All Questions
57,803
questions
509
votes
1
answer
711k
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?
368
votes
8
answers
381k
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♦
- 90.5k
314
votes
3
answers
483k
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?
286
votes
6
answers
80k
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 ...
- 2,961
194
votes
22
answers
111k
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.
178
votes
15
answers
57k
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?
178
votes
7
answers
784k
views
How do I change the Google Play country?
Can someone tell me how to change the country preference for Google Play? I have searched high and low but in most of the forums people ask you to go to Gmail settings -> edit profile and change the ...
- 2,286
176
votes
14
answers
684k
views
How do I view source code in an Android web browser?
Is there a way to view the source HTML in an Android web browser?
- 1,863
173
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. ...
159
votes
21
answers
43k
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?
- 7,028
157
votes
16
answers
194k
views
How do I back up Google Authenticator?
I'm starting to use Google Authenticator for more and more things now, but I've just realized that if I lose my phone, or if I need to wipe and restore it to install new firmware, I will lose all of ...
- 1,693
155
votes
1
answer
260k
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 ...
151
votes
7
answers
173k
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?
- 7,028
151
votes
5
answers
81k
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 ...
- 36.7k
147
votes
10
answers
178k
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
147
votes
6
answers
37k
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 ...
- 2,224
145
votes
3
answers
690k
views
Where do Android apps store data?
Could you list all the possible directories where Android apps may store data? Can you also provide description of the kind of data stored in each directory?
- 1,777
141
votes
2
answers
390k
views
Why can't I press the Install button when installing applications from unknown sources?
I'm trying to sideload an application, as seen in the picture below.
I have allowed the installation of applications from unknown applied actions in settings, but I can't seem to press the install ...
user24200
141
votes
8
answers
135k
views
How can I use my PC's keyboard in 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 ...
- 1,533
141
votes
4
answers
653k
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?
- 18.4k
137
votes
7
answers
232k
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 ...
- 3,017
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 ...
125
votes
1
answer
177k
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 ...
- 50.5k
123
votes
9
answers
212k
views
Not all files are visible over MTP
I have LG L5 (e610 model) device with Cyanogenmod 10. When I connect the phone to a computer with Linux (I have mtpfs installed), I can see both internal storage and the SD card. However when I ...
- 1,343
122
votes
6
answers
271k
views
How can I shutdown my Android phone using an adb command?
How do I halt an android phone using adb command? I can reboot, but I don't know how to halt.
I tried shutdown -k wait command, but it did not work.
- 1,401
119
votes
8
answers
281k
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 ...
- 2,875
114
votes
4
answers
515k
views
Where in the file system are applications installed?
I have installed a few Android applications both with the adb install MyApplication.apk command and via a webserver (like an alternative to Android Market).
But where in the Android file system on my ...
- 4,997
113
votes
14
answers
290k
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
107
votes
5
answers
547k
views
How can I see what IP address my android phone has?
I would like to know what IP-address my Android phone has. E.g. if I use my phone over WiFi, how can I get the local IP-address that is assigned to my phone?
- 4,997
97
votes
7
answers
21k
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.
- 1,583
94
votes
6
answers
1.6m
views
How to use Windows' internet on Android phone through USB cable
I'm using Android 4.4.2 (on Micromax Unite 2 - A106). I've a Windows PC at home which has highspeed broadband internet connection. I don't have wireless router or access point. I just want to use PC's ...
- 993
94
votes
1
answer
68k
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 ...
92
votes
4
answers
156k
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 ...
- 1,023
90
votes
12
answers
91k
views
How can I export the list of open Chrome tabs?
Chrome's sync feature isn't picking up all of the tabs open on my Android phone.
Are the tabs stored in a file somewhere that I can access?
My intention is to export the list of tabs so that I could ...
- 1,003
90
votes
5
answers
72k
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 ...
goldsz
90
votes
9
answers
12k
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 ...
- 7,028
86
votes
15
answers
94k
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?
- 993
86
votes
6
answers
88k
views
How can I verify the authenticity of an APK file I downloaded?
The latest update of Google Maps is unavailable in my country, so I downloaded a version by googling for "Google Maps 5.4.0 apk". I did in fact find it, but now I wonder how I can tell if this is in ...
- 5,454
86
votes
3
answers
371k
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 ...
- 8,396
85
votes
4
answers
205k
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 ...
84
votes
4
answers
310k
views
Battery Life and First Time Charging on Li-ion Batteries. Myth? [closed]
"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.", ...
- 915
83
votes
8
answers
442k
views
Disable Screenshot Security
Some apps don't allow screenshots so how can I still take a screenshot?
It is my phone and I should be able to do whatever I want with it so why is there even a feature to disallow screenshots?
...
- 941
82
votes
6
answers
493k
views
Change Gmail account to make in-app purchase?
What is the procedure to change email account which you want to use to make in-app purchase?
Take a look at the image.
Click to enlarge the image
I am using 2 Gmail accounts and only 1 has a ...
- 2,875
82
votes
8
answers
29k
views
Why do Android phones have more cores than computers?
Laptops have usually at most four cores, and dualcores are probably more common. I have recently switched from quadcore to dualcore and I can confirm there is a limited number of usecases for quadcore,...
- 1,145
81
votes
4
answers
129k
views
What is the offical name of the third on-screen button?
I am searching for the official name of the third (right) android on-screen button.
The left and middle button are clear:
Left: Back button
Middle: Home button
Right: ???
Android 1 - 4.4
Android 5....
- 18.5k
81
votes
11
answers
58k
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 ...
- 5,216
79
votes
3
answers
13k
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)?
- 1,221
78
votes
4
answers
225k
views
Enable and disable system apps via ADB
Is there any adb command to enable/disable a system app?
Thanks
- 883
77
votes
4
answers
332k
views
How to start root shell with Android Studio?
I just installed Android Studio. How do I get into root shell on my phone? Or do I have to download ADB separately?
- 1,267
77
votes
9
answers
111k
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 ...
- 1,679