[HELP THREAD] Ask ANY Question. Noob Friendly.

[immortalneo]

There are a lot of people joining XDA on a daily basis, and there are a lot of repetitive questions being asked
which clutter up the Development and 'Q & A' threads. Point them here. Feel free to ask or answer questions.

The idea of this thread is to get users to help other users with their problems/questions. People are usually
ridiculed for asking questions that other people deem stupid even though it may be a legitimate question. This
leads to new users being afraid to ask questions!

Only provide well mannered help towards users in this thread. Please do not spoon feed, but rather point in
the direction where that user can find an answer and educate himself. If you don't want to answer, at least
point out where to find the answer.


Before posting anything, I strongly advise you to read THIS thread.

Then, have a quick look at the names of threads in Post No. 2, you might find what you need right away.

Third. Even if you do get your question answered, please do come back and read threads in Post No. 2
(coming later as soon as we start getting the guides) to educate yourself. You'll be surprised how much time
and frustration it will save you in the future!


No abuse towards noobs tolerated here! That means:

NO TROLLING
NO NAME CALLING
NO RIDICULING
NO FLAMING​

ASK ANY QUESTION HERE! No question is stupid or irrelevant in this thread. You will either get an answer or will get pointed in the right direction.

*A Special Thanks to mark manning for his help in creating this thread*


HALL OF FAME

People who contributed most to this thread and helped countless number of people with their
problems/questions. In no particular order.

Bruce Wayne
post-mortem
SilentStrider
Ghostfreak NB
mayank9856
sgs22012
Zatta
ADDICT.ANK


These people also have the right to use the banner below:

Just add this code to your signature:

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[note7boy]

(HELP!)
i was trying to root my infinix hot 9 play by using this (https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/infinix-hot-9-play-twrp-recovery-root.4382783/)
but when i start my phone (bootloader unlocked ) it was not root, so downlaod KINGROOT apk and open it, it was scanning my phone so i left the screen on and start using pc after 2 mint when i try to unlock my phone it did not repond. i try every solution and then realized that it got hard bricked. i already have unbrick my infinix note 7 in past so i try same method here, when i try to install driver in libusb-win 32 first time it shows i install driver then i try bypass it stuck on "waiting for Brom"
first i used (mtk_bypass_rev4.exe) then i used (MTKMETAUtilityV95) and then (TFT Unlocker) but the problem remains. then i reinstall (mediatech sp deiver) and after my device not showing inlibusb-win-32 and i am getting error (unknown usb device descriptor request failed) *{image attacted } i tried it on other 2 PC but the problem remains.

 

[crucknova]

Hey guys!
kinda new here and i have somethings i want help with.
If you know about iphone, its impossible to downgrade if the ipa is not signed by the apple server.
but you can downgrade if you have the BLOB save for the version to later downgrade using itunes.

is there any way like apple to downgrade the andriod version( specifically samsung) and firmware binary( lets assume from u5 to u4 or u3).
Any reply would be appreciated.
Thank you

 

[SubwayChamp]

The phone was used for over 2 years, changed the owner in one family and factory settings were restored, immediately after that the problem began, bootloader unlocked by MiUnlock (I couldn't upload the software without it)

What I asked was more specific than that, I asked if you (yourself) unlocked the bootloader, it makes a difference from receiving a device with an already unlocked bootloader, to connect this last with the part you say "...and data transfer works normally," if you are referring to data transfer, it´s irrelevant for this matter, but if you meant, data mobile (mobile data) then it matters.

 

[SubwayChamp]

Hey guys!
kinda new here and i have somethings i want help with.
If you know about iphone, its impossible to downgrade if the ipa is not signed by the apple server.
but you can downgrade if you have the BLOB save for the version to later downgrade using itunes.

is there any way like apple to downgrade the andriod version( specifically samsung) and firmware binary( lets assume from u5 to u4 or u3).
Any reply would be appreciated.
Thank you

It can, usually it´s required an unlocked bootloader, and may be or not, a patched Odin.

 

[SubwayChamp]

(HELP!)
i was trying to root my infinix hot 9 play by using this (https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/infinix-hot-9-play-twrp-recovery-root.4382783/)
but when i start my phone (bootloader unlocked ) it was not root, so downlaod KINGROOT apk and open it, it was scanning my phone so i left the screen on and start using pc after 2 mint when i try to unlock my phone it did not repond. i try every solution and then realized that it got hard bricked. i already have unbrick my infinix note 7 in past so i try same method here, when i try to install driver in libusb-win 32 first time it shows i install driver then i try bypass it stuck on "waiting for Brom"
first i used (mtk_bypass_rev4.exe) then i used (MTKMETAUtilityV95) and then (TFT Unlocker) but the problem remains. then i reinstall (mediatech sp deiver) and after my device not showing inlibusb-win-32 and i am getting error (unknown usb device descriptor request failed) *{image attacted } i tried it on other 2 PC but the problem remains.

Firstly, you have to run the Filter Wizard, till the USB entries are listed, then connect your device and see the changes in that list, the item changed has to be selected, to install the LibUSB on it, if not, press the PWR button, pretending to power on your device, untill you can see a new item in the list.

Secondly, power off your device, open the device manager in Windows, and connect your device to the PC, the buttons you have to press may vary from a device to another, some work by pressing the volume buttons, if the drivers were correctly installed, then you have to see your device under Ports (COM & LPT), and like MediaTek USB Preloader (or similar) (your picture is not showing that), if you did it correctly, only now (and not before) you have to run the brom bypass of your choice.

Any of the pictures you uploaded reflects something to that matters, the LibUSB doesn´t have your device listed, and in the device manager picture, it is not showed what is listed under Ports (COM & LPT) entry.

 

[Coito]

Hi there.
I hope I can put this question here.

My old phone (Redmi Note 9) died, out of the blue, and 3 different technicians say it's irrecoverable. I've accepted that.

But would anyone know of a way I could recover some of the data I had on it which seems to be on a GoogleOne backup?

Namely, I had an app (Fast Notepad by Igor), which I had originally installed just to keep my shopping lists, but since it was quick, I stupidly gradually started using it to keep quick notes of anything I might need to remember later.
Since it started with unimportant stuff, I never thought of copying those notes anywhere when some of them started being important, and now the phone died.
Stupid, I know.

Now, I see on my GoogleOne a backup copy of my old phone from about a month ago, with some 200kb data on this app. So I think most of my notes are there, but I can't seem to get to them.

I was in Tanzania when the phone died and bought a cheap Oppo there, not much choice, which only gets up to Android 9.
The Redmi was on Android 11. Google says the backup can't be restored to a lower version of Android (thanks for the useful backup Google), so I suppose that is why none of the content of my apps, SMS and so on got restored to it.

But a friend tried to open the backup on his Android 12 device with my Google login and it said that it could only access it from the original phone anyhow. So that didn't work either.

I know it's a long shot, but does anyone have any idea of a way I could access the content of that backup Google is keeping hostage so that I could just copy paste my notes?

Thank you in advance for any ideas.

 

[AdPhone]

What I asked was more specific than that, I asked if you (yourself) unlocked the bootloader, it makes a difference from receiving a device with an already unlocked bootloader, to connect this last with the part you say "...and data transfer works normally," if you are referring to data transfer, it´s irrelevant for this matter, but if you meant, data mobile (mobile data) then it matters.

mobile data (internet) works, that's what I meant.
I unlocked the bootloader myself.

 

[LordLiverpool]

Or the one that is in the zip https://github.com/bkerler/mtkclient, compress it in tar format, you may need only the file to be flashed into the AP partition.

I (finally) tried this. I renamed the file to vbmeta.img, compressed it in tar and flashed it in the AP slot. Result: I got stuck in download mode again, and got this:

vbmeta: Error verifying vbmeta image: OK_NOT_SIGNED (3)
vbmeta: VERIFICATION_DISABLED bit is set
CUSTOM VBMETA
VBMETA: No sign info
VBMETA ,

So I'm back to where I was before. I flashed the stock firmware again, and now I'll flash the patched boot.img to get back to root.

 

[SubwayChamp]

mobile data (internet) works, that's what I meant.
I unlocked the bootloader myself.

there was a little space line, to can know for sure if the issue started, either, once you formatted data, or when you unlocked bootloader; sometimes, although Xiaomi allows bootloader being unlocked, some issues may come from do it.

If your device is unlocked, then you can try first by installing the latest firmware for your region, using TWRP, or other custom recovery of your choice (also can be done using fastboot).

If this doesn´t solve it, then you should need flash the stock ROM through fastboot commands, because MiFlash tool require an authorized account to use it.

Things to try in the way, flashing a custom ROM, issue is solved?

 

[SubwayChamp]

I (finally) tried this. I renamed the file to vbmeta.img, compressed it in tar and flashed it in the AP slot. Result: I got stuck in download mode again, and got this:

vbmeta: Error verifying vbmeta image: OK_NOT_SIGNED (3)
vbmeta: VERIFICATION_DISABLED bit is set
CUSTOM VBMETA
VBMETA: No sign info
VBMETA ,

So I'm back to where I was before. I flashed the stock firmware again, and now I'll flash the patched boot.img to get back to root.

I don´t remember (it was a long time) if you have a custom recovery, this custom recovery probably may allows you to boot to the fastbootd userspace then you can command fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img or sometimes work fastboot oem_enable dm_verity

Through TWRP also you could try with reboot dm_verity enforcing or when your device is on adb dm_verity enforcing

 

[LordLiverpool]

I don´t remember (it was a long time) if you have a custom recovery, this custom recovery probably may allows you to boot to the fastbootd userspace then you can command fastboot --disable-verity --disable-verification flash vbmeta vbmeta.img or sometimes work fastboot oem_enable dm_verity

Through TWRP also you could try with reboot dm_verity enforcing or when your device is on adb dm_verity enforcing

No, actually this whole exercise was about trying to install TWRP. The phone is rooted but it just has the standard recovery.

 

[SubwayChamp]

No, actually this whole exercise was about trying to install TWRP. The phone is rooted but it just has the standard recovery.

probably you did it this way, but just in case it doesn´t. You should untick the option to auto reboot, after you flashed TWRP, and this makes the difference, you shouldn´t try to boot from download mode to TWRP, but, first power off device, it´s a timing thing, device power off just stays for 1 second, and you have to release the volume down button, but keeping the others pressed, some devices, at this point, some devices may vibrate in an early stage before booting, so, either, vibrating or appearing the Samsung logo, quickly release the PWR button, and keep pressing the volume up button.

If this doesn´t work, I have to assume that VaultKeeper was not nulled succesfully.

 

[LordLiverpool]

you shouldn´t try to boot from download mode to TWRP, but, first power off device, it´s a timing thing, device power off just stays for 1 second, and you have to release the volume down button, but keeping the others pressed, some devices, at this point, some devices may vibrate in an early stage before booting, so, either, vibrating or appearing the Samsung logo, quickly release the PWR button, and keep pressing the volume up button.

Yeah I couldn't work out how to exit download mode and then go to recovery, because I'd need more fingers than I have on one hand . So I pulled the battery out and then tried booting to recovery. I actually wrote down the instructions for getting to recovery because it's so tricky:

Hold volume up and power (Bixby) button (on right) down simultaneously and keep pressed, then *immediately* plug in the USB cable. Any delay and the phone will boot normally.

But that's not quite the same as what you're saying . I've tried pressing vol up+power and then releasing power on vibrate/logo, but it always boots normally when I do this.

In any event, when I tried flashing TWRP to AP, it would go straight to download mode.

 

[LordLiverpool]

If this doesn´t work, I have to assume that VaultKeeper was not nulled succesfully.

If the obstacle to installing TWRP is VaultKeeper, and the solution to VaultKeeper is the multi-disabler, but the way to install the multi-disabler is with TWRP, then I'd say I'm snookered .

 

[LordLiverpool]

If the obstacle to installing TWRP is VaultKeeper, and the solution to VaultKeeper is the multi-disabler, but the way to install the multi-disabler is with TWRP, then I'd say I'm snookered

I've cracked it. I went back to the beginning and used the XDA TWRP for XCover Pro guide. Originally I tried the method from the unofficialtwrp site, and when I checked the vbmeta_disable file, it's different from the XDA one. And that was the entire problem. Following the guide, everything worked as expected. I took the battery out after flashing TWRP to make the finger combination to boot straight to recovery less impossible (rather than trying to go from download mode to recovery directly). I'm now looking at TWRP on my phone. SubwayChamp thanks for your infinite patience.

 

[LordLiverpool]

I spoke a tad too soon. In TWRP, the screen is totally non-responsive. I can't swipe or tap anything.

 

[DiamondJohn]

I have a Pixel 4a 4G as my daily, running A11. I found and purchased a cheap used one to use it to test an upgrade to A13, as I have a few deal-breaker apps / config that are getting old and may or may not work on A13; and since TWRP for this device is not really working, a Nandroid backup-restore on failure, is not an option.

I have tested a few apps/widgets so far, and they work (some aren't even on the playstore anymore). One of the apps I use is a custom launcher. This app is NOT available to install on A13. I can copy the APK from my daily and it installs on the A134 device, however, it is a paid app that has some tricky validity check with your playstore account (that you have purchased it) before it unlocks the premium features; which is what I need to check.

In the past, I have had no issues upgrading devices, logging in to my main account, and having the premium features auto-enable.

Now, to check the premium features on my A13 device, my plan is to turn off the A11 phone, log into my main PlayStore account on A13. And hopefully, that will enable the premium features. The possible failure points of this plan are:
1. The fact it is not enabled for download & install for A13, the Registration/Purchase check will fail for the A13 device also
2. What worries me more, is that the switch to A13 device, by first turning the A11 device off, and then relogging on with the other A13 device to my daily account, the playstore purchase check will see it as an attempt to scam the purchase by installing to two device, and lock out my A11 daily when I switch back. First powering down the A13 device before restarting the A11 device; ie one device at any one time logged in to my main account.

Am I being overly concerned or does the playstore handle that sort of tap-dance ok? I know in the past I have upgraded & downgraded devices when trying out new ROMs, but that was always on the same device. This launcher is a show-stopper to me.

PS: "Lightening Launcher", allows you to resize, rotate, skew, 0-100% transparency widgets that do not have any of those features built in. And you can add code so click and long-click can do different things and change icons to random images, have folders in folders with widgets in folders, [n] folders deep etc etc etc the list is only limited by your imagination and your commitment to spend the time to set it up. Since I have been using the launcher since Gingerbread, I have slowly developed/built my home screen to "Just how I like it" and use my phone; many years of commitment to this feature packed launcher. But it hasn't had an update for a few years, so I think its abandoned, and hence not ready or knows of A13. I have never seen any other launcher that even comes close. But I stopped looking a few years back, so is there any new kid on the block? And no, I am not asking for "your fav launcher", its the features listed above (and more) I want, and last time I checked, "Nova" and ilk just do not cut it[/COLOR]

WHOOPS! My bad, there is a setting (that when I restore from a backup gets set automatically, for the past 5 years) where you can switch between "Standard Mode" and "EXPERT mode", which enables the (what I thought) were the paid-for/premium features, when in reality were simply turned on in the settings. and to add further insult (to me), its the very first setting!! Normally I dont go into settings, as I have been stable in the way I have it set up. Well thats my excuse....

And I did a further search for an alternative, and since its no longer updated, the dev has done the very honorable thing and open-sourced the code onto github!

GitHub - pierrehebert/LightningLauncher: More than a simple Android launcher, Lightning is a fast, light and extremely customizable tool to build the perfect home screen. To build your home screen.

More than a simple Android launcher, Lightning is a fast, light and extremely customizable tool to build the perfect home screen. To build your home screen. - GitHub - pierrehebert/LightningLaunche...

github.com

Anyone wish to pick up the dev...

 

[SubwayChamp]

I spoke a tad too soon. In TWRP, the screen is totally non-responsive. I can't swipe or tap anything.

Well, at least, you could boot to TWRP, are you sure this version is for your device?, anything, if you want to flash Magisk or something more through TWRP, you can use ADB/sideload commands by now.

 

[LordLiverpool]

Well, at least, you could boot to TWRP, are you sure this version is for your device?, anything, if you want to flash Magisk or something more through TWRP, you can use ADB/sideload commands by now.

Yep. It's this one from here, which is for the XCover Pro SM-G715FN, which is my phone.

if you want to flash Magisk or something more through TWRP, you can use ADB/sideload commands by now.

Ahh so you can flash via TWRP with adb commands from the PC?

What I suppose I need to do next is a factory reset from TWRP (since my phone no longer boots normally).

 

[Deleted member 12519553]

Hey, everyone. Would you happen to know what are the 'string' names for block/allow mic access and camera access and for bedtime mode? Also, is there any string for NFC on/off as a trigger? For example, the string for activating/deactivating glyphs is 'led_effect_enable' while for extra dim it's 'reduce_bright_colors_activated'. Thank you!