191
votes
1answer
135k views
How do I root my Android device?
This is a common question by those who have want to root their phones. How exactly do I root my Android device?
138
votes
4answers
14k views
Does constant charging harm my Android cellphone?
I usually disconnect my cellphone from the charger some time after it's fully charged because I'm afraid the battery could lose capacity over time if I don't. However, I believe modern electronics ...
138
votes
2answers
133k views
I've rooted my phone. Now what? What do I gain from rooting?
This is a common question by those who have just rooted their phones. What apps, ROMs, benefits, etc. do I get from rooting? What should I be doing now?
98
votes
17answers
44k views
What can I do to increase battery life on my Android device?
What can I do to get better battery life on my Droid? Battery life seems awful. Less than 15 hours or so on normal usage.
89
votes
2answers
13k views
When will my device get the Android 4.0 update (Ice Cream Sandwich)?
Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) was officially announced on October 19, 2011.
(You can review the high level SDK changes in Android 4.0 or the official changelog at the official Android Developer's ...
78
votes
16answers
7k views
How to take a screenshot with an Android device?
Is there a way to take a screenshot of an Android device and save it as an image file?
73
votes
6answers
32k views
How can I use my PC's keyboard on the Android emulator?
I want to run/test Android apps on the Android emulator and I want to type using my PC keyboard, as it lets me type and test faster. When I use the emulator though, it only accepts input from the ...
73
votes
1answer
58k views
When will my phone get the Android 2.3 update (Gingerbread)?
Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) SDK was released on December 6, 2010. (High-level user highlights)
Of course, not all devices will get this update right away and others won't get it at all. Each ...
70
votes
17answers
13k views
What are the alternative Android app markets?
How many competing Android markets (other than Android Market itself) are there and are they any good?
I know that there are at least two others: SlideME and AppBrain which I have looked at and seem ...
64
votes
7answers
37k views
What does “to root a phone” mean?
I heard this phrase or the variants (rooted phone, rooting, etc.) in android forums but I don't know what it means. Can you explain it in simple terms?
62
votes
7answers
14k views
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc.?
What is the difference between:
Rooting
Jailbreaking
ROM
NAND and Nandroid
Operating System
Mod (e.g. CyanogenMod)
Recovery (ClockworkMod, Amon Ra)
Custom Kernel (e.g. LeshaK's kernel)
Firmware
...
60
votes
7answers
5k views
Do I really need to install a task manager?
Does one really need to install a task manager? My phone does slowdown on rare occasions but it's not something that hampers regular usage.
60
votes
3answers
11k views
Are there any risks to rooting a device?
I see lots of tutorials telling me how to root my phone (Motorola Droid), but none of them mention any potential "side effects."
Aside from a few relatively minor issues that seem to require rooting ...
57
votes
3answers
36k views
How to set up reverse tethering over USB?
My HTC G2 phone is rooted and running Cyanogenmod 7
I don't have a data plan.
Sometimes I want to connect the phone to the Internet when there isn't Wi-Fi, to update Market apps, backup SMS messages ...
56
votes
12answers
26k views
How to use GPS/Maps without an Internet connection?
I need a way (possibly a third-party application) that allows me to use maps and GPS without an Internet connection.
I don't use it by car, just for walking in cities. It would be nice if I could ...
55
votes
10answers
52k views
How to disable battery full notification sound?
When battery has been charged full, my Galaxy S phone gives the same notification sound that is used when I receive SMS. Is there a way to disable the sound without also disabling sound from SMS? It ...
54
votes
1answer
33k views
Can I install Android on my non-Android device?
Many people want to try/use Android without buying a new Android phone. How can I install Android on my current phone or device running Nokia Symbian, Maemo, or MeeGo; Microsoft Windows Mobile or ...
53
votes
4answers
21k views
Battery Life and First Time Charging on Li-ion Batteries. Myth?
"Ok you bought a brand new mobile phone with brand new battery, after checking its working ok kindly switch it off and charge it fully (100%) then start using it. IT WILL INCREASE YOUR BATTERY LIFE.", ...
49
votes
11answers
84k views
What can I do to manage my phone's internal storage?
If you're not used to seeing the 'low on internal storage' notification, what is it that you're doing to keep your phone's internal memory from filling up so quickly?
The 'SD Card and Phone Storage' ...
47
votes
1answer
19k views
When will my phone get the Android 2.2 update (FroYo)?
Android 2.2 (FroYo, short for "Frozen Yogurt") was released over the Summer 2010, however not all of the devices that will get this update have received it yet. Each manufacturer and carrier needs to ...
46
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it possible to install an app and exclude some of its requested permissions?
Occasionally I want to install an application which requires certain permissions that I feel it really shouldn't need. Can I install the app without giving it these permissions? For example, GPS ...
46
votes
2answers
20k views
What does it mean when the connectivity icons in the status bar go white/gray?
The connectivity icons (Data, Mobile Signal, Wifi) in the status bar on my Nexus S are normally green, but sometimes they go white. I can't seem to figure out what this means, as I still have a signal ...
45
votes
4answers
23k views
Full Backup of non-rooted devices
I know I'm asking for the close-to-impossible -- as a real full-backup certainly requires root permissions. But still there are many folks around not wanting to root their devices -- afraid of voiding ...
45
votes
5answers
22k views
What actually happens when you swipe an app out of the recent apps list?
The recent apps list in Ice Cream Sandwich added the ability to swipe apps out of the list, thereby dismissing them permanently (and as far as I know this is a vanilla function, not a CM/custom ROM ...
45
votes
4answers
62k views
Android browser's about:debug, what do those settings do?
I have just found this hidden setting:
Open Stock browser (Not Chrome on ICS. about:debug doesn't work in Chrome. Use remote debugging instead.)
In the address bar, type about:debug, nothing should ...
45
votes
5answers
6k views
How to backup an Android device?
Can anyone recommend a good way to backup Android devices?
Ideally I would like to do this wirelessly and, not only backup my data, but also my user settings. Is it possible to backup an image of an ...
44
votes
1answer
2k views
What linux distribution is Android based on?
Did Google use some existing distribution (Debian, Red Hat, etc.) to create Android, or did they use the bare essentials (kernel, file system and some mandatory files)?
44
votes
1answer
22k views
When will my device get the Android 4.1 update (Jelly Bean)?
Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) was announced at Google I|O 2012 on June 27, 2012.
(You can review the high level changes in Android 4.1 and/or the official changelog at the official Android Developer's ...
42
votes
6answers
18k views
What is the right way to close apps in Android?
I'm new to the Android platform, and this is probably a dumb question, but...
How do you close an app?
When I'm in an app, and I want to get out, I just click on "Home" and move on, but I just ...
40
votes
6answers
21k views
Why do so many applications require permission to read the phone state and identity?
Why do so many applications require permission to read the phone state and identity?. Specifically:
Phone calls
read phone state and identity
For example Quickpedia is a Wikipedia portal, but ...
40
votes
7answers
7k views
How can I view title text for a web image (xkcd.com) on an Android based browser?
How can I see the title alt text for website images on an HTC Desire?
I'm currently using the Dolphin HD browser but I can't see a way of getting the alt text.
40
votes
1answer
13k views
Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?
There are several reasons to be looking for a ROM:
Upgrading or downgrading your stock ROM
Looking for firmware from a different region/language
Flashing a custom ROM for different features, ...
38
votes
9answers
46k views
How can I download an APK file from the Play Store?
I can't download apps from the Play Store on my Android device (maybe due to a network issue), so I'm wondering how could I download the APK file of an app on my PC from http://play.google.com/store?
38
votes
5answers
3k views
38
votes
6answers
1k views
Is it possible to install Android on a PC?
Is it possible to install Android on a PC? If so, how would this be accomplished?
38
votes
6answers
57k views
How can I uninstall applications that are locked by phone vendor?
I'm using a Samsung I9000 and I have some annoying apps that came pre installed by the phone vendor, like a music store, a custom web browser and other memory leaking apps.
Those crappy apps can't be ...
37
votes
9answers
2k views
How can I do development on my Android device?
I have a pretty long commute to work and own an android phone. I figure it would be nice to do some simple programming on the way. I'm not picky on which language to code on. I usually have an ...
37
votes
3answers
885 views
Does anyone knows who is paying for the free (normally paid) Android programs on the Amazon store
I am really curious who is paying for the free applications you get when installing and using the Amazon Android market program?
Is it Amazon (to promote their software/online store)?
Is it the ...
36
votes
6answers
4k views
Is there a way to easily record a phone conversation in-progress?
I do not own an Android device. I was thinking about getting one, and an important feature for me is the ability to record a phone conversation which is in progress - meaning, while I am in the middle ...
35
votes
2answers
1k views
App that reads images of QR codes?
Very often I will be browsing the internet on my HTC Evo. I constantly come across websites that reference an android application, and provide a QR code of the URL to download the application from ...
34
votes
5answers
54k views
How to backup Angry Birds saves/data?
I need to reinstall my Android ROM but before I would like to backup my Angry Birds savegame/data/scores.
Do you have any idea how can I do it?
34
votes
8answers
4k views
Is there a way to block access to or wipe my Google data for a lost/stolen phone
If my phone was ever lost or stolen, my only real concern is data and apps associated with my Google account, such as my Gmail, the ability to purchase apps from the Market, and maybe Picasa albums.
...
33
votes
5answers
805 views
Is there any app for Stack Exchange?
Is there any app available in the Android Market for Stack Exchange sites?
33
votes
3answers
15k views
How can I fix the GPS on my Samsung Galaxy S?
As has been well documented, the Galaxy S phones have terrible GPS functionality. It works for a minority, but it is slow/inaccurate for some and for others it just doesn't work at all. How can I ...
32
votes
4answers
11k views
Do bright wallpapers spend more battery than dark ones?
I started wondering about this when I realized most websites I visit have white backgrounds, and I know that the screen is usually responsible for most of the battery usage. Since I can't change the ...
32
votes
9answers
43k views
How can I prevent applications from running on startup? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How can I stop applications and services from running?
I've installed some applications that I mostly like, except for the fact that they all decided they were too ...
32
votes
1answer
1k views
How the f*&% to stop voice-to-text from censoring profanity?
The voice-to-text feature is very useful, but every once in a while when sending an SMS or email message to a friend, I want to really let loose.
However, Google, in their defense of my virginal ...
31
votes
6answers
6k views
Support for Multiple Users on same device
Is there such a thing as a "current user" on Android and a way to switch it?
I'm interested in getting a Motorola Xoom and would like to share it with my wife when at home. For my Windows laptop we ...
30
votes
5answers
2k views
How Do I Know Which Google Account is Used for the Market?
So far I've never purchased anything from the Market but just installed free apps. Now, I'd like to purchase an app and I want to make sure the Market is using the correct Google account, since I have ...
30
votes
7answers
20k views
Can I use multiple Android devices with a single Google account?
Surprisingly I haven't found a satisfactory answer for this in a FAQ somewhere or anything.
I have a Motorola Droid (with froyo, if it matters)
I am thinking about getting a Samsung Galaxy Tab.
...
