Bloatware
Also known as: pre-installed apps, crapware, manufacturer apps, unwanted apps
Bloatware is software pre-installed on a device by the manufacturer or carrier that you did not choose — trial apps, duplicate utilities, and promotional apps. It takes up storage and sometimes cannot be fully removed, only disabled.
- Pre-installed apps you did not choose
- Wastes storage and can run in the background
- Often can be disabled even when it cannot be deleted
Where bloatware comes from
When a phone or computer ships, it often arrives loaded with extras: manufacturer apps, carrier apps, trial software, games, and second copies of tools the device already has. Because you never installed these, they are called bloatware — they bloat the device without adding value for most people.
Beyond the storage they occupy, some run in the background and use battery and data, which is why removing or disabling them can help performance as well as free space.
Removing vs disabling
Whether you can delete bloatware depends on the platform. On Android, some pre-installed apps can be uninstalled while others can only be disabled in Settings > Apps, which hides them and stops them running. On iPhone, most built-in Apple apps can be deleted like any other app and re-added from the App Store.