Not long ago, I found my Samsung phone was installing random apps without my consent. Games, shopping apps, and gallery tools popped up in my app drawer, and I had no memory of downloading them. The Galaxy Store was the issue. It has a hidden feature that automatically installs apps over Wi-Fi, and it was turned on by default.
To fix it, I force-stopped the Galaxy Store, cleared its data, and disabled the auto-update and auto-install options. This not only stopped those unwanted installations but also freed up storage and data usage.
Once I had everything running smoothly, I started thinking about what else was lurking on my phone. Checking my battery usage revealed a lot of background activity that I hadn’t authorized. I managed to disable a lot of Samsung’s bloatware through the Settings, but I wanted a more permanent solution. That led me to the Android SDK Platform Tools.
Bloatware Cleanup
The first app I removed was Bixby. I never used it and preferred Google Assistant instead, so it was an easy decision. Next went the Galaxy Store; most people don’t really find it useful. After that, I got rid of T-Mobile’s Mobile Services Manager. Even though I had switched carriers, this app was still hanging around.
I also eliminated Samsung Free, which pulled in content even if I didn’t open it. AR Zone and Samsung TV Plus went too. While TV Plus might be great for free streaming, I have no interest in it. After removing several smaller Samsung services I didn’t need, my phone felt lighter.
Microsoft Apps
Samsung often pre-installs Microsoft apps like Outlook and OneDrive. As a Google user, I didn’t need another productivity suite taking up space. There’s no good reason for these apps to come already installed; they could simply be downloaded from the Play Store if needed.
What Stayed
I kept a few apps because they provide unique functions. OneDrive remained since it integrates well with the Gallery app. Knox Security is effective and enhances device protection. I also kept Samsung Notes as it provides seamless handwriting support with my S Pen.
The Results
After removing unnecessary apps, my phone’s performance improved. Battery life lengthened, and I no longer had to clear out random downloads. I noticed a significant drop in mobile data usage too. Those auto-installs were draining my data without me realizing it.
Now, my app drawer is less cluttered, which is a nice bonus aesthetically.
Wrap-Up
I invested just half an hour with a USB cable to achieve this, and I’d consider wireless ADB for my next Samsung upgrade to make it even easier. Companies like Samsung should really let users skip unnecessary apps during setup to streamline our experience. Until that change happens, tools like ADB are a helpful workaround.
For further reading, check out Google’s Android Developer page on ADB for more information.
