Bloatware == unnecessary features that are not used by end users, or generally use more system resources than necessary. Everybody definition on bloatware is not the same. For example, ChatON on Samsung Galaxy S III is a bloatware to me because I don’t use it. However, it might be a very useful application to certain people. We can’t uninstall / remove this Samsung Galaxy S3 bloatware as it is built in as part of the firmware. Luckily, we can disable it from running as system service or process which eat up precious memory (part of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich feature. No root access is required to disable built-in system application).
How to disable built-in system application on Samsung Galaxy S3?
- Go to Settings.
- Select Application manager.
- Select All tab.
- Select the application that you want to disable.
- Click on Uninstall updates (if have).
- Click on Disable.
- Confirm it by select OK.
- That’s all.
Here is the list of Samsung Galaxy S3 applications that safe to disable. Contributed by XDA community. Link removed…
Hi Jayce
Is this applicable to the SG SII running DXLP9?
Any specific repercussions from doing so?
I’m guessing they will boot up again after a restart.
Thanks in advance.
Good question. But too bad that my SGS2 is not loaded with official ICS firmware. Can’t test it myself.
Anyway, if your SGS2 is rooted, you can use App Quarantine to do the same thing.
https://www.jayceooi.com/2011/11/23/how-to-freeze-disable-remove-system-apps-in-android/
Hi Jayce,
When I try to disable ChatON, I do not see the “Disable” button. In its place I see “Uninstall updates”. I assume that I then need to uninstall the latest update in order to disable the app? Or does one need root access to disable apps like ChatON?
Yes, uninstall the update first. Then you can disable. No root access is needed.
Awesome. Thanks Jayce!
Hi Jayce,
Thanks for the tips, but i notice the application enable again when i reboot. Is that any way to permanently delete or disable it?
Thanks
Huh? It should not enable back after reboot. You can delete system apps with Titanium Backup Pro (root access is needed).
Hi
On the new galaxy note, i also went through quite a lot of unwanted apps by uninstalling updates and disabling them, but they turn themselves back on again on restart, and then try to install updates. It is something i can do via kies on the computer?
Nope.
I have disabled ChatON and Game Hub.
How do I enable them back if I want to?
Thanks.
At the same place, click Enable.
Thanks, just realised a disabled application is pushed right to the bottom of the list, instead of in its alphabetical order.
I have accidentally disabled “android system”, but I don’t I can’t seem to enable it again. What can be the fix?
Disabled apps are at bottom of the list. If still cannot re-enable it, you have to factory reset your phone then.
I still get update notifications for apps that I have disabled. Is there a way to stop that?
Yes, remove the apps totally with Titanium Backup Pro.
You can uncheck “Show notifications” below the “Force Stop” button.
There is no “Disable” to Click on to remove Chaton
Click on Uninstall updates.
Looks like I am unable to disable the built in Internet Browser with latest firmware on ATT with my GS3 =( Boooo
Nice work. Thanks!
Thank you so much. My SIII came with so much extra junk on it and Chaton was the most annoying of them all. Now it is disabled and I no longer get the constant requests to update and release all my personal information.
I to disabled something I now need and can’t find it to enable it again. Where is the list that it should be on the bottom of?
In All tab too – at bottom.
Thanks I got it
So much bloat; why do they (samsung,sprint,att,tmobile,ect) need these things on the phone?
aside from that; i want to be able to remove non-system files without having to root.
Ask them. 🙂
Non system files? Just uninstall to delete them.
thank You very much. What an annoyance
Thanks for this Jayce. It is great and attached list as well.
Cheers Kym
I deactivated a lot of apps/processes, but I wonder what’s the real benefit of that? Should that give me more available RAM and/or CPU availablility?
Yes if those disabled apps / processes take up resources. Else no different.
Thanks, Jayce. Here’s a list of the apps I disabled using none of them:
ChatON, Flipboard, Game Hub, Gmail, Google+, Messages, myTaxy, Google Search, S Memo, S Suggest, S Voice, SNS, Talk, TalkBack, Weather, Weather Main, Yahoo Finance, Yahoo News.
Would you know which of them would really take up resources?
Those have background process like Talk, Gmail…
can u please tell me the names of other unwanted apps that need to be disabled in s3 so that it does not lag
thanx in advance.
Hi zish, built-in apps do not make system lag. If face lag issue, you might need to factory reset your phone.
Hi Jaycee,
I clicked on a prompt to accept a Software Update. After a few minutes of downloading I presume, i received the app file. Before I actually installed it, I read the Permissions list (something I almost never do) and I was alarmed to see a long list of permissions that I’d be granting the app if I agreed, like “permission to send emails out without owner’s permission”‘ “permission to access all kinds of data”, amongst other things.
I am still very new to my Note 2 and I am still exploring. I don’t know what to do with this as I can’t seem to get rid of it!
It keeps prompting me to Install or Install All. When I select Later, it prompts me again at intervals.
I used Force Stop and Clear Data to delete 216kb but I just can’t seem to uninstall it. Before I restarted, I had it at 0kb. After I restarted, it was back at 76kb and running again.
It has a life of its own! Is this a virus?
I can’t seem to find any similar stories online. Can you help?
Is that Software Update from Samsung? Or other application?
I read the specs. Doesn’t seem like Samsung.
Remove it then if you don’t feel comfortable.
But I can’t. I want to remove it. There’s no function that allows me to uninstall. Not from the Application Manager page. Not when I click on the app. It just says Force Stop. Even Disable cant be clicked.
How else can I remove it?
What application is that?
It just says Software update version_5_1209_11. No maker, publisher.
I don’t know how it even got there for me to click on.
Hi Kel, please consult Samsung Support in this case. I also don’t know what it that.
I have disabled email but can’t enable it back. the enable button is not active. Please help
Sorry Mukund, I have no idea on this. Try to consult Samsung Support. Or just factory reset it.
I just wanna ask how to enable the Apps that I have disabled. And where can I find them?
The disabled apps are located at the bottom of the list.
what apps are safe to disable? that will not affect the phone
should I update firmware?? like what is firmware?
Yes. Firmware is like your PC Windows operating system.
Didn’t you check the list from XDA?
found it 🙂 sorry thanks 🙂
I haven’t check it yet where could I find it? I am just new user 🙂
I have a problem with my phone the short cut of messaging says that I have 1 message but when I opened it to check there is no new message at all and the 1 message sign at the home screen cannot be removed
Try to restart your phone see.
I tried that but after a while it will still be there again I tried resetting my phone and it worked like for how many hours but now its back
Sorry Angelica, I have no idea then. Maybe Samsung Support can help you…
do you think the updating of the firmware my be the reason of this prob? because I did not finish upgrading the system..
How did you upgrade firmware? Using Samsung Kies or OTA?
Samsung kies. .my phone is ok now because I finished the system upgrade
How can I change the country origin of the application S suggest
Sorry Paul, I have no idea too. Please consult Samsung Support.
Great stuff, no need to root my S3 and apps will not restart.
Thank you!
I have Wicked Sensations ROM on my phone and I downloaded the Clock Mod Blue Center Clock v1.2. Since installing it and then rebooting The status bar has disappeared and I can’t figure out how to get it back. Any Ideas?
Thank You!
Hi Ryan, restore to your previous CWM backup.
You got a quick reply on how to do that exactly?
https://www.jayceooi.com/2012/06/11/how-to-restore-samsung-galaxy-s3-with-clockworkmod-recovery-cwm-video/
What if I dont have a backup I went into recovery mode went to the CWM and no backup. Shows “No file found”
okay followed what the link said and now it’s checking the MD5 sums…
Okay Did the restore and everything is good to go. Will have to just root the phone again and will be good to go. Thanks alot brotha! I really appreciate it.
Hi. i disabled Phone log and contact and i want to enable the Phone log. How to do that?
Enable it back like the way you disable it.
Hi Jayce
what are the benefits of rooting the samsung s3, and on some apps you cant disable them, only force a stop..is it advisable to force a stop ? i did reset my phone then did a formware upgrade. all apps are now enabled again. would appreciate some advice on what to do and what not to do.
thanks
albouet
https://www.jayceooi.com/2012/06/20/top-reasons-to-root-samsung-galaxy-s3/
Only force stop when the application is not responsive.
Jayce.
Thank you so much for this information.
My search started because I wanted Samsung ChatOn off my Galaxy Tab 2 tablet and Samsung tech support was no help at all. Your simple solution helped me solve this problem as well as a similar one I had with my LG Optimus phone (no need for Twitter or Facebook and other Bell Canada junk).
Did anybody mention the link you provide to the Google Doc does not work? Maybe it’s just an error Today as I tried to use it, or it is gone for good? Not too important since I got rid of my unwanted apps, but just in case it was important to you or someone else.
Again, I thank you for the invaluable help you provided.
Thank you so much! Chaton wAs really bugging me, always in the middle of my view, and
Samsung support just told me it couldn’t be removed.
FYI…..
They also told me , , whenI was having trouble connecting my galaxy note 10.1 to my mac, to install kies and or android connect, but I found out from a forum that one will not work with the other installed. Samsung support didnt know that. People like you let us have a functional digital life!
Jayce,
I accidentally did a “software update” on my Samsung Galaxy S3 and I don’t like it. Any advice on how to remove it?
Hi Amber, you need to ask Samsung Service Center to downgrade firmware for you. Or do it yourself with Odin software (unofficially).
Now how exactly do I do it myself with Odin software?
Hi Amber, please refer to this guide. Ignore the Triangle Away part. Better ask Samsung Support for help if you don’t know much about this flashing thing…
https://www.jayceooi.com/2012/06/14/how-to-restore-stock-firmware-on-samsung-galaxy-s3-video/
I followed your list of apps to remove them all. Now my samsung s3 looks like a conventional mobile phone!
Great post, just what I was after. Thank you Jayce.
Hi
I disabled my built in application installer and actually force stop it..
and theres no enable button. How can i get it back?
Thank you…
It should have. What does it show there?
Why have you used the word ‘Remove’, in the title, when youd offer no such solution?
I notice in the comments that you advise people to use Titanium Backup Pro, which requires a rooted phone. That is a very different proposition, altogether.
In a word – useless.
Hi. I disabled ChatOn from my Samsung Galaxy phone, but I keep getting messages to update the application – days and nights, about every five to six hours… It’s driving me nuts. Can anybody help?
Just update it in this case.
If I do that it will load for ever, since I uninstalled all the previous updates and after all that I will be back with ChatOn in the way. ChatOn was only my trial run, as I’m planning to remove more of the bloatware. There must be another way to stop these unwanted messages from Samsung. Any more suggestions?
Do you have root access? If yes, you can use application like System app remover (ROOT) to remove it.
Do you have root access? If yes, you can use application like System app remover (ROOT) to remove it.