text:
Prevent application to make silently install file(s) or making changes
'Request Install Packages' let's say if an app has this permission ex- facebook(Check it in playstore head to facebook then 'app permissions' and click 'see more'. I used to read articles related to security threads to the device and while reading what this permission can bring to the device is look suspicious as it can trigger to install/make change to an existing app silently(without taking any permission from user).

I have then checked many apps that i was going to install but this setting makes me think that it may include security issues. Isn't it ?

Is there any way to prevent making changes silently ?
Can an antivirus prevent these changes to the device's app ?
Android Version: Nougat 7.0

Starting from Android Oreo, you can control this particular permission REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES from within Settings > Apps and notifications > Special app access > Install unknown apps. Or use AppOps as recently answered here: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/205651/218526

Is this the same as setting option in Android N 'Apps that can change system setting' ? It is written under this "select which app can change system settings, such as turning bluetooth on/off". Seems like this option only prevents to turn on/off toggles.

No, they both are different permissions. See https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#WRITE_SETTINGS and https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES

Confused reading that.

Ok. What's is your concern actually and what you want to achieve?

How to prevent an app that making changes silently ? Already told in question.

There are many types of changes an app can make, some are dangerous, some are not. A few can be controlled from within Android's settings, a few need extra apps to be installed, a few needs root access, and a few need Android framework mods like XPOSED. And still there can be some actions you can't restrict an app from performing. This is a wide subject. So if you specify what kind of changes you are afraid of, someone (including me) can answer better :)

There is every info for what is my actual concern.

Ok. So you want to deny REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGE permission to Facebook app, right?

Yep...Deny or you can say it must take permission to make any change or update(changes should not be made silently).

Let us continue this discussion in chat.

Request install will require the user to accept the install, this permission is probably used for two things on Facebook specifically

Redirecting users to install Messenger
Redirecting users to install Updates to Facebook

I understand your concern with allowing an application to install other applications without notification, but this is not possible, the permission only allows the application to redirect the user for installs, you still need to accept the installation.
You can prevent the application by using a permission manager, some of them recompile the application and completely disable the permissions, other use AppOpps to disable the permission.

AppOps on Nougat doesn't address REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES. It started with Oreo.

Can you use another permission manager to do the same ?

Xposed is actually fairly simple... They make it out to be more than it is ... It's just the app_process file being replaced with a vulnerable one.

It's not ethical to hinder ones ability in modifying an open sourced project .. it almost breaches the AOSP license that makes Android Open Sourced. .. they're trying to make Android more secure, however that has made it harder for some mods to work ... I understand what you mean though... root access is harder and harder, system modifications are getting impossible... It's definitely counterproductive towards the project, hindering manufacturers abilities to customize the OS is usually a DON'T with any OS that aims to be universal ( TV, Tablet, Computer, Phone ).. Manufacturers like control.


text:
How to open an URL in Chrome Incognito Tab by launching the Incognito Activity?
Is there any way to open a link in Google Chrome's Incognito Mode from the Terminal ?
I tried this but it didn't work:
am start -n com.android.chrome/com.google.android.apps.chrome.document.IncognitoDocumentActvity -d http://google.com

It seems it's impossible, as per the answer of @bmdixon :

I don't believe this is possible. According to this Reddit post, it is not possible when writing an app as the Chrome code ignores the request if it is not Chrome initiating it, so an app or user cannot trigger the incognito tab. I assume the same applies when trying to launch the activity 'manually'.

So what these are doing, is checking whether the intent should be ignored based on whether it is the user or chrome performing the action. They make this determination based on whether there is a token from a signed Google app. So unless there is a way to trick find that token and figure out how to attach it to Tasker I don't think it'll work.

source: Stack Exchange

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

sort: votes


text:
How to change Moborobo's SMS time
I'm currently using the Android Smartphone Management Software Moborobo and was amazed of what it can do. But I noticed that everytime I send a SMS, the time in my message is not synchronized to the one either in my PC or in my smartphone.
Please help, Thanks! :)

The time issue seems to be a known bug has already been reported and fixed in Aug 2012:

SMS times bug - August 2012
Timestamp for text messages - May 2012

I suggest you update to the latest version, currently at 2.1.3.767 Beta. If that still doesn't work, I suggest you report it.

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/


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How can I unlock a pattern lock if my screen is defunct?
I have damaged the screen on my phone, so much so, it will not allow me to get the data to transfer onto my laptop. On opening Samsung Kies, it is saying that the connected device is locked. Please enter password on the connected device. I can only assume its the pattern lock they are referring to as I have managed to unlock the sim.
As I am unable to do this due to the screen being cracked, I wondered whether there is any other way of doing this, before sending the same onto my insurance company, as they are saying that I will lose all the data! Cant see why seeing as its just the hardware that is damaged and not the software.

Does the screen display anything at all?

No nothing whatsoever apart from the bottom part lighting up where the middle button is

Are you able to try to do your lock pattern on the screen without seeing exactly where it is?

So the objective is to get the data off the device? Have a look here

YES That worked for me!!!
I've broken my screen, and after removing the SIM to another phone, the avast alarm starts louder every time I turn on.

Connect USB
Open KIES
Let the KIES waiting the screen unlock
Log in @ http://findmymobile.samsung.com/
Ensure choose the correct device, unlock the screen.
Done!!!!!

I did without the SIM card

What if the device isn't by Samsung?

I encounter the same problem on my tablet, and was able to solve it by attaching an USB mouse to unlock.
Please try if your device support USB mouse.

If you can remember your Samsung account details, you can unlock the phone remotely using the Samsung Find My Mobile site. The phone has to be on and connected to the internet.

what if the phone isn't by Samsung?

You can try take off the sim card, and try connect the phone in kies without sim card in phone, if this doesnot help you, look moborobo software. You can use a stream video function to see your phone screen on PC.
http://www.moborobo.com/download/moborobo_details.html

Thank you for your replies. I tried using moborobo and although it has detected my smartphone, it is saying that I meed to enable USB Debugging. This I cannot do due to not seeing anything on the screen. Is there anything else I can do?

ZnewmaN, I tried doing my lock pattern on the screen without seeing exactly where it is, but nothing :-(

My father passed away in January and I have photos which are of sentimental value to me, hence why I am trying desperately to recover the photos that I have of him. If anything can be done before my phone goes back to the insurance company it would be greatly appreciated.

If you know the password and you have Drop Box installed, you can use the Screen Capture Function if you have it. Even though I could not see the screen the screen capture would capture the screen. Plug in device, open Drop Box from the computer you are plugged into. When you capture the screen (Home Button and Power button at same time) it will upload the picture to Drop Box. Have Drop Box window open and refresh if needed. By doing this I was able to see the main screen and was able to best guess the fingering for the code. If you do it right you will verify it is unlocked with another screen capture. After unlocked you can use Kies to transfer data. Very time consuming, but worked for me. Hope this helps someone, it was a life saver for me.

The only thing that worked with me was, first Run Kies then connect the USB (you will get locked device screen in the Kies) then got to the internet and load the page findmymobile.samsung.com and log to your Samsung Account (SIM CARD MUST BE IN), in the Remote Control menu, choose Unlock my screen and then in the window by the side click Unlock, the program will then contact your phone and soon after you will get the message > Screen Unlocked.
Go to Kies and every thing will be there for you..... Good Luck.

TO HELP PEOPLE WITH THE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE
First, turn on Kies.
Then, connect your phone to the computer via usb.
Then, make sure you have the screen on.
after that, have someone call your phone.
it will bypass the lock screen and connect to kies.

This seemed too good to be true. Alas, I could not get it to work.

all_licenses: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
Google Pixel 6 sceenshot function has been replaced by Google Assistant
I have used Android for years and for most Android phones, pressing power + Volume Down together takes a screenshot.
I have used my Google Pixel 6 for 2 years now, and the screenshot function has always worked perfectly fine.
Recently, an automatic update added the Google Assistant function to my phone. Now, when I press  power + Volume Down, it no longer takes a screenshot but instead, the Google Assistant panel appears. Google Assistant is not available in my country, so unfortunately this panel cannot help me take a screenshot.
I tried turning off Google Assistant, and changing the default Digital Assistant app, but all the combinations of options I tried do not bring back the screenshot function. Here are the settings that I tried:

Default digital assistant app
Google Assistant
What Happens when I press Power + Vol Down

None
Off
Nothing

Google Assistant
On
Google Assistant launches, but Google Assistant is not available in my country so nothing happens

Google Assistant
Off
A panel pops up that says Google Assistant is ready, and an Activate button

How do I get back the screenshot functionality?

Possibly related/duplicate: my answer to "Long-pressing power button shows Assistant, how to restart the device?"

@AndrewT. Thank you for that link. That answer is definitely related. Thanks to it, I can now access the power menu. However, I do not think that mine question is a duplicate, since I am still unable to take screenshots after getting my power menu back.

I'm confused by this. Google Assistant was assigned to a long press on the power button, but power+volume down should still take screenshots. Is the problem perhaps that you are not pressing them simultaneously, but instead pressing power first, followed by volume down? If you do it too slowly, it will indeed trigger Google Assistant (due to holding power) and no screenshot will be taken.

Your problem is in two parts:

Unable to get power menu, which you could solve thanks to Andrew's answer

You have a non-functional Google assistant (why do they even roll it out to countries where it doesn't work?) and borks your ability to take screen shots using power + Volume Down. A four year old reddit thread offered a possibility. It asks you to install Screenshot Assistant from F-Droid with instructions:

Screenshot assistant is a replacement for Google Assistant with the sole purpose of taking, cropping and sharing a screenshot.

 Setup instructions:

Install the app
Set it as assistant via Apps > Default Apps > Assist app
Trigger Google Assistant

On my Pixel 6a , Android 13, Google assistant works fine for me, but I set it up as explained above:

And I was able to take screen shot using power + Volume Down. Hopefully this should work for you too. Using a third party app to do what is natively expected is rather stupid but in your situation may help given that the app is from F-Droid (reliable) and you want the old functionality back despite Google's shenanigans.

The screenshot shortcut has not changed. I have my suspicions that your issue stems from not pressing power+volume down simultaneously (at nearly the same time), but that instead you are likely pressing and holding power first, followed by volume down shortly afterwards.
Indeed, even a slight delay between pressing the two will result in either Google Assistant activating or the volume adjustment controls popping up. Maybe the power button changes made the screenshot button combo less forgiving.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/


text:
How does Battery Management System work (at the hardware-interface level) ? And how is idle self-discharging of batteries handled?
I came across the following when I was reading up about fully drained batteries in phones:

If the phone is OFF for a month, then it is probable that the battery has gone down to a point that the BMS has shut it down. The BMS won't allow you to charge the battery because, in its own assessment, the battery is dead. Best way to test this case is to have another same phone with a good battery (or just a new battery altogether), detach the cable from that and test on yours.

Referring to the above, do Android phones have their BMS as part of their bootloader or kernel? Or is it a part of the Power IC itself?
Are there any safety mechanisms related to booting up a device with fully drained batteries? If so, why?
(Came across something similar)

I've had difficulties with phones in the past after batteries have fully discharged - eg the Moto G5 had some battery protection "feature" that stopped it starting up if it thought the battery was fully discharged - it was a bit over sensitive so would sometimes assume the phone was fully discharged when it wasn't. Try leaving it on charge for 24 hours or so then holding down the power button for for at least 20 seconds with it still on charge.

Battery Management System is a very broad term that covers battery charging /discharging/monitoring / power IC /responding to critical events like shutting down on low battery level / User Interface actions (increasing CPU speed when user touches screen - touch boost) and many other things.

Your first quote is only instance of management system where the battery voltage has fallen to a very low level, and a protection circuit kicks in and prevents further charging. This protection mechanism is mandatory

To prevent the battery from over-discharging, a control circuit cuts off the current path at about 2.20V/cell.

Booting up from a fully drained battery, is not permitted, since it would only further drain the battery. Booting  consumes a lot of power and doing so on an already drained battery can lead to irreversible damage to the battery. And what's the point of booting up, if the device can't be used thereafter?

There are ways to overcome these problems but it is best left to  qualified technicians to handle it. There are many questions on this site dealing with such situations.
As you would guess from the first  paragraph, this being a complex system, it is dealt at a low level, meaning at a kernel level with proprietary hardware interfaces. Related Where are the battery capacity files located?

Thanks a lot :) I have some questions, which it would be great if you could answer them in your answer.  1. In context to this, do our stock phone chargers feature a wake-up feature or “boost” to reactivate and recharge batteries that have fallen asleep?  2. I remember having one of my old Nokia phones kept idle and separated from its battery from almost more than 3 years, and it worked seamlessly when it put it back and charged the phone. Why didn't self-discharge affect in that case?

Please feel free to edit the question title/OP if it's very broad; something related to how self-discharging is handled by devices?. BTW related to the 2nd question above, I found this on Wiki: Li-ion rechargeable batteries have a self-discharge rate typically stated by manufacturers to be 1.5–2% per month

For the first comment Gokul  1. No, they don't have, never read or heard about it. Besides, they would like you to buy a new battery or device? 2. When it is separated from the device, my guess is that the self discharge is lower, since it doesn't need to be monitored by system. I can't say why your Nokia worked after 3 years. A few weeks ago I was able to charge and use a Bose Bluetooth headset after it was lying unused for 7 years! That was a pleasant shock //Next comment, wiki you quoted is in line with what Battery University also

Says. Battery University adds more self discharge for to the protection circuit but then all these are broad guidelines and the specific characteristics can only be provided by battery manufacturers. Re:edit, it's OK, you only asked based on what you read, so I don't think it needs to be edited just because it turns out to be a broad idea, rather than a specific issue. Of course, you are welcome to edit!

I got in touch with Bose service, had a detailed discussion - Bose products have a mechanism of automatically cutting off battery connections to the CPU or controller, if the device isn't used for a long time. Effectively, it is like taking out the battery from device - hence the discharge rate is very low (you go to a shop and buy even a two year old device, it's battery will about 40%, ideal for long storage). That's how I could use it after 7 years though the overall life had become very low //

//probably Nokia does something similar??? I couldn't find anything on the net, though for Nokia that supports this

That's great, thanks for the info. But it seems to be generally agreed that even disconnected Li-Ion batteries have a self-discharge rate of around 2% per month. Meaning, if I take out my battery after charging it to 100% and keep it isolated for 4 years, the charge would fall down to 4% by 4 years. But I also read somewhere that storing the batteries at lower temperatures say 5 deg C or something would drop the self-discharge rate to below 1% per month, and recommended for long-term storage.

mechanism of automatically cutting off battery connections to the CPU or controller, if the device isn't used for a long time If this is true, I believe even smartphones should have a mechanism like this, given that a phone's Power IC is more sophisticated than a headphone's.

For prolonged storage 40%-see Table 3// smartphones should have a mechanism like this, yes, if they care about a customer using the phone for a long time. What's more profitable for them? Obviously customer changing phones fast, so why should they bother? Another example - fast charging is bad for battery (see answers on this site) but they keep improving the charging speed - so that in two years you change the phone. I have a Note 2 - which is 8 years old, still usable

Yes, the discharge rate which you quoted is generally said to be around that. Thanks for accepting


text:
Cannot use WhatsApp in Gingerbread anymore
I have Samsung Galaxy S+ (i9001) and the other day had a prompt from WhatsApp to update the app.
The update download but the installation fails and the app cannot be opened.
I tried downloading the APK of the latest version and even many of older versions but the issue is still there.
I know WhatsApp said they are ceasing support for Android 2.1 and 2.2, but my phone has 2.3.6, so it shouldn't be affected.
How to fix?

Yes, officially they said they won't support android 2.1 and 2.2, but since the last update only devices with Android 4.0 and above are supported.
Try installing 2.16.259 over 2.16.225:

Download APKs for WhatsApp version 2.16.225 and 2.16.259.
Install 225 first, don't open it
Reboot the phone
Install 259

But soon or later these versions will be dropped as well.

Thanks, man, you're great. It worked. How can I disable auto update for WhatsApp now to prevent it for not working anymore?

Disable it in Google Play > Settings > Auto update apps set it to do not auto update apps.  Mind upgrading to a recent phone. Soon or later these versions won't work anymore.

Just for information: this webpage in the WhatsApp FAQ, which contradictorily claims compatibility for "Android 2.1 or later", is outdated and is no longer referenced from the main FAQ page.

Where can (safe) older packages be found? This page is official but doesn't list older versions, and all others are not from official sources...

On various alternative markets. Try this site: http://www.androidapksfree.com/apk/whatsapp-apk-latest-version-download/

You can install the Whatsapp version 2.16.155, it is the only one that worked well on my Galaxy GT-I5500.
You also need to set the clock to a previous date, to skip the "obsolete version" warning.


text:
Android OS (Phoenix OS) restarts when i insert headphone in 3.5mm jack
What I have tried:

I have tried USB earphones and mic, both works perfectly, So it should not be Sound/Audio issue in Android.
If I keep earphones plugged in during boot, PC shuts down at "Initializing" Step. So I think it's a kernel issue. But there is no stacktrace in last_kmsg.
I have tried logcat and bugreport to get some information about this. Logcat has no error or even output between inserting jack and System crash.Bugreport have too much information and I am not able to find anything about crash.
/proc/last_kmsg doesn't exist. /dev/kmsg has output regarding other usb devices/apps. But, it fails to show/save anything in the output after connecting jack. It just shuts down.
It is not a hardware issue, because both windows 8.1 and xubuntu 18.04 are running without any mic/audio problem in same laptop.

UPDATE 1:
It is now confirm that the issue is in android 7.1.1 x86 build, Specificaly with kernel.
I tried Default Androidx86 7.1.1 build, redmi os, prmieos. All are based on 7.1.1 (nougat) and had this bug. But Android x86 8.1 oreo builds seems to have resolved this bug. Now, I need to wait for phoenix os to upgrade.
One thing i tried is to replace the phoenix nougat kernel with android orea kernel and it booted fine, but no drivers compatibility. Graphics, audio wifi didn't work. I need to replace files too, but i have no idea which one.
People on XDA forums has done it, But I couldn't achieve that possibly because I don't have that much Knowledge about this.
How can I succesfully update kernel and drivers?

You only considered software problems, may be it is a hardware problem (static discharge causing reset)? As we are talking about an x86 system try to boot a live CD like Linux and test your headphones again.

No, I am runninng Windows 8.1, Ubuntu 18.04 in same laptop and It works flawlessly in both OS. I think it might be a driver issue. I have tried Default Androidx86, Remix OS, Prime OS other than this. They all had boot/grub issues which I couldn't resolve. I should have added that in question itself.


text:
Disable Android lock-out (un)feature
Unfortunately, someone thought is was funny to mash my lock screen buttons (phone fell out of my pocket while sitting on the floor), which required me to sign in via my Google account. Now normally this would be somewhat OK, but I was not connected to WiFi or Data. So I was forced to perform a factory reset on my phone. Lost lots of data. Is there someway to disable the google password lockout (preferable) or another solution that will keep my phone locked and button-mash-proof (preferably without rooting)?
I have a LG Ultimate 2.
Thanks for your time!

There is something I want to clarify. Were you forced to [tag:factory-reset] (not [tag:hard-reset]) because the device was not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data (internet, in short), during lock-out? If that's the case, why not ask for a way to enable Wi-Fi or mobile data using some secure method?

@Firelord it is a factory-reset (fixed), and sadly there is not a way to do that, that I am of aware. Spent a lot of time on the web with no success. Anyway I have my phone factory reset, and now I want this not to happen again while still having my phone locked.

While you've made your point clear already, I still want to suggest this for your consideration: what about sending a particular SMS to activate Wi-Fi and/or mobile data? That can be done easily using [tag:automation]. Or, what about using using custom gesture/swipe to enable Wi-Fi and/or Mobile data? There can be other possibilities that you may have thought but couldn't find an answer for.

@Firelord I do not want to depend on WiFi or Data being present to login. I want a fully offline way to always have access to my phone.


text:
App Won't Load After Link /data/app to 2nd SD-Card Partition
Lenovo S920
Android 4.2.1
Basically, I want to link my /data/app to /system/sd/app (2nd SD Card partition).
I have mount my 2nd partition on boot to /system/sd/app correctly.
Here what I got when run "mount":
rootfs / rootfs ro,relatime 0 0
tmpfs /dev tmpfs rw,nosuid,relatime,mode=755 0 0
devpts /dev/pts devpts rw,relatime,mode=600 0 0
proc /proc proc rw,relatime 0 0
sysfs /sys sysfs rw,relatime 0 0
none /acct cgroup rw,relatime,cpuacct 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/secure tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=700 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/asec tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
tmpfs /mnt/obb tmpfs rw,relatime,mode=755,gid=1000 0 0
none /dev/cpuctl cgroup rw,relatime,cpu 0 0
/emmc@preload /preload ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,discard,noauto_da_alloc,data
=ordered 0 0
/emmc@android /system ext4 ro,relatime,noauto_da_alloc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0

/emmc@usrdata /data ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,discard,noauto_da_alloc,data=or
dered 0 0
/emmc@cache /cache ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,discard,noauto_da_alloc,data=ord
ered 0 0
/emmc@protect_f /protect_f ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,nodelalloc,noauto_da_all
oc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0
/emmc@protect_s /protect_s ext4 rw,nosuid,nodev,noatime,nodelalloc,noauto_da_all
oc,commit=1,data=ordered 0 0
/dev/block/mmcblk1p2 /system/sd ext2 rw,relatime 0 0 // Mount correctly
/dev/block/vold/179:97 /storage/sdcard1 vfat rw,dirsync,nosuid,nodev,noexec,rela
time,uid=1000,gid=1015,fmask=0702,dmask=0702,allow_utime=0020,codepage=cp43 7,ioc
harset=iso8859-1,shortname=mixed,utf8,errors=remount-ro 0 0

Look at /dev/block/mmcblk1p2 /system/sd ext2 rw,relatime 0 0. It looks mount fine.
Here what I got when run "ls -l /data/":
-rw------- system system 131072 2015-09-17 15:23 3D.bin
drwxrwx--- bluetooth net_bt 2015-09-17 14:51 @btmtk
-rw-rw---- nvram nvram 34466 2015-09-17 14:31 AllFile
-rw-rw---- nvram nvram 14600 2015-09-17 14:31 AllMap
-rw-rw-r-- nvram nvram 30 2015-09-17 15:05 BT_Addr
-rw-r--r-- root root 80 2015-09-17 15:05 Test.log
drwxr-xr-x root root 2015-09-17 15:16 aee_exp
drwxrwx--x gps system 2015-09-17 15:05 agps_supl
drwxrwx--- system system 2015-09-17 14:31 amit
drwxrwxr-x system system 2015-09-17 15:05 anr
lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-09-17 15:12 app -> /system/sd/app
drwx------ root root 2015-09-17 14:31 app-asec
drwxrwx--x system system 2015-09-17 14:49 app-lib
drwxrwx--x system system 2015-09-17 14:31 app-private
-rw------- system system 1048576 2013-09-17 07:00 appbank
drwx------ system system 2015-09-17 14:33 backup
-rw------- system system 0 2015-09-17 14:31 combo_t32.cmm
drwxrwx--x system system 2015-09-17 14:49 dalvik-cache
drwxrwx--x system system 2015-09-17 14:49 data
drwxr-x--- root log 2015-09-17 14:31 dontpanic
drwxrwxr-- drm system 2015-09-17 14:33 drm
-rw------- root root 42 2015-09-17 15:05 etm.backup
-rw------- root root 1238 2015-09-17 15:05 link2sd-debuggerd.log
drwxr-x--x root root 2015-09-17 14:31 local
drwxrwx--- root root 2015-09-17 14:30 lost+found
drwxrwxrwx shell shell 2015-09-17 14:31 mdl
drwxrwx--- media_rw media_rw 2015-09-17 14:31 media
drwxrwx--t system misc 2015-09-17 15:05 misc
drwxrwx--- root nvram 2015-09-17 14:31 nvram
-rw------- system system 4194304 2015-09-17 15:17 piggybank
drwx------ root root 2015-09-17 15:23 property
drwxrwx--x system system 2015-09-17 14:31 resource-cache
srwx------ system system 2015-09-17 15:17 server
drwxr-x--- root shell 2015-09-17 14:31 ssh
drwxrwxr-x system system 2015-09-17 15:35 system
drwx--x--x system system 2015-09-17 14:31 user

Look at lrwxrwxrwx root root 2015-09-17 15:12 app -> /system/sd/app. It looks linked fine.
Here when I run "ls /system/sd/app":
com.UCMobile.intl-1.apk
com.altermyth.bima.tablet-2.apk
com.android.chrome-1.apk
com.android.vending-1.apk
com.appstar.callrecorder-2.apk
com.bbm-2.apk
com.bookmark.money-2.apk
com.cilctel.crono-1.apk
com.estrongs.android.pop-2.apk
com.evernote-1.apk
com.facebook.orca-2.apk
com.google.android.apps.books-1.apk
com.google.android.apps.maps-1.apk
com.google.android.apps.plus-1.apk
com.google.android.calendar-2.apk
com.google.android.gm-1.apk
com.google.android.gms-1.apk
com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox-1.apk
com.google.android.inputmethod.latin-1.apk
com.google.android.play.games-1.apk
com.google.android.talk-1.apk
com.google.android.tts-1.apk
com.google.android.youtube-1.apk
com.hellotext.hello-2.apk
com.instagram.android-2.apk
com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup-1.apk
com.mxtech.videoplayer.ad-2.apk
com.opera.browser-2.apk
com.opera.browser.classic-1.apk
com.shazam.android-2.apk
com.skype.raider-1.apk
com.supercell.clashofclans-2.apk
com.trello-2.apk
com.twitter.android-2.apk
com.whatsapp-2.apk
com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail-1.apk
jackpal.androidterm-2.apk
jp.naver.line.android-2.apk
net.openvpn.openvpn-1.apk
org.rojekti.clipper-2.apk
os.tools.scriptmanager-1.apk

It seems fine when I first linked it, but after I reboot. It didn't work.
How to fix this problem?
UPDATE:
I test link an *.apk file to /data/temp/ folder.  temp folder is in internal storage. So, it isn't 2nd partition. I just want to make sure that link is work in internal storage, but it seems link failed shown like this:

Look at com.dotgears.flappybird-1.apk
When I do ls -l in /data/app:
lrwxrwxrwx root     root              2015-09-23 07:58 com.dotgears.flappybird-1
.apk -> /data/temp/com.dotgears.flappybird-1.apk

Any idea what is going on?
UPDATE:
It seems whatever I copy an *.apk file to new location. It seems failed. It actually not failed but somehow when I properties my *.apk that I copied to new location. I click on it, it show nothing. Like, their icon didn't show, version: N/A, size: N/A, Package Name: N/A

After rebooting, any mounts you have made which your ROM isn't configured to automatically do will be lost. You could write your own init.d script, or you could use an app, like Mounts2SD, which will set it up for you and comes with a nice interface to boot.

Yes, I know about it. That's why I have played with init.d. So when  I reboot I got my 2nd partition mounted correctly. But some how, the system don't load app from linked directory /system/sd/app. I know there are a few app that could solve my problem, but I just want to do by my self for experiment purpose. :) Do you have any clue about my problem?

It might be that the mount happens too late in the boot process - I couldn't really say, but you could try mounting the second partition directly onto /data/app in your script, rather than using a symlink from /data/app to /system/sd/app.

I don't won't mount directly to /data/app. Because I have several folder to link to. I do some new experiment above. Please check my update. Maybe you have and idea that could help me.


text:
I have deleted all launcher apps, how to fix?
i have sgh-t989  and i have installed a custom rom beanstalk 4.4.2. mistakenly deleted all launchers now i cant use home, tried to restart phone doesnt fix it. now i cant even on my phone. i cant go to recovery mode because my home button is dead. is there any way i can go to recovery mode using pc because when i connect andriod to pc using usb cable it shows all the data i have so i can reinstall my rom. i tried other methods but nothing works because my home button suks. plz help

Turn on phone, you should be able to pull down status bar, go to settings>security and allow apps from unknown sources. Then enable Bluetooth and from other phone send .APK file of any launcher you can find apk files on apkmirror and when you receive file you two on it from notifications and install. Other way is to get to settings and enable usb debugging then connect to PC and use ADB command "adb reboot recovery" your phone will reboot to recovery. Voila! P.s. change title of question.

I had a T989 myself, and it uses a soft home key, so it doesn't matter and you should be able to go to recovery mode; 2) Even though you don't have a launcher, status bar should still be accessible as ЈеднорукиКрстивоје said.

Are you signed into your Google Account on the phone? If so, on your PC go to https://play.google.com/store and find a launcher (I would recommend Nova Launcher or Action Launcher) and click into it, then click the Install button, if the button says Installed already just click it again, then select your device from the list and click Install and your your app should be installed shortly.
Once it completes installing, unlock your device and press the Home key and you should be brought to the first time use screen for the launcher you installed and have access back into your device to enable USB debugging or anything else you need to do to reinstall your ROM.
Note that I believe Nova Launcher is installed with Beanstalk (at least some versions) as it's default launcher, so if you install that from the Play Store you are likely in the same condition as you would be in reflashing the ROM except the launcher will not be installed as a system app (which you could fix with apps like Titanium Backup).

The OP said he installed a custom ROM. We have no guarantee that he's got Play Store on his device so this may not work in some cases.

@iBug You are correct, but it is a simple alternative to solving the problem if Gapps are installed the the device is signed into a Google Account, and has network connectivity of course.

Too many prerequisites...

@iBug Except they are common ones that are more likely to be in place than not.

You don't have a launcher. That's the problem. But you still have access to status bar, which is a part of System UI. So here comes the 1st solution:

Boot your phone as normal, then unlock it. You should see a blank screen with only your wallpaper (or black screen) with a normally-functioning status bar.
Drop down the status bar and there should be an entry to your Settings app. Tap it to open settings.
Turn on USB debugging and connect your phone to a computer.
From your computer, download an APK of a launcher app of your choice. Place it somewhere and grab an adb executable.
Open a command prompt (terminal) and enter
adb push name-of-your.apk /sdcard/
adb install /sdcard/name-of-your.apk

Wait for installation to complete. If it takes more than a minute, reboot your phone and it should be OK. You will be prompted to select the default launcher app with only 1 option.

Alternatively as suggested by Једноруки Крстивоје, as a 2nd solution, you can send the APK via bluetooth and install it from the notification bar.

I was going to answer exactly this :) I would suggest to add some links to launchers like Pixel Launcher, Google Now Launcher and to SDK Platform Tools.

If you have google now installed you can easily open app like play store and install a launcher from there
update -

speak "ok google"
"open play store"
search for launcher
download any launcher
open it and enjoy

if google now is not enabled

open notification panel
open setting and enable google now hot word
proceed with above steps

authors: Једноруки Крстивоје


text:
Proximity sensor stuck in one position
I have noticed that sometimes screen doesn't go black during call as it should, and also double tap to wake sometimes doesn't react. So I opened AIDA64, and under sensors/proximity sensors it shows 1 or 0 when sensor work fine but when it doesn't turn off screen sensor is "locked" to 1 or 0. After reboot sensor is going back to normal. Is there any way to find out who is to blame for locking sensor in one state?
The device is LG K8 (k350nds) running stock Android marshmallow 6.0, non-rooted.

What device, Android version, and is it stock or custom ROM? I have seen some devices that the sensor can be calibrated, but getting "stuck" is unusual... this is often caused by screen protector (or smudges/dirt on it) or a case that slightly overlaps the sensor's detection field.

@acejavelin Added info in question. Well I don't have any screen protector or dirt there. However in that case sensor would return 0 value like when it's hovered, not sometimes 1 and sometimes 0.

Hmmm... A common LG issue, try sensor re-calibration. To recalibrate the sensor, dial *#546368#*350# when you are presented with the options, go to Device Test and choose SAAT. Then tap on Service Menu Manual Test and then tap on Key and next tap on Test then Cal Start. This will help you recalibrate the proximity sensors. Use your phone after the recalibration to check if it works properly.

@acejavelin After I tap on Cal start nothing happens, I ended the test and tried calling but screen still doesn't go off during call.

And  what if the sensor was defective?

@esQmo_ I doubt it, because it works fine after reboot. I'm tired of rebooting..

authors: Једноруки Крстивоје


text:
Can't install Cyanogenmod on Galaxy S3
I can't seem to get Cyanogenmod installed onto my Galaxy S3. I've followed the steps on their website, and I've gotten the custom recovery installed just fine. But actually installing the Cyanogenmod Nightly isn't working, both for the sideload and push and install.
I am admittedly new to Cyanogenmod so I'm not sure what's going on with it, or if I'm getting a simple step wrong.
When I try installing from zip in the recovery nothing actually happens and nothing changes when I reboot the phone.
Then when I try to install it via push and install, I use the command:
adb push cm-11-20150426-NIGHTLY-d2lte.zip /sdcard/0/

It tells me:
3426 KB/s (227230178 bytes in 64.765s)

And again when I try booting the phone up nothing has changed.
I got something different when I took the /0/ out of the code
So I put in:
adb push cm-11-20150426-NIGHTLY-d2lte.zip /sdcard/

And I get:
* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
* daemon start successfully *
error: insufficient permissions for device

Thank you Firelord (I'm new here so I'm not sure if I'm able to include a quote of your answer)
I seemed to just be doing it out of order.
Now that I've gotten it working I'm running into an issue with the install on the device.
When I try to install from the zip it tells me:
-- Installing /sdcard/0/cm-11-20150626-NIGHTLY-d2lte.zip
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
Installing update...
Can't install this package on top of incompatible data. Please try another package or run a factory reset
E:Error in /sdcard/0/cm-11-20150426-NIGHTLY-d2lte.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted

I did a factory reset and got a new version of the zip before I edited the post and got the same error.

That 3426 KB/s is the copying speed with which data is copied in that said SD card. 227230178 in 64.765s is ~230MB data copied into the said location in 64.765 seconds. Seems like it's the size of your ROM.

adb push cm-xxx.zip /sdcard/0 wouldn't install the ROM or any zip file but would just copy it from SOURCE to DESTINATION, as what push literally implies.

In order to install that file, it is mentioned in the link (step 7) to choose "install zip from sideload" so that you can do something like adb sideload cm-xxx.zip, or choose "push and install method" where you actually pushed the ROM but needed to do tap "Install zip" -> choose that ROM from SD card, and proceed for installation.

error: insufficient permissions for device -- I think you were running your Android OS when you entered that command.

Sorry! But I've lack of experience with Nightlies, so I'm unable to help you out anymore. Until somebody reaches you with help, I would suggest using Google search for the error. Also, you may see referencing to know site's rules for quoting the content. In addition, use @ followed by the name of the person to whom you are conveying your point. More info is here.

Thank you for your help. I was unsure if the @ would work here.
I'll give the Release channel a shot to see if that will work.


text:
HTC Desire 816 CM12 Nightly SMS not working
I just flashed and updated everything on my HTC Desire 816 and everything went just fine. But I followed this APN fix and it doesn't seem to have worked as it should, and I haven't found anything on the thread.
It says I have LTE, it says my network is Virgin Mobile and that I'm in service on the Status page but I can't send any texts and when I scroll the status bar down it says "No Service".
I've never had to mess with APN settings before so I don't know what to do about any of this. The only thing I can do is connect to the internet without WiFi.
Sorry if this is a bit rambling. Like I said I've never had to mess with any APN settings before so I don't know what info is needed.
Also I can't actually find any "APN" settings, only VPN. Is this the same thing?
Another update: I get "No SIM card" when I unlock the screen. But that seems to be the only place

APN -> Access Point Names, while VPN -> Virtual Private Network, both are different and are used for different activities. As for where to find APN, try looking under "Settings -> More -> Mobile Networks -> Access Point Names" and tap Menu key or three vertical dots to add a new APN type.

"No SIM card" message is shown when the device doesn't have a SIM card inserted, or can't detect the SIM card because it's not inserted properly, or the baseband is unknown (may be the case here because it is not an unusual issue in case of flashing a ROM). Do confirm that your IMEI is also intact.

@Firelord I seem to randomly be in a bootloop. It's just stuck on the Cyanogenmod logo.
I guess I'll reflash and see what happens


text:
None of the google apps are working on Moto e2
I have this moto e 2nd gen (not the 4g one)
It worked fine for 3-4 months..
Today morning i see strange "Unfortunately google play services has stopped" error..
Slowly I figured out that all google related apps stopped working..
 the playstore, gmail all show a blank screen when opened .... whatsapp was working fine but every time a popup with that "Unfortunately...." message comes.

Things that I've tried so far:
1. Reset all app preferences
2. Uninstalling updates of both playstore as well as play services and  cleared caches
3. Tried removing google account but it is not able to do it.. Its showing  this error like "Google sync is currently not availabe..." (I think this is due to the fact that sync itself is a google app)
4. Tried factory reset option but it does nothing even when i click on that  reset button (Strange :(  )
5. Tried factory reset using the recovery menu.. but its not loading only..  Like i enter the bootloader and when i click the recovery option, It  shows just an android in distressed icon... I even tried holding the  volUP + click power button thing on that screen but its not going into  the recovery screen

Its quite strange nothing is working for me

isRooted: false
isInWarranty: true

As even a factory-reset was unable to get rid of the error, and isInWarranty == TRUE, I'd recommend sendToService() (or at least callService()). Something must really have screwed up beyond what a normal user can fix.

Izzy thanks for the reply... my phone factory reset itself mysteriously! God knows whats happened... My phones working fine so I'd like to call sendToService() and callService() routines some time later! :D


text:
Revert system feature split-screen
I have official Android 9.0 ROM for HU PX5 GS rk3368.
However, I think is more like general question.
In my system, split-screen feature is disable (or just some apps are missing).
I tried to set enable_freeform_support 1 but that did not helped.
Note I did it by:
adb settings put global enable_freeform_support 1

That is because Developer Options are also disabled (I can not enter - probably app / Activity removed)
I'm pretty sure there is a way to fix that, but I don't have enough knowledge about Android to figure it out.
I have access to root (over adb)
EDIT 1
After executing command and rebooting I checked if it was not reset to previous value
settings get global enable_freefrom_support
It returns 1 so it is ok. However feature is still not working.
I also find out that following prop may disable spliting screen
getprop ro.config.low_ram
But it is not present in my configuration.

When you run the command, do you get an error message? If not run the command again, then reboot the device and check if the feature is enabled.

@ReddyLutonadio I have updated question


text:
Open embedded audio and video in Word documents
How can I open embedded audio or video files in Word documents? I can play their audio/video files on my computer when I open the document with Microsoft Office, but on my phone, I can just see the text on the files.

On your computer are these audio and video files opened/played in an another program (such as Windows Media Player/ VLC) or are they played within MS Word?

@Firelord: They are opened in VLC.

Embedding video in a HTML document should allow anyone viewing the document to watch/play the video.  @Firelord people should not have to install apps to view videos in his document.

I'm asserting that Microsoft Corporation has not ported this feature to their MS Office and Word apps. Why they have not implemented this feature since so long so is not something I would delve into. My assertion is based on the following arguments I'm providing.
The "technical limitations"  mentioned in a thread on Microsoft Answers forum has not been explained or discussed. AFAIK, no such limitation exist. Much like how MS Word operates on the Desktop by downloading the embedded media and playing it in an external app/program, MS Word for Android can do the same. In Android, MS Word has to download the media in a location where third-party apps can access it. Download or Document folder under Internal Storage (/sdcard) can be used for this. MS Word can then fire an intent so that relevant apps which can open the downloaded media can play it, or alternatively, show up as options to the user to choose from to play the media with.
If the privacy or confidentiality of embedded media is a concern for not allowing third-party apps to access embedded media, and hence, dropping the feature altogether, than MS Word can create a proprietary or FOSS -- to reduce development costs -- audio and video player and ask the user to install it. This extension app coming from Microsoft can be programmed to have access to private data of MS Word app. This way, privacy and confidentiality concerns would be alleviated since the player would be Microsoft owned and verified.
I'm not an Android developer but I do think that porting this feature is possible. This is a matter of "when this feature would be ported", and not "whether this can be ported or not".

Doesn't seem to be possible for Word and PDF files due to imposed limitations of the OS and creators of that software, but however does seem to work for html5
Audio
Video

What do you mean by "imposed limitations"? What prevents MS Word on Android from saving the embedded audio/video in an accessible location (to other apps) in /sdcard and than broadcasting an intent so that relevant apps can show up in "Open with this app" dialog? Could it not be just that this feature has not been ported to MS Word app for Android so far and that feature can actually work if it is ported?

You can use links to other programs, but the files themselves do not play in word.  You can create a document in HTML and play the audio/video without the need for 3rd party apps, per say.  I thought that was what the Opening Poster wanted to do.

@Firelord Adobe doesn't seem to support Android for multimedia - https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/play-embedded-media-in-android-mobile/td-p/11925477

@Archerbob re: HTML, while it may be valid as an alternative solution, this is assuming that the OP is also the creator of the document, not a recipient.


text:
I upgraded to a larger SD card and some apps can't see the transfered data
I haven't been able to find a way to get the new SD card to work like the old one does. My Call Recorder app (by Appliqato) is set to store saved calls on the SD Card. The call recording app cannot see and playback previously saved calls stored on the new 128 GB microSD Card, but can playback newly saved calls just fine. If I pop in the old 32GB microSD, playback is fine. In terms of directories and data, everything 'looks as it should'. Player.FM also is unable to playback downloaded podcasts on the new microSD Card.
The data for calls and podcasts is there - I can load it onto windows 7 and play the .mp3/.aac in winamp, but the apps in android can't find them. I can even manually select it on my phone, but can't access the 'notes' and playback features each app provides.
I've tried using xcopy as mentioned here. I tried plain old copy and paste in explorer (hidden and system files both visible). I tried cloning with EaseUS (I plan to try that again).
My phone is a Galaxy S5 with Android 6.0.1. The old microSD is a 32GB Samsung EVO, new microSD card is a 128GB Samsung EVO.
I'm hoping someone might have some advise or know of a solution.
Update: I tried other iterations of xcopy to no success. I tried EASEUS again to clone the 32GB SD to the 128GB SD. During the setup for cloning I used the edit option to expand the target drive partition to include the entire 119GB volume, hit proceed...then got an error, and now the 32GB microSD shows up as 'unallocated space' in Gparted, and in windows it says it 'needs to format the drive for it to be usable'. I triple checked I had the source and target right. It should not be this hard to transfer data...sigh. I'm asking a family member if there's a way to fix the 32GB microSD; I'll hope maybe it's just a corrupted Master Boot Record... I still have xopy copies of the 32GB I made earlier on my PC in case anyone has any ideas on how to take that data, transfer it to an SD Card, and get it to 'be seen' by the android apps mounted onto the phone.
Edit: 2.2.2020. Resolved this matter by using EaseUS Todo backupfree to clone the SDcard, then used gparted via Linux to expand the partition. Initially tried to expand the partition with EaseUS while cloning, but caused the SDcard to be unreadable. Father saved it using TestDisk and other Linux utilities.

Maybe the app does not only look for a directory (which always has the same name under android) but also for the specific SD card. Setbup the save directory again inside the app and reboot your phone.


text:
Why don't Android phones come rooted from stock?
I have begun doing Android development a few months ago and it still blows my mind why an end-user that buys an Android machine cannot is is not allowed to have full access to it (aka root acccess), except through unsupported and dangerous hacks that grant root permission. For example, I want to send raw wifi packets for my current development idea, but the SDK doesn't allow this (for "security" resons?). An Android phone is a Linux machine after all, so what is going on?! My question is about the way Android is designed and distributed. I've read that people seem to say there is a malware risk, but isn't the risk just as high on a normal PC?

This question lacks specificity, to which a clear, discernible answer can be made. It invokes opinion and speculative answers to support the programming, design, and distribution decisions of others. It is too broad, with too many supportable aspects to make an full, allowable fair, and impartial selection to close the question.

Shipping a phone with su binary or a method allowing a user to switch to root user would be disastrous to device users' private data. https://source.android.com/security/ Android is a privileged OS and I don't think people would realize (even in strong red colored warning), if su binary comes with production devices, that granting an app superuser privilege is akin to granting unrestricted access to every bit of data in the phone/.

My point is about Android itself and the way it is designed. Applications on my PC face the same problems. If shipping a phone with the su binary would cause such problems, then why does shipping Windows or Linux with root access not cause such huge problems?

It does cause huge problems in PC and that is why Antivirus business  flourishes so much and so as the articles and posts in forums that explain how to reinstall Windows when C: is formatted by user or it doesn't boot or work well because user didn't understand what they were doing. As for Linux, almost every Linux user is supposed to or gets to know command-line and a lot of good articles and forum users warns not to use root privilege or root account for just anything so those users don't end up in trap easily. It appears that you've not done any deep searching on the subject you asked.

What? I just said the exact same thing...

Let me take this in hand part by part.

Why an end-user that buys an Android machine cannot is is not allowed
  to have full access to it (aka root acccess), except through
  unsupported and dangerous hacks that grant root permission.

Plenty of reasons:

That way, the manufacturer makes sure that you can not harm your phone's software in a way that is beyond saving.
Lots of bloatware you see on your phone are there for commercial purposes. If a manufacturer literally lets you take down the app they get paid to place there, they won't get paid for it again.
Even most people who intentionally root their phone don't know what they are doing, and what the root user is capable of. Giving that kind of a permission to an average user is dangerous.
Manufacturers want to restrict the power of your phone so that they can sell you a better phone in the future.

List goes on.

An Android phone is a Linux machine after all, so what is going on?!

Linux also has the same security methods. Except that root user is available to user. However, we have to accept that a smart phone and a computer are for two different purposes, even though they are the same fundamentally.

I've
  read that people seem to say there is a malware risk, but isn't the
  risk just as high on a normal PC?

No, just no. A normal PC is so much more open to malware attacks. A rooted malware can literally hard-brick your phone for good. Even though there are some exploits malwares can take advantage of and gain root, new security features like SELinux makes it harder for them. So comparing a PC and Android based on means of security is a flawed way of thinking.

Interesting points. However the fact the a smartphone and a computer serve two different purposes doesn't change the fact that it's strange not to have control over something that is yours. In the case of smaller devices such as a processor in my car, you simply wouldn't know how to use it. But in this case and in the case of a PC I beg to differ. I guess it's a matter of opinion. As far as people rooting their phone without knowing what they do I completely agree, however if the phones were rooted from the get-go it would be much less of a risk as it can be properly controlled I'd think.

@Æðelstan Just because it is yours, doesn't mean they have to give you full control over it. They sell it to you as is, and you agree to buy the same way. Maybe giving official support for rooting would be much more user friendly. However, there are other reasons as I listed above that prevents manufacturers from doing that. One can mess up with the CPU frequencies and even start a fire from that. Probable? Not really. But possible? Yup. I personally witnessed it.

Yes, I understand these other reasons are very real (although I don't agree with them). I just wish there will be a platform that really lets you take advantage of it one day :D

@Æðelstan the bottom line is: we (the maker) think that you (user) are too stupid to use your phones so we must protect you from yourself so that you won't get hurt - I hate this protectionism. Microsoft is doing the same in Windows 10 where you cannot disable automatic updates and reboots if you are normal user and don't have the enterprise version.

@metalnoise That is really the most inaccurate description I have ever seen. Having safety precautions means they value you, not consider you to be an idiot. The same way there are bars next to a cliff, safety door in an elevator, airbags that can't be turned off in a car, we have user privilege restrictions in Android. I don't think that is unnecessary. People brick their phone deleting system stuff even though they are warned repeatedly during the rooting process. So no, caring about you doesn't mean they think you are stupid. Thinking that way is so unreasonable.

Maybe they care about me but they don't respect me. They don't give me a choice. I cannot decide how I want to use my device/product. Do I want to stay a normal user or do I want more then that? They think they know better then me what I'm supposed to do with it and prevent me from using it they way I want. I'm ok with providing everyday protection but I'm not ok with not giving me the key. They don't think we can use their product in a responsible way. I don't care if someone bricks his phone. It's his choice. He should have it. Be able to chose means to be free.

See, the part you don't understand is, whatever you can do using the root access, so can a malicious app. Do you know how bad that can be? You'd come here and demand better safety precautions for your phone. The reality of all computers is that there is a ratio between being useful and being safe. To have more of one, you have to compensate on the other. Manufacturers choose safety. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. It's not as if they lied to you or forced you to buy it.

The majority of customer has no interest in root access and the corresponding capabilizies and dangers - they want to use their phone and that's it.
Did you ever try to 'root' the processor in your car? (It's basically Linux too) Do you think cars should come rooted? Same point, but even stronger.

I seriously doubt that the processor in my car has similar hardware with my computer...

Yes, I think I should have full access to whatever I buy if I desire that. They can sell the stuff locked but they should provide a key to unlock it for someone who needs or wants this.


text:
Editing fstab to mount /data from a different partition
Is it possible to edit the fstab to mount /data, /cache etc. from a different partition on the
a.internal memory?
b.external sdcard?
Details: The default partition for /data and /cache are too small for my needs and I can manage to format the (internal) /sdcard in ext4.
Edit: My question may superficially seem to be like other questions asking for a way to increase size of /data, but it's not. Here's why:
(1) I need to do it specifically by editing fstab, which is the usual way of doing the same thing on a GNU/Linux desktop.
(2) The other questions don't ask about /cache and other partitions.

Thanks for the downvote. It'd have been better if you could point out what this question was missing.

Wasn't me, but the "Related" section of this question suggests you didn't check for existing solutions, and "downvote" stands for "doesn't show any research effort". Two clicks brought me to: Mount a folder from external sd as /data – which perfectly fits your question and answers it.

@lzzy I'm aware of the link. My question is specifically about editing the 'fstab' (which is the proper 'linux way' to do this) achieve it.

For Linux, yes. But we're talking Android here: modifiying fstab (if it exists on your device) might require modifying the boot image. While based on Linux, some aspects on Android work differently. Quoting from What's the Android equivalent of /etc/fstab?: Android has no /etc/fstab. Also check these questions/answers. // Moreover, this is an XY problem: Better try solving your issue, not stick to your "assumed solution" ;)

@lzzy I knew the 'XY problem' would be quoted ;) (been on SE for quite long.) Your previous reply itself speaks "for" the relevance of the question, because I specifically want to know if it is possible to do this by editing fstab. As you might appreciate, people from GNU/linux land might want to know why in Dalvik/Linux the usual 'edit the fstab' doesn't work.

@lzzy my android 4.2 does have an /etc/fstab :o

my android 4.2 does have an /etc/fstab – that's why I wrote "if it exists on your device". Some devices indeed have it, but even then it often is integrated with the boot image – so changes you'd apply there would be lost on boot, which somehow defeats the purpose, right? This means you'd end up creating your own boot image – which might go beyond the scope of this site, at least "border-lining" development. If you really want to enforce this, you didn't provide sufficient details in your question: Device, Android version, ROM are missing.

@lzzy I think your previous comment should make a good first-draft version of an answer to my question. Would you care to post a polished version of the same as an answer. Coming back to the issue, I think I should read up on boot image etc. to see if/how I can proceed with my Y (just for the fun of it, as it's now clear that Y is not a viable solution to X).

You could try repartition your memory. See this guide on XDA forum.

Apart from which: vold.fstab IMHO usually is just for SD cards. And the other fstab isn't present on many devices (I've never seen it at any device I checked – and I really checked a lot, see e.g. How can I identify partitions of an Android device from the shell?: if there were an fstab generally available, it had turned up there). Also see What's the Android equivalent of /etc/fstab? which I've linked from my answer.

Near duplicate: https://android.stackexchange.com/q/56888/218526

As you already expected, the way your question is phrased it looks like an XY problem: There are different ways to achieve your goal (mounting /data, /cache etc. from a different partition), while your question focuses on "editing fstab".
For a working solution, see e.g. Mount a folder from external sd as /data: What's described there should work on all devices/ROMs – while "editing fstab" bears some problems:

While that's of course the way it works on Linux, we're talking Android here – which uses a Linux kernel, but a very different setup (see: What's the Android equivalent of /etc/fstab?)
An fstab file is not present on many/most Android installations (see How to list all major partitions with their labels? for details)
If an fstab file is present, it's usually part of the boot image (see initrd for details). This means, your edits to the file would be in vain: on the next boot where you'd expect them to be processed, instead the file would be overwritten from the boot image and then processed – without your changes

Verdict: Even if your device has an fstab file, you cannot simply edit it and be done. You'd have to rebuild the boot image instead – a task that goes beyond the scope of this site (which is end-user orientated, and creating/rebuilding a boot image rather is in the domain of developers). It might not be straight "off-topic", but at least border-line/gray-zone.

I don’t know how that answer can work. It creates a symlink which gets removed after boot. No ?

That comment belongs to the linked question/answer. And to shortly detail on that: It can be done via an init script that is called on boot, or via some Magisk or Xposed module. The entire thing needs root access anyway.

I am using Moto e2 android 5.0, rooted. I am facing two main problem, 1. Can’t copy /data to 2nd partition, not with uid, gid, selinux context. I am also mounting sdcard through init script. So how do I check when to create symlink, it has to be after sdcard partition gets mounted no ?


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Where does the code pertaing to fastboot mode reside?
Is it in the primary-bootloader (on the mb), or the secondary-bootloader(on the emmc)?
My motive behid the question is to understand what other codes are executed before system can get into fastboot mode
(Recently, I've been tinkering with a lot of different android devices and have tried to read up whatever comes up upon web-searches regarding "fastboot", "bootloaders", "primary bootloader", "secondary bootloaders". But this is one question I can't find any definitive answer about.)

Any details needed?

I will be blunt. It sits on its own partition, and can only really be touched by special programs. Download partitions viewer, it may show you what you need.

My motive behid the question was to understand what other codes are executed before system can get into fastboot mode.

fair enough, though no idea how to answer your q.

You can try asking in the aosp email thread.

@Fabio Do you mean to suggest mailing to AOSP or ask on their forums?

AOSP forums, or even better now that I remember there's a lot of developers with deep knowledge of android internals on http://forum.xda-developers.com/. I don't know much about those details but it's possible that you need to narrow down the question/answer to a specific phone model/android version.

Thanks for the link; it just didn't occur to me i could ask it there?

Look, what I found: " fastboot mode can start on your device even before Android loads (and can even run when Android isn't installed at all), fastboot mode is useful for updating the firmware quickly, without having to use a recovery mode. In fact, it's frequently the preferred way to initially install the recovery image on many devices. "https://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Doc:_fastboot_intro

Fastboot mode is in the bootloader and usually resides in a /dev/block, none of this is open sourced.


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Increasing Partition Size using gparted on Android Tablet
I have a Projector Tablet running android 4.2 on an Actions gs702a (Full AOSP on Leopard SoC).
The partitions for system, data and cache made by the manufacturer are too small for my needs (and I've verified that these are different partitions of the same physical storage device). The device has root access.
Is there some way I could access the whole of the disk and use gparted to increase the size of the partition/s as there's plenty of User Available Space (29 GB) on the internal storage?
Or/and,
Is there a tool I could use to modify its firmware to make partitions of sizes of my choice?

Rooted device I take it? Or not?

Rooted, yes! I should've mentioned it. I'm editing it to show the root access status.

I think this may help: http://android.stackexchange.com/q/79112/132164. The link is more of a step-by-step tutorial so I can't really quote it much. As always, be careful doing this and make sure you've got backups of anything important.

@Joe Thanks for the link. Though this doesn't apply to my device, it might be helpful in the end.


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Is there a ODIN or heimdall varient on Xperia?
This one is what it says on the tin is there a form of ODIN and similar clients that have the capability to flash Stock and Custom ROMS to a Not boot loader unlocked device. I prefer if its built in Linux, but I don't mind using wine
Using Sony Xperia E C1505, android 4.1.1
Small note- if it relies on ro.product.name or the android version to detect a device,  no can do. I will accept universal flashing tools too.

Yup for Sony experia devices it is called Androxyde Flashtool
-Flashtool is a software used to flash Sony [Ericsson] Xperia line (2010 to 2013) phones that use the S1 protocol
Please check http://www.flashtool.net to have more informations

Avoid 1 line answers. Please provide some information about the things you mention. Also give website links.

I'm sorry I am new to this forum

@jandeboer errr it does not seem to be compatible with my particular device,  can you provide a download link to a version that applies to me?

http://xperiafirmware.com/8-firmware/35-sony-xperia-e-c1505


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Factory reset without resetting settings
On a Sony Xperia, there is a way.to reset the settings, and not data. Is there a way to reset the data, without resetting the settings. I am not accepting any methods needing root. I find it a hassle to even look for the bootloader on this thing.
Why? I have a tank setup for my battery, and all sorts of power optimization settings. (They are Xperia only settngs)I don't want them reset when I clear my data
Using Sony Xperia E C1505

@Firelord I wouldn't say "rude" – but indeed, that reduces chances dramatically. // Dan: can you be a bit clearer how to identify those "settings"? Apps usually store their settings together with their data. Is it a specific app you want to retain its data? Afraid it's not possible to separate the two; that Sony feature you're referring to most likely relates to specific (device/account) settings. // Related: Clearing all the app data on an Android tablet without using factory reset?

@Izzy The choice and usage of words could've been different, yet making the same meaning. // But anyhow, I don't understand the question much so I can't really post an answer, be it requiring root access or not.

@Firelord full ack to the second part. But I disagree on the first – except for the phrasing, maybe :) Rooting your device is not always an option, for many possible reasons.

Consider: http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/34645/what-can-be-saved-before-factory-reset

@Firelord I should explain... I have a broken build.prop. I CANNOT ROOT., WHATEVER I TRY. Theres only so many time you can try to get an Apple from the tree and continue when you fail

@JohanShogun Not what I am looking for. Izzy and firelord, your points have been taken in :). But, Izzy, your related question was not what I needed. Thanks anyway!

The settings you speak of, are they settings built into the phone or from 3rd party apps? There are non-root apps that can back up apps and data for you. If it's not from a 3rd party app, you could try pulling the data off the phone via adb and factory reset then push the data back to the phone. Just make sure to remove the broken build.prop from the data you pull, so that you don't overwrite it when you push it all back. There is a lot you can do with adb, just have to know what to type. Once again not 100% this will do what you are asking. But at the very least worth looking into.

I have already  tried that.  BTW,  it is the system settings


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Problem with signing into wifi network through android
How to tackle this problem of signing into wifi network? When I connect to WiFi networks, it comes up with a notification to 'Sign into WiFi network.' Is it a permanent problem? If not please let me know what is the solution?

Please specify what problem you have.

Is this your own network, or an open public hotspot?

This occurs when the Wi-Fi network is a captive portal. The network lets you connect to it, but it redirects all web traffic to the Wi-Fi network's own page - typically a login page, or a form to accept some terms and conditions before you can use the network.
When you click the notification, the phone will open a browser to let you sign into the network. Once you've done this, the network will stop redirecting your web traffic, you'll be able to use the internet as normal, and the notification will go away.
If you can't do this (you don't want to accept the terms, or you don't have an account to sign in with on this network), you should "forget" the network in the Wi-Fi settings, so that the phone won't bother connecting to it again.


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Root exists, but is unusable
One of my long-standing issues with allwinner Q8 is how its root, which was there when I brought it, can't seem to be used. No root manager came with it, so I installed SuperSU(Like a normal) to find that nothing can make requests at root. I can't even check the binary since I get a 'access denied' every time. Does anyone know how I can root functioning?
Again, Its a 'rooted' Allwinner Q8 On android 4.4.4 With stock recovery (but I'm 45% sure it has a custom ROM.
-EDIT-
An idea from Steve made me check terminal, and I ran su to get the line:
su: uid 10078 is not allowed to su
Errr... What? I assume the user is UID 10078(would make sense) or the su binary has been locking everything. Its only a one-user (in sense of Physical operator of device) system.   Help!

Well if /system is Read-Only, chances are the SU binary didn't get installed, which is why Root would not work.  You need to flash SuperSU via a custom recovery like TWRP, did you just install the app from Google Play or another site?

@RMarkwald I've used apps like CPU-Z to confirm that some form root exists, and SuperSU detects the binary. Neither of those were the case, I wouldn't need to ask ;)

Also, A manual check of /system/system/xbin (ecking the wrong place whoops confirms the presence of the binary.

Tried any root checker app? What did it tell?

@GokulNC I used CPU-Z (reliable) and it says i have root

If your phone does have a custom ROM have you looked in settings under the hidden Developer options menu for a switch that disables root access?  Some custom ROMs will have this hidden in there.  Everything can be in place to grant root, but apps won't get root if the switch is set to "Disabled" they may not appear to even request root from the SupperSU app.

No option there, though I know what you mean - I've seen it in CM.

Sounds like you've checked just about everything I know to check.  Just one last thought.  Have you tried simply asking for root yourself via $ su from ADB or from a terminal app installed on the phone?  If there is an app installed that is blocking root then you will probably see some sort of "permission denied"  but if the phone is not rooted you might just see a new line without any error.  In which case it might just be easiest to re-root the phone yourself.  if you do see "permission denied" then you might just be looking for some controlling app buried on the phone somewhere.

Never thought of that! So I did it, and got the error 'UID 10078 not allowed to su.' WHAT THE HELL?

@DanBrown On another terminal, take a logcat of the moment in which you issue su. If the ROM is a custom one, the culprit might be appops, so search for any occurrences of this term in the log you'll take.

@DeathMaskSalesman I see a pattern, but it is too vague. Here: http://pastebin.com/yQGJcyEa

@DanBrown I agree. Assuming that your internal storage be located at /storage/emulated/0, what's the content of the file log.logcat, which you'll get by issuing logcat -f /storage/emulated/0/log.logcat, and then calling su from another terminal?

@DeathMaskSalesman Not much more info. Shows the terminal loaded its standard shared libraries, and I can't find nothing on the issue.

Any luck?
I realize that I''ve seen that exact denial message on one of my rooted devices.  last night I went looking for it but wasn't able to recreate it so I can't confirm which, but I'm highly confident that error is coming from whatever guarding software is baked into your rom.  You might ask the seller about where it's hiding.

@Steve It seems that the OEM Included a bit of software to manage su access. It also contains malware and soft-bricks if I remove it. Ah, crap.


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The word "period" automatically inserts itself into sentences
I have a Samsung Galaxy S6.  Suddenly when I am typing a message  email  facebook or even in messenger the word (period) inserts itself.
 I did not type the word period nor did I even say the word it's just there. Can somebody please help me get rid of it. It is even in this question I'm asking after the word itself I did not put or say the word period.

So, what you are saying is that At the end of sentences, the word "period" is added just in front of the actual period? I've edited them out of your question for now :)

The word period shows up in the middle of sentences.

What keyboard are you using?

Perhaps if you leave it in people can see how it randomly appears just my thought. Thank you for your response it is driving me crazy

You don't answer questions, what keyboard are you using

Ok Lynn, understood. Could you please answer esqmo though? It's a good thing to know. If you haven't changed the keyboard, just say so :)

I am using my Galaxy S6 Samsung Android I didn't answer the question because I didn't see it. I hope somebody can give me some advice period I'm tired of having to go back in and delete the word period  through out my email correspondence my messenger and my text message I don't understand why this suddenly happen. I did not go back and delete it from here as it did show up again. Thank you in advance for any assistance.

This is the original keyboard that came with my cell phone.

I am still hopeful that I can get an answer to this question. If not do you have any suggestions of where I can take my phone to get this fixed very annoyed period thank you. After the word annoyed there it is the word. Just randomly inserted

Do you mean "." ??


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Calls cut-off after 10 seconds (Samsung galaxy S3)
I have samsug galaxy s3 (SHV-E 210S), when I receive a call or when I make a call, it cuts off after 10 sec and I have to make a call again. In brief the call stop its self. What can you do to solve that issue. The phone don't allow me to control the calls (incoming and outgoing).

go to Service Center :D

It seems that your call setting are pretty weird. Do following things :

Check your proximity sensors are working properly
Check your call setting might be it changed due to some third party app you installed.
Change the network provider( change 3g to 2g).
This probably is your second last option just reset your device ( backup needed)
The last I can say is contact Samsung dealers, that might help you.

Hope it helps.


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Boot to... Nothing
I was planning to install xposed to my samsung tab 2 (Running lollipop. Somehow.) So naturally, I flashed the zip I needed in twrp. I tried rebooting, and the boot animation loads, then the screen goes blank. I've tried:

Factory resets
Just deleting /data (basically a dirty factory reset)
wiping the Primary and davlik cache.
Disabling my SWAP (Long story)
Updating the xposed mod installed.
Reinstalling ROM (Works until I turn it off, and then the nothingness happens again.)

Anybody know how I can fix this?
Keep in mind that my tablet is running both a custom kernel and custom ROM (It is meant to be 4.2.2 stock). I also doubt I need the special samsung version, since I can get other devices to run without it (even tough they should need it)

Samsung phones require a custom xposed version: http://forum.xda-developers.com/xposed/unofficial-xposed-samsung-lollipop-t3180960. Also keep in mind that a factory reset will not fix issues with /system where xposed is located.

@GiantTree well, a coupla things. First of all, my tab 2 jas a custom kernel and custom rom (after all, its supposed to be on 4.2.2 stock) and secondly, I have ran multiple versions of xposed without a special samsung version. I also (rather stupidly) thought it was an app conflict.

You may want to add this information to the question, so others have all information necessary to give better answers.

@GiantTree Done! Also added a bit I forgot.

Have you tried flashing the xposed uninstaller? That's what one usually does in such a case. Though re-flashing the clean ROM should have taken care for that as a side-effect. With the second side-effect that you've probably removed the backup files Xposed created on install and the uninstaller needs to revert the changes …

@Izzy Let me guess: XDA? All right, I will try it. BRB.

@DanB Yupp. Right where you found the installer, there you also find the uninstaller. Though it's most likely too late for that – as you've already done a factory-reset and re-flashed the ROM. Still, cannot hurt :)

@Izzy Damn it! Didnt work :( I will try patching the ROM again. Quick q - any idea on what "result was [0.2000000]" means??

Didn't suspect it would, after what you've already done (see above). Btw: When re-flashing the ROM, did you wipe everything? Last resort I could think of is wiping cache, data, and system and then flash the ROM again. Usually, ROM-flashing should take care of wiping system – so I'm not sure if this helps. Again, worth a try at least. If that doesn't fix it, I'm out of ideas.

@Izzy just wiped /system on the current attempt. Its trying to boot now. I have to grab another copy of gapps now lol. At least we have google.

Ahem... Not that I use GApps anymore (I don't, I use microG instead) – but AFAIK one should flash GApps immediately after flashing the ROM and before booting again. So if you see your GApps "unfortunately" crashing: Go to start, do not collect $200, but flash the ROM and GApps :)

@Izzy Ah, I'll live. The nano package seems to be flashable at any time with no real issues. I still have my get out of jail free card - a friend has a tab 2 with an identical setup. All else fails, I'll just clone their entire system. In other news, my tablet boots now. Yay!


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How to manage Android Chrome new tab shortcuts?
I'm using Chrome on my Android tablet. The new tab page contains 8 shortcuts (pretty much as in Chrome for Windows). In Windows however, I can configure the shortcuts: one of the 10 positions is reserved for "Add shortcut" action, so if I would like to replace a shortcut, I would add a new link and delete the old one. Additionally, I could rearrange the existing icons using a mouse. I cannot figure out how to configure these shortcuts in Android.
The first 8 shortcuts were added automatically using the first sites visited. I would say that Chrome eventually (very rarely) replaces shortcuts based on its internal algorithm, but recently I decided to remove several shortcuts and replace them with specific links. Here is the problem: while I deleted undesired links, I cannot select what would be used instead. What is even worse: instead of direct links to other sites Chrome uses links to google.com with recent (and not very recent) search queries. I'm deleting these links, but Chrome adds more junk with links to other Google queries. The algorithm is unusually stupid, as it prefers queries that I made once to the sites I'm visiting on an everyday basis.
The context menu offers only "Open in new tab in group", "Open in incognito tab", " Download link", and "Remove" options. How can I configure the links on the new tab page?
Update: the answer here calls these thumbnails "Most Visited", but as I clearly show in my question, the links Chrome uses to replace the deleted thumbnails are definitely not "most visited", but visited only once. What's wrong with my Chrome?

Related/possible duplicate: Add specific website to Chrome's New Tab Page.

@AndrewT. in that answer the thumbnails are called "Most Visited". In my question I'm showing that the links Chrome adds are definitely not "most visited" but visited only once. I would like to figure out what's wrong with my Chrome.

I should have been clearer. The duplicate from that question (and also a more updated answer) shows how to manage the sites by modifying Chrome's app data directly, but it needs root access. That said, the current behavior is the same as I observe: it will store the most visited and recently visited sites, so there's really "nothing wrong" with your Chrome, except that it might come as an unexpected behavior implemented by Google.

The "most visited" and "recently visited" strategy doesn't explain my observation: I've tried to visit some sites several times (and these visits are recent), but Chrome ignores my behavior and adds crap.

Yeah, it seems the algorithm is more complex than I thought. I haven't explored it, though the same feature is also on Chromium (open source, the source for Chrome), so anyone can try exploring it. On the other hand, looks like the behavior is also buggy in Chromium itself: Brave - Searches appearing in top sites, Brave - New Tab page injecting searches into "Top pages" widget, but I'm afraid this is getting off-topic.

Your main concern has been raised in Google community four years ago but with no answers and the question is locked Chrome-On-Android: Possible To Manually Add Shortcuts On New-Tab Page?
As mentioned in the comments, it is possible to add shortcuts on a rooted device. Also the algorithm is not transparent and apparently buggy, so that's the way it is implemented and nothing wrong with your Chrome.
However, a part answer relating to search queries:

What is even worse: instead of direct links to other sites Chrome uses links to google.com with recent (and not very recent) search queries. I'm deleting these links, but Chrome adds more junk with links to other Google queries

To avoid search queries showing up in home page use this flag (copy-paste)
chrome://flags/#organic-repeatable-queries
You will get options like this:

Choose disabled and you won't have search queries showing up as home page shortcuts (On the contrary, if you want them, choose other options available).
Source: This answer from Google support.
Since flags are often modified/disappear with various Chrome versions, this is tested on Chrome 116.0.5845.163 (latest on Play Store for me).


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Can't accept pop-up for "block" or "allow" alerts in android chrome
I have Moto G6 play Oreo 8.0.0 and I can't reply to alerts like approving access to the microphone.
Things I've tried:

rotating the phone to Landscape
killed the Display Over Other Apps for twilight

Edit:
I can close a JS alert popup.
And there's no problem on android FF.

Make sure you've allowed pop-ups (pop-ups from some sites may be blocked).
You can do this by going to Settings > Site settings > Pop-ups and redirects. Then turn "pop-ups and redirects" on.

I've allowed it but it didn't solve the problem


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Exporting a full WhatsApp chat to .txt
So, I've decided to try and do some analysis on my WhatsApp chat history. For that purpose, the built-in export function would work quite well, but it is for some reason restricted to the latest 40.000 messages. Some of my chats go back way further than that, and I'd like to include those conversations in my dataset.
And that's where it gets complicated. Things I've tried so far:

A variety of recovery tools (drfone, BackupToolForWhatsApp,...) that invariably failed to connect and/or demanded a lot of money and/or contained malware

Finding the msgstore.db.crypt12 as a file on the phone and opening it as text with various apps (some people claimed that worked, it didn't though, everything just crashed or complained about the format)

Copying the msgstore.db.crypt12 onto my computer and there decrypting it with the key file, which led to the next problem, obtaining said key file.

A bunch of outdated and thus no longer functional WhatsApp key extractor tools which tried to either grab the backups off Google Drive, or temporarily install a legacy Version of WhatsApp with a vulnerability that allowed the key to be extracted. This failed because the tools haven't been updated in like three years and I'm not Java-savy enough to go digging in their source code myself. I actually downloaded a legacy APK to try and manually install that old WhatsApp version, but that only led to an error about the datetime of my phone (which was set to automatic and thus was correct) and no key.

Rooting my phone in order to get access to the directory where the key is hopefully located. This failed, perhaps because I did the mistake of updating my firmware to the July 2019 patch level, and so no root exploits seemed to work

Digging around in protected directories with tools that do not quite require root access. However, I wasn't able to locate anything that even looked like the place WhatsApp might store its key.

Reading through lots of forum posts on the same issue without any discernible results.

I'm using a Samsung Galaxy S8, model number SM-G950F, German localization, with Android 9.
My question is simple: What else can I do? It can't be that it's literally impossible to dig at the messages which WhatsApp is happily storing and backing up. I'd even be willing to buy some software as long as it's reasonably priced and guaranteed to work.
Also, what directory would I be looking for to get that key, assuming I'd somehow get root access?
Update 28.07.2020:
It seems that in some locales (specifically the EU?), the native export function was disabled in its entirety. The method detailed in my answer below still works excellently, however.

How about exporting each contact for its own? Maybe 40.000 is sufficient. regarding 4. someone managed it on S10 with Pie 9.0 the pitfall is reboot required between uninstall (-k)/install. date can be set to past manually 5. should be possible in near future (assuming you already unlocked) With root access you don't need the key, there is unencrypted database too you can use. its all in /data/data/com.whatsapp

@alecxs Unfortunately, I had individual chats with significantly more than 40.000 messages. And I saw the forum post where someone managed to do it with Android 9, but following the same steps did not yield any results.

So, here's the solution I ended up using. Even though it's not ideal, it worked out, so I'll leave this here in case anyone else stumbles upon this.
The weak link in the chain is WhatsApp Web. Specifically, it's possible to write a tool that just scrapes the data WhatsApp Web receives, and someone on the Chrome Web Store did exactly that: The Backup WhatsApp Chats extension. It's like €3, so well within what I'd consider reasonable. However, I'd expect that anyone with more knowledge of coding than I have could write such a script themselves, because the messages in WhatsApp Web are apparently just displayed as plain HTML.
It's reasonably fast and extracts all the non-media data you might want in csv format that can be parsed pretty well by pandas.
I'll accept my own answer because this is a solution within the parameters I set out, but if someone knows a better way, feel free to post it and I'll shift the accept.

Does this actually work with chats with millions of messages over several years though?

@Turkeyphant I've successfully done it with 391.000 messages stretching back to July 2015, so I at least have no reason to assume it would break at higher scales. The largest of those chats contained 128.095 messages, which took a few, but no more than twenty minutes to export fully.

Thanks. How long did that take? And do you see anything on the WhatApp Web screen while it scrapes?

@Turkeyphant In total it took me an hour for all the chats maybe, and while it scrapes, there's an overlay on the screen that says "Downloading messages" and displays a count of messages downloaded.

So you can't use WhatsApp Web at the same time?

@Turkeyphant Nope, I'm afraid with this method you have to wait for the program to finish exporting.

@Turkeyphant there's now an option to allow it to download in the background while you continue chatting!

As a quick update: As of October 25th 2021, the developers seem to be selling license codes for the extension through their own website at https://chatsaver.org/ , but if you previously bought the extension on the Chrome store, you can contact them to get a new license code. I don't know what the purpose of the move is (maybe trying not to pay a share to the Chrome store?), but for the moment, it still works.

It should also be noted that presumably this method will break if using the multi-device beta, as it no longer allows devices to go arbitrarily far into the past chat history.

Does this Chrome extension method somehow work for migrating to Telegram while maintaining media? That's my goal, I want to move all my family chats!

@ctrlbrk This method yields only chat transcripts, but I would not know how to migrate them to telegram. I believe, however, that downloading media is possible if you're just looking to preserve them, not have them appear in Telegram

Thanks a lot for the info. I just tried to apply this to a probably 200k messages chat, spanning over 7 years. So I installed the recommended Chrome extension, bought the license key, launched the WhatsApp web app, opened the chat I am interested in, and then launched the extension. I selected the chat's timeframe, chose format .txt, and pushed 'download'. After a very short message of 'checking license key' then nothing. No spinning wheel, no nothing. Did I do something wrong?

In the meantime, I realized I was using a Whatsapp app for PC which did not launch from Chrome. I corrected that, the download started as it should have, but it downloaded much less than even the max 40 thousand messages, probably about 4000 only :( Tried several times choosing different formats (.txt, html etc.) - same result.


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User-settable Root of Trust supported devices
As mentioned in Android doc

Devices can optionally allow the user to configure the root of trust (for example, a public key). Devices can use this user-settable root of trust for Verified Boot instead of the built-in root of trust. This allows the user to install and use custom versions of Android without sacrificing the security improvements of Verified Boot.

and

The Google Pixel 2 devices use this approach and the virtual partition is called avb_custom_key

So, Pixel 2 support this feature. I searched every where but not seen any list of phones that support user-settable root of trust
Has anyone list of android phones?


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Prevent Bypassing Android Verified Boot in custom ROM
Installing custom rom needs unlocked bootloader. so I unlocked bootloader.
I built a custom android 12 rom with AVB enabled for system and boot partitions and flashed it.
if I Installing apk through recovery to system partition(copy to /system/app), apk will not installed. so AVB is working normally.
But if I flash Magisk in recovery, Magisk will root device.
Also if I flash a disabled vbmeta partition in fastboot and then inject some apk in the system partition, the apk will be installed in the system partition normally.
So the question is
Is there any way to provide integrity of system without using User-settable root of trust in custom roms with unlocked bootloader?

By unlocking bootloader you disable the central system integrity feature of Android, what do you expect? A locked bootloader + root of trust + vbmeta is the way Android is designed to provide system integrity.

thanks @Robert so what is this section in AVB Doc? why this doc says it supports unlocked state?

If I understand the linked documentation correctly in unlocked state verification is performed but the outcome is simply saved in a flag and the boot process will continue no matter if the verification fails or succeededs.

I know Magisk had issues with FEC on some Moto devices. ext4-dedup could be useful too


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Free up space on Motorola Мото Е
I am using a Moto E. The apps I have downloaded and use are few, and they are not taking up much space. What can be moved to the SD card has been moved. Yet, I have only 256MB space available now.
Question: is there a way to remove apps such as Motorola Migrate, Contextual Services etc etc, to free up space without affecting the overall operation of the phone? Can, for example, Google apps as Calendar be removed completely? Does the phone need to be rooted if this is possible?

Even if you could remove them, that wouldn't free up space in user-data (pre-installed apps are stored in a separate partition the user has no write-access to).
What you could do, however, is go to Settings › Apps, switch to the "All" tab, open the entry for each of those apps, and see if you can "uninstall updates" and then "disable" the app (to prevent those updates to come back). Other than the apps themselves, those updates are installed in user-space.

That same page also lists the size of the internal storage installed apps are currently taking up.  Clearing cache and data for unused ones can help reclaim some space.


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Seagate Media to Chromecast
I'm having trouble using the Seagate Media to cast to ChromeCast. I was using this tutorial http://knowledge.seagate.com/articles/en_US/FAQ/006027en?language=tr-tr with no luck. The problem is that in the app, the cast button isn't available.
When using the YouTube App, I haven't got any problem. The phone and Seagate Personal Cloud are on the same Wireless network.
Would there be anyone knowing what I'm missing to use this feature to stream from a Seagate Personal Cloud?
Thanks in advance!


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Having trouble powering up my phone with another power source
I am having a bit of trouble powering my phone I got a Lenovo A7000 plus which is the same as K3 Note version and this phone uses BL243 battery
Here is some information about the battery
Typical Capacity: 3000mAh/11.40Wh
Nominal Voltage: 3.8V
Limited Charge Voltage: 4.35V
and also I have a USB charger 5.0V 1.5A, I used the charger with another K3 Note phone I had, and I used it to power it up (using wires in place of the battery) it looked like it was all fine even after that when I connected the device to my pc it detected the device just fine also the k3 note's screen is damaged soo it won't show anything on it just boots up
so I wanna know is it possible to power my working A7000 plus with that charger using wires instead of the battery without destroying it

Related or possible duplicate: Is using chargers of phone not meant for it harmful to the battery?

@ReddyLutonadio But does that apply to A7000 plus/K3 Note?

@ReddyLutonadio also sorry i missed the most important part i am trying to use the charger as in place of the battery using wires