What are all these apps for?!

[1deadeye]

I recently purchased a Razr M, this is my first Smartphone. There are obviously many pre-installed apps on it… how do I tell what they are for, and what they do, so I can safely delete those that I have no intention of using?

Smartphone noob. Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong forum; has been asked before; has bad grammar or spelling; is a dumb question; or has otherwise ticked someone off.

 

[sweenbeen]

I recently purchased a Razr M, this is my first Smartphone. There are obviously many pre-installed apps on it… how do I tell what they are for, and what they do, so I can safely delete those that I have no intention of using?

Smartphone noob. Apologies in advance if this is in the wrong forum; has been asked before; has bad grammar or spelling; is a dumb question; or has otherwise ticked someone off.

You can't delete or un install them unless you root. Additionally, if you do root and uninstall them, you will not be able to get OTA updates unless they are reinstalled. Most of those apps, mainly all, are junk but they don't have too much adverse effects on the phone...

Sent from my Motorola RazrM using Droid Forums

 

[FoxKat]

To add to what sweenbeen said, you can choose to make them "Disabled" while in the Manage Apps menu selection. Click on an app that you don't want to appear any longer in your app tray or on your home screen, and choose Disable. It will fall to the bottom of the Manage Apps list and say "Disabled" to the right. To later re-enable them, click and choose Enable.

Most apps can be disabled, but some are system apps and there is no option to disable. Others are critical for certain app functions so it's trial and error until you get the right mix. There are lists of apps that are deemed "safe to disable/delete", but as sweenbeen said, you are better off not deleting them through root as you will take yourself off the upgrade path and may disable the phone's operation or another important function unknowingly.

See below for examples;

 

[sweenbeen]

To add to what sweenbeen said, you can choose to make them "Disabled" while in the Manage Apps menu selection. Click on an app that you don't want to appear any longer in your app tray or on your home screen, and choose Disable. It will fall to the bottom of the Manage Apps list and say "Disabled" to the right. To later re-enable them, click and choose Enable.

Most apps can be disabled, but some are system apps and there is no option to disable. Others are critical for certain app functions so it's trial and error until you get the right mix. There are lists of apps that are deemed "safe to disable/delete", but as sweenbeen said, you are better off not deleting them through root as you will take yourself off the upgrade path and may disable the phone's operation or another important function unknowingly.

See below for examples;

<img src="http://www.droidforums.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=58011"/><img src="http://www.droidforums.net/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=58012"/>

I actually didn't know you could disabled apps like that without rooting! Thanks! Lol! I thought you had to root and then freeze... Didn't really want to get that detailed into it since they were green! But that helped me!

Sent from my Motorola RazrM using Droid Forums