Moto G5 will not boot, what are my options to recover user data?

I was able to make my phone boot again by flashing a stock (official) firmware, without erasing the userdata partition. As it uses an official firmware, this approach does not require unlocking the bootloader. Here is a summary of the steps I followed.
Install fastboot
Fastboot is an utility that is used to upload and flash ROMs on Android Smartphones.
On Linux, fastboot can be downloaded as follows:
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
unzip platform-tools_r31.0.0-linux.zip
# Using fastboot requires root permissions, so from now on
# we execute commands as root
sudo -s
export $PATH=$PATH:/path/to/platfrom-tools

For other OSes, you may find installation instructions here:

Using ADB and fastboot - LineageOS Wiki
Minimal ADB and fastboot - XDA Developers

Start the Moto G5 bootloader
To do so, shutdown you phone. Then press Volume down and Power
Plug the USB cable in, your phone should now appear when you type:
 # fastboot devices
 ZY3222HM8L Motorola Fastboot Interface

Find an official ROM for your phone
This is definitely the most risky and tricky part, as there is no foolproof way to determine which is the good ROM for your phone.
The least risky way is to use the Lenovo Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA) to download the ROM for your phone. However, DO NOT USE LMSA TO FLASH YOUR PHONE, IT WILL ERASE YOUR DATA.
Use LMSA to download the ROM, locate the zip archive it downloaded, and close it. LMSA requires Microsoft Windows, so this is not a viable solution for Linux users or MacOS users.
The other solution is to guess which ROM is appropriate for your phone, and download it from a public mirror. I used: https://mirrors.lolinet.com/firmware/moto/cedric/official/. Identify your model variant by looking at the information displayed by the bootloader. The important line is:
 Product/Variant: cedric XT1676 16GB P5

Try to explore the "RETAIL", "RETEU" (Retail EU), "RETUS" (Retail US) etc. depending on your country and try to find a an archive that matches your phone variant. Mine was in RETEU:
 XT1676_CEDRIC_RETEU_DS_8.1.0_OPP28.85-19-4-2_cid50_subsidy-DEFAULT_regulatory-DEFAULT_CFC.xml.zip

Make sure you download the last version for your phone (look at the dates, and version number 19-4-2) because the bootloader will not allow you to downgrade your OS.
Flash the ROM on your phone
Unzip the archive you just downloaded, then locate the flashfile.xml file. Open it with a text editor, and locate the <steps> block
<step operation="oem" var="fb_mode_set"/>
<step MD5="9f3a13b8222b08e2171d2519e5276c31" filename="gpt.bin" operation="flash" partition="partition"/>
<step MD5="9ea732d853c838d9ed8486ca6df10321" filename="bootloader.img" operation="flash" partition="bootloader"/>
<step MD5="3605a87a6e4ba36c2f995204a7ec2aa6" filename="NON-HLOS.bin" operation="flash" partition="modem"/>
<step MD5="77aec885e43c1441ae775a36add08125" filename="fsg.mbn" operation="flash" partition="fsg"/>
<step operation="erase" partition="modemst1"/>
<step operation="erase" partition="modemst2"/>
<step MD5="bded198b6f1d31e9ce664376503b223b" filename="adspso.bin" operation="flash" partition="dsp"/>
<step MD5="0f114b5a2ab83e18444fa0d8e79a8e0e" filename="logo.bin" operation="flash" partition="logo"/>
<step MD5="4559fd8bad5404d1ec16a98614b3765a" filename="boot.img" operation="flash" partition="boot"/>
<step MD5="864a8060abe29e56fe2e8e93cac2c4a3" filename="recovery.img" operation="flash" partition="recovery"/>
<step MD5="39b15d4e645ba9576e819edfaf5b668e" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.0" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="ed64b41d92f7cf5f4079442fc446e0af" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.1" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="aef832b70ded5b7b5788bf87b61a8ad6" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.2" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="31c52fe5f412ac621e325f879a08e6e8" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.3" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="982e8d23a01a1017c72c23c56aed3ca2" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.4" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="1ef6cd540e95e3fe2c80d934376b6f3a" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.5" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="66a2a34e2bacd1ab0f5065524e2ce141" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.6" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="052ca5a46c322450dacad5678c31ac0e" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.7" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="0a20486510c1c5f45d1d8dbfcf0b9975" filename="system.img_sparsechunk.8" operation="flash" partition="system"/>
<step MD5="1e60bbc27184845acdc99d789f503c0c" filename="oem.img" operation="flash" partition="oem"/>
<step operation="erase" partition="cache"/>
<step operation="erase" partition="userdata"/>
<step operation="erase" partition="DDR"/>
<step operation="oem" var="fb_mode_clear"/>

Then translate each step into a flashboot command, and write a script. However DO NOT TRANSLATE THE ERASE USERDATA AND ERASE DDR commands. In my case the script I wrote was as follows:
cat fastboot.sh
set -x
fastboot oem fb_mode_set
fastboot flash partition gpt.bin
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader.img
fastboot flash logo logo.bin
fastboot flash boot boot.img
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash dsp adspso.bin
fastboot flash oem oem.img
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.0
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.1
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.2
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.3
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.4
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.5
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.6
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.7
fastboot flash system system.img_sparsechunk.8
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
fastboot flash fsg fsg.mbn
fastboot erase cache
fastboot erase clogo

Again, make sure THERE IS NO erase userdata line.
Make sure your phone is plugged securely, then you may then execute this script as root. It will flash your phone with the official ROM.
Once this is done, use the volume up and down keys on your phone to navigate to the "Start" entry and press power. Your phone should reboot, and hopefully your userdata partition will still be there.


Removing second SIM signal sign from notification

The Xposed Framework can help you with this.

Read about the Xposed Framework and how to install it from here.
Verify if your handset is supported.
Here are some modules for the framework that you can look into:

Xposed StatusBar Mods (still in beta, confirm phone support)
Status Bar Icon Hider


Normal Internet surfing, without being redirect

In Chrome for Android, you select "Request desktop site" from the menu in the browser.

I don't know if your phone ships with Chrome as the default browser or something LG have cooked up, so the option might be named differently, but there should be an equivalent.

Most sites will respect this, but you might find that if a site is redirecting you to push you to a pay service, they have another way of redirecting you anyway.


How do I take a full image backup of an Android device?

Yes, you can, by taking a full NANDroid backup. This takes a backup of everything, including the app data, the accounts, the system, etc. with the exclusion of the files stored on the SD cards (both internal and external).

Such NANDroid backups are usually taken with the help of a custom recovery, like the CWM (ClockWorkMod) recovery and the TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) recovery. If any custom recovery such as the ones mentioned here, or any other custom recovery based on them; is installed on your phone, then, you can proceed to do so.

For more information, and some helpful resources you might want to see, please visit here and here.


How to enable a PIN but allow quick access to camera?

This application lets you start the camera app even from a password locked screen. Full disclosure: I developed the app.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.aeropic.CameraUnlockFree


Which Android handsets support in-line call recording?

Android phones WITH in-line call recording capability

a
b
c

Android phones WITHOUT in-line call recording capability

HTC Incredible S (possible with custom kernel)
Motorola Atrix 4G MB860 (UK) (an unofficial ROM enabling the feature known to exist)
n

What handset makers say

Motorola UK - "We are sorry to inform you that due to privacy reasons, none of our phones comes with the in-call recording feature. There are some applications in Google Play that may perform this, however we cannot give support for their use. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you."

Acer UK - "In order to use the in line call recording, the unit should have the call recorder application on the unit. You can download the application from google store."

Sony UK - "Sadly we can confirm that no Sony Xperia handset has the ability to record calls as standard. However you may be able to download a third party application to do this but as it would be third party we would not be able to gaurantee it would fully work. We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this."

Samsung UK - "Unfortunately, we don't have a handset on the market that has this as a registered feature. However, there may be some third party applications available for download that may allow you to record telephone conversations. As these are third party and not developed by Samsung, I am unable to recommend any specific application to you."

LG UK - "I am really sorry to advise that we don’t have a handset that will do in-line call recording I would like to apologize for this."


stock camera app missing and front camera reported as rear camera in xolo q1000s

Actually I think it is a hard ware issue. I have had issues like that and never knew what the problem was until one day I had a broken screen and took the phone to the repairer. After changing the screen , i realised that the rear camera wasn't working ( I've never had a problem with camera on that device ) . I took the phone back to him and he just readjusted the camera cords or ...( I don't know the technical term for cables ) and it was working just fine .


Multiple Pattern Locks at the same point of time

To answer the first question - That singular pattern where at minimum four dots must be joined, is built into Android, if you want to have multiple patterns, that requires modding the source and rolling your own ROM which is outside the scope of this site.

Now, onto the second question "is it possible to install more than one app that lock my screen with pattern lock and use them simultaneously? Will it cause any kind of clashes or other troubles?"

That depends on the app, the lock-screen is within the framework of Android itself, unless the app over-rides the built-in lock-screen mechanism, then there should not be any clashes. The important keyword is over-ride.

If the said alternative lock-screen clashes then that's down to poor programming effort. :)


Installing system update bricked an unrooted LG K7

I have solved my own problem, so am posting the resolution here for the benefit of future searchers who might be encountering the same or similar situation.
Most online guides to un-bricking a phone are written with the assumption that the phone in question is rooted, and the recommended solutions all proceed from that assumption.  My phone was not rooted, and most of the suggestions -- putting the phone into download mode, flashing a new ROM, etc. -- were beyond my skill-set (basically a complete novice).
However, one online guide (specifically, this one) included a piece of information that I didn't find elsewhere: namely,

Unbrick using LG Bridge (Mac & Windows)
(If there is no KDZ available for your model or LG UP failed, try this)
(Official way to unbrick. If it fails, blame LG)

Download LG Bridge from here.
Install LG Bridge
Open LG Bridge
Connect device to computer and let LG Bridge install drivers
Go to the Software update tab
Click "Update error recovery" on bottom right
LG Bridge will download and flash the KDZ for you.

This turned out to be exactly what I needed.


Rooting Android Galaxy S2 - Connection Error

I followed this guide rooting mine:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1773659

I started at Step 1. HOW TO INSTALL TWRP OR CWM : ON STOCK FIRMWARE OR CUSTOM ROMS - GB, ICS AND JB

The guide even has a section for troubleshooting Odin errors.

Be careful with odin. When you're editing your bootloader. You can brick your device if you do it wrong, and then your only option is JTAG repair, which will cost you ~$50


I could have found the solution by myself. Not sure because I haven't tested it yet.
For the backup/restore: Titanium Backup (tutorial)
For the downgrade/unroot thing: first I could restore Acer's original recovery via Acer recovery installer, then I could downgrade to HC3.0.1 with this
I'll give it a try
It works perfectly!!!


Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode

If your device keeps restarting itself, freezing, crashing, or is slow to respond, it could be caused by an app you’ve installed. You can use safe mode to start up your device with only the original software and apps that came with your phone. If the issues with your device go away in safe mode, the problem is probably caused by a third-party app downloaded on your device.

Use safe mode to find problem apps

Make sure your device's screen is on, then press & hold the Power
button.
In the box that opens, touch & hold Power off.
You’ll see a    “Reboot to safe mode” box.
Touch OK. Your device will start up in    safe mode.
Try using your device normally. Remember, you won’t be    able to use
any installed apps.
If the problem goes away: Restart your device to exit safe mode.
Uninstall recently downloaded apps one by one to see if you can
find the app that’s causing issues.

If the problem still doesn't go away one more option

perform a factory reset


What options are there for permanently connecting a rooted Android Phone to a NAS?

First, you need a "DynDNS" account, so from outside, you can connect to your home network without knowing the (daily changing) public ip.
Then, you install ssh on the NAS (I guess you will use linux, e.g. ubuntu server lts).
I'd recommend forwarding another port to ssh, like 12345, in order to stop at least basic, automated scans from finding your ssh server.

As client, I would recommend ES File Explorer.
Connect to your NAS by sftp.  It's using strong encryption.


How do I silence incoming call and text message ringtone without hanging up in the Galaxy Nexus?

When the Galaxy Nexus is ringing...

Tap the power button on the right side of the screen.

The ringtone will stop and the screen will switch off. BUT the call has not been hung up.

You can even press the power button again to switch the screen back on and the ringtone is silent if the call is still waiting to be answered. The voice call will still be at the correct volume when you actually answer it.


Tablets always turned on (usb-powered). Problems?

There should be nothing to stop you from doing so.
As long as you keep an eye on those tablets and make sure they are setup as they are supposed to they will work.

Small suggestion: Don't connect them 24/7 to the charger. The battery will wear out slower if you keep it's charge between 40-80%.
Android shouldn't be a problem for you.


Why doesn't my screen turn off after 30 seconds?

You can try the wakelock detector app which will tell you the application which is restricting the phone from going to sleep and lock mode.

Unfortunately it did not work for me since my kitkat version required the ROOT permission.

I fixed it by going to "Settings > Apps > Running tab". I closed all suspicious application in "Cached" and "running' mode.

It was one of my recent ip-camera phone app or the Alexa app which was restricting the phone going to auto sleep after 15 seconds and then to lock state.

The phone is working fine now after closing those 2 apps, I can run them when required.

Hope it helps.


Depending on the Android device you are using, this will connect to an old TV:

RCA Compact RF Modulator

What are you using for the video out on the Android device?


How to block calls/SMS by contact name (might have multiple phone numbers)?

From within the stock Android environment, you can at least force contacts to the voicemail. It is not possible to block SMS directly, at least not without root (to my knowledge).

I have a Nexus 4, so your options might differ from what I have.

If you go in the People app, you'll be able to find your SPAM contact. In the top-right corner, you'll have the ⋮ button (or the menu button on the device). There will be an option "All calls to voicemail". If you check this, all numbers within that contact will be sent to your voicemail and won't vibrate/alert you.


Is there a way to use an Android tablet as a wifi handsfree device?

Does the tab has USB port. How about adding an external custom BT device. BT device talks to android app on tab via any serial library for example scm (http://www.embeddedunveiled.com/scm-wiki).


How to restore/add google search to android browser - Samsung Galaxy Ace GT-S5830L

Since you are rooted, you could try to replace the Browser app with one from a "stock" rom that doesn't have the different search engine. The problem would be if the device is odexed, you might not be able to just replace the app. in which case you would have to install a completely different ROM for the device.


Identifying icon with phone on speaker mode or titled Wi-Fi under a rectangle

While I am not fully convinced, user chuckdawg1999 of Android Central and Community Manager vzw_customer_support replied that the icon is for Wi-Fi Calling or Wi-Fi/HD calling through Verizon.


Apps like Viber, Messenger, WhatsApp, etc. whitelisted from Doze mode on Samsung without asking

May I answer your question in a reverse order:

  maybe Samsung just knows some well known apps and whitelists them by default itself?

Definitely. It's a common practice in China to have a built-in battery optimization whitelist to contain famous Chinese apps like QQ and WeChat (and Weibo and such) for convenience issues. So I suppose it's not restricted to China, but also that Samsung could make the same approach.

  is this maybe possible on Samsung despite the spec?

Yes. Not only Samsung, but also OnePlus, Xiaomi, Huawei, etc. IMHO Samsung is very considerate when designing their ROMs.

  according to Android specs an app must ask the user to explicitly allow whitelisting (Am I wrong here)?

Partially wrong here. An app cannot whitelist itself without user intervention. But it's not required that the ROM does the job instead.


Sony Ericsson DISCHARGES when plugged in

Try using a Sony Ericsson wall charger. Because standard USB can't supply much power, manufacturers often use off-spec currents and/or voltages in their wall chargers in order to charge the device faster. Because they're breaking the standard by doing this, sometimes a wall-charger for one manufacturer's device can't supply enough current to a different manufacturer's device.

This isn't specific to Android devices, but any device that charges using USB. For example, many iPhone and iPad users have noticed that their Mac charges the device faster than a PC does, because the PC has a standard USB port, but the USB ports on recent Macs can recognise that they're connected to an iThing and supply extra voltage and current.

If you don't have a Sony Ericsson wall charger, follow Izzy's suggestion and make sure to keep the screen turned off when you want to charge.


Samsung Galaxy A10 restarts automatically

Unfortunately, I can't advise anyone. Resetting didn't help either, so the problem is on the hardware side (as I found out, probably the battery) and only complaints will solve it. Fortunately, my cell phone is still under warranty.


How to control the file system on Android from Win7 file explorer?

You can use your USB-Cable to connect your phone to the computer. If your phone doesn't pop up as external device, you're probably missing the needed USB-Drivers for it.


What happens when I tap an NFC tag which contains a URL?

From trying it on two devices:

Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition: Lollipop 5.0, with multiple browsers. Once tagged the prompt to choose my browser comes up, and then once chosen opens the URL in the selected browser. The device was factory reset that morning.

HTC M7: Stock 4.4 up to date, no reset done, one browser. Opened straight in the browser.


KitKat issue: device turns on when plugged in

Solved: installed I9500XXUFNB3 (via ODIN)


How to get adoptable storage back after factory reset?

After SD card format it appeared in full size, so I can split it up again. Sorry for hasty question..


How format nexus 4 before flashing new ROM

CWM is long dead, let it stay that way.

You are advised to use the latest TWRP recovery, which has an interactive graphic interface, has a more powerful and thorough wipe function, and has an inbuilt file explorer so that you could just look inside /system to see if the wipe indeed worked (don't forget to mount /system before looking in, though).

After installing TWRP, select Advanced wipe: /data, /cache and /system. Actually it shouldn't be necessary to wipe /system, since newer Android ROMs overwrite the whole /system partition, but since you claim you need a full wipe, this will do.


Usually if you long press on the downloading item in download manager there's an option to delete it, thus stopping the download.

If this doesn't work you can clear the Download Manager's data.

Settings -> Apps -> All Tab -> Download Manager

Here press force stop, than clear data. Now reboot.


Adaptive Notifications re-enabling itself after some updates

While this setting keeps turning itself back on after certain updates, I've finally figured out how to switch off these 'smart actions' (apparently that's their actual name - see my above comment).

As per the above, go to the Adaptive Notifications setting. Switch it on.
Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Notifications.
Scroll down and hit Advanced.
Scroll down to Suggested actions and replies. Switch it off.

I'd seen this setting before, but it was greyed out. The missing step was re-enabling adaptive notifications.


Why does ulrdispsvcfastwl wakelock keep draining my battery?

Looks like this wakelock is related to google location history reporting. I found this wakelock shown up today only after I enabled the Google Location history. It could be equally true with Google Now location reporting.

Basically, to my understanding, this wakelock is related with reporting the location back to the servers which would help seeing the location history. I disabled the Google location history reporting and the wakelock is not active anymore.

I hope it helps.


How can I set up a 6to4 tunnel (NAT traversal)?

The title of this post says "6to4 (NAT traversal)". This is fundamentally impossible. It does not work on your standard Linux, let alone Android. The 6to4 protocol relies on having a public IPv4 address on the same machine you terminate the tunnel on.

Leaving that aside, it may be that you are simply using the word "6to4" when in fact you mean "IPv6 tunnelling". Other tools, such as AICCU or gogoc, utilise different protocols that encapsulate IPv6 within UDP within IPv4 to allow the NAT traversal to work. These do not use 6to4.

Your Android distribution must support the necessary kernel modules for tunnelling to work. You must have the sit module available for 6to4 (or the tun module for many VPN products, and so on and so forth) as well as the ability to add tunnels such as via ip tunnel add mode sit. It may be that you do not have that available.

I have a device (Motorola Milestone running CM7) that is supported by the IPv6Config app you mentioned above. The app does not appear to do anything phone-specific. I suspect that the fundamental problem is that simply having "root" on your phone is not enough — your Android must ship with the appropriate kernel modules.

You may need to run another distro (e.g. CyanogenMod instead of a rooted stock Android) that includes the proper support to allow such tunnelling to work.


Specifically for moving your AOL contacts to your Google account, this page explains how to do that for a number of different E-mail providers.  Unfortunately this is their answer for AOL:

  AOL: AOL doesn't have the
  functionality to export your address
  book, so you'll have to create a
  custom CSV file if you use this
  service.

So it looks like you're stuck typing them all out manually if you want to move them to your Google account.  I don't have a Droid X so I can't dig around in the settings, but I wouldn't be surprised if you didn't have any automatic options with that method either.

On the plus side you could use this as an opportunity to pare down your contact list.  I do this every few months anyway, just to keep the people I actually need up to date and quickly available.

Edit: But wait!  I just found this page which explains a clever way around AOL's lack of export functionality.  It's a little weird, and could be considered inconvenient for everyone you want to move over, but at least it would keep you from having to type out all of your friends' and family's E-mail addresses.  It relies on the fact that Gmail will auto-add anyone who you send an E-mail.

Edit 2: And yet another solution!  This page explains a way to create a .csv file containing just E-mail addresses that you can import into Gmail without having to E-mail everyone twice.


how to disable system apps without root?

Provided that you've adb setup and functioning, use this command in a console:

adb shell pm block PACKAGE              # for Android Kitkat
adb shell pm hide PACKAGE               # for Android Lollipop
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 PACKAGE # for Android Marshmallow and Nougat. This is bit tricky. Some reports its result positive, while others, negative. Also note that, later, you cannot restore the app here. It can only be reinstalled again.
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 PACKAGE # tested on Android Nougat and Oreo. Might work on earlier versions as well.

Replace PACKAGE with the package name of the app. To know the package name, try any app inspector type app from Play Store, such as App Detective, AppXplore, Elixir 2, etc.

The changes should take place immediately, otherwise, try rebooting the device.

Note: stock ROM implementations by some OEMs, such as Xiaomi and Panasonic, do not permit the aforesaid commands to be used without more elevated privilege, and thus, throws a permission/privilege related error.

Revision made wrt to info received from Prahlad Yeri in the comments.


If the update is saved to the cache partition as Bo indicates, you could reboot into Recovery mode and wipe the cache partition from there.  You can look up the key combo to get into Recovery, or if you have USB Debugging enabled and adb installed on your PC, you can connect the device and run adb reboot recovery.


How can I make scroll bars always visible?

When an activity that can be scrolled opened, the scroll bar should show for a few seconds before fading, therefore you can will know that the page can be scrolled. If you missed the subtle hint, then just slightly swipe the screen to display the scroll bar.

IMO, it wouldn't be a good idea to always display the scroll bar, as the scrollbar is in the content area and may obscure whatever is in the screen.


Installing G2X firmware on the LG P990 O2X?

You may be able to boot, but the likely hood that things like the camera, wifi and other things, working are slim. Even when it is "the same device", just a variant (like the vibrant, captivate, galaxy s, fascinate, for example) flashing a ROM not made for the specific device will not work.

The differences in the hardware causes modifications to the ROM. Everything from the wifi chip, to the camera can require custom drivers.

Most likely, you wont even be able to boot though.


Will switching to GSM only network switch off data access?

Option 1 (no data at all)

Go to

  Settings --> More Settings --> Mobile Networks --> uncheck "mobile data"

The device will no longer connect to the internet, but continue to receive calls & text. MMS are not possible.

Option 2 (data only for mms) (source)

Go to

  Settings --> More Settings --> Mobile Networks --> Access Point Names --> Select your data APN --> APN Type

Remove in the field APN type everything but "mms". You have to leave "Mobile Data" enabled (see Option 1)


When something like this happens to me the first thing I do is stay clam (just a tip if you're stressed it makes things harder). Now just try doing a reboot. To do a reboot you need to hold down the power button until it asks if you want to shut the devicd off tap "Yes" or "Power Off". If that doesn't work try contacting the android developers.


Making the white bar below the keyboard black

Use substratum theme engine for this purpose. You can theme individual ui element with the help of this. You screenshot looks like you are using oreo build so you can use substratum even without root. Check out this link
https://www.xda-developers.com/custom-themes-android-oreo-substratum/


Why do Docs, Sheets and Slides keep recreating their data?

You shoud disable those apps:

Go to Settings › Apps – where you usually deleted the data
before deleting data:

push the "force close" button to make sure the app is not running. Else it might recreate data before you reach the point of disabling it.
then push the "disable" button, so it won't start anymore.
on "disable" you might be asked if you wish to revert to the "factory version". Say yes: this will remove all updates the app has received, and which are stored in "user space" as well. So this will even free additional space

finally push "clear cache" and "delete data", to complete the cleanup job.

Now that it's disabled, it won't start on its own anymore – and thus not collect or recreate any data. Nor should any updater pull updates for it.


i hope your device is rooted to do so, you can disable them quite easily.

Open the File Manager App, then tap the Menu button (capacitative or onscreen), and tap Settings.
Go to General Settings, scroll down to and tap Access Mode
Switch to either "Prompt User Mode" or "Root Access Mode"
Then
Open the sec_touchkey.kl file in ./system/usr/keylayout/

Put a # symbol before the both the following lines:

key 139 MENU VIRTUAL
key 158 BACK VIRTUAL

Close, saving changes
Reboot

OR else if you dont want to root then go and download apps similar to https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.gmd.immersive&hl=en


To hide media in any folder showing up, you need to add .nomedia file to it. If you search your device, using file explorer (either stock or your preferred),you are likely to find quite a few of these scattered around. Copy-paste one of these into the folder you want to hide (Hindi in your case) and the contents should not show up in your player

If you can't find .nomedia file, you can easily create

If you want an  app to do this and offer more functionalities, you could try nomedia app from play store. It offers you the flexibility of choosing folders to hide. App claims to do this (Works on 4.4.2 on Honor 6)

"A tiny tool to hide multimedia files and prevent media scanning. Touch and hold the directory to toggle. Media library will not display the files in red colored folders."

Alternatively, you could use MortPlayer Music, taken from Izzy's  list, which takes the approach of choosing which folders you want to play and which folders you want to ignore. It over rides .nomedia file presence and provides an easier alternative

Thanks to Izzy for completing the solution and suggesting alternatives


Are Foxfi and PdaNet+ simple usb tethering enablers?

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

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

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

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

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


How to translate question in the Quora app

The button is still there, but it appears only if at least one other language is added in the settings.

Note: To add another language, open your profile, click on the 3-dot on the right below your picture. then Languages. Select a language to add.

To view the Translate Question option:

Open the question in your Quora app, then click More.

 2. Other options will appear among them Translate Question.


Formating os samsung galaxy tab 3 SM -T111 without any backup

You can't recover it. You need to find a copy of the stock ROM (probably from sammobile.com, which is a good source for Samsung ROMs), and flash that to the phone.


Where to download and install Google Apps on Android 4.0.4 device?

You have to flash GAPPS (Google Apps) ZIP. Click here to download GAPPS for ICS. For alternate links or other gapps versions see this link.


How do I get the Google Plus app to ignore videos I loaded onto my phone?

I don't think there is any way to stop the Google Plus from auto uploading video if you have instant upload turn on.

The work around I can think off is to use a file manager like "Astro" to move all your video file from /DCIM/Camera folder to a different folder in your sdcard.  I believe Google Plus will ignore the folder outside of /DCIM/

EDIT: Re-read your post, looks like you were uploading video from your PC to your phone which you probably just placing those under some folder in sdcard.

You can try this app StudioKUMA .nomedia Manager and set the folder that contains video with .nomedia and perhaps the entire folder will be ignore by Google+


gmail account recovery with android phone

No, not if you're using the google authenticator app. You will be able to receive the sms with the code, but you won't be able to link the app. Always print out your backup codes in case of this:

Account - Security - 2 step verification - backup codes


How do I share my wifi with my ipod or netbook

If you have Android 2.2, the functionality is built in so there usually is no need to install a separate app. Just go to: Settings > Wireless & networks > Tethering & portable hotspot.

However, depending on your phone, it is possible that your carrier has locked down this functionality. If this is the case, you can either root your phone and install a clean Android 2.2 such as Cyanogenmod, or you can call your carrier and pay their fee to enable it.


Summing up results from the in-comment-discussion:

Starting with Android 4.1, notifications can be disabled on a per-app basis: Either by long-pressing a specific notification in the notification area, and navigating from there to the app which sent it -- or directly from the Android settings in Apps → Manage Apps, and selecting the app you want to disable notifications for: here you will find the possibility to allow/forbid an app to place notifications in the notification area. This is valid generally and for all apps, starting with Android 4.1.

As with the Gmail app, some apps also offer this option themselves (which then also works for Android versions prior to 4.1). You find it from inside the app, when visiting its settings page(s). But as said, this will vary between apps -- not all apps offer this option.


Issues with automatic update on a rooted Epic 4g touch

My answer(s): (these are limited to my experiences)

No, you most likely will not be able to apply a standard update to a rooted phone.

As far as turning off the update, this is most likely specific to the phone, and if it's being pushed by your carrier, my guess is you can't just turn it off. I would choose (now that you're rooted) to just flash a new ROM. If you like your stock stuff, you can probably find a ROM that is the same thing you're using now, with the 2.3.6 update.

This ROM may be what you're looking for in the case I described. It doesn't require you to do a wipe either, basically the update for your phone!


What should I do before I try advanced troubleshooting

There are several steps/things you can do before you do advanced troubleshooting. Most of the problems can be solved following these steps.

Backup your data. Backup your data first (of course, if possible). You don't need to risk it. Keep it somewhere else. It is better to have backups for personal data and app data separately.
Try rebooting your device. You can use your power key or a third party reboot app
Keep your device switched off for a while. Make sure you remove your SIM card (and the battery and SD card as well, if they are detachable) and wait about 30 minutes.
Try freeing some space. You must always have some free space. It is better to have more than 50MB free so that the apps can work smoothly. (Some say it should be 2% of total memory)
Try re-installing apps. If you believe your problem is caused by a specific app, try uninstalling and re-installing that app. Also you can try clearing the app cache. It will give you some more space.
No hardware fixes. Do not attempt to quick hardware fixes unless you have clear understanding of what you're doing. And keep in mind that you'll lose your manufacturer's warranty by doing such fixes.
Update your OS. Make sure that the relevant updates are compatible with your device, referring to your manufacturer's website.

If you are still in the problem, you can try searching help for your problem or contacting your manufacturer's customer support personnel. Remember to do this before you go to factory resets.


Run

termux-setup-storage

And create anything you want in ~/storage/shared (which is a symlink to /sdcard.


Alarm Controller is sending me unwanted notifications, ads

At last I got a solution or workaround, I installed NoRoot Data Firewall and then created a VPN on my own mobile and now I am having full authority to whom to give access to network and whom to not.

This is just the workaround I found, it doesn't remove the Malware. But it worked and get me out of the frustration.


Some printers come preinstalled with Google Cloud Print capabilities. Check to see if your printer already has Cloud Print: http://www.google.com/cloudprint/learn/printers.html

If your printer does not support Google Cloud Print, but it supports WiFi printing, you need to install a printer service before you can use WiFi to print. They are available on the Play Store, and you can quickly get a list of them from Settings>Printing. Only printers that support WiFi printing or cloud printing will be compatible.

And, wireless printing will not work without an internet connection, unless you have your phone hard-wired to either your printer or a connected computer.


my tablet requires a pass code in order to turn it off but I dont have my my code

Do the Hard Reset.

Depending on your phone/tablet, boot into recovery but usually this is how it is:

Since you tablet doesn't turn off. Press power button + Volume Down till it powers off. This is a feature of some tablets.
Press Power off + Volume Up to boot into recovery.
Perform wipe cache partition
Then wipe data/factory reset
Reboot.


What if one application couldn't write incoming voice?

I was able to find an application that works properly (Call recorder for Android version 25 from f-droid.org).


You should try copying the files onto a online drive (such as google drive) and then downloading the files onto the new device.
Edit: Apologies, I read it wrong.
You should try reinstalling/launching the game to see if it reinstalls the profile.
Worst case scenario, root both devices.


I sucessfully upgraded my One Plus 5 T to Anroid 9 last night and this morning it was just a black screen and I could do nothing. I knew it wasn't the battery as it was on charge for the upgrade. I got it to work again by holding the volume down key and the power key for 10 seconds then it rebooted and my phone is alive again.

EDIT: Since posting this I have realised that once the phone locks again I can't unlock it! :(


I have to triple tap everything on Galaxy Tab 10.1

Sheryl found the answer herself. Quoting her comment:

  I finally found it.. My daughter must have been in the accessibiltiy settings. She had the talk back on. But I didnt realize because she also had turn off all sounds on. I dont know how that makes the tapping weird, but is fixed now.

If one has a similar effect (e.g. red borders shown), and it's not the accessibility settings, another place to look for is the development settings, which also has switches to highlight certain areas for "developer feedback" when testing an app.


Can my Android phone be hacked without installing permissions?

There is always the possibility of a vulnerability in some app that could cause your computer/phone to be hacked. Browsers are notorious for having bugs that allow the computer to be infected with a virus simply by viewing a page. In fact, one method to jailbreak an early Apple iOS device was to simply browse to a page that delivered a payload via a bug in pdf (source).

Android mitigates this by having apps run in their own sandbox. Thus, an app that is compromised can only (theoretically) compromise its sandbox, which includes any permissions it originally was granted. If compromised, it couldn't send an SMS unless it had that permission originally, nor could it modify other programs' data. But even sandboxing is not foolproof.

If your phone is plugged in to a computer, it can be 'hacked'. This is proven by most rooting methods that use a bug to get root. Programmers could just as easily create a virus for computers that detects Android phones and installs a malicious app silently, or even roots them and takes over the phone completely.

This talk has some great details on app permissions. It isn't necessarily hacking, but it does show how an app with very few, seemingly innocuous, permissions can actually track and do a lot without you knowing.

In the end, your android device is a computer, with all the same inherent flaws that come with it. So like a desktop, if you are careful about where you browse and what you install, you'll likely be fine.


Nexus 4 getting "No Service" until a reboot after losing signal

I've solved part of this issue; switching to Airplane mode and back (bring down the status bar, go to the quick settings panel, tap airplane mode twice) DOES restore signal if you're in an area with signal. So there's that at least, but it's still losing signal until a forced update. You might have to wait a second between the first and second tap of the Airline mode button to make sure it activates (the airplane icon will appear in the status bar).

Also note that occasionally it seems the phone will actually still get a 3G/4G signal and a stable internet connection...while still displaying the "no signal" icon. The only way to know this is happening is to try and use online features and find them working. You might just want to do the Airplane mode trick anyway since it's quite confusing to have the no bars icon but have the internet and calls working (and of course in this state you won't notice if the signal suddenly drops again).


You will have to wipe userdata using fastboot mode.

fastboot erase userdata


Backed up photos are accessible via plus.google.com/photos.


Why can't I connect my Samsung Galaxy 3 to my PC after installing the z4root app?

I had this problem too.  It was not related to any driver on the PC as it worked
and stopped working at some point.  The problem was on the Android phone which
for some reasons had some configuration problems.

To solve that, dial *#7284# on your phone so that it launches the PhoneUtil
application.  Then, switch to the USB -> PDA mode on the phone.  Connect the USB cable
(toggle USB -> Modem and then USB -> PDA modes if it does not work the first time)

The details are explained in:
How to repair the USB connection problem on Android Samsung phones


How do I activate Google Translate in Chrome?

Go to chrome://flags/#translate-android-manual-trigger (copy paste into your browser) and enable this feature. After relaunch, you'll see the new "translate" option in the menu.


Does the Google Drive scanner cache local copies on Android?

SHORT VERSION: The Google Drive Scanner will, by default, leave cached versions of the PDF file it creates.  I still hope to find some setting that will turn off this caching.

LONG VERSION:  Here's how I figured it out.

I have a rooted droid (Note2) I used to do some testing.  It has BusyBox and a couple of good terminals installed. After getting into the root shell ('su'), and from the root position in the filesystem ('/') I ran the following command

find -iname *jpg -mmin -2

immediately after taking a pic with my camera.  It found the new pic just fine.  I then ran the same command after using the Google Drive Scanner.  Nothing showed up.  That's good.

I ran nearly the same command but changing the name:

find -iname *pdf -mmin -2

immediately after using the Google Drive Scanner.  The find command located PDF files cached in this location:

/data/data/com.google.android.app.docs/files/fileinternal/

Now I have to determine a way to manage those caches (this is all about HIPAA data for my company).

Hope this is helpful to someone.


You should install a third-party launcher for your Android phone. This will enable you choose Live wallpapers. Your custom ROM launcher doesn't support live wallpapers.

Also, for future references, contact the developers of the custom ROM to include the ability to include live wallpaper option in their next versions.


Cut and paste not working on Samsung Note 10.1?

An upgrade became available yesterday. Once I upgraded to 4.1.1, the cut and paste functionality started working again! :)


Why phone encryption without screen lock is possible under Marshmallow?

I have a Galaxy S5 (Android Marshmallow), and when I hit the encrypt phone button, my phone stopped me and forced me to have a password or pin in order to continue. If you use finger print or face recognition, you will need to enter the password or pin on device restart. So the answer is Yes your phone will disallow you from continuing with phone encryption without a password or pin, your phone will just ask you nicely for a password as a part of the encryption process rather than send you back into the settings to make a password.


What are the implications of an old Android version?

This question cannot be answered in general. Android is open source and therefore can be modified by the mentioned enterprises. These enterprises will be based on the same "stock | untouched" Android with many of the same bugs and "vulnerabilities".

But:

Nearly all enterprises are modifying Android (interface, core) to match their wishes (e.g. Samsung TouchWiz, Sony XperiaUI, etc.). They are changing they way the software works, causing or eliminating bugs and security problems. So it's possible that some problems are fixed/caused by enterprises themselves. Therefore it's not likely for them to have exactly the same problems.
There is no official list of security flaws available. But there is an official bugtracker: http://code.google.com/p/android/issues/list


How can I enable field test mode on Samsung Galaxy S3?

*#*#7262626#*#* – Perform a field test
*#2263# - If previous doesn't work.

Sadly, Samsung used to provide field test display by entering codes in keypad. However, from Galaxy S3 onward, the service mode *#*#197328640#*#* was disabled. Only *#0011# is still available.  The worst is that even the Android default testing info *#*#4636#*#* was disabled as well.

And just because this looked very sparse, here's a big list!

For IMEI Number: *#06#
For RAM Memory version: *#*#3264#*#*
For FTA SW version: *#\*#1111#*#*
For FTA HW version: *#*#2222#*#*
For Touchscreen version: *#*#2663#*#*
To test Bluetooth: *#*#232331#*#*
To display Bluetooth Physic Address: #*#232337#*#
To test secret GPS: *#*#1472365#*#*
To test other GPS:  *#*#1575#*#*
To test WiFi/Wireless LAN of phone: *#*#232339#*#* or *#*#528#*#* or *#*#526#*#*
To display Wi-Fi MAC Address: *#*#232338#*#*
To test Vibration and Back-light of device: *#*#0842#*#*
To test Proximity/Distance Sensor: *#*#0588#*#*
To test Touchscreen: *#*#2663#*#*
For Audio Test: *#*#0289#*#* or *#*#0673#*#*
To launch Service Mode: *#*#197328640#*#*
Hidden Service Menu (Motorola Droid): ##7764726
Field Test: *#*#7262626#*#*
To format the phone: *2767*3855#
To Restore Factory Settings: *#*#7780#*#*
To create Immediate backup of your multimedia files: *#*#273282*255*663282*#*#*
To display Phone Information: *#*#4636#*#*
To get detailed Camera Information: *#*#34971539#*#*
For Software & Hardware Information: *#12580*369#
To display HSDPA/HSUPA Control Menu: *#301279#
To start GTalk Monitoring: *#*#8255#*#*
To get PDA, Phone, H/W and RF Call Date: *#*#4986*2650468#*#*
Displays Build Time and Change List number: *#*#44336#*#*
Packet Loopback Test: *#*#0283#*#*
LCD  Display Test: *#*#0*#*#*
Enter Service Menu (on New Phones): *#0*#
Diagnostic Configuration: *#9090#
USB Logging Control: *#872564#
System Dump Mode: *#9900#
View Phone Lock Status: *#7465625#
Executes Emergency Dial Screen to unlock PUK Code: **05**#
Enables Voice Dialing Logging Mode: *#*#8351#*#*
Disables Voice Dialing Logging Mode: *#*#8350#*#*
Change behavior of Power button: *#*#7594#*#*


Why does the phone shutdown and battery drains super fast on 20% or less capacity when taking pictures?

Long read with plenty of links. I will summarize so that one gets the key points and if needed dive in for details

Battery levels are not accurate

Firstly, battery levels based on voltage are an approximation and not accurate.Android battery levels are based on voltage See Are battery monitors accurate ? . Key points:

See this answer to understand why voltage based battery levels are misleading

  The voltage of a battery does not tell you how much charge a battery has, nor does any other characteristic of the battery. Battery voltage does drop as capacity drops, but the voltage drop is a function of the percentage of charge, not amount of charge.

In other words, voltage correlates to percentage of charge, not amount of charge.

Li Ion batteries display a "flattish" voltage drop even though the amount of charge falls relatively steep.
Frequency(how often) Voltage levels are updated to reflect the current state is
up to the OEM (so,phones may show different battery levels under identical conditions

Voltage levels at extremities are again inaccurate for safety reasons

When your device says it is 100% , it is not really so (see this answer
When your device says it is O or low battery , it is not really so since a prevention circuit kicks in stopping further discharge

Camera draws a lot of power

Power drawn by a camera is quite high 1000- 2000 mW based on this old answer.This excludes the full screen power. Present day phones with multiple cameras and complex algorithmsfor image processing will surely draw a lot more likely to the tune of 3500 mW
As pointed out in comments, if you are using a flash even more power is drawn

Critical or low battery shut down

From Android 5 , IIRC, this feature was introduced , with later versions allowing you to configure the low battery level. High camera power drawn drops the voltage level to low battery shutdown

To summarise , we saw that voltage based battery levels are inaccurate, camera draws a lot of power and there is a critical battery shut down which is likely triggered

Readings on reboot

When you reboot the phone , Hysteresis comes into play

  Hysteresis is simply the fact that once we've got the battery discharging, if we stop discharging it (say, by turning the phone off), it will keep on discharging by itself for a short while.

Your device is programmed to cater for this loss , maybe 2% or more or none

Voltage correction: Considerable power is drawn for reboot.In the first point , we said "voltage drop is a function of the percentage of charge, not amount of charge." . Percentage of change means there is a previous value needed to compare , i.e, N-1 (previous) value compared to N (current value). Now when it is 20% on reboot, it takes some time to estimate the current value (a minute or so in your question) and fall to the current value.

Hysteresis plus adjusting to the current value contribute to the rapid fall in a short duration

To add to all this is the degradation of battery performance over time and aging effect as described here Battery capacity wear-down, and its relationship to charging practices to be taken into consideration to answer your query in comments (why did the estimate work properly in the first months of life)


Samsung Galaxy Note 3 : Tried to install TWRP, can't boot into recovery mode now

I had the same problem like you before. But I figured out the solution. We both downloaded and flashed the wrong TWRP version for Note 3 N9005: ha3g.img.tar. The correct one is hlte.img.tar which you can download on this link: https://dl.twrp.me/hlte/

I hope it helps you :)


How to disable Android Wear's "Listening via TCP" notification?

Try downloading the Android Wear app. Open it up and see if it says Emulator Connecting in the top left. If it does, go to the menu and select Disconnect Emulator and then Forget Emulator. It worked for me. I was getting the same notification.


Yes, it is. When you first boot the device, it asks for your Google account. Just select the option "I don't have a Google account" and then the option that says you don't want to create one.

Note that you can't use some Google services like Play Store which require a Google account.


Is it possible to get the audio files for the TalkBack "earcons"?

Talkback is open source, and the files available on Github:
https://github.com/rmtheis/eyes-free

The audio files are included in the repository in .ogg format. Simply download the repository and extract all of the .ogg files to access the audio.


How can I remove pictures from contacts to save space?

On my phone I have an option to delete bulk contact pictures when I push the menu button when in my contacts. However this is using a custom rom on an htc desire hd. I'm pretty sure if you're still running sense you can choose to uncheck the sync with facebook option, along with a delete contact picture option. If worse comes to worst then you can always manually delete the pictures of each contact after you uncheck the sync with facebook option.


Clockwork Mod tether stopped working recently

It might have being a problem with my USB cable. I tried again with a new one and now it works just fine. highly recommended app


Tools for using connected phone via PC/Headset

A Phone connected through the USB, no.

But if the phone is instead connected through bluetooth to the PC, you can try to turn on HFP (Hands Free Profile) Bluetooth profile service from your PC's bluetooth stack. The only way I found this possible was from the BlueSoleil Bluetooth Stack Software where you can set the bluetooth to parade as a "headset" instead of "laptop/desktop" and hence your phone can connect to the PC thinking it is a headset.

However, BlueSoleil is not free and the evaluation version allows only 2MB worth of voice data packets in one connection after which the connection is automatically interrupted.


Some secret codes not working after installing CyanogenMod

Some "secret" codes are provided via hidden apps that the carrier and/or the device manufacturer installs in the phone's firmware. When you switch to a custom ROM such as Cyanogenmod, those apps are no longer present.

Nevertheless, for just about anything you might have wanted a "secret" code for, there is some way to get that information already, either through an existing menu item or a free app you can find on the Play Store.


How to directly measure or read the screen capacitance

No. It is not possible to get this information with the Android SDK.

You might get this information if you have access to the drivers and the kernel of your device.


By use adb shell input keyevent <key_code>
And for simulating your device power the key code is 26

Adb shell input keyevent 26


Recovering deleted files android 6.0.1 (internal storage)

I'd try photorec (testdisk package) in Linux. Or the Piraform file recovery program in Windows. Get it connected to a PC sooner rather than later as you don't want the area it was stored to be overwritten.

Was the Onenote not syncing with a Microsoft account?


Try to enter the recovery and perform a factory reset.

Have the tablet powered off first and make sure you have more than 50% charge on the battery. Boot into recovery mode by pressing and holding the volume up and power buttons. At the RCA logo screen, let go of the volume up button and you should next see an android image. Press and hold the power button and tap the volume up button once more and you will be brought to the recovery mode menu. From here, you will need to use your volume up and down buttons to scroll and navigate to the wipe data/factory reset option and use the power button to confirm. When the process is done, go ahead and reboot and your tablet will be set to factory original settings.


I'm using Evernote v4.2.1 and the multiple list functionality works correctly, whether i'm using numbers or boxes or hyphens.

The result is:

Test
Test

You should try to update your app in Google Play and try again.


Which, if any, of the major console game developers also develop for Android?

How did you search for the publishers? Electronic Arts, for example, most certainly has applications in the Market. I only see one Square Enix game, though.

Beyond that, the Xperia Play will be supported by a line of Playstation titles. They're already starting to hit the market, in fact. I wouldn't recommend purchasing them unless you own an Xperia Play since I have no idea what running them on a non-suported device would entail (or if it's even feasible - I'll leave that to XDA), but it's another angle to it.

Whether or not they'll continue to update them or develop new games...I could only speculate, really.


how to use android with broken touch and adb not enabled

If only touch stopped working and screen is properly visible and  your device supports OTG then you could try the USB OTG with keyboard and mouse to go to developer settings and turn on usb debugging or use the device


How can one remove the animation when searching for a string in a web page in Google Chrome for Android?

This is a longstanding problem[1][2][3] with no solution in sight. Some Reddit users argue[1] that if you click on the sidebar instead of arrows on the top, you get the same no-smooth-scroll functionality. I tested this and this is true. But this becomes next to useless when the searched term occurs often and between very few lines, as tapping onto them using the side bar is neither convenient nor practical.

My solution is Kiwi Browser (based on Chromium) and as of version v77.0.3865.92, it has that same classic find-in-page scroll (instantly shows next occurrence instead of scrolling to it). I've been using it because of its support to Chrome Extensions. Firefox for Android also doesn't have this problem either. If the smooth scrolling is a deal breaker you can try these alternatives.

1: Chrome app "find in page" issue
2: scroll-behavior: smooth on Chrome can cause motion sickness issues
3: DISABLE search animation query


What does it mean when I select to 'clear data'?

All the data stored by the app in the folder /data/data/app_name/ will be cleared. You cant specify which data to clear. The app would be like when it was installed or updated.


Can't do wireless tethering. HTC Hero with 2.2 ROM

I don't think there's much you can do beyond trying other wifi tether apps.  You could also try using CyanogenMod (for the GSM version of the Hero, or the CDMA version).


Does /dev/block/mmcblk0 include an external sd card that has been formatted as internal?

No. Internally formatted external sd card is not included in mmcblk0. dd dumps files, in your case the block device file mmcblk0 which includes all partitions, GUID partition table (GPT) and any free space in between partitions.

External SD card is a separate flash memory chip, so exposed by a different block device available at path something like /dev/block/mmcblk1 or /dev/block/sda.


Huh, It turns out you can

It turns out you can disable the verication check to bypass the ask for authorization.

On a authorised computer:

Firstly, run adb version and check its at least 1.0.32

Give adb root permissions, adb root

Then, connect and run adb disable-verity

Then it should be fine!

Source: https://stackoverflow.com/a/37624959/4992064


Wondershare MobileGo connect from PC behind NAT

In Windows go to Start -> Run -> cmd (right click Run as Administrator)

netstat -b -a >> c:\PortLists.txt

A few minutes later the command would be finished.

Open the file and search "Mobile" word.

[svchost.exe]
  UDP    0.0.0.0:5353           *:*
  Dnscache
 [svchost.exe]
  UDP    0.0.0.0:5355           *:*
  Dnscache
 [svchost.exe]
  UDP    0.0.0.0:7765           *:*
 [MobileGoService.exe]
  UDP    0.0.0.0:41481          *:*
 [BitTorrent.exe]
  UDP    0.0.0.0:60337          *:*
  FDResPub
 [svchost.exe]
  UDP    127.0.0.1:1900         *:*

Here is my result:

[MobileGoService.exe] UDP    0.0.0.0:41481


How to Sync Screenshots to Google Photos automatically?

Go to Google Photos > Albums > Click Screenshots, Whats... and click the cloud symbol with arrow.


Where is the .config hidden on Samsung Galaxy S4?

/proc/config.gz (and consequently .config), a file containing all needed flags for the Linux kernel building process, can only be found if the kernel maker / your device manufacturer explicitly enabled config.gz availability when the Linux kernel was being built.

So if it's not present in /proc, you'd have to either do a trial-and-error, get help from somebody else, or contact the manufacturer.


How to change Gmail settings to automatically unhide pictures in messages

I am not sure what version of Gmail you have, but the version I have (along with Android 4.1.2) allows me to "Show Pictures" in the message, then I have the option to "Always show pictures from this sender".

The option in the settings is to "Remove" the always show that you have set for any sender in the past.

The only way to always show images is by first showing them for a sender, then select the always show. And AFAIK, this can only be done per sender.


In case you have disabled the notification by blocking it, you've probably blocked the whole WhatsApp from showing any notification. In that case, you'll not get any notification from WhatsApp.

However, in my phone, it doesn't show any such notification at all when using the web feature. Even I've seen many others use it, but no notification is shown. That's what is making me doubt that you have the correct WhatsApp. Maybe I'm wrong, and it doesn't show the notification in India, but that shouldn't be the case. Please make sure that this is the WhatsApp you've installed, because there are some more similar looking apps in Google Play.


These are the caches Images which Android stores it in itself. To delete these Images, go to your File browser and allow the File browser to show Hidden Files and then Go to

Phone Storage > DCIM > .thumbnails

There are image more than 100 image and some waste files stored under this folder. Delete whole folder. Doing this can help you in some Manner to get out of dwindling storage.


How can I prevent the earphones from muting the speaker?

I found the HF Button Widget to be the most comfortable way to toggle the speaker while the earphones are plugged in.


Transferring Apps from sd card to another sd card(HTC Desire HD)

It will not work in case you move all your data to PC and then copy it to the new sd-card(it true for Windows,Linux, Mac as ownership of all applications will be changed)
If you have additional slot for sd-cards on your device then copying data to the new card and then replace the old one with this one. It should work with all rooted devices)

Try copying your apps using some special utilities which copy data saving permissions and ownership. I hope dd on linux will work


Linux on Dex - Can you install additional programs? R? Vim?

Both of these Linux packages load and run fine on Dex (Note 9):

R:

vim:


Can you read RFID without NFC? No you cannot.

Can you read QR-Code without a camera?

You need the right hardware to read codes. For reading QR-code you need an image of the QR-Code therefore a camera. Without a camera you cannot read QR-Code.

To read RFID you need hardware to read the code. The hardware needed is NFC, so without NFC you cannot read RFID.


Coordinates from 'dumpsys location' are censored on Huawei devices

It looks like this is a modification that Huawei did by themselves (factual reasons not yet found). In short, the method to print the location's detail was overwritten.

dumpsys command calls the system services' dump method (more detail on this answer on Stack Overflow), and for dumpsys location, the respective service is LocationManagerService.

The dump() method for LocationManagerService (in Android 10, but also no major differences on previous versions) contains code like this:

...

pw.println("  Last Known Locations:");
for (Map.Entry<String, Location> entry : mLastLocation.entrySet()) {
    String provider = entry.getKey();
    Location location = entry.getValue();
    pw.println("    " + provider + ": " + location);
}

...

where it will iterate the last known locations from all location providers and print the name of the provider and its location. Note that the location is an instance of Location objects.

By default, the method to print the detail of the Location object (toString()) contains code like this:

@Override
public String toString() {
    StringBuilder s = new StringBuilder();
    s.append("Location[");
    s.append(mProvider);
    s.append(String.format(" %.6f,%.6f", mLatitude, mLongitude));
    ...

where it will print the latitude and longitude in 6 decimal digits.

For many devices, this is the standard behavior, as shown on Nexus 5 with LineageOS 14.1 (Android 7.1):

 Last Known Locations:
    ...
    fused: Location[fused 1.234567,101.010101 acc=500 et=+12h00m00s000ms]
    ...

The numbers are changed due to privacy reason

By overriding the method, OEMs can customize how dumpsys will display the content. (Note: while Android requires some services not to be modified, location is not one of them)


Turns out the APN settings were wrong. After correcting them, it works.


Galaxy S4 Mini: Why is there no "creation mode." when sending MMS (problem sending .png images)

You can find creation mode in S4 mini by following this sequence:

open messaging.
press to the left of home button to open message setting options, and select settings at the bottom of the list.
scroll down to mms settings - creation mode is there, it has 'restricted' 'warning' and 'free'.

As far as i can determine, your downloads or screenshots which are saved as  .png will still be .png, and therefore other devices may be unable to open or view those files, but you can at least send them. I'm going to send to another Galaxy device to see if it can view them, worth experimenting.


I have solved my problem with Social Contact Photo Sync.


problem opening normal boot after TWRP install on nokia 3

As you have install the custom recovery following reasons may cause problem-

Wrong version of twrp.
Wrong size of twrp recovery because some mediatek processors support 7mb of recovery.

So as you mentioned after installing twrp recovery device won't boot into system and it stuck on boot logo see the following guide to fix-

download stock rom of your device.
flash recovery.img from stock rom with sp flash tool as you flash twrp recovery.
This will return your device recovery mode to stock recovery form.
Now you can perform normal boot and your device won't stuck at logo.

Extra tips-

try to find the right version of twrp recovery, unlock the bootloader and if won't find the twrp recovery for your device just build it yourself take help from Google hope it helps good luck.


The F-Droid description of AdAway, (which is a popular adblocker) is described as:

  An ad blocker that uses the hosts file. The hosts file contains a list
  of mappings between hostnames and IP addresses. When an app requests
  an ad, that request is directed to 127.0.0.1 which does nothing.

So, an adblocker redirects an app's ad requests to an IP address which produces a blank result, which prevents the ad from being visible.


How to effectively search for apps on/without using Google Play?

Try combined search words to narrow down the result list. If you e.g. look for an alarm reminder, "alarm reminder" gives you 1.000+ results -- while "alarm-reminder" (note the "minus" replacing the space) shrinks it to 48, relating to both terms (and not just either one of them).

Sometimes also the rules from Google's main search engine apply here (I could not yet figure out when they do and when they don't). So "alarm +reminder" should list only apps whose name/description contains both terms -- while "alarm -reminder" should list only those containing "alarm" but not "reminder". As said, this works sometimes, while the first rule mentioned seems to work always.

I just tested it, and surprisingly even some more advanced keywords work: "clock +intitle:alarm" really lists only apps having "alarm" in their name (and "clock" in their name or description; though this I did not verify completely). I suspect the playstore search is just a "customized Google search" -- so you might play with other "tipps and tricks" from its "big brother".


When you uninstall an app from the Market, it asks you for a reason.  If you choose "It's malicious", it will prompt you for a report.  And you can leave a comment on the app (before uninstalling) to warn other users.

Since you have no proof they did or intended to do anything wrong with your info, there's nothing else you can do.  You won't get the app removed from the Marketplace.


From a privacy perspective, any app that requires more permissions than its actual usage is not a secure or private app. Is there a valid reason why they would need your call information? Is the software related to managing calls? From what I can tell, not really. You can never trust developers for their words. Many people in the past claimed they will not spy or collect additional data even with permissions, many more people will do that in the future, yet there are a lot of them who do break their "promise".

I am personally relatively paranoid, so if an app is just a news browsing app, if it requires permissions like my SMS history or anything more than its initial purpose, It is a massive no go.


Does anyone have a real solution to the "Unfortunately ______ service has stopped?"

Welcome to Android Enthusiasts! There can be many reasons for a {service has stopped} error. You can actually use aLogCat to view device logs. This will help you better understand what's actually going on with your device.

It is difficult to pin-point an issue like that with Android because of its very nature. We can all have the same devices but have completely different experiences on them, based on configuration, how we use them, etc. Hopefully that will give you a better understanding of what's going on with your device. aLogCat doesn't work for your needs, try Android Remote Stacktrace.


If you are using an x86_64 build from http://www.android-x86.org/download, such as android-x86_64-5.1-rc1.img, it is already rooted.  There's no need to run a root script.

If that's not where you're getting your image from, please update your answer to add that important detail.


Unfortunately, I assume, your phone does not have a magnetic compass.

Some sources do confirm this assumption:

http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/model/fb273756 (under "Sensors")
http://www.doogeemobile.com/doogee-t6.html (scroll down to Ken's question)


Making network drive share accessible from Android device and part of its media library

I dont know exactly what you want but ES file explorer has its own network tab that you can access shares on PC and stream media to android device. You can make favorites from them and name music for that matter. If you want you can install Kodi app to android and from there you can make local music and network music into one big mash up/hybrid library - i think that would do the trick. More on Kodi: https://kodi.tv/


You can find your cached videos under /data/data/com.facebook.katana/files/video-cache.

Note: To open that path, you need a rooted phone and a  root explorer app.


Paste YYYYMMDDHHMMSS timestamp anywhere (hotkey shortcut)

I'm not sure if there is anything like AutoHotKey in Android but it is possible to get the timestamp in that format for the current time on demand.

You'd need Tasker or any other app which can run a command.

Setup a task with these actions:

Code → Run Shell:

Command: date "+%Y%m%d%H%M%S"
Store Output In: %date

System → Set Clipboard → Text: %date
Now, exit the Tasker, go back to Home Screen, long press your home screen to add a widget and choose Task Shortcut → pick your newly created Task → assign an icon at the bottom. That's it.

Whenever you would press that icon on your home screen, the current date-time would be copied in your clipboard automatically in the supplied format. You just have to copy paste it wherever you want it. There can be other methods to run a Tasker task less disruptively, such as through quick settings, as mentioned here by Grayox96 on Reddit.


Is your phone rooted / bootloader unlocked? If it is, then you can do an adb pull of your entire internal storage so that you may still be able to retrieve all your data intact.

A sure shot way of fixing this would be to factory reset your phone via the stock recovery, but at the moment, that might be a rather extreme step.

The steps have been listed in moto's official help page

External Reset (Lollipop)

1. With the phone powered off, press and hold the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time until the device turns on. You will see the word "Start" with an arrow around it.

2. Press the Volume Down button twice to highlight "Recovery mode"

3. Press the Volume Up button to restart into Recovery mode. You'll see an image of an Android robot with a red exclamation mark and the words "No command."

4. While holding down the Power button, press the Volume Up button.

5. Use the volume buttons to scroll to "wipe data/factory reset" and press the Power button to select it.

6. Scroll down to "Yes - erase all user data" and press the Power button to select it.


Can Swype be downloaded from a PC and transfered to the phone by a USB cable?

This is the direct download link to the Swype Installer APK: http://swypemedia.swype.com/beta-d1/media/installer/Swype-Installer-2.0.apk

You can access this from any device (including a desktop computer).

Swype uses the installer app for it's licensing system.


Can I control how google accounts get synced? Mobile vs Wifi

Syncing Google Play Music doesn't actually download the music: it just updates the list of what music you have. Music streams, caches, or downloads when you start to play it, and you can control that using the settings inside Google Play Music itself: Download via Wi-Fi only and Stream via Wi-Fi only.

In the same way, you can control when Google+ "Auto-Backup" backs up photos and videos, using the settings inside Google+. From the settings menu, click Auto-Backup, and click Back up photos and Back up videos to select when they're synced.


How does Android account for hardware changes in each individual device?

Most hardware-specific code doesn't come from AOSP1, but is provided by the corresponding manufacturer (often as so-called binary blobs). This is especially true for "exotic components" (like your "fingerprint sensor") – but also for more common components as the camera. Which BTW also is one of the reasons why there isn't a "generic ROM" fitting all devices.2

1: Android Open Source Project
2: see Why is it that Android still can't be installed as regular OS? and Can I install any ROM for my Android device?


Can android smartphones (with Wi-Fi enabled) be detected by other WiFi devices?

When you say that Wi-Fi is enabled I'm taking you literally: that Wi-Fi is enabled but is not actually connected to an access point (hotspot).

So the answer is no.

Just enabling the Wi-Fi on your phone does not make it visible to other devices.  It just sits there listening passively.  No one around you can see your wi-fi or get it to respond.

If you set your device to be a Wi-Fi hotspot (typically for tethering purposes) it will emit a signal called a beacon that allows other devices to see it.

Also, if you turn on Wi-Fi Direct then it can be seen, but this is a new feature in Android 4 that is not widely used yet and I don't know much about it.


Use bluetooth microphone in Google Assistant

I had the same problem with Google Voice Access. I came across these instructions, which seem to be for Google Assistant. Executing them did not seem to affect the desired change in Voice Access, but I think they might work for you with Assistant.
The configuration is performed in the main Google app. After opening it, I clicked "⋯ More", then "⚙ Settings", then " Voice", and there - under the "Hands-Free" heading, I found an option for "Bluetooth audio recording", subtitled "Enable audio recording through Bluetooth devices if available. See the linked instructions for screenshots.


Is it possible to factory reset without losing my google play movies?

If you reset you phone, you lose all google data unless you had a back and restore activated. However if you had offline videos from google play movies then you won't lose this videos since they are saved to your google account and not directly to your device...


Automatic Lock Screen prevention if the line is engaged

If you are rooted, disable your Proximity Sensor in a call. To do so, add following line to /system/build.prop file: gsm.proximity.enable=false.

If you don't use Proximity Sensor other than in call, you can disable it fully. To do so, use Hardware Disabler app. But, make sure you have selected correct driver of proximity sensor, otherwise you will brick your device. To find correct driver of proximity sensor, you can either Google or find it using Android Sensor Box app.

Plus, make sure to make screen timeout period long. You can use Widgetsoid app (or, other toggle apps) to make it infinite.


How can I play audio over an open phone conversation?

No, the best that you would be able to accomplish is playing a sound through the speaker so the microphone can pick it up. There are no api's that can accomplish that.


The first account you enter when you set up your phone can not be removed without resetting the whole phone.

If you do this you won't lose any cloud data but all locally installed apps and their data, eg. not your emails (cloud data) but for example sent/received SMSes (and all other locally stored data).


How to avoid WiFi disconnection if Google cannot be pinged?

You can either disable captive portal detection:

adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_detection_enabled 0'
adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_mode 0'

(set to 1 to re-enable), or set a different server. I use e.g.:

adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_http_url "http://captiveportal.kuketz.de"'
adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_https_url "https://captiveportal.kuketz.de"'
adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_fallback_url "http://captiveportal.kuketz.de"'
adb shell 'settings put global captive_portal_other_fallback_urls "http://captiveportal.kuketz.de"'

This works fine for me on Android 8 (Oreo). For more details (and other Android versions), you can e.g. refer to Captive Portal parameters.

(As for the URLs I use: Mike Kuketz is a security expert in Germany, with focus on privacy. I know him personally and fully trust him. You could also setup your own captive portal server – it's not that hard, but goes a bit beyond our site. See above linked Wikipedia article for details on that if you're interested.)


WhatsApp not working with mobile data S7 Edge

Please check if you have installed/ pre-installed any firewall app, which is preventing WhatsApp from using mobile data.


How to factory reset LG optimus L3 E405 from pc

Follow this steps, it will bring you phone back to life

http://www.hackmyandroid.com/how-unbrick-optimus-android-phone/1980


If I tap "Allow" will the permission be saved, can allow "only for this time" - until the app is closed? Can I constrain the list of permissions available when the app runs in background?

If you choose to grant the permission during runtime the app would be able to access the underlying resource as many times as it wants until you do clear data or reinstall the app. There is no constraint available in stock Android's Settings app which can restrict the permissions when an app is running in background.

  [Are there] other possibilities/apps to control privacy settings in [Android]?

Yes, and as Matthew Read noted XPrivacy is a flexible and powerful app to manage information sharing with installed apps. It is excellent but not perfect so you should not be surprised with crashes of the restricted apps.

  Permissions are grouped by the android itself in a way that mixes read access with write access and combines different scopes.

I would like to address that with this quote:

  If an app requests a dangerous permission listed in its manifest, and the app already has another dangerous permission in the same permission group, the system immediately grants the permission without any interaction with the user. For example, if an app had previously requested and been granted the READ_CONTACTS permission, and it then requests WRITE_CONTACTS, the system immediately grants that permission.

In plain words it appears to me that Android assumes that if the user is comfortable with granting an app a dangerous permission belonging to a certain group then they would not be having any problem if the system automatically grants rest of the permissions (dangerous or not) of the same group to that app, when requested.

Since normal permissions are always granted and considered safe I recommend you consider directing your attention to permissions groups holding dangerous permissions. Those permissions groups are self-describing and are not as much complicated as they seem to be at first sight.

Related:

Is it possible to install an app and exclude some of its requested permissions?
Are there any tools to sandbox a malware application even more than the granted permissions on Android?
Preventing installed apps from making calls or sending SMS
Is there a way to block permissions for other applications on Jelly Bean?


Do I need ARM or ARM64 Gapps for an asus zenfone 2 laser ZE500KL?

Rather than wasting time checking your SoC architecture, why not check your ROM's build architecture instead? The following methods are available for you.

The existence of /system/bin/linker64 indicates that your ROM is built for ARM64 (or more formally, AArch64), as well as these things

File: /system/bin/linker64
      /system/bin/app_process64
Directory: /system/lib64/
           /system/vendor/lib64

If these things don't exist, it means that you're running a ARM 32-bit ROM.

Open /system/build.prop in any text editor and look for ro.product.cpu.abi. If its value is arm64-v8a then your ROM is ARM64. If its value is 'armeabi-v7a' or something else, safely believe it's an ARM ROM.

I suggest checking your ROM architecture instead of CPU architecture, as it sometimes occurs that an ARM ROM is installed on an ARM64 device.

FYI, your SoC, Qualcomm Snapdragon 410 is in fact ARM64 as its core architecture is ARM Cortex-A53, the very first 64-bit core architecture from ARM.


How do I remove corporate administrator settings?

Converting my comment into an answer, as it proofed according to its follow-ups:

In a thread at XDA, a user states:

  I had the same problem when i tried to setup an exchange email account and installed a certificate. Fixed it by deleting all certificates. Settings>Security>Clear credintials

So I'd suggest you just do that.

For additional information, also take a look at this thread at Android-Forums, which deals with the same problem you mention as example in your question ("screen pattern lock" -- here: disable lock screen).


From play store support:

  You can use apps you bought on Google Play on any Android device
  without paying again. However, each device must have the same Google
  Account on it.

  You can:

  Reinstall an app you bought but deleted
  Install an app on more than one Android device.
  Install an app on a new Android device.

Even though the app you downloaded was free now, being that usually it is a paid app, Google will count it as if you paid $0.00 and therefore it's counted as if you bought it. And as quoted above, purchased apps can be reinstalled later.


How to update Samsung Galaxy SII SHW-250K from ICS to jelly bean?

You can simply flash win Odin GT-I9100 firmware.
Firmwares you can get from sammobile

Odin you can get from http://web.djodjo.org/?a=download:android:tools:win:bootloadertools

get Odin307

You can also check this tutorial for flashing with Odin.


system.img file is missing after building Android source

It looks like the build did not complete successfully. Run make again. It should try to resume from the point the build failed, whereupon it'll encounter the same error again. Probably the error message will tell you what went wrong: possibly it's a problem with the software you need to build the source, or likely the way you've "modified" the build has caused the problem.

If you can't work out yourself what the error message means, then our sister site Stack Overflow will be able to offer specific help if you tell them the message and your situation.


How to skip music tracks with screen off?

Try Smart Pocket app, you can skip tracks with single or double volume clicks.


Gmail contacts not syncing - How to get them to sync?

Yes, the permission for Gmail to view contacts is most probably off.
Go into settings>manage applications>Gmail>permissions>contacts on

(Worked for me)


unknown error when i try to verify my google account

Try to set right date and time on your phone.

For clarification:

An authorization is usually done through https requests. Https requests do not pass if the device has an old enough date that does not correspond to the actual date. This usually happens after resetting the device to the factory settings. Therefore the first what needs to do - setup correctly date and time on the device.

Wrong date and time are a typical reason of problems with authentication after factory reset.


Samsung S6 keep showing Device Security "1 threat detected"

There is a workaround provided at XDA forums which involves disabling the security log agent. I believe it is also the cause for the "Threat detected" alert notification.

Install free Package Disabler from Google Play Store.
Launch this app, search and disable "Security Log Agent".

Doesn't need root :)

This should fix  this annoying notification again.

Reference

Unauthorized actions have been detected. error


Sent messages not synced on first install of new SMS apps

Try this work around

Disable Textra as default SMS app
Take a backup of your stock SMS app messages using SMS backup and restore
Set Textra as default messaging app
Restore messages using SMS backup and restore backup, which you just created
All the messages  (before you installed Textra ) should be available now on your Textra or alternative app


Smart lock not present in Security Settings

Smart Lock can be re-enabled by activating it in

  Settings → Security → Trust agents → Smart Lock (Google)


How does a phone store date and time even when the battery is removed?

“There is in fact a second battery in every phone.” (Cf. answers 15., 19. and 48. of this discussion.)


Are there "end of life" plans for Android?

For android devices the answer is: 18 months is the maximum supported lifetime.

I found this in the Google Android FAQ. It is said that the 2 year old Galaxy Nexus does not recieve an Update to Android 4.4 "KitKat":

  Galaxy Nexus, which first launched two years ago, falls outside of the 18-month update window when Google and others traditionally update devices.


Open the Settings application on your device and Navigate to Sound and uncheck the option labelled Vibrate with a description of Vibration feedback for calls.


App can't see wide angle camera in xiaomi redmi note 9

As far as I know such "special cameras" are often not accessible via Android's standard camera API, hence each app needs to be adapted for your device to be able to use e.g. the wide angle camera. This require a lot of effort so not every camera app developer does this.
Therefore the answer is: You can't fix this on your own, only the developer of the camera app can adapt the app to make it work.


Probably, something went wrong during update. /data partition might be problematic after updates sometimes. Or it might be directly related to the system files that are downloaded during update. Try to boot into recovery mode using guides from here and here and factory reset your phone. It'll format /data partition clean and therefore delete every user data you have on your phone such as apps, apps' datas, SMS, call logs, etc. If the problem is related to a bad/corrupted or a non-compatible /data partition, the problem will be solved.

However, if the problem is related to other things such as bad system files or problem(s) during installation of downloaded files, flashing a clean ROM will be necessary.


Windows laptop works with Wi-Fi AP, phone claims it is connected but can't access Internet

Make sure that you are using DHCP on your phone; if you have a static DNS set and it's the wrong one, you won't be able to browse the web.  Go to Settings->Wireless And Network->Wi-Fi settings, hit the context button (or right click button, or whatever you call it), select Advanced, and make sure Use Static IP is unchecked.


Is it possible to unlock the bootloader without root access?

Short answer is yes you can. Long answer is below but basically it depends on your device, your bootloader and if someone has figured out an exploid to unlock the bootloader yet.
More information:
From this link you can see the difference:

What is bootloader and why unlock it?
In literal terms, bootloader is code that is executed before any Operating System starts to run. Bootloaders basically package the instructions to boot operating system kernel and most of them also have their own debugging or modification environment. As the bootloader kicks off before any piece of software on your device, it makes it extremely processor specific and every motherboard has it’s own bootloader. Every Android phone has a bootloader that instructs the operating system kernel to boot normally.
Why is it locked?
A bootloader is usually locked on an Android device because although it’s an open source OS, still the manufacturers want you to stick to their Android OS version specifically designed for the device. In order to apply this concept, manufacturers lock the bootloader. With a locked bootloader on Android devices, it is virtually impossible to flash a Custom ROM and forced attempts void warranty as well as usually end up in bricks.
Why should I unlock?
The explanation to this question is really simple. If you want root, you’d be wanting to flash Custom ROM post-root, and if you want to install a Custom ROM, you’d need to have your stock bootloader unlocked. In simple terms Unlocking the bootloader allows you to install custom Firmware on your Android phone
Warning: Unlocking your phone’s bootloader voids its warranty. It also completely wipes (formats) your Android phone’s internal memory including applications, contacts, SMS and MMS messages etc.

Just a quick note…. Root can be achieved without unlocking the bootloader but that requires an exploit that is discovered by a developer.
This quick note is the important part really. It has to be discovered by a developer, so it depends on the device and if someone has figured out the exploit and released tools for you to do it. HTC let you unlock your bootloader through HTC Dev Site but others will not give you an inch on this.


Make Android to handle a hardware keypad properly

Solved by installing Traditional T9 Keypad IME.


Enable USB Audio out on ASUS Slider SL101?

Depending on your device (does it support USB OTG) and your Kernel (does it support USB audio) you could probably use any USB class compliant USB interface. You also need to use software that can "talk" to the USB audio device.

One that worked for me was the Shure X2u with one XLR input and a stereo output. I used it to record high quality audio; it also plays back all my music when plugged in. The device I'm using does not have a SIM card so I don't know if this also works for phone calls.

Look at this Android Enthusiasts post for more info.

EDIT: at the moment it's quite hard to find out if those things work on a specific device. Manufacturers don't include the necessary data in their specifications. If your kernel does not support USB audio you can try others but most kernel threads on xda developers don't give information on USB audio so trying yourself is the best option.


What SIM card size does the Nexus 7 use?

The Nexus 7 (with mobile data) takes a micro SIM card.

See this page from Google support on how you can Insert & activate a SIM card.


With direct share you can share plain text trough an app which can use this feature. Also, with direct share some apps display some contacts.


Which allowBackup attribute is useful to understand if an app can be backup?

I don't know what tool you used for decompiling AndroidManifest.xml but both apktool and Jadx do not show an game_display_name:allowBackup=... entry.
No matter what allowBackup entries you have the only entry that matters is the one in the <application> tag. See Android documentation: https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/application-element#allowbackup
The other one may be added by the developers because they have not read the documentation carefully.
However the game you are refferring to has a second relevant entry for backup: android:fullBackupContent:

This attribute points to an XML file that contains full backup rules for Auto Backup. These rules determine what files get backed up.

When I look at this XML file I see the following content:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<full-backup-content>
    <exclude domain="sharedpref" path="appsflyer-data" />
</full-backup-content>

From my understanding of this file format that means that the file(s) in /data/data/com.ironhorsegames.idlewasteland/shared_prefs/appsflyer-data* are excluded from backup.


Whatsapp not installing after factory reset

Here is the newest version of WhatsApp I found that is compatible with Android 2.3.3+ (WhatsApp Messenger 2.16.382)

https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/whatsapp-inc/whatsapp/whatsapp-2-16-382-release/whatsapp-messenger-2-16-382-android-apk-download/

I suspect since your phone is old, you will need the x86 arch variant.


Decrease default vibration length on notification?

Automation is the preferred option. Many apps are available. I prefer using MacroDroid , since it is free (upto 5 macros) and easy to learn. To understand how MacroDroid works and the settings required for your Android version, see  my answer

Note  This is not tested on Lollipop  as I am on KitKat but should work. Ensure appropriate settings for lollipop are made

Your macro would look like this

Trigger:

Incoming Notification → From →choose Application (in addition to application you can customise depending on the text content of notification)

Action:

Vibrate →Short buzz (Ten other variations possible like Rapid, slow, increasing, decreasing etc)

Constraints: None

Edit:  For more details and explanation on MacroDroid, please see my answer here How to prevent brightness from going to full when the battery low popup appears?


Communicating with a device via USB port , is it possible?

Android Devices as USB Hosts has been a point of interest for all the developers. Until the Android's HoneyComb OS (OS 3.0), there have been no signs of possibility.
The latest HoneyComb API (OS 3.1), however, seems to provide possibilities to support Android devices being used as USB Hosts. An API has been included for the same.
Therefore, though as of now very few Android devices support the USB Host capability, it will be possible in all the upcoming devices.


TL;DR No, unless you have root, which you do not have, I assume.

No
No
The whole system, no need for individual packages.
No

If you have root, you can pull the whole block-device by this command

adb pull /dev/block/mmcblk0

UPDATE: Make sure you specified all the switches for your ADB backup command:

adb backup -f <filename> --twrp --compress cache system data boot

You can/should append all partitions your device have, list of partitions may vary by device.

And make sure you have the latest version of TWRP, as these switches were released in March of 2017.


can automatic update work when app is not installed from android marketplace?

This sounds like it might be better asked on stackoverflow.

The autoupdate is a feature of the market. If users haven't installed the app with the market you'll have to implement your own update feature. In Android 2.2 you could potentially take advantage of the push notification system for updates.


Deleting photos on Google+ doesn't delete them on local storage on my phone

Yes this is how things work. Google+ does not sync photos, it backs them up online. It is a one way action from your device to Google+.