Solved New phone, usual dread as bloatware installs

[James Android Phone]

Hello folks,

I dread buying a new phone as the up-time required to figure out all the new unneeded applications increases year on year.

Purchased a new Samsung which looks great but starts off by installing recommended apps, followed several blog posts as it appears to be common complaint but none of the suggestions have worked so far, these include Google Play settings, auto download, and security permissions.

My situation is compounded by only having access to 4G network, no WiFi.

Ideally I would like a basic phone as purchased without all of the well-being, health and so on apps drawing on resources - still within window to return and buy something else not too basic as still need my own apps like banking.

Cheers fro any pointers

 

[Laura Knotek]

Package Disabler Pro will do what you're requesting. https://www.packagedisabler.com/

 

[mustang7757]

I'm with Laura on package disabler pro

 

[B. Diddy]

Did you get the phone directly from a carrier, or completely unlocked ("carrier-agnostic")? If it's directly from a carrier, then it might come with annoying bloatware installers preloaded. Verizon has Verizon App Manager (https://www.androidpolice.com/what-is-verizon-app-manager-why-does-it-keep-installing-apps/) and T-Mobile has AppManager (https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-appselector). I'm not sure if AT&T has one, but I'm guessing it does, and I'm sure other major carriers around the world as well as MVNOs have their own bloatware installers.

I think you can uninstall these bloatware installers, so try to find them in the Settings>Apps list (but you'll have to turn on the Show System Apps option) and see if you can uninstall them there.

 

[James Android Phone]

Package Disabler Pro will do what you're requesting. https://www.packagedisabler.com/

Thanks Laura,

I spent sometime last night disabling most of the Samsung apps, option to uninstall was not available.

This seems to have worked although I would prefer to uninstall if possible, I noticed on the Package disabler it only disables rather than removal.

I may try and hone my tech skills and root the device to allow full control, I feel more confident with this approach having recently switched to Linux the terminology (root access) makes sense now.

 

[James Android Phone]

Did you get the phone directly from a carrier, or completely unlocked ("carrier-agnostic")? If it's directly from a carrier, then it might come with annoying bloatware installers preloaded. Verizon has Verizon App Manager (https://www.androidpolice.com/what-is-verizon-app-manager-why-does-it-keep-installing-apps/) and T-Mobile has AppManager (https://www.t-mobile.com/support/plans-features/t-mobile-appselector). I'm not sure if AT&T has one, but I'm guessing it does, and I'm sure other major carriers around the world as well as MVNOs have their own bloatware installers.

I think you can uninstall these bloatware installers, so try to find them in the Settings>Apps list (but you'll have to turn on the Show System Apps option) and see if you can uninstall them there.

Thanks bud, it was a new unlocked device from Amazon, it all looks okay with most of the bloatware belonging to Samsung, I read on other threads cheaper budget phones tend to have more of this to recoup manufacturing costs - understandable but still a pain.

 

[B. Diddy]

Thanks bud, it was a new unlocked device from Amazon, it all looks okay with most of the bloatware belonging to Samsung, I read on other threads cheaper budget phones tend to have more of this to recoup manufacturing costs - understandable but still a pain.

Check the Galaxy Store app's settings to see if there's an option there to install recommended apps. I don't currently have access to my Galaxy A 32 5G, so I can't check that myself right now ...

 

[smvim]

Whether you buy your Samsung phone directly from a carrier or buy an unlocked Samsung on your own from a retailer, all Samsung phone come with a lot of preinstalled, branded apps and services, and a level much more than other manufacturers. Some of that bloat is unique to Samsung, some of it just duplicate services to existing Google apps and services. That's been a long-standing issue with Samsung phones, Learn to live with it, or buy a different brand.
As you've discovered, you might be able to Disable some of that fluff but you cannot Uninstall it. That's an established matter, factory installed apps cannot be readily removed by the user, the phone's owner. So you can 'hide' some of that fluff but you cannot remove it. It's an integral part of the installed firmware. You do have options, as in rooting your phone and/or ADB remote access, but as is they both allow you unfettered access to your phone's OS but they do not necessarily give you the knowledge to edit the underpinnings of your phone.

I suggest you just learn to live with your new Samsung phone and quit fighting with its imperfections. You're fighting a losing battle. Next purchase, get a Pixel, that's one of 'cleaner' product lines but you're still going to eat it with crap that Google now includes. Or shop around for a phone that's supported by a popular third-party firmware like Lineage OS. That's a very clean Android OS, no de-Googling required on your part, it's already done for you.

 

[James Android Phone]

Whether you buy your Samsung phone directly from a carrier or buy an unlocked Samsung on your own from a retailer, all Samsung phone come with a lot of preinstalled, branded apps and services, and a level much more than other manufacturers. Some of that bloat is unique to Samsung, some of it just duplicate services to existing Google apps and services. That's been a long-standing issue with Samsung phones, Learn to live with it, or buy a different brand.
As you've discovered, you might be able to Disable some of that fluff but you cannot Uninstall it. That's an established matter, factory installed apps cannot be readily removed by the user, the phone's owner. So you can 'hide' some of that fluff but you cannot remove it. It's an integral part of the installed firmware. You do have options, as in rooting your phone and/or ADB remote access, but as is they both allow you unfettered access to your phone's OS but they do not necessarily give you the knowledge to edit the underpinnings of your phone.

I suggest you just learn to live with your new Samsung phone and quit fighting with its imperfections. You're fighting a losing battle. Next purchase, get a Pixel, that's one of 'cleaner' product lines but you're still going to eat it with crap that Google now includes. Or shop around for a phone that's supported by a popular third-party firmware like Lineage OS. That's a very clean Android OS, no de-Googling required on your part, it's already done for you.

I think you have probably hit the nail on the head, its just so disappointing when buying a new product to jump through so many hoops.

In the long run I think it will be fine but agree on your comments about Samsung, this one is a A15 but remember from phone before last Samsung Note, it had very similar pre-installed apps.

After watching a few YouTube videos on gaining root access decided against that approach, way over the top for my needs, looked briefly at Ubuntu offering but that's a long way from being completed - Lineage OS sounds interesting, I'll have a look at that too.

Thanks to everyone for replying.