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Many a one proud owners of Android cellphones know the story: You boot your device up for the first time, go through the setup procedure—and are faced with a welter of unexpected apps. Depending on the manufacturer, a large portion of your screen may be plastered with them. This bloatware scourge is especially prevalent in the lower price range. Some retailers even openly advertise the "extensive software bundle". Not all of these apps are useless or dangerous, customers simply would like to have a choice! Uninstalling is often barely possible, which is especially vexatious with resource-hungry memory and performance hogs that eat away at your battery. Time for Google to take action!
Why are cellphones loaded with bloatware?
The lower the purchase price, the higher the degree of competitiveness. Cheap devices don't generate enough profits for manufacturers and software partners willing to pay a fee to have their apps pre-installed are a welcome, and fast-acting, shot in the arm. Payment is usually volume-based, a genuine lifesaver for many smaller companies. But even Samsung are paid by Facebook to bundle the Facebook app with their cellphones. Other manufacturers pre-install Microsoft Word and Excel to avoid patent fees. One good turn deserves another. The level of bloatware infestation depends on the brand name and varies from country to country. As for the usefulness: Over 80 percent of users never touch these bundled apps!
Is bloatware really that dangerous?
That depends on your definition of dangerous. After all, even with bloatware, your cellphone will continue to work. And sometimes the line between annoying bloatware and useful tool is fairly thin, as was the case with Samsung's voice assistant Bixby, not a third-party offering but considered highly enervating or useless by many. But bloatware does not only waste valuable storage space. Quite often, apps are permanently running in the background, consuming memory and shortening battery lifespans. And let me tell you: Nothing is more aggravating than an app you never use, cannot uninstall but that keeps draining your battery. On top,some apps threaten your privacy by collecting ad-relevant data or creating and sharing user profiles, unchallenged and, usually, without consent. In many cases, users are completely unaware of these activities.
What can I do about bloatware?
Your options vary based on brand and operating system. Most bloatware apps cannot be uninstalled with default user privileges. Uninstall buttons are either disabled or the apps aren't listed in the settings. You can try to root your cellphone to obtain administrator privileges. Procedures differ between manufacturers, so Google is your friend here. Still, the process involves a lot of research, work and, most importantly, usually voids your warranty, as admin privileges allow you to do practically anything to your device. That's why many users shy away from this measure and instead disable the app, which does restrict its memory usage but only until the next system update.
A threat to privacy and security
What are the alternatives?
Aside from Apple products, that don't come bundled with third-party software but cost a pretty penny, Android One-based cellphones are beginning to gain more traction. Manufacturers of these devices are obligated to offer a mostly vanilla Android experience and restrict third-party apps to a minimum. In addition, Android One devices are guaranteed two years of updates, making them an attractive choice for business users. Manufacturers include Nokia, Motorola, HTC, BQ, GM, Xiaomi and Sharp among others.
What are the complaints by consumer watchdog groups?
The UK-based Privacy International charity organization, along with 50 organizations from all over the world (including American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Electronic Frontier Foundation and Tor Project), demand a change of heart on the part of Android developers and rightfully claim that Android partners are given too much leeway in terms of misconduct. 91% of pre-installed apps aren't listed on Google Play, have risky levels of device access and operate outside Android's security system—an unacceptable situation! How can it be that these apps have full camera and microphone access without users knowing about this, let alone having the option to consent or decline? In this regard, Google's talk about their new "Google Play Protect" security concept while practically continuing to leave users defenseless and without rights Iegarding bloatware feels like a mockery!
Here's what has to happen:Privacy International's demands have to be finally met.
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Every app must be uninstallable, including background services.
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All apps must play by the same rules, whether pre or user-installed.
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Apps should include an update mechanism governed by Play Store. Once an app is found to misbehave (e.g. through exploitative misconduct), Google should revoke its certificate.
In other words: A minimum of privacy must no longer be considered a luxury, attained only through a lot of effort or expert knowledge, but a necessity!
What I would like to know: Is your cellphone littered with useless apps or did you get lucky?
I'd like to quickly point out that comments unrelated to the topic of the blog cannot be approved. Thanks for your understanding!
Bloatware is the bane of my existence. I find it hard to know what is actually a necessary app and what is extraneous. I don't use a cell phone, but my Samsung tablets are both app riddled. Ack!
Thank you for this information. Much of it I already knew it was still important to me to reaffirm what I had already experienced personally. I stopped using will refuse to ever own another Samsung due to bloatware. I am the current happy owner of a Moto phone that is definitely less loaded.
I also feel that much more has to be done to relieve future devices from being loaded with more and more bloatware. If there was an app that allowed users to safely delete bloatware without having to root the device that would be a huge seller. I would be interested in that app as well.
It is and it takes up a lot of memory. And I do not have sufficient knowledge to know which I can safely remove that will not affect another program or operation. You must have read my mind. I have the same feelings about bundled programs on my computer. Some of then I never use but they take up a lot space.
Herb
Die Ausführungen wären mir in Deutsch lieber. MeinWEnglisch ist relativ unperfekt.
Hallo Herr Koch! Unser Support schwört, dass Sie ab nächster Woche auf Deutsch dabei sind. Daumen sind gedrückt!
Die Version auf Deutsch: https://blog.ashampoo.com/de/2020-01-14/was-ist-eigentlich-bloatware
MOTOROLA XT1072 (8GB!). Now on LineageOS (Guava) and installed most apps through Aptoide, only the ones I want and need. Only drawback is limited capacity for apps and data (4.5GB) and some of the apps can't be installed as they require Google store to run.
CUBOT MAGIC (16GB). Cheap smartphone running on Android 7.0. No bloatware, no unexpected surprises "out-of-the-box". Major drawback: screen cracks quicker than a flûte de champagne.
I use the excellent Ashampoo Droid Optimiser, Ashampoo Snap screen recorder, and Ashampoo File Commander on my Android devices, including Nokia running Android One. Ashampoo Droid Optimiser has a very good automatic mode and is highly configurable. It is also FREE to install and use. It stops background apps from running if they are not being used, and cleans away temporary file trash. If you don't like notification at intervals about what it has cleaned away under automatic mode, you can disable the notifications. However, I like to see what it has cleaned away and leave the notifications switched on. Ashampoo software is compact, simple to use, costs very little if you use their many promotions to buy from, and their software often has a FREE option (not just a trial but free for as long as you want it, and often capable of paid upgrade for more extensive features). Ashampoo often features on Giveaway of the Day and many other software sampling sites. See if YOU like it!
I can see Edward Allen's point. The Ashampoo habit of bombarding a computer with material slipped in via the "service channel" is not good (or really necessary). If course you can turn off the service channel but a lack of consistency in its access /positioning coupled with a default state of "always on" seems to point to a policy of deliberate junk/advert merchants.
It's not set in stone but neither are our advertising methods! I'll get in touch with marketing, promise. I just get slightly vexed when being called a bloatware distributor as we're intentionally skipping the opportunity to make large sums of money by *not* bundling our software with unwanted programs. We want to spare our customers the annoyance.
Our leading product manager just informed me there's been a heated debate between QA and marketing on this issue for years and it's still ongoing! :)
Hi Sven,
Sorry, I don't have anything to comment or add to your blog, but just want to let you know that I can no longer see/read your emails using Outlook 365 - just shows a blank page. All other official emails from Ashampoo are just fine as of course as all other email I get.
But, oddly enough, I can read your emails in Gmail. The problem with Outlook 16/365 seems to have started a few weeks ago, just in case this helps you trace the problem. Curious too, if others using Outlook 365, have the same problem.
Please keep up you blogs - I love reading them.
Cheers,
Phil.
Thanks for letting me know. I'll get it in touch with our QA straight away!
this is real funny
if anyone has ever downloaded anything from ashampoo, you will see that add bloatware and advertisements with there software,
and look at this article that your reading, its from ashampoo, why dont we ask them why do they put that bloatware and advertisement in the software, why cant we the choice not to install that.
why?
We most definitely do not ship our setups/software with bloatware and you can take this statement to the bank! I would imagine you have obtained our programs through a third-party website that has wrapped a downloader around it, including nested "bonus" software. Though we strongly disapprove of this practice, it's still legal. Please make sure to always download our software from our website. And sure, we run ads just like every other company does. If you dislike our newsletters, unsubscribe. If you dislike our news channel notifications, go to the settings and disable them. Yes, it's that simple. :)
XDA Developers is a good website to root and install alternate Android operating systems.
Once the phone is rooted, F Droid has many basic functional applications which do not harvest your data.
My probably reconditioned Tracfone Galaxy S-7 came with some apps, but not very many in my opinion. I added memory, and have not had a memory problem even with many MP3 files. Samsung battery manager even suggests shutting down some apps I use to reduce battery usage. It works well, and do not have problems. I find your blogs informative, and thanks to you and Ashampoo for providing them.
I lament the demise of Windows phones. They did not have these issues and my Nokia Windows10 phone is still superior to Android. I just hope the phone continues to last.
I use a Nokia and my wife uses a Pixel 3 so no problem. Why don't you include the Google Android phones as being vanilla Android, e.g. Pixel
I didn't bring up Pixel phone because I sometimes forget things. :) You're absolutely right, they come with a very clean Android.
Lucky, purchased unlocked phone not linked with any telco. Just google apps, then installed what I wanted or needed.
I have been using Google Fi (Moto 7 currently) for smart phone, and have felt comfortable with being able to work within the phone to eliminate useless apps. Google is amenable to informed users. It seems to take a lot of effort to finally root out culprits, but it seems to be possible. I believe most users are not diligent, and that is what most purveyors count on.
I recognise that bloatware is put on phones for commercial reasons, however I fail to see HOW it is commercially successful as so few customers will actually use such rubbish. I remember buying a mobile phone for my wife from a well known supermarket who uses O2 as its network. there was so much rubbish installed that there was NO memory available too install an app she wanted. It was impossible to remove the dross. Eventually I advised the supermarket that the product was unsuitable for purpose and got a full refund.
My Xiaomi cellphone gives me the opportunity to stop apps running at start-up. This is a great feature which saves a huge amount of battery. Any apps I don't use, never start. Xiaomi comes preloaded with apps but not to the bloated extent I experienced with Samsung. The fact you are prompted by Xiaomi to prevent them starting is a great feature.
I like the possibility of measures being formulated to enable users to stop or better still remove all unwanted apps.