# Question
Title: Getting to the bottom of excessive logs?
I'm a fairly new Android phone user and I have a question about excessive logs.

My phone battery is pretty awful (Elephone P9000) so I thought I'd hook it up and look at LogCat. In just over 20 seconds it logs nearly 5000 lines when idle with the screen off. That sounds like a bit much to me? Most of the log is filled with the same pattern repeating:

```
    05-31 13:26:40.559: I/fanzhuan(980): onSensorChanged front----> 0.361  0.497  10.07
05-31 13:26:40.571: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18369600), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.591: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18369920), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.612: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18370240), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.631: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18370560), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.651: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18370880), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.671: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18371200), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.691: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18371520), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.711: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18371840), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.731: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18372160), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.751: D/AudioTrackShared(293): front(18372480), mIsOut(0), mAvailToClient=0 stepCount=320 minimum=320, FUTEX_WAKE
05-31 13:26:40.758: D/SettingsInterface(980):  from settings cache , name = turn_silent , value = null
05-31 13:26:40.758: D/SettingsInterface(980):  from settings cache , name = callsilent , value = null
05-31 13:26:40.759: D/SettingsInterface(980):  from settings cache , name = alarmsilent , value = null
05-31 13:26:40.759: D/SettingsInterface(980):  from settings cache , name = musicsilent , value = null
05-31 13:26:40.759: D/SettingsInterface(980):  from settings cache , name = mediasilent , value = null

```

Is this normal? I've had a google and I can't see may people talking about this. Also, how do I go about finding what's causing this so I can kill it?

Maybe it's totally unrelated to my battery drain, but this amount of constant logging sounds little excessive to me.

Thanks for your time and help :-)

P.S. Running Android 6.0

# Answer
The `D/` entries show the log level is set to "DEBUG" – which of course generates quite a lot of logging, and shouldn't be necessary for "production use" (though it's quite helpful if you want to debug some misbehavior). For normal use, log level "INFO" should be sufficient.

As the default log level usually is defined in the init script, there's not much a "standard user" (without root-powers) can do about it, though. You can filter the output, though, as described on the logcat help page: so `adb logcat *:I` should only show messages using log level INFO or above. You could try `run adb shell setprop log.tag.* INFO`, but I'm not sure if that works; and even if it does, it would be reset at boot.

Apart from that, I can't say whether that would improve your battery life noticeably. For that purpose, you probably find better hints in our battery-life tag-wiki.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, logging
---


title: which APK for Google play services?

text:
# Question
Title: which APK for Google play services?
On my Sony Xperia Z1 Compact running CyanogenMod, I had the Google Play Services installed as an APK. At the time I must have thought that this was better than installing GApps - for being able to pick packages myself.

Since a recent update (of either Google play services or CyanogenMod) I get the error "unfortunately Google play services have stopped working".

Google play store also requires these services because it relies on these services. In the end I removed both the Services and the Store.

I have tried installing the a number of versions of the Services (from 7.3.xx to 8.3.xx) but they also report the same error message after a while.

Does the app need some sort of reset before it will work again? Each time an APK is uninstalled then its cache etc must be removed?

Or should I install a very specific version of the APK? my build is `cm_amami_userdebug 5.1.1 LMY49J d8f66af955`

EDIT:

For flashing GApps, I would choose Open GApps *pico* for Android 5.1 on ARM(32), does that sound right?

EDIT 2:

Flashing the GApps above worked. I would still like to know the answer to the first question - whether an APK could have solved it (and which)

# Answer
> 1 votes
The APKs for Google Play Services can be found on APK Mirror, along with explanations of the build numbers and how to determine the right build to install.

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, google-play-store, google-play-services, google-apps, sony-xperia-z1
---


# Question
Title: How can I use web.whatsapp.com on an Android phone with a broken screen?
My Android phone's screen died: no image, no touch, nada. How can I use http://web.whatsapp.com/ without being able to start WhatsApp and browse to the option Menu \> Whatsapp Web so I can scan the QR Code on the web page?

This is obviously an interim solution until my new phone arrives.

# Answer
Directly start WhatsApp with the correct activity intent via ADB:

```
adb shell "su -c 'am start com.whatsapp/.qrcode.QrCodeActivity'"

```

Then hold your camera in front of the QR Code @ http://web.whatsapp.com/.

Requirements:

Found it with something along the lines of:

```
adb shell "su -c 'find /data -name *whatsapp*.dex | xargs strings | grep Qr'"

```
> 5 votes

---
Tags: screen, qr-code, whatsapp-messenger
---


title: "Ok google" doesn't work

text:
# Question
Title: "Ok google" doesn't work
**Device:** LG G3 F400k
**Rom:** CM12 Nightly (12.1-20151004-NIGHTLY-F400)
**Google App version:** 5.3.23.19.arm
**Google services version:** 8.1.15 (2250156-230)
**Google Play store version:** 5.9.12

---

Everything seems up to date. But I don't have the options to use **Ok Google** on other screens/apps. And the hotword won't even work in the app itself.

*Screenshot:*
Click to enlarge

# Answer
I had the same issue with my device as well.

**Device**: SM-G360T
**Android version**: 5.1.1
**Google App version**: 5.13.31.21.arm
**Google services version**: 9.0.83 (234-121911109)
**Google Play store version**: 6.5.08

My solution was to download the Google Now Launcher (version 1.3.large). It replaces your current launcher, but I thought it was a good exchange. **Warning!** Replacing your current launcher will change your current home screen applications layout, but you can always uninstall Google Now Launcher from the Applications Manager to return to your old launcher.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, google, ok-google
---


# Question
Title: Locking the speed of the cpu on an android phone
The battery life of my cell phone lasts for about 6 hours. About 2 days ago I downloaded the app CPUControl to reduce the speed of my CPU. This resulted in more than 20 hours of battery life. However I changed the settings and I haven't been able to achieve the results I had before. I have a 4 X ARM Cortex-A7 CPU with a top speed of 1.3 GHz.

When I change the speed to 600 MHz, the change only lasts about 2 minutes ant then the processor goes up to 1 GHz draining my battery life very quickly.

You can't tell the difference between the processor running at 600 MHz or 1.3 GHz, either way it's fast enough.

What happened, how come I cant lock the processor speed anymore?

# Answer
I am not aware of CPUControl's settings but you can try some other applications to lock the speed. You can try KernelAduiter to perform this and many more operations.

You can change the CPU speed by specifying the minimum and the maximum and for best battery and if you're unable to do so, change the CPU governors.

1. If the CPU speed increases to 1.3GHz only for a few seconds randomly, set the governor to *Conservative*
2. If the CPU stays for long at 1.3GHz, check out which application is using the CPU so much.

2a. Open Terminal Emulator

* Gain root access using `su`
* Run `top` and let it display results on the screen
* Press `Volume Down + c` to terminate the command
* Scroll to the top and check out the process/app using the maximum CPU. If you find that process/app useless, terminate it
> 2 votes

---
Tags: battery-life, performance
---


# Question
Title: How can I make Android 6 quick settings show up in the same layout when the screen is locked?
Why does lock screen hide some of the elements from the quick settings? This makes intuitive usage of the device nearly impossible because I have to remember to look where the icons are and which ones they are. Like I could have a flashlight on the bottom left and on the lock screen its in the middle. Is there a way to fix this? Because "minor" inconveniences like this make me want to get off android. Too many little annoyances that users have to deal with day-to-day.

# Answer
The elements that have been hidden from your lock screen are hidden for a purpose. Sensitive toggles are not displayed in order to increase the lock screen security.

Due to this, your phone, in unlocked condition shows more toggles than in locked condition. This changes the position of certain toggles and hence your flashlight toggle is moved.

It can be a little inconvenient but you need to live with it since it is making your device safer. Safety by design.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: lock-screens, 6.0-marshmallow, quick-settings
---


title: emulating permission access for apps

text:
# Question
Title: emulating permission access for apps
While installing apps in Android, it asks for lots of permission to run.

Sometimes I just want to check out how a app is and not interested in sharing any info with the app.

Is it possible to install a app in a "jail" kind of environment and just emulate whatever permission it ask for and not actually sharing it ??

I hope the question is clear..it may not be exactly what I am asking for ..but if there is any way to accomplish this, let me know.

Thanks!

PS:

Not related with any specific version..although I have JellyBean.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You should try out XPrivacy or Protect My Privacy. Both of them require the Xposed framework

Jellybean comes with an in-built hidden permission controller called *App Ops* which is accessible by using AppOps (open source)

---
Tags: applications, permissions
---


title: Twitter app signs out continuously

text:
# Question
Title: Twitter app signs out continuously
I have a Samsung Galaxy Ace running CyanogenMod 7.2.0. The problem is that the Twitter app signs out randomly from time to time. Sometimes it happens in a couple of hours or in a day or so. It's annoying having to sign in almost every time I want to use it.

Is anyone having the same problem? How did you solve is?

# Answer
As Federico Perez pointed out in his comment on the question, the problem was caused by moving the app to the SD card. I moved the app back to internal memory and it worked for me as well (so thanks to Federico for pointing out).
> 5 votes

---
Tags: twitter
---


title: Disabling downloaded app

text:
# Question
Title: Disabling downloaded app
In Android, you can disable a built-in app so it won't run and will disappear from the app list. But it will still remain on the phone and can be easily re-enabled.

However, there's no such option for downloaded applications, you can only uninstall it.

Is there, perhaps, a hidden way to do so?

A use case could be a public transport app for a city that you visited for a while, and may visit some time again. You don't want to lose bookmarked routes, but you don't want it to update its schedules and waste internet traffic and other resources, either.

# Answer
> 5 votes
## Requires root (at least on 6.0.1). System permissions (uid\<=1000) is required but `adb` runs as userid 2000.

The Package Manager (`pm`) will do exactly what you want.

In either `adb` or Terminal Emulator (both require root), run the `pm` command and you can see its capabilities.

We look at 2 of them:

* `pm list packages`
* `pm disable <package>`

`pm list packages` lists all installed packages, this list is unsorted but if you know some easy bash, you can use `grep` to search for substrings in the package names:

`pm packages list | grep google` will list all packages with "*google*" in their name, effectively returning just Google's apps:

Sample output:

```
package:com.google.android.apps.unveil
package:com.google.android.gsf.login
package:com.google.android.apps.translate
package:com.google.android.backuptransport
package:com.google.android.apps.books
package:com.google.android.apps.giant
package:com.google.android.ears
package:com.google.android.keep
package:com.google.android.talk
package:com.google.android.apps.ads.publisher
package:com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
package:com.google.android.play.games
package:com.google.android.apps.magazines
package:com.google.android.apps.adm
package:com.google.android.inputmethod.latin

```

`pm disable <package name>` disables a single package you specified. Disabling the Google Keyboard would then be `pm disable com.google.android.inputmethod.latin`.

To find out what package name maps to what app try this url: `https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package name>`
Replace `<package name>` with the package name you want to check.

Instead of using `pm`, you can use Titanium Backup, given that your device is rooted.

In Titanium Backup you can scroll through all your apps, filter that list and select the app you want to disable or in TB's case *freeze*.
This, however, requires the paid version of Titanium Backup.

---
Tags: applications, disable-app
---


title: Wipe Android phone before selling

text:
# Question
Title: Wipe Android phone before selling
What is the smartest way, before selling a mobile phone, to be sure that no one will be able to access my data?

In my case we are talking about an LG G4.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The first thing you'd want to do is simply remove the SD card if any in use. If you intend on providing an SD card, purchase a new SD Card.

As suggested, the first step would be to encrypt your data (you can read up on this here), then perform a factory reset of the phone - I'd suggest performing this approximately 3 times. (1 should be sufficient, but 3 will determinately just make it a little harder to recover the data). You can find a pretty neat guide/explanation on this website.

Just to add onto Jay's answer, here is a basic guide on using ADB to encrypt your device. Note that the commands are noted to be:

```
user@laptop # adb root
user@laptop # adb shell
root@phone:/ #
root@phone:/ # /system/bin/vdc cryptfs enablecrypto inplace PASSWORD

```

If you have rooted your phone (and intend to sell as is) you can install other applications that can encrypt certain directories, but I doubt you'll want to do this.

# Answer
> 4 votes
A factory reset is not enough. It just "disables" your data and doesn't really delete it. Some data restore tools can still restore the data after a normal reset.

The best way I know of is to encrypt the phone and then do a factory reset. The encryption will overwrite the unencrypted data, so that will be gone forever. Then after a reset, if the new user tries to restore the data, it just gets the encrypted data. (=useless)

---
Tags: factory-reset, lg-g4
---


# Question
Title: How do Android apps implement the share button?
I was wondering how Android applications and Android implements the share button and share mechanism. For instance, when I hit the share button on YouTube, a list off apps to share to pops up. How is this list determined? Is there a specific "share" intent, and then all spots capable of sharing the type of intent provided in the intent extras show up? What is the technical name of the design pattern used to implement this? Thanks.

# Answer
> 10 votes
There are two parts to this: the mechanism for the communication apps to say they can share things, and the mechanism for the apps with content to share. I'll deal with them one at a time, but first a quick note about *intents*.

## Intents

The *intent* in Android is what's used to start an app. It can work like a shortcut, or like a Windows file association. The intent can specify the name of the app to start, but it doesn't have to. It can also specify the action to perform (e.g. "open your main activity", "view this URL", "create a calendar entry") and the MIME type of the object it will act on (e.g. that the thing you want to view has type image/jpeg). Some names of actions are specific to a particular app, but many are standardised by Android to allow apps to interact.

## Intent filters and communication app

Each app specifies *intent filters* to say what kind of actions it can perform. e.g. an image viewer app would register an intent filter for "view this URL" where the MIME type is "image/\*"; a web browser would register an intent filter for "view this URL" where the URL scheme is "http" or "https". To be able to share things, an app registers an intent filter for the "send" intent, either with a specific type (e.g. if it can only share photos), or for any type.

## Content app

The app that wants to share some content creates an intent with the "share" action and a URL pointing to the content to share. (This is often a "temporary" URL that gives the receiving app temporary access to the file in the content app's private storage, or to a stream generated by the content app.) It doesn't specify the name of an app to handle the intent. Then, it gives that intent to the Android framework and asks Android to display the *chooser* dialog. Android compares the intent with the intent filters from all installed apps, and creates the list and shows it to the user. When the user picks a particular app, Android starts that app and passes it the intent. The app uses the URL to get the content from the original app.

## New in Marshmallow: *Direct Share*

In Marshmallow, there's another mechanism called Direct Share. This supplements the intent mechanism so that you can choose people or groups to share to directly from the chooser dialog, skipping the extra step of "who would you like to send it to". This works slightly different: the communication app has to provide a service. When the app with the content asks for a chooser, Android starts the service for each relevant app. The service returns a list of relevant share targets, and Android assembles all those separate lists into the list that gets shown in the dialog.

# Answer
> 11 votes
I'm not a dev, so I just can give a raw explanation: apps declare in their `Manifest` which Mimetypes they understand and willing to respond to on share actions. For this they define so called "intent filters", e.g.:

```
<intent-filter>
    <action android:name="android.intent.action.SEND" />
    <category android:name="android.intent.category.DEFAULT"/>
    <data android:mimeType="application/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="audio/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="image/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="message/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="multipart/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="text/*" />
    <data android:mimeType="video/*" />
</intent-filter>

```

So whenever you hit the "share" button, the content-to-share is evaluated and matched against apps having declared their willingness to receive the format.

Sources:

---
Tags: share-menu, intents
---


# Question
Title: Flashed my Android and now I can't display arabic, Hebrew
I followed this tuto to flash a zip to my phone (S3 mini - Android 4.4.4 ) using flashfire to show the new emojis. All seems to work well though I noticed Arabic and many other languages are not displayed I only see boxes.

Is there any way to fix it knowing that I skipped the backup step.

# Answer
I fixed the issue all you need is to flash the firmware ROM. I was using a custom ROM so I used CWM recovery to install it. Here's a link that could help but DON'T wipe data/reset factory, otherwise you will lose all your data.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: rom-flashing, backup, languages
---


title: "Add a field" to CONTACTS

text:
# Question
Title: "Add a field" to CONTACTS
I want to add ADDRESS to one of my contacts. I can "add a field" and it works fine. Then I choose another contact, and I can't get that option. Why is that?

# Answer
Check, where your contact is stored. If it is stored on your SIM, then you can't add any field. To add a field, you must export this contact to your phone first.
> 2 votes

# Answer
Check where these both contacts are coming from. Some services might support a set of features, some not. For example, in our feature phones, the contacts stored in SIM card could only save one phone number per contact, while the ones stored in phone could store multiple phone numbers along with other details as well.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: contacts
---


# Question
Title: How do I auto sync files between my Android device and Windows PC over USB?
Is there a software that can auto sync files from certain folders of our choice between Android device and Windows PC(Like the Camera folder or Music folder)? I am tired of manually copying those files using file explorer.

# Answer
MyPhoneExplorer Look Like It solves your problem it's compatible with syncing over USB and best of all it's now ad free. http://www.fjsoft.at/en/
> 1 votes

---
Tags: sync, usb, windows, files
---


# Question
Title: What is the minimum battery level required to start Android encryption?
The encryption screen reads "Charge your battery and try again".

What is the minimum battery level required to start the encryption process?

# Answer
**80%**

```
// Minimum battery charge level (in percent) to launch encryption.  If the battery charge is
// lower than this, encryption should not be activated.
private static final int MIN_BATTERY_LEVEL = 80;

```

Source: https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/apps/Settings/+/master/src/com/android/settings/security/CryptKeeperSettings.java#56 (as of android10-release branch)
> 4 votes

---
Tags: encryption
---


# Question
Title: Get rid of "welcome to your new inbox" in gmail
The message and graphics for "welcome to your new inbox" has been in my gmail app since priority inbox showed up, and I can't get rid of it.

What to do?

I am on Lollipop, but the problem was also there before I upgraded both OS and the GMail app.

# Answer
Clear the Gmail app's data & cache in Settings \> Applications.

It achieves your desired result - getting rid of that message permanently after a single swipe. I can't tell you why, only that I had the same problem, found the solution above online and that it worked for me - so I came to report back on a result that had no solution posted.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: gmail
---


# Question
Title: How to run initial Android setup after skipping it?
So, as part of rooting my Nvidia Shield Tablet K1, I wanted to set some things up before running the initial setup, things like configuring the adoptive storage, that seemed to make sense before downloading all my old apps. I was able to skip the setup and do what I needed but then couldn't find a way to run the setup after the fact. Can I force the device to run the setup again?

# Answer
Some Googling later, I found that you can send this command to your device:

> adb shell am start -a android.intent.action.MAIN -n com.google.android.setupwizard/.SetupWizardTestActivity

and it will rerun the setup. In my particular case it came up with an error several times to the point I was a bit panicked and decided to try rebooting. Once I rebooted, the error came up again but I clicked through it and then it said "Just a sec" for quite a while but eventually got on with the normal setup.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, nvidia-shield, setup-wizard
---


# Question
Title: Messenger - How to not automatically turn group messages into MMS?
How do I prevent the lollipop (5.1) from turning my group messages into MMS? I have some friends who can't receive MMS so this is a bit peeving.

This question has been asked before but not answered, or is for previous versions and no longer applicable.

# Answer
This is applicable to Google Messenger version 1.8.268 updated on 17 May 2016.

Go to Settings\>Advanced\>MMS\>Group messaging

Select "Send individual SMS messages..."

Hope this helps.
> 2 votes

# Answer
The only solution I found to this issue was to install Textra app.
> -1 votes

---
Tags: sms, mms, 5.1-lollipop
---


# Question
Title: How to set a really wide home screen that scrolls
How do I set a really wide home screen as the home screen that as you swipe from page to page the background scrolls with it.

I swear it used to do this or I'm imagining it did.

Samsung Galaxy S6, Android 5.1.1 that came with the phone.

# Answer
**OPTION A**

1. Pinch to zoom out on home screen.
2. Tap on rectangle with PLUS sign. (Located furthest to right).
3. Add as many as need. (There is a limit of 10 - S6 Edge+).

**OPTION B**

1. Long press on blank area of home screen.
2. Follow steps 2 & 3 from Option A.

**OPTION C**

1. Access launcher settings.
2. Swipe left to access the home screen page.
3. Follow steps 2 & 3 from Option A.

*I didn't include any references as every site confirmed the information above. The list would be too large.*

---

Search keywords:

**add home screens to Samsung Galaxy S6**
> -1 votes

---
Tags: launcher, wallpaper
---


title: capacitive touch screens not responding

text:
# Question
Title: capacitive touch screens not responding
I have several old cellphones that stopped accepting any touch input.... there has been no water damage and have not been dropped since they did work. they just sat for a while.

first I wonder as this is called capacitive does that mean maybe a capacitor is responsible and it may have discharged over time, if this is the case is there a way to recharge it?

second is there any way to repair something like this cheaply.

third is this normal that touch screens simply go bad from not being used?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Old Mobile Phones having such problem but none user consider the fact that capacitive displays can be controlled with very light touches of a finger and generally cannot be used with wet or gloved hand.

also, just Read about Capacitive sensing from this link. You will get idea about Surface and Projected capacitance.

and some mobiles with this technologies stop working or not responding to touch. that was just e-waste though you can open device and learn many things.

---
Tags: touchscreen
---


# Question
Title: Entering very long Google password during setup
If I have a new phone how can I enter my Google password in a secure manner during setup without having to type it (it is VERY long at over 30 random alphanumeric characters and a pain to type).

Since the phone it not yet set up I have no way yo send it to myself from another device via encrypted email, messaging, PGP because I have no apps installed yet.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Well technically I don't think you need to actually setup a Google account right away. So what I would recommend is skipping the part of the setup process where you setup a Google account and then use a built in app to retrieve it (SMS, copy a file onto your phone or any method to read text).

Other than that I think the best thing would be to just temporarily change your Google password for a few minutes, than change it back right after (once you have methods to get the new password onto the phone without typing)

# Answer
> 1 votes
There is no way you can shortcut, without entering the password manually, since you cannot copy and paste it from elsewhere, or receive it from elsewhere, good luck with your typing!

# Answer
> 1 votes
Yeah, There is no way for that as told by @L\_Pav.

But, In new phone you can always skip those settings and do it later on whenever you are free.

---
Tags: security, password, usability
---


title: Device shows up as ????? in ADB

text:
# Question
Title: Device shows up as ????? in ADB
I am running Ubuntu on my computer and I plugged in my tablet to flash TWRP to it. I enter `adb devices` and here is the output:

```
juniorRubyist@juniorRubyist-iMac:~$ adb devices
List of devices attached
????????????    no permissions

...

```

Why is it doing this. I have a Kindle Fire 1st Generation, it says that it will ask to authorize ADB, but it will not. It has ADB enabled (I think) and everything.

# Answer
> 0 votes
This is the same for me on Ubuntu. These commands should solve it:

```
sudo adb kill-server
sudo adb devices

```

---
Tags: rooting, adb, amazon-kindle-fire
---


# Question
Title: Xposed Framework removed after manual CM update?
I'm currently running the official nightly of cm12.1 on my LG G3 AT&T (model d850) with the Xposed Framework installed. However, every time I manual update Cyanogenmod (as I don't have a compatible recovery for automatic installation), the Xposed Framework gets removed/disabled, forcing me to locate the downloaded framework zip file (xposed manual installation because of reasons). This is not really a big issue for me and doesn't greatly affect myself or my phone in anyway but it will be glad if someone has found a 'possible' solution for this minor bug

# Answer
> 2 votes
Ok so this isn't a bug but in the updater script of the xposed framework, a function called **install\_overwrite** is called upon several occasion and, hence the name overwrite, will replace pre-existing file in the /system folder. So in order to install the xposed framework, it's necessary to reinstall it with each update.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This script will automatically reinstall Xposed after dirty-flashing a ROM (i.e. flashing it without wiping userdata). The linked post includes instructions to download and how to install it, and describes how it works. https://www.reddit.com/r/xposed/comments/3u2xw9/release\_xposed\_addond\_backup\_scripts\_it\_keeps/

Try to search "xposed script after updating cyanogenmod" with your search engine

---
Tags: cyanogenmod, xposed-framework
---


title: How to postpone all notifications?

text:
# Question
Title: How to postpone all notifications?
I want to avoid seeing any e-mails, messages, or other notifications in order to focus for a few hours. But I also use my phone to listen to music, so I can't simply put my phone in another room or otherwise avoid looking at it. Is there a way (preferably but not necessarily on an unrooted phone) to turn off all notifications so they don't appear in the status bar until notifications are turned on? It might be acceptable if notifications never show up when you turn notifications back on, but not ideal.

I use a Samsung Galaxy S6 with Android 6.0.1.

Some things I've tried and didn't do what I wanted:

* **Do Not Disturb Mode**: prevents notifications from ringing or vibrating your phone, but doesn't prevent them from appearing in the status bar.
* **Settings \> Notifications**: doesn't seem to offer an option to turn off notifications for ALL apps (and them turn them back on), only for each app.
* **Airplane Mode**: effectively postpones all notifications until disabled, but prevents me from streaming music.

# Answer
I have the same problem and I've only just started using this app called Offtime

It has everything you're looking for. Just select how long you don't want to be disturbed and that's it. You can whitelist the apps you really need to access. Leave the Wi-Fi on. And it'll intercept all the other notifications and swipe them away and show you a summary once the session ends.

Give it a shot and let me know if it works out for you.
> 3 votes

# Answer
Try this app - "AppBlock - Stay Focused"

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.mobilesoft.appblock

It allows you to block certain apps for a specified time period and you can schedule in advance.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: notifications, 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: Configure Tasker as alarm for date and time
Could someone be so kind as to show me how to set Tasker to play a melody selected by myself when 5 June 2016 @ 10 PM is reached. I would like to be able to set the sound file to play, perhaps in a loop. Thanks.

# Answer
> 2 votes
Before you start having us write a new Tasker profile every day (kidding :), let me give you some help to help yourself: My site holds some Tasker Graphs showing you what conditions and tasks are to be found where. So based on that, here's what you'd have to do.

### The profile

* **Condition:**
    1. Time › set the time you want this profile to be active
    2. Date › pick your date here
* **Task:** Media › MusicPlay › select your music file

Pretty basic stuff. Below the graphs you can also find a list with Tasker Tutorials – recommended reading :)

### Notes

* *Tasker* always connects multiple conditions per AND – so it's always "condition-1 AND condition-2".
* When creating a new profile, after having chosen your first condition *Tasker* will immediately continue asking you for the task(s). So complete those first, save the new profile, then long-tap (tap-and-hold) the first condition. This will open a context menu from which you can chose to e.g. add another condition or add an exit-task
* You cannot have multiple conditions of the same type for the same profile. So if you want e.g. the same task executed at two different times, you have to create two profiles; but when creating the second profile, you can simply pick the task created for the first (or any other) profile from a drop-down.

---
Tags: tasker
---


title: How to deal with (orphaned) WakeLocks?

text:
# Question
Title: How to deal with (orphaned) WakeLocks?
I guess most of you at least have *heard* about WakeLocks. Many of you will have *experienced* them already -- wether knowingly or not. Some may know how to deal with them in general -- but only few know how to deal with the "more complicated candidates".

For those who don't know, though above link leads to an explanation, a short summary: Apps may request a `WAKE_LOCK` to keep a device component from "sleeping", so they can perform a task even when the display is turned off. This is very useful in most cases (e.g. keeping the screen on while navigating, keeping WiFi active to stream music) -- but used in the wrong way, it causes your battery to be drained within short term (up to 25% per hour).

Most times it is easy to identify the source (usually a bad behaving app) -- I will show this in an answer below, as it might prove helpful to many users. But what to do if the app which requested the WakeLock exits without releasing it? The Android system will not take care of it. Sure, a reboot would solve the issue -- but it is not always an (desired) option.

So, from a users perspective (I'm not asking about development solutions, but how a user can handle things):

**What can be done *\*by the user\** to solve the issue and avoid further battery drain?**

I prefer answers *not* involving root (so all users can benefit from it). However, "rooted solutions" are fully valid and welcome as well.

# Answer
> 37 votes
## How can I tell I'm affected?

This is probably the first question to those not familiar with this topic. With Gingerbread (Android 2.3) and above, you've got a service aboard helping you to figure out: battery statistics. Though manufacturers tend to place it at different points, it's mostly found in *Settings → About the phone → Battery* or similar, and shows a list of the apps having used most of your battery. On top of that is a small graph. Tap that, and it brings you to a screen similar to this one:

Screenshot of battery statistics on Android 2.3

I chose a screenshot from one of my devices which illustrates the issue. Looking at the lower two blue bars ("Aktiv" = Device was kept awake (active), "Bildschirm an" = "Screen on"), the right-most blue bar on "Aktiv" indicates a WakeLock: Device was kept busy despite the fact the screen was turned off. So by this we can be pretty sure we've got a WakeLock -- but we cannot tell who caused it.

If your device does not offer this screen (or the bars at the bottom: I just discovered e.g. the *LG Optimus 4X* running Android 4.0.3 has cut these bars off), you can find them e.g. using GSam Battery Monitor:

Similar information from GSam Battery Monitor -- here the mentioned "blue bars" are yellow/orange

## What caused the WakeLock?

Unfortunately, this question cannot be answered using pre-installed apps (except for, maybe, some Custom ROMs). But there are tools available that can. The best known candidate for this is BetterBatteryStats, and shows us the cause in its *partial wakelocks* section:

Screenshots from BetterBatteryStats

In the first example (taken from the app's playstore page), the event causing most of the WakeLocks was a desired one: We don't want the playback stopped while listening to music. So the second example (taken from a real case on one of my devices) might prove better: the topmost 3 events are caused by the very same app, which needed the WakeLock to keep the IMAP push service active.

For an alternative to *BetterBatteryStats*, check out the Wakelock Detector app mentioned in UzumApps' answer -- which seems easier to handle especially for non-techies:

Wakelock Detector -- Click image to enlarge. (Source: Google Play)

## What can be done?

If the case is as clear as in the second example in the previous section, the action is quite obvious -- at least in my case: I don't need to be informed *immediately* when a mail arrives; a delay of 30min is absolutely acceptable. So I went into the mail app, disabled IMAP Push (see also: Push Email), and instead switched to a 30min poll interval. WakeLocks did not entirely disappear, but dropped markably -- battery life improved noticably.

Then there's the case mentioned in the question itself: A bad behaving app not releasing its WakeLock. Confront the dev with your findings and ask for a fix. If he delivers: problem solved. If not: There's almost always an alternative app available.

## What if it is the Android System itself?

Yeah, sometimes it looks like just that: 98% or more consumed by some Android service. Oh, if it's 98%, in most cases the candidate is named *LocationManagerService*. Bad guy spying at us? Not necessarily. In this special case, the listed "bad guy" is not even guilty -- at least not directly. Here it is another app requesting the current location too frequently. There's an excellent article on Setera.org about this: Pinpointing Android LocationManagerService battery drain. To give an abstract: It uses Android's `dumpsys` feature (requires root!) to dump a system state, and lets you investigate the listeners established for the LocationManagerService. A closer look at their configuration shows which are constantly "hammering" it for location info (some do so permanently, i.e. without a break). As the app's ID is listed along, and at another place in the dump even together with the apps technical name, you can still identify it and take appropriate actions.

## And what about UFOs?

Unfortunately, there are such: Apps which registered a WakeLock -- and then exited without releasing it. What's left are \*Unused F\***ing Obsoletes\* -- WakeLocks held for no use. So no way to simply bring the app to foreground and re-configure, or making it release its WakeLocks.

Here the only solution known to me is a reboot -- and I would like to have a better solution. Of course, if you know the guilty app, the steps concerning it are the same as above: inform the dev, get a fix -- or replace the app. But about getting rid of the *current* WakeLock? Maybe somebody else can provide a better alternative to the reboot?

## Are there some recommended further readings?

Sure. One for now, I may add more later:

# Answer
> 6 votes
In short, this is a very good question but am afraid, it warrants more than just making the end-user aware!

Redesign the kernel to eliminate wake-locks and use a more thorough efficient way of managing the principle better thereby prolonging battery life.

Unfortunately, it has been accepted as a de-facto solution to enable "power management" despite it is not exactly efficient either! There was an extensive discussion about wakelocks (with Gregh Kroah Hartman - the Linux guru for drivers development - am googling for the exact linky), other sites such as LWN.net and another article explained on the same site here. This was the article Gregh Kroah Hartman referred to this blog, in which he appears to agree with the alternative solution proposed by *Rafael J. Wysocki* have documented a lot about the potential alternative. *Am not sure if that is actually in place in the more modern kernel v3.x.x.*

Badly designed apps can and often request wakelocks such as keeping the screen on, but in fact, in this scenario for keeping the screen on, there is in fact a more efficient way to do this:

```
getWindow().addFlags(LayoutParams.FLAG_KEEP_SCREEN_ON);

```

Whilst, striving to keep this clear of jargon etc for the end user, really the core of the issue boils down to the kernel code in how the wakelocks are managed.

Here is a brief summary on XDA on what is wakelocks for the uninitiated. By using BetterBatteryStats, one could see exactly which process is draining the battery, the wiki is hosted on github, and is available on the market here.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Check out *Wakelock Detector:* XDA-Developers / Google Play:

Wakelock detector groups the wakelocks of app into one expandable view for better look. And it shows which apps are running. And there are kill uninstall info buttons in expanded view of app.

Click image to enlarge. (Source: Google Play)

Disclosure: I am one of responsible developer for this app. Four more friends are with me working on this project as a hobby.

# Answer
> 1 votes
A couple of ways that would help **unrooted device** users

1. Seeing that @Uzumapps, one of the developers of the app has posted a solution using Wakelock Detector (**WLD**), I am surprised that he has not updated about using the app which can also be used **without root called Wakelock Detector Light** ! I discovered this searching for a solution for my new device (unrooted).

This is a recent development and hence posting this for unrooted device users. Tested as working on Moto X Play (Android 6.0.1)

**Note:** I couldn't get the second method working, would welcome editing solution in making it work for non savvy guys like me

---
Tags: battery-life, wakelock
---


# Question
Title: Very low to no volume after upgrade to 6.0 marshmellow
I recently upgraded to 6.0 and since then I have had very quiet volume on calls and even when listening to music.

I have everything turned up to maximum but still very quiet like it is on low.

Has anyone experienced or heard anything like this or know of some ways on how to fix this and make the volume louder?

I am also running a Droid Turbo 2.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I eventually fixed this issue with another phone replacement in the end. Apparently, it was either a glitched update or something. I opted for a free phone replacement and I've not had issues since.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Fixed it.

You do need to go in and delete the cache after an update. Everything sounds correct now.

**Get into bootloader**

1. Power off phone
2. Press and hold Vol down , press power button until you seebootloader (3 happy androids on skateboards at bottom of page). Release vol down.

**Open Recovery**

3. Select Recovery by using vol down, press Power to select.
4. Wait. This takes a while.
5. You will now see a screen with a picture of a phone with a red exclamation mark on it. Press in power button, keep it pressed, and press volume up button shortly (do not keep it pressed). Release power button.
6. You will now see a menu with yellow text on-top of it.
7. Select Wipe Cache partition with vol down. Press Power to select. Now it wipes the cache partition. Done!
8. It should now have marked Reboot system now. Press Power to select. Phone will now reboot to normal mode.

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow, motorola-droid
---


# Question
Title: "Restarting adb... Installation aborted." without any further details after abd sideload
I'm trying to setup a bulk of tablets with a custom ROM (as a kind of kiosk mode tablets for my company). In short all I'm doing is deleting all kind of stuff from the tablet and then I'm installing just my self-made kiosk app as a launcher app. I've already accomplished that by doing it manually on a rooted tablet. However I need to that for a bulk of tablets so I want to create an `update.zip` which automates that and apply it to all tablets by `adb sideload update.zip`.

When I try to load a minimalistic `update.zip` which I created to just learn and play around with the `update.zip` archive format I always get the following error:

The minimalistic `update.zip` which just creates a tiny text file in `\system\` to proof that the update really has been applied can be downloaded here: update.zip

What's wrong with my ZIP? All similar questions on this topic seem to be related to signing issues, but:

* i've signed my ZIP
* and all the other issues get errors like `invalid signature` but I don't get any error message at all!

# Answer
OTA update packages must be signed with one of the keys expected by the system or the installation process will reject them.

You cannot just apply a zip to a stock ROM using the stock recovery, even if it is signed. It must be signed with the key used when building the ROM/recovery, which is only available to the device maker. If you want to apply an update you need to have a custom recovery at the very least which should allow you to bypass the signature verification.

> **Release keys**
>
> The Android tree includes test-keys under build/target/product/security. Building an Android OS image using make will sign all .apk files using the test-keys. Since the test-keys are publicly known, anybody can sign their own .apk files with the same keys, which may allow them to replace or hijack system apps built into your OS image. For this reason it is critical to sign any publicly released or deployed Android OS image with a special set of release-keys that only you have access to.
>
> **Signatures and sideloading**
>
> Before installing a package, recovery will verify that it is signed with one of the private keys matching the public keys stored in the recovery partition, just as it would for a package delivered over-the-air.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: side-loading
---


title: Copy app URL from Google Play

text:
# Question
Title: Copy app URL from Google Play
In Google Play, how do I copy the URL of an app I'm browsing so that I can paste it into a post or on a word document or notepad using my Android device? In a web browser it's easy to do this, but what about other apps that have corresponding URLs or other URIs?

# Answer
If you have Google Drive installed on your device then you can use the 'Copy to clipboard' option within the share menu.

If you scroll down past the reviews you should see a 'Share' button:

After clicking this you will be shown the share menu which contains a 'Copy to clipboard' option:

Clicking this will copy the URL for the app to your clipboard, allowing you to paste this into another app.
> 11 votes

# Answer
You can click in "Share" link and then tap unto Copy to clipboard.
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-store, keyboard-shortcuts, editing
---


title: Stop MS Office ads on Samsung S5 (Neo)

text:
# Question
Title: Stop MS Office ads on Samsung S5 (Neo)
Today, my Samsung S5 suggested that I might want to try MS Excel:

A few days ago, it did the same with MS Word. Back then, I just dismissed the message and thought that I'd be done with it, but now this is getting annoying.

How do I turn off these ads? Where is the *"Yes, I know that MS Office is pre-installed and I'm quite happy about it and I'll surely use it when I need it, so stop bugging me"* button?

# Answer
Settings-\>Apps-\>All and uncheck the Show Notifications
> 1 votes

---
Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-5, ads, ms-office
---


# Question
Title: How do wi-fi only Android devices synchronise time?
I'm having a problem with some Android tablets being unable to synchronise the time when connected to our wireless network. This is in a school and fairly heavily locked down, so it's probable that they are being blocked from accessing something that they need to in order to synchronise the time.

These are Wi-Fi only devices, so they can't set the time from a GSM provider or anything, meaning they must be using something else, presumably NTP. If it's NTP, how can I view/change the time server used?

The devices are Android 4.0.1. I'm not sure what make/model they are but will try and find out.

# Answer
> 16 votes
We confirmed with the device manufacturer that the devices use NTP to sync the time with pool.ntp.org. After a bit of research of my own, I discovered that NTP is configured in `/system/etc/gps.conf`. You have to be root to edit this file, but I was at least able to confirm that the information given to us was correct.

We have opened the firewall to traffic going to pool.ntp.org, and so far all of the devices have kept in sync, so it looks like this has worked as intended.

Thanks to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1200089 for the info on the NTP config file.

# Answer
> 6 votes
dotVezz has already commented that NTP is used.

If so, then you can use ClockSync, which lets you set the NTP server. **HOWEVER**, you need to sync manually. Automatic sync is supported only with ROOTED devices.

> ClockSync synchronizes device system clock with atomic time from Internet via NTP (Network Time Protocol). Useful if provider doesn't support NITZ, sends incorrect time or if your device/ROM has heavy clock drift. There are 2 modes: automatic for root users and assisted manual mode for users without root (rootless mode).

# Answer
> 4 votes
You can DNS override the pool.ntp.org entry in your corporate DNS infrastructure, and make that an alias/CNAME to your own internal NTP source/service. That will allow the internally connected android devices to sync with NTP without modification of the device itself

---
Tags: clock
---


# Question
Title: Contacts on Android: Delete limit exceeded
A few days ago I deleted all of my Android contacts (using the "Delete Contacts" app). Not a mistake, I really want to delete them.

From that day, Android always shows a notification "Sync: Too many contacts deletes".
When I click on it, a menu comes:

`Delete limit exceeded
There are 3960 deleted items for contacts, account xxx.xxx@gmail.com. What would you like to do?
- Delete the items.
- Undo the deletes.
- Do nothing for now.`

When I click `Delete the items`, the menu disappears, and nothing seems to happen. The contacts are gone but the notification still sits there. It has been like this for days. What should I do?

# Answer
> 2 votes
Just keep selecting the option to Delete items anyway. Each time you do, about 50 contacts more will be deleted.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Your phone is linked to your Gmail account? If you log into your account in a web browser and click on "Contacts" in the lower left, does it still show your deleted contacts there? If you can fix up the list there, it should (?) sync to your phone.

# Answer
> 1 votes
This happened to my wife's phone too, but I don't remember exactly how she fixed it. I *think* what she did was disable contact sync, then go to Gmail on the web and delete all the contacts from there, then re-enable contact sync on her phone.

# Answer
> 1 votes
My phone is rooted.

* I made sure all of my data was correct at `www.google.com/contacts` .
Then exported the data (`.csv` file) from Google’s web site to my home computer for safe storage.
* I used the app Titanium Backup to “Wipe data” for the apps Contacts 4.0.3 and Contacts Storage 4.0.3.
* Waited (approx 1 min) for my phone to re-sync with google and all of the contacts were restored.
* Finally, I went back into Titanium Backup and preformed a full back up for apps Contacts 4.0.3 and Contacts Storage 4.0.3.

# Answer
> 0 votes
After switching to Android 2.2, it works better. When the icon appears, just click to continue, and after a few times it is done.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I was having the same problem as you are now. Here's what I did in the Gmail app:

1. Go to your Gmail account
2. Press menu buton
3. Press settings
4. select your mail id
5. Under data usage
6. Uncheck Sync Gmail.

That should do the trick. It worked for me.

---
Tags: contacts, sync
---


# Question
Title: Windows cant see my android phone. SM-J200F
I reinstall my windows today, and i try to install my phone drivers. when installing drivers I accidentally closed automatic driver install window. So, i try to reinstall but not work. I tried installing Samsung official drivers from their website, it install successfully but not connect to Kies or Smart Switch (samsung new software) so i cant browse my phone files.. I tried remove all drivers about samsung and android then cleaned temp files, and run Cclaner for registry fix, still i cant see my phone..

I think need full removal also from Registry but i dont know how to.

Can someone help me for fix this?

Thanks!

(sorry for my bad english..)

# Answer
> 0 votes
If you want to execute the automatic driver installation, just open the Windows Device Manager, select your phone (if it shows up) and click on 'Update Driver Software'.

---
Tags: samsung, hardware, mtp
---


title: Android emojis: how to change theme?

text:
# Question
Title: Android emojis: how to change theme?
The yellow blob emojis on my android 6 phone are mostly incomprehensible. Is that one laughing or looking sad? No idea.

Is there a way to replace them with pictures that better represent the emotions they're supposed to help us communicate?

AFAIK emoji are sent as Unicode code points, so presumably they're rendered like a font would be.

(I feel very old asking this question, like I'm just supposed to know... it might even help if there was a list describing the picture in words)

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can use the unicode character codes found here to choose an emojis you like better:

http://apps.timwhitlock.info/emoji/tables/unicode

---
Tags: 6.0-marshmallow
---


# Question
Title: Do i need the internet to root my android device?
Have been trying to root without the intent and it seems it's not working, I have tried every thing, using different applications still the same thing so that's why I'm asking..

# Answer
No, you don't need the internet to root a device, just to download the ROMs in the first place (and maybe to get a bootloader unlocking code before unlocking the bootloader, if you have an HTC phone).

It's entirely possible that some "one-click root" apps might refuse to run without an internet connection, but that's nothing to do with the rooting process itself: it's just that app. A "hard root" by flashing the device doesn't use those apps, and it will definitely work without either the PC or the phone connected to the internet.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.4-kitkat
---


title: GPT utility can brick laptops?

text:
# Question
Title: GPT utility can brick laptops?
Which utility is Android-x86 using for partitions? Is it gdisk? The prompt is to use GPT. What are the risks with regards to formatting a disk with this tool, and installing Android-x86? Under which circumstances can this result in bricking a laptop? Deleting partitions will result in bricking the laptop??

GPT seems to operate a bit differently from the last time I formatted a HD by hand, which involved the MBR. (There's no data on the hdd.)

The official documentation glosses over the install process with sentences like "if you are lucky" so it's a bit unclear.

# Answer
We all know that the matter concerning **bricking** a device is complex and often confusing, so let's make some clearance.

## **Meaning of bricking**

Bricking, if considered literally, means "to have a device so unusable it could be a brick". This, on mobile devices, is an umbrella term for two different things:

* **soft brick:** as a result of flashing or alternatively installing incompatible software, your device gets messed up. This can produce behaviours such as **bootloops**, but can generally be solved by flashing a new firmware, or restoring a working Nandroid backup (if any);
* **hard brick:** this is the "bad" kind of brick. You messed up a component known as the **bootloader**, and now the device doesn't even know how to turn itself on.

Since all of the partitions on a mobile device are contained within the same physical medium (internal storage), in this case **messing up with its partitions can lead to hard bricks**.

## **On PCs and laptops**

Those devices are physically different from mobile ones... yes, even inside. Their core software component, which does a job similar to the mobile bootloader, is called the **BIOS** (on old devices), or the **UEFI** (on newer devices).

This is what sends the signal that pings all of the hardware connected with a computer, and therefore the most important part. As such, it's contained within a small memory that's entirely dedicated to it. This memory was previously called **ROM** (Read-Only Memory), even if we now have **EEPROMs** (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM). As you may guess, the only way to make a computer totally unusable would be to overwrite the content of this chip, for example when **updating the BIOS**.

---

## **So, can I brick my computer by altering the partition table?**

No, you can't. All of your changes only affect the **Hard Disk** or **Solid State Disk** in question, so they may mess up your current operating system, but that's nothing that can't be fixed by simply reinstalling it.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: installation, hardware, unbricking, formatting, android-x86
---


# Question
Title: Automatically switch to Chromecast audio
I have a group of Chromecast audio devices setup in my house. Is there a way for my phone to automatically start casting when I connect to the same WiFi network?

Ideally I want to be able to listen to music through my headphones on the commute home and when I arrive it switches automatically to the Chromecast audio devices.

Is this something that has been done before or shall I start coding?

# Answer
Right, after some research it's certainly possible with Tasker combined with the (premium) Autocast app or AutoInput (beta feature of tasker.)

**AutoInput + Tasker Method**

*(according to some, can sometimes be unresponsive, but it's free.)*

```
Profile - State - Net - Wifi Connected - input your SSID Task
Action - Launch App - (music app)
Wait 5 seconds (to allow app to fully load)
AutoInput Action - Select cast button
AutoInput Action - Select chromecast
AutoInput Action - Press play

```
> 0 votes

---
Tags: google-play-music, chromecast
---


# Question
Title: "not executable: magic 7F45" when running redsocks on Android emulator
I'm trying to get ProxyDroid or redsocks to run on the Genymotion Android emulator (x86). ADB shell into the device, run redsocks and I get `not executable: magic 7F45`.

I know it means that the version doesn't comply with the CPU. However, on Genymotion, I'm able to run a bunch of ARM packages with no problem (having installed the Genymotion ARM translation files).

I have compiled redsocks sources on my Ubuntu box (binary works fine on my Ubuntu x86), but when I copied the binary to the emulator, it still gives the same error message when I try to run it (`not executable: magic 7F45`). So, it looks like neither the ARM nor the x86 versions are working on the emulator.

I also have taken the redsocks binary that I compiled on my Ubuntu x86 box and pushed it to x86 AVD (standard SDK) - it worked perfectly. So it appears that the `not executable: magic 7F45` error is not related to the cross-CPU compilation?

Is there a way to get redsocks run on Genymotion?

# Answer
> 1 votes
What `file(1)` utility says about your compiled binary?

Because compiling on x86-based PC does not promises your binary always will have x86 target platform - GCC can produce virtually any targets.

# Answer
> 1 votes
You can't freely copy binaries from your Ubuntu box to emulator one - even if all are x86-based, they use different basic OS libraries.

To compile binary for Android-x86 target you must use special cross-compiling tools\environment. See Android sources toolchain to take a look on how they configure gcc+ld switches to create *android-x86* binaries on Ubuntu box.

---
Tags: android-emulator, proxy, compatibility, genymotion
---


title: Font in messaging has became huge

text:
# Question
Title: Font in messaging has became huge
In the stock messaging app on my LG-G3 I have the following problem:

Suddenly, all my conversations is displayed with a font size that is incredibly large. This happened out of the blue. On the other hand, a lot of times when I have been speaking in my phone (and I do not speak for a long while) my cheek has navigated the phone into some app and possibly into some settings.

How do I make it like before? Preferrably at the same size as in the popup window that pops up and dissapears when I get a sms.

I have not found a setting for the font size or that I should be able to set it using the volume key.

# Answer
> 8 votes
I found the answer: pinch zoom!

Using the two finger gesture in the messaging app changes the font size on:

* texts
* smileys
* the "Enter message" field, default text as well as input text.

But not

* messages timestamp
* bubbles widths
* the menu
* the send button
* the paper clip icon

If I then close the app, using either triangle or circle, the setting will persist.

# Answer
> 1 votes
On some phones (including my Samsung Galaxy S4), the volume key enlarges and diminishes the text in messaging. "Louder" makes it larger, "softer" is smaller.

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, sms, lg-g3
---


title: Verifying USB-C voltage

text:
# Question
Title: Verifying USB-C voltage
I have heard about some USB-C chargers frying tablets, phones, etc. If I ordered a generic charger online for price reasons, how can I can verify its voltage before using it with my Android devices?

# Answer
> 1 votes
There exists an Android app for this purpose called "USBCheck": https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=jacob.uk.com.usbcheck

Unfortunately it is currently only supporting Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P.

---
Tags: usb
---


title: I've lost my IMEI (well, it's become 0)

text:
# Question
Title: I've lost my IMEI (well, it's become 0)
I've managed to lose my IMEI on my Moto X 2013/1st Gen/XT1052. I've tried the following things:

* flashed stock ROM
* removed SIM, flashed stock ROM, boot, power off, insert SIM
* erased modemst1 and modemst2 partitions
* fastboot oem writeimei (this replied "Restricted oem command")
* restoring PDS partition from a TWRP backup from when it was working fine.

I can read the IMEI (getvar, or via barcodes) in fastboot, so it's still there somewhere, but the android system can't seem to access it. Any suggestions would be appreciated

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same issue upgrading from Android 4.4.4 to Android 5.0.2 on my Samsung Galaxy SM-A300FU.

The problem was, that I have rebooted the mobile into download mode and did not power off the device. Odin has successfully flashed the modem partition, but it was not really accessible. I had flashed a new platform build, but the baseband version was the same like before flashing.

Maybe there is a similar problem on your Moto. Try to shutdown your device, wait 10-20 seconds to get sure all caps has been discharged and try again to flash your modem partition.

---
Tags: moto-x, imei
---


# Question
Title: Re-install app without losing personal data
How do you re-install an app without losing personal data?

In this case its Plants vs. Zombies 2 that hangs when loading the game. I thought a re-install might solve the issue. But I don't want to need to redo everything I've done so far.

# Answer
For the following procedure you'll need installed on your computer (if you're not already have that, see: Is there a minimal installation of ADB?). Alternatively, a terminal emulator app should do as well.

Android apps are managed by the "Package manager", which has a interface called `pm`. So here's what you can do with it for your case:

```
# to use ADB, first get a command line
adb shell
# now tell the package manager to uninstall the app, but keep its data
pm uninstall -k com.YOUR_PACKAGE_NAME`

```

<sup>(Note this won't work with a terminal emulator app on device (at least with none I know of) except with root permissions, as "normal apps" lack the required privileges/permissions.)</sup>

Of course you have to replace `com.YOUR_PACKAGE_NAME` with the package name of the app you want to deal with. Easiest way to find that is visiting its page on Google Play, and take a look at the URL: the package name follows the `id=` parameter there. It's the `-k` parameter telling the package manager to keep the app's data.

Now, when you re-install the app, its data is already there (was not removed).

All this does not require root (at least as long as we talk about a user-installed app).
> 8 votes

# Answer
Android hasn't got function which you described. If you have root access on your phone, you can make a copy of folder `/data/data/com.xxx.xxx`, reinstall app, and overwrite generated folder by your copy.
> 1 votes

# Answer
You can also just reinstall the APK file that already exists on the device. After an upgrade to Android 6 somehow default permissions like `android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE` were lost, that is where this trick comes handy to discover the APK and reinstall it:

```
adb shell
shell@hammerhead:/ $ pm path com.stackexchange.marvin
/data/app/com.stackexchange.marvin-2/base.apk
shell@hammerhead:/ $ pm install -r /data/app/com.stackexchange.marvin-2/base.apk
        pkg: /data/app/com.stackexchange.marvin-2/base.apk
Success

```

Alternatively if you would like to reinstall a bunch of packages (`-3` for third-party packages only), you can parse the obtain the list of installed packages on the device and reinstall all of them with:

```
pm list packages -f -3 | cut -d: -f2 | cut -d= -f1 | while read apk; do pm install -r $apk; done

```
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 4.1-jelly-bean, installation, uninstallation
---


# Question
Title: Nexus 5X, Gmail draining battery after may update
Ever since the may update, the gmail app has been consuming a crazy amount of battery. My battery used to last like 16 hours, now it's only like 5 hours.

Anyone else experience this?

# Answer
> 0 votes
Actually the issue went away after the latest app update (Sometime around June 1st). Hope this helps!

---
Tags: battery-life, gmail, nexus-5x
---


# Question
Title: What are the known Android keypad commands (dialer codes)?
There are a lot of different keypad commands in Android. What are the known ones?

Some of them are listed here :

* `*#*#checkin#*#*`: Phones home to check for updates.
* `*#*#info#*#*`: Enters a detailed phone information menu.
* `*#*#1472365#*#*`: Access to the GPS config menu (useful for patching Galaxy S GPS failure)

# Answer
> 41 votes
This page has a good listing of keypad commands.

Here is the post:

---

```
*#*#4636#*#*

```

This code can be used to get some interesting information about your phone and battery. It shows following 4 menus on screen:

* Phone information
* Battery information
* Battery history
* Usage statistics

---

```
*#*#7780#*#*

```

This code can be used for a factory data reset. It'll remove following things:

* Google account settings stored in your phone
* System and application data and settings
* Downloaded applications

It'll NOT remove:

* Current system software and bundled applications
* SD card files e.g. photos, music files, etc.

PS: Once you give this code, you get a prompt screen asking you to click on "Reset phone" button. So you get a chance to cancel your operation.

---

```
*2767*3855#

```

Think before you give this code. This code is used for factory format. It'll remove all files and settings including the internal memory storage. It'll also reinstall the phone firmware.

PS: Once you give this code, there is no way to cancel the operation unless you remove the battery from the phone. So think twice before giving this code.

---

```
*#*#34971539#*#*

```

This code is used to get information about phone camera. It shows following 4 menus:

* Update camera firmware in image (Don't try this option)
* Update camera firmware in SD card
* Get camera firmware version
* Get firmware update count

**WARNING**: Never use the first option otherwise your phone camera will stop working and you'll need to take your phone to service center to reinstall camera firmware.

---

```
*#*#7594#*#*

```

This one is my favorite one. This code can be used to change the "End Call / Power" button action in your phone. Be default, if you long press the button, it shows a screen asking you to select any option from Silent mode, Airplane mode and Power off.

You can change this action using this code. You can enable direct power off on this button so you don't need to waste your time in selecting the option.

---

```
*#*#273283*255*663282*#*#*

```

This code opens a File copy screen where you can backup your media files e.g. Images, Sound, Video and Voice memo.

---

```
*#*#197328640#*#*

```

This code can be used to enter into Service mode. You can run various tests and change settings in the service mode.

---

**WLAN, GPS and Bluetooth Test Codes:**

`*#*#232339#*#*` OR `*#*#526#*#*` OR `*#*#528#*#*` \- WLAN test (Use "Menu" button to start various tests)

`*#*#232338#*#*` \- Shows WiFi MAC address

`*#*#1472365#*#*` \- GPS test

`*#*#1575#*#*` \- Another GPS test

`*#*#232331#*#*` \- Bluetooth test

`*#*#232337#*#` \- Shows Bluetooth device address

---

```
*#*#8255#*#*

```

This code can be used to launch GTalk Service Monitor.

---

**Codes to get Firmware version information:**

`*#*#4986*2650468#*#*` \- PDA, Phone, H/W, RFCallDate

`*#*#1234#*#*` \- PDA and Phone

`*#*#1111#*#*` \- FTA SW Version

`*#*#2222#*#*` \- FTA HW Version

`*#*#44336#*#*` \- PDA, Phone, CSC, Build Time, Changelist number

---

**Codes to launch various Factory Tests:**

`*#*#0283#*#*` \- Packet Loopback

`*#*#0*#*#*` \- LCD test

`*#*#0673#*#*` OR `*#*#0289#*#*` \- Melody test

`*#*#0842#*#*` \- Device test (Vibration test and BackLight test)

`*#*#2663#*#*` \- Touch screen version

`*#*#2664#*#*` \- Touch screen test

`*#*#0588#*#*` \- Proximity sensor test

`*#*#3264#*#*` \- RAM version

# Answer
> 16 votes
Here are the standard vanilla codes that should work across all devices:

A quick grep through the source code revealed these secret dial codes (for **Android 4.1**):

* **4636** (show debug info in apps/Settings)
* **8351**, **8350** (start/stop voice call debug logging or so in apps/VoiceDialer)
* **36245** (debug email in apps/Email)
* **8477** (? in apps/Protips)
* **225** (debug calendar in providers/CalendarProvider)

I did also check all available Google Apps from http://goo.im/gapps (Versions 2.2-4.2 w/o 3.x):

**Android 2.2** and **2.3**:

* **8255** (Google Talk)
* **46**, **7867**, **2432546** (GoogleServicesFramework)

**Android 4.0**, **4.1** and **4.2 Jelly Bean**:

* **8255**, **46**, **7867**, **947322243**, **2432546** (GoogleServicesFramework)
* **759** (GooglePartnerSetup)

Note:
This functionality is realized via regular broadcast intents and filters, i.e. any app that wants to can define their own code and subscribe to those broadcasts. Also note, that the above code are only the visible open sourced part (CyanogenMod here), and Google Apps (which I did unpack and then scan). If you're interested in doing it yourself, unpack them with apktool and grep through their AndroidManifest.xml files for this way):

`egrep -r --include=\*xml SECRET_CODE\|android:host=\"\[0-9\] .`

It will find occurences in AndroidManifest.xml:

> ```
>     <receiver android:name=".checkin.CheckinService$SecretCodeReceiver">
>         <intent-filter>
>             <action android:name="android.provider.Telephony.SECRET_CODE" />
>             <data android:scheme="android_secret_code" android:host="2432546" />
>         </intent-filter>
>
> ```

# Answer
> 4 votes
There is an free app "SGS Tools" on the market which gives you all the collection of commands.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Unfortunaltely, all Android devices will have a different set of secret codes.
Some of them are specific to some devices, some others aren't.
Secret Codes are generally defined by the applications installed on the device.

If you want to have a valid list of secret codes available on your device, you should use an automated secret codes crawler. Then you can search online for it's meaning.

I recently developped an Open Source app that crawls AndroidManifest.xml files on your device to found secret codes, and allows you to execute the secret codes available on your device.
You can get it on the Play Store or on the GitHub repository Android-Secret Codes.

# Answer
> 0 votes
The code `*#*#4636#*#*` will not work on some Samsung devices; even with ADB, you don't have access to the menu.

However, there is a work-around with root access. Just type the following in a terminal on your phone and the hidden testing menu should appear:

```
su -c "am start -n com.android.settings/com.android.settings.TestingSettings"

```

It may be easier through my app Root Essentials that can do this and more. You can find that test menu under "Device Info".

---
Tags: dialer-codes
---


title: GPS not working reliably

text:
# Question
Title: GPS not working reliably
I am facing the following problem:

There are times with cloudy or rainy weather, when I have the phone in my back pocket while sitting in a car. Nevertheless, the route I am driving is recorded.

There are other times when my phone directly lies under the windscreen with clear visibility and nevertheless I don't get any signal. At the same time, a navigation device lying directly beneath it works fine.

The same happens sometimes when I am walking through the nature. Instead of recording the whole track I walked, I have only parts of it, or sometimes even nothing.

If I notice this to happen if I am under the way, I see the GPS status app telling me that it has 3 or 4 satellites, and the AGPS age is usually 0 h.

Do I have issues with the software or rather with the hardware? I have a LG-D290n, if that matters in any way.

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had trouble with my gps on Samsung S6 ( using STRAVA) after an update. Times and routes were out of whack. I fixed the problem by turning off my Battery Power Saving in the settings under battery. This was causing problems with "ok google" as well. Now all is ok. Hope this fixes your problem.

---
Tags: gps, gps-tracking
---


title: Google Voice forwading failover

text:
# Question
Title: Google Voice forwading failover
Is it possible to have a Google Voice call, which is forwarded to my phone, forward to *another* user's phone if i am unable to answer the call?

Thanks for any and all replies.

# Answer
> 0 votes
You could do this just like with any other call via Call Forwarding. From Dummies.com:

> **1. Open the Phone app.**
>
> **2. Touch the Action Overflow icon.**
>
> On some phones, touch the Menu icon instead to see a list of commands.
>
> **3. Choose Settings or Call Settings.**
>
> The Call Settings command might be found on a second screen; choose Settings first, and then choose Call Settings. Eventually you’ll see the call settings screen.
>
> **4. Choose Call Forwarding.**
>
> If the option isn’t available, use your cellular carrier to forward calls.
>
> **5. Choose one of the following options:**
>
> * *Always Forward:* All incoming calls are sent to the number you specify; your phone doesn’t even ring. This option overrides all other forwarding options.
> * *Forward When Busy:* Calls are forwarded when you’re on the phone and choose not to answer. This option is normally used to send a missed call to voicemail, although you can forward to any number.
> * *Forward When Unanswered:* Calls are forwarded when you choose not to answer the phone. Normally, the call is forwarded to your voicemail.
> * *Forward When Unreached:* Calls are forwarded when the phone is turned off, out of range, or in airplane mode. As with the two previous settings, this option normally forwards calls to voicemail.
>
> **6. Set the forwarding number.**
>
> Or you can edit the number that already appears. For example, you can type your home number for the Forward When Unreached option so that your cell calls are redirected to your home number when you’re out of range.
>
> **7. Touch Enable or OK.**

---
Tags: google, google-voice
---


title: Auto correct on ASUS Zenfone

text:
# Question
Title: Auto correct on ASUS Zenfone
I switched from an LG phone to a new ASUS Android phone and I am missing a feature on the ASUS. On my LG I used auto correct on the keyboard in a way that displayed suggestions but did not correct what I typed. If I decided to use the suggested word I only had to touch the suggestion and it replaced the mistyped word. On the ASUS, using the preinstalled ZenUI keyboard, I don't know how only to show the suggested words while typing. Whenever I switch on display of suggested words to be shown, they replace what I type as soon as I press space.

I want suggested words to be shown but not replace what I type unless I select a suggested word. This worked on my LG like a charm.

Now I have the option to switch off auto correction and then I get many mistyped words. If I switch suggested words on it is even worse, because auto correction chooses words I don't want by itself.

# Answer
> 1 votes
I would suggest using the official Google Keyboard since it has the exact feature you mention, where suggested words are shown. I have all automatic corrections completely turned off in its settings, and it works well without anything unexpected.

---
Tags: keyboard, auto-correct
---


# Question
Title: How to make Skype always active, reliably receiving and notifying about calls in the background
There's a long-running issue with Skype for Android where, in recent versions (since 2014 I believe), it very often ignores incoming calls and doesn't notify about messages when it is running in the background. There are many long (and often angry) threads about this on Skype's forums, for example: No incoming call and chat notification on Android KitKat (12 pages), Skype never rings on Android phone (9 pages), skype not running in background anymore? (4 pages), and many others.

From these threads I've extracted some clues:

* It used to be possible to fix this issue by downgrading to before version 4, but older versions now no longer connect, so this appears to be no longer an option.
* There is some mystery about why this happens, but there are claims that it's something to do with Skype's status changing to some kind of "inactive" status when it goes into the background after a period of inactivity (some sources say 15 minutes, some 5 minutes, some immediately on the Skype app window not being open), which, recently (but not in the past) results in Skype centrally not connect calls or messages to this user when this status is present.
* If this is the case, it happens even when the optional Skype notification tray status icon shows the status as being "active" - some comments suggest this icon doesn't update when Skype becomes inactive in the background
* There's a separate issue where Skype doesn't notify on a phone if you're active on a computer, but plenty of people report this problem even when they've confirmed they're only logged in on Android.
* There's a post from 2014 which suggests that background calls work if "Answer calls automatically" is ticked in Skype settings - but I don't like the idea of people calling me and instantly hearing the sound of the inside of my pocket (maybe I've misunderstood what answer calls automatically means?), and I imagine I still wouldn't know they've called unless I'm in a silent room
* A few users mention that turning on "sync group chat in the background" in notifications fixes notifications for calls and messages too (example) but this didn't work for me
* A minority of posters claim to not have this issue, suggesting there might be something to do with general Android settings that influences whether Skype becomes unreachable when it goes into the background.
* There's mention of 3rd party apps that fix this problem by keeping Skype active, thus preventing the status change. However I couldn't find any such examples that wasn't followed by a comment later suggesting it no longer works (and I can't find any examples now I look for it).

I've discussed this with Skype customer support, who were unable to help beyond establishing that it's nothing to do with my Skype app settings (notifications are on) or being logged in on another device. My main hope, therefore, is for some kind of 3rd party solution like the apps referred to above for keeping Skype active, or some general Android setting.

---

Non-rooted, Android 5.1.1, Skype 6.8.0.590, Sony Z3 compact. I'd prefer not to root but this issue is very important to me and if that's the only option I'd accept an answer that involves rooting the phone.

I'd prefer not to install a custom mod, but I'd consider it if that can somehow reliably fix this problem and give me reliable notifications and incoming calls any time I'm online and someone calls or messages me by Skype.

# Answer
> 1 votes
Your search it appears is for a solution that keeps Skype active only when you are on line . Since you couldn't find an app or root unless necessary , I am suggesting you to look at automation as an alternative

There are plenty of them, but I use MacroDroid, since it is easy to learn and the behaviour can be easily customized to get the result you want. Besides,free version allows you to create upto 5 macros and for the task at hand, free version suffices. I prefer automation as a first choice, when I need to get something running the way I like and not depend on apps.

The macro would look like this and needs to be tested. I gave up on using Skype, so can't test it, but in principle should run fine

# Trigger

Regular Interval (can be configured in seconds,minutes, hours as you require - the macro runs periodically based on this setting)

# Actions

Launch Skype\> force new with the constraint WiFi connected to any network

(You want Skype to be launched at the periodicity specificied in trigger, only when you are connected on Wifi. Assuming WiFi to be your mode of being on line)

Launch homescreen ( you don't want to see Skype launching when you are say mailing for example, so you get to the home screen for you to pick up the mail app and resume)

# Constraint

Application running\> not in foreground\>Skype

( macro runs only when constraint is TRUE. Here, you are ensuring that macro isn't triggered when you are actually using Skype !!!. You can add more constraints like the time period you want the macro active, day of week etc. These can be added with AND (or) OR logical operator. Bottom line is macro runs when constraint(s) evaluate to a logical TRUE).

You would need to test and fine tune on how frequently you want this macro to run.

All the best....

# Answer
> 0 votes
I had the same problem. If Skype is running, either active or in the background, it does ring OK. But if it is off, doesn't ring. Fixed it by going into settings, notification settings, Skype status. When you switch this ON, Skype is always running in background I guess. Takes a bit longer to start ringing but it does (at least for me).

Stock android 5.1 on Moto G. Latest Skype app as of June 2016.

---
Tags: skype
---


# Question
Title: How to get xposed framework on Lollipop (Samsung)?
I am on Samsung Galaxy note 3 SM-n900 Android 5.0 Stock Firmware (API-21). I am able to install xposed framework easily on Kitkat and Jellybean, however, i want to be on lollipop and cannot figure out how to get xposed on my device. i flashed CWM recovery first, then i installed this file "xposed-v84-sdk21-arm.zip" via CWM and my device is stuck on samsung logo forever!

here is the link

I was able to flash exposed framework on Cyanogenmod 12.1 but not on samsung lollipop

# Answer
For Samsung Stock ROMs (based on TouchWiz UI), you have to flash the **Arter's Xposed for Samsung Lollipop 5.0.x deodexed ROMs** or **Wanam's Xposed for Samsung Lollipop 5.1.x/ Marshmallow 6.0.x ROMs**, instead of the rovo89's Xposed which is basically for AOSP & CM-based ROMs.
> 1 votes

---
Tags: 5.0-lollipop, xposed-framework
---


# Question
Title: How do I disable Firefox Android's popup browser tips?
I'm using Firefox for Android. It keeps showing me popup browser tips at the bottom of the main screens, like bookmarks, top sites, history, etc. I'll close them, but then next time another new one appears. How do I disable these entirely?

# Answer
> 2 votes
1) Type `about:config` in the address bar and press enter

2) Find the `browser.snippets.enabled` setting and tap to switch the value from `true` to `false`.

---
Tags: firefox-for-android
---


# Question
Title: Ways to see notifications besides pull down bar
The notification status pull down bar is not working because the very upper part of the screen seems damaged (verified running diagnostics that pixels there are not active). 1) Can I see the notifications some other way? 2) Can I assume that screen replacement solves this? Htc one X phone

# Answer
If you use a third party launcher you can use gestures for certain functions. For instance, using Nova Launcher Prime, when I swiped down anywhere on my home screen it would bring down my notifications. So that could solve that issue for you.

There should be other free alternatives that perform the same function

To answer your last question, a screen replacement should fix the issue though.
> 2 votes

---
Tags: 4.0-ice-cream-sandwich, htc, notification-bar, htc-one-x
---


# Question
Title: my P8 (Android Lollipop) can't be recognized by my PC (Windows10)
I'm the owner of a Huawei P8. At the beginning the phone was recognized by my PC as a second hard disk but lately I touched something (I don't remember what).

Now, when connected to the PC, the phone is set to charge but it is not seen as a mass storage and neither the computer nor the phone seem to recognize each other. I went through almost all the settings but couldn't find ANYTHING on how to make the computer react to the phone.

USB debugging cannot be used. I would like NOT to have to root the phone or do strange installations – and online the only kind of answer I found was that I have to do a hard reset of the phone. Is it true? Can anybody give me a less traumatic suggestion?

# Answer
I believe I had the same problem on my Huawei P8. My Windows 10 PC would not recognise the phone, although it would charge it.

The problem was not with the cable or PC - the same cable and PC would work later on, with the only changes made, made to the phone.

I didn't have the same qualms about rooting or 'strange installations', so I rooted using KingRoot then used "SG USB Mass Storage Enabler" on the Play store to toggle the storage mode.

This worked for me, even though SG Mass Storage Enabler is made for Samsung and Sony devices, and hasn't been updated since 14 Nov 2013.

A disadvantage of this method was being unable to uninstall KingRoot. This may be my own fault though, possibly due to me corrupting the KingRoot install by trying to replace it with SuperSU.

This method was the only method I tried that worked. Things that didn't work included trying to backup without root to factory reset (this is data and application dependent on whether you can backup without root), trying to activate USB debugging, ADB, Hisuite and HDB.

If a custom recovery is already present on the phone, then SuperSU could be used to root instead of KingRoot, which is adware at the least, and also seems to prevent itself being removed from outside the app.
> 2 votes

# Answer
there is a solution

from your keyboard `*#*#2846579#*#*` \- kind of hidden menu, then background setting, usb port settings, hi suite mode,

cheers
> 1 votes

# Answer
I have the same problem. Phone is wonderful except for this annoying bug, and I've spent hours searching for a solution: None.

You need to do a hard reset for the phone give you the dialogue where you choose usb connection mode. Oh, and don't choose "nothing" (ever), cuz then you'll have to this over again.

REMEMBER to back up everything on internal memory to your SD-card and remove the SD-card before resetting, or it's content will be deleted! I really wish for a better solution than this, but its the only way for now.

Regards,
> 0 votes

---
Tags: usb-connection-mode, usb-debugging, usb-drivers
---


# Question
Title: When an app is moved to an external microSD card, to where is it moved?
In Android KitKat on many devices, it is simple to move an app to an external microSD card. It's as simple as *Settings -\> Apps -\> \[Select the app\] -\> Move to SD card*.

For apps whose manifest allows them to be moved (something *every* good app should allow except when there is a valid reason to not), this works like a charm.

Doing this frees up the device's internal storage, allowing room for more apps.

But to where are the apps actually moved?

I thought the apps would be moved to the `Android/data` and `Android/obb` folders on the external SD card. But upon examining those folders with several root file managers, the moved apps are not visible in those locations.

What's the story? To where are those apps being moved?

---

I am voting to self-close this question, as I see another very similar question here: When app is moved to SD card, where is the app data stored on SD card?

I'm not going to delete it because Susan's answer is very useful and appreciated.

# Answer
> 3 votes
Apps installed on the SD-Card are stored in the ".android\_secure" directory.

You cant see the APK files directly in that folder because the it is encrypted to prevent direct access to the APK file of paid apps.

---
Tags: internal-storage, external-sd, file-system, storage, app2sd
---


# Question
Title: Cannot add Google accounts on Huawei U8825D/G330D
This is a Huawei U8825D/G330D running Android 4.0.4 on a contract with China Unicom. I have used two Android phones in the past, and was always able to sync all my Google services by logging into a Google account on my Android, but I haven't been able to add a Google account on this Huawei phone.

I tried going to Settings \> Accounts and Sync \> Add an Account, but the only types of accounts available for adding in the menu are Huawei Cloud+, Company, Email, and Wandoujia (an app store service popular in China). There is no option to add a Google account. This doesn't only create the problem of not being able to sync Google services - without a Google account enabled on this phone, I cannot even open Google Play store, Gmail, and the like. I am able to install these apps on the phone, but when I click on them, a screen (of the background frame of, say, the Play store) would briefly show up before the app closing itself in a moment. I tried restoring the phone to factory settings but it has not worked.

# Answer
* download the google play .apk using the built-in browser of your smartphone (browse the apk file)
* then, open google play and install gmail
* then, download Google Contacts Sync 4.4.2-1289630.apk using the built-in browser of your smartphone
* then go to your contacts menu option and then you will se that you can sign into the google account
> 0 votes

# Answer
This may be a late response but after finding the answer I thought I should publish it. If you have a Huawei phone that's been set up for the Chinese market then you'll find you cannot simply add a Google account. First, using Huawei's own application manager, find Google's Play Store and install it. Once installed, use it to install Google's own YouTube app. From YouTube you can sign in add any number of Google accounts.
> 2 votes

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Tags: google-play-store, google-account, huawei
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# Question
Title: Cant see contact "last seen online time"
Does this contact not want me to see when last he was on line then? I can send him messages as well as chat.

# Answer
> 2 votes
It may mean that your contact is using a privacy option to keep that information private:

https://www.whatsapp.com/faq/en/general/20971848

"Through our privacy settings, you have the option to control who can see your last seen."

There are a few reasons why you may not be able to see a contact's last seen:

* They may have set their privacy settings to hide this information.
* You may have set your privacy settings to not share your last seen.
* If you do not share your last seen, you cannot see other people's last seen.
* You may have been blocked.

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Tags: whatsapp-messenger
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# Question
Title: How do I transfer a started game to a new phone and resume where I left off
I want to backup and move all of my downloaded games on my old Android phone to a new Galaxy 4 Android phone.

# Answer
> 0 votes
Many apps will be configured to automatically back themselves up with Google, and so signing into the same Google account as the old device on the new one will be sufficient. You can see this for more details: https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/2819582

Other apps sync specifically with Google Play Games, or with other account services. You should connect the games to the appropriate service on your old phone, and then sign into the same service on the new phone.

My preferred option is to root both phone and install Titanium Backup, which allows you to easily back up and restore any app. It would just be a matter of copying over the backup files to the new device and using TB to restore them.

For unrooted devices, there's also Helium Backup which automates Android's built-in backup service to make a local backup, but it can also sync with your PC so that you don't need to do any manual copying. I believe that this won't work for some apps that don't support this backup method.

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Tags: samsung-galaxy-s-4, data-transfer
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# Question
Title: Unlock full Developer options on Philips PFK5500/12
I recently bought a TV with Android OS (Philips PFK 5500/12). This is not the tiptop very best, I know, but it was okay. Also this is not exactly AndroidTV, but merley a predecossor running Android 5.1.

I successfully enabled the developer options, via the easter egg, but left confused because I don't see all settings like installation from foreign sources and others. As it is my understanding, those settings are there, but artificially hidden by the vendor.

So my qestion is wether there is another hidden option to choose or not?

# Answer
After an update they are were just there.
> 0 votes

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Tags: 5.1-lollipop, android-tv
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title: Missing 'Contacts' sync App

text:
# Question
Title: Missing 'Contacts' sync App
Am running Android 4.2.2 on a CUBOT smartphone, but cannot sync my contacts from Gmail as the ONLY sync adapters showing in the Settings-Accounts-Google section are 'App Data' and 'People details'. Both these apps, if un-checked then checked pretty much instantly come back with a 'Last synced 14/10/2013 09:38' (or whatever time date-stamp is accurate), but nothing seems to have changed. I seem to be missing just a plain old 'Contacts' sync option. Being new to Android - I haven't a clue how to progress, or where to download/install 'contacts'. Advice greatly appreciated.

# Answer
> -2 votes
Try haxsync. It's the best. It's working on Android 4.2.

# Answer
> -2 votes
I've had the same problem but using CCleaner I solved it. I had too many registers of calls. Cleaning for 3 hours with CCleaner was the solution.

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Tags: contacts, 4.2-jelly-bean
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# Question
Title: (Red triangle)Device is corrupt after flashing Android N Dev Preview on rooted Nexus 6P
Just got my brand new Nexus 6P about a week ago (Yeah, stupid me). I immediately began to root my device using this thread on XDA:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/guides-how-to-guides-beginners-t3206928

What I've done along following the guide:

* Unlocked the bootloader using fastboot;
* Installed TWRP custom recovery using fastboot;
* Rooted my device by flashing the stable version of SuperSU through the custom recovery just installed.

This process went flawless. Booted up my device, noticed no bugs/weird problems at all.

As I watched some Android N Dev Preview videos, I decided to flash it myself. Now, my experience in flashing images on android is not low as I've done it a couple times before. The installation seemed flawless, as I followed these steps in order (yes, my bootloader is unlocked):

* flashed the bootloader.img
* flashed the radio.img
* flashed the recovery.img
* flashed the boot.img
* flashed the system.img
* rebooted bootloader after each step

When I booted my devices, It displayed an message saying something like: couldn't verify if device is corrupted. I've seen this before, and I know this occurs when the bootloader is unlocked, so I waited 10 seconds till another similar message occurred:

> /!\
> **Your device is corrupt. It can't be trusted and may not work properly.**
>
> Visit this link on another device:
> *g.co/ABH*

I haven't seen this before so I looked it up and realized my device is bricked.

**What I have done so far after the message**

* Carefully applied the steps again in the same order;
* Carefully applied the steps again but with recovery and boot swapped;
* Factory reset (result is very obvious I know);
* Waited for a long, long time

What is, in my situation, your advise for me to at least unbrick the device? I've downloaded the latest version of Marshmallow on the Google Factory Images for Nexus devices page. Should I just flash this image?

Please remind that I'm rooted.

Many thanks!

# Answer
There is nothing to worry about. It means you just flashed a ROM.

More details: https://support.google.com/nexus/answer/6185381?hl=en
> 1 votes

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Tags: root-access, 6.0-marshmallow, unbricking, nexus-6p, 7.0-nougat
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