4 pointless apps I at all times uninstall to declutter my Google Pixel

What I personally like about Google’s Pixel smartphones, in comparison with different Android telephone makers like Samsung, is that the telephones do not include as a lot bloatware. Sure, Google has most of its apps pre-installed on its units, equivalent to YouTube and Gmail, however these are genuinely helpful apps that many individuals use. With Samsung, One UI consists of plenty of bloatware apps you are more likely to by no means even use.

That mentioned, Google is not fully off the hook relating to pre-installed apps which might be pointless. Whereas I would not classify them as bloatware the way in which I’d with Samsung, there are nonetheless fairly just a few that I do not use, by no means plan to make use of, and do not want, which I uninstalled to avoid wasting storage and tidy up my telephone. If you have already got a Pixel telephone, otherwise you’re about to get a brand-new Pixel 10 series machine, listed below are 4 pre-installed Google apps that I believe are price uninstalling if you happen to do not use them, plus one price disabling.

1

Google One

If you do not have a subscription, you then possible do not want the app

Google One comes pre-installed on most Pixel telephones, permitting you to handle your Google One subscription and its related advantages. I personally haven’t got a Google One subscription, because the 15GB of free storage that comes with each Google account is greater than sufficient for me, and I often again up my pictures on my telephone utilizing both the Amazon Pictures app (since that comes free with my Prime subscription) or OneDrive. Whereas I like Google Drive, I personally depend on OneDrive extra for my cloud storage wants since I take advantage of a Home windows 11 desktop and laptop computer for work, so I’ve by no means wanted the additional cloud storage Google One gives.

In case you have a Google One subscription, it is most likely price preserving this app, however I do not, and in all the yr I’ve had my Pixel 8a, I’ve by no means used it as soon as. So, it was a simple resolution to uninstall it and unlock some space for storing. Should you’re in the identical boat, I might advocate doing the identical.

2

Google Dwelling

Sorry, Google Dwelling — it isn’t you, it is me

Google / Pocket-lint

Google Home is a useful app for establishing and managing sensible house units, like Google’s Nest merchandise. This consists of units equivalent to sensible audio system, shows, Wi-Fi, door locks, cameras, doorbells, and thermostats. Nonetheless, if you happen to’re like me and solely depend on one or two sensible house merchandise, none of that are from Google, then the Google Dwelling app is considerably pointless.

I take advantage of Wyze merchandise, and I management all of them via Wyze’s devoted app, so I have never discovered a use for the Google Dwelling app. My philosophy is, if I do not use it, I do not want it, so uninstalling Google Dwelling from my Pixel smartphone was a simple selection. Should you’re not managing sensible house merchandise with Google, haven’t any sensible house units in any respect, or want a unique app like Dwelling Assistant, Wyze, or Amazon Alexa, you then most likely do not want Google Dwelling both, and you’ll uninstall it to avoid wasting space for storing and scale back litter in your Pixel telephone.

3

Google Hold

It is a noteworthy app, however I merely do not use it

Google / Pocket-lint

I am a bit old-school relating to notes, so if I’ve one thing I have to work on, I often jot it down on a chunk of paper or a sticky be aware slightly than utilizing a note-taking app. With that in thoughts, I’ve by no means actually had a use for Google’s notetaking app, Google Keep. Do not get me unsuitable, like the opposite apps on this listing, Google Hold is tremendous useful. You’ll be able to create notes, checklists, reminders, and voice notes with it, and it is a good way to arrange all of your ideas and concepts in a single app.

Google Hold additionally syncs throughout all of your units, so if you happen to take notes on an iPad or iPhone, they’re going to additionally pop up in your Pixel. It is versatile, however my easy case for uninstalling it, like the remainder of these apps, is that I haven’t got an on a regular basis use case for it, so eradicating it was the best choice for me to wash up my machine.

4

Google Information

I really feel like this app will not be as controversial as a few of the different apps on this listing, however one of many first apps I uninstall at any time when I get a brand new Pixel is the Google Information app. Should you’ve by no means used Google Information earlier than, it is primarily a feed of native and international information you could scroll via, and you may as well comply with publications you wish to learn to get up to date on their newest tales.

Do not get me unsuitable, I like to remain knowledgeable about what’s occurring in my local people and the world, however I’ve different information apps on my telephone that do that for me, which I a lot want, such because the BBC and Inoreader. The Uncover feed on my Pixel telephone additionally exists, which is separate from the Google Information app, so even with it uninstalled, I can nonetheless simply flick thru attention-grabbing tales at any time when I need to, due to Uncover.

5

Google TV

You’ll be able to’t uninstall it, however you possibly can disable it

Google / Pocket-lint

Google TV is the one app on this listing that Google inexplicably would not will let you uninstall. Nonetheless, you possibly can disable it so it would not eat background sources in your machine. The app permits searching and discovering content material from numerous streaming platforms, creating watchlists, getting customized viewing suggestions, and exploring leisure information. It additionally has a retailer for renting or shopping for films and TV reveals. Plus, when you have a Google TV or Android TV, you possibly can join the app to your TV and management it along with your Pixel telephone as a remote.

Whereas some might discover the Google TV app helpful, I personally see no want for it. That is most likely as a result of I do not personal a Google TV and primarily stream by way of a Fireplace TV Stick, largely utilizing Prime Video for leases and purchases. I additionally subscribe to Netflix and Disney+, so I’m going on to these companies once I need particular content material, as a substitute of utilizing a curated app like Google TV. Should you’re like me and have not used Google TV in your Pixel telephone, disabling it is likely to be a good suggestion. You can even go to the Play Retailer and uninstall all of the updates for it to avoid wasting space for storing. Google actually must let individuals absolutely uninstall this app, although. If we are able to uninstall Google Dwelling, we must always be capable of uninstall Google TV.

All these apps can simply be reinstalled if wanted

All of the apps I’ve listed on this story are pre-installed Google apps on each Pixel machine. I am not implying any of them are low-quality, however since I do not use them or have different apps with comparable capabilities, I’ve determined to uninstall them.

That mentioned, if you happen to uninstall any of those Google apps, you possibly can simply reinstall any of them everytime you need by going to the Google Play Retailer and trying to find them.