# Question
Title: Remove persistent notification of an app without disabling all of its notifications
The latest Pushbullet update (v17.0.4) for Android has added a persistent notification to my notification drawer. The app indicates that I can remove the notification by enabling Pushbullet in the notification access settings. However, I can't seem to find these settings in my Samsung Galaxy S4 running Android 4.2.2 with Samsung's ROM.

Are there notification access settings in Android 4.2.2? If so, where did Samsung bury them in the settings?

If there are no such settings in Android 4.2.2, is there a way to remove persistent notifications without affecting Pushbullet's functionality (such as through an Xposed module)?

EDIT: To clarify, I don't want to disable **all** notifications for this app, it would defeat the purpose of the app. I want to disable the persistent notification that now shows up. It is supposedly necessary in order to allow certain features, now that the accessibility service has been removed.

# Answer
If your device is rooted you can install Xposed and install Notify Clean which allows to disable a specific notification which matches some text filter.

Notifications Off can only turn off notifications for whole app so it cannot help in this case.
> 1 votes

# Answer
In the case of Pushbullet, if you don't want to use SMS sync, you can turn off it from Pushbullet settings and the notification will disappear.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Disabling persistent notification would affect the functionality of app, as confirmed by app's developer in reply to my query.

My query:

> If I disable persistent notification does it affect the functionality\[?\]

Developer's (guzba) reply:

> I'm working toward not needing the notification. It can affect functionality right now though if you use SMS sync or Universal copy & paste because without the notification, Android can (and probably will) kill our app making them no longer work. This is less bad with SMS sync since I can make sure it's running for incoming messages, but will be potentially functionality-ending for Android initiated Universal copy & paste.

Source: Pushbullet at XDA Developers forum.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Since the device is are rooted, you may like to give Notifications Off app, a try.

This additionally offers integration with automation apps and that may offer more flexibility in customizing app behavior.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Surprisingly, no one has yet mentioned that notification access settings do not exist in Android 4.2.2 (my first question in the question post body above), having been introduced for 4.4. Evidence: I found notification access settings on my device running 4.4, but not on my 4.2.2 device. Thus, the only solution is to remove the persistent notification, which I have done with NotifyClean as suggested by Firelord.
> 1 votes

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Tags: notifications, 4.2-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-s-4
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# Question
Title: How do I disable all emoticons on incoming/outgoing text messages?
I just received a couple of text messages from a friend. The first message read "Type in this expression exactly, or the script will not work." The second message read "Equals symbol, emoticon, five, emoticon, closing parenthesis, emoticon"

I later found out that he actually sent "=x-(5:O)\<3" ("Equals symbol, x, minus symbol, opening parenthesis, five, colon, capital o, closing parenthesis, less than symbol, three")

I have noticed that my outgoing texts have the same problem.

I have searched the internet for solutions, but there is conflicting information about whether or not the emoticons are sent over the internet as text or as images. Some say that smileys are not ordinary characters and are converted into MMS before sending and others think they are just sent as it is and phone translates them later, Furthermore, none of the proposed solutions on the internet have worked for me.

I have 2 questions:

* How do I disable all emoticons on **incoming** text messages?
* How do I disable all emoticons on **outgoing** text messages?

# Answer
You can install a 3rd party SMS app called Handcent Next SMS which provides the option to disable emoticons on all (incoming/outgoing) sms.

Install the app → Settings (inside app) → Custom style → Conversation settings → Disable smileys

Click to enlarge

---

Alternatively if you're on rooted android, you can recompile your Samsung Stock-Messages app (*SecMmsCandy.apk*) by deleting all the supporting pre-defined resource files and install back the modded version onto the phone although I'm not sure if it's such a good idea and most probably won't work, too. But if you're feeling adventurous here's the path
`/system/priv-app/SecMms_Candy/SecMms_Candy.apk`

Click to enlarge
> 3 votes

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Tags: sms, mms, emoticons
---


# Question
Title: Slow charging, random wake-up and dead USB connections
My phone, Asus Zenfone 5 (A501CG), takes too much of time to charge (6-7 hours). Also, the screen wakes up randomly every 5 seconds (approx.). The phone doesn't connect to a PC (it's not recognized) and OTG doesn't work either.

In Settings, it shows that the phone is charging on USB even when it's charging on AC.

It happens in safe mode too.

What can be the issue? Can a faulty micro-USB port cause this?

# Answer
It seems that the micro USB keeps disconnecting slightly and reconnecting. This will cause the screen to wake up, because your screen will wake up when charge state changes (discharging, charging, and full battery). Additionally if the USB disconnects slightly, your phone may register as being connected and charging as the USB was not fully disconnected, at least on my phone. The reason you probably can't connect it with your computer is because your phone isn't connected long enough for the computer to recognize it. Try a diffrent cable. If this works, then the old cable was faulty, and shouldn't be used with your phone.
> 0 votes

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Tags: usb, charging, asus-zenfone-5
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# Question
Title: Why does my phone charge more quickly at some outlets than at others (with the same charger)
My cell phone seems to charge slowly, especially at my home (I've tried different outlets). But recently I was in a coffee bar, and it seemed to charge a lot - a lot! - faster. I was using the same charger. (My phone is an inexpensive Samsung Galaxy phone, I paid like $50 for it.)

# Answer
> 1 votes
Could be because

1. Coffee bar may be using charging stations which may look like regular charging wall outlets but seem to be designed to charge faster (have not been able to get technical view to back that yet and am searching)
2. Outlet at home is not providing sufficient wattage either in terms of voltage or amperage, may be because of poor electrical earthing

# Answer
> 0 votes
Also, your phone may be connected to WIFI at home which will also slow down charging.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There may be some issues with the input and output voltage with your phone, or its charger. I strongly suggest getting a new charger. I just got a new charger from Amazon. I have a `Samsung Galaxy S4`, but I bought a charger for the `Samsung Galaxy 6 Edge`. This charger is a lot faster, and is consistent with charging speeds.

Try this charger: http://www.amazon.com/Original-Authentic-Samsung-Adapter-Charger/dp/B0108LF09Q/ref=sr\_1\_4?s=wireless&ie=UTF8&qid=1446877691&sr=1-4&keywords=galaxy+s6+charger

# Answer
> 0 votes
It depends on the voltage and current being supplied to the charger at different places. Like for me while travelling via train, the sockets have half the voltage but higher current(Amps) which used to charge my cell faster(of course cannot exceed the maximum output of your charger). I guess so, can be some other reason too.

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Tags: charging
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title: How can I diagnose the battery issue?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I diagnose the battery issue?
My phone's OS is cyanogenmod 12.1 with Android version 5.1.1.

Recently I found a battery drain. I set up the airplane mode but after a night the battery went from 100% to 41%. I viewed Settings-\>Battery and found that the sum of battery usages of all apps was much lower, approximately 20%. I need to know how to fetch a verbose log for the battery usage in order to diagnose the issue.

Thanks very well.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Don't know about the verbose log but for the battery drain issue, i may suggest you to try the 'Battery Calibration' app(requires device to be rooted). I own a Samsung galaxy S3, had similar issues but found significant improvement after following the steps detailed in the app.

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Tags: cyanogenmod, battery
---


# Question
Title: Tried rooting my Nexus 5, did something wrong and now it is stuck rebooting
So, today I tried rooting my Nexus 5 with Nexus Root Toolkit. I have done it before, but I did something wrong. After rooting it, I had to reboot it, but it got stuck in the part with all the circles with colors, before it says ANDROID and the phone starts. I researched, and it seems I have to reinstall the ROM with the Nexus Toolkit. It says the phone has to be completely turned off, so I have to wait until my battery dies or I do a battery pull. Any solutions? My phone was at 20 percent when this happened, so, how long will it take for the battery to die?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Wiping cache normally fixes boot-loop issues. Before you proceed you will need to install ADB on your system.

1. Connect your device to your PC using a USB cable
2. Open a terminal and enter `adb reboot recovery`
3. Use the volume buttons to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press the Power button to select it.
4. Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press the Power button to select it.
5. Reboot the phone.

*If your phone becomes unresponsive at any point during these steps, you can restart it by holding down the Power button for several seconds.*

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Tags: rooting, nexus-5
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# Question
Title: My photos disappeared from my Samsung S5 SD card. Trying to recover photos or find hidden files
My photos disappeared from my Samsung S5 SD card.

I know SD cards get corrupted, but there were a couple of weird things that happened in conjunction with the disappearance. I saw a message on my screen briefly saying something about my photos not being gone. About a week later I saw them again just once when I went to look at other photos on the Google + app. I saw a suggestion to try to do a disk check on a computer to recover corrupted files. Disk check says the info cannot be directly accessed.I also have read that some files can be hidden. I need some help with this. Any ideas?

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can go to My Files, settings, check 'Show Hidden Files'. Now you can see hidden folders beginning with `.` (e.g. `.hidden`) in your device explorer. Check you sd card for such folders beginning with `.` that may contain your files. If not then you can connect your SD card via card reader to your PC and run the Windows app "Recuva" (search Recuva by Piriform) to search for deleted files. Hope this helps :)

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Tags: external-sd, sd-card, photos, samsung-galaxy-s-5, hidden
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title: Help fix my tablet?

text:
# Question
Title: Help fix my tablet?
My Next book tablet isn't working. The Google Play Store keeps saying check connection try again but every other app works. I tried to reset the date/time, clear cache, clear data, but nothing will work. PLEASE HELP ME its a nextbook tablet by android

# Answer
it may well be that google play services is out of date. Try logging out of and back into your google account, try restarting the phone, if all else fails, backup your data and do a factory reset.
> 1 votes

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Tags: google-play-store
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# Question
Title: Why is Google Maps telling me that Offline Maps aren't available?
So, I've been travelling around the world a lot over the last couple of months, and one thing that I've been doing to avoid big roaming data charges on my personal phone, has been using the cached offline maps feature in Google Maps. This has worked without any problems in China, Australia, the UK and the US.

So I'm now in Brazil, and I suddenly find that I can't download any offline maps of the local areas.

When I go to the menu in Google Maps and select Make Available Offline, I get the usual square overlay to select the area, and then it turns red and says "Offline maps is not available in selected area".

I've tried zooming in and out, and moving the selection area around, but no luck.

# Answer
> 29 votes
It turns out that just because you can see and use a map online, that doesn't mean that Google will allow you to make the area available offline.

Offline maps are only currently available for certain countries, and Brazil isn't currently one of them, in fact it seems to be a fairly odd selection.

Google have published the full list of countries that it's available in here: Maps for Mobile - Offline Availability

---

EDIT: note that in a July 2013 Google Maps update, Google made offline maps into a hidden feature with no menu option any more. More about how to make maps available offline here: Get offline maps in new Google Maps

# Answer
> 3 votes
I found that I was able to remove the version of google maps I had installed (which was 6.11.1) and downloaded and installed an older version (6.6.0) from here which allowed me to pre-cache the area I was previously not allowed to. But in the older version I had to go to settings,labs and turn on the pre-cache option and then long press on the map, click on the balloon, and then scroll to the bottom for the pre-cache option.

I don't understand why downloading maps of certain areas is not allowed in newer versions. Obviously its not a technical reason. Is there some sort of political or legal reason? Other map apps can download maps for the entire world. It really doesn't make any sense to me...

# Answer
> 0 votes
Early versions of google maps you can save offline large maps anywhere. Newer versions only allowed a smaller area to be saved and the latest verion makes the save function hard to find and you cant save some countries.

Everything seems to get worse with the newer version, its all to do with money I guess. Advertising can only be seen when online. Terrible.

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Tags: google-maps, offline-map
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# Question
Title: How to extract stock apk from TWRP backup?
I installed TWRP recovery on my phone and backed up the system, data and boot partitions before installing CM12.1.

I would like to extract one stock apk (FM radio) from the backup on a Linux system. How do I mount the system.ext4.win file?

# Answer
> 5 votes
I discovered that it was not necessary to mount it. It was sufficient to extract it with `tar -xf archive_name` but this particular app doesn't install.

# Answer
> 7 votes
Rename the `system.ext4.win` file to `system.ext4.tar`and extract it.
If your *TWRP backup* is not in compression method, you will directly get to the `/system` folder or if your *TWRP backup* is in compression method, you will get a file named `system.ext4` which you'll have to just rename it to `system.ext4.tar` and extract it to `/system` folder

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Tags: backup, mount, twrp
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# Question
Title: The encryption button is not working on Galaxy S Duos
I cannot encrypt my S Duos, it has an ICS 4.0.4 custom ROM with bloatware removed. When I'm trying to encrypt, the encryption button looks like it's hidden.

# Answer
You must set screen lock password first, not PIN. Then try to encrypt and your button will be enabled. Then follow instructions...
> 0 votes

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Tags: custom-roms, samsung-galaxy-s-duos
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title: Recover from android factory reset?

text:
# Question
Title: Recover from android factory reset?
I "accidentally" did factory reset my sister's phone. I'm interested in trying out AccessData FTK Imager but the problem is i don't know how to load the android filesystem for insepection?

Or more broadly, how to recover from factory reset. No backups, no google sync.

# Answer
> 1 votes
There is no way to roll back a factory reset. There are, however, ways to recover data from the internal drive.

As always, if your are dealing with a potentially catastrophic loss scenario make a copy of the current state. The time-tested way is to clone the state by using dd via the adb (Android Debug Bridge) tool from the Android SDK. Guymager may be an alternative but I haven't used it for this purpose yet.

After creating a clone you can attach the phone to a PC and try your luck with Testdisk or the less powerful but easier to use Recuva (MS Windows only). If this is not working out, bring in the big guns.

Get a copy of Paladin (it includes Autopsy/Sleuth-Kit, a powerful forensics tool) and start digging. Be warned, this can take a long time.

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Tags: data-recovery
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# Question
Title: I accidentally deleted pr einstalled software for uninstalling apps and I don't have any backup plz help
I accidentally deleted pr einstalled software for uninstalling apps and I don't have any backup plz help Phone-Panasonic p31 Android 4.2.2 I also reset my phone 2-3 times but noting happen

# Answer
> 0 votes
If factory reset doesn't work then you can download the Android SDK to your PC or Mac and reading up on the documentation to see how to restore the components that are missing or how to re-install the whole system. Be sure and look at how to back everything up before the restore and again afterwards.

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Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: How to know which phone number Whatsapp is using on my phone?
On my phone I used my T-mobile number as well as my Google voice number. I registered to Whatsapp using my Google voice number. How can I check in Whatsapp which number it uses?

I use a Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900A) with Android 4.4.2.

# Answer
The number WhatsApp uses is the one you registered with; to see it go to menu (the three dots at the top right corner) -\> account -\> payment info and there you will see which number is associated with the WhatsApp account.

EDIT: Since WhatsApp removed the payment, it is possible to check the connected number by opening the settings menu and tapping on the badge displaying name, status and profile picture.
> 9 votes

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Tags: whatsapp-messenger
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# Question
Title: Last 10 days missing after I transferred WhatsApp messages to new phone
I've tried to transfer all my Whatsapp messages from an old Android phone to a new Android phone. I followed all the instructions at Whatsapp's website and previously on Stackoverflow, but am missing the last 10 days of messages in my phone. I've redone the process twice, but have had no luck.

Interestingly, the backups on my old phone grow larger for the first 4 days of backups, but then get smaller in the last two days. But this might just be because they changed from .crypt7 files in the first four days to .crypt8 files for the last two days.

Are there tools available to import specific .crypt\* files, or to merge archived backups?

# Answer
The first couple times I had tried to .zip the folder, share it on Google Drive, and unzip it on the new phone and import it. I finally got it to work by copying the folder through the SD Card and transferring the SD card between phones. Not sure if it was dumb luck or if something was corrupted in the zipping process!
> 0 votes

# Answer
I have just got this very same problem here and got it solved. Here is how I did it:

I got my previous phone that still had all messages on it and did a new backup on WhatsApp settings. Unistall WhatsApp on your new phone and remove the WhatsApp folder from it. After that, copy the whole WhatsApp folder to SD card and transferred to the new phone.

Here comes the difference: I deleted all the last backups from the copy I just made and left only the last one. Now I have only these two files on the database folder: msgstore-2014-12-26.1.db.crypt8 and msgstore.db.crypt8

Now copy the folder back to internal memory and install WhatsApp again.

To simplify: I just deleted the previous backups and kept the last one I just made and made the default message restoration process again
> 5 votes

# Answer
For those of you, who the other answers does not work for, here is how it worked for me:

In addition to deleting the older message.db.crypt files as described by Arthur, I also deleted the latest "date" file so that only one file (message.db.crypt8) was left.

Having those files in the sdcard/WhatsApp folder I (re)installed WhatsApp. Hope this helps.
> 1 votes

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Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger, restore
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# Question
Title: Samsung Note 4 was stolen. Can I get my contacts, pictures, and SMS back?
My Samsung Note 4 was stolen today at the movies. Is there any way I can get all my pictures, contacts and SMS back? It's synched to my Gmail account almost daily when connected to wifi.

Honestly, ordering a new phone isn't a big deal, but I had priceless information and pictures on the phone.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Andrew

# Answer
**What you can restore from Google is limited to what you backed up to it.**

Make sure to go here and remove your device so that the person who has your phone right now can not mess up with your Google account as well.
> 0 votes

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Tags: samsung
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# Question
Title: Apps store settings/cache (the Android directory) on SD card even though it's not where they reside?
Phone: Galaxy Note 4, Android 5.1.1

I would expect apps to store their settings/cache in a place where they reside, i.e. if app is on MMC the settings should be on MMC and if it's SD they should be on SD (one would hope!).

However I observe that after a reboot - with an empty SD card plugged in (and to my horror) - a lot of applications (YouTube for example) create directories and files on the SD card (under Android directory), typically most of them being empty. What I want is to confine my entire apps storage to MMC and I'll keep my pictures and movies on SD.

Is there a reason why Android/Samsung is preventing me from doing that? Is there a setting I forgot to turn on/off?

Cheers in advance for any help, much appreciated.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Settings of the apps are stored in their data folder and not in where they reside. The data folders of apps can be found under /data/data, a directory that a non-root user can't access.

What you see are just some additional data folders some apps tend to create.

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Tags: settings, sd-card, storage, youtube, cache
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title: Does miracast work without wi-fi?

text:
# Question
Title: Does miracast work without wi-fi?
I have zero Internet capabilities at my home. I use my galaxy s6 as my only source of Internet. I would like to mirror my youtube, Facebook, article reading etc on my new insignia tv. Am I able to do this if I buy a miracast dongle for my TV without using any home wifi network?

# Answer
The quote I got from here is as following:

> These Miracast dongles have 'WiFi direct' like this Sony has, therefore you'd not need a router controlled WiFi home network.
>
> But if I had a Note I'd look for a Samsung Allshare dongle, just to be sure
> 1 votes

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Tags: wi-fi, wifi-direct, android-tv, miracast, screen-mirroring
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# Question
Title: How can I have Android automatically connect to a VPN only when on an unsecured WiFi Network?
Let's say I want to connect to a WiFi hotspot, but it is unsecured. I'd like to connect to a VPN server, but only if I'm on an unsecured WiFi network. If I'm on a secured network or data, I'd like it to stay in VPN off mode.

# Answer
I don't think any app can do this, given that you want to run another app or script to connect to a vpn based on conditions of open/secure WiFi

Hence, you need to look at automation, I prefer MacroDroid ,being easier to learn-that's why I use it :-), and free version offering creation of upto 5 macros.

Coming to the solution, approach is based on this logic

1. Connect to an open network only if not connected to secure network.
2. You have a list of open networks to start with, which can be manually updated. Detection of a new open network and dynamically updating list of open newtworks is creating complexity , since you may not want to connect to any available open network for reasons like- how long it permits your session, ease of logging into it, stability, speed amongst others.
3. You have an app of your choice to create a VPN connection.

The macro would look like this. I have tested only once , since there are no open networks around where I live. The app used for creating VPN was VyprVPN. That is the app site link. My PS is not connecting to give you PS link . This app also gives you option of connecting to untrusted networks automatically, once you enter the network name. Connection beyond a limit is subscription based.

**Trigger**

WiFi enabled (macro will only trigger if any WiFi is connected)

**Actions**

Wifi connect to network\> configure\> connect to network\> select all open networks from the list ( you have connected to these in the past and show up on your cell)

Wait 30 Sec (wait before next action, configurable)

Launch Application . From the drop down menu choose preferred app to create VPN

**Constraints**

WiFi State \> not connected to network\> from list choose all secure networks

The macro gets triggered only when WiFi is enabled, and actions executed only when the constraint is TRUE, meaning you are not connected to any securenetwork. It then connects you to open WiFi from the list of open networks and after a pause launches the application to create a VPN

This is the skeleton macro and can be tweaked for optimal performance after testing and you may like to add additional things like sounding an alarm, announcing that you are connected to open network, popping up a notification etc.

Hope this solves...all the best
> 2 votes

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Tags: vpn
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# Question
Title: How to remove screen lock previously set using Android Device Manager?
I placed a password on my phone from the online android device manager. I was just testing it out, and now I can't remove it. I keep reading go to settings \> security \> screen lock but that is not an option on my phone. I can remove android device manager from my device administrators, and under the password section the only option is to make passwords visible. I have always had a password on my phone but I do not want this type of password on my phone. Please help!

# Answer
I had the exact same issue. Totally frustrating! I finally figured out the solution. Go to "Settings." Find the tab or section that shows your lock screen options. Mine was found under the "Display" tab. Choose "lock screen." Type in the password used in Android Device Manager. You should now be asked what Screen Security option you want to use. After selecting this option, you will be free from Android Device Manager's grip!
> 0 votes

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Tags: lock-screens, android-device-manager, textsecure
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title: Reinstall "Google Play services"

text:
# Question
Title: Reinstall "Google Play services"
I have deleted Google Play services on my Android cell phone. While trying to reinstall from google, I have "No Carrier Lenovo 860t) and can not install. Please can you kindly help me on this, what is "no carrier" means and how to fix it ? Thank you,

My phone : Lenovo 860t (China made) Android 4.4.2 Kit Kat

# Answer
> 2 votes
Google Play Services has to be installed as a system application. Assuming you have properly *uninstalled* that application, you have to copy the `.apk` file back to where it should be (probably `/system/app` or `/system/priv-app`).

To that *No Carrier* thing: This just means that your device didn't send Google any Information about the carrier that you have and that you should use the normal, non carrier-specific store (There are different stores with some extra applications/different listings for specific countries and even carriers).

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can get back your Play Services, just by downloading Google Play Store, it will automatically download the Google Play Services, In many devices, only play store comes by default,not the play services, when you connect your google account,to play store, it will download the play services.

Download Play Store : http://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/google-play-store/

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Tags: google-play-services
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to overwrite the system factory reset option with my own backup?
Please i need to know if it is possible to overwrite the system factory reset option with our own backup file. Basically, i am interested to tune the factory reset option with my own custom full system backup.

In other words, i want to restore my custom backup when i click on the factory reset option instead of restoring the original settings of the factory.

**Note 1:** I have already rooted my Android device (Huawei Honor 7 - PLK-L01).

**Note 2:** My objective is not restoring a backup. I know how to restore a full backup. I need though to understand if it is possible to configure the factory reset option with my own backup. I really like to understand the procedure to do that if it is possible.

Thanks in advance for your help!

# Answer
When you start the factory reset in the settings it just runs **recovery** which the actual resetting is done by. Normally, recovery just wipes everything in `/data` and `/cache` in all (and `/sdcard` in most of) phones, since that is all a non-root user can modify.

**So a factory reset is not a fresh install of the ROM. It is just the wiping process of every made-by-user change on the phone.**

I want to stress it since as much as I understand you think factory reset does some sort of overwriting. It doesn't do that. Vice versa it wipes stuff. It, by default, doesn't restore, install, overwrite anything.
> 4 votes

# Answer
SarpSTA explains it absolute correctly in the other answer (which I upvoted: it's short and exactly on the point).

To get a better idea about the factory-reset, you might wish to see its tag-wiki. It only affects the `/data` and `/cache` partitions. To make yourself familiar with the Android partition concept, please see our partition tag-wiki – and you will see the OS resides on the `/system` partition. Basically, a new device ships with empty `/data` and `/cache` partitions, so bringing it back to factory settings simply means to clear those two, all else is rather "static".

Keeping that in mind, and picking up the pointer to recovery which SarpSTA mentioned, there're ways to achieve what you want:

* on a rooted device and using a custom recovery, you could create a flashable `update.zip` with Titanium Backup and place that on your SDCard. Then, following a "normal ", you can flash this via your custom recovery to restore.
* without the need to root, similar can be achieved e.g. using . But in this case (without root), it would require an USB connection to a computer to restore the backup set.
> 1 votes

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Tags: root-access, backup, custom-roms, factory-reset, huawei
---


# Question
Title: How can I get to recovery without Volume Up hardware button?
Or, 'My tablet's hardware "Volume Up" button is broken, now what?'

I'm trying to root an Asus TF300TG Transformer tablet (a 2012 model, unlocked) following this guide on XDA Forum:

* I have installed the USB drivers on my computer
* Rebooted tablet to fastboot
* Flashed the TWRP recovery without problems
* (Rebooted normally, verified that tablet still works as usual)
* Rebooted to fastboot again
* Got to the point where I should boot to the new recovery

That step requires me to press the Volume Up button to select the recovery option on this screen:

In my tablet, however, the button is broken (and has been for some years now). Is there a way to get into recovery without actually pushing it?

What I've tried:

* Pushing harder
* Pushing the other two HW buttons: Volume Down moves the selection, Power does nothing
* Connecting the keyboard dock: there is a Volume Up button, but it doesn't do anything in fastboot mode; none of the dock buttons do anything
* Connecting a USB keyboard via the dock: no keypresses seem to do anything in fastboot
* Rebooting to recovery using `fastboot reboot recovery`: invalid command
* Booting an image using `fastboot boot twrp.blob` (and various other recovery images from my computer): loaded to tablet, then failed (note the empty error message)
```
downloading 'boot.img'...
OKAY [  0.398s]
booting... FAILED (remote: )

```

Is there a different way to get to recovery?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Yes, there is a way.

* boot the tablet normally
* enable USB debugging
* connect to computer by cable
* from the computer, run `adb reboot recovery`
* tablet reboots directly to recovery
* Done!

I was trying to issue this command in Fastboot (where it's not supported) instead of ADB (where it works).

---
Tags: recovery-mode, asus-eee-pad-transformer
---


title: Note 4 screen locked

text:
# Question
Title: Note 4 screen locked
I had finger scanner on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4, but somehow it stopped working. Then with Android Device Manager, I was able unlock the screen with new password, and also registered with new finger scan as well while downloading the new software. I also set notification off on screen as message pop up for same as notification do come on screen before when it was locked during first time it's got locked.

So last night I put DailyMotion on with some current affairs program and slept, but in morning when I tried to unlock the screen it's again not unlocking with new password , I tried again with device manager , the message comes that its already verified password so there is no need for new password, and also with Samsung account but both not working, I'm all stuck as I got all my data, contacts, important pictures in it.

Please do tell me how to unlock or bypass the screen. Please help, as I don't want to do factory reset. Any solution will really be appreciated.

# Answer
Two suggestions:
1) Rephrase your questions using better English grammar in order to make it more understandable.
2) (An actual possible solution) Connect your phone to your computer via USB, backup all important data (all data should have already been backed-up via Google Sync but it's good to be safe), then attempt a factory reset.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: settings, lock-screens, samsung-galaxy-note-4
---


# Question
Title: how can I stop the Google app from randomly opening?
Whenever I have my headphones in, especially when I'm listening to music, the voice app thing for Google will randomly open!! I can't seem to get it to stop! Please! Someones gotta help me!! Make it stop!! It's even opened twice during writing this!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try the following.

1. Launch **Google** app
2. Tap **Menu** icon on left
3. Tap **Settings**
4. In Search & Now section tap **Voice**
5. Tap **Hands-free**
6. Adjust your misbehaving settings

---
Tags: google
---


title: Dialer app doesn't show dial button

text:
# Question
Title: Dialer app doesn't show dial button
When I tap a number in Chrome Mobile my default Dialer app opens and shows the below screen. I struggle finding out how to actually dial the number, there is no button for that at all. I've been scratching my header of this for a while now. Is it a user interface bug? Or is it me?

I'm running Android 5.1.1 + Cyanogen OS 12.1 using the Mono Tropicalgreen theme on a Oneplus One.

**Screen1:**

I can either create a new contact or send an SMS, but there is no 'dial' button. Pressing the back button brings me back to Chrome.

**Screen2:**

The options panel doesn't give me a 'dial' action either.

**Screen3:**

The other panel doesn't give me a 'dial' either.

# Answer
> 2 votes
It's aa problem of Theme,Change the Theme

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, chrome-for-android, phone-app
---


title: Find out when the app was created

text:
# Question
Title: Find out when the app was created
Is it possible to find out when the first version of an app was issued?

Google Play only shows the date of the latest update in ADDITIONAL INFORMATION field (see picture).

Ideally, I'd like to see when all the updates were issued. Probably, that's too much.

# Answer
You can try to Google **"\[name of app\] version history"** and it'll find you a lot of .apk websites where you can find and download older versions of apps with the release dates and update logs. However, since what you ask is not an officially supported feature, you won't have the info you want with all apps (especially if they are old)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications, google-play-store, system-info
---


title: Documentation for Droid Explorer?

text:
# Question
Title: Documentation for Droid Explorer?
I can't find the simplest of information on anything for Droid Explorer. For instance, I did a backup, the backup screen disappeared, where does it put my \*.ab file?

Does the Droid Explorer app have documentation?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Documentation for Droid Explorer can be found on the GitHub repository's wiki.

# Answer
> 1 votes
*Disclaimer: I am the lead developer on Droid Explorer.*

As corti.nico said, those are the locations to find documentation. Documentation is very sparse. I am always looking for someone to help with creating documentation.

To answer where the backup file is saved, it is put in `%USERPROFILE%\Android Backups`. This is not currently configurable, but I have been working on making that configured as part of the install.

---
Tags: droid-explorer
---


# Question
Title: Deactivating Viber Account on my stolen device
Is there any possible way to deactivate viber account on my stolen device.? I've tried to open it on PC but it keeps on asking for the code that was sent to my stolen device.. Wondering if deactivating SIM Card will help? Thanks!

# Answer
> 1 votes
According to the Viber support page

> You may re-install Viber on your new device using the old device’s phone number. This will reinstate the previous account on your new device. Please note that message and call history will not be restored.

I would suggest going to the closest avaible store of your service provider and getting a new SIM card with the same number and cancel the stolen one.

Hope this helps!

---
Tags: viber-messenger
---


title: Tasker programming Help?

text:
# Question
Title: Tasker programming Help?
I am a relatively new tasked user and need a little help. I installed the AutoShortcut plugin to allow Tasker to expand my notifications through the nova shortcut. I would like to have tasker expand the notification bar once on the launch of a certain app, then wait until the app is closed. However, with a simple launch app\>expand notifications\>stop task, the notification bar will continue to drop down over and over because the app is still open. How can I configure tasker to expans the notifications only ONCE, and then not again until the app has closed?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I would suggest adding an If statement to the task that checks if a variable is set, if it is not, set the variable and execute task, if it is end task.

---
Tags: tasker
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 7 (2013) WiFi Connection/Reconnection Issue
I have been using Nexus 7 (2013, Android 4.4.2) for a few months now, and it has issues with both work WiFi and home WiFi that all the other mobiles devices do not have (8 laptops plus a dozen Android & iOS phones/tablets).

Basically the issue is that *sometime* when I turn off WiFi and turn it back on, it either cannot find any WiFi AP or more often that it would only find some WiFi AP, and if I try to connect to a WiFi AP that I know is there and working, the connection would fail. The problem would either resolve itself within a few minutes (usually) or that I would be forced to reboot the device (rare).

So my question is that:

1. Is there anything I can do to fix it
2. Would sending it back to Asus help

# Answer
Looks like it's related to "Wi-Fi optimization" option under "Advanced" setting in Wi-Fi screen. By turning it off I can consistently find the WiFi AP I was looking for. Once it's connected I can turn it on again without negative consequences.

**Edit:** Nevermind, looks like it only help some of the time, there are still times when the device cannot find the AP every other device has no problem discovering and connecting to...
> 1 votes

# Answer
You should consider updating your operating system, as bugs like this are usually fixed in newer versions.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, nexus-7
---


title: Remove Google Account from a lost phone

text:
# Question
Title: Remove Google Account from a lost phone
Is there any way to remove a device from google play without having the phone ? I've lost my phone a while ago and i can't log in into Google Play from a new phone without removing it from the lost phone. Please help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Change your password, if somebody tries to use the account it will ask you to enter the new password. You can also try: https://www.google.com/android/devicemanager

That's for security. As for not being able to login on the new phone, that sounds very fishy, so I would contact Google, or the manufacturer of your new phone.

---
Tags: google-play-store, gmail
---


# Question
Title: How to delete Home and Work address from My Places?
I was messing around on my phone and found "My Places" in the settings (Settings\> Location\> My Places). I set up a home and a work location thinking that I would be able to delete it afterwards.

However I have not found how to do this. I removed these location from Google Maps and Google Now, but I can't remove them from My Places. I also cannot change the method of them to WiFi or Bluetooth.

Device: Samsung Galaxy S5 (SM-G900F)

Android: 4.4.2

Thank you.

# Answer
Open Google Maps on your phone, press the white rectangular button with three horizontal lines. It's located in the bottom left corner in Google Maps. Choose `Settings`and `Edit home or work`.

Hope this helps you out.

--UPDATE--

You could also try to log in to `google.com` from a computer and choose `google maps` from the app-list (a small icon at the top-right corner with 3x3 dots). Next, click the settings-cog-wheel at the bottom-right corner in google maps and choose `my places`. Finally click on the drop-down next to `my home` and `my work` and click delete.
> 2 votes

# Answer
1. Open Google maps app
2. Open Menu (three lines on tope left) **\>** Your Places
3. Now you can see "Home" and "Work" listed on the screen
4. Touch (x) button on the right to "Home"/"Work". whichever you want to delete.

EDIT: for newer version of Google Maps

4. Touch "three dots" and select "Remove home" / "Remove work"
> 1 votes

# Answer
In the Google Now Launcher you can do the following:

Swipe open the menu on the right → Customize → Tap on work or home and edit them (blank to delete).

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

# Answer
I think it's possible on the phone to amend the locations but it's definitely not possible to delete...to amend...Settings, Location and then Mode. This allows you to change which service to find you, be it Wifi, GPS or mobile networks. Then go back and click on My Places and select either Home or Work and you'll see a smallish map appear. Directly above click on the word Maps and this opens a much larger one, by clicking on the location pointer to the right of Search the phone should then try to find you.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: stock-android, samsung-galaxy-s-5
---


# Question
Title: Can I get a shortcut on home screen to open gmail with a specific search string?
I can add a shortcut/widget to home screen to directly open a particular label in Gmail app, but I want a shortcut to open Gmail with the results of a search string loaded.

I can't do this with gmail filter and a label because I intend to use `is:unread` in the search string.

So, is this possible? If so, How can I get this?

# Answer
Not for the GMail app (on non root). If you are willing to use online, you may be able to use some sort of widget that links to the search query (just search it up and copy & paste).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: gmail, app-widgets, home-screen-shortcuts, content-filter
---


title: Tasker duty cycling wifi profile

text:
# Question
Title: Tasker duty cycling wifi profile
I'm trying to get the hang of Tasker but failing a bit. I was wondering if somebody could explain how to create the following profile? I think if I manage to go through an intermediate profile, I'll understand it better.

So basically, I want a profile that duty cycles my Wifi/Location/PowerSaving mode when the display is off or the device is locked and do so differently depending on the time of day.

What this means is the following:

**If day (say from 6:30-22:30)**

=\>Then if the screen is locked or the display is off for longer than X seconds (say 60s)

====\>Then disable wifi, location and enable powersaving

====\> And

====\> Every 3 minutes, activate wifi and location for X seconds and turn off again(enough to ====\>retrieve email, facebook messages, etc... I think 15 seconds?)

**Else (so if it is night, not day)**

=\>Then if the screen is locked or the display is off for longer than X seconds (say 60s)

====\>Then disable wifi, location and enable powersaving

====\> And

====\> Every 30 minutes, activate wifi and location for X seconds and turn off again(enough to ====\>retrieve email, facebook messages, ====\>etc... I think 15 seconds?)

So, can somebody help me set this up?

# Answer
Here is the XML of a Tasker Profile and Tasks that cycle WiFi on the cycle you describe above, as well as screen shots. The only difference between the Day and Night tasks is the time between Wifi Enable. GPS and Power Saving are abit more tricky. GPS may require root and Power Saving depends heavily on the phone make/model.

XML File: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzsMV39gBg6rZXZQdnhGTmEwNm8/view?usp=sharing
> 0 votes

---
Tags: tasker
---


# Question
Title: Unable to update Chrome, even after setting SD card as default installation path
I have an Alcatel Fierce 2 phone with Kit Kat. Even though I have an 8 GB SD card, when I try to update Chrome I keep getting "not enough memory check storage". I have the box checked to use my SD card as default, but no luck. Any resolution?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Unfortunately the only real solution is to clear up some space on the system 'drive' - uninstall things you don't need, media files and so on.

I typically plug my phone into a computer, move as much stuff out as possible, and try again.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try uninstalling it first, then downloading the latest app from the play store.

*I'm not sure about this but it would explain the insufficient storage:*
I think while updating the app becomes bigger (incremented with the new update or a whole new app?) and cleans itself up at the end of installation. So you will need more room than the size of the app. If you uninstall the app first you will not need this extra storage.

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Tags: updates, sd-card
---


title: how to setup tasker for bt on call

text:
# Question
Title: how to setup tasker for bt on call
could someone help me with this? I want the tasker to automatically turn on the bt,and switch off wifi and data when a call is made or received... also to undo everytning after the end of the call....rreturn to previous state....

Also need to connect automatically to my headset after the bt is enabled... I cant cope with the % % and the orders of the tasker... please if anyone could help it would be great

# Answer
Solution:
Profile : Event \> Phone Offhook
Enter Task: BT On, WiFi Off, Mobile Data Off
Exit Task: BT Off, WiFi On, Mobile Data On

As long as your headset is paired and on, it should reconnect automatically.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung, tasker, headset
---


# Question
Title: How to check which data gets cached by App?
I decided to use a banking application (provided by german postbank), but ONLY to SEE my account transactions, so I do NOT want to make any new transactions, just VIEW them.

Im always logging out of my account. But still I'm wondering how safe this use-case of mine is. Imagine my phone gets stolen \>\> **What is cached on my phone by this app?**

Is it like I would have never logged in, i.e. no cached data of my downloaded transactions exist on my phone? Or is it that my transactions will get downloaded and cached in a (maybe simple unencrypted?) database on my phone and "everyone" could access it?

How could I check this myself? Thanks in advance!

# Answer
> 1 votes
What an app stores on your phone is impossible to say without going through the source codes or at least examining the app's data folder.

That being said, valuable information related to banking (balance, account ID, your personal information, log in information etc.) are stored in the servers of the bank since it is actually them who own those information. The app merely accesses them.

As for the log in part, banking apps use a method called **hashing**. I won't annoy you with all the details but long in short, the reason they can't give you your old password or PIN code when you forget it is that, they don't store it as well. They store its hash. They check the hash of your password to see if it matches the one in their database and you can't reverse engineer a hash to find the password. Therefore as long as you don't choose to stay logged in, no harm can come.

But if you want to delete all personal datas related to any specific app (user data or cache) you can do it like here

Or, you can tell your bank to block every action other than viewing account information on mobile banking application.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, internal-storage, storage, cache
---


# Question
Title: Why Does ART Compile Apps After Upgrade?
I have a Google Nexus 5. Every time I do a system update, I see this message:

> Android is upgrading...
> Optimizing app \[x\] of \[y\]

I understand that ART is compiling my apps. What I don't understand is why. What happened to the previous compilations?

# Answer
Because the ART compiler can get better each version after your OS gets upgraded. If Android makes any improvements to ART including bug fixes, the apps will need to go through the same processes as the compile part of the installation.
> 2 votes

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Tags: updates, art, odex
---


title: Boot between different ROMs - OnePlus 2

text:
# Question
Title: Boot between different ROMs - OnePlus 2
I have an OnePlus Two and I'm currently running stock OxygenOS. I would like to try a beta CM12.1 build without having to delete my data and to be able to boot between the two until the CM build would be stable or suitable for me to use rather than Oxygen. Is there an app that flashes the other ROM and boots to it ? How do you actually do it ?

# Answer
I managed to boot between ROMs using DualBoot Patcher.I am running OxygenOS as my daily driver and CyanogenMod 12.1 by Grarak

**How to do it**:

* Download and install the latest .apk for DualBoot Patcher
* Open the app and go to **Patch Zip File** and select the cm.zip file you downloaded
* At **Partition configuration** tap **Data slot** and enter a Data Slot ID (it can be a number or a word)
* Tap again to patch the file
* Do the same thing with gapps.zip file and supersu.zip (if you want root access)
* Go to **ROMs** and tap the pink FAB button (the pink button in the right corner)
* It will tell you that the feature is experimental, tap ok and then tap the pink FAB button and select the patched zip files in **THIS ORDER**: 1. **cm.zip**, 2. **gapps.zip**, 3. **supersu.zip**
* Tap the tick in the top right corner
* Let it do it's flashing and then go back to **ROMs** and then you should see the CM build on the ROMs list alongside the stock OS
* Tap on it and it should get a green tick next to the picture
* Reboot the phone and then it should boot into CM

**To get back to the other OS you will need to get to the folder you downloaded "DualBoot Patcher.apk" and install it. Then go to ROMs and select the other ROM and then reboot**.

**To change the OS from Recovery Mode you can get "Dual Boot Patcher Utilities" zip from here. Select "Utilities" instead of Android. Flash it and it should bring a menu where you can select which ROM to boot to**.

If you have any questions leave a comment :)
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, stock-rom, dual-boot, oneplus-two
---


# Question
Title: Google Play , YouTube and Gmail show error message “No Connection – Retry”
Some Android apps (like Google Play, Google Chrome, Gmail, and YouTube) show an error message “No Connection – Retry”.

On the other hand, apps like Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp perform Okay and connect correctly to the network.

In Facebook, I can play videos, make posts, and search. In Messenger and WhatsApp, I can send messages but I can't send images.

Can anyone help me to solve this problem?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try these:

1. Clear the Cache on your Android device

To fight the No Connection – Retry error message on Google Play Store app on your Android devices, try to clear the Play Store cache since this could be a reason of this error of repeatedly getting this network error message.

To do this, go to Settings \> App, scroll down to All apps and finally to Google Play Store app. Open the app details and tap the Force stop button to reach to the cache clearing button namely Clear Cache.

That’s all what you needed to do to clear out the app cache. Restart your app and you might have just got rid of the No Connection – Retry error message on the Google Play Store app.
2. Check Date / Time settings

In case clearing the cache did not work out for you, there can be a minor glitch in your date and time settings causing the No Connection – Retry error message on Google Play Store app of your android devices. Check the time and date since a plenty of users were facing this network error message because of incorrect time settings.
3. Make sure to enter the correct Google / Gmail password

Another solution is to check your Google / Gmail account password. Did you change it and forget to re-enter in on your Android device? Whenever you change your password your Android device gets a notification to re-enter it. As soon as you correctly enter your new password, your Android phone or tablet would be able to get all the Google services back on the device.
4. Still getting the No Connection – Retry error message on Google Play Store app?

Do a factory reset!

Of course this is the very last option to go for but you would have to do it if your Google Play Store app simply refuses to connect. Before resetting your Android device never forget to back up your data since factory reset would wipe out all the data.

---
Tags: google-play-store, gmail, connection-issues, google, youtube
---


# Question
Title: What will I lose if I install Cyanogenmod?
I plan to install CyanogenMod on my Samsung Galaxy Express 2 (Sm-G3815). I have made a backup using Titanium Backup, by choosing the "Backup all user apps + system data" option.

I am not clear on what exactly will be done to my phone, what will be deleted and what left alone. Presumably, the backup I made will allow me to restore installed applications. Assuming that the ROM works as expected (and yes, I am aware that it might not) and everything goes well, will I also be able to restore

* my contacts?
* existing conversations from chat apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Viber?
* phone call logs?
* photos?
* sms messages?

Will anything still be there when I reboot into the new ROM or will I have to restore *everything* (except the data on the external card) from backup?

I have quite a few of my apps on the external SD card (moved there by choosing the "Move to SD card" button on the application manager). As far as I can tell, this move means that some of their data is in the external card and some on the internal storage (as reported by the application manager). Will this cause any issues when I try to restore from backup?

# Answer
> 1 votes
The phone memory will be wiped by the Cyanogen install. Everything will be erased.

If you have a separate SD card, that should not be altered, so if you apps store data there, you may still have it after you reinstall each app on CM, or you may be able to manually copy over the old data and thus restore it.

Contacts and call logs are synced to your Google account so unless you disabled that, once you install CM and put in your account info, they should be restored.

WhatsApp, Telegram, and Viber history: Depending on the app, this may be stored in phone memory, the SD card or your account with the app's vendor. I believe for the three you mention, all keep your data tied to your account in their own server, so you should be able to recover it once you install the app on CM and put in your account.

Photos will be saved if they were on the SD card.

SMS's will likely be lost.

When I flash ROMs, I eliminate the ambiguity by just manually backing up whatever is important, and wiping the phone clean. Much simpler, and does not rely on trusting some backup app developer to get everything right.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, backup, titanium-backup
---


# Question
Title: HTC Desire Phone Storage != Physical size
On my Android HTC Desire, it says that I have 5.30 GB of phone storage, whilst my physical size is 8 GB. The 5.30 GB of phone storage seems to be composed of 4.52 GB available, 776 MB of apps, and a few other bits.

Why does the phone storage not equal the physical size? Is this because the remaining memory is taken up by operating system files which I am not allowed to access, or something else? If anyone can confirm the composition of this seemingly extra memory and post links to resources on this, that would be highly appreciated.

Note Android version 4.4.2. Model number = HTC\_Desire\_320

# Answer
> 1 votes
That is because your phone has several partitions, and some of those are not user-accessible, but they are required by the OS for the proper functioning of the device. This storage is "partitioned" from your physical storage. These partitions are as follows:

1) `bootloader` or variants thereof: About a few MB. Responsible for booting up your device. You can't normally mess with it, even with root on-device, but even if you can, **you shouldn't**.

2) `/boot`: Contains the OS core, the Linux kernel. About 10-25 MB, varies with device.

3) `/recovery`: The name is pretty self-explanatory. About 10-25 MB. Responsible for doing OTA updates, factory resets and saving your device when it gets into a bootloop. Most rooted users usually flash a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP before going forward with customization.

4) `/system`: About 1-1.5GB, varies with device. Stores system data and apps. Read-only to normal users, write-capable for root. Most root users mess with this partition on a regular basis.

5) `/data`: About 1GB- depending on device. On devices with unified storage, this partition holds the internal SD card too as an emulated device. It is not even read-only to normal users, but it can be written to and read with root. It holds user-installed apps, their data, and user-specific data.

6) `/cache`: App and data cache. From 16-256 MB. A kind of temporary storage provided to apps.

Note: A factory data reset wipes `/data` and `/cache` only.

7) `radio` or variants thereof: A few MB. Again, responsible for handling telephony. Don't mess with this.

8) `/storage/sdcard0`: On non-unified storage devices, this is the user-available storage as a separate partition. On unified storage devices, this is still there, but is a folder under `/data` actually, with write permissions for normal users, unlike the rest of `/data`.

For any more info, a Google search will help. Or you can check this out.

Also, the partition names are the ones I got from fastboot while flashing my HTC Nexus 9 (16GB,WiFi, flounder/volantis) when upgrading Android via factory images.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, htc-desire, storage, ram, operating-system
---


# Question
Title: Editing fstab to mount /data from a different partition
Is it possible to edit the fstab to mount /data, /cache etc. from a different partition on the a.internal memory? b.external sdcard?

Details: The default partition for /data and /cache are too small for my needs and I can manage to format the (internal) /sdcard in ext4.

Edit: My question may superficially seem to be like other questions asking for a way to increase size of /data, but it's not. Here's why:

(1) I need to do it *specifically* by editing fstab, which is the usual way of doing the same thing on a GNU/Linux desktop. (2) The other questions don't ask about /cache and other partitions.

# Answer
> 4 votes
As you already expected, the way your question is phrased it looks like an XY problem: There are different ways to achieve your goal (mounting `/data`, `/cache` etc. from a different partition), while your question focuses on "editing `fstab`".

For a working solution, see e.g. Mount a folder from external sd as /data: What's described there should work on all devices/ROMs – while "editing `fstab`" bears some problems:

* While that's of course the way it works on Linux, we're talking Android here – which uses a Linux kernel, but a very different setup (see: What's the Android equivalent of /etc/fstab?)
* An `fstab` file is not present on many/most Android installations (see How to list all major partitions with their labels? for details)
* If an `fstab` file is present, it's usually part of the boot image (see initrd for details). This means, your edits to the file would be in vain: on the next boot where you'd expect them to be processed, instead the file would be overwritten from the boot image and then processed – without your changes

**Verdict:** Even if your device has an `fstab` file, you cannot simply edit it and be done. You'd have to rebuild the boot image instead – a task that goes beyond the scope of this site (which is end-user orientated, and creating/rebuilding a boot image rather is in the domain of developers). It might not be straight "off-topic", but at least border-line/gray-zone.

---
Tags: internal-storage, file-system, partitions, internal-sd
---


title: How to root Alcatel OT-997D?

text:
# Question
Title: How to root Alcatel OT-997D?
I currently have an Alcatel OT-997D which has the MTK6577 chipset and runs ICS 4.04. I've looked mostly through threads at xda-devs and I've tried various root methods including: "root many android" \- I get "mount access denied", "ICS/JB Universal root" - When trying to update in stock recovery the file fails verification, "MTK Droid root" - Reboots phone and backup/restore prompts appear but no results.

Does anyone know any other "universal" rooting methods or ones specific to my device?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Before you begin, I enabled developer mode and I'm not sure if it makes a difference but this is what worked for me so you might as well:

Open **settings**, click on **About phone**, scroll down to **Build number** and tap **Build number** *seven times*.

I tried many different methods on a similar alcatel phone with a mtk6582 and I also got error messages from various exploit methods.

However, here are two methods that were successful.

iroot

Root is successful and uses a *one click* method. However, in order to gain file access, you must install "root file explorer" and which is a paid app. For me, paying for an app is not an option.

kingroot

Download and install kingroot. This one also uses a *one click* method and obtaining root is successful. This is the method I recommend as kingroot will allow you to allocate root permission to individual applications.

After installation and successful root, click the gear icon on the upper right hand corner of the main screen. If you need to, close the app and open it again to view the main screen.

Enable the option **Enable Root authorization**.

Then, under **Root authorization setting**, enable the first three options, **Smart authorization**, **Backup Root permission,** and **Keep the Root upgraded.**

For me, I set **Authorization count down** to 10 seconds and **Default timeout** to **Allow** just to get things working. Exit KingRoot.

Next, install ES file explorer and then open KingRoot. Go to **Root Authorization** and select **Allow** for ES File Explorer.

Open ES File Explorer and click the menu icon on the upper left hand corner of the screen. Scroll down and expand the Tools section of this menu and toggle the option ON for **Root Explorer**. Swipe the menu left to close the menu and a few more times to get to the files where you will have full root access to modify these files.

Additionally, KingRoot has the ability to Uninstall default apps and there is also Kingmaster which allows you to manage and restrict apps to obtain full performance of your device.

However, Kingmaster is in Chinese. Most of the app restriction is obvious as red restricts the app and green allows.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, rooting
---


# Question
Title: SyncMe Failed to connect to computer, isConnected failed: ECONNREFUSED (Connection refused)
I have a new router (RT-N18U), and a new HDD, set it up to work with SyncMe Wireless. It all worked pretty well, I synced my phone ok. Then I synced my wife's phone as well. It started ok, 50% of her stuff went up to the HDD, but then it stopped. I cannot make it work since then on her phone OR my phone either. Both fail.

My system:

* The router (see above)
* A Computer with XP
* HDD is connected to the router, not to the computer
* 2 phones, both SGS3, with Android

My errors:

When it first crashed, the error was this:

> Error: Failed to delete file \E\124609.jpg\_(!).(!)\_tmp. Computer error: Sharing violation

(I am not sure what E is)

Later on, the error changed, this is what I see now pretty much all the time:

> Error: Failed to connect to computer , failed to connect to RT-N18U/192.168.1.1 (port 139) after 4000ms: isConnected failed: ECONNREFUSED (Connection refused)

If I try to search for computers, I cannot find any, I did get something like this at one point:

> Error: Computer was not found on the network

I am not really good with network and such, so I am not sure what might have gone wrong, after it initially worked fine.

The Computer Name in the **SyncMe Wireless** setup is the name of the router, not sure that is good. The User, that I registered the Computer under **SyncMe Wireless**'s settings, I was not sure what user to add there, so I initially added the username and password for my router.

What I think might be wrong (was right but it "broke") and I might need help with:

* the sharing of the HDD folder (I am not sure how to share it)
* the user that I connect to the router with from the phones (where to create that user?) instead of the router admin user
* hope that the (XP) computer doesn't have to be online for sync

# Answer
> 1 votes
Looks like the settings were fine.

I even had that Samba thing set up right. I turned that Samba on-off from the router, then I removed the "Computer" from SyncMe, re-added, and it worked.

The error actually happened again, later on, with the "could not delete + sharing violation". Then I did the above steps again, and it worked.

I didn't have long filenames or anything weird like that, but I had a lot of files to back up (first time sync) I am curious if this error will persist later on, when I will have a lot less files to sync.

It currently works fine.

---
Tags: sync, router, file-sharing
---


# Question
Title: Show volume indicator on notification bar (just like WiFi/battery)
I want to be able to see the volume level of my phone as a scalable icon that behaves just like WiFi and battery. If the volume is on full, it shows up completely white, empty shows up gray, etc.

Is there a default setting that I can't access (going into Volume on my phone's Settings causes Settings to crash), and is this even possible with an app?

# Answer
By default the answer is a **no.**

Since changing the color of notification bar means modifying the system it can't be done by a normal application. Best you can do is an icon that can be added to the notification bar.

But there is a way if you are rooted. Xposed Framework is a great app that lets users modify every single action executed at system level. You can use Status Bar Volume for what you want to have.

*Thanks to Izzy for finding and sharing the name and link of the module and letting me using it in my answer*
> 6 votes

---
Tags: notification-bar, volume-control
---


# Question
Title: Lg Optimums L3 (e400f) Continuously Syncing Problem
My Lg Optimums L3 (e400) Is Always continuously syncing, from when I boot up till I shutdown, even when the setting is turned off. I think this started happening after I used the inbuilt power widget to turn automatic syncing off and since then I have been unable to get the icon to disappear. How can I Fix this problem?

# Answer
After a factory reset, I had found out that Google play services was the culprit, the reason that the icon stayed up there was because I had stopped the application once while it was syncing, and since then the icon stayed up.

*I still don't know the reason why it did that.*
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lg, stock-rom, active-sync, lg-optimus-l3
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy Star fails Custom recovery flashing
I've tried to flash my Galaxy Star Advance (SM-G350E) with ClockWorkMod recovery 6.0.2.9 using Odin and it has said "Success". But the stock recovery still exists and nothing has been flashed! How to flash the recovery? *USB debbugging* is ON and *Samsung USB drivers* are installed

# Answer
This happens because when you flash custom recovery from Odin and allow it to reboot on its own, Samsung's *Recovery checking script* checks if a custom recovery is present and overrides it with *system recovery\<3e\>*.

To bypass that check you need to take your battery out as soon as the recovery is flashed by Odin (and before the phone reboots).

* As soon as the Odin says PASS(or SUCCESS) you should be ready to take out the battery which will stop it from rebooting,
* Put back the battery and enter recovery mode directly by pressing and holding Volume Up, Home and Power keys at the same time.
* Release all three buttons when Samsung boot screen flickers and the main screen of Recovery mode appears.
* This will avoid script checking and will let you to custom recovery directly
> 3 votes

---
Tags: samsung, odin
---


title: Google maps offline

text:
# Question
Title: Google maps offline
Cannot find menu: how to make google map available offline. I googled and found but dont have menu `make available offline` in settings.

# Answer
Type 'ok map' in search box and press enter.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Starting on November 10, 2015, Google Maps will roll out a new offline mode for Android allowing for driving directions and search. It's designed to fit seamlessly alongside the online version of Google Maps, allowing data connection to drop in and out without interrupting the app itself.

From the Official Google Blog: Navigate and search the real world … online or off:

> You can download an area by searching for a city, county or country, for instance, and tapping *Download* on the resulting place sheet, or by going to *Offline Areas* in the Google Maps menu and tapping on the +\</\> button. Once downloaded, Google Maps will move into offline mode automatically when it recognizes you're in a location with spotty service or no connectivity at all. When a connection is found, it will switch back online so you can easily access the full version of Maps, including live traffic conditions for your current route. By default, Google Maps will only download areas to your device when you are on a Wi-Fi connection to prevent large data fees.

<sup> (Click image to see animation)</sup>
> 3 votes

# Answer
That help doesn't work for me, but it's not for the same version I'm using, which is v7.6.1. The help for this version doesn't work either, though (typical for Google, really), but this does:

Press on the Search bar, next to the magnifying glass. Scroll to the bottom of the page. Click on "Make this map area available offline".
> 1 votes

# Answer
As of Google Maps v9, Google has changed the method to save offline map:

> 1. Make sure you're connected to the Internet, then open the Google Maps app .
> 2. Search for a place, like "San Francisco."
> 3. Pull up the place info sheet at the bottom of the screen, and touch the menu in the top right corner.
> 4. Select **Save offline map** to save the selected area of the map. (Sign into your Google Account, if you haven't already.)
> 5. Only what's on the screen will be saved. Adjust the map by moving it and zooming in or out, as needed, then touch **Save**.
> 6. Name the map, and then touch **Save**.
> 7. After a few moments, you'll see a message confirming that the map area has been saved.

Note that typing "OK Map" in Search Bar method is still working, and might be preferable since you don't have to do searching for a particular place first.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-maps
---


# Question
Title: Feasibility of flashing a ROM (meant for original device) on a re-branded device
I have a re-branded smartphone with Android 5.0. The thing is I want to install a custom ROM to remove all the bloatware and get more control. But, as it is re-branded and not that popular there are not any custom ROMs available for it.

What I'm thinking is that since its hardware is not that old and there are many popular smartphones with exactly the same specifications, is it possible to install a custom ROM that was not built for my smartphone but was built for one which has exactly similar specifications?

**Note:** I can post the specifications, if required.

# Answer
> 3 votes
If all the specifications match, including chip level and GPU Mali blobs, it sounds a reasonable try, though I never owned a re-branded device.

After taking complete backup including EFS and double checking, I would suggest first flash the kernel from the proposed ROM to replace the existing kernel. If it boots properly and basic functionality of phone is fine, then you can flash the complete ROM. This way you are ruling out kernel compatibility issues.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Okay first of all let me help you with some information.

ROM means the Operating System. The visual interfaces of the ROMs for same version of Android can differ between brands but the codes the OS can execute are the same. Therefore, what determines if the ROM can act as intended that differs from brand to brand (or from model to model of a specific brand) is the **kernel.**

Android ROMs are not made to suit the hardwares. That'd take too much time to do it for every single phone models. Instead, the connection between ROM(software) and phone(hardware) is provided by the middle-man(kernel)

**Now to actual answer:** So as you can see if you read what I wrote is that the key player is kernel. If the kernel matches your phone then it is good news. My suggestion would be to **back up your phone entirely first** before doing anything. You can try to find a kernel that will do the trick with the ROM you want. Or you can just partially flash the kernel of the ROM first and use it with your recent ROM for a while to test out how it suits. If you can disclose the name of your phone I can look into it personally.

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms
---


# Question
Title: gallery shows 0 images/videos available and file manager browser shows 0 B for images videos and music
My Android gallery is not showing images and videos (these things are present in my phone and memory card and viewed through file manager in gallery single image). Even the file manager browser shows 0 B for music videos and images, while documents and apk files are shown, also remaining free memory is shown correctly.

I don't know what to do as I restored my device once, but the problem is still present. Before performing the reset process I removed my sd card, after a while something like gallery and process not working appears.

# Answer
Assuming your SD card is not damaged or corrupted, it seems that media scanner has not picked up your media!

---

You could try an app like Force Media Scan to force it to run. NOTE: I have not tested this app. There are many apps to do this this one has a widget for it (also not tested by me). Some applications like PowerAmp will automatically scan for media when first booted also.

---

Alternatively you could try to update or re-install Google Play Services (though this may cause issues with other applications). If you are a bit more techie you could try running media scanner via commandline.

---

Finally I found this article where the author says none of the apps worked, but the following did (note it was on a Galaxy S3, but I don't know what device you have):

1. Turn off you phone and pull out the memory card.
2. Insert the memory card in a memory card reader. If your desktop or laptop has an MMC slot, it will do.
3. Wait till you can see the Drive of the memory card (Drive E, F, G, H, I, J, for example).
4. Do not open the card in PC.
5. Now click on the “Start” (Windows) button on your PC and type “cmd”. Hit the Enter key and you will see a command box.
6. Now type the following command at the cursor blink: `chkdsk x: /r`
7. Here “x” is the value/name of the memory card Drive. In my case it was H, so I typed `chkdsk h: /r`
8. Now hit the Enter key on your keyboard and wait till Windows checks your card and fixes it.
9. When it is finished, safely remove your card and insert it into the phone. Reboot the phone and now you should be able to see your media files on your phone’s apps.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I was trying all the suggested solutions but none of them worked. After trying many apps for scanning the media, finally "Folder Media Scanner" app worked for me and now I am able to see the images and videos in the gallery(issue exists for music files though). Note: I am using Sony Xperia C with Android 4.2.2 version.
> 0 votes

# Answer
In case of Android 4.0.4 / 4.1 you should do the following steps:

1. Settings → Apps → All. Locate the following:

* ProtectedMediaScanner → Clear data & Force stop
    * ProtectedMediaScannerTrigger → Clear data & Force stop
    * Media Storage → Clear data & Force stop
2. Restart your Android phone. Turn it off, then on again. Let it rest for 10-15 minutes. Afterwards your media files should be available by Gallery and Music player.

You should also check for the existance of a ".nomedia" (hidden) file in any directory. This file is placed there by system for some operations where media availability should be prohibited. Sometimes it is left there by unexpected interruption. Usually while connected to USB, or incomming call. Remove/delete/rename it, and you should be on track again.

Cheers
> 0 votes

---
Tags: music, images
---


# Question
Title: Uploading MP3 audio books to new android.
Have audio books in MP3. Want to upload them to my new android. What software do I need on each device (PC & Android)?

# Answer
None. Just connect your phone to your computer with USB and make sure the phone is set to MTP mode. You can do it from there.

If you want to do it OTA I can personally suggest Web PC Suite application
> 1 votes

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: How to change android version Jellybean 4.2.2 to the newest update?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 Zoom and my current Android version is Jelly Bean 4.2.2. I kept on trying to update the version but it kept on saying that my phone has installed the newest update. How can I change my Android version to the Lollipop one?

# Answer
Accorrding to GSM ARENA your phone officially supports an upgrade to 4.4.2 Kitkat. However you can try a custom ROM for your phone. Read more about rooting and recoveries(Google is your friend)

As to why it is not updating to 4.4.3, maybe this will clear things out XDA-devs s4 zoom
> 2 votes

# Answer
You can't just automatically "change" your version to Lollipop or Kitkat. Either Samsung needs to send an update to your phone, or your carrier (eg. Verizon, Sprint) needs to send the update to your phone. Otherwise you're stuck with 4.2.2.

If you want the latest version of Android, you'll need to install a custom version like Cyanogenmod: http://www.cyanogenmod.org/

You can post additional questions if you need help unlocking/rooting/installing Cyanogenmod.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-s-4, 5.1-lollipop, android-versions
---


title: Can't save my photos from bricked phone

text:
# Question
Title: Can't save my photos from bricked phone
My unrooted phone is stuck on Samsung logo. I have TWRP. I backup now and restore but it still does the same. I have photos in the phone. How can I save them?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If you still have access to your recovery it means you are not bricked. Far as I understand from what your say is that it is a bootloop. I don't know what caused it but if you want to save your photos there are multiple ways of doing it. I will suggest adb (as I was typing this, so did Firelord) Having access to TWRP means you can use adb. Use `adb pull` to pull DCIM folder in `sdcard` to have photos your camera took and other folders you need.

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-4, boot-loop, twrp
---


# Question
Title: CM12.1 - My lock screen is not working at all!
I recently updated to the CM `12.1-20151024-NIGHTLY-d851` build (I have an LG G3, D851) and also flashed gapps with the a recent "nano" version. Since then, I have noticed that the lock screen does not work at ALL. Whether I choose PIN or swipe or whatever, it will not lock the phone. (The option for "none" disappeared too, but it became available again after removing an active guest session on the phone.)

I've tried rebooting the phone after choosing different lock screen settings and enabling the PIN again. I also tried updating to `12.1-20151101-NIGHTLY-d851` (thinking maybe it was a nightly bug that got fixed). I also reverted to the earlier working version of gapps, but that did not help. And let's not mention the other "solutions" I stumbled across via Google which did not help either. The phone simply will not lock at all. This is driving me crazy.

The only thing I can think of is that it MIGHT be related to an error I saw while flashing my phone during the upgrade: `unable to mount /radio` (or something like that).

What can I try next?

**EDIT -- UPDATE**: The other day my lock screen started working again, without me having to change anything. I *suspect* that the problem was due to some type of app that has an ability to block the lock screen (for example, I think Google Maps can disable the lock screen temporarily so you're not fiddling with unlocking your phone while driving, as that would be rather dangerous). I'm guessing some app (hopefully not malware!) was blocking the lock screen and got updated in the background, and it started working again. I have no clue how to verify this. At least I did not have to downgrade or flash back to an earlier builld. I am presently running the `12.1-20151104-NIGHTLY-d851` build.

**EDIT #2 -- UPDATE #2**: I just noticed in my quick settings (i.e. the pull-down from the top of the screen) that there is now an icon to turn lock screen on/off. I guess this is a new addition that I failed to notice, and 99% sure this is what caused the "problem" -- which was really a feature. I must have accidentally tapped it off and then back on before even noticing it was there.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Answering my own question here, so I can mark it as the solution. (I also posted this in the original question as EDIT #2).

I just noticed in my quick settings (i.e. the pull-down from the top of the screen) that there is now an icon to turn lock screen on/off. I guess this is a new addition that I failed to notice, and 99% sure this is what caused the "problem" -- which was really a feature. I must have accidentally tapped it off and then back on before even noticing it was there.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, lock-screens
---


# Question
Title: Can i install android wear on any smartwatch?
I just got this smartwatch that is a copy of samsung wear and my question is if i can just format it and install normal android wear.

problem is i dont have any documentation on it and i can barely find any information about the model online.

# Answer
> 1 votes
No. An OEM needs to customize android wear to suit its devices. No one is likely to make such a great effort for a cloned smartwatch so basically, you have to live with what you have...

---
Tags: rom
---


title: Id3 Tags not properly recognised

text:
# Question
Title: Id3 Tags not properly recognised
I have so far tried a number of applications to listen to music on my Android phone, and I'm for now settled with Google's Play Music. However, it has the same issue of every other app I've tried. Let me try to explain with a real issue: I've got Anouk's Together Alone album. All the songs have the same album tags. However, Play Music likes to show 2+7 songs (9 songs in album) as 2 different albums, as seen in the below screenshot. How do I fix that?

# Answer
The only fix I know is to delete the tags from both albums and then re-tag the songs from the two albums. Unfortunately that will need to happen manually.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, id3-tag
---


# Question
Title: My screen got colorless and internet doesn't work properly
All is explained in the title. I'm an Android noobie using Samsung S5 and this problem is at hand for around an hour. Should I factory reset?

# Answer
You activated Ultra power saving mode. Turn it off to fix the issue.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: factory-reset, screen, samsung-galaxy-s-5
---


# Question
Title: Download files of devices that connected into my WiFi Hotspot
Is it possible to download or watch the directories of the devices that connected into my WiFi hotspot ? or Is there any way to collect personal data from the connected devices ? . Please **NOTE THAT I'VE A ROOTED ANDROID DEVICE WITH VERSION 4.1.2**. I am just curious about the possibilities. Just to know.

# Answer
Basically it is possible to control/watch over every data transferred by just analyzing the traffic. To do so you could use something like Wireshark, but then a lot of Internet traffic today is encrypted, which would make it impossible to gain anything from it.

To access the data of connected devices would require certain other tools and would very likely be considered as hacking and illegal.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, wifi-hotspot, wifi-tethering, superuser
---


# Question
Title: Can I change how my Gmail account is displayed in the Android Gmail app?
In the Android Gmail app, when you have several email accounts configured, you can switch between these in the menu to the left. Any IMAP account you add, you can assign a name to. When you add a google account, it assigns the email address (e.g. me@gmail.com) as the name by default. I'm wondering if I can change that name to e.g. "Personal" or "School", etc.

# Answer
I just tried it out and it seems like this is not possible.

However, did you know that you can use aliases for your Gmail Account? If your address is for instance "maxmuster@gmail.com", you can also use "maxmuster+school@gmail.com" or "maxmuster+work@gmail.com", and all E-mails will land in the same inbox. Then you can filter them by recipient-address, to gain order.

I can also recommend you the "INBOX" app by google, if you want your inbox to be more structured. Hope it helped you in any way.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: gmail, email
---


# Question
Title: How do I use my phone as a WiFi hotspot without using my data connection?
I know it sounds strange, but what I want to do is use my phone as a WiFi router to create a private LAN that doesn't use my data connection. Basically, I'm at a hotel and need to do some testing using a HHC that is designed to connect to a LAN and talk to a database over that LAN; I'm hosting SQL Server on my laptop, but I'm not comfortable connecting my customer's HHC to the hotel's network in such a way that I can test. I know that I can create and host a wireless LAN from my phone, but the option is disabled when I have data turned off.

I'm using a Galaxy Note 3 with Android 5.0

# Answer
> -2 votes
1. Turn off your mobile data. 2. Turn on your mobile hotspot.

---
Tags: wifi-hotspot, samsung-galaxy-note-3
---


# Question
Title: Google Play Store - "An unexpected error has occurred. Please try again later"
Since Yesterday I have been getting this message from the google play store when ever I try to save something to my wishlist. This has occurred both on the app and the web version of the play store. This is a problem I would like to resolve as fast as I can.

**My questions are:**

1. Is there a workaround for the google play store app (*Important*)
2. Has this happened to anyone else or is just on my google account (*Off topic as it is Android Independent, feel free to remove this part of the question*)

# Answer
> 0 votes
## The Cause of the Problem

The cause was that googles play store wishlist has a limit placed on it. **The Limit is 100**

*(The info was gotten from Google Support)*

---

## The Fix (Very Simple)

**On The Phone:**

1. Open the Play Store app.
2. Go to the menu, My Wishlist, and tap the three-dot menu on the item.
3. Tap "Remove from wishlist" on the menu that shows up.

*Or*

1. Open the Play Store app.
2. Go to the menu then My Wishlist *(Differs from here on compared to the top)*
3. Click on the wanted item (that is the item you want to remove.
4. On the App page Click the wishlist button, this will remove the item from your wishlist

**On The Computer:**

1. Go to Google Play Wishlist
2. Click on an item you wanted removed
3. Once the page loads click the button that says "Added to Wishlist" (When you hover over this it says "Remove"). Once clicked the item is removed from the wishlist.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well this happened to me when I used to install apps from playstore using a slow internet connection. For this I used to get the error notification in the notification bar. I used to long press the notification, goto app info, and 'Clear data' there. This used to work for me as playstore again syncs once opened. U can try if it works but recommend you not to clear data on other 3rd party apps as you may lose you data.

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


title: Samsung Tab 3 drivers reinstallation

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung Tab 3 drivers reinstallation
I bought a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. Upon connecting to the PC, some of its drivers were not installed. I'm using the Tab for the first time. Developer mode/option is checked.

I want to run my apps on it, but it is not recognizing it. So, how do I re-install the drivers?

# Answer
> 1 votes
1. Download and install the Samsung Android USB Driver for Windows. (It's the zip file at the top of the page.)
2. Go to **Settings \> Security \> Unknown Sources** and check the box.
3. Turn on **USB debugging** in Developer Options.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Download Samsung Kies, and install it. It will install all the drivers you need, plus the Samsung Kies software, where you can do back-ups and other phone management tasks.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Please try the following:

* Unmount any USB storage: **Settings \> Storage \> \[Menu\] \> USB Computer Connection**: make sure all boxes are unticked.
* Ensure that you have enabled USB debugging from **Settings \> Developer Options \> USB debugging**. After enabling it, you should see an ongoing notification that it is enabled when you connect it to your PC.
* Ensure that you have the latest Samsung USB drivers for your device.

---
Tags: usb-drivers
---


title: How can I uninstall Firefox OS?

text:
# Question
Title: How can I uninstall Firefox OS?
I was handed a phone from my friend who installed Firefox OS over Android, but now wants Android back. I know roughly how to flash ROMs, but am not sure how to go into download mode or equivalent in Firefox OS. Any help would be appreciated.

The model of the phone is a ZTE Kis. If I can supply any more information just ask!

# Answer
> 3 votes
Steps to Access *Download Mode* on ZTE Kis 3 Max

1. Turn off the device
2. Remove the memory card from the device
3. Press and hold `Volume Down` key + `Volume Up` key simultaneously
4. Press and hold `Power` key until the device completely freezes.

You can flash a ROM as usual after that. The stock ROM for your phone can be downloaded here.

Source

# Answer
> -1 votes
Go to the Play Store and download and install a launcher e.g. Google Now Launcher. When you open the launcher it will give you options to select an interface you wish to use. Select a new one and your phone will exit the Firefox OS Launcher. Then if you'd like to permanently delete the Firefox OS Launcher go to Settings/Personal/Home and you'll find your launchers there. Hope this helps someone.

---
Tags: uninstallation, operating-system
---


# Question
Title: TalkBack: System language is different from TTS language
I'm on a Samsung Galaxy SIII Neo with Android 4.4.2 (KitKat), and would like to use TalkBack.

Why are the system language and TTS language separate. What does this separation of tasks achieve? Anyways, I am trying to enable TalkBack. I tend to vary the system (user-interface) language between `English (US)` and `Italian`.

So, I'm stuck at the following message, which is preventing me from turning on and experimenting with TTS. Anyone know how I can handle this obstacle.

Here is a screenshot:

Thanks.

# Answer
Make sure that you select the same language under the following options:

```
 1. Settings ->  Accessibility -> Text-to-speech output -> ***** Text-to-speech,
    settings button behind it -> Language -> English(United States)

 2. Language and Input -> Language -> English(United States)

```

You may select any Language, but choose the same language in both of these cases.
> 2 votes

# Answer
OK, now I understand. The system language is what is used to display the text associated with the various user interface elements (app icon names, menu item names, etc...) whereas the TTS language is what is used to sound these names out. If the TTS language were to differ from the system language, then you would hear all names pronounced incompetently (besides in the different accent), as the rules for sounding out words in different languages differ.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, accessibility, talk-back, samsung-galaxy-s-3-neo
---


# Question
Title: Does rooting phone wipe your data if the bootloader is unlocked?
A few months ago I reset my phone because it had began to break and get really laggy. I want to re-root it now, I was just wondering if it would reset my data if the bootloader is already unlocked?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I'm not familiar with the G2 specifically, but in general, no, rooting a device on its own should not wipe data. Rooting your phone is the process of getting the `su` binary installed and available to access root privileges. That said, @SarpSTA is right in stating that a factory reset shouldn't unroot your phone. The `su` binary is placed in the system partition, which is left intact on wipe. If a wipe touched /system, your phone would be bricked and unusable, requiring a low-level flash to recover. What you may be missing is an app, such as SuperSU, to control access to root.

# Answer
> -1 votes
You re-flashed your phone or just done "Factory Reset"?I think that it would not wipe your data if you root your phone in case that you re-flashed it, but if you just have done" Factory Reset " it have to be already rooted.

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Tags: root-access, motorola-moto-g2
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title: Editing the apps within factory reset

text:
# Question
Title: Editing the apps within factory reset
Much like flashing a new custom Rom that's been de bloated, there are some factory apps, and some are stripped. My question is, can you edit the apps that are within the factory reset? So when you DO factory reset, the modified apps that you changed will be the apps replaced into the system, and not the plethora of useless bloatware.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, why not?

Whenever you write a change, such as a modified or deleted app, to `/system`, which is where most factory bloatware resides, it cannot be reversed by a simple factory reset. Why?

A factory reset just does a perfunctory wipe of `/data` and `/cache`. This removes any user-specific info done after the initial configuration, as well as user-installed apps. This does not affect the system partition in any way, so any changes made there will persist after a factory reset is done.

My recommendation:

1) Take a NANDroid backup.

2) Delete whatever you need to from `/system`.

3) That's it, its not coming back even if you do a factory reset. Now, if you need to restore the backup, that's a whole different story.

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Tags: factory-reset, hard-reset
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title: Adding a file to a text message

text:
# Question
Title: Adding a file to a text message
Have a Samsung galaxy 5 and I am trying to add a .pdf to a text message. Have tried the drop box but it wouldn't let me attach the file thanks,

dana

# Answer
With SMS (Short Message Service) you can only send text. The only way to share your pdf through this service is by pasting the Dropbox (or Google Drive or another cloud service) link where is stored your file. Otherwise you can always send an email :)
> 2 votes

# Answer
I haven't found a way to directly send anything other than an image or audio file through text message. The best thing to do would be to paste the public download link to the Dropbox file into the text message.
> 0 votes

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Tags: sms
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# Question
Title: Is it safe to use this app and will it cause problems in 6.0?
Classic Dialpad for KitKat and Lollipop

Just wanted to check if there's any reason not to use this, here's what the permissions looks like.

Click image to enlarge

I'm assuming its just a shortcut to the dialer with the keypad active, but it doesn't hurt to check.

# Answer
According to the screenshot, the app is not requesting any special permissions. If your phone is not rooted I'd say: Its safe.
> 0 votes

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Tags: security, phone-app, 6.0-marshmallow
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