Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET
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Samsung smartphones have developed a powerful reputation for featuring One UI, the company’s uniquely refined and user-friendly interface layered on top of the Android operating system. Renowned both for its aesthetic coherence and highly intuitive nature, One UI is celebrated for the degree of personalization it offers—from adjusting icon layouts and widget placements to altering system-wide color schemes and animations. However, the same rich customization often comes paired with a less desirable counterpart: a broad collection of preinstalled software commonly referred to as “bloatware.” Many Samsung devices ship with numerous proprietary applications. Some of these, such as Samsung Wearable—designed to connect and manage Galaxy smartwatches—and Samsung Wallet—used for secure payments and digital passes—can be genuinely convenient additions for users already immersed in Samsung’s interconnected ecosystem. Nonetheless, there exists a considerable subset of first-party apps that even seasoned Galaxy enthusiasts rarely, if ever, utilize.
The composition and quantity of these preloaded apps vary based on the model category, the device’s price segment, and regional distribution, yet several are nearly universal across the Galaxy lineup. While Samsung does not always allow users to uninstall every one of these applications completely, most can be deactivated with a few simple taps, freeing system resources without permanently removing them. Crucially, they can also be re-enabled later should the need arise.
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Although these applications are not inherently poor or purposeless, user behavior and individual priorities differ widely. Thus, if a particular app sees little to no personal use, disabling or removing it represents a reasonable strategy to optimize the phone’s memory allocation and limit background energy consumption that can drain the battery over time.
1. Global Goals
Samsung’s Global Goals app reflects the company’s public commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. Through this application, users are given the option to engage in philanthropic support of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), either by contributing directly or by watching sponsored advertisements that generate small monetary proceeds for donation. The company frames it as a global initiative intended to advance both planetary well-being and human prosperity by the year 2030. While this mission carries undeniable moral significance, the presence of the app on every device may feel intrusive to those uninterested in charitable engagement through digital platforms or those who simply prefer not to have donation-related prompts appear on their personal smartphones.
2. Samsung Free
This application, developed by Samsung, serves as a media hub that aggregates multiple content categories. Samsung Free allows users to stream films, television programs, live channels, and recent news stories without paying a subscription fee. Functionally, it bears striking similarities to Samsung TV Plus; indeed, it even contains a direct shortcut button labeled “Watch on TV Plus” that redirects users to that companion service. Beyond video streaming, Samsung Free also introduces two extra panels labeled “Read” and “Play.” The first provides continuously updated news articles, while the latter offers access to lightweight games.
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In practice, Samsung Free blends the functionalities of Samsung TV Plus, Galaxy Store recommendations, and other content feeds. Despite this, its necessity remains questionable. Many consider it unnecessary digital clutter—particularly given that identical or superior services can be accessed through individual preferred apps. Consequently, deleting or disabling Samsung Free soon after device setup is often recommended for users who value a streamlined and distraction-free interface.
3. Samsung TV Plus
This particular app acts as Samsung’s proprietary, entirely free, advertisement-supported streaming television service. It can serve as an appealing solution for those who have not subscribed to popular paid platforms like Netflix or Disney Plus. Occasionally, viewers may even come across films and shows available at no cost that are otherwise hidden behind paywalls on services such as Amazon Prime Video. The service spans over 1,200 distinct channels and is available in more than two dozen countries, reflecting Samsung’s global media ambitions.
However, Samsung TV Plus diverges significantly from premium streaming brands like Apple TV+ or Amazon’s Prime Video in that it does not produce original content. Since its offerings mainly consist of syndicated or publicly available programs, users already paying for comprehensive streaming subscriptions might find little benefit in its inclusion. Therefore, if television streaming on a smartphone does not align with your personal usage habits, uninstalling Samsung TV Plus may be the rational path to reclaim valuable storage capacity and reduce app clutter.
4. Samsung Shop
True to its name, the Samsung Shop app acts as the company’s dedicated retail and promotional platform. It delivers dynamic product listings, exclusive discounts, and curated recommendations personalized according to registered devices and prior user interactions. Functionally, it parallels Apple’s own Store app for iPhone users, providing seamless access to the latest smartphones, tablets, wearable devices, and accessories. While this convenience might appeal to loyal customers who regularly purchase Samsung merchandise, frequent notifications and promotional alerts can quickly become overwhelming. These continual updates can detract from One UI’s otherwise polished environment by saturating the notification shade with marketing content.
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In essence, all information on discount programs and new releases remains easily available through Samsung’s official website or social media channels, making the dedicated Shop app largely redundant for most users. Disabling or removing it can reduce unnecessary noise and free up limited device storage.
5. Samsung Kids
Samsung Kids is an application tailored for families with young children. Conceived as a secure digital playground, it introduces an environment where kids can explore educational games and puzzles intended to foster cognitive skills and creativity while maintaining stringent parental controls. It also channels Samsung’s commitment to promoting balanced “digital wellness” by helping children cultivate responsible technology habits from an early age.
Nevertheless, not every Galaxy smartphone owner falls within this demographic. For child-free users, Samsung Kids becomes an irrelevant presence that consumes background resources and occasionally triggers unsolicited notifications once permissions are granted. Consequently, for anyone not actively using it, removing or disabling this app contributes meaningfully to a cleaner, more efficient mobile experience.
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Most Samsung phones are also preloaded with third-party applications, particularly from Microsoft’s suite and social media platforms like Facebook or Snapchat. Furthermore, Samsung includes specialized apps such as Gaming Hub, which may prove invaluable for gamers but relatively unnecessary for users prioritizing productivity or minimalism. Ultimately, the usefulness of each preinstalled application depends heavily on personal habits and priorities. Carefully reviewing all installed apps upon initial setup, then promptly uninstalling or disabling those offering no practical value, remains one of the simplest and most effective methods of enhancing overall performance, extending battery life, and ensuring a decluttered, efficient user experience.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-samsung-bloatware-apps-you-should-delete-right-now-and-never-miss/
