Screen Overlay Detected Blocks Android Permissions

Screen overlay detected blocks Android permissions

This popup is caused by the manifest.PERMISSION.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission declared by the manifest.
The are 3 categories of permissions, that developer must be aware of.:

1. Normal permission - do nothing with them, just declare in the Manifest
2. Vulnerable permissions - declare in Manifest and ask for permission at first time. They can be changed through system settings
3. Above dangerous permissions: SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW and WRITE_SETTINGS belong to this category. They must be granted, but are not visible in system settings. To request for it you don't use a standard way (int checkSelfPermission (String permission)) but you have to check Settings.canDrawOverlays() or Settings.System.canWrite() appropriately

If you don't have SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission:

1. check if you have a Toast visible when interacting with the permissions popup. Though the Overlay Detected popup doesn't mention it, a Toast also counts as an overlay
2. check if any of your dependencies require it.

If you're not sure if you're using this permission, there are a couple of test cases that you can do:

1. Request this permission by yourself:

   public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
   
       public final static int REQUEST_CODE = 10101;
   
       @Override
       protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {
           super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);
           setContentView(R.layout.activity_main);
           if (checkDrawOverlayPermission()) {
               startService(new Intent(this, PowerButtonService.class));
           }
       }
   
       public boolean checkDrawOverlayPermission() {
           if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT < Build.VERSION_CODES.M) {
               return true;
           }
           if (!Settings.canDrawOverlays(this)) {
               Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_OVERLAY_PERMISSION,
                   Uri.parse("package:" + getPackageName()));
               startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_CODE);
               return false;
           } else {
               return true;
           }
       }
   
       @Override
       @TargetApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.M)
       protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, Intent data) {
           if (requestCode == REQUEST_CODE) {
               if (Settings.canDrawOverlays(this)) {
                   startService(new Intent(this, PowerButtonService.class));
               }
           }
       }
   }
   

2. Check if this or this is not your case

3. Check out this post to be aware, that when installing app through Play Store this permission is automatically granted (I have not checked is, therefore cannot confirm)

The permission model can be understood, just sometimes requires more digging.

Is overlay screen option is by default enable if application is downloaded from play store

Yes, you are right. SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW permission is always granted, when app is installed from Play Store.
Have a look at another answer already provided on StackOverflow, that confirms that:

SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW - How to get this permission automatically on Android 6.0 and targetSdkVersion 23

However be advised, that it only works for Play Store. If you'd like to publish app in Samsung Store or Amazon Store, then you might have problems with that.

Also have a look at different question, where Toast was identified as the view, that might cause similar problems on some devices:

Screen overlay detected blocks Android permissions

Hope, that this answer clears some of your concerns.

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