# Question
Title: How can I import new SMS into my phone without wiping the current SMS?
Situation: Old phone broke, got a new phone. Used new phone for a week and accumulated a fair amount of SMS (on a fresh new phone)

Decided to finally restore from previous phone backup that was a month old. Restoring from backup wiped all the new SMS I have made.

Luckily I have made a backup of the New SMS before they were wiped by the old backup.

But now I want to import the new SMS (located in the new backup) into my phone *without* wiping the old SMS.

**How can I do so?**

I used MyBackup Pro to do the backup/restore. It does not seem to have an option of "Merge" ...

# Answer
I was able to use this answer and an SQL Manager I downloaded from the Internet.

Essentially, using my mad SQL skills, I browsed into *sms* table, did an *UPDATE* on *\_id* field as per table structure of rerware Backup Pro to avoid primary key collisions, then did the merges per the linked answer. I later uploaded the database back into my phone.

I'm doing a restore now. If I don't come back complaining, it means it worked!

yep it worked. I think I missed *some* SMS from a single person, but that was not related to the above machinations.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sms, backup
---


# Question
Title: How to protect all my passwords saved in Google if I lost a phone?
I save many passwords in Chrome. I used Chrome in my laptop and my android phone. If I lose my phone, how I can protect my passwords?

# Answer
As Rexford commented, you should install and configure Android Device Manager on your device so that you can remotely lock it out.

You should also use full-device encryption, so that the passwords cannot be retrieved via physical access.

Finally, if your device's Chrome is set up to sync passwords, you should sign into that account on Chrome for PC and clear all of the saved passwords so that they will be removed the next time the device syncs:

---
> 2 votes

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Tags: security, password
---


# Question
Title: ES File Explorer shows empty /data/ folder
I'm looking for the whatsapp key file on my phone (which should be stored in `/data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key`).

Therefore I:

1. Rooted the phone Galaxy S5 (Android 4.4.2)
2. Checked the root status with Root Checker (it's rooted!)
3. Downloaded ES File Explorer
4. Opened /data/ folder in order to find the key file with ES File Explorer...

but the folder is empty!

Is that folder really empty or am I missing something?

# Answer
> 6 votes
ES File Explorer does not show `/data` on any of my rooted devices.

Not on my S5, not on my Note 2, or HTC One M7. I've heard other people easily using ES with root, but it never asks me for root permissions, just shows blank folders, like you.

I use jrummy's Root Browser on my S5, but any "root file explorer" will do.

ES File Explorer just doesn't cut it.

Hope this solves the problem.

# Answer
> 8 votes
You have to configure ES to use root.

Menu → Tools → turn Root Explorer to "ON".

Source.

---
Tags: root-access, es-file-explorer
---


# Question
Title: Turn ringer to loud from vibrate when a particular contact calls
What can I do to make my phone ringer switch from vibrate to loud when a particular contact calls?

I tried using Tasker and created a profile for a Phone state, when a contact calls \> set ringer volume to max.

It works... like this: when my phone is vibrate, and I get a phone call from the contact, the ringer goes up to high... however the call is still is on vibrate. The new high ringer volume affects only subsequent calls (from any contact).

So it doesn't exactly work as you can see. What can I do?

I use Nexus 6p with Marshmallow.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Try adding a `Action -> Media -> Play Ringtone -> Type: Ringer` to your Tasker profile, to explicitly play the default ringtone after you set full volume. You can also apply a custom ringtone if you want.

Tested on Galaxy S5.

Hope it works for you!

---
Tags: calls, tasker, vibration
---


title: Function of directory /Android

text:
# Question
Title: Function of directory /Android
I just deleted the directory /Android from the external card. It gave me 20GB memory back. So far I haven't seen any bad effects. At least not during the first 5 min of testing including restart.

I have a similar /Android on resident phone memory. Can I wipe that one too without any bad effects?

What is the function of /Android?
My device is `Android 5.0, Galaxy Note 3`.

Edit:

After 10 min running, the extSdCard/Android has reappeared and is now size 95 MB. (I asked one dictionary-app to expand compressed files there. But right now it stays around 95 MB.)

My "maintenance" has been run by Avast since long time. It regularly claims to delete "unnecessary" files.

# Answer
I try to reply myself based on the little I have found out from experience and comments to this question.

**DO NOT TAKE THIS INFORMATION FOR GRANTED AND ALWAYS KEEP BACKUP IF YOU MANIPULATE THIS DIRECTORY.**

**This has not been thoroughly tested yet.**

* It can be useful to delete files in the /Android directory. You can save a lot of space.
* The obb directory was small in my case and I did not delete it on phone resident memory. It contains APK expansion files. Among other data it may contain licenses for the apps.
* Ad. But even if you delete obb directory and .obb files, it is still possible that licenses and necessary data will be downloaded again from Google Play, as long as the phone is signed in to the same account/email address. So you may lose nothing.
* If you have asked Android to install apps on the external SD card and you delete /Android on the external card, the apps must be downloaded again.
* If you delete /Android on resident phone memory (Sd0), apps will not have to be downloaded in complete again.
* "Important" app data, like log-in passwords etc are not stored in /Android. (They are stored in /data/data.) So you will **PROBABLY** not lose this kind of information.
* Data for apps can be stored in the /Android directories. But the data seems to be "less important" than passwords etc. When I wiped the /Android directories, I only seem to have lost few, easily replaceable data, see below.
* If you delete the entire /Android directories or subdirectories, the system will recreate them.
* If you plan to delete /Android on the external card, you can get an idea of the effects by testing the phone after unmounting/removing the external card (use the Android command under general\>storage).
* Before I wiped the /Android directory on Sd0, I backed it up (under another name) on the external card. I have now deleted the backup.

When I wiped /Android on both Sd0 and external card I regained 21 GB space. After restarting and using the phone for about less than a day I have only noted small changes: The recycle basket Dumpster was emptied. I had to download datafiles for two dictionaries again. I.e. only very small changes that were easily corrected.

After almost one day usage the /Android directories now occupy about 2G on my phone compared to 21G before wiping them.

**If you try deleting /Android directory, it is definitely recommended to be on line so you can download missing components.**

With my setup and usage, wiping the /Android directories seems like a good idea, to save space.

**PLEASE NOTE! THIS INFORMATION IS ONLY BASED ON WHAT I FOUND BY TRYING ONCE! BE CAREFUL AND KEEP BACKUPS!**
> 2 votes

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Tags: external-sd, system
---


# Question
Title: Is there anyway to backup current ROM without unlocking bootloader/ installing clockworkmod recovery?
I'm trying to use ROM Manager app to backup the current ROM of my Xperia Z but it seems that cannot be done without unlocking the bootloader/ installing ClockWorkMod Recovery.

Is there any alternative for me to backup current ROM and flash another ROM without having to mess with bootloader or ClockWordMod Recovery?

Note that my device is already rooted using this method.

According to Sony's website, messing with the bootloader is likely to void warranty which defeats my purpose and so all my attempts to backup the stock ROM here.

# Answer
I found another way to do it. This one uses Terminal Emulator or `adb shell`.
Open a shell as root. You first determine what device blocks `/system` and `/boot` are, with `ls -al /dev/block/platform/dw_mmc/by-name`. Note that the `dw_mmc` may vary between devices. You'll need to find it yourself. Then `dd if=/dev/block/systemblock of=/storage/sdcard0/system.img` and `dd if=/dev/block/bootblock of=/storage/sdcard0/boot.img` will backup all your Android system.

If you want to restore using this solution: boot into recovery, mount your SD Card, then in a `adb shell`, do

```
su
dd if=/storage/sdcard0/system.img of=/dev/block/systemblock
dd if=/storage/sdcard0/boot.img of=/dev/block/bootblock

```
> 1 votes

# Answer
Copying /system and /boot anywhere else should do the trick. You could then create a flash package for reinstalling it, or use TWRP to directly move the files.
If you are lucky enough, you can find the stock ROM or OTA flash packages for your phone online.

Edit: If you want to create your own flash package, this forum thread on XDA will introduce to the edify scripting language, while this wiki page helps to package your zip file. You can take `update-binary` from any flashable zip and put it into yours, while `updater-script` is where your edify code will live.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, clockworkmod-recovery, bootloader, rom-manager, stock-rom
---


# Question
Title: Locked out of my phone as the touchscreen isn't working
I have a LG Optimus G. Some parts of the **touchscreen doesn't function**.

I wish to **retrieve the media content** from my phone. Nothing more. So, hard reset is not an option. I can't use a mouse over OTG as Optimus G, "doesn't support it".

What are my options?

**USB debugging is on**, but is on Charging mode. Hence, my predicament.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You say USB debugging is on. Is your phone is already "paired" with certain computers - that is, it it set to automatically allow USB debugging from certain computers? Usually the answer is yes for your personal computer(s).

Assuming this is the situation, you can easily ADB shell to tar/gz any folder(s) you want and "ADB pull" the tar/gz file to your computer.

Another option that you might want to explore is the Vysor application (currently for Chrome), that allows remote control via ADB.

---
Tags: touchscreen, locked-out, broken-screen, media-files
---


# Question
Title: How can I change the data usage cycle day for Wi-Fi?
Changing the starting day for Mobile data was already non-obvious as shown in this answer.

Now, how can I change the day of month for Wi-Fi usage as well? Currently, I have the following cycles cycles:

* Jun 6 - Jul 4
* May 9 - Jun 6
* Apr 11 - May 9
* Mar 14 - Apr 11

I would like to change these to:

* Jul 1 - Jul 4
* Jun 1 - Jun 30
* Etc.

How can I do that? I am running Android 4.2.2, Cyanogenmod 10.1 from git. This is a longstanding issue that I experienced with ICS too.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I wouldn't use a stock app to do this. I have tried using the stock app to do data managing and it's really not that great. My Data Manager - Data Usage is a great app that will do fine for your situation. It is free of course, so nothing to lose.

Here is their YouTube video if you want to just check it out.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Have you tried a profile management app like SwiP, Tasker or Condi? These should give you more control over your Wifi schedule.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Change your phone's date to the the start of the next month and restart your phone It should show 1 - 31 march 1 - 30 april 1 - 31 may Etc

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Tags: wi-fi, settings, data-monitoring
---


# Question
Title: How to restore previous android id from titanium backup?
My line apps doesn't work because it counts on android id.

I want to restore my android id then. However, out of so many back up files in titanium back up, which one contains my old id?

# Answer
> 6 votes
Android ID can be found in the database *settings.db* of Settings Storage/Providers app. It is located under */data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases*.

There are multiple ways of restoring Android ID.

# Through Titanium Backup

In Titanium Backup (TiBu), go to Menu → Manage Android ID → Restore Android ID from a backup. **If one or multiple backups of Settings Storage/Providers app exists** then TiBu would list the ID. You can then select the ID and begin restoration of it.

(Click image to enlarge)

However, if no such backup of that app exists, then you would get this dialog:

# Using command-line

If you already know which ID has to be restored then you can do this:

Setup in PC and execute:

(The lines starting with *echo* are only for the purpose of explaining what I'm going to do in consecutive command. Avoid executing them.)

You can also edit *settings.db* using an SQLite database manager such as sqlite3, but why bother this much?

---

Interestingly, the hostname of your device would be nothing more than *android-ANDROID\_ID* where *ANDROID\_ID* is the Android ID. You can check it using:

```
adb shell getprop net.hostname

```

**Note**: the whole solution is tested on Android 4.2.1 and 6.0.1.

---
Tags: titanium-backup
---


# Question
Title: what controls the outbound ring tone on LG Optimus F7 all i get is tones instead of ring tone
When i make a call all i here is a tone every few seconds just like its ringing but tones instead and the call goes thru. I can not find any setting that changes the out going ring tone.

# Answer
The technical term for what you are describing is the ringback tone, and it is in general controlled by your carrier, or the far end carrier. It has nothing to do with your device.
> 0 votes

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Tags: ringtone
---


# Question
Title: Windows claims that my device has malfunctioned?
### The issue (summarized)

My phone will not be recognized by ANY computer, regardless of OS, with or without drivers. Kies is not installed, nor Android Transfer (in the case of my iMac), and I am at my wits end. What can I do, if anything?

### TL;DR

I have a bit of a problem I am completely lost with...

Bit of a backstory. Three months ago I was given a Refurbished Samsung Galaxy Avant with a one month warranty. It worked perfectly; computers recognized it and allowed me transfer files, Odin saw it (though I didn't do anything with it. I still had the warranty to wait out first), everything. Now skip forward two months.

My warranty is finally over. I got excited (all the bloatware on the thing was beginning to drive me nuts) and plugged in my phone to load it on Odin. But then Windows gave me an error: Your device is not recognized or has malfunctioned. (yadadada. Don't want to write the whole thing.). Confused, I did what every good techie does: I googled my problem. The results all said the same thing: try a new port, try a different cord, do you have drivers installed? etc.

I tried everything. I restarted my phone, restarted my phone in the stock recovery and cleared the cache, tried changing dialer settings to adm or mtp or both, I restarted my computer, I tried all my USB ports, I tried all my usb cords, tested my usb cord and ports by plugging in another phone (which it recognized properly without any difficulty.), I uninstalled and reinstalled drivers. I even went as far was factory resetting my phone and reinstalling Windows 10 (which was annoying, but I needed to anyways), to not avail. Getting desperate, I tried booting into my Ubuntu installation. Ubuntu didn't recognize it. I tried my other PC I have (running Windows 7), got the Malfunctioned error again. I even tried my late 2013 iMac (which is a completely different post I could rant about). Nothing is recognizing my phone, and I am at my wits end with what to do, if anything.

I tried taking it back to where it was purchased from, but they told me they can't do anything about it. It was two months past warranty and it charges just fine. Computers just won't recognize it or the internal SD card.

### What I have tried:

* different USB cord / cables (including the cable I used a few nights before for flashing another device)
* different USB port
* tested both ports and cords by plugging in a different Samsung device, which it recognized and opened properly (so I'm 99% sure it isn't drivers)
* went to dialer settings (\*#0808#) and changed to mtp+adm.
* went to stock recovery and cleared cache
* factory reset phone
* reinstalled Windows 10 (really wasn't that desperate. Needed to reinstall anyways)
* uninstalled and reinstalled drivers
* tried different computers
* tried different OSes (including Windows 10, Windows 7, Ubuntu 14.04, and El Capitan) of which none will open or recognize my phone
* removing and putting back sim card (weird trick some claim it works)
* turning on/off developer mode/debugging in settings
* Even one or two highly recommended rooting apps were tried.
* I have literally almost tried everything.

Any help whatsoever will be helpful and sorry for all the information! I just wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything... Thank you! \<3

*if you ask why I am so desperate for root on an otherwise perfectly working phone: I dislike KitKat (give me lollipop, marshmallow, or even jellybean any day of the week), and all these built in bloatware is driving me crazy and I want to get rid of them*

# Answer
Okay, so really late reply, but I thought I might as well update. Apparently my phone has a faulty USB port and I don't have any way to fix it. Using Kingoroot, I managed to root my phone then promptly changed it to SuperSU. I then used System App Remover (Root) to get rid of those bloatware apps I hated so much. Finally, using Flashify, I flashed TWRP.

Searching XDA I did find a ROM for it, but it is a bit outdated. However, it still works, and it is what I am using right now until I can get around developing my own, when and if that may be.

Thank you guys for your support and ideas anyways!! \<3
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting, usb, file-transfer, mtp, samsung-galaxy-avant
---


title: Unrooting an Android Phone, Help!

text:
# Question
Title: Unrooting an Android Phone, Help!
My device is SHV-E160K

I kept deleting xbin and bin several times. It keeps on restoring and cannot delete file though I've already |remove root permission on king user|

How can I delete it? I cannot play the game that doesn't required root.

I cannot factory reset too because my upper volume button is broken

Help Please!!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Are you rooted with SuperSU? If so, just go into the SuperSU app and select Full Unroot from settings. If that isn't the case, you could try Universal Unroot as well.

You can likely keep root and play your game as well, with Xposed Framework and a module like RootCloak or without Xposed you can try using RootCloak Plus but non-Xposed methods of hiding root sometimes have a lower success rate.

---
Tags: unrooting
---


# Question
Title: How to disable redirects from Google Search results to Android apps (different issue from 2014)?
This is no duplicate of the same titled questions from 2014: The list of recent "answers" of disgruntled users shows that this is a new problem that seems to have surfaced just recently. As the "answer" by @Greeble formulates it:

> When I searched Google for the webpage you're reading right now, and clicked on it, it took me to the Google Play store and asked me to download the stackexchange app. A different search result to a problem forum resulted in me being directed to download the Tapatalk app. Interestingly, clicking "open in new tab" prevents this annoying behavior.
>
> I have the same problem with the Dolphin browser, but it is more than just Wikipedia.

For me it is a Firefox latest version, while a stone-age Chrome browser does not have this problem.

My hunch is that it is actually Google's search results itself that are instrumented to link to their Play Store. Of course this cannot be checked on a desktop. I tried checking the page source with a Firefox extension, but this was all just javascript gibberish, hard to make sense of.

Is there any way to see the HTML on an Android similar to the developer functionality we have in desktop browsers?

Is there a way to get rid of this nonsense again?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It is suspected that this issue is related to Google's roll-out of the ability to install apps directly from search results. The install links are supposed to be clearly marked, but that was not happening here. At the moment, **I believe this is fixed** because Google results are showing separate Install links and I am not being redirected to any apps otherwise.

If it's still happening for you, there are a few half-solutions I've seen suggested:

* Use a desktop view/user agent when searching Google (I.e., Menu → "Request desktop site" in Chrome)
* Long press on the search result you want and open it in a new tab
* Try a different browser and make sure you have the latest version.
* Use a different search engine.

---
Tags: google-play-store, browser
---


# Question
Title: Something is opening Spam URL in my Browser, how do I find out what did this?
Sometimes, when using my phone, suddenly my browser (Google Chrome) opens up and tries to open a Spam URL. This will occur again and again, until I restart the phone.

It does not seem to be related with the app I am using at that specific moment, and it keeps happening even if I kill all running apps.

Now I wonder: Is there a way to find out what is making my browser open this URL? Is this logged somewhere, or can this be logged somehow?

Android Version is 5.0.1, device is a Samsung Galaxy S4.

# Answer
> -1 votes
If you use android studio, you can connect your phone and enable usb debugging, then simply filter the LOGCAT for "http://" and find your culprit.

Here's a URL on DDMS:

http://developer.android.com/tools/debugging/ddms.html

---
Tags: browser
---


# Question
Title: Android Wear emulator: "No longer connected to network"
I've been using a Android Wear 1.4 (Android 6.0.1) emulator for some time, and the following notification has appeared out of the blue:

> No longer connected to network, a factory reset is required.

An action with the same text appears next to it, but tapping on it has no effect.

Android Wear emulator is running the following versions:

* Android Wear 1.4.0.2505969
* Google Play services 8.4.89 (2428711-574)
* Android OS 6.0.1

I've seen Reddit threads reporting the same problem: here, here, here and here.

What's causing this? If I wipe user data, can I expect this to return?

# Answer
It appears that this behavior occurs when you attach a different host device to pair with the emulator, for instance when switching between connecting two phones to your computer with pairing enabled.

The Android Wear app itself then displays the status of the emulator as "Trying to connect…" and the connection is refused between the emulator and the new device. The problem goes away once you've attached the original device that you first used with pairing to the emulator, or wiping data on the emulator and pairing it with the new device.
> 0 votes

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Tags: android-emulator, android-wear
---


title: Galaxy S7 display settings for gaming

text:
# Question
Title: Galaxy S7 display settings for gaming
In `Settings` \> `Display and wallpaper`, there is an option for `Screen Mode` with options for:

1. Adaptive Display
2. AMOLED cinema
3. AMOLED photo
4. Basic

I set mine to `Basic` but regardless of this setting, when I launch games, it appears to switch to `Adaptive Display`. Is there a way to disable this? I'm not a fan of over-saturated colors and would like the display to remain in `Basic` mode when in games and media applications.

# Answer
I swear this was the first thing I tried but my 2nd attempt seemed to fix it. Simply change the display option. Save it. Then change it back.

`Settings > Display and wallpaper > Screen mode`

A few things I also did while messing with it that might have had an impact:

1. turned `Game Launcher` app off an on
2. installed Google's `Play Games` app which seemed to force some other updates
3. rebooted the phone
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung
---


title: Phone not booting after rooting attempt

text:
# Question
Title: Phone not booting after rooting attempt
I tried to root my phone Samsung Galaxy J1 (SM-J100H) with Odin3 software following some steps, but after that now it's not working, I turned on the phone and it vibrates one time and I see only the Samsung logo and nothing else. I tried too wipe all data and factory reset but it doesn't do anything. What can I do?

# Answer
A factory reset won't undo rooting since it only clears the `/data` partition and not `/system`.

What you should do to get your device working is flash a stock ROM with Odin. You can get one from sammobile.com. As usual, you would put the `.tar` file from there into the AP/PDA field of Odin and flash it while the phone is connected in Download mode.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting, boot-loop, samsung-galaxy-j1
---


# Question
Title: How to re-run the "app optimization" process after upgrading to a higher version of Android?
After each OTA Android upgrade, I get a message saying "Optimizing app x of xxx" that takes a while. The last time I upgraded, the battery ran out during the optimization process (not during the upgrade itself, which I know it's dangerous). After rebooting the phone the "optimization" process didn't carry on.

So, how can I start that process by itself without upgrading anything? (my Android is already up to date).

# Answer
> 2 votes
Go into the recovery (you need to boot the phone while pressing several buttons - you'll need to google which one is set for your device - an example would be Volume down + Home) and delete the "Dalvik cache". Then restart your phone. Now the optimizing process should start again.

But I personally recommend to not do that - it can't hurt, but if your phone works well you don't need this, because it's just like a Backup of your app installation files.

---
Tags: updates, optimization, odex
---


# Question
Title: I can't install the Facebook app on Android 6 Marshmallow
I have just upgraded my phone (2nd Gen. Moto G) to 6 Marshmallow and now I can't install the Facebook app.

With Android 5 I had the app installed on the SD card (along with a bunch of other apps), but as part of the upgrade it insisted that I format the SD card so it could be used for apps. I'm assuming that the way 6.0 addresses the memory card is different to how 5.x did.

Once formatted I (obviously) lost all the apps that were installed there. I managed to reinstall them all - except Facebook. It doesn't say it's incompatible with my device, it apparently downloads OK but the installation phase just fails silently. I've tried it a number of times (after clearing caches, rebooting the phone, removing Facebook from the list of apps that have ever been installed) and get the same result. It will even crash the Play Store app and/or phone during the process.

I've examined the SD card on the phone and computer and I noticed that there were some folders dated from before today so I'm wondering whether the format was actually a format (or are the dates from the date the OS was created?) and there were still some folders that included "facebook" in their name.

Is there anything I can do to get the app to install - short of reinstalling the whole OS again - or am I just going to have to abandon this one for now?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I gave it a couple of weeks - enough time for Facebook to issue an update or two - and tried to install again and it apparently failed silently again so I decided to abandon it once and for all.

However, a couple of days later I noticed that Facebook was *updating* \- so it had installed at the previous attempt.

I can't remember whether I'd cleared the cache or not, but I have had the problem with other apps where they think there's not enough space on the device to either download the update or install it and I've had to clear the cache to get it to work. However, in those cases I was told that the update had failed.

The solution was obviously to just keep trying and clear the cache just to be sure ;)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to this link on your phone: Facebook APK And install the apk yourself but make sure you have unknown sources checked in the developer settings.

---
Tags: google-play-store, 6.0-marshmallow, facebook
---


# Question
Title: Does CyanogenMod Xperia Z3 Dual support LTE on any SIMs?
Wiki does not really say word about that: https://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Z3dual\_Info

Stock image does support it.

If it doesn't, then what is current progress in context of dual sim?

# Answer
Always try to look at the specs directly from the manufacturer. Sony says LTE is supported on some variants of the device. CyanogenMod doesn't really have anything to do with it, since the radio code is not usually open-source and is not bundled with CM.

GSM Arena is another good place to get device specs.
> 1 votes

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Tags: 4g
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to flash a boot.img kernel with TWRP?
I'm looking to flash a ROM's `boot.img` on another ROM with TWRP 3.0. Is it possible?

If it's relevant, both ROMs are CM-based running Android 5.1 Lollipop.

# Answer
> 9 votes
Boot into TWRP, select Install and follow the screenshots for the rest.

<sub>(Click image to enlarge)</sub>

It's not a problem for TWRP to which ROM your particular kernel belongs. The size should not be greater than the partition. That's all.

If the kernel is not good for the ROM, your device would not boot into the ROM or would cause some other instability, so proceed with caution.

---
Tags: twrp, kernel
---


title: Removing permissions from apk

text:
# Question
Title: Removing permissions from apk
I'm trying to remove permissions\* from certain bank app to prevent abuse.

I've managed to download apk file using emulator (AVD) and appextractor. I've used toolapk to extract the apk file and modified AndroidManifest.xml, repacked it and signed the file using jarsigner.

The installation on my phone fails with "App not installed.". The situation is the same on fresh emulator instance (no gapps). I tried to install unmodified version of the app on emulator with the same error.

How to get a more descriptive error message? What am I missing?

My device is Galaxy Nexus running Cyanogen mod without gapps.

\*contacts & call log reading, sdcard r/w, etc...

# Answer
> 3 votes
It turns out that the installation fails because missing shared library. Using aLogcat ROOT app from f-droid repo I was able to see following error:

`E/PackageManager:( 1221): Package com.evil-bank requires unavilable shared library com.google.android.maps: failing!`

One solution would be installing google maps app(or whole gapps package). I'm not going to test this one through.

Thanks to Firelord for pointing out using logcat.

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you use CyanogenMod, you don't need to remove Permissions from the APK. You can just go to Settings-\>Privacy-\>Manage App permissions after you installed the app and remove or add anything you want. Alternatively, which has even more control over the permissions (it can even be specific for which methods can be used) you can install the Xposed module XPrivacy (I have it installed and I use it a lot).

---
Tags: apk, permissions
---


title: Can I control where apps are installed?

text:
# Question
Title: Can I control where apps are installed?
I was hoping that when I set the SD card up in my phone (Moto G 2nd Generation running Marshmallow) as internal storage rather than portable, it would know to put apps there automatically instead of me having to manually tell the phone to move them there.

Is there a way I can do that? I was hoping with the changes in Marshmallow it would be an option, but I'm not seeing it.

# Answer
I found this on Motorola's website:

> * Once the card has been formatted, you will be asked whether you want to migrate data currently on your device to the card. This step will move all media, pictures, and documents to the SD card.
> * By selecting where to migrate content, you also select the preferred storage location for all applications, databases and data.
>     + **If you decide to move that data to the card, the SD card will also become the preferred storage location for all applications content**, data and database and media.
>     + If you decide to skip this step, your device internal storage will remain the preferred storage for all content.

So if you chose the SD card at that prompt, you should be all set. If not, one workaround would be to move everything off the SD card back to internal storage and then format the card — then repeat the process to make it adoptable storage, and select that option this time.

I should also add that Motorola's documentation seems to conflict with the official Google reference, so I'm not sure whether one is wrong or if Motorola has customized something.

> Apps can be placed on adopted storage media only when the developer has indicated support through the android:installLocation attribute. **New installs of supported apps are automatically placed on the storage device with the most free space**, and users can move supported apps between storage devices in the Settings app.
> 2 votes

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


title: Show notifications for all users

text:
# Question
Title: Show notifications for all users
If I am using a different user on my Android phone, notifications to the main user (owner) don't get shown until I switch back to that user.

This might be for privacy reasons and such, but I see there's already a feature for hiding sensitive notifications (i.e. from the lock screen).

Is it possible to receive some sort of alert/notification/vibration when a new text/email comes in for another user?

# Answer
I'm sorry there is no way you can receive the notification of the other user, because according to the concept of 'Users' in android each user represent a different physical user of the device. So the privacy won't let you receive notification from the other users.

Instead of going for another user, you can try 'Managed Profile' which create a separate profile but which belongs to the same user. In the underline architecture you will get almost all the security protection of a separate 'user' to this profile. The main difference will be they are in the same launcher.

Thanks.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: notifications, multi-user
---


title: HTC One M9 Portable Wi-fi Hotspot

text:
# Question
Title: HTC One M9 Portable Wi-fi Hotspot
I have an HTC One M9, I can tether a laptop via USB cable, and an iPad via Bluetooth, but the Portable Wifi Hotspot will not allow connection from either. I have renamed the SSID and set a new access key, but still no joy. Any suggestions?

Chris

# Answer
> 0 votes
You should check the advanced settings for compatibility with the Security protocol between the devices. By default it should be Wpa2(aes). Change it and try parring again. Advanced settings is in the top right corner in hotspot settings menu.

Regards.

P@pz

---
Tags: wi-fi, tethering, htc-one
---


title: AMOLED Pixel Behavior

text:
# Question
Title: AMOLED Pixel Behavior
Do AMOLED pixels automatically turn off when displaying a black part of an image? Or is a special app required for this?

# Answer
AMOLED displays use Active Matrix, which controls each pixel individually (allowing black pixels to be turned off completely). Since this is integrated into the design and build of the screen (and mostly what makes a screen AMOLED), the turning off of black pixels happens automatically.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: super-amoled
---


title: Android 6 Update Changed SD Card Name

text:
# Question
Title: Android 6 Update Changed SD Card Name
I have a Motorola Moto G3 Smartphone and I installed the Android 6 update yesterday. After installing the update, I found out that all my playlists, App preferences and basically everything that relied on the external Sandisk 16 GB micro SD card is Messed up or damaged. I found out the cause of this is that the base name for the SD card has been changed from 'sdcard1' to '3835-3237'. I am unable to change the SD card name in Mobile (using ES file explorer) or externally via PC (no matter what I change it to, it still shows those numbers on my mobile). I have a heavily customized my phone and I would prefer not to root it just to change the SD card name. Could anyone please tell me a method to change the SD Card name without having to root the phone? Or any way I can do it externally?

# Answer
Android 6.0 now uses the volume serial number of the formatted partition as a *unique* identifier to distinguish which SD card you might be using.

I guess this could be useful in case you have a device that could theoretically support multiple SD cards.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, 6.0-marshmallow, motorola-moto-g3
---


# Question
Title: Insufficient Storage on changing default install location
After downloading an APK file from Play Store. It always prompts "Insufficient Storage" dialog.

I changed the default install location into external memory(SD card) using adb command

```
adb shell pm set-install-location 2

```

There is a room for both Internal (400mb free) and External memory(8GB free).

I am running on an Android Kitkat 4.4; I am not rooted anyway. I don't want to void my warranty

# Answer
> 1 votes
By default I think apps are only installable to phone storage. The developer has to specifically allow the app to be installed to external storage (SD card or emulated SD card storage). The ADB shell command you have used is only designed for use during development (see http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html). It may be that despite issuing this command the system is still trying to install to internal memory.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The command you are using sets the external memory as the default install location not the default download location. The possibility of external memory as default download location is entirely up to the developer of your mobile firmware.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Install Terminal Emulator app and run the "pm" part of the command directly in your phone. works just the same, without the trouble to install SDK and all.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, adb
---


# Question
Title: "Scanner disabled; location inaccurate" in Ingress
Whenever I open the app, the game is stuck on the "Scanning to acquire user location..." screen. If I force the game to go to the main screen by pressing my device's back button, it shows a black screen with the words "Scanner disabled; location inaccurate.""

However, when I use a different app that requires GPS such as My Tracks, or simply Maps (both by Google, Inc), my location is pinpointed perfectly. What's wrong?

# Answer
Try updating google maps. This is what worked for me (after none of the other stuff mentioned worked.)
> 2 votes

# Answer
So I had the same problem and some how fixed it by going to the in game store and it was able to find my location that way. I backed out and could then start playing. Hope this helps someone else.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: gps
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to use "unlock with fingerprint" feature, and be asked for (after boot) giving passphrase and fingerprint on encrypted Galaxy S6
I would like to purchase a Samsung Galaxy S6. One of the main reasons for the choice of device is the (apparently) good fingerprint sensor. I would like to / have to encrypt my phone (my employer requires this but, honstly, I would do it anyway) and I am very tired of typing my PIN every single time I want to unlock my phone. Hence a fingerprint sensor is a must-have on my next phone. Here are my questions Google could not answer for me:

1. Is it possible to use the "unlock with fingerprint" feature with an encrypted phone, or is this authentication method considered too weak? Strangely there is no information about that.
2. I would like the phone to behave in the following way (like an iPhone 6): After booting the device I am asked for my (potentially complicated) passphrase. After that I am allowed to use my fingerprints to unlock. After some time (configurable, maybe some hours?) I would be asked for the passphrase again.

Benefit: Convenience through the fingerprint unlock, increased security because if somebody tried to force me to put my finger on the sensor (or had a rubber copy of my finger) it would still be no good on a freshly rebooted phone or after some hours.

Basically this means having two unlock schemes configured at the same time, fingerprints and passphrase/PIN. Former would be used for convenience, latter for security. Putting in the passpharse a few times per day would be perfectly acceptable to me.

Is this possible with a Samsung Galaxy S6 with stock ROM?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I found myself an answer to part one of the question: Yes, on the Galaxy S6 you can apparently use the fingerprint sensor to unlock the device after encrytion.

Infomation found here:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s6/help/fingerprint-unlock-device-encryption-t3081102

Has somebody something to say for part two? :-)

Edit 2015-10-06: I got my S6 last week. Here is the story:

* Encrypting the device and using fingerprint unlock does indeed work. :-)
* When configuring fingerprints you have to set a backup password.
* The backup password is used to encrypt the device's encryption key. --\> Whenever you reboot the phone you must enter it. You cannot boot the phone using fingerprints alone.
* After a few unsuccessful attempts to unlock the device using the fingerprint sensor the device forces you to enter the backup password.
* I could not find some kind of timer to configure. If you want to force the input of the password you have to power down the device or use an unconfigured finger a few times in a row.

This is a near-perfect solution for me (except for the timer issue, but I can live without...).

Hope this information helps somebody!

# Answer
> 0 votes
The answer is it depends on the security policy settings deployed by your corporate IT. If you are giving corporate admin control over your device then their own security policies may require you to use a four digit pin or more complicated alphanumerical passcode and prevent you from using the fingerprint reader as a means for logging on the device (from a secreenlock).

If they also require full phone storage encryption you will have a separate password to use when booting the phone. You can not use fingerprints to authenticate on boot since the system hasn't booted at that point.

However, if your IT allows fingerprints to be used for lock screen authentication, then you will be able to use the fingerprint scanner to unlock the phone between uses. If the phone is turned off and back on, you would be prompted for the password that was set during the full storage encryption setup process and would then use your fingerprint for the lock screen until the phone is turned off and back on.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, security, samsung-galaxy-s-6
---


# Question
Title: Htc one m9 unable to find firmware files for update from Android 5 to 6
I bought a Htc one M9, and flashed Viperone m9 Marshmallow without first update the Stock rom to Marshmallow, and got stuck in bootloader.
Flashed Viper Lollipop, and the phone works again, but now i can't update, because i haven't got a clue which firmware files i should flash, i have found quite a lot of them, and i don't want to brick the darn thing, but i want my Marshmallow..
Could anyone throw me a bone here?
This is my info from the phone:

kernel: lk
product: htc\_himauhl
version: 1.0
imei:
version-main: 1.32.401.15
boot-mode: download
version-bootloader: 1.0.0.0000
mid: 0PJA10000
cid: HTC\__Y13

Any advice is appreciated.

# Answer
You need to check wich firmware version your rom needs. For latest viperonem9 it's 3.35.401.12.

Now you can go to the xda-developer page http://forum.xda-developers.com/one-m9/development/firmware-t3068243 to find the latest htc firmwares for the m9 with a detailed guide.

Be aware that the fullstock firmwares force a full wipe, so you will lose your data. To avoid that you can use the nowipe firmwares wich are linked on the same page.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, updates, root-access, 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: Remove folder from App Drawer in TouchWiz (not home screen / app launcher)
TouchWiz (TouchWiz Nature UX on Samsung Galaxy S III mini) allows **creating folders** and reorganizing application in application list / **app drawer** (in "Apps") when using 'Customisable grid' view type:

"Menu \> View type \> Customisable grid", then "Menu \> Create folder"

This allows creating folders to group applications. You can edit name of folder by touching it and then touching on name, you can put such folder on home screen / launcher via long press, and you can put applications in folder via "Menu \> Edit" and selecting folder (edit works only on folders); then in this edit mode you can add apps with "+", and remove them by moving them outside folder.

I cannot find however how to ***remove*** such folder from TouchWiz app drawer.

(The articles and answers I have found by googling are about folders on home screens, i.e. in apps launcher not apps drawer).

# Answer
> 3 votes
Once you have created a folder in the Apps (i.e. I created a "Temp") and then remove it:
1. Go to the App Drawer, Apps, and find the panel holding the folder.
2. Menu \> Edit
3. Press and hold the folder until "Remove" appears.
4. Drag to Trash Can (Remove).
5. Save
Gone.

# Answer
> 2 votes
For Samsung Galaxy S7 or S7 Edge, follow the steps below: Go to App Drawer -\> Click Edit -\> Click Minus ("-") sign on the folder you wish to remove -\> Click Delete on the warning displayed and you are done.

The apps will not be uninstalled, only the folder will be removed. The apps would show normally in the App Drawer afterwards.

---
Tags: samsung-touchwiz, app-drawer
---


# Question
Title: How to use multiple google accounts, but allow only one to locate my phone in device manager
I am using multiple google accounts, both private and company accounts.

I want to see all calendars in my Calendar app. Events in all calendars. Same with Gmail. I want to be logged in and be able to switch between all gmail accounts.

But I don't want my company account (To which I am not the only person to have access I think) to be able to store and backup my contacts, my chrome settings, and privately visited websites, and all private activity.

Right now logging to any of those accounts and going to android device manager, I can locate or wipe my phone. I want to allow it only on my main account.

How can I control that?

Android 5.0.2 MIUI 7.0

# Answer
By going to the sync settings for each account (as shown in the image below), you can control what each account 'sees'. For the 'public' account, turn off all syncing besides Gmail and Calendar.

Unfortunately, this will not address Android Device Manager access. To do this, you must open the Google Settings app and navigate to Google \> Security. Below Android Device Manager heading, you will be able to turn off it's features. Source: Set up Android Device Manager

<sub>(Click image to enlarge)</sub>
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-account, privacy, android-device-manager, accounts
---


# Question
Title: Can't get rid of Uni launcher on my Android 5.1
I have tried to uninstall it (for me it is malicious software because I do not know when and how have I obtained it) through settings and reboot my phone but it keeps coming back and blocks my phone, constantly offering some options with no other possibility as confirming access or installation.

# Answer
Uni Launcher is indeed malware, and will install other software silently where it is able to do so.

If your phone happens to be a HOMTOM HT7 (you didn't specify a model), you'll want to install the latest update from the manufacturer (2.0.3). This will remove the malware by replacing the launcher, and also fix some other issues.

**Update:** Supposedly a 2.0.7 update has been released now as well, but some people have indicated issues with this particular version.
> 0 votes

# Answer
try this:
***Settings*** -\> ***Application Manager*** -\> Under the ***All*** tab, search for the launcher and select it. Now click on ***Uninstall for all Users***
If ***Uninstall for all Users*** is not available at first, then first ***Uninstall*** an then try ***Uninstall for all Users***
> -1 votes

---
Tags: applications, uninstallation, launcher, malware
---


# Question
Title: How do I locate Google Settings, or better Android Device Manager Settings on Android 5.0.2 MIUI 7.0?
I have trouble locating Google Settings. Official help documentation advice doesn't apply. Maybe since I have MIUI 7.0? I'm looking for Android Device Manager Settings.

Google Support Info

# Answer
Edit: This answer isn't related to the question actually. Please read the post by @sinchan for correct information and then mine for extended info.

Android Device Manager which comes builtin has no specific settings AFAIK. You just need to login using Google Account and manage all the devices under that account like Locating, Erasing, Locking, Ringing the devices remotely. For Android device manager to work properly keep the GPS and Mobile Data/WiFi turned on.

Additionally visit Google My Account \> Device Activity for other options.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Okay. I interpret your question in the two following ways:-

* You want to change/edit/disable your specific phone's Android Device Manager settings. In this case, you should browse to **Settings** and under the Tab for **Security**, look for something like **Device Administrators.** Over there you'll see a checked/unchecked option named **Android Device Manager**.
* Another possibility is that you want to edit the Settings of all devices associated with your Google account. In that case, simply download the **Android Device Manager** app from Google's **Play Store**. Here's the link to make it easier: Android Device Manager

Hope this helps!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: android-device-manager, google-settings
---


# Question
Title: Help! Renamed /system/bin/sh to sh.old.bak, lost root, can't rename, no nandroid backup
I did something incredibly stupid today. I renamed /system/bin/sh to /system/bin/sh.old.bak on my rooted Huawei y536a1 running 4.4.3 KK. I was going to install a app I thought might overwrite it and wanted a backup. I intended to copy it to another location in the path or link it, then rename in bin. In my haste, I simply renamed it and couldn't install app w/o shell, lost root, thus eliminating any easy method I know of to fix. I rooted with kingroot (not kingo) because I currently do not have a computer. I have no system backup, foolish, I know. I do have the original factory .img file, a pre-rooted .img file, (the only way to properly root and install a recovery) twrp recovery and a code to unlock the bootloader. Since I didn't have a computer I used kingroot. The phone is still functional. Unfortunately I don't know what to do now. I have limited linux knowledge (obviously). I am afraid to reboot, not knowing what will happen. I can get access to a computer. The file needs to be renamed, but I lost write access to the system. Is there anyway to use adb to rename or push another file on there, or fix by rebooting into recovery? I would prefer a solution the wouldn't wipe my phone, but I realize my options are quite limited. I don't even know if a factory reset or flashing either of the images will work. Any help/advice is greatly appreciated.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I'll now guide you through the procedure of writing a custom flashable ZIP, for the purpose of renaming your **sh.old.bak**. To begin, create the following tree of folders:

```
/META-INF/com/google/android

```

Once you created them, move to the **android** folder, and create the following new files. **Make sure that they don't have any extension at their end**:

* **updater-script**
* **update-binary**

Leave the first one blank, and proceed by editing the **update-binary** as follows:

```
#!/sbin/sh
mount /system
mount -o remount,rw /system
mv /system/bin/sh.old.bak /system/bin/sh
umount /system

```

Save this content (in the **update-binary**), open your favourite zipping tool, and create a compressed archive out of the **META-INF** folder. Its content should be automatically included. Make sure that **the archive type is set to ZIP**, and **select the lowest possible compression level**.

Finally, flash this script to your device with:

```
fastboot update name_of_your_zip.zip

```

As guessable, the third parameter should be the name (and path) of the ZIP you created. In short, the ZIP should mount the **/system** partition in read-write mode, rename your **sh.old.bak** to **sh**, and unmount the **/system** partition.

---
Tags: root-access, file-system, shell, huawei
---


# Question
Title: Is there a one-click widget to make my phone completely silent?
I currently use Mute All but it requires several clicks. I like the ease of Silent Toggle Widget but it doesn't turn of media sounds.

Ideally the widget would also turn of haptic feedback.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I created a Task in Tasker called Silent that does this and created a widget that allows the one click behavior you are looking for.

Basically Silent is just a set of tasks that set the notification/ringer/system volume/etc to level 0. Here is the XML for the Silent.tsk.xml if you want to import it.

```
<class cl="Task" sr="">
<nme>Silent</nme>
<id>14</id>
<class cl="Action" sr="act1">
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
    </class>
    <code>304</code>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
    </class>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act0">
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
    </class>
    <code>305</code>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
    </class>
</class>
<class cl="AppIcon" sr="icn" ve="2">
    <icn>2130837581</icn>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act4">
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <code>256</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act5">
    <class cl="StringArg" sr="arg5" ve="2">
        <val></val>
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg4">
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg3">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
        <val>3</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="StringArg" sr="arg1" ve="2">
        <val>Vibrate On</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="StringArg" sr="arg0" ve="2">
        <val>Vibrate On</val>
    </class>
    <code>550</code>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act2">
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg2">
    </class>
    <code>308</code>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg1">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
    </class>
</class>
<class cl="Action" sr="act3">
    <class cl="IntArg" sr="arg0">
        <val>1</val>
    </class>
    <code>258</code>
</class>

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
With Audio Muter you should be able to set the media volume to silent, however it's a paid app.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Audio Manager (free) and Audio Manager Pro ($2.99) fully solve this issue very cleanly. It gives complete control over haptic feedback and the 6 distinct audio volume controls (including media volume), and lets you construct profiles that can be toggled with one-click widgets.

---
Tags: app-widgets, silent-mode
---


# Question
Title: How can I make silent mode affect media volume too?
Silent mode is simple to toggle quickly and easily, but it only effects ringtone volume. I want it to work for media volume too, so I can use it to quickly toggle off game audio in public places. Is this possible? Or is there another simple solution? I have a Google Experience phone, so manufacturer-custom UI elements are no help.

# Answer
> 9 votes
RealSilent may do the trick for you:

```
Battery-friendly background service that will automatically mute
the media volume on your phone when you change the ringer to silent.

Features:
- Ability to mute on silent mode, as well as vibrate.
- Ability to restore media volume to what it was before going to silent/vibrate.

```

There's a bug report for this issue, but it hasn't been acknowledged by Google.

# Answer
> 1 votes
With Audio Muter you should be able to set the media volume to silent, however it's a paid app.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Audio Manager (free) and Audio Manager Pro ($2.99) fully solve this issue very cleanly. It gives complete control over haptic feedback and the 6 distinct audio volume controls (including media volume), and lets you construct profiles that can be toggled with one-click widgets.

---
Tags: audio, silent-mode
---


# Question
Title: What does a round icon with a horizontal line in its middle show?
I'm using a nightly build of CM13. I recently noticed this round icon with a horizontal line in its middle. The icon is located in the right side of the notification bar.

What does that icon depict?

# Answer
> 1 votes
"Do Not Disturb" was turned on, you can swipe down the status bar and toggle it on/off. Settings for it would be for a specific duration, Until you turn this off. You can opt for Total silence, Alarms only, or Priority only.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, 6.0-marshmallow, notification-icons
---


# Question
Title: Where is the database to save android volumes
In android settings database, we can see below items:

```
  <setting id="96" name="volume_music_bt_sco_hs" value="15" package="android" />
  <setting id="4" name="volume_alarm" value="6" package="android" />
  <setting id="0" name="volume_music" value="11" package="android" />
  <setting id="3" name="volume_voice" value="4" package="android" />
  <setting id="78" name="volume_ring_bt_a2dp" value="1" package="android" />
  <setting id="1" name="volume_ring" value="5" package="android" />
  <setting id="93" name="volume_alarm_bt_sco_hs" value="7" package="android" />
  <setting id="38" name="volume_voice_bt_a2dp" value="6" package="android" />
  <setting id="6" name="volume_bluetooth_sco" value="7" package="android" />
  <setting id="34" name="volume_voice_earpiece" value="6" package="android" />
  <setting id="70" name="volume_alarm_speaker" value="6" package="android" />
  <setting id="148" name="volume_voice_headset" value="1" package="android" />
  <setting id="55" name="volume_music_bt_a2dp" value="15" package="android" />
  <setting id="71" name="volume_bluetooth_sco_earpiece" value="9" package="android" />
  <setting id="5" name="volume_notification" value="5" package="android" />
  <setting id="89" name="volume_voice_bt_sco_hs" value="1" package="android" />
  <setting id="132" name="volume_ring_speaker" value="7" package="android" />
  <setting id="146" name="volume_music_headset" value="5" package="android" />
  <setting id="2" name="volume_system" value="7" package="android" />
  <setting id="116" name="volume_bluetooth_sco_bt_sco_hs" value="15" package="android" />
  <setting id="42" name="volume_bluetooth_sco_bt_a2dp" value="9" package="android" />
  <setting id="65" name="volume_music_headphone" value="5" package="android" />
  <setting id="76" name="volume_bluetooth_sco_headset" value="9" package="android" />

```

But it's not the actual volume settings but default ones. so if I changed the volume settings in UI, which database will save such settings?

# Answer
> 6 votes
The file does reflect the changes. You need to observe it a bit more carefully.

My little research tells me that in Android 4.2.1, 4.4.2, 5.0.2 and 5.1.1, most of the changes performed in Settings app are saved in an SQLite database of Settings Storage/Providers app, located at */data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db*.

Some of the settings can be found in the private data directory of Settings app, which is */data/data/com.android.settings*.

However, the preformatted text in your question appears to be been taken from *settings\_system.xml*. The file is located under */data/system/users/0* (or an appropriate position in case of full disk encryption).

That file is available only in Android Marshmallow release and it does reflect the changes made through Volume button.

Example:

<sub>(Lines starting with echo are only for the purpose of explaining what I'm going to do with consecutive command. Avoid executing them. *adbs* stands for *adb shell*.)</sub>

I suppose the source code or official documentation for developers would provide a better idea on what other keys starting with *volume\_* are meant for.

---
Tags: settings, volume-control
---


title: Mount HDD with multiple partitions

text:
# Question
Title: Mount HDD with multiple partitions
I have an external HDD with two partitions. Both are *ext3* partitions and works fine with Linux. When I plug the USB HDD in my Android device, it does not work. I see some errors in `dmesg`:

```
[ 3132.712025] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code

```

Following is the full log (also available at Pastebin):

```
[ 3129.797281] usb 1-1: new high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3129.948997] usb 1-1: New USB device found, idVendor=04fc, idProduct=0c25
[ 3129.949076] usb 1-1: New USB device strings: Mfr=2, Product=3, SerialNumber=1
[ 3129.949118] usb 1-1: Product: USB to Serial-ATA bridge
[ 3129.949159] usb 1-1: Manufacturer: Sunplus Technology Inc.
[ 3129.949195] usb 1-1: SerialNumber: ST3500820A            9QMB89AR
[ 3129.956216] usb-storage 1-1:1.0: USB Mass Storage device detected
[ 3129.956759] scsi206 : usb-storage 1-1:1.0
[ 3130.943497] scsi 206:0:0:0: Direct-Access     ST350082 0AS                   PQ: 0 ANSI: 2
[ 3130.947482] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] 976773168 512-byte logical blocks: (500 GB/465 GiB)
[ 3130.948602] sd 206:0:0:0: Attached scsi generic sg0 type 0
[ 3130.950308] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Write Protect is off
[ 3130.950387] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Mode Sense: 38 00 00 00
[ 3130.953130] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] No Caching mode page found
[ 3130.953203] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 3130.961231] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] No Caching mode page found
[ 3130.961312] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 3131.096185] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3131.381492] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3131.676711] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3131.971902] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3132.267086] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3132.562270] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3132.712025] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3132.712106] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3132.712140] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3132.712178] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3132.712205] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3132.712305] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3132.712345] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3132.847682] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3133.142899] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3133.438095] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3133.733289] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3134.028505] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3134.323707] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3134.473244] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3134.473324] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3134.473357] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3134.473396] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3134.473422] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3134.473518] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3134.473558] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3134.609000] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3134.904220] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3135.199424] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3135.494638] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3135.789882] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3136.085081] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3136.234861] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3136.234942] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3136.234974] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3136.235014] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3136.235040] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3136.235136] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3136.235177] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3136.235299]  sda: unable to read partition table
[ 3136.244113] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] No Caching mode page found
[ 3136.244198] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Assuming drive cache: write through
[ 3136.244248] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Attached SCSI disk
[ 3136.429360] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3136.724578] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3137.019861] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3137.315036] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3137.610218] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3137.905427] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3138.055309] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3138.055385] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3138.055422] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3138.055459] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3138.055485] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 f0 00
[ 3138.055583] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3138.055622] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3138.055684] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 1
[ 3138.055720] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 2
[ 3138.055755] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 3
[ 3138.055790] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 4
[ 3138.055824] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 5
[ 3138.055858] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 6
[ 3138.180976] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3138.466284] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3138.751642] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3139.037079] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3139.332211] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3139.627405] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3139.777006] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3139.777088] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3139.777119] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3139.777162] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3139.777190] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3139.777288] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3139.777323] quiet_error: 23 callbacks suppressed
[ 3139.777358] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3139.962008] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3140.257168] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3140.552444] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3140.847589] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3141.142778] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3141.437970] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3141.587839] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3141.587922] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3141.587956] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3141.587993] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3141.588021] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 f0 00
[ 3141.588121] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3141.588162] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3141.588228] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 1
[ 3141.588265] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 2
[ 3141.588300] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 3
[ 3141.588335] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 4
[ 3141.588369] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 5
[ 3141.588405] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 6
[ 3141.588441] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 7
[ 3141.588477] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 8
[ 3141.723340] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3142.008700] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3142.294008] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3142.579457] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3142.874631] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3143.169809] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3143.319518] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3143.319599] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3143.319633] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3143.319672] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3143.319700] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3143.319798] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3143.484670] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3143.799687] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3144.094726] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3144.389973] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3144.685229] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3144.980369] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3145.129772] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3145.129809] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3145.129823] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3145.129840] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3145.129853] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 f0 00
[ 3145.129896] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3145.255897] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3145.541259] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3145.826603] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3146.112009] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3146.407167] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3146.702336] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3146.852225] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3146.852306] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3146.852338] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3146.852380] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3146.852407] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3146.852503] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3146.852538] quiet_error: 52 callbacks suppressed
[ 3146.852573] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3147.046747] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3147.341944] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3147.637250] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3147.932432] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3148.227603] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3148.522749] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3148.672173] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3148.672213] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3148.672227] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3148.672243] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3148.672255] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 f0 00
[ 3148.672300] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0
[ 3148.672319] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 0
[ 3148.672350] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 1
[ 3148.672366] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 2
[ 3148.672381] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 3
[ 3148.672396] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 4
[ 3148.672411] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 5
[ 3148.672426] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 6
[ 3148.672440] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 7
[ 3148.672455] Buffer I/O error on device sda, logical block 8
[ 3148.798335] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3149.093531] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3149.388697] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3149.683817] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3149.979098] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3150.274320] usb 1-1: reset high-speed USB device number 84 using ehci-platform
[ 3150.423545] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] Unhandled error code
[ 3150.423576] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda]
[ 3150.423586] Result: hostbyte=DID_ERROR driverbyte=DRIVER_OK
[ 3150.423597] sd 206:0:0:0: [sda] CDB:
[ 3150.423607] Read(10): 28 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 08 00
[ 3150.423636] end_request: I/O error, dev sda, sector 0

```

I see the device at `/dev/block/sda` but I don't have any idea about mounting it manually. I was expecting `/dev/block/sda1` and `/dev/block/sda2`.

How do I manage those partitions?

# Answer
I can't fix the original issue. I have just merged all the data in a single partition. I have no idea why the system can't mount the disk with two partitions.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: mount, ext3
---


# Question
Title: Will wonder share data recovery root the s6 and void warranty?
Hello i lost my important image in s6 . I have not even touched to phone with a hope that i can recover my data. After google i saw wondershare software . It says to enable usb debugging and many thing . The thing is that will it root my phone or not ? If it root it will damage my warranty causing more trouble. So any elders can share something ???

Thank you

# Answer
Enabling USB debugging in the settings menu on the phone is not the same as getting root on the device. USB debugging should not void your warranty, will not give you root and should not trip the KNOX flag.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 stuck on booting screen
My Samsung Galaxy Note N7000 on Android 4.1.2 seems to have somehow managed to brick itself. I was using it for WiFi tethering via USB to my laptop. All was good until I unplugged it. It started restarting itself but never fully starting, so I was guessing maybe the battery was messing up.

Anyways, I've come to the conclusion that it's bricked. It starts up, displays its model, and reboots before it even reaches the Samsung logo. The phone has its original firmware and has never been rooted or anything. It starts up but boot loops after displaying its model.

I tried accessing the recovery menu by pressing home + volume up + power but it doesn't work. I also tried vol up + vol down + power but that doesn't work either.

I'm kind of losing hope because I'm pretty certain it's hard-bricked. Somehow the OS must have gotten corrupted. It charges normally and I can turn it on but it boot loops. I tried connecting it to my laptop today via USB and it's not connecting properly, the phone just charges and doesn't connect.

I really need to go on my phone because I have an important number on there.

# Answer
Your device is soft-bricked, but thankfully you know which Android version was installed. (More details below)

But first things first, let's cover one easy fix that can be overlooked. This happened to me on my Note 2 recently, and I had forgot one of the smallest fixes. Power on your phone while holding volume-up and home to get into Recovery Mode, and highlight "Clear Dalvik Cache". Confirm and reboot. This happened to work for me when I had made no changes to the phone in months.

If that didn't work, here's our only chance at saving all data stored in the phone (being stock & unrooted). I also have gone down this path successfully, only difference being the website I downloaded from, and the fact that I yellow-triangled my stock Verizon bootloader (big whoops).

Since **you know your Android version**, you can use Odin to flash the exact same firmware to your phone, removing the need to explicitly wipe data. It's a 50/50 shot, some people say Odin wipes data, some say it doesn't, it worked for me.

Go to **http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/GT-N7000/**

And select the country of v4.1.2 you had from the list. This is a good 3 hour download, and you may have to download it multiple times before you get a perfect download (MD5 matching file).

You will then download **Odin v3 from XDA** onto your computer as well as the **Samsung USB Drivers (Official link)** and install each.

You'll then click on the `PDA` button in Odin and find your `.tar` file. If your download is a `.zip` you'll have to extract the zip. If you're below Windows 7, the zip extraction wizard will appear to have frozen for about 10 minutes. It takes much longer than usual with a single .tar file.

Make sure all the checked boxes are as so:

..And flash!

When finished, it may or may not boot right up! If not, go into stock recovery and "Clear Dalvik Cache" again. Now, your phone should be up and running. If you're lucky, **all your data should still be there**!

If you end up to be not so lucky, you should be able to recover your photos and other files from `/sdcard` through **Dr. Fone**, which is now on Play Store. It is the most popular data recovery, but the app requires a rooted device. Easy for you, because running 4.1.2 you should be able to use the Framaroot app to root it without even restarting. You can also use the desktop program, which also has good reviews.

Hope this helps!
> 0 votes

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


# Question
Title: Do device administrators have access to other user accounts?
I have installed an Enterprise App Store application, provided by my employer. The app says that I need to make it a device administrator in order to use it, but I do not want to give it admin access to my phone.

My question is, if I create another user (work, for example) on my phone, install the app as the work user, and then make it a device administrator, will it be able to access the apps and data on my original user account?

My Phone: Nexus 6P (Android 6.0.1) stock

# Answer
> I have the same phone and do the same thing. Work account require the \>"Google Apps device policy" app to be a device admin. It is admin on my \>work account, but does not show up in the device administrators list on my \>main, personal account. Not sure if it really has no access, though.

Thanks @personne3000 for your suggestion. I did the same and it does not show up as an administrator on my main account.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: multi-user, device-administrator
---


# Question
Title: How to record More than 4GB Video on exFAT?
I have a Galaxy S4 4G (I9505) with a 32GB external micro-SD card formatted as exFAT. I use this to record some seminars that takes often 0.5-1.0 hour. The video seems to stop after 30-45 minutes based on the video resolution, but always when the file size reaches 4GB.

I know that ex-FAT allows more than this. My device reads it fine and everything, but the camera app still enforces the limit. I'm using the stock app, on a non-rooted Android 4.2.2 (OTA update), the Samsung version not the Play one. It's also usually not a battery problem (battery is often above %50 after recording, and sometime it's in charger from laptop or power plug).

If I understand correctly, Android API allows overriding this limit and maybe making it unlimited, but I can't find any video recording application that does have this limit disabled. Can you suggest any?

Otherwise, if there is another custom ROM or whatever that I may install to get a modified stock app without the limit, I'd take that as an option, although obviously just recommending a 3rd party video recording app that overrides the limit sounds like a much less hassle (even for someone familiar with rooting and flashing, from my old Galaxy S 1 days).

# Answer
Because Samsung cannot predict if the user of the phone will have their sdcard formatted with something like exFAT or FAT32, they (samsung) put a size limit of 4GB in to the camera app. If they did not have the file size limit, and a user did have the sdcard formatted with FAT32, the file would not save to disk and could cause other issues as well. They had to scope to the lowest common supported format.

You might be able to find some cameras that have this limit removed. For example, here is a post on XDA that someone modified the camera for the Note 3 (this may, or may not work for your phone) to remove the size limit. The time limit of 90 minutes still exists.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Had exactly the same problem. ExFAT is not the solution as Samsung prevents videos over 4 GB. The solution is an app that records for a preset time, then automatically start a new recording. I use AutoBoy Dash Cam. I can now record for hours and hours. You then stick the videos back together. There is a slight glitch at the join, but minimal.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, camera, video-recording
---


# Question
Title: Change temperature unit on Total Launcher
I'm using Total Launcher, from the makers of ssLauncher. It has a weather widget that uses OpenWeatherMap. The default string is `%4.1f°` and the widget shows Celsius.

I tried every letter in the alphabet in place of the `f` but most of them said invalid format and none of them gave an expected value.

Is it possible to change the unit to Fahrenheit?

# Answer
Go to the Total Launcher **Options** screen, then select **Behavior**. Towards the bottom is a checkbox to **Use US customary units**.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: launcher, app-widgets, weather
---


# Question
Title: storage space running out, wont let me download anything
My phone says that I am running out of storage. when I try to download an App to get rid of some of it, it just keeps telling me that I have insufficient storage

# Answer
First, delete one of the extra apps to make some space. Then install Link2SD app. This app can move your apps installed in internal storage to memory card, which makes more free space.
> -1 votes

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


title: samsung omnia usb debugging

text:
# Question
Title: samsung omnia usb debugging
can I turn on usb debugging so I can copy text messages from phone to pc? I don't know how to turn it on in the menus. Developer options isn't even listed. I can se build number but I am unable to click on it.

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you simply want to make a backup of your text messages, check out SMS Backup & Restore or SMS Backup+ app in Play Store. Both of them have high reviews and don't require root.

Screenshots:

(Click an image to enlarge it)

# Answer
> 0 votes
You're now recommended not to invest your time in enabling USB debugging at all, if you intend to backup or restore SMS/MMS using it. It wouldn't reap anything useful in the end.

ADB (user 2000) doesn't have adequate privilege to directly read the database *mmssms.db* located under *com.android.providers.telephony/databases* \- the same database which keeps records of your received and sent SMS and MMS. Neither does it have the permission android.permission.READ\_SMS to read SMS.

(Click image to enlarge)

So, all you can do is use an app to do the job for you, such as what Aaron suggested or if your vendor provides a software to manage your phone from PC, then consider trying it. It may be having the option to backup SMS and MMS.

---
Tags: usb
---


# Question
Title: How to set the YouTube app to play 360p instead of 240p video?
In the YouTube app there are only options to play 144p or 240p. Is there any way to make it play 360p?

When I access YouTube from Chrome it plays 360p videos; the quality of the same video was way better when played from the browser.

# Answer
> 0 votes
After reinstalling the YouTube app, option for playing 360p is back.

# Answer
> 1 votes
The YouTube quality settings are determined by each video (although if you select a higher quality, it will default to that for the next time). Hit the three-dot menu button:

Then the Quality cog button:

Then you can select the quality setting.

Other videos might have more options for the quality setting:

This completely depends on external factors like, for example, the size of the source video that was uploaded to YouTube.

You can also (from the 3-dot menu on the app Home) go to Settings → General to turn off the "Limit mobile data usage" option, which will allow videos to default to higher quality when you are not on Wi-Fi.

---
Tags: youtube
---


# Question
Title: Can I update from CM 12.1 to CM 13 using OTA, or do I need to follow instructions?
I've got a Nexus 9 running Cyanogenmod 12.1. Yesterday I read Cyanogenmod's announcement of version 13, which contains instructions on how to update to the new version. They write that I have to flash the image, Google Apps and `vendor.img` manually.

However, today I received an update notification on my device:

Can I just apply the OTA update? Or do I still need to follow the instructions (i.e. flash Google Apps and `vendor.img`)?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The OTA-update will only update CM itself. You will still have to flash Google Apps and vendor.img manually. If you had Google Apps installed and only do an OTA-update, your Google Apps will most likely be incompatible with your system, causing your device to get stuck in a boot loop.

I don't have a Nexus 9, so I don't know if the old vendor.img is compatible with CM13, but I would recommend to update it as well, just to be sure.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, ota-update, nexus-9
---


# Question
Title: Moving installation location on non rooted Android 5 Lollipop device
I have a Moto G (2nd generation) with Android 5.02 on it. Internal SD card is about 8Gb and I have an external SD card with 16Gb free space.

Moving application to SDCARD from the application's menu moves it to sdcard0 which is the internal SD card.

Adb shell command:

```
pm get-install-location

```

gives me:

```
0[auto]

```

I tried to set installation location through:

```
pm set-install-location 2

```

But I'm getting this error:

```
Error: java.lang.SecurityException: Package android does not belong to 2000

```

That is I believe complaining about root permissions.

And because it's a production build trying:

```
adb root

```

gives me:

```
 adbd cannot run as root in production builds

```

Is there any way to set the applications install their data to external SD card?

**P.S:** I don't want to install a custom rom or install third party software to root the phone.

**Edit:** I've noticed that applications data was stored in the folder `/storage/sdcard0/Android`, so I thought of moving this folder to `/storage/sdcard1/` and creating a symlink this way instead:

```
ln -s /storage/sdcard1/Android /storage/sdcard0/Android

```

will this do the job?

Thank you.

# Answer
> 10 votes
Basically speaking: You can't. At least not *without rooting*.
The main reasons Android does not allow you to install an application to your external SD card are:

1. *Security*: It's the main reason for that restriction. Basic file systems like NTFS or FAT (any version of it) do not allow for Unix-like permission management.
This means: *any* application would be able to write to *any* file on that storage.
Thinking of malicious apps, they would be able to replace proper apps with fake/infected ones, bricking your phone and rendering it unusable.
2. *Volatile storage*: Your external SD card is not safe to be inserted in your device all the time. You are able to eject it any time what makes your SD card not a very good candidate for a permanent storage. Consider apps running off of your SD card and you eject it. Those apps will just crash and all other apps saved on your SD card are gone as well. You can't use them at that time and the data of those app is also affected by reason #1.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Basically you can! ;)

* First, **Root your phone!**
* Second, Create a secondary partition in your SD card (Ext.4) \>= 2GB and set it as primary.
* Third, download and install Link2sd app from playstore. Open the app, and I will ask you to create a mount point to your 2nd partition. Select Yes. Reboot.

**After reboot, EVERY app you install will automatically go to SD card.**

*If you don't know how to create partition search for a guide in Google there are plenty of them*

# Answer
> 4 votes
That was quite a journey searching for an answer not involving rooting but I ended up:

1. Unlocking my bootloader
2. Booting on TWRP without installing it:

```
fastboot boot recovery.img

```
3. Installing Chainfire's SuperSU with TWRP.
4. From Terminal Emulator or adb's shell:

```
su
pm set-install-location 2

```
5. From an application's menu in `Settings > Applications` just pushing `Move to SDCARD` moves it\* - its data and obb - to the external SDCARD.
6. Removing SuperSU......

Nah... I didn't do that! 3:)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to this address http://developer.android.com/tools/help/shell.html#shellcommands

Android 5 and above does not support this `pm get-install-location`

Try to backup your apk and follow the steps bellow

```
adb shell pm install -r -s <path of your apk>

```

Example

```
adb shell pm install -r -s /storage/sdcard1/base.apk

```

-r means reinstall apk with existing data and -s means sdcard

# Answer
> -1 votes
First install Adbd insecure (apk download from xda-developers).

Once installed on your device, open it and mark the box: "Enable insecure adbd".

Now you can change the location to install your apps.

---
Tags: applications, adb, 5.0-lollipop, external-sd, internal-sd
---


# Question
Title: Why handset manufacturers releases new versions of android several months after Google?
I have a nexus device. Whenever new version of android is released, the phone gets it almost instantly. I want to know why other manufacturers doesn't update their software in the same timespan. For some manufacturers, this process can take several months.

**Is there a technical challenge that prevents them to do this?** or is just matter of not allocating enough resources to do this?

I know about the differences between different ROMs and manufacturers, UI layers and so on... I'm asking is if so difficult (and why), or if manufacturers just don't want to do it, to release the new ROMs earlier.

To give an example about what I'm saying: when I updated from Windows 7/8 to Windows 10 in several computers (MSI, Acer, Lenovo, and custom build), I just clicked the "update" button and all the computers updated fine, without drivers problems... Why android is not the same case? Every major release introduces several **breaking** changes that makes it difficult for manufacturers?

# Answer
> 4 votes
It may help to go through this graphic:

Notice that the graphic has a blue 'Google Play Edition' path which was when non-Nexus manufacturer had devices with only stock Android. This blue line would be the closest approximation to a Nexus device and notice how it doesn't have as many blocking points as the orange 'Carrier Device'.

*Comparing to PC*

You have to realize that the PC Hardware layer is relatively standardized on a x64 architecture either from Intel or AMD.

Android has multiple CPU architectures to support (ARMv7,ARMv8,x86,x64,MIPS) manufactured by different vendors (Samsung, Qualcomm, NVidia, Rockchip, Intel, MIPS) and its in Step 5 that the various vendors have to see what will get support. Way more customization goes on here than a normal PC.

Originally from: http://www.htc.com/us/go/htc-software-updates-process/

# Answer
> 1 votes
IMO , izzy, benjaminS have pointed you to several reasons as to why it is complicated. I am consolidating these inputs to answer **technical reasons**

Let's get business reasons out of way first. Nexus devices

> are considered Google's flagship Android products (...) Nexus devices are often among the first Android devices to receive updates to the operating system.(*linkage should be obvious*)

# Fragmentation is the key

Update process graphic pointed out by benjaminS, beautifully illustrates steps involved. Steps 4 and 5 are hardware related , which is **heavily fragmented** . This is a major challenge.

Let's start by taking the example of Samsung, which launched Note 2 devices, in two variants,which are identical in all respects, except the chip set (Exynos , homegrown Samsung processor and Snapdragon). This led to different ROMs being developed , tested and ported and released at different dates (don't remember the specifics, was about 4 months as I recall-talking of international versions). This is with only critical hardware difference. Next, consider various other hardware elements-screen, camera, earphones to name a few others and fragmentation mushrooms. Add to that low cost competition coming up with rebranded devices and the panorama of fragmentation grows huge. Hence,

* OEMs have to customise ROMs from source code. Adding bloatware and customised UI takes more time
* ROMs have to be different for different hardware, though they may be similar in other ways
* ROMs have to be country /region specific **even** if the hardware is same
* Carriers add their own value and time penalty

it should be pretty obvious now why rolling out is delayed and comparing this scenario with PCs didn't hold given the standardised architecture

**Edit:** By the time I got down to preparing this answer, see that another answer had been posted, having an overlap

# Answer
> 0 votes
The thing is, other manufacturers have to update their skin and extra features they introduce with the product. Not everything would be compatible so they test it till everything is fixed! Moreover, there is this whole career thing, which is super complicated. Therefore, other's have to wait. While on the nexus devices, they are on Pure Stock Android with no customization. Thus, Google controls the updates and they get updates quite quickly.

EDIT: The complications of the career is explained beautifully in a howtogeek article, you may want to check it out: http://www.howtogeek.com/163958/why-do-carriers-delay-updates-for-android-but-not-iphone/

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Tags: updates
---


# Question
Title: Droid Explorer wont change anything (Delete, Paste, Uninstall)
I want change files in root but I can't. It can't delete any system file (No change).
In addition it can't add any file in `system/app` or anywhere in root!

It can't uninstall any system app from `system/app`. (Droid Explorer Stopped working).
It can't update any system app like secCalculator2. (Droid Explorer Stopped working).

How can I change files from the PC not with an app in my phone.

---

device: Note Edge Rooted (deodexed Samy Rom) - Android: 5.1.1 - Kernel: Stock (permissive with busybox)

---

# Answer
> 0 votes
You have to mount the */system* folder as *r/w*. To do this, execute:

```
adb shell
su
mount -o remount,rw /system

```

Now you can modify your files.

---
Tags: uninstallation, files, delete, system-apps, copy-paste
---


title: Phone is Black After Logging In

text:
# Question
Title: Phone is Black After Logging In
Late yesterday, my Nexus 6's battery died. When I charged it and turned it back on all seemed to be well. The start-up animation came on and I entered my "swipe code". The screen was black, but I didn't think anything of it until my alarm went off this morning. I was unable to turn it off because the screen was black and unresponsive. I held in the power button and the "Turn Off" Menu showed up so I restarted my phone. It did the same thing - starting animation, entered "swipe code" and then a black screen. I searched Google, and some people had success booting in "Safe Mode". That caused the same result with the exception of he words "Safe Mode" in the bottom left corner. I also tried booting without the SIM in and same result. I have called the phone and it does vibrate, but it is not responsive to answer. Is there some way to recover the phone without a factory reset? Just as an FYI, I am running the newest version of Android Marshmallow available for the Nexus 6 with the March Security patch.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Sounds like a software bug.

No real solution here, but a plan of attack toward discovery of the culprit(s).

Try to pull the battery, and restart. If the battery is non-yankable, it'll have to discharge fully to kill all processes. I usually expedite this by leaving it within reach of my neighbor's WiFi, where it exhausts itself trying to Connect...Connect...Connect.

Charge some, and restart, until the buggy situation becomes clear to you through experimentation, again. I say charge SOME, because if you charge fully, it'll require double patience to discharge again.

Let us know what you find out. For myself - I believe this occurred when the Amazon Kindle app was trying to download books that I sent to the device via computer. It MAY HAVE STILL BEEN DOING SO WHEN I LEFT THE WIFI AREA (pure supposition). The first time did not occur to me, but the second time it did it (for a trip), and I recalled it happenned roughly similar to the first occurence. From now on, I'm careful to gauge full downloads while the device is awake, and Close the app fully. Hasn't recurred in a few months.

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, nexus-6
---


# Question
Title: Gain (remote) control of Samsung Galaxy S3 with broken display
I have physically broken my SGS3's (i9300) display, and thought the phone was now just trash. But as I came home with it in my pocket, to my surprise, it connected to my Wifi, synced my files with my desktop, connected to WhatsApp web, and even rang when someone called. In short, it seems to be in working order other than the display not working at all (not accepting any touch inputs either).

Now, replacing the display is not economically feasible, but it would be nice if I could use the working phone for something - I was thinking microserver, IP camera, Wifi repeater, there are all kinds of things I could think of.

If only I could find a way to remotely control it.

Here is what I have, exactly:

* Samsung Galaxy SIII i9300
* Running CyanogenMod version 11
* TWRP probably around version 2.7
* Root is enabled
* USB debugging is enabled (but not root via USB)
* 3rd party apps are enabled
* Tasker is installed and running

I also have an SD card I could put in the phone and a working USB cable connecting it to my PC.

Can anyone think of a way to McGuyver together a way for me to gain control over the phone ?

# Answer
I faced the same situation and solved it: I got another i9300 and used the touchscreen of the good one to install whatever needed - I rooted the broken phone, installed kodi to use it as a media player and connected the phone to my TV screen via hdmi. I also installed a ssh server and now have everything my raspberry pi has but have a more powerful device. Th second i9300 is not needed any more and will be given to my cousin :-)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rooting, samsung-galaxy-s-3, remote-control, broken-screen
---