It’s likely Verizon. Go to your Settings app, find ‘Verizon App Manager’ under Apps, and disable it. That should stop those games from auto-installing based on what people have said here.
Wynne said:
It’s likely Verizon. Go to your Settings app, find ‘Verizon App Manager’ under Apps, and disable it. That should stop those games from auto-installing based on what people have said here.
Found it and disabled! Thanks a lot!
Some network providers are known for this. O2 in the UK pushes apps like Check a Trade, Monopoly, and Candy Crush onto devices.
It’s actually your phone carrier adding bloatware.
Cell providers love adding random apps to phones, usually because companies pay them to do it. You can disable these with something like Universal Android Debloater.
If your device is carrier-locked, updates will sometimes add unwanted apps. Unlocked models generally avoid this issue.
Jules said:
If your device is carrier-locked, updates will sometimes add unwanted apps. Unlocked models generally avoid this issue.
Both our phones are unlocked, but we still get random games installed every few months. How is this allowed without consent?
@West
By ‘unlocked,’ you mean carrier unlocked?
Jules said:
@West
By ‘unlocked,’ you mean carrier unlocked?
We switched carriers but found Verizon App Manager still on our phones. I disabled it, but I can’t uninstall it. I’m done buying phones from carriers.
@West
Just unlocking the phone doesn’t remove the Verizon preinstalled stuff. Their models have firmware that installs these apps permanently. I only buy directly from Samsung now.
@West
Removing bloatware like this often requires root access.
Archer said:
@West
Removing bloatware like this often requires root access.
You can uninstall most Verizon apps normally and then disable Verizon App Manager:
Settings > Apps > Verizon App Manager > Disable.
@West
You can’t fully uninstall it, but you can at least disable it:
Settings > Apps > Verizon App Manager > Disable.
Avi said:
@West
You can’t fully uninstall it, but you can at least disable it:
Settings > Apps > Verizon App Manager > Disable.
Found this and disabled it. Fingers crossed it stops. Thanks!
@Devon
Thanks for sharing! I disabled mine after seeing your post.
@Devon
If you have a computer, you can use ADB commands to remove Verizon apps.
@West
To fully remove the bloatware, you’d need to flash the international ROM, which isn’t modified by Verizon.
Every time you get a new phone or switch carriers, these companies install games or other apps. It’s better now since Android lets you disable or hide them. All the carriers want control like Apple, but only Apple manages to keep the carriers at bay.
If you have a carrier-locked phone, they can install these apps. Try to avoid buying locked phones.