Enable or disable device administrators on Samsung phone

Sometimes when you install certain apps on the Android phone, you may be prompted to allow it device administration privileges. It is usually used to offer support for enterprise applications. They can be corporate emails, security apps and so on. For example, security or antivirus software or apps may require elevated permissions to control other apps or processes on your device. They monitor your device for suspicious files and activities and block or quarantine suspicious activities or processes on your device. However you should only provide the Device Administration privileges to apps you trust. As the device administrators might control you device and cause security issue. A device administrator on Android device might be able to set the number of failed password attempts before the device is restored to factory settings; automatically lock the device, restore your device to factory settings and so on. In this article we will share with you the quick steps to view, enable or disable device administrators on Samsung Android mobile phones.

Please note that the exact names and locations of settings may vary slightly depending on the model of your Samsung device and the version of Android it’s running.

Method 1. Enable or disable device administrators on Samsung Galaxy mobile

If you are using a recent Samsung Galaxy model, you can manage your device administrators and application installation privileges following below steps.

On your Samsung phone Home screen, choose Apps >> Settings. In the Settings menu, scroll down until you find the “Biometrics and Security“, “Lock screen and security” or “Security” option, and then tap on it. Look for Other Security Settings or a similar option, and tap on it. You should then find an option called Device Administrators or Device admin apps. Alternatively you can search for “device admin apps” or “device administrators” in Settings to quickly locate those apps with or request this special permission on your Samsung phone. You should find the search box at the top of the Settings menu on your Android mobile.

samsung galaxy s7 security settings device administrators

Tap on Device administrators to view the list of apps with device administrator permissions on your Samsung mobile. You can toggle the switch next to an app name to the On or Active to grant an app this permission. On the contrary, toggle the switch to the Off or Inactive to evoke the administrators permission. If you are presented with additional prompts, follow them to complete the setup or configuration process for the app with device administrator privileges.

Again remember that granting device administrator permissions to an app gives it significant control over your device’s security features. Only grant these permissions to apps that you trust and revoke this permission to ensure your device’s security and privacy if you no long need or trust the app.

How to enable or disable device administrators on more Samsung phones?

On some earlier Samsung phone models, you can follow these steps. Unlock your Samsung Galaxy phone. From the Home screen, tap the Apps icon at the bottom right corner. Then find and open Settings, tap Security, choose Device administrators, you will see a list of installed apps on the phone with the request for device administration privileges. Check the box for the app to enable it as device administrator on Samsung phone or uncheck the box for an app to disable or turn off device administrator.

samsung phone settings security device administrators

3 thoughts on “Enable or disable device administrators on Samsung phone”

  1. My samsung phone got lost model SM-G313H, I had activated Samsung as my device administrator, what can I do to find my phone and vital information in it?
    please help me.

    1. there are many different security apps you can set up as device manager to locate lost Android devices, remotely lock device, remotely wipe device and so on, notably the official one “Find My Device” app from Google or “Find My Mobile” from Samsung, other than that you have other third-party options too.

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