All phones come with preinstalled software. Some of these apps are essential, like messages, the phone dialer, a built-in browser, and so on. However, sometimes to try and differentiate their phones from the competition, Android handset manufacturers usually include their own custom software.
This is meant to make their phones more appealing with exclusive apps and features that other handsets won’t have, but more often than not, these apps come across feeling like bloatware. After all, if you needed it you could probably easily find an alternative as opposed to having it forced upon you.
Not to mention these apps do take up some space in your phone’s storage, so if you’re trying to squeeze out as much storage as possible, here’s how you can delete some of those preinstalled apps.
Deleting Preinstalled Apps Through Settings
One of the ways to delete preinstalled apps would be to go to your phone’s Settings menu. Usually in the Settings there is an option for you to manage your apps, such as seeing how much space they are taking up and to delete them.
- Launch Settings
- Go to the Apps section
- Select the app you want to delete and then tap Uninstall
Now, it should be noted that different phone manufacturers place their app settings in different menus, but in general that would be how you can find a list of apps installed on your phone and how to uninstall them.
But what if you can’t uninstall those apps?
There are some preinstalled apps that can be deleted and uninstalled like regular apps, but there are some that just cannot be deleted unless you want to go through the trouble of rooting your phone, which we won’t be getting into. If you’d rather not go through the hassle of learning how to root your phone, then the next best thing would be to simply disable them.
- Launch Settings
- Go to the Apps section
- Select the app you want to disable
- Tap Permissions
- Tap Disable
You will be prompted that disabling the app could affect the function of other apps. In some cases this might be true, but usually it’s fine. If you find apps starting to act weird or not functioning as they should, then this could be the reason, but if not then you’re good to go.
Uninstall Apps Through Google Play
If you’d rather not go through your phone’s Settings, uninstalling apps through Google Play is an alternative. The main difference is that Google Play would show you apps that you have downloaded from the Play Store, whereas the Settings app pretty much lists all apps on your phone.
So this might be useful if you’re trying to uninstall apps from the Play Store, or if you want to reinstall them from the Play Store again.
- Launch Google Play Store
- Tap your profile photo
- Select Manage apps and device
- Check the app you want to delete
- When you’re ready, tap the trash can icon
- Confirm you want to uninstall it and you’re all set
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