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I am again and again noticing that a ton of apps ask for ridiculous permissions, and I'm getting frustrated by searching for apps that don't ask me for too much - and frankly, I would download 3 times as much apps if they would ask for reasonable permissions. The one that I personally don't like to share is my <code> phone id </code> and <code> your accounts </code> , but there are various apps asking for permissions they don't need. Some examples: A game that needs to load itself after boot. A game that needs my accounts. A game that needs my phone calls. A browser that needs my phone calls and accounts. Why are these permissions requests there? Are most of them doing some data collecting? Are the developers too lazy to check what permissions they really need? | There are a few points to note on this. Not all of them will help you on your issue, but at least explain things or point you to helpful information: some devs explain in their apps' descriptions what they need those permissions for, others do so at least on the corresponding web sites (e.g. in the FAQ). If they missed that, contact them and ask to have that gap filled. phone id + internet is required by most ad modules. To avoid that, check for payed versions. Android apps are not really expensive, and of course devs like to be compensated for their work. The average price of 1 buck should be worth it. no real issue with the accounts stuff. For explanations, please take a look at stackexchange-url ("What can an app do with the “USE ACCOUNTS ON THE DEVICE” permission?") stackexchange-url ("What does permission “MANAGE_ACCOUNTS” mean?") I agree that a game rarely has a good reason to access your contacts, calendar, call lists, browser history, and bookmarks. My guess in those cases is, that in ~80% the dev simply made a "bad decision" concerning the ad module chosen (there are some really bordering spyware). Again, contact the dev and ask. According to a study I read a while ago, about 60% of the devs are not even aware of that issue; being approached, they were open for alternatives (unfortunately I don't remember the source currently). I also agree concerning phone calls, and even SMS. They might be used for in-app purchases, but I don't think this is a good practice. Further good sources can be found in our stackexchange-url ("permissions tag-wiki"). | Why are so many apps using permissions that take my personal data? | android |
I just bought an MHL adapter for my Nexus 4. I have connected the adapter with a HDMI cable to the TV, plugged the microUSB into my phone and provided power on the other microUSB input as I should. The TV showed an error message: Check signal cable +some small text about possible power and source problems If I unplugged the power from the adapter, or disconnected the HDMI cable, it said: No Signal So I think I was on the right source. I tried a different HDMI cable, another HDMI port on the TV, and another phone (Samsung S4), but the TV still showed the error message. It seems to me the phone did not give a signal through the microUSB port. Is there something I should turn on? | As stackexchange-url ("András' comment") says, the Nexus 4 uses Slimport not MHL. I use this Slimport adaptor to connect my N4 to a TV. | MHL connection not working properly | android |
With Android version 4.3 for my Samsung Galaxy S3 (or perhaps just Verizon's flavor of it) my camera flash has begun to blink very brightly when I am receiving an incoming call. How can I turn this off? I've been through the settings and nothing obvious really jumps out at me. | I found the setting, and something interesting as well: <code> Settings > Accessibility > Flash notification </code> When I came into the settings it was already unchecked, yet my phone was exhibiting behavior as if it was. I had to check the setting and exit the menus. Then I went back in to uncheck the setting and exited the menus again. This time the setting took effect - my camera light is no longer flashing. Hope this helps others in the same situation. | Camera light flashes when the phone rings - how do I turn this off? | android |
The battery percentage on my tablet has reached 30%, which is still reporting as about 11 hours left before it goes flat. However, my Dropbox app has stopped uploading files reporting: Camera Upload (x left): Low battery, charge to resume I'm not anywhere near anything I can use to start it but I want it to continue uploading screenshots I take in the mean time. How can I force Dropbox to upload even if the charge is low? | Currently the official Dropbox app doesn't support automatic camera upload if you have charge less than 30%. You can do it manually though or through a browser. Only 3rd party apps like DropSync can upload when it is at low charge. | How can I force Dropbox to upload even if the charge is low? | android |
Running KitKat, I want to extract a zip file with photos and place them in a folder where the Gallery app will find them. I'm using Android File Manager and Easy Unrar Lite to move files around and extract them. Where in the file systems should I put them? | It doesn't matter where you put them. A convenient place usually is the (internal or external) SD card, where you simply could create a <code> Photos </code> folder, and extract your photos to. The gallery app simply checks the devices media database, it doesn't check the directories directly. This database gets fed by the so-called Media Scanner , which gets triggered by different system events, such as immediately after a completed boot, or whenever the SD card gets mounted. This is why you don't see the extracted images immediately. See stackexchange-url ("my answer here") for how to trigger it "on demand" (hint: for Kitkat, try the SD Scanner app). | Where should I save images to have them appear in the Gallery app? | android |
Where does Android store clipboard data? I have a rooted Android phone. Where are clipboard files stored? I can find that in a rooted Samsung device at <code> /data/Clipboard </code> , but am not able to find in other Android phones (e.g. Sony, HTC). For phones running GingerBread. I'm able to see the clipboard data using <code> adb shell service call clipboard 1 </code> , but after Gingerbread this service call command does not show the data. | Pure AOSP version of Android does not save clipboard data to files; the data is stored only in RAM by the ClipboardService , which runs inside the <code> system_server </code> process. Samsung, like many other manufacturers, adds their proprietary modifications to the base AOSP code; one of these modifications is the ability to keep the clipboard history, and this history is stored in files in the <code> /data/Clipboard </code> directory. Of course, you won't find this proprietary Samsung code on other devices, or even in third-party ROMs for Samsung devices. As for accessing the clipboard service using <code> adb shell service call clipboard ... </code> , you cannot do it on recent Android versions, because the IClipboard interface now has security checks (it requires specifying the package name, and the calling uid must own the package name). This interface is also an implementation detail and changes between different Android versions. | Where does Android store clipboard data? | android |
I am using samsung galaxy Star Pro 7260 (rooted). I would like to install cyanogenmod on my phone. But, I want to know is it possible to return back to jelly bean OS after upgraded to cyanogenmod ? If it is possible then tell me what I have to do before installing cyanogenmod on my phone ? Do I have to take any backup (OS) from my phone ? | Usually, this is possible the very same way as you put CyanogenMod on your device: by flashing a ROM. So before you start, make sure you either... have a stock ROM available to flash (see: stackexchange-url ("Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?")) have created a nandroid backup of your device immediately before you start flashing (requires a custom recovery, see recovery-mode ) In both cases, you can return to stock ROM: either by flashing a stock image (and then start like after a factory-reset), or by restoring the Nandroid backup (and take off at the time you've created it, including all your apps and data). Two things to consider: there might be dependencies between device-firmware (ROM) and radio-firmware . So if installing CyanogenMod (or any custom ROM) goes along with a different radio image, a return might be different (you might need the original radio image as well) or difficult (in case downgrade of the radio is not possible). However, cases where this applies are rare. Nandroid backup doesn't take care of your SDCard. So if you have apps installed on SDCard, you need to deal with them separately. | Is it possible to return back to jelly bean OS after upgraded to cyanogenmod? | android |
I'm using KitKat. I have Hangouts conversations with people who are not in my contacts (this may be an artifact of using a Google Apps account provided by my school). How can I add someone from one of these conversations to People? I have tried double-tapping and holding down their icon or their chats without any success, and looking at the "..." options menus. No luck. I do know how to add contacts from email. | If you view a chat and open the overflow menu (the three dots). Click "People & options" you should see the "People in this hangout". If you then click on the person you should be prompted to add them to your contacts. | How to add a contact to People from Hangouts? | android |
When my Galaxy S3 upgraded to 4.3 last night the lock screen lost all its widgets and now immediately turns on to the password entry screen rather then the widget screen where I can slide to unlock or swipe a widget. Because of this I also lost the ability to check the temperature from the lock screen. Does anyone know how to bring back the lock screen widgets for the new update? I have tried swiping to the left in the upper right hand corner of the screen as I have seen instructed for other phones on 4.3 and have attempted to swipe/tap/hold in other areas of the screen with no luck. I also checked in all the different setting menu's including going through the lock screen and security settings and there where no options for lock screen widgets (that I saw) and was only able to change from a clock to personal message shown on the screen. After playing with it some more I was able to get the ability to have widgets on the lock screen and customize them if I set it up to unlock with swipe and no password but if I have any unlock security at all the ability to have lock screen widgets goes away. Update: From time to time I will get text messages in my lock window or notifications that I have a lot of them so not sure what is up. | As far I know this is a security "feature" on Android devices that don't let you open personal data through widgets when you set a lock code or a lock pattern. Only works if you don't have no security set. | How can I make Lock Screen widgets work on my Galaxy S3 on Android 4.3? | android |
I like everything about my new Samsung Note 3. It is a superior device in almost every respect to my previous phone the iPhone 5. But, I have one issue that I have not yet resolved. I cannot get the level of detail notifications that are automatically shown in a rolling notification queue like the iPhone (see images below, iPhone on left, Android on right). The notifications are shown in the queue in the order they are received regardless of source (sms, email, calendar notification, etc). They are scrollable vertically, and a swipe takes you to that specific message, event, email, etc. This is one area the iPhone did very well, and I relied on the timeliness and dependability of that feature. I have downloaded several lockscreen and notifications apps, but none are close to what I described. Any suggestion? I really appreciate any insight. Thanks | Try Slide Lock . It is awesome. Just like iOS version. (click image for a larger version) | Lockscreen rolling notifications like iPhone | android |
I am unable to enable debugging mode in LG Optimus L7 Dual. I am connecting the mobile to my PC and choose LG Software mode(read this in a blog that had discussion about LG Optimus). The USB Debugging option in Developer Options is greyed out. Once i unplug it, it glows and I enable it but when I connect and try to debug,my eclipse does not identify the device. Any help will be much appreciated. | As your computer is running Windows, you need to install the appropriate device driver first. Most manufacturers offer one for download on their resp. websites, specifically tailored for the device in question; but that would also mean you'd need multiple drivers if you had multiple devices. A good solution reported to work fine with multiple different devices, and also supporting Windows 8 fine, is Koushik Dutta's universal adb driver . This would hence free you from the hazzle of possible driver conflicts, if you one day decide to use a different/additional device. | Unable to debug in LG Optimis L7 | android |
I want to change the default font style on Sony xperia M without rooting my phone. How do I do this? | Here's a link that covers some methods for changing the system font on some android phones without root, I don't know if it works on your phone as well: http://www.androidauthority.com/how-to-change-the-fonts-on-your-android-phone-32078/ | How do I Change the Font Text Style in Sony Experia M without rooting phone? | android |
Background I've been search AE, SO and Google for many hours and found many examples of people wanting to connect their PC to the emulator. I've also run across some that wish to connect their device to their server on a PC. I want to connect my device, to an emulator running on a PC. I've tried the examples given in the documentation but I still haven't gotten this to work. I would like to have my device (real device, Nexus 7) create a Hotspot that my PC is connected to. In the PC, an emulator is running that has a socket open on port 40000. I'm getting ECONNREFUSED errors when trying to connect my device to the emulator. Here's what I'm doing: Connecting device to emulator (through PC) Device tries to create a Socket connection to the emulator through the PC. The IP of my PC is 192.168.43.198 so that is what the device use as destination IP. The connection fails however, with an ECONNREFUSED message. Forwarding using ADB and telnet On the PC I've tried to forward port 40000 to the emulator using: <code> adb forward tcp:40000 tcp:40000 </code> and <code> redir add tcp:40000:40000 </code> over telnet to the emulator. When running the adb forward command I get a listening port on the PC as such: <code> TCP 127.0.0.1:40000 0.0.0.0:0 LISTENING </code> . Notice that the listening IP is 127.0.0.1. When running the <code> redir </code> command, I can see no listening port using netstat. Testing connection from device to PC To test the connection "parts", I've used <code> SocketTest </code> ( http://sourceforge.net/projects/sockettest/ ) on my PC. If I use it as a server, listening on port 40000. Then my device connects to it just fine using 192.168.43.198:40000. Testing connection from PC to emulator When using SocketTest as a client to connect to 127.0.0.1:40000 it also connects fine to the emulator. However, when using the external IP: 192.168.43.198, SocketTest also gets connection refused! Possible problems It seems to me that my PC doesn't realise it should route 192.168.43.198:40000 to 127.0.0.1:40000 although the commands I've entered claim to do so in the docs ( http://developer.android.com/tools/devices/emulator.html#redirection and http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html#forwardports ) Firewall is turned off. | The problem here is that ADB forwarding attaches itself to the local loopback interface (127.0.0.1), and you have no forwarding from the LAN interface (192.168.43.198) to the loopback interface. The method you can use to achieve this depends on your platform. I don't know what you could use in Windows, but on Linux you can use <code> rinetd </code> and on OSX you can use <code> ipfw </code> LINUX: Add the following lines to your <code> /etc/rinetd.conf </code> : <code> # bindaddress bindport connectaddress connectport 192.168.43.198 40000 127.0.0.1 40000 </code> Then restart <code> rinetd </code> with <code> service rinetd restart </code> or <code> /etc/init.d/rinetd restart </code> . OSX: <code> ipfw add fwd 127.0.0.1,40000 tcp from any to 192.168.43.198 dst-port 40000 </code> | Connect android device to server in emulator | android |
I would like to be able to set an alarm on all my Android devices at once. The application Timely Alarm Clock has this feature (" Cloud synchronization enables a seamless experience across phones and tablets. ") but the latter costs $2.5. Are there any free alternatives? | I try to not read this as "is there an app...", as that would be off-topic according to our guidelines (see stackexchange-url ("What topics can I ask about here?") for details). So apart from looking for a different app to save some peanuts, you could live with the ads (according to its description, the app is available for free with ads; there's no note to the cloud feature being restricted to payment, neither does the related description on the product's webpage , nor the FAQ on How can I synchronize my devices mention that). according to Krampus' comment below, the cloud functionality seems to be restricted to "premium users" indeed, though none of the material cited says so Alternatively, there is the possibility to utilize a synchronized calendar (like the Google Calendar ) for that: Create an event, which then is synchronized across your devices. So the alert should trigger on all of them. | How can I set an alarm on all my Android devices at once for free? | android |
I have a Nexus 5 running Android 4.3.2. I want to turn off all sound and vibration notifications for all apps, while allowing phone calls to trigger sound and/or vibrations. Is there a way to do this? I have tried following the advice at stackexchange-url ("How can I turn off Notification Sounds and leave phone sounds on") but the answers don't work. There's no separate slider for notifications, and the AudioManager app doesn't shut off vibrations. I have tried the official google answer but there's no setting, Vibrate -> Never , and setting notifications to silent does not stop the vibrations. I've tried the individual app settings, too, but there's no setting for vibration in the official twitter app, for example. I can stop specific apps from sending any notifications at all, but that's not what I want. I want the notifications to show up in the drop-down, I just don't want any sounds or vibrations. | This is an issue I have as well, it lies with the apps, whose settings override the default ringer and vibration settings. In order to completely disable vibrations you will have to disable them in Settings > Sound, and individually in each app. Twitter app you will have to go to Settings > and there is a Notification Settings sections that allows you to disable vibration. As an aspiring developer, it will be my goal to default to system settings but allow for customization, as it should be... | How to turn off notification sounds and vibrations | android |
Play Store shows "What's New" for the latest version of an app. Is there a way to see it for older versions? | The Changelog Droid app will start building a history of app changes from the date it's installed. | View older "What's new" for Android apps | android |
When using the G+ Auto Backup feature, do only my camera photos get backed up? What about downloaded photos, those that I create, or the ones that I transfer from PC to my phone via USB? The support page and the Photos app seem to be unclear about this. | From what I have read, the only photos that are backed up are those in the folder named "DCIM/Camera", which should include photos from your camera. If you move other photos there (e.g. downloaded, etc.), they should be backed up. | Which photos get automatically backed up to G+ | android |
While experimenting with the Bit Web Server app I have noticed that when I attempt to access my device's localhost, the connection seems to be sent somewhere else. Using the localhost button in the app sends me to <code> http://localhost:8080 </code> , however this displays a blank page, whilst removing the port number takes me to a page that has the following written on it: <code> Bytemobile Dummy Web Server </code> . When accessing <code> http://localhost:8080 </code> with no connection (WiFi and Data are turned off) I simply get <code> Unable to connect to the proxy server </code> . I can however connect to my device's localhost fine when connected to WiFi. Why can I not connect to my device's localhost? Surely it should not need a connection for it to connect to itself. Why does it only work when WiFi is enabled and how do I change this behavior? | The clue is in the error message, which says it can't connect to the proxy server. If your device is configured to use a web proxy, then it'll never connect directly to localhost: it connects to the web proxy and asks that for the web page you really want. This won't work with a local web server. To use a local web server, turn off your web proxy settings. See stackexchange-url ("this related question") for more info about that. | Why Can I Not Access My Devices Localhost Over Data? | android |
I am trying to figure out when my devices (tablet, tv dongle, etc) were activated. Is there a place (in google account settings, device files, anywhere) this data can be obtained? My devices are rooted, so I can use terminal access to read internal files if needed. Some suggestions in the net say to find the first day of data usage in the logs, but I want to find an accurate date (preferably a timestamp) of the device activation. I can't seem t be able to type dialer codes in a tablet, there's no phone app. Also this question is about android devices in general, not only phones. | If the date of activation matches the date of adding your Google account to the device, there's an easy way to check (unless you did a factory-reset in the meantime, and had to re-add the account): with your Google account's credentials, log in to the Google Dashboard Scroll to the section labeled "Android" and expand it (by clicking its title / the LGM [little green man]) Check the entry for the device you want to know the date for At this place you should find the date you registered your device. That doesn't reflect the first time a device was added, but the last time the Google account was activated on the device. So if you activate your Google account following a factory-reset, this field is updated and thus reflects this point-in-time. | Find when device was activated | android |
Is it OK if I flash my phone with a stock ROM from another country? Wouldn't it have a negative effect? | Yes, it's OK to flash stock ROM from another country. BUT, take note that it may have different languages, and a different baseband/modem. Having a different baseband can cause network issues (or a very hot phone), but you can flash a baseband that works for your country. | IS it OK to flash stock ROM from other country? | android |
Does the default launcher on Moto G resemble the Holo launcher? I suspect the Motorola Migrate has done a number on my Moto G. I migrated from an old Samsung Galaxy Y and this may have caused a lot of the settings to go awry. For instance, I do not have a rooted phone, but I have the Rootbrowser and the SuperUser app on my Moto G. Similarly I have a launcher which resembles the Holo launcher on my Samsung Galaxy Y. I have not yet familiarized myself with 4.3 Android and I will be getting there soon. In the meantime, I just wanted to know what does the default launcher on the Moto G look like? | The launcher on the Moto G is indeed almost identical to the stock Android Launcher - but not the Google Experience launcher that is seen on Nexus devices running Android 4.4+. | What is the default launcher on the Moto G? | android |
I'm trying to get started with development. I have just installed the SDK (ADT v22.3.0-887826) on Linux Mint 15 x86-64. I haven't made any configuration changes to the default installation of ADT, and I don't think there's anything unusual about my system configuration. Eclipse seems to be working fine. I created a virtual device with default settings (Nexus 4, Android 4.4 image). It takes about 4 minutes to boot, then the home screen comes up. I can navigate the home screen and settings menus, and it's a bit sluggish but it works. When I attempt to launch the stock browser, the screen goes white for a few seconds, then black for about 45 seconds, then it says "Unfortunately, Browser has stopped." I tried again with a QVGA 240x320 device and get the same results. I have tried different settings for GPU acceleration, RAM and VM Heap. I have rebooted my system and tried again with no other programs running. Nothing has helped. I've got a Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.2GHz, with 3GB RAM, which I would think is sufficient, but I haven't found any minimum hardware requirements. I checked the system requirements on the ADT Bundle download page , and I noticed that I have OpenJDK-7 installed, not JDK-6. Could that be the problem? Is it not backward compatible? Is there an error console or some other way to get more information to diagnose problems? This generic error message is pretty useless. UPDATE: Thanks for the tip on logcat. There were LOTS of errors, warnings and failures in there. So I went ahead and installed Oracle JDK-7 ( it is compatible ) even though there have been stackexchange-url ("reports of successfully using OpenJDK"). I also reinstalled ADT. But I'm still getting the same issue, "Unfortunately, Browser has stopped." I can launch other apps, like Calendar, Calculator, Contacts, Messaging, etc. ...Solved it. See answer below. | Digging through the logcat, immediately after the <code> com.android.browser activity </code> is launched, I found a "Fatal signal 11 (SIGSEGV)" in <code> vold </code> , the volume daemon that handles storage. Lots of other storage related issues in the log too. So I checked the virtual device settings one more time and noticed that the SD Card size was not specified. I had assumed that the default settings should work, but apparently not. I entered 2 GB for the SD Card, restarted the emulator, and the browser works fine now. | AVD Emulator, "Unfortunately, Browser has stopped" | android |
I've got a Samsung Galaxy S2 Plus (GT-I9105P) with Android 4.2.2 and I've got many photos. The folder with the Gallery previews (the one that stores thumbnail to load images faster) takes about 1GB of storage (815,9MB, precisely) and if I delete it, when I open the Gallery app it recreates. Here you can see it (click image to enlarge) "Anteprime galleria" in Italian means "Gallery previews". The folder itself is called "DCIM" and it's in the phone's memory (All my photos are in teh SD card) and it contains an hidden <code> .thumbnails </code> folder. So, how can I delete it and make sure it won't recreate? | Do you really want to do that? That might lead to you no more being able to see your images in the gallery. But if you want to try: open a file manager of your choice and navigate to the <code> DCIM </code> folder delete the <code> .thumbnails </code> directory create a file named <code> .thumbnails </code> open the file's properties, and set it "read only" Now, as there cannot be two objects with the identical name, the gallery cannot re-create the folder. As the existing object is a file, it cannot put its thumbnails in there, either. | Gallery preview folder takes about 1GB, how to delete it? | android |
I need to setup a 802.1x EAP Wi-Fi network on a JellyBean device (Motorola Moto G). The network is managed by the university, and they are using eduroam. In the university configuration guide they show how to setup a TTLS-PAP connection. The problem is, in my device, the only options available in the phase 2 authentication spinner are None, MSCHAPV2 and GTC. The configuration guide shows screenshots for gingerbread devices where PAP is also available. I've been googling a bit and seems that some ICS devices also have it available. Could this be a problem of this particular device? Or could it be a problem of all JellyBean devices? Is this option available in KitKat? Thanks in advance. UPDATE I've checked this option is shown in an old gingerbread phone. Also being shown in a 4.1 tablet. | At least in this device, the network configuration dialog is plagued with bugs. What I did is to create the network, save it, then long click to modify it and the options appear. I've also used WiFi Manager to configure the network. Good to know someone developed an app to do what Google couldn't get right. And I've seen some other bugs in this dialog too. For instance, when you type the CA certificate name, then you save the network, and then you open it again to modify, the cert name is no longer there (this field used to be a spinner in previous versions, but now it is a regular text field). A similar problem happens with the password. After typing it and saving the network, then opening the network again to modify it, the password field only contains a single character. And it somehow seems to save the configuration mostly Ok, it is just the dialog is not initialized correctly with the previously saved fields. | WPA2-Enterprise: PAP not shown in phase 2 auth spinner | android |
Many a time when I watch Youtube videos regarding people rooting and flashing Custom Roms on their Android Smartphones, they show you how to carry out the procedure both in their respective videos and perhaps also in written dialogue on their main website. However as far as i'm aware most Custom Roms do not include OTA updates, therefore one would generally have to check the XDA website for example to be notified of a newer version to whichever Custom Rom for the particular device you are using becomes available. (I believe however that the CyanogenMod Installer recently introduced maybe an exception to that general rule). It is also the case as outlined in my first paragraph that those people who have Youtube videos about Rooting and Flashing Custom Roms, fail to do a follow up video showing how you can install the latest version of a Custom Rom they are showcasing from a previous version. For a beginner this maybe very daunting if you would like the latest version. I would therefore like to know: What are the necessary steps that one must undertake to update a Custom Rom to its latest version from a previous version ? | Summing up from the comments: This very much depends on... the ROM used the update format chosen for a specific update Some ROMs (e.g. CyanogenMod) come with their own "updaters", where special rules might apply. Specifically, they might deliver "patch updates", where only some files will be replaced. In those cases, no further action is required (except for, maybe, a reboot). Some other ROMs ship in specific formats, and might require special tools to be flashed (e.g. odin or heimdall for Samsung devices). Again other ROMs are delivered using the <code> update.zip </code> principle, where a custom recovery is needed to install them. This <code> update.zip </code> may be a complete ROM, or also just a patch. Instructions usually are to be found where the updates are offered for download. In all above cases, some "initial steps" required for the first ROM install can be skipped and must not be repeated, including... rooting your device (custom ROMs usually come pre-rooted) unlocking the bootloader (unless you've re-locked it) installing a custom recovery (when it's already there, no re-install is required; though there might be updates to this as well, and a newer custom ROM might require a minimum version here as well. Again, instructions should say so) It's always a good idea to perform a backup before installing updates (or tampering with system stuff in any other way). Points to check for include: nandroid backup: a full "sector-wise" copy of all the important partitions. If things go wrong altogether, this enables you to revert to the exact state of when these backups were created logical full-backup: this is performed by tools like titanium-backup , and usually includes all your apps and data. So if something is missing after the ROM update, you can substitute the necessary parts. (note that Titanium Backup also can do that with Nandroid-Backups) adb backup: quite similar to the previous one (see the backup wiki for details and differences). Note also that an ota-update is quite unlikely to happen with custom ROMs. Some even include an app named <code> fota-kill </code> to "silence" the related update check. They either bring their own updater, or none altogether. In the latter case, the user has to check himself whether and when updates are available; often a "reminder" can be setup by subscribing to the corresponding thread on XDA (or wherever the ROM comes from), but actions have to be taken manually (as described above). As I've shown until here, videos on updating your ROM most likely do not exist as the process already has been described as part of the initial video; though a few words like "for updating, skip to index ab:cd" would be a good idea (and could be suggested in the comments). A special case are the google-apps (short: GApps ). Whether you have to re-install them or not mainly depends on whether it was a "full update" (complete ROM), or the update just replaced some files. But it's easy to figure: When finished, just check if they are there and working. If not, you obviously have to flash them again. As a full-update replaces the entire partition content, GApps would be gone with that; a "patch-update" would just replace/add some files, and not touch the GApps , so they'd still be there. GApps are never part of a custom ROM (if they are, the "ROM cook" is in trouble due to license issues). | Steps Necessary To Update A Custom Rom To Its latest Version? | android |
When I put in a location for an event in the Google Calendar on my Nexus 4, and then select it later it opens up in Google Earth which I do not want to happen. How can I change it to open in Google Maps, so I can use the location for directions? I have looked under <code> Settings > calendar </code> but there was nothing under the default open header. Am I looking in right place? | I'm prompted to select what I want to use to open the link, so it looks like you've set a default action for that Intent. You'll need to go to <code> Settings > Apps > (downloaded or all) > Earth > Clear defaults </code> . Next time you click a location in the calendar it should prompt you for what you want to use to open it. Unfortunately, this resets all the defaults for Google Earth. | Change calendar location viewer | android |
I am using Nexus 5 with Android 4.4.2. Its menu screen contains "3 screens" to accommodate all the apps I have. But I remember in older Android (I think I saw it in Galaxy S phone) that all the apps were put in single screen and we could scroll down to get any app. So I want to change this "multi-window" menu screen to a single scrollable window. Is it possible in KitKat? if so, how? | Currently on the nexus-5 stock launcher the 'Google Experience Launcher' or 'GEL' for short, there is no way to customise the app picker / app drawer. You could install a free third party launcher such as Nova Launcher which I have checked and it has a 'List' option, or Apex Launcher The potential downside to a third party launcher is you will lose the Google Now integration on the left most homescreen and the Ok google functionality. | Single Window Menu screen in Nexus 5 | android |
TouchWiz (TouchWiz Nature UX on Samsung Galaxy S III mini) allows creating folders and reorganizing application in application list / app drawer (in "Apps") when using 'Customisable grid' view type: "Menu > View type > Customisable grid", then "Menu > Create folder" This allows creating folders to group applications. You can edit name of folder by touching it and then touching on name, you can put such folder on home screen / launcher via long press, and you can put applications in folder via "Menu > Edit" and selecting folder (edit works only on folders); then in this edit mode you can add apps with "+", and remove them by moving them outside folder. I cannot find however how to remove such folder from TouchWiz app drawer. (The articles and answers I have found by googling are about folders on home screens, i.e. in apps launcher not apps drawer). | Once you have created a folder in the Apps (i.e. I created a "Temp") and then remove it: 1. Go to the App Drawer, Apps, and find the panel holding the folder. 2. Menu > Edit 3. Press and hold the folder until "Remove" appears. 4. Drag to Trash Can (Remove). 5. Save Gone. | Remove folder from App Drawer in TouchWiz (not home screen / app launcher) | android |
I rooted my Nexus 4 in order to install a custom ROM, which I'm quite happy with. However, there are a couple of apps that I want to use but refuse to work because the device is rooted. Is there a way for me to trick the device into thinking - or telling apps - that it is unrooted? | This depends on how the app is checking for root. One method is for the app to actually attempt to find or use the <code> su </code> binary, or the Superuser apk file. These methods can often be bypassed by using an app that will move <code> su </code> to a temporary backup location, then restore it afterwards. Some root management apps have this built in to their settings (e.g. recent versions of Superuser and SuperSU). Otherwise you can try an app like OTA RootKeeper . Another method that apps will use to determine if you're rooted involves checking the contents of your build.prop file. You can check this with any text editor, from your terminal, or using a specialized app like Build Prop Editor . The file resides at <code> /system/build.prop </code> , and it is a good idea to make a backup before modifying it since having a malformed build.prop can cause boot issues. What you'll need to look for is lines that specify that you are running a "test-keys" build, such as: <code> ro.build.tags=test-keys </code> Change this to "release-keys" and the app performing the root check should assume you're running a normal release build. This is typically not needed if you're running a rooted stock ROM, but it would be necessary on many custom ones like CyanogenMod. There are likely other root detection techniques, some of which may be somewhat complex to bypass. This blog post outlines a few, but I honestly cannot say which of these is being used in the wild. I have seen the two I outlined above, however. | Can I 'trick' my device into thinking it's unrooted? | android |
I'm having a really annoying issue to where when i receive a text message through hangouts my phone will vibrate and make a sound when it isn't muted even though in the hangouts app and in the settings on the phone, I have vibrate unchecked. Am I missing some option? I haven't modified android on anyway on this phone. | Open Hangouts and make sure you're on the conversation list page. Choose the menu dots in the upper right and choose "Settings -> SMS" and there should be a check box a few spaces down for "Vibrate" under "Notifications" Let us know if that works! | Moto X 4.4: Google Hangouts vibrates although vibration is disabled | android |
I decided to move from Verizon Samsung Note 2 to a T-Mobile Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition . When I logged in to my new phone, all my apps (including Verizon undeletable crapware) synced through my Google account into my new phone. But, since these were not system apps but user apps in my new phone, I happily clicked the "uninstall" button (on my Note 2, I only saw "disable" but no uninstall options for the bloatwares) and my phone immediately crashed and restarted! Now, my phone crashes everytime I try to uninstall ANY apps (even new ones I just installed)! So I just have a uninstall folder containing my old Verizon crapwares and some other apps I want to uninstall now. How can I fix this so I can uninstall without rebooting? | You are not alone. Inability to uninstall any apps and crashes in Settings, are some of the nasty bugs in Sony's recent Google Play edition devices. Currently there are no workarounds, and you must wait until Sony releases an update with fixes for these issues. Sources: Android Authority , Android Community [Edit] Allegedly, the upcoming 4.4.2 OTA update will fix most of the glaring issues. [Edit 2] Confirmed , the just released 4.4.2 OTA update fixes those nasty bugs on the Z Ultra. Check to see if you have it (keep in mind it's probably a staged roll-out, so you might not see the update immediately.) | Sony Z Ultra Google Play Edition Crash when Uninstalling | android |
I was wondering how the Xprivacy app worked exactly. Does it do something with native Android code? With Java? Does it put itself between the data and any application that requests them, or only if the application has a restriction active for the relevant permission in Xprivacy? | XPrivacy is not a stand-alone application. It's a module of the Xposed framework, and thus utilizes the latter to achieve its goals. So if the Xprivacy dev "reports in", he might just say: "Waiting for the Xposed team to show up"... Oh, if you don't wanna wait: head straight to the Xposed thread at XDA for all the details. The intro over there states: I extended the <code> /system/bin/app_process </code> executable to load a JAR file on startup. The classes of this file will sit in every process (including the one for system services) and can act with their powers. And even more: I have implemented something that allows developers to replace any method in any class (may it be in the framework, systemui or a custom app). This makes Xposed very powerful. You can change parameters for the method call, modify the return value or skip the call to the method completely - it's all up to you! Also replacing or adding resources is easy. So in short and simplified words: Xposed replaces some system resources to "expose" the system API, so other apps (acting as Xposed modules) can use it. Amongst those other apps is – tam-tam-tam-tam-tam – Xprivacy . | How does the application Xprivacy give fake private data to applications? | android |
Where can I find information regarding low level kernel hacking on Android? For example, I'd like to know how the device boots and follow the execution path from that point. Where exactly is the code that runs after I press the power button? | This link contains the parts where you can intervene / add your own functionality The rough flow is Power On > Bootloader > Kernel > Init Process > System Server > Boot Complete At the bootloader stage, the following is run: A. The first boot loader stage will detect and set up external RAM. B. Once external RAM is available and the system is ready the to run something more significant the first stage will load the main boot loader and place it in external RAM. C. The second stage of the boot loader is the first major program that will run. This may contain code to set up file systems, additional memory, network support and other things. On a mobile phone it may also be responsible for loading code for the modem CPU and setting up low level memory protections and security options. D. Once the boot loader is done with any special tasks it will look for a Linux kernel to boot. It will load this from the boot media (or some other source depending on system configuration) and place it in the RAM. It will also place some boot parameters in memory for the kernel to read when it starts up. E. Once the boot loader is done it will perform a jump to the Linux kernel, usually some decompression routine, and the kernel assumes system responsibility. Here's another link (more on the Linux side) on the topic with references: eLinux website answer This comment stood out to me: In general it is quite tricky to create a boot loader for an existing phone since they often come with tailor made boot loaders from the manufacturer. To add to the difficulty they also have security features that aim to prevent you from downloading your own bootloader. However, if you have an open platform you need an initial bootloader stage and a main bootloader able to start and/or flash software to the device. For the main bootloader you probably want to check out u-boot, http://www.denx.de/wiki/U-Boot . The initial bootloader stage needed to start u-boot need to be aware of the boot-protocol in the hardware requiring some documentation or reverse engineering in order to create or download a suitable one. To sum things up reprogramming of existing phones is often more work than its worth unless you are really interested in which case there are a lot of forums dedicated to that sort of thing. | Low level Android kernel hacking | android |
Does Flashing Stock Samsung ROM in Odin Clear out the System Partition First? Options Used: No repartition, ROM put inside PDA slot I'm wondering because I suspect there may have been some malware in the previous ROM that was flashed. So I want to be sure all the Files that were in the System Partition Previously are deleted. | If you use Odin then I am asuming you have a samsung device. Depending on what Stock rom you use, I mean if you will flash using 1 file or 3 file rom, if you have a 3 file rom then you have to put in the pit file to, and then you can enable the re-partition. If you use 1 file rom in odin, i think it will re-partition by default so you do not have to check the repartition check box in odin. | Does Flashing Stock ROM in Odin Clear out the System Partition First? | android |
There's a low cost generic charger for Ultra but not for Z1. Is xperia Ultra charger dock compatible with xperia Z1? http://dx.com/p/portable-cell-phone-usb-charging-dock-station-for-sony-xperia-z-ultra-xl39h-black-262275 | I use the charging dock for both Z Ultra and Z1. | Is xperia Ultra charger dock compatible with xperia Z? | android |
I want to buy a Galaxy S4 without a new contract, and I noticed that the "international version" is slightly cheaper. Are there any cons to owning the international version in the US? For software/firmware, would there be compatibility differences (such as when installing different ROMs)? For hardware, would I still be able to use Verizon's 4G LTE? | Often times, one of the main differences between Android phone models is the supported frequency bands . This can be because they simply use different antennas for different bands, or because they support completely different network standards (e.g. CDMA and GSM versions). It is not uncommon for devices to be released with completely different names on different networks, in fact, when they are essentially the same device. For example, the original Galaxy S had a number of named variants on different carriers: the Captivate , the Vibrant , and the Fascinate . There can also be other hardware differences between variants as well. In this case specifically, the i9500 international version of the GS4 doesn't have an LTE radio, although the i9505/i9506 does. In the GS4's case, this is because they are built with entirely different systems on a chip: the i9500 uses an Exynos whereas the others use Snapdragons. Significant hardware differences like this are, from what I've seen, not generally as common (although I have no hard numbers), though some changes to less essential things like the camera or NFC support could exist as well 1 . The spec sheets for each version should outline this information, though, so it is worth checking since there is no real way to "generalize" these differences. The international versions will work on AT&T and T-Mobile USA's 2G networks, as well as AT&T's 3G and certain T-Mobile 3G areas (ones using the 850 MHz band), but won't support LTE on either. They will not work at all on Verizon, because they don't support CDMA networks nor do they support Verizon's LTE band. Even if they did, Verizon will typically not activate non-branded phones on their network. If you're going to use Verizon, you need to buy a Verizon phone. stackexchange-url ("Can I use my device on a different carrier?") has more detailed information on how to make these determinations. A ROM for one phone will not typically work on other variants, or if it does it will be somewhat broken. For example, running a ROM for the GSM Galaxy Nexus (maguro) on a CDMA variant (like toro) would often work since the hardware was largely the same, but you couldn't make phone calls or access 3G data or the like. In this specific scenario, I would not expect a ROM for the international GS4 to run on another variant at all. They use completely different systems on a chip. In most cases, the only real "con", as such, to owning an unlocked/off-network phone is that you cannot get official support for the device through your carrier. They will often be willing to provide some kind of equipment protection plan or insurance, but if you go into a store or call customer service for technical support they will not be able to help you. 1 With Samsung it may be slightly more common, because of the nature of the situation. They designed the Exynos chipset, which is why they use it in their devices in place of Qualcomm's Snapdragon, but they did not have an Exynos SoC that supported LTE at the time. Thus, in markets where they intend to support LTE, they sometimes go with entirely different chips (like Snapdragons). | What differences are there for an "international version" phone? (Galaxy 4s) | android |
I've got an Android TV device here and we want to use it in a public media display. We've got a few problems to solve: 1) Have the device turn on when it received power: Looks like this would be a firmware thing and we're not going to solve it. 2) Load tons of media: Solved: Device works great with a USB hard drive. 3) Have a Media Player app start on power up: Solved: Using the Auto Start App 4) Find a media player that will: a) Begin automatic playback of random media when started (no having to press play). b) Allow really easy navigation of the USB Drive folders as albums when the only interface is a remote control. Would really appreciate some help with finding the right media player app. | Closest thing I've been able to find is: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.burningthumb.premiervideokiosk&hl=en Video Kiosk Display a folder of videos, continuously and robustly in a loop. Video Kiosk was designed with Android TV Sticks in mind (tested on MK808 and MK812) but also works with any Android device that you want to use to display a continuous series of looping videos. Video Kiosk can used to run the big screen at a gym, shop, or anywhere where you need to run an unattended display, so you can be sure it will work simply and easily. The only thing other people need to know how to do is turn the TV on and off - Video Kiosk takes care of the rest. Simply put your video files in a folder, launch Video Kiosk and pick the folder that contains the video. Optionally enable the launch at startup option so that when the device is (re)started, Video Kiosk automatically launches and starts playing video. | Turn Android TV Device into Public Media Player | android |
I know that currently (Dec 2013), microSD capacity is up to 64GB. However reading some devices' specs, it says "includes microSD card slot, up to 32GB", is it a device restriction, or it's because it was written before 64GB cards were available? | That will most likely depend on the device, a generic answer valid for all of them cannot be given. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S2 specs give 32 GB as max, still some user was able to get a 64 GB card working (see: stackexchange-url ("64gb SDXC Cards in Galaxy S2")). For some older devices, the 32 GB limit might be a fact, while again others might just have specified it to be "on the safe site". TL;DR: Yes, it's device dependant, some devices have their limits. | Do all microSD slots support the current maximum capacity in the market, or is it device-specific? | android |
I downloaded an APK from a 3rd party source (not Google Play). My question is that can this android app, although stated that it can only access my USB storage, could it also do other things (such as read IMEI) without stating it explicitly? In essence what I am wondering is that does the Android System actually prevent it or is it just something the developer states in their manifest? | As Meer Borg correctly states stackexchange-url ("in his answer"): when an app is installed, the package manager reads its <code> Manifest </code> , and notes the permissions requested into files the Android system controls ( <code> /data/system/packages.xml </code> , <code> /system/etc/permissions/*.xml </code> (one file per app)). Additionally, for each permission there is a specific user group, which will be assigned to the app 1 . So each time the app tries to access a feature requiring a permission, this is checked against: if the permission was declared in the <code> Manifest </code> , access is granted – otherwise it's refused. note that this is a simplified description, though While this is the general rule, for some things there are possibilities to work-around the permissions. If an app e.g. wants to send something to the internet, it could also do so calling an "intent", asking the browser to open a certain page (like e.g. <code> http://bad.server/collector.php?info1=some_info&info2=more_info </code> ). However, this would not go un-noticed by the user, as the browser would open in foreground and show this action. So if an app would make use of this feature, the outcry would be heard (usually). If a dev really wants to do "bad things", he could also use another way: have one app with all the required permissions, and a second with almost none. If the user has both apps installed, the second one could call the first (big-permission) app to process "things" it cannot do itself (due to lacking permissions) – in the same manner as described above for accessing the internet. note that this priciple is used e.g. for addons, and "inter-app-communication" in a positive sense, too TL;DR: An app is restricted to the permissions it requests, and cannot directly access other "things". "Indirect" access would not go unnoticed. P.S.: This is just an abstract, and simplified presentation. I'm not in Android development, so some dev might have better understanding and correct me, or add to the above. 1 Example (note the "groups" list): <code> shell@android:/ $ id uid=2000(shell) gid=2000(shell) groups=1003(graphics),1004(input),1007(log),1009(mount),1011(adb),1015(sdcard_rw),1028(sdcard_r),3001(net_bt_admin),3002(net_bt),3003(inet),3006(net_bw_stats) </code> The <code> id </code> command (without parameters) shows information about the "current user". In this case, I was using <code> adb shell </code> , so the user is the "shell app" (rather the integrated Unix shell). The list of groups shows which permissions are granted to the shell, So it can e.g. read and write the SDCard, access Bluetooth, and the Internet (plus some more things). | Can an Android app circumvent its stated permissions? | android |
How does Fast Charge work? Does it actually charge your device faster, and if so, is there a downside to using it? | When you plug your phone into a PC, or other device that communicates with the phone, the phone uses a USB "Data mode", so to speak. In this mode, there is a 500ma maximum draw from the USB port. When you plug your phone into a regular AC wall charger, there is no data connection. The phone then uses whatever amperage is supported by both the phone and charger (typically between 500ma and 2.1amps) There are USB charging cables that have the data pins re-wired to disable a data connection. This makes the phone think it's plugged into a regular AC charger, and allow more than 500ma to flow. That does not mean the USB port has more than 500ma to begin with. Typically, USB ports on PCs have 500ma, or USB 3.0 ports may have 900ma. Theoretically this is safe because it's just disabling a data connection. It's not using more power than it should. Phone's are designed not to accept more amps than it can handle. There are also apps that allow for fast charging by forcing the phone into using the AC charging mode instead of data. However you still need a compatible kernel or it won't work . (For standard users, changing the kernel is a complicated and risky procedure.) Please note that there are reported cases of people's phones not supporting regular data modes after attempting to activate fast charge via an app (notably the nexus 4). | How does fast-charge work? | android |
Pretty much every time I get a text message, Hangouts gives me an annoying notification asking to handle my text messages (which I don't want to do). Is there a way to disable it? | Turn it on, then go into Hangouts and turn it off. Actually I really wanted to write/receive SMS from Hangouts, but it didn't quite work well. Sometimes I could not even reply to the message. So yeah. I disabled it and no nag ever since. | Stop the nag notification for enabling texts on Hangouts? | android |
I have two little kids and for obvious reasons I'm not to keen to let them use my account. Since I have Android 4.4.2 on my Nexus 7 I set up a limited profile today and enabled the kids games for the profile. Sadly one App (Lego Speedorz) keeps crashing instantly when started. Since there is close to nothing one can setup for apps in restricted profiles I'm at a loss here :-( Any hint what I could try to get the game running? | After restarting the tablet the app is now working properly. No idea - could be android was not able to free enough RAM or some such... | Android App (Lego Speedorz) will not run in restricted profile, crashes instantly | android |
I noticed that when slide-typing (does it have an official name?) into text fields (as opposed to text areas ), suggestions do not appear. It just puts in the first word it guesses I was trying to type and doesn't give me any other options. Why is this and is there a solution to it? | Android doesn't have a distinction between "text fields" and "text areas" like HTML has. One control, called <code> TextView </code> (or <code> EditText </code> , but they're both the same underlying control) handles all text fields, whether they're editable or not, and whether they're one line or several. That's not to say that every text field behaves the same way. <code> TextView </code> gives the app the opportunity to set hints for the keyboard, to tell it what kind of text is being edited (called the input type ). One input type tells the keyboard that the text being entered is a search filter. The keyboard's free to interpret these hints however it likes: in this case, Google Keyboard doesn't show any word completions/suggestions when the input type is a search filter. You can avoid this problem by using a different keyboard app which interprets the input type and other hints differently. For example, SwiftKey shows word completions for search filters just like for normal text. (I've just tested it on Google Search.) SwiftKey also supports gesture typing like the default keyboard. If you're interested, you can learn more about the different hints apps can give to the keyboard by playing with my app IM prove . (It's a free app with no ads, so all I get if you use it is a warm fuzzy feeling when you leave a good rating.) With this app, you can set all the hints, and see what effect they have on your keyboard. You can compare different keyboards this way. | Kitkat keyboard no suggestion on text fields | android |
I was wondering is there any way to test websites on my phone? I am a Web Programmer, and I usually code designs which are responsive. So I want to check if the design is compatible on mobile phone. I use XAMPP on my Windows 7 Laptop for Apache services. Is there anything like Hamachi I could use to see my <code> http://localhost </code> via my Phone? | Take a look: Chrome DevTools for Mobile: Emulate and Screencast | Testing Websites on Phone | android |
I am not able to flash my Nexus 4 with Cyanogenmod 11 anymore. The installation does not successfully finish, which is probably why it gets stuck in a boot loop after restarting the phone. During the initial installation by sideloading the Cyanogenmod 11 zip, the process stops at the step Installing update.. It never says update finished. So I just restarted the phone manually afterwards. But it does not boot Cyanogenmod successfully. The phone either... ...gets stuck at the Cyanogenmod boot splash indefinetely ...gets stuck at the window Android is upgrading.. / Starting apps. I have formatted the following partitions beforehand to perform a clean install: /system, /cache, /data, /persist, /firmware | I had suspected that formatting additional partitions like <code> /firmware </code> and <code> /persist </code> might be somehow related my boot loop - but I have no educated confirmation of this! Any CM aftermarket firmware that I tried would get stuck at the boot though. The following solved my problem: Install the (latest) Google Stock Android - this is just as easy as installing Cyanogenmod Install ClockworkMod Recovery Install Cyanogenmod Rom | Stuck at "Installing update..." in recovery mode | android |
I have followed the guide at XDA Developers for a Samsung Galaxy Note II, and used "option 2" and flashed the firmware using <code> heimdall flash --RECOVERY recovery.img --CACHE cache.img </code> in Linux. This gave me a SuperSU program, which I could execute. After executing it immediately wanted to update. I allowed it. It required a reboot, I allowed that. The program asked if it should attempt to install by the "normal" or CWM method. I picked CWM. The device started up in the CWM minimal OS, but it was not apparent to me what option the user should take at this point to proceed. I tried various options, like installing from cache or sd card, but there didn't appear to be any file to install. I rebooted again, started SuperSU again. I selected "Install SuperSU into /system". The program needed to reboot again, this time I was not given the option of how to install it ("normal" or CWM). After reboot, I started SuperSU again. The option was still available to "Install SuperSU into /system", it is unclear if this means SuperSU has not successfully installed, or if this option is always available in case you need to repeat the procedure after an update. I downloaded the Titanium Backup program which as I understand required root access. When executing Titanium Backup, I was prompted by SuperSU if I wished to grant root access. I clicked yes. The program appeared to function properly. My questions are: What action is the user supposed to take within CWM when SuperSU requests to reboot using this method? Is the choice "Install SuperSU into /system" supposed to still be possible to select after a successful install? How do I run an arbitrary program as root? What I wanted to do in the first place was to get a terminal to run as root. I have already a program called "Terminal Emulator" installed. How do I make "Terminal Emulator" execute as root? Is it normal for SuperSU to "close" itself spontaneously while looking through the settings? I think once it updated itself while I was in the settings, but I'm not sure. | Ugh, that's 4 questions in one. Our site works best with one question per post; but let me try: How to install via CWM (custom recovery)? usually, it's "install update.zip from SDCard" when the deal is to "install something via recovery". By default, there should be an <code> update.zip </code> file in the root of the SDCard, which you then navigate to and select. Hint: I always update it via Google Play (the "normal way"). Works smoothly, never had trouble, doesn't require a reboot. Is the choice "Install SuperSU into /system" supposed to still be possible to select after a successful install? I'd say "No", but it depends. This usually moves the app from <code> /data </code> (user-space) to <code> /system </code> (system-space). After having moved it, it should no longer be in its original location. But depending on how updates are installed (SuperSU e.g. updates via Google Play , like any other app), this update could again end up in user-space, in which case the user might wish to "repeat" the system integration. How do I run an arbitrary program as root? Two-fold. First, "arbitrary programs" (apps) must request root access themselves, you cannot make them "run as root". That's a little different when it comes to the command line: prefixing your commands with <code> su </code> makes the terminal app requesting root access. So you could e.g. list all directories below <code> /data </code> using <code> su ls /data </code> and succeed (while a simple <code> ls /data </code> wouldn't be able to access all files/sub-directories here). Is it normal for SuperSU to "close" itself spontaneously while looking through the settings? I've never experienced that, and I'm using SuperSU on one of my devices for a year now (the others have chainfire's SuperUser). But I must admit I'm not often calling it directly and stay there for longer. I mostly only see the access requests of apps, or the update recommendation via Play :) | Running a program as root on Android | android |
My fiancee just got my old SGS2 when I got my new N5. The problem that she's having is that there is no cell reception at her work. And because of this, her phone is constantly searching for a signal all day long, and by the time she leaves work and gets into an area of reception the phone is dead. I've told her to just turn it off or put it in airplane mode, but she usually forgets. I know I could set something up with tasker, but that sounds like a pain, and I don't really want to pay for on app she'd hardly use. phone is SGH T989. I believe she's on 4.2.something. Really what I'd like to be able to do is just have the phone not try so hard to find a signal when there isn't one available. I looked and didn't really see a system setting for this. Is there maybe an app that someone can recommend that would work? | I had similar problems and used Llama, then expanded my use of it to cover other events. It is similar to Tasker, and sufficient to my needs, while still a free app. Most automation can be triggered by entering/leaving cell tower range that is recognized as "Home". It has options to turn on Airplane mode automatically when the phone leaves a cell reception range, and take it out of Airplane mode when it re-enters. BTW - I'm just an enthusiastic user - not the developer. | Any way to reduce the frequency of searching for a signal | android |
I just bought my father a chinese phone, seems to be working great except after I install an app, it does not appear in the widgets list. I have tried several apps (Wifi Manager, Gsam Battery monitor) on several launchers (Default, Zeam, GO Launcher EX). I even set English instead of Hungarian, nothing helped. The default widgets (Bookmarks, Calendar, Gmail, etc) are in the list. Is there some setting I am missing? | This can (and certainly will) happen when installing apps on SDCard. Normally, the system should prevent this (or rather the dev, by defining the "install-location" accordingly in the app's <code> Manifest </code> ). So if the apps were installed on SDCard, go to Settings→Apps , scroll to the apps' entries, open them (one by one), and move the app to internal storage. If the widgets do not appear right away after that, they should do so at least after a reboot. | Widgets of installed apps do not appear in list | android |
I have a Nexus 7 (2013) which comes with five homescreens, however I want to remove most of these but I'm unable to find an option to do so. Most of the sites I've looked on so far suggest simply tapping and holding on the homescreen, but this prompts me to change my wallpaper. How can you remove homescreens on the Nexus 7 (2013)? | Are you sure you have the google-experience launcher? The one that comeswith the Nexus 5 and has integrated Google Now on the leftmost screen? It does not come with the Nexus 7 update, it is Nexus 5 exclusive. You CAN sideload it, but since you mention "Five Homescreens" you don't have it. You have the stock launcher. If you are using the Nexus 7 'stock' launcher you cannot remove or add homescreens. You could install Nova Launcher or another third party launcher. You can easily add and remove screens on these, through pinch out and drag screen to the 'trash can' or 'X' icon. Specific to G.E.L: You simply remove all the shortcuts from the rightmost screen and it will automatically remove the screen itself. The reverse is true also, drag an icon out of the app drawer over the edge of the rightmost screen and a new one will be created. Side Loading GEL: Phandroid 'How to' With links to the apk files You can easily sideload GEL and you will only have one homescreen by default, and integrated Google Now. This should work on any Android 4.0+ Device. I have tested on 4.2.2 and 4.3 and 4.4 on Galaxy S4, Nexus 4 and HTC One. | How can you remove homescreens on the Nexus 7 (2013) | android |
I have a Nexus 4 with a broken LCD/Digitizer, I have no control via touch at all. The other parts of the phone are functional. Now, what I want to do and hope is possible is to clear the phone and install some Linux distro via Usb. The trick is, I need to be able to control the installation via wifi or USB directly after the upload of the Linux package. After this I want to run it as a dedicated Web server of some sort. I welcome any type of solutions. All I want in the end is to use my phone as a dedicated Web Server which I can control remotely. Thanks. | Welcome to the Android Enthusiasts, Majk! We support end-users with Android-specific issues, but cannot help you setting up a Linux server on a device, though it was running Android before. Still, some helpful hints: There are means to control your device even with a broken screen. We've got several issues reported where people wanted to do exactly that. Please check e.g.: stackexchange-url ("My screen got broken, how to see on the computer what I'm doing in my device?") stackexchange-url ("Control Android with broken screen from PC") stackexchange-url ("Use android phone with broken screen as WiFi camera") stackexchange-url ("Broken Screen + Using adb shell to run vnc server") There are several web server apps available for Android as well. Even some supporting/including things like PHP and MySQL. Some examples: AndroPHP Ulti Server: PHP, MySQL, PMA KSWEB: server + PHP + MySQL NAMP nginx android web server I guess that should get you started if you want to solve your issue using Android. And as I initially wrote: Doing that with any other OS, even on an "Android device", is beyond the scope of this site. But I would wonder if you will really need that, after these details – right? :) | Turn a Android Phone with broken screen into dedicated Web server | android |
The dashboard shows global distribution, and I wonder if there's a way to find out the difference in Gingerbread distribution between say, India and Europe. | Not for those "ancient versions", but for Android 4.0+ you can find some stats in Christina's Blog . Giving the example matching closest to your question: | Are there any stats of Android version distribution by region? | android |
I can't find a proper tool to unpack boot.img from GravityMod2. both <code> unmkbootimg </code> and <code> split_bootimg.pl </code> are able to extract same fileset (kernel, 4280320 bytes and ramdisk, 633284 bytes). I think the files are damaged (taken from wrong offsets?) - can't even find gzip/cpio signatures in ramdisk image! Is there another specific tool to unpack Android 4.2.x boot.img, or MTK-specific tool maybe? | You can find proper tools to unpack boot, recovery, system and data images here: mtk-tools Thread of the author on xda developers, thank him :) Usage: <code> ./unpack-MT65xx.pl boot.img ./repack-MT65xx.pl -boot <kernel> <ramdisk-directory> boot.img </code> | Unpack initramfs.cpio.gz (boot.img) from MTK6589 phone? | android |
My favorite part about Android is how Google backups almost everything for you without you actually really noticing. I just got a Nexus 5 and logged in to my Google account right away. I noticed it did not start installing all my apps right away and now when I go over to friends' houses their wifi passwords aren't saved from before. This is really annoying cause they all have default router passwords that are extremely long. I installed a few ROMs just to play around with the phone, and each time I did the initial setup and signed in to Google, it would not sync anything... I have "Back up my data, Backup account, Automatic restore" all set in settings. Any ideas why this is happening to my Google account? | That's a pretty well known "feature". Don't worry, your data is backed up there – it only does not restore . And you cannot even really delete it there. So in some way, it's "safe"... Things you might want to look up in this context: stackexchange-url ("What exactly is synced with Google?") Underlines what I've said before, and also shows you ways to check what's "synced" stackexchange-url ("Google Backup: Multiple devices using the same account - what happens on Restore?") Plenty of details on how that "Google Cloud Backup" works (and sometimes fails) stackexchange-url ("What info does Google backup?") Well, the title says it all :) Issue 17354: "Automatic Restore" rarely works, and then only partially What I already indicated above, and most likely the answer to your current issue. Note that this ticket was opened in June, 2011 – and still has the status "New". One of the comments also includes a possible work-around: Here's what I did that worked. I factory reset the device (again), and then at the very first screen (where you choose the language), I turn it off. I put in a difference sim card, turn it on and then proceed with the normal setup. This worked for my Nexus 4. Heise on undeletable WiFi Passwords (German) If you don't believe me about "undeletable backups", this is my reference. The article is in German, and the publisher (Heise Verlag) is one of the most famous and most trusted sources here in Germany, concerning IT topics. There are many many more references I could give, but that would be a bit much for here. So a last hint: check the "Linked" and "Related" question links on the ASE Q&As I've linked here. | Google account not saving Wifi passwords, apps, etc | android |
I just upgraded to a Nexus 5 and am setting up my launcher + icons. Right now I'm using Nova Launcher, and a like a lot of things about it, but it's lacking in Google Now integration. Two things in particular I miss: Having Google Now start listening when I say, "Okay Google" without pressing a button - this still works once I'm in Google Now, but not on the Nova Launcher homescreen (as it does with the stock launcher). Being able to swipe over to the left from the homescreen to get the Now screen Are there any launchers that support these features, especially the first one? | The Google Experience Launcher is actually built into the Google Search app along with Google Now. This is why it can listen for 'Okay Google' and have Google Now accessible via the left swipe. Ars Technica has a good article which goes into more details on this. There are some launchers that support gestures, which might be similar to the left swipe to access the Google Now page (although they will only be able to launch Google Now in the same way an upward swipe does). I don't think there are any that support saying 'Okay Google' from the homescreen though. | Custom Launcher that supports Google Now integration? | android |
I have Busybox installed, but I suspect that it does not work properly. Total Commander ADB plugin invokes <code> busybox mv -f </code> and <code> busybox rm -f </code> commands, but it seems to fail silently. Is there a reasonable way how to check? | "How do i know if I have busybox?" Open Terminal Emulator and type "busybox". If it gives you a giant list of command options, it's installed. If it says "Command not found", it's not. edit Rather than putting this in the comments: you could also try <code> su </code> to become root followed by <code> busybox </code> , <code> busybox --version </code> , <code> busybox --help </code> or anything that will give you some feedback and some clues as to what's going on. | How can I check if busybox is working properly? | android |
The app in question is Viral Floating Youtube Popup (a really awesome app, try it). The notification bar says "Couldn't install on USB storage or SD card". Here's my relevant ADB log output as it finishes downloading and attempts to re-install: D/Finsky ( 5512): [1] DownloadQueueImpl.onComplete: com.Mata.YTplayer: onComplete D/Finsky ( 5512): [1] DownloadQueueImpl.remove: Download com.Mata.YTplayer removed from DownloadQueue I/installd( 164): free_cache(0) avail 1346953216 D/dalvikvm( 249): GC_EXPLICIT freed 861K, 57% free 6745K/15559K, paused 3ms+9ms W/ActivityManager( 249): No content provider found for permission revoke: file:///data/data/com.android.providers.downloads/cache/downloadfile-3.apk D/VoldCmdListener( 153): asec list I/PackageHelper(10147): Size of container 8 MB D/VoldCmdListener( 153): asec create smdl2tmp1 8 fat {} 10041 E/logwrapper(17534): executing /system/bin/newfs_msdos failed: No such file or directory I/logwrapper( 153): /system/bin/newfs_msdos terminated by exit(255) E/Vold ( 153): Format failed (unknown exit code 255) E/Vold ( 153): ASEC FAT format failed (I/O error) E/PackageHelper(10147): Failed to create secure container smdl2tmp1 E/DefContainer(10147): Failed to create container smdl2tmp1 W/ActivityManager( 249): No content provider found for permission revoke: file:///data/data/com.android.providers.downloads/cache/downloadfile-3.apk D/dalvikvm( 249): GC_EXPLICIT freed 125K, 57% free 6739K/15559K, paused 3ms+8ms D/Finsky ( 5512): [265] 1.packageInstalled: Package install status for "null" is -18 D/Finsky ( 5512): [1] InstallerTask.cancelCleanup: Cancel running installation of com.Mata.YTplayer | Error "-18" (see the previous-to-last line of your log) is a typical app2sd error. Trouble is, there were remains from a previous install left on the SDCard, and now the package manager cannot create a file with a name already existing. There are two possible approaches: if the app is already installed, and you're trying to update: Move it back to "internal storage" (e.g. via Settings→Apps , scroll to the app, open it's entry, and use the corresponding button). Then try to update again. Once succeeded, optionall move the app back to SDCard otherwise: attach the card to your PC using a card reader (or, if you have root access, use a file-manager with root support, e.g. ES File Explorer ; without root, Android will hide the folder you need to access). In the root of the card, you should find a folder named <code> .android_secure </code> (note the leading dot!). Navigate into it. Watch out for a file named <code> smdl2tmp1.asec </code> (see the corresponding error message: <code> Failed to create container smdl2tmp1 </code> ), and remove it. If you had used a cardreader attached to your PC: unmount the card safely, and put it back to your device. Try installing the app again, it should work now. Reading the log again, it looks like the cause was a little different here: <code> executing /system/bin/newfs_msdos failed: No such file or directory </code> is where the trouble starts. The system was unable to create a "handler" to deal with the FAT file system on the SDCard, thus could not access it ( <code> ASEC FAT format failed (I/O error) </code> ), and then couldn't deal with the "smdl2tmp1" container because of that. In short: It looks like there's a binary missing (or it's there but lacks the appropriate permissions). | HP TouchPad: After reinstalling CM9, one app refuses to re-install at all, and I cannot move apps to the internal SD card | android |
I bought a Sony Smartwatch and I wonder if it can be used with any bluetooth headset to take the calls. I know there is a Smart Wireless Headset pro but it costs almost as much as the watch. Can I use the smartwatch with a regular bluetooth headset like Samsung HM1200 ? | The official Sony answer for my question (I didn't alter it): In regard to your question about if the smartwatch that you purchased if can be use with any regular blueatooth headset and im going to use the same example that you put the Samsung bluetooth headset, it might be compatible but is not warranty that is going to work with every single fuction of it do to the fact that the smartwatch is build to work with sony devices. | Sony Smartwatch compatibility with regular headsets | android |
Since I upgraded to Android 4.4 (Kitkat), I'm having a lot of problems with anything web related. Often, when calling an URL, the loading is fast and shows nothing: the page remains white. Even refreshing won't do. Clearing the cash doesn't help either. I have to close all tabs, serveral times, relaunch Chrome or even reboot my device to get the page to load. Even then, I'm not entirely sure if rebooting the device did make it work or it's just random. Sometimes, when loading an animated gif, it will start to load and stop and never play again. It could also just stay on the first frame. Also, the webview of reddit's app does the same thing, I switched it to show the link inside the browser instead to see if it helps, but it doesn't. I'm don't know if the Play Store has webviews in it, but sometimes the app just doesn't load anything and the page is also white. At first I thought it may be my connection, but I tested over nealry 10 wifi (home, work, cafe, friends, etc.) and it seems to be very random as it starts to act weird from over time. My device is a Nexus 4. | As you have already tested, trying out different browsers might be a good alternative. I suggest you try either Boat Browser or Dolphin Browser . My stand for Chrome Browser still remains. It is still an immature browser, and lacks many features / add-ons that are available in other browsers. | Chrome white pages and image not loading | android |
When I put more than one person as the recipient to my message my Samsung galaxy s3 vibrates and says it's converting to MMS. When I send my message I know at least one person is not getting the message. However that person can send me a group message and I can see it is as a SMS instead of MMS. I cant find any options to prevent it from becoming a MSM. I set the delivery report checkbox and sent another one out. I know one person got it and that person did it. I get no report on who got it. I'm using 4.3 | I was facing the same problem for long time on my Galaxy S3, at last i figure it out by default android SMS allow you to send same message to multiple people without converting it to MMS. But when you Select the option <code> Group Messaging </code> under the <code> multimedia message (MMS) setting </code> it now set group messaging only for MMS try un-checking the option hope this will help ( am using default sms of android) Screenshot (click to enlarge) | Send SMS instead of MMS when texting multiple people | android |
I have a Nexus that I'd like to set up on a stand while I have it plugged in. To do this, I have to rotate the phone 180 degrees. Unfortunately, Android on the phone does not seem to support this. This works fine on my Nexus 7, but not on the Nexus 5. Is there some setting that I can change to enable this? The phone will do normal portrait, and landscape to either side, but it will not change the display to work when it is upside down. | This is not possible without a third-party application. A quick search on Google Play shows several apps which should allow you to do what you want. | Rotate Nexus 5 upside down? | android |
Before KitKat 4.4.2 there were a variety of Applications Permissions Manager. They worked but with the release if KitKat 4.4.2 they no longer work. This was a non root application so it ran on non rooted phones. The ability to disable permissions on Applications is very useful as some need way to many permissions. Unfortunately the Google has no filter on searching for applications based on what they access. So Application Permissions Manager was an excellent security tool. | The permissions manager feature of Android is not complete yet and strictly speaking it should not be accessible. In 4.4.2 Google have removed the method that apps such as App Ops and App Ops 4.3 / 4.4 KitKat used. As far as I know there is currently no way to access this any more. You will have to wait for Google to finish implementing it and provide a built-in method to access, or wait for someone to find another way to access it. Quote from Color Tiger the developer of one of the apps on AndroidPolice : Still not working, but here's a quick update: See line 309 - those are the allowed fragments that can be shown. AppOps was in that commit 3 days ago (line 329), but in the 4.2.2 build that's being sent out that line is removed (we've decompiled the Settings.apk). We're looking for a possible different entry point (another Activity to accept commands to load the AppOpsSummary fragment), but it doesn't look good. UPDATE: Apparently Google uses App Ops as an internal testing and debugging tool – it was never designed to be seen by end users, which is why it wasn't given a spot in the system settings, or even the developer options. Source | Applications Permissions Manager for Kit Kat 4.4.2 | android |
When two applications are competing for the same task, how do you turn one to be the default? For example I downloaded a Snap camera app and I'd like the stock camera app to be the default. What do we do to set the default apps for the different tasks on the system? Are there centralized settings on Android? | what do we do too set the default apps for the applications running on the system? I assume you meant to ask how to set default apps for certain actions/tasks, such as taking a picture, writing an email, opening a web page etc. The answer really depends on which version of the Android OS your device is running, and also to a lesser extent, who the manufacturer of the device is. If you consider a Google Nexus device running the latest version of stock Android (4.4 KitKat), the OS presents you with a picker dialog to select which app you would like to launch to complete the task. In the screenshot below, I attempted to launch a camera to take a picture: Screenshot (click image for larger variant) You can select one of the options and then select "Always" or "Just once". As the buttons indicate, your selection will either persist for future tasks or you'll see this picker-dialog every time. If this list changes because you uninstalled the app that you had marked as "Always" or if you installed new apps that can handle the same task, this dialog will be presented again. Certain device manufacturers (or OEMs) may choose to modify this behavior as part of their "skinning/customization" of Android. HTC famously changed this behavior for some of their devices (for a slightly technical explanation of their change, read here). You can also see how this dialog picker has changed historically here. what do we do too set the default apps for the applications running on the system? You need to perform an action that multiple apps on your device are capable of handling so that the above dialog presents itself. It's hard to know when this dialog will present itself since apps and their capabilities change all the time. For example, if you installed a new camera app, you can make it the "Default" camera app by trying to launch the camera from elsewhere in the system or other apps (like hitting a button that says "take a picture"). is there a centralized settings on Android? Short answer: No (but as of Android 4.4, you can set a default "Homescreen" app from the Device Settings-> Home. Note that you will only see this option if you have multiple Homescreen apps) However, if you did set an app as the default handles for certain tasks, and you wish you no longer keep it the default, you can navigate to it's "App Info" page (Device Settings-> Apps-> pick your app) and hit the "Clear Defaults" button. | Setting the default app | android |
I would like to install a Custom ROM in my Xperia J and its named AVD ROM . To install that ROM do I have to install the ICS first or no need? Please help me. thank you. | If your device is rooted/unlocked, and you already use a custom recovery (like clockworkmod or twrp ), there's no need to downgrade first. flashing the custom-rom will either replace the complete system, regardless of the installed version: usually, the images contain complete "disk images" for all relevant partitions. If, on the other hand, your device is not rooted, and there doesn't exist any rooting solution for the currently installed Android version, but only for ICS: then yes, you might need to downgrade so you can gain root access to your device, and flash a custom recovery . On some devices it might be sufficient to simply unlock the bootloader in order to install a custom recovery or flash a custom rom. If that applies to your device, I must leave for someone else to answer. | Do I need to downgrade my Xperia J to ICS before installing a custom ROM? | android |
I got a Nexus 7 (2013) with Android 4.3. Some time ago the system reported that system update to 4.4 is available, but I did not install it because I use the device for developement and wanted to finish development cycle under 4.3. All this time notification bar was displaying an icon for the update. As far as I can remember the message was that the update is downloaded and ready to install. Today I noticed that the icon disappeared. I opened system settings and then <code> About tablet </code> -> <code> System updates </code> . On the screen there is the message: <code> Android 4.4.2 System Update Downloading 253.2MB Via Wi-Fi only until Dec 14 </code> The problem is that the progress indicator is frozen at something about 10%. The questions are: Does someone know if the 4.4.2 is a cumulative update including initial 4.4 release, and if it's not - how can I "tell" the system to install 4.4 first? How can I nudge the downloading and installation process? I already switched the device off and on, and this did not help. I'd prefer to make the update via Wi-Fi. | The issue is solved. AFAICU, there was possibly a problem with Android update hosting site or somewhere on a trace to it, because the device was connected to and was capable of browsing Internet without a problem, including google.com. After some time, even without updating the progress indicator, the device displayed <code> Install & Reboot </code> button. After this all goes well. So, the answers are: Android provides cumulative update to 4.4.2, at least for Nexus 7 (2013). Android should improve the way how it shows status information. If it encounters some problems with downloading an update, it should output something like "Connection timeout, trying to reconnect..." instead of just "Downloading" all the time. Also the progress indicator may have a bug preventing it from proper UI update in similar sitations. | Android 4.4 OTA system update hangs on Nexus 7 (2013) | android |
I successfully downloaded Android 4.4 KitKat (see screen shot): And after downloading do not appear "restart/install" button, appear "Verification failed" error (see screen shot): (click the images for larger variants) If I click "Check now" button it begin redownload update Android 4.4 kitkat again. Does anybody know where the problem is, and how it could be solved? | Is your Nexus 4 100% stock? (i.e. no Xposed module changes, or low-level tweaks like status bar mods and DPI changes). Verification will fail if the system files on your device don't match factory/the expected ones. I had this happen to me several times with both my N4 and N5. Reverting the changes I made (thankfully, they weren't too many) fixed it. | Nexus 4 verification failed error on Update Android 4.4 KitKat | android |
I am using Google Nexus 5 with stock 4.4 KitKat. When the phone is in <code> locked state (locked with a standard PIN code, password or pattern) </code> and we long press power button, we get the power-off menu with options like Power-Off, Flight mode and Sound options (Mute, Vibrate and Sound) I was wondering that whether we could secure/disable the power-off and flight mode option if the phone is <code> locked state </code> or is there any way to customize these menu options? I looked in one of such question but didn't get the answer: stackexchange-url ("Disable power-off menu when screen is locked") | Use this app. It does exactly what you want : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.nezdroid.lockscreenprotector | Securing power off menu options when phone screen is locked or customizing power-off menu options? | android |
I use a Samsungs Galaxy Star Pro GT-S7262 with Jelly Bean 4.1.2. I have installed quite a few call recorder apps from Google Play and though they are recording all the calls, whenever I play back the recordings it sounds like everything has been recorded in fast forward mode (or is playing as such). It is happening with all the call recorder apps I have installed. What could be the problem and how can I resolve it as everything sounds jumbled and indecipherable | Some phones just can't support call recording because of how the hardware is designed. If you've tried several apps, and none of them work correctly, that is probably the case here. | Call recording problem | android |
I use OI file manager, but I would like to know if there is a way to remove spaces from file names and replace them with underscores, preferably in batch mode? I would even be willing to perform this operation on my windows laptop, so this isn't specifically an Android question, though I'd prefer to do this on my phone. I'm a graphic artist and I have thousands of inconsistently named images in various places, and I'd really like to avoid doing this manually, one by one, as it would take months! | This is certainly possible with tasker , though I cannot give you the "complete recipe". Basically, you could create a task like this: Execute Command: <code> ls -1 /path/to/your/files </code> , and capture the output into a variable the command will list all files in the given directory, one file per line Work on the variable. There are possibilities to convert it into an array, so you can use a <code> for </code> loop to handle each file again with variables, you can setup the rename command (e.g. using Variable Search Replace ) in a new variable. Pseudo-Code: <code> mv "$old_name" "$(s/ /_/,$old_name)" </code> But it is much easier to use a simple shell script in some terminal app (or via <code> adb shell </code> ) to achieve the same: <code> cd /path/to/your/files for file in $(ls -1); do mv "$file" "$(echo $file|sed 's/ /_/g')"; done </code> | How to rename files by batch? | android |
I've seen this error a few times just now, it seems to only occur when I install an app through the Google Play web interface. Haven't seen it when installing apps directly from my mobile device. Device is quite new and has more than enough free disk space. Couldn't find anything on here yet about this specific error. After a retry it downloads without any problems, so while it is far from blocking, I do hope to get some insight on what is happening here. StackExchange only lists error 923 as an <code> AndroidRuntime(923) </code> error, but I don't see how that can be the cause here. Screenshot attached with error in Dutch. Error - 'Game' could not be downloaded due to an error. (923) | It seems error 923 is related to the whole process of downloading, cache, storage, installation, etc. People get it most often in Google Play, but sometimes also outside of that. Most suggestions how to fix this come down to: <code> Settings > Apps > Running </code> > stop all (Google related) running services <code> Settings > Apps > All > Google Play Store </code> > Clear data and Clear cache Reboot phone, all should be fine now Found quite some useful answers on the internet outside of StackExchange (it exists!), so answered my own question already. Suggestions/additions always welcomed. ;) | What does error 923 when downloading apps from Google Play Store mean? | android |
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. | 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 <code> /system/etc/gps.conf </code> . 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. | How do wi-fi only Android devices synchronise time? | android |
I was using Rootbox(based on AOSP/AOKP/PA) (4.2.2) for some time so i made a backup of all my apps+data (system+user) and now i changed rom and i went to a Samsung stock based rom (4.1.2) .What apps are safe to restore to my new rom because i am very confused?I tried google it and i found that system apps+data must not be restored but i am not sure yet. and what about user apps , is it safe to restore my user apps + data without having issues ? thanks in advance! and sorry for my bad english ... | There are multiple things to be considered. First, you're absolutely correct: you should avoid restoring system apps. There might be some exceptions (as e.g. SMS, contacts, calendars are maintained by system apps as well), but let's postpone that for now. Second, user-apps should be safe to restore, including their data. Third, just to be sure, before restoring anything on a different ROM/device, you should take some pre-cautions: Go to TiBu 's settings, watch out for the "Troubleshooting" section, and enable "migration mode" as well as "use system SQLite" (this combination saved my day more than once). While in "normal mode" e.g. SQLite databases would be simply replaced (which might cause the "owning app" to crash if the structure had changed), with "migration mode" TiBu attempts to only merge the data. Forth, with above precautions taken, you could carefully try to even restore some of the relevant data (SMS, WiFi APs, etc.). To be on the absolutely safe side, a dedicated backup app for SMS etc. would be the better idea; contacts e.g. could be synced via Google or exported to <code> .vcf </code> using the Contacts app itself, similarly calendars (sync or save to <code> .ics </code> using a 3 rd party app). Last, just in case and to be on the sfe side: Restore your apps/data one by one, and check for possible side-effects in between; continue with the resp. "next app" only when you're sure everything is fine. Once running into trouble, remember which app that was; then factory-reset and restore all up to where you got allright (in case it was a system-app) or simply uninstall the troublemaker (in case of an user-app), skip the "trouble app", and continue carefully with the next. After-thoughts from the comments: the above applies to system apps and user-apps (the "one-by-one" especially applies to system apps, as you cannot uninstall them it something fails; though in most cases it suffices to "delete data" for the affected app in Settings→Apps – if you still can go there, that is) the above applies as well when restoring a backup on a different device (as basically, that can be called a "different ROM" as well, right?) possible side-effects might include force-close-loops of the affected app, even on device start – which again would require a factory-reset if it was a system app (or a user-app which wants to start at boot). With some luck, a start in safe-mode is possible in those cases, and you might be able solving the issue from there. example case for a failed restore (from my own experience): I once restored the SMS from a different ROM (didn't know about the migration option then). Results were I couldn't open the SMS app at all (force-close). Other apps accessing the same database crashed when trying to do so (e.g. contacts). "Delete data" didn't solve it back then, so I had to factory-reset. worst cases (at least if you left out system apps themselves; their data is OK) are always solved by a factory-reset. Really worst-case (you restored some system apps and broke it) is solved by re-flashing the ROM. | Titanium backup : restore from Rootbox to a Samsung stock based rom | android |
I have a Nexus 4, which I used to be able to connect to my Windows machine via USB, to test my code on. When I plugged it in, if I tried to run an application on it from Eclipse, Eclipse would tell me that there were no devices, and ask me if I wanted to start a virtual device, unless of course I waited a bit, until Windows popped up a dialog box asking me if I wanted to treat the Nexus 4 as a directory for photos, or audio, etc. Now however, Windows never gets to the point of showing me that dialog box, so Eclipse will always tell me there are no connected devices. How do I fix this? | Turns out that uninstalling and reinstalling the drivers solves the issue. The strange part is that before I uninstalled the drivers, the name on the driver said it was for a Samsung Galaxy device, which the Nexus 4 clearly is not. | Nexus 4 not recognised by Windows 7 machine after KitKat update | android |
When receiving mails or a whatsapp message, the same sound notification is played. I want to be able to tell those events apart and would like to define custom sounds. How can I achieve this? I really would like to avoid a third party application, or if there are no other ways, I prefer a paid app over one with advertisement. | Open WhatsApp, either press the <code> ... </code> overflow button in the top right corner of the screen, and select <code> Settings </code> , or press your phone's Menu button, and then select <code> Settings </code> . Then select <code> Notifications </code> , which should be the bottom option on the list at the moment, and tap <code> Notification Tone </code> . This will let you browse to find another sound file to use for your WhatsApp notifications. | How to define a custom sound for Whatsapp? | android |
I use SwiftKey on my phone. I also try out a lot of custom Android keyboards as and when they are released on Google Play. I would like to know if custom keyboards available on Google Play can capture my passwords as I type and send it across Internet? Is there any mechanism built into Android that would stop them from doing that? | Of course a keyboard app can capture your passwords as you type them, along with everything else you type: naughty text messages, credit card numbers, web searches, everything. You couldn't have a mechanism to stop it, because in a sense, that's what it's for . It can only send this or any other information across the internet if it has the appropriate permission, "full network access." Almost all apps use this permission, though, and a keyboard might want it in order to download new language files, or to show ads if it uses that revenue model. SwiftKey, for example, has a "cloud sync" service to let all your devices share the same training data. This can only work by transmitting words you've typed, and statistical data about text you type, across the internet to their servers. Android warns you that this is the case every time you enable a third-party keyboard in the Language & input settings. Nexus devices show stackexchange-url ("a dialog") with the message: This input method may be able to collect all the text that you type, including personal data like passwords and credit card numbers. It comes from the app Highway. Use this input method? but as I mention stackexchange-url ("in another question"), manufacturers can replace the message (perhaps with one that's not entirely true) or disable it completely. | Can Android keyboards capture my passwords and send it across Internet? | android |
A few days ago, I changed the primary email of a Google Apps user from user@domaina.com to user@domainb.com Ever since doing so, Android refuses to sync using either the new or old email address, but I can still log in on the web using both. Both domains are controlled by my Google Apps organization, and attempting to reconnect the accounts after a factory reset gives me an incorrect password error. The device is running Android 2.3.3 if it makes a difference. | I realized last night that since I have 2 factor auth enabled for my account, I might have to generate a new application-specific password in my google account settings. I generated a new one and successfully synced with my new email using it. | Syncing fails after changing Google Apps user's email | android |
Here is the story. I have two kids (5-7 years), they have their Android tablets... and I have the credit card. I have created two google accounts, each for one tablet. I want to buy apps for them, but I don't want to enter any details of my credit card to their google accounts, because the theory is that they will be using these accounts in future to communicate, browse etc. I don't want them charging my card without my knowledge. A while ago, when buying something in the google play store, I was able to select between one of the tablet accounts and my own account. I then had to enter the password to my own account and was able to install the given app. Now this seems no longer to be possible. I am lost. I am a 40+ year old Un*x user and I am confused and frustrated by Android. Is there a way of buying apps for my kids that is safe? | There's a much easier way, but it may not be supported in all countries: Buy them each a Google Play Gift Card , and attach it to their accounts. They come in different "sizes", so you can limit the amount they can pay. No identification stuff connected to the cards, and once they're used up there's no more use for them (of course, you can buy the next one). Another positive aspect: you might decide to let your kids use them themselves. The danger is just as high as the value of the card (though content might pose a risk). So it's like "pocket money" for learning "monetary responsibility" :) | How to pay for my kids apps? | android |
Question: My device (Galaxy Note 2 running the stable CyanogenMod release) is charging extremely slowly and discharges while it's plugged into AC power. What happened to cause this and what's happening now: My device has been wonderful for over a year. Yesterday it ran down to about 10% and I borrowed a friend's charger. It charged up to 100% surprisingly quickly. I then let it drain down to about 3% before putting it on the charger. I came back to see the OS wasn't booted and it was in the charging screen (provided by the BIOS?). I then left it to charge for several hours and it only got about 10%. Then I was using it and it drained down to 0% while it was plugged in the entire time. The icon showed the charging animation and the Battery Status page (the one with the graph) said that it's charging on AC. Every couple minutes the battery loses another percent even while it's plugged in. While in the BIOS charging screen, I left it to charge for about 6 hours and it ended up with only 34% charge. It would normally be fully charged much earlier than this. Plugging it into my computer via USB seems to also make it discharge. I have tried two different chargers (but the same cable for both chargers and the computer). | I fixed the problem by switching cables. I'm not sure why it displayed "charging" in Android, or how it actually managed to charge about 10% in 6 hours, but it seems to have worked now that I'm gaining about 10% every 5 to 10 minutes like normal. | Device Steadily Discharging While Plugged Into AC? | android |
I'm stacked with the following problem with my first Android device ( Ruggear RG960 Apex , Android 4.1.2, rooted using Kingo Android ROOT ) I bought about a week ago. The problem is when I'm trying to install Google Calendar from Play Market, I get the following error: <code> Error: Incompatible with other application(s) using the same shared user ID </code> The same is true for Google Play services, which are required for the most of Gapps. I tried the following: http://chinaphonearena.com/forum/Thread-Google-Play-Services-Error-Incompatible-with-other?pid=8598#pid8598 - and even deleted <code> packages.xml </code> completely, wiped dalvik, cache from recovery, etc. - still the same. stackexchange-url ("stackexchange-url - I downloaded <code> gapps-jb-20121011-signed.zip </code> and did all the steps, but got this error while trying to install from zip via recovery: <code> Invalid OTA package. Missing scatter. Installation aborted. </code> At the same time Google says this problem is a common one, but still I cant find the solution for about a week so far. Perhaps this is because I have quite rare device, which is not so widely described. So, any guidance to the right direction will be highly appreciated. In case anyone needs some more details about the device / performed actions - will gladly provide them as requested. | 4 months later support finally shared me the latest ROM that solved all the above issues. | Google Calendar install error: Incompatible with other application(s) using the same shared user ID | android |
I am planning on buying a Nexus 5 for Christmas, to which I intend to Root it, so that I can use Rooted Apps eg Titanium Backup which would otherwise be unavailable to me. If I root the device, but do not flash a custom rom or kernel, and instead keep stock android KitKat 4.4. :- What happens when an OTA update occurs from Google ie to 4.4.1? Do I lose Root and Rooted Apps ? (Correct me if i'm wrong, if I Root the Nexus 5 and flash a custom rom, then the OTA updates would come from the XDA Developer for the specific custom rom you are using, rather than from Google). | If you root the device on the stock ROM, it will still offer to do OTA updates, but they won't work. OTA updates only apply to a completely clean system image that hasn't been rooted. To apply an upgrade to your rooted device, you have to download the ROM image from the official Google site and follow the instructions there to flash it. | Rooting A Nexus 5 and Concerns Regarding Over The Air Updates? | android |
I have been listening a lot of chatter about CyanogenMod and it only seems to be growing louder by the day. But what exactly is CyanogenMod and how is it different from Android? If CyanogenMod is a fork of Android then how can it (aim to) become third major mobile ecosystem. Aren't they both same? Also, how safe is CyanogenMod, in the sense, can I trust it with my Contacts, Google, Facebook, Twitter and social account information? Some time back I read an interesting article on Ars Technica - Google’s iron grip on Android: Controlling open source by any means necessary - which details out how Google is creating closed source equivalents of Android Open Source Project (AOSP) apps for e.g. Search, Keyboard and so on. If that's the case will Google's proprietary apps be available on CyanogenMod? The same article details out how Amazon's fork of Android is not Google approved and because of that it faces many issues. Is CyanogenMod Google approved? | CyanogenMod versus Android To ask how CyanogenMod is different from Android is comparable to ask How is a cat different from an animal . CyanogenMod is an Android custom-rom . See: our stackexchange-url ("rom tag-wiki") for what a ROM is our stackexchange-url ("custom-rom tag-wiki") for details on Custom ROMs our stackexchange-url ("cyanogenmod tag-wiki") for details on CyanogenMod Quoting the latter, which quotes from the CyanogenMod website: CyanogenMod is an aftermarket firmware for a number of cell phones based on the open-source Android operating system. It offers features not found in the official Android based firmwares of vendors of these cell phones. As you're asking about Ecosystems: CyanogenMod meanwhile is a company. There might be multiple Ecosystems using the same resources. As will be shown below: Google versus Android versus CyanogenMod Android is not Google, and Google is not Android. Behind Android stands the AOSP team. So Android is Open source, which is why other groups like CyanogenMod can use it. The "iron grip" of your question doesn't go to Android itself, it's rather the additions Google puts on top, the so-called Google Apps (see: google-apps and stackexchange-url ("its tag-wiki")). Those apps are not open-source, but closed-source. CyanogenMod started shipping their own counter-parts for several of the Google-Apps (and features), and here you've got your ecosystem: Apps and Services. CyanogenMod is not permitted to ship the Google-Apps with their ROMs, you have to install them manually (if you want them), or leave them out. There are many substitutes available, so you can use Android without Google: stackexchange-url ("Android OS without Google Services?") Can an Android phone run without Google? Guide: How To Use Your Android Phone Without Google Android Without Google – Discussion @XDA Can I trust X with my data? Google earns its money with advertisements. If you can trust them with your data, IMHO you can trust CyanogenMod even more. If you don't want to trust either of them, there are alternatives such as OwnCloud, Funambol, and more, which you can use with any ROM, CyanogenMod included – setting up your own cloud, as one of the names suggests. Concerning the google-play-store and "where to get my apps from": As with the other google-apps , custom ROMs are not permitted to bundle them with their distributions. But there are a lot of alternative and open-source markets, like F-Droid etc. (see our alternative-markets stackexchange-url ("tag-wiki")). There have been rumours about a CyanogenMod app market, but I must have missed that taking off. | What is CyanogenMod and how is it different from Android? | android |
stackexchange-url ("As a follow up question"), I rooted my Galaxy Nexus phone using Kingo , but when I tried to explore my phone using an application like ASTRO, I found out that the <code> /data/data </code> directory is empty. Why is it empty? Am I missing something? Where are application data stored? | To use "root powers", an app needs to explicitly request those from the system. To my knowledge, Astro File Manager does not include this feature, but e.g. ES File Explorer does. For most of the newer/updated apps, you can tell that by their permissions: if those include <code> android.permission.ACCESS_SUPERUSER </code> , they request "root powers". Alas: as this permission is not "mandatory" yet, its missing does not necessarily mean an app will not request root access. The feature you need is called "root explorer". Mentioned ES File Explorer offers this, but you may have to manually enable it in its settings. That done, it should show you everything in the file system. | I've rooted my Galaxy Nexus phone, but "/data/data" is empty | android |
So, I had the notification record to enable mtp/foto mounting option. It's now disappeared and I'm not able to find it in the settings page. Can you tell me where is the option to enable MTP? (I know it's a stupid question I really can't find it) | On Nexus 7 2013, <code> Settings > Storage > Hamburger icon (top-right) > USB computer connection </code> . | where is the option to enable MTP? | android |
I had restored my Android device (Samsung Note2) to the factory settings. i have now added all my favorits apps and customized my settings. How can i create a "memoey image"/"state snapshot" to restore from in the future. I have used Kies, but it backups everything besides installed apps and device settings. In generagl it's not creating a perfect snapshot. | You should be able to use adb backup which is takes a complete backup of the phone. You'll need to install the Android SDK but this should allow you to backup the whole device Backup There are a number of parameters you can supply but the simplest way to do a full backup is to run: <code> adb backup -all -f C:\backup.ab </code> More info can be found on this xda post which although it uses a Galaxy Nexus it should apply to any 4.0+ device Restore With your device connected open your command prompt again, and type: <code> adb restore C:\backup20111230.ab </code> replacing 'C:\backup20111230.ab' with the location of your backup file. You should see a screen like the one below: Simply type in your current encryption password (if you've set one), and the password with which the backup was encrypted (if you chose to set a password), and the restore will begin. It again will take several minutes depending on the size of the backup and the options chosen. | How can I create a state snapshot of my android device? | android |
I have a storage problem and that is because my pictures and videos takes too much space. The thing is that all my pictures and videos are automatically loaded to Google plus. so why do they also take such a large storage on my device (Nexus 4)? I want to enjoy both words: low storage and access to all my images and I am willing to pay by waiting for images to download if it is not viewed often (caching?). what am I missing? | Answering my own question here. Bottom line here is android users must manage their own pictures and videos storage. It is important to understand that the "Gallery" application (and probably the new alternative "Photos") is not synced to Google Plus, they are merely backuped; This means that Gallery does not deletes (leave a thumbnail) least recent used pictures to save space (as i mistakenly assumed). I, for one, will be using Google plus application from now on to be able to access all my pictures and videos and will be deleting images as soon as they are backuped. | pictures takes too much storage despite saved on cloud | android |
I've unlocked my Nexus 5 by using CF-Auto-Root. I want to undo my actions and return the device to its original state: unrooted and locked. How can I do this? | You'll need to use fastboot, which is provided in the CF-Auto-Root zip file. Note: If you've installed a custom ROM or kernel on top of rooting, you'll want to flash the necessary stock versions from the Nexus 5 stock image with fastboot or possibly through TWRP/ClockWorkMod Recovery. In order to re-lock the bootloader: Reboot your phone to Bootloader Mode Connect the USB Cable to your computer. Open a Command Prompt (Terminal on Linux or OSX) Navigate to the <code> tools </code> directory inside the unzipped CH-Auto-Root directory. Use the following command, depending on your OS. Linux: <code> ./fastboot-linux oem lock </code> OSX: <code> ./fastboot-mac oem lock </code> Windows: <code> fastboot-windows.exe oem lock </code> | How to re-lock Android bootloader? | android |
I'm trying to mount USB storage using the "Terminal Emulator" app with the following commands: <code> mount -t vfat -o rw /dev/block/sd* /storage/usb1 </code> or <code> su mount -t vfat -o rw /dev/block/sd* /storage/usb1 </code> But I get a <code> permission denied </code> message. I've tried different su binaries. One of them is: http://e2e.ti.com/support/embedded/android/f/509/t/279726.aspx The shell command which I'm using is working in adb, but I have to execute it within an app. Without permissions, I cannot do that. So: Is it possible to root this Android image (I'm using TI release for Beaglebone Black)? OR, can I give permissions using chmod? If I can, which files should I give permission? OR, is my approach wrong? | I finally found the solution. Yes ADB of Beaglebone is rooted but there isn't a SU binary. So I wasn't able to execute this code within my app: Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su mount -t vfat -o rw /dev/block/sd* /storage/usb1"); But I finally find a program to root Beaglebone Black and install a valid SU binary. You can download it here : http://www.unlockroot.com/unlockroot.html But be careful! It installs bunch of unwanted programs to your computer too. Once you install the program, connect your Beaglebone via USB. First you need to unroot Beaglebone. So open the program, you downloaded, and click UNROOT. It will take a couple of minutes. Then restart your Beaglebone and click ROOT from program. Then restart your Beaglebone again. And voila :D You have 100% rooted Beaglebone with a valid SU binary. You can mount and unmount USB storages and copy files within your application . But You should do it like that : <code> Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su", null, null); OutputStream os = proc.getOutputStream(); os.write(("mount -t vfat -o rw /dev/block/sd* /storage/usb1; cp -R /myFile /storage/usb1").getBytes("ASCII")); os.flush(); os.close(); proc.waitFor(); </code> | Permission denied when trying to mount USB storage | android |
I used a lot of keyboards but all of them are very slow (not typing, just popup time). Is there a way to minimize that time or I should to buy phone with hardware keyboard? :-] | As @geffchang said, disabling animations in Developer options is right way | Is there a way to speedup keyboard popup? | android |
I have a very peculiar problem with connecting my new nexus5 to my wifi router @ home. Here is the background: I recently bought Nexus 5 and a new wireless modem/router( D-Link2750u )...The first day as soon as I got the router, I did the set up and both wired connection to my pc and wireless connection(WPA2-PSK) to my phone worked fine. Now the problem is Since the next day my phone does not enable me to connect to my home network. It always shows my SSID as 'Not In range' even though my phone is right next to the router. My approach to the problem: I thought since there are 2 devices involved... it can either be the phone's fault or the routers fault. So, First I choose my phone, I went to my friends place my phone had no problem what so ever to connect to the wifi @ my friend's(Same ISP, same encryption different router) and I try to connect to 2 other different networks and it worked fine. Now, the only other culprit possible: My router My friend was able to connect to this network through his Samsung phone and he dint have any problem doing it so. Now the question that boggles my mind... who is the culprit in here? My Phone or the router? I am not able to figure out what might be the problem, Any kind of help is greatly appreciated... PS: I also tried doing a factory reset of the phone and also reset the router and then set it up, none of them solved the problem. | There might be an issue with the wifi channels enabled on your phone, I am unable to find this setting on kitkat i have no clue why! Maybe I just dont remember how to get there, go on to your router settings page and see the channel being used. Change it and I think that would fix the issue. | Nexus5 not connecting to only my wifi network | android |
How can one install an app made for Jellybean and use it on Gingerbread? Let's take Google Keyboard for example. Google Keyboard is meant for use with Ice Cream Sandwich and up, but say I want it on my phone running rooted CyanogenMod 7.2. Is this possible? | Technically, one can override the version requirement by cracking open the .apk file and editing the manifest.xml file and setting the <code> android:minSdkVersion </code> attribute in the <code> <uses-sdk> </code> element to your sdk version (or simply remove that attribute altogether, in which case it will default to "1" and assume it will work on any Android version), then using your modified .apk file to install it. However, this is almost always a bad idea . The developer of the application presumably set that requirement to the value it is because they actually do need something introduced in that sdk version. If they didn't, they'd set it to something else or omit it . Trying to make the app run on an Android version missing those features it needs is likely to cause havoc, crashes, force-closes, and other unhappiness. In the case of Google-made apps, I would assume they knew exactly what functionality their app uses and when it was introduced and that it would definitely break in some manner without that functionality when they set the minSdkVersion for their app, and thus trying this trick will almost certainly fail. But if the developer is just a lazyish type who insisted upon setting the attribute (probably to the current version) without much thought about whether it's really needed (i.e. "I don't feel like going through my code and checking what functionality I actually use and when Google added it to Android, so I'll just set the minSdkVersion to the current version of Android"), it might just work. Or the missing functionality might only be used in some part of the app you never use, and thus the brokenness is irrelevant to you. | How can one run an app made for a more recent version of Android on an older Android Device? | android |
I have got a game I play ( The Simpsons Tapped Out ) that is based on time. (For example every 5 hours I get a coin). But every time something is completed (like a quest) I hear from the speakers something like ("yeaho work is done!") I would like to disable that sound, but there is no setting for it within the game. Because when I am working I want to hear when someone is calling, not when the app is done doing something. Is there a way to disable the sound of one app? Or is there a setting in my phone that can disable that sound? I am using Android 4.1.2 on an LG Optimus L5. | There are several possibilities: manually setting all volumes to 0, except for those channels you want to keep (e.g. alerts, notifications, system). Issue: on some devices/systems some channels seem to be "locked together", so as soon as e.g. volume for calls is increased, some other slider increases automatically along. An app like Audio Control might help on that. same thing, but use some automation tool (e.g. tasker ). This might work-around the slider-lock. disabling notifications from the app (might not work if the app doesn't count that as "notification") if root access is available: replace/remove the corresponding sound file (credits go stackexchange-url ("to Dan") for this) using a helper like App Override . Unfortunately this is no longer available on Google Play , so I linked to the original thread on XDA. | How to disable sound from an app | android |
I was browsing Google when a message popped up saying something along the lines of me having a virus. Okay, I'm not stupid. I've seen these on a computer before. I also saw the word yahoo somewhere on the pop up? But, in my frenzy, I forgot to carefully inspect the thing. Anyways, I clicked "no thanks" instead of "scan now" or something, but thinking back, if this was some kind of virus pop up, clicking on either option would have been a bad idea. After clicking no thanks, I closed the app and turned my phone off. So far, I haven't seen anything wrong, but I am still quite concerned. I have been thinking about backing my phone up onto my computer, and then restarting my phone, however, I'm not sure if that's a good idea. In the case that my phone has been infected, would it be possible for the virus to transfer over to my computer? Should I even be concerned? Has this happened to anyone else? Maybe I'm being paranoid, but I'd like to take as little chances as possible. Thanks. | Short answer You did the right thing, and don't need to be afraid. That popup was most likely caused by some Javascript on the visited web site to make you download/install something really bad. It doesn't mean you're infected. Explanation There are a couple of things to consider. First, if the popup really said "you have a virus", your reacting was fully correct (and the popup bluntly lying): There are no viruses for Android, at least not "in the wild". I know, the term got mixed up, and when speaking about Anti-Virus people really mean "an app against all kind of malware". But no serious AV app would speak of "you have a virus", as that's technically incorrect. Mixing in your "fear" from the second paragraph here: exactly that's what matches a virus definition, and makes it different from all other kinds of malware: the ability to "multiply itself". As you 100% sure have no "virus" on your device, no need to be afraid about that. For details on the above, please see e.g. Wikipedia : the defining characteristic of viruses is that they are self-replicating computer programs which install themselves without the user's consent. There you see why a virus is close to being impossible: on Android, the user is always asked for his "consent" when something is installed. Now for the last part: Who should have caused that popup? Do you have any AV app installed and active? Your question does not suggest such. So if you have no such app installed, who should have popped up that warning? Android doesn't do that. So the most likely candidate was a part of the site you've visited. That's rather so-called Scareware trying to make you install something bad. Believe me, you did the right thing – and would possibly have been in trouble if you had acted differently. | I clicked on an anti virus scanner pop up on my android? | android |
I have a problem with my Nexus 5 and the new Hangouts app that supports SMS integration. Only some of my contacts have their contact image next to their name in the main listing. When I click on them to view the SMS conversation their image is displayed correctly, it's just on the main listing that it doesn't appear. People I've 'hung out' with show up fine, it's just the SMS contacts that don't. Things I've tried: Editing the contact and applying a completely new image Changing the contact to use their Google+ image Changing the contact to use the image I have applied in GMail on the web. Does anyone know how I can get the missing contact images to show up? | This ended up being an extremely simple fix but took me a long time to do. Open the hangouts app and go to Settings Select your Google account Scroll down and click 'Sign out' Back in the main listing, click the SMS dropdown Click on your Google account And that's it! All my contact images showed up correctly and change when I change their photo via the contacts app. | Contact images missing from SMS list in hangouts | android |
I am having trouble with Bluetooth Low Energy (BT 4.0) on a Nexus 7. I think I may have a 2012 model. How to tell if I have a 2012 or 2013 version of the Nexus 7? | There are several physical differences Most notable is the different orientations of the "Nexus" logo. The 2013 model also has a camera on the back, which the 2012 model lacks. The 2013 model has a notification LED on the front, which the 2012 model lacks. The 2013 model has a speaker grille on the top for stereo sound in landscape, while the 2012 model only has the bottom speaker grille. 2013: 2012: | How to distinguish Nexus 7 (2012) and Nexus 7 (2013) | android |
I would like to run the stock Android Browser app on a Nexus 7 (2013) tablet to make sure that websites that I develop will work properly in the stock Browser. However, a Nexus 7 (2013) tablet comes with Chrome pre-installed and not the stock Browser. Is there a way to install the stock Browser app onto a Nexus 7 (2013) tablet without unlocking or rooting it? | Link to stock browser apk The link contains the apk for the stock browser. Alternatively, as you have chosen you can build the stock browser from source also. stackexchange-url ("How to build stock browser from source code, stackoverflow") Generally you can also use the avd for testing the browser, but not if you need multi touch and other 'phone' related functionality. Chrome is now the stock browser for nexus devices, and most OEMs (manufacturers) include their own version of the browser. | How to install the stock Browser app on Nexus 7 (2013)? | android |
I have a Galaxy S2 running Android 4.1.2. It has a 12GB internal HD, and a 16GB SD card. I keep getting errors from various programs telling me I am running out of space. BeyondPod won't download new episodes, Evernote keeps putting up a notification of a lack of space (even though it seems to be storing everything), and sometimes apps won't update. I have tried to ensure I have no superfluous apps, and I haven't really changed the apps I use since I first ever started using the device. I keep any large files, like music collections or videos, on my SD card. When I connect my device by USB to my Linux computer and check the properties of my 12GB HD, it says 9.9 GB is used. But if I browse the files, every folder seems to have barely kilobytes of information. Why is my 12GB HD filling up, and how do I clear it out so I don't get these errors? Update: My phone is rooted, so if that is something that can help me in this situaton, then root access is available to me. | Signed up to the site specifically to answer this question. I'm also using a Samsung Galaxy S2 with lots of storage but constantly full. I could not install applications or do pretty much anything . I'm using Cyanogenmod, but this applies to all Androids. What I did was using a file explorer with Root Permissions ( to see all the files ), navigated to the <code> /data/logs </code> folder. The contents of the folder totalled over 1 GB, causing the problem. I deleted all files in that folder and it workes fine now. As to why this is happening, I don't know - but I do know how to fix it. Hope this helps! | Why am I constantly running out of space on my Galaxy S2? | android |
My question in short: I want a cloud storage, but on my own servers. I know there's Owncloud for Android , but it's quite limited. Is it possible to get a similar "user experience" like with other cloud services, with your own "cloud resources"? How could that be done? Please note that the phone is rooted. Closer explanation: I have tried searching for an alternative on alternativeTo but didn't find anything particular to my scenario. I'm mainly seeking to find a solution that does not require the installation of an app. I'd like to be able to: Instantly sync photos taken by camera to owncloud Sync latest Titanium Backup files Selectively sync other files and folders I realize owncloud's Android app can do all of the above, but I'd like to know if this can be done without an app. The screenshots below may give you an idea of what I have in mind. Can the function in the first screenshot at the left be replicated in such a way that we can use ownCloud? The other three screenshots show that I can add a server, but not a file sync server - which is what I need - ownCloud in my case. | Combining several apps you most likely find useful for other means as well, this should be accomplishable. So first, let's list the components: Tasker : the mighty automation tool will trigger several actions for us FolderSync : will do the real copy/sync jobs Titanium Backup will do your backups (well, it does already). No need to elaborate on Titanium Backup , as you already use it. Most likely together with its integrated scheduler, so you have an idea about what time that job has finished. So the next candidate is FolderSync . It obviously can do with OwnCloud , as described e.g. in Use the Android App FolderSync with ownCloud – using WebDAV, in fact. Which means you've first to setup your OwnCloud account in FolderSync (as described in the linked short-tut), and then define "folder pairs", i.e. which folder on your device should be sync'd with which on the OwnCloud server. Recommendation: configure it for manual sync ; as nice as the integrated scheduler might sound, I experienced it woke up the device all 5 minutes 24/7 even with only one daily sync configured. So better leave that integrated scheduler off, we either need something else to trigger your "instant photo upload". Third candidate: Tasker . You can use this to schedule your regular sync intervals (easy to do, as it's just a time interval as condition, and the FolderSync pair as the task; note this might require the Pro version of FolderSync for Tasker support). But Tasker has also means to detect whether a file/directory has been modified. This is what you can use to trigger your "instant photo upload", by watching your <code> DCIM </code> folder(s) and trigger the corresponding "folder pair" to be sync'd. I know you prefered "without an app", but I don't know about such an alternative. However, one of the 3 apps involved you're using already, and once you've got used to Tasker you will ask yourself how you could do without. True, it's "payware", but worth every cent. For testing purposes, a 7-day-trial can be obtained on their project site; export all your config from within the app on day 6, uninstall, re-install, and import it again gives you another 7 days (recommendation by the dev himself). FolderSync requires 3 bucks as well; but it supports so many services, and has Tasker integration, I'd say it's worth the investment. So altogether ~7 bucks for a good solution, and other uses reserved. | ownCloud Alternative on Rooted Samsung Galaxy Note II | android |
I just updated my Android version to 4.3. However, Google Talk is replaced by Hangouts automatically. I don't like Hangouts, since I cannot see friends who are online/offline. I wish to revert to Google Talk. When I try to uninstall Hangouts, there is no uninstall option for me. I am using a Samsung S4 smartphone. Does anyone know how to revert to Google Talk? | Hangout is the replacement to Google Talk. And on Hangout you CAN see people online. Go into Hangout, Click the + sign to have "New Hangout" (+ sign is on top right, or simply swipe from right to left), and all people with a green hangout sign are online people. All people with grey hangout are offline, but you can send them 'offline' messages so they can see it as soon as they are online. Unfortunately this is only half the answer as I don't see a way to remove Hangout back to Google Talk. If anyone can add to this answer, please do. | How to revert Hangouts to Google Talk in Samsung S4 | android |
If I get a new T-Moble SIM and activate it on my Google Nexus 4, then put the old one back in, will the old one still work? | This is not an Android question, but more like a generic mobile question. But to answer your question: YES, the old one will still work. SIM cards are not tied to cellphones. So, you can always transfer SIM cards to other phones that have SIM card slots, assuming that the phone allows the network your SIM card is for. i.e. If the phone is locked to a specific network, then only SIM cards for that network is allowed. Of course, you can remove this limitation by unlocking the phone. | Can 2 SIM cards be activated on one phone? | android |
Every time I turn on or restart my phone, I always get this "Log in to sync applications" notification from Facebook. How do I disable this? | Using Titanium Backup, freeze the <code> SNS x.x.x </code> app with a Facebook icon. You can also disable this through the phone's <code> Settings > More > Application manager </code> . Sources: XDA AndroidCentral | How do I disable Facebook's "Log in to sync applications" notification when the phone turns on? | android |
I see there are various threads for Galaxy S3 having this problem, but my phone is Sony Xperia S. My phone used to connect to PCs fine, but today when I tried connecting to my laptop it wouldn't recognize it. This happens on Windows and on Ubuntu, with the original USB cable, and with a generic one. The same cables and computers used to work fine with my phone. Also, the phone does not give any notification that a PC has been connected, i.e. the phone itself doesn't recognize that a PC has been connected. It starts charging, though. I tried rebooting Android, I also tried enabling USB debugging, but none of it helped. | In the end, it turned out it was working for the original USB cable, while the generic USB cable did not allow data connection, only charging. For the original cable, the problem disappeared on its own, and I don't know what caused it, or what caused it to disappear. | Sony Xperia S - suddenly can't connect to PC anymore (it was working before) | android |