Many of you might find your apps greyed out on Android, one of the most significant issues. Why do people suffer that they cannot open that app, and why is it happening?
Hey everyone, this is Fixing-Mostly, and in today’s article, I will tell you why apps greyed out on Android and how you can fix the grey apps on it.
This is going to be a complete and quick comprehensive guide. I searched for the same term on YouTube, found irrelevant videos, and even found some blogs I thought I would write about greyed-out apps on Android.
So, there are multiple reasons why you see grey app icons. Sometimes, it’s because there is a limitation on the app, the app is broken, or even the Launcher app needs to be fixed.
I will tell you more reasons ahead, but before anything, let’s quickly see how to fix it:
Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of the advanced reasons why some apps might appear greyed out on my Android device. Through trial and error, I’ve come across various explanations that can help you troubleshoot this issue. These insights cover everything from battery settings to compatibility quirks, and I hope they’ll provide the clarity you need to understand why apps sometimes go grey.
| Possible Cause | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Digital Wellbeing Restrictions and Focus Mode | With Android’s Digital Wellbeing and Focus Mode, apps can be restricted based on usage patterns or limits I’ve set. If Focus Mode is active, non-essential apps may appear greyed out temporarily, limiting functionality without always providing a clear notification. |
| Sideloaded Apps with Compatibility Issues | Apps installed from unofficial sources sometimes aren’t fully compatible with my Android OS version. To maintain security, Android may grey these apps out until I explicitly grant permissions, making them unusable by default. |
| Work Profile or Secure Folder Restrictions | When using a Work Profile or Samsung’s Secure Folder, apps might appear greyed out if the profile is inactive or has restrictions in place. Apps in the Secure Folder will also be greyed out if the folder isn’t unlocked or if there are compliance issues. |
| Battery Optimization Limiting App Functionality | Android’s battery optimization aggressively limits background activities to save power. If I have a power-intensive app running in the background, it may be greyed out to prevent it from using resources while idle. |
| Mismatched APK Permissions with System Requirements | Sideloaded APKs sometimes request permissions that don’t align with what Android expects. When there’s a permissions conflict, Android may grey out the app as a precaution, preventing it from launching until permissions are corrected. |
| Device Admin Settings Affecting App Accessibility | Apps registered as Device Admins can sometimes become restricted if security settings change. For example, after a security update or a Device Admin status change, Android may temporarily grey out these apps until admin rights are reassessed. |
| Conflicting Permissions between Apps | When two apps request conflicting permissions, like exclusive access to accessibility features, Android may grey out one app to avoid issues. This happens often with apps requiring exclusive permissions, like certain accessibility tools. |
| Google Play Protect Blocking Suspicious Apps | Google Play Protect scans all apps for potential security risks. If it flags an app as suspicious or harmful, it may grey out the app temporarily until a re-scan or further investigation is completed, regardless of the app’s source. |
| Network or Data Restrictions by Management Tools | Network or data management apps can restrict connectivity for specific apps. When this happens, apps that rely on constant network access, like social media or messaging apps, may appear greyed out if network access is blocked. |
| Scoped Storage Limitations on Storage Access | Scoped Storage, introduced in Android 10, limits how apps access shared directories. If an app isn’t optimized for Scoped Storage, it might be greyed out due to restricted access to certain files, especially if the app is older or hasn’t been updated. |
| System UI Cache Corruption Causing Display Errors | A corrupted System UI cache can sometimes cause display issues, making app icons appear greyed out. While the app may still be accessible, clearing the cache or restarting the device often resolves the visual glitch. |
| Inconsistent System Date/Time Causing App Sync Issues | Some apps rely on accurate system date and time. If there’s a discrepancy between my device’s time and the server time, these apps may appear greyed out until I correct the date and time settings. This commonly affects apps that sync in real time with external servers. |
| Accessibility Overlay Conflicts with Display Settings | Certain accessibility features, like high-contrast text or screen magnification, may interfere with app icons, causing them to appear greyed out. Display overlays or permission conflicts can also trigger this issue, especially for apps with custom icons. |
| Broken Shortcuts Pointing to Unavailable Apps | Sometimes, a greyed-out icon is actually a broken shortcut to an app that was uninstalled or moved. This can happen after updates or storage changes, where the shortcut no longer links to the app. Deleting or refreshing the shortcut often fixes this. |
| Parallel Apps Causing Resource Conflicts | Using dual or parallel app features, like Samsung’s Dual Messenger, can sometimes cause one version of the app to be greyed out if both instances try to access the same resources at once. Android may restrict access to one version to ensure stability. |
Let me know if you need more help on any specific point!
How to Fix Greyed App Icons Android
As previously said, there could be multiple reasons behind it, but there are a few things that you need to do to fix it or at least ensure that it’s working correctly;
1. Grey Icon & Well Being
When users are on digital Detox or want to limit the app timer, they set something into the digital wellbeing app. Suppose someone wants to use Instagram for 10 minutes a day. They would set it up.
How can a person use Instagram for 10 minutes? Strange?
If you have imposed a fixed time limit on each app inside the digital well-being app. But this app will be greyed out or turn into a grey icon when that time limit is reached.
Suppose you had given someone time to use you only for 5 minutes in digital welding. Now, those 5 minutes have been completed. Now, after the completion of 5 minutes, whenever you go to the drawer automatically, you will see it grey in color, which means it will turn wholly grey or colorless in short.
My Honest Experience with Greyed-Out Apps
Now, below, I am sharing a few screenshots with you. I have set a particular time limit for using Instagram Because I have scrolled a lot previously, so I have set a limit.
As you can see, I have reached my limit of 30 minutes to use Instagram, and afterward, you can see the Instagram app is in grey in my app drawer.
This is entirely because of the digital well-being app because the app has control over your device.
To Fix it, remove the app timer or increase the time limit of the app from the Digital Well-Being app.
I probably spend most of the time on it, but then I figure out the digital wellbeing app settings, which help me to control my time.
More than that, I spent a lot of time watching the well-being. Here is an article that will let you know how much data you consume on YouTube.
It checks screen usage time for those leaving under the rocks.
NEW Errors: Broken While Moving
Another reason why apps might appear grayed out on my Samsung M33 5G, like I experienced it, is because I moved all the apps installed on internal storage to the SD card. Initially, this process worked well, but after some time, those apps either slowed down or turned gray.
As you can see in the provided screenshots, instead of displaying the app name, multiple apps show their package name. For instance, a screenshot of the PayPal app displays ‘com.paypal.merchant,’ and similarly, other apps moved from internal storage to the SD card exhibit similar behavior. And when you click on the App icon, it says the application is not available.
After I quickly restarted my device, some apps continued to crash or turned gray. This could be one of the reasons why your apps are not functioning properly or appearing in gray shade.
To fix this issue, simply uninstall the apps that have turned gray after being moved from internal storage to the SD card, and then reinstall them. After reinstalling, make sure to log back into those apps. This process should resolve the problem and restore the apps to their normal functionality.
2. Broken App Icons
We often do not know, but whenever we uninstall, update, or clear all its data, another thing happens: your launcher also updates it inside your system.
If you have reached the time limit of using an app in digital well-being, then obviously, this is why your apps are greyed out.
Do This
If that’s not the case, clear the cache data of the default launcher application because when you update, install, or clear all data of any particular app, the launcher itself refreshes the app.
But when it doesn’t refresh, those apps mostly become colorless in short grey.
Here, you have to either clear the cache of the default launcher app or perform a restart on your Android. Doing this will clear the cache and fix the lag on Android. Or you can simultaneously change or uninstall the launcher.
But how do you find out which is the default launcher on an Android:
Find Out Default Launcher
To find the default launcher app on your Android device, go to “Settings,” select “Apps,” locate your launcher app, and look for “Set as default” or “Clear defaults.”
Or Samsung users can get into “default apps ‘, and look for the Home app.
Note that the steps may vary slightly depending on your Android version and device manufacturer.
But if you are more interested in installing or customizing your Android home screen, here is a list of the 11 best Android Launcher apps you must try.
How to Clear Cache Data of Default Launcher
- Open mobile settings.
- Get into All Apps.
- Find and select the launcher.
- Tap on storage from the app info.
- Tap clear cache and confirm.
3. Modes and Routines
When you enable a mode or routine that restricts apps on your Samsung device, it essentially places those apps in a limited or restricted state. This can result in the apps appearing grayed out and inaccessible. Here is a brief explanation of how this happens:
- Enabling a Mode or Routine: You activate a specific mode (e.g., Sleep Mode) or routine on your Samsung device. These modes or routines are designed to automate various settings, including restricting access to certain apps during specific conditions or times.
- App Restrictions: Within the selected mode or routine, you specify which apps you want to restrict or limit. For example, you might restrict social media apps, games, or other time-consuming apps during your sleep or work hours.
- App State Changes: Once the mode or routine is active, the selected apps undergo certain changes:
- They may be grayed out on your device’s home screen or app drawer.
- When you try to open a restricted app, you may see a message indicating that the app cannot be used while the app usage restriction is in effect.
- In some cases, the app’s functionality may be limited, such as disabling notifications or reducing screen brightness when the app is active.
4. New Android Updates
Picture this: You’ve just updated your Android device to the latest and greatest version and are excited to see what’s new. You check out your home screen, only to find that some of your favorite app icons are now greyed out. What gives?
It turns out that Google has introduced a fancy new feature with Android 12 called themed icons. This feature matches the colors of your app icons with your wallpaper, making your phone look even more extraordinary. But here’s the catch – only some app developers have jumped on board.
Even though Google has updated Android 13 to fix this issue, app developers still need to update their icons to support the Material You feature. So if you’re wondering why some of your app icons are still greyed out, blame the developers!
I was researching this article and found some people are searching for the same thing, so I found out about any source from Google support.
Many Android users may experience greyed-out app icons, which can be caused by various reasons such as app limitations, broken app icons, or new Android updates. To fix this issue, users can clear the cache data of the default launcher app or restart their devices. If app limitations cause the greyed-out icons, users can adjust the time limit in the Digital Wellbeing app. Additionally, some app developers may still need to update their icons to support the Material You feature, which can cause app icons to appear greyed out.
Here’s why my apps are greyed out?
Here are 10 reasons why apps can appear greyed out:
- Disabled or Inactive: Apps may be greyed out if disabled or inactive on your device.
- Compatibility Issues: Apps can appear greyed out if they are no longer compatible with your device or its operating system.
- Installation or Update Process: During the app installation or update process, apps may temporarily appear greyed out until the process is complete.
- Insufficient Storage: When your device’s storage is full, apps may be greyed out as they cannot be fully installed or updated.
- App Restrictions: Certain settings or restrictions on your device can cause apps to appear greyed out.
- App Permissions: If an app requires certain permissions to function properly and you haven’t granted them, it may appear greyed out.
- App Errors: Apps with errors or bugs may appear greyed out as they cannot function correctly.
- Outdated App Version: Using an outdated app may result in it being greyed out or not functioning properly.
- App Incompatibility: Some apps may not be compatible with specific device models or software versions, causing them to appear greyed out.
- App Unavailability: If an app is no longer available in the app store or has been removed, it may appear greyed out for new users.
Apps can appear greyed out for several reasons. One common reason is that they may be disabled or inactive, requiring you to enable or activate them. Another possibility is compatibility issues, which can cause apps to appear greyed out if they are no longer compatible with your device or its operating system.
Additionally, during the app installation or update process, apps may temporarily appear greyed out until the installation or update is complete. If you’re facing this issue, there are a few steps you can take to resolve it.
First, check for any available updates for the app in question. Sometimes, updating the app can fix compatibility problems and restore its normal functionality. You can also try adjusting your device settings, such as enabling permissions or ensuring that background processes are not restricted.
Lastly, if the problem persists, contacting the app developer for further assistance and support is advisable.
Conclusion
All right, let’s make it super fun and engaging! Imagine you’re a detective whose mission is to solve the case of the greyed-out apps on Android. You put on your detective hat and start investigating the case.
First, you discover multiple reasons why apps turn grey on Android. It could be because of the digital well-being app, broken app icons, or a new Android update. But fear not, detective, because there are solutions to each issue.
If the digital well-being app is the culprit, you’ve reached the time limit for using a specific app. So all you have to do is adjust the digital well-being settings or wait until the next day to use the app again.
If the app icon is broken, the launcher app is not refreshing suitably. To fix this, you can clear the cache data of the default launcher app or restart your Android device.
And if a new Android update causes the issue, not all app developers have updated their icons to support the latest features. So you must wait until the app developers catch up with the new update.
Case closed! But in the meantime, you can explore some cool Android launcher apps to customize your home screen and make it look even more fabulous! And remember, detective, always check for updates and keep your apps in tip-top shape to avoid any greyed-out app icons in the future.
