Android devices have a lot of preinstalled system applications whose definite purpose is not explained by device manufacturers and one such app is PacProcessor.
Users have complained that this app keeps stopping often which can be really annoying. Such issues create doubts about the importance of the app among users.
So, in this article, I’ll explain exactly what is the PacProcessor, what is its purpose, why does it keep stopping, and how to fix this issue.
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What is the PacProcessor App on Android and What Is It Used For?
PacProcessor or Proxy Auto-Configuration Processor is a built-in system app that determines how web browsers, apps, and other user agents can automatically detect the correct proxy server while fetching a website URL. This app is used for detecting the proxy server automatically, assigning apps with their own custom proxy server, and processing PAC files on an Android device.
This system app is preinstalled on almost all Android devices including Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, LG, etc. The app is located in the system path /system/app/PacProcessor/PacProcessor.apk. The package name of the PacProcess app is com.android.pacprocessor. It is related to the ProxyHandler app on Android devices.
A Proxy Server is a relay router that acts as a gateway between the client and the server. When the user makes a request to the Internet while opening a webpage, this request is first sent to the proxy server where the request is evaluated and once it is found to be okay, it is then forwarded to the Internet.
What is PAC File?
PAC or Proxy Auto-Config file is a Javascript text file whose function is to make sure that web browser requests(HTTP, and HTTPS) are forwarded to a proxy server instead of the main destination server.
The PAC file contains specific Javascript parameters that can be modified to select the conditions under which a browser agent can forward traffic to the proxy server.
PAC files can be used to select specific hours of the day when requests are sent to the proxy server, traffic from specific domains, and URLs that should or shouldn’t be relayed through a proxy server.
This file is supported by the most well known web browsers including Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, Microsoft Edge, and some others.
Is PacProcessor Safe or Is It a Virus?
PacProcessor is a safe application and it is not a Virus, Spyware, or Malware. This app doesn’t cause any damage to your device and is not present to spy or sell your data to third parties. It doesn’t have any suspicious behavior.
However, PAC files are subject to criticism because these files provide a greater attack surface that can be exploited by hackers to inject malware or viruses. This is why web browsers instruct users to not open websites that don’t have an SSL certificate(HTTP) and encourage users to visit websites with a proper SSL certificate(HTTPS).
If you’re still not convinced about the security of the PacProcessor app then you can scan it with an Antivirus or Malware detector and you will find that it is not harmful.
PacProcessor Has Stopped Error Message?
The PacProcessor app keeps stopping frequently due to malfunctions or crashes. When it stops working, an error message pops up saying “Unfortunately PacProcessor has stopped” or “PacProcessor has stopped working.”
There are several reasons why the PacProcessor app can stop working:
1. Corrupted or Overloaded Cache Files – If you don’t clear the app cache for a long time the cache files become corrupt. The cache file storage folder has limited storage space so when the size of the cache files becomes more than what could be stored, the cache files become overloaded and cause the app to malfunction which leads to these error messages.
2. Issue With the App – If there is an internal issue with the PacProcessor app related to the custom proxy server then it could stop the app from functioning properly.
3. Firmware issue – This app could also stop working if there are issues with your device’s Firmware. It may also happen if you’re using a Custom Firmware instead of the Stock Firmware.
How to Fix PacProcessor Has Stopped Error Message?
You can fix the “PacProcessor Has Stopped” error by following the methods mentioned below:
(1) Clear PacProcessor App Cache and App Data
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap the Ellipsis icon(three vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
- Tap Show System Apps.
- Find the PacProcessor app from the list and tap on it.
- Tap Storage.
- Tap Clear Cache.
- Tap Clear Data.
The above method is for Samsung users. Huawei users can clear app cache by going to Settings > Apps > Apps > Tap three vertical dots in the upper right corner > Show system processes > PacProcessor > Storage > Clear Cache.
(2) Force Stop the PacProcessor App
- Go to Settings.
- Tap Apps.
- Tap the Ellipsis icon(three vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
- Tap Show System Apps.
- Tap the PacProcessor app.
- Tap Force Stop.
Huawei users can force stop the app by going to Settings > Apps > Apps > Tap three vertical dots in the upper right corner > Show system processes > PacProcessor > Force Stop.
(3) Flash Stock ROM(Firmware)
Flashing the Stock ROM(Firmware) can prevent the app from stopping and get rid of such error messages. This will re-install the software on your device so make sure to backup anything important.
There are two steps involved in this process:
- Download the Stock Firmware files for your Android device from a Firmware file downloading website.
- Flash the downloaded Firmware files using a Firmware Flashing tool.
Samsung users can flash Stock ROM using the Samsung Odin flashing tool whereas other Android users can use the SP Flash tool.
(4) Disable PacProcessor App Using Package Disabler Pro
Package Disabler Pro is a package disabler app that can disable built-in system apps which cannot be disabled normally. Here are the steps to disable this app.
- Download and Install the Package Disabler Pro app on your Android device.
- Search for “PacProcessor” using the Search button in the top bar.
- Select the PacProcessor app and tap Disable.
- Confirm your decision by selecting “Yes.”
Can You Uninstall PacProcessor?
It is possible to uninstall the PacProcessor app using the Android Debug Bridge software or the Titanium Backup application. Uninstalling the app will get rid of the annoying “PacProcessor has stopped” error messages and will remove errors while booting your device.
But, keep in mind that, if you uninstall the PacProcessor app, it won’t be possible to provide a custom proxy server to the web browsers, apps, and other user agents for their process of web access.
We’ve found that uninstalling the app doesn’t affect the performance of the device and there are no issues while connecting to the internet from web browsers and apps.
To uninstall the PacProcessor app, follow any one of the two methods:
1. Uninstall PacProcessor using ADB
ADB allows you to bring up a Unix shell so you can issue commands directly on the Android device. 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 – Run the command adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.android.pacprocessor and wait for a few seconds till you notice the app has been uninstalled from your device.
2. Uninstall PacProcessor Using Titanium Backup
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 Titanium Backup application.
Step 2 – Launch the Titanium Backup application, search for PacProcessor and select this app by tapping on it.
Step 3 – Tap “Un-install” to completely remove the app and delete its data from your device.
What Permissions Does PacProcessor Require?
The PacProcessor app doesn’t require any permissions to function properly on your device. If you check the permissions used by the app you’ll find “No Permissions Required.”
Samsung users can check its permissions by going to Settings > Apps > Show system apps > PacProcessor > Permissions.
Huawei users can check the app’s permissions by going to Settings > Apps > Apps > Show system processes > PacProcessor > Permissions.
KNOX VPN PacProcessor
KNOX VPN PacProcessor is a preinstalled system app on Samsung devices that is used to configure a custom proxy server while using apps and websites to connect to the Internet and handles all the proxy server connections directly from KNOX VPN. This keeps your identity safe by hiding it behind a different IP Address of the VPN or proxy server.
The application package name of the KNOXVPNPacProcessor app is com.knox.vpn.proxyhandler.
KNOX VPN is a Virtual Private Network service built-in into the KNOX software present in Samsung devices. A proxy server can be configured to provide web access to specific apps and URLs but a VPN provides web access to all apps and URLs.
While connecting to the Internet using the KNOX VPN, your IP address is replaced with the IP address of the VPN network similar to a proxy server which also hides the original IP address.
Does PacProcessor Drain The Battery?
PacProcessor is a very small application that doesn’t use cellular data or consume your device’s battery. There is no chance that this app causes battery draining. You can see from the image below that this app has no battery usage.
If you’re seeing heavy battery consumption, it might be caused by any other system app. If you’re using a Samsung device then it could be caused by the KNOX app or any other bloatware like Unified Daemon.
You can monitor the battery usage of the system applications using the preinstalled battery monitoring apps on your device or you can use the AccuBattery app that shows the battery usage of all the apps in your device.