All Questions
7,247
questions
154
votes
3
answers
257k
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, removing ...
- 50.3k
505
votes
1
answer
708k
views
How do I root my Android device?
This is a common question asked by those who want to root their phones. How exactly do I root my Android device? Are there risks involved?
364
votes
8
answers
369k
views
How to fully backup 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 ...
Izzy♦
- 89.2k
86
votes
3
answers
368k
views
Can not unlock my Android device as have no internet connection?
I have an Android device which is running Android 4.0.3 (or something like that).
My little brother decided to try and guess my lock screen pattern the other day, and ended up locking me out.
I ...
- 8,336
65
votes
1
answer
85k
views
How do I update Android on my device?
This Community Wiki question is designed to be the "canonical question" for questions asking how to upgrade one's device to a new Android version.
I want to get a newer version of the OS for my ...
7
votes
4
answers
7k
views
How disk space is used on Android device?
I have critical low storage level and can't understand what takes much of it and how that's possible that the installed applications can use 7 GB? I only use a few social media clients without any ...
- 191
65
votes
6
answers
87k
views
Is there a minimal installation of ADB?
When it comes to troubleshooting, I often read recommendations like "Use adb logcat to find some more details". Looking for a good way to backup all my apps including their data, Full Backup of non-...
Izzy♦
- 89.2k
39
votes
5
answers
3.1m
views
How to bypass "Verify your account" (Factory Reset Protection)
I won a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge, signed into it with my Google account, played around with it, wiped it, and sold it.
Now the person can't get past setup because it's saying he must login with an ...
- 491
125
votes
1
answer
176k
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 ...
- 50.3k
136
votes
3
answers
651k
views
Where Android apps store data?
Could you list all possible directories where Android apps may store data, providing description what kind of data are stored in each directory?
- 1,677
91
votes
4
answers
155k
views
Uninstall apps 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 ...
- 1,013
193
votes
22
answers
110k
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.
49
votes
3
answers
191k
views
How can I install the Google Apps Package (Play Store, ...) on my Android device?
I have recently installed a custom ROM and cannot find the Play Store. It seems like all apps that belong to Google are missing.
How can I install the Google Apps Package (Play Store, ...) on my ...
18
votes
3
answers
27k
views
How to recover a deleted file from /data partition?
I factory reset my rooted Android M phone but now I realize that there was a file in the /data directory which I need.
Is it possible to create an image (.img or something similar) of the /data ...
- 195
68
votes
1
answer
303k
views
How can I stop applications and services from running?
When my phone starts up there are several application/services running in the background that I would rather not. And when I press the Home button while using an app, that app usually goes into the ...
- 50.3k
113
votes
14
answers
289k
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' ...
- 1,550
134
votes
4
answers
621k
views
How can I view and examine the Android log?
There is a lot of interesting stuff in the Android system log, that is helpful in many ways
find root causes of problems
identify misbehaving apps
How can I view and examine the Android log?
- 18.3k
63
votes
2
answers
242k
views
What is /storage/emulated/0/?
Recently, I've figured out that if I delete files from /sdcard/Download it deletes files from /storage/emulated/0/Download. And if I add the files into /sdcard/Download it duplicates them in /storage/...
30
votes
8
answers
179k
views
How do I backup data (SMS/contacts) from a device with a broken screen?
I just broke the screen of my (unrooted) Galaxy S.
How do I get back my SMS and contacts?
PS: I tried Kies but it won't detect my phone for some reason. (Kies works fine with another Galaxy I ...
- 498
115
votes
9
answers
264k
views
View app's full package name?
I am using Android 4.0.3 and I can no longer find package name for some app. If I recall, I used to go to Applications and has been able to see it there.
So, how can I see full package name of some ...
- 2,805
13
votes
2
answers
10k
views
How can I deduce/identify an app from a notification icon?
I'm concerned about an app on my child's phone. I saw an app icon in the notification area that looked strange (Andy Android head, slightly tilted as its icon).
How can I find out what app it is from ...
- 141
46
votes
4
answers
299k
views
Broken screen while debug mode was disabled. How can I re-enable adb?
The screen of my phone is physically broken, so it doesn't display anything, but the touch aspect does seem to be working, as I can unlock my phone, and get haptic feedback.
Before I go to get it ...
- 741
135
votes
7
answers
225k
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 ...
- 2,978
4
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How to make a complete factory reset, without anyone being able to retrieve my data?
I will have a few Android phones that I will have to let go.
I would like to make a proper clean wipe of the data, without no one being able to retrieve them, and do a factory reset.
I have read ...
- 143
59
votes
1
answer
23k
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 ...
8
votes
1
answer
74k
views
Can I install a ROM made for a different device?
I own a MicroMax A100. I want to install the latest version of a different ROM (Samsung or Nexus).
Is it possible? If so, can you tell me how?
If not, can I install a ROM made for a different device,...
- 219
46
votes
6
answers
51k
views
Is there a viable alternative to MTP for file transfer?
Since the latest versions (ICS+?) no longer have mass storage, is there any viable alternative to MTP?
The protocol seems inherently broken and the decision to regress to this format seems like a ...
- 903
312
votes
3
answers
481k
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?
149
votes
7
answers
171k
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?
- 6,968
17
votes
4
answers
159k
views
Google Maps Location History is showing an incorrect location
I have a major problem that I hope someone can help with. On my Google Maps feature under my Location History it shows a location that I was never at at any point, but when my wife happened to see ...
- 171
130
votes
2
answers
19k
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 ...
49
votes
5
answers
112k
views
How can I circumvent regional restrictions in Google's Play Store?
I'm travelling to country X. I want to install an application which isn't available in my country, but is available in country X; but I prefer to download and install it in advance, while the data ...
- 3,656
283
votes
6
answers
79k
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 ...
- 2,931
157
votes
21
answers
40k
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?
- 6,968
63
votes
5
answers
217k
views
My device is getting slow, apps start misbehaving/crashing. What can I do?
Everything was working fine for a long time. But suddenly the device is getting slower than usual (e.g. apps react slowly when starting an action -- like the RSS reader takes "ages" to open an article)...
Izzy♦
- 89.2k
13
votes
4
answers
145k
views
"Insufficient storage" when trying to install new app
Every time I go to install a new app, I get the message "Insufficient storage", and an unable to install anything!
I am using Samsung GT19060 my internal memory is 8GB. I have not downloaded anything ...
- 450
4
votes
1
answer
6k
views
How to make Ethernet work on Android over OTG?
I am trying to use an LTE modem connected to an Android 7 device over an OTG cable. The kernel recognizes the device and registers it with cdc_ether, but I am unable to use the connection from the ...
- 153
144
votes
6
answers
36k
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 ...
- 2,194
36
votes
1
answer
34k
views
How to decrypt Adopted Storage?
Using the SD card as Adopted Storage encrypts it. How can it be decrypted?
- 1,283
35
votes
3
answers
66k
views
How can I recover a deleted file on Android? [duplicate]
I just deleted a file on my Nexus S that I really need back. (It was actually part of an app using a sqlite database that did a drop table when upgrading to a new version.)
Presumably I need to root ...
- 459
30
votes
1
answer
35k
views
When will my device get the Android 5.0 update (Lollipop)?
Android 5.0 (Lollipop) was officially announced on October 15th, 2014.
You can review the high-level changes at the Android website and the announcement on the official Android blog.
Of course, not ...
176
votes
15
answers
56k
views
What are the alternative Android app markets?
How many competing Android markets (other than the Play Store itself) are there and are they any good? Which ones do you use and why?
26
votes
1
answer
69k
views
Android Folder Hierarchy
On Android's root (/), what is the purpose of each folder? I want to learn the folder hierarchy structure. I would like to know the differences between Android 2.3 and 4.x, if they have different ...
170
votes
9
answers
64k
views
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreaking, ROM, Mod, etc.?
What is the difference between:
Unlocking the bootloader (prerequisite for doing many, though not all, other things below)
Rooting
Jailbreaking
ROM
NAND and Nandroid
Operating System
Mod (e.g. ...
73
votes
6
answers
24k
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 ...
- 1,491
10
votes
1
answer
10k
views
How to bind mount a folder inside /sdcard with correct permissions?
I am using a Sony Xperia M4 Aqua. As is well known, the internal memory is rather small. Especially the Media directory of WhatsApp uses a lot of precious space, therefore I am trying to move it to ...
- 153
5
votes
1
answer
13k
views
How to run an executable on boot and keep it running?
I have an executable build from a ndk-build program. I want to run it on a rooted Android device. How much is the possibility that Android will kill my executable?
Using adb shell, I am able to ...
- 821
21
votes
3
answers
109k
views
Google Play: Error downloading app - insufficient space
After one of the latest updates (not sure if it was the last one or a previous one) of the Google Play app, I am having an error trying to update a large app (42MB). It says:
Error Downloading . ...
- 1,125
142
votes
10
answers
169k
views
How do you extract an App's data from a full backup made through "adb backup"?
I have been backing up my Nexus 7 with adb backup to back up all files into an encrypted backup. I see that you can restore from a backup with adb restore, but that would wipe all my existing data on ...
user11553
43
votes
8
answers
20k
views
How can I install an app given only its APK file?
I downloaded the APK file for an app to my PC. How can I install it on my phone?
- 5,364