Web Protection keeps turning off on Android? Here’s what to do (2024)

This article guides you on how to prevent Bitdefender Mobile Security’s Web Protection feature from constantly being disabled on some Android phones and tablets. Sometimes, even after manually reactivating Web Protection, it turns itself off shortly afterward. When this happens, Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android notifies you that « Web Protection was disabled by another service. »

Why is Web Protection constantly getting disabled?

The Web Protection feature in Bitdefender Mobile Security for Android keeps turning off because the device is using Power Saving mode to save battery, which stops the running apps.

A large part of the bonus features of smartphones revolves around battery life and performance optimization. It is for this reason that vendors are packing battery-saving features with each Android release. But some optimization mechanisms are too aggressive and kill useful background apps when the screen turns off to maximize your smartphone’s battery life. This impacts most of the apps that run in the background. Most affected are 3rd party alarm clocks, automation apps, and especially apps that need to work even when you are not actively using your smartphone. The latter category also includes Bitdefender’s Web Protection. Web Protection loses the Accessibility permission required to function properly when the Android system force stops background applications.

As a result, an alert has been implemented to warn users that another service has disabled Web Security and it needs to be re-enabled.

How to enable Bitdefender’s Web Protection

As seen above, the issue is caused by a system optimization mechanism that removes the permission required by Web Protection. Solving it can be different depending on the device. You can either look for battery optimization and exclude (remove) the Bitdefender Mobile Security app, or look for some rules that can be handled at device-level for managing apps & prioritizing their background functionality or both.

Step 1 – Exclude Bitdefender from Battery saving settings

The exclusions steps may vary depending on the phone/tablet brand.

ⓘ Note: If you can’t find instructions specific to your smartphone brand or Android version in the list below, please look look in your device’s battery settings or power saving settings for a method to exclude the Bitdefender app from being closed off, so you can keep Web Protection enabled at all times.

As a last resort, consider contacting the phone manufacturer for further guidance and alternative solutions.

Asus

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Asus device, then tap Power management →Auto-start Manager.
On the Downloaded tab, tap Deny next to the Bitdefender Mobile Security app to change this setting to Allow.
TapAllowto confirm the change.
Open the Mobile Manager app, then tap PowerMaster → Battery-saving options / Settings.
Disable these two options:

- Clean up in suspend
- Auto deny apps from auto-starting

HTC

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your HTC device, then tap Power → Battery optimization →Not optimized → All apps to see a complete list of apps.
Tap the Bitdefender Mobile Security app and select Don’t optimize → Done.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues, consider exploring the solutions available on the HTC website.

Huawei

Choose according to your Huawei EMUI version. Go to Settings → About Phone to find your EMUI version.

Lenovo

Do one of the following depending on the navigation interface of your Lenovo model:

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Lenovo device.
SelectBackground app management.
Untick the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Lenovo device and select Apps.
Choose the Bitdefender Mobile Security, then tap Battery.
DisableBattery optimization.

OpenAdvanced Settingsand selectBattery.
TapBattery Optimization.
Tap the Bitdefender Mobile Security app and select Off.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues, enable thepadlock icon in the right top corner of the Bitdefender Mobile Security app, in the overview of running apps. If you swipe it away, Bitdefender’s background process will be turned off.

Meizu

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Meizu device and select Advanced Settings → Battery manager → Power plan→ set toPerformance.
Go back to Battery manager →Protected apps → tick the Bitdefender Mobile Security app as Protected.
Enter Device Settings → Apps → select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app → Battery → enable Power-intensive promptandKeep running after screen off.

Nokia

Go to System Settings ⚙︎ on your Nokia device.
TapApps, then select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.
TapBatteryand selectDon’t optimize.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues, please do the following:

Go toSettings ⚙︎ on your Nokia device and select Battery.
Disable Battery Saver.
Go toPhone settings → Apps → See all apps.
Tap the right top corner menu → Show system.
Find the Power saver app in the list, select it and tap Force close.

Alternative solutions for tech-savvy users that allow background apps to run on Nokia smartphones can be found here.

OnePlus

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your OnePlus device and tap Battery → Battery optimization.
Find the Bitdefender Mobile Security app in the list, select it and select Don’t optimize.
Go back to Settings ⚙︎ and tap Apps → Gear icon → Special Access → turn off Battery optimization.
Start your Bitdefender Mobile Security app, then swipe up and hold to view recent apps.
Long press anywhere on the window and tap theLock button in the upper right corner of the Bitdefender app. The Bitdefender Mobile Security app will have the closed padlock icon.
Search for App auto-launch in device Settings ⚙︎ and set the slider to off for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app. The “App auto-launch” feature is only available on certain OnePlus models. If it does not show up in the search results, continue with the next step.
Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your OnePlus device and tap Battery → Battery optimization.
Tap the menu ⋮ (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner, then select Advanced optimization / Enhanced optimization.
Disable these two options:

- Deep optimization / Adaptive Battery
- Sleep standby optimization

Oppo

Start your Bitdefender Mobile Security app.
Lock the Bitdefender app in the background by following these steps.
Open the Tools folder on your home screen and go to Phone Manager → App management → select Bitdefender Mobile Security in the list of apps →Battery usage → select the option Run in Background.
Go back to Phone Manager and tap Privacy Permissions → Startup Manager → set the slider to on for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app so that it turns green.
Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Oppo device and select Battery → Power plan → set the slider to off so that it turns white for Power Saving and Smart Power Saver.

Samsung

Choose according to your Android version. How can I check what version of Android I have on my Samsung device?

Android version 13

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Apps.
Select Bitdefender Security in the list of apps and disable Pause app activity if unused.
Go back to Settings ⚙︎ → Apps → Bitdefender Security → tap Battery, then choose Unrestricted.
Reopen Settings ⚙︎ then tap Battery and device care → Battery →Background usage limits → disable the option Put unused apps to sleep.
Once again, reopen Settings ⚙︎ and tap Battery and device care→Battery → More battery Settings→ disable Adaptive battery.
Return to Settings ⚙︎ then tap → Battery and device care → Auto-optimization→ disable Restart when needed.

Android version 12

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Apps.
Select Bitdefender Security in the list of apps.
Scroll down and tap Battery, then select Unrestricted.

Android version 11

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Battery and device care.
TapBattery, then selectBackground usage limits.
TapNever sleeping apps.
Tap the plus icon ⊕ in the top-right corner, then select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.
TapAddto add the app to the list.

Android version 10

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Device care.
TapBattery, then selectApp power management.
TapApps that won’t be put to sleep, then select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.
TapDoneto confirm.

Android version 9

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Apps.
Tap the menu ⋮ (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner, then selectSpecial access.
SelectOptimize battery usage, then tap the drop-down menu at the top of the screen and selectAll.
Set the slider to off for Bitdefender Mobile Security so that it turns white.

Android version 8 and earlier

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Samsung device and tap Device maintenance.
Tap Battery, then scroll down and select Unmonitored apps.
TapAdd apps, then select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app. Tap Doneto confirm.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues, consider exploring these advanced solutions.

Sony

Sony Xperia, Android 11

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Sony device → Apps & Notifications → Special App access → Power-saving feature.
Select All Apps from the drop-down menu saying Not Optimized.
Select the Bitdefender Security app, then select Don’t optimize.

most Sony smartphones

Open your deviceSettings ⚙︎ and tap Battery.
Tap the menu ⋮ (three vertical dots) in the top-right corner, then select Battery optimizationorPower saving exceptions.
Tap theApps tab and tick the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues consider exploring these advanced solutions.

Vivo

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Vivo device → Battery → High Background Power Consumption → set the slider to on for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app so that it turns blue.
Go back to Settings ⚙︎ → More Settings → Permission Management → Autostart → set the slider to on for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app so that it turns blue.
Start your Bitdefender Mobile Security app.
Swipe up on your home screen while the Bitdefender app is open, then swipe the app icon down.
Tap the lock icon that appears to pin the Bitdefender app to the taskbar and prevent it from being stopped.

Wiko

Open Phone Assist → Power Saver → turn off the Eco Mode.
Tap Optimized mode.
Set the slider to off for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app so that it turns gray. Or disable Optimized mode.
Go back and tap Advanced settings & tips → White-list apps background.
Set the slider to on for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app so that it turns green.

Additional solutions

If you continue to experience issues, dial the code *#*#86569726#*#* then uncheck Low RAM Enable and check Background enable. Repeat this operation each time you restart the phone.

Xiaomi

Choose according to your MiUI version. Go to Settings → About Phone to find your MiUIversion.

MiUI 14

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Xiaomi device.
Tap Battery → Battery → App battery saver.
Select the Bitdefender Security app, then choose No restrictions.

MiUI 13

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Xiaomi device.
Tap My Device → All Features → tap multiple times on MiUI version until you see the message You are a developer now.
Go back toSettings→ Additional settings → Developer options → disable Turn on MiUI optimization.

MiUI 12

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Xiaomi device.
Tap Privacy → Manage → Special app access → Battery Optimization.
Select All apps from the top ribbon, then choose Bitdefender Security and select Don’t optimize.

MiUI 11

Go to Settings ⚙︎ on your Xiaomi device.
Tap Apps → Manage apps → Bitdefender Security.
Make sure Autostart is enabled.
TapOther permissions and enable the following permissions:

- Show on lock screen
- Display pop-up window
- Display pop-up windows while running in the background

5. Tap the ← back arrow, then tap Battery Saver and choose No restrictions.

MiUI 10 & 9

Open either Settings ⚙︎ →Installed apps, or App Management.
Tap the Bitdefender Security app and ensure Autostart is enabled.
Tap Other permissions.
Ensure Show on lock screen and Start in background are enabled.
Tap the ← back arrow, then tap Battery Saver and select No restrictions.

MiUI 8

Open either Settings ⚙︎ →Installed apps, or App Management.
Tap your Bitdefender Security app, then select Other permissions.
EnsureShow on lock screenandStart in backgroundare enabled.
Return to your main deviceSettingsscreen.
SelectBattery → Manage apps battery usage.
TapChoose apps, select the Bitdefender Mobile Security app, then choose No restrictions.

Step 2 – Grant Accessibility permission to the Bitdefender Mobile Security app

After removing Bitdefender from your battery-saving settings, you need to restore the Accessibility permission for Web Protection to work. To reactivate the Accessibility permission:

Go to Settings ⚙︎on your Android device.
Open the Accessibility section.
Select Bitdefender Mobile Security in the list of downloaded apps.

Set the Accessibility permission slider to ON for the Bitdefender Mobile Security app.

Tap Allow – if prompted – to confirm the change. The Accessibility service is required for scanning purposes.

Step 3 – Turn back ON the Web Protection feature

Finally, turn back on the Web Protection feature so that the Bitdefender Mobile Security app can scan and block dangerous websites accessed in browsers.

After implementing all of the steps provided in this guide, Web Protection should no longer turn off on your Android device.