Can't disable apps?

[Kracov]

I can't seem to disable many apps, whether it's a stock app or an app I downloaded from the play store. For example, when I go to an app's info, there's only "force stop" and "uninstall" at the top. Dropbox can't be disabled, and other apps I downloaded. But some stock apps can be disabled like Cloud Print, Gmail, etc. Is this a feature rather than a bug? Kind of annoying that I can't disable battery-eating apps and only enable them when I need them.

 

[burrzoo]

I'm not sure about disabling but if you go into settings / Device Care / Battery /Settings (3-dot menu upper right hand, in this battery section) & under power management tap on Sleeping Apps where you can select apps that will never be allowed to run in the background unless you are using them.
Hopes this helps.

 

[ManiacJoe]

This is normal.
If you installed the app, your options are "force stop" and "uninstall".
If the app was pre-installed for you, your options are "force stop" and "disable" since you cannot uninstall that which you did not install.

Being able to disable an app instead of uninstalling it would be nice though.

 

[MUK3SHJAT]

It happens with many apps. you simply can not disable them..
You will have to root device if you want them to disable or uninstall, which is risky and lot hassle.

 

[nonyabizness]

If you installed the app, your options are "force stop" and "uninstall".
If the app was pre-installed for you, your options are "force stop" and "disable" since you cannot uninstall that which you did not install.

Being able to disable an app instead of uninstalling it would be nice though.

This is false. You can disable AND uninstall that which you did not install by rooting or ADB since this is bloatware and installed WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Being able to actually have a feasible response would be nice though!

 

[B. Diddy]

This is false. You can disable AND uninstall that which you did not install by rooting or ADB since this is bloatware and installed WITHOUT PERMISSION.

Being able to actually have a feasible response would be nice though!

Welcome to Android Central! Not all devices have a root exploit, so this may not be feasible for everyone. In addition, rooting to uninstall a preinstalled app runs the risk of getting rid of something that might be necessary for the system to run correctly -- the user needs to be absolutely sure it can be removed safely. On top of that, rooting a phone can render it useless for certain apps (primarily those that are financially sensitive, like banking apps).

The decision to include preinstalled apps is up to the manufacturer and the carrier (if it's a carrier-locked phone). They don't need the user's permission to do this (but if you're talking about adding additional system apps after purchase, that's almost certainly covered in the Terms of Service that the user agreed to upon setup, most likely not reading the fine print as we all don't). The user has the freedom to ditch that manufacturer or carrier and switch to a different one that doesn't include it.

ManiacJoe's response was perfectly valid. No need for snark.