App manager shows mult Phone app; contacts unexpectedly quit; Lollipop issue

[wesyates]

I am a tech working with cell phone support and have noticed a strange coincidence. Whenever a customer encounters the error "unfortunately contacts has stopped working...", I can see that they have multiple Phone apps in the Application Manager; each with the exact same version. This seems to be present whenever the customer upgrades to Lollipop. When I run my diags, I find at least three of the same Phone app, again each with the exact same version; verified by the customer in Appliation Manager>All (details). This issue is present in different manufacturers devices and is not limited to a single model.

A factory data reset does not clear the issue, nor does wiping the cache partition. None of the Phone apps can be removed/turned off/uninstalled/disabled. I do have the option to repair the upgrade on the phone. Have not tried that yet but will do so shortly. My suspicion is that this is something the lollipop upgrade has done on a case by case basis.

Has anyone; or can anyone verify that they:
1) have only one version of Phone app in App Manager?
2) if you have multiple Phone apps do you
3) have the same version app?
4) have any issue with the contacts stopping?

This is vexing me and I need to find a solution for this either reimage or some other sort of repair.

Thanks.

 

[metro72]

Trying to figure this out on my wife's Galaxy s5 currently. She has 2 Phone apps and is constantly getting "Unfortunately Phone has stopped working" messages.

Now, the Phone still works behind the message as long as she doesn't tap OK, but when calling a bank or something she can't get back to select numbers to navigate support calls, etc. Tap OK and it kills the call.

And most forums say clear the cache but...which one? Both? Then there's the prompt that says all data will be cleared and accounts removed. So... Will I have to reconfigure the entire network account?...

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Misha326]

I have 3 phone apps running. was not aware my phone had upgraded until i saw samsung internet being downloaded unexpectedly. That app then vanished and i cant find that title under all apps or running apps. Really strange. Also many new apps running that I dont want or need and no way to disable them. I can only force stop which is a temp fix.

 

[DannyCrasto]

Thumbs up



Hey Folks,

I found the solution if you have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and it may work on other phones too.
Go to Settings>>Application Manager>>let it show you all the apps>>then click on the 3 dots and click on Show System Apps>> then click on the 3 dots again and click on Apps that can appear on top (this is called Screen Overlay feature) now select the 2 Phone Apps and enable it and show it as green which means screen overlay for these 2 apps is now enabled.

This has solved my issue and have started loving Samsung and Android again as I was a serious Microsoft Windows Phone user till 31st Jul'16.

I shall be happy to see someone confirming if this really helps.

 

[Colleen Wehr]

^^ I tried the above, and had someone call me while texting to see if the error occurs. it didn't, so i'm hoping it's fixed

Samsung S5