[Android] What is Display Over Other Apps permission on Android, and when do you need it?

More about Display Over Other Apps permission

Display Over other apps, or Draw over other apps permission is often used by various types of apps to provide features such as floating widgets, chat heads, or persistent notifications that appear on top of other apps. For example, a messaging app might use this permission to display a small chat window that remains visible while you’re using other apps. Jieshuo Screen Reader requires this permission in order to activate edge menus, display floating menus, use a virtual screen, and use text recognition. Screen recorder apps require this permission to be able to record your screen.

While this permission can be useful for certain apps, it also has the potential to be misused. Malicious apps could abuse this permission to display intrusive or deceptive content, such as fake overlays or ads that interfere with other apps or the overall user experience. Therefore, it’s important to be cautious when granting this permission to apps and only give it to trusted and reputable ones.

You can manage app permissions, including the “Show over other apps” permission, in the Settings menu of your Android device. The exact location of this setting may vary depending on your device manufacturer and Android version, but it can typically be found under the “Apps” or “App permissions / Special access” section. From there, you can review and control the permissions granted to each installed app.

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