Smart Switch Installed Apps, but no Icons

[shadbolt0661]

I used Smart Switch to copy apps from a Nokia to a new Galaxy A15.  The apps transferred and work fine, but there are no icons for them in either the Home screen or Apps screen.  They are not marked as "Hidden".  Samsung support advised re-install of the apps which seems a backward step.  I would have been better off doing a manual setup in the first place if I have to reinstall them all.

Is there any other way to get the missing icons ?

[Robin999]

Hi, and welcome to the UK community

Try a cache partition wipe

Plug into a working PC or laptop or other Samsung device

https://www.samsung.com/uk/support/mobile-devices/how-do-i-clear-the-cache-on-my-device/

Can I ask, how are you currently opening the apps if they don't appear in the app drawer?

If, the cache wipe doesn't work, then you may have to resort to reinstalling each one manually.

[galaxySerb]

You transferred them over but they are not actually installed, you should be connected to WiFi and it will start auto downloading them i believe, also try doing a press and hold on play store, update your apps and that might also kick start the installs.

[Bigtasty65]

Have you tried just restarting your A15? I don't mean powering off your phone and then you powering it on again. A restart will close everything properly then shut down. Your phone will start up again on it's own after about 10 seconds. All apps will have to relaunch (open) themselves again from scratch. That should sort out your problem.

[shadbolt0661]

Thanks Robin999, but unfortunately the cache wipe did not help.

I am opening the apps from Settings -> Apps -> choose app -> Open

[shadbolt0661]

Thanks galaxySerb.  They are definitely installed.  I can run them from the Settings -> Apps screen and they work normally.  I am just missing the icons.  All apps are updated, but still no icons.

[shadbolt0661]

Thanks Bigtasty65, but unfortunately a restart has not made any difference.

[shadbolt0661]

Re-install does work, but only if the Home Screen setting "Add new apps to Home screen" is switched on.  Without this, no icon is created anywhere.  Maybe this is normal expected behaviour.  It's my first time with a Samsung device, so I don't know.

[GoanGeek]

I would suggest. You reset your phone and only get your photos and stuff from smart switch and install apps fresh from the store as and when you need them.

As a rule of thumb for myself never restore apps and settings.
Just creates issues in the long run.

Other things like photos, messages, contacts are fine to backup and recover.

Going forward use a cloud service like Google one and save all your stuff there .

Lot easier going forward.

[shadbolt0661]

Having reinstalled WhatsApp so the icon is on the Home screen, and moved another app to the Home screen, all this missing icons are now showing in the Apps screen.  This was unexpected, but welcome !  It seems the issue is now resolved, though I am not sure how, or which of these two actions fixed it.