You turned on your smartphone, and a strange button suddenly appeared on the screen - transparent, floating, or tightly fixed in one corner? This happens after updating the firmware, installing dubious applications, or even due to a system failure. In 80% of cases, the problem is solved in 5 minutes, but sometimes a deep cleaning of the system is required.

In this article we will analyze all possible reasons the appearance of unnecessary elements on the screen Android (from Samsung Galaxy to Xiaomi Redmi) and We will give step-by-step guide how to remove them - from simple methods to radical ones. We will pay special attention hidden developer settings and ADB commands that help even when standard methods do not work.

We warn you right away: if the button appears after installing an application from an unknown source, first check your phone for viruses. In other cases, follow the algorithm below.

1. Checking for viruses and malware

The first thing you need to do is to prevent infection of your smartphone. Viruses often add advertising banners to your screen, fake close buttons, or even imitate system notifications. Devices with Android versions 9.0 and lower are especially vulnerable.

How to check:

  • 🔍 Install Malwarebytes or Dr.Web Light (free versions are quite effective).
  • 📱 Run a deep scan - it will take 10-15 minutes.
  • 🚫 If threats like AdDisplay or FloatingAdsare found, remove them and restart the phone.
  • 🔄 After cleaning, check if the button has disappeared. If not, proceed to the next step.
⚠️ Attention: Some viruses disguise themselves as system applications (for example, com.android.system). If the antivirus finds a suspicious file with the same name, do not delete it manually! Use the "Cure" function in your antivirus or contact a specialist.
📊 How often do you scan your phone for viruses?
Once a month
Only when something goes wrong
Never
I don’t know how to do this

2. Disabling floating windows in settings

Many legitimate applications (for example, Facebook Messenger or Viber) use floating notifications - small round icons that appear on top of all windows. Sometimes they get stuck on the screen due to a glitch.

How to remove:

  1. Open Settings → Applications.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Special access → Show on top of other windows.
  3. In the list, find the application that could create the button (usually instant messengers, launchers or games).
  4. Disable the "Show on top of other applications" permission.
Application Typical "stuck" button What it looks like
Facebook Messenger Circle chat icon Blue circle with white lightning
MIUI Launcher (Xiaomi) Global search button Magnifying glass on a transparent background
Samsung Game Launcher Game turbo mode Gamepad icon in the corner
Google Assistant Assistant call button Colored circle with microphone

If there are no suspicious applications in the list, but the button remains, check the settings gestures and auxiliary functions. On some firmware (for example, ColorOS from Oppo) there is an option "Floating toolbar", which can be activated accidentally.

☑️ Checking floating windows

Done: 0 / 1

3. Resetting the launcher settings

The launcher (Android shell) is responsible for displaying the desktop and icons. If its settings are lost, unnecessary elements may appear on the screen - for example, duplicate Home buttons or quick access panels.

How to reset the launcher:

  • 📱 On the main screen press and hold empty location with your finger for 2-3 seconds.
  • 🔧 In the menu that appears, select Desktop settings (or Launcher options).
  • 🔄 Find the option "Reset settings" or "Restore by default".
  • 🗑️ Confirm the reset - all widgets and icons will return to the standard view.

For devices Samsung with a shell One UI:

Settings → Applications → Three dots → Select system applications → One UI Home → Storage → Clear data
⚠️ Attention: Resetting the launcher will delete all your widgets and icon layout. Take screenshots of your desktop in advance to quickly restore your settings.
What to do if there is no reset option?

On some firmware (for example, on older versions of EMUI from Huawei), resetting the launcher is not available. In this case, try installing an alternative launcher from Google Play (for example, Nova Launcher) and use it instead of the standard one.

4. Using developer mode

If the button appeared after updating the system or experimenting with settings, you could add it yourself Android as a debugging element. For example, the screen may display:

  • 🔘 Button Show touches (shows touches)
  • 📊 Indicator GPU rendering (graphic metrics)
  • 🔄 Icon Stay awake (the screen does not turn off)

To remove these elements:

  1. Activate Developer mode: go to Settings → About phone → Build number and tap on it 7 times.
  2. Go back to the main settings and open a new section For developers.
  3. Scroll down and disable:
    • Show touches
    • USB debugging (if not used)
    • Do not turn off the screen
    • Show element borders
  • Reboot your device.

    • On some devices (for example, Xiaomi or Realme), these options may be named differently. Look for everything related to the words pointer, layout or debug.

    💡

    If you can’t find the option you need, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon in the upper right corner). Enter a keyword, such as "touch" or "debug".

    5. Uninstall via ADB (for advanced users)

    If the button remains even after all the manipulations, it could have been added by a system application that cannot be disabled through the standard interface. In this case, Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a tool for controlling the device via a computer will help.

    Step-by-step guide:

    1. 💻 Install ADB drivers on a PC (Windows, macOS or Linux).
    2. 📱 On your phone, enable USB debugging in the developer settings.
    3. 🔌 Connect the phone to the computer and in the command line enter: 
      adb devices

      The name of your device should appear.

    4. 🔍 To find the culprit application, do: 
      adb shell dumpsys window | grep mCurrentFocus

      Look for suspicious packages in the output (for example, com.sec.android.app.launcher for Samsung).

    5. 🗑️ Disable the application with the command: 
      adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 package name

      For example: adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.systemui (be careful - this is a system application!).

    ⚠️ Attention: Incorrect use of ADB can lead to system breakdown. Do not disable critical services (for example com.android.phone) if you are not sure of their purpose. Before experiments, make a backup copy of your data.

    If after disabling the application the button has disappeared, but there are problems with the phone's operation, return it with the command:

    adb shell pm enable package name
    💡

    ADB is a powerful tool, but requires caution. Always check the package name before disabling and have system recovery instructions handy.

    6. Reset to factory settings

    If none of the methods helped, the last option remains - hard reset. This will delete all data from the phone, including applications, photos and settings, but will return the system to its original state.

    How to reset:

    1. 📱 Go to Settings → System → Reset settings.
    2. 🔄 Select Delete all data (reset to factory settings).
    3. 🔐 Enter a PIN code or pattern if required.
    4. ⚠️ Confirm the action - the phone will reboot and begin the cleaning process (will take 5-15 minutes).

      5. After reset:

      • 📲 Set up your phone as new (do not restore a backup if it was created after before the button appears!).
      • 🔍 Install applications one at a time and watch for the button to appear - this way you will find the culprit.
      • 🛡️ Install an antivirus and scan the system.
      ⚠️ Attention: On some devices (for example, Huawei s EMUI), you may need to re-activate your account after resetting. Huawei ID. Make sure you remember your username and password!

      7. Hardware reasons: what to do if the button does not disappear

      In rare cases, the "button" on the screen is not a software glitch, but a physical malfunction:

      • 🖥️ Dead pixels - if the "button" looks like a colored spot and does not respond to touches.
      • 🔧 Damaged display module —after a fall or impact.
      • 🔋 Problems with the cable —the button appears when you click on a certain area of the screen.

    How to diagnose:

    1. 📸 Take a photo of the screen with the button on another device. If it is not visible in the photo, there is a software problem.
    2. 🔄 Restart the phone in safe mode (press the power button → "Safe Mode"). If the button disappears, the application is to blame.
    3. 🛠️ If the button remains even in safe mode and is visible in the photo, take the phone to a service center.

    The cost of display repair depends on the model:

    Phone model Cost of replacing the display (approximately) Repair period
    Samsung Galaxy A52 8 000 — 12 000 ₽ 1-2 hours
    Xiaomi Redmi Note 10 6 000 — 9 000 ₽ 1 day
    Google Pixel 6 15 000 — 20 000 ₽ 2-3 days
    💡 Repair details may vary depending on the region and service center. Check current prices and terms directly with the specialists.

    FAQ: Frequently asked questions about buttons on the Android screen

    The button appears only in certain applications. What to do?

    Most likely, this is a function of the application itself (for example, a floating panel in games or instant messengers). Go to the settings of this application and disable options like "Floating notifications" or "Game assistants". If the button remains, delete and reinstall the application.

    After updating Android, a button with a gear appeared. How to remove it?

    This is Quick Settings iconwhich was added in new firmware versions (for example, in One UI 5.0 for Samsung). It’s disabled like this: hold down the button → select “Settings” → disable the “Show quick settings icon” option.

    The button blinks and redirects to advertising. Is this a virus?

    With a high probability - yes. This is typical behavior of adware (adware viruses). Remove recently installed applications, scan your phone Malwarebytes and check the list of applications with the “Show on top of other windows” permission (instructions in section 2). If that doesn’t help, do a factory reset.

    An unknown button has appeared on the lock screen. Is this dangerous?

    If the button does not respond to touches and does not disappear after a reboot, this could be Trojan module, trying to intercept your data. Do not enter passwords and do not connect your phone to other people's networks! Immediately scan the device with an antivirus and, if necessary, perform a reset.

    Is it possible to remove the button without resetting the settings?

    In 90% of cases - yes. Start by checking for viruses, then disable floating windows and reset the launcher. Only if the button is associated with deep system changes (for example, after rooting), a reset may be necessary. Before this, try the method with ADB (section 5).