My most hated "feature" of all time - Bluetooth auto connect. I have my phone connected to the stereo in the garage via BT, and streaming music..fire up the truck in the driveway to move it, the phone auto connects to the truck, starts playing music in it instead, and stops in the garage. To get it back to the garage, after shutting the truck off, I have to disconnect/reconnect the garage BT.

Similar thing happens pulling up in the driveway...music playing in the truck, pull in driveway, and music auto switches to the garage before even turning truck off.

I've had times that a BT headset in my pocket gets accidentally turned on, and boom..music auto switches over. Someone turns on a BT speaker, and music switches..

It's not just one phone either. Currently running a Samsung Xcover 6 pro, but this same thing happens with my Samsung Tab A, OnePlus 8t, Moto Z2 Force, and others too.

Is there some way to stop this auto connect?

Wait. No attachments? I guess i'll explain it

Updated my phone the other day.

A new Google search bar (I use ddg) showed up in the bottom app panel. (The one with 4-5 fixed apps that are always visible)

It's not a widget, can't remove it that way.

Tapping and holding on/near the search bar doesn't do anything.

I can disable the entire Google app, and that works to remove it. But that kills everything else.

Why can't we have phones with non-hostile software?

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Edit: Fixed! Settings -> Home screen settings -> Show search on home screen

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Now please stop saying you found the solution. Sort comments by "top", it's right there. I swear, I feel like half of the comments writing out the same solution now are just bots looking for karma.

Samsung removed the ability to unlock the Bootloader now and somehow there's people defending it, I don't understand. They're taking away user agency over devices they paid for and somehow it's a good thing.

Without an option to unlock the Bootloader now you'll always be forced to use a proprietary OS that will be deprecated after the security updates. No real ownership when you can't install a custom OS or modify your phone in any way you want. It's my phone so I should have the option.

Same thing happened when they removed the micro SD, they brag and say that a phone is basically like a PC now for the "Enthusiasts" so how does it make sense for phones to not have expandable storage? Not everyone wants a cloud, not everyone wants to stream.

It's literally just to sell cloud storage, but they cling to the "micro SDs always die" when that's not really true every type of storage can die and it doesn't mean it's unreliable it all depends of the brand and the class.

And then we have the removal of the headphone jack kickstarted by apple, done to sell Bluetooth earbuds. A move Samsung mocked but like sheep went and followed them, and then most manufacturers joined them. And surprise surprise everyone started selling Bluetooth earbuds, earbuds that have unreplaceable batteries that will die someday and there's just no way to replace. They're disposable.

Having options is a good thing but people don't understand. You can use Bluetooth earbuds while also having a headphone jack, you can have a micro SD card slot while using a cloud back up. You can have an option to unlock the Bootloader.

But people argue against having a micro SD, argue against having a headphone jack, people have been brainwashed into thinking having less is more. Perpetually stuck in a never ending loop of buying the new thing for more money while having less features.

I haven't even used 19% of my storage space, and I've even emptied more, restarted alot, etc, and nothing seems to do anything.

My phones an honor x8c

EDIT: 1 day after making this post it seems to have been fixed for me

I was chatting with a friend and asked if he knew of a good terminal app for handling my Linux needs on my phone. He responded, “There’s no Linux phone yet; no one will invest in a Linux phone because it’s too complicated for the average user.” I realized he wasn't aware that his Pixel Phone is actually a Linux phone, so I stayed silent and continued enjoying the conversation. Do you think most people are unaware that Android is Linux-based, or do they generally know? By the way, if you can recommend a good terminal app, I’d appreciate it.

• The /data folder is now almost impossible to manage without root access

• Samsung and Xiaomi are starting to block bootloaders from being unlocked COMPLETELY

• Google will start to block app sideloading for apps that aren't from certified devs

• Google actively wanting to block alternative app stores (lost a lawsuit against Epic because of this)

• Play Integrity already making banking apps almost impossible to use on rooted/Custom ROMs

• Google and OEMs shipping phones with apps/services that collect a huge amount of data by default

I've been an Android user for 15+ years, but now I see no reason to not switch to iPhones, am I the only person feeling like Android isn't open anymore?

My boss today told me today I have to switch to iPhone because "it makes it so your texts and calls don't work with everyone else at the company and we can't add you to the group texts." I'm assuming he is talking about iMessage.

I'm a lifelong android user. I have always had an android phone. I use a galaxy watch. I have paid apps I use frequently. The only time I ever used an iPhone was when a different company provided phones to everyone, so I had two phones for a few years. Switching to an iPhone seems more of a problem than switching companies, which I don't really want to do either.

So my question, my appeal for help, is "Can I use iMessage on Android?" From some quick Google searching, it doesn't seem like I can, but most of what I read seems to be before the adoption of RCS.

UPDATE : I appreciate all the help, just thought I'd clarify. My boss is the owner of the company. He said he will buy the phone, but we are a Bring Your Own Device company (which is legal in my jurisdiction) so I would have to pay for my own service, which means either pay for two phone plans or ditch my android.

Does anyone know if there is some sort of app I can use to force screenshots? I need proof of all transactions from a single payer in PayPal. PayPal app does not allow screenshots, PayPal website does not have the same search functionality as the app so doing it on desktop and using print screen is not an option. I've tried using Google assistant and it will take a screenshot but it's blacked out and useless. I don't have access to a second phone to photograph the first phone. I've tried using my laptop to take a photo of the phone but the quality is terrible and useless.

It's infuriating that I'm trying to screenshot my own information and I can't because an app decided that's not allowed for some stupid reason. It's my data!

Is there some EASY way that I can force the phone to screenshot no matter what? Like an app or something that can bypass anything that blocks it?

I am not very technologically advanced so it can't be complicated. 😔 Or am I just shit out of luck?

Edit: This post has been weirdly popular so I thought I'd post an update. I was able to somehow get the screenshots using a laptop. I don't remember how I did it. But I did get proof of those transactions. I won a legal battle with them, proving I was at the time a sole financial dependent of this payer. I was then able to stop at least part of his estate from being stolen by someone who was and probably still is pretending to be his wife! The audacity.

I heard she is still trying to claim his house, but that will probably fail in court. I used the money I inherited as a deposit on my own home, made sure that the other two relatives (not many of us left now...😞) also got their fair share, and set up an account for their newborn baby for her future! and I live every day to the fullest in memory of the person I loved.

Sorry I still don't have an answer as to how to actually do this. But at least my sad story had a decent ending and some sort of justice.

She put her phone in a case and maybe pressed some buttons in doing so. Tried hard restarting and the screen changed to a DOS looking screen with “SS RDX” on top and a bunch of text that I can’t understand. Can anyone help shed some light?

Update:

I guess I should update for people finding this post by searching. The fix for us was; holding the Power and Vol+ for 3 sec, releasing and then holding Power and Vol- for 3 sec, and then doing it a second time when brought to the RDX screen. Hope this helps!

Anyone know how to fix this? I can't use any file cleaning apps like SD maid, the message "To protect your privacy, choose another folder" keeps popping up and I really don't want to root my phone just because of this. Is there a fix for this? This is what the error looks like

I called Samsung and they said they can't unlock it without completely wiping the phone. We just wanna know what happened and get his photos, it's an S23 I think and he's got fingerprint and a 4 pin code. We'd hoped we could use his fingerprint when we ID him but even if we do that apparently we can't disable his pin without knowing it. He's also got an iPad which we wanna unlock too but mainly just the phone

I restarted my phone and this message keeps popping up every other minute sometimes every 30 seconds, how do i stop it from doing this? Im using an lg stylo 6

I have no clue if this makes sense. The person pointed at my phone and quickly tried to tap to mine and a beep followed. But I saw on their phone screen, there was a big black speaker symbol on white screen. I don't see any charges on my credit cards or such.

On my phone, I had a magnetic wallet with bunch of membership cards and one credit card.

Due to all the other cards, I usually have hard time using tap to pay. So thinking that they probably didn't get my credit card info.

What else this could be?

Please direct me to right sub if this isn't a good place to ask this.

Lifelong iPhone user here but I'm considering selling my iPhone 15 Pro and trying out an Android for the first time.

1. I've heard google messages is better at filtering out spam text messages, so maybe this could be one?

2. I believe you can customize your home screen on Android right? Including customizing your home screen's theme and icons. Which I don't believe is possible on iOS.

3. Use apps from other launchers besides the official android one (Google Play Store)

4. Download emulators

5. Run two apps at one time in split screen mode

Am I missing any?

So earlier today, some random dude came up to me asking to use my phone for a “personal call.” I hesitated, but he seemed urgent so I handed it over. He walked a few steps away, dialed something (I think multiple times), talked for a bit, then came back and deleted the number from my call history.

Now I’m getting weird vibes — like I’m not sure what he actually did or who he called. I can’t see the number in my call log, and Airtel app doesn’t show outgoing calls for today. I also can’t reach customer care (121) to get a human.

I’m on a Samsung phone (Android) with Airtel SIM. Is there any way to find the number that was called? Or should I just go to an Airtel Store and ask them directly?

Any tips or similar experiences would help.

I decided to never buy a phone without a microSD slot ever again.

What's the most powerful phone with a microSD slot due to release anytime this year?

I want to swap for an android instead of my iPhone but don’t know if I want a pixel or samsung.

for experienced android users, what exclusive features do you enjoy most about your device? What qualms do you have with other androids? Or, simply, why did you choose the phone you have now?

Edit: i am in USA, so unfortunately I cannot have Huawei or Xiaomi. It doesn’t seem possible. I would if i could:/

Well I thought id post an updated method to disabling this annoying crap.

Steps:

1. go to "Settings"

2. then "Notifications"

3. then "Advanced settings"

4. enable "Manage notification categories for each app"

5. go back to "Notifications"

6. select "App notifications"

7. select "Messenger"

8. select "Notification categories"

9. disable "Chat heads active"

10. Holy fuck, it's done.

https://youtu.be/FICwaE9WwvY?si=wR0x6OrUwoCGFpn6

Exactly what it says on the tin, and I'm going to go batshit insane.

This 'Gemini' shit started popping up when I tried to use my power button. I immediately found it in the Apps and disabled it, but it keeps coming up. I started googling the problem, but the advice is unhelpful. Everything I can find says to go to settings and 'side button.'

I do that. But when I tap on the 'side button' setting, nothing happens. If I tap it a few times, it says 'settings is not responding' or something to that effect.

This is asinine. Who thought it was okay to replace core power button functionality like this?! I don't want to fucking talk to my phone. My phone is not a sapient helper, and I don't want a fucking LLM pretending it is!

How can I fix this? I've forced my way through a few restarts now through the stupid hold ALL THE BUTTONS nonsense. How can I actually disable this Gemini crap, and how can I get my power button working the way it should?

How do I change the google play account for in-app purchases? I have a secondary account that's linked to play rewards and I want to use that money for in-app purchases but it automatically chooses my main account and there's no option to change. I usually buy apps with the secondary account, my only issue is for in-app purchases.

Thanks!

I'm almost considering factory resetting my phone.

Every time I try to open a link that leads to a Twitter page or post, it just opens the app on the last screen I used.

I tried uninstalling and reinstalling to no avail. Another weird thing is that my phone may recognize twitter as two apps because when I try to open a notification it asks me to choose which app I open the notification with. One of them opens the link properly and the other does the same thing.

I really don't know what to do anymore

UPDATE: yeah literally, update the Twitter app! It works perfectly now

Trying to find a new Android phone, but all seem to have big Ai features and I'd like to avoid as much Ai as possible, especially on my phones.

Been doing a bit of research into this after noticing it on my new phone.

Seemingly installed itself across most of the Android market without the knowledge of owners. Seems that the premise of the application is to blur images which are received on the device which may contain nudity, and also cross verify contacts?

Whilst it seems to be there for safety and privacy, installing without user knowledge and then seemingly scanning all photos received to the device, seems to be anti-privacy to me...?

This might be a dumb question it's been years since I messed with this stuff but I remember it being quite easy back in the Android 4 days. I'm currently trying to install the English patch for "Cookie Run for Kakao" and the tutorial I've seen says you need to place the translated files in that folder however all the methods I've tried just show a blank folder on multiple file managers. I'm quite unsure on what to do now. (Reposted for spelling mistake in title)