text:
"Send directions to your phone" Missing Cell Number for Text Message
Where did the option to send directions as a text message go? And how do I get it back?
Last month, when using "Send directions to your phone", I was presented with the options:

samsung SM-A326U1
Email to myaccount@mydomain.com
Text to nnn-nnn-nnnn

The text option has vanished. How do I get it back?
https://myaccount.google.com/phone DOES show my phone number
There's a hyperlink to "Connect a device".

It says to "sign in on your computer" -- Done, as myaccount@mydomain.com.
It says to "Sign in on your phone or tablet: Open the Google Maps app. Then tap your profile picture or initial". -- Done.  Same email address/account.
It indicates that I should tap "Sign in to your account"

There is no "Sign in to your account", and I'm already signed in.
I really prefer sending directions via text. How do I get that option back?

It seems like this question is about Google Maps web site and thus unrelated to Android. I also see no possibility to send directions via text or SMS. Most likely the "Text to nnn-nnn-nnnn" does no longer appear because Google has removed it (may be it was misused to send spam messages or for a different reason only Google knows).


text:
Where to find the size limit for installing .apk
You can install new app on your Android device using apk files. Those apk files however must be below a size limit.
Where can I find out this limit?

APK files are ZIP files, and the older ZIP format was limited to 2GB files. I am not sure if Android supports APK/ZIP files larger than 2GB. Typically an APK file does not get that large because Google Play Store has a size limit, but that has nothing to do with an APK file size limit. This ist just a limitation set by Google without technical reason.

source: Stack Exchange

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

sort: votes


text:
Get raw “mobile data usage” data
I’m in a bit of a feud with my mobile data provider and want to prove to them that I started using my mobile Internet after a specific time.
Currently, the default mobile data usage in android is not really useful as it does not even allow me to view data usage per day! I’m using a google pixel 6a.
Ideally I want to have mobile data usage data per second. Is it possible to extract that data out of my phone?
I have found some apps online, but at best they show data usage per day. I need more granularity.

I'm afraid you have to make do with what is available.

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


text:
Hotspot keeps disconnecting/connecting if smartphone too close to laptop
I have a Windows 11 laptop and everything was fine before. But today, I noticed my laptop disconnects from my mobile hotspot if it's too close.
I have to keep the smartphone outside the room for it to work normally. How can I solve this issue?

You probably can't do anything about it and the problem is unlikely to be in your smartphone. It can be some issue related to WiFi drivers in the laptop.

Please provide details of both devices.  It could just be noise.  I don't have a problem with mine.

It got fixed on its own. I have no idea what had happened


text:
How do I know if I can use LHDC in my Android phone?
I have a Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE and I would like to know

Whether it can support the LHDC function provided by Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro.

If the above is a yes, how do I know I am using that codec? [Will the word "LHDC" be displayed alongside with the Bluetooth device?]

I have searched many websites but cannot get a definite answer.
In my phone, I discovered the following: Settings > ... > Developer ... > Bluetooth ... and besides "SBC", "AptX" and ...., "LHDC" is an allowable choice.

In my phone, I discovered the following:- setting > ... > developer ... > Bluetooth ... and besides "SBC" , AptX" and ...., "LHDC" is an allowable choice.

If "LHDC" is mentioned in the settings then your phone supports LHDC. So...

Yes, it supports LHDC (most Xiaomi and others support it since at least 2021).
Yes, the acronym "LHDC" will appear at the right of the Bluetooth audio device's name. That said it may not be selected by default. If that's the case then you need to tap the arrow (>), scroll down and enable the codec.

Unfortunately, after pairing Xiaomi Buds 3T Pro with Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE, the codec can only go up to AAC but not LHDC. Sad. This is because the HD audio has been factory pre-set as deactivated. Methods of re-activating it are welcome.


text:
Remove devices from 2FA of Google sign in
I have 7 devices (mostly tablets and smartphones) where I am logged in with  my Google account. However, 4 of those devices I usually take to shows/concerts and I am afraid of someone stealing them or I losing them (I cant set password/pin on them for several reasons).
The problem is this: when I try to sign in another new device, Google usually sends a 2FA authorization message to all 7 devices. I dont want Google to send authorization requests to those 4 devices that can be stolen. I dont care if the thief will access my files, photos... in the stolen tablets, HOWEVER I dont want the thief to see the authorization messages (2FA).
TLDR: I would like to be signed in on 7 devices but I want 4 of those devices to not be "trusted" to allow/deny new sign in on other devices.

Surely this is only a problem if you lose both a good and a bad device simultaneously to the same person.  The chances are very small.
You can't stop the Google 2fa, it is annoying and silly for other reasons as well.  Google tells you here that you have to log off them !

If those devices are not to be trusted then perhaps you shouldnt use your normal Google account on them.  I use a different account.


text:
What is this transparent text on my screen
I have some strange keyboard silhouettes on my screen which is present all the time. Look at the screenshot closely:

It's very hard to see on the photo, but if you look beneath the arrow you will see a silhouette. That is a round button of Android keyboard. And there are letters too, they are just too hard to see.
Most of the time it's almost invisible, but on some backgrounds (like on blue in this case) it becomes visible. Also it is not visible on screenshots, that's why I took the photo.
I have no idea what is this. So far I have tried:

Rebooting
Switching to NovaLauncher
Clearing default launcher data

But it didn't help. The fact that it doesn't appear on screenshots makes me think it's something with my display.
Android version: 13
Phone: OnePlus 10 Pro (NE2215)

Have you considered that it might be screen burn-in?

Seems much like it.. It's permanent, right?


text:
How can I talk from my phone over wifi to a remotely located speaker
I have a use case to talk into remote speaker over Wi-Fi from my phone. Are there any commercially available network speakers that allow this feature?


text:
How to get any feedback from Nexcloud Android app download errors?
I installed the Nextcloud Android App and configured my Provider Login successfully. My files are listed, but no download works (in 100% of a gazillion attempts). There's no feedback from the app, permissions for notification has been granted as well as all other permissions. No entries in the activity log of the app.
An app that doesn't give feedback on errors has such a low UX that it comes close to unusability. However there're no alternative afaik. Is there any way I can get any feedback why the downloads fail?
experienced with 3.25.0 on Android 11

Usually app errors should be visible an adb logcat (requires developer options, enabled, adb enabled, phone connected to a PC/MAC e.g. via USB, minimal adb or Android SDK installed on PC side). Do you use "unusual" folder names as mentioned in this issue? https://github.com/nextcloud/android/issues/11720

@Robert Thanks for the hint, no there're unusual folder names in my account the sense of the issue. I guess, I'll compare apps of other cloud storage solutions and consider a switch.


text:
How to disable the magnifying window function while holding on the text?
Recently, I changed my phone to Nokia 6.2 with Android 11 system and I find a new feature that is really user-unfriendly to me. In my old phones when I press and hold on the text in an address bar(or any place where a long line of text is displayed in a single row), I can slide the line of text to find the exact part that I want to edit, but this doesn't work in my new phone, for when I hold on the text now, a magnifying window will appear (as showed in the screenshot below) instead, and I cannot make the texts that's not fit into the screen appear.
This is really annoying. Is there any way to disable this useless magnifying function?

This works on my phone running 11, so my guess is that the Accessibilty option is enabled.
Check

Settings
Accesibility Options
Disable magnification / Zoom options

Thanks for the response, however this doesn't work for me. The Magnification option in Accessibility is already disabled…


text:
How do ROM makers get the newer proprietary blobs?
I would like to have a more up-to-date Android on my ancient device, that currently runs 4.1 (Qualcomm MSM8960). Have already applied all the patches to refresh the kernel with the features needed for newer Android to run, and confirmed that the new kernel is alive and is able to run in LineageOS 18.1. The new system errors out on getting up the periphery (WLAN, GSM, GPS etc), since the newer drivers require the proprietary blobs to exist. Surprisingly, stock 4.1 ROM appears to not requiring/having around the proprietary blobs for the periphery.
I have already seen the occurrences of upgrading devices of this chipset to the newer Android, but no answer was given to me on the origin of the required blobs.
So I wonder how can they get these newer blobs?

Proprietary blobs are always provided by the OEM of the device. ROM developers only extract them from a physical device running stock ROM and ship them with their custom ROM.


text:
Add private RSS Feed with HTTP BASIC authentication to Feeder?
Is there a way to add an RSS Feed that requires BASIC authentication via HTTP to Feeder app?
I haven't found a way yet and issues in the project's GitLab are disabled, so there is no way to send the request to the man behind the project.

What have you tried so far? Have you tried to include username and password into the RSS URL as specified for URIs? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniform_Resource_Identifier#Example_URIs

Yes I did, but it doesn't send the authentication header and thus the request to the server fails.


text:
Saving a complete MMS with images and text
I have a Moto G Power (Android 10). I get great MMS with GIFs and words. I can save the GIF easily.
Is there a way to save the entire message (GIF and text)?
Google only backs up the attachment, not the words. I take a screenshot of the text but it is no longer together.
Well I managed to make excellent photos with the text included while viewing the GIF, now if I could only back them up to a second storage in case of a photos mishap!

Are you trying to transfer the complete conversation to another phone? If so, then SMS Backup & Restore app in the Play Store should handle that for you... If you are trying to save it to a local file (like on a PC), I don't have an answer for that.

I am just trying to save the animation and text together on my phone. I don't have a pc, just a phone and tablet. SMS backup + restore backs up on schedule on WIFI. I'm using cellular data.

You can do backups on demand, and over-ride the WiFi requirement and use mobile data... Easiest way is to push it to GDrive and then pull it out.

I downloaded SMS backup and restore again and backed up to one drive (not Google drive ) and it backed up the photo and the text. I still can't see them TOGETHER, but just getting first the text, then the gif, was the best I can expect I guess.  I guess I am expecting too much from a cell phone or tablet. Thanks for the help though!


text:
New Google accounts don't show up in Calendar app
I added a Google account to my phone and turned on calendar sync for it.
When I went to the Google Calendar app, that new account is missing from the list and also missing in the "Manage calendars" settings.
How do I get my calendar to show up for the new account?

Have you tried adding the account from the Google Calendar app?

If I try that under "Manage calendars" by clicking the + sign, it says This account already exists on your device. After I did that, it suddenly showed up in the list. However, no events are syncing that are any newer than 2 weeks ago.

You have to add it to the Google Accounts in Setup

Setup
Accounts and Backup
Manage Accounts
Add Account

It should pick it after that.

I already added the account that way. It still doesn't show up.


text:
Is there a way to automate sideloading without the recovery menu OR automate navigating the recovery menu in Android?
This is for some automation I want to setup. I want to be able to sideload in an automated fashion for some testing, without any human intervention. The normal way to do an OTA is adb reboot recovery then navigate the recovery menu, then select sideload over ADB, then adb sideload <ota-file>/zip. The problem is the manual navigation of the recovery menu part. I want to sideload without having to manually do that part, either by automation navigation of the recovery menu, or by skipping the recovery menu part completely. Is it possible to adb shell input keyevent on the recovery menu, or something similar? Is there a different sideload command that can be run on a device from the root of the recovery menu or from the fastboot menu or from the OS itself?

Have a look at Pixel Flasher


text:
Where is my wallpaper stored- Galaxy S20, Android 13
I'm in the process of switching from a Galaxy S20 to a Pixel 7 Pro. Both are running Android 13. I completed the data transfer, but my old wallpaper (a picture I took a long time ago which I really like) didn't transfer. I cannot find it in the wallpaper and style control on either phone, and I've tried looking everywhere in the data folder I can think of when the S20 is connected to my PC.  This is a picture that I believe I had on a Galaxy S8 and it transferred to my Galaxy S20. I'm trading the S20 in and need to get it in the mail soon. I appreciate any help/advice you can give me.

On my Samsung Note it is at
Android\data\com.samsung.android.wallpaper.res\files

Thank you!  I just looked there and there's nothing in the files folder.  I know it must be in the phone somewhere, I'm just stumped.


text:
ADB not working from TWRP for Galaxy S20
Device: Galaxy S20 (x1s)
TWRP: 3.7.0 (latest)
ADB OS: Linux
ADB server doesn't detect the device when connected via USB with device in TWRP recovery. ADB server works fine when the phone is booted in normal mode or if I use another device in TWRP recovery. How to troubleshoot adbd on the device?
The TWRP for this device seems weird because it also mounts system, vendor, product partitions as read-only in recovery.fstab.

In most recovery ROMs adb isn't active by default (common recovery ROMS even have adb sideload capability which often has to be activated manually). I don't know how much the TWRP ROMs for different devices differ,, thus if what you observe is a bug or simply the default behavior.


text:
"Couldn't complete your purchase. Check that you have the correct country selected in your Play account." error on Play Store
How can I fix the following error when purchasing from Play Store?

Couldn't complete your purchase. Check that you have the correct country selected in your Play account.

It keeps saying that even though the country is correct.

Detecting a country is done by various means, for different purposes

Your ISP's country
Your internet country (ie VPN)
Country in your current account.
Country of your phone manufacture

I have not tried purchasing anything outside my country, but I have installed and activated apps from other countries.

Use a VPN to switch to the country required
Ensure the country is correct on your currently selected account  (this can be changed once a year only) and is found

Log into Google account on browser
Click on settings (gear wheel)
Click on See All Settings
Click on Accounts and Import tab
Click on Other Google Account settings
Click on Payments and Subscriptions
Click on Manage Payment Methods
Edit the Payment Method (if one exists, or add a new one, if none are visible)
The address shown here is your account's country

Perhaps it’s because of the Cloudflare DNS 1.1.1.1 that you have set up on your WiFi router, which makes it unusable in relation to the country you are using it in. Because when I tried to turn off WiFi and use the internet via Cellular 5G, I was able to buy things on Play Store immediately.

In my case it was the DNS setting on my Android device, not the router. I recommend checking that too:
Settings -> Connections -> More Connection settings -> Private DNS
Mine was set to "Automatic (recommended)"
I changed it to "Off" and was able to make payments in Google again...


text:
Remove internal storage from locked phone to read data?
family of a close friend who died recently asked me (technically IT guy, but not even remotely my field of expertise) whether it is possible to retrieve data from the locked phone of him.
I d'ont know the exact model yet, but I guess the only option that comes to mind is to desolder the internal storage and read the data externally.
But I have no idea if android phones these days have disk encryption enabled by default? I've read stuff about File Based Encryption being the default now, which I guess would also prevent this approach?
My gut feeling at least tells me, it is not possible to retrieve the data like that, but I guess asking does no harm. Does anyone have experience with that, is it a feasible approach?
Thx for help!

Assuming its a recent Android phone, it is already encrypted

As for encryption, Android devices are already encrypted by default, so without your PIN the data on your phone is essentially unreadable. But in Android 11 the encryption is applied immediately after an over-the-air update, before you've even logged back in. It's a small change, but it closes another loophole that could have been used to get at your private information.

From The Android 11 Privacy and Security Features You Should Know
And so is Apple

Even if you don't think about it often — or at all — you benefit from encryption every day. It protects your identity, your family photos, your home Wi-Fi network and your finances. If you're one of the world's 700 million iPhone users, it's very likely that encryption protects everything on your smartphone, as 95 percent of Apple's phones are encrypted when their screens are locked.
That default protection ensures your phone keeps your data safe from intruders. This is especially important when you're traveling, but your phone could go missing at any time. It's vital to make use of the encryption when you aren't using your phone. Fortunately, it's easy to encrypt an iPhone with a few simple steps.

From iPhone Encryption
More Info at apple.com

You might have better luck trying to guess a pin, if one is being used

Thx for the quick answer, that's what I also assumed, but its good to hear the confirmation!


text:
Can't run bookmarklets on browser (chrome) without Wifi connection
I have some bookmarks that are javascript code (for example, javascript:alert(1)) but am not able to run them unless I am on a webpage that is not the "newtab" page.
Which is particularly problematic when I don't have an internet connection. As I couldn't load a(ny) webpage, I couldn't run the bookmarklets.
Is there a solution to this problem?


text:
Unable to make calls, but MMS/USSD and SMS works
I am running a Moto G Stylus 2021.
Currently, I am not able to make any phone calls, not even access my voicemail. I am though, able to receive phone calls and make and receive text messages and use USSD codes. I do not know why this is happening as it did not happen before. It is not a carrier issue because I reached out to them and they told me that they have detected no issues with my device but either way sent out a SIM refresh to my device. Even so I was still unable to make phone calls.
Recent changes to my phone was someone going in and messing around with the MMI codes and settings.
Does anyone know what may be the issue?

Have you reached out to your carrier? This sounds more like a carrier issue than a phone  issue.

@acejavelin It's not a carrier issue as the first thing I did was contact them and spoke with them for a good amount of time about the issue I was experiencing. But in the end they couldn't find out what the problem was, unfortunately.

At this point we don't know what is wrong and I can' think of anything that would cause no outbound calls but everything else including receiving them works. Try a Network Settings Reset, and if that fails consider removing the SIM, doing a factory reset, then setup and reinsert SIM. I know it's annoying, but I don't know what could have changed that could cause that behavior.

Apparently, it seems as if my carrier has issues with the caller ID. Typing in *31# breaks phone calls, and seems to enable some form of outgoing call barring.
Typing in #31# seems to disable it and allow me to make phone calls once more.


text:
Omnibox doesn't auto-hide when scrolling down on Chrome
I don't know why, but my Chrome sometimes has an error that disables the tab grid layout flag and the auto-hide omnibox when scrolling down (I don't know the name of that flag).
So, I have enabled the tab grid layout flag, but I can't enable the auto-hide omnibox when scrolling down thing.
How can I enable it again?

Its not obvious what you  mean, a screenshot would help


text:
Save "My maps" offline, including attribute information in Google Maps App
There are 2 functions in Google Maps that are quite suitable for a task of mine, but they would need to be combined, and after searching the internet and this site, I'm not sure if it is possible or not. I would appreciate confirmation about this question: If/how this is possible.
1: In Google Maps, one can create their own maps (see image below). These can then be displayed in the Google Maps app and can also be shared with others.
2: One can select areas of the map to be saved offline in the Google Maps App.
.
Hence the question: is it possible to also save offline maps of my own maps/saved places?
I have noticed that I can load the Map, if I then deconect the internet, it will still display all markers in the are. However, if I close (not minimize) the app and re-open it, they are gone. Likewise, if I click on one of the points I can't see the information saved for these points.
This makes me believer that offline-map functionality is not available for saved/own maps, even if I have downloaded an offline-version for the overlaping area. Is this correct? And if not, where can I find more information about how to achieve this.
I have found similar questions here and I do not mean to open up a duplicate question, I simply don't know if nothing has changed in the last 10 years.
2012: Is there someway to make "My maps" in google maps available offline with location markers?
2014: Offline Google Maps

Hello, I notice you haven't responded or seen my answer yet, if it helps can you mark it as the accepted answer, if it doesn't can you be more specific or elaborate please?

Hi @Ethanmiller I can't see you answer any more..did you remove it?
I saw one answer inbetween, however, it did not answer my question. Don't know, if that was your answer?


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

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

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

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

press Home
find Messages app's icon:

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

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

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

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

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

Have you tried uninstalling/reinstalling the app yet?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


text:
Intercept all key on Xiaomi Pad 5 with physical keyboard
I'm trying to create a remote workplace with:

AnyDesk
MacBook
Xiaomi Pad 5
Logitech MX key.

On a Mac, I enabled a keyboard assistant to track keystrokes.
AnyDesk on both devices.
The keyboard works fine when connected to Macbook.
Result:
Keys (letters, numbers, enter) work fine.
Changing the layout works fine,
Ctrl = Ctrl;
Opt = Opt;
Cmd = Opt;
But if I launch the built-in virtual keyboard in AnyDesk, then pressing Cmd is intercepted correctly on the Macbook.
The Cmd + Tab combinations are intercepted by the tablet, like other Cmd-related combinations. (the tablet interprets them as Opt + button)
When hold opt, I see "Show app dock", and shortcut - hold Cmd.
The question is how to correctly intercept ALL combinations from the physical keyboard?
I tried changing the layout, downloading others, but nothing changed.

I tried to replace the tablet with an old iphone. Everything worked the first time. Too bad the phone screen is small


text:
Rename a Whatsapp conversation from a former employee to the new employee
We use WhatsApp a lot at work. We had an employee leave and now her replacement logged in and it comes up as the former employee.
How do we change it at both ends to make sure everyone knows who she is when we message?

She can rename herself on her phone  but only the photo is propogated yo other accounts. Her name is whatever someone has named that contact.
Get her to send a message to others requesting them to rename her contact entry.


text:
Bypass lockscreen PIN with broken screen (Android 7)
I've a Huawei P9 Plus running Android 7 with unlocked bootloader and TWRP installed.
My screen is broken so I need to mirror my screen with scrcpy.
I've tried ton of guides like this one to enable USB Debug and bypass RSA verification via recovery mode and adb but nothing.
I think that adb can't detect my phone because I can't enter my 6 digit PIN, in which way can I bypass it or delete PIN request?

I’m wondering, is it possible to plug in a USB keyboard on an Android 7 system ? If yes, maybe you could enter the PIN that way ?

@NovHak If the phone supports USB OTG this should be possible. But it also depends on the used keyboard, if it has [RBG] lights, integrated USB-hub, smartcard reader or something like that it often draws too much power and therefore does not work as an OTG keyboard.

Thank you both, I read that my phone is compatible with USB OTG but even if I connect a keyboard I can't see anything because my screen is broken, I don't know if I can connect my device to an external monitor via HDMI..any ideas?

@Bug-Gy It’s not necessary that you see before typing, if you can guess what’s on screen after boot ; you could then type blindly. Another option if you want to remove the PIN request : remove the SIM, Android can perfectly boot without one. Of course if it’s the PIN to unlock the screen that’s another matter, but at least you won’t risk locking your SIM with three consecutive bad PIN codes.

@NovHak Thanx for the help, I've already remove my SIM to avoid lock. I've tried many times to swipe and blindly type my PIN to unlock the screen but nothing.

Shouldn’t that work ?

adb shell input keyevent 26 (press the lock button to wake up the screen)
adb shell input touchscreen swipe 930 880 930 380 (swipe up to bring the PIN dialog)
adb shell input text XXXX (XXXX is the passcode)
adb shell input keyevent 66 (press OK)

Just a wild guess, according to what I read in the aforementioned question and subsequent replies and comments.
You probably don’t need to send a lock button press via keyevent if the actual lock button still works, especially considering you will have to be quick to swipe up after waking up the screen before it goes off again.

Thank you for your effort, since my phone is not detected by PC, I can only connect via recovery mode. In recovery when I digit the command adb shell input I get this error: /sbin/sh: input: not found and I can't proceed

Ah yes of course, I suppose it won’t work if USB debugging hasn’t been enabled beforehand. I don’t know what can be done from revovery mode in that respect…

Thank you, your method works but you have to enable USB debug first (tested with a working P9 Lite with debug enabled, specially the "allow USB debug in charge-only mode" option). You've a good guess that could help someone so I vote your answer. About my phone I'm stuck. I've learn my lesson, I'll search for a screen replacement or similar and then I'll enable the debug options manually. Thank you all!


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Is there a way to have a static IP address on PC if I'm using USB tethering?
I need a static IP address on my PC. It uses a USB tethered phone (Xiaomi Redmi Note 10) for internet connection, so I'm not sure how to go about that. I tried to assign one through network settings on PC but that failed.
Could I root my phone and install some third-party app to change my network settings? If so, what apps do I need to get? Are there any methods other than the one I've mentioned that could work as well?
My knowledge on messing with Android devices is extremely poor, and I'm not that much more knowledgeable on computer networks, so I apologize in advance for any clueless-ness.

Assigning a static IP should be no problem as long as you choose an IP from the same subnet and use the correct subnet mask. Connect your PC to the hotspot to get a dynmic IP and then look in the settings and tell us the assigned IP address and the network mask. The wen can tell you which IPs you can use as static IP.

Hey @Robert, it seems like I have the same problem (for some reason, I cant access (simple HTTP server on) the tethered device using the IP from ipconfig - 192.168.54.60. Phone's IP is 192.168.0.102.
Subnet mask on both devices is 255.255.255.0.

For additional context I am able to access it when it's not tethered and is connected via lan. Wifi doesn't work on the PC that's why I need to tether it to the phone which can connect to wifi.

@pu239 Why do you use two IPs from different subnets? Please use one of the available online network mask calculators to learn what IPs belong to your subnet.


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How do you get rid of data roaming pop up
I have a data roaming pop up every 5 mins on my S23 Ultra with T mobile service, I live Across Lake Erie From Canada, PLEASE!!! does anyone know how to get rid of it

Living next to borders is often a problem when it comes to cellular services and roaming. If supported by the phone you could try to change the network selection form automatic to manual and select your MNO's home network.

Doesn't work, and being Fire Chief in my area a can't just switch back and forth and forth anyway

So your MNO also uses roaming in your country (e.g. to allow you to use the cellular towers of a different provider)? Because otherwise you don't have to switch the network.


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Install icon bug on Android 13
I'm currently facing an issue that seems like Google play is installing something.
There is the same icon that will be shown when installing (on the right side of Adobe) an application but when I open Google play it does not show that something is getting installed.
Is this a known issue on Android 13?
How can I fix it?
When I press the icon Google play starts and an load error will be shown.

Made a factory reset as this bug was draining and heating up my battery very fast.
I am on a Sony Xperia 5 III (without any launcher)

Welcome to Android Enthusiasts. I've personally never seen such an animation when installing an app from Play Store. What happens if you long-press it? Also, could you [edit] and mention the device model and the launcher app, just in case it's relevant? Have you tried other launchers and observed the same behavior? Otherwise, if you have access to ADB, you might want to try checking the log and see the Intent when it's clicked. There might be an extra data mentioning the package name of the app.

@AndrewT. Thank you for your response, it was on a Sony Xperia 5 III with the default launcher. Long press didn't make any difference it just showed the information icon, but was not able to delete the application.  I made a factory reset as it was causing some more issues. Thank you for your help.

Did you install any unknown apk? Very often, this kind of "hidden" apps are downloaded from malicious AD websites who pretend to give the file you need. Not sure if this is one of them.


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Phone suddenly shut down and won't boot up
My phone (Xiaomi Redmi Note 10, 2 years usage, the warranty just passed) suddenly shut down at 50% battery at normal usage when I clicked an app to open it and it will not boot up. I want to fix it myself due to privacy reasons, as I don't trust payed services and have experience in opening phones, but only to replace the screens.
I tried to turn it on on safe mode - unsuccesfully. I tried to charge it but it didn't even pop the animation of charging. Nontheless I left it for couple hours to charge and tried again - still not booting up. The USB connector is clean, dust-free and not loose. I tried different chargers. It is not detected by the computer when plugged in (checked in the Device Manager, Windows). I also called the phone from another phone to check if it's the screen's issue - I got "user out of service" message.
I tried to troubleshoot the connector and it was a surprise to me: I own a MakerHawk UM34C USB 3.0 tester and tried it on my working phone - readings were reasonable, approx. 13W of charging power. I tried it on bunch of other devices, with correct readings. I also tested a device with physical on/off switch and the device showed voltage of 5V when turned off (charger voltage) and voltage + amperage when turned on (with propper readings). So when I plugged it in the phone and if the connector were bad then I should have the same reading as in the device with off switch. But what I got was device (tester) restarting constantly without even showing me the data, as if the connection was ok but the phone "intentionally" disconnected it repeatedly. This means that the phone recognises the charger and disconnects it immediately. What does it imply? Is it the software issue?
I tried to open it like on the vid, using same tools but the glue seems to be too strong and it won't open so I can't check the battery itself without damaging the phone: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PhC37fp4o7Y
How should I troubleshoot the issue?
These threads provided no help:
Galaxy S4 Not booting up
POCO M3 Pro 5g not booting up after unexpected shutdown. It does not charge as well
In advance, thanks for help.

Even i faced the same issue with my Redmi note 10 pro. My phone abruptly used to turn off randomly anytime even when the phone has more than 50% of charge. Most of the time it used to get turned on after long pressing the power button but once it didn't turned on. I tried everything but didn't work.
How I solved the issue:
I open the phone disconnected all the cables and connected it back. After connecting it to charger, it turned ON!
You can try, if you have all the proper tools. I just needed a hair dryer, some cards and a screwdriver.
Hope this finds you helpful.


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Is there a way to force an app into tablet mode on a phone?
I have been regularly using a Mackie DL1608 digital mixer lately, and am a bit frustrated by the fact that I cannot get the full functionality of their Master Fader 5 app on my phone. When doing something more serious I usually use a tablet, but there are times, when it would be more convenient to be able to access the full UI from my phone.
So far I have tried:

Adjusting the Smallest width value in developer options
Modifying the ro.sf.lcd_density prop
Setting the resolution / DPI through App Settings Reborn

But none of these have worked. The UI gets smaller (more channels visible at the same time), but doesn't show the missing controls. I have also tried setting the display size of a tablet in the opposite direction, and interestingly enough, that triggered the switch to the phone layout. Does anyone know of other methods that are used to tell phones and tablets apart in apps, and maybe methods to fool them? One more thing I noticed is that the Play Store only shows screenshots of the mobile layout when I'm viewing it from my phone.

Edit: For future reference, in case anyone finds this post, who is in a similar situation, I am also considering using Mixing Station as an alternative, as well as reverse engineering the protocol myself.

Typically apps don't differ between phone and tablet. What is shown is determined by the display, thus the display resolution and it's pixel density (using both you can calculate the real display size which works on most devices).


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How to uninstall without the usual button?
A bunch of apps that I do not want and did not install, mainly games, have appeared on my Samsung Galaxy 71 5G, UI 5.1, Android 13, not jailbroke. Settings shows them as installed by the Verizon app manager. The Verizon app manager shows as installed by itself. When you go to settings apps manage, none of these apps have the normal uninstall button. When you go to Google Play manage apps, None of these apps appears at all, even the ones that are available on the Play Store (e.g. Candy Crush)
I do not know how to uninstall an app without the standard tool. Is there some uninstaller app or other tool that will let me do this? You should assume that I am not very sophisticated, e.g. I have not jailbreaked (jailbroken?) my phone for fear of bricking it.

Some manufacturers and carriers pre-install "bloatware," software that is unwanted and sometimes can't be removed by the user. If there is a "Disable" button in the settings you can use that to remove it from your app drawer, home screen, etc., although it will still technically occupy storage space on your device.


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Unable to charge and connect a USB device at the same time
When I plug in a USB-C cord into my Android phone in my car, I want it to simultaneously charge over fast charging (PD 20W) and also connect to a USB DAC (external sound card). This way I can charge my phone and play music. The issue is that I tried 2 hubs and they both don't allow me to do this. For example, this last one I just bought seems to allow me to do either one or the other. If both things are plugged into it, it only does one thing. If a charger only is plugged in, it charges. If a USB DAC is plugged in, I can play music over it. But I can't do both. Why is this happening? Is this a phone limitation? Is this a hub limitation?
Device: Xiaomi Mi 11 Lite.
OS: MIUI 14.0.2 Android 13 TKQ1.221013.002
USB C Hub: https://a.aliexpress.com/_mPEFojK


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Can't lock Apple Music app to Recent Apps on Samsung devices running Android 12
I'm using Apple Music app on Samsung Galaxy S10e, Android 12. I used to be able to lock it in Recents so it wouldn't close with Close All. Now when I tap "Lock this app," nothing happens.
No other apps were affected. Uninstalling/reinstalling the app doesn't work. Rolling back to previous app versions doesn't work. Apple has no idea what I'm talking about when I try to get support.

Welcome to a Q&A site Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange. While I don't know why it happened, I think it's fair that Apple didn't have any idea since the locking app on the recent apps screen is not a universal feature in Android. It might be a quirk on Samsung's side instead.

Thanks, that's a fair point. I stand by my raccoon comment though!


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Green video using Chrome on Fire 10HD tablet
Android 9, KFMAWI, PS7427 Chrome 113.0.5672.162
Recently, when running Chrome on my Fire 10HD tablet some videos will only display a green screen.  Audio does work.  Example
I have re-installed Chrome from the Google Playstore 3 or 4 times and all of the solutions I have found don't work.
Javascript IS enabled.
Solutions say "disable hardware acceleration". I can NOT find either of those under the Advanced Settings !

You should be able to access those through the browser internal pages (e.g., through Chrome, chrome://flags/#disable-accelerated-video-decode and chrome://flags/#disable-accelerated-video-encode.  On a stock FireOS device out-of-box, there's no access to internal pages but I believe the Silk browser does have a setting for hardware accelerated page loading through the frontend configuration space.
Also note that on most reputable video players (e.g., VLC, MX Player, etc.), you can choose whether to use software- or hardware-based decoding.

Thanks for the suggestion but it did NOT solve my green screen problem !

@user20278071 Are you using Chrome browser?  After the video loads, try opening a new tab and navigating to chrome://media-internals to see if there's any issues that stand out?  Also, try looking at chrome://gpu?


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Large number of music files copied from Windows to SD card cannot be seen by music player and looks gone after inserting it
I have a dedicated music player device (TempoTec V6) running a version of Android 8.  I've about 120 GB of music files in MP3 and FLAC format  (which the device supports). I'm baffled about how to get the device to recognize (and not destroy) the SD card holding the files.
I have a 256 and 512 GB SD card formatted in exFAT, copied the music files to them in various ways (never just in the root directory - directory size limitations - but variously to a single subdirectory (called cleverly 'Music') and to about 300 subdirectories of the various artists.  There are ~11000 files.
I've never successfully accessed all the files. The most recent time the card was recognized, but no music files were detected, and when I took the card back out and looked at it in Windows, the card was empty (after 6 hours of writing files and checking the integrity of the file system regularly).
What's going on?  Surely this dedicated music player is going to recognize an SD card...  And I can't see how any device would just wipe the file system of a memory card.

How old are the SD-cards? Have you ever checked them if they really contain the flash memory they claim to have (there are a lot of fake cards which claim to have e.g. 512GB but actually only have 16 so in the end you overwrite the existing data)? There are special test tools FakeFlashTest or H2Testw which write the whole SD-Card once and then test if all the written data is still consistent.

Welcome to a Q&A site Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange. Could you clarify "I've never successfully accessed all the files. The most recent time the card was recognized, but no music files detected"? Did you mean you have also checked the content of the SD card using a file manager app on Android, instead of only from the music player? Also, just in case, have you tried checking the files on the SD card after copying from Windows too?

Well, are the cards good?  I think so - one was a samsung and the other a Xiaomi so they are not no-name brands.... and they are new.   As I said the last file-copy I did on the PC I separated the files into 6 bunches (so as to copy smaller numbers at a time) and ran a chkdsk after each bunch, no errors reported.  An on Windows the SD card looks as it should after all that - multiple folders and files, ~11000.  However inserted in the android device the file manager system reports only ~3000 files.  Exact same card, 25 seconds apart...   I cannot explain that.

It really seems like the android is trashing the file system of these big SD cards....
Is this possible?   I"m old and I've never seen that happen on any of the devices I've used, but these little android devices are new to me....

Have you tried breaking down the number of files and adding them incrementally while checking the files availability on the music player? I read a review mentioning that it needed around 8 minutes to scan around 9200 files for a total of ~256GB files. As for wiping the file system, there was a recent post with a similar issue on another brand, though it's corrupting instead of deleting the files.

The link to the problem with image files on a Samsung phone really sounds very similar - though that was Android 12 and this is v8...      I confess I've not tried the trick of adding additional files incrementally - that would be a bit of a tedious process...   but I guess it would be a possibility.    Still doesn't explain why this happens (nor why the Samsung guy's problems are happening).  I'll get back to this when I get the enthusiasm (I'm somewhat deflated now...)

The Xiaomi one IS a fake - Xiaomi doesn't sell flash memory -: https://xiaomiui.net/dont-buy-worst-fake-xiaomi-products-35694/ . Samsung does but it can be counterfeit as well. Your assumption that "no-name brands" are problematic is simply wrong. A counterfeit product is way more likely to have a (counterfeit) name brand on it, obviously. And it doesn't matter where you bought them, fake SD cards, USB sticks or SSD/HDDs can be found anywhere, including AliExpress and Amazon or even otherwise reputable brick&mortar stores. I strongly suggest you go back to the first comment and test them.

https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-fastest-microsd-cards/ (The URL is misleading perhaps on purpose ;) , the article's title is "How to Spot a Fake MicroSD Card and Avoid Being Scammed") It shows all the software tools you can use to test yours. Good luck in getting your money back because there's almost an 100% chance of them being fake.

OK - (go back to the first comment).  Now I'm really sad - both to have bought 'bad' products and to have taken so much time/space on this list!     I have checked the microSD cards using FakeFlashTest and indeed it seems they are faulty.  So sad!   But a good lesson for me.  Oh well - life is a series of lessons!   Thanks for all your advice.


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Focus navigation via external keyboard and mouse (or Gboard) in Android
I was wondering whether there is a way to configure the phone for accessibility needs to reflect the spasm pattern and attachment characteristics of people whom may bee affected by spasms and or autism, and may be unable to handle Gboard for input and may require navigating the screen through Kensington keyboard (or other type of keyboard for mobile phones and tablets).
Ideally, there would be a way to navigate user interface elements though the hardware keyboard's key up, down, right, and left keys, and a green square highlighting the software element highlighted should be displayed.
The element can then be clicked upon via the external keyboard, or external mouse.
Is this, currently implemented, in Android (and, if not, when will it be implemented)?
It would be nice if the arrows and ability to mouse click were also available in Gboard, for reference, and debugging (by users that did not have access to the external keyboard, and wanted to debug that behavior).
Thanks.

As the Android system was originally developed before touch screen became popular it had full keyboard support integrated. I have not tried it but this system should still be available in modern Android versions. However the modifications made by manufacturer often destroy this system. Therefore the chance for a working keyboard navigation should be highest on Google Pixel devices, or on devices by other manufacturer that do only do minor modifications to Android.

I think the Switch Access accessibility feature does kind of work like that?


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Buggy on-screen keyboard in WireApp
Appears Wire no-longer takes bug reports ala https://github.com/wireapp/wire/issues/391 so maybe someone here knows from where this problem originates.
I run newer Wire in Kotlin on Graphene OS, so stock Android mostly, without google play services.  Wire imposes a buggy on-screen keyboard, which you can reproduce like:

type at least two words like "cat dig" with a type-o in the last word, but before the last letter.
press space to start another word,
press back at least three time, like you wanted to change the "i" to an "o",
wire incorrectly removes the space between the last two words, which gives "catdo". not the expected "cat d"

This bug never happens in other apps, only Wire.
I've not tried to reproduce this on true stock Android, but it's unlikely Graphene OS changes the keyboard much if at all.
Is this some problems caused by some configuration outside Wire itself perhaps?
It's clear Wire changes the keyboard, but maybe they use some Kotlin keyboard libs for which this problem is known?

I noticed that there are 2 versions of Wire for Android: legacy version and modern version. Could you mention the Wire version, and probably also the Android version and the device model just in case it's relevant?

Also posted on GitHub Issue (just in case it got responses there): https://github.com/wireapp/wire/issues/393


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How to disable warning about listening at high volume for a long time on Xiaomi Redmi note 12
All the solutions are not working on Xiaomi Redmi note 12.
I want to disable the message which also automatic lower the volume of my phone


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Does Android support a default terminal application?
Considering that KDE Plasma and Windows 11 do, and the availability of brilliant terminals like Termux, this seems like it would be an obvious feature, at least configurable via Developer Settings. However, I don't see any obvious method exposed via com.android.settings's GUI.

That apps like Termux still work is only because they use some sort of "compatibility mode" for older apps. That is the reason why Termux isn't updated in Play Store - Google doesn't allow to use recent apps to use this compatibility mode anymore (apps now have to follow the Write xor execute rule). So form Google perspective terminal apps are insecure and outdated and some day they will stop working at all.

No, Android does not support a default terminal application.
According to AOSP, categories that have default apps (as of Android 13):

Browser app
Emergency app1
Digital assistant app
Home app
Phone app
SMS app
Caller ID & spam app2

A few reasons to consider why there are settings for default apps:

Features that are considered core for common users, as well as used by other apps (browsing, calling, texting)
User convenience to change when needed (home/launcher)
Additional privileges to the selected app, or restrictions imposed by Android to the rest of the apps in the same category (caller ID, digital assistant, phone, SMS)

However, terminal apps are not (yet) considered for the above reasons, as observed that there is no built-in terminal app even in common stock Android ROMs (including AOSP). It is also unlikely that there are multiple terminal apps installed that need to be restricted, or other apps that interact directly with a terminal app.

1 On AOSP but not observed on Google Pixel 3A (Android 12) and Samsung Galaxy M12 (Android 13)
2 Not on AOSP but observed on Google Pixel 3A (Android 12) and Samsung Galaxy M12 (Android 13)


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Prevent the next word from being capitalized after pausing dictation on Galaxy S8
When you pause while dictating to a Samsung Galaxy S8 mobile phone, and resume dictating, how do you prevent the next word from being capitalized?


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Android devices take upto 10 minutes to acquire cellular reception after boot while roaming
When I boot android device having a SIM on roaming it took around 2-10 minutes to get cellular reception. I've tested this on multiple devices, similar behavior.
One interesting thing is, if device is already booted and then I inserted the SIM, it instantly gets cellular reception.
For a non-roaming SIM it works instantly even after boot.
Edit: The SIM provider told us it's an eSIM, though it looks like a regular SIM card.
If you've any explanation on this, could you please share?

In your "already booted" tests did the phone had internet access through Wifi?

@Robert No, there was no wifi


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How to determine if an Android device is compromised with a rootkit?
How would you go about checking your smartphone for root level malware, including rootkits, if you cannot get direct access to smartphone partitions?
There's news almost monthly how cheap Android phones or even Android smart TVs contain malware. And then devices invariably stop being updated (some come without updates at all), and people continue to happily use them, while their e.g. Linux kernel is rife with local root exploits.

Hello. I've edited your question and removed the part concerning Google. We can't tell why Google did or does something. You are free to search  Google's press releases, its developers comments on various forums and so on to figure out the reason. It would all be opinions that we can provide (and a question that seeks opinions is off-topic here). I've therefore removed the off-topic part. Aside from that, you might get better suggestions at [security.se] than here.

I'm in secops and I don't know the answer other than trying to exploit a root vulnerability which is usually available for old unsupported devices. You've removed a very important part of the question which is "oem unlock erases user data". That's a way in, along with unlocking boot loader and using e.g magisk or/and TWRP but too often undesired for obvious reasons.

oem unlock does not erase user data - bootloader unlock does. this is for privacy protection. I don't believe in rootkits, simple factory reset will remove possible malware

Rootkit can remount the system partition in read write mode and plant whatever it desires.

no. dm-verity prevents that.

You seem to be right https://source.android.com/docs/security/features/verifiedboot but I wonder if Google can really enforce it on all Android vendors and then there's a question of ROMs which come with malware preinstalled by the OEM itself.

preinstalled malware by OEM is not malware. that's a opinion-based definition of malware. I don't know of any other method to check for other than analyzing the traffic. if you don't like it, don't use stock ROM

If the malware has modified system partition you can safely unlock bootloader - as user data erase does not modify system partition you can then simply access the malware for analyzing it. And if the ROM was infected with malware you can also unlock bootloader to get root access and extracting the firmware.


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Gboard's "Spell check" does not work: why and how to fix?
I have an Android 10-powered smartphone with Gboard (v12.9.20) installed. In Gboard, the "Spell check" is enabled. The problem is that the spell check does not work: if I type in the Gmail app "hellowx" (for example), it isn't marked with red underlines.
What I've tried so far:

clear Gboard cache
clear Gboard storage
force stop Gboard
restart the smartphone

No effect: if I type in the Gmail app "hellowx" (for example), it isn't marked with red underlines.
Any ideas why the spell check doesn't work? How to fix it?

UPD: It works in Gmail in "Subject" input field. It does not work in Gmail in "Compose email" field:

Very unexpected. Is it a bug in Gmail?

UPD2. In Gmail desktop web version I selected "Spelling suggestions off" (UPD3: AND clicked the "Save" button at the bottom):

The spelling keeps working in Gmail Android app in "Subject" input field, but keeps not working in Gmail Android app in "Compose email" field:

The Gmail Android app was re-opened. Any ideas how to proceed?

Does it work in other apps? Messages, for instance?

Yes, it works in Messages and WhatsApp. Any ideas why it does not work in Gmail?

UPD: It works in Gmail in "Subject" input field. It does not work in Gmail in "Compose email" field. Very unexpected.

Yes, I think we have the evidence to say this is a Gmail behavior. My guess, based on other Google products, is that Gmail has some sort of it's own spell check that's expecting to run that prevents the Gboard one from processing that text. I haven't found a setting yet, but will continue to look.

WOW, I found a solution that works for me. I'll post it as an answer, but it's super strange, and would change the question to be more about Gmail than Gboard - we may consider editing the question as appropriate.

Gmail has a setting on the web for spell checking which, ironically, disables the checking done in the Android app (presumably by Gboard). If you go to Gmail on the web, open settings, and turn Spelling to "Spelling suggestions off," this should allow the Gmail app to show the red lines for misspelled words.
Interestingly, this seems to be using the system spell check rather than Gboard (see the different underlines and spelling suggestions), but will at least achieve spell check within the Gmail app.

I don't have access to Gmail non-HTML version. Neither in Android Gmail version nor in Gmail HTML version I cannot find "Spelling" option. It seems that all these Gmail versions (mobile, desctop, web, etc.) use different UI.

If I open on Android Gmail HTML version and scroll down and click Gmail view "standard", then it opens Gmail mobile version. Very confused. Is it a bug? How to open Gmail non-HTML (i.e. standard) version on Android?

It's much easier to access via a desktop browser, but if you don't have access, I was able to reach the settings I needed by going to HTML gmail on mobile and selecting "Desktop site" from the chrome overflow menu (three dots).

Thanks! See UPD2.

This is going to sound silly, but when you set those settings in "web" Gmail, did you make sure to click the "Save" button at the bottom? It's small, and the settings don't auto-save.

Yes, I clicked the "Save" button at the bottom. I am aware of this peculiarity.

I also checked that the next time I open the settings in the "web" Gmail the "Spelling suggestions" is "off".

I figured, but always worth checking. Wild that we can see such similar details yet different results. I'll let you know if I find anything else that may help.

Thanks! Extra: I also see that spell checking does not work in Chrome for Android in text input fields. However, this seems to be another issue.

FYI: for a long time I have another issue with Gboard: from time to time the cursor keeps blinking, but the Gboard does not appear. How am I supposed to type? I don't know whether this is Android bug or Gboard bug. Or both.


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Can I install old paid apps from Play Store on Android 14?
I have some older paid apps, mainly games, which I bought through Play Store. These older apps won't meet the requirement of targetSdk >=23 from Android 14:

Minesweeper Pro (com.xxstudio.minesweeperpro): Target SDK 3
CopyPasteKeyboard Unlocker (com.crane.keyboard.unlock) which is an unlocker for CopyPasteKeyboard (com.crane.keyboard): Both have target SDK 4
Guess-Free Minesweeper (com.fstolt.minesweeper): Target SDK 8
Call Log Backup And Restore Pro (com.riteshsahu.CallLogBackupRestorePro): Target SDK 21

As the apps are paid apps, it's going to be hard for me to get them in APK format for me to use --bypass-low-target-sdk-block in order to install them on Android 14.
So is there any way for me to install such apps on Android 14?

Why do you think Riptide GP2 is an old app? It has been updated in Play store last month. AFAIR at the moment you can not upload updates with a targetSDK of less than 30.

@Robert you are right, I gave a bad example there as I hadn't noticed the update. I have added more examples and have checked all of them to make sure there is no update available.

Possible dupe: Is it possible to recover purchased apps removed from Google Play?.

Just for clarification, are you still able to see them on Play Store? I just checked "Minesweeper Pro", and it seems it has been unpublished (HTTP 404 for those who have never installed it).

@AndrewT. yes I can confirm I can still see the app. when I open its Play Store page, it appears as normal. I think this is typical for apps that have not been updated for a long time; if you'd previously bought them, you can still see them. Of course, for new users it would be hidden as it doesn't meet Google Play's minimum targetSdk requirement.

It appears that installing of old apps is banned on Android 14.  This includes trying to install them from other places than PlayStore.

The biggest news is that Android 14 will block the installation of old Android apps. As Android changes over the years, new APIs and increased security, privacy, or background processing restrictions could break old apps, but Android's backward-compatibility system keeps these old apps running. Apps can declare the newest version of Android they support via a "Target SDK" flag.
To prevent old apps from breaking, new features and app restrictions in, say, Android 12 only apply to apps that target Android 12 or above. Older apps will continue to run with the older set of restrictions they're used to. (A different setting, called "Minimum SDK," determines if a new app can run on an old Android OS.) The system works great for honest developers, but if you're building a piece of malware, it's an easy decision to target a very old version of Android. While you'll get access to fewer features, you'll also be subject to fewer security and privacy restrictions.

From Android 14 Preview 1 is out, will officially ban installation of old apps

A change coming with Android 14 will impose restrictions on the apps that smartphone users can install on their devices, even if they’re sideloading software rather than installing it through the Play Store.
Google’s change should help stop the spread of malware that takes advantage of exploits found in older builds of its Android OS, though if you’re a frequent sideloader it may make it a little harder to use non-Play Store apps.

From Android 14 could stop you from installing older apps – and that’s a good thing

That's correct, and that's the entire reason why I asked this question. Unfortunately, your answer does not answer my question, it does not say anything about paid apps.


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Is there anyway to patch /apex using Magisk?
As part of Project Mainline, Google decided to pack a number of files in .apex modules which are located in /system/apex which upon boot, are extracted and mounted in /apex.
For example: the contents of /system/apex/com.android.tzdata.apex file will be mounted at: /apex/com.android.tzdata
Is there any way for patching (overriding) the contents of mounted .apex files using Magisk?

Do mount --bind. See mount(8) manual page.


text:
Missing logcat? KMSG? Debugging random reboots
I have this crap ANS ARTIA phone running Android 12. It keeps rebooting—2-3 times at the same date/time of the week (once while using G Maps, once using Waze) plus a couple more times outside of those circumstances. I'm broke and can't afford anything else, so I'm trying to fix it.
One time it crashed to that dead android screen and the power button wouldn't even work. I had to do PWR+VOL UP like I was trying to get into fastboot just to reboot it.
I saved 2 bug reports so far, one being quickly after a reboot. Online docs say to look for logcat.txt, but there isn't one in these reports, only dumpstate_log, main_entry, and version.txt in the parent folder, with several other folders. Someone said look for LAST KMSG, but the only mention of that is:

*** Error dumping /proc/last_kmsg (LAST KMSG): No such file or
directory  ------ 0.001s was the duration of 'LAST KMSG' ------

I'll watch for it to happen again and try to capture another report immediately after, but I don't know how to recreate it on demand while plugged in to USB. I have ADB and Android Studio, but I don't know what to do with them.
No results for am_anr. There are 4 files in \data\anr. No WATCHDOG KILLING, no am_focused_activity,

VM TRACES AT LAST ANR (/data/anr/anr_2023-06-08-16-07-26-347:
2023-06-08 16:07:32) ------
Subject: Input dispatching timed out (e036911 NavigationBar0 (server) is not responding. Waited 9633ms for MotionEvent)

Someone said type *#9900# to turn on more verbose logging, but I get "invalid mmi code," and my carrier is a crappy free provider so that may never work.
I got a bunch of am_proc_died at 17:39 and a bunch of am_proc_start around the same timestamp. I got 4 am_low_memory's but that was at a different timestamp.
A few hits for kswapd, a ton of hits for kworker, but I don't know what I'm looking for. No hits for mmcqd. No Uncaught remote exceptions.

Line  11865: 12-31 18:00:15.858  1000  1644  1644 W PackageManager:
There should probably be exactly one storage manager; found 2:
matches=[ResolveInfo{5cce669
com.google.android.apps.nbu.files/.home.HomeActivity p=100
m=0x108000}, ResolveInfo{4a848ee
com.android.storagemanager/.deletionhelper.DeletionHelperActivity
m=0x108000}]
Line 569647: 06-08 17:41:52.782 10221 15908 15908 E
HMSSDK_HMSPackageManager: resolveInfoList is null or empty    Line
569653: 06-08 17:41:52.789 10221 15908 15908 E
HMSSDK_HMSPackageManager: resolveInfoList is null or empty    Line
569657: 06-08 17:41:52.796 10221 15908 15908 E
HMSSDK_HMSPackageManager: resolveInfoList is null or empty

Line  27951: 06-08 17:42:58.876  1000 19810 19810 I
ResolverListAdapter: Add DisplayResolveInfo component:
ComponentInfo{com.google.android.apps.docs/com.google.android.apps.docs.common.shareitem.UploadMenuActivity},
intent component:
ComponentInfo{com.google.android.apps.docs/com.google.android.apps.docs.common.shareitem.UploadMenuActivity}
Line  27952: 06-08 17:42:58.877  1000 19810 19810 I
ResolverListAdapter: Add DisplayResolveInfo component:
ComponentInfo{com.google.android.gm/com.google.android.gm.ComposeActivityGmailExternal},
intent component:
ComponentInfo{com.google.android.gm/com.google.android.gm.ComposeActivityGmailExternal}
Line  28288: 06-08 17:43:06.745  1000 19810 19810 D ChooserActivity:
ResolveInfo Package is com.google.android.apps.docs
Line  34987:
06-08 17:42:20.993  1000  1644  2177 I am_broadcast_discard_app:
[0,180397340,android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED,3,ResolveInfo{15d3531
com.qti.ltebc/com.qualcomm.ltebc.LTEBroadcastReceiver m=0x208000}]
Line  35064: 06-08 17:42:28.965  1000  1644  1902 I
am_broadcast_discard_app:
[0,65709818,android.intent.action.MEDIA_MOUNTED,3,ResolveInfo{7d87402
com.qti.ltebc/com.qualcomm.ltebc.LTEBroadcastReceiver m=0x208000}]
Line  35225: 06-08 17:42:49.671  1000  1644  2174 I
am_broadcast_discard_app:
[0,229308146,com.microsoft.bing.usbsdk.api.APPWIDGET_UPDATE,0,ResolveInfo{d90e5a1
com.microsoft.bing/com.microsoft.clients.bing.widget.SearchBoxWidgetProvider
m=0x0}]

Can someone please tell me why I don't have logcat or dumpsys? And can anyone tell me what to look for in these logs that might give me an idea of what is happening? Thanks!!!

Where have you read about logcat.txt ? Logcat is an in-memory ring buffer that is to my knowledge never saved to flash. Logcat.txt only exists if you connect the phone to your PC and capture logcat to a file on your PC. If the phone then crashes while connected to the PC you have a logcat.txt file.

https://source.android.com/docs/core/tests/debug/read-bug-reports               "Android bug reports contain dumpsys, dumpstate, and logcat data in text (.txt) format"

That is the documentatio for app developers. An Android bug report is generated when an app crashes, not when the OS crashes.


text:
Adding iptables extensions
After a huge hustle I managed to compile the xt_DSCP.ko kernel module and it can be loaded with no errors.
:/ $ su
:/ # insmod /sdcard/xt_DSCP.ko
:/ #

I also managed to pull iptables external from androidgooglesource and managed to build iptables 1.8.4(same version packaged with the device) with --enables-static --disable-shared which bundled all extensions inside the executable.
Now expecting everything to go smoothly I get this error when I try to use the DSCP target
:/ $ su
:/ # export T=/data/local/iptables/sbin/iptables
:/ # $T -t mangle -A OUTPUT -p udp -j DSCP --set-dscp 0
iptables v1.8.4 (legacy): unknown option "--set-dscp"
Try `iptables -h' or 'iptables --help' for more information.
2|:/ #

The whole folder is chmod -R 777 /data/local/iptables and chown -R 0:2000 /data/local/iptables. I have also tried moving libxt_DSCP.so to /system/lib and system/lib64 but with no avail.
I have hit a wall I'm not sure I will be able to climb. External iptables was built with autotools using Android NDK r25c. Help will be greatly appreciated.
OS specifics:

Model-name: Galaxy M12(rooted with magisk)
Android-version: 11(stock)
Kernel-version: 4.19.111-22482896

iptables binary is built statically linked with all the extensions bundled inside. So why are you putting libxt_DSCP.so on the device? Seems strange.

if I insmod the xt_DSCO.ko kernel module and run the iptables binary from /system/bin, the same error as above appears. Also, copying libxt_DSCP.so to /system/lib was just a trial and error thing. I really don't know what else to do. The real reason I built iptables from scratch is because I thought the default iptables lacked the extensions but now I'm even more confused.

If DSCP plugin is statically linked with iptables binary, iptables -m dscp -h  should show the help for DSCP extension. In other case you should build the binary with --enable-shared and provide --with-xtlibdir=PATH option to configure to specify where iptables should look for the extension plugins (shared libraries) in order to dynamically load them.

ok let me try again. iptables -m dscp -h tries to load the xt_dscp match. I only have the xt_DSCP.ko kernel module for the target and no kernel module for the match. Is this where the error is sourced? Do I need both kernel modules?

iptables -m dscp -h does not try to load the module (.ko file). It just prints the help from the statically linked or dynamically loaded plugin (.so file). unknown option "--set-dscp" error is also due to missing extension plugin, not due to missing extension module. If you are not clear about the terminology, I'd suggest you read the iptables extensions documentation.

In short, you need the module on kernel side, and the plugin on userspace side. Module is loaded using modprobe or insmod. That's what you have done correctly. Now the iptables needs the plugin to interact with the loaded module. You can build the plugin within the iptables using --enable-static. Or you can build the plugin separately as an .so file using --enable-shared --disable-static and let the iptables load this .so file from a directory specified with --with-xtlibdir=PATH at compile time.

well explained indeed. I think the problem is sourced from the iptables from androidgooglesource in a sense that it was modified to exclude some of those extensions and maybe that is why the iptables from the stock rom excludes them too. I will try to build the same exact version from the netfilter source and see if there is any difference.

Well, it seems like insmod was at fault here for giving me false hope. According to this answer by @Irfan Latif 4 years ago, the xt_DSCP.ko module can't be loaded since its not one of the modules listed in /sys/module and the only way I can get it to work is to build the kernel from scratch.


text:
How to Load Webpages From Local Network While LTE Data is Connected?
My device is connected to a local WIFI AP that has a network, but not an internet connection. On this local WIFI network there is a webserver running at http://192.168.4.1:8000/
In the browser on my device when I attempt to load the URL the page will fail to load if the devices LTE data is enabled. I assume it's forcing traffic through LTE and thus not finding the page to load since it's looking on the internet instead of the local WIFI network.
If I disable the LTE connection and then load the page in a browser it will load successfully. So I know that the phone can see the web server. It just chooses not to when LTE is enabled.
Is there any way I can force the device to find the page on the local WIFI network even while LTE is enabled, and the device is connected to the internet via LTE, while also being connected to the local WIFI network with the webserver running on it.

There is an optional feature since Android 12 which could allow that: https://source.android.com/docs/core/connect/wifi-sta-sta-concurrency


text:
How to root Huawei Nova Y90?
I have one Huawei Nova Y90.  When I get into the bootloader it shows "bootloader locked". When I execute the command fastboot flashing unlock I get this output:
FAILED (remote: 'Flashing Unlock is not allowed')
fastboot: error: Command failed.

I could not find OEM unlock option in Developer Settings.
I want to root my phone without unlocking the bootloader. How do I do that? I tried gaining root access using Kingroot, Kingoroot (Oneclick root)  but none of them worked.

Please read https://android.stackexchange.com/q/232190/2241 on Huawei and rooting. But that may only be applicable to older phones. In general if you consider rooting Huawei devices are the wrong choice.


text:
Export an Email intent
Wire only accepts bug reports via email intents, which breaks if you never give your Android device email access.
Are there apps which could capture an email intent and save it for sending from another device?

I would try an mail app like FairMail and then try to configure a non-existing POP3 Mail Account. As POP3 only requires server communication for sending or receiving messages you should be able to save the Wire generated mail to your local draft folder.


text:
Can I connect to Wifi after flashing GSI
My old phone is running Android 10. I wanted to install Android 14 beta on it. Bootloader is locked.
From what I know, unlocking bootloader would reset the device. Therefore Wifi passwords are gone. This is ok as I know them. The problem is my router admin has setup something so when using randomized MAC address it doesn't connect. But fron what I Googled, it seems MAC address is hardware based so resetting phone wouldn't change it.
So, my question is, does MAC address reset in unlocking bootloader or flashing GSI make me unable to access the network? If possible, please actually try because I don't want to mess up I have no experience in this area.

That depends. There is one randomization mode that generates for each Wifi an own MAC address (for that Wifi the MAC is then always the same). The algorithm that generates the MAC address bases (as far as I remember) internally on a secret that is user specific, thus will be erased on factory reset. If the Wifi connection you currently use is configured to use such a generated (but Wifi static) MAC address, it will also be erased by a factory reset. Next time you try to connect after factory reset the MAC would be different.

If i choose "use device MAC" instead of "random MAC", stuff should work right

I confirmed myself by unlocking BL, flashing ODIN with magisk patch. Still same MAC address


text:
How to install an app consisting of multiple apk using the `pm` android’s command?
In order to get a specific visa, I need to verify my ɪᴅ using a government official app. I went on the play store and it first showed as not being compatible because it requires ɴꜰᴄ which my phone doesn’t have.
So I manually downloaded the app and obtained an xapk because the single app consists of several .apk. So far no problems using adb install-multiple. I then launched that app to verify my ɪᴅ and then the app complained it wasn’t installed from the Google’s play store.
The solution to this situation is normally to simply install the apk using pm -i com.android.vending apk.
But how do that when the same app ɪᴅ consist of several .apk ?
Please also note it uses com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE for the same purpose so that setting the installer after isn’t enough.

https://raccoon.onyxbits.de/blog/install-split-apk-adb/

@Robert but unlike stock’s android pm, adb doesn’t have a full way to fake the installer. This means the app complains I should only download it for free from Google Play for my security…

I'm afraid this looks like an XY problem where X is "How to make apps that use CHECK_LICENSE work when installed from APK?" while Y is "How to install multiple APK using pm?" since there's a possibility that Play Store sets something on the server when installing from Play Store, thus pm may be irrelevant since it will just do the same installation process like from ADB (which you have successfully done). Your follow-up question is perhaps a more reasonable way to solve this issue.

However, the question about installing multiple APK using pm itself is certainly on-topic, which @Robert 's comment has answered (the link mentioned ADB only for adb shell, but the main topic is using pm). Thus, consider trying that guide and let us know the result, or post it as a proper answer!

@AndrewT. I told in my question adb install-multiple is how I got the app to complain it wasn’t installed from the Google’s Play Store. The pm/cmd package tool can fake the installer, but I don’t see how to use them on split ᴀᴘᴋs… App is supposed to be started off‑line so without accessing Google’s servers…

@user2284570 according to the official Android Developers guide, CHECK_LICENSE fetches the result of the license online from Google Play, so I'm not sure if the method to install the APK is still relevant...

@AndrewT. just start the app using the airplane mode ! As a government app, getting it is free.

Have you tried the simple command pm set-installer "PACKAGE" "com.android.vending"? Or just read the pm help text then you will see that pm install-create also has the -i option.

@Robert it wouldn’t modify all files unlike a clean install, and set-installer can’t be used as root and thus can’t be used at all (ᴜɪᴅ 0 unsupported error message).


text:
Using root, how to fake nfc support of my phone so I can install apps that requires nfc from the Google Play Store?
This question is an extension of this question where I want to perform the nfc checking part at the embassy.
Which files do I need to change in the filesystem using root so I can download apps marked as incompatible on the Google Play Store because my phone lack nfc sensors ?

For modifying the file-system you need an unlocked device and root permissions and in such a case it will be 1000 times easier to manually add the flag that the app had been installed by Play Store than faking a non-existent NFC feature. But if the app is so restrictive that it only allows installs from Pay Store then the chance is high that it also checks for root. BTW. What app in detail are you talking about? A Link to the app in Play Store would be helpful.

@Robert problem is how to tell to an app that uses com.android.vending.CHECK_LICENSE that it was installed from the Google’s Play store. Otherwise, I’m still using Magishide…


text:
Why would one phone be compatible on a network but another not?
I lost my Asus Zenfone 8.  I'm borrowing another one which has all the same specs per imei.info.
However, when I check the device's compatibility with the Cricket network, his phone shows as incompatible.  When I enter my lost phone's IMEI, the site says it's compatible.
I'd like to understand how this could be.  i.e. why would phones with the same hardware be listed with different compatibilities on any given network?

Have you read the section "Check Device Compatibility & Unlock Status" on the linked cricket site? Devices can be carrier locked or even SIM locked so they are bound to one carrier or contract. Such a lock is implemented on software level.

@Robert thanks for the note.  I'll check with my friend but as far as I know this phone was only available unlocked.  i.e. I don't think asus partnered with any providers to sell locked variants

After contacting both Cricket and Asus support, Asus mentioned my friend's phone was intended for use in Taiwan.  They determined this based off the serial number.
This doesn't fully make sense to me since I believe the phone has the hardware support that Cricket says is missing - specifically VoLTE/HD-voice.  I found when I restarted the phone and swapped my SIM card into it, I could use the unsupported Asus phone for around 5 minutes before some automated process disabled both 5G and VoLTE (the icons on top-right were there, then disappeared after ~5 minutes).
So although I'd like to understand the lack of support at a deeper level, hearing the phone was intended to be used in Taiwan works well enough for me as he did buy it off eBay.

It seems the carrier blocks foreign/unregistered IMEI on their side. This also happened to my imported phone on Indonesian carriers due to this regulation. The phone getting signal for about 30 minutes, then no signal since then.

Thanks for sharing your experience - good to know regulations like that exist since I didn't realize something like that would be regulated


text:
Google Family sharing with Google Assistant
I can't seem to figure out what data on my Google Assistant is shared with my Google Family. It looks like Google Assistant is an app that's listed with my Family according to the pages I'm reading, but I cannot for the life of me figure out what Google Assistant data is actually shared. (I'd prefer none of it be shared) I've tried contacting Google Support on this, who was terribly unhelpful.
If there's a more appropriate Google Stack Exchange forum, please let me know.


text:
Unlocking device after factory reset
Device still needs previous google account after factory reset and I don't know the pin or Google account before resetting

Welcome to the Q&A site Android Enthusiasts Stack Exchange. We have an existing question for the same issue about bypassing Factory Reset Protection. Please take a look at the duplicate question. Thank you.


text:
What is "Navigation Bar" option on Unihertz Titan Pocket?
I have a Unihertz Titan Pocket, and when I hold the power button, I see an option for "Navigation bar".
I've pressed it many times, but I don't see what it does.  Does anyone know?

Please post a screen shot of that menu.

It's an Android 11, touchscreen phone with a keypad. Interesting design.
Most probably it is for enabling/disabling the navigation bar (on the touchscreen) since it already has keypad navigation buttons. Or it might be the opposite; maybe for disabling the keypad's navigation bar and just using the on-screen navigation. Just toggle it from the power menu and see which one gets disabled.
PS. The navigation bar is the bar containing back, recent, and home buttons or a pill-shaped gesture bar at the bottom of the screen.

Now that you point that out, I see a line (perhaps stretched pill shape) at the bottom of most screens.  And that options turns it off.  But what is the point of that line (gesture bar)?

:) It basically is a type of navigation bar. You can see the same in iphones and many recently launched smartphones. For example.. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=l3_u0KrSqt8


text:
Is Android 13 recovery build type hardcoded?
My device is Tecno Spark 10 Pro and has recovery as boot ramdisk. I changed every user's fingerprint and build type from user to eng in prop.default, but when I boot into recovery, my build type is still user.
I have tried adding the buildtype=eng in the boot cmd line, but still get user when booting to recovery.
How can I change the build type in recovery?


text:
How to set Proxy Auto-Config for cellular data?
On the internet, I found the following instructions for simple proxy, but this does not work for proxy PAC:

Go to your Android System Settings & tap on Network & Internet.
Tap on Mobile network.
Tap on Advanced.
Tap on Access Point Names.
Tap on the APN you are currently using.
Enter the IP address and port of the Proxy server you want to use.
Save the changes.

How to set Proxy Auto-Config for cellular data? I know it is possible to do that for Wi-Fi.
Note: solutions which use third party apps or a VPN are not suitable for me.
It can be different for different devices, but I need to know in general how I can do it.

Android supports PAC only with Wi-Fi, not with Mobile Data.

Can you provide an article / documentation where this is said?

There is no general documentation for users that explains the features found in Android. OEMs provide guide and support to their customer. So contact your phone manufacturer to inquire about a specific feature. What I've quoted is from a developer's perspective.


text:
I changed android device ID using adb but apps still see the old device id
I followed these 2 commands to change android device ID
./adb.exe shell settings get secure android_id
// Returns old device id

./adb.exe shell settings put secure android_id 1b32af358342cb24
// Passes without error

./adb.exe shell settings get secure android_id
// Returns 1b32af358342cb24

Restart my phone now.

./adb.exe shell settings get secure android_id
// Returns 1b32af358342cb24

Now when I use device id checker apps from play store, they still show the old device id. What should I do? I don't have root though. My phone is Oneplus 8T.

Since Android 8.0 each Android app gets a unique android_id. I just checked android_id in two apps and they each report different android_id on Android 10. See relevant info in this answer: https://android.stackexchange.com/a/219757/96277 // Since each app sees a different android_id, what are you hoping to achieve by changing android_id in secure settings?

@Firelord Yes. I am aware of it. But if I change the main android id, the unique id for those apps should change too. Right? That's what I want to do

You'd have to look into the source code of Android to figure out if secure settings' android_id has anything to do with the unique android_id each app sees.


text:
How to unlock bootloader of Vivo Y33S - 'Waiting for device' error
I'm facing some challenges with unlocking the bootloader of my Vivo Y33S and could really use some assistance. I have tried a few methods, but I'm encountering two specific issues:
The MTKclient software doesn't seem to work for bootloader unlocking on my Vivo Y33S. I've followed the instructions to enter in Brom mode, but it doesn't recognize my device or initiate the unlock process.
When I use the Vivo Fastboot software and execute the commands fastboot vivo_bsp unlock_vivo or fastboot bbk unlock_vivo, I receive the following error messages:
FAILED (remote: Unrecognized command vivo_bsp unlock_vivo)
FAILED (remote: Unrecognized command bbk unlock_vivo)

I have verified that USB debugging and OEM unlocking are enabled on my device. I'm running stock firmware version PD2147GF_EX_A_38.13.0. I've also ensured that I have the latest drivers installed.
Has anyone successfully unlocked the bootloader of the Vivo Y33S? If so, could you please share any alternative methods or potential solutions to overcome these challenges? Your insights and expertise would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you in advance for your help!

"I've followed the instructions" - how should we know which instruction you followed? Please edit your question and describe in detail what you did and what does not work.

The problem with you, as far as I think, is that you did not enter the fastboot mode on your device. As in the error, fastboot bbk unlock_vivo is used to unlock the bootloader.
I'd highly suggest you watch youtube tutorials if you are not really into these stuffs. If you can't find a tutorial regarding the specific model of your phone, watch general videos relevant to the company of your phone.

I Have entered Fastboot mode, both with the volume buttons, and with adb reboot fastboot and adb reboot bootloader, But it still doesn't work.

What do you see on fastboot devices. Try unlocking manually using the commands: fastboot bbk unlock_vivo and fastboot bbk vivo_bsp unlock_vivo https://www.gizdev.com/how-to-unlock-vivo-phones-bootloader-free-methods/

When i  execute the command fastboot devices it shows 3419116439001S1 fastboot and trying to use fastboot bbk unlock_vivo or fastboot vivo_bsp unlock_vivo only shows FAILED (remote: Unrecognized command bbk unlock_vivo) finished. total time: 0.003s or FAILED (remote: Unrecognized command vivo_bsp unlock_vivo) finished. total time: 0.002s

That's odd.. that's what we do for vivos. But anyway do fastboot flashing unlock.. should work in my opinion.

I have tried fastboot flashing unlock and fastboot oem unlock but they both just give me the error: FAILED (remote: unknown command) finished. total time: 0.000s

Do fastboot -help there should be fewer commands than usual. What is the fastboot version you are using on your pc? Try removing the old version and install adb 1.4.3 from XDA (15 sec installer)

On the vivo fastboot there are fewer commands, and for normal fastboot i use minimal adb and fastboot