How to Fix a Screen Overlay Detected Error
To bypass the Screen Overlay Detected error, disable the draw overlay function of the app getting in the way. You can reenable it later if you wish or leave the function off permanently to hopefully avoid this problem in the future. Here’s how to do it:
What Is the Screen Overlay Detected Error?
The Screen Overlay Detected error usually appears as a pop-up that reads: “To change this permission setting, you first have to turn off the screen overlay from Settings > Apps.” Although it provides you with a quick link to your device’s settings and some basic instructions on how to fix it, the solution to this problem isn’t immediately apparent, nor does it give you much detail on why it’s blocking you in the first place. Screen overlays are a function used by applications to draw over other apps, which allows them to continue operating even if you have another app open. Think Facebook Messenger’s chat heads, which can pop up when you’re doing something else to let you know you received a message.
Which Devices Are Affected by Screen Overlay Detected Errors?
Any device that supports screen overlays is susceptible to the Screen Overlay Detected error. Samsung and Lenovo devices commonly encounter it because they’re popular, but any Android device has an equal chance of running into the problem. This error has reportedly appeared since at least Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. How it appears and how it’s fixed has changed over the years. Google introduced a more streamlined system settings menu with Android 8.0 Oreo, making the problem easier to counter.
