What Is Bloatware and How to Remove It Completely

Computers, tablets and phones are usually associated with efficiency and speed. Unfortunately, that's not always the case. Sometimes, you might notice that your device behaves inexplicably slow, or that there are suspicious apps running in the background.  

So, what’s usually behind these issues?

Such behavior could be caused by bloatware, which is a common, yet irritating challenge for tech users. But don’t worry, removing bloatware is fairly easy.  

In this article we'll go over some of the most common bloatware examples and show you how to remove them.

Pro tip: To be on the safe side, we recommend you use a reliable cybersecurity solution like Clario. Its regular system scan will find and remove whatever malware is affecting your device.

What is bloatware?

Bloatware (also: Potentially Unwanted Programs – PUP) is basically software that slows down your device.  

It could refer to programs that are installed, but not used, and still take up plenty of space, memory and battery life. Also, sometimes these unused pieces of software are enormous, making them more of a liability than a reliable tool.

It usually hides in the background, so sometimes it isn't as easy to detect as we would like. That does not mean bloatware is some kind of malware. However, some bloatware downloaded from malicious websites, or downloaded inadvertently along with a third-party software, could contain malware.

Good advice: occasionally check your device so you know when it’s time to get rid of bloatware.

There are two main ways you may end up with bloatware installed on your apparently safe device. On one hand, it could come pre-installed from the manufacturer on your PC, tablet, or phone. On the other hand, it could come via programs you have actually downloaded from the internet.

Pre-installed software

This is the most ordinary and possibly oldest type of bloatware. Manufacturers are used to selling devices with certain software installed by default. This is done to make more money by offering you additional programs, such as security suites, file managers, music apps, or some third-party software you could be interested in.

Pre-installed bloatware is mostly harmless and only shows ads, which is annoying, but you might not feel the need to delete it right away. Still, there is also the risk of bloatware like this being susceptible to external attacks.

Software downloaded from the internet

This is considered more dangerous than the pre-installed software, since some of it is created with the purpose of causing harm to a machine or user. It doesn’t mean all downloaded bloatware is necessarily dangerous, but the security risk is higher.  

This form of bloatware could be as harmless as only slowing down your computer or constantly displaying advertising. However, it could also pave the path to more harmful practices like man-in-the-middle attacks, spying or remotely managing your machine.

This bloatware often comes from malicious websites, suspicious links or ads. It can also come along with programs that you actually wanted to download.

So, if you don’t recollect downloading the app or don’t use it, if it constantly offers you extra purchases, if you notice irritating pop ups or unwanted redirects to some websites, you definitely need to get rid of that bloatware. Another distinguishing feature of bloatware is that it may not be easy to remove and it reappears even if you uninstalled it.  

What does bloatware do?

Bloatware can consume a lot of valuable resources. While it is running in your device's background, it cripples performance, consumes memory, storage, and also brings down battery life. Basically, bloatware clogs your machine. It could fill your internet browser with ads and, in more severe cases, lead to a security threat.

Types of bloatware

So now that you have an idea of what bloatware is, the inconvenience it can cause, and danger it represents, we can break down different types of bloatware. They might not be the only bloatware examples, but by far the most common you might encounter:

Trialware

This bloatware is frequent for Windows computers. Imagine a newly bought PC with software already running on it. In this case, the installed software needs a license to work, but it comes as a "free trial" mode. It stops working once the trial is over, while continuing to consume your device's resources.

Trialware is not typically harmful, but can be annoying. The silver lining is that it is not hidden in the device's background, so  it is fairly easy to remove bloatware like this.

Utilities

Manufacturers pre-load several utilities from them and third-parties which add functionality to your PC. Some of these utilities are helpful, such as backup, file management or video editors, but you might not use all of them. Remember, it might not be bloatware if you actually use it.

Third-party utilities are usually easy to remove, while you might not be allowed to uninstall any from the manufacturer. Check those you normally use, and those you want to remove.

Adware

Contrary to previous types of bloatware, adware is more likely to get installed on your PC by an internet download rather than being pre-installed. It will display constant ads on your web browser, making it not harmful, but something you will certainly soon want to delete. Still, there've been cases in which PC manufacturers sold new computers with pre-installed adware.

This is an easy type of bloatware to remove, but still, preventing adware is always the best choice, rather than going over several daily ads on your browser. In case you got it, you can rely on manual removal for easily deleting bloatware.

Common bloatware app examples

• Weather apps
• Financial or money apps
• Game centers
• Sports apps
• Map or navigation apps
• Health and fitness apps
• Messaging or video apps
• Music and video players
• Toolbars and junk-browser extensions
• System update apps
• Personal productivity assistants

How to remove bloatware from your device

It is not the end of the world if you find out your computer has bloatware. Once you detect the symptoms it is only a matter of finding their cause. You can find bloatware and remove it manually.

Here are some simple instructions on how to get rid of bloatware:

How to remove bloatware on macOS

1. First, open a Finder window and find the Applications folder in its sidebar.

2. Locate the app you want removed, click on it, and drag it towards the Bin icon on the screen's bottom. You might as well select the application and choose: File > Move to Bin.

3. You could be asked for your username and your password. Enter them.

4. To permanently remove the app, and therefore delete bloatware, choose: Finder > Empty Bin.

How to remove bloatware on Windows 10?

This is done through a tool known as Fresh Start (for Windows 10 versions prior to 2004) or Reset this PC. It will reset the device and install only what is necessary for Windows to run. Remember, even though it shouldn't delete your files and folders, it is normally a good practice to create a backup of your computer.

So, this is how to remove Windows 10 bloatware:  
 

1. First, go to Start Menu, then search for Settings.

2. Choose Update & Security.

3. In Update & Security, select Recovery.

4. Under Reset this PC, choose Get started.

5. Select Keep my files.

6. Choose either Cloud download or Local reinstall depending on whether you need a new version of Windows from Microsoft or want to use an old one from your computer.

7. Click Next if you see the warning that you won’t be able to go back to the previous version of Windows.  

8. Click Reset to start the process.  

If you have Windows 10 prior to 2004, please check the instructions here.

How to remove bloatware on Android

Notice that this method might not uninstall bloatware completely, because the manufacturer wants some of those pre-installed applications to stay on your device. They might keep taking space, but with this process those applications will disappear from the Main menu and will not run in the phone's background.

1. First, go to your smartphone's Settings. This can be done from the Home Screen or through the App drawer.  

2. Scroll and look for the Apps submenu, then tap on it.

3. Look for the App you want deleted, and tap on it. Keep in mind that some applications cannot be uninstalled, mainly those concerning the manufacturer.

4. Once you are in the application's settings, move the Switch to uninstall or disable the app.

How to remove bloatware on iOS

Even when iOS does not usually contain as much bloatware as Android, it is a good practice to check whether there are unused applications taking up your phone's valuable resources.

1. Go to Settings and tap General.

2. Then go to iPhone Storage.

3. Tap on the corresponding application.

4. If you wish to keep the app's user settings while deleting the app, tap on Offload App. Otherwise, tap Delete App so you can completely remove it. Remember that offloading will naturally free less space than deleting.

How to prevent bloatware

Since technology is always changing, there's no infallible way to prevent bloatware when downloading a program from the internet. Still, there are some tips that you can learn to prevent most of the annoying, and potentially harmful, issues that come with bloatware. Keep these guidelines in mind when downloading software to save yourself some trouble.

Before downloading

First, make sure that you are in fact downloading a program from an official site, or at least a trustworthy resource, like Google Play, AppStore, MacUpdate, etc. This will also help you avoid downloading bundles of programs, which often contain bloatware among them.

Sometimes it is difficult to make sure a website is trustworthy. Sometimes, even when you do not really trust the site, it is the only place you can find the program you are looking for. If this is the case, then you would benefit from a cybersecurity software, such as Clario, to prevent and remove bloatware, among its other security features.

During installation

Once you download something and are in the installation process, read the information carefully and don't just click Agree automatically. Also, read the text in the checkboxes to verify that you are only installing what you need. Sometimes those boxes are clicked automatically and the program will download additional features and things you don’t need.

Conclusion

So, bloatware can be irritating and problematic, but you shouldn't be scared of it. If it does appear on your computer or smartphone, you will be able to get rid of bloatware any time following the steps reviewed above.

Pro tip: To make your life easier, try Clario’s all-round cybersecurity solution. It will protect your device from bloatware, as well as other kinds of malware, and save you time and headaches. Get Clario today!

FAQ

How do I know if I have bloatware?

Bloatware can be detected by end users by looking through the installed applications and identifying any they did not install. It can also be detected by an enterprise IT team using a mobile device management tool that lists all the installed applications.

Is bloatware a malware?

Short answer: No. Bloatware is a piece of unwanted software on your computer or smartphone. However, it can include malware like adware if injected via a malicious website.

Why is bloatware bad?

Bloatware runs in the background, ruining the battery life. Thus, the phone slows down. If you want to remove bloatware, then it becomes a hard choice. Doing so may cause a problem on your device.

Which bloatware is safe to remove from Windows 10?

Here are several Windows 10 apps and programs that are basically bloatware and you should consider removing:

• QuickTime
• CCleaner
• uTorrent
• Adobe Flash Player
• Shockwave Player
• Microsoft Silverlight
• Toolbars and Junk Extensions in your Browser

Does bloatware slow down your computer?

Firstly, bloatware can significantly slow down your computer. If you have lots of these programs loading in your device start-up or performing operations in the background, they can eat up your RAM. You should uninstall bloatware as soon as it begins to affect your device's performance.

Read more:

• Why Is My Mac Running Slowly?
• How to Remove a Virus and Other Malware from your PC
• How to Avoid Phishing Scams