title: VLC video converting for Xoom

text:
# Question
Title: VLC video converting for Xoom
I have a mkv HD video and I'm trying to watch it on my motorola xoom. I found some players but none of them was good enough to play my video smoothly. Then I read on the internet that I need to convert my video to mp4 in a certain format but I can't find a free converter that can do that for me.

So I found out that VLC can convert the video for me but it takes too much time. I would like to know if someone have already converted hd videos using vlc and it played fine on the Xoom or if you have a better alternative free solution (I'm on a mac, so it'd be good to have a solution for mac).

# Answer
You can try Handbrake \- a multiplatform open-source video transcoder. It has quite user-friendly graphical interface, and supports different device profiles (you can roll your own as well). As to what settings to use on your Xoom: Here someone managed to find the correct settings to make their Xoom play the transcoded video.

Some extra googling would probably give you additional information how to set the device profile in Handbrake -- seems a lot of people are trying to transcode video on this tablet.
> 3 votes

# Answer
avconv (libav tools) does the job perfectly, and relatively fast. It's a command level tool, I use it on Linux but I don't know if there is a Mac version. I have converted several captured TV movies (.ts format) to MPEG4 x264, at 2000 bitrate. On the XOOM side, MX-player plays it nicely, VLC (Beta version) chokes on it. Here is a sample conversion command: avconv -i infile.ts -c:v libx264 -c:a libmp3lame -crf 23 outfile.mp4
> 0 votes

---
Tags: video, motorola-xoom
---


title: why won't my apps go to sd card

text:
# Question
Title: why won't my apps go to sd card
I have a tablet that has little memory and I needed an sd card so I got one, but I still have 29 GB on the sd card and when I try to download an app it says insufficient memory because I ran out of room on my internal storage

# Answer
Hey do you have selected your default write disk to your sd card in settings? If not go to settings\>storage and select sd card in menu. Have you got root? If you have root, then you can move every application to sd card. Try titanium backup. And if you are on android 4.0+ then you cant just move all applications to sd card. Some apps are suggested to keep in internal storage for working correctly. Just download app2sd and move the movable apps to SD card.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I had already provided you an answer but I think that you are not satisfied with it because it was for the rooted android. Now, I want to say that you can also move some apps(not all) to SD card using some app moving applications like app2sd, du speed booster etc. These are some simple applications which simply transfers the movable applications to SD card(only movable). You can also do it in settings but in these applications, you can do them together. If you want to move all applications, there is not any way to do that because without rooting, only your movable apps can be moved. If any other problem, just comment it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sd-card, insufficient-memory
---


# Question
Title: Contact search in Xperia Z doesn't show all contacts
The contacts system on my Xperia Z doesn't search through all my contacts, for some reason. All of the contacts were imported from my Google account, which has no groups or anything special.

As an example, I have the following contacts:

```
Antti H*****
Antti J*****
Antti K*****
Antti S*****

```

Now, if I search for `antti`, I only get the last two contacts.

The same applies for sending SMS messages. If i compose a new SMS and tap the recipients field and write `Antti`, it only shows details for the same two contacts as the contact search. For the other two, I have to go to Contacts, scroll to the contact, tap it and then tap the SMS button. The type of the phone number (home, mobile, work...) doesn't affect this.

The contacts work fine otherwise (show up on incoming calls, SMS threads etc.).

It seems that the contacts that do show up are the ones I have on Facebook. However, I can't find any settings that specify which accounts to search.

Is there some setting that I've failed to find?

Oh yeah, everything is stock, but not vanilla.

Edit: Tried searching with Google Now, but that won't find the contacts either.

# Answer
I was in contact with Sony support, and the problem was in the initial import (or sync) from Google contacts. Something was corrupted, even though no corruption was visible. I got this fixed by:

* Exporting the contacts from Google Contacts
* Deleting the contacts from the phone
* Importing the contacts to Google Contacts
* Syncing the contacts from `Settings -> Accounts -> Google -> <my Google account> -> Menu -> Sync now`
* (optional) Removing HaxSync from accounts (or other additional contact syncs)
* (optional) Adding HaxSync account

After this all contacts were included in the search.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I just got my Xperia Z and the contacts didn't seem to work properly in terms of filtering. The names were there when I scrolled through the list, but not all would show up if I filtered it with, say, the beginning letter. I enabled all ticks in the filter settings menu too.

Finally I figured that the ones not showing up were not assigned any group names like *my contacts.* They were showing as *other contacts* in Google contacts when I accessed the server through browser, but shown as *undefined group* inside android contacts, when I edited any of those contacts.

**My solution** was to log in to Google contacts server through browser, select *other contacts group,* click to *select all,* and add them to a group like say *my contacts.* Then log out from server. Go to Android *Settings → Accounts,* and force resync Google contacts by checking and checking the option. Wait for sync to finish. That's it. Now try Android contacts filter and it works properly!!!
> 2 votes

# Answer
My Son found this fix. Just go to contacts, then click the settings tab at the bottom of the screen, choose "filter", then click all the boxes for your Google account, the Xperia account and Local contacts. Then the search will actually find everything in the phones contacts list. Easy as, but wasn't intuitive for me unfortunately. Another reason to have kids!
> 0 votes

# Answer
Go to `Setting -> Account -> Google -> Account & Privacy -> Search engine storage -> Google Search` then Clear Data.
> 0 votes

# Answer
My phone has done this 3 times now. First time I took it to support, but second and 3rd time I managed to recover lost contacst myself. Just go to your contacts, press "view more options"-bar on the right. Choose bring contacts and choose "from sim".
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts, sony-xperia-z
---


# Question
Title: What happens to a call when the reciever is busy
I have a doubt. What happens if i call a person who has an android mobile and the person is speaking to someone else. Will the android mobile store my number in its recent calls or will it not recieve the call and not store the number? Is it dependent on the network providers service or its wholly android controlled?

Thanks in advance!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Depending on the carrier of the receiver and its configuration, it is possible that your call will *knock on* ie. the receiver gets a sound that notifies him about an incoming call.
If he wants he can create a *group call* (I never heard about someone using that feature).
If that *knock on* feature is disabled you should go straight to the receivers mailbox and you will be listed in *missed calls*.

---
Tags: calls, mobile-network, call-history
---


# Question
Title: Does the sd-ext partition get wiped out after flashing a different ROM?
I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace using its official CyanogenMod build. I wanted to try this MIUI ROM for a change:

http://forums.miui.us/showthread.php?22816-ROM-MIUI-us-2-8-3-for-galaxy-ace

Everything went fine, except that it doesn't see the 1GB sd-ext partition now. I don't know if it's just unmounted because my sdcard partition size stayed the same. Does the process really do that?

I'll check the recovery menu once I'm done backing up my sd card. But if you have any ideas, please do share them. Thank you.

Edit: Nothing in the recovery menu helped. I'm now about to re-create the sd-ext partition.

# Answer
I think your build f MIUI doesnt have the code for mounting the SD-ext partition on boot. To check this, open the init.d folder in your new ROM and see if it has any file relating to Sd-ext.

This link has a init.d script for mounting the SD-ext partition link
> 1 votes

# Answer
Get MiniTool Partition Wizard Home Edition which once installed in your computer, will be show all partitions on your SD card and maybe able to to restore old partitions, if you haven't wiped your SD card yet.

Mini wizard is for your computer and get a external card reader and insert the SD card or connect your phone in USB mass storage mode to see the partitions.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Check the storage capacity of your mounted sdcard. If it is 1 Gb less than the capacity, it means the other partition is still present but not mounted as Izzy commented.

You can Mount the partition as Aftab Khan suggested.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, partitions, miui
---


# Question
Title: Why can't i see any files from SD card in Android System Recovery <3e>
so I'm a bit confused. I'm going to try to organize my question here and not create a wall of text so please bear with me.

Problem - I have a Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 2 that I'd like to save the data from. no sim card, pattern locked. I don't know the pattern to unlock, nor do I remember the google account information to unlock it. USB debugging is NOT turned on so I cannot reach it via ADB, and it's not setup as a disk drive so simply attaching to a PC isn't a solution either.

Possible Solution - After lots of research, I've found a possible solution where I A - install CWM via the "Update from SD Card" feature in Android System Recovery, then B - Flash a Pattern Unlock to the device. This "should" in theory work, or at the very least if I get CWM installed, open a host of other possibilities to try.

Reason the above is not working - I've downloaded each file, placed them on a micro SD card via an adapter, and put them into the phone. After booting into the recovery console and going to the Update via SD Card option, I do not see any of the files on the SD card. I've gone as far as to boot the phone into recovery without the SD card installed and I literally see the same data. in short - I cannot get the SD card files to show up in the recovery console (this is a stupid problem to have and I'm hoping I'm just missing something).

What I'd like - some advice on how to get the files from the SD card to show in the recovery console. I'm assuming it must be easy. If not - perhaps an alternative method to get around the pattern lock that does not involve a factory reset. thanks.

# Answer
I have had issues flashing from an external SD card due to the format of the card.

I was unable to detect a card when it was was NTFS.

After reformatting as FAT32 there was no issue. So try that, if possible.
> 1 votes

# Answer
If your recovery supports adb sideloading, you can flash ROM from your computer using the command `adb sideload path-to-file.zip`.

You have to choose the option flash zip from adb sideload then execute that command from your computer.

Make sure you have adb drivers beforehand.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, external-sd, sd-card, recovery-mode, data-recovery
---


title: Adjust touch parameters

text:
# Question
Title: Adjust touch parameters
I have some problems with my touch in my lenovo phone. For example, when I touch in two places that the distance between them is less than 2 inches, the phone thinks that it's only one touch. To fix this and more problem with the touch, I need to know how to change some parametrs of the touch. So… Do you know where those params is stored or how to change them?

My phone (lenovo s8+) is rooted, and I have terminal emulator on it.

# Answer
This is a hardware related *problem*. The touchscreen sends your system a touch event for every finger you touch it with. If the touchscreen's touch resolution is not that high, it will merge two touches to one.

You can't change the touch resolution of your touchscreen but it is possible to send custom touch events to the Android framework using some commands (I don't know them now but I used them and it is working. It is also similar to Windows' event system.)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: touchscreen, multi-touch
---


title: Android doesnt show up in ADB

text:
# Question
Title: Android doesnt show up in ADB
I have a `Android 4.4.2` tablet here and I am trying to use ADB with it, So I launch ADB on my PC and it opens and says 'No device found'. I have the `USB Debugging` enabled in the `Developer Settings` so why wont my PC recognise it?

UPDATE: When I first connected it to my Windows 8.1 PC it said installing device and it then said finished, So if I need drivers do I have to get different ones?

# Answer
> 1 votes
After researching more online here is the answer:
1. Download the Android SDK
2. Extract the zip archive and locate 'android-sdk-windows\SDK Manager.exe'
3. Launch that exe and select 'Android SDK Platform-tools' and at the bottom under extras select 'Google USB Driver' then click on install packages
4. After they have finished downloading, locate 'android-sdk-windows\extras\google\usb\_driver\android\_winusb.inf' and right click it then select 'Install', click OK on the next couple of windows
5. Plug your android in and turn on 'Usb debugging' from the developer options in settings (On your android)
6. Go back to your pc and open the start menu and search for 'Device Manager' (Windows 8 users can right click the start icon and click on device manager)
7. Now locate a device with the name 'MTP' under 'Other devices' (It could have a different name)
8. Right click it and select 'Update Driver Software' then 'Browse my computer for driver software' then 'Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer'
9. Click Android Device, Then 'Android ADB Interface' then click on next
10. Check to see if it works by going to 'android-sdk\platform-tools\\', hold down shift and right click and then select 'Open Command WIndow Here'. CMD comes up, now type `adb devices`, If your device appears then its working, if not, then repeat steps 3-10 again

# Answer
> 0 votes
You have to install all required drivers for your PC to actually recognize your device in debugging mode. Most manufacturers softwares install those drivers and use them on their own (to do certain functions inside the program).

Usually closing that program and all related services is enough to use the drivers together with ADB.

This works like this at least for all my Samsung devices.

---
Tags: usb-debugging
---


title: Password Lock-out

text:
# Question
Title: Password Lock-out
I've mentioned this on another similar question. I haven't used my Android Tablet for maybe a year now, mostly because I had lost the charger. I found the charger and thought "Why not?" so I charged it up. To my dismay, I had a put a password combination, locking me out until I remembered the password from last year. I've tried every password I can think of, and I'm still locked out. Supposedly, there's a helpful "Forgot password?" button I can press and fix this whole mess. I can't find any such button, and I can't factory reset (I've tried out of desperation). Anyone know how to fix this???

# Answer
Alright the reason that you can't see 'Reset Password' Is because this feature isn't available in earlier versions of android. To reset your password you can use this, If that looks a bit to hard or doesnt work you can do a hard reset WARNING THIS WILL DELETE **ALL** OF YOUR DATA (This includes pictures, game data, Music, Videos, everything) Here is how to do it:
**Turn your tablet off (Shut down)
Press the volume - button and then with that pressed press the power button until your tablet screen turns on and it will go into the recovery mode (If it doesnt try using a different key combinaton like: Home+Power, Volume Up+Power)
Now using the volume up and down keys select 'Wipe Data' (Might be 'Format') then press the power button
Use the volume keys to select 'Yes' out of the list of 'No's then press the power key
Set your tablet up again**
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, locked-out
---


# Question
Title: Can I get a virus on Android 4.4.2 by clicking "no thanks" on one of those virus browser pop-ups?
I opened a link using the built-in facebook browser yesterday, and pop-ups on the website kept asking me if I wanted to install some anti-virus and they had two options: No thanks and OK. Normally I press the back button because I'm wary of clicking anything, but this time I clicked "Cancel."

I've noticed some weird behavior with my phone freezing this morning and now I'm paranoid. Could have clicking "Cancel" actually installed something? Was the message box option spoofed?

# Answer
Well it's hard to know. Install avast anti-virus from google play and it will show any viruses (if there are any). But that 'Message Box' shouldn't have appeared, so that means either Facebook was hacked or you were using a fake Facebook app/page. Clicking 'No Thanks' on a webpage can't install anything unless you already have a virus on your Android. You should be safe if you were using the genuine Facebook app/page and that `Settings>Security>Unknown Sources` was unchecked.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: security, antivirus
---


# Question
Title: Stock voice recorder, camera(video recording) and alarm not working in LG L90 dual D410
I have an LG L90 dual D410 running on Kitkat 4.2. Everything was working fine and I don't remember what caused these problems to occur. May be an update?

1. When I tried to record using the stock voice recorder, I get a message saying "Cannot start voice recording while other application is using audio", but record was success when tried using another app from the store.
2. The default camera's video recorder says "Unable to record video during call" but taking photo had no problem. And again video recording with another app was successful.
3. Stock alarm automatically goes to snooze mode without any sound but another alarm app works fine.

How do I solve these problems?

# Answer
Problems due to OK Google enable in all screen. To fix this, find the Google folder in apps, tap on Google settings, tap on Voice, then "Ok Google" Detection, uncheck the option From any screen, and make sure to check From Google Search app, if you still want to use Ok Google from Google app screen. Problems will be solved....
> 2 votes

---
Tags: applications, lg
---


title: Nexus 4 problems connecting usb mtp

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus 4 problems connecting usb mtp
I recently bought a Nexus 4 and I encountered a real issue with my computer (Windows 8 Pro 64 Bit) not being able to connect in USB mode. It does however work with Camera PTP mode, which I find very strange.

I have tried/tested with:

1. Different usb cables
2. My computer with the same OS of Windows 8 64 bit isn't connecting compared to another computer with the same OS.
3. Removing its current drivers on my computer and reinstalling drivers from Nexus 4 ToolKit
4. Restarting the computer
5. With/without USB debugging mode

Note that the device is visible on the computer although it's not recognized:

# Answer
> 1 votes
I have Windows 8.1 and I had the same problem, PTP working, MTP not. I was following the steps suggested in this page but it wasn't doing the job, until I made some previous steps, and slightly changed the last part. Summarising what I did is:

1. Connect your device.
2. Unistall ALL the drivers from the Device Manager, be sure to go in "View"-\>"Show hidden devices" and then check that all of the following are unistalled:

**a)** Android Devices

**b)** Other devices

**c)** Portable interfaces
3. Now disconnect your device.
4. Check the PTP mode and connect your device. Wait for the drivers to be installed.
5. Without disconnecting check the MTP mode on your device and wait the drivers to be installed again.

Now it should WORK!! At least it did it for me ;)

# Answer
> 0 votes
I solved the problem by just :

1. Deleting Acer Adb Interface not just Uninstalling it
2. Disconnected my Phone and then connected it back
3. Waited for drivers to be installed.

Then the pc recognizes it, in Usb Mode not as a ADB interface.

Hope this can solve your problem.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Hope you are expecting mass storage USB mode which is not supported with Nexus4 (stock android)

---
Tags: nexus-4, usb-connection-mode
---


# Question
Title: On Android, what is a "blue screen", and what should you do about it?
Some Android users complain about seeing a "blue screen", also known as a "blue screen of death" or "BSOD". They add that their device has become unresponsive.

(Here is one example, including a photograph of the affected device. Here is another example.)

On Android, what is a "blue screen", and what should you do about it?

# Answer
# What is a "blue screen"?

Certain Android devices sometimes become unresponsive and display a plain bright blue screen with no text on it. See photo.

# What should be done?

(This answer is based on what someone on IRC once told me.)

If you only ever see a blue screen once or twice a month, ignore the problem and restart your phone when it happens.

If you see so many blue screens that it's worth the effort involved in troubleshooting, then it's time to dig for the cause of the problem. Here's how.

First of all, grab a pen and paper, and make a note of the exact time when the blue screen appeared. Hours, minutes, and seconds. This will come in handy if you decide to run `adb logcat` later.

If you have adb (the Android Debug Bridge) installed on your computer, and if you have enabled "USB debugging" on your device, then `adb logcat` might (or might not) provide you with some clues as to why the problem happened. In fact, I've always found that `adb logcat` works fine even while the blue screen is still showing.

(If you aren't using a very recent version of Android, then your logs will lack timestamps. In such a situation, use `adb logcat -v threadtime` to show the timestamps.)

If you experience a blue screen and want to make it go away, reboot your device. If you have `adb` installed on your computer and working, then open up an `adb shell` and reboot the phone the graceful way. If the graceful way doesn't work, choose the semi-graceful way by using the `adb reboot` command. If you don't have adb installed, do an unsafe shutdown by holding down your device's power button for ten seconds. If that still doesn't work, pull the battery out.

# But why did the blue screen happen?

I don't know.

You should post a separate question. Tell us the hour, minute, and second when the blue screen came up. Provide us with all the log entries (from each of the several logs which `adb logcat` dumps out) starting from 30 seconds before the blue screen appeared, right through to 30 seconds after. Let us know approximately how many times the problem has happened. (Dozens in the past year? Hundreds in the past month?) Also, tell us whether or not you have figured out a set of steps to reproduce the problem on demand. Finally, please do provide us with all other relevant details.

# What should be done after the device has been restarted?

You should make sure that USB debugging is enabled. This will make sure you can use `adb` in the future. For instructions, see the PhoneArena article entitled "How to enable USB debugging on Android". You should only ever have to do this once.

<sub>(This is a community wiki answer. Please edit it and improve it. A big thank you goes out to Izzy and eldarerathis for helping to refine things.)</sub>
> 5 votes

---
Tags: bugs, system-freeze, troubleshooting
---


title: Adb can't see my device - PAP5400

text:
# Question
Title: Adb can't see my device - PAP5400
When I connect my Prestigio PAP5400 DUO to my PC, ADB cant find it.

I think the driver is wrong but I can't find right one. I have tried installing many drivers.

PS: I have debugging mode activated. I'm using Windows 8.1.

PPS: Sorry for my English.

# Answer
your device manager is showing that the adb drivers are not properly installed. If properly installed there would be no question mark by the left of the icon.

I found the following steps in this article here

1. First of all you have to Enable the USB Debugging in the Developer settings.
2. Connect your tablet to the computer USB port.
3. Select MTP connection instead of Mass Storage (you can find it at Storage -\> USB computer connection)
4. Right Click on Computer-\>Manage-\>Device Manager, search for PMP5080C and update driver with Google USB Driver.
5. Download USBDeview. In program search "PMP5080 C PRO USB Device" and remember the Vendor ID for me it was 0x2207.
6. Open %UserDir%.android\adb\_usb.ini a write there the Vendor ID (2207) without the leading 0x.
7. Open command line at %android\_sdk%\platform-tools\
8. adb kill-server
9. adb start-server
10. adb devices

Now the adb devices will display your device.
> 1 votes

# Answer
ADB will not automatically connect to your device when it is plugged in. The "Devices" command will give you a list of "connected" devices, not devices available for connection.

To connect your device issue the command: `adb connect localhost`

Let me know if I misunderstood your situation or if there is anything else I can do to help.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: adb, windows, usb-debugging, debug
---


# Question
Title: Google Maps failed to save offline maps on Lollipop
I'm using Nexus 5 32GB, Android 5.0.1. I'm trying to save maps offline, but it's showing me an error whenever I try to save.

It seems the issue is on external storage; it's not writable. The issue started when I used TWRP Updater from Google Play Store, and it added an SD card write patch. How to fix this?

Below is screenshot of error

# Answer
It was sdcard permission issue.

I had to flash 5.0 and then 5.0.1 again from fastboot. everything works fine now.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, 5.0-lollipop, google-maps, offline-map
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 5 SDCARD files are not writable from PC USB
I was trying to update my TWRP thought Google play store TWRP app. It did apply some sdcard pactch, which I later removed it.

But after that when ever I try to access files of my nexus 5 storage I cant write or delete stuff.

Below image you can see my phone is getting detected, But I cant copy paste music in my phone.

Also, if I try to access my sdcard from Root file manager it comes empty,

Screenshot (click for larger variant)

I have even tried uninstalling MTP drivers and installed again. But it seems some File permission issue on my sdcard itself !!

# Answer
It was sdcard permission issue created by TWRP Manager app from google play store.

I had to flashed 5.0 and then 5.0.1 again from fastboot. everything works fine now.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, 5.0-lollipop, stock-android, file-transfer
---


# Question
Title: insufficient space on the device in my Micromax canvas 4 what to do
What to do ? I can not install any application in my device? I have tried clearing cache of all the applications .

# Answer
Your best chance is try and move as many apps as you can to External Storage such as SD Card. Remember, you can only move "Certain" apps to SD Card, and not all.

Also, check below link. What can I do to manage my phone's internal storage?

You may be able to find useful tips which should help you mitigate the problem that your currently facing!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: insufficient-memory
---


# Question
Title: What's the easiest way to automatically backup my phone's data?
My goal is to have backups of my phone (Samsung Galaxy S3) created regularly and automatically.

In case it get's lost or stolen, or damaged or reset to factory mode, I would like by one click to recover (at the same or an other phone) the current data:

* App-settings
* E-Mails
* SMS
* Contacts
* Apps
* Phone customizations (language, desktop widgets, background...)
* Photos/Video
* Mp3-Data

I prefer the backup to be at my computer, but I do not mind backing up in a cloud if it is provided by a bigger company.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Most phones have a back up and reset option in settings. I went to that and clicked on everything I wanted backed up. I backed up everything to my Sd and E-mail.. (Google servers)..

---
Tags: backup
---


title: S4 cant unlock my phone

text:
# Question
Title: S4 cant unlock my phone
I have a galaxy s4. I had the screen locked with a pattern. My 1year old daughter got a hoed of my phone and after the 5 incorrect patterns it asked for the pin. I entered the pin incorrectly 5 times so it asked me to wait 30 secs before trying again. Now I have the bar that says type pin code but when I tap the bar to type it in the keyboard does not pop up as usual so how do get the keyboard to pop up to enter the pin. I have tried restarting the phone, by pressing restart and shutting down and powering back up the phone and taking out the battery.

# Answer
> -1 votes
What specific code is it asking for? Cell phone companies can give u your plu code to enter and unlock to restore phone. Or performing a master reset manually..keyboard won't pop up right?

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-4, password
---


# Question
Title: External SD card not being recognised; data intact on card
I have a HTC One M8 running Android KitKat 4.4.2, and I recently got a Sandisk 64GB MicroSD. Today a few of my apps have greyed out icons and when I click them, it says `app isn't installed`.

When I go to `Settings > Storage`, External SD shows as Unavailable. `Mount SD card` shows, but clicking it just shows a message saying `Preparing SD card` and it does nothing else.

It also keeps popping up with `Preparing SD card` at random.

Putting the memory card in my PC, the data is intact. I've tried restarting my phone a couple of times; no joy. Is there anything I can do to make this work again?

Failing that, am I safe to backup the data to my PC, format the SD card, and restore the files; and everything will work as it did?

# Answer
The card was confirmed as a counterfeit by the manufacturer over the phone.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: external-sd, data-recovery, system-error, formatting
---


# Question
Title: music play back via USB connected to karaoke player
I am trying to play music on my Nexus7 via USB connected to a karaoke player. It does not play through karaoke player speakers. What should I do ?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Which version of android do you have? If its jellybean or later then it doesnt support this because if you plug it into your jukebox, it doesnt recognises it due to it being in 'Media Device' mode not the old USB memory mode so if you cant find `Settings>Storage>(The little three dots in the top right corner)USB computer connection>MTP device` if you can find this option, tick it, if not then you could try another method eg. Transferring to USB stick/Plugging in speakers into the 'Headphone' slot on your android
Please tick this answer if it solves your problem

---
Tags: usb-host-mode
---


# Question
Title: How do the various tools to convert a system image to f2fs work?
Recently I've been trying to install a f2fs compatible rom to my old and slow nexus7. I got as far as flashing a new recovery image and reformatting the device partitions to the new file system, but after trying to install a couple of supposedly compatible ROMs (cm11 and slimkat) and having the tablet stuck at boot I had to revert to the stock image I was running. After some googling it seems I missed a step: "converting" the ROM image to f2fs. There are tools to do that, so I was wondering how do they work actually?

# Answer
Looking at the tool described in this howto it seems that it's a simple matter of replacing the `boot.img` with somethink compatible with f2fs and doing a bit of text search and replace on the unzipped image, replacing the strings

```
format("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system", "0", "/system")
format("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/APP", "0", "/system")
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system", "/system")
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/APP", "/system")
mount("ext4", "EMMC", "/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/APP", "/system")

```

with

```
run_program("/sbin/mkfs.f2fs", "/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system")
run_program("/sbin/mkfs.f2fs", "/dev/block/platform/sdhci-tegra.3/by-name/APP")
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system")
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system")
run_program("/sbin/busybox", "mount", "/system")

```

respectively. (The strings may vary for different devices).

I've tried unzipping a cm-11 and a Slimkat image and the source strings are actually there so the above should work, but I had no such luck for a lollipop factory image, which after unzipping has only `.img` binary files.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: custom-roms, file-system
---


# Question
Title: Mount USB flashdrive on Samsung Galaxy Pocket Neo
I have a USB flash drive that has two connections, one USB and one micro USB. I have attached it to may phone but it won't mount. I have tried rooting and using other file browsers but nothing seems to help. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I could get the flash drive to mount. I have tried StickMount but that doesn't seem to work.

The flash drive looks something like this:

<sub>(source: 76.my)</sub>

**Edit:** I have tried it in 2 other phones but no luck. I then tried it in my tablet and it worked perfectly. Can anyone explain why it would work in a tablet but not a phone.

# Answer
The reason is that your phones does not support OTG cables, most android devices (70%) support OTG but some don't. The reason for this, is because your phone hasn't got the right hardware for it I have a tablet that doesnt support it and managed to get it to eventually working **alright** (It doesnt work in other apps, but you can copy the files at a fast speed using some applicatons that are built around this one) by using USB OTG Helper \[root\], Please let me know if this works for you
**THIS REQUIRES ROOT ACCESS**
Also you could try charging your phone to 100% and then trying again, If none of this works then it would be most likely because of your phone not supplying enough voltage to the drive, so you may need a external power supply
> 3 votes

---
Tags: usb, samsung, mount, usb-on-the-go
---


# Question
Title: I lost my videos, how will I retrieve them?
I have a problem on retrieving my files from my phone to my PC. I have 'moved' my DCIM folder from my phone to my PC. Will i be able to retrieve them? help please...

# Answer
> 2 votes
If you moved them onto your computer you can just copy the DCIM folder back onto the sdcard or internal storage of your device.

If this isn't the case there are several tools to recover lost data on your harddrive here is a good one: https://www.piriform.com/recuva

---
Tags: file-transfer, data-transfer, media-files
---


# Question
Title: Playing VLC streams directly from web page?
I found several pages that provide streams directly (e.g. JaGledam.com) and in this example, the first two tabs require x-google-vlc-plugin to play the stream.

I can use the link with the Flash player, but I'd prefer to watch them via VLC (either VLC Player for Android or directly from the web page).

Is there any way to watch VLC streams from Android (if relevant, Nexus 5)?

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you inspect the object (right-click -\> Inspect (Q)) with the VLC plugin, it shows the HTML markup of that object. Looking further into the HTML, you'll notice a `target="*"` tag. Open the URL inside this tag (in your case `IP:PORT/directory`) with the "Open Stream" option of VLC and you are good to go.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I found only one way to do that and that involves Firefox browser, DownloadHelper add-on, catching the stream address using DH add-on that is different than what you can get from the `target` attribute.

However, this catches about half a minute of a stream because in the meantime it changes its address. I don't know if that is because of the stream providers or something else.

---
Tags: browser, vlc
---


# Question
Title: Will Android Lollipop be pushed to Nexus 7 device again
I received a push update for android 5 and was not installed as selected later as the timing of the notification wasn't the right time. My device now says the system is up to date

Just wondering, will the update to android 5 be pushed again and when is likely timing?

Thanks for help.

# Answer
I think you will have to flash the factory image yourself. See the instructions and links to all Nexus factory images at https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images

Note that this procedure will not preserve your data as may be the case with OTA push updates.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: nexus-7, 5.0-lollipop, android-versions
---


# Question
Title: Files and folders are visible on computer, but NOT visible on Android's file explorer
I have Nexus 6 running on Lollipop. I am seeing folders in Android File transfer on the computer which are apparently not real, or at least not visible on the phone in file explorer.

Here, you see the "Music" folder on PC,

But not on Android,

In addition to seeing the folder only when I look from the computer. This seems to be the opposite problem everyone else has. What is going on here?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's due to a difference in permissions.

When you are looking from the computer, you are accessing the phone over ADB or MTP, which is likely running with special privileges, such as 'shell' or 'root'. When you are looking from the app on the phone, you are running as a certain Android 'userId' and 'appId' in a sandbox which does not necessarily have access to other user's files or many system files. In fact, Android 4.2 and later uses file namespaces and bind mounts to make other user's files completely invisible (not even mounted) when another user is logged in. Even a root file explorer will not see unmounted files.

The only way to see all system files is to be running as root. The only way to see all of a particular user's files on external storage is to be logged in as that user, thus forcing the system to mount the appropriate external storage folders.

---
Tags: file-transfer, file-management, mtp
---


# Question
Title: Constant app crashes + google play error 960
I recently got a new Nexus 5 and I have a lot of issues with the software.

Basically I have 2 major issues which I guess are likely related:

1. Google play store very often gives me an error `Unknown error code during application install: "960"`
2. Many applications often crash with the error message `Unfortunately application <insert-app -here> has stopped working`. I'm under the impression these are mainly stock apps but I'm not 100% sure.

Next I also see some side issues in google chrome, which I suspect have the same reason:

1. Sometimes while browsing the whole phone crashes, I haven't pinned this down to a single action, but it only happens while using chrome, not with any other app or while idling.
2. I often get an error stating "this page cannot be loaded, please reload", after 5-6 times reloading it finally works (or the phone crashes...).

To me it looks like there is some error with a basic android support app (maybe services) that messes everything up but I really can't figure out what it is. I have tried already:

* Factory reset several times, including using recovery mode
* Adding/removing my google account
* Clearing app caches of several apps like google chrome and google play services
* Clearing the cache partition using recovery mode
* Rebooting in safe mode

# Answer
Found this page while trying to solve the same problem on my Nexus 5. Here is the succinct answer that worked for me: You need root and to install an app called SD Maid (Play Store Link), run it's "CorpseFinder" function, remove the corpses, and reboot. Force closes and 960 errors stopped for me after doing this. I elaborate more here on this thread on AndroidForums.com. Hope this helps!
> 0 votes

# Answer
You could delete the data of every app that fails simply by long pursuing on it and dropping in the app info option that appears on the desktop. This will force the app to «restart» from zero.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, crashes
---


title: Nexus 7 - 2013 - missed 5.0 rollout?

text:
# Question
Title: Nexus 7 - 2013 - missed 5.0 rollout?
My nexus 7 was showing "update available" but after thinking "You know if it's crap I don't want to deal with it now" (and reading later that there were some problems) I left it, 2 weeks later (a week ago) it came back, and I ignored it.

Now I want to start using Material Design, but the update has gone, have I missed my window? I doubt it but Google's update policy...

Anyway, can I "force" an update?

# Answer
You can direct download the latest factory image here for your device. As far as I know, you need to note several things before force push the update:

* Power off your device.
* Enter to recovery mode (Power + Volume up and down buttons simultaneously for a few seconds).
* Locate the zipped file and extract it to update the version. (May take a while)
* Reboot

A bit of warning: Doing this will erase your all of your data and apps. Be sure to backup your data before doing this.

I hope this helps you.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: updates, nexus-7
---


# Question
Title: How I can reverse-tether my tablet using my phone’s mobile broadband with bluetooth DUN, without rooting?
I have a phone which run java for the J2ME platform not android ones.
When I pair it with my laptop, I can use the phone to connect internet using mobile broadband connection *(I pick my provider in a list on the laptop to autocomplete the parameters)*.

However when I pair it on my Samsung Galaxy tab S, I don't have this option, even when there is no Wi-Fi access point.
There are lot of apps to convert you android phone into a server for this. But I own a tablet with android 5 *(only Wi-Fi and bluetooth connection)*, and I would like to use my classic mobile phone as access point over bluetooth. I know how to configure the phone since I already use it on my Linux laptop. But I don’t know how to use my tablet as a DUN client, and I couldn’t find an app on the play store for that.
For those who still don’t what is beeing asked here, here’s a tutorial I use for a non wizard tethering on Debian *(I couldn’t find a android equivalent)*.

So, how I can connect Samsung galaxy tab S 8.4 to internet over bluetooth with my mobile phone's connection?

# Update :

Here’s my provider parameters in my case :
**dial-up number value** : "\*99#"
**APN value** : "Free"

**Authentication method** : Store
**Username value** : "Free"
**Password value** : "Free"

**DUN channel value** : "0"
**Connection method** : GPRS
**PIN method** : Store
**PIN value** : null
**Provider proxy address value** : "212.27.40.225"
**Provider proxy port value** : "80"

But on most OS, *(for laptop, including old windows)* you just get a country selector, then you pick-up your mobile provider in a list and the connection parameters are filled up for you.

***Note***: As the device is still new I want to keep the long time warranty option. BlueVPN+ seems to indirectly allow what I need without rooting, but the program is not free.

# Answer
> 2 votes
So I was doing a bit of research on this.

TLDR; You will not be able to use your phone's GSM to connect your tablet to the internet.

In order for your Android device to be able to connect to another device, via bluetooth, to get an internet connection, you need an android device that supports DUN (Dial-up Networking) or PAN (Personal Area Networking). Which most android devices do support. You also need the "host" device to also support DUN. Your phone, on the other hand, does not support DUN nor does it support PAN.

Here are the bluetooth profiles that your phone supports:

> ### Bluetooth Profiles:
>
> * A2DP
> * AVRCP
> * BPP
> * FTP
> * GAP
> * Handsfree
> * Headset
> * HFP
> * HSP
> * SAP

The reason that you are able to get your laptop to tether via bluetooth with your device is because Windows supports tethering via SPP.

From Wikipedia:

> Note : The Windows XP/Vista Windows Vista/Windows 7 Bluetooth stack supports the following Bluetooth profiles natively: PANU, SPP, DUN, HID, HCRP.

While Android does have support for SPP, it does not support tethering via SPP. This is only supported via DUN/PAN. There is an active issue around this that is listed as assigned to a developer but has had no activity since June 23rd 2013.

> I bought the Nexus 7 3G as a professional development tool to make bluetooth applications but from what I see, I'm stuck with an expensive paper weight. The SPP profile is used by many companies to connect there devices (robots, OBDII scanners, Microcontrollers, dataloggers.. e.t.c) to tablets. This protocol should have worked with the Nexus 7 but does not. It did not work with android 4.2.1 and does not work with android 4.2.2. It used to work with android 4.1.2. Not everyone can downgrade to 4.1.2 since it is not available to all devices.
>
> Now we all have to wait until android 5 comes out, but I do not think this will be fixed since google does not take us seriously.
>
> Don't you guys tests your products before you market them or do you just let the end user do the testing for you?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Install and use easytether. I use this on a wide range of devices across multiple operation systems.

Site link : http://www.mobile-stream.com/easytether/android.html

## Features

* USB and Bluetooth tethering for Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP computers (32-/64-bit)
* USB and Bluetooth tethering for Android 5.0 (down to 4.0.3) tablets including Kindle Fire
* USB tethering for Mac OS X 10.10 (down to 10.4) on Intel and legacy PowerPC hardware
* USB tethering support for Linux (Ubuntu, Fedora etc) computers on Intel, ARM (Raspberry Pi), PowerPC hardware
* Unique USB tethering support for FreeBSD computers and embedded boards
* Unique USB tethering support for OpenWRT-based routers
* Does not require root access on the smartphone
* UDP support for games, for L2TP VPN (not PPTP!) and for some IM apps
* PS3, XBox 360 or Wii tethering via Windows/OS X Internet Connection Sharing feature
* Free lifetime upgrades for the full version
* Implemented as a normal NAT application with full TCP and UDP support Compatible with HTC Sync

Its self explanatory as far as installing and operating.

Edit:

In the cases where neither pdanet nor easyteather will work try this forum thread.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=57267267#post57267267

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, bluetooth, tablet, reverse-tether, samsung-galaxy-tab-s-10.5
---


# Question
Title: How do I forward incoming calls over VOIP to another client?
Is there any way I can take an incoming call and use an app or a system feature to turn my Android phone into a forwarding client so that I can then forward this via VOIP to any other client in the world?

What I'd like to do is very similar to OS X's continuity feature, but instead of requiring the phone to be on the same Wi-Fi network, I'd like it to be able to be anywhere in the world. Imagine if you could buy a phone, a local SIM card (that could be topped up via the internet), and leave the phone plugged in all the time and connected to Wi-Fi so that it can forward any incoming calls over VOIP to any other VOIP client in the world. What I'm trying to build is a dedicated DID (direct inward dialing) number but using my current local number in whatever country I am.

Is this possible? The closest thing I've seen is Google Voice or Skype's incoming numbers or even regular DID numbers, but they're not offered for all locations, so that's why I'd like to build this solution if possible.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Android phone is technically handicapped to do this. There is no google API to playback an audio stream instead of the mic recording. You would have to rewrite the android's telephony stack to achieve this. And this will be dependent on the hardware and so cannot be a generic solution for all android phones. You cannot find a answering machine android app with recorded voice playback for the same reason.

You can buy a raspberry pi, a USB data dongle with voice calling and supported by chan\_dongle project, install RasPBX (based on the open source PBX Asterisk) and redirect GSM calls via VOIP and vice versa. This is pretty easy to setup and cheaper than an android phone.

https://web.archive.org/web/20180306230858/http://blog.carrier-connect.com/raspberry-gsm-gateway/

http://www.raspberry-asterisk.org/documentation/

---
Tags: calls, voip
---


# Question
Title: how to increase internalstorage on an Android devise
I am using WHAM! WG40 mobile. It's internal storage is only 120mb. How can I increase it's internal storage.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can get and SD card purchased and insert it over the SD card slot it will increase your device storage!

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can use ROM (Read only memory) as your internal storage. For this you need to have your phone "rooted". Means root your phone then install ES File Explorer and grand super user permission to ES File Explorer then you can set your ROM or your sd card as default installation memory. Mean you can use your sd card and rom as phone memory(Internal storage).

---
Tags: browser
---


title: Does Google Navigation work offline?

text:
# Question
Title: Does Google Navigation work offline?
I know that I can download and cache parts of the maps in Google Maps. When offline (e.g., in flight mode, but with GPS enabled) I can explore these parts of the maps.

But when I try to use the Navigation to get directions, it seems it doesn't work offline (even when navigating inside the cache map areas).

So, does the navigation feature always need a connection (either WiFi or 3G)?

# Answer
> 7 votes
Unfortunately, yes. For now, that is how Google has created the Maps application; you cannot use Maps (or Navigation) without internet access.

There are other apps that exist, though, that allow you to download maps for use offline. Sygic and Navfree, for example, both allow you to store maps on your device and then only require a GPS fix to give you turn-by-turn directions. **Note** you still need internet (WiFi or data network) to download the maps the first time, but after that, you're free to shut data off.

# Answer
> 6 votes
Since the OP's question was dated back in mid-summer of 2012, things have changed a bit with Maps and has been updated since.

In agreement with other answerer's who have pointed out you can download the maps for offline usage, no calculation is needed, if using Maps, what I found actually surprised me, the GPS navigation still works even if off-line and not using any 3G/Wifi either!

With the maps, hit menu, tap on *Make available offline*, then you can pan and zoom in on the location of the map, to increase the size of the map for offline usage, it may be required to zoom out if you want a big area of maps coverage.

Then the download will happen (WiFi needed preferably as depending on the size of the offline map, it will take a while - not your conventional nippy download speed)

Furthermore, if browsing on desktop pc, hit up on maps on the google site, and select your starting point and ending point as destination, if planning a journey, and save that as "*My Places*". With the maps app, it can sync up with "*My Places*" and pull it down and be used with the off-line map! *That surprised me*

The GPS navigation will actually show where you are and the route to take.

**Caveat Emptor:** Be sure to have plenty of battery juice as the GPS is working 100% on it

Simply enable GPS, all data switched off, and as its oft said - *Let's hit the road Jack* and... profit! \o/

# Answer
> 2 votes
Internet access is needed for the routing calculation at the beginning. Navigation using a precached area will work offline.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I will suggest gvSIG mini maps which will allow you to download map tiles for offline usage. But for navigation,POI search Internet connection is needed.If anyone have any clue about how to do offline routing/navigation or POI search , Please let me know. THANKS for any help.

---
Tags: offline, google-maps-navigation
---


# Question
Title: Is there any way to do automation/repetition based on user input?
Like iMacros in Windows, is there any way which can automate my task?

I had tried so many application like MacroDroid but hadn't got my aim to be complete. As I want similar work like iMacros, I want to open one link and then click some elements and then save the webpage to external storage and I want this task to repeat. Is it possible?

# Answer
Try Repetitouch: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cygery.repetitouch.free

It Allows you to input a set of touches and swipes, and the app will repeat exactly what you have recorded. You can also set stuff like delays, speed, or amount of repetitions.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: automation
---


# Question
Title: Does Android log any details about full system crashes?
My Samsung S3, which I rooted and flashed with Cyanogenmod 10.2 will randomly fully crash, and require a reboot (Power + Volume down for ~10 seconds). This seems to happen randomly, when just scrolling through a list, loading a webpage, sometimes when it's not even doing anything.

I'm wondering if any logs are stored anywhere which I can look at to see if there is one underlying issue causing these crashes.

This doesn't seem to be something that I can make happen, up to now I've not found something that will **always** crash the device.

EDIT: It actually doesn't seem to be a full crash, just a UI one. It's just happen now viewing a webpage, and I can't lock the device, scroll, no buttons do anything, but Spotify was playing a song in the background and that continued playing.

# Answer
connect your device through usb and run below ADB command

`adb shell logcat`

this will show you all the activity start from the device power up to now

edit: this kind of problems occurred on me when my emmc bricked, when device try to use specific part of emmc which has bad block device stuck and cant do anything but voice continue to come
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod
---


title: Save for later reading

text:
# Question
Title: Save for later reading
Back before chrome became the default browser for Android, there used to be a stock Android browser called "Browser" (anyone who used a stock version of Android before 4.2 knows what I'm talking about) Anyhow, It had a feature that allows you to save a Web page for later reading but that browser no longer exists and that feature doesn’t seem to exist in chrome.

Does this mean that now I have to install a third party app (such a Pocket) to save articles for later reading??

# Answer
> 1 votes
Might not be ideal, but you can save the webpage to a pdf which you can read anytime:

> Menu \> Print \> PDF \> Save

Now you can read your articles anytime, if you have a PDF reader installed. The problem with this off course is that the page won't open in Chrome and that the way the page is displayed could depend on your choice of PDF reader. I use Adobe Reader, and it keeps any links intact.

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, offline, stock-browser
---


title: Flashing ROMs: Am I "Doing it Wrong?"

text:
# Question
Title: Flashing ROMs: Am I "Doing it Wrong?"
I'm a software developer and systems administrator, so my technological knowledge is moderately high. I'll just leave that here as a preface.

I've ran custom Android mods since my very first Android phone, the Nexus One. From the beginning, it seemed like the idea of changing/upgrading ROMs involves the following process:

1. Backup. Backup. Backup.
    1. Titanium Backup the phone from inside the operating system.
    2. Nandroid the phone from the bootloader.
2. If it's a significant difference between the source ROM and the destination ROM, a factory reset is necessary.
3. Flash the ROM.
4. Wipe the cache and Dalvik Cache.
5. Boot and restore from Titanium Backup.

However, when changing between ROMs, things take me a ridiculously long time to do. I generally have to put aside at least 3 hours to a day when changing my phone's ROM.

Here's what my *actual* process looks like:

1. Backup.
2. Factory reset.
3. Sometimes wipe the system partition too. (Should I be doing this? I only do it from paranoia.)
4. Flash the ROM and the Gapps.
5. Clear the cache and Dalvik cache.
6. Boot into the OS.
7. Get through the setup as quickly as possible.
8. Titanium Backup: Your phone ID has changed, want to restore it?
Me: Yes. \*reboot\*
9. Titanium Backup: Restore all the apps.
10. Setup my Google Account.
11. Shoot, Dropbox isn't working, manually have to login again.
12. Shoot, Evernote isn't working, manually have to login again.
13. ...etc.
14. (15 hours later) Cool, done.

Am I doing this wrong? I really feel that it shouldn't take this much time to switch ROMs. What can I do to speed up this process? Am I restoring from TB improperly? I'd love to be able to restore all apps, their settings, my Dropbox and Evernote accounts, my home screen, etc. without having to go through this painstaking process.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You should be careful when restoring apps from titanium. That software not only backups the apk itself. It backups the data of the app too. That's all it does. If the app you backup is programmed to run different accordingly to Android version and you change it with another rom and then in your new version you restore the app initialized to work with previous version, wel... errors will popup. For the rest, I do exactly the same as you except for the titanium backup. I only backup the Wi-Fi saved networks and their passwords. Not even Whatsapp databases because they're saved into SD card and the factory reset (and the dalvik cache and data format) doesn't erase it, so when I reinstall Whatsapp then the app finds magically those databases. I also backup saved words of Swype and messages (but not the messages app and its data like titanium does! ) But those things are for commodity. The rest I just delete all! New rom means new air. I ever loose little things, but saving contacts and notes in the cloud its far enough.

---
Tags: backup, rom-flashing, restore
---


# Question
Title: How to push and install APK files from a PC over Internet?
I want to push **AND INSTALL** apk files from PC like Play Store does (when I send install signal from web interface). How to do this?

**Note:** The PC and Android device may not be in same Wi-Fi network. So, I am asking for solution over Internet.
I am rooted..

# Answer
> 1 votes
Setup a VPN! Having your phone rooted will let you install OpenVPN . You should setup a server (and connect it too to the VPN) and your phone will be your client.

Then you'll have a server and a client in the same network so you can use adb commands! Push, pull, install...

---
Tags: applications, installation, apk
---


title: Change screen lock from password to pin

text:
# Question
Title: Change screen lock from password to pin
I have a Samsung Note 4 and I set the screen lock to use a password. Now I want to change it from password to another option, but it is not possible. Please advise me on how to remove the screen lock password.

# Answer
You enter ***settings\>security\>screen security\>*** and select how you want to unlock. You then will have to provide the password, maybe twice. Once the password is entered, choose another lock method.

If you forgot your password, then that is another question.
> 1 votes

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


# Question
Title: Homescreen on Nexus 4 (Lollipop) looks different compared to images of stock Lollipop
I installed Lollipop on a Nexus 4 and I noticed some differences from the videos and images of stock Lollipop that I've seen before. Mainly the status/notification and navigational bars are black (they should be transparent). Also, the design of the folders on the home screen is different (my folders have a black background while it should be white). You can see some examples in the images.

<sup>"Black bars" / "Black Folder" (click images for larger variants)</sup>

Does anyone know where's the problem?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Transparent notification bar / softkeys background, app drawer opening and closing animations are part of Google Now Launcher. Install it and you are good to go.

# Answer
> 1 votes
For what is IMO the purest stock Android experience, download the Google Now Launcher from the Play Store. Sure, there are other launchers out there, but this is straight from Google.

It replaces the old launcher and will give you the transparency you're looking for, along with the white backgrounds and other Material Design elements.

---
Tags: nexus-4, 5.0-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: Close Chrome when at a specific website using Tasker
I'm a student and new to Tasker.

I would like to be able to close Chrome whenever I go to certain websites (in order to help me get distracted less) but I'm not sure how to go about checking the web address and then creating a task, which closes the Chrome, based on that web address.

# Answer
You would need a plugin that enables you to interface with Chrome (as Chrome doesn't come with a way of other applications seeing the current web address built-in), I couldn't find one with a brief search, but there may be one.

You could set it up so that when you open a specific link in Chrome (either from the Google search app, Facebook, or another app), it scans the intent\* for certain URLs, and if it contains them, alerts you, if it doesn't, passes the intent on to Chrome.

This may get you stuck in a loop (it tries to pass the intent on, but catches it again), so you could use a redirection service (i.e. you pass the intent on with something extra in front so that it doesn't redetect it, and then Chrome loads it, gets redirected to the original web address).

One final thought, you could use Tasker to register to receive specific links (the same method that allows links to be opened in apps when you click on them, e.g. Wikipedia).

Anyway, the following link should be useful, I figure you would like to work this out yourself, so I won't provide a step-by-step solution (unless you really want one): http://tasker.dinglisch.net/userguide/en/intents.html

\*an intent is a message that is passed between applications on Android, for example, when you click on a link and it opens in your web browser, or you click on an address and it opens in maps.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: chrome-for-android, tasker
---


# Question
Title: no auto correct when tapping in swype mode
I have a galaxy s2. I keep my phone in swype mode but also tap some words. In the past, it has always auto corrected the words that I typed as it would with t9. Recently it stopped. I have the correct settings for the keyboard, and it auto corrects when typing in keyboards mode. In swype mode, it auto corrects when I swype the words but not when I type them. HELP!

# Answer
> 0 votes
I think this is a feature of the keyboard and cannot be fixed, but by all means try step one, if it worked in the past:

1. Go to Settings-\>Apps-\>All

Scroll down until you find you keyboard app, tap it

Find the 'clear data' button, try that

Also, if there is an option to, click 'uninstall updates' (If there was, open the play store and update it again)

Now try typing

If it doesn't work, read 2.

2. I would highly recommend using another keyboard app, as this doesn't sound like a bug. I personally use 'google keyboard' as it is fast, simple, and also has a swype mode, you can download it from the play store.

---
Tags: swype
---


# Question
Title: How to save Google search to My contacts
Is it possible to, after searching for people or business on Google maps or on Google, to save the info to my contacts directly without typing in the info yourself? Unfortunately no longer have the option on Google maps to save contact, and I'm not sure I why Google removed that option. Maybe a different app would be an option, if anyone know one that would work? I have a Galaxy S5

# Answer
When you search for the business (or person), it will give you a phone number, if you click on that phone number, it will open the dialer.

Somewhere on the dialer there will be an option to add to contacts (on stock android it is at the top), click that, then click new contact, fill in the name, and you are done.

However, this doesn't include the name, or address, and I don't think there is an easy way of adding those (unless you have a business card with an nfc tag).
> 1 votes

---
Tags: contact-shortcut
---


# Question
Title: How to go change azerty to qwerty on huawei ascend y530
Alright so I got a Huawei Ascend Y530, and I live in the Netherlands, where literally no person ever uses an azerty keyboard. However, for some reason I can only get azerty when setting my keyboard to Dutch. It's annoying me to no end but I have no idea how to get alter the keyboard to suit my wishes.

Does anyone know how to change an azerty keyboard to qwerty without changing the language?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Have you tried this :{ If you go to settings-\>language and input

You will then see a section called keyboard and input methods, click the settings icon next to the keyboard you use, somewhere in the app that launches (depends on the keyboard) will be an option to use an qwerty keyboard, maybe keeping the same language. }

Otherwise, try the following: I would recommend downloading 'google keyboard' from the play store, as it has the option (under 'appearance and layouts-\>customised input styles') to have a dutch qwerty keyboard.

---
Tags: keyboard, languages, huawei
---


title: Send an email setup as a file

text:
# Question
Title: Send an email setup as a file
Is it possible to send a file that would contain settings for a phone to set up an email account such as set up a POP3 account on a phone. So I could send it to a user on the network and then they just have to enter their credentials for that email account. I have tried looking but mostly I've found people who cannot connect to their mail account.

# Answer
You could send a text file that contains the relevant server details, and username and password, with instructions, but there is no file extension, which when clicked, automatically creates an email account.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: email, pop3
---


# Question
Title: Why did auto-upgrade Lollipop not hit in my Moto G 2nd Gen?
All,I am very excited to look forward to taste Lollipop in my Moto G 2nd, From the read, I was told Moto will auto-upgrade the Android system in their device from 4.4 to 5. I already checked my phone, In the "About Phone" , it shows "Moto G 2nd", But Why the upgrade notice doesn't show .Did I missed something ? Please help me .Thanks.

# Answer
Rollouts are done in stages, so you may not have been selected (automatically) yet.

This could be for a number of reasons: -The rollout is still in progress -They have postponed the rollout due to bugs

There are methods that allow you trick the rollout system (they will only work in the first case, not the second), but they aren't guaranteed to work, on my old nexus 4 you could wipe google play services data and reboot, there is probably a motorola equivalent.

Other than that, sit tight, motorola are probably acting in your bests interests (neither of my friends with moto g (2) have receive the update either)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: updates, 5.0-lollipop, motorola-droid, motorola-moto-g
---


title: 5.0 update not received

text:
# Question
Title: 5.0 update not received
Hi guys I searched alot but not found any thing related to this. So if anyone tell me what's the reason for this.

I just purchased Google nexus 5 and upgraded from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 and now waiting for 5.0 update on my device. But It has been over a month that I didn't received any updates and where others guys have received 5.0.1 as well. So anyone having same issue or something wrong with my device.

Thanks in advance

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could just wait it out, as you will eventually be prompted, or you have a couple of options.

You could try and speed up the update by trying to trigger it again, try wiping google play services data (it worked on my nexus 4).

Or you could flash the system image

A better option however would be to just flash the ota file, which can be done without unlocking your bootloader.

Get the ota, and follow the instructions at this link:

http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/12/23/flash-all-the-things-lollipop-ota-update-zip-file-roundup/

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop
---


title: Remove root via update

text:
# Question
Title: Remove root via update
I want to remove the root, i.e. unroot the phone Nexus 4. The automatic factory image downloader using Nexus toolkit takes ages (for some reason). I also read somewhere that updating your rooted phone removes the root. So How do I update a rooted android in order to remove the root?

# Answer
You simply flash a factory image. That overwrites the `/system` partition completely, effectively removing root.

For where to obtain those images, please take a look at Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?
> 0 votes

# Answer
Using nexus root toolkit, there is an unroot button, use that, then do a factory reset (and/or a reflash) if you want to.

After you have unrooted press lock, to lock the bootloader.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: updates, root-access
---


# Question
Title: Could a virus be preventing me from installing an Anti-virus?
My Nexus 7 has recently been behaving oddly (closing apps unexpectedly for example). I figured I would install Lookout on my device, and tried to download it twice, it seems to download but after the download is finished the app isn't there and the play store has an Install button again. I'm trying to download AVG anti-virus remotely (from the play store with the "install to device" button.

If that doesn't work, what else can I do?

EDIT: "Remote Install" did work. No virus was found. What else might cause apps to close randomly? Especially weird was any time I tried to go to Settings \> Running Apps it would boot me out to the home screen. Now it's not doing that. Could there have been a virus that was ONLY in RAM?

# Answer
> -1 votes
If your device is not Rooted, it would be impossible for an App to block installation of another app. If it is rooted, this is possible (anything is possible), but still very unlikely.

Bottom line, it is very, very unlikely that malicious software is blocking installation from the Play Store.

Things to try:

* Try to install it directly on the device (ie. don't push from Web).
* Clear the cache and data for the Play Store App

---
Tags: nexus-7, antivirus
---


title: Lollipop update on Moto G XT1033

text:
# Question
Title: Lollipop update on Moto G XT1033
I check my Moto G XT1033 phone on daily basis hoping that one day I will get Android 5.0. But I didn't haven't got the update yet.

Is there any current expected date it will be released in India?

# Answer
> 0 votes
According to this post on 1/4/15:

> NEW DELHI: Motorola reveals that the Android 5.0 update is about to release for the Moto G and then a member of the XDA Developers said that they had got the update in India for their Moto G XT1033.

They said that the version number is 220.21.16.en.03 and this is the official version. So it looks as though India has been the first region to get the Moto G update. This makes the device one of the most affordable that has the latest OS. The update is already getting rolled out in other regions."

Looks like it will be any day now, no exact date can be given as these updates are rolled out in bunches and might hit your neighbor before you. Just keep checking.

Source

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: my phone's display is damaged and i need to transfer all the data from the phone but it has a screen lock, what can be done?
my phone's display is damaged and there's a crack on it's screen too. before getting the phone repaired i need to transfer all the data from the phone to my mac but i am facing a problem while doing this. to transfer the data the phone needs to be unlocked and my phone is locked via a pattern lock. i tried randomly the pattern on the phone's screen but it dint work out. i need an alternative that would help me unlock the phone so that i may transfer all the data. Please help.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Get a USB on-the-go cable, connect a mouse to it and use it to unlock your device..

---
Tags: sony-xperia-z1
---


# Question
Title: How can I prevent myself from powering down my phone while "Alarmy (Sleep If U Can)" is trying to wake me up?
How can I make the phone impossible to turn off. I use an alarm clock which make a task I must complete before the ringing alarm turns off.

My problem is that I can simply turn off the phone and then I don't need to complete any task for the alarm to go away. So my question is that can I in some way make the phone impossible to turn off when the alarm is ringing? So then I would be forced to make the tasks(math problems, barcode scanner...) before I can turn off the phone.

Any idea is highly appreciated and If you know some app that will do this or if I can do this by rooting my phone so let me know. No solution is to hard for me, I will try anything suggested.

# Answer
I saw that they updated Alarmy (Sleep If U Can) to ver.7.3 on the 3rd of january with a new option called Preventing phone switch off. I wounder where they read about this idea;)
> 0 votes

# Answer
There is an app called Alarm Clock Xtreme on the Play Store. I used it a year ago and it worked great, but I tried it a month ago and it was draining my battery. Try it out and see if it works for you.
> -2 votes

---
Tags: alarm, shutdown
---


# Question
Title: Rooted, but Failed to push selection: Read-only file system
I rooted my Alcatel OneTouch S'Pop using an exploit app Framaroot.apk. When I tried to push a file to `/system/usr/keylayout/Generic.kl` using Eclipse's File Explorer, I got this error:

```
[2015-01-06 23:00:29 - ddms] transfer error: Read-only file system
[2015-01-06 23:00:29] Failed to push selection: Read-only file system

```

Pulling the file has no problems and I edited it to remap my camera button as a power button because the power button doesn't work well.

Could this be because the exploit method wasn't a good idea or do I somehow have to change the system folder to be R/W? And how do I do that?

# Answer
> 6 votes
You have to remount your /system partition be mounted as a read/write partition

What you need to do is

`$ su`

`# mount -o remount,rw /system`

---
Tags: root-access, internal-storage, file-transfer
---


# Question
Title: Compiling and running java applications from android terminal?
I recently got a bluetooth keyboard for my Motorola Xoom tablet, and upon realizing that BusyBox comes with vi for text editing I started wondering about writing and executing code on android.

I tried running `$ javac` in Terminal Emulator but to no avail; I got `javac: not found`

I looked around a bit and found a post saying that since android is run on Dalvik there is no way for the JVM to run, but it seems counter-intuitive that an operating system built on java wouldn't be able to compile and run a java program.

I managed to find an app called AIDE that allows one to write and execute android apps (in java), but that's still not quite what I'm looking for.

**I want to be able to compile and run a standard java command line application on android.** Does anybody know a way of doing this?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I found an app on the play store that let me answer this question. Below are the steps I used to get `javac` and `java` running.

# Install Terminal IDE

Go to the play store and install Terminal IDE, this supports everything needed to write and run java applications: `vim`, `javac`, and `java`.

Once the app is installed, make sure you open the app and go to `Install System` to install everything needed.

# Compile and Run Program

Now press the `Terminal IDE` button to open the terminal.

Use `vim` to write and save your hello world program.

Then to execute it has to be compiled to a JAR file:

```
# javac hello.java
# dx --dex --output=hello.jar hello.class
# java -jar hello.jar hello

```

# Pitfalls

When I first tried to compile and execute I got

```
UNEXPECTED TOP-LEVEL EXCEPTION:
java.lang.RuntimeException: hello.class: file not readable

```

This issue was fixed by compiling and running as superuser. Here's the full terminal output of my issue

```
terminal++@192.168.1.30:~$ javac hello.java
terminal++@192.168.1.30:~$ dx --dex --output=hello.jar hello.class

UNEXPECTED TOP-LEVEL EXCEPTION:
java.lang.RuntimeException: hello.class: file not readable
        at com.android.dx.util.FileUtils.readFile(FileUtils.java:63)
        at com.android.dx.cf.direct.ClassPathOpener.processOne(ClassPathOpener.java:139)
        at com.android.dx.cf.direct.ClassPathOpener.process(ClassPathOpener.java:113)
        at com.android.dx.command.dexer.Main.processOne(Main.java:247)
        at com.android.dx.command.dexer.Main.processAllFiles(Main.java:183)
        at com.android.dx.command.dexer.Main.run(Main.java:139)
        at com.android.dx.command.dexer.Main.main(Main.java:120)
        at com.android.dx.command.Main.main(Main.java:89)
        at com.spartacusrex.spartacuside.external.dx.main(dx.java:14)
        at dalvik.system.NativeStart.main(Native Method)
1 error; aborting
terminal++@192.168.1.30:~$ su
# dx --dex --output=hello.jar hello.class
# java -jar hello.jar hello
Hello world
#

```

# More Information

Everything you could possibly want to know can be found in the Help section of the Terminal IDE app, especially in the Java sections of the Tutorial.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Well, what do you mean by a regular Java program? I don't think that anything beyond the basic namespaces and libraries are supported and supported on android. So even if you were to find javac, it's unlikely that you'd be able to "full" Java programs on an android device.

---
Tags: terminal, java
---


title: Lg ls840 phone says security error

text:
# Question
Title: Lg ls840 phone says security error
After rooting my lg LS840 I wanted to get rid of bloatware it was working fine till I restarted but now my phone wont boot it just says security error.

I already spent hours trying to fix using lg support tool but keeps hanging tried on two different computers I also goolgled how to return to factory but coudn't find anything that worked

# Answer
> 1 votes
Here are the instuctions I found

> Directions - Please read them carefully
>
> 1. Please make sure you have your LG Drivers installed before you start this process you can go to Lg site to get current usb drivers
> 2. Please download one of these zip files from this links below
>
> LS840ZVC https://www.dropbox.com/s/j63hoo0jsocid8y/LGVIPER.zip
>
> LS840ZVD https://www.dropbox.com/s/3timbamztkewkdh/LS840ZVD.zip
> 3. Unzip and place the LG folder in C: root directory
> 4. Please have at least 60 percent battery or more and put the phone in download mode.
>
> You can do that by Plugging the usb cord while hold vol up and power. Keep holding it until you see a screen that says downloading in progress.
>
> 5. Now go to your device manager and look for your com ports and find your LGE Android USB Serial Port.(not modems) Now double click it and look for advance and then click it. now we have too change the com port to 41. press ok and close it out.
> 6. Unplug your usb connection from phone and leave phone in download mode.
> 7. Now open your windows explorer go to C:\LG\LGFLASHTOOL\LGFlashTool.exe run as admin.
> 8. Model config will open select manual mode assign LS840...dll for dll and .tot for s/w.
> 9. Go to port settings and select port 1 only.
> 10. Now plug your usb cable back into the phone.
> 11. start the flash by pressing the arrow on the top left side and let it run
>
> --\> !! Please don't let your desktop or laptop cutoff during the process. Please do not remove phone from usb cable until after the first reboot complete.
>
> It doesn't matter what percent your LG FlashTool is showing and you can close out LG FlashTool at that point. do a factory reset after you get too your home screen for the first time. now you device is ready too be used.
>
> don't forget to update profile on phone after it reloads

Source

---
Tags: lg
---


# Question
Title: How can I make it so my cyanogenmod phone is silent for everything but calls and alarms?
I like to keep my phone on silent at night so I can actually sleep without disturbance. The problem with that is that everything becomes silent. No one can reach me in case of emergency or anything.

Is there a way to put my phone in a "calls only mode" or something where everything is silent except phone calls and alarms?

I have the One Plus One with the latest android cyanogenmod available for that.

# Answer
> 3 votes
What you are looking for is Cyanogen User Profiles which can be found in Settings-\>Profiles under the Personal section header. Pick a profile or create a new one and select what parts of your phone are active.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, calls, alarm, silent-mode
---


# Question
Title: How do I add a second Google Apps account to my Nexus 9?
I'm trying to add my school Gmail account to my new Nexus 9 tablet. The OS is 5.0.1. The account is a Google Apps account. I've entered another Google Apps account without a problem. After I enter the username in the "Add account" screen, I hit Next. The password screen goes white, with no button or fields.

Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?

# Answer
I ran into this issue after updating to Android 5.0 and reported the issue to Google. I was promptly told "it's a known issue, but no ETA on fix". I ultimately resolved the issue for me, using this process below. I hope it helps you!

I was trying to add an account (from my school) that used web-based authentication for Google apps. After running adb and trying to add the account, I captured the following error when the white screen was displayed:

> I/GLSActivity( 5367): \[AuthUrlChecker\]Untrusted Auth URL: \http://my.pcc.edu/ProcessResponseServlet I/GLSActivity( 5367): \[AuthUrlChecker\]Untrusted Auth URL: \http://my.pcc.edu/ProcessResponseServlet I/GLSActivity( 5367): \[AuthUrlChecker\]Untrusted Auth URL: \https://my.pcc.edu/GoogleAltLogin-2.0.7/GoogleRedirect.jsp I/X509Util( 5367): Failed to validate the certificate chain, error: java.security.cert.CertPathValidatorException: Trust anchor for certification path not found.

I visted the url "https://my.pcc.edu/GoogleAltLogin-2.0.7/GoogleRedirect.jsp" in Chrome on my desktop, and noticed that there were no certificate issues (go figure!). I used Chrome to view the certificate trust chain for the website, and compared this to the certificates installed by default on my Android 5.0 device (go to Settings-\>Security-\>Installed Certificates-\>System to get list).

I noticed one certificate that was missing on the Android device, "VeriSign Class 3 Secure Server CA - G3". Google Chrome on the desktop thinks this is trusted, so I exported just this one certificate using Chrome, and saved it in the DER-encoded format with a .cer file extension. Then I copied this to the Android device and imported it into the certificate store (Settings-\>Security-\>Install from Storage). After doing this, I was finally able to add my Google apps account that uses web authentication!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, nexus-9
---


# Question
Title: How do I keep my camera active on Android even when the phone is locked and screen sleeps?
When I play Ingress, Ingress remains active. Even when my screen goes black, if I push the power button, Ingress is still active. I do not need to unlock my phone nor wait for it to "wake up". (The phone is locked though - to use any other app I need to unlock the phone.)

How do I get the same functionality for my camera app?

If I'm using the phone as a camera, with the camera app active, if the screen goes black, when I hit the power button, I want the camera to be open and active.

Things I've tried:

* Keeping my phone unlocked when in paired to a trusted Bluetooth advice. Then when I push the power button, I get a screen where I have to swipe to wake it up. With Ingress, I don't have to swipe the screen nor wait for anything.
* Snapshot. I've tried using the Snapshot app, but I have to wait for the phone to launch the camera app.
* The camera on swipe from the lock screen ... and again I have to wait for the camera app to launch.

I'm willing to figure out how to build my own app if needed. (But would rather find something.)

I'm willing to take a battery hit.

# Answer
It depends on your Android version. However, supposed you are using Lollipop, you can lock up an application to only make that one work.

You can also download an app called Caffeine from the Play Store that avoids your phone to go standby.

If you don't want to be noticed by any means, you can download an app called spy camera HD pro by MVM studio.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, camera, wakelock
---


# Question
Title: Photos and music from internal storage got deleted. How to recover them?
I restarted my LG Android phone and it was supposed to back up my phone's memory – but it deleted my photos and music that was saved to my phone's internal memory.

How do I get my music and photos back?

# Answer
> 1 votes
I will guide you with the process of getting your pictures back. (For music I would say you always download them again from their original source). Additionally to your device, this procedure will require a Windows or Mac computer/Laptop and an USB cable.

1. I am going to guide you over here with the help of Dr. Fone for Android by Wondershare. So download and install it over your PC/Laptop.
2. Connect your device with your PC/Laptop with the help of USB cable. Also make sure that USB debugging is enabled over your device. If the USB debugging isn’t available then you can always enable USB debugging under Developers option available under setting. You'll see a notification at the bottom of the screen saying that USB Debugging is being opened in the Dr. Fone Software over your PC/Laptop.
3. Once the connection has been made you will be able to select categories of deleted files i.e Photos, Contacts… etc ! Tap over the category you want to recover! Next Step is to tap over the Scan button for deleted files and follow the options appearing on the screen!
> Note: You'll need to accept the RSA key prompt on your smartphone (check ''Always accept'' to make it easier), making the connection between the two devices secure.
4. Once it will analyze your phone. There will be reboots, don’t be panic and let the tools do what its doing. Now you’ll get the scan results where you can tap over the check box for the photos you want to recover, so click over it and hit the recover button. And you will get your pictures back!

Hope this time my post helps you in getting your photos back!

Btw: Behind the above link, you can also find a screencast visualizing the process I've explained here.

---
Tags: data-recovery
---


title: How to take screenshot in NEXUS 5?

text:
# Question
Title: How to take screenshot in NEXUS 5?
I have one question How to take screen shot in **LG NEXUS 5**?

My device has Android 4.4.4 installed.

Any tricks.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Press and HOLD 'power key' and 'Volume down' key together.

---
Tags: nexus-5, screenshots
---


title: Why does my google account not work?

text:
# Question
Title: Why does my google account not work?
I rooted my LG G3 awhile back and everything was fine. One day, I couldn't access my gmail or play store using the installed apps due to a connection error. I factory reset my phone and whenever I try to add my gmail account, I get an error that says "Can't establish a reliable connection to the server". How do I go about fixing this?

Note: I'm with Verizon on 4.4.2

# Answer
## check date/time

If they are "too far off", it might cause problems with certificates – which then either appear "not yet valid" (with your date too far in the past), or "no longer valid" (with your date too far in the future). Most Google components such as Playstore, Gmail, Sync, use secure communications, and thus rely on certificates.

# check the `/etc/hosts` file

Especially with Custom ROMs or on rooted devices in general, the file might have been altered. Some "ROM cooks" add the IP for Google's servers here "to speed things up" (avoiding "lookup overhead") – with the side effect being things break when those servers are "relocated".

So in that file, there might be multiple entries you need to comment out or remove (check first if that's the case – if not, you can save yourself the trouble). Leave only the local host entry as is. You'll need to remount the system partition read/write to modify this file--, which requires root access. This can be done either via `adb shell` from your computer, or with a terminal app directly on the device:

```
$ cat /system/etc/hosts # first check if the work below needs to be done. If so:
$ su
# mount -o remount,rw /system
# cd /system/etc
# cp hosts hosts.bak
# echo "127.0.0.1 localhost" > hosts

```

Now see if it works again. If not, you can always restore your original `hosts` file (note we copied it to `hosts.bak`). When done, don't forget to remount `/system` read/write again – either by a reboot, or with `mount -o remount,ro /system`.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I had this issue and it was because my phones had year randomly changed to 1990, check your date and time settings.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, gmail, lg-g3
---


# Question
Title: I dont know how to update android wia twrp
I root my LG G3 month ago. I also installed TWRP recovery.

Today an Android update comes to my phone. I download the update, my phone restarts and shows TWRP. So I reboot my phone again – but again it shows TWRP!

Now I dont know what to do. Please help me to get my Android system running again. Currently, regardless of what I try, it always boots to TWRP.

# Answer
Its because you changed the stock recovery to twrp. OTA update requires stock recovery.

Try the below steps :

1. Download the file
2. Connect your phone to pc and select the mount option in twrp
3. Copy the downloaded file to the phone
4. Flash the zip using twrp
> 1 votes

---
Tags: ota-update, twrp
---


title: System Files Edit Without Root?

text:
# Question
Title: System Files Edit Without Root?
can I change system files on my android without them being rooted. And does changing the files mean my phone is now rooted ?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Most system files are protected in different ways.

## "system files" viewed as "managed by the Android system"

* everybody can read them, but only root1 can modify ("read-only" for all non-root)
* only root1 has access to them at all ("invisible" for all non-root)

So no: without rooting the device, you cannot modify them *directly*. Nevertheless, some of them can be modified *indirectly*, using the appropriate "activities" implemented in the Android GUI – which you might know as "Settings screens".

## "system files" viewed as "located on the `/system` partition"

Here the entire is mounted read-only – and only root can make it writeable.

---

The second part of your question is answered implicitly: root being a requirement to edit those files would implicate your device is rooted when you're able to modify them. But before drawing wrong conclusions, you should be sure the file you've modified really is a "system file". To find out whether your device is rooted, there are better means: "root checker".

---

**1:** sometimes there are dedicated system processes with elevated privileges, able to "trigger a modification" – this is how those GUI elements (in *Settings*) work.

---
Tags: root-access
---


# Question
Title: Notification icon that looks like "b" with segmented rings and a circle
I have this strange icon that appears in my notification bar (on the right hand side) every once in a while. I have only seen it when running an app in fullscreen, and then checking stuff in the notification bar. It disappears after a few seconds when quitting the full screen app.

(I have HTC One M8 with Android 4.4.4)

# Answer
It's HTC BoomSound. It shows when sound is playing.
> 3 votes

---
Tags: htc-one, notification-icons
---


# Question
Title: How to fix the infamous Nook Color / Nook Tablet charging USB cable for good?
The Barnes&Noble Nook Color / Nook Tablet have a proprietary micro USB charging port which is longer than normal and allows power charging with 2Amps.

The charging/data cable from BN is infamous to break after some time, most probably the cable's primary plastic coating is not very flexible and starts to split at the point where it enters the micro usb connector and leads to a visible secondary shielding. If nothing is done the situation worsens and in the end the internal power cables may short.

I got my used B&N Nook Color with a beginning coating split and cannot get a replacement from B&N because I live outside the US and have no invoice.

Seems like this problem is a common one, there are already discussions about a class action lawsuit.

What can I do besides looking for a replacement?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I did a better fix-- I opened up my Nook and replaced the connector on the PC board with a conventional micro USB connector. I now can use any standard micro USB (even the cheap retractable kind! Another option if you are not comfortable performing surgery on your Nook is the eForCity Micro USB OTG to USB 2.0 Adapter/dongle available from Best Buy. It will allow you to use a standard full-size USB cable of any length to charge your Nook without worrying about bending and trashing your straight nook charging cable. Linky: http://www.bestbuy.com/site/eforcity-micro-usb-otg-to-usb-2-0-adapter-compatible-with-samsung-galaxy-s3-black-black/1304921534.p?id=mp1304921534&skuId=1304921534

# Answer
> 4 votes
I fixed the cable early before it was too late.

The problem zone is the hard transition from the connector to the cable. Shear force due to moving/bending the cable is very strong there when the cable is inserted into the Nook. This is the place where it starts to break and that needs to be fixed.

I consider this solution permanent as it hasn't broken in 18 months:

Add another coating to this transition to reduce shear force.

Used components:

* superglue
* 2 pieces of heat shrink tube (different diameter)

Before:

Fixed:

# Answer
> 2 votes
Like the other answer, I too re-inforced a NEW cable, as a pre-emptive measure.

I experimented a little with the heat shrink tubing and superglue method, but supergluing the smaller heat shrink tube (which has to be slit in order to put on the cable) is messy, and prone to failure after applying the necessary heat to shrink it tight on the cable.

Better, cheaper, and far easier is to simply use high quality 3/4" BLACK ELECTRICAL TAPE to reinforce that (Nook Color/Tablet) end of the cable, in three steps, as follows:

1. Wrap the tape tightly around the cable itself, on the area closest to the connector, until it is the same diameter as that first (round) stage of the connector. Cut the tape.
2. Next wrap more tape over that area, close as possible to the larger (square) part of the connector, so that it covers both the previous tape wrap plus the smaller round (flange) part of the connector. Wrap tightly until it is about level or possibly a little higher than the square part of the connector. Cut the tape.
3. Next wrap more tape around that last wrap of tape plus part of the square connector, say with the edge right at the "n" LED, with about 3 turns maximum. Cut the tape. All done.

Advantages to this method include NOT subjecting the cable end to heat high enough to shrink the heat tubing (and possibly causing other damage). Also you don't need any other equipment or materials besides 3/4" electrical tape and scissors. Wrapping in 3 separate "level" sections keeps the tape from wrinkling, and if wrapped tightly, looks quite neat when done.

RECOMMENDATION: Wrap in the SAME DIRECTION for each of the 3 sections, and cut the tape such that tape sections end on the opposite side of the connector's "n" LED.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I'd like to add a fun alternative: use some Sugru. It's a flexible silicone rubber which can stick to just about anything and is simply moulded by hand. It air cures to a tough durable rubber. This is a UK invention (I'm sure they now have it in the US), so might be an alternative for us over here.

www.sugru.com

# Answer
> 1 votes
I wasn't smart enough to be preemptive, though I had plenty of warning as the intermittent problem became more frequent and finally failed completely (no wiggling the cord would make it work).

So, I opened up the connector on the Nook end (with the "N") and reconnected with solder the two broken leads. This was tricky since the circuit board there is only about 5/16 inch square! There are four conductors: red, green, black and white insulation colors in the cord. Both the black and the white leads were broken off.

After testing and reassembly, I wrapped the area with black, stretchy electricians tape to provide better strain relief at that vulnerable site.

# Answer
> 1 votes
My problem is not in the cable but in the nook. Looking inside the plug port it appeared at first that some of the male pins were bent, then in time just not there. I called the help line and they said it was non repairable. And of course would give me credited on a new nook. Which amounted to more than just going to Amazon and buying one.

---
Tags: hardware, nook-color
---


# Question
Title: How to retrieve file from broken samsung
I have a broken Samsung Express GT-I8730 which keeps rebooting every 5 sec. There is no sd card in the phone but I need the pictures that are on the phone.

In recovery mode, the phone is not seen by the computer. I cannot copy the photos because it reboots to fast.

Is there any way to retrieve them without starting up the phone?

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you had Auto Backup turned on in Google Photos, you can retrieve them through your browser at https://plus.google.com/photos.

---
Tags: samsung, files
---