Android Charging Boost: the blue charging screen with ads and how to remove it
Android Charging Boost is an ad page that a battery or charger app draws over your lock screen when the phone charges. It is adware, not a virus, and it stops when you switch off or uninstall the app that makes it.
Facts checked October 10, 2026. Steps checked against Apple's and Google's current documentation and the reports we cite. We have not run the app or the link on a phone ourselves.
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Android Charging Boost: summary
| Type | Adware: an ad-supported battery or charger app that draws an ad page over the lock screen |
|---|---|
| Risk | Low to medium: the page is an annoyance, the ads can lead to scam and malware sites |
| Symptoms | A blue charging page with a banner ad and "Slide to unlock" when you charge or wake the phone |
| How to get rid of it | Find the app behind it, switch off or uninstall it (safe mode if needed), reset only as a last step |
| Our check | Source check on 10 October 2026 (Google Play Ads policy, Google and Samsung help); no app installed or tested |
| First seen | Forum reports from 2016; our report 4 June 2020 |
Show 7 more facts
| Named apps | DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge, Cheetah Mobile tools, Stopbadapp, WiFi Analyzer, TouchPal 2016, Bestie, Z Camera, ES File Explorer option |
|---|---|
| Microsoft detection | No Microsoft detection name is known: this is an Android feature of ad-supported apps, and Google Play Protect is what scans apps on the phone |
| Runs on | Android phones and tablets |
| Program | DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge |
| Distribution | Typically pages saying you need an extension, bundled installers, malicious ads and copies of real extensions |
| Damage | Ads injected into pages, browsing history and searches collected, redirects to risky sites |
| Facts checked | 10 October 2026 |
Source check on 10 October 2026 against Google's Play Ads policy and Google and Samsung help pages. No app was installed or tested and the steps were not run on a phone that shows the page; Pixel and Samsung menu paths are from our knowledge of those menus.
What the Charging Boost screen is
Android Charging Boost is a full-screen charging page with ads, drawn over your lock screen by an ad-supported app. It is not one program called Charging Boost: it is a feature of apps that offer to speed up or manage charging.
- What it is
- A blue (or grey) charging page that appears when the phone is plugged in or wakes from sleep, with a banner ad and a "Slide to unlock" bar
- What makes it
- An ad-supported battery, charger or cleaner app; the screen is its feature, not a separate program
- Type
- Adware or a potentially unwanted app (PUA); the ads are not malware themselves
- Runs on
- Android phones and tablets; it depends on the app you installed, not on the Android version
- What you see
- Time and date at the top left, a menu or settings icon at the top right, a charge indicator, an ad at the bottom and "Slide to unlock"
- How to stop it
- Find the app that draws it and uninstall it; the steps are in the plan above
- Our 2020 report
- Written 4 June 2020 from forum reports; re-read and corrected on 10 October 2026
- 1
You install a charger or battery app
Usually on purpose, because it promises faster charging, a cooler phone or fewer ads. Some come bundled with another free app.
- 2
The app turns on its charging page
Often this is a default setting, or it starts as a low-battery notice that you tap once.
- 3
The page covers your lock screen
The next time the phone charges or wakes from sleep, the ad page appears first and you slide to get past it.
- 4
Ads load from third parties
The banner is a normal ad network slot. Ads open apps, store pages or websites, and nobody checks every one of them before you see it.
Is Android Charging Boost dangerous?
Apps named in the reports
The apps below were named in forum posts and in our 2020 report as makers of the charging page. A name on the list is a place to look, not proof; the same app can be clean in one version and show ads in another.
| App | What our report said | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge | Named as the main source; its "DU Quick Charge" switch turns the page on | Uninstall it, or switch the feature off in its own settings |
| Cheetah Mobile tools | Named among the triggers | Check which Cheetah app you have installed and whether it shows the page |
| Stopbadapp | Named among the triggers | Uninstall if you do not need it |
| WiFi Analyzer | Named among the triggers | Uninstall, or choose a version with no ads |
| TouchPal 2016 keyboard | Named among the triggers | Check the keyboard's settings for charging or lock-screen features |
| Bestie | Named among the triggers | Uninstall if you do not need it |
| Z Camera | Named among the triggers | Check the app's settings, or uninstall it |
| ES File Explorer | Had an option to enable DU Fast Charge, first shown as a low-battery popup | If you tapped it, the page showed the next time the phone slept |
Some people say they never installed one of these apps. Check the list anyway: unwanted features arrive inside legitimate tools, and the list is not complete. If none of the names is on your phone, look for any battery, charger, booster or cleaner app you do not remember.
What we checked and what we did not
There is no website to test here, so this is a source check. We reread our 2020 report, read Google's Play rules and help pages, and checked every menu name against the sources below.
Android Charging Boost · source check · 10 October 2026
- Google Play ruleGoogle's Ads policy says that unless the exclusive purpose of an app is to be a lock screen, apps may not introduce ads or features that monetise the locked display.
- Removal stepsPlay Protect scan, safe mode, uninstall and factory reset follow Google Account Help, Google Pixel Help and Samsung support, read on 10 October 2026.
- Our 2020 picturesOpened and described as they are: they show the charging page and one app's setting, not the whole family.
- The app listThe names in our 2020 report came from forum posts from 2016 onward. We did not install any of them and cannot say which still show the page today.
- Menu pathsPaths for Pixel and Samsung are the current names as we know them, not run on a phone with the screen. Makers rename menus; use the search box in Settings.
- Live sampleNone run. Nothing here proves a given phone is clean or affected.
Annoying more than dangerous The page is an ad feature, not a virus. The risk is in what the ads open and in the app that makes it. This is a reading of sources and one 2020 report, not a test of a phone.
Timeline: from 2016 forum posts to today
2016
Forum reports begin
Our 2020 report counted posts on Android forums from 2016 about a blue charging lock screen with ads, linked to several battery and cleaner apps.
4 June 2020
Our report
We published the first version of this page, listing the apps named in those posts and general removal steps.
9 June 2020
Report updated
The last change to the old text before this rewrite.
10 October 2026
Page rewritten
We corrected the removal steps to current Android and Samsung menus and checked the claims against Google's Ads policy and help pages.
Is it dangerous?
The page itself is more intrusive than dangerous. The ads it shows, and the app behind it, are the risk.
- Medium
Ads that lead to bad sites
The ads are not malicious in themselves, but third-party ads are not checked well. A tap can lead to a scam site, a malware download page or a rogue survey.
- Medium
More unwanted apps
An ad can offer another app to install. Install nothing from an ad on the charging page.
- Low
Battery, speed and data
The app behind the page can use battery and memory, slow the phone and send usage data to ad networks; our 2020 text also said it may track browsing history, which we could not confirm for any given app.
- Low
Disruption
Banner ads on the first screen every time you open the phone are tiring, and a screen you must slide past delays every unlock.
Similar ads also appear on websites in Chrome, Firefox and other browsers, and people are used to them there. On the lock screen they are harder to ignore and easier to tap by mistake, so the page is worth removing even if it seems harmless. Do not tap ads in either place.
How Android Charging Boost got onto your phone
Nearly always you install them yourself. The charger screen is the price of a free app, and it is switched on without a clear question.
- Medium
Free utilities that promise a result
Battery savers, boosters, cleaners and chargers advertise better performance, fewer ads or faster charging, and make money from ads shown in return.
- Medium
Bundles from third-party download sites
Third-party sites earn a commission for spreading free software that carries optional extra apps. A quick install ends with a whole list of ad-supported apps.
- Medium
A feature switched on by default
Some apps, as with the ES File Explorer option in our report, show a low-battery style popup. You tap once and the page starts the next time the phone sleeps.
- Low
Google Play itself
Our 2020 report said the apps arrive from the store or other sources. Google's Ads policy bans lock-screen ads in apps that are not lock screens, but a store listing is a check, not a guarantee.
Check your phone
Go through what you installed recently, then switch off or remove the apps that match. Do the steps below on the phone that shows the page.
- 1
Think about when it started
The page usually starts soon after an install or an update. Make a list of the apps you added or updated in the last weeks.
- 2
Open the app list
Settings > Apps > See all apps (Samsung: Settings > Apps). Look for battery, charger, booster, cleaner, keyboard and camera apps you do not remember or no longer use.
- 3
Look at the Play Store list
Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture > Manage apps & device > Manage and sort by most recently updated, so recent installs and updates are on top.
- 4
Check who can draw over other apps
Settings > Apps > Special app access > Display over other apps (Samsung: Settings > Apps, then the three-dot menu > Special access > Appear on top). Apps you do not know and do not need should not be on.
- 5
Open the charging page's own settings
On the page itself, tap the gear or menu icon at the top right. A switch such as "DU Quick Charge" or "Turn off" names the app that draws it.
If you did not find it, run a Play Protect scan (Play Store > profile picture > Play Protect > Scan), then use the plan above. For other Android problems see how to remove malware from Android.
How to remove Android Charging Boost
How to remove the Charging Boost screen from an Android phone
These steps follow Google's and Samsung's help pages as read on 10 October 2026, for stock Android 14 and 15 and Samsung One UI.
We did not test them on a phone that shows the page. Most phones need only steps 1 to 3.
Step 1: Find the app that draws the page
On your Android phone, tap the gear or menu icon on the charging page itself: a switch such as DU Quick Charge names the app.
If not, open Settings > Apps > See all apps and look for battery, charger, booster and cleaner apps you do not remember or recently installed. Our list of apps from 2020 is above.
Step 2: Switch off its charging feature
Open the app and look for the charging, lock-screen or quick-charge switch in its settings and turn it off. If you plan to keep the app, you may be done here. If the setting is missing or it comes back, go to the next step.
Step 3: Uninstall the app
Open Settings > Apps > See all apps, tap the app, then Uninstall. Remove suspicious apps one at a time and restart after each, as Google advises.
If Uninstall is greyed out, the app holds a device admin right: open Settings > Security & privacy > More security & privacy > Device admin apps (Samsung: Settings > Security and privacy > Other security settings > Device admin apps), turn it off, then uninstall.
The Device admin apps list on Android 14. Find My Device belongs there; an extra entry for a charger or cleaner app is a reason to switch it off before you uninstall. Step 4: Run a Play Protect scan
Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture, then Play Protect > Settings, and turn on Scan apps with Play Protect. Go back and tap Scan. If it flags an app, tap the notification and choose Uninstall.
Step 5: Restart in safe mode if the page blocks you
On a Pixel 6 or later, press and hold Power and Volume Up, then touch and hold Power off or Restart and tap OK. On a Samsung, open the quick panel, tap the Power icon, touch and hold Power off, then tap Safe mode.
The words "Safe mode" appear at the bottom of the screen and downloaded apps do not run. Uninstall the app here, then restart to leave safe mode. Airplane mode turns on in safe mode, so switch it off if you need Wi-Fi.
Step 6: Factory reset as the last resort
If the page returns after every app is gone, back up photos and contacts and know your Google account password. On a Pixel open Settings > System > Reset options > Erase all data (factory reset); on a Samsung open Settings > General management > Reset > Factory data reset.
Reinstall apps only from Google Play, and skip battery and cleaner tools. If signs remain after the reset, Google says to ask the phone's maker for help.
Which removal step fits your phone
Most phones are fixed by uninstalling one app. A factory reset is only for a phone where the page keeps coming back after every app was removed.
| Your situation | Do this | What you lose |
|---|---|---|
| You know which app shows the page | Switch its charging feature off, or uninstall it | That app |
| You do not know which app | Remove recent battery, charger and cleaner apps one at a time, and restart after each | Those apps |
| The app will not start, or the page appears before you can open Settings | Restart in safe mode and uninstall there | The app |
| Uninstall is greyed out | Remove its device admin right, then uninstall | The app |
| The page comes back after every app is gone | Back up, then factory reset, and reinstall only from Google Play | Everything not backed up |
Our 2020 report said the removal leaves traces in the settings and that a reset or a repair scan is advisable. A normal uninstall removes the app and its page; the leftovers we know about are the permissions, which go with the app. We no longer name a scanner as a required step. The Play Protect scan is the check we advise.
After removal: keep the ads from coming back
After removal
The ads stop with the app. Check that nothing else was added and tidy up what the ads may have touched.
- 1
Charge the phone and wake it
Plug it in, switch the screen off and on. If the blue page still appears, another app is the source; go back to the app list.
- 2
Clear Chrome notification permission
If you tapped an ad that opened a website, open Chrome > three-dot menu > Settings > Notifications and remove sites you do not know. Ad sites often ask to send notifications.
- 3
Reset your advertising ID
Open Settings > Security & privacy > Privacy > Ads and tap Reset advertising ID. The Ads screen is in the picture below.
- 4
Run a Play Protect scan
Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture > Play Protect > Scan. Keep Scan apps with Play Protect turned on.
How to keep ad-supported lock screens off your phone
Install fewer utility apps. A phone does not need a charge booster, a cleaner or a battery saver.
Do
- Install apps from Google Play and read the reviews and the developer name first
- Check the permissions an app asks for; a charger app that wants to draw over other apps needs a reason
- Look for the app's own settings after install and turn off lock-screen or charging features you did not ask for
- Keep Play Protect on, and keep Android and its security updates current
- Say no when an app asks to send notifications and you do not need them
Don't
- Download apps from third-party sites that bundle other apps
- Tap Install or Open on ads shown on the lock screen or in a browser
- Allow a utility app to Display over other apps without a reason
- Rely on a VPN against this: it hides your address on public Wi-Fi and does not check apps
Our 2020 text told readers to pick Advanced or Custom install, which exists on Windows installers and not on Android, so it is gone here. The Android equivalent is the permission list and the app's own settings. Mobile threats are fewer than on Windows, but they exist, and so does adware in apps.
Questions about Android Charging Boost
What is the Android Charging Boost screen?
It is an ad page that an ad-supported app draws over your lock screen while the phone charges or wakes from sleep. It usually shows the time, a charge indicator, a banner ad and a "Slide to unlock" bar.
It is not a program called Charging Boost: battery savers, boosters and chargers make it as a feature. Our 2020 report named DU Battery Saver & Fast Charge, Cheetah Mobile tools, Stopbadapp, WiFi Analyzer, TouchPal 2016, Bestie and Z Camera from forum posts. Treat the list as places to look, not proof.
Is Android Charging Boost a virus?
No, not in itself: it is adware, an unwanted app that makes money from ads. The page does not steal data or lock the phone, and our 2020 report also called it more intrusive than dangerous.
The risk is in the ads, which are not checked closely and can lead to scam sites, malware downloads or rogue surveys, and in the app behind it.
Treat it as a reason to remove one app, not to panic. If your phone shows a payment demand or locks you out, that is a different problem; see our guide to Android ransomware.
How do I find which app shows the charging page?
Tap the gear or menu icon on the page itself: a switch such as DU Quick Charge usually names the app. If it does not, open Settings > Apps > See all apps and look for battery, charger, booster and cleaner apps you do not remember.
Sort the Play Store's Manage list by most recently updated, because the page often starts soon after an install or an update. Also check Display over other apps under Special app access, where apps you do not know should not be on.
Is it against Google's rules for an app to show ads on the lock screen?
Yes, unless the app is a lock screen. Google's Ads policy in the Play Console help says that unless the exclusive purpose of the app is that of a lock screen, apps may not introduce ads or features that monetise the locked display.
We read that on 10 October 2026. Apps still reach phones from other sources, and a store listing is not a guarantee, so the policy does not remove the need to check. If you see the page from a Play Store app, you can report the app from its listing.
How do I remove Android Charging Boost?
Find the app that draws it, switch off its charging feature or uninstall it in Settings > Apps > See all apps. Restart in safe mode if the page blocks you, and turn off its device admin right if Uninstall is grey. Then run a Play Protect scan.
Remove recent battery and cleaner apps one at a time and restart after each. Only if it returns after every suspect app is gone, back up your data and do a factory reset. Our plan above has every menu path.
Does a factory reset remove it?
Yes, a reset removes every installed app, including the one that draws the page. It is the last step, not the first, because you lose everything you did not back up.
Our 2020 report said the removal leaves traces in the settings and advised a reset or a scan; a normal uninstall is enough in most cases. After a reset, restore from your Google backup and reinstall only the apps you need, from Google Play. Skip battery boosters and cleaners this time.
Can ads on the charging page infect my phone?
The ad itself cannot install an app without you, but what it opens can. A tap on an ad can open a store page, a scam site, a malware download page or a rogue survey.
Third-party ads are not monitored properly, and our 2020 report warned that more downloads can follow. Do not tap Install or Open on any ad shown on the lock screen or in a browser. If you tapped one and installed something, remove that app and run a Play Protect scan.
How do I stop this from happening again?
Install fewer utility apps, since a phone does not need a charge booster, cleaner or battery saver. Install from Google Play, read the reviews and the developer name, and check the permissions an app asks for, especially Display over other apps.
Open each new app's settings and turn off lock-screen or charging features you did not ask for. Keep Play Protect on and install the security updates. Do not download apps from third-party sites that bundle other apps.
Why is Boost Diagnostics running on my phone?
We have no test of this and our 2020 report does not mention it. The name looks like a diagnostics component from a carrier or the phone's maker, and it may be harmless. Open Settings > Apps > See all apps, find the app, and read its permissions and the developer name in the app info.
If you do not recognise the publisher or it asks for rights it should not need, such as drawing over other apps, remove it. Do not rely on the name alone, and do not install a cleaner app to find out.
Sources
- Google Play Console Help: Ads policy (lock screen monetisation) (read October 10, 2026)
- Google Account Help: Remove malware or unsafe software (Android) (no longer online) (read October 10, 2026)
- Google Android Help: Use Google Play Protect (no longer online) (read October 10, 2026)
- Google Pixel Phone Help: Find problem apps by rebooting to safe mode (no longer online) (read October 10, 2026)
- Samsung support: How to enable Safe mode on Samsung phones (read October 10, 2026)
- Samsung support: How to remove ads from your Samsung phone's Lock screen (read October 10, 2026)