Weird Dex issue on Samsung S23FE

[CurtisCS]

Hi... Maybe third time posting is a charm. My Samsung Dex is not working properly on my S23FE phone. When I first got the phone, it functioned as advertised, allowing the access to use the phone as a touchpad and navigate the screen as I would any computer. However, after a few days, it only allowed functions akin to screen monitoring. I can still use it to view streaming videos, which is my primary application. However I would like to restore the original functionality. When I tap on the Dex icon in the quick settings menu, I get no response, it's just highlighted as I press. When I try to select decks in connected devices, I get the message no apps can perform this action. Any thoughts? Thanks.

[LongHiker]

@CurtisCS Try booting into safe mode. If Dex works properly while booted in safe mode, then the issue is caused by a conflict with a 3rd party app. 

To boot in safe mode, https://www.samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS00062983/ 

[CurtisCS]

Thanks, tried that before. However my phone refuses to go into safe mode always just reboots to regular startup.

[LongHiker]

@CurtisCS Did you try both ways for getting into safe mode? 

[CurtisCS]

Yes, as well as trying Samsung chat support, which was useless.

[ricketypumpkin]

You are in screen Casting mode instead of Dex mode. Very easy to change the default to mirroring your display instead of using wireless Dex. Just pull down the notification shade all the way then hit the edit button for your QS toggles, and add Dex QS toggle.
It will always trigger Dex only and very accessible.

[CurtisCS]

Screencasting is not active, as I have no smart devices to view on. I'm hardwired directly to HDMI input on my non- Smart TV

[ricketypumpkin]

Alternatively you can start Dex through -Settings -- connected devices then at the bottom is Samsung Dex. Right underneath that is smart view which is what I'm assuming is causing your problem because I did it myself when I first got my S24 Ultra. It's extremely easy too accidentally set your phone to default to Miracast or screen mirroring instead of Dex.

[CurtisCS]

Thanks for the reply. Whenever I try to access dex on the QS screen or connected devices, I get no response. The icon on the QS screen lightens visually, but tapping or holding has no effect. Nothing happens. Same when I select dex in connected devices... Just get the error message no apps can perform this function. I tried downloading updated APKs, but none of them seem to install correctly. Kind of at a standstill here!

[ricketypumpkin]

If you're that far away from having the default, system level access function of Dex, I'd skip all the extra attempts at troubleshooting and factory reset after only backing up everything EXCEPT any app data. You will only have to reinstall (cautiously) the apps you want.
From your reply, if your system UI can't even find the correct folder in the root /data/data/apps which is reserved for apps that are system level only or the apps that cannot be manually deleted, you somehow managed to download something that had elevated permissions and either altered, moved or deleted all together the folder in which Dex resides.
Unless you have root access with an international model, or you are well versed in ADB, you are not going to restore the feature back without a factory reset or Odin flash, since we only get locked bootloaders in the US.