yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Experiencing an issue with AdAway 6.0.3 since I installed the March 2023 security patch where RCS is not working on my Pixel 7 Pro. Even if I have no block lists enabled and the app is just on, it will return an error similar to what this bug captured.

Interferes with Google RCS (Rich Communication Services) messaging · Issue #3121 · AdAway/AdAway

Describe the bug When AdAway is enabled, I am unable to send or receive chat messages using RCS with the Google Messages app. For those who don't know what this is, it's an enhanced version of text...

github.com

Attempts to send an RCS message with Google Messages kicks back the message with an error: "Not sent, tap for options"

I am running the rooted version. After uninstalling and reinstalling, I am not presented with an option to install the VPN version either.

Not sure if it is related but I had similar Magisk issues that I can see were talked about recently on this thread. I had 25210 and rolled back to 25206. All of my other root functions and modules work fine.

I have attempted to add several DNS addresses to the allowed list, but none of them make a difference

https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/6218735/225933402-7ce5b4de-481c-4b97-8c46-ba97f324f9fd.png

Is this a common or known issue?
[Android Apps and Games] osm0sis:
We had that issue on Lineage on the OnePlus 9 Pro, and it was binder errors they had to hack around from upstream CAF. It was only after a certain amount of uptime, however. No issues with AdAway default list now that the Lineage devs have resolved that.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
So you determined that it was an app issue or a block list problem?

I had been just using my own custom block list until now,

AdblockHosts/AdAway default blocklist.txt at main · jeffreyabr/AdblockHosts

Hosts file to block ads. Contribute to jeffreyabr/AdblockHosts development by creating an account on GitHub.

github.com

but even that is resulting in the issue.

I've been across several phones and updated with all of the security patches for the last three years, but this is the first time I've encountered the problem.

I had to uninstall for now, but man do I hate how intrusive mobile ads are. This is the first time I've been without AdAway in a long time. I didn't realize how bad the mobile experience is without it.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
It didn't give you the option of vpn because instead of uninstalling it (which keeps data) you should have cleared data for adaway, then once it's resetup as a vpn import the lists that you exported before clearing data (a step i could have mentioned at thr beginning of this post but i didn't ).

Edit: found this, helps with vpn but not rooted adaway

https://www.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/a7czep/_/ec20ayi
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
So I cleared Storage, uninstalled, and rebooted, but when trying to reinstall 6.0.3, it still skips past the Root or VPN step. Is there something else to try? I downgraded to 6.0.2 which gave me the prompt, but had the same RCS issue. It must be something in the March 2023 update then because I've never had this happen before, yet I am surprised to be the only user posting about it. It worked fine on this phone for the first three weeks I had it before the update.

I guess I can try AdGuard. Haven't used any other ad blocking app in a long time.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
I was more suggesting to white list in vpn mode those apps mentioned in the adguard thread.

ROOT MODE

If you revert to no hosts and reboot does it let you rcs? In that state adaway is doing nothing so i should guess it would work. I'd test myself but don't use google messages or anything with rcs at this point.

You keep saying march 2023 update, do you mean of your android or adaway. Adaway has not been updated in eight months.

View attachment 5865351

Edit: Can you post the host sites you're using. I'm wondering if ads.google are required by rcs since it can send you adverts iirc.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
I am referring to the Pixel March 2023 security patch. I received this Pixel 7 Pro at the end of February, rooted with Magisk, and installed/configured AdAway just as I'd had it on my Pixel 6 Pro and my 3a XL before that. No issues with RCS until this week when I flashed the March 2023 update and rooted again (had a small issue with Magisk 25210, but was able to uninstall and return to Magisk 25206 to accomplish this).

Back to AdAway, I can't seem to get a clean uninstall of 6.0.3 that will allow me to reinstall and choose between root or VPN. There must be an app data folder somewhere that I am missing that I need to delete.

I had to drop down to 6.0.1 which I haven't had on this phone before. Made it a VPN setup and excluded all system apps except browsers. It sent and received a few RCS messages fine at first, but now it is waiting to deliver when a contact is online. Sent messages to two different people. Took a minute to send, but finally did.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
Ok (sorry p6p hasn't gotten march yet so i might be less helpful til rumored march 20)

In chat setting does it say connected. I assume you've not changed phone numbers or sims. Do you have fall back to sms mms turned on (it was default off when i momentarily switched to messages).

I assume you've turned chat off and on. And i assume when you rolled magisk back you also turned back the kernal boot. Running out of troubleshooting tbh.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
I think that AdAway v6.0.3 maybe checks if it was granted root - if yes, then it does not prompt to choose root or non-root

When you uninstall AdAway, it also wipes its Data but the root grant nevertheless remains in Magisk db

Hence wipe AdAway Data or uninstall AdAway, but then additionaly open Superuser list in Magisk and remove AdAway

Then (install and) configure AdAway again, it should prompt then for root or non-root mode
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
It may also detect systemless hosts is installed running. Because when i was on magisk 25210 (modules don't work with this build) i was able to choose vpn and i didn't clean root grant.
[Android Apps and Games] osm0sis:
Neither. Like I said, it was a ROM issue from upstream CAF that the ROM developers had to hack around. Once that was fixed everything worked fine. I only ever used AdAway default lists but I don't think AdAway had anything to do with it in my case.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Yeah, it says RCS is connected in Google Messages. Never changed my phone number or SIM card. I can fall back to SMS/MMS, but then I have to turn off/on RCS and disable AdAway to try to get RCS to reengage again.

When I rolled back Magisk, I just uninstalled Magisk, reinstalled the 25206 apk, patched and reflashed the init_boot.img, and I was good with modules again.

I've read about this RCS disable feature, but I have never used it or needed to use it

How to turn off RCS chats

messages.google.com

Not sure if that's what needs to be done or if that is for something else entirely. My old P6P is long gone.

Interestingly, I went through all of these steps with 6.0.3 installed, and after I wiped storage on the AdAway app (even before I uninstalled the app), it disappeared from the Superuser section of Magisk, so there was nothing to toggle off. I uninstalled again, reinstalled, and it still doesn't prompt for root or non-root. Just skips into the root app upon open and prompts for root permissions.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
I note that messages was recently updated

Google Messages tweaked to provide more clarity through minimalism

Sent? Received? Read? Things of the past. With Google Messages Now, we’ve got icons for that!

www.phonearena.com

have you tried adaway enabled older version of messages?
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Have not. I'm on the beta of Google Messages, so my app gets updates like every other day.

I'm a little hesitant to try that kind of troubleshooting. Without going into it, I have like 20gb of texts on my phone, backing up and restoring everything going back to like 2013 every time I wipe or get a new phone. So Messages will have to cache it all which takes a few hours after a roll back.

I can live with the VPN version for now. Would like to know how to clear user data to get 6.0.3. if the March update comes out for other phones in the next few weeks and it becomes and issue, then I suppose that'll be our answer. If it's still just me, then I guess I'll have to try a new Messages app.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
Does it do this on stable? I had no idea you were on beta. I'd look at the change log since you upgraded to android's march 2023 to see if the problem reveals itself.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
I'm pretty technical, but even looking at the March 2023 Security Bulletin, I don't really know what I'd be looking for to determine if there's anything in there that might have caused a conflict with Messages/RCS and AdAway.

Pixel Update Bulletin—March 2023 | Android Open Source Project

source.android.com

If there's a changelog for Messages Beta releases, I'm not aware of it.

Strangely, when I woke up today and several times throughout the day, AdAway 6.0.1 running VPN mode with the latest Messages Beta installed started having the same issue. I couldn't send or receive RCS messages. Had to disable the AdAway app to get anything through.

I unenrolled from Beta for the stable version. Currently have messages.android_20230220_00_RC03.phone_dynamic installed. With the same 6.0.1 VPN version, I'm have the same issue. This version was released on March 7, so that predates the release of the March 2023 Pixel update.

Any other ideas?
[Android Apps and Games] ipdev:
Using VPN mode, every now and then, I will notice something is not running correctly.

Mostly when switching between WiFi and Mobile Data.

For the lack of a better description, it is like AdAway VPN stalls.

When it happens, I normally just toggle AdAway off and on.

I do not recall if I had/have issues with Messages (Beta).

Phone (Beta), voice mail sync would sometimes be affected.

Sorry to say I have not had time to investigate and grab logs to make a report about it. 😓

Cheers. :cowboy:
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Good thought, but no similarity here. I rarely turn on WiFi. Left VPN on longer today and experienced the issue again on stable Messages.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Alright, now I'm back to absolve AdAway. I have no idea what's going on here...

I uninstalled AdAway last night and reflashed the March 2023 Pixel update. Left my phone unrooted overnight, and it was still able to send RCS messages in the morning.

Rooted before breakfast with Magisk 25206 which is the version I installed when I first got this Pixel 7 Pro at the end of February. Still haven't reinstalled AdAway, but I am experiencing the same RCS message issue again. Using stable Google Messages too, not even Beta.

Everything had worked fine on it for the two weeks or so before the March update, AdAway v6.0.3 included. I had the same difficulty with modules not working on Magisk 25210 that everyone else did, so I uninstalled Magisk and rolled back to 25206. In that process of not knowing why my modules weren't working, I had Magisk 25210 patch and flashed the boot.img which I now know is unnecessary, but I also reflashed the stock boot.img after the fact.

So now I'm back to square one without a culprit. Despite being on what I thought was good footing, I started experiencing that "Not sent. Tap for options" issue with RCS in Google Messages. I suppose I can try to wipe my phone and reflash the March 2023 update, but that's going to take all damn day to backup and restore my SMS messages. Hate having to do that and reserve full wipes for major issues.

I know it's now unrelated from the thread topic, but if anyone has any additional ideas or thoughts, I would appreciate the help. I'm stumped.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
What mods do you have, or better yet (since it sounds like something root is at fault) start a thread in thr magisk or p7p board and link me and I'll try to continue helping as i can.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
You're probably right that it's something related to root. I'm headed on the road for a week, and I'll be without a PC. I don't want to struggle with this and not be able to do anything about it, so I'm just going to bite the bullet and factory reset tonight. If I don't succeed, I'll make a post. Very much appreciate the offer of assistance. Googling around, I realized how few resources there are these days compared to when rooting, ROMing, and modding used to be more commonplace.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Sorry, I cannot help you with RCS messages (not using) but I'm curious about your saga

Could you please clarify:

1) Are you using AdAway in the root mode?

If you go with a root file explorer like MiXPlorer and open /system/etc/hosts and /etc/hosts files, are them large ones with thousands of lines and do you read on top that they are patched by AdAway?

2) Blocking ads does work or not for you?

3) If you pause AdAway (main screen, button on the bottom in the middle) - AdAway screen will change the colour - and upon you reboot, do you still have problems with RCS

This last one is not related to RCS but if blocking ads generally don't work for you:

4) Do you maybe have a (textual) file like /etc/nsswitch.conf on your phone?

Or you could find a similar config file (in that folder?!) - file that defines the order of precedence in resolving hostnames, like:

hosts: files DNS

or

hosts: DNS files

What is the /etc/nsswitch.conf file in Linux – TecAdmin

What is /etc/nsswitch.conf? /etc/nsswitch.conf is a Linux configuration file that specifies how the system should switch between different name service providers. The file can be used to configure which services should be used for hostname lookup, password lookups, and so on. Advertisement...

tecadmin.net

PS, Test by putting native Private DNS to both, Auto or Off
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
First I thought that I got crazy but I've retested back and forth several times, on WLAN and Mobile Network:

1) Starting point:

My Systemless Hosts + AdAway working, ads are properly blocked, eg I cannot open ads.google.com.

I use Chrome

2) I keep AdAway as is, and I just open the native Private DNS setting and switch it from Auto to Off (!)

Few seconds later, my Chrome starts showing the ads elsewhere and ads.google.com page now opens?!

3) I switch Private DNS back to Auto, and Chrome starts again properly blocking the ads

MIUI 13/A12,

Chrome 111.0.5563.58

---

On my another phone

MIUI 12.5/A11

Chrome 111.0.5563.57 (PlayStore does not notify to update Chrome)

I cannot 'reproduce', no matter if Private DNS is Auto or Off, ads are always properly blocked

My phones have different versions of Magisk (Delta vs Canary), but since the /etc/hosts file is properly patched by AdAway, it shouldn't matter

Hence I suggest to those who claim that they cannot get ads blocked (although Systemless hosts + AdAway are properly enabled and configured), to test with Private DNS Auto (and Off, back and forth)

---

Of course, if you set Private DNS to dns.adguard-dns.com, then you don't need AdAway anymore (but you could no more reconfigure Blocked and Allowed lists at your will) since AdGuard DNS will block you ads
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
Feedback:

Tested as suggested... with Chrome v111.0.5563.58. ads.google.com does not open with Private DNS Auto, as well as Off.

But ads continue to show (and also get redirected) with certain file sharing sites (screenshots shared earlier).
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
How should new users configure Chrome for AdAway?

From AdAway app, link to GitHub yields to:

GitHub - AdAway/AdAway: AdAway is a free and open source ad blocker for Android.

AdAway is a free and open source ad blocker for Android. - GitHub - AdAway/AdAway: AdAway is a free and open source ad blocker for Android.

github.com

There, for more info, GitHub directs to the AdAway site:

AdAway

AdAway is an open source ad blocker for Android using the hosts file.

adaway.org

Scrolling down there opens FAQ section.

It instructs to disable Data Compressor Proxy - but the link opens Google Chrome Help:

Google Chrome Help

Official Google Chrome Help Center where you can find tips and tutorials on using Google Chrome and other answers to frequently asked questions.

support.google.com

where it notes that Lite mode was no more supported since the end of March, 2022

Is this Lite mode the same as disabling Data Compression Proxy?

I tried to search on Internet both for the Lite mode and Data Compression Proxy but whatever the various guides say, my current Chrome settings look different and don't offer the required option(s),?!

0n the other side, the last time when I Factory reset my phone was around the end of Aug 2022.

I don't remember how exactly I had to reconfigure the Chrome at that time, but since then the ads in my Chrome are successfully blocked
[Android Apps and Games] DRatJr:
Having a bit of trouble and didn't know if anyone else was. It keeps saying this:

View attachment 5869331

Was using Adaway just fine on my P6Pro. It was rooted and blocking just fine. Then out of the blue it stopped working. I tried removing and readding sysemless hosts module, uninstalling and reinstalling most current version (6.0.3) etc.

Now I have wiped my phone and gotten it at a fresh start. I rooted it, installed magisk, enabled systemless hosts module, rebooted, installed aday, and will the same issue.

This is the device info:

Pixel 6 Pro

Stock Rooted

Magisk 25.2 (25200)

Build Number: TQ2A.230305.008.E1

Other apps were having similar issues, such as revanced not being able to allocate space to patch an app. I thought the two would be related, but revanced no longer has the issue, only adaway. Any help would be super appreciated.

UPDATE: It seems to work with this version AdAway-dev-220513.zip. I uninstalled previous, installed this, and it worked just fine. I'm guessing then it may be on the app's side and not mine?
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Sorry, I had a busy few days.

I took the time to backup and wipe my Pixel 7 Pro, flashing the March 2023 update to my phone with the Google tool. I think I ended up doing this like four times for various reasons.

Today, as I was preparing to leave for a week away from home, I had been texting P2 just fine for the last few hours after restoring Magisk and AdAway (root) when I just had this feeling... And yup, RCS was broken again.

So I disabled AdAway, waited a bit, and that didn't help so I had to reboot. It happened again, so I removed Systemless Hosts from Magisk and uninstalled AdAway. So far, I have been okay.

Now, I am suspecting that something in the March 2023 Security Update plus Systemless Hosts module from Magisk is the culprit. I nuked this thing so cleanly and multiple times, so I see no way that it can't not be a result of something I am doing.

The only modules that I have are

1. Debloat v17.3.3 by veez21

2. Systemless Hosts directly from Magisk

3. Universal SafetyNet Fix v2.4.0 by kdrag0n

I was able to tell that AdAway was affecting my Hosts file when I had it enabled. It was successfully blocking ads. I do not have a /etc/nsswitch.conf file on my phone.

I tried to use a throwback solution and downloaded DNS66, but that seemed to crash or something on my phone because after loading my block list and opening an app of any kind that used internet, I got "Reconfiguration Error" and I couldn't do anything in the app when I reopen it; it's just frozen.

At one point, before reflashing, I was able to get AdAway v6.0.3 to allow me to choose VPN even though it was root from the initial install, but I can't seem to retrigger that. I thought it was after removing Systemless Hosts or disabling the module but not removing it, but now that's not helping. Just goes into the root format and doesn't function because it doesn't have the necessary components. And denying it root permissions doesn't do it either.

Has anyone else updated to the Pixel March 2023 security update on their phone yet? Not sure how small of a population there is here and how many of that population has Pixel phones. Still, after everything was working just fine for so long across so many devices, I'm surprised I am the only one having issues. Can't seem to find any other reports of the "Not sent. Tap for options" error with RCS in the wild.
[Android Apps and Games] Nergal di Cuthah:
You could try the more up to date displax mod of usnf (2.4.0 mod 1.2) and make sure you've denylisted messages

Is it possible that an app that's needed got debloated (spitballing again sorry, i do have the update now but dont know anyone i could rcs with. I guess you could pm me your number but that's probably a no no on xda (and kinda a no no personally).
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
I can do without Universal SafetyNet Fix realistically. It's just for Google Pay which I hardly ever use because I don't like having any PIN/Pattern lock on my screen. I'm too trusting and prefer just being able to swipe up without even looking to unlock my phone. It's currently uninstalled and I've been fine. Now that I think about it, I guess I haven't tried that combo, so maybe I will try to run AdAway again and see if it is okay as long as Universal SafetyNet Fix is gone.

Forgot to mention Debloat in my post, but all I removed was Google stuff - YouTube, YouTube Music, Google TV, GMail, and Google Fi. I'm on Verizon. Never had an issue with that, and I've been using it since like ~2018 if I had to guess.

I'll go one more A/B test round with this config before I start bugging you by texting you every thirty minutes, haha. Appreciate the offer.
[Android Apps and Games] joefuf:
Yeahhh, I really wish it had crossed my mind to take that off my phone before I went through all of the wiping and restoring. Not that it's bad to do every now and then, but having only had the phone for a month and the headaches I've been through with this issue in the last few weeks, disabling that mod might have made things much easier.

I've been using RCS just fine for the last 24 hours or so. AdAway is installed and running fine just as before. There must be something in the March 2023 security update that conflicts with the Universal SafetyNet Fix v2.4.0 that I was using. I don't really need that right now, but I will keep the Displax module in mind if I ever seek out contactless payments capability again.

Thank you all for letting me clog up this thread with my issue. Really thought it was related to AdAway with how disabling and enabling seemed to affect it at first. Glad I don't have to find a replacement for what I've now realized is really one of my most valued apps. No idea how people use mobile with so much clutter on the screen from ads.
[Android Apps and Games] bricca:
Hi everyone, on my xiaomi mi9t pro I was rooted and used adaway to block ads. Now I had to remove the root and although adaway is successfully installed, I see all the ads again. Is there a way to configure it differently and make it work without root? A thousand thanks.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
AdAway requires root

Instead, native Settings, Private DNS, set to dns.adguard-dns.com
[Android Apps and Games] bricca:
Can I uninstall the adaway app? Are the dns set as in the attached image correct? Thank you.
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Response below in the next post
[Android Apps and Games] zgfg:
Yes, uninstall AdAway.

DNS settings should be ok

Sorry, I missinterpreted your post - you asked about UN-installing AdAway👍
[Android Apps and Games] bricca:
Don't worry, you have been very kind and I thank you very much. 😀
[Android Apps and Games] m0han:
I gather he asked whether he can uninstall AdAway app after setting DNS as shown in his screenshot. He also wanted to know whether the DNS setting shown is correct.