Are you having trouble with your phone opening apps on its own, without you touching them? It's very annoying and can negatively impact your user experience. What can you do? What are the possible causes of this malfunction? How can you fix it effectively? In this article, we'll explain the different solutions to remedy this problem and get your phone working normally again.
What are the possible causes of the problem?
There are several reasons why your phone might open apps on its own. Here are the main ones:
- A problem with the digitizer
- A problem with the operating system
- A problem with a third-party application
How to solve the problem?
Depending on the cause of the problem, there are different solutions to resolve it. Here are the main ones:
Use the Startup Manager application
This app lets you manage the apps that launch when your phone starts up. You can disable unnecessary or suspicious apps and prevent them from opening automatically. To use this app, follow these steps:
- Download and install Startup Manager from Google Play
- Launch the application and tap the minus (-) next to the applications you do not want to run at startup.
Note: You may only want to disable the items listed under the “User” tab. Make sure you understand which items to disable under the “System” tab.
Clear the cache and delete the application data
If you find that an app is frequently crashing, you might be able to resolve the issue by clearing the cache and deleting the app data. App cache files contain data that speeds up app performance, but this data can also accumulate and cause problems. App data contains your preferences, settings, and personal information related to the app, but this data can also become corrupted or outdated. To clear the cache and delete the app data, follow these steps:
- Go to your phone's settings
- Tap on Applications
- Select the problematic application
- Tap on Storage
- Tap Clear cache
- Tap Delete data
- Note: This operation may erase your personal data linked to the application, such as your login details, passwords, or save files. Make sure you have written them down or backed them up elsewhere before proceeding.
Uninstall unused applications
If you've downloaded apps you no longer use or are unfamiliar with, it's advisable to uninstall them to free up space and prevent them from opening without your consent. Some apps can cause problems on your phone, such as the " Google Play Services has stopped " error message that sometimes appears on the screen. This message means that the Google Play Services app, which manages updates and services for Google apps, has stopped working correctly. To uninstall unused apps, follow these steps:
- Open the Google Play Store app
- In the top right corner, tap the profile icon
- Tap Manage apps and device > Manage
- Tap the name of the app you want to delete
- Click Uninstall
- Note: If you delete a paid app, you can reinstall it without having to repurchase it. Learn how to reinstall and reactivate apps.
Use an anti-malware application
If you suspect a malicious application is causing the problem, you can use an anti-malware application to detect and remove it. Many anti-malware applications are available on the Google Play Store, such as Malwarebytes, Avast, and Kaspersky. To use an anti-malware application, follow these steps:
- Download and install an anti-malware application from the Google Play Store
- Launch the application and grant it the necessary permissions
- Tap Analyze or Scan to start a scan of your phone
- If the app detects malicious apps, tap Remove or Clean to eliminate them
Reset your phone
If none of the previous solutions work, you can try resetting your phone to factory settings. This will erase all your personal data, apps, and settings, restoring your phone to its original state. Before proceeding, be sure to back up your important data to an external storage device or the cloud . To reset your phone, follow these steps:
- Go to your phone's settings
- Tap System > Backup and Reset
- Tap Factory data reset Reset phone
- Confirm by pressing Clear All
- Wait for the process to finish and restart your phone
Comparison table of solutions
| Solution | Benefits | Disadvantages |
| Startup Manager | Allows you to control which applications launch at startup | Requires root privileges |
| Clear the cache and delete the data | Allows you to resolve problems related to a specific application | May erase your personal data related to the application |
| Uninstall unused applications | This frees up space and avoids conflicts between applications | May require reinstalling certain applications if needed |
| Anti-malware application | It allows you to detect and remove malicious applications | May slow down phone performance |
| Reset the phone | Allows you to restore the phone to like-new condition | Erase all your personal data, applications and settings |
FAQs
Here are some questions frequently asked by Internet users on the subject:
Why does my phone open apps by itself?
There are several reasons that could explain this phenomenon. It could be a problem with the digitizer (the part of the screen that detects touch), with the operating system (the software that manages the phone's operation), or with a third-party application (an application you have downloaded).
How can I tell if my phone is infected with malware?
There are several signs that can indicate malware has infected your phone. For example, if your phone behaves strangely (opens apps on its own, displays unwanted ads, uses more battery than usual…), if your internet bill is unusually high, if you receive suspicious messages or calls, or if you notice unknown apps on your phone.
How can I protect my phone from malware?
The best way to protect your phone from malware is to use antivirus or anti-malware software. You can also adopt some good practices, such as not clicking on suspicious links or attachments, not downloading apps from unofficial sources, regularly updating your operating system and apps, and avoiding connecting your phone to unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.
How do I back up my data before resetting my phone?
Before resetting your phone to factory settings, it's important to back up your important data to an external storage device or the cloud. You can use various methods for this, such as transferring your files to a computer via a USB cable, using a memory card or an OTG (On-The-Go) USB flash drive, syncing your data with an online service like Google Drive or Dropbox, or using a dedicated app like Samsung Smart Switch or Huawei Backup. If you've accidentally deleted important files from your phone, you can also try recovering them with an app like Recuva for Android , which can restore files deleted by mistake.
How do I reinstall and reactivate my apps after resetting my phone?
After resetting your phone to factory settings, you'll need to reinstall and reactivate your apps. You can use the Google Play Store to find the apps you previously downloaded. You can also restore your data from a backup you made before the reset. Finally, you may need to re-enter your login credentials to access some apps.
Conclusion
Is your phone opening apps on its own? Don't panic! There are solutions to fix this problem and get your phone working normally again. You can try disabling apps that launch at startup with Startup Manager, clearing the cache and data of apps that are freezing, uninstalling unused or suspicious apps, using an anti-malware app to detect and remove malicious apps, or even resetting your phone to factory settings. We hope this article was helpful and that you were able to resolve your issue. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any questions or suggestions.
