Help Bloatware?

[Murf1]

Thinking about switching to Cricket.

Can someone tell what all bloatware cricket wireless installs on their phones?

Can it be uninstalled or at least disabled (without rooting)?

Thanks

 

[dstephe9]

My Cricket branded Moto had zero bloatware and I even had to download my own Cricket apps.. Not sure about other phones though..

I usually buy unlocked

 

[kate]

Uninstalling preinstalled apps requires rooting.

On many phones you can disable preinstalled apps so you don't see their icons, although this wont free up space:
1. Go to your phones Settings menu.
2. Tap Apps (or Applications).
3. Go to the All tab, you might need to swipe right/left to get to it.
4. Scroll down to the app you want to disable and tap it.
5. If Force Stop can be chosen tap it first, then tap Disable. Not all preinstalled apps can be disabled

Be careful as disabling some system apps could cause your phone to not function correctly.

 

[mgeed]

My Cricket branded Moto had zero bloatware and I even had to download my own Cricket apps.. Not sure about other phones though..

I usually buy unlocked

 

[Murf1]

Yeah, I got my Idol 3. You're right, not much bloat from Cricket. However, what I consider bloat from Alcatel. Like their calendar app that I hate and it cannot be disabled or uninstalled. I have always had LG phones before this so their are a lot of programs on LG that I like and thought were part of Android (like calendar) and now realize were LG. So I'm using google calendar now which is very similar to what LG has. Other Alcatel bloat calculator (no history, really?) - pretty much any pre-installed Alcatel app I don't like and preferred the LG version (or google). Oh well - at least Cricket didn't bloat it up.

 

[dstephe9]

Yeah I, haven't had to deal with those types of apps for a while.. I always buy phones with close to pure Android now like motos, or Nexus, or one plus.. I honestly don't believe I'll ever be able to go back to a Samsung or LG or other branded skinned Android.. Pure Android is the way to go and honestly works much better IMO

But yup, like you said, Cricket doesn't install much bloatware like other carriers do

 

[dstephe9]

Yeah, I got my Idol 3. You're right, not much bloat from Cricket. However, what I consider bloat from Alcatel. Like their calendar app that I hate and it cannot be disabled or uninstalled. I have always had LG phones before this so their are a lot of programs on LG that I like and thought were part of Android (like calendar) and now realize were LG. So I'm using google calendar now which is very similar to what LG has. Other Alcatel bloat calculator (no history, really?) - pretty much any pre-installed Alcatel app I don't like and preferred the LG version (or google). Oh well - at least Cricket didn't bloat it up.

You can download some third party launchers that will allow you to hide the icons of apps that can't be disabled.. This doesn't require rooting but does require changing launchers.. Just an option.. Off the top of my head I can't remember which launchers allow you to hide icons though

 

[Murf1]

You can download some third party launchers that will allow you to hide the icons of apps that can't be disabled.. This doesn't require rooting but does require changing launchers.. Just an option.. Off the top of my head I can't remember which launchers allow you to hide icons though

Thanks. I am currently using "Arrow" launcher by Microsoft garage project. It does not let me hide apps, but it is small and straight forward without a million tweaking options. I like it a lot. Using it with their "Next" lock screen.

 

[dstephe9]

Looks like a fairly sweet launcher!