# Question
Title: How does the "Format as internal storage" feature work in Android 6.0+?
How does the "Format as internal storage" feature work in Android 6.0+? See screenshot below:

Screenshot (click to enlarge)

Why is it the case that "this USB drive will only work in this device"? Is it due to a partition format? I have tried to read it in Windows but the file format is RAW; is it in EXT4 format so Windows can't read it? What will happen if I insert this card to another Android 6.0 device? Will the other device able to read it?

# Answer
If you use this feature, your external SD card is *replacing* your internal storage. In the process, **it will be encrypted.** You no longer can "simply unmount" the card to read it in any other device (including a card reader attached to your PC), as in that case the file system would be unreadable in the latter (due to encryption – which is done "for security", so a thief cannot simply remove the card to circumvent your device's lock screen and get straight to your data).

---

Reference: Android 6.0 can treat SD cards as internal storage… at a cost

> Choose internal storage and the microSD card will be reformatted and encrypted. Once this is done, the card can *only* be used as internal storage. If you try to eject the card and read it on a computer, it won’t work. All data on the card will also be erased, so you may want to back up anything important first. Android does provide an option to migrate it, but early reports suggest it’s unreliable.
>
> \[…\]
>
> You *can* still choose to have apps installed to either the true internal storage or your microSD card that’s been formatted to behave like internal storage. But if you had a phone with 8GB of storage and a 32GB microSD card, you’ll only have 32GB of space for music, movies, games, or other files, not 40GB.

---

Reference: Adoptable Storage: Android Marshmallow’s hidden feature that your phone probably can’t use:

> Notice that the space is not increased *by* the size of the sdcard, but *to* the size of the sdcard. You’re basically swapping out your internal storage (which is typically eMMC, which is fairly quick), with your sdcard (which is typically slower than the built-in storage chip). You’ll be trading speed for capacity. In some cases this is a fair trade.
>
> There is one more interesting tidbit: with a little bit of work, adoptable storage extends beyond just microsd cards. You can *technically* mount any USB OTG device as adoptable storage. In theory, this would let you have a 1TB hard drive attached via USB OTG. Of course you’d never be able to remove that hard drive, so the uses are very limited – but very interesting.
>
> If you’re interested in forcing “any” storage device connected via USB OTG to become adoptable storage, here’s the command you’ll need to know. We haven’t tried this, so proceed at your own risk.
>
> ```
>    adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true
>
> ```

---

Where AndroidCentral in Inside Marshmallow: Adoptable storage continues:

> ```
>    adb shell sm set-force-adoptable true
>
> ```
>
> But you probably shouldn't.
>
> Once a storage device is adopted, it becomes part of the system and is no longer removable. Sure you can physically remove it, but you'll be prompted to put it back while apps and services crash on your phone or tablet. It's *adopted* — taken in and loved by the system, and made part of the whole.

An interesting comment there reads:

> Glad I read this, I was thinking adoptable storage was a great idea and I could buy a 16GB phone and simply throw in a big microSD card and beat the system. But, probably not a good idea now that I understand more of how it works.

Plus, to underline what I wrote about :

> You can remove and reformat the card whenever you like, but doing so will force you to factory reset your phone.

Plus:

> I opted to keep it as normal external storage. At least that way if the phone has a failure i still have access to my SD card files. The other way keeps it encrypted and if the phone were to experience phone ending glitch the card would be useless as its encrypted and the only device to see it is dead. No taking it out and inserting into a computer to recover my pics or vids or music.

---

According to Android 6.0 Marshmallow tip: ‘Adopt’ your MicroSD card as internal storage \[Video\], there is a "way back":

> Thankfully, it’s not completely permanent. If you decide you’d like to use it just to store media, you can change it back by heading to Settings\>Storage & USB, then selecting the card, hitting the top right menu and then select ‘Format as portable’.

But read between the lines: *Format* means all data on it will be erased. So if you want to do that, you'll need to make sure having secured your data beforehand. No easy "USB card reader" way here, you'll have to copy everything via USB or network.**1** And if the card breaks, no way to use the card reader and some recovery soft to rescue at least parts of it; encryption makes that impossible. If it's broken it most likely won't even mount on the device anymore – so everything you haven't backed up elsewhere will be "gone for good".

---

As long as the card is "good", there's some interesting pointer found in Decrypting Android M adopted storage (emphasis mine):

> Android M allows for adoptable storage, which is implemented similarly to internal storage FDE -- using dm-crypt with a per-volume, static 128-bit AES key, stored in `/data/misc/vold/`. ***Once the key is extracted from the device, adopted storage can be mounted and read/written on any Linux machine.*** Adoptable storage encryption is done purely in software (at least in the current preview build), so its performance is likely comparable to encrypted internal storage on devices that don't support hardware-accelerated FDE.

---

### Further readings:

---

**1**In *Storage › Internal Storage* you should find "migrate data" which will move your stuff back to internal – if you got enough space left there. (thanks to Barleyman for pointing this out)
> 38 votes

# Answer
A second answer to have some points more easily accessible.

1. Yes the internal storage is still accessible, to android at least. After you've done "migrate data" to external storage, everything moveable goes to sdcard but some things still remain on internal. On galaxy S5 you can find these in /data/app/
2. You can reverse the process by opening "internal storage" from storage settings and there's "migrate data" that will copy everything back to internal nvram.
3. If (when) you don't have enough space to move everything, you can still do it the hard way by going to app info and using the change (location) button.

Titanium backup does restore everything to internal storage. Since in Galaxy S5 at least the reported available storage is wrong, it'll fill it right up. At that point you start getting constant popups from crashing apps and you have to work your way to appinfo for some large app and either uninstall it or move it to external to regain control.

There is a way of batch moving apps between internal and external, apps2sd all in one. It's a bit slow to process the files but it's a hands off process.
> 3 votes

# Answer
There is an excellent post on reddit Let's clear up the confusion regarding storage in Android once and for all, including adoptable storage in Marshmallow.

But as far as I understand the sticking point is still that developers still control whether their app is movable to SD, in this case the extended internal storage. So you can still run into the limitation of the phones build in storage. At at least I can allocate all free space to the */data* partition by repartition it (there are more handy .pit files for Samsung device), since I won't need any */media* partition since as far as I understand, Android will move all user data, pictures, offline files of streaming services etc to the integrated SD card; please confirm or correct.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, 6.0-marshmallow, adoptable-storage
---


# Question
Title: Can the video chats on Messenger or WhatsApp be hacked?
I am using the Marshmallow version of android and often use the newly launched video call feature on WhatsApp and that of Messenger to talk to my family and friends. So usually a question arises, given there are lots of cyber crimes happening now-a-days, can my video chats be hacked ? If so how can I protect my phone from that? What are the tricks or ways hacker use to hacked the camera on my phone? If anyone can explain these things to me then it would be really helpful. I hope this question is allowed in this site. Thank you.

# Answer
In theory there is no way hack any video call because whatsapp include a point to point encryption.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, whatsapp-messenger, facebook-messenger, video-calling
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to get photos from device without screen?
I have Sony Xpreria Z3 with broken screen which. I need to retrieve all photos from that device but when I try to connect it to the pc I get message that first I need to unlock the screen but I cant do it as the screen is broken...

# Answer
If your screen still works, but can't be controled, use a computer mouse to unlock your phone
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can control your phone from the computer using vysor even on broken screens. Try it!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery, broken-screen
---


# Question
Title: What does the two speech bubbles notification icon means?
What does the two speech bubbles icon (second from the left) in the notification bar mean?

# Answer
> 0 votes
It is a notification from one of the chat apps you may have installed (e.g. Facebook).

It is either notifying you of new messages (which will be cleared when you pull down the notification tray and click on it) or it is trying to make itself persistent so that the system will not remove it from RAM memory (which you can unset it in the settings of the app) which will affect user experience.

---
Tags: notification-icons
---


# Question
Title: Is the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime S82OL capable of wifi tethering, if so, how?
I want to make a wifi hotspot because there is no internet access where I live. I rooted the phone using kingroot.

I started searching for a good app to use and figured I'd start with FoxFi which seemed to have a decent reputation. Got it installed, tryed to start it up and it tells me within 30 seconds to "turn on my mobile hotspot function" on my phone.

Since my particular model doesn't have that standard, after searching I came across a workaround by downloading a hotspot toggle widget. Tryed again, FoxFi seemed to be satisfied with that widget being used in place of an OEM toggle.

Attempted to connect to the new wifi hotspot using my pc and it would not identify the network, thus resulting in no internet connection. So I figured there was a problem with FoxFi and my phone and must've tried at least 10 other wifi hotspot apps both with root and without with good reviews. Still, to no avail has any one worked, most just crashed, another had the same issue as foxfi.

I'd greatly appreciate any help, I have been trying to figure this out for the last 10 hours and am at a loss. If it matters, it's a straight talk phone running off of a verizon network, but I do believe that is the only option for this particular model of the samsung galaxy core prime, being the S82OL version.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As @Avinash had commented, WiFi Tethering is available on all phones, including mine, which is also a Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (but has a different Model Number).

Were you able to at least connect to your hotspot, by your PC, even without a Network Connection (Internet Access)?
If so, then you would have to enable your "Mobile Data" or "Data Connection" to be able to connect to the internet.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It appears to me, a non-cellphone enthusiast, that Straight Talk (Walmart) requires a Hot Spot plan purchase in order to use my phone as a hot spot.

My phone is a Samsung Core Prime, version 4.4.4.

Thanks, Walmart.

---
Tags: wifi-tethering, samsung-galaxy-core-prime
---


# Question
Title: Does Samsung galaxy tab pro 10.1 support exFAT on the SD card?
Does this tablet support exFAT file system on micro SD card? Can this tablet recognize micro SD card formatted with exFAT file system?

# Answer
> 4 votes
Yes, as indicated on the user manual. I'm currently using a Sandisk Class 4 32GB formatted with exFAT, works just fine. Stock ROM, unrooted.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Just format everything to FAT32. Your mobile,flashdrive and PS4 all just format to FAT32. Format everything to FAT32 the best. For example:You use FAT32 files from PS4 to FAT32 flashdrive(5GB),then you transfer the files in your flashdrive to my mobile(ExFat and FAT32) driver. The transfer will be exactly 5GB,because FAT32 and FAT32 has no side effect of expansion of files. Beside,adding FAT32 to your mobile is very cheap. Just pay $1 to $2 and you will have no issue in the future.

It is very likely that Samsung Tablet use EXFAT,because it exceed 32GB in it's memory slot. I am refering to Memory card. To prevent expansion of files,I add FAT32 to my Samsung Tab. Beside,it is so cheap.

Pay less than $2 and you can forgot about all worries. Let say one day........ You tranfer 5GB of files to your flashdrive and then transfer it into your mobile,which is EXFAT. But,the EXFAT expand your files to 10+GB. When you tranfer the files to your flashdrive and then transfer it to your PS4,you can't save all the data to your PS4.

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/hardware-clinic-2/exfat-take-up-more-space-than-fat32-4746802.html

Just set everything to the same format and if it is less than $2. Just buy the add on.

In the future,you don't need to worry which porn video in your mobile must you delete.You don't need to delete some of your PS4 games to make space for your data.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-tab-10
---


# Question
Title: What smartphone and/or app support voice dialing on speakerphone like Moto X 2nd Gen?
My last phone was the Moto X 2nd Gen. The entire reason I bought the phone was to use its voice command features so I can call for help with my voice. I'm in a wheelchair, and I refuse to pay for a life line if a smartphone has this capability.

The way the Moto X 2 worked was that you trained a voice command code phrase (with your voice) into the smartphone to unlock the phone. When utilizing the phone's voice dialing feature, you'd say that code phrase (with your voice) to ***unlock the phone (or bring it out of sleep mode)***, and then say "Call {contact}" where {contact} would be the name of an Google Android contact. The voice command result(s) get verbally read back to you. If there are multiple, you have to repeat the correct contact. It would then dial the primary phone number of that contact while also ***enabling speaker phone***.

I tried the Google Assistant and Google Now and I'm unable to find a way to set things up with all of those features. Google Now can call someone if you say "Google Now. Call {contact} on speakerphone.", but you need to wake up your phone from sleep mode before "Google Now" will activate. I've even tried Open Mic for Google Now, but it doesn't solve anything.

If anyone knows how I can get the features of the Moto X 2 on any other smartphone that has Android installed, or knows of an app with these features, with the use of speakerphone, please let me know. I also would like to buy a phone with high quality microphone and audio hardware.

# Answer
Looks like the Moto Z has the Moto Voice feature, and the Nexus 5, Nexus 6 and Nexus 6P can be taken out of sleep mode using Google Now. Other phones using Google Now cannot be taken out of sleep mode. You must first touch the screen. So Google Now is useless as a life line if you cannot physically reach your phone in an emergency and must rely on your voice.

Sleep mode and lock mode are different modes/statuses. Sleep mode is what happens when your screen goes black while the phone is not being used. Lock mode is when the phone is ready for authentication (keypad, face, voice, code, etc..), but have taken the phone out of sleep mode by pressing a button. Some forums say you must first unlock the phone. This is untrue. I was able to get Google Now to work with the Samsung Galaxy S7 when the phone was NOT sleeping, but was still locked. But since Google owns the rights to the Nexus brand, they obviously allow their Google Now to work ALL THE TIME, including when in sleep mode. That's how they keep the edge. And that's why I'm buying a Nexus 6P now.

Google Pixel phone (new Google phone) might do the same thing, but I haven't looked into it yet. That phone is a bit more expensive.

It's possible that Google signed some contract with Motorola that allows them to share the patent. Or maybe Google pays them to use it with their phones. Because Motorola makes the Nexus 6.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, google-now, moto-x, voice-command
---


# Question
Title: How to restrict some tracks from playing in 'Shuffle tracks'
I have some audio tracks on my phone that I want to be excluded from general music playing. For example, I have some meditations, which I love, but only want to play them when I explicitly choose them, not during shuffle at a party :p

I've just transitioned from iPhone. In Itunes, there is the option on each song to include in playback or not.

Is there anything like this the music app on Android?

# Answer
I put all of my non-music files in to their own folders. I use 'My Files' to copy a '.nomedia' file from some folder (ie: from anki or whatsapp), and paste it in to the non-music folder.

This stops the media files from showing up in 'Music'.

I then use Mort Music - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.stohelit.folderplayer to listen to the audio-books and meditation folders.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: music
---


# Question
Title: newbie: how to get larger keys on lockscreen keyboard?
background: LG model=L34C (virtual keyboard), Android version=4.4, on which I am the opposite of "power user" :-(

Basically I'm fat-thumbed. I don't want theming or photographs or animations on my lockscreen, I just want to type my password with {more speed, fewer mistakes}. (And, no, I don't wanna switch to PIN or pattern or biometrics for my lockscreen--I *do* want decent security for this thing.)

My understanding (which could be very wrong) is that the lockscreen must display in portrait mode (i.e., long side vertical). Is that correct? If not, please lemme know: making the lockscreen display in landscape by default seems like the easiest way to get what I want.

Alternatively: must I install a lockscreen app? If so, please recommend one that Does What I Want: display time and date in as little space as is {feasible, readable} and devote the rest of the space to the keyboard (preferably in landscape, but I'll take what I can get).

# Answer
> 0 votes
Considering that you responded in the comments that landscape-only is alright, I'd suggest Ultimate Rotation Control. Use its "Forced Auto" mode to rotate any apps to any direction you want - that of course includes the lock screen. After proper settings, it could seamlessly integrate with the built-in rotation switch too (basically you could toggle the built-in switch and the lockscreen will now obey).

On my devices, when I have a password set and lock screen rotated to landscape, tapping on the password textbox will show a full-screen editing interface with landscape keyboard, which should be good enough for your fingers.

---
Tags: lock-screens, keyboard
---


# Question
Title: Change the sound profile automatically when starting and ending charging
When my phone isn't plugged into the charger, it's in my pocket, so vibration suffices for notifying me of a phone call or text message. But unlike my previous phone, it doesn't vibrate loudly enough for me to reliably hear it when it's not in my pocket. So I'd like to automatically change the sound profile to "Sound" when I plug in the phone, and "Vibrate only" when I unplug it. How can I do that?

I have experience in administering Linux PCs and servers, but I'm unfamiliar with Android internals, so I wouldn't know where to begin to write a shell script for this.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This needs automation or using an app (if available) , i former is preferred option for me -Macrodroid is a versatile automation app:

You would need two macros

**Trigger :** *Power disconnected/ connected → connected*

**Actions:** : *Volume Change → set Ringer to your desired level as also others as you wish*

**Constraints:** None (Run always) or set up your Constraints under which macro runs

For the second macro, Trigger would be power disconnected and action would be Vibrate Enable

---
Tags: automation, vibration
---


# Question
Title: How do I specify a different PIN than 0000 when pairing a bluetooth device on android
I have a bluetooth speaker with default passkey 1111 rather than 0000. I'm not able to connect to it using my android tablet because of this error:

> Couldn't pair with SP104B because of an incorrect PIN or passkey

How do I specify a different PIN than 0000 when pairing a bluetooth device on android 4.2.2?

# Answer
To fix your speaker problem - Go to `Settings > Bluetooth > Turn On` and wait for your list of devices to populate. Locate your speaker and Long Press it (press and hold) and then select `Un-pair`. You'll be free to attempt to pair it again with the proper PIN!

If your device isn't paired with the phone, but it's still not connecting, you can try clearing your Bluetooth cache. Turn off Bluetooth, then Go to `Settings > Applications > All > Bluetooth Share and tap "Force Stop," then "Clear Cache," then "Clear Data`. If the device was ever paired or a pairing ever failed, it may have stored those credentials regardless of success. This should give you a fresh chance at it.

As for why you can't specify what PIN your speaker provides your phone - it's because the default PIN is assigned to the device when it's made, and can't be changed by the average consumer. Most 'dumb' Bluetooth devices have no way of changing the PIN it comes with.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I ran into same problem. Had nothing to do with phone. Try holding down the power button on Bluetooth device when pairing to your phone.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I faced same problem with `BOSE` Bluetooth hand set with android (Version 4.4) phone.

I followed below step and succeed.

```
 1. Hold down the paired devices and removed the already added item.
 2. Bluetooth off and then ON.
 3. Search for new pairing and start pair the device.

```

Success. `Note:` If above steps not work and restart OS of both devices.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth, bluetooth-pairing
---


title: I can't root my OPPO Neo 5 (2015)

text:
# Question
Title: I can't root my OPPO Neo 5 (2015)
So I came a lot of steps to root my OPPO Phone, Installed KingRoot in Android but failed to root, then tried the PC Version (Higher Success Rate) but still failed to root, I also tried KingoRoot, and got same results with KingRoot in Android And PC, and also I tried this Vroot (iRoot) but still did not solve this. I also tried this thread but I'm stuck at ADB Devices which returns me offline devices. And lastly installing Custom Recovery but the problem is, my device is not supported. So is there any way (longer way) to do it with PC ? Thanks in advance !

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can downgrade your version to 1201EX-A\_11\_151230 then try to root it with kingroot. Just search for tutorials.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, rooting, root-access, oppo-coloros
---


# Question
Title: LG G5: Nougat: Your device is corrupt. It cannot be trusted and will not boot
Stupidly locked boot loader and now device now won't boot. I didn't realise I was running Nougat so now the verified boot checker prevents device from booting altogether, "Your device is corrupt. It cannot be trusted and will not boot".

All I can do is get get the devices to stock recovery which is pointless as it is not picked up in ADB and I can reset to factory here either.

I don't need to retain any data I just want to get the device working again. Any tips? Help?

Thanks

xM

# Answer
Try this: Turn off your LG G5. With your LG G5 connected by USB to your computer, push volume down and power button on your phone, then release power button keeping volume down pressed.

It *should* boot to bootloader directly. In this state, you might unlock it with your personal unlock.bin file:

```
fastboot flash unlock unlock.bin

```

Then check if unlock is granted:

```
fastboot getvar unlocked

```

Also, you could flash TWRP recovery from here with:

```
fastboot flash recovery twrp-whicheverversionfits.img

```

If this works, please let us know :)
> 3 votes

---
Tags: boot, 7.0-nougat
---


# Question
Title: Google Play vanished after uninstalling updates from Samsung Galaxy Note 2
I was following advice that was supposed to help Google play work better. It said to go to the app and uninstall the updates and clear the cache. This I did but now Google Play is no where to be seen. It is not under Market or any other thing that even remotely resembles a store. I still have Google play music and Google play games but no Google play. I am no longer able to purchase in app items due to this and so far (over three days) it hasn't updated itself either. I have gone through everything including the tabs all and turned off. It just isn't there any more. Does anyone know what they may have called the original app? If its market then its gone as well. It is like it actually deleted it instead of just uninstalling the updates. I do not want to reboot the phone into its original settings as I don't know some of the passwords that I have set up for games and other things. It would take forever to track everything down.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try getting an apk of Google Play store for your android version (Available here) and install it as you normally do.

Note: If you have never installed an app outside from the google play store then you have to enable Install from unknown sources in the settings. After installing the app, turn this setting off.

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates, google
---


title: LineageOS: Phone and Contacts crash

text:
# Question
Title: LineageOS: Phone and Contacts crash
I've switched from Cyanogenmod to LineageOS using the experimental build and then flashing a nightly build afterwards. This worked great except for the fact that the phone and contacts app kept on crashing. I reflashed the nightly and -- to be sure -- this time I flashed the GApps immediately after as well.

I've tried both the Gapps "stock" package and the "micro", because I thought the problem could lie within Hangouts. It didn't.

When I boot my phone up, I get `android.process.acore has stopped working` (or something along the lines of that; I'm using the German translation) and this message get's repeated everytime I try to open the phone, messages or contacts. All other apps seem to work fine.

Interestingly enough, I can *get* called. The aforementioned error message is displayed, however, I can tap on `Kill app` without killing the conversation.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you have the `cynogenmod zip` file somewhere stored then I think it is very easy to restore it. Just `extract` the `cynogenmod` on your computer and go to system-\>apps and copy the apks which are not working (eg.`Phone`, `Contact` in your case). Now also extract the `nightly build` which is giving you errors and go to system-\>apps and find the `phone.apk` and `contacts.apk` and delete it. Now just paste those `apks` which you had copied from `CynogenMod` and compress the modified `Lineage OS` in `zip` format. Now you are all done. Flash the newly created `zip` file and comment here if it worked (which is going to work in most case).

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, custom-roms, lineageos
---


title: Sideload a downgrade

text:
# Question
Title: Sideload a downgrade
I side loaded 7.1.1 from 6.0, on my 2014 Nexus 6. I would like to downgrade to 7.0 (because of issues such as speakerphone echo). Can this be done via side loading?

# Answer
I was able to do this flawlessly with the Nexus Root Toolkit. I'm unsure how to do it on a Mac, though.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 7.0-nougat, downgrade, side-loading
---


title: LineageOS fail to update

text:
# Question
Title: LineageOS fail to update
I've a wileyfox swift (crackling) and I've installed LineageOS 14.1-20170213-NIGHTLY-cracking + GApps through TWRP 3.0.3.

The problem is that when I try to update it through the UI or manually (downloading the .zip file from https://download.lineageos.org/ and installing it from the recovery) TWRP returns an error (status error 7).

I tried to downgrade TWRP to the 3.0.0 version but nothing changed.

How can I update my phone without wipe everything?

# Answer
The last update is ok. Now the sysem is updated and everything works. I think it's magic or someone has made an error
> -1 votes

---
Tags: twrp, rom-update, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: Tried to install app from Google but it said it can't because it's already there. It isn't
Tried to install app from Google but it said it can't because it's already there. It isn't. Google suggested I delete it but it isn't there.

# Answer
* Open your device's main Settings menu.
* Select Apps or Application manager (this may be different depending on * your device).
* Select Google Play Store from your list of apps.
* Touch Clear data.
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: how to run binary on non-rooted android phone?
I have cross-compiled a binary on Linux using the arm toochain. I uploaded the binary to a non-rooted andnroid phone.

What do I need to do in order to run this binary on the non-rooted phone ?

EDIT: I tried to run via terminal emulator, but I get the following error.

```
$ pwd
/mnt/sdcard/external_sd
$ ls -l hello
-rwxrwxr-x system   sdcard_rw     8420 2013-12-31 22:12 hello
$ ./hello
./hello: permission denied
$

```

# Answer
> 4 votes
You can download termux, copy your binary to the termux home folder and run it

```
cp /storage/emulated/0/mybinary .
chmod +x mybinary
./mybinary

```

I haven't actually managed to run something because I don't have an android binary handy and a quick google doesn't bring up any android *hello world* binaries, but it should work.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Removable media, as well as several other (user writable) partitions are mounted NOEXEC, meaning you can't execute binaries on these partitiions. See the output of 'mount' for details. Modern android builds generally prevent you from copying binaries to partitions mounted EXEC as a security precaution.

Short of rooting your device, you can't run this binary.

---
Tags: stock-android
---


# Question
Title: Home shortcut on Apple bluetooth keyboard
I'm using an Apple Bluetooth keyboard with my Android 7.0 tablet. The software keyboard I'm using is Swiftkey. I use Swiftkey because it's one of only two keyboards capable of typing the Maltese language (the other being Multiling keyboard). There's no Maltese layout in Android.

Everything works fine, but I cannot find a shortcut to go to the Home screen. I've searched on the web and most sites suggested that the Esc key should do that, but in my case it functions as a Back button.

I tried Fn + Esc, Cmd + Esc, Alt + Esc, Ctrl + Esc to no avail.

Any suggestions?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I found out which shortcut key corresponds to Home. It is cmd + return. It seems that the cmd key corresponds to the search key in the list of shortcuts available in the Physical keyboard settings.

---
Tags: bluetooth, external-keyboard, keyboard-shortcuts
---


title: Samsung phone won't turn on

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung phone won't turn on
A brand new `Samsung` phone, a 2017 A3 in this case turns off and is not turning back on. The only workaround is to press "Power button + Volume Down Button" simultaneously for 10 seconds, but this keeps happening.

# Answer
# Problem

The phone is never actually turned off. It is just the screen that it is turned off. And it seems that there is no way to turn it on. BTW if you connect your device through `abd` you will verify that the device is indeed turned on.

# Why it happens

It seems that a ""feature"" that Samsung haven't devoted any time to test it is causing this. The feature is called something like:

> Avoid accidental screen awake when the phone is in your pockets or in your bag.

# When it happens

It happens when this feature is enabled, and then you leave your phone in a relatively dark room for some time ( \>30mins perhaps). Then it looks like this feature is putting the phone into a state where key presses on the power button or the home button are ignored.

# Solution

1. Reboot the phone

To do it hold `Power Button` \+ `Volumn Down` for 10 seconds, as `adb reboot` won't be working when the phone is in this state.

2. Once the device boots up disable that stupid "feature"
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung
---


title: Silence Notifications?

text:
# Question
Title: Silence Notifications?
Went to the sound profile of the apps, turned them all off or blocked them and still getting email notifications with a loud sound. IS there any way to turn them off, or what is the way to do this, without silencing the ringer? This happening through Gmail app.

# Answer
Press volume up/down button and then expand volume bar and lower the notifocation sound.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If you go to more info section of the Gmail app (settings \> application Manager \> Gmail) uncheck "show notifications". This will turn off all notifications for Gmail.
> 0 votes

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Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to mirror Android screen to PC over Bluetooth?
I have to show something on my phone to a large group of people, so obviously they can't just huddle around and look at the screen. I need to display what's on the screen to a laptop. I can't use WiFi, I don't have mobile data, I don't want to be tethered to the laptop with a cord, so the only option is Bluetooth. Range isn't an issue since Bluetooth works up to 100 ft (probably not that much, but much more than my needs)

Is there any way to do this, preferably for free?

Edit: people keep telling me Bluetooth isn't fast enough. Would a Wi-Fi Hotspot work? I'm assuming it doesn't matter is it's 2G 3G or 4G since the only thing that matters is that the 2 devices can communicate with each other, not the Internet.

# Answer
I used Screen Stream Mirroring. It is the app suggested by adeen-s.

I then turned on mobile hotspot but left mobile data off (don't need to waste that). I connected my laptop to the hotspot. Then using the instructions in the app, I was able to mirror my screen, though at an awful quality and a 5-second input delay. It does what I need, more or less.

EDIT: Using command prompt, you can make a LAN from the PC that you can connect the Android device to and use the 2nd mirroring app I suggested. This solution is best in my opinion.
> -2 votes

# Answer
Bluetooth isn't fast enough to be able to cast your screen on a laptop. It would be possible using WiFi, a USB cable, mobile data or a Chromecast which again uses WiFi.

Short answer: it's not possible using Bluetooth.

If you still need to do this, there are several options available using WiFi. Try Screen Stream Mirroring app.
> 0 votes

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Tags: bluetooth, external-display
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# Question
Title: How can I watch TED videos offline on Android?
I'm looking for a way of subscribing to and watching TED talk videos on the HTC Desire, but I want support for off-line viewing.

The Mother TED app seems to require an active network connection, which isn't suitable since I want to be able to watch videos on the underground.

There's an RSS feed of the mp4 videos here \- is there anything like Google Listen that supports mp4 video?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I use BeyondPod (the full version) to watch TED Talks all the time. It pulls in a list of the videos from the feed and you can choose to download which ever ones you want and then play them right in BeyondPod. There is no data connection required.

# Answer
> 2 votes
The official app for TED Conferences is what I use. It has saving and sharing capabilities. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ted.android

# Answer
> 1 votes
I would suggest using doubleTwist. doubleTwist will re-encode any video to be suitable for your device, simply by dragging the video onto your device listed in the program.

doubleTwist has built-in functionality for subscribing to podcasts, but I use iTunes to organize podcasts, then use doubleTwist to send the content to, and play the content on, my HTC Hero.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As of this date, simply download the official TED app and select the talk you like to view offline. Then tap the download icon to the top-right corner to download. You can then play the downloaded videos offline from `My Talks` tab.

If you are a kind of person who like to play the videos at higher speed, you can get apps that support fast playback such as `VLC for Android` or `Dice Player`. Since all the downloaded files are stored in `/sdcard/Android/data/com.ted.android/files/`, you can point the video player to that path.

Hope this helps someone.

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Tags: video, offline
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# Question
Title: Assistant 1.0 Malicious app cannot uninstall or delete.
!

Is there any other way to remove this app without preforming a factory wipe?

And

Can I still trust my SD Card?

Even Hornet Antivirus is foiled by this app. It's permissions never showed. Even before I disabled this non-manual DL, it was hidden to all but Task Manager.

# Answer
Are you rooted? If you are you can remove the app in multiple ways provided you first have:

1. ADB (Download standalone version to PC - )
2. USB Debugging enabled on phone (Settings-\>Applications-\>Development and check USB Debugging).
3. A PC (I will be giving windows instructions but it should carry accross the platforms) and USB cable (apparently type C works best).

Next, connect your phone to your PC and ensure the correct drivers are installed to do so (these can usually be found on your manufacturers webpage).

Launch cmd and navigate to the folder containing adb (using 'cd \[filepath\]').

Enter the following commands into the command line:

1. > adb devices

If nothing shows here the drivers arent installed correctly or USB Debugging hasn't been enabled.

2. > adb shell

The interface my slightly change now, this is just accessing your phones internal commandline.

3. > cd system/app

Changes directory to system apps.

4. > ls

Find the app you want to remove on this list.

5. > rm example.apk

I would now reccomend rebooting when you are sure the app has been removed.

If you are not rooted try use one-click solutions so you do not have to factory reset your device such as kingroot.
> 1 votes

# Answer
If you are on a ZTE made device, do not fear, as this is a legitimate app made by ZTE. They don't use it for anything and it's just there.

But if your device is not a ZTE, try to uninstall all of your antivirus apps and install Malwarebytes and Avast Security instead as they are reputable and Hornet antivirus is not.
> 0 votes

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Tags: malware, uninstallation
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# Question
Title: How can I monitor and visualize the current resource usage (CPU, Memory, etc.) caused by the running Apps?
I am looking for typical per app/process resource usage information (CPU, Memory, etc.). This information is often useful to find and identify misbehaving apps.

**How can I monitor and visualize the current resource usage (CPU, Memory, etc.) caused by the running Apps?**

# Answer
There are several ways to collect this type of information, I'll be speaking about two that I use on a daily basis as to oversee what's going on with my devices:

## Terminal

Using a terminal application, you are able to run Linux commands like `top` or `ps` that provide information about the currently running processes:

* ps

> ps (i.e., process status) displays information about a selection of the active processes.
* top

> The top program provides a dynamic real-time view of a running system. It can display system summary information as well as a list of tasks currently being managed by the Linux kernel.

The terminal I most use is called Android Terminal Emulator by Jack Palevich available from Google Play Store.

## Application

There are several applications with the sole purpose of providing you with real-time information regarding the processes being executed, detailed information about apps and their system resources usage, system logs or system monitoring:

Android System Info by ElectricSheep available from Google Play Store.

This app presents information divided with 5 tabs:

* Dashboard

An overview of you device important information: battery usage; Internal Memory used/free; SDCard size and free space; RAM; etc.
* System

All system information is presented here: OS; Buildinfos; Battery; Memory; Telephony; Networks; Wifi; CPU; Screen; Sensors; Features; JavaProperties; and many more. Just tap over each one to unfold the detailed information.
* Tasks

Shows the total CPU load and CPU load/memory used for each process. You can tap a process to get more details about it; kill the process or switch to the process.
* Apps

List of all installed apps, providing means to stop or uninstall an app. If you tap over an app, you have several options like: launch; Manage; Uninstall; etc. Additionally, you are able to see all the useful information about the package itself and in relation to your system, including all permissions he uses.
* Logs

Provides you with your system logs. If you press "menu" the logs will be saved to your SD card.
> 5 votes

# Answer
**Settings -\> Applications -\> Application manager -\> RUNNING**
shows the memory taken up by running apps.

**Trepn Profiler**
shows CPU taken up by running apps (it has modes average and instantaneous).
> 0 votes

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Tags: system, resource-monitoring
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# Question
Title: Do Android phones require a data connection to work?
I'm looking at buying a new phone, the oneplus one specifically(pre-orders open again November 17) and my current phone plan I do not have data, just calling and texting, and I was wondering if the oneplus one works without data and I could just use wifi, or if I would need to purchase a data plan for the phone to work. so it would be as simple as putting the sim card from my current phone into the oneplus one and done? all help is appreciated, thanks.

# Answer
No. You don't need a data connection plan to use OnePlus One or any android phone for that matter. Calling and texting will work irrespective of internet connection. However, having a data connection will be useful if you want to use some apps on the go.
> 10 votes

# Answer
You will not need a data connection to use any Android phone. Wifi can do most of the things a data connection will do and more. But sending pictures/video/audio via texts will not work unless you have data.
> 0 votes

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Tags: data-connection, mobile-data, oneplus-one
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title: internal storage running low

text:
# Question
Title: internal storage running low
I am not very technologically advanced so bear with me. I need to move more apps to my SD card from internal storage because I am running low on internal storage space. I have moved very few apps to my Sd card with application manager but the majority of the apps have the option greyed out. After the apps updated the move to SD card option remained greyed out. How can I free up space? I have a 16 GB SD card so its a little frustrating that I can't use it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If the "Move" option is greyed out, it can mean either, or both of the following:

1) The application was granted device administration privilege previously. To disable device administration for an application, go to **Menu | Settings | Security | Device Administrators** (Please note these options vary between Android versions, but they should be similar). Then, the "Move" option should be enabled to allow you to move data to your external SD card (i.e. microSD card).

or

2) The application was designed to ONLY RUN in internal memory. This is set in the application by the developer and there's nothing you can do about it (unless you know how to reverse-engineer the application). The reason for this is that some Android functions only work if they are executed from the internal storage area.

Sometimes, you will have applications that do both of the above. So, if you cannot move an application, the above are the reasons.

# Answer
> 0 votes
A simple way to get more storage space without moving your apps is to download Norton Clean (the only good Norton app) and clear your cache and junk files. On my first time using this it freed up over two gigabytes of storage space.

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Tags: applications, app2sd, insufficient-memory
---


title: internet slow on my tablet

text:
# Question
Title: internet slow on my tablet
> I know this question has been asked over and over and I have searched for an answer but no one seems to have an good result.

I have a new **Prestigio Multipad 10.1**. It's a nice tablet but I'm having trouble connecting it to my WiFi. I can connect but it's slow or never seems to receive any data.

I've tried a lot but I haven't a clue why other devices I have work. My android phone, my laptop, iPod etc.

I bought two of these and they both have the same problem.

There must be a setting which will correct this problem.

I have tried changing channels, I have tried a WiFi fixer but:

* **Google store just times out.**
* **Chrome never comes back with any results .**

I'm pulling my hair out. Please help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I can't say that I have an explanation for you but it seems to be the nature of the beast. On my wifi network, my smartphone and my tablet get about 10mbps slower speed than my computer. I have no idea why but that's consistently the result so that must be normal.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The manufacturer of your tablet may have put a chip for older standards of wifi, such as N or G. The computer will always be faster as it has larger antennas if on wifi, or is wired through the modem to the router to the computer using Ethernet. Wired connections are always going to be faster than wireless.

---
Tags: wi-fi, internet, prestigio-multipad
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title: Can Someone Explain This?

text:
# Question
Title: Can Someone Explain This?
My storage is being used up and I can't tell what by. Thanks in advance!

# Answer
By looking at your screenshot it is clear that most of your storage is taken up by apps. Apps have a tendancy to store cached data. If you click on Apps and click individual apps by name you can clear the Cache files which can free up space.

Apps which have a large amount of cache data tends to be web browsers. An example of how much data web browser can store in cache can be seen below.
> 0 votes

# Answer
The cached data is your problem. Cached data is in a separate category that is hidden in general. You can clear your cached data by clicking on apps then selecting Google chrome, or something else, then clicking clear cached data. This will not effect your device. After you have done this for about 5 apps, go to the play store and download Norton Clean. This app will clean these caches and any other junk files for you in a millionth of the time.
> 0 votes

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Tags: insufficient-memory
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title: Android 4 don't require unlock at home

text:
# Question
Title: Android 4 don't require unlock at home
In the Android OS version 4, what would I have to do to require a pass code to unlock the phone when I'm away from home, but when I'm at my home, I don't need pass-code restrictions.

Detecting proximity to my office could be done by detecting a WiFi or BlueTooth link to some hardware in the office, but GPS would be iffy since it doesn't work well inside. Also Google's location service would work, since it seems to know where my WiFi router is located very accurately.

I would also be interested to know whether this would be compatible with the full storage encryption on the Android.

# Answer
Skip lock screen (formerly "*Unlock with WiFi*") will let you bypass your device lock screen if you are connected to your home WiFi network. (Or whatever WiFi SSID you define.)

I used it a year or two ago and it worked well.

There is also a trial version.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Smart lock is a feature on Android 5.x and above but I'm not sure if it is on older Android versions. This allows your phone to be unlocked when your GPS shows you are at home, or you are connected to your home wifi.
> 1 votes

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Tags: security, lock-screens
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# Question
Title: Error while installing APK without Play Store
I've downloaded some app\* from the play store via the bluestacks emulator and then copied the apk off the emulated system to my android phone. But when I want to install it, I'll get an error which correspodends to the code 'INSTALL\_FAILED\_MISSING\_SHARED\_LIBRARY'.

Note: On my phone (GT-I9195) I'm running CM without gapps.

My guess is that the app is using libraries which are provided by the gapps.

Does anybody know how to fix this or another way to install apps from the play store without gapps?

*https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.hafas.android.db

# Answer
Is not possible install apps of google play without gapps, but you can install a "minimal google play"

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1918484
> 1 votes

# Answer
Install Google apps by going to apkmirror.com and searching google play store. Now download the newest version of this. Enable installation of apps by unknown sources in settings=\>security. Now find the file you downloaded and install it. You should now have Google play store on your phone and can now download this app and others a lot easier.
> 0 votes

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Tags: google-play-store, cyanogenmod, apk, privacy
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# Question
Title: Can I build an APK from an installed app and its data?
I would like to take an installed app, including its data, from a rooted Android device and produce from it an APK suitable for installing on a non-rooted Android device.

Is this possible?

*Edit: Existing answers/comments seem to reinforce the idea that existing apps do not support embedding an app's data within an APK. Perhaps the more fundamental question is,**can** an APK embed files destined for* `/data/data/[appname]`*, or are they restricted to being self-contained when installed?*

Notes:

* I assumed that, if it were possible, this functionality would be built into an app such as Titanium Backup. Titanium Backup can back up app+data to a single file, but that file is not an APK and can only be restored by Titanium Backup itself - which is no help for me as the destination device is not rooted and so cannot run TB.
* Solutions that require use of the terminal on the phone or ADB are fine.

Thanks.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Having now read more about the APK file format, I think I can now safely answer my own question with "it's impossible".

An APK file does not contain a data structure which is "unpacked" on install like the packages used by, for example, most Linux distributions. Instead, an APK is simply a self-contained, rebadged JAR file that contains the application's bytecode, manifest and certificate and nothing else.

The contents of `/data/data/[appname]` are presumably created by the application code when it is first run (or at some future point), and there is no way of embedding such data into an APK so that the system automatically moves it to the correct destination at install time.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can still get the APK of an app with applications like ES File Explorer, AppMonster or Titanium Backup. But I don't know if they back up datas when the APK is built.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go on the play store and download ML Manager to extract the Apk files into a folder of your choice. I do not know how to include the app data in this.

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Tags: applications, backup, apk
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# Question
Title: What are all these security certificates on new phone?
This is a new T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S7.

Is it normal to have all these certificates? Many look dodgy.

Image resized. Click to see full-version

# Answer
Yes, it is normal to have these security certificates.

To trust a security certificate you encounter on the Internet, your device needs a way to verify a certificate is good. You can't just accept any certificate that is presented because any adversary able to become a man-in-the-middle (like a public WiFi access point) would be able to spoof any website.

This problem has been solved by giving each device a list of certificates initially, like the one you have shown, and requiring all certificates to have a chain of valid certificates (signed, not expired) that terminates with a trusted certificate. These initial trusted certificates are for organizations that are in the business of signing certificates for other organizations. People need certificates all over the world which is why there are certificates for authorities from all over the world. To verify a certificate, the device looks for a chain of valid certificates.

This means that if you run a server and want a certificate, you have to go to one of the companies that issues certificates (often called a certificate authority) and get them to sign a certificate for you to identify your server. The certificate includes the name of the server so you cannot just take a certificate and use it anywhere.

With certificates, an adversary can still try to spoof any website, but if you require a certificate (use HTTPS) the client can detect the spoofing.
> 5 votes

# Answer
The certificates are very necessary! Without them your phone would just say that any site you visit is trying to steal your data and is not secure.
> 1 votes

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Tags: security, certificates
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# Question
Title: change the position of google search bar in Google Now Launcher
I am using Google now launcher on my Moto G3 phone. I have set up wallpapers on my home screen but the Google search bar(which is situated at top of my home screen), seems to be always overlapping the wallpaper content.

Ideally, I should be able to get rid of that search bar from my home screen of Google Now launcher, but it looks like there is no easy/working way to do it, beside installing another launcher, which I do not want to do.

So, as other alternative, I want to adjust the position of Google search bar by moving it around the home screen. But I am unable to drag/move it and hence unable to change its location

Is there a way?

# Answer
If you're into rooting and Xposed Framework, this module called Xposed GEL Settings has a bunch of Now Launcher-related settings, among which you can disable the permanent search bar. You can then put a search bar widget on arbitrary location of the screen.

Note that this app requires a compatible version of Now Launcher / Google App to work at all. Supported versions are listed on the module description page.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Sadly there is not. But if you are looking for another Google made launcher, get the one made for Google Pixel phones by going to \[1\] and downloading it. Then go to your settings, go to security, then enable installation of apps from unknown sources. After the launcher is installed press home, choose Pixel Launcher and set it as default. You can now disable the setting that was enabled above.

\[1\] http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/pixel-launcher/pixel-launcher-7-1-1-3368800-release/pixel-launcher-7-1-1-3368800-android-apk-download/
> 0 votes

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Tags: launcher, google-now, google-search
---


title: How do some apps get past ad blocking?

text:
# Question
Title: How do some apps get past ad blocking?
I'm already using LBE Privacy Guard, AdAway and Droidwall to strictly control ads and app permissions. (All of them require root to run).

Droidwall has a whitelist where only apps that actually fetch data from the internet are allowed. (Games, system apps etc are blocked)

However I find some apps that are able to show ads even when they're not on the whitelist in Droidwall. How do they do it? Are they relying on some separate core system component to do this? My solution is to click on the ad and instantly hit 'stop' on the browser window that pops up, then adding the ad host to my hosts file.

I'd prefer a permanent solution, so that only apps requiring the internet are able to get through.

(Given a choice, I'd prefer a time bound full version or a feature restricted demo version to any form of adware, be it on Android or the desktop).

What Android system component do I block to completely disable in app ads?

# Answer
It's been 5 10 years since I asked this, and I've finally found a solution for rooted phones. Google Play Services is the culprit. You need an app that can disable individual sub-components of other apps. I use DisableService (it's no longer available) App Manager, so I'll use it as an example, you'll have to follow similar steps with other such apps.

* Select Google Play Services from the list of apps, set the filter to show system apps if needed.
* Look for and disable the following components - `AdRequestBrokerService`, `AdvertisingNotificationService`, `AdvertisingIdService`, `AnalyticsService` and `AnalyticsUploadIntentService`.

That's it. Other apps send requests to these services to display ads, and turning them off has no adverse effect on them.
> 4 votes

# Answer
Had similar problem disabled network access to Google Play Services. Ads gone after that. System seems to be working fine though.
> 1 votes

# Answer
If your phone is rooted, Install "Avast mobile security" and enable firewall. you can block internet access to any installed app. Its not about blocking ads. Its about blocking internet access. And its free.
> -2 votes

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Tags: ads
---


title: mp4 video will no longer play

text:
# Question
Title: mp4 video will no longer play
I have an mp4 video on my Dropbox. I was able to watch it earlier with the Dropbox app, but now it asks me whether I want to view it with the Photos app or Video Player... and neither appear to work.

I have tried saving the video to my device but still no luck. I am able to watch the video through VLC player with no issues but I am trying to post the video to Instagram, and Instagram can't understand it either.

I can also view the video on my iPad... and I've tried force stopping my Android apps and restarting my phone but still no luck

# Answer
> 1 votes
I realised the problem was there because the video was `1200 x 1200` — I'd exported it from Photoshop — I then resized to `600 x 600` and then it seemed okay, and could post it to Instagram

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try using VLC, it plays most videos other players cannot and has a good interface. However, if this still doesn't work, try using Video Converter, Compressor and select the file then change it to an MP4 (I know it's already MP4, but this may fix any issues).

VLC: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc&hl=en

Video Converter, Compressor: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xvideostudio.videocompress

---
Tags: video
---


title: How RAM usage effects battery drain?

text:
# Question
Title: How RAM usage effects battery drain?
I'm really confused about Android memory management.

I just read here that killing apps by swiping from recent list or using task killers won't save your battery but drain more because this cause the OS to load the apps all over again next time you launch it or startup by themselves. They also said the actually thing we should worry is CPU usage, not RAM usage.

Is that mean using too much RAM doesn't drain battery? As RAM is a hardware, holding something on it shouldn't drain battery? What if I was playing Temple Run and just press home button so the app will load faster next time I launch? Or should we just press back button until the app exit as we always do? I've also searched the internet but some said it would drain battery as it sits on RAM, some said there is no difference between RAM holds actual data or nothing. Should we let go of our app-killing habit and just feel relax?

Some precise answers would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. :)

# Answer
> 22 votes
I doubt that there is a direct correlation between battery consumption and RAM usage. The hardware doesn't know which RAM cells contain 'used' data and which not. So there can be no difference in battery consumption on that level.

But I think that one could say that unnecessarily killing Apps causes a few extra CPU cycles when those Apps have to be re-started and therefore "uses more battery".

And yes, you definitely should let go of your app-killing habit. In most cases, Android is capable of managing the system's resources quite well and you shouldn't bother with manually killing Apps. They definitely won't drain more battery if they just idle around and consume some RAM. Of course, if those Apps are constantly using the CPU, they will drain battery (but this is usually a sign of a bug within the App or a badly implemented App).

# Answer
> 16 votes
Think of RAM like a paper notebook. You can write data into the book (with a pencil), and you can erase those data and replace them with new data, but the book's always the same weight. The book doesn't get any heavier, whatever you write in it. The same way, with current RAM technology, the battery use of the RAM is fixed, regardless of what (if anything) is stored in it.

From Android's point of view, it doesn't matter whether you leave an app with the home button or the back button. **Pressing the back button doesn't kill an app or remove it from RAM. Swiping an app out of the 'recent apps' list doesn't kill the app or remove it from RAM.** The only difference it makes is changing what the app shows you next time you launch it: the screen you were on before, or the main/first screen of the app.

Imagine you have a notebook (as before), and a big bookcase with lots of reference books. You can't carry the reference books around with you, so if you need to know about a subject, you have to copy the information out of a reference book into your little notebook. When you run out of space in the notebook, you use your eraser to wipe some information you don't need again, so you can copy more information into it.

All this copying is tiresome. So once you've copied some information, you want to keep it in your notebook for as long as you think you might need it. You keep track of what information in the notebook you're using right now, and what information you use often, and what information you haven't used for a while. When you want to make space, first you erase the information you haven't used for a while. If you haven't got any of that left, then you erase some information you use often but not right now. Only if you're really desperate for space (maybe there's one big subject that takes the whole notebook) do you erase the information you're using today.

This is exactly what Android's doing with your RAM. The big bookcase with reference books is like your phone's internal storage: you can't use it directly (because the books are printed, not written with pencil), so it's expensive (it takes time and energy) to copy data into your notebook (RAM) to work on.

A task manager app is like a schoolteacher who thinks your notebook looks untidy with all those pages of notes you're not using any more. The schoolteacher comes along every so often and erases whole pages of notes. This is unnecessary, because it doesn't make the book any easier to carry around: the book weighs the same regardless. Not only that, the schoolteacher **doesn't know** which information you use most often - he might have a vague idea, but he doesn't know as well as you do - so sometimes when he erases information, the cost is an extra trip to the bookshelf, which you wouldn't have needed otherwise.

Thinking about it this way, it's easy to answer your question. Using more RAM doesn't use any more power directly. A task manager app can make you use more power, because you're having to copy things from internal storage to RAM that you wouldn't have had to otherwise. In the same way, a single RAM-hungry app costs you twice: first you have to write all of that app's information in the notebook, and then when you finish with it, there's a lot of information that you had to erase (to make space), which you have to copy from the bookshelf again.

# Answer
> 1 votes
As the article explained to you, it doesn't matter how much stuff is loaded into the RAM, so that's completely okay if you don't close the applications that are idle. But if the app constantly does some activity, like syncing some data, or downloading, or even recording sound, it would drain your battery, because it uses the CPU, which sucks the energy from your battery, in that case, closing the apps would be a good thing to consider. Otherwise, if you're sure that the app will not perform constant activity in the background, then you shouldn't worry about it being stored in the RAM, it's just the same as storing your files in SDCard (I mean SDCard doesn't use battery, right?). So just relax :) I guess temple run doesn't do any activity in the background, so don't worry to leave it in the ram. Hope I explained to you. Cheers!

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is a big difference between iOS and Android. iOS freezes the apps, Android doesn't. The logic he explains in that article cannot be applied to Android, where some apps will drain your battery while in the background. If you care about this, use something like Greenify instead of a task killer.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Answering the question of the title: "Can using too much RAM drain battery?"
(Not your "real" question, but possibly useful for others interested in the questions title.)

Yes, when too much RAM is used by apps or services trying to run at the same time, the system may need to kill some of them very frequently, even multiple times per second, and restart them soon as they are needed by something else.
That is using lots of CPU cycles, and thus some battery capacity.

Note that is not a normal case, like "not killing some apps manually", it's a "very broken" state - but I have seen it happen, seems to be related to many services interfering and competing for memory.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Since main RAM is dynamic (made of capasitors which loose info) they must be refreshed. This refreshal takes power, and a full (or used) block, should take more power to "recharge" than once containing all 0's or somehow knows it's not being used.

However, if this is actualy noticable is for someone with more electronics know/how.

I have always noticed higher battery usage on all computers when more ram is used, regardless of CPU level, but there must be some other factors at play here.

---
Tags: battery, ram
---


title: How to root a ZTE N817

text:
# Question
Title: How to root a ZTE N817
I am looking for an easy, free, and safe way to root my ZTE N817 without ruining my phone are there any programs or apps that I can use

# Answer
PC version of iroot v 1.8.8. might help check out link below

https://forum.xda-developers.com/general/help/zte-n817-root-t3443935
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting
---


# Question
Title: What is the difference between my Android 7 x86 Live CD, and actual installation? (Stuck on Boot Logo after installing)
I am trying to install Android from the Android-x86 project on my PC. I successfully built an ISO from source, and I can boot from it. The Live CD comes up without any issues. My problem only shows up after installing Android on my computer.

Grub comes up, allows me to select Android, and starts the android boot process, but then I get stuck on the "android" logo animation screen.

I used `GPT` for partitioning, made one primary partition, and formatted it with `ext4`.

My problems sound very similar to this question, but the OP is in a Virtual Machine. Is there some way that I need to "Accelerate 3D Graphics" or something like that?

It seems especially bizarre to me that it is booting successfully from the "live" system, but stops working when I install it...

---

**Edit:**

Looking into this some more, I found a workaround. If I use `ntfs` or `exfat` instead of `ext4` when formatting the partition, it works. There is a catch: it becomes a read-only filesystem. The x86 installer helps you set up another space for user data, so this just might be usable... I am still open for answers on why `ext4` will not boot though.

# Answer
> 0 votes
try installing the newest Ubuntu fresh. then install android x86 over the ext4 partition. select yes on grub and uefi and read write. do not format anything! ANDROID X86 formatter is broken.

---
Tags: installation, boot, 7.0-nougat, android-x86
---


# Question
Title: Open RemixOS system.img on Windows and edit init.sh (Faulty Touchscreen)
I installed RemixOS on my Baytrail Tablet but the touchscreen doesn't seem to work properly. It only works in the middle of the screen and the touches are registered 3-4 cm left of the area of touch. I have already tried everything I found by Googling like adding `rmmod i2c-hid` and `modprobe i2c-hid` with no luck.

But, recently under OS/BOM configuration in the BIOS I found 6 different options for the touch panel - MSSL, Ntrig, ChipOne, Focaltech, Goodix and Disable. I'd like to try each one of them, but I want rmmod and modprobe to run on every boot automatically.

I tried editing init.sh (in system/etc) with no luck. I am using Windows 7 right now. Can anyone suggest?

# Answer
> 0 votes
maybe try to add your line of code into the init.sh file under Function\_misc line 18

---
Tags: touchscreen, android-x86
---


# Question
Title: Not able to download apps from the Play Store while roaming
I am using a Mi4i. I can't download apps from the Play Store when the SIM is in roaming. How can I do this?

# Answer
This is one of the problem in Android Nougat and wasn't solved in the subsequent updates. This problem leaves you with, only way of downloading the app is to download it's apk file from other sources through your browser while you are on mobile data otherwise apps are getting downloaded when you connect your phone through wifi.

To follow updates on this you can go here https://productforums.google.com/forum/#!topic/nexus/21wGieItCik
> 1 votes

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


title: Why does the pattern lock exist?

text:
# Question
Title: Why does the pattern lock exist?
I don't understand why many newer phones use the pattern lock by default as opposed to a more traditional pin. All I see is downsides:

1. I find it slightly more tricky to keep dragging throughout the whole motion as opposed to tapping the numbers, especially when using one hand.
2. I found myself far more tempted to use poor patterns (like L shape or M or 4...) than I ever did to pick a poor pin (like 1234 or my birth year)
3. The shape you drag out on the dots is much more easily visible to somebody standing next to you than tapping out a pin is, mostly because it draws the actual polygon on the screen as you do it and its relatively huge. It can be turned off but I've yet to see anybody do it.
4. When I look at the fingerprints on my phone screen, where I dragged the pattern is quite clearly distinguishable, probably because the gesture is way larger than any other touch motion I do on the screen.
5. I find it more difficult to remember longer patterns than equal length pin's. This probably depends on the person but I think the fact that I've been remembering various series of numbers for decades also plays a role.

So overall it just seems like a bad idea. Why are they so popular as of late? Some advantage that I'm missing?

# Answer
I am no longer able to use the pattern lock since I've enabled fingerprint recognition. However, when I did use pattern lock I always used all nine dots and I disabled all haptic and visual (line drawing) feedback.

I could draw my shape in a fairly fluid motion and the latter movements wiped across the earlier, so judging from the fingerprint smear wouldn't necessarily be obvious as to the shape I drew. Additionally, I'd cross back at the end over areas I've already touched. Without the haptic feedback, someone might have a difficult time knowing which dots were drawn over the first time and which were done to throw them off.

My best protection, however, was to take a quick glance to see if anyone was looking before trying to unlock my phone. If someone is clearly watching you and is interested in breaking in to your phone then you're going to have a hard time maintaining complete security regardless of your lock method.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: security, pattern-lock
---


# Question
Title: Phone bricked? Stuck in boot (can't access ADB)
Unfortunately my Moto G XT1543 is stuck in the boot. PWR + VOL DWN does not work, and adb returns the following:

> adb reboot bootloader
>
> * daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
> * daemon started successfully
> * error: device '(null)' not found

The official motorola drivers can't recognize the device. I'm completely stuck. Any advise?

Regards

# Answer
My issue was that PWR + VOL DWN wasn't working, I apologize if I can't provide a more accurate answer, but PWR + VOL DWN finally worked and I was able to connect with adb once again.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, boot-loop, unbricking, motorola-moto-g3
---


title: Where do I download HBOOT 2.16?

text:
# Question
Title: Where do I download HBOOT 2.16?
I need HBOOT 2.16 to flash my preferred ROM on a HTC One S.

I can't figure out where to download the firmware itself. The only page I've found which even vaguely resembles clear instructions is this one but the download link for the firmware is broken. The other pages I've seen present a very muddled picture and no links through which to download the actual firmware.

I have a rooted device, S-OFF, super CID 11111111, formerly H3G\__001 I believe.

I'm going round in circles trying to figure this out. How do I upgrade my firmware?

# Answer
Assuming you have an S4 variant.

Check this XDA-Developers thread out - latest official (but unofficially obtained) firmware at version 4.05.401.1, with HBOOT 2.16. Link is hosted on AFH and is pretty good in quality.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: device-firmware, htc-one-s
---


# Question
Title: How to root Samsung Galaxy S5 for AT&T with Lollipop
I have Samsung Galaxy S5 for AT&T with Android 5.0 Lollipop upgraded.

Is there any way to root this phone?

PS. How do I root my Android device? This question is different. I heard that rooting Lollipop is different from rooting previous Android version.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Here's an XDA instructions to root **Samsung S5 G900A (AT&T)**: https://forum.xda-developers.com/att-galaxy-s5/general/guide-merry-christmas-heres-t3516196

That's the only solution I found working!

1) Save these to the Samsung SD card:

2) Now on your Desktop PC, download this firmware: COMBINATION\_ATT\_FA44\_G900AUCU4AOF1\_ATT4AOF1.zip

3) Install the "COMBINATION" firmware using Samsung Odin (you'll have to boot your device by pressing Volume Down + Home + Power ON) **This will wipe ALL data** on the device! Backup your stuff before proceeding.

4) After this new firmware installed and loaded, open Android file manager, go to the SD card, and install those APKs: Flashfire, SuperSU, and TowelRoot.

5) Connect to the internet (Wifi), and then go into "Settings \> Date and Time" and tick the "Automatic date and time" box. This is mandatory for TowelRoot to work.

6) Run TowelRoot app -\> "make it ra1n". Now you'll have the root binaries installed.

7) Run SuperSU app -\> "new user" -\> update SU binaries -\> reboot.

8) Run FlashFire app -\> grant it root access -\> flash ZIP -\> choose the OF3 firmware from SD -\> set options to Mount /system read/write -\> Hit "flash".

You're done! Enjoy Samsung S5 with Lollipop unlocked!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Root Samsung Galaxy S5 Although the given link is for the build xxu1b0a7, it worked for my mobile with build xxu1b0c3. So you can give it a try.

But I recommend you to not root your mobile, as the samsung will be releasing the 5.1.1 update and it will be of minimal bloatware.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, rooting, samsung-galaxy-s-5, att
---


title: Can libraries share memory as in linux?

text:
# Question
Title: Can libraries share memory as in linux?
Is it possible for libraries to share memory like the shared memory in linux? (The shared memory feature adopted in System V and later adopted to linux)

Eg: When two apps are working simultaneously and both uses the OkHttp library, is the library loaded into memory twice?

# Answer
> 3 votes
The same shared memory feature is still present in Android, and it works on built-in shared libraries such as OpenGL ES, but it's not used for third-party libraries like you're asking about. Each app that uses a third-party library has to include the library in its APK file. These then aren't shared libraries (in the `.so` sense): they're just duplicate files which might happen to contain the same code. (Usually they won't contain the same code because different apps will have been built against different versions of the library.)

This avoids possible incompatibilities or security problems caused by updating libraries from different apps. Shared library incompatibilities are a huge problem in GNU/Linux systems. Distributions put a lot of effort into preventing them by testing different combinations of applications and libraries, but they still go wrong sometimes. In Android, where nobody is responsible for making sure that different apps work together, that kind of shared library system would result in apps often breaking when a shared library is updated. Security problems might come about in a system that used shared libraries in this way, because an app might update a shared library to a "newer version" that's actually hacked to leak information or control the app. The libraries would have to be treated as separate packages, signed by the author, just like apps are, and then there would have to be a complex process for handling version updates.

---
Tags: processes, background-process
---


# Question
Title: How to add an image to the hard-disk of an android phone
Dont mention about custom Roms, I want to load an image into the hard-disk and be able to access it from a computer can I do so?

I want to know how to write to memory, and that includes wipping off the / directory.

May be want to load linux into it(Assume)

# Answer
DriveDroid can help

> DriveDroid allows you to boot your PC from ISO/IMG files stored on your phone. This is ideal for trying Linux distributions or always having a rescue-system on the go... without the need to burn different CDs or USB pendrives.
>
> DriveDroid also includes a convenient download menu where you can download USB-images of a number of operating systems from your phone (like Mint, Ubuntu, Fedora, OpenSUSE and Arch Linux). Around 35 different systems are available at this moment.

**Needs root**

Related Creating a bootable USB through android
> 2 votes

---
Tags: boot
---


title: Headphones aren't working on S7

text:
# Question
Title: Headphones aren't working on S7
I have an S7 Active, and all of suddenly both my headphones stopped working with it. The interesting part is my headset I was for my Xbox works with it, and my headphones work with everything else I tried them on. Is there any way to fix this?

# Answer
> -1 votes
Did you try pressy? it maybe blocked the sound! if not, call google to help. if it does not help, get a new phone. lastly, they are not compatible. if one of these do not work, comment and ill try to fix it.

---
Tags: headphones, hardware, headphone-jack
---


# Question
Title: Checking that GPS is paused after turning screen off?
I suspect a maps-based application I use doesn't actually pause GPS after I turn the screen off like it's supposed to, draining the battery accordingly.

Is there a way to check the status of GPS after the screen is turned off?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Macrodroid automation app may help by giving you a audio notification under the twin conditions of ( app being active, GPS being enabled ) when the screen is turned off

**Trigger:** Screen off

**Action:**

**If**

app state of your app ( choose from running in background / not in foreground / alive in background /not running- in the example below it is App in foreground)

**And**

GPS enabled

add child action of Notification sound,

**end if**

**Constraints:** None

---
Tags: gps
---


# Question
Title: Is there a way to switch to charging only before plugging my phone into an USB?
Is there a way on Android 6.0 to switch to charging only before plugging my phone into an USB?

# Answer
> 4 votes
* Enable developer options - To enable Developer Options, go to Settings and select About phone. Now, scroll down and find out Build number. Tap on this option around 7 times. You will get a success message
* You will find *Select USB configuration* . Tap on that too open a sub menu and choose *Charging only*
* Next time you connect, it will revert to charging automatically

# Answer
> 0 votes
Yes there is. I just did this right before updating to 7.0 so I hope I am remembering right. If you go to your developer options there should be an option to turn on or off what happens when you plug in your phone to a usb cord connected to a computer. You can switch it to charge only if you want. My current computer auto-encrypts anything plugged into it so I had to dig for this option. If it isn't in the Developer options, its in the USB connection options. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

---
Tags: usb, charging
---


# Question
Title: How to avoid preinstalled deactivated apps to auto update
I have a Samsung tablet with Microsoft One Note and Microsoft PowerPoint preinstalled, among others. I have deactivated these, but even deactivated these apps auto update eating a lot of storage.

How to avoid that?

# Answer
If they come pre-installed from your carrier and/or manufacturer, they most likely are /system apps and the only thing you can do is disable them.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: application-autoupdate
---


title: restoration of deleted data by mistake

text:
# Question
Title: restoration of deleted data by mistake
i wanted to delete the data using the service however i deleted the data from my own phone by mistake. complete data from device as well as SD card have been erased.

Please assist to restore same.

Thanks & Best regards, -Anand

# Answer
> 0 votes
I'd try pulling the SD card and doing a few attempts at data recovery from it. If it's been formatted as EXT3/4 I'd try using Photorec on a Linux system. If it's anything else I'd try GetDataBack or FreeUndelete on Windows.

I know of no way to attempt that on the device's internal storage, sorry.

---
Tags: hotmail
---


title: Why is my phone ignoring OTG USB?

text:
# Question
Title: Why is my phone ignoring OTG USB?
I have 2 phones.
1. Android 4.4.4 - When OTG USB is connected, it automatically mounts with no problems and I can manage files, watch movies from it, etc.
2. Android 6.0 - when OTG USB is connected, phone fully ignores it (does nothing).

Why can't second phone mount it exactly like a first does? Do I have to install some application that takes care of it? First phone is rooted, second is not. Can that be a problem?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Its not the android version describes that it can connect OTG(On-The-Go), its the capability of the device. Huawei P8 Lite has no OTG connectivity as described here : P8 lite review

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, usb-on-the-go, file-management
---


# Question
Title: How to get the full path of an image viewed in the default Gallery App on the Samsung Galaxy?
**The Android is the Samsung Galaxy S7.**

Can someone tell me how to get the **full path** of the files being displayed in the Gallery App?

I have tried to figure it out by creating a folder, placing picture in it, then browsing to the pictures in Gallery. It shows the folder name, but doesn't show the path to the folder.

If I create a folder: `/sdcard/mypictures/`, it's show the images in an album called `mypictures`. It doesn't show that the `mypictures` folder is off the root of `sdcard`. If I make a subfolder in `/sdcard/mypictures/march2017`, it shows the images are in `march2017`.

I'm trying to figure this out because browsing a friends phone, we are trying to grap pictures from it. We see them in Gallery, but can't figure out, of his years of storing and sorting pictures on where they are actually located.

I'm sure there is a way to get the path. Hopefully someone can help.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I was able to figure out how to get to the path by this message and steps provided by beeshyams.

**The menu button on the Samsung Galaxys is the hardware Return Key.**

The problem is that, there isn't an onscreen menu for the recent Samsung Galaxy androids. I was stuck on the **3 dot menu** step.

The Samsung Galaxy has a hidden hardware menu. Pressing and holding the **Return Button** activate the menu feature.

While having an image in view, press and hold the **Return Button**, this bring up a menu that include the **Details** option. Clicking on Details brings up a lot of information on the image, including a map marked where it was taken. It also shows a properties block that includes the **path** of the image.

# Answer
> 1 votes
* Firstly, the option of installing a file explorer, as in my earlier solution (now deleted) was not tenable as the device from which pics were to copied is not OP's. OP edited his question to highlight using Gallery app only
* On my device Moto X Play with stock gallery app, the method is - When I open any of folders and select a pic, a tick mark appears and from the 3 dot menu → details → scrolling down I can see the path as `/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/camera/xxx.jpg`. This information section follows information about the geo tagged information of pics
* On the chat, we could not find a way to get to the 3 dot menu on OP's device and OP found the way out using hardware keys as explained his answer

---
Tags: gallery, file-management
---


# Question
Title: How to turn my android to a wacom tablet?
I want to try drawing digital but I don't think I'm ready for something like wacom tablet and it's kinda expensive so I don't want to waste my money for something I can't use well. I have a samsung galaxy tab and when I search for a way to avoid buying it, I found that I can turn my tablet to something like it but when I try to download the programs that they recommend in the playstore it said that I have to root my tablet but I don't want to root it.

I was wondering if it is possible to use a tablet (i.e. my samsung galaxy tab) as a Wacom-esque drawing tablet when connected to a hp laptop (without rooting my tablet)?

# Answer
> 1 votes
There’s “GfxTablet“, an Android application that…

> makes it possible to use your device (especially tablets) like a graphics tablet, sending touch data (including pressure!) to any compatible (e.g. GNU/Linux) computer. Requires running the uinput driver on your PC (see website for details).

Resources:

---
Tags: wacom
---


# Question
Title: After new firmware, can't install ROM (mount error)
I installed RUU 4.2.2 in an attempt to upgrade HBOOT to 2.16 on a HTC One S. The boot menu shows 2.16 so I guess it worked but now I have no OS.

I am trying to install a ROM (Lineage 14) but I get error messages like this

```
mount: failed to mount /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/
umount of /system failed: no such volume
Patching system image unconditionally...
E1001: Failed to update system image.
E:unknown command[log]
E:Erorr executing updater binary in zip '/sdcard/linea
Error flashing zip '/sdcard/lineage.zip'
Updating partition details...

```

If I `adb shell` then `ls /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1` I get

```
by-num      mmcblk0p13  mmcblk0p19  mmcblk0p24  mmcblk0p3   mmcblk0p35  mmcblk0p8
mmcblk0     mmcblk0p14  mmcblk0p2   mmcblk0p25  mmcblk0p30  mmcblk0p36  mmcblk0p9
mmcblk0p1   mmcblk0p15  mmcblk0p20  mmcblk0p26  mmcblk0p31  mmcblk0p4
mmcblk0p10  mmcblk0p16  mmcblk0p21  mmcblk0p27  mmcblk0p32  mmcblk0p5
mmcblk0p11  mmcblk0p17  mmcblk0p22  mmcblk0p28  mmcblk0p33  mmcblk0p6
mmcblk0p12  mmcblk0p18  mmcblk0p23  mmcblk0p29  mmcblk0p34  mmcblk0p7

```

In TWRP 2.6.1.0 I can wipe cache and Dalvik cache, Format Data and Factory Reset. If I `adb shell` and run `mount` I get

```
rootfs on / type rootfs (rw)
tmpfs on /dev type tmpfs (rw,nosuid,relatime,mode=755)
devpts on /dev/pts type devpts (rw,relatime,mode=600)
proc on /proc type proc (rw,relatime)
sysfs on /sys type sysfs (rw,relatime)
/dev/block/mmcblk0p34 on /cache type ext4 (rw,relatime,data=ordered)
/dev/block/mmcblk0p35 on /data type ext4 (rw,relatime,data=ordered)
/dev/block/mmcblk0p35 on /sdcard type ext4 (rw,relatime,data=ordered)

```

I can mount `cache`, `data`, and `system` from the TWRP menu, but not `USB-OTG`. If I go to Advanced Wipe, I see

```
E:Unable to mount '/usb-otg'

```

How do I fix these errors so I can install my OS?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Still assuming S4 variant. Your TWRP is *so* outdated - get the latest here. Flash through fastboot as usual.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I fixed it by going into `adb shell` and running `mkdir`, `mount`, and `mke2fs` manually.

---
Tags: twrp, rom, mount, htc-one-s, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: How can multitasking experience be improved on Android tablets?
I have a 10 inch Nexus tablet that I like to carry around while traveling. I can also connect it to a bluetooth keyboard, and this almost allows me to do everything a laptop can, but there are some major annoyances.

For example, I want to do web development while traveling. I can SSH into a remote server and edit the code there, and open the page on the Chrome app. However, Android only lets me have one app open at a time, so whenever I need to switch between two documents, it's very inefficient since I'm constantly closing and re-opening my apps.

I would like to use my Nexus 10 as my primary computer for working. How can my multitasking experience be improved?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Android 7.x Nougat officially introduces multi-window. With this feature you can now run 2 apps side-by-side and drag the black interpolation bar to adjust the window size (3 tiers available).

With the aid of Taskbar things get even better - with proper settings you get Windows-like task bar and resizable, movable multi-windows.

Ultimately though, without the ability to *natively* open multiple instances of one app, document abilities will be crippled to an extent. Wired video output is also absent, making presentation difficult, though if you have Miracast-compatible devices this isn't much of a problem.

Get started loading your Nexus 10 with Nougat-based custom ROMs by visiting XDA-Developers.

Do note that, due to the age of the tablet, Nougat won't run very snappily and you can't expect to multitask heavily.

---
Tags: tablet, multitasking
---


# Question
Title: Lock screen notifications rearrange themselves for seemingly no reason
Ok, I'm going to try and describe this and I hope it makes sense.

When I turn on my screen (while my phone is locked), I see all my notifications. For example, I will have some gmail notifications, some text message notifications, some calendar notifications.

While I'm looking at these notifications, or about to swipe them away, they rearrange themselves. It's not because I get a new email/text message. It's seemingly for no reason. While I'm looking at an email notification which is originally below my calendar notification, or about to swipe it away, maybe it'll shift locations to be above the calendar notification. And then it'll switch back. This behavior is especially prevalent when I "expand" a notification such as an email so that I can read part of the message from the lock screen. It happens seemingly randomly, and can cause me to swipe away a message that I don't mean to because it swaps locations when I'm not expecting. It's also terribly annoying to be reading a message and have other notifications going above and below it intermittently.

1. Does anyone know how to keep notifications from rotating positions on the lock screen? (when no new notifications are even appearing)
2. Is this a bug or is this the desired behavior? If it is the desired behavior, what purpose would this be for?

Does anyone else notice this happening to them? I wish I could capture a gif of this behavior to make it explicitly clear what I'm talking about.

I'm using Android 7.1.1 on a Pixel.

# Answer
> 3 votes
1. **It does not appear to be possible to keep notifications from rotating positions on the lock screen in Android 7 Nougat.** See explanation below, and the way to disable this action in Android Lollipop.
2. **This appears to be desired behavior.** See explanation below.

Priority notifications rise to the top. See http://www.greenbot.com/article/2854634/master-notifications-in-android-lollipop-with-notification-priority-and-downtime.html and use `ctrl+f` ('Search on Webpage', for Desktop) to search for "Priority Notifications" (tried to find a better Source, welcome an edit) .

To change priority notifications in Android Lollipop (setting does **not** appear to be present in Android Nougat):

Swipe down Notification Bar, tap Settings Cog, hit "Sound and Notifications", hit "App notifications" (near bottom) - choose an APP to control individual APP's ability to rearrange itself.

Individual apps may decide for themselves to rise to the top by rerequesting to be first, like an "Arms-Race" or butting into line, such behavior is usually impolite and unwanted; it's use is discouraged, but what to do.

The Priority of individual Programs can be altered in rooted Android Devices (Phone or Tablet), that would result in obsessive Programs running slower and last; but ultimately running and performing the unwanted 'Notification Area spamming' eventually. Complaining about and/or boycotting such Programs is another avenue open to the User.

Here's a Programming example with a discussion about implementing this correctly (and politely): https://stackoverflow.com/questions/6189817/pin-notification-to-top-of-notification-area .

Android 'O' has better control over the Notifications (Dev version available) and there are APPs that allow more control. This Video provides a Demo of one claiming the same features as Android O: https://youtu.be/\_Aj61Quj1Uo .

---
Tags: notifications, lock-screens, 7.0-nougat, bugs, google-pixel
---


# Question
Title: How to remove everything from an Android device?
I would like to remove all files from my android device INCLUDING system files. I have tried

> rm -r *

and other commands but when I switch the phone off the files reappear.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can't do this from the OS or adb, you would have to do it from fastboot or recovery such as CWM or TWRP.

`fastboot erase all` \- note this will erase **EVERYTHING**, including your IMEI or MEID and other proprietary settings, the phone will likely be unrecoverable or unusable with most devices. It is blocked in some devices. **Use with caution** and understand the implications prior to doing this!!!

`fastboot erase XXXX` \- Where XXXX is the partition you want to delete, like system, boot, userdata, etc.

In TWRP or CWM, you could just format the various partitions.

In most devices, these options would require an unlocked bootloader.

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Tags: adb, mount, formatting
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# Question
Title: How can I run a shell script when some WiFi is connected?
I have a really simple shell script, that just adds a route to my internal development machine. This is useful, as that machine has some LXC containers inside, so I can reach all my containers from my cell phone (to test websites from mobile browser, or Asterisk SIP accounts from CSipSimple)

```
#!/system/bin/sh
su -c "ip route add 10.0.3.0/24 via 192.168.0.200 dev wlan0"

```

To use this rule, I've created a new Local connection on ConnectBot, with the script name as login command. This works great.

However, I'm too lazy. I just want to know if there is some way to apply this script, as soon as I connect to my home WiFi automatically. Maybe something to execute a script on every network change, as I could check from same script if I'm connected to my home WiFi using dumpsys and some grep magic.

# Answer
Matthew already pointed to for this task (uh) – an app I already use for years. So let me add the steps to achieve this. Obviously, a pre-condition is the device is rooted – but the `su` command in the question tells me it is. So here we go:

* **Condition:** *State › Net › WiFi Connected*
As parameter, include the SSID of your WiFi network, so it doesn't fire on alien networks :)
* **Task:** *Script › Run Shell*
Here you add the name of the script to run (full path), preceded by an exclamation mark (to indicate it must be run as root)

This should do it. Not tested myself, as I have no routes to add :)
> 2 votes

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Tags: wi-fi, shell, scripts
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# Question
Title: How to play single album on Spotify when bluetoothed?
When I am riding in my car I have my android phone hooked up to the sound system via bluetooth. I download an album to the Spotify app my phone at home on wifi because I am cheap and don't want to pay data costs. When I listen to a downloaded album on repeat, then only the downloaded album plays. However, if I do not have the album set on repeat, then, when the album is over, Spotify starts playing something else. Usually it is something on a different album by the same artist. This incurs data costs, which I would like to avoid. So, is this a bug or a feature? How can I listen to a single album with Spotify and have it stop playing when the album is over when I'm hooked up to bluetooth in my car?

(NB: I haven't tried this outside of my car using cellular data, so I'm not sure if that detail is spurious or important.)

# Answer
In the Spotify app, go to: "Your Library" (lower right) -\> Settings (cog in the upper right) -\> scroll down and turn off "Autoplay". That should do it. Autoplay does exactly what you said. "Keep on listening to similar tracks when your music ends."

You can also or alternatively turn on "Offline mode" at the top of the settings screen. This will only allow the app to play already downloaded songs and will not use any data. You can leave the app in Offline mode for almost a month at a time. They require you to go back online after 29 days to confirm that you still have Spotify Premium and then you can go back to offline mode if so desired.
> 2 votes

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Tags: bluetooth-audio, spotify
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