ANSWERED How to stop Eddie notification popup

[Dia 2]

I just updated the android app to the 10-16-24 update to v320. It introduced a handful of problems.

I was able to fix most of the problems with an uninstall/reinstall then changing some default settings (like turning off ipv6) but there's one thing that I can't get to stop. 

Every time I go into Eddie it wants me to enable notifications on my phone. I never got this popup before the v320 update. I cannot figure out how to get it to stop asking me to enable notifications. 

I cannot allow notifications for Eddie on my phone because my phone will not allow it. How do I get Eddie to stop asking me to allow notifications?? 

[Staff 9973]

@Dia

Hello!

Are you able to turn on the Allow notifications switch in the screenshot you sent us? By turning it on the problem should be resolved. Can you tell us the brand, model and exact system version of your device?

Kind regards
 

[Dia 2]

I'm working a double shift today. I'll post more info tomorrow thx. 

[Dia 2]

OK. I figured out what the problem is.

First I tried the OpenVPN app just to see if it did the same thing and it didn't. It had no problem allowing notifications.  It actually didn't even ask, it simply allowed notifications when the app was installed.  I went into my phone's Settings then into App Notifications and saw that OpenVPN was, indeed, allowed.  Then I scrolled up to Eddie and saw that it was not allowed but from this screen I was able to allow it with no problems.

The problem was the message within Eddie telling me to enable notifications.  Specifically, the choice to open notification settings with the options of Yes or No.  When I click Yes it takes me to a screen, also included in the first post, that I have no idea how to get to manually.  The Eddie Notifications screen in the first post is not what the notifications screen looks like on my phone and that's probably why it would not allow me to enable notifications from that location.  The actual notification screen on my phone looks like the picture here and it allowed me to enable notifications with no problems from that location.  After allowing notifications the popup in Eddie stopped appearing.  So the notification popup in Eddie asking if you want to open the notification settings is not opening the proper location, at least on my device.

This has led to another problem however.  I have had Persistent Notifications disabled for years because I do not require two different icons at the top of my phone letting me know that I'm connected to a VPN.  The key icon is sufficient for this.  I do not need a cloud icon as well telling me the same thing.  However; since the latest update if Persistent Notifications is turned off Eddie will freeze up, go unresponsive, and must be force closed within less than two minutes after opening it.  Over the past 24 hours I have tried this more than two dozen times and every time Persistent Notifications is disabled Eddie freezes up almost immediately.  With Persistent Notifications enabled Eddie does not freeze up ever so far.

How can I disable Persistent Notifications to get rid of the redundant second icon at the top of the phone without Eddie freezing up?

Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Android 13

[Staff 9973]

Hello!

We're glad to know that the problem is resolved!
 

26 minutes ago, Dia said:

When I click Yes it takes me to a screen, also included in the first post, that I have no idea how to get to manually.

Yes, the idea of Google Android designers was to bring you to the proper setting option(s) directly without forcing you to search for it on the whole sea of settings. Frankly we think this is a good idea.
 

26 minutes ago, Dia said:

The Eddie Notifications screen in the first post is not what the notifications screen looks like on my phone

It's not an Eddie screen, you only see Android settings. If you see discrepancies in the settings, they are not due to Eddie. You could have a different setting manager or who knows, but Eddie simply doesn't have Android setting screens.
 

Quote

I have had Persistent Notifications disabled for years because I do not require two different icons at the top of my phone letting me know that I'm connected to a VPN. 

This is a grave danger and a mistake because without a persistent notification the VPN connection established by any app through the VPN API can be interrupted under many circumstances, so you will have traffic leaks, potentially (for sure, sooner or later). Note how "Always on VPN" and "Block traffic if VPN is inactive", two Android settings, are in synergy with the notification and leaks prevention. You don't have two different icons with the same meaning, each icon has its different and unique role.
 

26 minutes ago, Dia said:

if Persistent Notifications is turned off Eddie will freeze up, go unresponsive, and must be force closed within less than two minutes after opening it.

Without persistent notification you shouldn't use a VPN app at all because you may lose the connection anytime. However, and of course, Eddie should not crash, and this matter will be investigated as soon as we can see your logcat. For this purpose please send us a report when the problem occurs. To do so, open the "Log" view, tap the paper plane icon and send us the link that Eddie will give you back. For privacy reasons please send it through a ticket by clicking "Contact us" from our web site or by writing to support@airvpn.org

Kind regards

 

[Dia 2]

Isn't the key icon a persistent notification?  It appears when connected to a VPN server and goes away when disconnected from a VPN server, just like the cloud icon.  If they don't do the same thing then what is the difference and unique role of each icon?  I ask because the OpenVPN app only uses the key icon.  It does not require a second icon.

I'll get the log files to you as soon as I can.  Hopefully tonight when I get home.

[Staff 9973]

14 hours ago, Dia said:

Isn't the key icon a persistent notification?  It appears when connected to a VPN server and goes away when disconnected from a VPN server, just like the cloud icon.  If they don't do the same thing then what is the difference and unique role of each icon?  I ask because the OpenVPN app only uses the key icon.  It does not require a second icon.

Hello!

The key icon is a persistent notification by Android (and not by Eddie) showing a locked to a specific network traffic status. For example you may have the key icon even when a VPN tunnel is inactive but "Always on VPN" and "Block traffic if VPN is inactive" are enabled for Eddie, due to the integration of Eddie with Android's notification system.

The Eddie app's persistent notification icon (a cloud in a circle) appears when the VPN tunnel is up and offers the additional comfort to stabilize the VPN, see at a glance stats, disconnect, and (for OpenVPN) pause and resume the tunnel. Note that Android 7 and older versions don't have the quick tile buttons.

An additional clarification about "OpenVPN for Android" app you mention and Eddie. Android enables OpenVPN for Android notifications automatically according to a legacy behavior for all apps built with SDK < Android 13. The behavior on apps built with SDK >= Android 13 (like Eddie 3.2.0) is different, notification authorization must be explicitly enabled by the user. Since August the 31st, it is mandatory to build an application with Android 14 SDK to have it accepted (even as an update) on the Google Play Store.
 

14 hours ago, Dia said:

I'll get the log files to you as soon as I can.  Hopefully tonight when I get home.

Thank you!

Kind regards

[Dia 2]

OK I sent the report.  After turning off Persistent Notifications for testing Eddie froze up as expected right around the 1 minute time frame then continued to give error messages until Persistent Notifications was enabled again.

 

[Staff 9973]

9 hours ago, Dia said:

OK I sent the report. 

Thank you again! The issue has been addressed, as VPN apps must not offer anymore the option to disable persistent notification. You will see very soon an Eddie 3.2.1 Release Candidate.

Kind regards
 

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

You can have persistent notifications which are not shown in the bar, you just need to minimize the respective notification channel or set it to low importance.

[Staff 9973]

@Dia

Hello!

Eddie Android 3.2.1 Release Candidate 1 is available and the bug you reported has been addressed. Please feel free to test and verify via side load. Direct link:
https://eddie.website/repository/Android/3.2.1-RC1/EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk

SHA-256 checksum:

$ sha256sum EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk  
105abd538a1086722132b487323d8dd62d2892e55f2bd89713f9166dfaeac697  EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk

Kind regards
 

[Dia 2]

On 10/26/2024 at 11:59 AM, OpenSourcerer said:

You can have persistent notifications which are not shown in the bar, you just need to minimize the respective notification channel or set it to low importance.

How do you do that? When I long press the notification my only option is to turn off the notification. There's nothing about importance levels.

[Dia 2]

8 hours ago, Staff said:

@Dia

Hello!

Eddie Android 3.2.1 Release Candidate 1 is available and the bug you reported has been addressed. Please feel free to test and verify via side load. Direct link:
https://eddie.website/repository/Android/3.2.1-RC1/EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk

SHA-256 checksum:

$ sha256sum EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk  
105abd538a1086722132b487323d8dd62d2892e55f2bd89713f9166dfaeac697  EddieAndroid-3.2.1-RC1.apk

Kind regards
 

Seems to be working OK so far.

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

3 hours ago, Dia said:

How do you do that? When I long press the notification my only option is to turn off the notification. There's nothing about importance levels.

Long press the notification, then tap the gear to switch to the notification settings. Tap on the highlighted channel and change the setting from Default to Silent. In the settings below it, select Minimize.

[Dia 2]

33 minutes ago, OpenSourcerer said:

Long press the notification, then tap the gear to switch to the notification settings. Tap on the highlighted channel and change the setting from Default to Silent. In the settings below it, select Minimize.

What version of android are you using? I don't have those options with 13 but I was able to figure it out regardless with your instructions. Thx.

[OpenSourcerer 1435]

LineageOS 21 which is based on Android 14, but I had this on 13 as well. Could be a simple manufacturer difference, as is the norm with Android.