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Why does screen turn off when making calls on speakerphone?

This is not a proximity sensor issue. The proximity sensor works as expected during normal calls and speakerphone calls.
This is not a screen timeout issue. The screen timeout is set to 10 minutes. It always turns off within <45 seconds.

as expected during normal calls and speakerphone calls.
This is infuriating. I don't understand why the screen should turn off after any amount of time other than the screen timeout setting when on a speakerphone call. Usually I'm navigating automated menus and it goes out a second or two before I'm ready to input the option. A simple tap doesn't wake it either I have to pick up the phone and press the power button.
This is with a Samsung Galaxy S10e.
How can I make the phone respect my screen timeout settings when on speakerphone calls?

Related: Disable automatic screen turn-off during call

Does this answer your question? Disable automatic screen turn-off during call

My LG 3 Auto updated to a 3 seconds screen timeout. I was unable to change it in any Settings menu. The solution I found is to download a Screen on app. I use the Keep Screen On Free app that works perfectly and allows you to change the timeout too.

I have added a link to your app I found in the Play Store. If the link is incorrect, do let me know or [edit] it out.

The reason why the screen turn off when making calls is to prevent keypad press and high battery consumption during the call so that you're not suddenly got cut halfway in the call.
As for how to keep the screen turn on during the call, there are a few ways you can do it. I suggest Screen On Call app. If the app doesn't work, try to use a headset on call.

We know what they think it should turn off. But simple analysis makes it clear there is no genuine reason. Keypad press is not relevant since you're on speakerphone not with the phone against your ear and you've intentionally turned on the keyboard so you can press it. Battery is irrelevant as it's mostly black pixels and again you've intentionally kept it on. If you want to save battery life it's one button. It sounds like you're confused with the screen turning off when not on speakerphone which would be correct behaviour. As made clear, the phone is overriding set screen timeout settings.


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USB Debugging on a soft brick?
How do you enable USB Debugging on a bootloop-ed device?
Or, at least, how do you determine if a bootloop-ed device has the USB Debugging option turned on?

Hello. What are you trying to achieve though USB Debugging? This seems like an XY problem as of now. If you are trying to recover data out of a soft-bricked device, it is best to mention the Android device name, Android version  name, and whether the bootloader is unlocked and the device rooted?

SM-N910C, Samsung Note 4 — unrooted — I haven't ever touched the bootloader so I guess it's locked — Android 6.0.1. By the way, I just managed to SUCCESSFULLY flash with Odin the official firmware, but the phone continues in a bootloop!!! Amazing! And yes, I'm trying to recover my data by any means. I was so close after all this time and research ... but in the end nothing...

source: Stack Exchange

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

sort: votes


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How do Android EMF detectors work?
Searching the play store for emf detector shows a bunch of apps that can measure the electromagnetic radiation level and they do seem to somehow work.
What is the operating principle behind these apps and what kind of sensors are they using?
What level of accuracy these sensors provide and how do they compare to dedicated EMF detectors which sell online starting with ~$7?
In the Android docs I see: SENSOR_TYPE_MAGNETOMETER, SENSOR_TYPE_MAGNETIC_FIELD and SENSOR_TYPE_MAGNETIC_FIELD_UNCALIBRATED — can these possibly be used to measure EMF radiation levels and if so then which ranges are supported?
Update:

This question suggests that Android phones might be able to measure magnetic fields: https://skeptics.stackexchange.com/questions/6961/can-smartphone-apps-detect-emf

As I have previously mentioned that Magnetic field and Electro-magnetic field differ hugely. The two of them are not identical at all. Magnetic field is one created by 'moving charges' The intersection (almost) between a magnetic and an electric field is EMF. A magnetometer cannot detect or measure an Electromagnetic field, and viceversa. Our phones use EMF to receive and transmit signals, that means that they can do well at detecting them but they are specifically designed to work in frequency ranges of your network type (2G, 3G, 4G, etc) which usually range from 600Mhz to 2.2Ghz.

The question does not only apply to android phones, but to all mobile devices. Our mobile devices use EMF to communicate. Mobile phones are, by definition, devices that can detect EMF since their ability to communicate depends on radiofrequency fluctuations in electromagnetic fields.  Our devices, especially smartphones, which are extremely reliant on internet services emit a huge amout of EMF radiation. That should imply that mobiles can precisely detect and manipulate EMF, right? No. Our phones are designed to work with only specific frequencies, from about 800 to 2.2GHz, so it is quite unlikely that a mobile phone can detect general fluctuations in EMF.
Now, the creator of the app might tell you that it uses magnetic sensor, and you might think that EMF can be detected using a magnetic sensor, since it is also (partly) a magnetic wave, but you cannot. EMF exists when a wave has both electric as well as magnetic parts.

So what you are saying is that those 'EMF' apps in fact only measure magnetic field levels and not electromagnetic intensity, no?

@ccpizza Mobile phones can do well at detecting fields, but they are not built for measuring them. Some apps might take the help of magnetometer but they are also limitedly accurate as they heavily rely on earth's gravity.

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


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Phone still stuck in a bootloop after flashing official firmware with Odin!
I successfully flashed a stock ROM on my Galaxy Note 4 using Odin 3.13.1 but, unfortunatelly, the bootloop is not gone.
Device info:

SM-N910C
unrooted
Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow

Bootloop sequence: Samsung boot screen —> Android is starting... Optimising Apps 2 of 2. —> Android is starting... Starting apps. —> LOOP
What are my options to restore my personal data from now on?

Hoping that you have not wiped your data while flashing firmware using Odin, the process of data retrieval can be variably difficult. The best way I can think of is to flash a custom recovery on your device then mount desired partitions.
PS I have no information whether your phone is rooted or not, so just providing the most workable way.

Wouldn't flashing anything other than the stock ROM wipe out the data anyway? Or custom recovery is something different?

Custom recoveries, when flashed correctly, only overwrite the recovery partition.

I see. Do you have any recommendations?

@Rayhunter Recommendations regarding recovery? TWRP.

Will unlocking the bootloader wipe out my personal data? I was left under the impression that it actually did. If so, is there a way to install TWRP without unlocking the BL?


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Disable "Unkown sources" setting in Android Oreo
In previous versions of Android one could go to Personal > Security and there disable the Unknown sources setting in order to install freely APKs from unknown origins. In Androi Oreo this was changed and this field is no longer in the Settings. I looked everywhere and was unable to find it. So now, when my app tries to install another APK from an unreliable source, I get a Popup saying "Allow Google to regularly check device activity for security problems..." with a Decline and Accept options.
My question: imagine that I factory reset my Android Oreo device, is there a setting that I can set or a system property to modify that will prevent this anoying popup to appear? Does someone know how to disable its appereance?
PS: Please don't answer "just hit decline". That is not the answer I am looking for, nor a viable option.

Related: How is the list of apps allowed to install another apps populated?

In previous versions of Android, one could control the system-wide app installation from unknown sources, which saved time but was risky. Having refined control over settings makes your device more secure.
Moreover, the mechanism has now been shifted to app-specific instead of system-wide, that is you can now control app installation from particular apps. In order to modify that, head to settings and search for 'Unknown Sources', and you'll find Special App Permissions. In order to always allow a specific app to install apps, toggle it 'allowed'.

Hello @Danish Shakeel, the app I want to allow installation of unreliable apps is in the /system partition but does not appear in the list. I can only see Chrome and Explorer. Do you know why?

Which app is it? Please share the complete location.

It is an app called ProvisioningManager that we built and installed it in the /system/priv-app/ folder. The full path to the APK is /system/priv-app/ProvisioningManager/ProvisioningManager.apk.

DOWNLOAD_WITHOUT_NOTIFICATION is irrelevant here. @Storo you need to request permission INSTALL_PACKAGES (only for system apps) or REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES in app manifest. In latter case send intent ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE.

@IrfanLatif a third-patry app installed in the /system/priv-app/ can have the INSTALL_PACKAGES permission even if not signed with system keys?

@Storo I'm not a developer but as docs say “Not for use by third-party applications”: https://developer.android.com/reference/android/Manifest.permission.html#INSTALL_PACKAGES

@Storo Does your package's Manifest.xml have  <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES... I was trying to allow an app through adb but it is trailing an error that is because of how the app's manifest.xml is built.

@DanishShakeel system permissions can't be granted or denied, those just need to be requested in Manifest. But the app must be a system app, not just placed in /system directory. You may try to trick the OS grant a system permission to non-system app, if rooted: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/217522/218526. REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES can be granted to a non-system app (if requested in Manifest) by appops set <PKG> REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES allow or through GUI.

@IrfanLatif, I need to sign my app with system key or having it in priv-app is enough?On a side note,  please post your comment as a solution since it is clearly a candidate.

@Storo as I said I'm neither a ROM nor app developer but AFAIK you need to sign your app with platform key, plus whitelist required permission in /etc/permissions/privapp-permissions-XYZ.xml. However REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES isn't a bad option either. Related: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/216092/218526. I think my answer would be more development related, not suitable on https://android.stackexchange.com.


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How do I install OTA updates while rooted with Magisk?
First of all, here are my specs (let me know if I'm missing anything):

Device: Moto G7 (river)
OS: Android 9
Build Number: PPOS29.114-134-2
Magisk Version: 20.0
Magisk Manager Version: 7.5.3

I installed Magisk through TWRP.  The device is fully rooted.  I want to install the latest OTA update, and I've been trying to do it using this guide.  I'm stuck on step 2:

tap on the UNINSTALL button and select the RESTORE IMAGES option.

When I follow these instructions, I get this error:

Stock backup does not exist!

How can I install the update and stay rooted?
Notes:

I am okay with re-rooting if necessary.
For some reason, I can't boot into TWRP using the custom recovery I know I installed.  I just get the opened up maintenance android.
This is NOT a duplicate of How do I update an OTA while retaining TWRP and Magisk, only with my phone?

You cannot apply OTA updates unless you are completely stock... period. You will need to flash the stock image that matches what you currently have, or the latest stock image in it's entirety. This will completely wipe the device. That said, Moto has really gotten lazy about releasing firmware images and are often many months behind which is a problem because you cannot downgrade a Moto device. I would honestly suggest going to the XDA forums for your specific device and asking there as this will likely require some finesse that is outside the scope of this Q&A format.

BTW, that isn't an off the cuff comment to push you away or make light of your question... I wrote the "restore to stock" guides on XDA for most Moto devices on XDA from 2015-2018 so I have some background in what I am talking about here.

try out flashfire


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How to remove someone's google account off my phone when asked to verify
We are going through custody battles atm, and I allowed my child to take her phone to her mother's, in case she needed me or felt unsafe. Her mom took the phone, removed my google account, added hers and make it to where it needs to verify the account before I can make any changes. So now she can control all the parental locks, send messages when she shouldn't be, ect. How can I remove her account and replace mine since they are my phones to begin with?

Please describe the phone model and operating system.

What you're basically trying to do is unlock the device to re-establish control and that will be done first through Google's "find  my device" and is that doesn't work just unlock the device through factory reset and use FRP bypass if you need to!

Go to settings, accounts, Google, select the account to remove, tap 3 dot menu, select remove account.
U maybe asked to enter device's pin or pattern.
The process may be different in different versions of Android


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How to extend screen on a secondary monitor in Android-x86?
I'm looking for a way to get two separate (i.e. "Extended" or split) display outputs on my Android x86 setup.
It appears that I need to modify the content of /grub/menu.lst file, but every guide that I have found instructs the user to either clone (i.e. "duplicate" or mirror) the displays, or worse, it instructs the user to entirely disable the internal LVDS display.  This is not what I want.
What I want is to simply have a separate output for each of my displays (two 1920x1080 monitors using HDMI.) This is something that is available on many Linux distros and even Windows.
Is what I want even possible on Android x86 at the moment?

A quick check of android-x86.org shows at the bottom:

Development (2019/10)
What we are working on now

Android 10 (Q release) porting (q-x86 branch)
Upgrade kernel to 4.19 or newer
OpenGL ES hardware acceleration for intel/radeon/nvidia/amdgpu (pstglia, mauro) and virgl(robh) GPUs.
HDMI audio (cwhuang)
LineageOS integration (jjm)
Hardware accelerated codecs

To-Do List

Multiple displays support
Better power management
Miracast

So the feature Multiple display support is on the To-Do List and probably dependent on OpenGL ES hardware acceleration efforts.
So as of 2019-10 the feature you want isn't available.

This feature is not yet available. You could instead switch between your screens by adding video=LVDS-1:d to your grub configuration file.


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How much privileged GMS Core is in the Android Stack?
The GMS Core has a ton of capabilities and doesn't seem to perform like a typical application (as in an Application living in the 'Applications' layer shown below). I would assume it would have more privileges and potentially live in the Android Framework layer or the same place as the 'Core Libraries' mention. However, I noticed a u0_a12 UID (not root or system) was attached to the com.google.android.gms process indicating that it's a user owned application. Can someone elaborate on this a little?

Android reserves UID range 10000 to 19999 for apps - user, system or framework. u0_a12 doesn't indicate a user owned application, it simply means UID 10012 which can be assigned to any app. On Android every app is assigned a unique non-zero UID. No app can run with root privileges, including system apps.
UID 0 (root) is the privileged user in Discretionary Access Control (DAC) but be noted that even a process running with UID 0 can be non-privileged or one with non-zero UID can be privileged. Refer to Linux capabilities, particularly Ambient Capabilities.
However Android's Java framework doesn't rely directly on DAC very much, it has its own privilege control mechanism through permissions e.g. Storage, Camera, Internet etc. Manifest permissions have different Protection Levels. Some are granted without asking user, some others require user's approval to be granted or denied and some are reserved only for system use. For more details please see this answer.
Google Mobile Services (GMS) make use of both; application layer and some features only available to framework/system/privileged apps. For instance Play Services has android.permission.INTERNET which is granted to every app that requests for it. But it also has android.permission.READ_LOGS (1) which has protection level signature|privileged and can't be granted to user installed apps. Similarly GMS Core has unrestricted internet access even in Data Saver and Battery Saver modes (2) which is also possible only for framework apps.

RELATED:

What is the “u#_everybody” UID?
How Android's permissions mapping with UIDs/GIDs works?


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Can a rooted phone on stock OS be updated without wiping the data?
If so, how?
The below is just personal experience relating to the titled question.
I have a OnePlus 5T; it's my second smartphone, and just as I'd always planned to do with my second phone, I rooted it. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, except that I can't provide objective feedback on apps I use on it.
At one stage I hadn't updated for half a year when I finally made an attempt. I was one OOS 5.1.1. It was recommended that I update to 5.1.4 then move up from there. As though some magic happened, while I was downloading the roms to my laptop, my phone DLed & updated to 5.1.4, then 5.1.7, without wiping any of my data. I then flashed Codemasters TWRP, installed Magisk, and the rest was history.
The magic didn't repeat itself however. I tried to flash the rom through Codemasters as well as stock TWRP (if this sounds stupid it's because I don't really understand this all that well), but the update wouldn't take. Then again, seemingly magically, it took, but it took all my installed apps and personal data with it.
And here I am again, with an update notification haunting me.

you could try flashfire for ota updates. backup your userdata partition from TWRP, and backup your Internal Storage via USB MTP

Android usually has two main partitions: the system and the user data partition. System updates usually only affect the system partition and if the new system can handle the data on the user data partition you don't lose your data.

@alecxs Danke :)


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How could a Phone Lose Sim service just by an ADB command No Root
This is sort of a debugging/learning post. I followed this post By Schematic here on a Qualcomm device.
After typing this command adb shell service call phone 180 i32 1 i32 0,
The Phone lost both its Networks and IMEI reports null, Baseband is unknown.
How could an ADB Shell without root cause such a damage? OEM unlocking was OFF.

Hello. Did you restart the device? Service calls varies Android version-wise, so which Android version and device are you using?

Yes I did restart the device and also Factory reset through settings. I am using Oppo Realme XT RMX1921 on Android 9

I think you need to manually reload your IMEI numbers. It mostly occurs in Mediatek devices, but since it is a Qualcomm device, the process is a bit complex but you can follow this guide: https://cellphonetrackers.org/change-imei-number-snapdragon-device.html

This tool requires me to unlock my phone's bootloader and that would void my phone's warranty.

I finally took the device to service center. And the executive said he would send the case to Realme and he is not certain that it would be covered under warranty as the imei is broken. But my device's bootloader is untouched and I never tried rooting.


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How reliable age certification at Google Play is?
So far I've been trusting in PEGI certifications nearly as in bible.
Today, I found Alchademy game, which has PEGI 3 age certification, but deeply in the game's desc you can find something like this:

This game is not intended for children and may have some content that is inappropriate for children under the age of 13.

Please, explain, what am I missing? How can a game pass PEGI 3 certification with such a note?
Based on above, I come with the conclusion that PEGI certifications at Google Play are completely worthless and when deciding whether particular app is or isn't applicable for my children, I must always dig description or -- the best -- install and play the game myself.
If that's truth then what is the reason in fouling people with that whole PEGI stuff at all?

You can, and probably should, flag the app as "improper content rating" in Google Play.

I did, as you suggested, nearly immediately, even before your suggestion has popped out. Unfortunately, this is pointless as it turned out that Google Play's age ratings are pretty much worthless. They're not based on application producer's disclaimer, but rather are the result of some semi-automatic algorithm that is based on some questions asked to the app's producer. Above is a pretty example that neither these questions nor the mentioned algorithm are working. See the answers below for more details. Thank you.

Totally off-topic... But until this post I only knew "PEGI XX" from the beginning of game trailer videos on various sights, and thought they were a video hosting server or something (Content delivered by PEGI 13 or something like that). Wow, was I wrong! Apparently this system has been in effect since 2003, and I highly doubt most people in the US have any clue what it is. Do Europeans know what the ESRB is?

@trejder I'd argue that the system is not worthless but probably the best you can get without having a human screen each and every app. Of course it is not perfect and can be gamed, but then again, that is why you can flag the app as inappropriate.

@acejavelin Not really, but we have our own ratings USK in germany and PEGI. That is why the play store provides ratings for most system on the globe and tries to show you the localized match.

Disclaimer: I don't develop Android apps so my answer might be lacking. I hope our residents developers will provide more clarifications if necessary.
According to Content ratings for apps & games, The rating of an app is done by independent 3rd-parties not Google. The app's developer fill a rating questionnaire, then independent 3rd parties rate it:

To receive a rating for each of your apps and games, you fill out a rating questionnaire on the Play Console about the nature of your apps’ content and receive a content rating from multiple rating authorities.  Since they are independent third party rating authorities, each rating authority uses their own methodology to assign your ratings (see Rating authorities & descriptions below). The ratings assigned to your app displayed on Google Play are determined by your questionnaire responses.

It is possible based on the last sentence that the responses to the rating questionnaire prompted the rating agencies to rate the app PEGI 3 while the developer(s) state(s) even on their own website that:

This game is not intended for children and may have some content that is inappropriate for children under the age of 13

Thus, the app should be rated PEGI 12. As a comparison, the game is rated +9 on the Appstore.
The rating can be inconsistent as shown here where keyboard apps with the same content are not rated the same:

The Fleksy app, which has been on the Play Store for around eight years at this point — and per Play Store install stats has had more than 5M downloads to date — was PEGI 3 rating until earlier this month. But then Google stepped in and forced the team to up the rating to 12.

That’s not the end of the saga, though. Google’s Play Store team is still not happy with the regional age rating for Fleksy — and wants to push the rating even higher — claiming, in a subsequent email, that “your app contains mature content (e.g. emoji) and should have higher rating”.
Now, to be crystal clear, Google’s own Gboard app also contains the middle finger emoji. We are 100% sure of this because we double-checked…

In the case, of the link article above, it was Google that forced the rating change not independent 3rd parties. After the developers complained to International Age Rating Coalition, the rating was then restored. It shows that Google can manipulate the rating.

While Reddy Lutonadio's answer actually fulfils the subject, I'd like to add my own, since I have received an answer and clarification from the creators of the game in question:

We understand the confusion that this can create, we place the information corresponding to the app, but in the case of the App rating, we have no control over it, this because Google assigns it automatically after some questions.

Based on above, I think we can clearly say that Google Play's age rating are pretty much worthless.

I do think the app publisher has some control over the app rating, according to https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/188189# he could use https://www.globalratings.com/developer-contactus.aspx to ask IARC to adjust the rating. Sadly, there is less incentive for the publisher/developer to do so: a low age rating means that the app is available for more users (children), which means more revenue from advertisement and in-app sales.


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Android x86 Oreo (8.1) stuck at _ (underscore) after GRUB
I'm trying to install Android x86 on virtual machine in VirtualBox 6.0.
The image I've downloaded is android-x86_64-8.1-r2.iso from android-x86.org
The installation process I've followed is similar to this video
But when I'm reaching GRUB boot option selection and choose Android-x86 8.1-r2, it stops working and hangs on underscore before "Android" logo, which never shows to me.

I've tried this and this fix, but it didn't work. Also, there's a post regarding similar issue on Android Enthusiasts, but it never was answered.
Stack, what do?

Set VM Settings > Display > Graphics Controller to VBoxVGA. Unless done so, Android x86 won't launch.
More here.


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How to replace Google Contacts with an alternative?
I want to disable stock Google Contacts app. I tried using Simple Contacts app. However, the Google Phone app, as Google Messages app,  could not access Simple Contacts entries.
How do I use alternatives that replace Google Contacts/Phone/Messages and still interoperate, or is this not even possible?
Android version Oreo. Not rooted and no plans to root.

Actually, after I posted my answer to the title, I have a feeling this might be an XY-problem: did you actually want to avoid using the whole Google account? Or perhaps from the original revision, are you looking for an app suite (a collection of apps) that can use local/private contacts for phone & messaging? I might have misinterpreted the question due to the wording of the title and the question body...

Simple Contacts is one if the few apps (I know of) which lets you create, delete and use contacts only from the app itself, not making use of Android's standard content provider mechanism as explained by Andrew in answer. AOSP Contacts app (com.android.contacts) is the closest alternative to Google Contacts app (com.google.android.contacts), in fact sharing the same code base for most part. In both cases you will still be using Google account for contacts syncing, but not with Simple Contacts app.

Is this the Simple Contacts app that you are referring to? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.simplemobiletools.contacts&hl=en_GB&gl=US&pli=1 According to the description, it's no longer maintained.

In general, 3rd-party contacts apps that have access to the Contacts permission to use the Contacts Provider can be an alternative to Google Contacts (or any other stock contacts apps).
The Contacts Provider is the standard approach to share and use contact info between apps.

The Contacts Provider is a powerful and flexible Android component that manages the device's central repository of data about people. The Contacts Provider is the source of data you see in the device's contacts application, and you can also access its data in your own application and transfer data between the device and online services.

The Contacts Provider will interact with the system app Contacts Storage, which is independent of any contacts apps. So, even though the user uninstalls/disables all their contacts apps, the contact info is still stored on the Contacts Storage and can be read by other apps like phone apps, messaging apps, email apps, etc.
So, any famous & reliable 3rd-party contacts apps that request access to the Contacts permission should be feasible as an alternative to Google Contacts.

In the case of Simple Contacts app, it actually has the Contacts permission, and any contacts that are created from this app to a registered account on Contacts Provider can also be accessed by other apps.
On the other hand, the app also allows the contact to be saved on "Phone storage (not visible by other apps)". Based on its source code, this is actually another way to store contacts by using their own local database, which other apps do not know about its existence and do not have permission to access it, thus the contacts cannot be read.
In conclusion, the Simple Contacts app is actually a feasible alternative* for Google Contacts.
*Tested by creating 2 contacts; one with the answerer's Google account which then can be read by Google Messages, another with the phone storage which cannot be accessed by Google Messages.

First step: Save your contacts.
You should be able to do this through your mobile phone contacts application (export to .cvc file).
Your contacts are probably saved on Google Contacts, so you can also open your email, click on the sandwich menu top right, check the “export” option.
The point is, be very sure that you exported your contacts and stored them somewhere safe.
Second step: Order the contacts
Your contacts should be saved in a single neat .cvc file. So, if you have more than one file (for example, downloading multiple contact sheets from multiple google accounts), you should merge them and have a single neat .cvc file.
How? On Ubuntu, I downloaded “vCard studio”, opened and merged several sheets and ended up with one. I also downloaded “Evolution”, then opened that same sheet and saved it as it is (somehow the vCard studio format wasn’t good for the steps afterwards).
Third step: Download the good apps
On F-droid (it is an open source app store, if you do not have it download it) download:

DAVx → this is a software which enables synchronization from your phone to your server (cloud)
Simple Contacts Pro SE (by Stephan Ritscher, it is a fork of simple contacts app developed by Tibor Kaputa) → this app supports synchronization, it will be your contact book.

Fourth step: Open your framagenda account
framagenda.org offers you an account of 15MB for free. This is more than enough to synchronize your entire contact book:)
Once you opened your account, you will have your cloud.
Fifth step: connect everything
Go on DAVx app. Check the “login with URL and user name”. In “base url”, start typing framagenda and select the option that pops up. Your username and password are those that you used to open your framagenda.org account (your username should be your email).
Once it connects, make sure the app is connecting your contacts (swipe “Contacts” so that it toggles orange).
You can test this. If you go on framagenda.org, on the menu dedicated to contacts, try creating a test contact. Then, open your phone, and check the contacts app we downloaded. You should see it there. It should also work the other way around (but on the phone app, make sure you save the contacts not on google drive, but on framagenda. This is the last field on the contact).
Sixth step: the point of no return (not true but I wanted something sounding drastic)
Delete all your contacts and disable the normal contact book app. They might interfere and we need a blank slate to start the synchronization process. Your new contact book app will be the one downloaded (simple contacts pro se).
Even if you delete your contacts, you have them backed up.
Seventh step: upload your contacts on framagenda
You will see, on your account on framagenda.org, that there is a “Contacts” tab. Check the sandwich menu, then “Contacts settings”, and “import contacts”. There, you will be able to import the neat .cvs file that you prepared.
Tricks:

on framagenda.org, you might want to delete all of your contacts, and do the import again. You have to go on the address books again, but if you only have one address book, you cannot delete it. You need to first create another address book (give it any name then click on the arrow), then you can delete the first contact book.
on simple contacts pro se app, on your phone, when you create a new contact, you need to make sure to save it in a way that it connects to the framagenda server, not to a google account. You can choose this by sliding to the last field.

Eight step: Google good bye
Go on google drive, go to the google contact app, check all your contacts, delete them.
Take a step back. Breath deeply. You made it.


text:
Upgrading a locked Android 4.4.2
I want to try to upgrade my Huawei Y560-U02 Android 4.4.2 to anything newer but it should at least be Android Lollipop.
I opened another thread in regards for this phone in order to get the firewall working on it but since that did not work I want to try to upgrade it properly.
I did not know the steps on how to do it properly and ended up causing some damage.
There is a lot of information and steps on the internet and that is what lead to having some issues now.
I have already backed up all the data that I need and ready to proceed.
So the Phone is Huawei Y56-U02 2015 Android 4.4.2 Kitkat. The phone is locked.
Because I did not know that phones need to be unlocked first it caused damage to my boot recovery mode. I can't access it anymore as it would just get stuck in that. Otherwise the phone is booting normally.
What I will need is to find a way to unlock it which I understand can be done if I unlock bootloader.
Please provide me with the best tips and steps to get this done.
I did try to use the built in Huawei updater but that just installed a different version of the same Rom.
Locked phone I mean locked ROM.

I managed to flash the phone with SPD Upgrade tool and now all is back to normal.
The damage has been repaired.


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Can user application enable mobile data even when they are user disabled?
I am trying to localize app that is connecting to the internet even when I have mobile data disabled.
Is it possible that user installed app (on Android 9) can enable mobile data when they are turned off (probably on background)?
I think that only option is root access / system admin app only. Or device manufacturer preinstalled apps.
Is it possible on standart stock ROM? Does any of Android system privileges have access to such function?

Have you activated the option Voice over LTE (VoLTE)? In this case it may be possible that the phone opens a data connection even if it is disabled (which would be a bug in my opinion).

@Robert I have this issue about 4 weeks. Last week I even disabled VoLTE, because I have exactly same thoughts :)
But it still does not help.
Thats why I am askting if user installed app can do this, so I can search in installed apps. Otherwise its almsot sure something in the ROM itself.

I assume your device is not rooted... because user apps with root access on a stock ROM can do this (example: automation apps).


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How to power off Samsung A6 without screen
The screen on my Galaxy A6 is dead. Until I possibly get it repaired, I would like to shutdown the phone, mainly to stop the alarm which I cannot turn off without the screen.
I have seen plenty of instructions on how to force it to reboot (power + vol. down), and on how to hard reset it. But that is not what I want. I just want to turn the phone off.
(it would be easy if I could remove the battery, but that is not possible either, and I didn't think of checking that before buying that thing...)

Why don't you let the battery drain out completely? That would automatically turn off the device. Afterwards, charge the device when it  is powered off.

Do you have debugging enabled?

@DanishShakeel: I'm not certain, but I think I did enable debugging a few months ago to have easier USB access. But that also required confirming on the touch screen if I remember correctly.

@mivk, you may cross-check that by running adb devices on your machine. If it detects your detects your device then follow my answer.

You can take out the battery, as shown here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVl9EGJdTHE
if you are willing to DIY
(You might need to go that route anyway, if you plan to replace the screen yourself -- which is probably much cheaper and faster than using a repair shop)
P.S. Actually, it's probably best to let the battery drain before opening the phone, but I'm not sure.

To shutdown a device with debugging enabled, run:
adb shell reboot -p


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How can I boot into TWRP from LineageOS Recovery?
My phone is in bootloop. It keeps booting to TWRP Recovery. I want to trouble shoot this. How can I boot into TWRP to do this?

To boot into TWRP from LineageOS Recovery, from LineageOS Recovery

Click Advanced
Click Reboot to Bootloader

Jump to the console on your machine, and run
fastboot boot twrp-*.img

That'll get you into TWRP from LineageOS Recovery.


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Make new notifications beep every 5 minutes?
When a new message arrives, my phone lights up the screen for 2 seconds and plays a notification sound.
If you miss it, you'll never know that you have new messages, unless you turn on the screen.
Is there any way to make it beep every 5 minutes or so?

For others reading this:
I found the option to do this hidden under Accessibility / Advanced Settings / Notification reminders on my Samsung.
(not the best place to put it, if you ask me)


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How do I access my Google Assistant notes from my computer?
I made a bunch of hands free voice notes while I was driving and now I need to process them from my computer, which has my to do list on it (which I cannot access from my phone).  However, I cannot seem to figure out how to do this.  When I ask Google Assistant where my notes are, it shows me a long list and says they are stored in Google Keep.  However, I do not see them in Keep.
As a workaround, I tried copying my notes on my phone, but it would not let me select more than one at a time.

This link worked for me for lists and notes I took before I had a synchronization account set up:
https://assistant.google.com/lists/mainview

Wow, I looked there and under notes there are a bunch of notes.  I haven't looked at it for a while as I had kind of given up, but I think these must be them.

When you first make a note, Google Assistant normally asks you if you want them saved in Keep or Gmail...
If you selected Gmail, open https://mail.google.com on your PC and look for the Notes section on the left column.
If you selected Keep, go to https://keep.google.com and they should be there.

Yeah, except... it doesn't do that any more.  Unless I am in airplane mode.

@Michael I am confused... if you phone is in Airplane Mode, how are the documents available on Gmail/Keep to your PC? I don't really understand your comment. It might be worthwhile to check what app GA is using by default for your notes: https://www.guidingtech.com/change-note-app-google-assistant/

What I mean is, if I am not in airplane mode, it gets put in some place that is not keep that I can't seem to access from my PC.  If I am in airplane mode, it goes into Keep, and after I exit airplane mode it gets synced.

@Michael So what you're really asking is where/how they are stored on the device locally, and if you can access that? Not exact what your original question was, but that seems to be a million dollar question as they are not accessible according to the searching I have done.


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Can't add icons to home screen
I have an ASUS ZenPad 3S 10 (Z500M, model P027) and I can't add any shortcut icon from the app drawer to the home screen by pressing and dragging.
I know I used to have this option, but now something has changed and prevented it.

Welcome to Android Enthusiasts! Have you tried to clear the cache of your launcher? Try another launcher and check if the issue remains.

The issue might be that the launcher layout is locked. Try to remove or replace an icon already present in launcher and if you can't move the icon, then most likely the layout is locked.
To turn off the option, the ways are different in different launchers, try going to launcher settings and find option to lock the desktop layout or something similar and turn it off.

Thanks to everyone, I did not know that it is an app that launches Android out of the root; now I do.
After researching several launcher apps, I got enough understanding to look for the launcher for my tablet. I found it under default apps and it is actually part of the onboard software apps, i.e. resident and native to the hardware, that can not be uninstalled but it has two levels/layers and one of those levels put the app's icon on the bottom drawer so that it can be accessed as I was looking for.


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My SD Card gets corrupted every time my phone reboots or shuts down
I have a 32GB SD card, however, every time I mount it into my phone (Huawei Y5II), it shows a message that the SD card is corrupted and I should reformat it.
I backed up my files to my PC, and formatted my sd card. After that, the SD card finally worked.
However, every time my phone is rebooted or shuts down, the SD card just gets corrupted again.
Meanwhile, I found another solution without formatting, by using CHKDSK in command prompt, which did work, but it's still the same every time the phone reboots or shuts down and back, it says SD card is corrupted!
I have tolerated this problem for a year now.
Now I think because of this, I experience more issues with my SD card. Like some files suddenly turning into 0 bytes, some files getting missing, files being renamed, etc.
Should I replace my sd card(or phone) with another one? If yes, do you have any suggestions on what brand or model?

Have you tested the sd-card that it really has 32GB flash? There are cards on the market that claim to have 32GB bit only contain 16GB or less flash. Such a card could explain why it alway sis getting corrupted. Use a tool like h2testw to test the sd-card after formatting it.

Seems like an exceptional case, Android should un-mount SD card cleanly on shut down and run fsck (equivalent to Windows' chkdsk) on device boot.

It's more likely that your SD card came corrupted. Have you tried with another SD card?


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How can I configure Android so that any selected text is copied to clipboard automatically?
How can I configure Android so that any selected text is copied to clipboard automatically?


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Automatically turn off bluetooth discoverability
Bluetooth discoverability is meant to be active only when in the Bluetooth settings. But somehow Xiaomi MIUI changed that so it is always active. Is there some tool that will turn off the Bluetooth discoverability automatically? So whenever Bluetooth is activated, phone restarts or similar it will turn off discoverability?
There are tools like Bluetooth Settings but whenever the phone is rebooted or Bluetooth is restarted the discoverability is activated again.
Maybe there is something like Macrodroid (did not find an option in there) that could do this?
//edit: as comments cannot hold only few characters I am adding my unfiltered log output here that is written when I change the settings via the above tool (only lines that are not clearly from something else/repeating).
[ 11-01 23:41:57.281 23646:23646 D/BluetoothAdapter ]
enable(): BT already enabled!

[ 11-01 23:41:57.288   666:  666 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
SerialClockVote: vote for UART CLK ON

[ 11-01 23:41:57.289  1925: 2052 D/AdapterProperties ]
Discoverable Timeout:120

[ 11-01 23:41:57.289   666:  666 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-wake_lock ]
Acquire wakelock is acquired

[ 11-01 23:41:57.289   666:  666 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
DeviceWakeUp: Writing IBS_WAKE_IND

[ 11-01 23:41:57.290  1925: 2052 D/AdapterProperties ]
Scan Mode:20

[ 11-01 23:41:57.293   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Received IBS_WAKE_ACK: 0xFC

[ 11-01 23:41:57.294   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Received IBS_WAKE_IND: 0xFD

[ 11-01 23:41:57.294   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Writing IBS_WAKE_ACK

[ 11-01 23:41:57.298 25175:25175 V//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:1006: remote_handle_open: Successfully opened handle 0xffffffff for '":;./\createstaticpd:sensorspd on domain 0

[ 11-01 23:41:57.337   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Received IBS_SLEEP_IND: 0xFE

[ 11-01 23:41:57.339 25175:25175 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:989: Error 0xfffffffb: remote_handle_open_domain: dynamic loading failed for chre_slpi on domain 0 (dlerror unknown error)

[ 11-01 23:41:57.339 25175:25175 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:925: Error 0x2c: remote_handle_invoke failed for handle 0xffffffff, method 5 on domain 0 (sc 0x5020000)

[ 11-01 23:41:57.339 25175:25175 E/CHRE     ]
Failed to deliver timestamp message from host to CHRE: 44

[ 11-01 23:41:57.379 25175:25176 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:989: Error 0xfffffffb: remote_handle_open_domain: dynamic loading failed for chre_slpi on domain 0 (dlerror unknown error)

[ 11-01 23:41:57.379 25175:25176 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:925: Error 0x2c: remote_handle_invoke failed for handle 0xffffffff, method 2 on domain 0 (sc 0x2000000)

[ 11-01 23:41:57.379 25175:25176 E/CHRE     ]
Failed to initialize reverse monitor on SLPI: 44

[ 11-01 23:41:57.379 25175:25176 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:1925: Error 4b: adsp current process handle failed. domain 0

[ 11-01 23:41:57.381 25175:25176 V//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:1006: remote_handle_open: Successfully opened handle 0xfbc6d8c0 for adsp_current_process on domain 0

[ 11-01 23:41:57.383 25175:25176 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:1925: Error 4b: adsp current process handle failed. domain 0

[ 11-01 23:41:57.386 25175:25176 I/chatty   ]
uid=1000(system) chre identical 1 line

[ 11-01 23:41:57.389 25175:25176 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:1925: Error 4b: adsp current process handle failed. domain 0

[ 11-01 23:41:57.416 25175:25175 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:989: Error 0xfffffffb: remote_handle_open_domain: dynamic loading failed for chre_slpi on domain 0 (dlerror segment 0 failed hash verification(0x0 B))

[ 11-01 23:41:57.416 25175:25175 D//vendor/bin/chre ]
vendor/qcom/proprietary/commonsys-intf/adsprpc/src/fastrpc_apps_user.c:925: Error 0x2c: remote_handle_invoke failed for handle 0xffffffff, method 0 on domain 0 (sc 0x0)

[ 11-01 23:41:57.416 25175:25175 E/CHRE     ]
Failed to start CHRE on SLPI: 44

[ 11-01 23:41:58.297   666: 2648 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
DeviceSleep: TX Awake, Sending SLEEP_IND

[ 11-01 23:41:58.297   666: 2648 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
SerialClockVote: vote for UART CLK OFF

[ 11-01 23:41:58.300 23646:23646 E/bcr      ]
run

[ 11-01 23:41:58.302 23646:23646 D/BluetoothAdapter ]
enable(): BT already enabled!

[ 11-01 23:41:58.332 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
getTextBeforeCursor on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.343 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
getSelectedText on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.345 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
getTextAfterCursor on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.356 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
getCursorCapsMode on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.367 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
beginBatchEdit on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.367 23646:23646 W/IInputConnectionWrapper ]
endBatchEdit on inactive InputConnection

[ 11-01 23:41:58.380  1941: 1941 I/KeyboardViewUtil ]
systemKeyboardHeightRatio:1.000000; userKeyboardHeightRatio:1.000000.

[ 11-01 23:41:58.382  1941: 1941 I/AndroidIME ]
LatinIme.onDeactivate()

[ 11-01 23:41:58.383  1941: 1941 I/AndroidIME ]
LatinIme.onActivate() : EditorInfo = Package = by4a.bluetoothsettings : Type = Text : Learning = Disable : Suggestion = Show : AutoCorrection = Enable : Microphone = Show : NoPersonalizedLearning = Disable

[ 11-01 23:41:58.383  1941: 1941 I/Delight5Facilitator ]
initializeForIme() : Locale = [de], layout = qwertz

[ 11-01 23:41:58.400  1941: 1941 W/KeyboardModeManager ]
setInputView() : inputView = com.google.android.apps.inputmethod.libs.framework.core.InputView{9975614 V.E...... ......ID 0,0-1080,2135}

[ 11-01 23:41:58.400  1941: 1941 I/ConversationToQueryExtension ]
Conv2Query not enabled due to current app [by4a.bluetoothsettings] not in whitelist

[ 11-01 23:41:58.400  1941: 1941 I/ConversationToQueryExtension ]
onActivate() : Disabled by unsupported host app

[ 11-01 23:41:58.407  1941:24909 I/FederatedC2QExtension ]
Already registered manifest.

[ 11-01 23:41:58.407  1941:24909 I/FederatedC2QExtension ]
model for de/glowg_click_20190522 is not yet available

[ 11-01 23:41:58.407  1941:24909 I/FederatedC2QExtension ]
requesting model 'federated_conv2query_triggering_de_glowg_click_20190522'

[ 11-01 23:41:58.408  1941:24909 I/FederatedC2QExtension ]
no valid model for inferencing found, switching to baseline.

[ 11-01 23:41:58.411  1941: 3426 I/SP       ]
Syncing federatedc2q (20190522) with slices: [], metadata: false

[ 11-01 23:41:58.413  1941: 3426 I/SP       ]
Sync for federatedc2q succeeded in 4 ms: no changes

[ 11-01 23:41:58.413  1941: 3426 W/SP       ]
isDirectory returned false while listing files for /data/user/0/com.google.android.inputmethod.latin/files/superpacks/federatedc2q

[ 11-01 23:41:58.413  1941: 3426 I/SP       ]
GC for 'federatedc2q' (10) with ttl of 0 ms took 0 ms (0/0/0)

[ 11-01 23:41:58.414  1941: 3426 I/FederatedC2QExtension ]
Got no packs for locale: de

[ 11-01 23:41:58.447  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
mCompatibilityFlags - 0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.447  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationDensity - 440

[ 11-01 23:41:58.447  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationScale - 1.0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.447   666: 2440 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-wake_lock ]
Release wakelock is released

[ 11-01 23:41:58.460  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
mCompatibilityFlags - 0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.460  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationDensity - 440

[ 11-01 23:41:58.460  1459: 4999 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationScale - 1.0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.708   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Received IBS_WAKE_IND: 0xFD

[ 11-01 23:41:58.709   666: 2642 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
SerialClockVote: vote for UART CLK ON

[ 11-01 23:41:58.713   666: 2642 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-wake_lock ]
Acquire wakelock is acquired

[ 11-01 23:41:58.713   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Writing IBS_WAKE_ACK

[ 11-01 23:41:58.734  1459: 1543 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
mCompatibilityFlags - 0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.734  1459: 1543 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationDensity - 440

[ 11-01 23:41:58.734  1459: 1543 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationScale - 1.0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.755   666: 2642 I/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
ProcessIbsCmd: Received IBS_SLEEP_IND: 0xFE

[ 11-01 23:41:58.755   666: 2642 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-ibs_handler ]
SerialClockVote: vote for UART CLK OFF

[ 11-01 23:41:58.797  1459: 2397 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
mCompatibilityFlags - 0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.797  1459: 2397 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationDensity - 440

[ 11-01 23:41:58.797  1459: 2397 D/CompatibilityInfo ]
applicationScale - 1.0

[ 11-01 23:41:58.905   666: 2440 D/vendor.qti.bluetooth@1.0-wake_lock ]
Release wakelock is released

[ 11-01 23:41:58.980  1459: 1469 I/system_server ]
NativeAlloc concurrent copying GC freed 160321(7MB) AllocSpace objects, 30(1272KB) LOS objects, 36% free, 41MB/65MB, paused 276us total 182.281ms

[ 11-01 23:41:59.527  5981: 5981 I/PowerKeeperBackgroundService ]
onStartCommand()

In my OnePlus 6 running Android 9.0, changing the value for the system key  (for Settings) bluetooth_default_scan_mode toggles the discoverability of bluetooth. Value 21 to disable, 23 to enable.
MacroDroid has a trigger named System Settings under Device Settings category, and after selecting System in the list there, you can set the key-value. Unfortunately, for some reason I didn't investigate into, MacroDroid failed to work in this case. In turn, I resorted to Tasker which also allows changing custom settings.
In Tasker, the action under a task should be: Settings → Custom Setting:

Type: System
Name: bluetooth_default_scan_mode or pick a related one using lens icon and test it out
Value: 21 or 23 or whatever you found

Save the task and assign it to a profile of your liking. A profile is a trigger in MacroDroid terms.

I used logcat to find out the key-value corresponding to the discoverability of bluetooth. You can use it if you fail to find the key-value for your device. Here's what I did:
adb logcat  SettingsProvider:V *:S -v long   # to find the key
adb settings get system KEY                  # to obtain the value of the key. You would have to get the value for both cases

Wow - thank you for this detailed explanation and steps to find out more details! Will give it a try - and maybe I can find even more nice things to setup.

Ok, finally managed to test this. But I had no luck with Tasker (nor MacroDroid or some settings finders).
[ 11-01 23:30:20.173  1459: 1459 V/SettingsProvider ]
Notifying for 0: content://settings/global/bluetooth_on

@Eleasar I tested with a Redmi Note 5 Pro device running Android 9 (MIUI 10) and noticed that there is no toggleable option for bluetooth discoverability in Bluetooth Settings. If a user cannot control discoverability from Settings, it is highly unlikely my answer would be of any use to them. Sorry!

ok thanks! Guess for now I need to use the app whenever I restart my phone or turn the bluetooth on or off.

This is only a thing on [some?] oneplus devices (it's literally a class named OPBluetoothDiscoverablePreferenceController inside of their settings app). That may be related or incidental to the ble_scan_background_mode property that AOSP has (it's global and not system though) but the only passive setting there should be -1.


text:
How to disable Enter SIM card PIN window under Android 9?

hello see the picture.
I took my smartphone with me and the battery was empty. When I recharged the device I got this typical SIM card message. Enter the PIN.
but unfortunately I didn't know the PIN anymore and couldn't use the device. how can I deactivate it under Android 9? without removing the SIM card from the sim card slot?
Under iOS system I can restart the device. just hold down the POWER button and activate the flight mode. then the "Enter SIM PIN" screen is gone.
Here's a little guide to what happened with me and it's not conveniently solved in Android system:

insert one or 2 SIM cards into my Android device. Because not always my PIN notice, I have on the Android device in password manager app. The PIN is stored.
go to friends or shop. sometimes it can happen that i am not always at home. and my android device has no more battery and device goes out.
when I turn on the Android device
the "Enter SIM PIN" screen appears
now you don't want to enter SIM PIN or forgot it.
unfortunately i can't access my password manager app because the "Enter SIM PIN" screen blocks the android home screen. You get stuck.

in this case I have to go home or ask people if they have a needle so I can remove the SIM card from the device.
I tested with Android 9 and compared it with iOS 10.
Can somebody test if Android 10 fixes it?
I still have a slight reminder that it can deactivate this "Enter SIM PIN" screen in Android 2 via flight mode, just as it can in iOS.

Eject the SIM card - usually there is no other option. See also https://android.stackexchange.com/q/86413/2241

It depends of your device but usually you can find that settings under:
Settings->Security&Location(or privacy, it depends)->Advanced (this is some times)->Sim card lock->Then sisable Lock Sim card option


text:
I can't open my tablet (even after long press) when someone manually shuts it down
If someone clicks the "Shut down" button (not power button) on Asus Tablet, it will stay shut down and it won't open even after I long press the power button. It only opens after I connect it to a charger, and then long press the power button. But I don't have the charger with me all the time, what can I do? Is there any software or something to download? I forgot the exact name of the tablet but it's made by Asus and I got it in 2016

What long is a "long press"? Have you tried to enable a force reboot by holding the power button for more than 10 or 30 seconds?

One or two times it was very long, maybe like 3 or 4 minutes

Is there any application or something I need to do?


text:
How do I get rid of target devices to install on the Play store?
Each time I visit the Play Store website via the PC and want to install an app, I get not just my device (Pixel 2), but an emulator that I once used :

I tried to go to the settings on the Play Store website (here), and saw my Android TV there (twice for some reason) and a device I used for just a day or so (some LG device), but not the emulator:

How come I can't delete items here? How come the emulator isn't here?
So I went to my Google account website, and found a place there (here) to show all my connected devices, and noticed the emulator there, together with my Android TV (again twice) and some PCs that I use:

I tried to sign out of the useless ones (and the emulator), went back to the Play Store app, and I still can see the emulator being offered to me.
I don't get why I still get offered to use it, and it's not even recently used, so why is it the first I'm being offered to install to?
Really annoying. Anyone knows how to fix this?

AFAIK only devices appear that have downloaded at least one app using PlayStore app on the device.

@Robert So? How can I remove it? It's really annoying. I can't ever install there anymore. It's an emulator, and it was reset completely already...

As far as I know you can't remove devices that no longer exist. They will automatically be removed by Google after some months.

@Robert OK suggested here: https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/143729916


text:
How to root without triggering Knox?
I wonder, how do I root a Samsung phone without triggering Knox? Because not only the warranty gets voided, also some Samsung apps don't open.

I never experimented with a Samsung device but this quote from Magisk documentation: “Installing Magisk WILL trip KNOX”.

OK, but I need it to be installed and I just want that my Samsung apps don't become trash. Warranty is not the case.


text:
"Device password" required when adding a new profile
I'm trying to add a new profile to my Android phone, but during the profile setup I am asked to enter my device password:

Re-enter your password
Enter your device password to continue

I don't remember ever setting up a device password, so I have no idea what this password is, and where I can change/set it from the admin account.
It is not the main account's unlock PIN.
I can't continue the profile setup without the device password.
Any help will be appreciated!
EDIT:
Model: OnePlus 5
Android version: 9

Could you mention the phone model and Android version? Also, are you not using any lock screen (e.g. PIN, Password, Pattern)?

@AndrewT. Added the device info to the question. I do have a pattern lock screen, but in the profile setup, it's a text (alphanumeric) password that can be entered.

Oneplus devices have a bug with device passwords.  There are a number of community threads complaining about Device Passcodes not working
I also experience this on my OnePlus device.  As mentioned in the linked thread, the workaround is to reboot the device any time you are told the device password fails.  I have to do this every other time the phone turns on.  I can't boot the device as the device passcode is constantly rejected as incorrect, and yet rebooting the phone any trying again will work first time.
Sadly this workaround fails for the scenrio you are describing, creating a new user profile will constantly reject the device password, rebooting doesn't resolve this for me in this scenario. What's especially annoying is, when cancelling out of the create new user screen, you are prompted for the device passcode to get back into your own account, and this works.
Unfortunately, there doesn't seem to be a solution to this other than the reports of factory resetting the phone solving the issue.  I have personally put up with this for too long on multiple OnePlus devices and won't be buying OnePlus again.


text:
How MIUI releases based on different Android versions have same features?
I would like to know how MIUI can provide features on all devices that have the same version of MIUI on it, without the same Android version?

Android version is mainly developed by Google. OEMs like Xiaomi modify AOSP to inject their own features. Other OEMs like Samsung, Huawei also do the same but they don't make visual changes as much as Xiaomi does. Even community based ROMs like Lineage, Omni and their offshoots like AOSP Extended, Resurrection Remix also have an almost standard set of modifications which they do to every AOSP release.
You can also customize AOSP to build a ROM of your own choice with required features.

But if LineageOS releases version 17 it is Android 10(as base) but by MIUI it is not compellingly the latest Android base, like MIUI 11 is not in every case Android 10 but all phones who has MIUI 11 have the same functions

@lucki1000 they have teams of thousands of developers - in-office and online - who work on every new upcoming MIUI release for months to add new features. They work on every Android base separately for every targeted device. Beta versions are released before stable one for testing. MIUI 11 development was started back at start of 2019 and it's released now in October.


text:
How to determine if my phone supports AndroidOne?
The HTC U11 Life got my attention when I saw androidone printed on its back. Now I got one, but this one doesn't have the androidone print on its back. Are there two versions of the phone, one to support androidone and another that doesn't?
Is there a setting I can check that would clearly tell me whether my phone supports androidone or not?
It came with Android 8.0.0 and it says there are no Software updates available...
Update: According to the HTC website there are indeed two versions of the phone: one such and another with a (T-Mobile) suffix. Upon booting the phone there is a T-Mobile screen, thus it looks like I’ve got the T-Mobile version. The question remains though: is this version of the phone not part of the android one program?

There is indeed a variant of the HTC U11 Life that does not have the Android One branding:

the American variant of the same phone does not have the Android One branding

The answer to my question should therefore be: if it isn't labeled androidone on the rear, it's not in the Android One program.
I will generously assume that the vendor, who marketed the phone with Android One, was also confused by the HTC marketing strategy for this phone. They can take it back though.

This article states that:

Android One is a Google-devised programme for hardware manufacturers making smartphones. Being part of Android One - and labelled as such on the rear of the phone - brings with it a guarantee that it's a solid and stable version of Android that's not loaded with other apps, services and bloatware.
  Essentially, it's a stock Android experience.

Your device is an Android One as shown here, here and here.

With Android One, your device will receive up to two years of upgrades to the latest version of Android.

In North America, it was released with Android 7.1. It came already installed with Android 8 in some parts of the world of the world and is upgradable to Android 9.

Is there a setting I can check that would clearly tell me whether my phone supports androidone or not?

There is no such setting.

@MorrisonChang A list of Android One devices (Wikipedia providing a better list than Google; this world is coming to its end :)). Also an old article for XDA Developers. Bare in mind that Android One is just a program not the software. So the device will still be Android 7, 8, 9 and 10 but with no bloatwares from manufacturers.

I want to stress again, that my phone does not have the android one label on its rear. Is it possible there is a version of the HTC U11 Life that is not part of the android one program?

@ReddyLutonadio I deleted my comment when I checked  archive.org for https://web.archive.org/web/20180124095614/https://www.android.com/one/ and found HTC U11 Life as part of the program.


text:
Quick charge adapter on not supported devices
The adapter which comes with my new phone has Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 label on it. The output reads: 5V-3A / 9V-2A / 12V-1.5A. Is it safe to use it with my old phones? For example, if I have a very dated phone which only takes 5V-0.5A, will the adapter outputs 12V and fries it? And what would happen if I use that adapter with devices supporting fast charging technologies from other companies: USB-PD from USB-IF, Pump Express from Mediatek, VOOC from Oppo, and SuperCharge from Huawei?

Is it safe to use it with my old phones?

It is safe. See what happens if you plug a non QC 2.0 device into a QC 2.0 charger?

And what would happen if I use that adapter with devices supporting fast charging technologies from other companies.

They all are proprietary technologies which vary in terms of what is changed to charge fast - Voltage, Current or both, apart from other factors. Details obviously are not in public domain. Therefore, they are not guaranteed to work on devices using other technologies, so one cannot predict whether it works or not.
OEM's don't recommend such practices. YMMV


text:
Disable vibrations for notifications on Xiaomi Mi A3
I have a Xiaomi Mi A3 on Android 9. I want to disable the vibration when a notification arrives for all apps.
I did not know that by disabling notifications, I won't be able to receive calls since notifications for the calls also did not appear, only the ringtone played, and upon unlocking the phone there was no display of who was calling.
Somehow I enabled notification for all apps but it is vibrating each time.
How do I disable vibrations for notifications like messages on Telegram, Facebook, WhatsApp?

Using appops: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/215658/218526

You wont find any vibration settings to change in Sound settings. You will have go for Settings › Accessibility › Vibration&Haptic › Notification to turn off vibration.

Ok I checked there is accessibility->interaction control->vibration->ring and notification vibration / touch vibration I turned both off.

Welcome to Android Enthusiasts! Please don't use "txtspeak" / "SMS lingo" on SE sites, but rather fully spell each word. Many users here are no native English speakers, and some already have a hard enough time to follow normal English.


text:
How To Install New Android Apps without Uninstalling Other Installed Apps?
I'm using Android 8.1.0 on my latest Huawei smartphone.
I'm constantly using several apps at a time & installing new ones as required..
but this problem (a sort of nuisance) is that I need to uninstall older installed apps just to download the new one.
Is there any solution to fix that?
2nd problem I face, an app(of say 5 mb) requires up to 180mb space to be installed & that much amount of apps(& their spaces) needs to be emptied.
Is there any solution to fix that even?

its getting in my calmly nerves...

This is not a normal case since a user can always install a new app, provided there's a sufficient free space. Thus, looks like the issue is about low free storage space? Some apps (including most of modern apps) only installs the base app & resource to reduce the space, but then downloads more data/resources to run properly.

You need to buy a device with ample storage, preferably 64GB or more in size, or a device that supports an external SD card and re-location of apps to SD card.


text:
Can I access play store via proxy?
I have an issue with accessing play store when using Fiddler as an inbetween proxy. I have a Unity app which uses http requests as well as purchases via the GooglePlayStore. Chrome browser and in-app http requests work normally. But trying to use the google play store(outside the app) gives me a no-wifi error. In the same spirit also trying to do a purchase from my app also gives me the same error(but other http requests which do download not related to google play work normally).
So my question is basically is it possible to somehow access the google play store through an ssl proxy?(I suppose that would fix my in-app problem).
This is the setup I followed for fiddler : https://docs.telerik.com/fiddler/Configure-Fiddler/Tasks/ConfigureForAndroid
I suppose one way would be to filter out
android.clients.google.com

googleusercontent.com

but ideally I would want to know if this can be achieved without meddling with the proxy server.

You are doing SSL bump on Fiddler which requires Fiddler's root CA to be part of trusted CAs on Android. But apps that target API level 24 will—by design—not honor user-added CAs: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2016/07/changes-to-trusted-certificate.html. So your https connections must be breaking. Related: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/217801/218526. You need root access to add a certificate to system's trusted credential store.


text:
Are quantum RNGs on an Android device possible?
I edited out the term quantum in this question on SoftwareRecs.SE on the assumption that actual quantum effects on an Android device cannot be measured/harvested from - things like radioactive decay, photon counting, laser phase noise, zener noise (more options mentioned e.g. here).
But maybe I'm wrong: are random number generators using quantum effects in Android devices possible (and available)?
(I'm not asking for software recommendations, that should be on the other question).

Err, I'm not sure where to start since I lack the knowledge on quantum. However, as you might have known, Android has many types of sensors which can be accessed by 3rd-party apps, so RNG based on their output is possible (can't speak on the "entropy"-thing). Looking from the list, I don't think those are considered quantum phenomena...

However, Android OS itself is open-source and very customizable, and there are Android devices for specialized purpose (e.g. TV, Watch, IoT). So, if there are external devices that can detect quantum phenomena and has communication channels like Bluetooth or WiFi, then I think Android device can use that, potentially needs some modifications though.

@AndrewT. That's exactly the distinction I want to make, noise should be based on quantum effects. And there are indeed quantum devices

There is a very good RNG source on nearly every Android device available: the CMOS camera sensor, or in detail the noise of the captured images. It can even be used to measure nuclear radiation (there are scientific papers on that topic available).


text:
system.new.dat vs system.img
Trying to find help in restoring my OnePlus One to factory state, I found quite  a number of websites that have step-by-step instructions.
I'm trying to use fastboot to flash this. Because that factory image (?, the page speaks about update) does not offer a flash_all.bat, I'm following the instructions (which sadly are not for that file, OnePlus does not offer any instructions here) I found which revolve around
fastboot flash partitionName filename.img

All of these have a line I assume is the most essential one:
fastboot flash system system.img

Unfortunately the ZIP offered by OnePlus has no such file. Instead, it has three files named
system.new.dat
system.patch.dat
system.transfer.list

Can I somehow use these files instead, if so, how, and if not, where can I find the correct system.img for my OnePlus One 64 GB?
Context: I bought the OnePlus One for trying out Ubuntu Touch. Now I need to re-install Android because the phone is going to my girlfriend's mom as a gift tomorrow (at least that was the plan, turns out to be alot more diffuclt than expected) :( .

The zip file that you have is recovery-flashable zip, not the fastboot-flashable one. Just use a recovery, such as TWRP, to flash that file.

I don't think TWRP is available for Ubuntu Touch, is it? There is currently nothing left of Android other than adb and fastboot access. Even the Recovery tool on the phone has been replaced by "UBPorts Recovery".

this is a windows tool which extract system.new.dat and as a side effect it converts system.new.dat into system.img just select the whole zip file do not extract the zip https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79713771&postcount=29

you can flash twrp from fastboot at any time fastboot flash recovery twrp-3.3.1-0-bacon.img https://dl.twrp.me/bacon


text:
Do I have to repair a cracked AMOLED screen?
My phone recently (a couple weeks ago maybe?) slipped out of my hand when I was trying to pick it up off a table and flew across the room.  Despite having armor, the corner of the screen was smashed and there is some cracking around the smashed bit. The smashed part is around 0.4" wide and 0.3" high and is actually in the bezel, not the screen itself, but there are three cracks that cross the screen. two join together and extend across the screen 1.7" wide and 0.25" high, and the third joins one of the other cracks around midway and extends to the edge of the screen 0.7" from the bottom. Very little if any glass detached from the smashed area, and I put a screen protector over the whole thing to protect my finger which covers all but about 0.05" around the edge, although it is clear that it doesn't completely seal around the cracks (it has the shade of a bubble along the cracks edges closest to the smashed part.)
Everything still works perfectly,and as the cracks are not terribly noticeable I was planning to just keep using the phone until its end of life, as the cost to repair the device starts at nearly $300 and I still am paying for the phone.  However, in researching what it would take to repair it myself to save a couple hundred bucks (which by the way after reading I feel like I am not mechanically skilled enough to not risk damaging it and wasting a whole day trying) I found this note:

OLEDs cease to work when exposed to oxygen or moisture, and are thus sealed in an airtight encapsulation (this is also why OLED panels turn black underneath a screen crack). There is no way to replace the front glass alone— the OLED layers are laminated to the glass.

Currently there is no screen blackening under any of the cracks (it looks darker when viewing the cracks head on but it's the crack itself, at an angle I can see the pixels are all white underneath).  But I am concerned whether the screen will start turning black at some point.  If so, how long will it take before it first appears, and at what rate will it blacken?  How much of the screen will it affect?  From what I have read, since a new OLED comes with a replacement screen it won't have any bearing on the repair, but I would like to decide now whether or not to keep the phone - if it will have to repaired in the near future it might be better to just sell it now while it still has some value, as currently it would (inexplicably!) actually be cheaper just to pay off the phone and sell it with a broken screen than to try to repair it, while in the future the repair price will remain the same but the value of the phone will only go down.

You have my vote for the efforts you have put here, but please know that the question is Android independent, hence, off-topic here. Perhaps, Reddit and XDA would prove to be a better place for this question. :)


text:
How do I remove an account, which I already signed out of, from the "Choose an account" page and Android Chrome?
Someone signed-in their Google account on my phone and now I can't get it to disappear from the "Choose an account" list (the one with the "I" icon) on the Chrome browser whenever I access a Google service webpage:

I have tried the answers from WebApps.SE - How to remove accounts from “Choose an account” list in Google sign in? without success:
I already signed out of the account, deleted it from Settings > Cloud and Accounts > Accounts on the phone.
I also accessed accounts.google.com where, after clicking my icon on the top right, I get this modal where I can see my signed-in account along with their account with a little text next to it saying "Session expired":

If I tap on the "Manage accounts" button, I get redirected to a page listing both accounts, an option for incognito and another button "Manage accounts on this device".

At this point, if I tap on the account I want to remove, it takes me back to my account, and if I tap on the "Manage accounts" button, it takes me to my phone settings where, as I previously mentioned, only my account is listed since I signed out and removed the unwanted account:

I also cleared all Chrome app data from the phone's settings but still no luck.
So, apart from changing my phone, how can I get rid of the account?

The account in the list is just a cosmetic problem. If you select it you are asked for the password. It is just the account name/email that is cached somewhere.

Not quite entirely cosmetic. Before this, when I landed on that page, it automatically picked up the only account I had and logged me in. I now have to choose which of the two accounts I want to use. Just a minor inconvenience, sure, but I'd still want to be rid of it.


text:
How to restore corrupted OnePlus 5 from with a red triangle warning?
This happened after a system update to Android 9. The device is working properly but I'm getting "Your device is corrupt. It can't be trusted and may not work properly" with a red triangle warning every time I reboot. Formatting it didn't work. Any suggestions?

That warning is due to dm-verity corruption: https://source.android.com/security/verifiedboot/boot-flow#dm-verity-corruption. Did you root your device, unlocked bootloader etc?

No, I didn't root my device. Just system update from OnePlus to Oxygen OS 9.0.0.

Then something went wrong during update. Which method did you use to update?

I just downgraded my phone to Oxygen OS 4.5.8 and the warning is gone. However, after the downgrade, I did an over the air upgrade from OnePlus to Oxygen OS 9.0.9 and then warning is back again. What does it mean?

Official updates come from OEM, so OP can tell better. Contact customer services.

@quarkytale Don't install that update. I believe something is broken in the update, which has created a security issue and SafetyNet check is failing. Try to contact the customer care, or wait patiently - sooner or later they will find the bug.

I'm facing that since more than a year, spoke to customer care twice, apparently they know about this issue and have a hack to booting the phone when the screen is stuck on that. A more permanent solution is a remote flash session from their support team but I never got a call/email back to schedule that  session.


text:
How do I access `$HOME/storage` outside of Termux (with a file explorer)?
How do I access $HOME/storage Termux directory on Android Pie with a GUI File Explorer?
In Termux I print the working directory with pwd and it shows $HOME/storage as:
/data/data/com.termux/files/home

My internal storage looks like this:
.
├── Alarms
├── Android
|   ├──data
|   |  ├── ...
|   |  ├── com.termux
|   |  |   └── files
|   |  |       └── 0 items
|   |  └── ...
|   └── ...
├── DCIM
├── Download
└── ...

My external storage looks like this:
.
├── Android
|   ├──data
|   |  ├── ...
|   |  ├── com.termux
|   |  |   └── files
|   |  |       └── 0 items
|   |  └── ...
|   └── ...
└── LOST.DIR

Neither my internal storage, nor my sd card, contain a /data/ directory at the root level. Where is this /data/ directory? For that matter, where is the root /storage/ directory? Where is the root /emulated/ directory? Where are any of these directories and why cant I access any of them?

If you did termux-setup-storage previously, create random_file.txt file in $HOME/storage/shared. That'll be created on /sdcard/. But you don't need to do that hassle. Just grant Termux Storage permission and save directly to /sdcard/ e.g.
echo xyz >/sdcard/random_file.txt

$HOME/storage is actually /data/data/com.termux/files/home/storage which is not accessible to other apps without root access. That's how Android's security is designed.

Where is this /data/ directory?

It's a partition named userdata mounted in rootfs at /data. For details see How disk space is used on Android device?

where is the root /storage/ directory?

It's also a directory in rootfs where tmpfs is mounted. Contents of this directory look different to different apps because of mount namespaces and filesystem emulation.

Where is the root /emulated/ directory?

It's at following three locations:
/mnt/runtime/default/emulated
/mnt/runtime/read/emulated
/mnt/runtime/write/emulated

Where are any of these directories and why cant I access any of them?

These directories are what you see when you open a file explorer app. Emulated filesystem path is /sdcard.
On Android 6+, /data/media is emulated to three VIEWS mentioned above. One of those is bind-mounted to /storage/emulated depending on app's Storage permission status. emulated directory contains User_ID's of all users (if there are multiple users or profiles). Device owner is always 0. So /sdcard points to /storage/emulated/0. It's the storage which apps can read and write.
Additionally apps can read and write to their private data directory in /data/user/<User_ID>/ (which is /data/data/ for device owner). For details see What is /storage/emulated/0/? and What is the “u#_everybody” UID?.
From your comment:

Can Termux write to the actual SD card physically inserted into my phone? If so, how?

Apps don't have filesystem level write access to external SD card except those using SAF APIs. Quote from official documentation, Termux doesn't have support for SAF:

Why does Termux have read-only access to the external SD card?
On recent Android versions, the write access to the external SD card is done over Storage Access Framework. It is not possible to provide it's API to the command line programs.

However apps can always (with and without Storage permission) read and write to their private directories in shared storage i.e. in Android/data/ directory (and some others) on /sdcard/ and external SD card. For details see How to move files to external SD card on a non-rooted Android?
From your comment:

So basically I don't have access to my own devices root directory, without rooting the device? I can only start at the third level? That's frustrating.

/data partition also contains system settings including sensitive data like password databases (though not saved as plain text). So /data isn't accessible without root in order to:

Protect apps' private data from other apps (every app is a UNIX user with unique UID)
Protect system data and settings from bad apps and malware
Isolate users/profiles from other users/profiles
Not let apps access shared storage without Storage permission granted
Enforce APIs by Android framework so that apps can't use system resources and read/manipulate device information and settings without proper permissions

And possibly there are other reasons. For details see Are multiple-users protected from each other differently than apps?


text:
How do I prevent apps from trying to gain permissions?
I downloaded an app for a restaurant I frequent to collect points. When I tell it to show the QR code to scan at the register, it switches to a screen in my Android Settings to "Modify system settings". Of course, this app should have no business changing my system settings, but I need to press Back twice to get out of the Settings app, and to the QR code.
I'm tempted to just copy the QR code offline, and import it in another app, but I want to prevent apps from asking for these permissions after I've already said no.

If the app opens it's settings page can can not change this behavior. The common way is to make a 1-star rating at Google Play for the app describing the problematic behavior and wait for the response.

Frankly for a restaurant app (which they probably outsourced to someone who writes one app as cheaply as possible and then does minimal customization for each business) my advice would be to delete it.


text:
How do I search the SD card with standard Android File Explorers?
My Android Pie SD card storage looks like this:
.
├── Android
|   ├──data
|   |  ├── com.amazon.mShop.android.shopping
|   |  |   └── ...
|   |  ├── com.amazon.venezia
|   |  |   └── ...
|   |  ├── com.android.providers.media
|   |  |   └── ...
|   |  └── ...
|   └── ...
└── LOST.DIR

If I navigate to /Android/data/ on the SD card you can see the first three directories are:

com.amazon.mShop.android.shopping
com.amazon.venezia
com.android.providers.media

If I search for the string venezia results are only returned for my internal storage, but nothing for the SD card.
Is there a problem with Android search, or is my search procedure wrong? I've tried on multiple Play store file explorers, all with the same result (inability to search SD card).

Edit - The following Termux commands provide the following output:
$ find /sdcard/ -iname '*venezia*'
/sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezia

$ ls /sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezia
cache files

What's returned by find /sdcard/ -iname '*venezla*' on Termux?

@Irfan Latif If I issue that command in Termux there's a silent response. In other words nothing happens after pressing Enter and I'm just dropped to a fresh command prompt with blinking cursor.

And what does ls /sdcard/Android/data/com.amazon.venezla show?

@Irfan Latif I had a typo. venezla is actually venezia. That said, I had to reword the original question. My searches only look at internal storage, it appears the SD card isn't indexed at all. Is this true, and what do I do to be able to search the SD card from any standard Play store File explorer? Termux output included in above in the question. Thank you.

So now your question should be something like "Why search results in file explorers don't include results from external SD card?". Please consider re-phrasing. // Android provides no search indexing, file explorer apps search files in their own way. Apps don't have filesystem level access to external SD card but they do can search files using SAF for instance. Again it depends on the app you are using.

he mentioned he was looking for files on sdcard. but find command is targeting internal storage, so find /storage is command for searching all

@alecxs SD card came into scene after edit: https://android.stackexchange.com/revisions/218359/1. And he was unable to find the directory because of typo which he has fixed. Now the question is different.

android 7 file explorer searches case insensitive in both locations by default
https://i.stack.imgur.com/QnuXV.png
https://i.stack.imgur.com/JMA5t.png
https://i.stack.imgur.com/l7hb1.png
https://i.stack.imgur.com/DX2j6.png


text:
Device freezes when try to write in /system partition. None of the mount commands worked
I have a TB-X304L. I rooted this guy with magisk and whenever I try to write or try to change permissions of the /system directory, the tablet just freezes and I have to reboot it with long pressing power and the volume up button. I can't even make changes to the build.prop file. The same happens when tried with adb. I could get root access in adb shell. when I try,
cat > testfile.txt

it says read only partition. So, I mounted it with rw permission command
mount -o remount,rw /system

it runs smoothly. But when I try
cat > testfile.txt

again and type some text for the test file and press Ctrl+D,  it freezes. I am new to all these please help me guys.

Did you disable dm-verity?

@IrfanLatif Yes. It is disabled in magisk. But force encryption is enabled. Please help. I still can't figure out what's wrong.

With root privileges run: set -x; id; mount -o rw,remount /system; mount | grep 'on /system '; touch /system/test_file; cat /sys/block/dm-*/dm/name. Share exact output at https://pastebin.com/


text:
Stuck in boot-loop when unpack and pack `system.img`?
Background: I have a treble and system-as-root but it is not an A/B Samsung device. I am trying to modify the system.img. Before that, I have rooted it with the steps given here. After following these steps, I get a valid AP file that I can flash with BL, CP and HOME_CSC file using Odin. The result of the flashing is a rooted device with a recovery key combination.
I don't want to always press the key combination to get root so, I have asked following questions on this site:

How to patch system.img using MagiskManager patch feature to root the device?
How to boot system-as-root device always as rooted?

Problem: To achieve the system root, I have to modify the system file of the magisk_patched.tar file. So, I have extracted it and tried the following things:
A) Success in Try

Unpack and pack the magisk_patched.tar file. This confirms that the tar commands to pack and unpack is working fine.
Unpack, remove the meta-data(which contains a suspicious password-protected fota.zip file) and pack the magisk_patched.tar file. From this, I have assumed that the fota.zip is not creating any problem(listed below in B)) when modifying system.img.
Unpack, compress *.img(patched files by Magisk) with lz4 and pack the magisk_patched.tar file. This confirms that the lz4 compression is working fine with Odin.

B) Failure in Try

Making tar file with unpacked system partition with no modification:

Unpack the magisk_patched.tar
Uncompress the system.img.ext4.lz4
Convert the system.img.ext4(Android Sparse Image) to system.img(Raw Image)
Mount system.img to the system folder
Created system.img.ext4(Android Sparse Image) from mounted folder using make_ext4 utils
Replace new system.img.ext4 with system.img.ext4.lz4 in the extracted magisk_patched.tar folder
Created a new AP.tar from the extracted magisk_patched.tar folder
Flashed this AP with BL, CP and HOME_CSC(in CSC section) using Odin.
Flashing completed.
Reboot the device in recovery mode and wiped data partition.
Reboot the device with recovery key combinations and released the keys on the splash screen.
The device stuck in a boot loop.

Used lz4 in place of system.img.ext4 as follows:

Followed the same step as in 1. till the system.img.ext4 is created.
After that, I compressed it with lz4 utility and make a system.img.ext4.lz4.
Replace new system.img.ext4.lz4 with system.img.ext4.lz4 in the extracted magisk_patched.tar folder
Then the same step as in 1. and have the same result.

Removed meta-data folder from the extracted magisk_patched.tar and flash with trying the steps listed in both 1. and 2. but the result is same: The device stuck in a boot loop.

Commands that I am using: Please check the accepted answer of How to unpack/repack system.img of android ROM?
So, I will not able to modify and flash it successfully until I will get success in flashing it without modification.
Any solution to this problem or any suggestion to find it out?
Update 1: I get the kernel logs via the recovery after a boot loop. In recovery, when a boot loop happens, I can see the file generated as
/cache/recovery/last_kmsg
/cache/recovery/last_history
/cache/recovery/last_avc_msg_recovery
/cache/recovery/last_log.1
/cache/recovery/last_kmsg.1
/cache/recovery/last_log.2
/cache/recovery/last_kmsg.2
/cache/recovery/last_log.3
/cache/recovery/last_kmsg.3
and so on where log.* and kmsg.* keeps generating for every boot loop.

I have tried to find any kernel panic related string in these files but not seen any such error. Please let me know if I have to look for other words that can be related to a cause of the boot loop?
I can not use adb here as the device is unauthorized so, the only option to check is reading these logs from the phone where I can scroll using up-down volume keys and the touch is not working :(
The only way, I can share these logs is through Google Drive.
In this video, I have done the following:

Displayed recovery logs before: The last recovery logs are ends with 8.
Rebooted the device with a recovery key combination. I have already wipe data partition before making this video.
The boot loop happens and in the next reboot, I have pressed the recovery key combination to open the recovery mode where logs that end with 9 displayed.
Then I have recorded last_history, last_avc_message_recovery, last_log.9 and last_kmsg.9
last_history and last_avc_message_recovery looks unchanged(same as before boot loop).
Then, I just have tried to mount the system but that didn't work.
At last, I have just rebooted the system normally without any recovery key combination.

Is anyone can help me in debugging the problem by looking at the logs. I have tried to find but I don't have enough knowledge to understand some of the things mentioned in the logs.
Some Error and Warning logs of last_log.9
exec -f /system/bin/e2fsck -v -y /dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/cache
error: _do_exec: can't run '/system/bin/e2fsck'
  (errno 13 : Permission denied)
/system/bin/e2fsck terminated by exit(255)
...
E:Can't read /cache/recovery/last_locale: No such file or directory
...
W:Failed to unmount /efs: Device or resource busy
can't unmount /efs - Device or resource busy
...
W:Failed to set brightness: Invalid argument
I:Screensaver disabled
Atomic Commit failed in DisableNonMainCrtcs
Atomic Commit failed, rc = 0
...
Reboot Recovery Cause is [[BootChecker]RebootRecoveryWithKey]
...
print_recovery_cause() : reboot_reason=[[BootChecker]RebootRecoveryWithKey]
...
[property list]
persist.audio.fluence.speaker=true
...
ro.vendor.build.security_patch=2018-08-05

Supported API: 3
I:/efs is already mounted
W:Failed to unmount /efs: Device or resource busy
check_selective_file:Can't unmount /efs - Device or resource busy

just_reboot_after_update = 1
should_wipe_cahcewipe_cache

-- Wiping cache...
erase_volume(/cache)
...
MDF_I: Completed reset MDF flag!
MDF_I: Completed initialized MDF for Recovery!
mke2fs 1.43.3 (04-Sep-2016)
Discarding device blocksL 4096/153600??????????????????????????????done
Discard takes 0.00051s
Creating filesystem with 153600 4k blocks and 38400 inodes
...
Creating journal (2048 blocks): done
...
copy_logs
...
Cache wipe complete
[Checking pre-multi-csc2]
[start failed section]
sales_code=VZW
Carrier ID=[XAA]

[system partition space check]
The device has /product partition.

[out-recovery]
I:system root image is true, so need to change the unmount point from /system to /system_root
running out-recovery time : 0.000s
running recovery time: 1.738s
copy_avc_msg_to_data(1, )
I:fs_type "ext4" for /cache
copy_file 'proc/avc_msg' 'cache/recovery/last_avc_msg_recovery'
!__RECOVERY_FOR_ASSAMBLY
b_del_recovery_command = true
Rebooting...
## finish_recovery_terminate(del=1, reboot_cmd=reboot, clear_BCB=1)
## finish_recovery(delcmd=1,...
I:Saving locale "en-US"
I:fs_type "ext4" for /cache
I:[libfs_mgr]dt_fstab: Skip disabled entry for partition vm-linux
I:## unlink /cache/recovery/command
copy_logs
I:fs_type "ext4" for /cache
copy_log_file :: create recovery log file '/cache/recovery/log'
copy_log_file :: create recovery log file '/cache/recovery/last_log'

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text:
Can't Donwload/Install/Update any app - Waiting for download
I've got a problem while trying to install/upgrade any app on my android phone, after tapping on install/upgrade it just get stuck with the message waiting for download.
Nothing works for me, I already tried these solutions and their combinations:

Restarting the phone
Clearing google play store cache/data - force stopping it
Clearing google play service data
Clearing download manager cache/data - force stopping it
Uninstalling and reinstalling Play Store updates (also I have tried it without reinstalling)
Removing & re-adding my Google account from device
I've got enough free storage [+3G]
I'm on a WiFi with good connectivity.
There is no new version of Android available to upgrade for my phone
I also tried installing apps from browser, didn't work!
I tried installing apps using a VPN too, Wrap from CloudFlare is the only thing on my phone and it didn't work either.

I'm on Android 8.1
Motorola products, if it makes any difference.

install apk files

Thanks but that would be the obvious thing to do... I rather solving the problem.

assuming you have enough free space for downloading and installing apps, try another wifi maybe it's just a network connection problem not related to your phone. if you're not sure about free space wipe cache from recovery and clear cache for every app from app settings