Google Android Hidden Secret Codes

NOTE: This article has been featured by many Google Android websites and magazines. AskVG.com was the first website posting these unique codes.

Recently I got a Google Android mobile phone "Samsung Galaxy I7500". While I'm loving playing with it, I also found some interesting secret codes which can enable/disable lots of hidden settings in the mobilephone. These codes can also show many useful information about the phone.

So in this topic, you'll get several hidden secret codes which can be used in any Google Android mobile phone to access things which are not accessible by default.

FYI These codes have been obtained by decoding various .apk files present in the phone firmware.

DISCLAIMER: This information is intended for experienced users. It is not intended for basic users, hackers, or mobile thieves. Please do not try any of following methods if you are not familiar with mobile phones. We'll not be responsible for the use or misuse of this information, including loss of data or hardware damage. So use it at your own risk.

*#*#4636#*#*

This code can be used to get some interesting information about your phone and battery. It shows following 4 menus on screen:

• Phone information
• Battery information
• Battery history
• Usage statistics

*#*#7780#*#*

This code can be used for a factory data reset. It'll remove following things:

• Google account settings stored in your phone
• System and application data and settings
• Downloaded applications

It'll NOT remove:

• Current system software and bundled applications
• SD card files e.g. photos, music files, etc.

PS: Once you give this code, you get a prompt screen asking you to click on "Reset phone" button. So you get a chance to cancel your operation.

*2767*3855#

Think before you give this code. This code is used for factory format. It'll remove all files and settings including the internal memory storage. It'll also reinstall the phone firmware.

PS: Once you give this code, there is no way to cancel the operation unless you remove the battery from the phone. So think twice before giving this code.

*#*#34971539#*#*

This code is used to get information about phone camera. It shows following 4 menus:

• Update camera firmware in image (Don't try this option)
• Update camera firmware in SD card
• Get camera firmware version
• Get firmware update count

WARNING: Never use the first option otherwise your phone camera will stop working and you'll need to take your phone to service center to reinstall camera firmware.

*#*#7594#*#*

This one is my favorite one. This code can be used to change the "End Call / Power" button action in your phone. Be default, if you long press the button, it shows a screen asking you to select any option from Silent mode, Airplane mode and Power off.

You can change this action using this code. You can enable direct power off on this button so you don't need to waste your time in selecting the option.

*#*#273283*255*663282*#*#*

This code opens a File copy screen where you can backup your media files e.g. Images, Sound, Video and Voice memo.

*#*#197328640#*#*

This code can be used to enter into Service mode. You can run various tests and change settings in the service mode.

WLAN, GPS and Bluetooth Test Codes:

*#*#232339#*#* OR *#*#526#*#* OR *#*#528#*#* - WLAN test (Use "Menu" button to start various tests)

*#*#232338#*#* - Shows WiFi MAC address

*#*#1472365#*#* - GPS test

*#*#1575#*#* - Another GPS test

*#*#232331#*#* - Bluetooth test

*#*#232337#*# - Shows Bluetooth device address

*#*#8255#*#*

This code can be used to launch GTalk Service Monitor.

Codes to get Firmware version information:

*#*#4986*2650468#*#* - PDA, Phone, H/W, RFCallDate

*#*#1234#*#* - PDA and Phone

*#*#1111#*#* - FTA SW Version

*#*#2222#*#* - FTA HW Version

*#*#44336#*#* - PDA, Phone, CSC, Build Time, Changelist number

Codes to launch various Factory Tests:

*#*#0283#*#* - Packet Loopback

*#*#0*#*#* - LCD test

*#*#0673#*#* OR *#*#0289#*#* - Melody test

*#*#0842#*#* - Device test (Vibration test and BackLight test)

*#*#2663#*#* - Touch screen version

*#*#2664#*#* - Touch screen test

*#*#0588#*#* - Proximity sensor test

*#*#3264#*#* - RAM version

NOTE: All above codes have been checked on Google Android phone Samsung Galaxy I7500 only but they should also work in other Google Android phones.

How to Show Actual Theme Names in Windows 7 Desktop Properties?

Whenever you install a 3rd party theme in Windows 7 and try to apply it using Desktop Personalization window, you might have noticed that it always shows "Windows 7" label for the installed themes instead of their actual names:

Actually all such themes are created using the default Aero theme as the base and its name is set to "Windows 7" in its .theme file by default. You just need to modify 3rd party theme's .theme file and set its name to your desired one to show actual theme names. How to do it? Here are the required steps:

1. First open My Computer and copy-paste following text in addressbar:

%windir%\Resources\Themes

Press Enter and it'll open "Themes" folder.

NOTE: Here %windir% represents "Windows" directory present in system drive where Windows 7 isinstalled, most probably C: drive.

Alternatively, you can go to "Windows\Resources\Themes" folder manually.

2. Now look for the .theme files of the installed 3rd party themes:

3. Right-click on the file and open it in Notepad. Look at the 5th line. It'll contain following text:

DisplayName=@%SystemRoot%\System32\themeui.dll,-2013

4. Delete the text after "DisplayName=" and type your desired name in its place. For example, if you are using Luna theme for Windows 7, set the text to Luna:

DisplayName=Luna

5. That's it. Now save and close the file and open Desktop Personalization window and now you'll see the actual theme name:

Download Yet Another Windows 8 “Aero Lite with Glass” Theme for Windows 7

Recently we shared a cool theme for Windows 7 users which provides Windows 8 look-like Aero Lite interface with Glass.

Download Windows 8 “Aero Lite with Glass” Theme for Windows 7

Our reader "Mutz777" shared another similar theme for Windows 7 which does the same job. "Windows 8 Aero" theme created by "Velix94" @ DA is based on "Aero Lite" theme of Windows 8.

You can download the theme using following link:

Download Link

Hidden Secret Trick to Enable / Activate “Aero Glass” in Windows 8 “Aero Lite” Theme

We all know that Microsoft has added a new theme "Aero Lite" in Windows 8 which is considered as a replacement for existing "Windows Basic" theme in Windows Vista and 7.

Aero Lite theme is enabled by default in computer systems which don't support Aero interface. Following is a screenshot of Aero Lite theme running in Windows 8:

As you can see "Aero Lite" theme doesn't provide Aero Glass and looks very basic.

Today we are going to share a secret trick to enable or activate Aero Glass effect in Windows 8 "Aero Lite" theme. This secret trick is actually a bug / goof-up accidentally found by folks at winunleaked. You may also consider it as a hidden easter-egg in Windows 8.

Default Aero Lite theme without Aero Glass:

Aero Lite theme with Aero Glass enabled:

To enable Aero Glass in Aero Lite theme, you need to follow these simple steps:

1. Enable "Aero Lite" theme using Desktop Personalization window if its not already enabled.

2. Now you just need to launch "WindowsAnytimeUpgradeResults.exe" file. You can run it using RUN dialog box. Press WIN+R keys together to launch RUN dialog box and then type the command.

You can also run the command using Windows Explorer addressbar or Command Prompt.

3. That's it. As soon as you run the command, it'll activate Aero glass effect in Aero Lite theme

How to Use Windows 8 Developer Preview for One More Year?

When Microsoft released Windows 8 Developer Preview build to public, it was set to expire on March 11, 2012. So you were able to enjoy it for 6 months approx.

Now March 11, 2012 is coming and you'll need to uninstall Windows 8 Developer Preview and reinstall previous Windows editions or Windows 8 Consumer Preview which is going to release on Feb 29, 2012. Otherwise after the activation license expires, Windows 8 Developer Preview will periodically restart.

But what if you don't want to uninstall Windows 8 Developer Preview and want to keep it using for some more time as you have installed your favorite software programs and don't want to take the tension of installing them again?

Don't worry! Here is the solution. Microsoft has released a new update for Windows 8 Developer Preview which will extend the expiry date to January 15, 2013 so you'll get almost one extra year to enjoy Windows 8 DP build.

But before talking about the update, lets see what will happen when Windows 8 Developer Preview license expires:

You'll receive following message on the Activate Windows screen in Control Panel:

The license for this pre-released version of Windows has expired. You'll need to enter a new product key to activate Windows. Until you activate, Windows will restart every 1 hour, so you should back up your data.

Install the latest version of Windows.

You'll receive the following message on the Windows Activation screen:

This pre-release version of Windows has expired. Your computer will restart every 2 hours and you might lose any unsaved data.

You'll receive the following message on the Personalize pane in Control Panel:

You need to Activate Windows before you can personalize your PC.

Additionally, starting 14 days before the expiration date, you may receive the following notification on the desktop and in the Security section of Action Center:

This pre-release version of Windows will expire soon. Go to Windows Activation to purchase and install a released version of Windows.

So if you don't want to uninstall Windows 8 Developer Preview and want to use it for some more time, openWindows Update in Windows 8 Developer Preview and install the new update KB2671501 to extend the expiry period.