Strange system apps behavior - Zenfone 2 Laser Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

When I go to the Settings > Apps screen, some preinstalled apps like TripAdvisor, ZenFlash Camera and many others (but not all) cannot be disabled (freezed), but directly "removed".
But the apps are not really removed, as they are still present in /system/[priv-]app directory, and they reappear after a phone reset.
I've never seen this behavior in other Android devices I've had, it should be an Asus customization.
If an app is installed in /system/[priv-]app it should only be disabled, and not falsely "removed".
This way I cannot disable temporarily an app, I can only delete it and re-download it afterward, when I need it (while the app is still present but hidden in the system).
Somebody knows if this behavior can be changed somehow, and how to do this?
Thanks.

Related

Running Services - sometimes all memory usage blank/missing?

For instance, right now in Settings > Applications > Running Services > my phone shows all the apps with nothing listed where it normally shows the individual memory usage, though it still shows the time the app has been running.
Then on the bottom it shows:
Avail: 84MB in 0.00B in 38 / Other: 0.00B in 4
Though there is no other indication and the phone still runs perfectly, something is causing Running Services to have issues showing the running apps memory usage, it seems.
If I reboot, it will be correct for a while. I have not been able to determine which app/widget/process is causing this. I don't feel like uninstalling everything, since nothing seems to be affected by this. I'm hoping someone may already know, or has the same issue as me and we can compare.
I'm using More Icons, Better Cuts, Weather Widget w/Forecast add-on, Pure Music widget, News & Weather (GenieWidget.apk), and Battery Widget. That's all for 3rd party stuff that's running or on my home screens.
Humpa said:
For instance, right now in Settings > Applications > Running Services > my phone shows all the apps with nothing listed where it normally shows the individual memory usage, though it still shows the time the app has been running.
Then on the bottom it shows:
Avail: 84MB in 0.00B in 38 / Other: 0.00B in 4
Though there is no other indication and the phone still runs perfectly, something is causing Running Services to have issues showing the running apps memory usage, it seems.
If I reboot, it will be correct for a while. I have not been able to determine which app/widget/process is causing this. I don't feel like uninstalling everything, since nothing seems to be affected by this. I'm hoping someone may already know, or has the same issue as me and we can compare.
I'm using More Icons, Better Cuts, Weather Widget w/Forecast add-on, Pure Music widget, News & Weather (GenieWidget.apk), and Battery Widget. That's all for 3rd party stuff that's running or on my home screens.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have same issue and the only thing we're both running is GenieWidget...did you try removing that and rebooting to see if it fixes it?
I believe this problem is Incredilbe wide. It is just that most people haven't noticed.
The first time you go to Running Services it is correct. It is only incorrect once you go there and back out of it, and then go there again. If you do this without rebooting, then the memory info will be blank/0.00B. Reboot and it is back to normal.
EDIT: and, yes, I've removed GenieWidget News app and the bug is still there.
Humpa said:
I believe this problem is Incredilbe wide. It is just that most people haven't noticed.
The first time you go to Running Services it is correct. It is only incorrect once you go there and back out of it, and then go there again. If you do this without rebooting, then the memory info will be blank/0.00B. Reboot and it is back to normal.
EDIT: and, yes, I've removed GenieWidget News app and the bug is still there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok well luckily like you it doesn't seem to have an effect on anything so that's good.

Annoying "service enabled" toasts

Been getting them, more often (or at least it feels like it).
Generic message, so I can't tell which app or system generating them.
How would you troubleshoot this, without phone reset?
Brand new and Bone stock 4.3, haven't had a chance to root yet.
Thanks.
gidal said:
Been getting them, more often (or at least it feels like it).
Generic message, so I can't tell which app or system generating them.
How would you troubleshoot this, without phone reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One way to solve it isn't nice, but it works:
1. Root, make nandroid backup (subsequent steps are risky), and install Titanium Backup
2. Filter for user apps
3. Disable everything
4. Reboot and confirm that problem is gone.
5. Enable the first 1/2 of the apps. (In the batch operations menu, long press an app in the middle and choose "Select all below".)
If the problem has returned:
- Of the enabled apps, one is bad. Disable half of those enabled apps.
- Go to step 5.
If the problem is still gone:
- One of the still disabled apps is causing the problem. Enable half of the most recently disabled apps.
- Go to step 5.
This method is a little time consuming, but not as bad as it seems. For 125 user apps, it will take 7 iterations to find the culprit. For fewer user apps, it will take less time. If you disable ALL user apps and the problem persists, the issue is with system data and you need to wipe some system app's data or factory reset.
fenstre said:
One way to solve it isn't nice, but it works:
1. Root, make nandroid backup (subsequent steps are risky), and install Titanium Backup
2. Filter for user apps
3. Disable everything
4. Reboot and confirm that problem is gone.
5. Enable the first 1/2 of the apps. (In the batch operations menu, long press an app in the middle and choose "Select all below".)
If the problem has returned:
- Of the enabled apps, one is bad. Disable half of those enabled apps.
- Go to step 5.
If the problem is still gone:
- One of the still disabled apps is causing the problem. Enable half of the most recently disabled apps.
- Go to step 5.
This method is a little time consuming, but not as bad as it seems. For 125 user apps, it will take 7 iterations to find the culprit. For fewer user apps, it will take less time. If you disable ALL user apps and the problem persists, the issue is with system data and you need to wipe some system app's data or factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - very good troubleshooting technique.
I'll do that this weekend. I'm afraid it's due to some system apps that I disabled. Thing is, I reenabled all and still getting the toasts. I'll probably do a factory reset and install my apps one at a time.
What's weird is, this is what I usually do when I get new Android device. Only this N4 responds differently to my initial set up process.
Found the culprit, it was flip silent. I didn't suspect it at first since I've been using it with my other Android devices, including on CM10.2 (4.3), and never ran into toasts issue like with N4.

MIUI kills background processes and possible solution

Hi all
I discovered that MIUI very aggressively kills background processes, which are needed for Push functions. Affected apps on my device (now with Global 8.0.3.0, but also with Chinese developer 6.x.x. Haven't tested 7.x.x.) are Touchdown, KIK, Gmail, Threema and others.
Those apps don't seem to have Push correctly working, some apps get messages with several hours delay.
I allowed all those apps to Autostart in the Settings -> Permissions.
There is an option in the Android Developer Options (To enable Developer Options Settings App > About Phone > MIUI Version > Keep on tapping till it is enabled.) called MIUI Optimization, which seems to have an effect on the memory process killing, but maybe also on the Permission functions. After I disabled this option and rebooted, several apps were running, although they weren't in the autostart permitted list. It's possible though, that they were active before the reboot and MIUI restarted them after the reboot.
Source:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/re...de-redmi-note-3-sd-mtk-multi-tasking-t3358433
Turn On MIUI Optimization : This option enables a pleothora of MIUI based settings & optimizations as per the guidelines set by the MIUI developers. This setting can sometimes cause a variety of issues on non-MIUI based apps such as Google Apps & Apps from Google Playstore. Its better to disable if you rely on Google Playstore for apps & services.
With the MIUI Optimization Enabled, some users reported the following issues.
- Cannot set third-party launcher like Nova, Apex or Google Now Launcher.
- Wallpaper cannot be set using in-built options via custom launchers.
- Occasional lags, stutters or freezes while scrolling web-pages & long lists.
- Custom apps set as default restore to default MIUI apps on reboot.
- Cannot set accessibility services on reboot.
- Background apps cannot sync data.
- Music players stop playing after sometime.
- UI Animations are not synced properly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm testing now if my mails are correctly delivered again, because that was buggering me the most. This worked fine on my old Sony Z1C and also Huawei Y6 II.
So far it doesn't seem to help though, but I'm testing a bit further.
Thanks!!!
patoberli said:
Hi all
I discovered that MIUI very aggressively kills background processes, which are needed for Push functions. Affected apps on my device (now with Global 8.0.3.0, but also with Chinese developer 6.x.x. Haven't tested 7.x.x.) are Touchdown, KIK, Gmail, Threema and others.
Those apps don't seem to have Push correctly working, some apps get messages with several hours delay.
I allowed all those apps to Autostart in the Settings -> Permissions.
There is an option in the Android Developer Options (To enable Developer Options Settings App > About Phone > MIUI Version > Keep on tapping till it is enabled.) called MIUI Optimization, which seems to have an effect on the memory process killing, but maybe also on the Permission functions. After I disabled this option and rebooted, several apps were running, although they weren't in the autostart permitted list. It's possible though, that they were active before the reboot and MIUI restarted them after the reboot.
Source:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/re...de-redmi-note-3-sd-mtk-multi-tasking-t3358433
I'm testing now if my mails are correctly delivered again, because that was buggering me the most. This worked fine on my old Sony Z1C and also Huawei Y6 II.
So far it doesn't seem to help though, but I'm testing a bit further.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also use, Push Notification Fixer from Google play. I only had the problem when using chinese rom. After switching to global, the notification a lot better
Go to the security app and inside saving battery settings and uncheck apps you don't want Miui to manage.
Done that now too, although I have already disabled the battery saver. I wonder if this will help a little, at the moment I don't get messages/notifications to my smartwatch, for example.
Hi,
This guide helped me (somehow): http://www.forbes.com/sites/bensin/...ions-on-xiaomis-miui-8-for-real/#1434cfd94e1b.
The 5 steps in short are:
Settings --> Battery & performance --> Manage apps battery usage --> choose apps --> select app that should receive push notifications and set "No restrictions"
Settings --> Permissions --> Autostart --> activate for all apps that should receive notifications
Settings --> Notifications & status bar --> App notifications --> select relevant app and activate "Priority"
In the overview of running apps/app manager lock the relevant apps (swiping down)
Settings --> Additional settings --> Developer options --> Memory optimisation --> set to "Off"
Push notifications now work perfectly on one phone (Redmi 3s with latest stock global rom stable), while i have still some troubles on another one (Mi 5s with latest xiaomi.eu stable). For the later the mail client (k9 mail) does not poll the mailboxes at the defined intervals (while k9 works fine on the redmi). Maybe also a configuration problem of k9, have no idea yet...
Regards,
gp
I have stopped using k9 because of those kind of problems. Now I use Sol Mail
EMJI79 said:
I have stopped using k9 because of those kind of problems. No I use Sol Mail
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Click to collapse
k9 is indeed cumbersome to the extent that you have a lot of settings and you have to apply many of them for each individual account separately. Sometimes less is more...
But once you managed that you can make use of the export/import settings function.
Most important feature for me is that all account settings are kept inside the app and can not be queried by other apps (which would be the case if the info is stored in the android account store).
Never tried Sol Mail so can't tell how this app manages the accounts...
I don't know either.
I choose Sol Mail after I had choose K9 because they offer unified view for received and sent message from every account into one single screen.
EMJI79 said:
Go to the security app and inside saving battery settings and uncheck apps you don't want Miui to manage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
patoberli said:
Done that now too, although I have already disabled the battery saver. I wonder if this will help a little, at the moment I don't get messages/notifications to my smartwatch, for example.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, can now confirms that it indeed helped Not perfect, but much better.

Closing Idle apps on Screen off

Hi,
It has been a while since I have been able to play with custom ROMs as my previous phone was not well supported.
I have just now switched over to the Axon 7 and have just started setting it up as my daily driver. I Installed NucleaROM with LIGHT PATCH, Open GApps and ARISE Sound System. All seems to be working fine but I have one issue and I think it may be a feature from not just the Custom ROM of choice but the underlying source (ResurrectionROM/LineageOS).
When I first setup the phone, it had an option on the lock screen to customize how apps are closed (i believe the term was Smart Close) when the device is idle and the screen is off. I remember looking through it and having options for which apps are closed and which are to remain running.
Since then I have installed a collection of apps, one of which is the Garmin Connect which I need to run when the screen is off.
I am unable to find how to get to these options now. I have looked through the power options and cannot see it.
If anyone can help me, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks for your assistance.
As I have started to use the phone a little more I have noticed that this is having another effect.
It seems to be closing my keyboard app so every time I unlock it goes back to the stock keyboard and I need to select SwiftKey again.
I hope someone knows where these settings are.
I have found a workaround for now, but if anyone knows how to control the SmartBattery application, it would be greatly appreciated.
I believe this function is coming from the System App called Smart Battery. I have gone into Settings -> Apps then selected the menu to show system apps. From there I was able to locate the SmartBattery app and disable it.
This seems to be working for me as by Garmin Fitness tracker was losing BlueTooth to the phone before but not now with that app disabled.
I'm not entirely positive about this, as I've never heard of that app. At first, I thought you were talking about the screen lock cleaning feature from the power manager on stock. After your follow up post indicating you had actually found reference to the app on your system and a bit of Googling, I was able to find some reference to it. Nothing useful, I'm afraid.
Try using an app that can launch activities, like Nova Launcher or Tasker. Try to find the app in the list, and see if you can launch it by calling for one of its activities.
P.S., if you're running RR, if you have a look at the extended settings, there might be a way to set the nav keys long-press action to a custom activity. Remember to enable the app, otherwise it might not show up in any lists.

Auto start apps

how do i disable auto starting apps to save battery? Any sort of settings available on phone or through any third party app?
Use SD Maid...I believe there is a thread 4 it on XDA....use it to disable startup hooks for system as well as user apps. works on a rooted phone only. Or else try disabling apps I don't use...

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