The #DeleteFacebook movement may be growing, but many Samsung users are having a tough time scraping the social network’s preinstalled software from their phones.
Bloomberg reports that the Facebook software that comes installed on some Samsung phones cannot be deleted. Instead, it can only be disabled. Devices affected include flagship models such as the Galaxy 9, for which users pay high prices.
Some users were irritated that the app couldn’t be truly deleted, even in its disabled state:
https://twitter.com/PressXtoJason_/status/1082981989966401544Is this legal? Isn't that exactly what @Microsoft was penalised for in EU with Explorer on Windows?
— kpellegr (@kpellegr) January 8, 2019
Pre-installed software has long been a feature on both mobile and desktop platforms. For years, many PCs have shipped with ‘bloatware’ – trial versions of apps including antivirus tools that users see the first time they start their machine. However, PC users have the power to delete those apps.
While it’s true that you can’t delete Facebook’s preinstalled software from some Samsung units, the problem isn’t as severe as you might think. The preinstalled software isn’t the full-blown app. Instead, it’s a ‘stub’ application called the Facebook App Manager that simply prompts you to update it to the full version of the Facebook app.
The stub app is installed as system software, making it hard for regular users to delete. It isn’t the only system software that Android users can find on their phones. Applications from Google, which produces Android, also regularly crop up in the system space on Android phones.
Disabling the Facebook app makes it act as though it has been deleted. This means that as far as anyone knows, the disabled stub version won’t secretly send your data to Facebook.
Having said that, users could be forgiven for distrusting Facebook’s interaction with software on their phones. The Onavo VPN that it purchased in 2013 was found to have been phoning home from users’ devices and telling it what software people were using, even when it was turned off. More recently, third-party apps have been caught sending app usage data to Facebook’s servers without users’ permission.
There are reportedly some complex options available to delete stub system apps without gaining root access to the phone. These include package disablers and Android Debug Bridge (ADB) programs that let you communicate with the phone via a command line interface. This is technical stuff, though, and not something that the average consumer should tackle. One wrong step with an erroneous command and you could damage your Android operating system.
For the majority, the best option may simply be to take a deep breath, disable the app, and ignore the fact that companies are making money preinstalling stub apps on a device that you already paid for.
noway@noway.com
It’s bad enough that I can’t completely delete Google apps from my Android, only disable them. (Yes, Android can work just fine without Google.) Having Facebook shoved down my throat when it is so clearly a malicious actor just takes the cake. I would demand a full refund for that Samsung immediately.
Mahhn
I guess a good question to ask is, Does the stub transmit data without permission? (or when you would expect it not to)- like so many apps that have been reported on by the writers here. I convinced a person today to delete the weather app, due to reporting location constantly.
delayedthoughtengineering
It doesn’t really matter if the software transmits data now. If it auto-updates, it will at some point be given that requirement and prompt the user for additional permissions. Most users will click through and allow it.
Epic_Null
I don’t know that your comment The preinstalled software isn’t the full-blown app. Instead, it’s a ‘stub’ application called the Facebook App Manager that simply prompts you to update it to the full version of the Facebook app.” Is accurate though – in my case I have three seperate apps called “Facebook”, “Facebook App Manager”, and “Facebook App Installer”, all which take up system memory. (One is disabled and I recently dumped their data, so it will take a few days to get more data on them)
Peconet57
Before I buy any “Smartphone” I will check to see IF it can be rooted. If the “Smartphone” can be rooted then (as long as it has an option to have a memory card) I will purchase that phone. When rooted then you can delete ALL of the apps that you do not need. I have rooted my Samsung S4 (i do not care that it is old, it works and I am happy) and I have deleted many apps such as Facebook and Instagram. My phone works like a dream the way I want it to work and NOT the company that makes it. IF at all possible look for a phone that can be rooted and buy that phone so that you can delete this pesky apps that you do not like.
Anonymous Coward
Or bite the bullet and buy a Pixel.
Mike
Let’s have a proper conversion about this, but first you have to change the title of this article to: “You can’t delete most of the pre-installed apps from any Android and people aren’t happy”.
sumguy954
It’s not just Samsung, Its preloaded on other phones as well. I have a Moto E5+ and its pre installed and you can only disable it. When you do it, says it will cause the phone to malfunction like when you remove or disable any other native app. Whether that’s true or not is questionable.