Random screen shows Application Shortcuts with Ad

[Android Central Question]

For the last 10-15 days, I am getting a random screen that shows my application shortcuts like common apps, recently accessed apps, favorite apps along with Ads. The screen appears randomly and is very annoying.

I suspect this is result of some App that has got upgraded. I am not sure how to go about identifying the offending app. I don't want to do a factory reset or resort to disabling Apps one by one.

Any pointers to resolving this would be helpful.

Not sure if I would be able to upload the screen shot here.

 

[belodion]

Does it persist in Safe Mode?

Also, see this: https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=901497

 

[GMoney653]

Hey next time it pops up can you screenshot it? It may help me answer a question I have on here. Thanks!

 

[GMoney653]

See what?

 

[belodion]

See what?

It took me some time to grab the link, but now it's grabbed and added.

Welcome as a new member.

 

[GMoney653]

Thanks! My issue wasn't a FULL screen pop up. It was almost the size of those Amber alert pop ups that show up right smack dab in the middle of the screen. My finger touched the screen and the pop up disappeared and it's bothering the sh!t out of me because I never got a chance to read it.

 

[Javier P]

For the last 10-15 days, I am getting a random screen that shows my application shortcuts like common apps, recently accessed apps, favorite apps along with Ads. The screen appears randomly and is very annoying.

I suspect this is result of some App that has got upgraded. I am not sure how to go about identifying the offending app. I don't want to do a factory reset or resort to disabling Apps one by one.

Any pointers to resolving this would be helpful.

Not sure if I would be able to upload the screen shot here.

Back to the original question. That sounds like the 'swipe' feature included in apps like ES File Explorer, Clean Master and many others. Usually that menu opens when you swipe from the bottom corners on your screen.

 

[Manu Mmanu]

Hey next time it pops up can you screenshot it? It may help me answer a question I have on here. Thanks!

Here is the screen shot

 

[Manu Mmanu]

Back to the original question. That sounds like the 'swipe' feature included in apps like ES File Explorer, Clean Master and many others. Usually that menu opens when you swipe from the bottom corners on your screen.

Nope, it opens randomly without action like swipe from my end.

 

[Chikocz]

Hi this one is from Es file explorer, try to disable it in app or uninstall

 

[Manu Mmanu]

Hi this one is from Es file explorer, try to disable it in app or uninstall

Thanks. I don't have ES File Explorer installed on my device. Might be some other app offering similar unwanted functionality.

 

[Javier P]

Thanks. I don't have ES File Explorer installed on my device. Might be some other app offering similar unwanted functionality.

Yeah, that definitely looks like the 'swipe' menu included in apps like ES, different apps by CM, GO or DU, photo editors, free keyboards, call blockers ... Difficult to know for sure which app is causing it. See if any of the different solutions included in this thread work for you.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=901497

 

[Javier P]

Thanks. I don't have ES File Explorer installed on my device. Might be some other app offering similar unwanted functionality.

More threads about this same menu with different culprits.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=896419

 

[Manu Mmanu]

More threads about this same menu with different culprits.

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=896419

Following this thread, I came about a suggestion:

By the way, what phone do you have? You could check which apps have the 'draw over other apps' permission enabled and probably the culprit will show up there.

I have HTC Desire 828 Dual Sim running Android 5.1. How can I check which apps have the 'draw over other apps' permission. The suggestion so far seem to be related to Marshmallow and higher versions of android.

Meanwhile I have gone to Settings -> Sound and Notifications -> App Notifications and disabled notifications for few apps. Will keep an eye on this random screen. Also I have noticed that the random screen is frequently displayed when I am connected to internet.

 

[Javier P]

Following this thread, I came about a suggestion:



I have HTC Desire 828 Dual Sim running Android 5.1. How can I check which apps have the 'draw over other apps' permission. The suggestion so far seem to be related to Marshmallow and higher versions of android.

Meanwhile I have gone to Settings -> Sound and Notifications -> App Notifications and disabled notifications for few apps. Will keep an eye on this random screen. Also I have noticed that the random screen is frequently displayed when I am connected to internet.

Yeah, not sure if you can check that permission on older versions. Have you already tried this?

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=901497

 

[Manu Mmanu]

Yeah, not sure if you can check that permission on older versions. Have you already tried this?

https://forums.androidcentral.com/showthread.php?t=901497

Yups, now trying the hit and trial method to identify the culprit

 

[Manu Mmanu]

Yups, now trying the hit and trial method to identify the culprit

Apologies for getting back late on this. Here's in an update. The offending application is NQ Vault. I have been using the free version for few years and I was absolutely fine with the in-app ads. However, this full random screen with ad is not acceptable.

I had to factory reset the phone and then reinstall the apps one by one to identify the culprit.

Thanks for all the help on this.

 

[Javier P]

Apologies for getting back late on this. Here's in an update. The offending application is NQ Vault. I have been using the free version for few years and I was absolutely fine with the in-app ads. However, this full random screen with ad is not acceptable.

I had to factory reset the phone and then reinstall the apps one by one to identify the culprit.

Thanks for all the help on this.

No worries. Glad you managed to find the culprit and thanks for the follow up. It'll be very helpful for other members with a similar problem.