# Question
Title: Can a cheap cable prevent AC charging from working?
A while ago, I had my phone repaired (the USB socket was worn out) and had to replace the USB cable as well. Since then I haven't been able to quickly charge my phone in AC mode. Previously it worked both on the dedicated charger that came with my phone and the "power" usb socket on my laptop. Is it plausible that this is because of the cheap cable?

My phone is a Sony Xperia Neo V.

# Answer
It is quite possible that the "cheap" cable is a culprit. You could try a couple of things

* Replace the cable with a cable of 24/28 awg thickness. Google for "28/24 awg micro USB" to locate suppliers close by. These cables are thick and offer less resistance to charging current. Alternatively, if you have a spare thick cable of shorter length you could try that and see if the charging is faster.
* Download Ampere, It measures the charging current (it does not work on all devices, but your device is NOT mentioned in exclusion list, so it should work). Connect the "cheap cable" on charge and measure the charging current. Repeat with cable you purchased (24/28 awg) or a spare short thick cable. If the value in second case is higher, the conclusion is obvious. You could even try compare values an with OEM cable if you can locate with a friend or at a service center.
* You could consider buying an original Sony cable . I found one on eBay costing about $5.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: charging, sony-xperia-neo-v
---


# Question
Title: Galaxy S5 unable to switch to 4GLTE when Wi-fi is turned off
I have had my Samsung Galaxy S5 for about a year now and it has been working fine until a few days ago. I would use my wi-fi when I have access to it and then I would switch to my 4GLTE when I don't have access to any wi-fi. This has been working for the longest and I only had to switch to 4GLTE when I'm at working or driving. But recently, my phone would not switch back to 4GLTE when I lose wi-fi connection or even turn off the wi-fi option on my phone. Restarting the phone would temporarily fix the issue but I was wondering if there is anything else that I can do?

I got the phone from T-Mobile but I been using MetroPCS ($60 unlimited data plan) since about 2 months after using T-Mobile.

# Answer
I suffer from the same issue. I have discovered the following to work for me.

**To prevent it occurring**: Turning off *WiFi Calling* seems to work (It's the last item under "Settings \>\> Call"), if you have it available and on. I've not had to to resort to flight mode (see below) since disabling this.

**Countermeasure when it occurs**: Putting the phone into Flight mode and back out of Flight mode will restore the ability to connect to 4G, at least until the next time it fails after coming off WiFi.

Hopefully the above will help you avoid rebots.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I am having the same problem with my Sony Xperia z3v (verizon). I also recommend turning off your mobile data connection and turning it back on. it should be in the settings under mobile network settings. After I did that I was able to turn off my wifi and it automatically switched back to 4g connection.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, 4.4-kitkat, samsung-galaxy-s-5, data-connection
---


# Question
Title: What are CyanogenMod and MIUI based phones?
Recently I came to know about some phones which are based on MIUI and CyanogenMod. I want to know if the meaning behind it is they will get lifetime updates from MIUI and CyanogenMod or something else?

# Answer
* **CyanogenMod OS** is a custom ROM derived from Google's Android OS. It is available for large number of devices and delivers updates as nightlies, release candidates, betas, snapshots etc. Frequency of updates depends on the type of ROM flashed onto the device.
* **MIUI** (Mi User Interface) is also a custom ROM which is based on both Google's Android and CyanogenMod but has a home-cooked and customized interface developed by a Chinese firm Xiaomi Tech. It highly resembles Apple's iOS interface. MIUI is available for some flagship phones from popular brands.

All the devices running on CyanogenMod and MIUI gets updates very frequently than others. Updates occur over-the-air (FOTA). As a bottom line they are used as stock firmware replacements.
> 5 votes

# Answer
**MIUI** is made by the Xiaomi company. It's the skin, based on Android, they use on their devices like the Redmi 2. Xiaomi provides the updates to these devices. Not that officially they are only released in the eastern market, but I've read some news that they are expanding to the American and European market as well.

**Cyanogenmod** is the first, popular custom version of Android provided by Team Cyanogenmod. It's still actively developed and being released for a serious amount of devices, but his is unoffical for every device except the OnePlus One, but that deal is also over now. See their website for more info
> 2 votes

# Answer
MIUI is a highly customized UI that almost acts as a new OS giving you access to all the features of the latest android and many of its own features like themes and lockscreen activated music player and all with the same buttery smooth performance of early iOS versions. It is no surprise in only 5 years it is the fifth largest smartphone company and the largest in its home market.

Cyanogenmod is the next best thing a rom of stock android with all the limiters removed. It is very customizable within the limits of the android version it uses. Performs just as well as any android device with a few glitches since it is much more feature filled than stock. Some of its best features are 5x5 pattern lock and nightly updates.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, custom-roms, miui
---


# Question
Title: Remote control a computer without internet connection?
Today I discovered one incredibly useful app that allows you to remote control your computer using your mobile phone. However, you need to be connected to the internet on both the phone and the computer and the problem is I only have a limited amount of data to use every month on my phone which would probably last me about a week if I were to use this app everyday. Is it possible to remote control a computer from far away without being connected to the Internet on the mobile phone? I really hope it is.

# Answer
> 1 votes
**No, there isn't.**

The internet is what allows computers to connect to each other when they are not on the same network. This would technically be possible if both devices were connected to the same network (most commonly the same router or ethernet hookup), but when your device is connected to a cellular connection, the internet it is the only way to connect your computer and phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
**No.** The reason you need your *limited data* is because that is how the data gets transferred from one device to another. Through internet. In order to send commands (which are basically data packages) to a device, you have to have a connection with that device. That connection is internet. There are other forms of data transfer methods of course (i.e. radiowaves) however that is no use in this case.

---
Tags: remote-control
---


# Question
Title: When I plug in earphones into my HTC Desire S, it dials the phone
Every time I plug in my earphones into my HTC Desire S, it starts calling the last dialed number automatically and starts the music after short interval. Does anyone know about this problem?

# Answer
> 3 votes
HTC Desire HD Android 2.3.5

I had exactly the same problem, would plug in standard headphones/ earphones/ aux cable to speakers... all of these would register on the phone as earphones with a mic built in for some reason. it would cut music tracks short and play the next one or start ringing a call.

strangely, as i was searching for this thread, the problem has self corrected. All that is different is that I updated ALL of my apps on google app store today. This is the only factor that I have changed. Try this! I hope it works out for you as well as I know how frustrating it was!

best wishes

# Answer
> 2 votes
I had the same issue on my Evo 3d. I downloaded an app called Headset Blocker and it disabled the phone's headset remote abilities. This solved the problem immediately.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I have this same issue with my HTC desire. My hypothesis is that my headphones or jack have a slight short and is activating the voice commands via the input channel. I am trying to see if there is a way to turn off voice commands on the headphone jack itself or all together without turning off the input channel so I can still use a headphone with a mic for phone calls.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Its definitely a hardware problem. Go to the app store and download Headset Blocker if it works on your current phone's version. It didn't work on mine so I had to use WizDroid. Open the app then activate it and it should fix the problem.

---
Tags: htc-desire-s, headphone-jack
---


# Question
Title: What do I use to update apps without an app store?
I'm looking for an automatic Android app updater. I'm manually installing apps that I want using a web browser, and I do not have an app store (Google Play, Mobogenie, Aptoide, etc.) installed. I want to keep them as up to date as possible **without** the hassle of having a full-blown store that offers non-app downloads and porn (even "light porn") right on my device.

If anyone knows a good app-updating app, please leave an answer. Even better, if anyone knows of a clean, unobtrusive app store I can use, show me where I can find that.

*If details are required, I am running Android "Lollipop" 5.1.1 on a Samsung Galaxy S5.*

# Answer
Google Play and other markets use pull technology to update your applications , without any market you cant update your applications automatically , so i recommend you to install **Google Installer** : http://d-h.st/ztjI

Then install the application and Download all Google Software's listed...
> -1 votes

---
Tags: application-autoupdate
---


# Question
Title: Can I set the schedule for automatic Market updates, e.g. every night?
Is there a way to schedule when the Market updates my installed apps? Ideally I would like to run it late every night, that way I won't have to be bothered with them when I'm actually using the phone.

# Answer
> 3 votes
I'm not 100% sure but maybe tasker can do it. If it can't do it directly and if you are rooted, you can use tasker to kill Market except on night time. That way at night time Market will run and install your apps. At day time market will get killed and no installing of apps.

# Answer
> 2 votes
You can set the Market to only update apps when its connected to Wi-Fi. If you only ever connect your device to Wi-Fi at home, then this setting could do the trick for you?

**Market** -\> `Menu` -\> **Settings** -\> **Update over Wi-Fi only**

---

**Update**: Bringing in info from the comments by Mr. Buster and Power-Inside:

It seems that the "Update over Wifi only" setting was only added to the Market app in v3.3.11. If your Market app is stuck on an older version then you can try to force an update by clearing the data on the Market app, or manually download and install an updated Market APK, as detailed in this previous question.

# Answer
> 1 votes
no, there is no such functionality in Market. You can set for "auto update" on all your apps, but you cannot specify when they get updated.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There is no perfect way to do this but there are other ways to 'control' the updates. You can disable auto-updating, or only via Wifi from settings. You could also force stop the Play store app and then later in the day when you are connected to Wifi and not using your device, you open the app again and it installs updates.

# Answer
> 0 votes
**Workaround:** I disabled the *Auto updates* completely and set up a reminder which pops up twice every week at 10 pm when I'm not using my phone and enable the *Auto updates* until I go to bed.

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates, application-autoupdate, automation
---


title: lenovo p70 contacts lost after upgrade

text:
# Question
Title: lenovo p70 contacts lost after upgrade
after an ota upgrade of lenovo p70 from version kitkat 4.4.4 to lollipop 5.1 no contacts are visable

thanks Msadek

# Answer
the problem was resolved when i removed some installed applications

i am not sure exactly which application was the reason as i removed many applications

i even tried many 3rd party contacts and dialer apps, but even those either worked for some time then stopped or didn't work at all

the issue was not in the sync but it was related to the viewing of the contacts, even the call log was empty and received calls were not in the log

thanks Msadek
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, stock-android, 5.1-lollipop, ota-update
---


# Question
Title: If a paid app stops working, can I get my money back?
For example, the application Say it right! is using the Forvo third-party service. I guess the app can stop working eventually (for example if the API changes, or if the third-party service terms change)

Are paid apps purchased from the Google Play store supposed to work for lifetime?

**Edit**: The previous example costs 1 euro, and obviously if it stops working that would be no big deal. But the same applies for apps that cost 20 euros or more. I wouldn't be happy if an expensive app stops working after 3 months, and I'm curious if Google has a policy for this on its Play store.

# Answer
> 27 votes
Help section of Google Play Store (accessible from Google Play Store menu button on left \> help and feedback\> search for returns and refunds\> Apps and games refunds) relevant to your question, says (emphasis mine)

> After 2 hours or more,Contact the developer If Google Play's 2-hour return period has passed, the developer is responsible for deciding if you are eligible for a refund. Contact **the app developer directly** and ask for a refund. You can find an app developer's contact information listed on an app or game's detail page on Google Play. For instructions, go to help with an Android app or game.

(**Edit:** 11 Mar 20 - just saw that it is 48 hours not 2 hours to claim the refund. I don't know when it changed)

So, it's obvious that the refund request approval rests with app developer and if the developer doesn't respond, it further says

> Optional: Contact Google If the developer hasn't helped, Google **may** be able to. Contact our support team for help solving your problem.

Reading between the lines, there is no obligation for developer to refund. Further, no where does a developer give a "life-time" guarantee, for that matter no software can guarantee that. It is simply not possible to do that for obvious reasons.

To sum it up, I don't think you are within your rights to assume and ask for a refund as in your case

**Edit**: In response to your edit, the answer still is the same, but the developer may be more inclined (guessing) to work on an update and release that to fix the problem occurring in three months, since other users would also be affected and would adversely impact his rating on Play Store, which they are quite sensitive to. Mailing him in this case may be the best option, with app /system logs and crash logs if any

---
Tags: google-play-store, paid-apps, in-app-purchase
---


# Question
Title: How to delete offline dictionaries in Google Translate?
I have downloaded some dictionaries for off-line translation in Google Translate. Those dictionaries are quite big, and take precious internal storage - there is no option to move them to SD.

I'd like to delete those files, as it turns out that I never needed them - always was in range of WiFi. Google Translate doesn't seem to provide an option to do this. I'd rather not remove my configuration (that's what I think would be the result of deleting all user data for Google Translate).

How can I do this?

Samsung Galaxy S3 mini (GT-I8190N), with Android 4.1.2

# Answer
> 0 votes
Go to Settings -\> Offline languages, there you should see the saved dictionaries with a tick inside a grey circle. Tap on the tick and it will ask whether you want to delete the offline package or not, just press OK and it will free up some space.

---
Tags: internal-storage, file-management, google-translate
---


# Question
Title: How to downgrade from Lollipop to Jelly Bean on my Samsung Galaxy s3neo?
After i upgraded my s3 neo from jelly bean to lollipop all my apps were crashed, how can i downgrade it?

# Answer
Is your phone rooted? If yes, then download any rom for your device of your linking from xda, and flash it. Follow the instructions on the forum to install the rom. If you're not rooted, then you will have to download the stock firmware from a site like sammobile,

http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/

Once downloaded, you'll have to download a program called ODIN.

http://odindownload.com

Get the Samsung USB drivers for your phone too. Now the firmware file you download will be zipped, so extract it in an easily remembered decretory, like your desktop. Open ODIN.

1. The MD5 file would go into the AP box. Sounds weird, I agree, but the AP box will be your best friend. You don't need to worry about any other Boxes.
2. Once the file is in the box, you would now need to turn off your device, and reboot into Download Mode by holding Volume Down, the Power Button and the Home Button.
3. Press Volume Up to proceed to the actual Download Mode.
4. Once in Download Mode, you can plug in your device. You will need to wait several minutes, as ODIN, your PC, and the device communicate.
5. After some time has passed, upward of several minutes, you should see a box that is colored and has a type, and a number: eg - 'COM:3' That means your PC recognizes the device and everything should be ready to go. The number is irrelevant.
6. Note the COM:3, and the MD5 file in the AP box. Now, to begin, just click Start.

Do not disconnect the device from the cable until ODIN returns a successful message or a failed message.

When ODIN is done, you should see a box that will say reset or passed (depending on which version you have, you may see either or both.). At this point it is OK to remove your device. ODIN has completed the flash, and by now, the device should be going through the reboot screen.

Any problems, try these few things: Update Drivers, and restart your PC; Different cables; Different USB ports.

Source: http://forums.androidcentral.com/ambassador-guides-tips-how-s/499009-guide-samsung-how-flash-stock-rom-via-odin-new-interface.html#post4265806
> -1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-3
---


# Question
Title: Download progress notification and Google Play Store showing different progress percentage
As the title says, I've noticed that the download progress in the notification bar and the progress in the Play Store shows different progresses. Screenshot:

My question is **why does this happen?** Is this a bug?

Also, when the download progress in the notification bar reaches 100%, the progress in the Play Store jumps to 100% and the app I'm updating gets updated.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I'm quite sure that this is based on the fact that updates aren't loaded fully but in parts. The notification bar then shows the progress only for what is really being downloaded, the Play Store itself shows the progress for the entire app.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could try wiping the data of the play store. It happened to me on my Galaxy S2, which ran CM. Wiping the data of the app did the trick for my phone, could work for your device.

---
Tags: google-play-store, download-manager
---


# Question
Title: Android lollipop Nexus5 mobile network exclamation mark
I am using nexus5 and I have never had problems using mobile data network. Some days ago I updated to 5.0.1 and problems started occuring, exclamation mark on mobile network icon, internet stopped working. Anyone hade same issues ? I probably flash back to Android 4

# Answer
Not sure whether it can help or not, but I also noticed this, and the indicator otherwise seemed to say I was having great cellular signal. The exclamation mark would mean that there is no data connection. So, I tried calling someone, and had no problem. Please note that I also have NO DATA PLAN with my provider and this is by choice. I also had data (LTE/3G/4G) disabled on the phone, as well as at the provider's web site. What I do not know is whether I will be able to know the strength of the cellular signal or not. I also would like if I will ever be able to get LTE/3G/4G data on this phone, should I choose to do so.
> 0 votes

# Answer
Try finding the Access Point details for your carrier, and changing the Access Point Settings in the Settings app. The exclamation mark is to represent a lack of internet connectivity, hence if you shut off your data plan, the exclamation mark comes up.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: nexus-5, mobile-network, mobile-data
---


# Question
Title: Games and ads opening up on phone unexpectedly.
I have game applications opening at what seems like random or after I let my phone sit idle. I then have to close that tab or close all tabs to get back to the home screen so I can use my phone. I have recently downloaded some apps and I suspect this is the cause. How can I get back to normal and keep these games and adds from opening. Thanks!

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are various options:

1. Do a factory reset. Go to Settings\>Backup & Personal Data-Factory Data Reset
2. Root your phone. Install Xposed. Block Wakeups using either AppsOpsXposed or Permission Master.

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you suspect that a certain application that you downloaded is the cause of this issue, then I would suggest uninstalling the suspect application and seeing if that fixes your problem.

---
Tags: applications
---


# Question
Title: How to record clash of clans so that my voice is loud but the sound for the game is low?
I am using recordable apps to record clash of clans.

However, my voice is not heard. Buried behind music.

I want the voice and music of clash of clans to be loud and my comments are more clearly heard..

# Answer
Lowering the sound volume in android does not lower the sound of my voice.

So it works.

I seem to be using this except that I am using the paid version (only $1)

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.org.invisibility.recordablefree&hl=en

However, it works for other things too.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: clash-of-clans
---


# Question
Title: Phone makes me dial 1 before answering a call
I have a Samsung Galaxy S5. Every call gets synced to my computer and I can't retrieve calls until I press the number **1**. I miss most of my calls. This is undesirable. Please help me.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This happens when Call screening is turned ON in Google voice settings.

1. Go to Google Voice Settings in Web interface
2. Go to *Settings* (gear icon) → *Calls* tab.
3. Uncheck *Call screening*

Source : Phone makes me dial 1 before answering

---
Tags: sync, google-voice, call-screening
---


# Question
Title: How to connect a Motorola Xoom 2 ME (MZ607) on fastboot mode to a PC?
I am trying to connect a Motorola Xoom 2 ME (MZ607) on fastboot mode to my laptop running Windows 10 as per described here:

https://goo.gl/ln57PX

When the system loads, Windows recognizes the device. Not on fastboot, though. Motorola usb drivers and Android SDK are installed and updated.

Is this normal? If not, how to solve?

# Answer
Actually, the issue I attempted to describe, and get help with, was the issue of fastboot oem get\_unlock\_data on the device (tablet) on fastboot mode. After posting this question I realized that if I try fastboot devices, it gets listed.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: fastboot, usb-drivers, android-sdk, motorola-xoom
---


# Question
Title: Can I control the permissions of pre-installed "system apps" in Android Marshmallow?
I am *really* excited for the permission control feature available in Android M. I am considering buying a phone that supports this OS just for that one feature.

However, I am concerned if I will be able to control permissions on the "stock apps" without rooting or flashing my device with a new ROM? Even a Nexus will come with stuff like Google Maps, I am sure. So will I be able to control what Google Maps has access to, for example? What about Samsung devices and the egregious bloatmalware they package with it?

# Answer
When using apps which require certain permissions for the first time, the app asks you to grant the permission, which happens with stock apps too. If it doesn't, then permissions for stock apps can be managed in the App Permissions section of the Settings.
> 4 votes

# Answer
Yes you can surely do it starting from Android 6.0. I even played with it trying to download a file from my browser after refusing it storage access and it expectedly crashed. So yes, you can.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: If I flash stock and unroot via Nexus Root Toolkit... will this turn off usb debugging?
My screen does not work after replacing the digitizer (it's just white...)

Before I go buying more parts, I'd like to eliminate software issues (apparently this can be caused by the device not wanting to accept new parts, this seems strange but I want to investigate it).

So, I would like to flash stock to bring it back to the beginning, and if it's still broken, it's still broken. Don't understand why the screen would have broken, since all I did was unplug it and plug it back in...

So, if I flash stock and unroot via adb, will this turn off usb debugging? If it does, I'll be done for as obviously can't turn it back on without the screen working...

# Answer
> 2 votes
Yes, the USB debugging would be found turned off.

The USB debugging settings are saved under `/data`, specifically mentioned under:

* ```
/data/property/persist.sys.usb.config
```
* ```
/data/data/com.android.settings/shared_prefs/com.android.settings_preferences.xml
```
* ```
/data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
```

Because flashing a stock ROM would require you to wipe `/data` to avoid unforeseen issues, you would lose all the settings.

As you mentioned it yourself, flashing a custom ROM which has USB debugging turned on as default would be the best thing to do here.

**Note that** if you're going to flash a ROM with Android 4.2.2 or above you would be required to authorize the debugging on Android. If you've a custom recovery, you may try my answer mentioned here and if you end up flashing a ROM with USB debugging turned off, this answer of mine may help.

---
Tags: screen, usb-debugging
---


# Question
Title: How to enable developer settings in android 5.1, instead of LOLLIPOP game
I want to access developer setting in my phone, but it is not showing all settings. It has developer options but there is only one switch button for switching Developer options and USB Debugging settings. I searched on internet and many sites, they said that in LOLLIPOP devices, developer settings are hidden. we can enable them by clicking 5 or 7 on Build-number in About section in the settings. In my phone, when I navigate to Settings\>About Phone\> there is no option with containing word 'Build'. but when I click 5 or 7 times on Android Version option it open a game of LOLLIPOP instead of developer settings. Can anyone tell me how can I enable developer settings in my android LOLLIPOP phone??? Thank you in advance....

I have Q-Mobile i6i with android 5.1.

# Answer
In vanilla AOSP builds, the *Build number* menu is the last one on the *About phone* panel. From your screenshot, your device instead has *Software version* in that location. Try the 5-7 clicks on this area. If that doesn't do anything, or produces a message like *"No need, you are already a developer."*, then I'm afraid your OEM has removed this ability and given you only minimal *Developer options* capability in the form of a *USB debugging* switch. The good part is that it's already enabled so at least you have that.

Also, the Lollipop game that you found after multiple clicks on *Android version* is also what happens in normal AOSP devices.
> 5 votes

# Answer
Click on build number in about, sveral times, you willl enable developer mode and then you can enable usb debuging.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: settings, hidden
---


title: Custom notification for whatsapp group

text:
# Question
Title: Custom notification for whatsapp group
I'm in a whatsapp group which requires some sort of quick reaction. I'd like to set a special (custom or at least non-standard) notification tone or sound **specifically** for that group (and *only* it).

Some clarifications:

* I know how to disable and mute a group, that's a different case
* I know how to set a notification for whatsapp, but it wouldn't me differentiate among many groups I'm subscribed to
* I know how to set specific sounds/tones for specific contacts in whatsapp, but this is a group, not a person

If anyone is aware of a \[hidden\] setting or a hack, I'll be glad to hear. Thanks.

# Answer
> 4 votes
The best way to do this is to do the following:

1. Open WhatsApp
2. Long press on the chat that you need to set the custom notification for
3. Press `Group info`
4. Press `Custom Notifications`
5. Tick the checkbox at the top right
6. Change the notification tone, vibration pattern, LED light colour as required.

For what it's worth, I am using WhatsApp version 2.12.367, on an Android 6.0 device, but I doubt that it is dependent on Android version.

---
Tags: notifications, whatsapp-messenger, ringtone
---


# Question
Title: How to get rid of search bar on home screen in 6.0
I have already tried options mentioned in many other answers here/ posts online. I have a nexus 5 disable google now: option is disabled use custom launcher: shows even in Nova launcher!

Edit: here is what I tried:

https://www.androidpit.com/how-to-remove-the-google-search-bar-from-your-android-homescreen

it doesn't work because Google Search doesn't appear in the list of installed apps in marshmallow

# Answer
You can remove the Google Search bar by installing an application Xposed GEL Settings.

Open XGELS \> Google Search Bar \> Hide

**Please note:** This application requires ROOT and Xposed Framework.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-now, 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: Fire Tablet FreeTime sometimes takes a long time to start an app
Once every few days when my kids go into their account (FreeTime), none of the apps work right away. You'll tap/click to start running a game and the icon turns this like teal color, it waits a minute or two then it appears to either download or install something because a yellow progress bar shows up under the icon. It does this *for every single app*. The download/install process seems to queue, too.

If I go in directly into an adult's profile, this never happens (even while it is "downloading" in the kids profile). All apps work immediately.

Why does it do this?

# Answer
Referring to a similar case posted on Amazon forum, this happens when the device has low storage.

First, check the device's storage

> To access your "Storage" on the kindle follow these steps:
>
> 1. Swipe down from the top
> 2. Click on Settings
> 3. Device Options
> 4. Click on Storage
>
> From there you can see how much storage you have left and how much storage your books/games/apps etc are using.

Next, remove corrupted download,

> It sounds like it might have been a corrupt download. Please try long pressing on the icon and "Remove from Device" then do another hard restart. But this time, please hold the power button down for 40 seconds (regardless of when the screen goes black.) Then try to redownload the application.

If it doesn't work, then try to free up some space,

> I had the same issue with my daughter's fire and I think it is related to storage. It's almost as if the app doesn't have enough room to download so it fails, but it never provides a message that there is a storage problem. One of the previous suggestions was to select "Remove from Device" and do a hard restart, but that is not an option (only "Remove from Carousel") which leads me to believe that it does not fully download. A hard restart also did nothing to help. I removed the app from the carousel, then removed a bunch of apps, and restarted. The problem was resolved. Now whenever her Fire starts acting glitchy I reduce her apps and make sure she has plenty of storage.

Or alternate method to clear FreeTime's apps data

> 1. From your kid's freetime account pull down from the top of the screen. Choose "settings" (you will have to have the password to move on)
> 2. Choose "storage" from the options listed
> 3. Choose apps, from the list
> 4. Select All (button or choosing each app checkbox individually)
> 5. At the bottom, click the "remove" button. This clears the stored version of the app data (and possibly the app itself). It does NOT delete the app from your Amazon account or cloud.
> 6. Back out of all the settings and go back to the apps page (where your child would start the app they want to play.) While you have internet access, click on any (or all) of the apps one at a time to download a new clean version of the app from the cloud.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: amazon-kindle-fire
---


# Question
Title: android device manager not showing my device
My phone was stolen a month ago. I tried to search it with Android Device Manager also but nothing came up.

After few days I searched it again it was not showing my device. What does that mean?

I was using One Plus One.

# Answer
> 0 votes
That mean your device cannot be located. The thief has probably done a factory reset on it. Unfortunately there is a very low chance for you find it back...

---
Tags: oneplus-one
---


# Question
Title: Android WiFi is being wonky(upload stalls)
I have a Galaxy S5 Verizon.

Starting today, my wifi on my device has been acting stupid.

Whenever I try to browse the internet, it lags. It isnt an issue with my internet or my router. Because when I run a speedtest on my cellphone, it will take a minute to start but when it does start, i get 11 ms ping 60 down 10 up.

Same with a wired connection on my desktop. Same on my galaxy tab 12.2.

I noticed that when I use wifi on my phone, the wifi download icon is active, but the upload icon isnt. Meaning when I use wifi to browse the net, its able to download data using wifi but it stalls trying to uploading data.

Well because of this, instead of having my normal instant speeds, I have lag. It takes a while for a youtube video to load. It takes a while for a web page to load. WHen i used the app store it took a while for the app images to download and it took a while for an app download to initalize.

I dont know why this is happening. All I know is that for some reason my device is failing to upload data using wifi right away. It always stalls.

Like I said, this just started happening today too.

I didnt do much on my device. The only thing that could possibly have done something is that I used terminal to change my device hostname. I was tired of seeing "android-3478547583gf7348574835" On my router arp table. So I went onto terminal and I did

```
> su
> getprop net.hostname
> setprop net.hostname <new_hostname>

```

And then I went onto recovery and wiped my cache.

Thats the only "Technical" thing I've done with my phone today and now for some reason my wifi stalls.

Any ideas?

I wiped the cache again to see if that would fix it. Didnt. Rebooted my phone dozens of times. Did nothing. I dont want to resort to factory resetting but I will if I have to. Im rooted. GS5 on 5.1.1

edit: I shouldnt say its a lag issue since I still get 60 mb download speeds. Its just an initialization issue with my wifi

# Answer
> 0 votes
If changing the hostname appeared to cause an issue, perhaps changing it back might solve the problem? Worth a shot.

---
Tags: wi-fi, root-access
---


title: Backup Apps Without Backing Up Rom

text:
# Question
Title: Backup Apps Without Backing Up Rom
After doing something wrong while installing CyanogenMod 13, I flashed a google marshmallow stock rom. I wanted to go back to CyanogenMod 12, so I backed up my data using CWM recovery, factory reset, and installed CM12. After making sure it was working, I flashed Gapps and restored from my recovery. My apps were back, but I was also back with the google stock rom. Is there any way to only back up the app data?

# Answer
> 5 votes
As mentioned in the comments by Firelord and me, there are multiple approaches:

*TiBu* and *ES File Manager* require root to work. ADB and *Adebar* don't.

*Adebar* a.o. creates a script to backup each of your (user) apps into a separate archive using `adb backup` (and another one for the data of system apps, and two others for restore). While you could do a similar thing with TiBu (which uses its own backup format), *Adebar* runs from the command line while with TiBu you must use a GUI. Side effect from using *Adebar:* you'll have your device documented: tech specs, apps installed, etc :)

*Adebar* is pretty easy to install, but will require to be available on your computer (see our adb tag-wiki for details on that). It runs fine on Linux, and recently was reported to run on Windows as well via Cygwin.

Disclaimer: I'm the dev of *Adebar.*

# Answer
> 0 votes
You can use Titanium Backup Pro to backup the apk file as well as data of your apps.Otherwise, if you want to backup just the apk files, you can use App Backup Restore.You can also copy the apk files from \data\app to your SD card via a suitable file explorer like Root Explorer or ES File Explorer.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod
---


title: Is there any SSH OS support in Android?

text:
# Question
Title: Is there any SSH OS support in Android?
I am reading the article Jolla and SSH push Sailfish Secure as “European alternative” mobile OS. I have used third-party applications for SSH in my phone but would like to have OS supported.

How can you get OS supported SSH in Android?

# Answer
You seem to be a bit confused about the article you read. It's about an Android-compatible clone, which has nothing to do with the SSH communications protocol. The company mentioned has SSH in its name, and was founded by one of the original inventors of the SSH protocol, but doesn't "own" the SSH protocol or name, or the OpenSSH server.

As you've already found, you can have SSH in Android now simply by installing a SSH server or client on any Android device. It's "OS supported" just as much as HTTP is "OS supported" because you can use a web browser or a web server in Android. This new Android clone won't be any different in that respect.
> 4 votes

---
Tags: security, ssh
---


# Question
Title: Bought a new battery, do I need to calibrate it?
My original battery is bloated and is dying quickly after a full charge so I now bought a replacement. Do I need to calibrate this new battery using a calibration app?

# Answer
> 15 votes
**No**

Calibration of batteries (Li Ion or Li Po, used in almost all mobile devices) is a myth

You can start using it straight away and charge as you normally did with earlier batteries

This post will help you understand more:

Looking for a consistent answer about battery calibration

Using calibration apps doesn't really help as the battery files in system (to which these apps write) are renewed and previous data erased when you charge / reboot

As explained in this article

> It \[*`Batterystats.bin` file which stores calibration information*\] has no impact on the current battery level shown to you. It has no impact on your battery life.......it is reset every time you unplug from power with a relatively full charge (thus why the battery usage UI data resets at that point)...

Explanation in Italics mine from the same article

---

## Related Myth : Charging a new battery for X hours

Charging a new battery for x hours before use is a "*legacy hangover*" from the days when Nickel Cadmium batteries were used. Those batteries had a "memory effect". As a result, over a period of time, they "remembered" lesser battery capacity than rated capacity. To prevent this, it was advised to always fully charge these batteries

* This is not the case with Lithium Ion or Lithium polymer batteries. There is no logic to charge fully or x hours before use. Just use the battery normally, as suggested by others in comments
* Table 1 corroborates with additional information

# Answer
> 6 votes
You don't need a calibration app for that. Just fully charge the battery to 100% (in one run), let it run down to below the 20% mark, the recharge it to 100% (again in one run without interception) – battery calibrated.

And as that describes a "normal day" with recent devices (take it from the charger at 100% in the morning, put it back almost depleted in the evening): No calibration needed at all, you calibrate it as a side-effect :)

All those calibration apps do in addition is removing the `batterystats.bin` file – which doesn't do anything to calibrate the battery (an old myth in fact).

---
Tags: battery, calibration
---


# Question
Title: Does Android swap out memory used by foreground services?
Looking at an Android KitKat device made by LG, I see that an app called `Software Update` is ***always*** running as a foreground service (100). That service occupies a significant amount of memory.

From what I can tell, that app is just for OTA updates, which is an exceptionally rare event (has never happened so far!).

In order to free up some working memory, I was thinking about preventing the app from starting on bootup (by disabling its Broadcast Receiver), and then just running it manually once in a while to check for updates.

But before I do that, I want to ask if it matters at all? For apps that are always running a foreground service, will Android simply swap them out of memory like a background app? Or is the memory they use blocked off completely at all times, thereby making my plan worthwhile?

# Answer
you said :

> (by disabling its Broadcast Receiver)

---

First let me point out that `Broadcast Receiver` and `Service` is not the same thing ,you will get the difference between them along the answer.

**Broadcast Receivers :**

> A BroadcastReceiver allows an application to run, for a brief amount of time, in the background as a result of something else happening. When handling a broadcast, the application is given a fixed set of time (currently 10 seconds) in which to do its work. If it doesn't complete in that time, the application is considered to be misbehaving, and its process immediately tossed into the background state to be killed for memory if needed.

So as you can read BroadcastReceiver can't keep an app running in the background for more than 10 seconds kinda limited right ? that's why there is services.

**Services :**

* Quoting the Same author from the Same article :

> A Service allows an application to implement longer-running background operations. There are actually a lot of other functions that services provide.
>
> Android Process management for services is different than broadcast receivers, because an unbounded number of services can ask to be running for an unknown amount of time. There may not be enough RAM to have all of the requesting services run, so as a result no strong guarantees are made about being able to keep them running.
>
> If there is too little RAM, processes hosting services will be immediately killed like background processes are. However, if appropriate, Android will remember that these services wish to remain running, and restart their process at a later time when more RAM is available. For example, if the user goes to a web page that requires large amounts of RAM, Android may kill background service processes like sync until the browser's memory needs go down
>
> Services can further negotiate this behavior by requesting they be considered "foreground." This places the service in a "please don't kill" state, but requires that it include a notification to the user about it actively running like music players ,Anti-virus etc ...

The app need to show a notification ,in your case it's a System application it doesn't need this requirement it can tell the System that it needs to be running all the time and the System will not kill it only if the system needs more memory and it is the only service still running (What are the odds of that happening).

Now Going back to your Question Will it be worth while ? I think it is because it's a waste (truly a waste ) memory used and will not be freed ,for no purpose.

**I will add :**

your plan to stop it's broadcast receiver may not keep the service in the background ,I would recommend you disable the app under Setting \> application \> all and click on disable (if that button is there ) or freeze the application using titanium backup.

**Ref :** http://android-developers.blogspot.com/2010/04/multitasking-android-way.html http://www.howtogeek.com/161225/htg-explains-how-android-manages-processes/ http://developer.android.com/training/articles/memory.html
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat, insufficient-memory, ram, swap
---


# Question
Title: How do I back up SMS without using (broken) touchscreen on Nexus 4?
I have a rooted n4 with USB debugging enabled. The touchscreen is smashed, totally. There is an image on the screen, but it is not possible to enter any commands via the touchscreen. The device otherwise works normally. I can see what's on the screen, it connects to the wifi, etc.

So, for example Ritesh SMS backup won't work, because it needs me to tap commands on the phone. I tried the following solution https://stackoverflow.com/questions/12266374/backup-full-sms-mms-contents-via-adb

but it won't work because the phone pops up saying 'do you want to give adb shell su permissions', I can't tap yes as I can't tap anything...

# Answer
> 0 votes
**Note for Non-Nexus 4 users**: if your device supports OTG, buy an OTG cable (comes very cheap) connect a standard PC mouse and the device to it and use the mouse to navigate the device.

---

Since the USB debugging is enabled and authorized, you can make good use of KeyEvents. Use input command to simulate up, down, left, and right navigational turns and enter.

Command:

```
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE          # adb shell input: give further options

```

Examples:

```
adb shell input keyevent 22                # navigates one block rightward
adb shell input keyevent KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN # navigates one block downward
adb shell input keyevent DPAD_LEFT         # navigates one block leftward

```

Relevant key codes:

> ```
> 19 -->  "KEYCODE_DPAD_UP"
> 20 -->  "KEYCODE_DPAD_DOWN"
> 21 -->  "KEYCODE_DPAD_LEFT"
> 22 -->  "KEYCODE_DPAD_RIGHT"
> 23 -->  "KEYCODE_DPAD_CENTER"
> ```

<sub>(See more key codes here \- by Rene Barbosa)</sub>

To simulate ENTER, use key code 66. 23 works too.

Use the key codes in combination. For example, when SuperSU app asks me to allow or deny root privileges to an app, I use the key codes 19, 20, 22 and 66 to simulate a tap on OK.

---

You can always use `adb shell input tap X Y` but you need the correct X and Y coordinates for the tap. You'll have to enable Pointer location under Developer settings as first step. Since the touchscreen is not working, finding the right coordinates is a hit and miss here. You would succeed with trial and error, should you choose this method.

---
Tags: sms, backup
---


title: Pairing Bluetooth speakers

text:
# Question
Title: Pairing Bluetooth speakers
I'm looking at buying some Bluetooth speakers, I haven't used Bluetooth in a long time and can't remember exactly how it worked.

If I pair my phone with the speakers, what's stopping someone else attempting to pair with the speakers?

Once paired do the devices become undiscoverable?

# Answer
You can pair Bluetooth speakers with multiple devices. My Bluetooth speakers are paired with BOTH my tablets, my phone and my laptop. You cannot not, depending on the device, connect via Bluetooth to more than one device at a time.

Pairing doesn't make the Bluetooth device undiscovered.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: bluetooth, bluetooth-pairing
---


title: Wifi signing in

text:
# Question
Title: Wifi signing in
I have android 5 on my mobile . I am using wifi for internet. It should sign in automatically into that wifi network, but it is not doing so. Android is asking me to sign in every time. How to fix this ?

# Answer
> 1 votes
1. Sign in once.
2. While you are doing that, look for 'Remember'. Check that box.
3. Done!

---
Tags: wi-fi
---


title: Is there some SSH server for android?

text:
# Question
Title: Is there some SSH server for android?
Is there an ssh server for Android (such as openssh for Ubuntu) that will allow me to access my device console via PuTTY?

# Answer
Yes, there are a couple of options for this, including:

Some of these apps will require you to root your device. SSHDroid, QuickSSHD and SSHelper, at least, do not (there may be others as well). There are certainly multiple choices for you to investigate depending on your requirements/desired features/etc.
> 40 votes

# Answer
You can also use an SSH server without a frontend app -- starting it with a command or through a configuration file, as described in Howto: Connect to Device with SSH.

According to that page, CyanogenMod included an SSH server (dropbear) in some releases. ("Cyanogenmod 9.0 RC2 no longer includes Dropbear.") Or you could probably put it into your system yourself.

It seems that by default it is assumed that the server is run by root (i.e., you'd need root acces to your system), but it must be possible to set up it to work without root.
> 5 votes

# Answer
This answer is a bit late to the party, but you can also compile static openssh binaries (ssh sshd ssh-keygen etc) for android using the buildroot project. Or dropbear if you prefer.

https://buildroot.uclibc.org

https://buildroot.uclibc.org/downloads/manual/manual.html

I have done this on my linux box, for openssh and many other programs. This requires a rooted device.

My device was arm based - you would have to check if your device is supported by buildroot if it is not arm.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: ssh
---


# Question
Title: Text message with pictures: "Download" button does nothing
I have a Galaxy S2 running Android 4.0.4. When people send me text messages with a picture attached, I receive the message but it says something like this, with a "download" button:

```
Message size: 1KB
Expires: 8:52AM, Mar 12
[Download]

```

When I press the download button, it changes to the text "Downloading" for a moment, and then it changes back to the download button and nothing else happens. I was expecting the picture to open, or something. Is there some way I can download & view these pictures?

\[Update\]: I have seen other suggestions to turn on mobile data. I went to:

```
Applications => Settings => Data Usage

```

and verified that Mobile data = ON. As an experiment, I toggled it OFF then ON again, then pushed the Download button on my text message again, but got the same result (it said "downloading" briefly then nothing).

I have also turned off auto-retrieve here:

```
Messaging app => Menu => Settings => Multimedia message (MMS) settings

```

Auto-retrieve is unchecked & still no success. I'm pretty stumped.

Update #2: Suggestion to check APN settings. I went to:

```
Settings => Wireless & network

```

But there is no "mobile" choice. There is a "more =\> mobile networks" but it only has "3G data" and "connections optimizer". Is there some other way to find/set the APN settings?

# Answer
> 6 votes
I just solved this issue on my phone, mms only works through 3g or 4g. It doesnt work over wifi so turn your wifi off, turn your mobile data on and it will work! Or at least it did with mine anyway. That's had me stumped for a veeery long time haha I hope ive helped someone with this :-)

# Answer
> 0 votes
I was using a Nexus 5 with Android 6.0.1 and had this problem (download button did nothing once pressed and therefore I was unable to receive MMS msgs). Google's Messenger App as SMS/MMS app.

I ended up calling FIDO and someone directed me to change the url for MMS proxy (in Access Point Names =\> FIDO LTE =\> MMS Proxy) to an IP address. I then turned off my phone, took out the SIM, re-inserted it and turned the phone back on. I was then able to receive text messages. I'm not sure which of those steps actually solved it, but together they worked.

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, samsung-galaxy-s-2, sms, mms
---


# Question
Title: Error 504 when downloading apps from Play Store?
My device is Motorola Xoom MZ604. The internet connectivity is 4G WiMax via my laptop as hotspot. The problem is when I'm trying to download any app from Google Play Store, it gives me an **Error 504** with the message I mentioned in title.

However, if I navigate to the application via browser and click: `Install → Select Device → Install` and then restart my device, it sometimes works.

Some googling brought me that it's a gateway timeout error. But I'm still unable to figure out how to work around the problem. So looking forward for your help.

# Answer
According to the list of status codes at Wikipedia, a 504 error means the following:

> **504 Gateway Timeout**
> The server was acting as a gateway or proxy and did not receive a timely response from the upstream server.

In other words: the culprit should neither be (on) your device, nor (at) Google Play -- but in between.

A thread on the Nook forum describes the very same problem, and one of the conclusions there is:

> Generally, that means a Gateway error and I would suspect the problem being on the router end rather than the Nook side. Sometimes a router reset will cure it.

Which corresponds to my conclusion. So if you're using mobile data, it *might* help to switch data off and on again (or better: switch to *airplane mode* and back), in the hope you will get a connection into a different segment of your provider's network (and thus a different gateway on that end).

---

From a thread on XDA about all the Google Play Error Codes

> **Method 1:**
>
> * clear data
> * clear cache of google play store & google service framework
>
> **Method 2:**
>
> * remove your gmail account
> * reboot
> * Re-add account

---

Funnily, the very same issue comes to a very different conclusion on Yahoo answers: here the user had not enough space on his device, so after removing some other app it suddenly worked. I suspect this was a co-incidence (when he tried again after having freed up space, the gateway was "fixed") -- but it cannot hurt to check for that.

---

Several more sulutions might pop up with the time. To me it proved helpful to search Google for '"Google Play" "error 504"'.
> 10 votes

# Answer
Hope this will help someone.

In my case I was trying to upgrade the app (currently installed on device) which has Target SDK 23 to the app (newly uploaded app in play store) which has target sdk 22.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Try resetting the play store app. You won't lose your apps following these steps. Nothing important will be lost.

Steps to follow on a motorola xoom

1. Go to the app drawer (menu)
2. Tap settings
3. Tap applications
4. Tap the "All" tab
5. Scroll through and look for play store
6. Tap Play Store (not play store services!)
7. Tap "clear data"
8. You will then get a warning, click "ok"

That's it, go through your problem again and see if it fixed. Bear in mind you will have to re-accept the terms and conditions for the play store app, when this comes up, simply click "accept"
> 1 votes

# Answer
This could also appears when you trying to install an app that is not install on the current user, but still installed on the guest or another user.

You have more that one user on Lollipop devices.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Setting the phone into Airplane mode and back did the trick for me. So it most likely was indeed the Gateway issue. Tip though. Dont just turn it on then off. Wait about 60 seconds before you turn airplane mode off again. If you just toggle it, it picks up the same gateway.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, installation, system-error
---


title: Marshmallow Time Drift bug

text:
# Question
Title: Marshmallow Time Drift bug
I was planning to flash a custom Marshmallow ROM on my Samsung Note 2 and use it for some tests in which keeping accurate time (error of a minute either way is fine, not more). This report This Android 6.0 bug might make you late for your next appointment makes me reconsider. It says

> The drift is quite small and can't really be noticed under direct observation, but user comments on the Google issue have suggested that a delay of up to 15 minutes can be accumulated over a period of 12 hours – just enough to miss that all important meeting or be late for an exam.

Temporary fixes as suggested in the link (below) do not suit me, since the phone would be unattended during testing I plan

> Users have also figured out a couple of temporary fixes. One is to simply restart your headset, forcing it to sync the time with the network, while another instructs to manually switch over form 4G to 3G

I have not found any reports of this on the ROM developer site or here but Clock sync/clock running slow issue log reports this

**My question**: Has anyone observed it and how bad is it? (Even if not measured)

# Answer
> 5 votes
Android 6.0.1 apparently fixes the issue. I'm running it on my Nexus, so I can't say about custom ROMs, but it should be fixed in 6.0.1 based ROMs.

The bug was detected by me in 6.0 first because my alarm rang 21 minutes late. It was about a week after I bought the phone. A reboot fixed the time, and since I've upgraded to 6.0.1, I haven't seen an issue with time.

---
Tags: sync, 6.0-marshmallow, clock
---


title: How to re-install Google play services

text:
# Question
Title: How to re-install Google play services
How do you reinstall Google Play store and Google Play services after uninstalling them.

# Answer
As Firelord asked, did you uninstall the apps or only the updates?

If only the updates, if you open the play store on your phone, and it should seek for updates to both your play store and play services. If it doesn't happen automatically, try clearing the data of the play store app, and then manually trying to find the update by going to the settings activity of the play store and tapping on the version number.

If you've uninstalled the apps, then I presume you already have root access, because uninstalling them without root access is very difficult. In this case, flash a recovery to your phone if you haven't already, and flash the Google apps zip (GApps) matching your android version, and clear the cache and dalvik cache if necessary through the recovery after the install.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-apps
---


title: Prevent redirection on chrome

text:
# Question
Title: Prevent redirection on chrome
Whenever I select anything I have Google on Chrome, I always get redirected to another spam like site or says my phone is infected. I have an antivirus software which doesn't pick up any virus infected on my phone.

Others suggest blocking JavaScript, which works but you cannot view any site or video after. Is there a way to prevent always being redirected?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try anyone of these:

* Root the phone. Use Adblock plus app. Rooting voids warranty.
* Use Firefox with Adblock extention installed. This doesn't require rooting.
* Use Adblock browser. Rooting isn't necessary here.
* Use UC mini browser with Speed mode enabled. Browsing experience will be deteriorated.
I recommend second method the most. Please don't ask for links. Everything can be found using Google.

---
Tags: chrome-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Clear memory and recent task automatically after an app is closed using Tasker
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy S3 on Android 4.1.2 JellyBean. I would want to create a profile which clears memory and recent tasks when an app is closed (example: Chrome).

Is it possible to do it without root access?

# Answer
I use Clean Master for this.

You can invoke separate parts of by holding the clean master button when using the launch app function.

then I used this booster

and I used this process cleaner

I know this works because I have an app that crashes on startup if there is insufficient RAM. When I use this it never crashes.

I hope it helps, even after two years.
> 1 votes

# Answer
I use Advanced Task Manager and Auto-Shortcut in Tasker to Kill apps.

For your other question, you could create a variable "%Chrome=1" the first time you launch it, and only pop up the menu if the variable is set. On exit, wait a couple minutes then clear %Chrome again.
> 0 votes

# Answer
To clear ram memory You can use Greenify. It also supports non rooted phone.

Few things from the app description:

1. Unlike the "Freeze" feature in "TitaniumBackup Pro" that totally disable the app, you can still use your app as usual, share content with it. No need to freeze & defrozen it.
2. Unlike "Autostarts", you can benefit from almost all of its advantages, without needing to deal with the complexity and risk of obscure app components, and never lose functionality when app is actively running.
3. Unlike any "XXX Task Killer", your device will never fall into the cat-mouse-game of stealthy-running and aggressive killing, which unnecessarily consumes more battery juice.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: applications, tasker, recents-screen
---


# Question
Title: How to remove my Gmail account from Android 5.1?
I added and logged in my Gmail account on my friend's Android (Lollipop 5.1) phone Lenovo A 6000 or 7000. Now I am unable to remove my account from his device. Help me please.

# Answer
Simply go under **Settings** \> **Account and app syncing**, select your Gmail account and click **Delete account or services**.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop
---


title: Bluetooth And Wifi Not Responding

text:
# Question
Title: Bluetooth And Wifi Not Responding
I Have Q mobile A50 (Andriod Ver: 4.1.1) It Had Missed Its I.P Address And Due To It. its The Bluetooth And Wifi Is Not Being Enabled . I.P Adress Is Also Not Showing Can Any One Help Me To Recover It . Here A Picture of it.

# Answer
First of all, I.P address can not cause Bluetooth or MAC address to disappear.

Secondly to see your IP address you must have data enabled, same goes for bluetooth and wifi, you have to switch them on first

I still dont understand why you had to write "Not responding" and then post a status image, be more specific on your problem

Edit: See the pictures below as I enable each component, notice the status bar
> 1 votes

---
Tags: wi-fi, bluetooth
---


# Question
Title: How can I free up Google Photos storage usage from Google Drive
Google Photos (previously Google+) automatically backs up your photos from your phone to your Google+ / Google Photos account.

They give you the option to backup a compressed version which is unlimited and free, or you can backup at full original quality but it uses up your Google Drive storage quota.

I have always believed I have had this setting turned off, but I noticed I am using 8GB of my Drive quota due to Google Photos. Which makes me think it had been backing up the full versions for some time previously - Right now the option is set to the free compressed version.

(I am assuming the 8GB is due to the original uncompressed option being turned on at some point? Unless theres another thing that would use up this space?)

Is there a way to identify and remove all of the high resolution photos from my Drive / the Photos that are using my Drive storage, but still keeping scaled / free version of the photo.

I have just noticed you can choose an option to show a Google Photos folder in your drive of your Google Photos. I have just done this hoping I could somehow filter by size or quota used but this doesn't seem possible.

I just want to try and identify what is using the 8GB

# Answer
> 8 votes
I have just found the real correct way to combat this problem. There is no actual way you can easily see which photos are "original" quality vs "high".

Google provide a slightly hidden feature to convert all your "original" photos to "high".

On Google Photo Settings Page @ https://photos.google.com/settings Click Recover Storage button to Compress Original Size Pictures!

# Answer
> 0 votes
I came across the same problem yesterday. My solution is to download all the photos to my PC, delete them from the cloud, set the backup option of Google Photos to 'High quality' and then download them to the phone. From there they will be backupped with the correct size to use free storage. Of course this may be lengthy if you have 8 GB of photos. Sadly I couldn't think of any other option, because Google Drive or Photos won't allow to sort my files by size as was once possible.

EDIT: with the new update of Google Photos, the possibility to resize all photos to 'high quality' is now built in. Open the web interface from your computer -\> settings -\> recover storage: it is as simple as that. Here the guide.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Use the Sort options available to sort images by size, you'll be able to see what images are taking up the most space - You then can make a judgement if to delete it.

* The better quality an image the bigger it's size, thus the bigger images are the high res-images you wanted to delete for the space.The high resolution images will be bigger in size compared to the compressed ones, thus when you sort the image by size (Descending - From Biggest to Smallest). The high res-images will be at the top.

---

## How to Sort - Computer, Android and iOS

---

## ***Google Drive on the web using the Computer:***

1. Go to Google Drive - On the Web
2. In the top right, click the sort icon .
3. Choose an option:

* **Name:** Orders files alphabetically by filename.
    * **Last modified:** Orders files by the last time any user made a change.
    * **Last modified by me:** Orders by the last time you changed a file.
    * **Last opened by me:** Orders by the last time you opened a file.
    * On a home screen, you can also sort by file owner. At the top of the file list, click **Owned by anyone** and switch to either **Owned by me** or **Not owned by me**.

**Advantages:** No Need to Download any files, thus saving Data

---

## ***Google Drive Installed on Computer:***

1. Download and Install Google Drive Installer on to your computer.
2. Download Your Google Drives Photo Folder
3. Open Your Photos Folder
4. Click on the top of the tab that says size
5. Delete Unnecessary Photos but leave the rest

**Side note:** Even though you get free space to store images on google drive the size is still shown.

**Advantages:** You wont need to re-upload the photos again as this way they will be removed from the google drive folder

**Disadvantages:** You'll Still need to download the Photos to sort (But wont need to re-uploaded them as the deleted ones just get removed from the drive)

---

## ***Google Drive on Android:***

1. Open the Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides app.
2. In the top-right corner of any section or folder of the app, touch the More icon.
3. Select **Sort by** and choose the way you’d like to arrange your list of files (for example, by “Last modified”).

You can also sort files after you have performed a search to sort only the files from that search.

## **Advantages:** No Need to Download any files - Except the google play app, thus saving Data

## ***Google Drive on iOS:***

1. Open the Drive, Docs, Sheets, or Slides app.
2. Next to the search box in your file list, touch Sort.
3. From the sorting list, touch the option you want to use.
4. The files will be sorted. Repeat the process to sort the views differently.

You can also sort files after you have performed a search to sort only the files from that search.

**Advantages:** No Need to Download any files - Except the Iphone app, thus saving Data

# Answer
> -1 votes
I found a great solution.

On Google Drive app settings there is a option to compress storage. It compresses you files from full size to high resolution using your free space on photos.

---
Tags: backup, photos, google-drive, google-plus-photos, google-photos
---


# Question
Title: Updating application from Android Market
I have downloaded and installed an app from Android Market. Now I want to know how to update this apk installed in my device. Is this app updated by Android Market? Will it update automatically or do I need to update it manually?

# Answer
> 3 votes
Market \> My App \> (an app) \> \[check\] allow automatic updating

# Answer
> 3 votes
Android Market APKs are monitored, and you'll be notified when an update is available. There should also be a checkbox on the Market page for each of them allowing you to specify automatic updating; the developer has a case-by-case override for that for when it might lead to loss of data.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Open the Play Store App and select "Update All" to do it manually should you so desire.

# Answer
> 0 votes
There are 3 ways to update from the app store :

**1. Update Manually**
You can just search your app and if there is an update, there will be an `Update` button to click. It will download your file and install it automatically.

**2. Automatic Update**
This option will update all app that **doesn't** need extra permissions.
To simply turn on automatic update, just tap the three bars on the left of the search box, scroll down and hit the `Setting` button.
You'll see a lot of option that you can enable / disable. To enable the automatic update, select `Auto-update apps` and select what criteria the phone must reach when the update begins.

**3. Update all apps at the same time**
This option will update all the app in one time. This option will ask you about extra permission that your apps need.
To update all, just slide your finger from the very left of the screen to the middle and hit `My apps`. From there, you should see `Update all` button if there is 2 or more update available for download.

---
Tags: google-play-store, updates
---


# Question
Title: Anyone know where memos are stored on a Samsung Galaxy S6?
I hooked my S6 up to a Win8 computer, and there were about 30-something folders on the S6. So I copied everything to my PC. Now I'm trying to find some of the info that was on my phone, like memos, and I can't figure out which folder they're in. They've got to be here somewhere. Does anyone know which folder the memos are stored in?

By memos, I'm talking about the default memo app that comes with the Samsung S6.

# Answer
Let's see: The package name of the *Memo* app on Samsung phones is called `com.samsung.android.app.memo`.
There is no such folder in `sdcard\Android\data`, so it has to be in `/data/data/`.

And how correct I am:
Using `adb shell` and giving myself root access (`su`) to access `/data`, I am able to explore my own private data.

Now let's look inside and we find a `databases` folder with a `memo.db` inside:

Using some simple SQL and `sqlite3` we can take a look inside the database itself:

There are our memos. Note that they are also saved as XML including any extra data needed for the app itself.

> Yes you need root access or use Samsung's backup tool to make a backup of your memos.
> 6 votes

---
Tags: backup, samsung-galaxy-s-6
---


# Question
Title: Transfer ownership of in app purchases to new email address?
I made some in-app purchases a year ago with email address foo@foo.com.

I have since changed my email address to new@new.com. Is there any way that I can transfer my purchases from my old email address to my new email address in the Google Play app?

# Answer
No there is no official way to transfer purchases from one account to another. You could contact the Google Services to maybe figure out a way if you had a good reason which you could explain.

There is a Reddit thread regarding this topic if that is any help.
> 1 votes

# Answer
Unfortunately there is no way Google can transfer in-app purchases from one account to another. This is actually up to the application developer to help resolve your issue. I highly recommend contacting the developer to either (1) transfer your content from the old email address to the new one or (2) getting a refund for all those purchases.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, in-app-purchase
---


# Question
Title: Uninstall system app failed using 'adb shell pm uninstall'
I attempted to force uninstall in ADB, but failed:

```
$ adb shell pm uninstall -k org.openintents.filemanager
$ adb shell pm list packages -f | grep -i manager
package:/system/app/FileManager.apk=org.openintents.filemanager

```

What went wrong here? What can I do?

I used the internal application manager and there isn't an option to delete it.

# Answer
> 21 votes
Well, since the `FileManager.apk` package resides in a `/system/app/` directory it is a system app. So the general way to remove it is:

```
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
rm -rf /system/app/FileManager.apk
rm -rf /data/data/org.openintents.filemanager
mount -o ro,remount /system
exit
exit

```

# Answer
> 9 votes
**Edit**: when I saw the comment to CommonsWare answer I did not realize it was the same as the asker... anyways, a little explanation may be useful for somebody.

As yourself commented, the easiest way to uninstall a system app is plainly to delete the `.apk` file. The `adb install` / `adb uninstall` commands are useful for **regular apps, not system apps**. Since this apk is located in `/system/app`, `adb uninstall` will not remove it.

You can use the command suggested (`rm /system/app/YourApp.apk`), but before the `/system` folder need to have write access. You will need to see how to `remount` `/system` in your specific device, try searchig for "`android remount +rw /system`" and your device).

Alternatively, you may use any app that can do both deletion and remounting and has root access, such as **Root Explorer** and **Astro**

# Answer
> 1 votes
The '`Failure`' problem has more to do with the adb shell appending a DOS line ending ^M (on CentOS Linux anyway). Put the list of applications to uninstall in a file and copy to the android device directly.

```
root@android:/root # dos2unix list-of-apps-to-uninstall.txt
root@android:/root # for f in `cat list-of-apps-to-uninstall.txt` ; do echo $f; pm uninstall $f; done;

```

# Answer
> 0 votes
Tapemaster has made a Stack Overflow post which demonstrates the necessary trick.

Do this:

1. Install `adb` on your computer.

2. Root your phone.

3. Enter these commands into your computer:

```
adb shell
su
mount -o remount,rw /system
rm /system/app/UnwantedApp*
pm uninstall org.unwantedapp
exit
exit

```

The third command remounts `/system` read-write. The fourth command deletes the app's `.apk` and/or `.odex` files. The fifth command finishes the uninstallation.

In my experience: If you have already entered the the fourth command, then the fifth command will return Success. Otherwise, the fifth command will return Failure.

When entering the above commands, you must replace `UnwantedApp` with the app's real filename (without the extension), and `org.unwantedapp` with the app's real Java package name.

---
Tags: adb, uninstallation
---


# Question
Title: How to turn off Android Device Manager on the web
My phone got stolen yesterday. I have never downloaded Android Device Manager or enabled it on my phone but for some reason, when I go onto the ADM web page, it could track my phone (up until a day before it was stolen).

So in a panic, I first changed my Google password to stop the thief from using my account, then I locked the phone using Android Device Manager and then I clicked the 'Erase' command so that he could not get hold of sensitive information. Now the phone is off and I have installed several tracking apps on PlayStore since then but they are yet to be activated since it is still off. However, I have just learned that once it is switched on, that 'Erase' command will be executed and I can longer track my phone :( I read a question elsewhere where someone said he had lost his phone and requested the 'Erase' command but due to the phone being off, the command had not yet been executed. He then found the phone so in order to prevent the command from being executed, he turned off ADM and when he switched it on, the command was not executed. He never explained how he did this however. What I would like to know is how to I turn off ADM on the web. I don't seem to have the 'Options' box that is described in the instructions below:

> You can instead use a Web browser and Google’s Android Device Manager page. After signing in to your Google account, you’ll see a Google Maps page with an options box in the top-left corner. All of the compatible Android devices registered to your Google account will appear in a drop-down menu within that box.

# Answer
The `Options` box gives you a list of devices linked with your google account to select from. If you just had only one device, there might not be any drop-down `Options` box. You should be able to view/manage the devices by going to https://play.google.com/settings

Some more info that might help: (Source )

**Switch Android Device Manager on or off**

Before you can use Android Device Manager, you need to make sure it's turned on and that your device is associated with your Google Account. If you have a tablet with more than one user, only the tablet owner can control this setting.

1. Find Google Settings in one of these places (depending on your device):
    * A separate app called **Google Settings**
    * In your main **Settings app**, scroll down and touch **Google**
2. Touch **Security**.
3. Under "Android Device Manager," switch **Remotely locate this device** and **Allow remote lock and factory reset** on or off.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: security, android-device-manager
---


title: Storage nightmare

text:
# Question
Title: Storage nightmare
I've known my phone's been pretty full for a while (mainly music, which is seemingly impossible to save to my SD card), but the equalizer on the music app I use recently started acting up. I went onto Google Play to give it a shit review, but then realised it needed an update. When I tried the update, it told me I had insufficient storage space, so I decided to delete the app to see if it would have been updated if I downloaded it again. Insufficient storage space. I've now deleted four fairly large apps from my phone, and guess what my phone told me when I tried to download the music app again? Yep... Insufficient storage space! Still. And now I've got no apps either... Is there anything I can do about this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
your storage issue is widely encountered within the android devices users.Although you didn't mention your device name and android version,you should look for your microSD card if it is mounted read/write or read only and see your internal SD card too.Google has restricted the ability to write to the SD card for Android KitKat and above so you have to try to use Kitkat SDFix from Play Store to restore this great feature.If this doesn't work you might try to root your device and install the Xposed framework and then download a module called "HandleExternalStorage" from within the Xposed installer,activate it and reboot your phone or tablet.

---
Tags: insufficient-memory
---


title: android command line shell

text:
# Question
Title: android command line shell
I have a Nokia X running Android 4.4.4 and I have Terminal Emulator and Busybox 1.24 installed but I can't still find some useful commands to perform several operations with the command line interface.That's my question:what's the best and the most complete shell utilities to install? Thanks

# Answer
The only other one I know of is ToyBox.

http://www.landley.net/toybox/about.html
> 0 votes

# Answer
The best is a combination of 3 commands, which are `cd`, `ls` and `cat`.

You start with `cd /`, followed by `ls -l`

You detect a thing called `mnt`

Do `cd mnt`, followed by `ls -l`

Do `cat /proc/cpuinfo`

Go to `/sdcard/pers`. There's so much explore.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: shell, terminal, command-line
---


# Question
Title: How can I make a controller work on my Android tablet using a USB-OTG cable?
I am trying to make my Thurstmaster GP XID controller (https://www.thrustmaster.com/products/gp-xid-pc) work on my android 4.2 device (Onda v975s) by plugging it into the micro USB port using a USB-OTG cable.

Many articles say you just need to plug it and play, but my controller is unresponsive. The light of the center button (the home? button) does not light up. I have tried USB diagnostics and controller "tester" apps which do not detect my controller.

My tablet can use a peripheral keyboard plugged by OTG, but a regular USB mouse will not work (won't light up, response etc).

Do not hesitate to ask for more information, thanks in advance.

# Answer
The most likely explanation is that your tablet is missing the drivers needed to use USB mice and game controllers. If that's the case, then the only way to make the device work is to find another ROM for your tablet that does have the drivers. You might ask the manufacturer for an updated ROM that has the support, or look for a third-party ROM that supports your tablet (which is unlikely for unpopular devices). Installing a third-party ROM is not easy, though, and if you do it wrong you may break the tablet completely.

It's a bit odd that the manufacturer would choose to remove support for USB mice and game controllers, given that the support is in stock Android. Possibly they had to cut corners to make the kernel fit into the boot image, or something like that.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.2-jelly-bean, usb-on-the-go, usb-peripherals, onda-tablet
---


# Question
Title: Phone doesn't turn wifi off and weirdly transmits data
When i wake up my phone(kitkat,cm11) from standby, it always transmits data through wifi and than stops transmitting/recieving data. It gives the feeling it always transmits/recieves while sleeping.

I turned down all location services in various places, i set wifi to turn on "only when connected to power" , turned of "scanning always availble" , but still no help.

What is the cause , and how do i track this down?

# Answer
> 0 votes
I've followed Izzi's advice and it worked. Here's what i did:

I used the firewall app, afwall+ ,turned it on( and used whitelist - blocking everything ) , turned logging on.

made phone sleep.

Than turned it on - and on the firewall log - i've seen the sources of traffic - all pointing to google, which i can live with - so i didn't continue further.

---
Tags: wi-fi, standby
---


# Question
Title: how to download pictures from sd card to phone?
I have a droid turbo and i bought a sd card reader to plug in an sd card from my game cameras into my phone so i can see these pictures without bringing my laptop to my cabin. But i cant find anything on any file manager that can move these pictures to my phone from the sd card?

# Answer
> 1 votes
Try connecting another card reader and/or SD cards from a different manufacturer, it seems to be a frequent problem with Droid Turbo. AFAIK Kingston SD cards work more often then not.

# Answer
> 0 votes
What kind of card reader is it? Is it made for your android? If not, it may need to be powered and your android isn't giving it enough power.

Typically when a 3rd party storage device is connected via micro-USB to an android device, the android will recognize it and you can navigate to it via the file browser. It may be considered a USB device though, so go through the root of the device to make sure it's not actually showing up.

---
Tags: usb
---


# Question
Title: How to use android device as display or terminal?
I want to use an android phone as a USB terminal/display for a headless system.

The ideal user experiece would be:

1. Plug phone to the usb port.
2. System starts sending status info, phone displays it.

I prefer a solution without developer options/adb necessary.

Ideally the end user only has to install an app and open it up.

Does a solution exist?

# Answer
> 2 votes
My current partial solution:

1. android: Use usb-tethering to create rndis connection.
2. headless: bring up network device with a static ip
3. android: ssh to pc
4. headless: pipe output to connected pts with write(1)

---
Tags: usb, usb-connection-mode
---


# Question
Title: Where are books downloaded from Amazon Kindle stored?
I download a book from Amazon Kindle, and would like to transfer it to my laptop. Where is it stored in my Android 4.4.2 phone (Kyocera Hydro Icon)?

Is it possible to find it out using some download history of Android?

Is it possible to search the file (with guessed file name) in the file systems on my phone using some command or program?

Where is Amazon Kindle app stored? Can the book be stored in the same directory?

# Answer
> 3 votes
On my tablet (non-rooted) it exists at

`storage\emulated\0\Android\data\com.amazon.kindle\files\`

Mine has about 500 folders, which, I assume is one per book. The names are some 10-character string of the form `Bxxxxxxxxx`, where x is alphanumeric. Inside each are a few files devoted to the book, probably the text in the file Bxxxxxxxxx\_ebok.prc (it has the largest size), and a couple smaller files tracking reading progress, etc.

I have not been able to determine a translation between the coded folder and file names to the actual book, though I would, if I had tracked my download progress, have a rough idea based on calendar.

---
Tags: ebooks, amazon-kindle
---


# Question
Title: Insufficient Storage Available During Update
### Preface (TL;DR)

I know the issue of insufficient space has been discussed in various contexts but I have not found anything that specifically addresses the circumstances and issues that I am facing, so I am hoping to get some feedback that would help me better understand what is going on.

I have an HTC EVO 4g from Sprint running Android 2.3.5 (Gingerbread) which has been unlocked using the Dev patch provided by HTC. Although it is rooted and I can apply a custom ROM to it, I have not done so yet for several reasons I won't get into but my issue should be independent of that. This phone is by far (in my humble opinion) one of the best and most stable piece of hardware that HTC has produced to date and I couldn't be happier with the phone, hence why I have not upgraded to a newer device. I know the older OS is a turn off to many and I agree that I wish I was running a higher version but most of them don't honor the latest drivers available which means you lose 4G functionality among other things. So I have stuck with it for now until such time as an updated drivers are released (doubtful but one can hope).

I have an 8 GB SD card (7.39 GB usable) and 4.05 GB free - since I move anything that has the option to run off the SD card to external storage. I have 500 MB internal storage (427 MB usable) and a little over 60 MB free. I have never had issues updating anything since the space present has always been enough to install or update before moving stuff to free more space.

## The problem

Recently when updating apps it often gives me the `insufficient storage available` message – but it makes no sense to me.

Storage facts:

* external SD with 8 GB (4 GB free)
* internal storage with 500 MB (60 MB free)
* example problematic app: apk size ~6 MB / installed size 11.46 MB

### Detailed problem (again: TL;DR)

Specifically the app that is giving the problem recently is Lookout Security & Antivirus which has never been an issue and is only 6 MB and change but it will download it and when attempting to install pops that error. I don't get how a 6 MB file that has never had issue updating on less than 40 MB space is now giving me problems with over 60 MB free? The baffling part is that occasionally it WILL actually update just fine without issue and I have checked my cache and stuff, nothing there, no other apps running that would hog space or anything, so what's wrong? How can I mitigate this? Another bizarre thing that started to happen is that internal apps like Facebook which are bloated on there whether I like it or not and I use rarely are giving me problems too by issuing the invalid page file error. I mean what?

**So what's going on here? What is wrong or what can I do to make it right** so it stops being stupid like this? As I said, NEVER had a single issue with this phone, EVER, but in the past month it has driven me absolutely NUTS. I have even uninstalled applications that don't provide the move to SD option to free up nominal space and it stabilizes for like 2 days and then bam, back to square one even though it has more space now. I am at my wits end and I would appreciate the help; especially not being a novice this is even more mind boggling to me.

**UPDATE: 10/26/13 @7:45 AM** The application updated normally without giving the error and it did so while the internal storage had only 43 MB (as opposed to the 60 MB when it failed numerously). This lends itself to even more confusion as to what is going on. The ONLY thing that was done in the meantime was that I rebooted the phone (actually more like I was low on power, shut it down and when I connected it to the charger, turned it on)

# Answer
> 0 votes
Same kind of a situation happened to my SAMSUNG GALAXY S2 and I could solve it by following these steps:

1. Open the phone app and switch to keypad.
2. Dial \*#9900#
3. On the screen that appears, click on the button labeled "Delete dumpstate/logcat".

---
Tags: 2.3-gingerbread, insufficient-memory, application-autoupdate
---


# Question
Title: Application doesn't get installed : insufficient storage available
I have around 50MB of internal storage left and some 1.7 GB of external storage left in my phone. But when I try to download and install any application from google android store,I get a message *insufficient storage* and the application though downloaded doesn't get installed. Why is this ? Earlier it worked fine from the same store.

For instance yesterday when I tried to install *whats app* I got the same message. What can I do about this ?

# Answer
> 2 votes
I have had this in the past and been able to fix it by rebooting the device

# Answer
> 0 votes
While not directly answering your question the Apps2SD app might be helpful here, not just to move apps from internal memory but for it's feature to clear the cache of all apps in one go. If you have installed a lot then it can be a bit of a chore to go into each and choose Clear Cache. This app allows you to do them all in one hit.

# Answer
> 0 votes
same kind of a situation happened to my SMASUNG GALAXY S2 and i could solve it by following the below steps

1. Open the phone app and switch to keypad.
2. Dial \*#9900#
3. On the screen that appears, click on the button labelled "Delete dumpstate/logcat"

thank you..

---
Tags: applications, 2.3-gingerbread, internal-storage, installation, insufficient-memory
---


# Question
Title: Chrome and Skype takes up a lot of storage
I'm not sure if this is a problem different for anyone but these apps are very large.

I'm on a very limited storage of 2Gb with no move to sd capabilities and both these apps rise above 150Mb in space.

Updating both apps is simply impossible because I would have to remove a lot of apps to do so. I'd rater rather just delete both but I actively use both and Chrome is the default browser. Also Skype had issues with the latest version so I was forced to downgrade.

And before answers arise saying just delete the data. That includes preferences, logins and bookmarks.

For extra info:

Phone: Sony Xperia M / C1905 rooted

OS version: 4.3

Build: 15.4.A.1.9

Chrome: 41.0.2272.96 (outdated)

Skype: 5.3.0.65246 (outdated)

# Answer
I can see how you have problems if your device only has 2Gb of storage.

The size of the apps are determined by two factors: app size and data/cache size. The app size is the size of the app code and its data. How much space this takes up is determined by the developer.

Data is the actual app data and cache consists of temporary files that can be deleted any time. Clearing your cache will not delete user accounts or settings. Clearing data can.

If the 'data' part of the apps is taking too much space, you should enable Chrome sync. This will sync all history/bookmarks and some settings across your devices, so if you clear the data after syncing your data will appear again after logging in again.

This does not solve the problem of storage shortage, it will only delay it. You have root, and this page says you can insert a MicroSD card into your phone so Link2SD might be an option.

If you have an external SD card about 4GB+, you can easily extend the amount of storage your apps can use by using an app like Link2SD. Link2SD (and similar apps) allow you to reserve some part of your SD-card for app storage by allow you to use an ext2/ext4 partition as data storage. You can follow any tutorial like this one or this one to set it up. You don't have an HTC device so you can ignore the S-OFF stuff. Most tutorials will guide you every step, but it all comes down to this:

1. Always make backups of everything just to be sure
2. Install Minitool Partition Wizard and insert your SD-card into your computer
3. Resize the existing FAT32 partition of your SD-card to create some space for apps
4. Create a new *primary*, ext2 partition in the free space (some tutorials use ext4 but ext4 is less fit for solid state storage like SD-cards)
5. Install Link2SD and select the new partition when you are to select one

Keep in mind that the ext2 partition will be reserved and no non-app files can be stored in the reserved space (like photos, music, videos). Also, any apps on the SD-card will be gone if you boot your device without an SD-card. If you have a cheap/bad SD-card apps will be a lot slower than when they ran from the internal storage. Use class 8 or higher SD-card for the best results.
> 0 votes

# Answer
You cannot do anything about those two monsters using so much data – they're known for that. But still, there's something to work around that, enabling you to "update" without losing your data:

1. Backup for safety (data only)

```
adb backup -noapk -f Skype.ab com.raider.skype
adb backup -noapk -f Chrome.ab com.android.chrome

```
2. Remove the apps, but keep their data

```
adb uninstall -k com.raider.skype
adb uninstall -k com.android.chrome

```
3. Install the apps anew using e.g. the Playstore app

If that doesn't work out (as the amount of data still is too much), ommit the `-k` in the second step – and to restore your data, follow the third step by

```
adb restore Skype.ab
adb restore Chrome.ab

```

This requires your computer to be equipped with (see the adb tag-wiki for details, including a minimal install as you won't need the entire SDK for that).
> 1 votes

# Answer
You can delete individual cached web pages in Chrome by going into Settings \> Site Settings \> Storage. The pages are in descending size order. Chrome was using 1.1Gb until I deleted one page taking 389Gb.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: internal-storage, insufficient-memory, chrome-for-android, skype
---


title: android bluetooth details of tethering

text:
# Question
Title: android bluetooth details of tethering
what is MAC address. Kindly tell explictly. I mean is it unique for a device or is it different for different communication interfaces....for example is there a MAC address specifically for bluetooth in android

# Answer
> 2 votes
MAC addresses are used as a network address for most IEEE 802 network technologies, including Ethernet. Logically, MAC addresses are used in the media access control protocol sublayer of the OSI reference model.

MAC addresses are most often assigned by the manufacturer of a network interface controller (NIC) and are stored in its hardware, such as the card's read-only memory or some other firmware mechanism. If assigned by the manufacturer, a MAC address usually encodes the manufacturer's registered identification number and may be referred to as the burned-in address. It may also be known as an Ethernet hardware address (EHA), hardware address or physical address. This can be contrasted to a programmed address, where the host device issues commands to the NIC to use an arbitrary address. An example is a SOHO router, for which the ISP grants access to only one MAC address (used previously to inserting the router) so the router must use that MAC address on its Internet-facing NIC. Therefore the router administrator configures a MAC address to override the burned-in one.

A network node may have multiple NICs and each must have one unique MAC address per NIC.

MAC addresses are formed according to the rules of one of three numbering name spaces managed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE): MAC-48, EUI-48, and EUI-64. The IEEE claims trademarks on the names EUI-48 and EUI-64, in which EUI is an abbreviation for Extended Unique Identifier.

<sub>**Source:** https://android.stackexchange.com/tags/mac-address/info</sub>

---
Tags: bluetooth
---