Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ users frequently complain about an error caused by the DQA app. If you’re facing the same error and looking for a fix then you have come to the right place. But first, what is the DQA app?
DQA or Device Quality Agent is a preinstalled system application on Samsung Android devices that monitors the quality of the Wi-Fi network connections. It allows connections to trusted Wi-Fi networks and blocks connections to untrusted Wi-Fi networks.
In this article, I’ll explain more about DQA, why does it keep stopping, and how to fix this error.
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What is DQA Used For?
DQA app is a built-in system application on Samsung devices that uses Listening Ports to gather information about service network requests to monitor the quality of your Wi-Fi connection and ensures that your device doesn’t connect to untrusted Wi-Fi networks by blocking access to them.
A Listening Port is a Network Port that listens or waits on applications and processes for answering the network request call and opens or closes the port based on the answer received. When a port is Open, the application or service can establish a connection to the port, and the exchange of data packets occurs and when it’s closed the data connection isn’t established.
When you connect to a Wi-Fi network, the DQA app monitors if the Listening Port can answer the network service request. If the request is answered, the Listening Port allows your device to establish a successful network connection by opening the port. If the network service request isn’t answered then the port is closed and you cannot connect to the Wi-Fi network.
The application package name of the DQA app is com.samsung.android.dqagent. As you can see from the package name, this app is developed by Samsung and is only present in Samsung devices.
DQA Has Stopped Error Message?
A lot of Samsung users have faced this issue where the DQA app stops working. When you turn on your Wi-Fi and try to connect to a Wi-Fi network, an error message pops up showing “DQA has stopped.”
Even if you try to close this pop up it keeps appearing and doesn’t allow you to connect to a Wi-Fi network. This error is mostly seen on Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ devices with Verizon and T-Mobile network carriers but some AT&T users have also encountered this issue.
This issue can be really frustrating because you cannot use your Wi-Fi network to connect to the Internet as the error message pop us frequently making it impossible to use your device.
Samsung has acknowledged this issue and released an Over-The-Air(OTA) update to fix this. The name of this update is Device Quality Agent update. You can download this update to fix this issue. I have also mentioned some other solutions to fix the issue in the next section.
How to Fix DQA Has Stopped Error Message?
You can fix this error message using the solutions mentioned below.
1. Download Device Quality Agent OTA Update
Samsung released a Device Quality Agent OTA Update that fixes the “DQA has stopped” error message for all carrier networks and Samsung models. The update was first released for Verizon and T-Mobile networks and the update for AT&T came out later.
The Device Quality Agent OTA Update has a size of 943.29 KB. When you see the DQA update notification, just tap on the “UPDATE” button to download and install the update. Your device might reboot once the update is installed.
If you accidentally tapped on the “DECLINE” button then don’t worry because Samsung will show the update notification again after 24 hours. If you didn’t get the update notification after 24 hours, turn off your device and turn it back on.
Downloading the DQA update will definitely fix the error message but in case it doesn’t, you can try the other solutions mentioned below.
2. Force Stop the DQA App
Force Stopping the app usually stops error messages from occurring. Follow the steps below to Force Stop the DQA app.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap on the Ellipsis icon(three vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
- Tap Show System Apps.
- Find the DQA app from the list and tap on it.
- Tap on the Force Stop button.
3. Clear DQA App Cache
If the error message is appearing due to corrupted or overloaded cache files then clearing the app cache can fix the problem.
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap on the Ellipsis icon(three vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
- Tap Show System Apps.
- Find the DQA app from the list and tap on it.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap on the Clear Cache button.
4. Disable High Performance Mode
If the battery on your Samsung device is set to High performance, you need to change this to Optimised mode. Here are the steps to do this.
- Open Settings.
- Tap Device Care.
- Tap Battery.
- Tap Power mode.
- Tap Optimised.
5. Wipe Cache Partition
Wiping the Cache Partition removes all the temporary cache files but doesn’t erase app data. This can also fix the error message from reappearing.
- Turn off your Samsung Android device.
- Press and hold the Power button, Volume Up key and Bixby key(button below Volume down key) together to boot your device in Recovery Mode.
- Press the Volume Down key several times to navigate below till you find the “Wipe Cache Partition” option and then press the Power button to select it.
- Press Volume Down key to highlight “Yes” and press the Power button to select it.
- Wait for the process to complete. Once completed, the “Reboot System now” option will be highlighted and you have to press the Power button to reboot your device.
6. Turn Off Wi-Fi
The “DQA has stopped” error message appears only when you turn on your Wi-Fi so turning off the Wi-Fi will get rid of the message.
If you don’t use Wi-Fi to connect to the Internet then keep your Wi-Fi turned off and use your cellular data instead. This makes sure the error message doesn’t keep appearing.
7. Use a Package Disabler App To Disable the DQA App
Since DQA is a system application, you cannot disable this app easily. You’ll require a Package Disabler app like Service Disabler or BK Package Disabler.
Service Disabler is a Package Disabler app that allows you to disable selected system applications that cannot be disabled normally. Here are the steps to disable the DQA app.
- Download and Install the Service Disabler app on your Samsung device.
- Tap on the Search button on the top bar and search for “DQA“.
- Select the DQA app and tap on the Disable button.
- Confirm your decision by selecting “OK” or “Yes”.
Is DQA Safe or Is It a Virus?
DQA is a safe application and it is not some form of virus, malware, or spyware. It doesn’t cause any harm to your device and doesn’t spy on or sell your data to other parties.
This app frequently keeps stopping so people think it might be bloatware but that’s not true. DQA is an important system application that monitors your Wi-Fi connects and blocks untrusted Wi-Fi networks. It is not bloatware.
If you aren’t sure about this, you can scan this app using an Antivirus or a Malware detector app like Malwarebytes.
Why Does DQA Use Mobile Data?
DQA uses cellular data to check if the Wi-Fi networks can safely establish a TCP/IP data connection. A successful TCP/IP connection allows your device to connect to the Internet for sending and receiving data packets.
As mentioned earlier, DQA monitors your Wi-Fi connections. To monitor these Wi-Fi connections, the DQA system app requires Internet access which is provided by your mobile data.
DQA only uses your cellular data when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. If you turn off your Wi-Fi, this app won’t use your cellular data.
What Permissions Does DQA Require?
The DQA system app doesn’t require any permissions.
You can check the Permissions used by this app by going to Settings > Apps > Tap on Ellipsis icon (three vertical dots) in top right corner > Show System Apps > DQA > Permissions.
You will see “No Permissions required” written under the Permissions section of the DQA app.
Can I Uninstall DQA?
Yes, you can uninstall DQA using the Android Debug Bridge(ADB) software or the System App Remover application. Since DQA is a system application, you cannot uninstall it the same way you uninstall third-party apps.
The ADB method requires you to connect your device to a Windows PC and run a particular ADB command. The System App Remover method requires you to root your Android device. Both methods are mentioned in the next section.
Uninstalling the DQA system app isn’t recommended because it monitors your Wi-Fi connections and removing it won’t protect your device from connecting to an untrusted Wi-Fi network. These networks can be used by hackers to steal your personal information.
How to Uninstall DQA?
You can uninstall the DQA system app using ADB or System App Remover application. Both methods are mentioned below in detail.
1. Uninstall DQA using ADB
ADB allows you to bring up a Unix shell so you can issue commands directly on the Android device. You can use it to install, uninstall, debug and disable apps. You’ll need a Windows PC to use ADB.
Step 1 – Go to Settings > System > About phone.
Step 2 – Tap on the Build number 7 times to activate Developer Options.
Step 3 – Go back to the main Settings menu and tap on Developer Options to open it.
Step 4 – Enable USB debugging by tapping on it.
Step 5 – Download ADB on your PC.
Step 6 – Extract the ZIP file into a folder.
Step 7 – After extracting the ZIP file, open that folder.
Step 8 – Press and hold the shift button and right-click in a blank area.
Step 9 – Click on “Open Powershell window here.”
Step 10 – Enter the command adb devices
Step 11 – Connect your Android device to the PC using a USB data cable.
Step 12 – Type the command adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.samsung.android.dqagent and press Enter to run this command. Wait for a few seconds and you’ll notice the app has been uninstalled from your device.
2. Uninstall DQA Using System App Remover
This method requires you to gain root access to your device. If you don’t know how to root your Android device then check our Android Rooting guide. After gaining root access follow the steps below to uninstall this system app.
Step 1 – Download and install the System App Remover application.
Step 2 – Launch the System App Remover application, search for DQA and select it by tapping on the checkbox next to it.
Step 3 – Tap on the Uninstall button to completely uninstall the app and delete its data.
Conclusion
DQA is a built-in system application that monitors the quality of Wi-Fi connections and blocks network connections from untrusted Wi-Fi networks. It is a safe application and is not some sort of virus, malware, or bloatware.
This app keeps stopping every now and then and an error message appears “DQA has stopped.” You can fix this error by downloading the Device Quality Agent OTA update provided by Samsung. You can also try the other solutions mentioned in this article.