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Why am I unable to uninstall apps

Conumer

Why am I unable to uninstall several apps on my device? I do not want them on my device. I want to reclaim the memory space for other apps, disabling is not enough. In addition, it is my prerogative. These apps are not essential to the proper function of my device, why am I unable to uninstall them?

Comments

rcschnoor

Because Verizon does not allow you to delete some apps which come with the phone.

smith6612

Which apps are in question? A good number of the pre-installed applications cannot be removed, but can be disabled so that they cannot run. It's not a Verizon rule so to speak, but is something pushed upon by the phone manufacturer. Even if you do manage to remove the unwanted pre-installed applications, those applications will simply return when the phone is reset to factory settings, as it is still contained within the factory image.

The phones that only come with the Google software are typically the Nexus devices. iPhones are also considered to be the "Clean to iOS" experience, but do feature some bloat like the Apple Watch app, which many will not use and cannot be disabled.

Conumer

Thank you for your answer smith6612, I am looking for a reason/justification as to why Verizon/Motorola does not allow them to be deleted.

Below is a list of apps i have disabled and do not want. Another way to look at it is to say I would like a really lean version of the AOSP (like Cyanogenmod) with GAPPs (or better yet just google play store). Then I'd like to install the apps I want. At the moment all I can do is sometimes disable apps.@ Yes, I should have got a nexus.. or event a turbo with KK so i can fix this, but I have a turbo with lollipop so I am stuck disabling apps at least for a while. =/

Amazon

Amazon app suite

Amazon Kindle

Amazon Music

Android Live Wallpapers

Appstore (Amazon appstore)

Audible

Audio Effects (built-in eq, *note: disable if you're experiencing low speaker volume)

Badger

Basic Daydreams

Black Hole (live wallpaper)

Bubbles (live wallpaper)

Calendar (System calendar, *note do not disable Calendar storage as this will prevent use of both system calendar app and the downloadable Google one.

Call My Droid (feature to ring phone via voice activation to find if misplaced and is close enough to activate voice launch phrase)

Caller Name ID

Clock

Cloud (Verizon Cloud)

Cloud Print

com.android.wallpaper.holospiral (live wallpaper system process)

com.verizon.permissions.app..

com.verizon.permissions.vzw

Command Center (system display app)

Connect (Moto connect)

Droid Zap

Email (stock email)

Emergency Alerts

Face Unlock

FamilyBase Companion

Google Hindi Input

Google Keyboard

Google Pinyin Input

Google Play Games

Google Play Music

Google Play Newsstand

Google Search (although I believe this may kill Google Now)

Google+

Hangouts

Help

Home screen tips

HP Print Service Plugin

IMDB

Message+

Mobile Hotspot

Moto (suite app that governs always listening, moto display, etc...)

Moto Actions

Moto Display (active display)

Moto Voice

Motorola FlipCase Services (other Motorola services still work)

Motorola Migrate (great app, no need to have after using it though)

Music Visualization Wallpapers (live wallpaper)

My InfoZone (My Verizon widget)

My Verizon Mobile

NFL Mobile

Phase Beam (live wallpaper)

Photo Screensavers

Print Spooler

Setup Wizard (the annoying Verizon checklist when you first activate your phone)

Slacker Radio

Smartcard Service

Softcard

Sound Recorder (in the past hasn't had any impact, no pre-installed app to record sound)

Tags (can't disable NFC anymore, but can

Talkback (Accessibility feature for handicap)

User Dictionary (stored dictionary for keyboard, I use SwiftKey user)

Verizon Location Agent (doesn't affect Google location settings, which are the important ones)

Verizon Login (don't know, don't need)

Verizon Support & Protection

VZ Navigator

VZWAPN

VZWAVSService

smith6612

That's the question that I can't answer, as I don't know the answer to! Perhaps it has to with sponsored apps, or the ecosystem for that particular handset is very tied into the bundled apps. Until a law is passed similar to that in South Korea requiring bundled apps to be removable, custom ROMs are probably the only way to go to getting to the AOSP barebones you're looking for, short of just building the project's source into a workable form for your device.

I wish I had a better answer. I personally use a Samsung phone. Plenty of bloat, and some Wi-FI driver bugs regarding power states and IPv6 I've come across as well which causes havoc on the phone.

Customer0118

Is this your first smartphone? This is what happens. As to your question about Cyanogen, we are not allowed to talk about that here. Read your TOS.

Snn5

If you are asking these questions, you definitely DO NOT need to be toying about with custom ROMs.

Momma23dogs

OH, fine. If you don't like the bloatware and want your own OS, then don't buy a carrier branded phone.

Google nexus purchased direct from Google for a start.

Ann154

Or the Moto X Pure Edition from Motorola.

unknown

You want phone manufacturers and carrier to not install bloatware. Be prepared to pay $100-$150 more for your phone. I wonder if the anti-bloatware people were offered a bloatware version for $600 and a bloatware free version for $750 which one would they choose? How badly does the bloatware bother them? I suspect saving $150 matters more.

Customer0118

I really can't believe that we are talking about bloatware after the last 8 years of smartphone popularity. They've always had bloatware. This is the reason why I asked if this is the first smartphone.

Ann154

Not every decent phone costs $600 or more with or without bloatware.

Tidbits

If you compare like for line without taxes the US phones are cheaper. The major reason why it's lucrative to buy phones in the states and bring them to their country. One reason why stolen phones are rampant and majority of them go overseas.

Conumer

Can you please specify the sections from TOS perhaps a link.

It sounds like I've been sold a cheeseburger and I'm being told I cannot

take the cheese off even though I don't want it. In fact it feels like I'm

being told not to ask about my dissatisfaction at all. I am unhappy with my

device, it is six day in my possession. All I am trying to do is customize

it to my liking.

For what reason/justification is this that I cannot customize my device the

way that would make me satisfied?

And fyi, This is not my first device, I've been with Verizon since the

90's; we had a car phone in the '80s. Shoot, we had a GTE television in

about '82. I've subscribed to Verizon products and services for a long time

now and at present I am dissatisfied. Frankly, depending upon the TOC and

the events that happen between now and device payoff, this may be my last

last device with Verizon. This device I have isn't a Star-Tac, it's a Droid

Turbo. To me, its an Android device with phone capabilities and not a phone

with email capabilities. I am trying to get rid of the stuff I don't want

and add the stuff I do want. The set up I suggested is on my tablet. I love

it. I only wish it were on this droid turbo.

Snn5

Each manufacturer has its own rules, however, most all will tell you that the warranty is void when operating the device outside it's designed parameters. There is no way to cover up unapproved system modifications. Once you do it, that's it. The phone is yours and you can do with it as you please, but you have no warranty and you have no insurance. Refer to your manufacturer's warranty information and also to the community forums TOS.

Defects or damage from improper testing, operation, maintenance, installation, adjustment, unauthorised software applications or any alteration or modification of any kind.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

Verizon Wireless Terms of Service

Customer0118

If this is not your first smartphone device then you should have known that there was going to be stuff there that you can't get rid of. You also got the Droid Turbo. It is a Verizon Wireless Exclusive. That means it was developed for VZW by Motorola and is exactly what VZW wants it to be. You didn't buy the One Plus One to the One Plus Two or a Google Nexus (which will still have Verizon bloatware).

Until we are no longer buying devices from the carriers, the carriers are going to load their software onto them. My prediction? In 2018 we will see no more DPP or buying phones from carriers. We will see going directly to the manufacturer to buy the device with a credit card or cash in one lump sum then going to the carrier for service. We will buy our devices from Best Buy, Target, Walmart or online from LG, Samsung, Apple or HTC. It will only be then when there is no carrier bloatware on devices.

Tidbits

There will still be manufacturers bloat which people do think are from carriers.

TheNatural

Mr. Consumer,

Please do leave Verizon. You are NOT in any event going to find another carrier that does not have an Android smartphone with pre-installed applications and features you may not like or need that you want to remove. Personally speaking, I actually own the Motorola Droid Turbo and am not concerned about the apps that cannot be deleted as they don't risk taking up the majority of the phones internal memory. The manufacturer has contractual agreements with specific companies or app developers which is why you have some pre-installed apps on your device which cannot be deleted.....this has nothing to do with Verizon as they do not build the phone. FYI, the Droid Turbo is very capable of email functions and I have multiple accounts on mine. Even my Galaxy S6 has Facebook and Instagram pre-installed which I cannot delete but only disable. All of these apps at the end of the day barely make up 400MB if not less as far as your internal storage goes. As a longtime customer, I'm wondering why you're all of a sudden searching for perfection in a smartphone that will never exist......especially if you've owned one before.

Snn5

There is always a portion, 25-50% of a phone's storage that is dedicated to system and apps, the rest to files storage. That's space you can use for more apps yes, but really...you going to fill it all up with tons of 1-30MB - sized apps?

Conumer

I can fill a 32 gig hard drive pretty quick. It is not just the hard drive, its the available processing, available ram, the eye soar of the apps as I navigate around them and a few other reasons.

Tidbits

Verizon didn't patch it. Carriers don't touch code like popular belief. Patching exploits IS A GOOD thing even if it is used to gain Root... Does anyone remember rage in a cage exploit?

Conumer

You are splitting hairs. There was a solution and now there is not.

Tidbits

I am not splitting hairs. It's GOOD business practice to fix exploits. Rage In a Cage is the PRIME example as to why they need to be patched. If a person figures out how to do it on device and put it in the play store before Google or any other company finds it could cause problems for users like.

I am not splitting hairs. This was fixed by Motorola as their other devices affected by this were patched as well. Motorola updates their devices and Verizon doesn't code the updates like the media spews out. They are less involved that you believe.

unknown

Ann154 wrote:

Not every decent phone costs $600 or more with or without bloatware.

I didn't say that. I'm saying a bloatware free version of ANY phone will cost more. The HTC 626 is $192. If they offered a bloatware free version I would be over $300. FACT. A Galaxy S7 next year will cost $650. If they also offered a bloatware free version it would be $750. I wish they would make both version so we would see how much bloatware removal is worth to people. I do say that bloatware should have a time limit. Say 1 year then you can remove it. If you haven't used it in a year you're not going to. Or any apps no longer around. Like Softcard for example.

Conumer

Nay, You are. The Kit Kat version only demonstrates it is possible for Verizon to fix my dissatisfaction with my device. The patch demonstrates their unwillingness to do so. I ask again for the last time.

For what reason/justification did they do that; make it impossible for me to have the phone set up how I want?

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