Help Lost app icon

[elliebean]

Hi,

I'm new to the Samsung S4 and Android phones having been an iPhone user for the past few years so please be gentle with me and explain things in simple terms.

I seem to have somehow lost my Optical Reader app icon. The app itself is still there because I can search for it and find it, however the icon is no longer in my app drawer... I think that's what you call it!

Can anybody tell me how I can recover it please?

Many thanks,
Elliebean

 

[allanlaw]

Are you on Verizon by any chance?

 

[elliebean]

No, I'm in UK.

 

[Harry2]

You might use a work-around for getting your app's icon back to home screen.
Use the file manager of ES File Explorer to search your Optical Reader app and to create a shortcut of the app on the home screen ... voila

Harry

 

[elliebean]

Thanks Harry. I'll have a go at that. I'm guessing that E'S File Explorer is something I can download from the Play Store. The other thing I noticed is that when I go into Application Manager->All->Optical Reader the 'disable' button is greyed out. Not sure if that's relevant or not!

 

[Harry2]

Thanks Harry. I'll have a go at that. I'm guessing that E'S File Explorer is something I can download from the Play Store. The other thing I noticed is that when I go into Application Manager->All->Optical Reader the 'disable' button is greyed out. Not sure if that's relevant or not!

ES File Explorer is a free app from Play Store. And you'll get one of the best file managers

The greyed Disable button? I don't think that it is connected to the actual "hidden" state of the Optical Reader. Some apps of carriers/providers have such greyed Disable buttons. Or some preinstalled Samsung apps ... it is such an app, isn't it?

Harry

 

[elliebean]

I've finally found it! Somehow (and I don't know how I did it!) I'd managed to change it to a hidden app.

Thank you for your help anyway.

 

[smitty543]

I've finally found it! Somehow (and I don't know how I did it!) I'd managed to change it to a hidden app.

Thank you for your help anyway.

How did you find it? If any of us encounter the same problem, we can learn from your search and corrective actions.

Thanx!

 

[elliebean]

How did you find it? If any of us encounter the same problem, we can learn from your search and corrective actions.

Thanx!

Ok, I went into the Apps Drawer and clicked on Menu and then on Show Hidden Applications and there it was! I checked the Optical Reader icon to make it visible again.

 

[allanlaw]

Unfortunately for some of us, Verizon removed this app and it appears that it can't be installed on an unrooted Verizon S4.

 

[Harry2]

Unfortunately for some of us, Verizon removed this app and it appears that it can't be installed on an unrooted Verizon S4.

Can't you create a shortcut of the app with the help of ES File Explorer's app manager?
The app manager of ES is to find at its 'Tools' menu.

Harry

 

[allanlaw]

Can't you create a shortcut of the app with the help of ES File Explorer's app manager?
The app manager of ES is to find at its 'Tools' menu.

Harry

I'm not sure what you're suggesting. The app is not loaded with version ME7 (new version) of Verizon OS for the S4 - since it's not there, I don't know how you can create a shortcut. The app is in the Samsung App Store but NOT for the Verizon S4 model (SCH-1545) and it can't be loaded with the Samsung Apps app on an S4. Some other Android boards had suggestions (.apk from a third party, etc.) but none that seemed to garner much enthusiasm. I wasted several hours looking into this yesterday, and for now, it looks like a lost cause.

 

[Harry2]

I'm not sure what you're suggesting ...

It's a solution if an app is to find at Settings, Apps, All.. but not to find on the app drawer.
Okay, the S4 has the option to switch hidden apps to be visible (other phones haven't this option) but maybe Verizon made Optical Reader just "very hidden" ... and so might be a slight chance that ES could find it and place it as icon on the home screen.

Harry

 

[simarui]

...Settings, Apps, All..
Harry

I'm going to second allanlaw - I don't see optical reader and have spent several hours perusing various forums with no luck...

giving up now.

thanks for the insight though Harry2, there were some other interesting apps hidden back there i might find use for some day... or maybe just delete to free up room for stuff i actually use.