Bloatware apps on Android phones are frustrating. Nobody wants their everyday experience interrupted by apps they never asked for and will never use. These apps take up storage, run constantly in the background, slow down the phone’s performance, and, to make it worse, keep pushing annoying notifications our way.

That’s exactly why I decided to clean up my Android phone and remove as much bloatware as possible. So, if you’re tired of unnecessary apps getting in the way of your experience, you should absolutely know about this, too.

What exactly are bloatware apps?

The apps you never asked for (but got anyway)

Bloatware apps on Android are unnecessary apps that come pre-installed on your phone. You didn’t choose or download them, yet they’re already there the moment you switch on your device. These apps take up valuable storage space, use up RAM, and can even drain your battery by running in the background.

Over time, this extra load can slow down your phone and affect its overall performance. To put it simply, bloatware apps are not the ones you willingly install on your Android smartphone. They’re like a forced “+1” added to your smartphone before you buy it, often offering little to no real value to most users. And to make matters worse, some of these apps operate slightly in the background, so you may not even realize they’re installed on your smartphone.

How to get rid of bloatware on Android

Saying goodbye to apps you didn’t install

Getting rid of unwanted guests is never easy, and the same goes for bloatware apps on your phone. These apps you never asked for, yet they sit on your smartphone as if you installed them willingly. Removing them can feel like a task itself, especially when Android doesn’t make it obvious at first.

That said, it’s not impossible. With the right steps, you can clear out these unnecessary apps and take back control of your phone. Follow the steps below on your Android device to enjoy a far more pleasant experience:

1. Start by unlocking your Android phone.
2. Look for apps that you don’t remember downloading yourself. These are often found in folders like Hot Apps or Hot Games.
3. Once you spot one, long-press the app icon.
4. Tap the “i” icon to open App Info on Android.
5. Now, tap Uninstall.

That’s it. You’ve successfully removed a bloatware app from your Android phone. Repeat the same steps for any other unwanted apps you’d like to uninstall for a smoother experience.

I’m uninstalling bloatware apps on my OPPO Find X9 Pro, so the steps you see may look slightly different if you’re using another Android phone. That’s completely normal. While Android brands tweak the layout and wording of settings, the overall process remains largely the same across devices. If you ever feel stuck or can’t find a specific option, just follow the on-screen prompts on your phone after long-pressing the app icon, and you’ll get there. It’s far simpler than it sounds.

Unfortunately, not every app can be uninstalled

When apps refuse to leave, shut them up

Some pre-installed apps are simply too stubborn to be removed completely. The unfortunate part is that Android doesn’t allow you to uninstall certain system or manufacturer apps. That said, you’re not entirely helpless. Android lets you stop these apps from running, hide them from your home screen, and prevent them from consuming resources like battery, RAM, or background data.

So, if you come across an app that can’t be uninstalled, here’s what you can do instead:

1. Long-press the app icon of the app you don’t want running in the background.
2. Tap the “i” icon to open App Info.
3. You’ll notice that the Uninstall option is either unavailable or greyed out.
4. Instead, tap Disable.
5. A pop-up will appear asking for confirmation.
6. Tap Disable app to proceed.

While this doesn’t completely delete the app from your phone, it effectively shuts it down. The app is removed from your home screen, won’t run in the background, and will stop sending you these annoying notifications. In everyday use, it’s almost as good as uninstalling the app altogether.

When you confirm the option to disable an app, Android usually displays a warning that says something along the lines of “your system and other apps may no longer function as intended.” That message can sound alarming at first, and it’s enough to make most people hesitate. In everyday use, though, my experience was the opposite. Disabling these apps didn’t cause any system issues or break essential features on my phone. In fact, the phone felt smoother and less cluttered overall. So if you see this pop-up while following the steps on your Android device, there’s no need to panic. In most cases, your phone will continue to work just fine, only without those annoying apps running in the background.

A fresh start for your Android smartphone

Bloatware is everywhere. You’ll find it not only on Android phones but also on Windows laptops. And it’s more than just a minor annoyance; you shouldn’t take it lightly. These apps do a lot more in the background than you might assume. That’s why it’s worth knowing why and how to remove it. For Windows, there are several compelling reasons to declutter, and once you understand them, removing them is surprisingly easy, too. The same goes for your Android phone, too.

Doing this keeps only a few apps running in the background; it performs better, and distractions drop, too. Thankfully, to do this, you don’t need any third-party apps or any technical expertise to understand this. Hence, the next time your Android feels slow, consider this a gentle nudge to clean things up. Small steps like these add up to a noticeably smoother experience across all your gadgets.