Users of modern smartphones often encounter incomprehensible symbols in the interface, and one of the most common issues is the problem with the asterisk. This icon can appear in the most unexpected places: in the status bar, next to application icons, or even covering part of the desktop. Understanding the nature of this symbol is the first step to eliminating it, as removal methods vary dramatically depending on what exactly this star means on your system.
In most cases, the appearance of a star is not a sign of a virus or a critical system error. Most often, this is a Do Not Disturb indicator, a favorite contact marker, or a UI element that was turned on by accident. However, in some custom firmware and launchers, this symbol may indicate the presence of high-priority notifications or the activation of special power saving features. To effectively solve the problem, you need to accurately determine the context in which the icon appears.
This guide covers all the main scenarios that you may encounter on devices running the operating system Android. We'll look at system notification settings, lock screen options, accessibility features, and third-party apps. Follow the instructions sequentially to identify the cause and return the usual appearance to your interface without unnecessary visual elements.
Star in the status bar and Do Not Disturb mode
The most common reason for the appearance of the star icon at the top of the screen, usually next to the clock or network indicators, is associated with the activation of the mode Do Not Disturb. In this situation, the system limits incoming calls and notifications, allowing only the exceptions you select. The asterisk serves as a visual reminder that the phone is in silent mode, and normal notifications will not be accompanied by sound or vibration.
To disable this mode and remove the symbol, simply pull down the notification shade. Look for a tile that says “Do Not Disturb” or an icon that looks like a circle with a dash (sometimes with a star inside). Click on it to deactivate the function. If there is no quick tile, go to Settings → Sound and vibration → Do not disturb and turn the switch to the inactive position. After this, the star should disappear instantly.
In some versions of the shell One UI from Samsung or MIUI from Xiaomi The operating logic may be slightly different. Here the star may indicate that the mode is set to a schedule or activates automatically under certain conditions. Check the automatic rules section inside the silent mode settings. Make sure there are no settings that turn on the feature at the wrong time, creating the illusion that the icon is always active.
⚠️ Attention: If the star remains after turning off Do Not Disturb mode, restart your device. In rare cases, the system process responsible for displaying the status bar may freeze and not update the icons correctly.
Use Google's voice assistant by saying "Turn off Do Not Disturb mode" to quickly remove the star without searching the settings menu.
Removing the star from application and desktop shortcuts
If the star is displayed directly on application icons or in the corner of the desktop, this is most often associated with launcher functions or widgets. In a standard launcher Pixel Launcher or similar shells, such a symbol may indicate an application that has recently been installed or updated. The system flags it to draw the user's attention to new features or changes.
To remove such a marker, you usually just need to open the flagged application. After the first launch, the system considers that you have become familiar with the app and automatically removes the asterisk from the shortcut. If the icon does not disappear, try long-pressing the icon and selecting “Application Information” or “Change”. In some cases, there is a “Mark as new” checkbox that needs to be unchecked manually.
Another common scenario is the use of third-party themes or launchers, such as Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher. In their settings, notification badges or special indicators may be active. Go to Settings → Home screen → Notification icons (the path may vary depending on the model). Turn off badge display for specific apps or globally for everyone if visual noise annoys you.
- 📱 Check your widget settings: sometimes a star is part of a calendar or weather widget, indicating an important event.
- 🎨 Change the theme: the standard theme may not contain such elements, unlike those downloaded from the store.
- 🔄 Reset the launcher settings: as a last resort, you can clear the Launcher application data in the application menu.
A star on the lock screen and in notifications
The appearance of a star on the lock screen often indicates that a specific notification is marked as important or pinned. The operating system Android allows users to prioritize messages from specific contacts or applications. If you accidentally click the importance setting for a message, it may appear with a star even when it's locked.
To remove this indicator, unlock your phone and open the notification panel. Find a message with a star, tap and hold on it, or tap the gear icon next to it. In the menu that appears, change the notification category from “Priority” or “Important” to “Default”. This action will remove the special marker and the notification will become normal.
It is also worth checking your lock screen privacy settings. Go to section Settings → Notifications → Lock screen. Here you can select the option “Hide content” or “Do not show notifications”. If you select the option to show only important notifications, the system can automatically star them. Change the setting to show all notifications to standardize their appearance.
| Star type | Where it appears | Cause of occurrence | Method elimination |
|---|---|---|---|
| White star | Status bar | Do not disturb mode | Disable in the notification shade |
| Colored dot/star | Icon applications | New update or notification | Open the application or turn off badges |
| Gold star | Contacts/Calls | Favorite contact | Remove from list favorites |
| Gray star | Lock screen | Priority notification | Change message importance category |
Favorites function in contacts and phone book
In the Phone and Contacts applications, the star is a universal symbol for adding a number to the list “Favorites”. Users often do this intentionally to quickly access loved ones, but sometimes do it accidentally when dialing a number or viewing call history. Removing a star in this context means removing a contact from the priority list.
Open the Phone application and go to the “Favorites” tab (usually indicated by a star at the bottom of the screen). You will see a list of contacts marked with this icon. To remove a star, tap a contact's name to open their card and tap the filled star at the top of the screen. It will become empty or disappear, which means removing the contact from favorites.
An alternative way is through the contact management menu. In the list of all contacts, find the number you want, press and hold it. In the context menu that appears, select “Remove from Favorites” or similar. If you are synced with an account Google, the changes will be applied on all devices where you are signed in to this account.
Why does the star return after deletion?
If a contact is synchronized with another device or account where it is marked as a favorite, the star may appear again during the next synchronization. Check your contact sync settings.
Accessibility and screen magnification
One of the less obvious reasons why graphics that resemble stars or targets appear is when accessibility features are activated. In particular, the "Magnification" (Magnification) function can display a special icon or access button on the screen, which users sometimes mistake for an extraneous symbol or star.
Check your accessibility settings by going to Settings → Accessibility. Find the "Zoom" or "Screen Enlargement" section. When enabled, a floating button or indicator may appear on the screen. Disable this feature if you do not use it regularly. Also check the "Virtual Keyboard" or "Accessibility Menu" section, where unnecessary controls may be active.
Sometimes similar symbols appear when using the stylus or drawing functions on the screen if they were accidentally activated. In devices Samsung Galaxy Note or S Ultra removing the stylus can launch a notepad with tool icons. Make sure you're not in screenshot or note editing mode, where the selection tools may look like stars or other shapes.
⚠️ Note: Accessibility menu interfaces may vary on different versions of Android. If you cannot find the switch, use the search inside the “Settings” section by entering the word “Zoom.”
Third-party applications and cleaning widgets
Often, the source of strange icons is user-installed optimization apps, memory cleaners, or antivirus apps. Applications like Clean Master, DU Booster or various weather widgets can place their indicators on the desktop or in the status bar. A star in such cases may indicate a recommendation to clear the cache or high CPU load.
Analyze recently installed applications. If the star appears after installing a new app, try temporarily removing it or disabling the display of widgets. Go to the settings of the culprit application itself and find the “Notifications” or “Widget” section. There's usually a checkbox next to "Show icon in status bar" or "Show recommendations" that needs to be unchecked.
If you can't determine which app is causing the interference, use Safe Mode. Press and hold the power button on the screen until you are prompted to reboot into safe mode. In this mode, only system applications are launched. If the star disappears, then the problem is definitely in third-party software. Uninstall apps one at a time to find the culprit.
- 🛡️ Antiviruses often display a shield or star icon when they detect "threats" that are actually junk files.
- 🌤️ Weather widgets can use a star to indicate clear weather or a special weather event.
- 🔋 Battery managers can mark applications that consume a lot of energy with a special icon.
☑️ Diagnostics of third-party software
Reset interface settings and extreme measures
If none of the above methods helped remove the star, there may be a failure in the interface configuration files or corruption of the system application cache. In this case, you can try resetting the interface settings without deleting personal data. This action will return the arrangement of icons, widgets and system indicators to the factory state.
To do this, go to Settings → Applications. Find the desktop application in the list (for example, “One UI Home”, “Pixel Launcher” or simply “Launcher”). Click on it, then select "Storage" and click the "Clear Cache" button. If this does not help, you can click “Clear data”, but keep in mind that this will reset the arrangement of icons on the desktop.
In the most difficult cases, when the star is part of a system bug after a firmware update, a full reset to factory settings may be required. Before doing this, be sure to back up all important data. Go to Settings → System → Reset settings → Delete all data. This is guaranteed to remove any software artifacts, including strange icons.
Before performing a full data reset, be sure to check whether the star is part of the theme, which can simply be changed to the standard one.
Why does the star appear again after a reboot?
If the icon returns immediately after turning on the phone, then its appearance is caused by an active system process or a setting that starts automatically. Check Do Not Disturb schedules, home screen widgets, and startup apps. Most likely, one of these functions programmatically prescribes the display of the symbol when the system starts.
Can a star be a sign of a virus?
The star icon itself is rarely a sign of malware. Viruses are often disguised as system notifications with warnings or require the installation of certificates. However, if the star is accompanied by pop-up advertising or strange behavior of the phone, it is recommended to scan the device with a reliable antivirus.
How to remove the star on a specific brand (Samsung, Xiaomi)?
On Samsung most often this is the Do Not Disturb mode or a weather widget. It's worth checking out the theme in the Themes app, as custom themes often add decorative elements. On Xiaomi It's worth checking out the theme in the Themes app, as custom themes often add decorative elements. On Huawei and Honor pay attention to the “Simple Mode” function, which can change the appearance of icons.
Does the presence of a star affect the operation of the phone?
No, the presence of a decorative or informational star icon does not affect performance, speed or battery charge devices. This is purely a visual interface element designed to convey information to the user about the status of the system or applications.