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[Q] Play Store opens randomly to a specific app

Hi,
I recently migrated to Nexus devices. I have a Nexus 5. Recently, while I am working with my phone, the play store suddenly opens to a random (usually Korean) app. I say Korean because the dev's website ends with'.kr' and the language looks like one of the East Asian languages (I am sorry but I cannot differentiate them very well).
I notice this usually happens when I am back to my home screen.
I suspected Ads and I have downloaded Ad Away and made sure I am running the most recent updates. I even installed Ad Network Detector by Lookout and even uninstalled some apps I suspected. But it still pops up.
This issue happens also on my Nexus 7 2013 (running rooted stock 4.4 and stock kernel - Dalvik runtime). Now there is an overlap of apps but they are not exactly the same.
Please note that I am running rooted stock 4.4 with custom kernel on my Nexus 5 (ART runtime). I have not updated play store manually. Everything is as is from Google. And the play store version is 4.4.22.
One last thing, yesterday, I noticed the same type of "ads" on my wife's galaxy s2 running Jelly Bam v10. There is very little overlap in terms of apps.
This is a very annoying form of ads. Anyone experienced this? And if so, any workarounds? I am trying to avoid a factory reset if possible.
I appreciate your help.

ash_arani said:
Hi,
I recently migrated to Nexus devices. I have a Nexus 5. Recently, while I am working with my phone, the play store suddenly opens to a random (usually Korean) app. I say Korean because the dev's website ends with'.kr' and the language looks like one of the East Asian languages (I am sorry but I cannot differentiate them very well).
I notice this usually happens when I am back to my home screen.
I suspected Ads and I have downloaded Ad Away and made sure I am running the most recent updates. I even installed Ad Network Detector by Lookout and even uninstalled some apps I suspected. But it still pops up.
This issue happens also on my Nexus 7 2013 (running rooted stock 4.4 and stock kernel - Dalvik runtime). Now there is an overlap of apps but they are not exactly the same.
Please note that I am running rooted stock 4.4 with custom kernel on my Nexus 5 (ART runtime). I have not updated play store manually. Everything is as is from Google. And the play store version is 4.4.22.
One last thing, yesterday, I noticed the same type of "ads" on my wife's galaxy s2 running Jelly Bam v10. There is very little overlap in terms of apps.
This is a very annoying form of ads. Anyone experienced this? And if so, any workarounds? I am trying to avoid a factory reset if possible.
I appreciate your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad that I found this as the same thing has been happening on my N5.
Cataclysm, Faux and 'next' browser. Although I think it still happened in chrome. It seems to happen when I'm using a browser, the play store launches by itself to some random app.
I'd hate to think this is Google doing this to sell more crap....

it sounds like you both have a spam app installed...try Addons Detector in play store, or uninstall anything that is not absolutely reputable, and read reviews about apps
N5 TapTalk

n7of9 said:
it sounds like you both have a spam app installed...try Addons Detector in play store, or uninstall anything that is not absolutely reputable, and read reviews about apps
N5 TapTalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It seems to have stopped since uninstalling the latest version of 'next' browser (beta 1.3).
I noticed that the issue would almost always arise when browsing, and since going back to my previous browser if choice (Boat) it hasn't happened since.
A real shame if it's indeed the browser, it had great promise and I was going to use it as my daily... But not if they are injecting crap like this into it.
Neither lookout adwatch nor airpush detectors picked it up, so it must be stealth.
I've emailed the devs asking if they have something like this in their browser, although I'm pretty convinced since it hasn't happened once since removing it.
Update:
It's not the browser, nor the one or two games I installed.
Tried several different ad and air push detector apps but can't find the culprit.
This is truly annoying, especially as I have very few apps installed beyond the stock Google ones.
Any help appreciated.

[Q] Sony Back Up and Restore

Just going through my apps and the Sony back up and restore app has automatically updated itself to 1.0.A.0.8 and it is not an official Sony update. Came from Play store. No way to disable or uninstall it. Beware.

It seems Sony is looking into this problem... Hope update from them soon! Click

Its a hack, it was compromised via PlayStore:
SonyMobile's PlayStore account might be compromised:
http://www.xperiablog.net/2014/11/24/sonys-back-up-restore-app-gets-hacked/
http://www.androidpolice.com/2014/1...re-system-app-compromised-via-the-play-store/

It would be really awesome if Sony just released an easy way to root/ unlock the bootloader to remove it. I doubt that will happen but this makes me really nervous especially since we are stuck with an app that has broad ranging permissions.
Sean

I got the same version number 1.0.A.0.8
Are there people with a different version?

I believe that is the correct version but if you click the links in this thread you'll see there is a rogue version out there that is updating itself and has permissions that you should be leary of.

augie7107 said:
I believe that is the correct version but if you click the links in this thread you'll see there is a rogue version out there that is updating itself and has permissions that you should be leary of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are the permissions of the fake version different from the original? What are the original permissions?

Maybe I should rephrase to state the permissions may be equal but exactly who has the permissions is the cause for concern.

I have set automatic updates in Google Play Store. How can I verify whether my phone updated the app with this one from Google Play Store or not?

augwied said:
I have set automatic updates in Google Play Store. How can I verify whether my phone updated the app with this one from Google Play Store or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Play Store hit "my apps" and it will be listed under downloaded

Finally answer from Sony...
https://talk.sonymobile.com/t5/Xperia-Z3-Z3-Dual/Sony-Playstore-Account-Compromised/m-p/894516#M3827
So it's okay I guess?

Apps Not Showing as Updateable

Just got a Z3 a couple of days ago and installed the generic UK firmware and all is good!
I have just come across an issue though where some apps dont seem to show as having an update available in the play store or whats new.
Basically, i wanted to move some photos from one folder to another and noticed i couldnt do it. A quick google suggests that the latest version of Album allows it, so i went into album on play store and it was there, the update button was available.
However this was not under the 'updates' section. Im now wondering if a number of my other apps have updates available without me knowing and i dont fancy going into each and every one to find out.
Am i missing something?

trenty12 said:
Just got a Z3 a couple of days ago and installed the generic UK firmware and all is good!
I have just come across an issue though where some apps dont seem to show as having an update available in the play store or whats new.
Basically, i wanted to move some photos from one folder to another and noticed i couldnt do it. A quick google suggests that the latest version of Album allows it, so i went into album on play store and it was there, the update button was available.
However this was not under the 'updates' section. Im now wondering if a number of my other apps have updates available without me knowing and i dont fancy going into each and every one to find out.
Am i missing something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the whats new app to see updates to system apps

gregbradley said:
Use the whats new app to see updates to system apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but as i said, it wasnt in the whats new app either, that just had an update for playstation video

maybe you can install it manually from this thread by @alinolaw71
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/themes-apps/share-sony-update-t3104025
or this one by @gripfly
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/themes-apps/xperia-z3-apks-t3059426

Incanity said:
maybe you can install it manually from this thread by @alinolaw71
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/themes-apps/share-sony-update-t3104025
or this one by @gripfly
http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3/themes-apps/xperia-z3-apks-t3059426
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but I ws able to update it through the play store
What im saying is, why was it not showing that an update was available? Am i missing something in the settings or something?
I dont want there to be other apps that have an update but i dont know about

Could be because of regional differences that you get an update a bit later than others. The fastest way of getting the latest updates is to check here... There's always someone that got the update before you that's willing to share it with us

Incanity said:
Could be because of regional differences that you get an update a bit later than others. The fastest way of getting the latest updates is to check here... There's always someone that got the update before you that's willing to share it with us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why is nobody reading the poor guy's question properly? The update WAS available, but only when he looked in the play store, not in the updates section.

If the app was restored by a backup program or installed or updated from a third party source, play store won't always put the app in the 'my apps' section, therefore, not showing it as updatable. Try reinstalling the app from the play store.
---------- Post added at 08:50 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:50 AM ----------
Webern said:
Why is nobody reading the poor guy's question properly? The update WAS available, but only when he looked in the play store, not in the updates section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for clarifying this. I didn't know that that's what he meant.

[Q] Hello you lovely Huawei people!

I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)

matmaneyre said:
I've been looking at Chinese smartphones for a while but haven't yet taken the plunge. However, a colleague of mine asked me for my opinion and I nudged him in the direction of the X2, as it would have been what I would have gone for had I gone for one...
He went for it and I am impressed. But I didn't realise (probably niaively) that it would be so dislodged from Google. Obviously not completely detached, but there is no Play Store, G+, Play Services etc as you will all know. I've been on XDA for many years and I'm somewhat of an HTC fanbuy (see my sig :laugh so I know all about unlocking bootloaders, rooting, flashing custom recoveries, firmware, custom roms etc so I am absolutely fine doing all that. He has brought the phone back to me and asked if I can help him with it; basically give him a more "westernised" Android experience I suppose
So once unlocked, rooted and flashed the (apparently) only custom rom available (KangVIP), am I able to flash a gapps package to it? And if anyone has done so, would you please be able to point me to the right one to use? He tried adding google apps from the built-in appstore but they don't play nicely (I wouldn't expect them to), presumably because the framework isn't there
Coming from a long list of mainstream devices, it's amazing to me to see a subforum with only one of two threads I understand the lack of support isn't due to unwillingness though; just a lack of owners and developers. I've been on XDA so long because of how helpful everyone is and I try to help others where I can from my experiences and techy logic
I would be extremely grateful for a little bit of advice if someone wouldn't mind :good:
Thank you all
PS - The device is the 16GB 703L and is currently running the B106 update (EMUI 3.1)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0

ajsmsg78 said:
When you install the play store from the Chinese App Store it installs the Google Framework. The only two things you need to install are the Play Store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. You can download the GoogleContactsSyncAdapter here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/nw5nwhtp16l5gd6/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk?dl=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again

matmaneyre said:
Thanks for this. I did read this in another thread actually but I was reading so much that it got lost in my brain somewhere
So at the moment play store is installed (I don't have the X2 with me at the moment). Play store won't load because of not being able to authenticate with Google servers. Also G+ doesn't work for the same reason and obviously sync doesn't work. So am I right in thinking that one sync adapter will solve all of that? If so I'll sort it tomorrow for him :good:
Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.

ajsmsg78 said:
I didn't have to do anything on my new X2 other than install the play store and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter. Go into settings---Manage Apps and clear data for the play store and see if it opens. Mine opened no problem and I was able to sign into my Google account from there. When I opened maps it asked me to update Google play services and when I did the play store would no longer open. So I installed the Google play services update, rebooted and everything worked fine after that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself

matmaneyre said:
Excellent... Thanks a lot! I forwarded the link to him and told him to download and install it and he reports everything is working. To say he is grateful is an understatement. I was bombarded with messages at 2am saying how amazing it is
Just need to help him get rid of all of the Chinese bits now. Changing default apps and keyboard, launcher etc. He's not really interested in rooting which is a shame because of all the system apps I'd like to clear out for him but if he's happy I'll let it go. No good for my OCD though. I like a clean ROM myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.

ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swiftkey is standard for me so that's a definite recommendation. And yes something along the lines of Apex or Nova will improve it 1000%. At least then he can have an app drawer and either hide the stock Huawei apps or put them into a folder, never to be opened again
Messaging-wise he's already using WhatsApp but I'll mention Textra anyway

Google Play and Apps on X2
Which model is your friend having ? Mine is the GEM-702L and it comes pre-installed with Google Play and apps.

ajsmsg78 said:
Have him install Swiftkey, Textra and Apex Launcher. Those are some of my favorite apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Textra is the best. I gave up swiftkey for touchPal. Also, love Buzz launcher also. And for emails, I cant give up on CloudMagic.
weather is weatherbug
GPS Navigation is WAZE
add others if you think of some top notch super highly recommended stuff

Play store apps "not compatible"

Came across 2 apps today that I get "your device isn't compatible with this version" messages. These are 2 apps I use on my axon 7 with Android 7.0 so I know they work with nougat. I've tried deleting the cache and data for the play store and Google services but still the same. Anyone have this issue or any ideas on how to stop it? Also can anyone else check the "apple music" app and see if they can install it?
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

wingzfan said:
Came across 2 apps today that I get "your device isn't compatible with this version" messages. These are 2 apps I use on my axon 7 with Android 7.0 so I know they work with nougat. I've tried deleting the cache and data for the play store and Google services but still the same. Anyone have this issue or any ideas on how to stop it? Also can anyone else check the "apple music" app and see if they can install it?
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some apps just won't be compatible until the developer(s) make the app compatible specifically for the Mate 9. However, I was able to download the Apple Music app.

spc_hicks09 said:
Some apps just won't be compatible until the developer(s) make the app compatible specifically for the Mate 9. However, I was able to download the Apple Music app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's interesting. I'm running the us version of the phone fully stock so what would be preventing me from installing it? My play store version is 7.5.08.M-all Phone software MHA-L29567B138
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Are these 2 apps on Play Store the same versions of those you used on your axon 7 with Android 7.0?
As I know, some apps will not work with Android 7.0 until their developers have distributed the latest versions and have made them compatible with nougat.

Yes, in fact I just uninstalled them on my axon 7 and reinstalled them to verify them
Sent from my MHA-L29 using Tapatalk

Decided to reset the phone this morning and see if that fixed it. Before any updates took I was able to install the 2 apps showing as incompatible, however after about 10 minutes they went back to "your device isn't compatible with this version". I uninstalled the updates to the Google Play Store as well as Google Play Services and they still said "your device isn't compatible with this version" even though I checked the Play store build number and it was the same before the update and after uninstalling the update. Some update somewhere is causing a compatibility issue and I'm not sure what it is. I may have to reset the device again and not update any of the built in apps like Gmail, Youtube, etc. and hopefully catch whats causing it.
Edit: Reset again and everything was fine. Google play store was on version 7.4.12.L.all [0] [pr] 144479971 and remained there. Installed one of the apps I was having trouble with then updated system apps one at a time. After each system app I checked the other incompatible app and everything was good. Then after updating google maps the app went back to "your device isn't compatible with this version" so I uninstalled the maps update and cleared the cache and data and the app remained "your device isn't compatible with this version" . The play store stayed on version 7.4.12.L.all [0] [pr] 144479971 and play services never updated from what I could tell. This and some of the software bugs are becoming a bit aggravating. Really hoping the update comes soon and fixes some of the issues.

It's a DPI issue...You have to set display view to large, then install whatever apps you want, then set back to small or medium. That should fix for you.
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk

admorris said:
It's a DPI issue...You have to set display view to large, then install whatever apps you want, then set back to small or medium. That should fix for you.
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I was hoping that would fix it but it didn't. I set the display view to large, rebooted. That didn't work so I cleared the play store and play services cache and that didn't do it either. Lastly I cleared the play store and play services data and rebooted and that didn't work either.
I'm not sure what's causing it since both the play store and play services are the exact same versions on my mate 9 and axon 7.
Edit: OK this is just stupid. I put the view back to small and font back to normal (where I've had it this whole time except to try the above fix) and now the app allowed me to install it. I don't know what fixes it but at least it's working lol.
Sent from my ZTE A2017U using Tapatalk

Having this same issue with Amazon Store App. Works fine on my PixelXL and Nexus 6P...but for some strange reason, I cannot install it on my Mate 9. Go figure. It's really the ONLY app I'm having this issue with. All my other play store apps installed fine, and my settings and logins work fine. But for the life of me - I cannot install the Amazon Store app, even thought I have successfully installed the Amazon Kindle app. too strange....

baddison said:
Having this same issue with Amazon Store App.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the same problem. Eventually just created a web app with Hermit and it does just fine.
Sent from my MHA-L29 using XDA Labs

baddison said:
Having this same issue with Amazon Store App. Works fine on my PixelXL and Nexus 6P...but for some strange reason, I cannot install it on my Mate 9. Go figure. It's really the ONLY app I'm having this issue with. All my other play store apps installed fine, and my settings and logins work fine. But for the life of me - I cannot install the Amazon Store app, even thought I have successfully installed the Amazon Kindle app. too strange....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried changing the display size? That definitely has something to do with it and even though for me it didnt work at first it definitely solved the issue. Change it to large, reboot and try, if no go wipe the play store data and play services data and reboot and try again. Keep changing the display size after that and eventually it will work. For me I had given up and set my device back to small which is where it originally was and out of nowhere it worked.
Now if they could just resolve Hulu without having to contact customer service things would be great.