags: usb-debugging
---


title: How configure more than 5 multi-users

text:
# Question
Title: How configure more than 5 multi-users
I have a Lenovo Tab3 10 running Android M. It allows to configure multiple users but no more than 5 (including guest user).

**Is there a way how to enhance the limit to configure more users?**

5 multiple users could be enough for me but the 5th one is reserved to guest user. I've tried to *disable guest user feature* with no effect. There is still guest user that allocates 1 of 5 multi-user slots.

# Answer
The maximum number of users is defined in a resource overlay defined by device manufacturer. The resource is named config\_multiuserMaximumUsers. Check in Device Administration doc: Multi User. This is manageable via APIs.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Edit your build.prop file using the build.prop app or root browser and add the following at the bottom:

```
fw.max_users=9001

```

Change 9001 to as many users you want to have support for.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, multi-user, lenovo
---


# Question
Title: Does my screen have burn in or is it something else?
My Samsung Galaxy S7 appears to have burn in, just like in this image:

(Not my phone. Image from Android Authority)

The difference is that no matter how hard I look, I can't see any icons or any other irregularities in the white bar. It appears to be perfectly uniform. It's exactly where my notification bar is in portrait mode, but I use my phone in landscape mode a lot too, and there is no colour/brightness difference at the side.

Also, the white bar is *brighter* than the remainder of the screen: I would expect burn in to make it duller.

What is causing this?

1. burn in
2. hardware
3. software

# Answer
> 1 votes
Most likely you are right, your display is affected by a burn-in effect.

One indicator for a burn-in is that a pattern (or ghostly image) is always visible on screen but if you make a screenshot using the Android built-in screenshot function the created screen image does not show any indication of the pattern. And if you reboot the phone nothing changes.

The Galaxy S7 is equipped with an OLED display, this means that every small pixel is a small LED based on organic chemicals that can be individually lit.

The problem of OLED displays is that the longer and more often a pixel is lit, the pixel is aging and getting very slowly darker and darker.

Based the screen shot I would agree with you that this was caused by the Android task bar which is usually black (not lit pixels means no aging) whereas the rest of the screen above the task bar is usually not black and therefore is affected by the aging effect.

May be you often accidentally activate the screen when the phone is in your pocket (and therefore in portrait mode)?

Usually modern OLED displays should have implemented counter measures to reduce the effect that different parts of the screen are aging in different speed. However it looks like in your case this mechanism wasn't able to fully compensate this effect.

What you can do: The pixels aged pixels that have lost a bit of brightness can't be restored. Therefore the only way is to force the remaining usually black pixels and increase their aging. This can be done by displaying an image that have all pixels black except for the area that is brighter (the area below the red arrows on your image). If you display this image on your screen for some hours a day you will see that the pixels will slowly will adapt their brightness to the pixels on the rest of the screen.

---
Tags: screen, samsung-galaxy-s7
---


# Question
Title: System storage is showing full even when it is not. So I can't install apk as system app
I have OnePlus 6 with latest Open Beta. It is rooted. I have done everything but I still can't install any app as a system app.

I have tried Link2SD and Titanium Backup. I have tried to copy/paste the apk using TWRP file manager and ES file Explorer. I have tried to move the apk using adb shell. Everything is giving the same error that /system has no space left.

Link2SD storage shows

Settings storage shows

Why it is giving me memory error when system has space?

# Answer
> ... /system has no space left.

It indicates that your `/system` partition is mounted R/W but just to make sure, if `dm-verity` is enabled, `/system` is always R/O. For details see How to disable dm-verity on Android?.

Next, both of your screenshots show that your `/system` partition is full. Even if you haven't written anything to it, some ROMs may have `/system` already completely filled. After all it isn't for user's usage.

The space shown as "System" in Settings isn't actually the `/system` partition. In fact it can't be of 11GB, that's too much. Android is counting a large data from `/data` partition also as "System", because it's not what a "user" directly puts there. User can access only shared/external storage (`/sdcard`).

You can check actually space usage of `/system` partition with command `df -h /system`. Execute `du -h /system | sort -h` to get a directory-wise detail of what's taking up space.

For more details, see How disk space is used on Android device?
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, storage, insufficient-memory, system, system-apps
---


# Question
Title: How does SuperSU check if a phone is rooted?
I have a rooted custom device (Android 8.0), I can use `adb` and run `su` and do whatever I want in the shell. But SuperSU or any other app cannot find root. I have made a symlink from `/system/xbin/su` to `/system/bin/su` but it still does not work.

# Answer
> 1 votes
`/system/xbin/su` is a normal `su` binary that's shipped with `userdebug` or `eng`ineering builds of ROMs. It gets you root access by making syscall `setuid`. On the other hand, with SuperSU or Magisk root, a special binary is placed at `/system/bin/su` (or some other path) which works quite differently. For details see How Magisk works?.

So, with only a working `/system/xbin/su` executable, your device isn't essentially *"rooted"*. SuperSU or Magisk won't work with this binary. And so the apps cannot get root access.

**RELATED:** What special privileges “/system/xbin/su” does have w.r.t. root access?

---
Tags: rooting, root-access, 8.0-oreo, superuser, supersu
---


# Question
Title: How to fix sdcard empty under root with Kingoroot?
My sdcard is empty when I use `su`. I have gained root using Kingoroot.
This answer shows the SuperSU solution (mount namespace separation).

How to mount an sdcard to `su`? What additional information should I provide to get help?

It's a MTK device with Android 4.4.

# Answer
I never used Kingoroot, so can't be sure if it provides and option for master mount (`su mm`) or not. You can switch to Magisk or SuperSU once the device is rooted. If you can't or don't want to, you can use:

```
su -c 'nsenter -t 1 -m /system/bin/sh'

```

from commandline instead of simple `su`. This will make you switch to root mount namespace. For details see this answer.
`nsenter` is usually available as busybox applet.

Since mount namesapce was implemented in Android 6, this might not be the problem with your KK device.

**PS:**
If Kingoroot works for you, it indicates that your device has some serious security flaw(s). Do consider an upgrade.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting, root-access, sd-card, mount, internal-sd
---


title: Android OS Storage Usage

text:
# Question
Title: Android OS Storage Usage
I have two fresh Galaxy device on Android 9 , the difference is in storage , one is 512GB and another is 128GB. System usage in both is different , 128GB version uses 27GB on fresh but the 512GB version use up to 47GB. There is no installed app and both devices are just out of box.

My question is why Android uses more storage on 512GB version and how can I decrease the amount? If it's dynamic what's the reason and should it decrease if the device is out of storage?

---

I don't want to root both devices, so I checked it on another device which is previously rooted. By `df -h` I see it's about device partition, the rooted device is 32GB out of which only 25GB is available. Other partitions are listed as below:

As you can see there is some duplicate mounted partitions , but sum of their sizes will be 32GB.

# Answer
With root take a comparison of space usage on both devices by executing `du -h /data | sort -h`. Without root you can rely on figures reported by filesystem by running `df -h`.

From the updated screenshot you have attached, no partition is duplicate mounted. If you are talking about `tmpfs`, it's a volatile filesystem which lives in RAM and is vanished on reboot. It isn't part of your persistent storage.

Your `/data` and `/system` added make 29GiB. That's what you get on a 32GB device. Up to 2GiB difference comes because of Gigabyte (GB) and Gibibyte (GiB). Also there are usually 50+ partitions on an Android device which aren't mounted (except a few filesystems). And there's free space left by manufacturers for over-provisioning of flash memory.

For details see: How disk space is used on Android device?
> 1 votes

---
Tags: internal-storage, storage
---


# Question
Title: Pixel USB C Earbuds choppy sound skipping music
On a HUAWEI P20 lite (Nova E3) I have tried the basics in sound and use audio though USB I was told on Reddit that they would work in the devices sub/

Also, when I try to answer a call, it hangs up.

I have searched but it comes up with completely irrelevant topics. Thankyou

# Answer
After everything and reading articles from Google I reached the conclusion that the earbuds are faulty, so I sent them back for claiming refund.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google, huawei, huawei-p20
---


# Question
Title: USB Audio interface with Google Pixel 3a
I just migrated to a Google Pixel 3a coming from an old iPhone and I realized that I can't use my USB external audio interface for recording videos with my new phone.

I used my Zoom UR-24 without any problems with an old iPhone 5s

It's a shame, because one of the main reasons to migrate was the camera quality and for recording videos with external audio.

Is there any usb soundcard compatible with Android/Google Pixel ?

# Answer
Here are some options:

* Use an alternative camera app, which will allow you to set the audio source. For example: Open Camera
* Record the audio in a separate app then edit the audio and video together later. An example app for recording audio from your interface is USB Audio Recorder PRO

Also, since this question is a top hit for "Pixel USB Audio Class 3", I want to also mention that the Pixel 3a *does not* support USB Audio Class 3.0. This means that unlike the Pixel 2, it *does not* support more than audio interfaces with more than 2 channels. I learned this by calling the Google's product specialists.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: usb, audio, google-pixel
---


# Question
Title: How granular can the app developer set the permissions to avoid turning the user away at the "Permissions to Photos, Media and Other files"?
When a Notes app (like Google Keep, Wunderlist, Stickynotes) etc asks for permissions to "Photos, Media and Other Files" (PMOF) on your device, the user can get a bit uncertain. So essentially, can the app just ask for Files permission and not Photos,media? Are the permissions defined at such granular level post Android 6.0?

# Answer
> 1 votes
PMOF means `android.permission.[READ|WRITE]_EXTERNAL_STORAGE`, which, once granted, allows app to read whole `/sdcard`. See this answer for details how this happens at back end. Now the app can read / write / inspect /delete / rename / modify / upload / encrypt whatever you have in shared public storage including photos, videos, documents, contacts, messages, backups and so on.

Unfortunately Android offers no more granular control over this filesystem level access. However Storage Access Framework (SAF) can be used to not let app access whole `/sdcard` filesystem, but only a specific file or directory (included subdirectories).

Android Q is introducing a more fine-grained control with Scoped Storage.

---
Tags: applications, permissions
---


# Question
Title: What Percentage of Android Devices Run on a 64-bit Architecture?
How many Android devices are using the ARM64 or x86\_64 architectures, and how many are using 64-bit versions of Android that can run 64-bit apps?

My assumption right now is that it's still worth supporting 32-bit versions of Android for mobile apps, but these days more and more devices are 64-bit and make use of several GB of RAM. As of this month, Google is now requiring that new Android apps have 64-bit versions, so I'm wondering for how long it will be worth supporting both architectures.

Additionally, how powerful are average high-end 32-bit devices? Even if the marketshare of 32-bit devices is high, it could be worth dropping support if most 32-bit devices won't run any intensive apps or games anyway.

This question is related to another question about x86 usage.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I have not yet been able to view recent statistics, but according to this article published end of 2017:

> The ARMv8 instruction set architecture rolled out 64-bit hardware support in 2014, and now almost every new Android device can run 64-bit code (but only 40 percent of active devices)

From this ARM's blog post:

> Nearly 90 percent of today’s Android devices deploy a 64-bit capable version of the OS (version 5.0 and above).

Statistics on the percentage of OS used can be checked here and here.

---
Tags: android-versions
---


# Question
Title: How can large amounts of files be transferred to Linux via MTP?
I'm trying to copy all of my pictures from my Samsung Galaxy S9+ to my laptop (running Linux Mint). I can transfer a few files at a time no problem, but I have amassed 1000's of files in my pictures folder.

When attempting to copy the folder across using the file manager, the operation stalls and then fails every time. I would prefer to do it via the terminal, but since Samsung phones use mtp to transfer files, I have no idea what commands to use.

# Answer
> 3 votes
MTP is crap for that task – OK for a few files in "small folders", but stalling for folders with many files in, or copying many files, or trying things in parallel.

As you use Linux, ADB would be a great alternative. I use that with adbfs-rootless, which allows mounting the device locally on your computer and works like a charm (I'm using it for years, so I can confirm it works at least up to Oreo).

First, to get ADB running, you can check with How do I get my device detected by ADB on Linux?. ADB binaries are shipped in the repositories of many distributions by a name like `android-tools-adb` so you can easily install them; alternatively take a look at Is there a minimal installation of ADB? for an even smaller footprint.

Installation of `adbfs` is quite straight-forward if you have the essential build tools already installed on your system: according to the readme, next to `build-essential` you'll need `libfuse-dev` and `pkg-config` available on your system. The `git` package is only needed if you want to clone the Github repository (alternatively, you can simply download the code as ZIP). `cd` to the directory you've cloned/unpacked the code to, and run `make`. When that's done, copy the `adbfs` binary to your path (e.g. into `/usr/local/bin` or `~/bin` if you've set that up), so you don't need to specify the full path with each call – and you are ready to use it.

Finally, create a mount-point (an empty directory where your device's file system shall appear, say `mnt` in your home directory), and mount it with `adbfs ~/mnt` – et voila, your copy party can begin; from the terminal or graphically is up to you. When done, use `fusermount -u ~/mnt` to unmount your device again.

As a little bonus for you: should you sometimes have multiple devices attached at the same time, you'll need to set the `ANDROID_SERIAL` environment variable to tell `adbfs` which device to connect to. Here's a little script making that easier for you:

```
        case "$(adb devices|grep -v "devices"|grep -v -e '^[[:space:]]*$'|wc -l)" in
          0) echo "Nothing to mount (no device attached)" ;;
          1) export ANDROID_SERIAL=$(adb devices|grep -v "devices"|grep -v -e '^[[:space:]]*$'|awk '{print $1'})
             adbfs /mnt/droid
             ;;
          *) devices=''
             tmpfile=$(tempfile)
             adb devices -l|grep -v "devices"|grep -v -e '^[[:space:]]*$' > $tmpfile
             while IFS='\n' read i
             do
               test="$(echo $i | awk '{print $2}')"
               if [ "$test" = "device" ]; then
                 devices="$devices $(echo $i | awk '{print $1}')"
                 devices="$devices \"$(echo $i | awk '{print $5}')\""
               fi
             done < "$tmpfile"
             rm -f -- "$tmpfile"
             serial=$(whiptail --clear --menu 'Multiple devices found, make your choice:' 0 0 0 $devices 3>&1 1>&2 2>&3)
             export ANDROID_SERIAL=$serial
             adbfs /mnt/droid
        esac

```

If you wonder about the indention: it's a snippet out of my Midnight-Commander (`mc`) menu. You can insert it there, preceding it by

```
= t d
+f ^mnt$
m       Mount Droid

```

So whenever your mount point is highlighted by the cursor, pressing `F2` will make that menu item available and you can easily mount your device. For unmounting, here's the second menu item:

```
+f ^mnt$
u       uMount Droid
        fusermount -u /mnt/droid

```

`^mnt$` is the name of the mount-point you've created – so if you used a different name, you need to adjust this as well.

Enjoy!

---
Tags: linux, file-transfer, mtp, samsung-galaxy-s-9
---


# Question
Title: How does an Android app accesses any browser's history?
I recently came across FamiSafe, a child monitoring app, through one of my friends which gives a lot of information about the activities of the mobile phone. I was awestruck as it gives a detailed information about the location, browser history, etc.

That got me thinking:

* how is it possible for an application to access what websites are visited through a browser?
* How is it possible for this app to know that a person has searched or visited a website and record it and show the same in the application?
* Does this app interact with the OS for website data?

Since it gives data irrespective of browsers I assume it has nothing to do with the browser used. Instead, it has to be something directly to be dealt with. Anyone has any idea how this works?

The device is OnePlus 5 running Android 7.

# Answer
That app uses Accessibility service (originally meant to assist users with disabilities) to read what is being displayed on the window. It also uses app usage permission to track what app is being used at a time. Combine the two features and the app can know when a web browsing app is active, and what is being typed in there and displayed there. That app has already declared in its description on Play Store that it uses the said service. Under *Web Content Filtering & Web Monitoring* heading, it states:

> This app uses Accessibility service to limit app usage and keep your children from internet dangers

Related:
> 0 votes

---
Tags: parental-control, browser-history
---


# Question
Title: How disk space is used on Android device?
I have critical low storage level and can't understand what takes much of it and how that's possible that the installed applications can use 7 GB? I only use a few social media clients without any games or soft like Photoshop. Also on the second screenshot it indicates that the apps are using just 1.13 GB and so I can't understand the situation. Also what is the "Other"?

# Answer
> 2 votes
As far as I understood the apps take so much space because of cache files, additional data, backups, photos, videos and etc. Size that shown in App Cleaner is just about the size of .apk files without any other related data and files to those apps. It is all cleanable but could cause the loss of the information and unpredicted behavior of an app.

> Originally question was made because I was looking for methods to free up some space on my device so here is another way that I found:

**After clearing Download Manager's data my disk space on the phone got relief of 3.3GB.**

And the interesting thing is that the apps and phone behavior is not affected after this, so much space were used in vain.

# Answer
> 16 votes
Android's filesystem hierarchy is a bit complex and people often find it difficult to grasp. A major reason for confusion is that Android isn't very expressive in explaining these things and it's not very clear which files Android put in which category. Another reason is that mostly devices are not rooted and users don't have access to filesystems to verify the things themselves. We can try to understand it from root.

## VIDEOS, PICTURES, AUDIO AND "OTHER":

Android uses file extensions to decide if a file in Public Shared / External Storage (i.e. `/sdcard` excluding the private directories of apps) is video, picture or audio. This header file defines a mapping between file extensions and categories. Further details can be found in this answer.

Simply put, we can use file extensions to categorize files and calculate their size:

```
~$ find -H /sdcard/ -type f ! -path '/sdcard/Android*' | grep -iE '\.3g2$|\.3gp$|\.3gpp$|\.3gpp2$|\.asf$|\.asx$|\.avi$|\.dif$|\.dl$|\.dv$|\.fli$|\.lsf$|\.lsx$|\.m4v$|\.mkv$|\.mng$|\.mov$|\.movie$|\.mp4$|\.mpe$|\.mpeg$|\.mpg$|\.mxu$|\.qt$|\.ts$|\.vob$|\.webm$|\.wm$|\.wmv$|\.wmx$|\.wrf$|\.wvx$' | xargs -I {} du -b '{}' | sort -n | awk '{sum += $1} {print} END {print sum}'
...
75696063        /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/VID_20190726_190531.mp4
97849262        /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/VID_20190721_142818.mp4
331238039       /sdcard/TIMELAPSE OF THE FUTURE_ A Journey to the End of Time (4K).mp4
1554180683

```

So I have 1.55 GB of videos on my `/sdcard`.

```
~$ find -H /sdcard/ -type f ! -path '/sdcard/Android*' | grep -iE '\.art$|\.arw$|\.bmp$|\.cr2$|\.dng$|\.gif$|\.jng$|\.jpe$|\.jpeg$|\.jpg$|\.nef$|\.nrw$|\.orf$|\.pbm$|\.pcx$|\.pef$|\.pgm$|\.png$|\.pnm$|\.ppm$|\.psd$|\.ras$|\.rgb$|\.rw2$|\.srw$|\.svg$|\.svgz$|\.tif$|\.tiff$|\.wbmp$|\.webp$|\.xbm$|\.xpm$|\.xwd$' | xargs -I {} du -b '{}' | sort -n | awk '{sum += $1} {print} END {print sum}'
...
31944   /sdcard/.recycle/1565980569828.3/2080952923/Screenshot_20190816-155104_Firefox.png
34099   /sdcard/OLD_sdcard/Download/iptables_overview.jpg
6839118 /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/PANO_20190421_132245.jpg
7726000 /sdcard/DCIM/Camera/IMG_20181123_144811.jpg
669063808

```

And 669 MB of pictures. Combined with videos it becomes 2.22 GB.

```
~$ find -H /sdcard/ -type f ! -path '/sdcard/Android*' | grep -iE '\.aac$|\.aif$|\.aifc$|\.aiff$|\.amr$|\.awb$|\.flac$|\.gsm$|\.m3u$|\.m4a$|\.mka$|\.mp2$|\.mp3$|\.mpega$|\.mpga$|\.oga$|\.ogg$|\.pls$|\.ra$|\.ram$|\.rm$|\.sd2$|\.snd$|\.wav$|\.wax$|\.wma$' | xargs -I {} du -b '{}' | sort -n | awk '{sum += $1} {print} END {print sum}'
...
196556  /sdcard/OLD_sdcard/Alarms/Freedom.ogg
451614  /sdcard/OLD_sdcard/CallRecordings/0507189091_190225_191938461.amr
5652322 /sdcard/.recycle/1564398739475.3/710629278/L'Orfeo(preview).mp3
186868393

```

And 187 MB of audios. Now total space taken by files:

```
~$ du -bs --exclude=/sdcard/Android /sdcard/
5330784600      /sdcard/

```

It's 5.3 GB. Subtracting video, pictures and audio, it's 2.89 GB which is the size of "Other"; shown as "Files" on my device:

---

Non-root part is over here. Next to explore the `/data` partition **you need root access**. First to make it clear, throughout the whole life of a device, a common user interacts only with one partition labeled `userdata`. But it's not very uncommon to have 50+ partitions on Android devices (details can be seen in this thread). So here we are talking about the space usage on `userdata` partition which is mounted at `/data`. One of its sub-directory `/data/media/0` is the one we see in file explorers or at `/sdcard` or at `/storage/emulated/0`. See What is /storage/emulated/0? for details.

## TOTAL SPACE USAGE:

Now have a look at space usage reported by Android. It says 16.73 GB out of 32 GB are used. Let's analyze.

```
~# cat /sys/block/mmcblk0/size
61071360
~# df -B1 --output=size /data
  1B-blocks
25762942976

```

***Note:*** Don't confuse the units. 61071360 sectors equal 31268536320 bytes, which equal 31.27 Gigabytes (GB) or 29.12 Gibibyte (GiB).

Total available size of eMMC is 31.27 GB (ignoring e.g. RPMB and provisioned space etc.) and size of `/data` filesystem is 25.76 GB (See! I thought it would be 32.00 GiB). It means that 5.5 GB space was occupied when the device was shipped from the factory. It's mainly taken by the `system`, `vendor` and `cache` partitions, and a small part by other partitions. Partition table takes a few KBs but there are possibly a few MBs left free in between partitions, some space is wasted due to encryption, and so on. Following screenshot shows the complete partition table:

(Click image for enlarged view)

Now coming to the used space:

```
~# df -B1 --output=used /data
       Used
10407436288
~# du -b -d1 /data | sort -n
...
30932548        /data/system
89343105        /data/user_de
252376438       /data/dalvik-cache
1537995332      /data/app
1817762284      /data/data
5460784600      /data/media
9250761612      /data

```

Space usage reported by filesystem is 10.4 GB, while the apparent size of files is 9.25 GB. This difference of 1.15 GB could be variable and is used by the filesystem. Details can be found in this answer. May be a part of it is being used by `f2fs` log structure on my device.

So total used space on device is 15.9 GB (5.5 and 10.4) out of 31.27 GB. Note the difference with the values in screenshot. The difference in total size could be because of rounding-off the sum of `/data` and `/system` to the nearest power of 2.

## APPS SPACE USAGE:

5.3 GB out of 9.25 GB is used by the public files in `/sdcard` as explained in the start. Rest of the 3.95 GB space is mainly taken by three categories of files. Keeping things simple, following are the major directories which sum up to total app size (, , , ):

```
App size    /data/app/<pkg>*
            /data/dalvik-cache/<arch>/<pkg's_dex_odex_vdex_art_oat>
            /storage/emulated/<user_id>/Android/obb/<pkg>
            /data/misc/profiles/ref/<pkg>
Cache       /data/user/<user_id>/<pkg>/*cache
            /data/user_de/<user_id>/<pkg>/*cache
            /storage/emulated/<user_id>/Android/data/<pkg>/*cache
User data   /data/user/<user_id>/<pkg>
            /data/user_de/<user_id>/<pkg>
            /storage/emulated/<user_id>/Android/data/<pkg>
            /storage/emulated/<user_id>/Android/media/<pkg>
            /data/misc/profiles/cur/<user_id>/<pkg>

```
* User data size should exclude Cache size.
* For user apps compiled binary files are stored in installation directory (`/data/app/<pkg>/oat/<arch>`) since Lollipop. But for system apps those are saved to `/data/dalvik-cache` which is counted for apps size. Actual `.apk` files of system apps are not counted, except if an app is updated. `.odex` files for Android's framework apps (`.apk`/`.jar`) however might be already stored in `/system/framework/` having only symlinks in `/data/dalvik-cache/`. Things have changed with A/B implementation.
* For more details see Where Android apps store data?

Taking sum of all these directories:

```
~# du -sb /data/app /data/misc/profiles/ /data/dalvik-cache/ /storage/emulated/*/Android/ /data/user/*/ /data/user_de/ |  sort -n | awk '{sum += $1} {printf "%-15s%s\n",$1,$2} END {print sum}'
94152          /storage/emulated/11/Android/
611998         /data/misc/profiles/cur/10/
837897         /storage/emulated/10/Android/
1013850        /data/misc/profiles/cur/0/
1109311        /storage/emulated/0/Android/
1602419        /data/misc/profiles/ref/
3294944        /data/user_de/10/
10283019       /data/user/10/
86048161       /data/user_de/0/
252376438      /data/dalvik-cache/
1537995332     /data/app
1817762284     /data/user/0/
3713029805

```

It's 3.7 GB, leaving only 250 MB behind, some of which is taken by the `/sdcard` of other two user profiles (`/data/media/<user_id>`). The rest is used by system logs and configuration files, particularly in `/data/system*` and `/data/misc*` directories.

This system usage is shown as "System" which excludes shared storage size (, ). Some figures differ from Android but after all we know how the space is actually used, and where it's being wasted.

---

**RELATED:**

# Answer
> 1 votes
The right screenshot seems to originate form an app named "Cleaner". Apps on Android can not access app-private data (files in the path `/app/data/<apppackagename>/`) of other apps, therefore an app can never estimate the data size correctly.

I assume "App uninstall" shown in Cleaner is the pure size of all app APK files (those are visible to all apps). Therefore most of the files crate by apps are invisible to Cleaner. It can only see the files on the sdcard section.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The fact that you don't use games has no bearing on the amount of storage space other apps use. You mentioned that you use social media apps. Then you should know that many (if not most) of them keep caches of files (mainly pictures, videos) you viewed to present them quickly in case you visit the same pages again. With time, the storage space they occupy grow more than many other apps. Other apps that can also use a lot of space are browsers.

You should check the amount of storage used by individual apps to have better understanding of which among them use a lot of space.

> What is the "Other"?

It can be documents and any other files that does not fall under pictures, videos, apps, not found on the system partition. On my phone, Other is defined as:

> files downloaded from the internet or Bluetooth, Android files, and so on.

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