How To - Use LG's built-in FM Radio Apps Secret Recording Feature

[JonnyTrulove]

Greetings all. I am sharing this brief little How-to Guide for anyone that wants to expand the functionality of LG's FM tuner to include the ability to Record directly from the FM radio. You will have the option to record only songs using the apps hidden "Record Music Only" option, or you can record a stations full broadcast including commercials and on air talk.

First a quick side note:

*Since different variants of the V30 include the LG FM radio App while others include NextRadio and so on, for the sake of brevity I am going to assume anyone reading this already has LG's FM radio app on their phone and it is functioning. Depending on your Variant, ROM, and a couple other factors, this may not be the case for you, but maybe you are reading this and now you want this expanded functionality so you will need to download and install the FM radio app if it is not preinstalled on your device.

If you you need to add the FM radio app to your device, you can check out this thread by @rustypie below with some different dl links and a flashable zip made by @syndre or do some searching on the forum as well as on apk sites and I am sure you will find the right method and APK for your variant. (I am using the regular download of the newest version of the app that I dl'd from apkmirror)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-v30/themes/lg-fm-radio-app-download-verizon-v30-t3689294

What you need:
- LG V30 (any variant, or any phone that can run the LG FM radio app)
- LG's FM Radio Application installed on your device ( I am using 7.10.8 on my device, but I had this working on the older versions of 7.0.16 and 4.70.9, so it should work regardless of which one of the apps work on your specific variant/device)
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/lgelectronics/lg-fm-radio/
- Shortcut Master (Paid or Lite version)
https://www.apkmirror.com/?post_type=app_release&searchtype=apk&s=shortcut+master

I am including pictures to make this easier for people, so please check them out to aid you in getting this accomplished.

Step 1 - Open Shortcut Master and use the menu at the top right to do a search. After you click search, make sure your select "all apps" from the drop down menu so that it searches your whole phone. Search for "FM Radio".

You should see similar results to those in my attached picture. You are looking for the entry with subtext of "com.lge.fmradio.recordactivity". Click on this and press launch.
*You may want to click "favorites" or "homescreen" to make this easier to access in the future. The app will not retain this preference after use and will always revert back to the version without recording functionality, so having a link in shortcut master or on your homescreen makes it easier to get back to .

Step 2 - Pressing launch in Shortcut Master should have opened your FM radio app. You will now see two things that were not there before. One is a record button on the main screen of the app, and the other is in the recording settings menu in the menu of FM app. If you want to record exactly what you would hear on the radio, simply press the record button and let it record. If you want to record only music and not the commercials and djs, go into that new recording settings menu and enable "record music only".

That's it, You are now able to record all you would like until you close the app. Next time you open the app it will revert back to the old UI, so you will have to repeat the steps if you want to record again later.

Enjoy

 

[JonnyTrulove]

Reserved

Also, I just realized I posted this in Theme apps and Mods, and it should probably be in Guides, News and Discussions section. I dont think i can move the whole thing, so if a Mod would like to move it to the other section, please feel free.

 

[pwhooftman]

Great find!

 

[mattgyver]

Reserved

Also, I just realized I posted this in Theme apps and Mods, and it should probably be in Guides, News and Discussions section. I dont think i can move the whole thing, so if a Mod would like to move it to the other section, please feel free.

In the future, when you need to have a post moved to a different subforum, report your post using the report button, and the moderators for the LG forums will be able to take care of it for you. I've reported it for you this time (these aren't my forums).

 

[ChazzMatt]

In the future, when you need to have a post moved to a different subforum, report your post using the report button, and the moderators for the LG forums will be able to take care of it for you. I've reported it for you this time (these aren't my forums).

Interesting. Never thought to "report" my own thread. About a year ago, I created a guide on the US998 Hidden Menu which I accidentally started in the Q&A section instead of the Guide section. Still bugs me when I run across it.

EDIT: OK, just reported my thread.

 

[Biswarup801bk17]

Who uses FM radio recording today?

 

[ChazzMatt]

Who uses FM radio recording today?

Same who may use FM radio.
It's free, doesn't use mobile data plan. In emergencies when WiFi and cell phone outages may occur, FM radio can still be there.

 

[gazzacbr]

Hi, wow, great find. Sometimes I am listening and I will hear something that I want to download but I know I will forget it by the time I get home.
The "record only music" feature is a bit limited though although clever.
If music is already playing it just says waiting for music so you have to wait for that track to finish, then it has to recognise talking (somehow) before it will record.
If you do not check and miss the "waiting for music" message and the track just started then you wont get it recorded.
Even so, click to record is really useful for me.

@Biswarup801bk17: why would you want to know that? tut, tut...

 

[JonnyTrulove]

Who uses FM radio recording today?

Quick and easy way to make your own ring tone, notification sound, etc.

 

[ChazzMatt]

@JonnyTrulove,

You probably already know this, but you made XDA News.

https://www.xda-developers.com/record-audio-lg-fm-radio-app/

 

[JonnyTrulove]

@JonnyTrulove,

You probably already know this, but you made XDA News.

https://www.xda-developers.com/record-audio-lg-fm-radio-app/

I didn't, that's pretty cool, thanks for the heads up!

 

[Biswarup801bk17]

Hi, wow, great find. Sometimes I am listening and I will hear something that I want to download but I know I will forget it by the time I get home.
The "record only music" feature is a bit limited though although clever.
If music is already playing it just says waiting for music so you have to wait for that track to finish, then it has to recognise talking (somehow) before it will record.
If you do not check and miss the "waiting for music" message and the track just started then you wont get it recorded.
Even so, click to record is really useful for me.

@Biswarup801bk17: why would you want to know that? tut, tut...

Just Curious

 

[mattgyver]

This is neat, just to play around with. The one thing I can't figure out, though, is why does only THAT shortcut app show the recordActivity? I've tried at least 10 so far, including Nova Launcher's built-in activity launcher, and all of them only show FM Radio's introActivity. What strange magic makes his work?! the lite version's limitation is not being able to save that activity as a homescreen shortcut.

 

[ChazzMatt]

This is neat, just to play around with. The one thing I can't figure out, though, is why does only THAT shortcut app show the recordActivity? I've tried at least 10 so far, including Nova Launcher's built-in activity launcher, and all of them only show FM Radio's introActivity. What strange magic makes his work?! the lite version's limitation is not being able to save that activity as a homescreen shortcut.

Because Shortcut Master will access even hidden menu shortcuts. Stuff you're not supposed to see.

 

[mustasusi]

Fantastic, it works with with my LG V10 from Tmo!!!
It can finally record!
Would it work with other brands like HTC too?

 

[JonnyTrulove]

This is neat, just to play around with. The one thing I can't figure out, though, is why does only THAT shortcut app show the recordActivity? I've tried at least 10 so far, including Nova Launcher's built-in activity launcher, and all of them only show FM Radio's introActivity. What strange magic makes his work?! the lite version's limitation is not being able to save that activity as a homescreen shortcut.

Shortcut Master is definitely one of my favorite apps. That said, you can seriously mess your phone up though. Like really badly. Just a warning. And not like the usual just in case kind of warning, but a legit guarantee that if you go poking around enough you almost definitely will screw something up that you may need a restore or full redo to fix.


I had considered starting a Shortcut Master thread, and half heartedly did a while back, but I called it something like LGV30 tweaks and mods discussion. I didn't follow up with a shortcut Master section just out of fear a hundred people would ruin their phone but maybe I'll start one now if there is interest, since the Pandora's box is already kind of opened with it being part of most of the V30 guides I've done.


There is a surprising amount of stuff that only this app seems to get to. The paid version is well worth the buck ot two just for convenience sake and I'd normally say buy it to support further dev, but I think the developer is retired as I haven't seen an update or anything new in a while other than him taking the lite version off the play store last year, but still worth supporting his previous efforts.



Shortcut Master is great for accessing the hidden system menus such as your APN presets and all of the sections of the phone that are blocked off of the specific build your on.

Some of my faves are:

The hidden section of the systems built in Call recording screen.
-For anyone that modified their LGIncallUI to allow recording, this setting will let you track specific numbers or tell it to record all calls.

The extra hidden menu items that Sprint trys to get rid of.
(You'll notice in the pics there is the Hidden menu, and the carrier hidden menu. The Carrier one has access to a bunch of stuff removed.)

Your built in Bluetooth settings page that LG for some reason doesn't allow you to access.

AT&T's video call settings (these don't actually VCs work on Sprint)

And quick access to the Radio Info section

I'm attaching a couple pics for anyone that may be interested in some of what I just mentioned.

But one more time, you are all seriously warned! Know that you will mess your phone up just aimlessly clicking around.

I legitimately ruin my phone at least once a week and have to do a full reflash or restore. I am actually past due for one now, as I've managed to screw up something and now my settings force close when I try and enter developer options. So again, you are WARNED!

Have fun.

 

[JonnyTrulove]

Fantastic, it works with with my LG V10 from Tmo!!!
It can finally record!
Would it work with other brands like HTC too?

It should work with any device that can already run the Radio app since it's all built into the app, and is just hidden. So if you were able to get the apk to install and work on your HTC I don't see why it would not.

If you have issues you may be able to use "XML a road to vendor apps" module ( I think that's what it's called) on your HTC to get it to install the LG Radio app. Just a guess though.

 

[memphisa]

Who uses FM radio recording today?

Most phones meant for market outside the US have FM . This feature was removed or turned off by US carriers to enable users to use data to maximize their profit. As a preference it is a feature I put into consideration when purchasing a smart phone except if I have no option despite the fact that I have unlimited data. I just refuse to accept that I have to use data to listen to FM stations around me. I do not consider a phone as an upgrade when a carrier or or a manufacturer remove basic functions from the phone.

---------- Post added at 09:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:54 PM ----------

Same who may use FM radio.
It's free, doesn't use mobile data plan. In emergencies when WiFi and cell phone outages may occur, FM radio can still be there.

WELL SAID !! :good::good:

 

[br0adband]

Has anyone had this not work because it appears to require root? I realize that there's no mention of requiring root at all in this thread, so I decided to give this a shot on my V30 just now. installed the latest LG FM Radio app (7.10.8), installed Shortcut Master (paid, forgot I even bought it in the past, go figure), and followed the instructions as written but of course - and my V30 is not rooted at the present time - it's telling me it requires root to even start the FM Radio app with the shortcut (using Launch).

The FM Radio app works fine, but whenever Shortcut Master calls it I get the following so if anyone has any tips to get it functional I'd appreciate it, thanks.

ps
I did a complete clean install of US99820h on my V30 earlier today and for some strange reason now when it's in Hi-Fi DAC mode (I have ~50 Ohm headphones) I've apparently lost the single-step volume control, dammit - now it's jumping 5 steps each time, 35, 40, 45, etc, instead of 30, 31, 32, and so on. Funny how a clean install can sometimes break so many things, eh?

Later Edit:
The reason I'm having issues with the single-step volume is because I'm using Button Mapper so I can skip audio tracks using the volume buttons; it's overriding the defaults of the volume controls for the most part. It has some advanced options to disable the functionality when the volume panel is showing onscreen (meaning I get the single-step control again but the first tap skips 5% regardless), and with the screen off it doesn't provide any single-step control whatsoever, kinda crappy but that's how it goes. I wish phone makers would just include the option to skip tracks with long presses by default, make it an option you can enable. BLEH.

Final Edit:
I decided to do a clean everything last night, started totally fresh, from scratch, and do everything one step at a time, got it all working just fine and with Magisk 19.2 installed I was able to get the recording aspects working too with the LG FM Radio app so, I'm good to go.

 

[gazzacbr]

From your last edit, you are rooted now? Was that the solution?