[robertbrd]

Each time when I access Note 5, a notification appears to say that "Unfortunately, Google PinyinIME has stopped. There is no button to re-enable this app. It would be nice if I could uninstall it or re-enable it.

[dpham00]

How did you accidentally disable it?

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Go to Settings>Application Manager, tap Google PinyinIME, then tap Enable. Is that what you already tried?

[robertbrd]

This is the first time I am using android devices. I normally use Apple devices. I bought this Samsung Galaxy note 5 out of interest to compare it with my iphone. I had no use to use the pinyin app and without any thought of inconvenience, I just disabled it.

[robertbrd]

The problem is the 'disable' button is not active. There is no 'enable' on it just 'disable'.

[B. Diddy]

Oh wait--you said the message was that "Google PinyinIME has stopped," right? That doesn't have to do with disabling the app. It has more to do with the app either being buggy, or having a conflict with another app.

Go to the Google Play Store, and search for this app. See if there is an update available.

[gozirra]

Try reinstalling directly from the Play Store?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/d...d.pinyin&hl=en

[robertbrd]

@gozirra. The link led to another version of pinyinIME, quite different from the one in note 5. I suppose this was packaged with the device. Could a factory reset bring back the default apps?

[robertbrd]

@B. Diddy. Before disabling it, the device was working flawlessly. There was no conflict with other apps. Anyway, when I clicked on the 'disable' button, an alert came on to say if I disabled it, the app will not be performing normally. I just ignored it and now I have this irritating alert message each time I turn it on. Thanks for the suggestion.

[B. Diddy]

Go to the App Manager, select Google Pinyin IME, and show us a screenshot. http://forums.androidcentral.com/amb...d-central.html

[robertbrd]

Go to the App Manager, select Google Pinyin IME, and show us a screenshot. http://forums.androidcentral.com/amb...d-central.html

Here are the screenshots on the google pinyinIME. There is no way I can re-enable it.

[B. Diddy]

That looks like a really old version, since Google's current version is called Google Pinyin Input (not IME), and has Material Design icon. You can try looking for an apk file of the old app, but be cautious, because websites that offer apk files don't usually vet them for malware. Here's one possible site: https://www.torrapk.com/en/apps/13-o...gle-Pinyin-IME

[robertbrd]

That looks like a really old version, since Google's current version is called Google Pinyin Input (not IME), and has Material Design icon. You can try looking for an apk file of the old app, but be cautious, because websites that offer apk files don't usually vet them for malware. Here's one possible site: https://www.torrapk.com/en/apps/13-o...gle-Pinyin-IME

Thank you for your suggestion. I have to live with the irritating alert message. That link was not working.
I have another problem with sounds and notifications. I am not able to change individual ringtones for friends. Looks as though the options for this are all closed..




[

[gozirra]

That's actually done in Contacts, not in the device Settings. When you open a contact, click Edit in the top right corner, then scroll down to the bottom, click More, scroll down to the bottom, and you have Ringtone, Message Tone, and Vibration Pattern on a per-contact basis right there.

Also, B. Diddy's link above works for me, it sounds like your device really could benefit from a factory reset (and then reinstall apps manually, instead of letting it reinstall something bad).

[robertbrd]

That's actually done in Contacts, not in the device Settings. When you open a contact, click Edit in the top right corner, then scroll down to the bottom, click More, scroll down to the bottom, and you have Ringtone, Message Tone, and Vibration Pattern on a per-contact basis right there.

Also, B. Diddy's link above works for me, it sounds like your device really could benefit from a factory reset (and then reinstall apps manually, instead of letting it reinstall something bad).

I think my Samsung galaxy note 5 (SM-N920V) is a different model. I cannot find the edit option on the top right corner of a contact only three vertical dots, when pressed, it shows 'join'' and at the bottom of the screen 'add another field'.. When I pressed that, it gives options to add 'Phonetic name, Email, IM, Notes, etc'. I have done a factory re-set. I have downloaded a newer version of Google PinyinIME (version 2.2) but was not able to update it due to different signatures. Anyway, thank you all for your assistance.

[gozirra]

Something is definitely amiss. I too have the SM-N920V (Verizon) model, and this is what the lower half of my contacts look like when I click Edit:



Perhaps you're not editing a phone contact or Google contact?

[B. Diddy]

Just curious--where did you get your phone? Was it directly from your carrier or Samsung, or was it on eBay or from some independent seller? If you didn't get it from Samsung or a major retailer, there's more chance of getting a knockoff or clone.

[robertbrd]

Something is definitely amiss. I too have the SM-N920V (Verizon) model, and this is what the lower half of my contacts look like when I click Edit:



Perhaps you're not editing a phone contact or Google contact?

I bought it from a friend who said he bought it from a Samsung retailer. If mine was a clone, would it be possible for me to do a factory reset? I have done it. Most of my options are quite different from other Samsung Galaxy note 5. Perhaps it is a clone. I will stick to my iphone. Thanks

[B. Diddy]

You can always do a factory reset on a clone, because even if it isn't a genuine Samsung phone, it's still an Android phone, and will function like most Android phones.

Use an app like CPU-Z and see what kind of processor it has. If it's a MediaTek (a company whose chips are often used in budget or knockoff devices), then it's a clone, since the Note5 uses Samsung's Exynos processor.

[robertbrd]

You can always do a factory reset on a clone, because even if it isn't a genuine Samsung phone, it's still an Android phone, and will function like most Android phones.

Use an app like CPU-Z and see what kind of processor it has. If it's a MediaTek (a company whose chips are often used in budget or knockoff devices), then it's a clone, since the Note5 uses Samsung's Exynos processor.

Thank you for your advice. I have downloaded and run that app. I am sad to find out it is a clone and I have been duped.

[gozirra]

Sorry to hear you got duped, but at least you learned how to check.

[robertbrd]

Sorry to hear you got duped, but at least you learned how to check.

Thank you for your input. Well I have learned a lesson not to buy from 'friends'. Buying from network operators is a safe bet. For now, I am sticking to iphones. They have served me very well.

[gozirra]

Don't think you're safe, knockoff iphones go for about $37. Google it. Or, I guess, Siri it if that floats your boat. Seriously though, good luck, and don't let one bad experience sour you from the Android experience. More people use them worldwide than iDevices for a reason.

[robertbrd]

Don't think you're safe, knockoff iphones go for about $37. Google it. Or, I guess, Siri it if that floats your boat. Seriously though, good luck, and don't let one bad experience sour you from the Android experience. More people use them worldwide than iDevices for a reason.

My iphones were bought from network operators. Siri works well too. As they say, ONCE BITTEN TWICE TERRIFIED.