Samsung Galaxy S3: How to Fix Missing Applications After Update to the Android 4.3

Seems these days you would have to read lot of posts about problem occurs in the Samsung Galaxy SIII with the Android 4.3, as if I could say that this update brings more problems compared with all of the previous updates. One of the most common problem experienced by the user once they updated their phone to this new operating system is that they start receive recurring old download in their notification list and sadly it's can't be cleared from there. To fix this problem, you should clear all the download histories in the Download app or clear cache and data in the Downloads or Download manager through the Settings menu.

See also: How to Fix Recurring Old Download Notifications in Samsung Galaxy S3 with Android 4.3

Once you done the steps listed in the link above, the old download notification should no longer appear in the notification list. Unfortunately, an insider has told me through the email that she can't find the Downloads app through the app drawer when she wants to clear the download histories. After some further investigation, apparently this app is disabled after update to the Android 4.3 and it should be enabled again to bring them back into the app drawer.


How to fix missing apps in Android 4.3?
A confusing part to enable disabled apps in Android 4.3 is the difference between the old and the new application manager to list the disabled apps. If previously you can find the disabled app is listed in the very bottom of the All screen in application manager, now all the disabled apps will be listed under Turned off screen. Well, here's the steps to enable disabled apps in Android 4.3:
  1. Go to Settings.
  2. Tap More.
  3. Tap Application manager.
  4. Swipe the screen to the left until you find Turned off screen. You can find all of the disabled apps in here.
  5. In this case, tap Downloads.
  6. Tap Turned on button to enable the apps.
  7. Restart the phone.

Once the phone is turned on, now you should see the Downloads app in the app drawer and let you clear the download histories from there. For the record, you can also use the steps above to enable another disabled app or to bring back the missing apps after updating the phone to the Android 4.3. So, hope this helps :)
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32 comments:

  1. Unknown12 May 2014 at 18:32

    What is TURNED OFF screen???
    in step 4

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan12 May 2014 at 21:32

      Hi Ali Alsser Ali,
      Thanks for coming.
      While you're in the application manager, swipe the screen from right to the left until you see the "Turned off" or "Disabled" screen/tab. Here you'll see all apps that has been disabled. If you can't find it, all of your disabled apps may be listed at the very bottom of the apps list under the "All" screen/tab.

      Delete
    2. MFer14 July 2014 at 14:02

      I have no turned off screen and my phone is new. I need my email icon 1x1 widget but there is not one!

      Delete
    3. Rehan14 July 2014 at 22:45

      Hi MFer,
      Thanks for coming.
      I'm little bit confused with your question. Did you want to say about email app icon in Home screen/apps menu or email widget?

      --Re-enable disabled email app--
      If you can't find email app icon in Home screen or apps menu, your email app may be disabled. You can re-enable it by using the following steps:
      1. Go to Settings.
      2. Tap "More" tab.
      3. Tap "Application manager".
      4. Swipe the screen to the right until you see the "All" tab.
      5. Scroll down to the very bottom to see all disabled apps. If the email app is disabled, then you should see this app is listed here and labelled with "disabled".
      6. Tap Email app.
      7. Tap "Enable" button.
      8. Now, Email app should be displayed again in the Home screen and apps menu.

      --Email widget--
      I'm so sorry to say that I didn't pay attention about kind of email widget. But, in all my Samsung Galaxy phones, they only have Email 4x4 widget.

      Delete
    4. Unknown3 September 2015 at 08:52

      Hi, I just got my phone today (samsung galaxy j7) and the music icon is gone. I followed the steps but can't find it. Please help. Thank you.

      Delete
  2. dina mohamed31 July 2014 at 03:09

    Hi,
    I updated my S3 software yesterday and the text message icon is missing from my phone.. its not even in the application manager and whenever someone texts me its not even in the notification panel. How can I get it back please?
    Thanks alot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan31 July 2014 at 18:53

      Hi Dina Mohamed,
      Thanks for coming.
      Since the Messaging app is a stock apps and can't be uninstalled, then it might have been disabled by accident. Thus, try to reset app preferences (it will re-enable all disabled apps) by using the following steps:
      1. Go to Settings.
      2. Tap "More" tab.
      3. Tap "Application manager".
      4. In the Downloaded tab, tap the Menu key and then select "Reset app preferences".
      5. Tap "Reset apps" button.
      6. Once done, restart the phone and try to take a look whether the Messaging app is now available in the apps menu.

      Delete
  3. Unknown29 September 2014 at 14:13

    How about if the settings is missing? What should I do?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 September 2014 at 15:12

      Hi Xyrill Dingle,
      Thanks for coming.
      May I know what settings is missing?

      Delete
    2. Unknown1 February 2015 at 13:38

      My phone settings is missing. I have google settings. I tried to use s voice, but it says it cant find phone settings in my phone.

      Delete
    3. Rehan3 February 2015 at 17:23

      Hi Laura Coburn,
      Thanks for coming.
      I'm so sorry to say that I don't understand what you're trying to tell me.
      Is the phone settings=general settings menu? or, is the phone settings=call settings?

      To access the general settings menu: while you're on home screen, tap the Menu key and then select "Settings". It'll bring you to the general settings menu.

      To access the call settings: open Phone app, tap the Menu key and then select "Call settings".

      Delete
  4. Cholesterolman22 February 2015 at 10:05

    Hi,
    Do you have any idea if the app icons inside google play not able show? For example, the detail of WeChat shown at right while the left side suppose to show the icon , but now it leaves as blank. I am using Samsung S3.

    Thank you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan22 February 2015 at 17:36

      Hi Cholesterolman,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try to restart your phone and make sure you have a good Internet connection.

      Delete
    2. Cholesterolman23 February 2015 at 05:48

      Thanks Rehan, it works perfectly after I restart and switch to a different better connection.

      Delete
  5. Unknown18 March 2015 at 21:58

    All of a sudden my gallery icon got disappeared from my phone.... I use samsung galaxy S3... Pls suggest how wil i get it back.... :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan18 March 2015 at 23:10

      Hi Pooja Modi,
      Thanks for coming.
      Well, there are two possibilities that can cause your problem:
      1. Gallery app has been hidden.
      To show hidden apps, use the following steps:
      - In home screen, tap "Apps".
      - Tap the Menu key and then select "Show hidden apps".
      - If Gallery app has been hidden, you should find this app here.
      - Select Gallery app.
      - Tap "Done" button.
      - Now, Gallery app icon will be displayed in the apps menu.

      2. Gallery app has been disabled.
      To re-enable a disabled app, use the following steps:
      - In home screen, tap the Menu key and then select "Settings".
      - Tap "More" tab.
      - Tap "Application manager".
      - Swipe the screen from the right to the left to access "DISABLED" tab.
      - If Gallery app has been disabled, you should find this app here.
      - Tap "Gallery".
      - Tap "Enable" button.
      - Now, Gallery app icon will be displayed in the apps menu.

      Delete
  6. Unknown27 May 2015 at 01:27

    Hello. .. what if camera app is already enable in app manager but still missing from your apps.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan27 May 2015 at 23:44

      Hi Rahul Chaudhary,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try to check whether the stock Camera app has been accidentally hidden.
      While you're in apps, tap the Menu key and then tap "Show hidden apps". All hidden apps will be listed here. Select the required hidden app and then tap "Done" button to show the app in the apps menu again.

      Delete
  7. Unknown28 June 2015 at 18:14

    Hello my apps have suddenly just disappeared but they still update on them selfs but I can't even open them on the main screen, applications or play store why?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 June 2015 at 18:31

      Hi Enrique Benitez,
      Thanks for coming.
      May I know the app name?
      If an app still gets update, means that it's still on your phone. Try to check whether the app has been accidentally hidden. Go to your Apps, tap the Menu key and then select "Show hidden applications".

      Delete
  8. Unknown29 June 2015 at 12:43

    Rehan ,
    I miss my messaging and file manager app after update to the 4.3 version. I followed your steps but I cant find them in applocation manager as disabled. I also tap reset app in application manager and then I restart my phone but I cant get my apps back. Please help me dude I am very sad about that :-(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan29 June 2015 at 18:22

      Hi Muhammed Bilal,
      Thanks for coming.
      From what I know, both Messaging and My Files apps are default apps that can't be uninstalled, but can be disabled. If you have been done resetting app preferences through the app manager menu but still couldn't find those apps in your apps, try to check whether they have been accidentally hidden. Go to your Apps, tap the Menu key and then select "Show hidden applications".

      Delete
  9. Unknown5 October 2015 at 02:28

    Hi. My camera app is not working. It is just icon on the screen. It is not in app manager. It is not hidden or disabled. I dont know what happend. It just says: the app stopped working ..any idea what is wrong ?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan5 October 2015 at 18:41

      Hi Michaela Strobilus,
      Thanks for coming.
      Try performing reset app preferences by using the following steps:
      1. Go to the "Application manager" menu.
      2. In the Downloaded tab, tap the Menu key and then select "Reset app preferences".
      3. Tap "Reset apps" button.
      4. Once done, restart your phone and then try using your Camera app.

      Delete
    2. Unknown6 October 2015 at 05:49

      I did it and camera is still not working..I also did hard reset and still not working. I think I might have deleted som files but I am not sure. The flashlight is not working too. Only the front camera

      Delete
    3. Rehan6 October 2015 at 20:11

      Hi Michaela Strobilus,
      Thanks for coming back here.
      Just to make sure that the rear camera has no problem, try using the rear camera with other apps, e.g: optical reader app, a third-party camera app, etc.

      Delete
  10. Unknown31 October 2015 at 05:18

    Hi, My phone won't connect to wifi so I went to go into settings and it's gone. Any ideas on how to fix?

    ReplyDelete
  11. Unknown17 November 2015 at 21:33

    Hi,My Samsung Galaxy J 7's Internet icon disappears when I start to use internet.It is new..

    ReplyDelete
  12. Unknown15 April 2016 at 08:00

    Today, I LOST MY DEFAULT CAMERA APP in SAMSUNG NOTE 3.. I checked the Application Manager, I saw the cam app, the two buttons are FORCE STOP and DISABLE but the Disable button is in gray mode. Cannot press it and not planning to. But I can use the default camera in GALLERY but none in my Home Screen/App drawer. Help me please. :(

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rehan17 April 2016 at 21:48

      Hi Lia D.,
      Thanks for coming.
      While you're in the Downloaded tab in the Application manager, tap the Menu key and then select "Reset app preferences" followed by tapping "Reset apps". Do this action will re-enable all disabled apps.
      Once done, go to your App drawer and then check the Camera app.

      Delete
  13. John High17 August 2017 at 09:20

    I knew it was hidden somewhere but couldnt find it. Thank you very much for the easy find.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unknown12 March 2018 at 11:14

    My Samsung 3 camera icon is ONLY on the first (start) page. When I swipe to open, the icon is gone, and it is not in apps. I have opened the camera from the start page by touching the icon and swiping, so I know that it works, but I cannot get to the camera from the desktop. I have reset every way I know possible. I have uninstalled updates, reset preferences, etc. The camera is not in the list of disabled apps, or anywhere listed. How do I get the icon for the camera to show up in the list of apps or on the desktop?

    ReplyDelete

Hi the insiders,
Thanks for coming and I hope you can get something useful here.
Before submitting your comment to ask about an issue, please make sure to provide information as much as possible (at least write your model number and Android version) and describe the problem clearly.
Also, since all comments will be moderated, all comments with irrelevant links(if any) or contain with offensive/harsh word will be deleted.
The last, if you have a question and can't find the relevant article, please feel free to reach me through the Contact us page. I'll be more than happy to reply the email and answer the question :)

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