title: Does Google Play balance expire?

text:
# Question
Title: Does Google Play balance expire?
I have a credit on Google Play that is from a gift card and not a promotion. Do I have to use it by a certain date?

# Answer
> 7 votes
From the Google Play Gift Card Terms of Service:

> 3. No Fees or Expiration. No fees or expiration dates apply to this Gift Card. Any refunded Google Play amounts, if applicable, will be credited back to your Google Play balance for future use under the same terms, unless otherwise required by law.

This is partially because of laws around gift cards:

> In 2009, Congress passed the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act, which set consumer protections for gift cards based on many state laws. The law provides that gift cards cannot expire within five years from the date they were activated and generally limits inactivity fee on gift cards except in certain circumstances, such as if there has been no transaction for at least 12 months. The federal law creates a floor for regulation and leaves room for state regulation on redeeming gift cards for cash and unclaimed property provisions.

# Answer
> 2 votes
I upvoted Ryan Conrad's answer because it is correct, and also provides some interesting additional information. However, it is **correct for the United States**.

Here in Australia, Google Play cards have this clause (unfortunately):

> **3. Expiration Period; No Fees.** Gift Card **value expires 2 years following the date of (1) card issuance, or (2) last activity on Google Play stored value account into which the card is redeemed, whichever is later**. No fees apply to the Gift Card. If required under applicable law, any refunds will be credited back to your Google Play balance for future use under these terms of service, unless otherwise required.

I actually found a card that I had completely forgotten about. Thankfully it still worked!

# Answer
> 0 votes
The answer regarding US cards is false. Despite the wording on the cards themselves saying there is no expiration date, they still expire after 2 years. If you call and complain, Google will tell you deal with the store that issued them, which is usually impossible.

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Tags: google-play-store
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# Question
Title: Need to set up a phone with limited permissions to help with a learning disorder
I need to set up a phone that will allow the user access to installed apps but will not allow them to install new apps. In addition I need to allow access to only a whitelist of websites. These constraints need to be unbreakable short of a factory wipe. My thought regarding privacy was to have a superuser account that the user and administrator each have half of the password, so the administrator can't get on the phone without the permission of the user.

I'm kind of desperate here. I asked this question twice on r/androidroot and both times people told me to just install apps that "reward good behavior" etc. We're way past that point. The user really needs email, text, maps, and a few work related apps (plus definitely some apps like Habitica to reward good habits!).

I haven't rooted a phone before but am fairly technically proficient. If Tasker is any part of the solution I'm pretty handy with that, otherwise I will do or learn anything necessary to make this happen. I have a google pixel to work with but if absolutely necessary will get a different phone.

Thank you very much for any help you're able to provide! p.s. the disorder is a pretty strong Executive Function disorder - despite 18 years of therapy with 6 different people the user is basically unable to build good habits or demonstrate much willpower. It's been pretty devastating for them.

# Answer
> 0 votes
that's pretty sad condition you have there, I hope what I am going to provide will be much useful for you.

1. In order to prevent the user from installing new apps from Play Store, you may try any of this method from this article:
2. Regarding with allowing only specific websites to access, you can try from any of the followings:
3. I am not really sure if we are able to set this up, however, try this:

Maybe the link below can be a good addition: \- https://www.howtogeek.com/223530/how-to-lock-down-your-android-tablet-or-smartphone-for-kids/

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Tags: rooting, root-access
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title: Export VPN configurations from Android

text:
# Question
Title: Export VPN configurations from Android
I would like to export all my VPN configurations stored in my smartphone to my pc. I use three VPN apps (VPN Master, USA VPN and Bettermet), in your opinion have I to find by myself all certificates and credentials or is there a place where I can find all this stuff stored in the system settings?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Different apps working with different VPN protocols have different methods of handling authentication credentials (username, password, certificate, key etc.). I didn't use any of three apps you mentioned, I guess those are all proprietary apps with purchased services (or at least under some T&C; if you don't pay them money, they charge you some other way). If you have root you can check their data directories under `/data/data/`, but I don't think you would be able to extract any useful data from there. There would be encrypted files, though some (free) VPN apps save VPN configuration (e.g. `.ovpn`) files in plain text.

Some general purpose apps like OpenVPN Client \- the one I use with my personal OpenVPN server on AWS EC2 - have a UI option to export VPN profiles as text files. But that won't be the case with purchased VPNs if they don't want you use the service on multiple devices or particularly on PC. You may ask them for a multi-device license / contract or go for some other option. https://www.vpngate.net, for instance, is a network of volunteers who offer a large collection of VPN configurations of multiple protocols that you can freely use on any number of devices.

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Tags: settings, system, vpn
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# Question
Title: Block Instagram for Android to access the Internet, using a software like SQUID on my Laptop/Desktop
Is there any way I could block Android Apps for example Instagram from accessing the Internet, using the SQUID software or something similar on my Personal Computer?

# Answer
If you have access to the WiFi Router you can block traffic and/or mac address. there are custom firmware for some router models like DD-WRT or Open-WRT. But the phone still can by-pass via mobile data.

Filter rules are complicated and may have unwanted effects. This is just a example

"Instagram" uses TCP protocol for communication.

TCP traffic analysis

Ports Range

Remote tcp port(s): 443, 80.

HTTP traffic analysis

HTTP traffic is found in Instagram's traffic.

Host(s) being connected(regular expression): ^.*.ak.instagram.com, ^.*.cdninstagram.com.

TLS traffic analysis

TLS connections are found in Instagram's traffic.

TLS Host(s) being connected(regular expression): instagram.com.

How to block Instagram?

Block the listed ports to block Instagram.

Block the listed http and tls domains to block Instagram.

Setup a content filter(ie: WFilter), which can block Instagram via signature

http://imfirewall.us/protocols/view.php?proto=Instagram
> 0 votes

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Tags: linux, instagram
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# Question
Title: How do I free up internal storage if I don't have any apps downloaded?
I have an Android Voyager, RCT6773W22B. It's version 5.0.

When I first got it, and years after that, I could download at least five apps downloaded at a time and have a great sum of pictures in my gallery. I would still have space after this. Over time, I would delete apps I didn't use anymore. If I wanted to download something else and there wasn't enough space, I would delete apps and/or pictures I don't need.

Now, I can't download anything due to internal storage. I have no apps, five pictures (not taken with the camera), and I've cleared the cache on everything except Chrome. It tells me my internal storage is completely full and I can't move anything to an SD card. What do I do?

# Answer
There are a lot of reasons that can cause this:

* leftover artifacts from uninstalled apps or updates
* download content from apps (videos/ photos from chat applications, maps for navigation, audio files for language learning apps, etc)
* currently kept open browser tabs (my chrome had at one point 50 tabs, it reserved ~1.5gb of space even if closed it but kept the tabs)

If you do a backup of your contacts and other important data, you can try to reset it to factory settings with a wipe of all sd/ internal memory. If you have a pc to connect your phone by cable AND the knowledge, you could browse the file folders and find the culprit (I would still recommend to clean the files over the phone afterwards but its easier to find what is taking the space) You could buy as a well a bigger sd card as a temporary solution.
> 8 votes

# Answer
The old (original) applications that came preinstalled on your phone are stored in the operating system part of the flash. As new versions of those applications appear, they are installed in the user part of the flash.
One way to recover some of the "lost" space is to bring applications to the "original" version - the one from flash. This will clear the "new" version that is installed in the "user" flash, freeing space available to you.
Of course, this does means you run older versions of those applications, which is not optimal.
This problem is most critical on 4GB storage phones (old budget smartphones). Some of them have SD card hardware support, but you can't move applications from the internal memory to the flash.

Another relatively easy way to check the storage is to connect the phone to a PC via USB cable and activate on the phone the "file access" mode - you will see "Internal Storage" and "SD Card" sub-folders (or something similar).
Also, +1 for WhatsApp storage of images/videos/...
> 8 votes

# Answer
I think this is the very similar problem I was having with my old phone. First, check your Storage in Settings for the information of what takes up your phone's space Second, if First step doesn't help, instal 3rd-party app, like Disk Usage, and check from there

My suspicion is the .thumbnail files and the database
> 7 votes

# Answer
I solved a similar problem in android 5 doing this:

1. Settings --\> Apps.
2. Go to All apps tab.
3. Look for "Download Manager" or something similar (I do not know the exact translation). It has an arrow pointing down inside a blue circle.
4. Select it and clear cache. For me, it had more than 1GB cache when I found it.
> 5 votes

# Answer
you can check what files or folders occupying storage from adb shell, and delete it from command line. for example (du) disk usage, (rm) remove:
`du -hxcd1 /storage/emulated/0`
`rm -r /storage/emulated/0/Android/data`
> 4 votes

# Answer
If your problem is lots of residue files from apps that are redundant and previously uninstalled. Then I'd recommend one of those cleaning apps like clean master, ordinarily its not the sort of app I would regularly use by any means. But I managed to free up \>1GB on one my tablets and the next thing I new I could install loads of apps again - to my surprise.

May be worth looking at your apps in settings as well to make sure there's no excessive disk usage from a particular app.
> 3 votes

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Tags: internal-storage
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title: Backup System App

text:
# Question
Title: Backup System App
I have my phone rooted with magisk and am running a ROM based on Android Pie, which doesn't come with GApps, and therefore has builtin apps to do stuff, my interest is in the gallery app. I configured OpenGApps to not install Google Photos, and preserve the existing gallery app instead. I would like to take a backup of it so I can use it anywhere in the future, however the obvious way fails: ES File Explorer doesn't even see it, Lucky Patcher doesn't allow .apk backups of system apps, and I went into the directories manually only to find the lib folder outside the .apk. Am I safe to just copy the .apk and ignore the lib folder, or is there any other way I can try?

Thank you for your time.

Note: I would like the app saved as a single "normal" .apk file, instead of having the lib folder outside and having to carry that around, plus I wouldn't be able to place it if I didn't have root (for example, a new phone).

# Answer
The apk file should be in either `/system/apps` or `system/priv-apps` if you have not removed it. You have already said that you found the file but don't know about the lib folder being outside. Copy the folders related to the app and note their locations. That way, when you restore them, you will be able to know were to copy them back.

Another way to get access to the apk, if you are not sure that all the files will be copied/backup, is to check the package name in Settings -\> Apps & notifications, then look for it online and download it.

> Lucky Patcher doesn't allow .apk backups of system apps

Open Lucky Patcher, click on the app, you want to backup, select Tools then "Share this app". (I have tried it and am able to backup and save system apps' apk to the SD card or any other location of my choosing).

Use Titanium Backup to help you backup the app.

> You can backup, restore, freeze (with Pro) your apps + data + Market links. This includes all protected apps & system apps, plus external data on your SD card. You can do 0-click batch & scheduled backups

Another app that you could use to backup the app (and produce a single apk file) is System app remover
> 1 votes

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Tags: backup, system-apps, 9.0-pie
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# Question
Title: How can I stream all audio from my Mac to my Android phone?
I'm sick of switching my headphone jack from my Mac to phone and vice versa. Is there any way to stream all audio playing on my Mac to my Android phone, so I can hear any audio from either my Mac or my phone through the same pair of headphones, at the same time?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Airfoil is available cross platform:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rogueamoeba.AirfoilSpeakers

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, maybe not exactly what you want, but I can stream from my phone to my PC using standard Bluetooth A2DP profile. I can't stream from my Linux PC to my phone :-(.

Just pair the devices and I believe there is graphical tool on MacOSX to choose the source device (on Linux I use pulseaudio pavucontrol).

# Answer
> 0 votes
i used the SoundWire https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.georgie.SoundWire but it has some kind of delay i am not sure if it works on mac

---
Tags: audio, streaming
---


# Question
Title: Redmi 3 stuck on bootloop with no recovery mode access
I have a Redmi 3 MIUI7 that I recently flashed with MIUI9 using TWRP. Right after flashing, I tried to boot it but it stuck on a bootloop. Since I haven't booted into the ROM and can't do so because of the bootloop, I have no access to enable USB Debugging AND TWRP recovery mode. No USB Debugging means the device will show as `unauthorized` when using `adb devices`, though I can Vol. Down+Power to get into Fastboot. I have flashed several ROMs before flashing to MIUI9 (Resurrect Remix and LineageOS, both Android Oreo and had root access).

I just need way to boot into TWRP recovery mode to a) flash my way out of the loop b) restore a backup.

# Answer
If you have access only to fastboot you will need complete ROM (including BOOTLOADER and FULL SYSTEM) because ota upgrade can broke custom bootloader
> 0 votes

# Answer
I can not answer in comments nor edit previous answer, so i have to post here. If you already downloaded `AdbWinApi.dll` `AdbWinUsbApi.dll` `fastboot_edl.exe` and started EDL Mode with `edl.cmd` with no result, then try this

1) Turn off your phone.
2) Now plug one end of the USB Cable into the PC port and the other end does not connect to the phone.
3) Press the `Volume Up` and `Power` buttons and immediately connect the other end of USB Cable to the phone.
4) Automatically the phone will go to EDL Mode with LED lights will light up blinking.

If this not working you should watch a tutorial how to build Deep Flash Cable or how to open the case and boot into EDL from test point.
> 0 votes

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Tags: boot, hardware, adb, recovery-mode
---


# Question
Title: How to manually transfer entire Whatsapp installation to another device (the hard way)
I'm using Whatsapp from a virtual machine since I lost my phone, and now need to transfer it to a new VM.

The easy way would be to use the backup feature native to Whatsapp, but it is disabled since the VM is connected via Ethernet (and Android thinks it's a Mobile connection). In fact the very "local backup" feature is not available. I have a ton of messages which I really wouldn't like to lose.

There's an Xposed module which could possible fake an Wifi connection in the Android VM, but at this point I really want to do the entire transfer locally as my internet is painfully slow right now.

I tried the built-in `adb backup` feature, only to find out it's disabled for Whatsapp and can't be easily enabled (requires decompiling the `apk` file).

So, how can I manually transfer Whatspp app data to the new "device"? What folders do I need to copy, and what files must be modified in order for the transfer to work seamlessly?

I do of course have full root access.

**\[Update\]** Neither of the following work:

* Copying the entire contents of `/data/data/com.whatsapp/databases` after installing Whatsapp, signing in and closing it. It will crash when opening, without any error message.
* Copying the same directory, but without opening Whatsapp and signing in after installation. Same error as above.
* Copying `/data/data/com/whatsapp/databases/msgstore.db` after installing Whatsapp and signing in. An error message is presented: "Something went wrong with your chat history"
* Copying the entire `/data/data/com.whatsapp` directory, after installing and closing it. It will crash when opening, without any error message.

# Answer
I was encountering the crashing behaviour trying these approaches too, but @DeathMaskSalesman seems to've been on the right track—the crashes are indeed a permissions issue.

If you remove WhatsApp entirely, reinstall it, and copy `/data/data/com.whatsapp` over and adjust the permissions correctly *before* launching it the first time, then it should just need to reverify your number to work. This worked for me.

To adjust permissions, first use `ls -la` to check the permissions on what's put in the `/data/data/com.whatsapp` directory upon install, e.g.:

```
drwxrwx--x   3 u0_a105 u0_a105  4096 2018-07-14 00:55 cache

```

Then use the username and group (here both `u0_a105`) to rename the files after you've copied them in:

```
chown -R u0_a105:u0_a105 /data/data/com.whatsapp/*

```

Then WhatsApp should launch okay without crashes, and retain settings, messages, and multimedia.
> 3 votes

# Answer
If you have root, you can use TitaniumBackup to save Whatsapp data.

If you don't have root, you can downgrade to Whatsapp 2.11.431 (you can find it here) which was the latest version with `adb backup` feature activated, and then proceed backing up with adb (instructions).
> 4 votes

# Answer
THX to this guide here from xda I was handle to perform a manually transfer of my entire Whatsapp conversations (120000 messages :D).

Simple:

1. Make a full TWRP Backup of your old rom if possible +pull it with adb or MTP from your phone
2. Copy with TWRP Terminal, TWRP Filemamanger, ADB or with your running system with root access this file: /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key
3. Check the filesize of that key-file. It should be 158 Bytes. If there are multiple, choose them all. But later you need the one with 158 Bytes.
4. Copy the key file and the Folder /sdcard/Whatsapp to your local-machine.
5. On your new phone: Install Whatsapp and open it but do nothing more. Let it open and hold the power-button to shutdown or restart into your TWRP recovery.
6. Within TWRP push "**W**hatsapp" folder with all it's content to your /sdcard/ folder and psuh the key file (that one with 158 Bytes) into /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/
7. Start your new phone again and start Whatsapp. Press restore, if you got the message that it does not found anything in "/sdcard/Whatsapp/backup", go ahead and verify your number. In my case WA found the database then and restored my 120000 messages.

If I understand that right:

* /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/key Is the encrypton key for your database with all your messages.
* /sdcard/Whatsapp/Databases/msgstore.db.crypt12 Should be your database with all your messages in it. There could be some more with a date in the filename. These should be smaller and older then the msgstore.db.crypt12.
* /sdcard/Whatsapp/Media Contains media :-P If you lost this, only the messages would be there and the media had just nothing to link to it.

I am happy now. I was able to switch from Android 7 (LineageOS) to Android 8.1 (CarbonRom) without using Google-Apps anymore. So no Backup from the cloud would be needed. MicroG has a bug with that.
> 2 votes

# Answer
You can find WhatsApp data in the directory `/data/data/com.whatsapp`, just copy all the contents of subdirectory `databases` with `adb pull /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases` and transfer it onto your new VM with `adb push path/to/saved/databases/directory /data/data/com.whatsapp/databases`, be sure the target it's empty.
> 0 votes

# Answer
I used to backup only the  `msgstore.db`  file located in `/data/data/com.whatsapp/files` before uninstalling, and copying it to the same folder after new installation. But this doesn't seem to work anymore since version 2.19.xx.

From the comments, I think `key` file is the new factor here. Will try.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger, android-x86
---


# Question
Title: How to enable USB debugging in LineageOS 14 on Moto G2014?
I want to build LineageOS 15 from source following the titan image build guide which requires the transfer of vendor specific files and thus an `adb` connection after enabling USB debugging.

I didn't find a LineageOS-specific guide on turning development tools including USB debugging on, so I went with my Android knowledge of tapping 6 times on the build number in the phone settings. This shows a screen with my home screen background and the LineageOS emblem. The emblem responds to taps anywhere on the screen by changing it's styling, but nothing else. I can go back and use the phone including repeating the journey to the emblem screen.

I get that these settings should be hidden for non-dev users and don't need to be reachable very intuitively, but that's covered by hiding the function behind the 6 taps on the version item. After that the proceedure to enable development features can be intuitive again.

# Answer
> 3 votes
> I went with my Android knowledge of tapping 6 times on the build number in the phone settings. This shows a screen with my home screen background and the LineageOS emblem.

Despite what you claimed, you've tapped the wrong place. Tapping "Android version" will show a big N; tapping "LineageOS version" will show you the LOS logo; tapping the actual "Build number" item, which is the second-to-last item in the About phone menu, is what you should go for.

On top of that, it should be tapped **7** times, and each tap should notify you about needing more taps to unlock Dev Options.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I tapped something else than the build number. There's a lot of room for improvement here, unfortunately, LineageOS developers don't care about suggestions of improvements in their issue tracker.

---
Tags: usb-debugging, lineageos, developer-options
---


# Question
Title: How to send whatsapp messages without saving number?
Please let me know, without using any third party application, how to send whatsapp message without saving a number in contact?

Regards Smith

# Answer
> 2 votes
You will need to do the following trick

https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=xxxxxx

Copy this and paste it on your browser, please replace "xxxxxx" with the phone number (with country code but without +. **Example= https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=901234567890**), then hit enter. This will redirect you to WhatsApp and you will begin to talk to contact without saving the phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Yes, download SharkID app and login.

From their Dialer Screen, type your numner and Swipe Left. You will see the 'WhatsApp' button, click on it. If WhatsApp is installed then, it goes directly to that number.

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Tags: whatsapp-messenger
---


title: Samsung s10e screen protector

text:
# Question
Title: Samsung s10e screen protector
I have scratched my screen, however, when I look at it real close, it looks like a screen protection was pre-affixed to it... but to confuse matters, unlike other screen protections I had in the past, this one demands much force to be applied in order to slide a nail under it - so much force that I stopped trying for fear of breaking some kind of "integrated screen protection".

This feature is maybe 1/4mm thick, follows the contour of the top speaker, about 1mm under it, and follows the top edge of the plastic sides, roughly 2mm from them, and has a circular hole roughly 8/9mm around the front camera.

Can someone tell me if there is an "integrated (and not removeable) screen protection" on s10e phones, that looks like what I described, or if, for some reason, there was a screen protection affixed to my phone though I never asked for one?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I finally managed to slide under it, there *was* a screen protector, and so I am relieved that's not my screen I deeply scratched in 3 days after receiving the phone :)

So for anyone wondering, s10e might have a protector straight out of the box, and it's damn hard to remove!

# Answer
> 1 votes
From the Verge's article Samsung will include preinstalled screen protector on Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus:

> Buyers of the new Samsung Galaxy S10 and S10 Plus will find a preinstalled plastic screen protector on their device when they unbox it beginning March 8th. Samsung has confirmed that it’s shipping the S10 with a protector on the display, meaning you won’t have to immediately hunt for something that’s compatible with the ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor on day one. Now, this is just your very basic screen protector — similar to what OnePlus does with their phones, if I had to guess — and it isn’t glass, so it’s bound to scratch over time. The included protector thus doesn’t have any sort of warranty on how long it’ll last.

> The Galaxy S10E won’t have this screen protector included since it will work with many screen protectors with no problem. Samsung seems to be purposefully doing it on the S10 and S10 Plus to give consumers a quick solution out of the box.

If yours has one pre-installed, maybe they forgot and install one ;)

---
Tags: samsung
---


# Question
Title: How do I safely flash a new rom on an infected android phone?
Is using a live cd a good idea? Will it keep the rest of my computer including storage and installed OS safe?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Well, I think you should further tighten the security up more, my suggestions are:

1. Get into Safe Mode (if you are using Windows OS)
2. Fire up VM software, and do the process in there

The best is do it on Linux OS. Even though imho the malwares from phones are different from the PC ones.

# Answer
> 0 votes
# You are right to be cautious.

Android malware cannot directly run on a Windows PC. Android malware CAN be used as a dropper for Windows malware, however, and this is why you should be careful about hooking up your phone. But there is one method of restore that should be safe:

# Fastboot

Boot your phone into Fastboot mode (sometimes called 'bootloader' mode) and use the fastboot command on your PC to either:

a) Flash your new image directly (usually only works for OEM images)

b) Flash or tempboot TWRP and use that to wipe your phone COMPLETELY (remove /system, /data, cache, Dalvik cache, the works) and transfer and install your new image. (usually works for custom ROMs). You can use ADB safely here as well.

Even root-access malware cannot mess with fastboot, and by extension a booted-from-fastboot recovery partition, so you should be safe restoring your phone like this.

---
Tags: security, malware
---


# Question
Title: How can I reenable Gmail notifications after disabling them through Inbox?
I used to have both Inbox and Gmail installed. This meant duplicate notifications. Inbox had the option "Turn off Gmail notifications" which I had selected. Since then, Inbox has become defunct and I haven't been able to figure out how to undo that.

Crucially: all of my Gmail and Android settings turn notifications from Gmail on, but they still won't show up. Does anyone know what Inbox did and how I can undo it?

# Answer
You have removed Inbox app, but the issue remains. If Inbox did modified Gmail settings, then you have to tried the "usual" steps:

* Clear Gmail's cache.
* Clear Gmail's data (this step also clears the cache): It will reset the app to default. You will have to login again to your account as you did the first time you used the app.
* Remove and re-install Gmail (if it was not installed by default like in some custom ROMs).
* Remove all Gmail updates (it will allow Gmail to return to the state it had when you bought the device).
> 2 votes

---
Tags: notifications, gmail, inbox-by-gmail
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to access Face ID sensors raw data?
My Honor 10 has facial recognition capability in the dark, I suppose it works like Apple's Face ID which would rely on and IR camera and an Infrared pattern/dot projector.

So, since the Settings app and the Screen lock app can access those sensors, could it be possible to activate/ access those sensors data in another custom built app (on a Rooted smartphone) to use it for 3D scanning objects or simply recording the face of the user in order to 3D print a functional facial recognition "key"?

# Answer
FaceId is based on infrared light sensors and depth sensing technology. All the captured data is saved in the form of Encrypted hashes in the secure enclave. First of all, the system doesn't allow you to read these files. But in any case you are able to read the encrypted files, you can not decrypt them for your purpose.

All the encrypted data is saved locally.

If you are creating a new app, you can use these sensors for capturing data.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, security, sensors, front-camera, face-unlock
---


# Question
Title: Some folders and files not showing up on PC when connected via USB
My phone doesn't have an SD card in it right now, so all storage is on internal memory. I have a bunch of folders in my Pictures folder that don't show up on my PC when I connect it via USB (but most folders do appear). I know they're there because they appear in my phone's file manager (in both the native Google one and a third-party one). How come I can't see them?

# Answer
> 22 votes
This is a known issue. Go to app manager and find 'external storage' and 'media storage' and clear data and cache for them, then reboot, and wait up to 10 minutes and then connect to PC via USB. Sometimes media scan apps from play store help if you don't want to reboot.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I find another trick that works on Android 8.1, not sure other versions, that you can reboot your phone to recovery mode, specifically I installed TWRP, then the missing folders show up on my computer.

Note, for Android OS developers, if you just flashed the system image, you have to at least boot into desktop once, the computer then can recognize the phone under recovery mode.

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Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, file-system
---


# Question
Title: Android 6.0.1 Mysterious "Videos" Taking Up Space
I have been made confused by the Storage Info of my phone since it shows 3.16 GB of videos took up my internal space. But then I checked, the videos not even passed 250 MB in total size.

Can't seem to find the solution in the Internet yet, I've been searching tho. I am using Venus phone by Vestel (a Turkey's made)

Preview:

**Update 1**: The result I got after using Disk Usage app:

**Update 2**: The result I got after using SD Maid app:

**Update 3**: The result I got after using Termux app with first given command:

**Update 4**: The result I got after using Termux app with second given command:

**Update 5**: The result I got after using 'dumpsys' command on my PC connected to my phone by means of USB Debugging:

**Update 6**: after redo commands of 1st and 2nd but with adding 'grep'

**Update 7**: result of commands 'dumpsys -l' and 'dumpsys diskstats'

# Answer
## HOW FILES ARE CATEGORIZED ON ANDROID?

Let's simplify things. You tap a text document, it opens with text editor. You click on a picture, it opens with image viewer. Whether to open a file with a document viewer, or a photo editor, or a media player, or something else, is determined by MIME type, or Media Type, or in simple words File Type.

The simple and easy way to determine file type is the ***file extension***; we know a file ending with `.mp4` is a video file. That's how Windows set preferred program to open a file. \*NIX operating systems usually rely on ***file's magic*** to determine mime type. That's what file command does. Android's toybox file doesn't seem to have a large collection of magics, so the primary source to guess file types on Android is file extensions.

That said, the size of ***Videos*** that appear under ***Internal Storage*** usage details, is the total size of files which have mime type video/\*, based on *extensions vs file category* *mapping* used by Settings app (, , , , ). If you think the size shown is inaccurate, you can cross check yourself. Use some app or simply a terminal emulator like Termux to find all *video files*:

```
~$ find /sdcard/ -type f | grep -iE '\.wrf$|\.movie$|\.wvx$|\.wmx$|\.wm$|\.asx$|\.mng$|\.lsx$|\.lsf$|\.mxu$|\.qt$|\.vob$|\.mpe$|\.fli$|\.dv$|\.dif$|\.dl$|\.mpeg$|\.mpg$|\.mp4$|\.m4v$|\.mov$|\.3gp$|\.3gpp$|\.3g2$|\.3gpp2$|\.mkv$|\.webm$|\.ts$|\.avi$|\.wmv$|\.asf$'

```

* If using Termux, grant Storage permission to allow `/sdcard` access.

This will find every file on you storage which is considered video by OS, though one might not be a video in actual and just disguising itself with a video file extension.
To find out individual file sizes and total size, extend the command a bit:

```
~$ find /sdcard/ -type f | grep -iE '\.wrf$|\.movie$|\.wvx$|\.wmx$|\.wm$|\.asx$|\.mng$|\.lsx$|\.lsf$|\.mxu$|\.qt$|\.vob$|\.mpe$|\.fli$|\.dv$|\.dif$|\.dl$|\.mpeg$|\.mpg$|\.mp4$|\.m4v$|\.mov$|\.3gp$|\.3gpp$|\.3g2$|\.3gpp2$|\.mkv$|\.webm$|\.ts$|\.avi$|\.wmv$|\.asf$' | xargs -I {} du -b '{}' | sort -n | awk '{sum += $1} {print} END {print sum}'

```

* All commands are very basic, usually part of busybox distributions.

This will show the individual and total file size in bytes. Convert that to MBs or GBs, and that should match the size appearing in Settings. In the same way, you can calculate size of other file types like `audio` and `images`.

The same categorized files can be viewed in the left menu of Android's default `Files` app (at least on Pie). However there could be possible differences. For instance, a file with `.mpe` extension will reflect in videos size shown in Settings, but won't appear under videos of `Files` app or other gallery apps. It's because the *file extension vs mime type* *mapping* which media scanner uses doesn't include `.mpe` extension in video category. In addition to file extension, media scanner takes further steps to segregate files for default apps and preferred activities.

Another way to get total size of video files is `dumpsys` `diskstats` service which reads from file `/data/system/diskstats_cache.json`. DiskStatsLogService runs once every 24 hours when device is idle and charging, and the *extensions vs file category* *mapping* it relies on is similar to the one used by Settings. So the sizes should be same when `diskstats_cache` file is updated:

```
~$ dumpsys diskstats | grep Videos

```

---

**RELATED:** How disk space is used on Android device?
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, internal-storage, insufficient-memory, video, disk-drive
---


# Question
Title: Running "tcpdump" on Android shell gives error: "not executable: 32-bit ELF file"
I'm trying to install `tcpdump` to monitor network traffic. I've tried multiple versions from link1 and link2. Whenever I try to execute I get an error:

```
~$ adb connect 192.168.1.10:5555
~$ adb root
~$ adb push tcpdump /data/local
~$ adb shell
~$ su
~# cd /data/local
~# chmod 777 tcpdump
~# ./tcpdump -s 0 -v -w out.pcap
/system/bin/sh: ./tcpdump: not executable: 32-bit ELF file

```

Any help is appreciated.

**EDIT:**

```
~$ uname -m
i686

```

# Answer
You are on `x86` architecture but trying to run a `tcpdump` binary built for `ARM` architecture. Link2 provides source code and link1 a 32-bit ARM binary which won't work obviously. You need a 32-bit executable for Intel / AMD processors which you can build from source code, or try this one.

**RELATED:** ARM vs. x86.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: shell, android-emulator, android-x86
---


title: Revert update of Gmail app

text:
# Question
Title: Revert update of Gmail app
Is it possible to revert the latest update of the Gmail app for Android?

# Answer
> 1 votes
It's not as easy to revert to individual previous versions, but you can revert easily to the stock version that came with your phone.

1. Find Gmail in "My Apps" in the Google Play Store
2. Tap `Uninstall`
3. Tap `OK` to uninstall updates and revert to original

# Answer
> 0 votes
Revert to stock version, (as above) then go here via the mobe's web browser:
http://www.apk4fun.com/history/901/ or here http://gmail.en.uptodown.com/android/old Find a previous version you want, download & install. Make sure the phone settings allow install from non-GooglePlay locations. Actually all quite easy.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to Apps - Gmail then go down to to the AP settings. It opened up the play store and I had the option to uninstall updates. It went back to a fresh start, just log in and it seems to work fine but a slightly older format.

---
Tags: gmail
---


# Question
Title: phone turned off and not turning back on
My phone Huawei P8 Lite was working totally fine but suddenly turned off and now it's not turning back on. the phone was not out of charge when it died and now, as I plug in the charger, after a while it gets warmer meaning (i think) battery is still charged but its neither turning on nor showing any screen.

Any help would highly be appreciated.

# Answer
If it's a software problem, you can try holding the power button and volume down button down at the same time and keep holding for at least 10 seconds.

The phone should now boot up and give you a list of options. Use the volume up/down arrows to navigate and power button to select. Find the 'Reboot' option and select it to reboot your phone.

If that doesn't work, could be a hardware problem, which would mean you will need to take it in for repair
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, huawei
---


title: I cant get my GBoard back to "normal"

text:
# Question
Title: I cant get my GBoard back to "normal"
For some reason, my keyboard now looks like this, and I cant get it back to normal with normal shift key function and auto correct and word suggestions. Yes, I went into the keyboard options and turned these things on. Still not working.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You are accidentally on the PC version. On the keyboard, just follow these steps and you'll get back your previous version.

* Click on the setting option on the left corner
* Click on languages (image 1)
* There you have keyboard languages and layouts click on the English US (PC) (image 2)
* First click on qwerty if not checked and select done (image 3) after checking it then swap to the right you'll find the PC double click it and touch done on the bottom right (3rd and 4rth image) -Your setting changed now to the previous one :)

here are the screenshots

---
Tags: keyboard, gboard
---


# Question
Title: How can I disable the little preview on Youtube (to save mobile data)?
I am running on mobile data on my Galaxy S7 Edge on Oreo, and was wondering if you can disable the little previews. They take a lot of data, and I only get 3GB of data before it slows down to 2G. The reason they take a lot of data is cause they play at highest quality, but I watch Youtube at 144p on mobile data to save. Does anyone know how to disable them?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Android: YouTube now shows video previews in the Home panel, which uses up data and is otherwise just annoying. Happily you can turn them off.

Just tap your profile picture at top-right, then tap Settings \> Autoplay. Turn off the “Autoplay on Home” toggle, as shown above, and you’re done.

It makes sense that YouTube would add a feature like this, because it gives users a very clear idea of what the video in question is going to be, but at the same time I understands why users might find this annoying. Happily it’s easy enough to turn this off.

Thanks to my friend Nancy Messieh at MakeUseOf for pointing this out to me.

---
Tags: mobile-data, youtube
---


title: Flashlight on lockscreen on Galaxy S5

text:
# Question
Title: Flashlight on lockscreen on Galaxy S5
I am soon going on a field trip and would like to give my friends the ability to use the flash light from the phone without giving them the pattern to unlock the phone. Is that possible to add the flashlight/torch to the locked screen just like the camera?

I have a Galaxy S5 with Android 4.4.2

# Answer
Make sure your camera shortcut is on in the lockscreen. Open the camera from the lockscreen, drag your flash setting to the top from the camera settings and make sure it is on. Now all you have to do is open the camera shortcut and click video and your light will stay on. It will also record video while it's on but this is the only way to turn on your flashlight from the lockscreen.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Not without a different ROM but you may be able to add one to the notification area. Try this, I don't know how well (if at all) it works on the S5 but it's worth a shot.
> 1 votes

# Answer
On the last models of Samsung was easy! Just press the volume key and the flashlight is turning on! (of course you should first to approve this in settings:) When you want to stop it just press the volume down! I have Xcover 1 and 2, I used it a lot, it is easy and good option but sometimes the flashlight was turned on in my pocket of my carhartt jeans and the battery finished very quick. So in settings you can make the flashlight to work only 1-2min. and to stop automatically. I bought S5 Active few days ago and I am very angry that the phone has no same option!!! I see one decision but. To upload a Torch APP and then to switch on this APP with functional extra key, which is over the volume key.
> 0 votes

# Answer
The S5 Lollipop update now has the flashlight available as a notification sort cut, you can add it to the list of 'quick settings' and just use it that way now. Tested as of today 25.02.2015.0
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can try CM Locker by Cheetah Mobile. This is an iOS based Locker. Give CM Locker a try!
> 0 votes

# Answer
Turn on the flashlight by holding both **volume keys** with Torchie - Volume Button Torch app.

Or **shake** your phone to turn on the flashlight with Shake Flashlight app.

---

Source: 5 Quick Ways to Turn on the Flashlight on Your Android Device
> 0 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, samsung-galaxy-s-5, camera-flash
---


# Question
Title: Note9: Can you sync DIFFERENT calendars on google calendar and samsung calendar at the same time?
I have personal and business calendars from completely different accounts and I don't want them to show on both apps.

When I select specific calendars for Google calendar for Android, I can't prevent Samsung Calendar from showing the exact same changes and vice versa.

Can you select only Calendar A from Account A on one calendar app and only Calendar B from Account B on another on Android?

# Answer
As strange as this may seem, it is not possible to do that. Any calendars you enable/disable in the Samsung calendar will be reflected in the Google calendar.

However, you can get two separate installations of the calendar by using secure folder. I am a fan of this solution because it keeps all of your business stuff separated from your personal stuff.

1. Enable secure folder by finding the icon on the phone's dropdown menu (above the notification drawer).
2. Launch the secure folder app.
3. Sign into your business Google account in the secure folder settings menu.
4. Open the Samsung Calendar app which should be in secure folder by default, or add a copy of Google Calendar to the secure folder and use that.

You now have two separate calendar apps on your phone and neither is aware of the other's existence.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Candl Apps makes two calendar widgets - one called Calendar Widget: Month and another called Calendar Widget: Agenda.

You can add calendars to these widgets which will not automatically change the visible calendars on other calendar apps.

Here are the links to the play store:

Month https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candl.chronos

Agenda https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.candl.auge
> 1 votes

---
Tags: calendar, google-calendar, samsung-galaxy-note-9
---


title: Stolen Android Tablet

text:
# Question
Title: Stolen Android Tablet
If a tablet has been stolen, the sim card removed and been factory reset, is it possible, at all, to have it tracked?

# Answer
> 1 votes
If it's been factory reset, there's not much you can do. Assuming your google account or samsung account has been removed from the device, there is no way to track it.

---
Tags: samsung, sim-card, lost-phone
---


# Question
Title: "Device located,Android Device Manager located this device" How to turn this off
Whenever I access Android Device Manager page I get a notification prompt on my phone saying:

"Device located, Android Device Manager located this device"

I really don't want this to show up. In case someone steals my phone, I don't want them to know I know where they are located.

I just want to be able to mute this notification on my phone.

I went through the steps to turn this notification off in the app manager. The "Show notifications" is turned off, however, this notification still pops up on my phone every time.

# Answer
In Settings app, go to *Sounds and Notifications*, then scroll to *App notifications*, click on it, then go to *Google Play Service*, click on it, then click on *Block all*.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I've tried this on Nougat (Android 7) and it works if you change the "Importance" of the Google Play services notifications to Level 1. On my OnePlus 3, I swipe the notification a little bit to the left or right until the "settings" cog appears and then I click on this.

To make this ("Importance") available, I think you have to go into System UI Tuner in Settings, tap Other, tap Power notification controls and then turn it on.

I'm assuming that the Google Play services notifications include more than just this notification so I'll keep an eye out for notifications that don't appear on the lock screen or the status bar but do appear at the bottom of the notification list. I tried setting the importance of the "Device Manager" notifications (instead of the "Google Play services" notifications) in Notifications in Settings but it had no effect.

It'll be a right pain if important notifications are generated by the same notification service because then I won't be able to suppress only the "Device located" notifications.

Alternatively, tap on "More Settings" in the notification settings and select "Don't show notifications at all" for the "On the lock screen" setting. This doesn't need Power notification controls to be on.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: notifications
---


# Question
Title: How to use my phone as a WiFi adapter for playing lan games
I just want to play lan games and use wireless apps because my pc doesnt have WiFi so I want to use my damaged display phone as WiFi for lan games in pc And also use pc remote from my other phone -WiFi adapter -lan games (pc) -phone -pc have no WiFi Hope you understand Any help will be appreciated

# Answer
As Robert said it's not the best idea but if you still want to do it first turn off mobile data and connect to WIFI then connect your phone to the pc then on your phone go to network and internet then tap hotspot & tethering and enable USB tethering.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, lan
---


# Question
Title: Using Google Play Music on Galaxy S6 WITHOUT starting subscription
This is so annoying. I am trying to add music to my mothers Galaxy S6 and play it with the default player: Google Play Music. But despite getting all the files onto the phone in the music directory, I CANNOT GET Google Play Music to do ANYTHING but show an invitation to start subscription (besides looking into the settings).

Can anyone confirm that it is possible to use the player without a subscription - and possibly how to do this?

# Answer
I have tested the steps below with Google Play Music version 8.19.7938-1-M:

1. Clear Google Play Music's data. Restart the app.
2. It will show some subscription plans (Individual and Family). Select "No Thanks".
3. The app will then ask the permission to access your media files. Click OK.
4. You will then be asked "Get unlimited, ad-free music". Select "No Thanks".
5. On the menu select "Music Library". All your music will be listed based on playlists, artists, etc and can start playing/listening to them.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-6, google-play-music
---


title: Low flash memory in Android ZTE phone

text:
# Question
Title: Low flash memory in Android ZTE phone
In my Android ZTE, I'm trying to upload things. Let's say, I'm uploading a resume, I will get a message saying it can't be delivered due to low memory.

I have deleted things like games and pictures that I thought consumed my memory, but still, I get that message.

How do I increase my phone's free flash memory?

# Answer
Upload fails when destination storage limit exceeded, which is most likely not related to your storage. Anyway, there is no way to increase flash memory.

Without root permissions you can "clear cache" from app settings. youtube and chrome are good candidates.

With root access you can do a little more, but at least external MicroSD Card is required
> 2 votes

---
Tags: storage
---


# Question
Title: Smallest screen size without issues like scaling
In the Android Compatibility Definition Document it says the support for smallest screen size is 2.5 inches diagonal but which aspect ratio is this for and what would be the smallest size be for 16:9 aspect ratio? Also how small do you think apps can support before problems occur ?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Using the Screen size calculator, choosing 16:9 as the aspect ratio, and entering 2.5 inches as the diagonal give the result:

```
Width: 5.5 cm / 2.2 inches
Height: 3.1 cm / 1.2 inches

```

> Also how small do you think apps can support before problems occur ?

It depends on whether the apps' developers have coded them to Support different screen sizes or not. If they have not, then going below 2.5 inches will become problematic.

---
Tags: screen
---


# Question
Title: BBM Android chat lost after Android crash
I've recently been experiencing Android crashes (5.0), and the BBM app seems to be particularly volatile and could be the cause of the crashes.

I had a single contact and chat history with that contact, and both the contact and chat history have disappeared. If I check the dedicated BBM folder on the device storage, the photos and documents from the chat are still there.

My question is: in BBM, if you delete a contact, will the opposing phone have both the contact and the chat deleted? Or is this likely to be caused by a data-loss during the Android crash, and if so, where would I usually find chat history in order to investigate?

# Answer
> 0 votes
The problem was caused by the other user having an accident with their phone and losing their BBM contacts, which in turn deletes the chat. I'm not entirely sure of the process, but they had to re-add me as a contact, and the chat remained lost.

---
Tags: applications
---


title: Recover cached website data

text:
# Question
Title: Recover cached website data
I went to settings then sites and downloads then manage website data and deleted cached info. Can I restore that info? in Samsung Internet browser on a Samsung tablet?

# Answer
The short answer is **No**.

The web browser cache is part of the app-internal data of the Webbrowser app. Unless you made a backup the deleted data is gone.

Data recovery on Android is very complicated as you first require root permissions and then need a tool that is able to parse the used file-system of your device and find deleted files. I case of some deleted JPEG images there is a small chance to find them back, however a webbrowser cache comprises of several apps and is most likely saved to dozens of fragments in the flash memory which makes a recovery very unlikely.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: data-recovery
---


# Question
Title: Would it be theoretically possible to do a block-level backup of /dev/media without root?
I have nothing against root except eFUSE. Whose ever idea eFUSE was . . .

As far as I understand:
Because of amateur users and clueless minimalists who don't know how to utilise tools that are intended for power users, the development team of TWRP has controversially decided that their NANDROID backup **does not include /data/media**.

More information and sources in these comments:
1. Best practice for backing up /data/media?
2. Best practice for backing up /data/media?

What I want is a block-level image backup of the entire phone, so that I can return to the exact spot later on.

I want that block-level backup to include the `/data/media` partition.

Now, I have found out it is possible via ADB, but that requires root. If there is really no other way, I would consider taking the risk of rooting the phone after doing any other possible backup method (adb app backup, file backup, etc.)

But my question is:

### Is it technically possible to do a block-level (dd) backup of the /data/media partition without root?

Had the developement team of TWRP decided to include `/data/media`, pleasing power users and maximalists instead of minimalists and amateur users, would it **actually** have been possible without root?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Is it technically possible to do a block-level (dd) backup of a file? - Yes
Is it technically possible to do a block-level (dd) backup of a folder? - No

---
Tags: adb, root-access, backup, twrp, nandroid
---


# Question
Title: Chrome - unprompted auto-download of files after opening the browser - bug or something else?
Upon opening google chrome on android, it suddenly downloaded (unprompted by me) a jpeg, as well as a "seed" file. After scanning both files with the mobile version of kaspersky, i opened the jpeg file and noticed that i knew the picture from somewhere. Upon searching, i found it, along with the seed file in the download folder (from within the chrome app). Both were however said to be downloaded in 2017. In contrast, in my own download folder inside the file manager the files are said to be downloaded today.

Now, what could have caused said (re-)download? Was this simply a bug, or might there be something else wrong with my phone?

# Answer
First of all, I would recommend running a scan with Lookout just in case it is a virus that is initiating these downloads (I do see you've used Kaspersky so it should be fine if it didn't sound any alarms). However, it's likely a glitch with the Download Manager; I've been getting random redownloads of files that I've downloaded before through Chrome as well. A reinstall of Chrome and clearing the cache of the Files app may help, as well as a restart of the Android device.

Just the other day my Download Manager decided to "redownload" everything in my Downloads folder, yet it didn't download them in the sense that it retook them from the Internet. I think it was just reloading the files because there were no duplicates. It's likely nothing you need to worry about.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: security, chrome-for-android, browser, downloading
---


title: Drunk galaxy j7+ storage

text:
# Question
Title: Drunk galaxy j7+ storage
Well my situation doesn't seems good, my phone is kinda drunk, 32 GB of storage and having 500 mb only, in fact when I delete a 60mb file I free up 1.69 gb BTW it says 21.8 GB taken by apps Answers?

# Answer
I'm going to assume you are referring to Internal Storage and not the SD Card, in which case it would be good to wipe all of it. More specifically, a reset of your Android. Before you do this, you're probably going to want to back up important files to a computer or upload them to an online drive.

Here's a link to a guide that will help you reset (skip to step 3): https://www.wikihow.tech/Erase-Internal-Storage-on-Android

Alternatively, if you're not willing to reset, then it may be preferable to delete every single one of your apps until you're at a point where you have lots of space. My Android is also really silly when it comes to evaluating remaining space: I check the settings and go to storage and it tells me I have 500 MB left, yet when I connect it to my computer it says I have 0 bytes of free space in internal storage.

It could also be a problem with the drive itself (a physical hardware issue) in which case the only solution is buying a new phone unless you're willing to go through the trouble of changing that one part (the drive). My advice to you: clear up the apps, the photos, the videos etc. until the storage can reorient itself. Just do a general cleanup, and then it should do a better job of telling you how much space is left.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: storage
---


title: No Internet Available, sometimes

text:
# Question
Title: No Internet Available, sometimes
One week ago, my phone suddenly grew a very annoying problem with the Wi-Fi. Pretty much what happens is that my Samsung phone is working like normal for ten seconds. Then, the Wi-Fi disconnects and says "No internet available". If I manually reconnect it by tapping the Wi-Fi in settings and press connect, it connects back to the Wi-Fi. Then the cycle repeats ten seconds later.

Also, the cycle is not constant. Sometimes I have internet access for a few minutes, sometimes only for three seconds, but on mostly ten seconds.

Another thing, it's not my phone. My phone can connect perfectly well to all other Wi-Fis. It also not my router, for all other devices connect perfectly well to it. It has something to do with the specific connection between this phone and my linksys internet.

On a side note, I have a roomba connected via schedule to this phone. It hasn't automatically vaccummed since my internet-phone connection acted it.

EDIT 1: I have tried using the Wi-Fi fixer app and it did not work as desired. When the app is running, the same cycle occurs as described above. With the exception that every time the Wi-Fi disconnects, Wi-Fi fixer automatically reconnects.

This is a great step, as I get a somewhat more reliable internet connection. However, this means that every 20 seconds the "connected to Wi-Fi" pop up appears. It also means my internet goes in and out constantly. I also imagine the constant reconnecting to the internet causes a smaller battery life.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Wifi connects for sometimes then disconnects and then never connects

This question seems to be similar to your situation. OP reported that the problem was solved by using this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.wahtod.wififixer&hl=en

EDIT: Taken from Wifi keeps disconnecting and reconnecting frequently

1.Dial \*#0011#

2.Then press the menu button and select wifi

3.You'll notice an ON button

4.Turn it Off

5.Restart phone

p.s.: When you restart your phone, recheck if it's still OFF, if not repeat til it works.

Alternatively, you may want to try the possible solutions listed here: https://www.connectify.me/blog/fix-internet/how-to-fix-android-wifi-disconnect/

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


title: Why does my WIFI turn off randomly?

text:
# Question
Title: Why does my WIFI turn off randomly?
I am using a government ZTE Qlink phone and the WIFI randomly turns itself off. I have too many contacts to perform a factory reset! I need help figuring it out!

# Answer
> 2 votes
Practically all mobile phones are using the Google Contacts app to manage your contacts. They create a backup of your contacts to the Google, and continuously synchronizing with it. This is why you can see the same contacts on all your Android devices (if you have multiple).

If not this is the case on your phone, you need only to install the Google Contacts app.

If you don't want to share your contacts with the Google, there are also many third-party apps to save them to other cloud services, or to your own machine. You can find them quickly with Google searches :-)

Having your contacts saved with an app, your contact list will survive a factory reset. Note, there is a high chance, that it won't fix your problem. In my experience, such sudden wifi disconnections root probably in the bad hardware/driver, or in some overloading of your device by the recently hugely grown apps. If you have no better option, it surely worths a try.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Which phone are you using? Go to `Settings` -\> `About Phone` and check for system updates. If an update is available, do it right away.

If the problem still persists, then you should try to reset your phone.

If you are worried about losing your contacts, then you don't need to worry. On an Android device, your contacts are already been synced with google service. You can even check your contacts on the https://contacts.google.com .

Many other free contact backup apps are also available on the Internet. So you can backup your contacts/sms/call\_logs and everything else to external card and then restore them any time.

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


# Question
Title: Whatsapp permission to record when calling
I can understand the request for the App to access to the Mic for sending the voice in a phone call. But why is it necessary to say "record"? Recording is a separate function and the caller's choice. It is scary to think that Whatsapp is recording and storing your calls somewhere.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I think record comes with Mic permissions, the calls are not recorded, at least not by Whatsapp. The record permission is for sending voice messages. Also Whatsapp voice calls like its text message service is end to end encrypted. That means that only your phone and the recipient's phone can decrypt the information being passed.

# Answer
> 1 votes
> why is it necessary to say "record"? Recording is a separate function

Not as far as the permission system is concerned. Once an app can receive the audio from the microphone, it can transmit it, record it, or do whatever it likes with it. There's no way to give an app access to the microphone without it being able to record and store the audio. By giving the app permission, you have to trust the app to only use the audio data in the way you're expecting.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can give a particular permission if you would like to let WhatsApp use your phone microphone (for example: for Audio recording, WhatsApp calls). If you don’t want to use these features, you can simply deny mic permission and keep using the WhatsApp text chat feature.

Whatsapp asks for record permission to use the microphone and record audio. Yes, WhatsApp records audio from your mic and stores them into

```
/Whatsapp/Media/WhatsApp Audio/Sent

```

then later your recorded audio is being sent to another person.

---
Tags: calls
---


# Question
Title: Is it possible to retrieve a call without having recorded it?
I made an important call and I want to listen to it again. Unfortunately I didn't install any application to record calls. Is it possible ? Are calls recorded somewhere ?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Not possible. At least not on most ROMs. Try the NSA or your country's secret services.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Technically it is not possible now. You should have installed some call recording app earlier. I see, this call was important to you and you want to hear it at any cost. Let me be clear if you are thinking about to getting call recording from your service provider then, you can't. a big No, Service providers don't record any calls and ideally, they should not. Most of the countries(US/UK/India/Europe and all others) countries have their regulations and Privacy laws to prevent this.

However, in a few cases, your calls might be recorded by the government. most of the countries have provision for call recordings(only with permission of court) and allowed to be recorded by only a few government organizations for an internal security threat. In this kind of cases, recording of calls can be done by authorized Law Enforcement agencies only with a Legal Warrant.

---
Tags: call-recording
---


title: How do you merge decks in Anki?

text:
# Question
Title: How do you merge decks in Anki?
I'm getting an error in Anki that says I've got too many decks. So, I want to merge a bunch of decks that are essentially the same. But I can't find a way to do this. I tried exporting the decks and naming them all the same name and then importing them, but they just come in as the original deck names. So, I'm not finding any other info on how to do this.

# Answer
1. Open AnkiDesktop.
2. Open the "Browser".
3. Click on the deck you wish to remove on the left-hand pane.
4. Hit ctrl+a (command+a on mac) to select all cards.
5. Click "Change Deck" at the top.
6. Select the deck you want to keep in the pop-up dialog.
7. Click "Move Cards".
8. Repeat steps 3 - 7 for all decks you wish to merge.
9. Go back to the "Decks" screen in AnkiDesktop.
10. Find the empty decks (the decks you wish to remove will have a card count of null).
11. Delete those decks.
> 12 votes

# Answer
Using AnkiDroid, you can move a note to another deck. So you could do it for each card, then remove the empty deck.

But that would be a pain if you have many cards. In that case, I recommend using Anki Desktop too:

1. Sync on AnkiDroid
2. Find a computer and install Anki Desktop on it
3. Sync on Anki Desktop
4. Move notes like you need, you can select many cards and move them altogether
5. Sync on Anki Desktop
6. Sync on AnkiDroid

Disclaimer: AnkiDroid developer
> 9 votes

# Answer
Because this answer from 2014 still comes up top in a google search in 2019, I thought I would add to this that, at least on a Mac, the latter part of the above answer is out of date. On the version of Anki I am using, the first part of the instruction stands: i.e. click 'browse', choose the deck you want to move cards from, click on one of the cards in that deck, and then use command+A to select all. This is then when the instructions depart from the old ... now click 'cards' on the top left of your browser, and then select the first option 'change deck'. A pop-up will then appear, and within this select the deck you would like to move the cards to, and press the blue 'move cards' button.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: ankidroid
---


title: Hide applications from Apps menu

text:
# Question
Title: Hide applications from Apps menu
I don't want to root my phone to delete some applications installed by the provider, but I would like to hide them from the menu, since I know that I won't use them often. I know that it is possible to do that with the alternative launcher, but I'm using the original one. Is there an application that can do that?

If it matters, I'm using a HTC Desire.

# Answer
The only ways I know to remove it are the two ways you listed (that you don't want to do):

1. Root phone. Freeze application with Titanium Backup
2. Install a different launcher such as Launcher Pro which lets you hide apps.

Only a home launcher can disable what is show in the app drawer. If your current launcher doesn't support it, then you are unfortunately out of luck.
> 15 votes

# Answer
I use ADW Launcher. I made a drawer with apps I use. Then I removed shortcut to main app menu, and placed instead a shortcut to my custom drawer.

This way I don't see apps I don't usually use, but I still have access to them in case I really want (I just edit my custom drawer).

And ADW Launcher isn't something that voids your warranty.
> 0 votes

# Answer
The way I organize my Home Screen is that it contains everything I needed, and my App Menu contains everything else that I never needed to see. This way, I almost never need to use the App Menu, except when using a new application.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You can hide your any of the apps from app launcher and can use them any time. You can use Nova Launcher to hide apps from the main screen and later access them whenever required.

This article will clearly explain to you about how to do this with nova launcher : How to hide apps in Android

You can also use apex launcher and few other freely available apps on play store. But I would prefer the Nova Launcher. I'm personally using it to hide apps from my wife and I would recommend it to you. It's smooth and easy.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: Are Foxfi and PdaNet+ simple usb tethering enablers?
I Was just thinking why the FoxFi on play store is a little bit expensive.Does it just enables the USB tethering from settings does it have something special or a simple USB tethering?

# Answer
FoxFi enables WiFi Hotspot on your Android phone, with no **tethering plan** or rooting required.

Recently FoxFi has been merged with PdaNet+ and still offers extended features to enhance tethering. it is also equipped with additional features such as Bluetooth mode and Wi-Fi direct options in addition to USB tether.

The reason its unique is that it enables users to bypass tethering block especially with certain ISPs such as Sprint Boost Mobile or AT&T without needing root or complex workarounds and such features don't come out cheap.

> You can connect your tablets, computers or game console with WPA2 security. FoxFi usage is covered under your phone's existing data plan and secured with WPA2.

If you don't have any tethering block, I guess there is no need to purchase it, rather use the built-in option to tether, or find some alternative gratis software
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb
---


title: Security question incoming calls

text:
# Question
Title: Security question incoming calls
I've got an Nokia 6 with Pie! How do I stop others from answering my calls, or more correct, how do I stop incoming calls from opening my phone?? Everytime there's an incoming call, all security settings are set aside, and anyone can answer or have access to my phone.

# Answer
You can use Incoming Call Lock. When you start the app:

> This application will protect your phone's Incoming call to be picked by some one else. This application will not allow any one to see the caller's number, name or any other details as the password input screen will be up on the screen.

1. Give the necessary permission.
2. Set a pin or pattern to unlock the phone when people call.
3. Enable the lock.

When you receive a call, before answering, you will need to enter a pin or pattern.

***Note:*** In the settings, you can fine tune how the app should work. You can block all incoming calls or some, allow to view the number that is calling or not, etc.

**Important:** @Izzy has pointed in the comments that the app has severe privacy issues due to several trackers incorporated to the apps that may transmit your data to 3rd parties. Plus some permissions look suspicious. See his comments below.

**Disclalimer:** I am just a current/former user of the app(s).
> 0 votes

# Answer
There is a Secure Incoming Call. It's an app that can lock your incoming calls by setting a password or a pattern. You can customize which calls you want to answer without lock. You can select all contacts, specific contacts or all unknown numbers. Just try the app!
> 0 votes

---
Tags: security
---


title: Any protected firewall available

text:
# Question
Title: Any protected firewall available
is there any protected firewall available? I have tried many & the problem was as follow: \- it works very well but ANY user can simply uninstall it!! how didn't they put this into consideration. \- i used a program to hide it, and when I hide it it becomes disabled.

I used AFwall+ (root), Netguard..

# Answer
Try making them device administrators. I know that AFwall+ can be set as device admistrator. I have not used Netguard except for testing purposes in the last year but I believe it is also possible to set it as device admistrator.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: firewall, password-protection, protected-apps
---


# Question
Title: What can be the reason for "internet may not be available" though the IP address was obtained
Only one device with Android (SM-G390F, Android 7.0, G390FXXU2ARA1, 3.18.14-12962328) at my home stopped connecting to Internet through my WiFi router with the message "internet may not be available" and an exclamation mark on the WiFi sign. (Whereas older non-updated Android devices, GNU/Linux and iOS devices work.)

If I examine the current network configuration with `ip a` in a Terminal in the device, it has got the correct IP address, but pinging the router (`ping 192.162.1.1`) looses all pings... (`ip ro` showed a route to this network, but no default route -- but that shouldn't have affected the pinging of the router anyway.)

The WiFi router is an ASUS one, and for this device, in the log, it prints several times (not more than 10; the repetition is only for this device):

```
udhcpd: sending OFFER of 192.168.1.8

```

and then:

```
udhcpd: sending ACK to 192.168.1.8

```

The DNS servers from the DHCP configuration seem to be working well (as tested from other connected devices).

Changing the advanced settings from DHCP to manual does not help. And it is quite strange that this device used to work with this WiFi router all the time before a couple of weeks ago... Nothing has been changed.

# Answer
Strangely, this advice from 2016-09-14 concerning the WiFi router configuration helped:

> Inside the router configuration (e.g., accessing the IP 192.168.1.1), change the "Group key update" value from 0 to 30 seconds, under the "Wireless \> Security" configuration, right below the WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK item.
>
> Router: TP-LINK TL-WR740N / TL-WR740ND.

(My router model is different.)

I'm a bit worried that 30 sec as the group rekeying interval is the minimal possible, whereas the recommended value is 3600 sec (1 hour), as I've read on the web.

But for now, I haven't yet tried to experiment with since it began working. Also, I have left the static manual IP configuration instead of DHCP on the Android device (matching the reserved IP address for this MAC address manually in the router settings), although this alone didn't make it work. (But I'm not changing this, unfortunately for the experiment, because I don't want to break the current working state.)
> 1 votes

# Answer
Getting an IP address on a network does not tell the device anything about if or if not access to the Internet is possible.

Therefore whenever Android connects to a network it performs a network connectivity check: It sends a HTTP request to a Google server.

The common URLs for checking network connectivity are:

If the URL sends back to expected response Android assumes that it has a working Internet connection. Otherwise it assumes that no Internet connection is available. In the latter case the user is notified as you have observed.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, internet, dhcp
---


# Question
Title: What data does the Google drive app contain in an android smartphone?
I want to delete some of my android apps data due to storage problems. I see that my Google drive app does contain a lot of data and cache. I have already deleted the cache but I am not sure if I should delete the data associated with this app because I don't want to lose any of files both in my android phone or in Google drive. What does does this app exactly contain and what I may lose on clearing this app's data?

# Answer
> What does does this app exactly contain

The app's files and settings, plus the files that you have made available for offline use.

> and what I may lose on clearing this app's data?

Nothing. Only the data that were on the phone. Files that were uploaded to Google Drive wont be affected. They can only be deleted if you delete them from within the app. The app will return to the state it was in the first time you use it on the phone.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: internal-storage, google-play-services, google-apps
---


title: Replace the system font family on Nokia

text:
# Question
Title: Replace the system font family on Nokia
Is possible to replace the system font (Roboto) to San Fransisco font without rooting my Nokia 6.1+? for example:
Roboto-Regular.ttf to SF-Regular.ttf
Roboto-Bold.ttf to SF-Bold.ttf
Roboto-Heavy.ttf to SF-Heavy.ttf
and so on...
I have done it successfully on rooted devices

# Answer
You will naturally need root to replace a system font. Because without root, you cannot write to the partitions where the fonts are stored and loaded from.

So, in order to answer your question - No, it is not possible.

That said, we do hear that Android Q will have support for font changes. If the feature makes its way to the final Q builds, you will be able to do font modifications when it hits your device in the coming months.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: root-access, fonts
---


# Question
Title: How do get SMS messages off a damaged Android phone (Samsung J2 pro)
I dropped my Samsung J2 Pro and damaged it this morning. Only part of screen responds to touch commands now. So it's almost certainly time for a new phone, but I'd like to get photos and SMS messages backed up first.

Photos were easy; I have uploaded all my photos to my computer via the USB. I'd like to do the same for my SMS text messages, but can't find them in the file system.

I downloaded the app "SMS Backup & Restore", but cannot run it because the "Get Started" button is near the bottom of the screen, and pressing it does not work (groan).

So is it possible to directly access my SMS messages via the USB port, without running a special app? Or is there some other app which makes them visible?

# Answer
It's been suggested I post what I did. Note this is for a partly working screen (i.e. some regions detect touch, some do not). There are answers for a completely broken screen here: How do I backup data (SMS/contacts) from a device with a broken screen?

Anyway, what I did:

1. Download Vysor to my (Mac) computer. (And "Android File Transfer" if it's not there already). Start up Vysor.
2. Vysor needed USB debugging to be on. For that, on my phone I went into: Settings -\> About Phone -\> Settings, and pressed Serial Number several times "to become a developer". Then I could go into Settings -\> Developer Options, and turn on USB Debugging. In both of those cases, I was lucky in that I could find a part of my screen which worked to select those options. The link above has a away to do this for a completely dead screen.
3. Plug USB cable into phone and press "Allow" to allow data access to it. Again, I was lucky that "Allow" was on a part of my screen which worked.
4. Click "Find Devices" in Vysor, and select the phone. I had to repeat steps 3 and 4 a couple of times for some reason, but eventually it found the phone properly, and an emulator started up on my computer.
5. Then, using the Vysor emulator to control my phone, and I was able to get my SMS's by downloading and running SMS Backup & Restore on my phone.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: samsung, sms, backup, physical-damage
---


# Question
Title: How do I make my Samsung Galaxy S8+ use wifi first before my provider network?
I have weak network coverage in my office. My phone is connected to our office wifi. I'd like my phone to use the wifi first, rather than the network connection

# Answer
If you open up Settings app and scroll down to About, tap the option for Software Information and the find Build Number. Tap Build Number 7 times in a row and it will unlock Developer Options back in the main menu of Settings (scroll down). Open Developer Options and then scroll down about halfway to find some options related to Wifi and Cell signal. There is an option there to prioritize wifi signals over network signals, "even if the signal is weak". This should work for what you need, though if it doesn't please feel free to respond and I'll give you some other options.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


title: Where is the Home folder?

text:
# Question
Title: Where is the Home folder?
On my linux system I have a directory in `/home` where all my personal files and local program configurations are stored. Where does Android store that type of file?

# Answer
> 8 votes
There's no direct equivalent in Android. Each app has its own directory in `/data/data` (for a multi-user system, it's `/data/users/*n*`). Apps are encouraged to show a metadata-based view of user data, instead of requiring the user to worry about individual files. Each app stores the files and databases that hold its documents, and its configuration files, in its directory.

For data that already live in files, the SD card contains appropriately-named directories such as `/sdcard/Music`, `/sdcard/Movies`, which are shared between all apps (with the appropriate permission).

# Answer
> 5 votes
If you're trying to access the files you see in your device when you're plugging it in a computer, then it's there :

* `/storage/emulated/0/`
* `/sdcard/`

---
Tags: file-system, system
---


title: Popup links inside apps

text:
# Question
Title: Popup links inside apps
When I try to open links inside apps, eg Inbox AliExpress Whatsapp, instead of opening up them in chrome, it pops up some windows without javascript, and I cannot use it, how can I disable it?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try clearing the data of those apps.

Does this happen in every app? If so, then it might be a sign of malware infection.

If clearing app data doesn't help, try installing some antivirus software and do a full system scan.

Also, try switching off Internet or mobile data and opening whatsapp. If problem continues, it indicates a malware or virus. If it stops, it might be either a malware or adware. Try this:

Clear cache from settings. **Turn off mobile data**. Switch off phone and switch it on again. **Keeping mobile data off**, and open the app, or whatsapp specifically, and then all other such apps.

If pop up continues even after this, then it's a malware or virus problem. If it stops, but starts once you turn on mobile data, it's probably an adware.

In any case, a good antivirus like QuickHeal will get you rid of both of these.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Disable the app called Setup Wizard.

Settings \> Apps \> All Apps \> Select 'Show system apps' in the menu \> Find Setup Wizard, tap it and disable it. Done.

---
Tags: browser, hyperlinks
---


# Question
Title: How to get Google to appear when swipe left on home screen?
I accidently turned off the setting that allows google to appear when you swipe left instead of cycling through the screens of apps. I unfortunately cannot now find that setting to turn it back on, even though I have done several searches on the settings app, and opened every setting, have not been able to find it again.

I have no idea what I did to make it turn on, it just came up and I wanted to see what it has done.

I have completed several google searches such as this one prior to my request. However I have not been able to find anything.

Where can I go to find this setting?

I have Android 7.1 on a Nokia 6.

# Answer
> 5 votes
> Long press on an empty space on your home screen. Then select the settings at the bottom right. Then make sure the *Show Google App* is toggled on.

Credits: Swipe left for Google Now not working?

# Answer
> 0 votes
1. Check if Google search (with OK Google) is available on the home screen, if yes,
2. Click on the G icon, which will open the personalised updates (cards), in the bottom right corner click on more (...), which will open a new tab
3. Here, (top of the screen) if you have multiple email addresses, check if the selected email address is correct. (this was the corrective action taken by me to get back the required feature)

---
Tags: google
---


# Question
Title: Is the WhatsApp backup feature activated by default?
In WhatsApp for Android, are the chat backup features activated by default? If so, how is the backup interval by default? Daily, weekly or monthly? Are the chat backups being stored on the phone or on Google drive?

# Answer
> 1 votes
By default, WhatsApp would make a local backup daily (stored in the phone), but if you wish there is an option to also backup to Google Drive after the local backup finishes.

I looked in my WhatsApp settings, it seems the Google Drive backup was set to never (it was Off), looked in my friend's WhatsApp and same thing (it was Off as well), so I guess the Google Drive Backup is not turned on by default, you need to turn it on manually.

# Answer
> 1 votes
WhatsApp creates the backup on local devices daily at 2 AM. You can not change this time.

Although WhatsApp has also provided to create cloud backup on Google Drive with backup frequency daily/weekly/monthly. To create a backup, you can go to Menu \> Settings \> Chats \> Chat backup.

---
Tags: backup, whatsapp-messenger
---


# Question
Title: I can connect to WiFi but all websites refuse to connect
I have a device running Android version 5.0.2 that connects to our WiFi network, but browsing to any website using Chrome displays a page with:

> The site can't be reached

and

> ERR\_CONNECTION\_REFUSED

This device used to connect without a problem

I also have a second device running Android version 4.2.2 that still connects to the same network without any problems.

How can I troubleshoot the first device?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Try using a VPN, I recommend Thunder VPN if you are an Android user.

So far, this is the only solution that I thought of and that is what worked for me, but there are also other VPNs.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This might happen due to some misconfiguration in settings. You can try these tweaks to troubleshoot this error

1. open wifi networks, hold on the connected network, FORGET this and then again connect to the network
2. Try to change the SSID of the wifi
3. Try to make wifi OPEN( no password) and then try again to connect to the network
4. Also, check wifi-configuration on your router and make sure this device is not blacklisted.

Thanks.

---
Tags: connection-issues
---


# Question
Title: Phone call recording apps only record one side of the conversation
I have a Sony Xperia XA1 running Android 8 and it doesn't matter which phone call recorder I install, it only records one side of the conversation either me or the caller. All the apps do the same on my HTC Desire too.

I'm not sure if it is the app at fault as they all seem to do the same thing, and this didn't start happening until I updated the Android version towards the end of last year.

Does anyone know of a solution to this issue?

# Answer
> 0 votes
in Android, during a call, There is no way to access audio data of call directly. So what most of the app do is they record the audio from your Speaker. Let me be clear

1. When you speak app directly record your audio with mic, as you are speaking at the higher sound it will be clear enough to be recorded the microphone which is near your mouth.
2. As the App can't access audio calls data so App record audio from your speaker (from where you are listening) and the microphone and speaker has almost distance of 8cm, so if your speaker's volume is high then only app will be able to record audio of the other side's person. Otherwise only your voice will be recorded.

few apps on the playStore provide better phone call recordings but they ask for Root access, if you are really interested in rooting your phone you can follow this article to have some idea "How to root an Android" Thanks

---
Tags: audio, call-recording
---


# Question
Title: Does a Google Drive WhatsApp backup restore newer mesages?
Say I have backed up WhatsApp to Google Drive on some date X, then I uninstall it or format the device. On a later date Y, I reinstall WhatsApp and restore the Google Drive backup. Would the messages sent between dates X and Y be included in said backup?

# Answer
> 2 votes
How could somebody restore something that he doesn't even have? your Gdrive backup will restore the messages till date X.

If your WhatsApp was active between date X and Y then you would have already received the messages in your WhatsApp(whom you didn't back up on the Gdrive).

So on date Y if you reset your phone and restore the backup from date X then you will have messages up to date X only. and if you didn't use the WhatsApp by date X & Y and you just installed it again now then all the undelivered message between X & Y will be delivered right now.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Yes, the messages between date X and date Y are indeed preserved.

I have attempted this now, and it has successfully worked.

Do note that I was using the same phone and number, hence I do not know the success rate of this under a different situation.

Also, the old backup as it was does **not** contain the new data until and unless you update it from the settings.

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


# Question
Title: Does the auto factory reset reset the counting of 15 wrong attempts?
I just set up a PIN to my device when I saw the option of enabling auto factory reset after 15 wrong attempts to unlock my phone and I now wonder: for how long are these 15 attempts valid? One hour? Day? Ever?

# Answer
> 0 votes
The failed unlock counter will reset when the device is successfully unlocked.

---
Tags: settings, lock-screens, factory-reset
---


title: Mobile data turns on automatically

text:
# Question
Title: Mobile data turns on automatically
I am using Moto One power mobile and android version is 9.0 pie. I have two sim cards in my device, and one is used for data. The other one's data switches on automatically, and there is no active data pack on that sim; so it deducts from my main account balance. How can I stop that?

# Answer
> 0 votes
**It has been fixed in the Feb patch Update,**

just Go Settings -\> About phone -\> System updates -\> Now update

---
Tags: mobile-data, 9.0-pie, motorola
---


# Question
Title: How to run regular google maps on android go?
I'm trying to install the regular heavy version android google maps from play store but it only brings up google maps go. What should I do to fix this?

# Answer
you can download it here from apkmirror

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/google-inc/maps/maps-10-14-1-release/
> 2 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, google-maps, android-go
---


title: Removing knox from my phone

text:
# Question
Title: Removing knox from my phone
I am trying to reuse my samsung galaxy j3 prime phone which i havent used in a while i have some things i want to get off of it as well. My problem is that i have knox on my phone which i hide with my important apps and files. I cant rememeber how to get into or even find where it's hinding in order to get into the app. Alone with the fact that i cant rememeber my longin information. Is there anyway to make it show up so i can get inside my account?

# Answer
try to disable KNOX by typing `pm disable --user 0 com.sec.knox.seandroid` in adb shell. When uninstalling KNOX, you are asked if you want to backup your KNOX data
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-knox
---


# Question
Title: programatically edit numbers from messages
Here is the issue

i changed phones..

i before hand backed up calls and messages using sms backup and restore. everything went fine. I have the xml files i can see the messages and the numbers correctly in the xml.

the restore in the new phone for some reason decided to add the sim country code to every number that did not have a country code which made the numbers completely unusable I do not understand from where come the country code I do not see anywhere the settings in the aosp messaging app to remove the country code.

is there a way to edit the numbers on the messages or to make sms backup and restore app not to add the country code of the sim card.. I think it detects the country of the sim or the country of the phone based on imei? and then if a phone does not start by +xxx it add it..

I find totally unacceptable that the restore got somehow altered. and I cannot find the root cause..

questions is can i use adb or some api in python or whatever to fix the mistakes.. I still have the original xml files from sms backup and restore with the numbers untouched.

thank you

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can edit the XML files and add the right country codes before import. If you want to fix it programatically directly on phone you need root access.

---
Tags: sms, restore
---


title: GPS Rollover on Android Smartphones

text:
# Question
Title: GPS Rollover on Android Smartphones
Regarding the GPS weeks rollover which took place on April 06th 2019. all the websites are talking about the phenomenon but they are not explaining what are the side effects on end users devices if the week number will be 0000.

How an Android smartphone GPS users could be affected regarding this rollover from 1023 to 0000 weeks ?

Regards

# Answer
> 4 votes
From what I know the rollover is not the only problem, also an additional week counter 13 bits is introduced. A new data format (with larger data) can of course cause problems if unsupported by the GPS receiver firmware.

Also I have read that some GPS devices use the week counter for plausibility checking of the received data. If the week is smaller than the manufacturing week the data have to be invalid so the simple but bad logic. After the roll-over it will simply reject all incoming data as the receiver thinks that the received data is invalid (e.g. because of radiointerference).

# Answer
> 1 votes
The problem on my device (old Samsung xCover2) is that GPS tracks recorded after April 6th, 2019 have an invalid date.

Check out "GPS Test" app from Google Play to see what date/time your device reads from the GPS system. For example on my phone on April 17th, 2019 it displays September 1st, 01.

Different applications will interpret it in different ways so in other applications you might see dates in 1099 or 2099 or 2999 year etc.

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Tags: gps, bugs
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title: Recording digital audio with Android

text:
# Question
Title: Recording digital audio with Android
I am unable to record digital audio (e.g. from a computer or another phone) with my Android device. I have plugged in a TRRS audio and mic splitter and plugged that into my phone, and used a male-to-male cable to connect my source device to the mic input. It can be seen that the built-in mic is not recording, but all it records is static, no matter the gain level. How can I get this to work?

# Answer
Microphone and Audio Input are separate inputs.

I can see the confusion as they both use 3.5mm Jacks, however Audio Lines require a pre-amp prior to the output side, the pre-amp amps up the raw line to give it volume and this outputs digitally formatted data rather than Analog data.

The Microphone on your Android is supposed to be connected directly to a small microphone inside the Headphones, this headphone Microphone is NOT pre-amped and therefore you get a raw analog output from that microphone.

The problem is because you are putting a pre-amped digital data into an analog raw line.

You can use a small microphone like the one in your headphones to test the cable is actually working.

To input Audio data into an Android device, you have many methods that do not require any cables like WiFi Media Servers or even USB OTG Microphone pre-amps .
> 1 votes

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Tags: audio, microphone, audio-recording
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# Question
Title: How to wipe the cache partition of a Samsung Tablet?
I am trying to wipe the cache partition of a Samsung Tablet GT-P5100 which does not start the Android operating system any more. Only the Samsung logo is displayed before it starts over.

Therefore, I launched the recovery mode and selected the menu entry `wipe cache partition` as shown on the first photo:

When I press the power button the `Erasing ...` starts as shown on the second photo:

Right after, the erasing is stopped by an error as shown on the third photo:

Finally, an `Error!` stops the process as shown on the fourth photo:

Immediately, the device restarts.

What is going wrong?

# Answer
> 3 votes
I have deleted this answer as i am not sure this Texas Instruments (TI) OMAP 4430 SoC is shipped with fastboot mode at all. Ususally Samsung devices have Odin Download mode, please follow this instructions instead
https://twrp.me/samsung/samsunggalaxytab2gmsunified.html

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(old answer still can be viewed here)

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Tags: samsung, recovery-mode, boot-loop, samsung-galaxy-tab-2-10.1
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# Question
Title: Forward WhatsApp messages to e-mail or SMS
Some friends of mine want to use WhatsApp to send me messages from time to time. But, I don't want to install the app (or I don't want to have it running all the time). Can I configure something within WhatsApp or another service to forward the messages from WhatsApp to an e-mail address via SMS?

Even a solution that requires me to configure a program on my own server would suffice.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can bridge WhatsApp to Matrix using mautrix which can be bridged to other serives like email. It is unfortunatley quite the hacky setup:

1. Have a Synapse or another Matrix server
2. Run an Android VM to run WhatsApp
3. Run the mautrix bridge
4. Run another bridge, e.g. this one, to bridge to email or wherever desired.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is no such solution available. But you can install whatsapp and turn off notification - from app settings.

If you want to use whatsapp like email on pc. Try using whatsapp web.

https://web.whatsapp.com

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Tags: sms, whatsapp-messenger, email
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# Question
Title: How do I troubleshoot low touchscreen event rate?
I have a strange slowdown on my device (non-rooted Android 5.0.2). At times, the screen becomes unresponsive. And touchscreen testing apps register only a few events per second when I move my finger over a screen, as opposed to dozens.

Sometimes it gets back to normal. I manage to make it normal with appkillers and/or service disablers, but it's a) not reliable b) random actions instead of searching for the root cause.

So the question is: how do I trace down the issue? I'm a programmer so I'm able to use tools if necessary.

GNU/Linux tools and general troubleshooting (identifying and killing offending processes) don't work well in intent-oriented architecture of Android, so some android-specific tools are necessary, such as Android Profiler.

# Answer
Try one of the apps that will let you run a terminal window and run the `top` command -- that will show you the processes using the most CPU. I use "Terminal Emulator for Android" -- it is easy to install and use.
> 0 votes

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Tags: touchscreen, performance
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