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Useless Apps and auto updates?

I am talking about the apps that Verizon gets paid to put on our phones, what is commonly called bloatware here. Even if I never use any of them they are constantly notifying me of available updates. I get tired of the notifications, but can not turn them off unless I turn off ALL update notices. Then I don't get the updates for the apps I have installed myself. I have finally given in to the nagging by Verizon and decided to let their spammy apps update automatically so at least I don't constantly have 8 or 10 waiting for me to update individually and manually. Thing is that even though I have all the spam apps set to update automatically, they don't.

These unwanted, unused, apps are my number one complaint about Verizon. Can anyone suggest a procedure for this so that basically I am never nagged again about an unwanted garbage app update?

Thanks.

Comments

Ann154

Personally I turned off the notifications from the Play Store and got into a habit of checking once a week or so for updates on the applications I want updated.

My Thunderbolt has 11 pre-installed applications that haven't been updated since day one.

WTTTT

Yeah, as I noted in my question, this is an option. It is an option I don't like however as I have several apps that I use and like the ability to automatically keep them up to date.

What I was hoping there was a way to do is to get the apps I never use to automatically update too. That way at least I would not be constantly nagged by them. I HAVE checked the auto update box on all of them, but they still do not update automatically for some reason.

I suspect this is might be because I have never, (and of course, will never), used them. Maybe before an app will follow instructions to automatically update, it has to have been used at least once??

Or maybe, more disturbingly, Verizon does not allow these trashy apps to auto update even if the auto update box is checked. Maybe Verizon knows that the only hope they have of getting anyone to use these apps is to force people to deal with them one at a time, manually?

Any ideas?

jco23

there is a method, but mentioning it is a violation of this forum, as it voids the warranty on your device.

AZSALUKI

as jco23 mentioned, they can be removed entirely, but you will have to google the issue as we can't discuss it on this forum. if have NO unwanted apps on my phone. it does void the warranty, but unless you have an extended warranty, you may be out of warranty anyway (since the charge is more than a year old....but i'm not sure when you got it).

WTTTT

Thanks - Yes, I know about that and have chosen not to do it mainly because of warranty/insurance and because the instructions are too complicated. But.....

It may be my fault that I am not making my question, and reason for this thread, clear: My phone is always notifying me that I have updates available. When I open that notification there is a list, (right now there are 8), a list of "Manual Updates" These are all Verizon Installed Apps, that I do not use and will never use. Things like Verizon Tones, Media Hub and Blockbuster for Samsung. The only way I can find to update these and stop the nagging is to update each on manually, one at a time. Every one of them does have the box to "Allow automatic updating" checked. Why won't they update automatically like the apps I have installed do?

WTTTT

I just updated my Charge with the software pushed out OTA. I would have thought this might update all the bloatware too but noooo, my phone still wants me to update 8 of the spam programs manually.

WTTTT

And this is just one of the reasons the per-installed Verizon spam apps are so frustrating. I decided to get rid of the nags by updating manually even though I never use the apps. I am connected via wifi now so no data issues, but the Kindle app has been downloading for 10 minutes now and is just at 4.5mb of 14.14mb. What a frustrating waste of time. Is this Verizon's idea of a good customer experience?

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