topic Unwanted games added to my phone after an update in Galaxy S21

Unwanted games added to my phone after an update

MrsShip — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 19:02:20 GMT

Every time there is a system update, there are three or four games that are added to my phone without my permission! It needs to stop!!!! What can to do to stop this?

Re: Unwanted Apps

LongHiker — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:00:28 GMT

Samsung doesn't do this but carriers do. They often offer an option to opt out. Contact your carrier if you are unable to locate it.

Re: Re: Unwanted Apps

MrsShip — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:01:10 GMT

Thank you so much!!!!!

Re: Unwanted Apps

GaryB82 — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:01:51 GMT

You would need to buy an unlocked device from Samsung directly so this wouldn't happen since it's your carrier adding the games and other apps to the update.

Re: Re: Unwanted Apps

MrsShip — Sat, 18 May 2024 14:03:56 GMT

Thank you!! They started doing this a few months ago on our phones. I appreciate the feedback!

Re: Unwanted Apps

BrickBeast — Sun, 19 May 2024 20:55:17 GMT

For a company that is bragging about the BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARD...mind u, via SMS...not a hard award to win when u NEVER get to the bottom of the issue...like ONE UI 6.1 major cluster**bleep**... it's bad enough already that I have...Samsung's GALAXY STORE & Google's PLAY STORE, mimicking app for app, useless flaw for not working harder to create better phones, instead u want better SPYING ALGORITHMS...unwanted update, unnecessarily a waste of time, & most shocking, it's a downgrade and the tech gods should be ashamed of how trashy, disgusting this (ONE UI 6.1) update was...AN UNWANTED PIECE OF **bleep**...

Re: Re: Unwanted Apps

MrsShip — Sun, 19 May 2024 21:54:21 GMT

I, too, thought it was strange to add these unwanted apps. I feel they are spying, also. Nothing is safe anymore.

Re: Unwanted Apps

eswarjj — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:14:28 GMT

Mine is an unlocked device. Just had Spotify, Linkedin and a bunch of other apps just decide to install themselves over the weekend. I keep my phone barebones. So, this is beyond annoying. This happens one more time and I'll just switch over to Pixel or even Moto which I had for ages that didn't pull this BS.

Re: Unwanted Apps

LongHiker — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:40:24 GMT

@eswarjj Go to phone settings -> About phone and check the model number. If the model number ends in "U1" then it is a truly unlocked device. If it ends in "U" it is a carrier unlocked device.

This is your carrier or another malicious app on your phone. I've had unlocked devices for years and never had any random apps installed on my phones.

Re: Unwanted Apps

eswarjj — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:50:28 GMT

@LongHiker Just got it directly my from Samsung pre-owned store

SM-G991U1

Re: Re: Unwanted Apps

MrsShip — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 19:42:13 GMT

Interesting ... directly from Samsung store, huh? 🤔

Re: Unwanted Apps

LongHiker — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 20:12:44 GMT

@eswarjj This is your carrier or another malicious app on your phone. I've had unlocked devices for years and never had any random apps installed on my phones.

Re: Unwanted Apps

eswarjj — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 01:46:07 GMT

Hey, just trying to further debug this. I only have apps from the Play Store (that I've used on other phones before). Any idea how or why the carrier can access my phone? Any way to disable this? So far the only ones that have been installed are ones that were pre-installed junk directly from Samsung. These are apps that could be uninstalled - not just disabled. So, they were gone completely for a few days.

Re: Unwanted Apps

LongHiker — Tue, 27 Aug 2024 02:21:21 GMT

@eswarjj Which carrier do you have? T-Mobile has an app they frequently put on phones.

Re: Unwanted Apps

GDawn — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 12:56:45 GMT

I found instruction to go to Play Store, click your profile top right. Settings, Network Pref, Auto Update Apps, Don't Auto Update Apps.
Giving it a try with fingers crossed. New apps without permission is aggravating. Cannot be secure.