Browser apps on Samsung Galaxy Note 3 installed but missing from list
December 9, 2014 8:41 AM Subscribe
This is the dumbest thing and I can't believe I'm wasting a question on this. Help me get a browser shortcut on my Note 3.
Veteran Android user, but I'm no developer. I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 last night, and I set it up using Samsung Smart Switch, so all the apps from my old Note 2 switched over. I have always used Chrome in my little home tray so I trashed the default Internet shortcut thinking I would just drag the Chrome app from the app list to make a shortcut to it. Except! It is not in my app list. And now neither is the default Internet app.
I figured Chrome just didn't install somehow, so I went to the play store, and it says it's installed. So I look again, figuring I just missed it. Nope, not there. I can open it via the Play Store or the Application Manager, but there is no shortcut anywhere so I can't open it directly. And now I can't open the default Internet browser either. So in short, I have no browser shortcut and it is driving me insane.
I tried uninstalling Chrome, figuring I'd reinstall it, but even after I selected uninstall it just says update or open, so it won't uninstall I guess? So I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to get to it via a shortcut and I will go mad if I have to look it up in Play or App Manager every time I want the damn thing.
Help.
Veteran Android user, but I'm no developer. I got a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 last night, and I set it up using Samsung Smart Switch, so all the apps from my old Note 2 switched over. I have always used Chrome in my little home tray so I trashed the default Internet shortcut thinking I would just drag the Chrome app from the app list to make a shortcut to it. Except! It is not in my app list. And now neither is the default Internet app.
I figured Chrome just didn't install somehow, so I went to the play store, and it says it's installed. So I look again, figuring I just missed it. Nope, not there. I can open it via the Play Store or the Application Manager, but there is no shortcut anywhere so I can't open it directly. And now I can't open the default Internet browser either. So in short, I have no browser shortcut and it is driving me insane.
I tried uninstalling Chrome, figuring I'd reinstall it, but even after I selected uninstall it just says update or open, so it won't uninstall I guess? So I cannot for the life of me figure out a way to get to it via a shortcut and I will go mad if I have to look it up in Play or App Manager every time I want the damn thing.
Help.
Response by poster: I can't drag from the Application Manager. Only the list of apps (the box of squares), and it's not there.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:22 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:22 AM on December 9, 2014
Does the App Manager still show "update"? What happens when you do that?
What about installing the Chrome Beta from the Play Store?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chrome.beta&hl=en
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:29 AM on December 9, 2014
What about installing the Chrome Beta from the Play Store?
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chrome.beta&hl=en
posted by Mo Nickels at 9:29 AM on December 9, 2014
Response by poster: In other words, using pictures, it's here but not here.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:30 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:30 AM on December 9, 2014
Response by poster: I hit update. Nothing changed. I don't want Chrome Beta, I want the Chrome app that's already apparently installed on my phone. I am going to be so mad if I have to wipe and start over, after spending an hour last night setting everything up.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:30 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:30 AM on December 9, 2014
Response by poster: Sigh. Sorry for threadsitting, and being so cranky about this. Installed Chrome Beta, and I was able to drag that from apps to the tray.
But I'd really like to know what the heck is going on with regular Chrome!
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:39 AM on December 9, 2014
But I'd really like to know what the heck is going on with regular Chrome!
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:39 AM on December 9, 2014
It's probably somehow hidden. Your stock launcher probably has the option to hide apps from the drawer - so it seems Chrome is installed out of the box but was either intentionally or accidentally hidden from view.
Go into your app drawer and press the menu button - see if there is an option to view hidden apps or something similar. You should be able to unhide Chrome, then press and drag to the home screen like normal.
Your other option may be to long-press on a blank area of the home screen, which should bring up a menu to place either a widget or a shortcut to an app. You might be able to place a link to Chrome that way too.
posted by trivia genius at 9:42 AM on December 9, 2014
Go into your app drawer and press the menu button - see if there is an option to view hidden apps or something similar. You should be able to unhide Chrome, then press and drag to the home screen like normal.
Your other option may be to long-press on a blank area of the home screen, which should bring up a menu to place either a widget or a shortcut to an app. You might be able to place a link to Chrome that way too.
posted by trivia genius at 9:42 AM on December 9, 2014
Response by poster: Tried both those things, neither worked. No option to unhide apps, and the long press just brings up the app drawer just like clicking on the box of boxes would.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:58 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by rabbitrabbit at 9:58 AM on December 9, 2014
If you have a twitter account, @samsungmobileUS. Maybe they can help.
posted by 724A at 10:23 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by 724A at 10:23 AM on December 9, 2014
Best answer: This might not be it at all - any chance its hidden in one of the folders Samsung sets up by default? If I remember correctly, there was a Google folder when I first started using my Note 3.
Alternate solution - try Nova Launcher. Doesn't require root, and gives lots of great options on your home screen and app drawer.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:53 AM on December 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
Alternate solution - try Nova Launcher. Doesn't require root, and gives lots of great options on your home screen and app drawer.
posted by shinynewnick at 10:53 AM on December 9, 2014 [1 favorite]
This is a long shot but Chrome hasn't been disabled has it?
Go to Settings -> Apps and then swipe right to left until you get to "disabled". If Chrome is in there then you need to tap on it and then press "Enable"
At that point Chrome will reappear in your app tray.
posted by mr_silver at 10:58 AM on December 9, 2014
Go to Settings -> Apps and then swipe right to left until you get to "disabled". If Chrome is in there then you need to tap on it and then press "Enable"
At that point Chrome will reappear in your app tray.
posted by mr_silver at 10:58 AM on December 9, 2014
Response by poster: AHA!!! It was in a folder-that-doesn't-look-like-a-folder called "Google"! Those bastards.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2014
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:01 AM on December 9, 2014
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By drag it, I mean hold the app in the app manager page until it shows you your home pages then while still holding it down (or pressing it), move it to the place you want.
Or maybe I don't understand what the problem is.
posted by 724A at 9:14 AM on December 9, 2014