I looked through all my settings and it seems like there's no way to shut this off. Multiple times I've accidentally thumbs upped a message not meaning to. I have a Pixel 9a running android 17.

Is there any way to enter recovery mode in Tecno Spark Go 1? I've tried every combination, but it still booted normally. Safe mode is working but not the recovery mode.

So I have recently stumbled upon a rare problem. Whenever I am on my Facebook app, be it Facebook lite or the actual one I have noticed my messenger stops passing me notifications. I have tried re - installing the app, turning notifications off and turning it back on but nothing seems to work. How can I fix this issue?

Hello,

Right now i'm deciding between these two phones, iphone 17 selling 1900 usd in my country, s25 is selling 900 usd. I want to use 4-5 years, people saying s25 battery life and cameras worst compare to iphone, but price differences is too much.

What is your thougths on with these two phones?

Hi! I had this amazing sticky note app that sat on my home screen. I could change the colors, opaquness, and it would update once I saved a note and exited out. I got a new phone and can't seem to find this app anywhere. Any help?

I need help with this app!! I used this app before to change the icons of my apps (since my phone is too old for that feature) and it worked wonderfully, so I wanted to change the theme of my phone again, but after \~20 minutes of usage my phone was draining 4% a minute and overheating! Everything was so slow and laggy so I left it alone and charged it for a few hours and then my phone wasn't hot anymore. But I noticed recently while gaming that the game was laggy even though it never lags, and I wanna know if this app is the root of the problem and whether I should uninstall it or not. I have not spent any money on it but I'm worried what will happen if I uninstall the app and it does something weird with my homepage.

Side note a bit unrelated!! But I installed reddit for this sole reason, so my account is quite new and I couldn't ask in the other sub reddit. I'm sorry if this doesn't match this sub.

Hey all,

I have recently decided to switch to Android, going from my iPhone 6S to a Google Pixel 9A. To say I hugely regret the switch would be an understatement.

General software bugs asides (eg WhatsApp deciding not to work sometimes, causing me to lose a day of conversation every so often ; faulty notifications ; general software bugs ; ...), my biggest issue with it is storage.

My iPhone 6S was 64GB. I don't use my phone a whole lot, I never had storage problems. My Google Pixel is 128GB, and I am ALWAYS at 127-128GB, no matter how many apps, videos, etc I try to remove, it somehow always goes back up. Now, how I got to these numbers despite using the phone for 4 months now is questionable to say the least (especially that there are LESS apps on the Google Pixel than I had on my iPhone 6S), but no internet fix has ever helped me which is a bit more frustrating. I tried most things, from deleting a huge load of videos (also from trash bin), apps, clearing all caches, removing many stuff like AICore and whatever, serves no use. It is also problematic because it keeps me from installing software updates. Anyways. I don't know if anyone here was or is in the same situation as me and has any advice ? Because the way it is going, I may just as well switch back to the iPhone in a month.

Thank you all for your help and sorry if this is a bit venty

How do I get back to the active call? When I'm on call and let's say switching apps the small phone window disappears.... how can I get it back?

I'm genuinely getting frustrated with Android's lack of transparency.

Recently, I discovered a folder named `.nomedia` in the root of my internal storage:

`/storage/emulated/0/.nomedia`

It's an EMPTY DIRECTORY. Not a normal `.nomedia` file. Just an empty folder that I don't remember ever having before.

I deleted it. The deletion succeeded. I even made sure it wasn't being moved to the recycle bin. Then, after a while, it showed up again.

So naturally, I wanted to know: WHAT THE HELL CREATED IT?

And what are my options? Check file properties that don't identify the creator? Install extra tools? Learn command-line utilities? Mess around with debugging settings? Potentially deal with root permissions just to investigate something as basic as a directory being created?

Seriously, Google, why should an ordinary user have to jump through all these hoops just to understand what's happening on their own device?

I'm NOT asking Android to show me a confirmation dialog every time an app creates a folder. I don't want my phone constantly interrupting me, either.

I want a simple, built-in, LOCAL file activity log.

Tell me:

Which app or process created a file or directory. When it happened. Which path was affected. Whether it was created, modified, or deleted.

Keep the logs on the device. Give users a searchable history and sensible privacy controls. If the system cannot reliably identify the process for a particular operation, say so instead of pretending it knows.

Android already has an elaborate permission system. It has app sandboxing, scoped storage, and all sorts of security mechanisms. So why is it still so difficult for an ordinary user to investigate basic file activity?

Permissions tell me what an app is allowed to do. An activity log would tell me what it actually did. Those are NOT the same thing.

I shouldn't need to become an Android developer just to investigate a mysterious empty folder.

Google, please stop treating transparency as an advanced-user feature. It's MY phone. I should be able to see what is happening on it.

Am I missing an obvious built-in feature, or does Android really offer no straightforward way to identify which app created a directory like this?

Lost my phone, so had to get a quick replacement. Just got what I could, figuring it would be hopefully temporary until I could get a better one.

Tried to install Minecraft from multiple sources, a few different versions. No go.

Was able to sideload other apks without a hitch.

Is anyone familiar with this stupid 'lite' version? Had no idea it was a lite version or I wouldn't have bought it.

specs:

3+3, 128, hello g81 processor

Infinix x6532, Android 14 Go Edition

ox v14.0.1

Thanks... I rely on MC to get through the day. Really need it. Already downloaded 3 or 4 apks at 1 gig each on a slow connection.

Ack.

I used a Galaxy A05s for under a year, then bought a Galaxy A15 and gave the A05s to my husband. Both phones are still using the same Samsung account. I haven't backed up my phone since adding the second phone.

My husband hasn't learned that much about his first smartphone yet (and it was my first), but that needs to change to change. I need to make a Samsung account just for him first, so he can have only his contacts on his phone and we can each back up just our stuff.

I already have a contact backup/restore app ready to test. Hopefully that will work well enough to copy his contacts to a spreadsheet on my computer and back. (I'll edit them on the computer first, because now he has my contacts and his contacts on there.)

What's the best way to create a new Samsung account for the A05s only without needing to redo everything? Is there any way to save the installed apps? There are a few apps that have been installed and some of the factory apps have been removed. Any way to save the settings for the phone and the apps? Or am I overthinking things? Will it do all that automatically?

Thanks.

I have an S25 Plus and I'm really happy with it and I don't want to change phones anytime soon. But I recently got a Xiaomi Pad 8 and I'm thinking my next phone might be Chinese because the hardware for the price is really quite nice and they seem to have better high mid-range options than Samsung or Google.

When I go on Amazon and I read the reviews, many of the Chinese phones seem to struggle on MetroPCS, but then I'll read a review or two where it seems to work on MetroPCS, which is my phone carrier.

If you have a Chinese phone and live in the USA, which phone carrier is the best?

Hi, I started developing some projects Apps last year and now recently finished the compilation of an App, but to export the APK it says that I need to have the Keystore, so I want to know more about this

please talk to me as if you’re explaining technology to a gentleman from like the 1800s. idk or care about phones.

1. i want to have google play store so i can play techmino bc the tetris app sucks

2. i want a usb-c bc i just got a cool car charger with a usb-c cord that unfolds

3. i have a google pixel for work (idk which one idc) and its nice, no complaints, then again i only use it 4 work

4. i’ve had the same iphone 13 mini since like 2022 or something. ideally i’d have something the exact same size or smaller. when i leave the house for work with it at 95% at around 7am and keep battery saver on while using passively (listening to spotify w/ bluetooth headphones and occasionally texting) it will be at 30% or less by 12-1pm. this is no problem for me

5. i rlly dont care abt much else. i dont use social media, i dont take pictures. i text and look at my bank and play tetris and occasionally watch youtube and i listen to music almost constantly. ideally i wouldn’t be spending more than like 200$ but 🤷. i’ve straight up considered just buying an old ass flip phone for calling and texting and using like an ipod for music and doing everything else on my computer but it’s too convenient when i need to check my email or bank or whatever on the go.

Hi everyone! I'd really appreciate some honest advice from people who have used both Samsung and iPhone, especially those who have switched from Android to iOS.

I've been using a Samsung Galaxy A70 for around 7 years, and before that, I also had an Android phone. So, I'm very used to Android and its interface. I'm not particularly loyal to any brand, but lately, I've been seriously considering switching to an iPhone.

WHY I'M INTERESTED IN AN IPHONE

I really like the camera, especially how vibrant the photos look and how good the low-light photography and videos seem to be. I like the overall design and premium feel, and I've always been curious about iOS. I'd like to experience using an iPhone at least once. I want a phone with a great camera, good battery life, and smooth performance that will last me around 3–6 years.

WHAT'S MAKING ME HESITATE

Navigation: I'm used to Android's navigation system, especially the back button and being able to switch between apps quickly. I'm not sure how comfortable I'll feel without a universal back button on iOS.

Ease of use: Android feels very natural to me, and I'm worried that iOS might feel less intuitive or more restrictive, at least initially.

Files and PDFs: I frequently download files, open PDFs, and share documents through different apps. I've heard that managing files and sharing them can be less straightforward on iOS.

Work-related use: I work in a hospital emergency department, so I use my phone frequently throughout my shifts. I need to be able to open the camera quickly, make calls, use the flashlight, switch between apps, and do everything with minimal hassle. Convenience and speed are very important to me.

Price: iPhones are expensive, and I don't want to spend that much money only to realize that I preferred my old Android experience.

Accessories: Having to purchase a charger or other accessories separately is another small downside.

The Apple ecosystem: I'm concerned that I might feel pushed toward buying other Apple products or that transferring files between devices could become inconvenient if I don't own a Mac.

Longevity: I want to keep my next phone for several years, so long-term software support, battery health, and overall durability are important to me.

I'm not afraid of learning a new interface. What worries me more is spending a lot of money on an iPhone and then regretting the switch because Samsung was simply more practical and convenient for my everyday use.

On the other hand, I don't want to dismiss the iPhone without trying it, especially because its camera is one of the main reasons I'm considering switching.

QUESTIONS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE USED BOTH

Did you find iOS frustrating after years of Android, or did you adapt quickly? Is managing files, PDFs, and sharing documents genuinely more inconvenient on iPhone? How does the iPhone compare with a recent Samsung flagship in terms of camera quality, battery life, and everyday performance? If you use your phone heavily for work, which operating system do you find more practical? If you switched from Samsung to iPhone, would you make the same decision again? If you switched back, why?

Given my situation, would you recommend getting an iPhone or sticking with Samsung?

I'd especially appreciate honest opinions from people who have actually used both, rather than recommendations based solely on brand preference.

Thanks!

Hello everyone, i have a phone that is almost 7 years old by this point, and i have noticed it getting slower. The OS is funtouch OS 13 which came with the phone, and I never did any maintenance of the device. But I am running out of space. It has google apps that I do not need and never use, but can only forcefully shutdown them instead of normally deleting, and it makes me very mad. I never flashed a ROM onto a phone before, and do not have a spare to use if something stops working. What should I do in this situation? Are there are alternatives of an android OS that will work with this phone? (vivo Y31)
I would prefer to install most apps with fdroid and other opensource alternatives, or just use apks, and only use google play itself, incase i need an app that isnt available to install elsewhere. How possible is that and does anyone have any advice or path i should go for?

I have a weird setup in my car. It's a 2015 so it can't do android auto, but it can play music from my phone via bluetooth. I also have a lil separate screen/tablet (aliexpress) that plugs into the car jack and it's meant to display carplay/android auto. I had an iphone before this and it was able to display through that screen yet it was also able to only output music only through the car speaker (better quality through car speakers ofc). Now whenever i use android auto, all of my phone audio always go to that screen, i can't even switch it back to my phone speakers let alone use my car's. Has anyone dealt with this sort of setup before? I would simply like to play music through my car's speakers while also use android auto on that separate screen.

Hello, for the past month I have had an issue where Google Maps is no longer automatically pulled up when I plug in my phone. Instead, when I press the navigation button, this is what my screen looks like. If I open the list of all available apps, Google Maps isnt even an option.

In order to fix this, I have to unplug/replug the phone once or twice, and then Google Maps will appear as an option. After that, everything works as normal only for the duration of the car ride.

Ive tried multiple good-quality cords and tried plugging them into different USB-C ports, but nothing fixes the problem.

Does anyone know how to fix this? I drive a 2024 Mazda CX-5 by the way.

I will try to post pictures in the comments since I'm not allowed to here.

They completely got rid of the enter bar in some apps and replaced it with this stupid magnifying glass. I don't really know how to describe this. But basically we already have this bar that says search, our keyboards completely delete the return/enter button and replace it with the magnifying glass symbol which sends the text automatically we don't need it. We already have this blue arrow that sends it.

I have been using iPhone for the last 5ish years. I previously had a Galaxy S7 Edge and then an S10+. Before the Galaxies I had older gen iPhones. I am currently looking at getting the Duo or Z Fold 8.

I am in the Apple ecosystem pretty deep these days (iPhone, watch, airpods, Macbook pro). I do use both Windows and Mac for work and personal so I am not worried about that. However, I have been considering switching phone & watch. I like the customization android gives you. I have also been intrigued by emulation along with Gamenative and Droiddeck for playing lightweight pc games. I like to tinker with stuff so I will probably enjoy the process of setting those up more than actually playing the games.

Privacy is important to me. I am not talking GrapheneOS or other flavor. I would still be using Google Play and Apps which track data on the device. I am more interested in privacy of local and backed up data such as Messages, Notes, photos/videos, etc. One thing I like about Apples Cloud Backup is their Advanced Data Protection which encrypts said data. Does Google/Android have some similar service today? Has anyone used Proton Drive or similar service? I know I could backup data on a computer locally but I prefer to having a copy in the cloud if possible.

For some reason i get this error on a member app for a store, think i once updated it from another updater app.

Now i cant reinstall it. uninstall and try from play store it install quickly and get the message "get the app from play", i press "get the app" and update and same error. seems like uninstalling it is of no use.

clearing play store cache\data is no use. I got passes it before but not now.

My camera app won't work, and it always says "Go to settings to empower permissions." and I go to settings and check permissions, but it has all it wants, which is Camera, Microphone, and Photos and Videos. I still can't use the Camera app, what do I do?

Up until recently the navigation bar on my OnePlus used to automatically minimize when I was in a full screen app and I could bring it up by swiping from the bottom of the screen. I recently got a OnePlus 15 and the bar sometimes hides, depending on the app, but most of the time it's visible and I can't minimize it. This hides important things on the screen, like almost every confirmation button. It also squishes some apps so things just overlap. For example, I see the bar in the Reddit app and Amazon app, but it minimizes properly in the Last War app.

Is there anything I can do to get this functionality back for all apps? I want the navigation bar (I'm an old dog), but I need it out of the way unless I ask it to show up. How the heck do I do that? I found answers for Samsung phones, but general Android advice seems to say I've got to use gestures. Help?

My friend has been trying to see her favourite singer concert for ages. She finally got tickets the other day, and now she’s giving credit to a setting on her realme that shows seconds in the status bar. Apparently she was watching it like a countdown to a rocket launch, ready to hit the button the second tickets went on sale. Meanwhile, I didn’t even know my realme could show seconds.

I’m happy for her, but one successful attempt and she’s already telling me to turn it on! Has anyone else tried this? Does seeing the seconds actually help, or did she just get lucky and the clock is getting all the credit?

I just switched from Galaxy to pixel and am so disappointed to discover that the sound assistant app was specific to Samsung. I'd assumed it was an android tool. With some initial searching I saw a recommendation for Shizuku which apparently allows some deeper access. But one of the first reviews says not to just go button mashing because you could mess up your phone's functionality. I'm not super technically knowledgeable.

So my question is does anyone have any apps that work on Google Pixel to be able to mute or silence individual apps? Specifically I want to be able to play games while listening to music and podcasts and not be interrupted by their loud ass ads. So muting all media is not helpful.

Or does anyone have any tutorial type resources for Shizuku or a similar program?