Downloaded app has caused problems

[anpease]

Hi,
I have downloaded and installed a QR Code reader, but not only does it not work, but I cannot uninstall it (either by holding on the icon and clicking on uninstall, or by going into settings>apps, then clicking on the app to try to remove it). Both times it takes me back to my Home Screen.
I have also found that I cannot open Accessibility in the Settings, takes me back to the Home Screen again.
And also now, when I hold the power button in to either restart or turn off the phone, this doesn't work either...it just switches the screen display off.
I have tried force restarting the phone, but this has had no effect either.
Can someone please offer any help?
Many thanks.

 

[Javier P]

Go to the Security settings and make sure that app is disabled in the Device Admin apps section.

 

[anpease]

There are no apps active in the Device Admin Apps section.

 

[Javier P]

There are no apps active in the Device Admin Apps section.

That's weird. Did you download this app from the Play Store or from a different source?

 

[anpease]

I got it from the Play Store. If I hold my finger on the app the uninstall option pops up,but before I can tap on it I get taken back to my Home Screen. If I go via settings to my apps, I get taken back to my Home Screen as soon as I tap on the app.

 

[Mooncatt]

Try going to the Play Store listing for the app and uninstalling from there. If that doesn't work, try rebooting the phone in case a bug is hanging up the process. May as well reboot into safe mode while you're at it, which should prevent the app from running at all and hopefully not get hung up.

 

[Javier P]

I got it from the Play Store. If I hold my finger on the app the uninstall option pops up,but before I can tap on it I get taken back to my Home Screen. If I go via settings to my apps, I get taken back to my Home Screen as soon as I tap on the app.

That's good, there's hope then

Open the Play Store, select that app and try these things:

- Take a screenshot a post it here so we can have a better idea of the details of that app.

- See if you can uninstall it from there.

Also, see if you can boot into Safe Mode. According to what you commented here it's possible that you won't be able to do it, but if you can try uninstalling again.

 

[Javier P]

Ouch, we posted at the same time

 

[Mooncatt]

Ouch, we posted at the same time

Great minds and all that, right?

Back in my day, we would call that being treed on a forum. Lol

 

[anpease]

Many thanks for the replies. Going in to Play Store wouldn’t let me uninstall it. But I did manage to reboot in Safe Mode, and then was able to uninstall the app.
Upon restarting the phone, it all seems to be okay now.
So grateful for the help, guys. Many thanks. ??????

 

[Javier P]

Hahaha

 

[Javier P]

Many thanks for the replies. Going in to Play Store wouldn’t let me uninstall it. But I did manage to reboot in Safe Mode, and then was able to uninstall the app.
Upon restarting the phone, it all seems to be okay now.
So grateful for the help, guys. Many thanks. ������

Excellent. Glad you managed to fix the problem and thanks for the follow up. Which app was it?

 

[anpease]

I had 2. One was QR Code Scanner, and one was QR & Barcode Reader. Neither would work, so uninstalled both. Not sure which one caused the problem though.

 

[Mooncatt]

Glad you got it to work. Curious as to why it gave you those problems, but water under the bridge now.

 

[B. Diddy]

Make sure you report the app to Google: https://www.howtogeek.com/440154/how-to-report-suspicious-android-apps/ That behavior sounds very shady, and QR readers are the kind of app that's ripe for malware.

 

[J Dubbs]

Make sure you report the app to Google: https://www.howtogeek.com/440154/how-to-report-suspicious-android-apps/ That behavior sounds very shady, and QR readers are the kind of app that's ripe for malware.

Yep there was just recently a huge amount of those QR reader apps that were purged from the play store because they were nothing but malware. Same with a bunch of fitness/step counting apps.. and some other popular ones I'm forgetting. Google can't keep up with all the malicious apps, there's always new ones being found

I'd suggest only using apps you absolutely need, and be sure they're from well known, reputable developers.