# Question
Title: Why do my headphones stop working on my LG Android?
About yesterday, my headphones randomly started pausing my music. At first, I thought it was my headphones which are Apple iPod/iPhone 5 headphones that I've had for a few months from an old iPhone, so I tried another pair that are brand new and only used once or twice and the same thing happened. It would pause the music and it didn't show the headphone icon at the top like it should on both pairs. And then when I'd go to my music player to start up the song, it would play the music through my phone speakers when the headphones were plugged in. Why?

# Answer
After THREE YEARS of searching for a fix... I think I just found a solution - and felt obligated to spread the information. Just plug the headphones in slowly... That's actually all there was to it... The notification icon for a plugged in audio jack at the top of the screen will show up differently if you did it right.

This reddit post: https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.reddit.com/r/LGG3/comments/2siwyp/is\_there\_a\_rom\_or\_fix\_that\_makes\_g3\_detect\_all/ the user RandomGenera7ed tells us to plug the jack into the headphone plug slowly - causing it to show up as a three prong headphone jack and not a four prong jack (four prong jacks have a mike wire that can have pause/skip/volume-change/GOOGLE VOICE functionality while three prong audio jacks do not). Apparently plugging a three prong jack in too quickly confuses the phone into thinking it has a four prong jack plugged in.
> 2 votes

# Answer
I think your phone audio card might be broken. Do the phone speaker / Bluetooth speaker work? In that case, I would send your phone back to LG.
> 0 votes

# Answer
If the headphones were working previously on the phone and now they just suddenly stopped working, then it's likely that the phone's audio hardware has malfunctioned.

Alternatively, there is also a small possibility that some drivers have been updated on your phone to detect Apple headphones and not allow them to be used. (This is a conspiracy theory, but Apple does do this with their Lightning connector such that if you buy a counterfeit one or buy from some other vendor it won't work).

Have you tried a totally different set of headphones (not Apple ones) on this phone?

Does the headphone jack fit totally/properly in the port? Sometimes a little fidgeting with it and pressing a little harder gets some of the grooves to click into place so that the right connections are flush against each other. (Had this issue on a Nexus 7 with Apple Earpods)

Personally i've tested Apple Earpods (iPhone 5 headphones) on a Google Nexus 4 and 5 (both LG devices) and they work. However on a Samsung Galaxy Ace the same set of headphones behaved quite similar to what you described. They worked initially, but then started doing weird things with playing and pausing music, and not showing up in the notifications. Also the mic didn't work for me. It causes some loud ringing noise on the other end.when you're on hands-free with the headphones.
> 0 votes

# Answer
This happened to me too! What I did was put my phone into reverse portrait mode. If that does not work then unplug the battery. If it still does not work then find an earbud, remove all the cotton around its head and move it around in the headphone socket.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Reply date 12/04/17

Hi to everyone who is having the mic problem on lg g3 where the you can hear the pesrson you have called wearing headphones but they can not hear you, the way to fix this problem is to use the original lg g3 headphones as this phone doesn't work with other headphones like samsung and other brands.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: hardware, music, headphones, lg
---


title: Hidden alarm at everyday 12AM

text:
# Question
Title: Hidden alarm at everyday 12AM
I have the Lenovo Moto Z Unlocked with sadly still Android M.

There's a hidden alarm everyday at 12 midnight, and it doesn't show it in the original clock app, which I haven't used an app other than that for alarms.

How can I diagnose this problem?

# Answer
I found the problem. It turns out TimeTune was doing this (even though it is only a reminder app). I uninstalled and it disappeared.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Check for **Google Calendar** or any other task app that you have installed. Possibly you might have setup notification as daily and time might have be automatically selected as 12 PM.

Do remember that **Factory Reset** is the final resort to solve your issues, including this one as well.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I did everything that anyone in any sites suggested but it didn't solve, then I uninstalled clock app updates,restart the phone,and the hidden alarm disappeared!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, alarm
---


# Question
Title: Samsung galaxy S7 edge from HK soft/firmware
I am a massive novice when it comes to this, please can you help? I bought a S7 edge SM-G9350 from hongkong but it did not GooglePlay etc. I live in the UK and wondered how to get my phone software to be the same as UK phones? I saw this link but it is a bit advanced for my understanding. Thank you.

# Answer
Obtain Gapps from here, and then in fact you have two alternatives:

1. Install custom recovery via Odin and then flash Gapps with it.
2. Try to install Gapps via `adb sideload`. Not all devices/vendors allow this, but you can try.

Firstly you need enable ADB, then drop the Gapps zip-archive into folder with ADB and run

```
adb sideload gapps.zip

```

There is also manual way of install (described for example here), but it's rather cumbersome.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, root-access, stock-android, rom, samsung-galaxy-s-7-edge
---


title: Application or timetracking

text:
# Question
Title: Application or timetracking
Is there any android app to monitor the time you have worked with another app in the android device? I want to see how many hours I use an app in a day.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can simply dial `*#*#4636#*#*` in your native dialer.

You will receive a list of options :

**Phone information**

**Battery information**

**Usage statistics**

**Wi-Fi information**

Third option is what you might want to choose. Sort the results by *Launch count*, and you will receive the list of apps in descending order of usage time.

---
Tags: applications, system-apps, app-drawer
---


# Question
Title: Moto G5 Plus - will the US sim free version work with a UK sim card?
I'm getting a new phone and I'm pretty set on the Motorola G5 Plus. I live in the UK but I will be traveling to the US soon and I'm considering buying a new phone while I'm there ($230 vs £250 here which is about a £50 difference even with MA sales tax).

Anyway - I am wondering if the G5 Plus from the US would work without any issues in the UK and the rest of Europe with a UK sim card. I googled around a bit and found some info on GSM bands but I hope that someone knowledgeable will be able to give me a definite answer.

This is what I found on Motorola's official website regarding this phone's bands:

> Moto G Plus - XT1687 CDMA (850, 850+,1900 MHz) GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) UMTS/HSPA+ (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz) 4G LTE (B1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 25, 26, 38, 41, 66)

I have also found bands supported by British carriers and they seem compatible to me but I would like to be sure first (it's also quite important that it works in the rest of Western Europe as I travel from time to time).

Thank you in advance!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Unfortunately it would not work on 4G as O2 in the UK requires band 20 which the US version of the phone XT1687 does not support.

---
Tags: sim-card, motorola
---


title: Why my phone keep restarting apps?

text:
# Question
Title: Why my phone keep restarting apps?
When i play game, my phone always restart the game every few minutes to the first screen. It is same when i play a video it is always blinking and skip few seconds every few minutes. It is so annoying when my phone restart some apps every few minutes. Plase help me find solution

# Answer
First thing you do is fully wipe your phone data/Factory Reset.

Still get random reboot? Check your Xiaomi ROM you used. It's `Global,China, Global Dev, China Dev, or Distributor ROM`

How to do that? Go to Settings - About Phone - MIUI Version If your ROM is distributor version, the version code will like `66.44.33` If it's BETA ROM the version name will be `MIUI 7.3.2 | Beta` and for the global is `MIUI 8.3 Global`

After you know what's ROM inside your phone. you can re-flashing the ROM that you can download here

How? after you downloaded the ROM, move the downloaded ROM into your phone storage then open Updater App, click the three dots button on the top right side than choose Update package, selected the ROM you have been downloaded. Start flashing wait till finished. Your data will not be wipe if you on the same ROM version `BETA - BETA` or `Global - Global`

**IF** your ROM is Distributor version you must search the same China ROM version like your Distributor ROM version.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: performance, xiaomi
---


# Question
Title: My phone keeps clicking on things that I'm not even clicking on?
Sometimes my Sony xperia z5 just start freezing, clicking on apps, turning drawer's pages and doing things like that without me doing anything . In my opinion it looks like a problem with the touchscreen and the display because it's like if someone touches it but nobody is actually doing it, I am also pretty sure that there isn't any virus . Do you have any idea about the causes of this?

Ps: My phone got the latest firmware and not a modified rom

# Answer
My phone had same issue, this touchscreen issue got me my phone replaced which was under valid warranty.

You should take it to the respective mobile service centre.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: touchscreen, 7.0-nougat, system-freeze, 7.1-nougat
---


# Question
Title: Warn or Block Internet Access When No VPN?
I use a paid VPN service (TorGuard) and when I run it on my computer, I am able to configure the client to completely block Internet access if the VPN is disconnected...

The Android version of my VPN client does not have this option, so my question is, is there another way I can completely block Internet traffic if my VPN is disconnected?

Alternatively, is there a way I can get some sort of warning when the VPN is disconnected?

I'm using a Kogan Agora 6+, running Android 6.0 ("Marshmallow").

# Answer
> -1 votes
If you set up your vpn connection manually in settings. The three dot menu bar has this option in one if its menus.

---
Tags: security, privacy, data-connection, vpn
---


# Question
Title: How to receive notifications when an app goes on sale on Google Play store
I would like to know if there's a way to receive notifications on the **computer (online) or smartphone (offline)** when a **customized list** of apps goes on sale on Google Play store. (Maybe through e-mail, RSS feed, SMS, etc.)

# Answer
> 0 votes
The implementation of this project could be easily developed if there is an available API from Google. I think there is no free `Google API` for this purpose. You can receive `emails` or `SMS` on your mobile phone when a new Android application is published on the Google Play Store, but you need a special API from Google.

---
Tags: google-play-store, notifications, google-play-wishlist
---


title: Accessing data after flashing new ROM?

text:
# Question
Title: Accessing data after flashing new ROM?
My S6 Edge was stolen so this question is intended to answer some of my fears. Phone was PIN locked.

1. Can data from internal storage (like photos) be accessed if a new ROM is flashed and lock is cleared?
2. Can a new ROM be flashed if device is encrypted?
3. Does reset via recovery mode console remove the encryption and data?

EDIT:
Some notes
\- ROM was all stock
\- Usb debug disabled
\- No SD card storage expansion on it

# Answer
> 2 votes
1. See 2. :)
2. Yes. But to answer the question behind it: without knowing the passphrase, that wouldn't mean encrypted storage became accessible. Passphrase and key are required to decrypt.
3. A just cuts the power. A should remove data and reset the encryption (as it would clear the encryption key along)

What you left out is data on your SD card. If the card was not encrypted, the data of course can be accessed. Otherwise, see 2. again.

As you report your device stolen, beeshyams pointed out another fact that might be of interest to you (in the now cleaned-up comments): *Factory reset protection would be an added complication to the thief.* That is, if it was available and enabled on your device (FRP was introduced around Android 5.1.1 but only automatically enabled for devices which originally shipped with Android 5+), even when flashing a new ROM the "possessor" would still need your Google credentials in order to use it. There are ways to work around that, but they don't work on all devices and are also not easy to perform.

---
Tags: rom-flashing
---


# Question
Title: Android forgets ringtone settings after USB connected as mass storage
Every time I turn on USB as mass storage device, my phone forgets its ringtone.

This is somewhat reasonable, because the OS doesn't have access to these file while the flash belongs to another computer. But I expect that the settings to revert or be kept after it's disconnected.

Is there a way to keep it remember ringtone settings?

Current settings (but it happened on other models as well):

* ZTE
* CM12

# Answer
> 1 votes
Just move your desired ringtone to `/system/media/audio/ringtones` and set proper permissions (refer to other files in the folder).

---
Tags: ringtone, usb-mass-storage
---


# Question
Title: Unwanted Apps (Maybe malware) downloaded and installed on Android device
Off late, I have been observing some unwanted apps getting downloaded and installed on my Android device without my knowledge. Upon noticing I uninstalled those apps. However, the next time I switch on my data or connect to Wi-Fi, in no time does it re-install those apps. Is there a way in which I can troubelshoot this ?

Below are the couple of apps that are getting installed (please not none of these are available on Play Store):

* Content Visual
* VedioZone
* UC News
* WhatsApp (This is not the original WhatsApp with a slightly different icon)

I tried doing a Factory Reset with no success

I also tried resetting the device by going into the recovery mode with no success.

I disabled allowing apps to installed from unknown sources.

The Quick Heal anti-virus does not detect any threats.

Edit 1: I could see multiple instances of the above listed app as shown in below image:

# Answer
> 0 votes
I think some malicious process running on your device so go to

**Settings-\>App-\>Running (Tab)**

and try to identify unwanted process and if you get it stop the process and try to uninstall belonging application of respective process.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This is some kind of virus that has worked its way into the operating system. The only solution is to flash the default operating system again.

Since you did not specify the phone model, I'll be generic about my answer.

Reflashing the stock operating system is a process where you download the default operating system from the phone manufacturer website and load it into the phone, overwriting the existing operating system which is infected. A factory reset will not work in this case. Doing this involves unlocking the bootloader, which will void the warranty. Contact your phone's manufacturer and ask if there is a way to repair the phone without voiding the warranty. If there isn't, google your device name and "flash a custom ROM", or a custom operating system that many Android professionals prefer over the stock one. In your case, instead of writing the alternate operating system, we are simply rewriting the default one from the manufacturer.

---
Tags: applications, 4.4-kitkat, malware, downloading
---


title: stop google now mid-rant?

text:
# Question
Title: stop google now mid-rant?
I use Google Now on an Android tablet, and I wanted to know if there is a way that I can stop it speaking in middle. Usually when I search for something it will read off the top result, and I often don't need it to read off the entire thing. Is there a way I can stop it after I've heard enough?

# Answer
See this reddit post, where the OP has created this web site dedicated to known Google Now commands and their variations. There is no direct way of *silencing*, so here is a workaround

When Google is reading the results and you heard enough, say *OK Google mute the volume*

This silences Google by setting volume to zero. To revert to normal volume, say *OK Google set the volume to `x`* , x being a number from 1 to 15 (you will need to experiment to get to comfort level) or *OK Google set the volume to full*

Tested this on searches like *OK Google define aerodynamics*, where the rant (as you say ) was long enough . I haven't been able to configure to read out search results, say on Donald Trump :)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: google-now
---


title: Want data off broken phone. Possible?

text:
# Question
Title: Want data off broken phone. Possible?
The screen of my samsung S6edge is showing black but the rest of the lights work if i push the hardware buttons. I don't seem to be able to get my touch screen to respond at all.

The autobackup wasn't able to work while I was away because it never had access to WiFi.

Is there any way that i can pull my photos off it? I have a mac with dual boot windows and am happy to add a linux boot if that will make my life easier.

# Answer
> 0 votes
It might depend on whether or not you enabled Developer Options in Settings before you lost use of the touch screen. Try downloading Samsung USB drivers for PC and install on computer or laptop, turn phone on and connect to PC with *data* cable. If it installs, you can list folders from your phone and copy files.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could buy a cheap USB to HDMI converter and connect the phone to a tv/monitor. When you can see the screen, try and see if the touch screen works.

If the touch screen doesn't work, you can connect a mouse to the phone using a micro USB OTG hub, and also connect the HDMI to a USB port (if you bought a micro USB to HDMI converter you'll need a micro USB to USB adapter too)

Example of items. Note: I can't guarantee this will work. http://m.ebay.com/itm/351932566559 http://m.ebay.com/itm/Hot-USB-3-0-to-HDMI-Converter-Cable-Display-Graphic-Adapter-for-HDTV-1080P-/122176138189

---
Tags: samsung
---


title: Download stops with no msg

text:
# Question
Title: Download stops with no msg
I'm trying to get apps and I have plenty of storahe but about half a second after download starts it stops with no message

# Answer
> 0 votes
As I understand, maybe you could not have connection on the Internet or broadband on your mobile device. But please give more information. I hope it helps.

---
Tags: downloading
---


# Question
Title: My coolpad note 3 lite is not switching on
It is off and i cannot switch it on. While charging i press power button nothing happens only the led glows to show charging. It is not getting recovery mood also. I think power button might got defected. I don't know. Please help me fast and urgent.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Do you have dropped it? Probably power button can be broken then. If not then try to find a reset switch lot of tablets have a small hole labeled as reset where you can insert a small pin and holding it will reset your tablet. This problem constantly happens with me but resting it helps. Don't worry none of your data will be affected.

---
Tags: power-on
---


# Question
Title: Making apps think you have a lower version of android
so i want an app or something like that that makes apps think you have a lower version of android even thogh your android version does not change

# Answer
You can achieve it by rooting and installing build.prop editor app from there can change model no. of phone, version, manufacturer name and many more stuff yeah you can also simply revert it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, downgrade
---


title: How Can I open it?

text:
# Question
Title: How Can I open it?
I have a phone it is samsung sm-a8000... Can someone please tell me how to turn it on. it only shows logo upside down and stucked. This is what I did before this error: I used Root Explorer then I change something in the system folder then I rebooted it and it doesnt open up in home anymore..please help me

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can hard reset your Android device it will normally revert changes you've made. Here's how you can do this

Here the link to it

---
Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: Download apps that are listed as being incompatible with my device in the Play Store
After installing Cyanogenmod on my Samsung S3 mini, I have found that the Play Store does not offer any additional apps. For some of the apps, I assume the only requirement I am missing is a newer version of Android, as I have been able to use them successfully when installed from a third party source (which is potentially dangerous).

I want to get apps that I know work with my device from the Play Store. Is there a way to do this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Market Helper works perfectly, if your device is rooted. It can spoof another device on a different carrier.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, google-play-store, installation
---


title: Android as rubber ducky

text:
# Question
Title: Android as rubber ducky
Watching Mr Robot I came across a small device called a rubber ducky. It simulates a keyboard and executes a given list of commands, like keystrokes and such. Now that I am too cheap to buy a real one and none of my USB sticks are capable of having their bootloader reflashed to turn them into one, I thought, since you could use your android as a USB keyboard, wouldn't it be possible to use it as a rubber ducky as well? I have tried the droidducky script (http://zx.rs/6/DroidDucky---Can-an-Android-quack-like-a-duck/), but without luck...

Are there any alternatives?

* rocket\_doge\_

# Answer
> 3 votes
Using an Android device as a rubber ducky is possible, but setting it up can be difficult. Your device most likely doesn't work with the payload because it is not rooted and/or doesn't support HID keyboard output at kernel level. If there is no support for HID, this can be fixed by flashing a kernel which does support this, however the number of supported devices isn't exactly huge, meaning you would have to edit, compile and flash the kernel by yourself.

You can see the exact procedure here: https://github.com/plowsec/android-ducky

Here is a list of devices which already have compiled kernels (it is accessible from the first one, though): https://github.com/pelya/android-keyboard-gadget

---
Tags: usb, keyboard, shell
---


# Question
Title: How to send and receive SMS remotely (thru HTTP server)?
I would like to

* send SMS
* receive SMS
* get log of incoming calls (phone number, date & time)
* drop the incoming call

with some app installed on my old Android phone. Can I do it? Ideally, I think it should be some app with HTTP server running, so with usage of app's API I will be able to do all these actions. Does such app exist?

# Answer
Is it this what you are looking for?

1. MyPhoneExplorer
2. AirDroid
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sms, remote-access, call-history
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy Tab S (retail mode) bricked - HELP!
i have a problem with my Samsung Galaxy Tab S SM-T700 (WiFi) that I couldnt solve even after a lot of googling.

* Main Problem: It won't boot after I did some software updates (stuck on Samsung logo)
* Complications: Retail mode (MDM does not allow factory reset)

The data on the device is not important, it would be no problem to lose it, if I could somehow do a factory reset.

I tried re-flashing with the stock rom, but it still won't boot and still is in retail mode (actually, it "half-booted" once immediately after the flash, the OS started just to tell me it's not working and "has been quit").

Any ideas? Is it actually possible that there is no way to revive it? Thank you all in advance!

# Answer
> 0 votes
Have you tried this

1. Sammobile Firmware
2. Odin
3. For the next time, keep the retail mode in the developer section ALLWAYS ON

---
Tags: samsung, unbricking
---


# Question
Title: How to access the RecycleBin or trash folders and recover deleted files?
Deleted a file, with the option to delete permanently unchecked. Tried to retrieve it then, only to find out that Android has no visible recycle bin...

# Answer
When deleting files with the option to delete permanently unchecked, they do go to a `RecycleBin` folder or `trash` folder if you delete them using an app that lets you see the files you deleted. There are actually ways that allow you to access and browse those folders and all invisible folders, even without root access, you can recover images this way using DiskDigger.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Android has no "Trash Folder". Maybe your file manager provides one but with no info provided, we cannot determine how it is. Usually unchecking such an option like "Delete Permanently" just disables file shredding, which is far different from moving to a "Trash Folder".
> 2 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: In-app purchase got cancelled, but money debited from bank
Yesterday I was trying to make an in-app purchase (via netbanking as the payment option). After making the payment from the bank site, I was being returned to the app, when I was told "purchase cancelled". However, the money got deducted from my bank account. The transaction details in playstore web site shows that the purchase was "cancelled", and not "refunded". What do I need to do now to get my money back?

Please suggest.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If it's banks payment error you get refund in around 6 days. Or later you can ask the developer for a refund. You can mail the developer to his email given in developer details

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


title: No Internal Storage in One Touch 8020A

text:
# Question
Title: No Internal Storage in One Touch 8020A
http://es.tinypic.com/r/2vx3zwn/9

I have only 2 apps and I can not download anything, its a One Touch 8020A.

I have nothing in the internal space, onlynin the SD Card and I am not able to download anything.

Any ideas or solutions? Thank you

# Answer
I had the One Touch before the phone I have now. It am sad to say that thr phome itself causes the problem. I could barely install an app. Every app would install on internal storage. **You have to try install a app on internal and than move to your SD card**
> 0 votes

---
Tags: internal-storage
---


# Question
Title: How can I remove A friends phone from my google account? I used it and didn't sign out
I have been on the security manager page and although the device is there, there is no option to remove it or deauthorise it. I have changed my password but am unsure if they can still gain access without needing a password as I have just clicked on my phone to gmail and it opened without needing a password. I'm not good with computers so don't know what else to do. Help would be appreciated x

# Answer
If you changed your password, your account is signed out everywhere and requires the password to log in again. All is safe.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Ethan's answer is correct, but for peace of mind: You can also log in to Gmail on your PC, hit "Details" at the very bottom-right of the page, and choose "Sign out all other sessions".
> 0 votes

# Answer
If you are really worried about security you can go for Google two step verification

Everytime you sign in from any device or anywhere you will be asked for OTP. It gives another layer of security to your account.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: gmail, google-account
---


# Question
Title: Weird package "com.google.ccc.abuse.droidguard.droidguasso"
Recently my phone shows "Android is starting Optimizing App 1 of 1" at every boot. I intercepted this and found it running `dex2oat` in this way

```
/system/bin/dex2oat --runtime-arg -classpath --runtime-arg /system/framework/XposedBridge.jar --instruction-set=arm64 --instruction-set-features=default --runtime-arg -Xnorelocate --boot-image=/system/framework/boot.art --dex-file=**/data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_fb/f.apk** --oat-fd=45 --oat-location=/data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_fb/f.dex --runtime-arg -Xms64m --runtime-arg -Xmx512m
```

I also managed to grab a copy of the APK. The original APK and DEX *disappears* after `dex2oat` is done. Its package ID is `com.google.ccc.abuse.droidguard.droidguasso` and it's only 6.5KB in size. There's not even a `META-INF` folder in the APK. Google shows no exact result about it.
I'm afraid whether it's a malware but I can't find out anything more. Can anyone help me?

I have the intercepted APK uploaded to Dropbox.

Edit: Got rid of it by creating a blank *file* at `/data/data/com.google.android.gms/app_fb`. But I still wonder about its malice (if so).

# Answer
> 4 votes
## Disclaimer

This APK's code is obfuscated, hence it's difficult to ascertain its purpose. For those who have doubts concerning my analysis — and I encourage you to —, feel free to download the decompiled APK from my MEGA account.

---

## Analysis

First and foremost, I'd like to state that there are five characteristics of this code that made me think:

1. the code is obfuscated;
2. no permissions are ever declared inside the **AndroidManifest.xml**;
3. even if the code itself is obfuscated, there are strings which mention **EGL**, **shaders** and **rendering**;
4. a method in the code probes the device's **graphic card**;
5. this APK is **not signed**.

As for point 1, I often decompiled Google's apps, and they do like to obfuscate their code.

Point 2 greatly limits the potential nefarious actions an app can perform, **as long as the app doesn't inherit its permissions by another app**.

Points 3 and 4 seems to hint at a software which is devoted to draw on the display.

Point 5 is fascinating, as Android's package installer **doesn't normally allow installing unsigned packages**.

---

## Guess

My guess is that this is a piece of software **developed from Google, by Google**. The APK is unsigned, but it might theoretically be installed by a system app, thus **bypassing the signature restriction**.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I have reason to believe that `com.google.ccc.abuse.droidguard.droidguasso` is Droidguard (a Google safety tool). There's minimal information about it on the web, and the best source for SafetyNet information (which is related to Droidguard) has explicitly said that he would not publish information on it as it would only be useful to attackers. Touching on the other answer, SafetyNet is not an obfuscated package, and just contains the `classes.dex` file. As Droidguard is indeed obfuscated whereas SafetyNet isn't, my guess is that Droidguard evolves slower than SafetyNet.

---
Tags: malware, odex
---


# Question
Title: What are that symbols mean especilly the red point and the circled phone
What are that symbols mean especilly the red point and the circled phone is it a call recorder

# Answer
This link shows the similar red dot in the notification

Yes, It seems to be call recorder notification.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: notification-bar
---


title: It Type of Hacking

text:
# Question
Title: It Type of Hacking
in google play when i am installing something it is showing two devices associated with my gmail id.How can i remove another device?I think Its some kind of hacking.

# Answer
If a device you no longer use is listed (or if you don't recognize the device), you can remove it from your account. To remove devices from your account:

1. Use your phone's browser to go to myaccount.google.com.
2. In the "Sign-in & security" section, touch **Device activity & notification**.
3. In the "Recently used devices" section, touch **Review devices**.
4. Touch the device you want to remove \> **Remove**.

Source: Google Support
> 2 votes

# Answer
I would like to add to the above answer:

If you fear about security of your playstore Gmail account you can go for Google two step verification

Everytime you sign in from any device or anywhere you will be asked for OTP. It gives another layer of security to your account.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: multiple-devices, google-account
---


# Question
Title: How to disable OTA update of some specific apps?
My android device is 4.4.2 with no root access.

I would like to disable OTA updates of some specific apps like facebook and other apps.

Can it be possible?

Please let me know, how to do this?

Regards

InTech

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you are rooted, you can use Titanium Backup and Freeze the system app named "Software Update MUC". This prevents the phone from self checking for updates and the notifications will stop.

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, ota-update
---


# Question
Title: Can't find option ‘Install zip from SD card’ after installing Clockworkmod
I'm following this guide to root my HTC Desire 510.

I reach the step **Step 4 – Root the HTC Desire 510**.

I perform the command `fastboot flash recovery recovery.img` in a cmd prompt, and I receive the message:

```
sending 'recovery' (10594 KB)...
OKAY [1.352s]
writing 'recovery'....
OKAY [0.731s]
finished. total time 2.085s

```

I rebooted my phone, then powered off the phone.

At **Step 5 – Install SuperSU**, I don't see the option **‘Install zip from SD card’**. I don't see **Install Zip** either.

This is what I see:

```
FASTBOOT
RECOVERY
FACTORY RESET
SIMLOCK
CHECK SMARTSD
IMAGE CRC
SHOW BARCODE

```

What do I need to do to Install SuperSU?

Help appreciated.

# Answer
> 0 votes
FASTBOOT REBOOT RECOVERY ONE THAT RE STARTS

`adb usb`

`adb devices`

`adb -s sideload nameofzip.zip`

(-s is the serial # of device)

---
Tags: rooting
---


title: Unroot phone without root access

text:
# Question
Title: Unroot phone without root access
I remember rooting my LG G3 like two years ago with Stump Root. Now I don't use root anymore. My bank app doesn't work because my phone is rooted. Now I want to remove root from my phone. I found out that I can remove root access from my phone when I remove the su binaries from the phone. I downloaded ES Explorer to do so. ES Explorer told me that I don't have root access. Now I can't remove the su binaries.

How do I unroot my phone now? And why thinks my bank app that I have root even though ES Explorer and root checker both tell me that I don't have root access?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Install the SuperSU app and go into settings and perform a full unroot... If that fails you will likely need to flash the full factory KDZ image and return to pure stock, be aware this procedure will wipe your device and all user data stored on it.

---
Tags: root-access, unrooting
---


# Question
Title: How can I factory reset a European Huawei phone in China without access to Google?
Well, as you can see in the title......I am having a hard time in China. :) My phone is from Spain and I had to factory reset it (it got soft-bricked...just on its own. Weirdest thing ever). It is a Huawei P8 Lite 2017 with literally no support. Whatever is on the internet (PC suite) can't be used because it says it is not a supported phone.

**Is there a way to continue the factory reset without the Google service? It is blocked here.**

This is the screen where I am stuck atm:

# Answer
To reach Google and proceed with the next steps, you need to set up a PC that's capable of penetrating through *that wall* (e.g. with VPN), and make it a proxy server on the local network for your phone to use. Here's the way I do it:

1. On your PC, install Privoxy and let it through your firewall (if exists)
2. Go to its installation directory and open `config.txt`. You might need to open it with administrator privilege to be able to save it later.
3. Search for "listen-address" and you should get something like this:

> listen-address 127.0.0.1:8118

It should be right above the chapter "4.2 toggle" and not have a "#" before it. Edit it to:

> listen-address 0.0.0.0:8118

Now save the file.
4. Determine the LAN IP of your PC, usually by running `ipconfig` in the Command Prompt. Suppose it's `192.168.0.1`.
5. Fire up Privoxy and connect to the VPN you use. Now your PC is ready; move on to the phone.
6. While in Setup Wizard, connect your phone to the same network as your PC. If you have already connected to the network, make the phone forget it and set it up from scratch. When entering setup details, check Advanced Options, then choose "Manual" for Proxy. Enter the IP and port you got previously. It should look like this:

Proceed to connect.

Your phone should now use your PC as a proxy, and therefore should be able to reach Google. Follow the on-screen guidance afterwards.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: factory-reset, google-account, boot-loop
---


title: Screen turns on when I bump phone

text:
# Question
Title: Screen turns on when I bump phone
I have a Moto E 2015 LTE (surnia) running Lineage OS, Android 7.1.1. Every time I bump the phone the screen turns on to tell me the time. I can't find a setting to turn this off. I couldn't find such a setting in the stock Android either.

Does anyone know if there is a hidden setting somewhere to control this? I'd be willing to build my own Lineage ROMS if that is what it took. It looks like modifying `com.android.systemui` will be necessary. Does anyone know how to download that code, and build that APK (perferably without building an entire ROM?)

**EDIT**: A friend clued me in to the fact that this is sort of standard behavior for android phones these days (it's been a while since I had one). But the question still stands. I would even be ok with some way to disable the accelerometer completely, if that's what it took.

**EDIT 2**: I found out that I can disable this behavior by disabling `com.android.systemui`. I am afraid that is a bit too drastic, so perhaps I will browse some source code to see if I can modify just that app, instead of the whole Lineage ROM. The question remains though, in case anybody knows how I would go about finding and building source code for `com.android.systemui`.

# Answer
The behaviour sounds a lot like Ambient Display at work. The toggle for it should be in Settings - Display, if it exists.

---

**EDIT** the following screenshots are from the OP's phone. Notice, the "Ambient Display" element does not have a toggle switch in the image below.

The image below is the submenu that appears upon clicking "Ambient Display".
> 3 votes

---
Tags: screen, motorola-moto-e, lineageos
---


# Question
Title: LG G4 Showing Wrong 'Recovery Mode' Screen
I have a LG G4 (International) and I'm trying to boot into recovery to install Lineage OS. The instructions are to hold down the power button and the volume down button, which I do, I then get booted into what apparently is recovery mode but there's no options to do an advanced wipe and clear the cache etc. I found a picture online as to what it boots into:

As you can see it's still some LG screen, not the actual recovery mode screen you'd expect to see. Am I missing something here?

# Answer
You would need to choose and click the *yes* option in your screenshot *twice*:

* If custom recovery is installed, you will boot into it
* If you are on stock recovery , your device is wiped , i.e, factory reset (that's the only option )

See XDA source for more details, including installing custom recovery that gives you the option of advanced wipe and clean cache for flashing custom ROM. Without a custom recovery you can't flash custom ROM

Here are instructions for flashing custom recovery

Disclaimer: Never owned LG device, it's Google-fu
> 1 votes

---
Tags: recovery-mode, custom-roms, boot, lg, lg-g4
---


# Question
Title: Smart lock not present in Security Settings
My device is listed to support `Smart Lock`, which bypasses the lock screen security when in a trusted environment. A saved location, bluetooth device, trusted face or voice is required to use this feature.

The location of the `Smart Lock` is normally in *Settings → Security → Smart Lock* , but it isn't present.

**Is there a setting which disables Smart Lock? and how can it be re-enabled?**

# Answer
Smart Lock can be *re-enabled* by activating it in

> Settings  Security  Trust agents  Smart Lock (Google)
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, 6.0-marshmallow, 7.0-nougat, smart-lock
---


# Question
Title: Connecting Android Devices to Windows 7 via Bluetooth
I'm trying to connect both of my Android devices to my Windows 7 laptop, to see what I can do with them (file transfer, bluetooth tethering, etc.)

Here is the hardware I'm working with:

* Samsung Series 5 Laptop - Windows 7 Home Premium SP1 / fully patched
    + Intel(R) Centrino(R) Wireless Bluetooth(R) 3.0 + High Speed Adapter
    + Driver: Intel - 2011/12/09 - 1.0.90.20620
* Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Google official Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (*unrooted*)
* Asus / Google Nexus 7 with Google official Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean (*unrooted*)

The pairing process between the Android devices and Windows 7 works flawlessly. Here is what I'm doing to pair them:

1. Put the Android device into discoverable mode (Settings --\> Bluetooth --\> Tap device name)
2. Open *Devices and Printers* on Windows 7
3. Click *Add Device*
4. Select Android device in device list and click *Next*
5. When the pairing code is displayed, confirm on Windows 7 and Android device
6. Pairing is complete

The devices are paired. However, they never seem to connect to each other. I see the device's icon switch between being greyed out and opaque, on Windows 7 *Devices and Printers* briefly, and eventually it just goes grey. No matter how much I tap on the Windows 7 computer's name in the list of paired devices on the Android device, it does not re-establish a connection.

One function that I tested successfully, is sending a file using **Bluetooth File Transfer** (*fsquirt.exe*). When I attempted to send a file to one of my Android devices, initiated from that utility on Windows, the Android device prompted me to accept the file transfer. The Bluetooth icon on Android was still greyed out, however, which indicates to me that the devices are not connected to each other persistently.

**Bottom line**: Does anyone know how to use Android Bluetooth features with Windows 7?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I found Windows 7 Bluetooth lacking so I bought a third party package and have no problem using Windows 7 bluetooth with my Android devices. The package was by Blue Soleil

# Answer
> 7 votes
I located a solution from this youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZNPO1gMcoA and thought I would share here since this was the first result when I began looking for a solution.

The problem is that Windows does not detect the Bluetooth serial links automatically. You can manually point to the standard windows drivers by completing the following steps.

1. Go to **Device Manager**
2. Right click the item under **Other Devices** labeled **Bluetooth Peripheral Device** and click **Update Driver Software**
3. Click **Browse my computer for...**
4. Click **Let me pick...**
5. Select **Ports (COM & LPT)** and click **Next**
6. Navigate to and select **Microsoft** in the left field, pick **Standard Serial over Bluetooth link** on the right field, and click **Next**
7. Click **OK** on the driver install warning box and it should successfully install the driver

I am unsure of why windows cannot automatically detect this component and install the driver, but this solution worked for me. Hopefully it will for you as well.

# Answer
> -1 votes
The solution is fsquirt.exe as a previous poster said. Not the nice auto pilot thing we would like, I know. I just used this for xfer of SS to win7 pc. Link: http://plugable.com/2013/11/11/easy-way-to-use-bluetooth-to-exchange-files-with-your-phone-in-windows-fsquirt-guide/

---
Tags: bluetooth, windows
---


# Question
Title: signing in youtube without other google service
I have android tv box and wants to access my youtube subscription. is there any way to just login youtube without the rest of google service? I dont want to see email pop up when watching videos... of cos, i wont want to have hangout chat on my tv.. etc

# Answer
If your device is indeed an Android TV box, it won't show email notifications, or any sort of notifications while in use.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: youtube, android-tv
---


# Question
Title: Recover Whats-app database files (.crypt12)
Today I had to uninstall whats-app as my storage was 100% and all the apps were constantly crashing. I thought I would recover it later. However my file manager app ES file explorer offered me to delete app data which I accidentally okay-ed. Now I have only backup of Media files as of date and Google drive backup of a month back.

My phone is running Android Kitkat 4.4.4 and is not yet rooted.

Is there any way to restore msgstore\****.crypt12 files from whatsapp databases?

I have all the whatsapp media but without messages it wont make much difference.

Please help.

P.S I have uninstalled whatsapp and have disabled sync so not new data could get overwritten to simplify recovery.

# Answer
> 0 votes
> Is there any way to restore `msgstore****.crypt12` files from whatsapp databases?

Yes, but you have to deactivate Google Drive sync. The only way is to remove Whatsapp from the authorized apps on this page:

https://myaccount.google.com/permissions

After that, locate the backups directory where the `.crypt12` files reside.

* Make a copy of the newest one that you would like to recover
* Call said copy exactly `msgstore.db.crypt12`
* Reinstall WhatsApp
* Wait until the setup asks you if you want to restore from the local backup (it won't suggest the one on Google Drive because you removed the authorization before)

Done!

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: Is there a simple way to undo an app update?
I'd like to revert to the previous version and stick with that permanently. Is that possible?

I have Beautiful Widgets installed, and had it set to auto-update. It just did, and the 'update' is totally unacceptable.

I've got several devices, all rooted and running different versions of Android. Some have auto-updated the APK to the new version, some have not (I just disabled auto-update on those that have not).

# Answer
> 10 votes
Android does not natively back up applications so you can't "undo" an app update. Best thing I'd say you can do is something like this howto. It backs up your apks and their settings. It uses Titanium Backup and requires root, but rooting is not your problem.

# Answer
> 4 votes
Unfortunately once the new version is installed there is no way for you to roll back. The only way you can get back to the old one is if you already have a copy of, or can manage to find the APK file for the version that you want.

# Answer
> 1 votes
To be pedantic, you *can* uninstall updates for System apps. They will revert to the version installed when the phone was at factory defaults (or when you installed a rom). But otherwise, you will need to find a copy of the previous version in order to revert an update.

On my (rooted) device, I have a Titanium Backup schedule set up to backup everything every week. In the future, you could set up something like that (root required).

# Answer
> 1 votes
You could install AppMonster Pro Backup Restore to your device. This app automatically captures each `.apk` installed and stores it on your SDCard (initially, you can do this also manually for all your installed apps). Now, if you've installed some update you don't like for some reason (bugs, reduced functionality, or whatever), you can simply start *AppMonster* and have it restore a previous version.

AppMonster Pro (source: Google Play; click images to enlarge)

To not fill-up your SDCard entirely, *AppMonster* can also be configured to "only keep X backups". And it offers some additional features as well, as e.g. showing which app can be moved to SDCard, or which app contains ad-modules.

And yes, for the automatical backups you will need the (paid) Pro-version. To take a look at the app first, there's also a free pendant, AppMonster Free Backup Restore -- but here you have to do all backups manually. Also, the Pro version offers a batch-restore. I'm using the Pro version for years now, and can only praise it (saved my day more than once). Support is excellent as well, by the way -- some of the app's features came from my wish-list :)

Ah, and one more remark: this app does *not* require root. But it (currently) only backups the apps (`.apk`) itself, not their data.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The Astro File Manager can be easily used to make backups of the application and to restore these later.

# Answer
> -1 votes
Simply go to play store, search for that app, there will be two options 'uninstall' and 'open', just simply click on uninstall and your good to go. Dont worry, it wont uninstall your app completely but only the update gets uninstalled. After that you'll see there two options 'update' and 'open' and thats what you always wanted!

---
Tags: updates, apk
---


title: Portrait mode notification icon

text:
# Question
Title: Portrait mode notification icon
If you disable auto-rotate (i.e., force portrait mode), a notification icon shows up. It looks like the vibrate notification, except without the vibration lines. Inside Settings -\> Display -\> System icons, I can disable other notification icons like the battery, battery %, wifi, etc., but not this one.

Is there any other way to disable this notification, or even other ones not present in System icons?

I'm on Android 7.0, Sony Xperia X Compact.

# Answer
Pull down the statusbar twice, press and hold the gear in the upper right corner for 5 seconds - then exit and go to settings: now the "System UI Tuner" is there. Disable auyo totate notification.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 7.0-nougat, notification-icons, auto-rotation
---


title: No Microphone on CM12.1

text:
# Question
Title: No Microphone on CM12.1
My microphone stops working, when I upgraded to / installed CM12.1 on my phone.

It is still working, when my phone still doesn't have CyanogenMod installed.

However, some apps, such as Cortana and calls (the stock calling app), can still detect / hear my voice; but **not** on Google's Voice Search, Sound Recorder, and such Microphone Apps on the Play Store.

Maybe, a library (`lib*.so`), permission not allowed (`android.permission. ...`), or somethin', is missing on my device, that is preventing the microphone to work.

> Phone: Samsung Galaxy Core Prime
>
> Model: SM-G360HU
>
> Recovery: TWRP
>
> ROM: CM12.1
>
> *\- Link for the ROM can be found above ...*
>
> Android Version: 5.1 Lollipop

***Please HELP!***

---

## UPDATE

I've seen an app (I installed it), and it requires root access. After looking at the log of the root access of that app, it showing a library / lib named `libaudio_recorder_sf.so`.
Does this lib have to do with the microphone, or any recorder (e.g. Sound Recorder app) ?

# Answer
> 0 votes
This bug is fixed on CM13. The microphone is now working, when I upgraded to CM13.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, 5.1-lollipop, microphone, samsung-galaxy-core-prime
---


# Question
Title: Huawei EVA-L09 removes short songs from music player
I have noticed that there are some songs not displaying in my music player on my android phone.

What is interesting, is that these files are no different from ones I do see in my player. And I can still find them and play them using ES File Explorer. But they do not show up in my music library.

What all these songs have in common, is that they are short. Filler tracks, if you will. Tracks no more than 1 minute.

They are the only ones that consistently don't show up in my library, no matter how many times I try to put them on my phone (through dropbox). Like I said though, they exist on my phone and I can find and play them, the problem is that they don't show up in my library.

I just want to have my albums complete! Is there some setting I am missing here?

Thanks,

-slightly annoyed Android user

# Answer
> 1 votes
I just figured it out. On the main page of the music library there is a gear at the top left where you can modify the filter settings for how short a track has to be to stop appearing in your library. Moving the slider to 0 seconds solved my issue.

---
Tags: file-system, music, huawei, file-management, music-player
---


title: Is Uninstalling built in apps safe?

text:
# Question
Title: Is Uninstalling built in apps safe?
I have a rooted Lolipop 5.1 phone and I was wondering if uninstalling built in apps safe like Lookout, Hangout or Google+.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Yes you can. You can manually delete them from the `/system/app` or `/system/priv-app` directory, or maybe using an system remover app. Also, not all apps can be removed safely, for example, there are some core phone apps like `framework-res`, `SystemUI`. **Do not delete them!** If you're unsure, I suggest you to get information about it first.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can use a app like **System app remover** for that. And most of the apps are safe to remove, as the mentioned app shows if the app to be removed is a core component.

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: How to accept SSL certificate using selenium on an emulated Android
I'm using selenium (with python) to test a website on an emulated android device (Android version 6 and Android version 5.1) on Sauce Labs.

Selenium tries to access a website using the native browser. Unfortunately the SSL certificate pops up when I try to access the website which stops the test. I want selenium to automatically click accept. The box that pops up looks like this:

Simply creating a certificate for the site isn't an option. I want Selenium to automatically click on the accept button. This is possible for Chrome, Firefox, Safari, IE, and mobile Safari (i.e. iOS), so it must also be possible for Android. Please let me know if you have any ideas! Thanks :)

# Answer
> 0 votes
I found that it is indeed possible to get selenium to automatically accept the SSL certificate for the native Android browser.

The code normally looks like:

```
from selenium import webdriver

caps = {'browserName': 'Android Browser'}
caps['platform'] = 'Linux'
caps['version'] = '6'
caps['deviceName'] = 'Android Emulator'
caps['deviceOrientation'] = 'portrait'
sauce_settings = 'http://{0}:{1}@ondemand.saucelabs.com:80/wd/hub'.format(
    SAUCE_USER, SAUCE_KEY,
)
driver = webdriver.Remote(
    command_executor=sauce_settings,
    desired_capabilities=caps,
)

```

The missing option, that needs to be added to automatically accept the ssl certificate, is this:

```
caps['acceptSslCerts'] = True

```

---
Tags: certificates, stock-browser
---


# Question
Title: My HTC One M9 has a pattern lock that I forgot (I know, dumb). Used Android Device Manager. No prompt
So the screen actually appears saying "Locked by Android Device Manager" but I have absolutely no prompt to type or a keyboard or anything. Hitting the home button just brings the pattern back up. I would much prefer not having to factory reset this phone. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

# Answer
What os version is your phone? If it's kitkat, it should have a Forgot pattern below it if you don't draw the correct one.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Here is my blog check this out...

https://techicraze.wordpress.com/2015/12/16/hack-android-pattern-or-password/

Helpful if rooted only

You just have to remove "gesture.key" file from your system and then reboot mobile and then any pattern you draw will unlock the mobile.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: pattern-lock
---


# Question
Title: Is safe to give my IMEI to LeadBolt to enjoy apps without advertisement?
On the LeadBolt opt page you can specify your IMEI number in order to opt out from their service:

> The IMEI/MEID is a number, usually unique, to identify GSM, WCDMA, and iDEN mobile phones, as well as some satellite phones. It allows us to identify your device and ensure you are opted out from our services. Importantly, the IMEI/MEID is only used for identifying the device and has no permanent or semi-permanent relation to you as the subscriber protecting your privacy.

Is this safe? Would let me enjoy Android apps without annoying and invasive ads?

# Answer
I can't tell if LeadBolt does as promissed, but I see no harm in giving somebody your IMEI. At least if you don't use services that do authentication with your IMEI (never heard of one).

But you should wait a little, maybe there is a objection regarding my statement.
> 2 votes

# Answer
If you don't mind rooting your device then your best option to avoid all adds would be to use Adaway. It'll bock all ads on your device by modifiying your hosts file and is perfectly safe to use. I've been using it for over a year now.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Whether it's safe very much depends on what you count as „safe“. All that might resulting from giving *LeadBolt* your IMEI is that you won't be *shown* any ads *by LeadBolt* – but **if you think that means „no ads at all“, you're completely mistaken.** There are tons of other ad networks used by apps.¹ Some of them offer you the same way to „opt out“ by giving them your IMEI. Nevertheless, they'll continue collecting data on you, connecting it to your IMEI – which you now even explicitly give them (probably combined with some other data), to build a profile on you and maybe even sell it for money.

I'm currently writing an article on that topic (see below). **My advice would be: Don't.** That's the wrong way to act on ads. You should not „register“ your IMEI (or any other identifier) with a company to have it stop annoying you. Rather use other approaches to get rid of those annoying ads:

* contact the developer of that app and tell him/her about the annoyance, asking to replace this ad provider by one less intrusive
* if the app has a paid version *that comes without ads*², buy and use that. After all, the dev put hours or even months of work into the app, which should be honored
* to find out what ad modules an app contains, check it out at AppBrain. Avoid apps which contain intrusive ad modules (compare e.g. with my list¹).
* use an Ad Blocker. That's nothing dishonest in this context, it's pure self-protection considering several of those ad networks also ship „malvertising“ stuff, and what PII they collect on you *without your consent or awareness.* On Android, you don't need a so called „Anti-Virus“ solution, you need a good working „Anti-Ad“ protection.

For further reading I recommend you my article Android Identifiers: How Android devices and their users are identified. Hopefully the article I've mentioned above will be available at the same site at the end of this months, to give deeper insight on What´s it all about those modules apps contain? – i.e. ad and analytics stuff and how it intrudes our privacy.

---

¹ for some especially intrusive examples, see my listing here
² believe it or not, but about every seventh paid app ships with ad modules
> 0 votes

---
Tags: imei, ads
---


# Question
Title: Update Android SDK Platform Tools via Command line
I want to write a script to update the Android SDK platform tools and I need the command if available to run in order to achieve this. What I have found is that I can use the Android command under the `/tools` directory to update the software (images, sources, etc.), but nothing to update the tools themselves.

The guide on Factory Images for Nexus Devices says that I must be sure I have the latest tools

> Be sure that you have the latest version of the Android SDK Platform-tools from the SDK Manager.

So, is it possible? If it is, how to do that?

# Answer
> 8 votes
Use of `android` tool is deprecated; instead use `sdkmanager`:

```
 androidsdk/tools/bin/sdkmanager --update

```

https://developer.android.com/studio/command-line/sdkmanager.html

# Answer
> 5 votes
After further research, I came across this article from Stack Overflow that explains it and states that the Android command that can be used to update the `platform-tools` in the SDK directory.

You follow these instructions as shown on the above link

> ```
> $ android list sdk
> $ android update sdk --no-ui --filter 1,platform-tools
>
> ```
>
> The first command lists the available packages that are still to be installed (indexed by number), as for example:
>
> ```
> Packages available for installation or update: 9
>    1- Android SDK Tools, revision 19
>    2- Android SDK Platform-tools, revision 11
>    ...
>
> ```
>
> According to that list, you can issue the second command to install the packages that you want to install.
>
> The `--filter` option limits the update to the packages that you want to install. You specify those packages in a comma-separated format. Also, you can filter them by the index number provided in the listing resulting from the first command.

---
Tags: updates, command-line, android-sdk
---


# Question
Title: How does Google app interact with WhatsApp?
There is an option in OK Google voice commands in which Google app can send Whatsapp messages to any person. How does it manage to do this?

# Answer
To understand this, you will need to know the workings in the code. Anyway, I'll try to explain it in layman terms. Basically, apps can have a window (sort of) by which they can be given data to initiate the task. These windows are called intents in android. When an app is given some data, say a person's name and a message, through the intent it can decide what to do with this data. In the case of Whatsapp, it sends the given message to the given contact/person.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: whatsapp-messenger, google
---


# Question
Title: Error looping, "Unfortunately, Setup Wizard has stopped."
With my S4 running CM13 I'm now getting this error,

> Unfortunately, Setup Wizard has stopped.

How do I resolve it?

# Answer
Here is a method that you can do without whiping,

1. Boot into TWRP Recovery
2. Mount System ( Mount → check `System` )
3. Advanced → File Manager
4. Browse to `/system/priv-app/Setup-Wizard`
5. Delete it
> 6 votes

# Answer
I noticed when clicking `report` that the issue was a permissions issue.

using `adb shell dumpsys package com.google.android.setupwizard` you will see two lists related to permissions, one *requested permissions*, and one *install permissions*.

Comparing these lists, there were 8 items requested, but not installed. I fixed this using:

```
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.CALL_PHONE
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.GET_ACCOUNTS
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.PROCESS_OUTGOING_CALLS
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.READ_CONTACTS
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.READ_PHONE_STATE
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.WRITE_CONTACTS

pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.READ_OWNER_DATA
pm grant com.google.android.setupwizard android.permission.WRITE_OWNER_DATA

```

Note that the last two items gave an error message: `Bad argument: java.lang.IllegalArgumentException: Unknown permission: android.permission.READ_OWNER_DATA`. But ignoring those, now my phone worked again.
> 4 votes

# Answer
1. Make sure in *Settings* \> *Developers Options* you have enabled *USB Debugging* (now called *Android debugging*) and under *Root access* you have selected **Apps and ADB**.
2. Connect the USB cable to a computer that has `adb` installed and working (assuming it is available in PATH).
3. From the terminal run:

```
adb root
adb shell 'pm disable com.google.android.setupwizard'

```

If you don't have root or if `adb root` fails, then you can use instead `adb shell 'pm hide com.google.android.setupwizard'`.

**NOTE**: This problem usually happens when installing a major CM update without wiping the data partition, so probably a cleaner solution would be backing up all the relevant apps, doing a clean install, installing the correct version of gapps, and then restoring your app data from backups.
> 3 votes

# Answer
I tried all the solutions listed here, and in my case they didn't work. Removing the setupwizard alltogether did work, but it also broke multiuser functionality (apparently the default user gets created in the wizard, and without the user you can't create more users!). Also the home-button and square-button didn't work at all. So I decided to flash the image again and solve the problem instead of curing the symptoms.

In my case, I had to get into the settings menu and enable+connect to WiFi. Apparently the wizard "forgets" to show the connect to wifi dialog! Getting into the settings menu took a few tries, but it's absolutely doable.

Once I was connected to wifi, it worked as it should. I'm running AOSP 7.1.2 on a Nexus 7 2012.
> 3 votes

# Answer
For me this solution worked. It might be annoying as you have to do all the clicks in between the Setup Wizard error messages.

And yes, this method will work in all the versions of android (including 7.1.1-Tested)

1. Go to Settings (from notification panel, obviously)
2. Go to Apps
3. Click on the 3 dots in upper right corner
4. Click on Show system
5. Scroll all the way to Setup wizard in the list of apps and click on it (Under the permission you will probably see something like No permissions)
6. Click on Permissions
7. Grant permissions to both Telephone and Contacts, (if there is any other like, camera, location, **Grant Them All**)

The error message disappeared as soon as I did this. Hope it helps ;)
> 1 votes

---
Tags: system-error
---


# Question
Title: OTA WiFi vulnerability - what can be done?
Several Android phones appear to be vulnerable to an exploit in the WiFi firmware, allowing an attacker to run malicious code on the WiFi SoC, and even execute code in kernel space. Google patched its Pixel phones and some recent Nexus models, but older models such as the Nexus 5 have no patch available yet. It seems that no attack is known in the wild yet, but if there was one it could spread quickly from device to device.

I have a Nexus 5; what can I do to secure my phone? For now I have WiFi turned off, but that significantly reduces the usefulness of my phone. I'm comfortable running commands with `adb` to install drivers, if that's possible. I'm also willing to install another OS, although I'd rather not have to.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This Chip is common in many Phones. The details of the exploit are sufficiently well known as are 1000's of others, the chance of the average person getting hit is low (unless you work somewhere interesting and keep interesting Info on your Devices - Computer, Tablet, Phone, even some TV's are spying).

Partial List of affected Phones with this Chipset: Nexus 5, 6 and 6P, most Samsung flagship devices, and all iPhones since the iPhone 4.

So many are affected. It someone were so inclined they could own any Device with this Chipset within WiFi range - chances of it being your Device is remote, so don't lose sleep just Update (if you're really worried).

Updating to the newest Firmware and Software is almost always the correct answer to this problem - rarely new Updates introduce worse vulnerabilities.

So, always Update. It's the only Solution. This one Hack is not the only thing affecting your various Devices. Updating prevents all but Day-0 and the as yet unrepaired Bugs. If it's worth it for your Boss to pay let them know.

See: Part 1: https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.ca/2017/04/over-air-exploiting-broadcoms-wi-fi\_4.html?m=0 Part 2: https://googleprojectzero.blogspot.ca/2017/04/over-air-exploiting-broadcoms-wi-fi\_11.html?m=0

---
Tags: wi-fi, security, google, nexus
---


# Question
Title: What buttons are required on android device?
Typically there are three buttons on the device a back button home button and an overview button.

Which of these buttons are required by the standard or de facto standard?

# Answer
There are 4 if you don't include Hardware Reset, three are mandatory: Home, Menu and Back.

See: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/3524758/are-the-4-android-buttons-standard-ex-back-button-menu-button \- almost the same question, same answer.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: buttons, home-button
---


# Question
Title: What Android device manufacturers supply their devices with longer software update life cycles than Google supplies its Nexus and Pixel devices?
Google's software update life cycle policy for Nexus and Pixel devices is that: 1. They "get Android version updates for at least 2 years from when the device became available on the Google Store. After 2 years, we can't guarantee additional updates." 2. They "get security patches for at least 3 years from when the device first became available, or at least 18 months from when the Google Store last sold the device, whichever is longer." Source: https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/4457705?hl=en

Are there any manufacturers that give their devices longer life cycles than Google gives Nexus and Pixel devices when it comes to Android version updates, security patches, or both?

In addition, if possible, please tell me how rapidly these manufacturers provide Android version updates and/or monthly security updates, in comparison to how rapidly Google provides them to Nexus and Pixel devices.

# Answer
Everyone worth their salt is 2 and 3 for Security Patches, manufacturers with fewer phones and a greater concern for security (Blackberry) might extend the life cycle for the security but Android Version upgrades won't come if the next version is far enough away to let it slide (depending upon Devices in service vs. the idea of buying a new phone).

Once you're off Contract you can Root and Update yourself (cost the Mfg. nothing too) so there's little reason for them to support older Models IF people aren't going to complain (or make it a purchase consideration).

As for the second question: http://www.androidauthority.com/android-oem-update-speed-743073/ .

For Nougat:

LG: 78 days Motorola: 88 days HTC: 95 days Sony: 99 days Xiaomi: 126 days OnePlus: 131 days Samsung: 143 days Huawei: Might get Nougat Q2 2017
> 0 votes

---
Tags: updates, manufacturers
---


title: Use an application automatically

text:
# Question
Title: Use an application automatically
Is it possible to first automatically open an application and then automatically click on a few buttons within that app ? Is creating such a profile possible?

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is app called automate which probably achieve what ur saying like following examples like

* sending message on specific app is running, when like battery percent is n% then do this, etc.

More description on there website

# Answer
> 0 votes
\[Require root\]use thisapp it's records your touchs and play it as you want like speed and times of cycle

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: insufficient space with space plenty available
My tablet has internal memory of 4g and external (not sd card) memory 32g. When downloading apps are stored only in the internal memory and nothing to the external. How to direct my downloads to the external card ?? Thanks

# Answer
> 1 votes
Normally Android will install a large app to external storage when necessary, and when possible. Not all apps support external storage.

What you'll need to do, rather than have Android do the work for you, is go to the Application settings panel (the exact location of which will depend on what version of Android your tablet is running), swipe left or right until you see a list of apps with checkboxes next to them; the top of the list should read "SD Card." These are apps you can move to external storage. You'll have to do this one at a time, I'm sorry to say, but each one will clear internal storage.

In case you're curious, external storage and/or an SD card is treated separately from internal storage. It's like having a second hard drive on your computer. **You** have to manage it.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Or simply, There is an app for this. App2SD. Try using that to migrate apps from internal to external storage. However there's a limitation. Samsung/HTC, Huawei, LG, Xiaomi, Asus with android 6+ isn't supported. Try your luck.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Your system mount the external storage as a SD Card but sometime is not clear enough.

Go to parameter =\> Application =\> on the SD card and tell to the system to put the available application on this available storage.

The better solution is : open root access on your tablet and put a SD linker application for distribute the data on the booth storage. That's depending if you've enough skill to do that.

In hoping that help.

---
Tags: insufficient-memory
---


# Question
Title: HTC Desire stuck on HTC Logo on start up!!! Only able to open recovery
I was trying to root my HTC Desire 820 device and followed all steps as recommended by the XDA Thread.

Now my issue is that it is stuck at HTC logo screen and not moving forward at all.

Below are the steps I followed to recover:

* Tried recovery, Factory Reset, Wipe Dalvic Cache, wipe all. ----\> No difference
* Tried recovery, reflash recovery---\> No difference
* Volume Up + Down + Power Button ---\> performs reset,..again stuck on logo
* Tried battery full charge ---\> no effect

Can anyone help please?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I ended up wiping my complete phone, even the OS...

had to go to the service center to get it fixed...

Now fixed...No resolution given from service center..

---
Tags: rooting, unbricking, twrp, htc-desire, htc
---


# Question
Title: what is 10147 in Android, it drain battery power 54% in 6 hours
I have Motog5 plus,and since 2 days battery drain too fast, when I see battery information I could not find which app is this so that I can uninstall it.

# Answer
You just need to click on **10147** to find the next screen i.e. Use details screen. Under this screen you'll find an **information button** on the right hand side beside the title (*in your case it will be 10147*). And if it is a third party application you'll get the option to **Uninstall** it else if it is a system app you may find the option to **disable** it.

Hope this helps.

Thank you!
> 1 votes

---
Tags: motorola-moto-g
---


# Question
Title: Removing verification scripts from a stock ROM
I'm not really familiar with Android development so I'm not sure how to go about this, sorry if those questions are basic.

I have successfully flashed a TWRP recovery on my MTK6797 phone (UMI Z Pro) and I can enter it but somehow managed to soft brick it (the ROM itself doesn't boot, - hangs on the boot screen). So I'd like to install the stock ROM again but keep TWRP recovery since I was planning to tweak the ROM or even perhaps build a custom ROM for this phone since there are none available and probably won't be any in the future.

The problem is that the stock ROM contains some verification scripts, here's a quote from their official forum:

> You need the original boot, recovery and system image on your phone since the update script checks their integrity before running. As a conclusion, if you have a custom recovery on your phone and/or ever rooted it, you cannot update it via FOTA but the only way is flashing with SPFT.

How would I go about removing those scripts from the stock ROM? Or does anyone know of another solution to this - TWRP recovery + stock ROM on this phone. Thanks in advance.

# Answer
One question first your phones a umiz pro and the twrp is based on umi z.V3.xxx.xxxxx from Google it appears that there is a base and pro model am I correct If so then I think from your post it sounds like u flashed the base model recovery on. A pro model I have done this on a homtom ht7 I really messed it up but I think that is your problum
> 0 votes

---
Tags: recovery-mode, twrp, stock-rom
---


# Question
Title: How to autorun apk on android by plugging usb?
I have an APK file and i have a 4GB usb stick that could be plugged into an Android phone via USB-OTG and a PC. I've been wondering how could i plug the usb into the android phone and have the apk be auto installed without doing it manually. I'm asking for something like the autorun script we use on PC but I need one for android. I'm interested in having it work on Lollipop in particular, if that makes a difference.

# Answer
It's not possible to install packages automatically, and there's no feature like AutoRun. AutoRun was a huge security problem on Windows systems, so it seems unlikely that a similar feature will be added to Android. You just have to put the APK file on the USB stick and install it by opening it with the package installer.

It *would* be possible to make an app that listens for USB connection events, scans for APK files, and asks the package installer to install any APK files it finds, but the app would have to be already installed on the phone, and the user would still have to click to accept the installation of the new apps.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: installation, usb-on-the-go
---


# Question
Title: How to disable integrated Avast antivirus inside EMUI 5.0 (Android 7.0)?
## I have the following phone:

Honor 8; FRD-L09

---

## Picture with integrated Antivirus from Phone Manager (Virus scan):

## Once I click on the Virus scan, I get a very quick scan with the Avast logo at the bottom:

---

## Important note:

As this device is new and under warranty, I cannot root it.

## Intention:

I have my own trusted antivirus solution, it does not matter which one at this point.

I want to use it instead of the integrated Avast solution.

## Question:

How to disable integrated Avast antivirus inside EMUI 5.0 (Android 7.0) ?

I called various local support lines, but to no avail.

In settings there is no available option as far as I can see.

# Answer
I don't think it is possible , given the fact that it is integrated into the phone manager application, and is also a **system application**.

I also have a Huawei tablet (*EMUI 1.6*) which also has a tablet manager (package name `com.huawei.systemmanager`) but has a storage cleaning option which is said to be **powered by Du Speed Booster**. However I did several scans to try and find the app to no avail.

So I think it is not possible to separate the antivirus functionality from the phone manager app, so you either remove the whole phone manager package (if rooted that is) or stay with it. Otherwise I doubt if you cant explicitly find the avast as a package in your system.

You can still install another AV solution of your choice - (it really unnecessarily strains the phone resources) **besides I don't see the use of Antiviruses in android, if you obtain your applications from official trustworthy sources**.

*Huawei tablet manager (Storage cleaning functionality powered by Du Speed booster)*
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 7.0-nougat, antivirus
---


# Question
Title: How do I access the new Oculus Browser in the Samsung Gear VR?
I've come across a lot of news articles, like this one and this one, which say that the newly updated "Oculus Home" interface for the Samsung Gear VR headset comes with a built-in new web browser that's superior to the "Samsung Internet" browser which was the default way to browse the web in Gear VR until now.

My question is, how do you access this built-in web browser? I have noticed other changes in the updated Oculus Home interface, like the ability to create Avatars and the "Hey Oculus" voice control feature. But I don't see a built-in Oculus web-browser anywhere. There's just the old "Samsung Internet" app. Is the Oculus browser something you need to install separately?

EDIT: Here is what Oculus itself says:

> **Navigate the Web in VR with the Oculus Browser**
> The Oculus Browser launches today on Gear VR. A fully native app that renders incredibly sharp video, images, and text in Gear VR, the new browser lets you search the web directly from Home.
>
> Using the keyboard, navigate to your favorite sites like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube just like you would on a desktop. The browser brings 2D and most 360 video content right into Oculus Home, with all the benefits of our newly built experience.

But I'm not sure where this "Oculus Browser" and "keyboard" are located.

# Answer
Indeed, the new Oculus Browser is out, however no clear documentation has been given from Samsung support website, fortunately a few workarounds are available:

Possible fixes for launching Oculus Browser:

**1. Uninstalling and re installing the software.**

Users have suggested to use the following order when uninstalling: (Gear VR service, Updates Gear setup, Gear VR video, Oculus, Oculus home and Oculus system activities)

After that reinstalling the software to make sure all latest updates are received.

Some instructions have been described here: Samsung Internet

* Search and install Samsung Internet browser from the Oculus Gear VR Store
* launch the Samsung internet browser from your GearVR Library
* Navigate to a WebVR-compatible site
* Accept the option to enable WebVR.

**2. 3rd party apps**

You can try third party apps like Launch Oculus browser 1.01 developed by *muchenmusik*. The authour claims it is capable of launching the new Oculus Browser on GearVR compatible phones

**3. Tweaking the hardware setup**

Some users described here: How to fix Gear VR not launching when phone is plugged in? have complained of related issues with the browser especially when plugging in, and a simple fix was to remove the connector on the GearVR and then putting it back. Check if it works.

Hope this helps

References (some included in text)

1. SOLVED - VR application closes "unexpectedly" whenever I put the headset on.
> 1 votes

# Answer
In oculus home just look at the bottom of the main menu a tab says internet, click on that and that's it.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung, browser, samsung-gear-vr
---


# Question
Title: Flashing LG G4 H815(International Version) rom onto LG G4 H812 (Bell Canada) hardware
I am going on a long trip to the UK and Middle East, and want to take my LG G4 with me and use foreign service providers. I am planning on flashing the H815T (Similar to H815 International Version but supports more bands) KDZ file onto my existing LG H812 (Bell Canada) hardware, so I can have support for those frequency bands in the UK and Middle East.

According to my understanding, the H815T rom is compatible with the H812 hardware, as both the Bell Canada and International Versions have the same underlying hardware, but I would gladly appreciate if someone can confirm this. I have attached the phone details below.

Thanks and all the best!

# Answer
> 0 votes
one thought and I don't know for sure but it's ok if the ROMs say they support those freqs but does the internal antenna support those freqs as well being that it's a T-Mobile phone

---
Tags: rom-flashing, custom-roms, unbricking, compatibility, lg-g4
---


# Question
Title: The phone locks it self while it lays with the screen down
It's a very weird issue, after i hold my phone with the screen down it suddenly locks it self and the screen goes off without any reason. And no i did not pressed the power button while im holding it.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The only documented example of this I could find was in Sony phones. Turning off Stamina fixed it for this person. They also recommend clearing the cache for Stamina

> * Turn off Stamina mode from Power management.
> * Go to Settings -\> Apps -\> All -\> Stamina mode -\> Force stop, Clear data and restart your phone.

---
Tags: stock-android
---


title: Can't boot to recovery neither rom

text:
# Question
Title: Can't boot to recovery neither rom
I made a mistake while trying to flash an stock rom in my XT1644. While unlocking bootloader, I didn't realize I had to check the "allow OEM unlock" in developer options. When I thought unlocking had gone good, I started flashing manually a stock update, and everything failed. Now, I can't boot into recovery nor flash a recover nor unlock correctly bootloader, since "allow OEM unlock" still appears on screen.

Tried using RSD Lite, but doesn't work.

How can I unlock my device without checking the "allow OEM unlock" since I have no OS nor recovery?

# Answer
Hmm... You need to wipe everything so that system does not interfere in the process of flashing a new rom.

fastboot -\> fastboot device. it should show your device. keep following ready : XT1644 Stock Marshmallow/Nougat Image Sparsechunk ZIP. I will post link in next edit. Keep commands ready. When flashing, omit flashing OEM command. start flashing with Partition.gpt.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: bootloader-lock, motorola-moto-g-4g
---


# Question
Title: Can't access storage and sd card of Moto G4 when connected with USB to computer and in MTP mode
I have a Motorola Moto G4, marshmallow 6.0.1. When I connect it to my computer via a USB cable, it charges, and the computer detects the device, but I cannot see the contents of it, namely of the sd card inside. I also changed the USB mode to File transfer (MTP).

I have contacted Motorola already and I tried everything they told me to do (USB debugging option, etc.), but to no avail. They said that there might be a problem with the computer, but I've used this computer already for this operation (but on other phones) before.

I have confirmed that it works on other computers, so I am also pushed to believe that it is the computer's fault. I also installed every driver from Motorola's website.

I deleted the cache already and performed every suggestion in a similar thread, still not working.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

# Answer
You might be on an outdated version of ANDROID\> 6.0/ 6.1 If so, UPDATE your android and the problem should be fixed.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: sd-card, usb-connection-mode, mtp, motorola-moto-g-4g
---


# Question
Title: I was setting up Android device manager service
It show me to ring ur phone when I select allowed it automatically locked my device and now it is not getting my password it is showing wrong password how can I turn it off .. Even I signed in into that account by my another device please help me out

# Answer
> 0 votes
I wood log in to you Google account and reset ur password and then shut the locked phone off and leave it off for a good 5 minutes and I'd pull the battery if possible but that's your call and then turn it back on and try the new password if not try the support page for adm which u should have done by now i was taught if all else fales go to the source

https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/3265955?visit\_id=1-636282398145671585-3604311919&p=device\_manager\_location&rd=1

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


# Question
Title: Can I flash same model but different operator firmware
If I flash Telus SM-G920W8 firmware on my Bell SM-G920W8 device would there be any incompatibility issues?

# Answer
The frequencies are the same from what I just looked up I have put v410 att firmware on my uk410 and it work but I never had mobile data on it so I'm not sure about data but I'm going to say your good to do it just proceed with caution have the correct firmware that's supposed to be on the phone and if u have a custom recovery make a back up and give it a try I'm not saying it will work but it's a possibility and if other dont work try a custom ROM for the firmware you want to use I tried downloading and installing the stock AT&T firmware online UK 410 and it wouldn't work but cyanogen14 for the v410 flashed just fine to my uk410
> 0 votes

# Answer
In stack exchange's infinite wisdom, I can post answers, but not comments. So what follows should be a comment, but blame stack exchange, not me:

You won't run into incompatibility issues with Android. The phone will function, since that's the exact hardware that ROM is supposed to run on. It's been a long time since I've ran a carrier's ROM or had a locked phone, but you should be able to add the APN for your carrier in the data settings and it'll work on that end too.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, rom, device-firmware
---


# Question
Title: Unlock OnePlus2 after reset and now in FRP
I have reset my Android Phone (OnePlus2) after it froze. Now it wants me to log in to my previously used Google account.

I know the PIN Code and the Code to Unlock the Screen and the fingerprint is also set to me. Is there a way to bypass this protection ?

IMHO this does not make any sense if there is no way. Any reasonable thief, who knows all this information can simply unlock the phone and disable OEM lock.

My only problem is that i forgot the Googlemail.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I searched a few videos on youtube and found a comment, that i tried out of pure desperation:

**"Use this code to unlock in emergency call \*#812# "**

... and it worked !!

After this code unlocks your phone, just go to settings and add a new google account.

Thanks a lot to Chris Rosario for the comment.

# Answer
> 1 votes
There are bypasses but it varies by phone. The best bet is to flash stock firmware. That's the only way I know to do it, because I've done it on my wife's Galaxy S5.

---
Tags: factory-reset, gmail, google-account
---


title: Messed With Android Partition

text:
# Question
Title: Messed With Android Partition
I tried to partition my android phone and messed up the internal partition system.

When I reset my system this message appears

E:Can't open "/cache/recovery"
E:Unable to mount "/cache"
E:format\_volume: make ext4fs failed on /emmc@cache

Now (condition): my phone boots up but it stucks with just logo.

Phone Name : Walton Primo Gh3/GIONEE CTRL V4S
Chipset: MTK6582
Os Installed: CyanogenMod 12.2 (Custom)

Is there any way to recover it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Hope you have fixed that issue by now. As it is a Walton device, flashing a ROM would have done the thing. However if you can go to the recovery, download a script to re-partition your system. And, I think the current Walton devices have a fastboot option.

# Answer
> 0 votes
if you can get into recovery mode you should back up all the working partitions, flash a new ROM, then restore the partitions you have, such as data and system

---
Tags: factory-reset, partitions, ext4
---


# Question
Title: How do I move apps to a SD card on Android 4.3?
On Ice Cream Sandwich, I used to use an app called DS Super App2SD but it doesn't work on Android 4.3 Jelly Bean. I'm using Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 running on Cyanogenmod 10.2 nightly (Android 4.3.1)

I already tried the `adb shell pm set-install-location` to SD card location. It made everything worst by thinking my empty 32GB micro SD was full. So I set it back to `0`.

# Answer
> 0 votes
In my case, I am on android 4.2.2 so things should not be changed much on your environment. However, what I do, From **Settings\>application/apps** I get my all applications installed on my device. So, if any application supports to be moved on to SD card, i can simply move it by pressing the **Application icon\>move to sdcard**.

If it doesn't help. Try using Link2SD. This should do your job.

# Answer
> 0 votes
you could partition your SD on a PC with one for the user area and the other for apps, copy /data partition to the app section on the sd then edit the mount points by finding out the partition id of the app section on your sd then mounting /data on it.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, external-sd, 4.3-jelly-bean, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7, internal-sd
---


# Question
Title: How do I know when "adb backup" is finished?
I have a non-rooted Verizon Samsung Galaxy Nexus, and I wanted to try the "adb backup" feature. Possibly in preparation for rooting, but that's not really relevant to the question.
I want to back up *everything*.
I used this command on a Windows 7 command line:

`adb backup -apk -shared -all -f c:\mybackup.ab`

My phone prompted me for my password, which I entered, and clicked the button to begin the backup.

I let it run for several minutes, and the cmd window returned to C: prompt. On the phone, it was still flipping through filenames.

At some point, it stopped flipping through filenames but the back up selection buttons were still greyed out. C:\mybackup.ab existed, and was about 1GB in size, which is significantly smaller than I thought it should be, especially since I said to back up the apk files and the whole "shared" space (/mnt/sdcard).

What should I see (on the PC and on the phone) when the backup process completes? How long should I wait, if I estimate I'm using about 10GB of the 32GB of space?

**Edit:** ... and/or is that the wrong set of command line arguments?

# Answer
The `adb backup` command won't work fully on an unrooted device as it will attempt to backup things like the `/system` partition, and without root access the phone will deny you this for safety reasons. I'm glad to hear running it with the `-nosystem` flag worked out for you :)

If you want to do a complete backup you need to be rooted. The `/system` partition, according to this page:

> contains the entire operating system, other than the kernel and the ramdisk. This includes the Android user interface as well as all the system applications that come pre-installed on the device. Wiping this partition will remove Android from the device without rendering it unbootable, and you will still be able to put the phone into recovery or bootloader mode to install a new ROM.

This means that your backup does not include anything related to your operating system, only your apps and their settings. If you decide to root your device, you can create a very solid backup from CWM Recovery where all partitions are backed up to the sdcard on the device, including the system and boot partitions.
> 16 votes

# Answer
I know this is really old, but I just want to add that the phone should explicitly tell you that the backup is done using a toast notification, in the same way it does to show that the job started.

Also, in my case, with a non-rooted phone, it would get stuck trying to backup a specific app and the shared storage. To solve the first problem, I got a list of packages using this command and simply remove the failing one and the flag -all from the command: http://www.digitalinternals.com/mobile/android-adb-list-installed-package-names/416/
> 1 votes

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Tags: backup, adb
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# Question
Title: What's with all the "unnecessary" data in Android 6?
So I just finished updating my phone from Android 6 to 7.

Before downloading the update, I had two point something GB of free internal storage space.

The update was one point something GB of size, and I expected to get about as much back after the update was concluded.

*Except*, I have now - even after updating all my apps - **five** point something GB of internal storage available ... and no, I don't think I'm missing any apps (nor personal files, since I'm in the habit of storing as much as possible \[read: everything\] on my external SD card).

I'm certainly not complaining, but I'm curious. What's the (most likely) data that's been deleted? Is it really possible that Android 7 is that much more efficient?

# Answer
Runtime environment is different... Marshmallow pre-compiled applications and stored them for use, Nougat compiles on the fly as needed using a JIT (Just In Time) method. Seeing a gain of a few GB is not unusual after upgrading to Nougat.
> 3 votes

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Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, internal-storage, ota-update, 7.0-nougat
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# Question
Title: How can I most effectivly secure and anonymize my specfic Android device?
I would like to setup my phone to be able to browse/use apps as anonymously as possible. I realize that will require Tor/VPNs, and I am working on getting that information elsewhere. Here I am focusing on the phone itself.

It will be a new Samsung Galaxy S8 on Verizon (I realize not many people will have hands on with this model yet, so just reference what you would do on the S7 if need be). I would like to anonymize and secure it as much as possible. For example, I know that Verizon and Google are shipping new phones with spyware and other tagging features. I am not *very* tech saavy (I cant code), but I am a fast learners.

I will be trying to avoid using Google products at all costs (No Play Store, GMail, etc) - except for Android system updates (I assume this is a necessity?). I am willing to do anything, *except*: Replace the OS - it has to be regular Android (Unless someone can show me an add-on/alternative that wont require constant maintenance/detailed knowledge of how a phone OS works), or compromise the basic software so that it become unstable or wont work with basic apps.

I assume rooting is a must - but I will need some direction as to how this can be done safely, and what I will then need to do to keep the phone updated and stable.

Specifically I am looking for:

* How to remove all native spyware/malware/unnecessary apps (without accidentally deleting something critical).
* Remove any features that could ID my device over the internet
* What kind of software/app I need to set up to protect against future malicious software (some kind of anti-virus/malware scanner?).
* How to most securely encrypt the phone and any data on it (so that if someone was able to get control of it, accessing it's contents without the pass key would be as difficult as possible).
* Any general tips that might help with this.

Thank you.

# Answer
Hi the best place you are probably best off looking is the XDA forums for advice on the routing part.

Also have a look at microG, a project that is attempting to replace google play services and make android truly open source. Heres a link to an article that covers MicroG

Geolocation would be difficult to anonomise I'm guessing due to triangulation techniques that could be used to track the device location through the mobile network.

Good antivirus and malware software is a must

Alternative app stores such as F-droid, XDA, ect would be a good option - remember that apps can contain trackers ect which can send your data to the developer. Maby try and find an app that shows these permissions?

Signal - good private messaging replacement

Remember, to be most secure you will need to update regularly and also rooting your phone can mean the latest security patches are not rolled out as fast, if at all.

Edit: I forgot to add that if you do add a custom ROM, makesure that you encript your device :)
> 0 votes

# Answer
G955FXXU1AQCC Galaxy S8 Plus SM-G955F Firmware link : http://www.gizrom.com/g955fxxu1aqcc-galaxy-s8-plus-sm-g955f-firmware/
> 0 votes

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Tags: security, privacy, verizon
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title: Second spellchecker doesn't work

text:
# Question
Title: Second spellchecker doesn't work
I have a Nexus 4, and I'm using Google keyboard on Android 4.3.1. When I switch the keyboard language from French (the system language) to Polish, spellchecking stops. I have the polish spell-checking dictionary installed.

Suggestion works in both languages. Spell-checking works only in french.

What should I do?

I'd rather fix this problem than use another keyboard.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This may depend on the keyboard used (Android vs Google). I have fixed this by selecting Gboard and adding there the languages I need.

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Tags: keyboard, nexus-4, dictionary, spell-check
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