Bubbling conversations does not work on Android 14 / Samsung devices

TheOnlineUser commented 9 months ago

[x] I have searched open and closed issues for duplicates
[x] I am submitting a bug report for existing functionality that does not work as intended
[x] I have read https://github.com/signalapp/Signal-Android/wiki/Submitting-useful-bug-reports
[x] This isn't a feature request or a discussion topic

Bug description

Conversations don't bubble in Android 14 when using Samsung phones. Other apps do bubble properly so it's not that Samsung broke the feature.

When you open a conversation in Signal, clicking the 3 dots menu and then "create bubble" simply adds a notification about the conversation to the notification bar but doesn't actually pop out a bubble like other apps do. Notification can't be clicked (clicking it crashes the system UI and takes you to the lock screen—and does not bubble.

In Android 12 and 13, you could follow the following steps to enable it:

Enable "Multi Window for all apps" in Settings > Labs
Enable Bubbles (Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Floating notifications > Bubbles)
In the operating system settings, enable bubbles for Signal. This can be tricky, but you can reliably get to it by doing this: a. Go to a specific chat b. 3-dot menu -> Chat Settings -> Sounds & notifications -> Custom notifications c. Turn on "Use custom notifications" d. Tap "Customize" e. You should now be in the operating system's Settings app. f. Check "Bubble this conversation" g. Tap "Bubble settings for this app" h. Change to "All" or "Selected only" (See this comment on another issue report)

However, this no longer works.

Steps to reproduce

set Signal conversation to allow bubbling in notification settings
open conversation in Signal
click 3 dots > click Create bubble
no bubble; clicking notification that appears crashes the phone's system UI.

Actual result: doesn't bubble Expected result: should create a floating bubble that can be tapped to open the conversation

Screenshots

Device info

Device: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Android version: 14 Signal version: 6.41.3

Link to debug log

https://debuglogs.org/android/6.41.3/70a4934a25125071d1fc67fb3aca266feba451f6e79879356f41bc6bae89270d

gooomis commented 9 months ago

Same here. I've reported it in #13177, which was closed. I've attached more info there.

voedev commented 8 months ago

Same here. I've reported it in #13177, which was closed. I've attached more info there.

This is still a problem on stable builds for the Galaxy S23 series on Android 14. Closing this was and is premature.

GBT7 commented 8 months ago

I am experiencing the exact same issue as described on a Galaxy A53 right after a stable release upgrade to OneUI 6/Android 14, which is to say it seems to be affecting OneUI 6 as a whole, not just the Galaxy S devices.

Zeklandia commented 8 months ago

After the Jan. 1st security patch update (the first update since the Android 14/OneUI 6.0 upgrade), I'm no longer experiencing this issue.

gooomis commented 8 months ago

After the Jan. 1st security patch update (the first update since the Android 14/OneUI 6.0 upgrade), I'm no longer experiencing this issue.

No Jan 2024 patch here yet though, I really hope it fixes it :/

Zeklandia commented 8 months ago

After using it for some time, I can say that the crashes and freezes aren't happening anymore, but Signal's notifications and bubbles are still broken. Bubbles were briefly working after the upgrade, but the vast majority of the time they simply disappear when I open them. Notifications cause nothing to happen when I tap on them. After the bubbles disappear, they do not show as options on the screen for opening additional chat bubbles.

volozo commented 8 months ago

I wonder when this problem will get fixed. I use a Galaxy S23 with Dec 2023 security patch. Bubbles do work with the normal Messages app, like everytime. But for some reason, they aren't working for Signal. Yes, it works for Signal once in a while, but that's only when I restart my phone. And after an hour or so, it goes back to the same problem. No bubbles. No pop-up notification on the upper edge of the screen. Only a gitchy/irresponsive notification in the notification shade, which doesn't open the app. Please someone fix this issue.

00raq00 commented 8 months ago

For mi 13t pro with android 14 I have same problem with bubble notification. Only for signal it doesn't work properly.

gooomis commented 7 months ago

@alex-signal let me know if there is anything I can provide to make this issue easier to resolve and close.

TheOnlineUser commented 7 months ago

@alex-signal let me know if there is anything I can provide to make this issue easier to resolve and close.

Also happy to provide logs/troubleshoot/beta test if need be.

TheOnlineUser commented 7 months ago

After the Jan. 1st security patch update (the first update since the Android 14/OneUI 6.0 upgrade), I'm no longer experiencing this issue.

I updated my S23 Ultra and the exact same buggy behavior persists.

lsdxm commented 7 months ago

Still happening. Really wish it would be addressed, I'm now having to use other, less secure messengers because I very much need to be able to bubble conversations.

gooomis commented 7 months ago

Guys can we get any update on this? Do you think it can be fixed, and if so, would it be in a near time? @alex-signal @greyson-signal

cody-signal commented 7 months ago

We are actively looking into this. Unfortunately, it's not something that can be resolved solely by us.

Please refrain from tagging specific people, simply posting is enough to get our attention.

jasniec commented 6 months ago

I have Samsung S22 with android 14, newest samsung update. I fixed the issue enabling:

Advanced Features -> Labs -> Multi window for all apps
Developer options -> multi window for all apps

The first setting didn't make a change, only the second one fixed the issue (but I have both enabled)

I'd search for issues in app resize options - developer options mention that it enables non-resizable apps to resize, so maybe this will help.

Side note: other apps such as sms text in other apps were properly shown as a bubble before I fixed signal notifications

gooomis commented 6 months ago

The first setting didn't make a change, only the second one fixed the issue (but I have both enabled)

Still not working for me.

Side note: other apps such as sms text in other apps were properly shown as a bubble before I fixed signal notifications

Yup, that was the case for me as well, that all other apps are "bubbling" correctly, but Signal app is not responding to these changes, resulting in the empty notification which on-tap restarts SystemUI.

gooomis commented 6 months ago

Taking it all back - it has indeed worked. I'll see how much time it takes to break though, there were cases that it'd worked and stopped unexpectedly.

TheOnlineUser commented 6 months ago

Taking it all back - it has indeed worked. I'll see how much time it takes to break though, there were cases that it'd worked and stopped unexpectedly.

Still not working for me. I have an S23 Ultra on the latest update and Signal bubbles are still broken. Crashes system UI when I attempt to launch the bubbles in Signal.

gooomis commented 6 months ago

Taking it all back - it has indeed worked. I'll see how much time it takes to break though, there were cases that it'd worked and stopped unexpectedly.

Still not working for me. I have an S23 Ultra on the latest update and Signal bubbles are still broken. Crashes system UI when I attempt to launch the bubbles in Signal.

Yup, taking it back (again). Worked for a few minutes.

greyson-signal commented 6 months ago

We've confirmed that this is actually an issue on Samsung's side. They've apparently blacklisted us from showing bubbles because of some bug we had in the past. We're working with them to resolve it, but it's slow-going.

gooomis commented 6 months ago

We've confirmed that this is actually an issue on Samsung's side. They've apparently blacklisted us from showing bubbles because of some bug we had in the past. We're working with them to resolve it, but it's slow-going.

Thank you for the update! Fingers crossed 🤞

lsdxm commented 6 months ago

We've confirmed that this is actually an issue on Samsung's side. They've apparently blacklisted us from showing bubbles because of some bug we had in the past. We're working with them to resolve it, but it's slow-going.

Lol great solution Samsung... So there was apparently a bug one time, and their idea to deal with that is to intentionally break a feature in such a way that makes it seem like an even worse bug is happening. Oye vey.

TheOnlineUser commented 6 months ago

We've confirmed that this is actually an issue on Samsung's side. They've apparently blacklisted us from showing bubbles because of some bug we had in the past. We're working with them to resolve it, but it's slow-going.

Any way for interested parties to bother Samsung about this in any way that'll be meaningful?

CelticWraith commented 6 months ago

I haven't been able to disable signal bubbles (don't want them).

Tapping signal notifications and nothing happening is the third most irritating thing.

Opening Signal and no longer being able to use the keyboard in it or any other app until rebooting is the second most irritating thing.

Signal opening up in what appears to be a pop-up window view that stays open over every other app (including other instances of Signal) that can't be closed until rebooting the phone is the most annoying thing.

These issues seemed to start with an update that mentioned bubbles 1-2 months ago, which was when Signal bubbles first started appearing on my phone.

I actually upgraded my S22 Ultra to the S24 Ultra yesterday largely due to the signal issues, only to find I wasted my cash as the issues immediately persisted on the S24 Ultra.

TheOnlineUser commented 6 months ago

A temporary workaround on Samsung devices is to go to Settings > Notifications > Advanced settings > Floating notifications > Smart pop-up window.

It disables Bubbles for other apps too, but allows a similar (but not equivalent) functionality for Signal.

nicholas-signal commented 6 months ago

Any way for interested parties to bother Samsung about this in any way that'll be meaningful?

Unfortunately not.

Ark9975 commented 5 months ago

I am having a problem on my S24 Ultra where I can see bubbles but pressing them immediately dismisses them.

morta5 commented 5 months ago

Signal bubbles seem to work for me again. I am using the latest Signal Beta and I am on the April security patch.

Ark9975 commented 5 months ago

Signal bubbles seem to work for me again. I am using the latest Signal Beta and I am on the April security patch.

My bubbles also seem to be working. Oneui 6.1 with April patch I am not on the beta though.

lsdxm commented 5 months ago

They're working for me too!! Huzzah 🥳

GBT7 commented 5 months ago

It sounds like OneUI 6.1 fixes it. I'm stuck on 6.0 because my A53 hasn't received the 6.1 update, so I guess I'll report back when 6.1 becomes available to me, to see if it's fixed.

morta5 commented 5 months ago

@GBT7 I am not on One UI 6.1 and signal bubbles work for me again

GBT7 commented 5 months ago

then it must be the April security patch, so I'll see when I get that. Still not working for me on the March patch.

Kaligula0 commented 5 months ago

works! \o/

nicholas-signal commented 5 months ago

Hello everyone,

As many of you have noticed, we have cooperated with Samsung to restore Bubble privileges to Signal.

If anyone continues to have issues with Bubbles, first make sure that you have updated your Samsung device to the latest available OS update, and that your device is freely able to contact Samsung's servers to receive updated configurations.

If any new issues with Bubbles arise, please file a new GitHub issue, as I am considering this specific issue completed.

signalapp / Signal-Android