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What Is Draw Over Other Apps

Starting with Android Marshmallow, there's a curious error that sometimes shows its confront, but it tin be hard to decipher what's causing information technology. The "screen overlay detected" error is a troubling i since it won't allow certain apps to launch, simply it'southward fifty-fifty more frustrating because it'south difficult to find what's causing information technology.

Fortunately, information technology's a pretty easy prepare one time you lot know what's causing the error: a feature establish in Marshmallow and beyond that allows apps to "draw" over other apps. For example, Facebook Messenger uses chat heads to stay in the foreground of any yous're doing—this is the app using the "Draw over other apps" feature. In other words, it's a screen overlay. Information technology's already starting to click, isn't it?

  1. Open Settings > Apps
  2. Tap the Gear icon on the top right of the Settings folio
  3. Scroll down and tap "Special Access"
  4. Tap "Draw over other apps" and toggle apps in the list

Unfortunately, some apps exercise odd things when an overlay is actively running,especially if the app in question needs to request a new permission. Android absolutely volitionnot allow permissions to be inverse when an overlay is running, thus resulting in the "Screen Overlay Detected" mistake.

So, if y'all install a new app and launch information technology for the get-go time while also having a conversation over a Facebook Chat Head, you'll get an error as the new app tries to request its permissions. In the example below, I'm using Twilight—a "nighttime mode" app—which uses a screen overlay to do its thing.

Now, sometimes when this error is generated, information technology includes an "Open Settings" link that sends you direct into the "Draw over other apps" carte du jour. The rough part is that each app has to be toggled manually—merely tap on an app, slide the "Permit Cartoon Over Other Apps" toggle, and get dorsum. Yous could disable every single i, but that could be super time consuming, especially if you have dozens of apps installed that tin employ overlays.

Ideally, you'll know which app caused the conflict, and y'all tin disable just that 1. Then think to yourself:

  • What apps have you lot been using recently? As mentioned higher up, Facebook Messenger draws on the screen for chat heads, so if a conversation head is actively running, it'southward most likely your culprit.
  • What passive apps do you use that run in the background?Similarly, apps like CF.lumen and Twilight draw on the screen when enabled, so you'll demand to pause or disable those services to get rid of the screen overlay error.

The list in the screenshot above shows all the apps that have permission to draw on the screen, but if you can effigy out which ane is actually drawing on the screen when you get that error, you can just disable that 1 and move on.

Of course, that's not foolproof—in some instances at that place may exist more than one app drawing on the screen, which tin be incredibly frustrating. In that situation, I'd but become ahead and disallow all of them, then re-enable them on an equally-needed footing. It's a pickle, for sure.

RELATED: How to Disable the "Is Displaying Over Other Apps" Notification on Android Oreo

Fortunately, in Android Oreo, Google basically made it really easy to figure out what app is causing the event with a new notification that tells you lot exactly what is displaying over other apps. You can observe more info—every bit well equally how to disable said notification—here.

How to Access the "Draw Over Other Apps" Menu

So, how do you get to the "Draw over other apps" carte du jour without first experiencing the error and getting that quick link? Or, what if there is no quick link? That function's pretty easy. The biggest consequence is that the setting for screen overlays is found in different spots on different manufacturers' handsets. Here'south the breakup.

On Stock Android Oreo

If you're using Android Oreo, the Settings menu has been redesigned so most things are slightly dissimilar than other modern versions of Android, including the Draw Over Other Apps feature.

First, pull the notification shade and tap the gear icon to open Settings.

From here, choose the "Apps & Notifications" category, and then tap the "Advanced" button.

This reveals additional options, the last of which is the "Special App Access" selection. Go ahead and tap that.

A trivial ways down the menu, you'll see the "Display Over Other Apps" option. That'southward what you're looking for.

On Stock Android Marshmallow or Nougat

On Stock Android, pull the notification shade twice and tap the gear icon.

From in that location, head down to "Apps," and and so tap the gear icon in the top right.

In this card, scroll down and tap the "Special Access" option. From there, you'll find the "Draw over other apps" menu. That's what you've been looking for!

Experience free to toggle things hither to your heart's desire. But open each item to enable or disable it.

On Samsung Devices

Starting time, pull down the notification shade and tap the gear icon, and so roll down the "Applications" choice.

From hither, tap the "Application managing director" link, so the "More" button in the top-correct.

Next, select the "Apps that can appear on elevation" option and, boom, you're there. Samsung likewise makes it easier past adding the toggle beside the app name, andnot in a split up card. Thanks, Samsung!

On LG Devices

Once more, pull the notification shade downward and tap the gear icon, so spring into the "Apps" card.

Next, tap the three-dot overflow push button, and then select the "Configure apps" option.

From hither, it should work just like stock Android—tap the "Draw over other apps" option and yous'll find yourself where you demand to be.


If y'all're not certain what's causing the "Screen Overlay Detected" error, it can make you want to throw your phone. In fact, I've had more friends experience this error (and subsequently ask me nearly information technology) than whatsoever other error! And so, here's the solution—yous're welcome, friends.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/271519/how-to-fix-the-screen-overlay-detected-error-on-android/

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