App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
tbtilton
Enthusiast - Level 2

I have a Samsung Galaxy 8.  Allowed the software to update to Oreo a few days ago.  Now, all app badges are not working correctly.  When my phone booted for the first time after the update, I got a splash screen letting me know that app badges had been improved!  NOPE.

Prior to update, here's how app badges worked for me:

On Voicemail, Message+ and Email, there would be a badge indicating how many unread / unheard messages I had, whether or not there was a notification in my "notification bar".  EXTREMELY useful, since I will often clear a notification as soon as it comes in (to keep the notification bar clear), but will not necessarily go into the app to read/respond to the message - this is especially true for voicemails, as I usually can't check/respond to a voicemail right away if I've had to miss the call.  Therefore, even with my notification area clear, I could glance at my home screen and be reminded that I have, say, 2 unheard voicemails, 3 unread texts, and 6 unread emails, since there would be app badges with the number, letting me know.

NOW, as soon as I clear a system notification from the notification area, the APP BADGE GOES AWAY COMPLETELY!!!! Even if I haven't checked the actual message!  It seems that the new update only allows an app to display an "unread count" badge if there's and active, uncleared notification in the notification bar!! What the everlovin' [removed]?  This is a nonsensical and ridiculous change that makes absolutely no sense.

This has especially ruined how I use email - See, I have "notificaitons" turned off for email, because I get so many per hour that it would make my phone a tremendous nuisance to receive a real "system" notification every time one would come in.  INSTEAD, I had previously relied on the unread count badge to let me quickly glance to see if there were any new emails and/or how many new emails I had, which would help remind me to check my email every couple hours if I see the badge number going up.  Way better than the phone dinging every few minutes!!  Now, in order for the badge  to work AT ALL, I have to enable notifications in the email app, THEN wait for an email to come in so it puts an active notification in my status/notification bar, THEN I HAVE TO LEAVE THAT NOTIFICATION UP THERE because if I clear it the badge goes away too!!! UGH, what a stupid, stupid, STUPID update, that has completely ruined the WHOLE POINT of having independent app counter-badges... and I love how it was billed as an "improvement"...

This is a system-wide issue that affects all apps.  It is working exactly how I believe it is intended to based on the "promo" for the feature that I read, and it's description in the settings menu.  My question is WHYYYYYY?  And, how long before you all can patch this so that the app badges don't go away once a system notification is cleared??

Content removed to comply with Verizon Wireless Terms of Service

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

tbtilton, we really appreciate you bringing this to our attention. I know when this system update happened on my device I was also puzzled. Like you, I didn't want the badge to be removed but out of habit I would just clear the notification and realized that the badge would be gone as well. If there was a way that we could reverse this change we would do it in a heartbeat. The system updates are put in place to enhance the entire software and once they are done it can't be reversed. I apologize that this is an inconvenience. The software is released by the manufactures of the device. Here is a link for Samsung that you can bring this to their attention and they will love the opportunity to answer your question. https://www.samsung.com/us/support/contact/

 

JenniferL_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!

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Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
mdenunz24
Enthusiast - Level 3

Leave it to Verizon to point the blame elsewhere, and to allow updates to roll out untested.  Thanks for nothing.

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
tbtilton
Enthusiast - Level 2

While I appreciate your commiserating with me, this certainly doesn't help the problem.  It also reinforces how absolutely asinine this "improvement" was.  Why is it so hard for android to execute app badges? Why would this change be made?  What has improved?  Is there a situation where whatever was done here would benefit a user?  This answer made me feel way less crazy, as I am reassured that I'm not the only one who will find this ridiculous update bamboozling, but ultimately it has really only left me with more questions.

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
jfguerra
Enthusiast - Level 2

Same problem with me. All my notifications are messed up. I no longer know which of the apps I use frequently (WhatsApp, Facebook, Messenger, gmail. LinkedIn and Textra) have pending messages through notifications.

And checking them periodically is not an option!

Verizon/Samsung....you need to get your act together!

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
jrh4054
Specialist - Level 3

​AMEN!!

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
vzw_customer_support
Customer Service Rep

Being able to view your notification is important Jfguerra. After the Oreo update, your notifications will appear as a White dot on top of the application icons you have on your device. Do you see a White dots on top of your application icons? If you do tapping and holding on them lets you preview the most recent notification’s content, and in some cases take action on it. To see what else changed with the Oreo software, please use this link. http://spr.ly/6582DXw9e

 

AlbertoR_VZW

Follow us on Twitter @VZWSupport

If my response answered your question, please click the "Correct Answer" button under my response. This ensures others can benefit from our conversation. Thanks in advance for your help with this!!

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Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
jfguerra
Enthusiast - Level 2

Are you kidding me??? You pretty much answer me the same way you have answered others. Do you guys even read these boards???

No, I don't see any dots. Yes, I know all the functions that were updated in Oreo. And no, I am not happy nor was your response even remotely helpful.

This is the system my problems and you're not doing anything to help.

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
PETCAR42
Enthusiast - Level 2

I have the same issue. And I too take offense at AlbertoR_VZW's answer.

Like are we idiots and don't know what dots or badge counts are.  Did he read the original post?

I have a similar thread and I have been asked to uninstall and install Message+, even though the stock Message and Email apps are behaving "incorrectly" after the Oreo update.

It's not like we had a choice to update to Oreo, it was forced on to us.

When I reported my issue, the Chat rep said they had not received any issues like mine. Hah! right ....

Re: App Badge functionality destroyed after Oreo Update
PETCAR42
Enthusiast - Level 2

not sure why the post removed the word i-d-i-o-t-s , its not like I was swearing