What happens if I deny this permission for an app?

The app loses the ability to draw any window, bubble, or overlay on top of other apps. All other functions, including notifications and background sync, keep working as before.

Where do I see which apps already have this permission enabled?

Open Special app access ➔ Display over other apps to get a full list. Every app shows a toggle indicating whether the permission is currently on or off.

Does disabling display over other apps affect notifications?

No. Notifications are controlled separately in the notification settings for each app. Turning off the overlay permission only stops the app from drawing content on top of other screens.

Can granting this permission cause a security risk?

Only apps you trust should get this permission, since a malicious app could use an overlay to hide fake buttons over legitimate ones. Review the list in Special app access occasionally and remove access from apps you no longer use.

OnePlus

OnePlus: Manage the Display Over Other Apps Permission

If a chat bubble or profile picture from Facebook Messenger keeps floating over other apps on your OnePlus phone, an app is using the display over other apps permission. Some apps ask for this access right away, while others use it silently in the background. Knowing which apps hold this permission lets you decide which overlays you actually want on screen.

Updated: 05.08.20265 min6 steps

VersionAndroid 10 · Oxygenos 10

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OnePlus

Allow or Deny Display Over Other Apps auf OnePlus

Overlays like the Facebook Messenger chat head only work because the app has been granted permission to draw over other apps. OxygenOS treats this as a special access right, separate from regular app permissions such as camera or location.

To check or change which apps can display over other apps, open Open the Settings ➔ Tap on Apps & notifications ➔ Tap on Special app access ➔ Tap on Display over other apps. This opens a list of every installed app that can request this permission.

Tap Choose an app to select the app you want to manage, then use the toggle under Enable or disable Allow display over other apps to grant or block the overlay.

When to deny this permission

Deny the permission if an app keeps showing floating windows, ads, or bubbles you did not ask for. Some apps lose a specific feature when the permission is off, for example a floating video player or a chat head, but core functions like messaging or notifications keep working.

Granting the permission is only needed for features that rely on an overlay while you use another app. If an app does not offer such a feature, leaving the permission off has no effect on how it runs.

Frequently asked questions

Messenger uses the Display over other apps permission to keep a chat head visible while you use a different app. If you turn this off in Special app access, the bubble disappears but messages still arrive normally.

Compatible devices

Tap your device — opens its hub with matching guides.

Android 10 · Oxygenos 10

OnePlus 7T Pro 5G McLaren OnePlus 8 OnePlus 8 Pro OnePlus N10 OnePlus Nord OnePlus Nord N100

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OnePlus: Manage the Display Over Other Apps Permission

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Allow or Deny Display Over Other Apps auf OnePlus

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