Apps safe to turn off?

[raqball]

Forgive me, but I'm a new user. How do I disable apps as opposed to deleting them? I know how to delete apps I have added, but is it possible with pre-installed apps?

There are a few ways to disable apps but the easiest way is go to

Settings --> Application Manager --> All

Select an Application on the list and you will see if it can be disabled. If it can be just tap the box.

 

[Trigati]

I use Textra and selected it as my Default Application for messaging.

Make sure you have another messaging app set as default and you should then be able to disable it.

Hm, not working on my Note 2 (running 4.4.2). I double checked, and ensured Textra is default on it.

Note 4 just shut down, I'll check it later when I plug it in to charge.

 

[raqball]

Hm, not working on my Note 2 (running 4.4.2). I double checked, and ensured Textra is default on it.

Note 4 just shut down, I'll check it later when I plug it in to charge.

Don't know.. Maybe it's 4.4.4 and / or carrier dependent.

 

[Trigati]

Don't know.. Maybe it's 4.4.4 and / or carrier dependent.

Could be. Both Notes are Sprint. I'll see if the 4 with 4.4.4 (that's a lot of 4s) has the same thing later after it charges and post then.

 

[fragologist]

Here is everything I have turned off with no issues.

That's a whole lotta bloat! I'm on vzw and I thought they were king of bloat but I'm thinking I'm wrong. I appreciate the post though and I will use it as a reference.

I am in the process of making my Note 4 self aware.

 

[B. Diddy]

How u disabled apps that u downloaded lol instgram and Facebook not pre installed lol

Posted via Android Central App

Some devices have apps like that preinstalled. I don't know specifically about AT&T, but it wouldn't be surprising.

Forgive me, but I'm a new user. How do I disable apps as opposed to deleting them? I know how to delete apps I have added, but is it possible with pre-installed apps?

Go to Settings>Apps>All, select the app, and tap Disable or Turn Off (if the button is available). This option will only show if the app is preinstalled and therefore unremovable.

 

[spinalpap]

Agreed. AT&T Seems to have even more bloat than Verizon.

I've always used the turn off a couple at a time method to check on the effect of dialing apps. Usually works ok.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Trigati]

Don't know.. Maybe it's 4.4.4 and / or carrier dependent.

Must be something with Sprint. I can't disable it on my Note 4 at all. Force stop, clear cache, etc., all work, it's just the Turn Off that's, well, turned off. Hopefully it won't be locked down in Lollipop, although I read the Lollipop messenger is nicer.

 

[felloffthetruck]

My Verizon Note 4 is pretty loaded with bloat but I don't think as much as AT&T.

So is it better to just "turn off" or "uninstall updates" on most of these apps?

On my Verizon Note 4 there is only a turn off or uninstall option. I don't see disable anywhere.

 

[hdhuntr]

Turn off will make them show as disabled. Same thing. Ones you can turn off can't be uninstalled. Some you can't do either with.

My Verizon Note 4 is pretty loaded with bloat but I don't think as much as AT&T.

So is it better to just "turn off" or "uninstall updates" on most of these apps?

On my Verizon Note 4 there is only a turn off or uninstall option. I don't see disable anywhere.

 

[B. Diddy]

So is it better to just "turn off" or "uninstall updates" on most of these apps?

Disabling/turning off an app that has been updated will automatically uninstall the updates prior to disabling.

 

[PaulaO]

Must be something with Sprint. I can't disable it on my Note 4 at all. Force stop, clear cache, etc., all work, it's just the Turn Off that's, well, turned off. Hopefully it won't be locked down in Lollipop, although I read the Lollipop messenger is nicer.

Yeah, must be a Sprint thing. I can't do it either. We'll see what happens with Lollipop. But I'm betting they still block stuff like that.

 

[MarLa Salagantin]

We have the same phone is it okay to disable google play music? If I did what would be happen ? I noticed when I disable this app there is no uninstall updates shown above and its disappear I don't know what happened, Im curious.. I hope you have any idea thanks anyway..

 

[dedhedAndy]

We have the same phone is it okay to disable google play music? If I did what would be happen ? I noticed when I disable this app there is no uninstall updates shown above and its disappear I don't know what happened, Im curious.. I hope you have any idea thanks anyway..

I don't use Google play music. I've had it disabled since day one. It's fine to disable it.

Posted via Galaxy Note 4

 

[Mannikon]

Certainly is a lot of provider bloatware! That will be in addition to all the stuff added by Samsung and Google!
I'm in the UK using Three as a provider and Three only added one app to check the account and that can be disabled easily. Nonetheless I have 23 Samsung and Google apps currently disabled. Not surprising that users like to root their phones.