Chrome browser keeps minimizing after each download

[sbutk]

Hi.

Brand new member of the site; I registered with the hopes of finally the answer to a problem I’m experiencing lately with my Android phone…

Specifically, I have a Huawei Mate SE smartphone, running Android v. 8.0.0.

I’ve owned the phone for several years, but just over the last week or so, I’ve been experiencing a problem where any picture that I download from online (i.e. via my Chrome browser), the browser spontaneously minimizes. Chrome doesn’t necessarily close; I can still find it among my open app windows. But it’s as if the browser has to take a moment or two to “reset” …which I’m finding increasingly annoying.

Does this ring any bells to anyone? Does it sound like a cache issue that can be resolved by clearing? (If so, instructions on how to do so would be most appreciated.) …Or possibly by uninstalling and reinstalling the Chrome app. Either way, are any of these measures likely to cause me to lose my Bookmarks; History; Open tabs …or ‘All of the above’?

Would not exactly be the end of the world, per se, but it’s a scenario I’d like to avoid if I like to avoid, if anyone has any better suggestions, before I go poking around on my own.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[sbutk]

Hi , came back
Ok any updates available for chrome in play store?

Two relevant apps that I see are: Google Chrome (4.1*); and Chrome Beta (4.3*)


Would it perhaps be advisable to uninstall my current Google Chrome and then reinstall the same app?

(But then I worry about losing all my Bookmarks, History, etc. …Or is there a way to make sure they’re preserved before I go uninstalling anything?)

 

[mustang7757]

Two relevant apps that I see are: Google Chrome (4.1*); and Chrome Beta (4.3*)


Would it perhaps be advisable to uninstall my current Google Chrome and then reinstall the same app?

(But then I worry about losing all my Bookmarks, History, etc. …Or is there a way to make sure they’re preserved before I go uninstalling anything?)

If your in chrome beta , maybe go back to regular version as beta can cause issues

 

[sbutk]

If your in chrome beta , maybe go back to regular version as beta can cause issues

No, I'm using regular Chrome (the one that came preinstalled with the phone). I see Chrome Beta available in the play store, that's all I'm saying.

 

[mustang7757]

No, I'm using regular Chrome (the one that came preinstalled with the phone). I see Chrome Beta available in the play store, that's all I'm saying.

Oh ok , so is there a update without beta ?

 

[sbutk]

Oh ok , so is there a update without beta ?

Well, yes, but...

When I click on the accompanying green icon in the Play Store (labeled "Open"), it takes me directly to my current Chrome browser complete with all my open tabs.

...Do I need to first uninstall my current version of the Chrome app?

(And again, that brings me to one of my earlier questions, do I need to back up my Tabs, Bookmarks, and History first, to prevent losing them?)

 

[mustang7757]

Well, yes, but...

When I click on the accompanying green icon in the Play Store (labeled "Open"), it takes me directly to my current Chrome browser complete with all my open tabs.

...Do I need to first uninstall my current version of the Chrome app?

(And again, that brings me to one of my earlier questions, do I need to back up my Tabs, Bookmarks, and History first, to prevent losing them?)

Yeah Uninstall and back up

 

[sbutk]

Yeah Uninstall and back up

I'm afraid this is where my inexperience is going to shine through: Can you tell me what's the best way to back up?

 

[mustang7757]

I'm afraid this is where my inexperience is going to shine through: Can you tell me what's the best way to back up?

No problem , open chrome >3 dots upper right corner tap >settings>sync tap

 

[sbutk]

No problem , open chrome >3 dots upper right corner tap >settings>sync tap

Oh OK. Simple, thanks.

...So now with Sync on, I'll be able to go ahead and uninstall my current version of Chrome; re-install using the new version in the Play Store; and all that personal data I mentioned should be retained?

 

[mustang7757]

Oh OK. Simple, thanks.

...So now with Sync on, I'll be able to go ahead and uninstall my current version of Chrome; re-install using the new version in the Play Store; and all that personal data I mentioned should be retained?

Yes it should

 

[sbutk]

Yes it should

Hi. Sorry for the delay; I’ve had things come up, and am just now attempting to remedy these issues with my Chrome app…

When I go through Settings and find my Chrome app, there is no option to uninstall (which I kindof anticipated, since it’s one that came preloaded with the phone). The only options are: Disable and Force Stop. I’m unsure which (if either) I should choose.

Also, when I go to the Play Store and search for Chrome, one hit comes up, “Google Chrome” – but it seems to be the instance I already have running on my phone, as the only option there is a green icon marked “Open”.

Can you please advise me how I should proceed?

Thanks.

 

[mustang7757]

Hi. Sorry for the delay; I’ve had things come up, and am just now attempting to remedy these issues with my Chrome app…

When I go through Settings and find my Chrome app, there is no option to uninstall (which I kindof anticipated, since it’s one that came preloaded with the phone). The only options are: Disable and Force Stop. I’m unsure which (if either) I should choose.

Also, when I go to the Play Store and search for Chrome, one hit comes up, “Google Chrome” – but it seems to be the instance I already have running on my phone, as the only option there is a green icon marked “Open”.

Can you please advise me how I should proceed?

Thanks.

No problem, if you long press chrome>tap info>upper right corner tap the 3 dots should say Uninstall update?

 

[sbutk]

No problem, if you long press chrome>tap info>upper right corner tap the 3 dots should say Uninstall update?View attachment 335423

OK, I've got it. So I tap "Uninstall updates", and it says

"Replace this app with the factory version? All data will be removed."


...Just making sure, so I should go ahead and say yes, right?

It's just a little scary to me, rolling back to the factory version. But you said that since I'm synced, my Bookmarks, etc. should be retained?

 

[mustang7757]

OK, I've got it. So I tap "Uninstall updates", and it says

"Replace this app with the factory version? All data will be removed."


...Just making sure, so I should go ahead and say yes, right?

It's just a little scary to me, rolling back to the factory version. But you said that since I'm synced, my Bookmarks, etc. should be retained?

Yeah no worries , proceed.

 

[sbutk]

Yeah no worries , proceed.

Well, some unfortunate news. I’m afraid this may end up being a bit more complicated than we anticipated…

I took the actions you advised me to, and rolled back my version of Chrome [from v. 91.0.4472.101] to v. 69.0.3497.100. Then I tried downloading a random jpeg file. The problem persisted (Chrome minimized back to my phone’s home screen.)

I reasoned that maybe I needed to reboot the phone, since maybe the rollback didn’t 100% take effect, or something (e.g. “something” was still scrambled/corrupted, internally).

After restarting the phone and trying another jpeg download, it worked perfectly. No minimizing. Problem solved?

But then, I realized that’s exactly what was happening before the rollback: a restart would seem to solve my problem, but then it would come back after a period of ~ 24 hours.

To test this theory, I waited an entire day, leaving the phone on, and retried a download… The minimizing problem came back.


A few more thoughts…

The very real possibility occurred to me that this could be malware-related. I’ve got Norton 360 on my phone, but admittedly hadn’t run any scans in a while. So I did just that, first making sure that App Security, Internet Security, etc. were all properly set up and functioning… Fortunately, the scan seemingly shows me to be Malware free.


And then, in the meantime, I started to make the connection that a few of my other apps have been behaving a bit “strangely”, in recent months. (This is the part that I’d said, way back in the beginning, that I’d perhaps save for another thread, in the interest of solving one problem at a time. However, maybe this is a good time to mention it afterall, since there just may be a connection.)

The othr apps that have been showing odd behavior from time to time – some more frequently than others – are as follows:

Camera: Often times I will have the camera app open, be ready to snap a picture… and before I can do so… the camera app minimizes on me. (Missed shots & unreliable camera aren’t much fun.)

Gallery: Sometimes the camera does seemingly take a photo (i.e. it clicks), but no image is apparently captured. And, try as I might to access the Gallery and look for it, the Gallery refuses to open.

Timer: I tend to use my timer quite a bit, such as for counting down the requisite 2 hours for charging a battery my digital camera. Well, I’d say about 25% of the time, after I’ve dialed in the 2:00:00, I go to press Start and the app apparently hangs on me. Weird thing is, if I wait say 30 seconds to a minute, usually it will un-freeze and resume counting down as expected. Other times it will stay frozen until an error message pops up telling me that the app is “Not responding”, and do I want to Close the app or Wait – in which case, usually after waiting a big longer, the timer becomes responsive once again.



I know I’ve thrown a lot at you, but hopefully by providing all the [related/unrelated?] background information, it might suggest some possible connection – and, ideally, lead to an eventual fix.


Thanks for taking the time to help sort through these oft-tedious technical issues. As always, I’m open to any instructions, suggestions, or requests for more info that you might have for me.

 

[mustang7757]

Well, some unfortunate news. I’m afraid this may end up being a bit more complicated than we anticipated…

I took the actions you advised me to, and rolled back my version of Chrome [from v. 91.0.4472.101] to v. 69.0.3497.100. Then I tried downloading a random jpeg file. The problem persisted (Chrome minimized back to my phone’s home screen.)

I reasoned that maybe I needed to reboot the phone, since maybe the rollback didn’t 100% take effect, or something (e.g. “something” was still scrambled/corrupted, internally).

After restarting the phone and trying another jpeg download, it worked perfectly. No minimizing. Problem solved?

But then, I realized that’s exactly what was happening before the rollback: a restart would seem to solve my problem, but then it would come back after a period of ~ 24 hours.

To test this theory, I waited an entire day, leaving the phone on, and retried a download… The minimizing problem came back.


A few more thoughts…

The very real possibility occurred to me that this could be malware-related. I’ve got Norton 360 on my phone, but admittedly hadn’t run any scans in a while. So I did just that, first making sure that App Security, Internet Security, etc. were all properly set up and functioning… Fortunately, the scan seemingly shows me to be Malware free.


And then, in the meantime, I started to make the connection that a few of my other apps have been behaving a bit “strangely”, in recent months. (This is the part that I’d said, way back in the beginning, that I’d perhaps save for another thread, in the interest of solving one problem at a time. However, maybe this is a good time to mention it afterall, since there just may be a connection.)

The othr apps that have been showing odd behavior from time to time – some more frequently than others – are as follows:

Camera: Often times I will have the camera app open, be ready to snap a picture… and before I can do so… the camera app minimizes on me. (Missed shots & unreliable camera aren’t much fun.)

Gallery: Sometimes the camera does seemingly take a photo (i.e. it clicks), but no image is apparently captured. And, try as I might to access the Gallery and look for it, the Gallery refuses to open.

Timer: I tend to use my timer quite a bit, such as for counting down the requisite 2 hours for charging a battery my digital camera. Well, I’d say about 25% of the time, after I’ve dialed in the 2:00:00, I go to press Start and the app apparently hangs on me. Weird thing is, if I wait say 30 seconds to a minute, usually it will un-freeze and resume counting down as expected. Other times it will stay frozen until an error message pops up telling me that the app is “Not responding”, and do I want to Close the app or Wait – in which case, usually after waiting a big longer, the timer becomes responsive once again.



I know I’ve thrown a lot at you, but hopefully by providing all the [related/unrelated?] background information, it might suggest some possible connection – and, ideally, lead to an eventual fix.


Thanks for taking the time to help sort through these oft-tedious technical issues. As always, I’m open to any instructions, suggestions, or requests for more info that you might have for me.

Let me think and go over everything again and get back to you and see can offer other solutions.

 

[sbutk]

Let me think and go over everything again and get back to you and see can offer other solutions.

Certainly. Thank you, in advance.

 

[mustang7757]

Certainly. Thank you, in advance.

You not using any one handed mode ? Any anti viruses or app cleaners can you remove from phone for testing purposes? And you never touched chrome flag settings?

 

[sbutk]

You not using any one handed mode ? Any anti viruses or app cleaners can you remove from phone for testing purposes? And you never touched chrome flag settings?

That's all true. ...Intentionally, at least. Honestly, all those terms are "Greek to me".


...But sure, I can go ahead and remove Norton. Should I then attempt another test download?

(Honestly, browsing sites without "protection" has me a bit uncomfortable. ...Think I best keep it "PG". A nice recipe site, perhaps.)

 

[mustang7757]

That's all true. ...Intentionally, at least. Honestly, all those terms are "Greek to me".


...But sure, I can go ahead and remove Norton. Should I then attempt another test download?

(Honestly, browsing sites without "protection" has me a bit uncomfortable. ...Think I best keep it "PG". A nice recipe site, perhaps.)

Yeah try download test and maybe another browser?