45
votes
Accepted
Google just EOLed the original Pixel. How long until it's a brick?
Theoretically, the OG Pixel will work indefinitely until there's an irreparable software/hardware issue. Realistically? Depends on how the user takes care of it ;)
"End of Life (EOL)" doesn't mean ...
- 16.5k
18
votes
Accepted
Which phones have the purest Android?
tl:dr; Google phones have the purest Android. They come with Google apps
In Android ecosystem, phones launched by Google are stock Android (aka vanilla). It's the purest form of Android because Google ...
- 41.3k
16
votes
Which phones have the purest Android?
How about looking for models supported by LineageOS? This is a ROM you can flash to your device, and you can even use it without the Google Apps (or flash them later)
Although they are not included ...
- 271
14
votes
Google just EOLed the original Pixel. How long until it's a brick?
If Google declares a device to be "EOL" this simply means that you no longer receive device and security updates.
Therefore your Android devices will not stop working, however after the point of EOL ...
- 21.7k
13
votes
Use fingerprint to unlock the lock screen after booting Pixel 6
Unfortunately there is no way to use fingerprint as authentication directly after rebooting the device.
The first unlock always have to be performed using the PIN/password, because the PIN/Password is ...
- 21.7k
11
votes
Android - Check whether an app was sideloaded or installed via play store
[If] I originally installed an app from the play store but then side loaded an update would it say installed through the play store or via a third party
It would say sideloaded. You can check the ...
- 25.3k
11
votes
Which phones have the purest Android?
The question has quite deep implications.
Android is not an OS, it is an "ecosystem".
There is Android Open Source Project. This is the "base" of the Android OS.
Hardly usable and ...
- 211
10
votes
Use fingerprint to unlock the lock screen after booting Pixel 6
Robert's answer describes why you unfortunately cannot unlock an android phone with a fingerprint after a reboot. However, depending on you password habits, there's a significant chance you can guess ...
- 201
6
votes
Accepted
Disable "Upcoming Alarm" Notification (without disabling alarm)
After spending an hour on the phone with Google tech support (don't know why I didn't think of this earlier) their representative was able to replicate the issue.
At this time there appears to be no ...
- 321
6
votes
Accepted
dex2oat64 is eating battery on Android 12 (Beta). What is it?
dex2oat is a utility used when installing or updating applications, so that was likely just a remnant of your "Android is upgrading" phase that you saw after the initial/first reboot after ...
6
votes
Long-pressing power button shows Assistant, how to restart the device?
Long pressing the power button is still the standard gesture to show the power menu, including the restart option. However, the Assistant is likely due to the system gesture setting.
At least for ...
- 16.5k
5
votes
Accepted
No more badge notifications on Google Pixel?
This is a because Pixel (and also Nexus) devices do not support app badges. More specifically the launcher does not. It is the launcher that must support them rather than the app itself. Your Galaxy ...
- 8,795
5
votes
Accepted
How to select a Non OEM USB Type C charger or cable for my device?
USB C Chargers/ Cables are a minefield - In implementation
The standards (as they should) are said to clear and consistent but implementation has been shoddy causing multiple problems and even ...
- 41.3k
5
votes
Use fingerprint to unlock the lock screen after booting Pixel 6
Vaelus' answer is the most useful one here, and did well to cover the actual kinds of tools you want to be looking into, so I won't repeat those here - this answer is more concerning the methodology ...
- 155
4
votes
Disable "Upcoming Alarm" Notification (without disabling alarm)
Well, this is a late response but I just ran across this as I am having the same problem. Thank to jszpila here for posting Google's response so I didn't have to waste any more time trying to get rid ...
- 41
4
votes
Accepted
Prevent dark mode from activating during battery saver
According to the source code file
frameworks/base/core/java/android/provider/Settings.java
there is a global setting in the user profile called battery_saver_constants, which can hold several comma ...
- 91
4
votes
Accepted
A cat randomly appears and disapears from the Google Search bar. What is this?
It's a doodle from Google related to Sir John Tenniel's 200th birthday. This is a feature for Google search app widget which you can also disable in Google app settings. You can read about the feature ...
- 214
4
votes
Accepted
My Pixel C tablet doesn't respond to the unlock pattern and the recommend action to debrick it doesn't work
Just in case anyone else comes this way searching for an answer, I did get one on the XDA forums.
The solution is to start the device with volume down and power pressed. This brings you to the menu I ...
- 161
4
votes
Force resize widget smaller than allowed
This post found a workaround where you change the Display Size option in Android settings to Small, resize the widget, and then change back your display size.
- 361
4
votes
Accepted
How to upgrade Pixel 3's internal storage to more than 64 GB
The Pixel 3 does not have a slot for inserting an Micro-SD card. Therefore you can not upgrade your device.
The 64GB memory chip is built-in soldered to the main board of the phone. Replacing it is ...
- 21.7k
3
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to designate an alternative wifi connection test site?
Yes. Since Android 7.1 the method is a little different (not gonna mention the old method here) - fire up adb shell then use the command settings put global captive_portal_https_url **site domain here*...
- 9,617
3
votes
Increasing vibration intensity in pixel XL
Unfortunately, Android does not provide a stock setting that will control global vibration intensity because not all phone hardware supports the ability to control vibration amplitude.
Instead, ...
- 589
3
votes
Dark statusbar/quicksettings theme on Oreo?
Sony helped Google in implementing native support of RRO layers in Android O. This was previously used in many Xperia phones for a better system-wide theme support. In android custom rom and root ...
- 713
3
votes
Accepted
Lock screen notifications rearrange themselves for seemingly no reason
It does not appear to be possible to keep notifications from rotating positions on the lock screen in Android 7 Nougat. See explanation below, and the way to disable this action in Android Lollipop.
...
- 262
3
votes
Pixel imported contacts' names not showing up at top of messages
After a long support session with Google, some combination of the following things resolved the issue: (although it was unclear what happened when because there were numerous glitches that occurred ...
- 409
3
votes
Accepted
How "Google Pixel (XL)" activates the "unlimited full resolution photo and video backup"
From Google Product Pixel help
Question: ....Do you think that the unlimited photo/video backup will be tied to
1) a single account,
2) any account that is signed in on the Pixel
3) ...
- 41.3k
3
votes
Accepted
System update notification but system already up-to-date
Does Android put out security updates with the same version #?
Yes. Version number changes generally correspond with new features or new APIs. Occasionally it will also be incremented for major ...
- 36.8k
3
votes
Accepted
How do I disable rapid charging?
Google Pixel XL allows for slower charging, if a non USB-C adapter is used.
From the support area at Google on the section concerning charging. See the suggestion #2 for your concern:
Which power ...
- 2,669
3
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to charge and transfer files to an Android phone with a usb-c hub?
Being a fellow Google Pixel user myself, I can say with 100% confidence that the phone is absolutely capable of providing a charge and transferring files at the same time. It may not be the quickest ...
- 303
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible