text:
LED not turning off even after there are no unread WhatsApp messages
I have this random problem with WhatsApp: the green light that blinks when there are unread messages don't turn off even after I go and read them. It doesn't even help if I delete all the messages. The only thing that helps is restarting the phone.
I have a Nexus 5.

Yup. I am on the latest.

The color doesn't change once this issue happens. Even turning off LED notifications from settings doesn't affect it. I even terminated the WhatsApp process; didnt help. Restarting the phone was the only way out.

I am on stock ROM. I am not using any third party app to modify the LED. Although, I do have DashClock installed.

In whatsapp notification setting try  setting it to none and check if the problem persist then it may be due to some other problem

For what its worth, the issue stopped occurring after I changed the Whatsapp notification light color to white. I think it might have something to do with the fact that Whatsapp and Hangouts both had the notification light color set to green. If this happens to you try providing a distinct notification light color to all the apps.

This very same thing is happening to me on my LG G4 (which I just bought recently second hand).  It's rather annoying, definitely due to WhatsApp because whatever I change the colour to, that's colour which keeps flashing!  I'll try the white light, but tired changing a couple of times now and no luck.  Do you have any other advise?


text:
Watching "filmon tv" channels on my TV using chromecast and my smartphone
I know the android app called "filmon tv", it is great and with it I can watch UK and USA TV channels on my smartphone. I have also a chromecast device on my TV and wonder how could I watch these "filmon tv" channels on my tv since I do not see any option on the app.

A Chromecast version of FilmOn is now available in the Play Store - it works perfectly!

If you have a Nexus 4, 5, 7, or 10, or some "Google Play edition" phones, running KitKat, then you can simply cast the whole screen of your device. In the settings app, go to Display, then click Cast screen. This can cast to any Miracast device. This might not work with the particular app you want to use: the app can tell Android that its content is "secure", which will exclude it from being recorded or cast in this way.
One of the CWM developers has an app called Mirror. This can cast the whole screen to a Chromecast device, but it's in beta, so you have to register to download it, and it only works on the Nexus 5. See his announcement on G+ for more information and to register.
Otherwise, all you can do is contact the developer and ask them to add Chromecast support to their app. This would be the best option in any case, as the app could make sure that only the movie stream is sent to the Chromecast, rather than the whole screen (including the notification tray and navigation buttons).

source: Stack Exchange

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

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

sort: votes


text:
Is is possible to use an app pass the Downtime in Google Family Link?
EDIT: After contact with the Google Family Link support it was revealed that the below is an effect of misunderstanding. There is no bug at all. Kid has secretly gained access to my phone and has used Parental Access code on her own phone to rule down all the limitations until midnight.
Keeping for future reference. Feel free to close or delete , if you find it having no actual value for the community.
Yesterday (today?) I have caught my 14-years old daughter listening to Spotify at 00:30 AM. This is something that per my knowledge is impossible :)
We are using Google Family Link and even though both Spotify app and Google Chrome are set to be used without any limitations:

As the screenshot above shows, pass the Downtime using it should be impossible. And the Downtime is set at 11:30 PM, so an hour and a half before she was still using Spotify:

Please, help me understand what could or what has happened in here.

Did the fourteen years old girl truly brought down the greatest Google Family Link system?
Is this some kind of bug in Family Link and this situation should not happen in your opinion?
Or is there something else (maybe blatantly obvious) that I don't understand in this picture?

@beeshyams Thank you. Report sent to Google, linked issue upvoted. I don't quite get your question. What do you mean by 13? An hour (1 AM) or kid's age? You can use Google Family Link with kids any age and you can apply time restrictions to any hour.

EDIT: After contact with the Google Family Link support it was revealed that the below is an effect of misunderstanding. There is no bug at all. Kid has secretly gained access to my phone and has used Parental Access code on her own phone to rule down all the limitations until midnight.
Keeping for future reference. Feel free to close or delete , if you find it having no actual value for the community.
As per information provided by beeshyams in comments, this is most likely a bug.

Greetings! You have a fundamental bug in Family Link that denies usage of this system. Kids are able to use applications pass the Downtime:
https://support.google.com/mail/thread/209844350/family-link-my-child%E2%80%99s-daily-limit-and-downtime-gets-cancelled?hl=en
Is is possible to use an app pass the Downtime in Google Family Link?
Is this recorded in your internal bug system? Are works on this in progress. Otherwise we must switch to another solution ASAP because yours isn't working anymore.

This was already reported to Google Family Link support team (with the above text, hence the circular reference to the very same question).

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


text:
Why "Messages" app is never seen in the app list?
This has been puzzling me for years. Why it is impossible to switch back to Messages app from any other app using app list?
Two scenarios:

Messages is an active one. I press the three dash app list button and I can see it in the list.  I can switch from that app to some other one.

I did what in above, Messages app is now in the background. When I press the app list button, it is not listed there. I cannot switch to that app from any other.

I don't know like others, but for me this is very iritatting. Whenever I need to do something in another app (i.e. copy some contact details that I want to post via SMS), when I want to get back to Messages, I always must:

press Home
find Messages app's icon:

switch left/right to find the screen where I have Messages app icon or
open app drawer and swipe left/right to find the correct app pane

tap that icon to "re-launch" Messages app.

What is so special in this app that it does not or cannot appear in the regular app list? I think I can name only this single app that has such a weird behaviour.
I thought that the answer is in here that it simply behaves as Gmail. But that 2011's answer is no longer valid, because Gmail does appear in the app list, while Messages are not.

EDIT: I am using realme GT 5G with Android 12 13 and realme UI 3.0. But, as far as I recall, I have been observing this behaviour on each and every phone that I have been using since introduction of Messages by Google app in 2014. Including: all my Motorola Motos (E3, E4, G4, Z2), Motorola One, TP-Link Neffos X9 and Xiaomi Redmi 6.
The Messages by Google app is seen (among others) in the app list only if you press app list button while having it in foreground. Switching to any other app and pressing app list button again shows all apps in the background except this one.
All my phones were never rooted nor has any custom ROM installed. All of them has been used as they came from the shop, from the beginning till end.

Google Messages app does stick on the recent app list on Pixel 3a (Android 12) and Galaxy M12 (Android 13), and AFAIK on many other devices. Unfortunately, I don't know why it doesn't behave like that on your phone...

Have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling the app yet?

I concur with what @AndrewT. said. I have many devices from different manufactures (with Android 8 to 13), and Google Messages app is listed on the recent apps list on all of them. You need to check your phone. By the way, what phone and Android version are you using?

Answered by editing the question. This case becomes more and more mystery to me. I can't believe that I had this behaviour for years, on eight different phones and yet it seems that I am the lonely survivor on this planet to have it at all. There's something wrong going on hear either with my eyes or my phones! :|

I'm now wondering if your devices are rooted and/or if some settings related to background apps/recent apps are modified... I don't know which since I just tried no "Background process limit" and "Don't keep activities" on the Developer options, but despite it killed the app, it's still shown on the recent app list....

No, no root or custom ROM. But this question becomes a guessing-game which is not allowed in here. I was more than sure that this works the way it was described for everyone. My intention was to ask "why", but the whole thing turned to "if". Seems not-reproducible and the question must be closed or deleted.

Try Clear Data and Clear Cache from Settings -> Apps -> Messages -> Storage.  This fixes all sorts of strange problems

@RohitGupta To my extreme surprise this has truly solve this problem. However, these are steps that I should undertake before asking. So I believe turning your comment into answer might not be an option.

@RohitGupta This problem ("missing" Messages app in recent app list) seems to be returning either after a while or after next system update. I am still stick with realme GT 5G, but my system was updated to Android 13 and the problem has returned. Again, clearing the data and cache has resolved the issue. So I think you should post this as an answer.


text:
How can com.google.android.documentsui be missing in Android 13?
I cannot run my favourite MP3 player on my Redmi 11S and Android 13, because the com.google.android.documentsui is missing.
How it is possible? App author claims that is an essential system component that must exist, exists by default in Android 11+ and is only gone when user tries to debloat the phone which I personally didn't do.
Is there any other reason for com.google.android.documentsui for not existing? Has Redmi removed it intentionally from their Redmi 11S' version of Android? Can Family Link be blocking or removing this file?

Possibly related: How to hide or unhide app in MIUI drawer?

Thanks for all the answers and suggestions. I'll try to double check this in the evening (when I get my hands back on those two phones). I'll report findings here, if there will be anything worth to report. Thanks again for your time and trying to help.

@AndrewT. No, this is just partially related or not related at all. I don't want to add DocumentsUI to the drawer. I want to enable it and make sure that it is launched each time Android 14 restarts on my Redmi 11S. Plus, I am reluctant into believing that I will be able to use ADB on Google Family Link-guarded phone.

Documents UI describes what this app does:

The DocumentsUI module controls access to specific files for components that handle document permissions (such as attaching a file to an email). This module is updatable, meaning it can receive updates to functionality outside of the normal Android release cycle...The DocumentsUI module (com.android.documentsui) is delivered as an APK file and is available for devices running Android 10 or higher
(Emphasis supplied)

Hence, it is an essential app and on Pixel 6a it is a system app as it should be with your device also.

There are multiple reports like yours with various versions of Redmi and suggested solutions are listed in order of priority.

In the apps section of your device, enable system app search and try to locate this file. If it is disabled,enable it and reboot. You should be able to use the MP3 player. Some reports say you need to enable as described after every reboot. YMMV.

Use any [activity launcher] 2 from Play Store and search for com.android.documentsui. Create a shortcut for com.android.documentsui.files.LauncherActivity to launch it or directly launch it. You should be good to go but, being Redmi you may be unpleasantly surprised.

Assuming that this app got somehow disabled for the user you can try to reinstall com.android.documentsui using the command (source)

adb shell cmd package install-existing com.android.documentsui

As a last resort download Files by Google and pray that it solves your problem

First of all, thank you for all your effort and a fabulous answer. Second of all, as I wrote in the comment to the answer below, first of all I am puzzled, if enabling it will solve my problem with not working audiobook player, since it (the answer) clearly claims that DocumentsUI is descoped in Android 14 and as such must be disabled system-wide.

Third of all, so far I only managed to check your first advice and failed completely, because my app list is totally empty. I will try to work the second advice today. For the last one -- I am not sure, if I'll be able to use ADB on Google Family Link-guarded phone?

@trejder 1. I believe enabling it will solve your problem since (as I mentioned in my comment to the other answer a) I still have it running on my phone Pixel 6a released with 12 and now on 13. If it was descoped it should not have been there in the first release b) Documentation is strangely silent on what the alternative is, if it is descoped (Android 14 is around the corner!) c) Developers need to be told what to use in it's place, I find no reference to it. Plus your own MP3 developer who should know better insists it should be there. IMO, it is at best a statement of intention//

With no time line. For example, Google promised to introduce hardware (TEE) based integrity checks long back, yet their own Google Wallet does not have that implemented that

Next, your app list being empty is under a different test condition. I don't use MMS so can't say what should be the behavior. I would still recommend you to try the first option with the phone being in normal state not MMS test conditions

I haven't used family link either but if adb does not allow, you can disable family link, do the adb but and enable... That's also one reason it is ranked lower in order of priority. The last one should be the easiest to try as it's only an app from play store ( Interestingly, since my device is rooted, I saw it has two files app (same name) one with the package name we want to install and the Play Store one having a different package name but

I installed that as it can do few useful things like scroll through screenshot before deleting, locating bug reports, cleaning up photos trash etc.. Anyway, all the best!

Thanks for all your comments. I'll do my best to perform as many tests based on your suggestions as possible. If there will be anything worth to report, I'll report here.

As you can see in the DocumentsUI reference:

Important: Starting in Android 12, file browsing through DocumentsUI
is disabled.

Which means that even when installed, your MP3 player won't be able to browse files with such library. The author must fix this by using a new API to browse your MP3 files in the device.
Go to know why Google decided to block file browsing with it, probably due to ill-use by developers, as they did when disabling the SMS receive API that was a serious privacy threat.

I did see that but a) there is no alternative option mentioned for Android 13 so I assume it is being in use for 13 too. b) I am on Android 13, Pixel 6a and I see com.android.documentsui as a system app

Thank you for your answer. I must admit that I am completely puzzled right now. App's author claims that DocumentsUI is the new and mandatory way of accessing files and as long as I don't enable it, I won't be able to use that app. The beeshyams's answer above (with many valuable ideas on how to workaround the problem) also in my mind supports the idea that DocumentsUI is a must have in all modern Androids. Which leads me to a conlusion that something is wrong with my phone.

Now, come you and says (and has a great proof) that this is completely opposite. That Documents UI is old and descoped* was of accessing files. And that everything is fine with my phone, since it has it disabled (probably following the guide you have cited).


text:
Listen to YouTube
I want to listen to audio only from any YouTube recording, just like an audio-book, with my mobile phone's screen off. Is this possible?
So far I tested only:

YouTube original app,
playing YT stream in mobile Chrome.

All for nothing. A second after I turn-off my screen, audio is cut off and playback stops.
Is this possible at all? I.e. by changing some YouTube app's configuration or tapping some magic button in Chrome while browsing YouTube website? Or the only option is to look for some 3rd party app in Soft Rec?

Try testing NewPipe. As you are asking for a software recommendation, the mods will more than likely close your question. Better re-phrase it.

I had used YouTube Vanced app a year ago for this and it met the requirement you now have. It could continue to play audio while the device screen is locked (and screen off of course). You may have to tweak its settings for this.

Thanks for your suggestions for both apps to be checked and for re-phrasing the question in order to avoid closing it.

This seems to be impossible in neither original YouTube app nor in Google Chrome.
You can consider another app, like YouTube Vanced or NewPipe (search the Internet for more details since this is not a software recommendations site; I am not affiliated with any of mentioned apps). Or you can consider another browser, namely Firefox.
The solution given at Software Recommendations for iOS works just fine for Android as well:

Navigate to youtube.com (in Firefox)
Find and play your video
Hit the three-dot menu button
Tap the Request desktop site
When the page reloads, play the video again

You're done. Slide down the notification center to find video controlling buttons there:

Replicating the same steps in mobile Chrome turned out to be ineffective.
There's one important note here. Depending on how you're watching given video:

Using suggested Firefox Mobile or trying some other browser.
Watching in mobile mode or requesting desktop site.
Turning off screen immediately or waiting until it gets turned of by itself etc.

your wideo (or actually audio from YouTube) will:

play forever,
stop immediately,
stop after 5-8 minutes.

And you will be able to enjoy interrupted experience for long time or you will be forced to turn on and off screen after each 5-8 minutes (like in my case).
Because, no matter what I did, I failed to achieve interrupted, few hours long experience, I was forced to use additional solution (provided here) and install Fake Standby app.
Using Firefox Mobile + Fake Standby was an ultimate solution to this problem. However, keep in mind that in current version (November 2020) Fake Standby is causing some weird interference to Google Calendar.
This answer is based on this answer at Software Recommendations and my own blog post.


text:
How to change search engine in Nova launcher?
All search bars in Nova Launcher use Google. Can I change this?

Firstly, remove the Google Search bar. After that, hold anywhere in the homescreen where there ins't any icons. Click "Widgets". Then browse to the widget of the search bar of your choice.

This answer is a workaround not a solution. I want to keep using the perstant browser as I can control transparency and how it looks, I cant do that with a widget.

I figured out how to change the default browser of perstant search bar in Nova without removing it for a different widget.

Nova launcher > Home screen > search bar style > Nova search > search providers > add +
Url: search.brave.com/?q=%s
Move Google and Play store to disable providers by holding and dragging them down.

Now when you search, it will start searching for apps,but just keep trying and the last result will be the brave.search, hit enter, it will search brave.

Along with the other answer, there is another way to change Nova Launcher's default search engine to use (although it is not very ideal unless you want to keep the Nova search widget).
To do it, disable all your search apps besides the one you want to use, and try to use the Search bar again.
It should give you the search app that you want to use.
I used it to switch from my default Search app (com.android.quicksearchbox) to Google Search.


text:
How to end do not disturb mode?
Not able to end the do not disturb mode. Tried clicking the 'end now' tab repeatedly, doesn't work. Neither there's anything in the settings nor in the slide down quick settings.
It's getting inconvenient to check the notifications, as the mode says 'priority only'. What are the solutions?

What does repeatedly pushing the Volume up button does?

Just flashes an 'end now' tab but it doesn't work.

Greetings! Sincerely hope (and, quite likely!) you have already figured it out. Here, hoping it would help others with this same query, a simpler solution —

Simply pull down the volume to vibrate
Then, pull it down once more to silent
And, then, just pull it up again as much as you like :-)

And, voila, it's no longer stuck at "Priority Only"!
Cheers,
Oli

Here's how to fix this issue:

Goto Settings
Tap on Sound & notification
Tap on Do not disturb
Tap on Priority only allows
Toggle any item on & off and that will trigger DND to be off.

Good luck!

Try this:
Long press power button > long press 'shut down' > reboot to safe mode > wait until your phone is ready to go.
Keep pressing volume down button until vibration mode > press once more for silent mode> press 'end now' to end do not disturb mode.
Once you are done, restart your phone.

My phone was stuck at do not disturb sigh (a circle with minus sign), This is how i fixed it.

Press the volume button in your phone
Bring ringer volume to zero using volume button.
Press end now in do not disturb and it will go away.
Raise volume to normal after that.

Guys i have faced the same problem. How i solved was, i have pull down the volume button till silent and do not disturb mode shown as untill you turn off then i turned off it and increased volume to ringer.

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


text:
Set a custom alarm / browser entire storage on Motorola Moto G5 / Android 7.0
I've been using Moto E3 and G4 before and had absolutely no problems in using custom / own alarm tones on these devices / Android versions (on both Android 6, 7.0 and 7.1 in case of G4).
Now, I have purchased Moto G5 and whenever I go to Clock > Alarm > [alarm] > Ringtone > Your sounds > Add new some kind of weird file browsers opens that allows me to pick alarm ringtones from only: "Audio" and "Downloads" folders giving me "Recent" and "OneDrive" options in addition.

How can I select alarm ringtone from (system default?) "Alarms" folder? Or how can I force Clock app to use different file browser (i.e. system "Files Manager" or custom "Solid File Explorer"), which allows me to select a file from any folder?
Am I limited only to above mentioned folders and must copy my alarm ringtone to i.e. "Download" folder in order to use a custom alarm ringtone on Moto G5?

In the "weird" file manager, click on the ellipses in the top right and choose Show internal storage.

Now you should have "Internal Storage" available in the hamburger menu (three horizontal bars) in the left.

You can now browse your internal storage and choose the custom alarm tone which you want to make your alarm tone and it should be applied.

Thank you for your comprehensive answer that actually did solve my problem. I allowed myself to change title, add some screenshots and modify your own answer a little bit to make it more complex.


text:
Will I be exited from WhatsApp groups when I reset my phone and install app again?
Will I be exited from WhatsApp groups when I reset my phone and install app again? I didn't make backups. Please help it's very important.

If your phone number does not change, your groups will be intact.  But, without backup, your conversation history will be blank.


text:
How can I configure Android so that Chrome doesn't stop uploading when Chrome doesn't have the focus?
I have a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra running Android 13. I am uploading a large video to YouTube via https://www.youtube.com/upload and not the Android YouTube application. I notice that when Chrome doesn't have the focus for a few minutes, it pauses the upload. I have to switch back to Chrome so that it continues the upload. However, I have other things to do on my phone outside Chrome.
How can I configure Android so that when Chrome doesn't stop uploading when it doesn't have the focus?

How can I configure Android so that when Chrome doesn't stop uploading when it doesn't have the focus?

It seems that keeping the phone on charge seems to mitigate that issue. I've tested that behavior when uploading a large file to https://archive.org/upload/ and the behavior seems rather consistent: Chrome doesn't stop uploading when it doesn't have the focus if the phone is on charge, while Chrome does stop uploading when it doesn't have the focus if the phone is not on charge. I'm not sure if that behavior always happens, but it seems to often happens.
Note that this is a behavior specific to Chrome, as some other apps such as utorrent continue uploading when it doesn't have the focus even when the phone is not on charge.


text:
Choosing input method when on MessagEase
Recently found the MessagEase keyboard and really like it, but don't necessarily want to use it all the time.
With the other keyboards I use, I long press on the spacebar will open the "Choose input method" selection, but not so with MessagEase.
Their FAQ says to "Tap and hold on any text field" to switch input methods, but that doesn't seem to work for me (just get the standard cut, copy, paste, etc pop-up).
Currently have to go into the Android settings under Manage Keyboards and disable MessagEase to switch to a different keyboard, which is sub-optimal.
Any ideas of an easier way?
(Android 10/LineageOS 17.1)

If you're inside an input field, check the notification bar/area. It then usually carries a "keyboard icon". The corresponding entry in the notification area should offer you available IMEs to switch to then.

@Izzy An older version of Android had this, but my current version doesn't seem to. (Android 10/LineageOS 17.1) Thanks.

@Evan I have the same combination myself (LineageOS 17.1+MessagEase 13.01) and the keyboard icon appears, but only after you've been to Settings | System | Languages & Input | Virtual keyboard, and enabled both MessagEase and the Android keyboard. (I use it to select newer emojis).

As of 2024, given that MessagEase wants to introduce a subscription model, your best option seems to be to install Thumb-Key instead. It's open source and doesn't nag you. With Thumb-Key you switch to a different input method by swiping down on the Smiley.


text:
How to select menu item in Android System Recovery? LG Optimus One P500
I'm started my LG Optimus One in System Recovery Mode. Vol Up/Vol Down buttons works - moving up/down through the menu. But i can't start menu item, for example 'reboot system now', or 'apply sdcard:update.zip'.

What type of System Recovery do you have? On my P500 everything is fine.
In AmonRA Recovery there are such bindings:

VolUp/VolDown - moving through menus
Back - previous menu level, cancel action
Menu - select menu item, approve action

Also I've noted that from some time back button doesn't work every time as I press it. I think it is hardware problem. Maybe I need to disassemble phone and make it maintenance.

Normally you click the Power button to select items.  That's how my Galaxy S works, anyways.
Edit: According to this, try using the Send Call button.  And End Call for cancel.  Or according to this, use the Camera button.  I guess it depends on what recovery you have installed.  Try selecting something that won't do any harm -- a further menu, for example.  Not "factory reset" :P

LG P500 has Menu, Home, Back, Search, Vol Up, Vol Down, Power buttons. I'm tried all of them :(

if you're use the same custom recovery, according to this, on P500 to select item you press Menu button.


text:
Video player to play all files?
As VLC is not available for android, which Android player supports most video formats (and faster and lighter if possible)?
For example currently i use kascend media player, it can also play flv files (without flash player) and faster then other flv players.

I think this would be better if you were asking for support for a particular format that wasn't playable in kascend, or something.

Kascend does not play some flv files that are playable in some other players. It would be great to have an all in one media player

I have a 500 MHz phone with low memory. Only kascend has played a higher resolution flv file faster than others, but not perfectly.

VLC for Android is currently in beta testing: http://www.videolan.org/vlc/download-android.html

VLC Beta is also on Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.videolan.vlc.betav7neon

I like MoboPlayer
It seems the fastest on my Xoom, and plays back nearly anything I throw at it flawlessly.

I use QQPlayer

Mobile QQ player ... supports all the popular formats of videos
  on the market, including AVI, FLV, MP4, 3GP, MKV, MOV and etc. In
  addition, QQ Player also supports SRT, SMI plug-in subtitle and MKV
  embedded subtitle, as well as multiple audio tracks switching.

VLC for Android is now available as beta.

MXPlayer
It supports most of the formats

Arcmedia is also a nice player. It is based on ffmpeg, so it'll play pretty much anything you throw at it.

VLC is available for Android already!
Here are some best android players for you!

If someone gave me the choice of picking just one media player to take to a deserted island, I would most definitely plonk for VideoLan’s VLC Media Player. VLC, the free media player popular for its capability to play most media formats(MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, DivX, mp3, ogg...) While, no-one seems to know much how to import and play Blu-ray discs using VLC (even you’ve gotten rid of the copy protection and can actually make a backup!).
no worry! An approach is presented at this website.
If VLC doesn't play your blu-ray movie, we can upgrade the VLC to the latest version, install it and replay it, but it seems to be a bit complex for us. And sometimes, our Blu-ray was burned at 8X or 16X speed while the computer can only handle 2X or 4X Media. On this occasion, we'd better convert the blu-rays to videos for smoothly playback with a Blu-ray Ripper, which enables us rip and convert Blu-ray to a common video for VLC for playback effortlessly.

Seems like your talking about using VLC Player for PC, not for Android.

The best player is DICE player... you can play any format on it without your phone breaking a sweat.. My 3 years old Galaxy S is able to play 720p videos perfectly and also 1080p(though choppily). All the other players on the market failed to do that for me. The only other player that does all that was the default Galaxy S player but as I installed CyanogenMod I lost it.


text:
recover a phone number I didn't save
At the bar last night I got a number I opened a new contact under my Google contacts on my Droid Incredible and typed in the information.  But in my sub lucid state I never saved it, I would love to call this girl but the number is lost to me, any thoughts on how I might get the digits back?

You typed the number in, right? Always helps to get someone to call you right there to get the number, or call them back to make sure you got it right. Added bonus that it goes into calls list...

If you didn't call the number afraid you lost it forever...

In your sub-lucid state, maybe it wasn't a girl.

Sorry but there is no way to recover the phone number unless that persons number called/text you or you made a call/text to that person. If you did that you could go into your call history and see the made/missed call and then add it to your contacts.
A habit to get into is dial the number first and then hang up. That way its in your call history. Then from your call history add the number to your contacts and add additional info such as name, address and email. If you do this and forget to click save at least you still have the telephone number on your phone.

It will probably not help you for now but maybe next time.
If you are in an edit contact screen and you press on the home button before you saved the contact, there are chances that this screen would still be active but you need to get back into the app using the "recent apps" list. In my case (Galaxy S3), if I long-press the home button it shows me the list of recently used applications and if I select one from the list it goes back to it in the state it was before I pressed home.
If I go back to the same application by re-selecting it from the main screen icon then it goes back to the default view of the application.
And this rule is true for a lot of applications, that is why I always use the "recent apps" list when multitasking to prevent the app to start again from the default view.

Try it now anyway because I don't think there is a limit on the time Android keeps the last state of an application. It will loose it only if the OS needs the memory at some point or if you reboot obviously.


text:
Running VLC from the shell in Android and also passing in a subtitles file?
I know how to launch a video in VLC from the shell under Android as follows:
am start -n org.videolan.vlc/org.videolan.vlc.gui.video.VideoPlayerActivity -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d file:////storage/emulated/0/VideoToPlay.mp4

However, I also have a SubStation Alpha subtitles file which goes along with this video, which in this example could be called subtitles.ssa.
Is there any way using the "am start" command (or any other Android shell command, for that matter) where I can tell VLC to launch the VideoToPlay.mp4 video also with the subtitles.ssa subtitles?
This is do-able in Linux by adding a --sub-file /path/to/subtitles.ssa argument to the shell command line which would launch a video via VLC, and I'm wondering if there's some way to do this in the shell in Android, as well.
Thank you in advance.

Looking at the source code of PlayerActivity only the video file name is extracted and used: https://github.com/videolan/vlc-android/blob/b843e7cb307384643f2f83b4e7988723c4d97714/application/vlc-android/src/org/videolan/vlc/gui/video/VideoPlayerActivity.kt#L645

I thought of a way to get an Android script to accomplish this:
(1) create an empty "work" directory;
(2) copy the VideoToPlay.mp4 file into that work directory;
(3) copy the *.ssa file into the same directory under the name "VideoToPlay.ssa";
(4) run the "am start" command I posted above, pointing to the VideoToPlay.mp4
This works because as long as there is an .ssa file in the same directory as the video and with the same base name as the video, VLC will apply the subtitles in that .ssa file to the specified video.
Here is my script to accomplish this:
#!/system/bin/sh

workdir=/sdcard/vidwork
amstart=( /system/bin/am start -n org.videolan.vlc/org.videolan.vlc.gui.video.VideoPlayerActivity -a android.intent.action.VIEW -d )
amstop=( /system/bin/am force-stop org.videolan.vlc )

# If VLC is running, kill it.
"${amstop[@]}" 1>/dev/null 2>&1

[[ $# -lt 1 ]] && {
  echo "
usage: ${0##*/} video-to-play [ subtitle-file ]
"
  exit 1
}

videopath="${1}"
shift

[[ -r "${videopath}" ]] ||  {
  echo "
Video doesn't exist: ${videopath}
"
  exit 1
}

videoname="${videopath##*/}"

case "${videoname}" in
*.mp4|*.mkv)
  ;;
*)
  echo "
Video must be mp4 or mkv
"
  exit 1
  ;;
esac

videobasename="$( echo "${videoname}" | /system/bin/sed -e 's/\.mp4$//i' -e 's/\.mkv$//i' )"

/system/bin/rm -rf "${workdir}" 1>/dev/null 2>&1
/system/bin/mkdir -p "${workdir}" 1>/dev/null 2>&1

[[ $# -gt 0 ]] && {
  subpath="${1}"
  shift
  [[ -r ${subpath} ]] || {
    echo "
Subtitle file doesn't exist: ${subpath}
"
    exit 1
  }
  /bin/cp "${subpath}" "${workdir}/${videobasename}.ssa"
}

/bin/cp "${videopath}" "${workdir}"

cmd=( "${amstart[@]}" "file:///${workdir}/${videoname}" )

{
  "${cmd[@]}"
} 1>/dev/null 2>&1

exit 0

PS: This script needs to run as root in order for the /system/bin/am force-stop ... command to function properly.
Therefore, assuming this script is stored as /sdcard/runvid.sh, it needs to be run on a rooted device as follows ...
/system/bin/su -c /sdcard/runvid.sh path-to-video-file [ path-to-subtitle-file ]


text:
Main app's icons overlays in Nova Prime's widgets
I've been using Nova Prime for about 5 years, which includes doing at least 10-20 settings backup-and-restore on various devices.
Today I made one another (on my Motorola Moto Z2 Play / Android 8.0 Oreo) and to my extreme surprise I have noticed that all my (restored) contacts widgets have a nasty "main" app (i.e. Contacts) icon overlay over each my contact's photo.
Picture worth thousand words -- before (left) sending Z2 to repair and after getting it back (right):

Analysis so far:

the problem is only with Contacts; other widgets (Wikipedia and Fancy Widgets in my case) have no "main" app icon overlay,
happens on both widgets restored from Nova Prime's backup and freshly added,
happens on Motorola Moto Z2 only (i.e. does not happen on Motorola One),
happens on Motorola Moto Z2 only this time (starting from this backup restore), since I hadn't this problem for past half year, prior to sending this phone for a repair.

Questions:

does anyone else experiences similar problem?
what is its source: is it caused by recent change to Contacts or Nova Prime?
is there any workaround or a way to get rid of this nasty little thing?

I am adding a contact-shortcut widget by:

opening Contacts app (default app under 8.0 Oreo?),
finding given contact and tapping it to get to details,
tapping three-dot and selecting Create shortcut from menu.

The only difference that I noticed is that prior to this backup restore (prior to sending my Moto Z2 for a repair and getting it back) and on every other device I am getting shortcut created right after above (right after tapping Create shortcut). While this time and on this Moto Z2 I see some new, additional Add to Home screen window, where I have to tap Add.
I assume (given above) that the problem's source is Nova Prime, not Contacts app.
I am using Motorola Moto Z2 Play (XT-1710-09) with Nova Prime 6.0 on board Android 8.0 Oreo.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.androidcentral.com/developers-must-read-get-your-apps-ready-android-os-new-shortcuts-and-widgets%3famp . It is known as app pinned short cut. If we create an app's shortcut, shortcut contain small app icon(here it will be contacts icon) on bottom right.

Thank you. Is there any explanation for the first point in my analysis list, i.e. why other app's widgets aren't affected by this problem? Or what is the difference between pinned app shortcut and regular widget, if both are added in Nova Prime the very same way, but only Contacts (and not Wikipedia / Fancy Widgets in my case) are affected?

On the left, the device may be running in android 7.0 and 7.1+ higher the above feature(pinned shortcut) is implemented first. And, currently your device is running in 8.0 Oreo. Its not related with Nova launcher, default android launcher(AOSP/Pixel) have such features, and Nova launcher's dev's apply such features to Nova launcher to make it nearly stock android like pixel.

No, I am using two different devices (Samsung Galaxy J9 and Motorola Moto Z2) and you are correct that Samsung has Android 7.1 while Motorola has Samsung 8.0, but -- as I wrote in my question -- these two screens comes from the same device (Motorola) before (left) and after (right) repair. Could it be possible that before sending phone to the repair it was running Android 7.1 and never actually updated itself OTA to Android 8.0, but while being in repair it was force-updated by repair shop stuff to Android 8.0? And that's the explanation while I have noticed these overlays only right now?

what is its source: is it caused by recent change to Contacts or Nova Prime?

Rahul in comments has pointed the reason (thanks Rahul). It is an OS feature introduced from Oreo (and the likely reason you didn't see it earlier- service folks must have upgraded it while under repair). For more see Android Developers : shortcuts overview

is there any workaround or a way to get rid of this nasty little thing?

Long press on shortcut → edit → long press on photo →select theme  → Gallery apps → select photos and choose the contact photo, go back  → Done
A disadvantage is that you have a rectangular icon that won't match with other icon appearance . But that may be good too to differentiate contact shortcuts!
I don't know how to fix that, unless you use a photo editor app that gives you round shapes (OP has suggested - you can use this Ukrainian on-line tool or this Russian on-line tool or search for some alternative).
And it is not for contacts only. I have a mail app which shows the same for "compose" shortcut. This app is targeted for min sdk 28 (Oreo). From August this year, all apps have to target Oreo and you will see this behavior uniformly
Tested on the latest version of Nova on Pie.

In my case it is only Contacts. Maybe because this is the only widget that I use in 1x1 size on my screen. For 5x1 Wikipedia widget and for 2x5 Fancy Widgets weather widget there is no overlay. Just a note.

But, either I am getting something wrong or this is some kind of "shifting" feature. My wife has Motorola One with Nova Prime 6.0 (newest) and Android 9.0 Pie (newest as well) and does not have this problem (no icon overlays on Contacts-shortcuts widgets).

I'm running Motorola Moto X4 Android 9.0, while creating shortcut of contacts app, it will display contact app-icon on bottom-right corner.

@RahulGopi : Thanks for the link (saved me trouble of searching). Credited in answer

@trejder: I have no idea why it is not happening on your wife's phone (third party contact app is one possibility). I know and have seen it on other devices running on Oreo. As to why it doesn't happen on her phone could be a separate question, with this one linked as background

FWIW, the app icon on the app shortcuts (not widgets, they're different and don't show app icon) also appears on my Nexus 5, Lineage OS 14.1 (Android 7.1 Nougat) on Pixel Launcher. Also, it's first introduced on Android 7.1 //cc @trejder

@AndrewT. Can we, from your comment and my info that I hadn't this problem before, actually assume that source of problem is Contacts app changing "shortcuts" to contacts from regular widgets (previously, no overlay) to app shortcuts (today, overlay)?

@trejder now that I think about it, there's a possibility of that case considering some apps (like Contacts) have both widgets (for backward compatibility) and shortcuts (for newer OS) that have the same function.


text:
Can't sync or even access contacts of Moto G4 / E4 and fresh Android 7.1.1
tl;dr I can't access or sync my contacts on two phones with freshly installed Android 7.1.1 while I can access and sync them without problems on third phone, with Android 6.0, connected to the same Gmail account.

Whenever I try to access contacts on my Moto E4 or Moto G4 with Android 7.1.1 I see following:

This process is endless. It last 12+ hours so far.
I have no problems accessing my contacts on my Moto E3 (Android 6.0.1), which is connected to the same Gmail account as my Moto G4 is.
It seems that contacts are inaccessible due account not being able to sync them:

As you can see (left screeenshot - Moto G4 / Moto E4), the Peoples details item cannot be sync for past two days (since getting this phone) and I don't even have Contacts sync item on the list.
Everything is OK on Moto E3 (right screenshot).
Steps taken so far:

phone restart,
removing Google account and adding it back again,
checking on different network access type (i.e. LTE instead of WiFi).

No luck so far. What else can I check or do?

As I was suggested (in some other source), factory-reseting the phone might do the trick. And it did, but source of problem was different and factory-reset only revealed it.
It turned out that for some reason the Calendar Storage application was disabled on both phones:

It is a system application, so you must tap on ⚙ > Apps > ⋮ > Show system in order to see this item.
After enabling back of this application everything started working with a snap of finger, without even a need of restarting the phone.
I figured this out after factory-reseting of the first phone mentioned in question, so I managed to fix the problem on the other one without need of factory-reseting it as well.


text:
Where can audio resources of an app be stored at?
I have a copy of the package "com.rdsg.goofymemes", a 21st-century humor soundboard (you can find it here.)
For weeks, I have been on a mission to retrieve audio files from this soundboard, but they are nowhere to be seen.
Usually, they are in /res/raw but inside of this folder is "firebase_common_keep.xml".
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources xmlns:tools="http://schemas.android.com/tools"
    tools:keep="@string/google_app_id,@string/gcm_defaultSenderId,@string/google_api_key,@string/firebase_database_url,@string/ga_trackingId,@string/google_storage_bucket,@string/project_id" />

I can launch the app and play sounds without having WI-FI on, so the audio resources must not be loaded from the internet.
I have tried searching for different extensions (mp3, wav, ogg, flac and so on) but still cannot find the audio files.
So I plugged a rooted phone into my computer and downloaded the app. I have then looked at the private app directory (data/data/com.rdsg.goofymemes/) and still can't find nothing.
(I used JADX to extract the source code.)

Look into assets/bin/data. There exists a UNITY3d file and a RESOURCES file with considerable sizes. Probably, one or both of these files contains the assets you are looking for. That said, I cannot confirm this because I'm unable to open these files. Some dedicated tool might be needed to do that.

As Firelord said, there is a unity3d file located in assets/bin/data.
After some digging, I found AssetStudio, a Windows program that can open assets (in my case a unity3d file).
Some assets failed to load, and some, upon selection (which triggers preview) crashed the app, but I got around it.


text:
Google Sheets cell value as a widget
I would like to have some value from a cell in a google spreadsheets that is displayed on my android phone, a little bit like a KPI that I can track.
So I thought that there must be a way to add this as a widget. Only thing I found that seemed to be working was "Meta Widget" but the app is not on the play store anymore (ref:
Show a piece of a Google Spreadsheet document on Andriod main screen).
Any ideas on how to achieve this currently?
Thanks!

This Q&A page has an answer close to what you mentioned:
First, you can set up your Google Sheet to be "published," which essentially makes it a web page, so the caveat here is that you'll only want to add things to this page that you're okay with being publicly visible. The workaround here is to create a new sheet, link only the relevant information, then publish this new sheet.
After that, the suggestion on the forum was Meta Widget as you suggested, but another (more recent) suggestion may be something like Widgetify, which I found in this Computerworld article.


text:
I can't answer phone calls in some situations
I have a Motorola Citrus running android.
I know this is a lame question, but I am a newbie to android and smart phones.
Sometimes I will get a phone call I can't answer.
The incoming call screen will come up. On the left their will be a green circle with an icon of a phone receiver in it. On the right is a red circle with another icon in it.
Press either will not allow to take the call.
I'm guess a setting is messed up somewhere, but I have no idea so I thought I would ask.
Thanks in advance for any help

I'm not sure of the Motorola methodology for answering or ignoring a call, but on my Samsung, merely touching the green or red button is insufficient; it requires a swipe to convey the intention. I believe this was re-engineered to prevent accidental accepts or hangups through a mere button press. The green button has green arrows and a swipe in the arrow direction from the button will accept the call. The same with the ignore swipe along the red arrows from the red button to indicate the call should go to voicemail.UPDATE: Searching the Droid forums, I see that Motorola uses the same functionality for call answering, but many users would like to see the functionality changed to just a button press. Perhaps you are an advocate of the same technique. See this forum for suggestions others have made to change the functionality somehow through app replacement:http://www.droidforums.net/forum/android-app-developers/37743-button-answer-call-instead-swipe.html

By "swipe" do you mean running my finger horizontally across the screen where the circle in the colored area is.  Thanks much!

@Steve - Exactly. Start within the button and drag your finger or thumb across in the arrow direction.

Maybe I will take time later to register so I can "put in a vote".  I'm a new user, and obviously I did not find that intuitive.  I had to get on the web to find out how to answer phone calls with their UI.  Thanks again.

I found this place for making feature requests for future versions of android.  I am going to ask for a button instead of a swipe:
https://code.google.com/p/android/issues/list


text:
What is the difference between rooting and unlocking the Boot Loader in reference to Android?
I have heard these two terms the most, whenever people talk about Android OS. One of them is Rooting or root access, and the other one is unlocking the Boot Loader. Are these two terms exactly the same ? If not, kindly let me know the differences. P.S I am a beginner to android, and already searched a lot on the google, but could not come to a conclusion. A specific answer would be really helpful. Thanks in advance.

@DanHulme Good resource. I just included your link in my answer.

Root access: Administrative access to the entire file system including the ability to change system files such as installing system-wide ad-blocker by modifying the host file on your device, or uninstalling system apps, such as bloatware that comes pre-installed on your device.
Unlocked bootloader: Even though it is possible in some cases to obtain root access without an unlocked bootloader, unlocking the bootloader is required to permanently root a device. This is because your carrier can simply unroot your device with an OTA update. Typically devices sold by most carriers under a contract will have a locked bootloader, preventing you from installing other roms (another version of android such as CyanogenMod) or tampering with your device in any way. Obtaining bootloader access on these devices is generally obtained by using an exploit, so if you plan to root your device do not allow any more OTA updates from your carrier until you check the xda forums for what options you have for your device.
For generalized, yet more detailed information, start by checking out this excellent answer.
If you decide to root your device, start by reading - How do I root my Android device?
Also have a look at - I've rooted my phone. Now what?
However, make sure you always check the xda-developers forums for updated information on what rooting procedures currently work for your device before attempting any rooting procedure, as these things change all the time.

You need to have a unlocked bootloader to obtain root access on your device not necessary

@sameer I just clarified this a little better in my answer.

Almost all devices ship with the bootloader locked as a security precaution. The difference is that on most devices it's just a command to unlock the bootloader (which does a factory-reset) while carrier-owned ones often don't let you do that, needing an exploit to get around it.


text:
is more battery-dispendious shutting down or leave 3g on?
I know that many apps (like messaging apps eg whatsapp or facebook) every time like 30 seconds, ask the server for push notifications.
I know that 3g has many state, when downloading data the consume is incresed, and when not in use (idle) it is less.
Since the apps are not synchronized toghether, the request from an app could be sent when 3g is just passed to idle state.
So i was wondering this: is more dispendious to shut down 3g and then reactivate it like 5 minutes later (to let apps download push notification) or just leave it on and let apps to use it when needed?
I know of cDroid which is a cloud-based android, and one of their feature is of course push-notification download synchronization.
Thanks for answers!

Apps that use push notifications, such as the official Facebook app or Google+ Hangouts, don't need to repeatedly check for new messages. The server sends new messages to the phone when they arrive, without having to be asked. My answer to 'How do push notifications work?' describes this in more detail.
What you're asking about is apps that poll for updates, such as email clients (when getting email from a server that doesn't support push) or some kinds of RSS reader. If the app has a setting "Sync every..." with options like "Every 15 minutes," then it's using polling. Polling like this usually uses more energy than push notifications, but not for the reason you describe in the question. In fact, Android already provides a way for apps to synchronize their polling so that the phone only has to wake up once. All the apps that are waiting for an alarm will perform their update at once, to reduce power use.
Connecting to 3G after it's been completely turned off by the user uses even more power than waking it up from idle, so repeatedly turning it off and on by hand several times per hour will almost certainly use more power than what Android does automatically. The exception to this would be if you have one misbehaving app that actually is checking for an update every few seconds, but since Android makes it easier for app authors to use push notifications or to poll in an efficient way, this kind of bug is very rare.

So which is the final answer? I mean, Ruben boy said that "Turning off 3g and reactivate it later would consume less power" you said the opposite...

Ruben Roy is quoting advice that was written for app developers on why they should avoid bursty data transfers in their apps. It's not advice for users, so it doesn't take into account the cost of turning off 3G completely. He also doesn't seem to have noticed your misconception about push notifications. So while what he says is true, it's not relevant to your question.

Turning off 3g and reactivate it later would consume less power, as all the data can be fetched once the 3g radio is in the high power state

When it is left idle, even for the most trivial data transfers, like checking the weather, the same cycle has to be repeated. Because of the long tail time that holds the device in a power mode, transmitting data as a series of small data bursts takes much longer and requires much more battery power than it does to send a single bigger burst.


text:
Get one static MAC address for Doodgee N30
tl;dr How to force Doodgee N301 (or any other device with Android 10) to use single, static MAC address, if Use static IP checkbox is not available in Wi-Fi Settings?

To allow my Doodgee N30 to access my home Wi-Fi, I must add its MAC address to the router settings (I have MAC filtering enabled and I am not going to change this). The problem is that, when I type Mac into Settings' search box, I see two different places with MAC address:

MAC address in ⚙ → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi preferences: Keeps changing all the time.

Wi-Fi MAC address in ⚙ → About phone: Always the same.

What I learnt so far:

First one looks like an Use random MAC address feature enabled by default, but I don't know how to disable it; there is no Use static IP checkbox below.

Second MAC address is... wrong. I don't know, what it actually is, but adding to router does nothing (i.e. does not enable phone to get access to my home network).

Is there anything I can do to force this phone to use one, static IP address? Or the only option is to replace it with any other model that has Use static IP checkbox?
1 This is about Doodgee N30, a rather niche phone, but probably fits to many devices with Android 10 that faces the same problem, i.e. no Use static IP checkbox.

Your comment looks like a perfect answer. And it does solves my problem. Care to write one? Plus: In my case MAC address is not fixed per WiFi. It changes from time to time. That's why I am wondering, how to use such device with a Wi-Fi networks having "MAC filter" enabled?

You could consider both comments in your answer. For example: "An additional issues is that MAC filters don't (...) and that's why randomized MAC address is enabled by default on most new Android devices". Or sth. There's one last thing that bothers me. If (as you say) MAC addresses are randomized per network then what is that single MAC address displayed in ⚙ → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi preferences? It can't be per network because it is signle one (and there are many networks). And it isn't device MAC (because that one is in ⚙ → About phone). Maybe you can cover that as well.

each device must have unique hardware mac address per law. that is the real mac address you see in 2. and it should also printed on a sticker you got together with phone, or printed on box. in case you can disable randomised mac address, the real one should become valid for wifi. also please note the bluetooth mac address. you can check mac address here https://macvendors.com

Android device like other Wifi devices have one fixed Wifi MAC address. This MAC has been generated by the Wifi hardware or the device manufacturer and should be unique to your device. This is the MAC address you can see in Settings → About phone.
As having a unique MAC address which is used in any network packet transmitted over Wifi is a bad idea from the privacy perspective Google introduced in Android 8 MAC randomization (which is enabled by default since Android 10). The randomized MAC is the one you can see in Settings → Network & internet → Wi-Fi → Wi-Fi preferences .  There two variants of Wifi MAC randomization. Which mode is active can usually be selected in Developer Options -> "Non persistent random generation of MAC addresses":

Wifi specific randomized MAC, called "persistent randomization"
True random MAC address, called "non-persistent randomization"

Wifi specific randomized MAC
By default this mode should be enabled since Android 10, unless you or the device manufacture changed the default configuration.

Android generates a persistent randomized MAC address based on the parameters of the network profile including SSID, security type, or FQDN (for Passpoint networks). This MAC address remains the same until factory reset. The MAC address does not get re-randomized if the user forgets and re-adds the Wi-Fi network since the MAC addressed depends on the parameters of the network profile.

True random MAC address

Under the non-persistent randomization type, which is used for some networks in Android 12 or higher, the Wi-Fi module re-randomizes the MAC address at the start of every connection or the framework uses the existing randomized MAC address to connect to the network. The Wi-Fi module re-randomizes the MAC address in the following situations:

The DHCP lease duration has expired and more than 4 hours have elapsed since the device last disconnected from this network.
The current randomized MAC for the network profile was generated more than 24 hours ago. MAC address re-randomization only happens at the start of a new connection. Wi-Fi won't actively disconnect for the purpose of re-randomizing a MAC address.
If none of these situations apply, the framework uses the previously randomized MAC address to connect to the network.

MAC filtering
In your case the device seems to use a random non-persistent MAC address. You can try to switch to persistent mode in Developer Options -> "Non persistent random generation of MAC addresses" (disabled = persistent mode, enabled = non-persistent mode).
Also on most device you can totally disable MAC randomization for one Wifi in the settings of that specific Wifi.
No matter what way you chose you first have to connect to that Wifi so that Android creates a Wifi config for that network. If you have chosen the persistent mode you can open settings of that Wifi connection and see the MAC address that is used in that Wifi network. Add this MAC address to your MAC filter. Or if present you can disable MAC randomization for that Wifi in it's settings. Then use the real MAC address of your phone shown in "About phone"
Please note that MAC filters or totally useless from a security perspective because they are transmitted in plain text (not encrypted) with every network packet one of your Wifi devices sends in your network. So if I would want to break into your network I would sniff a few seconds or minutes the Wifi traffic in your network, pick a MAC address that is white-listed and then use root permission on my device to change my Wifi MAC to the one I captured from one of your devices => MAC filter bypassed

A perfect answer, thank you. Now, the only question left, if we should kill each our comments under the questions (since matter discussed there has been clarified in your answer) or we should rather keep them for future reference?


text:
Unable to uninstall Microsoft Launcher or Microsoft Family Safety. Apps are installed back automatically
I have migrated my daughters phone from Microsoft Launcher to Google Family Link. Everything works as expected (or even better) but the problem we're facing is that we cannot uninstall Microsoft stuff from the phone -- namely Microsoft Launcher and Microsoft Family Safety.
Steps:

We locate the application's icon in the app drawer (Android 11, Xiaomi Redmi 11S, MIUI 13) and trying to uninstall it the regular way:

We're hit with the confirmation message:

After so-called uninstallation process corresponding icon disappears:

Only to reappear about 2-3 seconds later:

Microsoft stuff (FamilySafety and Lanuncher) are the only apps that we cannot uninstall, we can uninstall any other without any problems.
As you can see, a bare Google / MIUI app drawer and launcher is in use. Microsoft Launcher has been (successfully?) removed as a home screen launcher.
What we're doing wrong or how can I get rid of it?

Just checking if you tried to disable the Microsoft apps in Google Family Link.

Yes, that was the first thing that I did. A workaround that just works. But by no means answer why suddenly I cannot uninstall an app from my phone. An app that I have manually and myself installed. To be honest, this is the first time in the past 10 years that I have come with such a weird situation. We all have heard about hundreds of apps that you cannot remove from your phone, but it was always apps that have come to you with the phone. I have never heard about the situation where I can install something myself only to not being able to uninstall this thing later. Really, really weird.

Also checking if you did: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/topic/uninstalling-the-microsoft-family-safety-app-97685a5c-4847-421a-a234-330a7642526b as it sounds like the Microsoft device manager or some other device manager (Google / Xiaomi ?) is still active.

Due to the nature of usage, both apps (Microsoft Launcher and Microsoft Family Safety) are setup with the Device Admin permission during installation. This permission must be revoked before one can uninstall it (or any other app with such permission). And some additional steps may be needed.
For Microsoft Family Safety (instructions from source adjusted to Redmi 11S):

Sign out from your child’s account in Family Safety app (tap on the app’s menu button → Settings → Sign out) on your child phone

Depending on child’s age, family organizer approval may be needed

Exit app and go to Settings → Privacy protection → Special permissions → Device admin apps → Family Safety → Deactivate this device admin app

For Microsoft Launcher (on Redmi 11S):

Go to Settings → Privacy protection → Special permissions → Device admin apps → Family Safety → Deactivate this device admin app

Go to Settings → Home screen → Default launcher → deactivate Microsoft Launcher (change it to some other)

Now you can uninstall these apps the regular way and they won't be reinstalled automatically.
Source: Uninstalling the Microsoft Family Safety app.


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Drag'n'drop event moving gone in Calendar... again
Google Calendar's event's drag'n'drop functionality stopped working... again, after nearly exactly two years since previous report. Tried to restart both Google Calendar and phone itself (Motorola Moto Z2 Play with Android 8.0.0), cleared app cache and then data, without any results.
I did very little to my phone before that happened:

no configuration changed,
nothing actually doing with my phone.

I have only installed one new up -- FakeStandby -- as suggested here, but since this app has nothing to do with the calendar itself, I would be surprised, if that would be a source of the problem.
To clarify problem:
On a day view (not: agenda) long-pressing any event now brings no effect. Previously it caused an event box to be risen up visually above others, and moving finger around screen allowed to move event to some other hour or day. Now, drag'n'drop functionality does not exist / does nothing.
Is there any know report about some bug, bug's regression or is this a generally known problem? Or is this again my stupid phone going wako in exactly the same way during second anniversary of the moment, this problem appeared for the first time?
EDIT: From what I have learned, when Calendar becomes "locked" (no event's drag'n'drop) all items in calendar are visually more flat than usual. When functionality "returns" they again become a little bit 3D-like.

What worked the last time you had this problem? Did you try that again?

On contrary to initial believes, it was (is) FakeStandby that is causing these problems!
This app is designed to FakeStandby mode, by turning off screen, but not causing actual standby mode. This causes that all other apps are not notified about phone being in standby and continue working in background (below FakeStandby).
To achieve this, FakeStandby must be able to control all apps (at least that's what its author claims). And in order to do so, it adds itself to the "Accessibility" section of the configuration:

And... that's all. Having FakeStandby Service turned off causes Google Calendar application to lose / disable / turn off event's drag'n'drop functionality. Why? Unfortunately, I have no idea.
The simplest workaround -- for having Google Calendar's full functionality and not being forced to uninstall FakeStandby -- is to kill this app after each use. Long-press on its icon > App Info > Force Stop does the magic. Until next run of FakeStandby, Google Calendar will have full functionality.
Since this is a system service, killing it with Force Stop will also automatically reset its setting in Accessibility > Downloaded Services to Off. When you run FakeStandby next time and attempt to activate it (by pressing its button on the right side of the screen) you will see a message:

If this is too annoying for you or impractical, because you're using FakeStandby too often then I think there is no other option rather than a split decision:

find some FakeStandby replacement or
stop using drag'n'drop functionality in Google Calendar.

I am pretty sure that this is some kind of bug in FakeStandby itself, not in Google Calendar. As I have two other apps listed in Accessibility > Downloaded Services (namely: Nova Launcher and Kaspersky Safe Kids). Both apps has their setting set to Off by default (because ability to observe screen and control other apps is used in them only in a rare, specific scenarios).
But, I have just managed to test that setting it to On for any of these two does not cause described problems with Google Calendar. So this got to be "something" in between FakeStandby and Oreo (I have no ability to test this issue in other versions of Android system).

This is interesting.  May I recommend reporting this issue to both Google and the author of Fake Standby?

Great idea about that, but unfortunately I don't think I can do this. I don't know, if Fake Standby's author has any bug tracking service established. And I completely don't believe in reporting any bug to anything related to Google. For past 15-20 years I have the feeling that they have all their users and all their bug reports deeply below spine, so for me even searching on where to report Google Calendar's bugs are 100% waste of time, sorry.

Here you have some examples of really huge and annoying bugs (like the one with rich event details editor) not fixed for THREE YEARS, even when affecting all users: https://itfuckup.com/2017/10/26/new-google-calendar-design-oh-shit/ + https://itfuckup.com/?s=Google+Calendar

I completely agree regarding your observations of Google.  They really are horrible.  Due to their behavior (for which you cite some great examples), I avoid their products as much as possible (which is almost completely).  Unlike Google, the Fake Standby author is very responsive.  Here is the Fake Stanby issue tracker: https://github.com/JonasBernard/FakeStandby/issues

Thank you. Issue reported: https://github.com/JonasBernard/FakeStandby/issues/17

You're welcome. Glad to help.


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Is the "History" tab gone from Wikipedia after latest update?
After latest update to Wikipedia mobile app for Android (3-4 weeks ago, the one that introduced many changes in user interface), I cannot find "History" functionality or tab.
I've checked the usual place (three dot menu on article) and probably all other and... nothing.
Is this functionality removed after the latest update of this  application? How can I browse articles that I've read recently?

It is still there. But you have to click on Search to view your history.

You need to be in the main Wiki app screen for this to work. If you tap "Search" (the same icon, in the same place) while being on any article, you will only be able to see list of recent searches and not list of recently visited articles.


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How to send .apk file over mobile Gmail?
Since .apk is a regular executable file, I was more than sure that I will be able to trick mobile Gmail in the same way as I was able to trick PC version of Gmail years ago to force it to send a PC executable (.exe) which it prevented as well. Turned out, I was wrong.
Usually changing file extension to .dat or some other or compressing it with password (encrypting  file) was enough for PC version of Gmail.
However, for mobile version, everything that I have ready at a hand and tried failed as well:

sending as plain file (obviously),

changing .apk extension to .dat or some other,

compressing with ZIP with no password,

compressing with ZIP (ultra compression) and encrypting archive with a password,

compressing with 7ZIP (ultra compression) and encrypting archive with a password,

using an 7 years old idea of double compression:

compress .apk file into .zip file without password,
compress resulting .zip file again into another .zip file with password / encryption.

If mobile Gmail is able to detect that I am sending .apk executable file even in 7zip compressed file with password (or it can prevent me from sending such file for any other reasons) do I have any option left? Is there any way to send .apk file over mobile Gmail (attach them to message composed in mobile Gmail)?

If you pack it with 7zip and enable filename encryption everybody need to know the password to read anything from the created archive. Please note that your question is off-topic here as it can be shortened to "How do I send any data via GMail in a way that it can not be read by Google".

Are other methods acceptable? Most of us just upload the APK to Google Drive, use the Share link, and state it on Gmail...

Try GPG encryption.

@Robert I totally agree with you (on both solution and the fact that it makes my question off-topic), so I'll most likely VTC my own question as well. However, to clarify. Not every 7zip client offers this option. The one that I am currently using (Solid Explorer 2) does not. It only password-protects 7zip archives but does not use filename encryption and so, such files fails on Gmail.

@AndrewT. This is the thing that irritates me the most in the whole picture. I cannot send certain files, because Google prevents me from doing so, because it knows better than me that they can be harmful. In the same time it allows me to upload such file to Google Drive and share a link to it. Either I am missing some key point here or this is totally wrong. This only changes channel (from delivering potentially harmful payload via attachement to a link), but the security concerns remains.

@IrfanLatif as in answer to Robert -- my file and folder browser does not offer such option. The same as encoding payload as base64 etc. Compressing files (with or without password, but without filename encryption) with 7zip or zip are the only options that Solid Explorer 2 offers.

@trejder sir blocking .apk files and encrypted archives as email attachments is clearly mentioned in GMail policy: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6590. No one here can help you with that. Better ask Google. What I suggested is definitely going to work (if email attachment is the only option you want to go with). It's because GPG encryption is very common in emails. Don't limit your options. Some explorer app can't be the ultimate solution to all of your problems. You may look for something else. E.g. use Termux or OpenKeychain for GPG/PGP encryption. Both are open-source and free.

Blocking .apk files and encrypted archives as email attachments is clearly mentioned in GMail policy:

To protect you against potential viruses and harmful software, Gmail doesn't allow you to attach certain types of files, including:
...

Password protected archives whose content is an archive

To protect your account, Gmail doesn't allow you to attach certain types of files...:
.ade, .adp, .apk, ...

So no one can help with that except Google. You can go with file sharing as suggested by others here, and Google as well:

If you're sure the file is safe, you can ask the sender to upload the file to Google Drive. Then send it as a Drive attachment.

Source: https://support.google.com/mail/answer/6590
But if email attachment is the only option you want to go with, use GPG/PGP encryption which is very commonly used in emails, even to encrypt whole emails including subject and body. Many e-mail clients provide OpenPGP-compliant email security. On Android you can use Termux or OpenKeychain for GPG file encryption. Both are open-source and free (I've no affiliation with either).


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Large difference in battery discharge, when Nexus 7 is on and off
My father got a brand new Google Nexus 7 II (2013) LTE tablet few weeks ago. Ever since first use, he was complying about battery discharge rate. Few days ago, I did some measures and I'm quite shocked:

When battery was charged up to approximately 60-70% at 10 pm and tablet was turned completely off, battery turned out to be completely exhausted (0% charge) at 6 am next day. So, it lost 60% / 8h.
When battery was charged up to 100% at 10 pm on Thursday (!) and tablet was left on, but not used at all (screen dimmed, airplane mode, tablet lying on shelf), battery turned out to have 90% charge level on Sunday morning (!). So, it lost 10% / 60h (2,5 days) (!!!).

How it is possible, that mobile device, equipped with nearly newest Android, has so enormous differences in battery drainage, when it is turned on, but unused, versus it is turned off completely? This is something completely unbelievable (I wouldn't believed if, if I hadn't seen this for my own eyes)! We have battery discharge of 7,5% per hour in first case versus 0.16% per hour in second case. That is 45 times slower!
Is this normal (I haven't observed something like that on any other of my mobile devices, including two years older Google Nexus phone) or does it suggests battery / tablet malfuction?

At the very moment of writing this (Wenesday, 9:30 GMT) tablet has 45% of battery charge, though, it wasn't charged since previous Thursday! It seems, that it is going to manage until tomorrow evening, without charging, which will make it operable for entire week on one charging. While (when constantly being turned on), it wasn't able to "survive" one entire day. I'm devastated with the differences in battery consumption, when this device is on and off. What can drain battery so badly, when device is permanently turned off?

@beeshyams I have no idea why. The only opinion, that I found, was Area 51-like, that when tablet is switch off, it only pretends to be switched off, but still sends data to Google. Since it does this silently, it consumes a lot of energy. Much more than when sending these data officially (when turned on). I know, that this explanation sounds like a maniac blable, but the fact remains, that my Nexus can spend up to entire week on single charge, when turned on all the time, while dies completely, from full charge to 0% during single night, when turned off.

@beeshyams Sorry, same on this side. I have also no experience using logcat or similar tools. Plus, I'm not using that Nexus anymore, so I guess, that ends discussion. Unfortunately, without a conclusion.


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Enable LTE on Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE tablet
I have a brand new Google Nexus 7 (2013) LTE tablet and failed or enabling LTE on it.
I had two cards (microSIM for Nexus and nanoSIM for iPad Mini) from the very same LTE-enabled local (Poland) carrier Aero2. Both are inserted to respectful devices, both devices are in the same place (same network coverage) and iPad Mini catches LTE signal (and its amazing speed) with no problems, while my Nexus falls back to HSPA+ at most, only sometimes uses 3G and never runs on LTE.
Is there any extra switch on this particular device or Android system (was on iPad Mini) to enable LTE?
EDIT: Of course, I followed step-by-step guide on this subject available at Google Nexus Help.

Could you possibly contact Aero2 and see what LTE bands they operate in your area? While unlikely, it's possible that the Nexus 7 doesn't support your local LTE network. It seems like Aero2 uses 2500MHz, but that confuses me because I don't think the iPad Mini supports that band either.

I used another carrier's SIM card, which is 100% certified to be working on Nexus 7 and I still can't access 4G (LTE) network. My tablet's system has been upgraded to 4.4.2 KitKat in between, so now I have access to Settings > Wireless & networks > More > Mobile Networks > Preferred network type option. Whenever I set 3G there, tablet access network without problems. When I change it to 4G I can't access Internet. Tablet claims that, it is logged to LTE-kind network, but network is down. Now, I'm wondering, if my LTE modem is broken or if I'm outside LTE coverage area all the time?

Even if the card and network are 100% cerified for the Nexus 7, the carrier may not have the correct frequency available in your local area. Rather than asking "Do you support the Nexus 7", ask them "Which frequencies (or 'bands') are operational in the area with the postal code [your postal code]?" This applies to Aero2 and the other carrier as well.

Maybe you consider rephrasing all above comments to one answer (about checking bands in my area), so I could price your effort with some reps?

While unlikely, it's possible that the Nexus 7 doesn't support your local LTE network. It seems like Aero2 only operates LTE on 900MHz and 2500MHz (Take that with a grain of salt though; it may be incorrect or incomplete).
The Nexus 7 2013 apparently doesn't support either of those frequencies. Oddly enough, apparently neither does the iPad Mini.
You may want to contact Aero2 or whatever local providers and find out which frequencies (or "bands") they operate in your area. It doesn't matter if their network or SIM cards are "100% certified for the Nexus 7", they may not operate the appropriate frequencies in your area specifically. Rather than ask "Do you support the N7?", ask them "What LTE bands are operational in the area with the postal code [your postal code]?"
If your area should have a band that's listed on the GSMArena page for the Nexus 7, then you may have problems with your device. If not, then you may want to find a carrier that supports LTE on the appropriate bands in your area.

Thank you for your answer. I'll only add for others and future reference, that after reading your answer I googled a little bit more and found information, that LTE on Polish Aero2 network has been available only as test-run, so now it is not available to any devices.

Another addition, after testing this Nexus 7 with another LTE-enabled carrier (Plus GSM, Poland): Though many carriers claims, that LTE network is enabled by default or on self-configurable, SIM-provided APNs, it many cases this turns out to be not true. So, there isn't any specific switch in Nexus 7, what I asked for, but certainly there could be a specific APN, that you have to enter to make your mobile device log into LTE network. If your device is unable to use LTE network, check APN settings at first.

There IS a setting for LTE on a 2013 Nexus7 (1B32-4G). I just found it where you set up the Access Point Name (APN). Just go searching. I was surprised to find it. You have to click on a lot of selections to get to it in Settings then at the bottom of the first section called Wireless &  Networks click on More. Click on Mobile Networks,then you will see Mobile Network Settings. in that menu list select Access Point Names (APN), you should see your network carrier such as "T-Mobile US" & under it mine says "epc.tmobile.com" that was already set up at a T-Mobile store when I bought my SIM card & registered. Then click on the dot to the far right to select your carrier so that the dot turns blue. Click on the name of your carrier on the left side of the screen, & on the new menu list, which is called  Edit Access Point, scroll down towards bottom, BEFORE you edit or add anything, and click/select "BEARER". In that menu list, click & select the choice LTE. It may have been selected as Unspecified at first. Press the "Go Back" button, & as soon as you complete that  the rest of the list of items in field called "Edit Access Points" fills in automatically for what you need, including the Name field, which in my case says "T-Mobile US".Close all screens as you're done. Now it's a matter of finding out if the right "bands" correspond to get the right reception.  My own Preferred Network selections are limited to 2G &3G, even though it says "4G" on the label with the model name. That's another issue I'm taking up with ASUS right now as two supervisors told me that my model number is 3G/2G, but they also say that ASUS won't take care of the matter by giving me an actual 4G tablet which is what I paid for on amazon.com. Even though I now have the LTE setting corrected, it still says HSPA in Settings>About Tablet>Network Type, which I read is only 3G. I'm still baffled.

If you've already found it, why not tell us where? Don't keep the answer to yourself!


text:
How can I force my USB-C phone to send audio to a 3mm jack through a converter?
I have a phone with no 3mm output. I got a USB-C to USB-C/3mm splitter cable online, and hooked it up to a 3mm cassette converter so it could be used in an old car. However, when I plug it all in together, my Android's USB preferences default to "Powering Other Device", and I cannot switch control to my phone. It seems like the request to switch control times out or something.
Can I force this somehow, or is it not possible with this setup? Can I use a different setup?

First of all I would double check if the headphone jack to casette converter works. If it does then unfortunately it is likely that the splitter you bought just is not compatible for your device. Try shopping for a "USB Type C to 3.5mm Female Headphone Jack Adapter" specifically for your phone (under $10).
Just tested one of these adapters for my old Mi A2. The adapter is marketed specifically for Xiaomi Mi A2 and cost ~$5. It works also after plugging an USB-C to USB-C extender chord in between, sadly I have no USB-C hubs here. But the same device does do nothing when plugged into my Pixel 3a.
The apparent reason for this incompatibility is apparently lack of standardization according to Lifehacker.

The big problem with USB-C dongles is that nobody codified new hardware standards before smartphones started dropping their headphones jacks.
Playing digital media through headphones requires a digital-to-analog converter (DAC)—which changes digital audio data into analog signals your headphones can playback—and an amp. The disagreement is whether this conversion should happen on the smartphone itself or within the adapter you’re connecting to it.

By the way, if you are trying to simultaneously charge the device while using the USB-C audio dongle, I'm not sure that will work either, I would definateley get the pure dongle first and then maybe try it behind an USB-C hub with a PD (Power Delivery) input jack for charging for a long drive when I had to charge the device.


text:
Is the AOSP documentation source markup publicly available?
Occasionally, I want to reference topics like https://source.android.com/docs/core/architecture and https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/permissions/overview. However, because their content changes, referring back to them without saving them in their entirety (via archivers like https://web.archive.org/, or extensions like SingleFile and its myriad competitors) can be difficult.
Were I to be able to access its source markup stored on a version control system like git (I can't imagine they use SVN) I would be able to refernece versioned documentation, like I can at https://android.googlesource.com/platform/frameworks/base/+/a48127f0276e1fb4e309776b4216160fd5b67e56/core/java/android/os/Users.md#user. Consequently, is the documentation source rendered at the aforementioned URIs publicly available, like the referenced android.googlesource.com markup is?
I ask because Microsoft provides this at https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs, so I would be surprised if Google didn't. However, I've been unable to locate it.

I've never seen the source code of Android Developer documentation. AFAIK, it's not part of the Android Open Source Project.

@AndrewT., a shame. They're missing out on contributions.

Back in the early days the developer site was part of the SDK 1 and 2, then a program for low bandwidth areas to get a full dev kit, aka GDG Dev Kit Pilot (2014) was released (once). The site source.android.com stopped being mirrored in their git repo in 2021.

@MorrisonChang, that seems like an answer. Many thanks.

Per Morrison Chang's comment, it appears not, anymore:

Back in the early days the developer site was part of the SDK 1 and 2, then a program for low bandwidth areas to get a full dev kit, aka GDG Dev Kit Pilot (2014) was released (once). The site source.android.com stopped being mirrored in their git repo in 2021.

Despite initial semi-apathetic enthusiasm to remediate this, Google has confirmed that the choice to not publicly mirror it is deliberate, due to low utilisation:

Hi, regarding providing the source code for source.android.com in AOSP, following up on comment #2, it was decided to stop mirroring the source code for documentation in AOSP due to low usage and low amount of external contributions and high bandwidth required for syncing with the Git mirror. Closing this out as intended behavior.

For filing bugs against documentation see: https://source.android.com/docs/setup/contribute/report-bugs#documentation

@MorrisonChang, I've filed https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/364052457#comment1 and https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/364089356#comment1.


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Can the camera options on Samsung Galaxy S be imported to Samsung Galaxy SL?
The Samsung Galaxy S (I9000) and Galaxy SL (I9003) are very similar.. ofcourse, except for a few differences. I use Galaxy SL (I9003). The camera options in Galaxy S seems to have more features than SL. So, can i import those camera options (Shooting mode and Scene mode options) in Galaxy S to my Galaxy SL ?? is something like that possible?

If you're rooted, you may try getting the camera apk from the 9000 onto your 9003, but a safer and easier way would be to use alternate apps from the market. What features precisely are you missing out on in the 9003 from the 9000?
You can try using other camera apps like Camera Zoom FX or FxCamera.
Loads more in the Market, have a look-see.

unfortunately, i am not rooted and don't like to root it atleast until i get a good grasp of android OS. As said above, the shooting mode and scene mode in 9000 has some extra options like, action shot, add me, continous, portrait, beach/snow, color of fall, etc.. thought it would be good to have it without installing any apps.. but if the apk replacement won't work, then guess i have no other go! btw, thanks for the apps.. they look cool :) . if no other option works, then i'll go for it.


text:
is there a less cluttered version of the Swype keyboard?
I am new to Android.  I really like the Swype keyboard but wish I could remove certain keys on the bottom row (e.g. SYM, the "EN" language button, etc) so that the keyboard is less cluttered.
Is this possible?  Are their any Swype equivalent keyboards that aren't as compact?
Thanks!

Try FlexT9. It's a bit pricey, but has the same functionality as Swype, with some great added features (Dragon speech support and trace input) and a better layout (in my opinion, let me know what you think of it ;) ).
Here's a screenshot from the app page:


text:
Linux Deploy removal
I was going to install Linux Deploy , but then if I don't like it how can I remove the Linux installation?

I did this for myself by navigating to Settings > Storage, tap on the Misc category, select the ~4 GB linux image and use the trash icon to delete it, but this will probably vary depending on what device you use.


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Micromax Canvas A1 is unable to install apps from Google Play Store
I have a Micromax Canvas A1 device. I can open Play Store and can search the apps. But, when I click Install, it just shows (endless) download animation and no actual downloading happens.
An example:

Process is stuck in installation phase and no further progress nor even any notification hapens.
I've tried so far:

Clearing Google Play Store data and cache.
Doing factory reset of the device.

Still nothing. Anything else, I can try?

Have you tried using other network connection? Perhaps there is an issue with the connection, or firewall? How about downloading the app from the Play Store website?

Have you tried clearing the cache and the data stored by the Google PlayStore App ?? If not then I would advise you to try clearing the cache and the data, and restart your device. Upon restarting open the Google PlayStore and check if you can everything starts working fine for you. I am pretty much sure that will do the trick for you.

@PeterCarlos - Thanks for the advice, but as I've mentioned, I've already tried clearing cache, data and uninstalling update. After rebooting, having the same issue.

@Pankaj Oops my bad I haven't seen bottom of your post. I guess the problem is somewhere with the network only,Okay do one thing stop the download and ask your friend to tether for you connect with it and again try downloading the app and check if that works for you ?

@PeterCarlos - Well, now I can install using my 3G connection, but not with WiFi and Tethering. Is it a WiFi problem specific for playstore?

@Pankaj That's great at least now you are able to download apps over the 3G network. But at the same time I am sorry but I don't have anything to comment over here as it has started working back over the 3G network mysteriously, but what I can bet on is the problem is with the network not the PlayStore. Maybe you should try connecting your device with some other Wi-Fi network to check the problem.


text:
Internal storage full but explorer shows less
My space in the internal storage is full and I can't install any more apps or even updates. But when I open the storage in Windows explorer I can't find the folder that cotains so much data. There are bunch that sum up to 50 MB only (the total size is 1,13 GB) and many folders show up as "0 bytes" in usage, which is strange.
DiskUsage app shows that "system data" takes 90% of the storage, but I can't figure out what to delete or uninstall to free some space. How or what can I delete to free up space (I believe that apps themselves can't take up this much storage, I don't have that many I think).
NOTE: I moved hopefully all the apps to the SD card before.
EDIT: Connecting my phone with USB to the computer and opening the device and the storage in Windows explorer.
Android version: 4.1.2
HTC Sense version: 5.0

Android version? How do you make your phone's storage show up in Explorer?

Edited the question

As usual, I'd recommend to first take a look at the associated tag-wiki – here the one for internal-storage – and see if the first-aid there get's you started. Especially see: Something is secretly eating up my tablet memory and I need help finding it / What can I do to manage my phone's internal storage? / My internal storage capacity is running low, what can I do? (linked from there)


text:
Google Now voice calling feature only searching local contacts, not businesses
In Google Voice Assistant on ICS I could, for example, say "Call the closest Dominos" or "Call CompUSA West Palm" and Google Voice Assistant would start to dial the correct business almost immediately.
Since I've upgraded to JB, Google Now only seems to search my contacts and sometimes brings up map locations of businesses I wish to call. This is extremely disappointing and would really like to know if anyone else is having this issue and if it can be resolved.

Also, if anyone could comment just to let me know this is not only happening to me. I would be much obliged.

I don't know whether or not this is going to help in your case, but a friend told me that if you set your language to English US (as opposed to English GB, CA, AU, NZ etc.), you get a different/better voice recognition engine.

Unfortunately, English (US) is what my phone is already set to.