Mysteriously added contact to home screen

[B. Diddy]

Try wiping the cache partition: https://www.t-mobile.com/support/de.../wipe-cache-partition-samsung-galaxy-j3-prime

 

[audrilee]

mustang:
Searching "administrator" in settings, I get "Security - Device admin apps - view or turn off device administrators.
That arrow is the pull-down tray. 1 finger: some apps (I don't know how they get there), 2 fingers: on/off for wi-fi, airplane mode, location, do not disturb, etc.

B. Diddy: that link does not show how to do that...

 

[mustang7757]

mustang:
Searching "administrator" in settings, I get "Security - Device admin apps - view or turn off device administrators.
That arrow is the pull-down tray. 1 finger: some apps (I don't know how they get there), 2 fingers: on/off for wi-fi, airplane mode, location, do not disturb, etc.

You just see find my phone in Device Administrator? That's fine if so

That arrow is not stock so something has been downloaded and preventing your ability to change those 2 widgets

 

[B. Diddy]

B. Diddy: that link does not show how to do that...

Sorry, try again -- I fixed the link.

 

[audrilee]

That arrow has been there since I got the phone from my FIL two months ago. The stuck widgets appeared less than a week ago.

 

[mustang7757]

That arrow has been there since I got the phone from my FIL two months ago. The stuck widgets appeared less than a week ago.

Something is changed there from stock , you have lot of apps ? If you can't pinpoint what's installed , I recommend start fresh with factory reset

 

[audrilee]

Um. Maybe I should have mentioned that this cell phone is probably considered ancient, by most people's standards today? It's a Samsung Galaxy J3 running Oreo. Does that change things? Sorry.

B. Diddy: I wiped the cache partition. Same.

 

[mustang7757]

Um. Maybe I should have mentioned that this cell phone is probably considered ancient, by most people's standards today? It's a Samsung Galaxy J3 running Oreo. Does that change things? Sorry.

It is getting old that android version , but like i mentioned factory reset should be next step

 

[B. Diddy]

That arrow has been there since I got the phone from my FIL two months ago. The stuck widgets appeared less than a week ago.

What happens when you tap that arrow, or swipe down on it?

 

[audrilee]

Tap: nothing. One finger swipe:
Two finger swipe:

 

[audrilee]

factory reset should be next step

Ugh.

 

[audrilee]

I really appreciate you both (B. Diddy & mustang7757) for trying so hard to help!

 

[B. Diddy]

Tap: nothing. One finger swipe: View attachment 334133
Two finger swipe: View attachment 334134

That first screenshot looks like it's from a 3rd party app, don't you think, @mustang7757? Since this doesn't go away in Safe Mode, I wonder if the phone might have been rooted, with a custom ROM installed?

 

[mustang7757]

That first screenshot looks like it's from a 3rd party app, don't you think, @mustang7757? Since this doesn't go away in Safe Mode, I wonder if the phone might have been rooted, with a custom ROM installed?

Yeah definitely something downloaded, i thought a launcher or 3rd party app, can go to settings >about phone>status and see of phone status says official , and why i mentioned factory reset.

 

[audrilee]

...settings >about phone>status and see of phone status says official...

"Device status?" Says "Official....

 

[mustang7757]

...settings >about phone>status and see of phone status says official...

"Device status?" Says "Official....

So its not rooted

 

[audrilee]

No, not rooted. Previous owner was even less tech savy than I.

 

[mustang7757]

No, not rooted. Previous owner was even less tech savy than I.

Yeah otherwise it would of said custom instead of official

 

[B. Diddy]

When you got the phone from your father-in-law, did you do a full factory reset at the time? It's usually a good idea to do that whenever transferring the phone from one person to another, even if it's a family member.

 

[mustang7757]

When you got the phone from your father-in-law, did you do a full factory reset at the time? It's usually a good idea to do that whenever transferring the phone from one person to another, even if it's a family member.

Thats what ive been saying