Randomly installing unknown apps on your Android device can be annoying. If you're not careful, you could have dozens of unnecessary apps running unchecked. While you can manually delete or uninstall them, you'll need to investigate and fix the reasons why these apps keep installing automatically in the first place. While it's difficult to narrow down the exact cause of such behavior, it usually starts when you accidentally tap on an innocent ad or download an APK outside of the Play Store. Let's learn how to stop unwanted app installation on Android.
1. Your Android phone has unnecessary apps pre-installed.
Many Android phone makers, such as Samsung and Xiaomi, preload third-party apps on their low-end and mid-range offerings. For example, you'll see Galaxy M-series and A-series phones with a variety of regional apps and Microsoft services—the apps may vary by region, but they're there. Fortunately, some major Android phone makers allow you to uninstall and remove these apps.
2. You accidentally click on ads.
Many Android apps and games contain banner ads at the bottom, top, or entire screen. If you accidentally click on these ads, they will take you to the Play Store to install the app or automatically download the app to your phone.
Some app developers even go the extra mile and launch giant ads on the home screen. You can identify these apps and disable the behavior using the steps below.
Step 1: Determination Applications that sends your ads to main screen.
Step 2: Look for App icon From the app drawer menu, long press on it.
Step 3: Open Application Information List and select appear In the top option.
Step 4: Qom Disable permission from the following list.
These apps can't show you ads on your home screen. Also, you won't accidentally tap on ads and end up downloading apps on your Android device.
3. Be careful with GALAXY STORE (For Samsung phones only)
This is entirely based on our experience with the Galaxy A52. Sometimes, when using Samsung's default Galaxy Store to update default apps, it prompts random apps to be installed before opening the home screen.
Obviously, some users will continue to work without checking which apps will be installed on their Galaxy phone. You should deselect the options to install any such apps and only then proceed with updating apps using the Galaxy Store.
4. When downloading sideloaded applications from unknown sources
You should not install apps from the web and stick to the Google Play Store to download apps and games. Google scans every app/game on your phone using Google Play Protect It removes fake apps that contain malicious files.
When sideloading apps from the web, Google Play can't protect against malicious apps. Some rogue apps may end up downloading in the background. You can go ahead and disable sideloading from unknown sources on your phone.
Step 1: Swipe up and open App drawer menu.
Step 2: Open Settings on your phone.
Step 3: go to the Application List.
Step 4: Look for Chrome From the menu, click on it.
Step 5: Scroll down and select Application installation list Unknown. Switch Allow from this source option.
5. Secure screen ads
Many Samsung and Xiaomi phones come with a background service called Glance on the lock screen. Naturally, you just tap one of the recommended apps on the lock screen and install it on your phone. Fortunately, you have the option toDisable these services from the lock screenHere's how.
Step 1: Open Settings On your phone (see steps above).
Step 2: Scroll down to Lock screen.
Step 3: Locate Wallpaper services.
Step 4: Click on radio button Beside without and get ready The perfect lock screen.
6. When updating the software on your phone
Samsung often automatically installs apps with security patches and software updates. We don't recommend ignoring OS updates, as they're essential to your phone's security and longevity. Occasionally, your local carrier may install partner apps via OTA (over-the-air) updates. Therefore, you'll need to be careful every time you apply an update.
It's all about the money.
Installing apps without user consent via ads, lock screen services, OS updates, or the Galaxy Store is part of a larger scheme to boost partner app downloads and make money. You can keep the above points in mind and stop installing unwanted apps on your Android. If you still see random apps popping up out of nowhere, your phone may have been hacked and you need to reset it from scratch.
