It’s a little hard to buy an APP for each mobile phone and earn 1.5 yuan to 3 yuan to break the industrial chain.

Each app installation can earn you between 1.5 to 3 yuan.

Law Weekend Trainee Reporter

Can Apple’s pre-installed software be removed for a fee? Recently, this news, which has not been officially confirmed by Apple, has circulated online and reignited discussions in the smartphone industry.

In November last year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology proposed new regulations to address the chaos of pre-installed apps. The Law Weekend reporter found that some mobile phone manufacturers have made changes, but most remain unaffected.

Industry insiders suggest that behind the pre-installed software lies a large profit chain, making it difficult to completely eliminate in the short term.

The rumor about paying 79 pounds to remove Apple's pre-installed software is likely just a myth.

With the increasing number of pre-installed apps on Apple devices and the technical difficulty of removing them, many users have expressed frustration. In June 2014, Ms. Yao from Shenzhen even sued Apple because she couldn't uninstall the pre-installed apps on her phone, demanding a system redesign and an apology.

Recently, some media reported that Apple recently launched iOS 9.3 developer beta, allowing users to delete pre-installed apps after a series of operations and pay £79 (RMB 741). As soon as the news broke, many users expressed their excitement.

However, there are also reports suggesting that the "paid removal" message is false, and it should be "paid hidden pre-installed software." The Law Weekend reporter contacted Apple China's relevant personnel for verification, but as of press time, no response was received.

Nevertheless, industry insiders believe that whether it's "deletion" or "hiding," Apple's attitude toward pre-installed software has changed.

In fact, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted last year during an interview with BuzzFeed that Apple would allow users to uninstall some pre-installed apps on iOS, but noted that not all pre-installed apps are easy to remove, as some are closely tied to the iOS system.

Cook promised that they are considering allowing the removal of pre-installed apps that aren’t essential for system functionality. He said: “We will find a way (to allow users to delete these apps), not that we want to take up your storage space. We have no motivation to do so. I’ve realized that some people want to do this (remove the pre-installed app), and we are looking at solving this problem.”

Ministry of Industry and Information Technology takes action against pre-installed software

Pre-installed software has long been criticized by consumers, not only on Apple products but on almost all smartphones. These apps not only occupy storage space but also cause slow startup times and reduced performance. Some even have issues like data theft and malicious charges.

In July last year, Samsung faced lawsuits over pre-installed apps that couldn’t be uninstalled. The Shanghai Consumer Protection Committee filed a lawsuit after purchasing 20 smartphones from various channels.

According to the 2014 “China Android Mobile Phone Pre-installation Industry and User Usage Research Report” released by DCCI Internet Data Center, 75% of Android phones come with more than six pre-installed apps (excluding basic functions like photo albums), with an average of 8.2 apps per phone.

This issue has caught the attention of authorities.

In November last year, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology issued the Interim Provisions on the Preset and Distribution Management of Mobile Intelligent Terminal Applications (APP) on its official website (Draft for Comment), clearly stating that all pre-installed software except basic functional software must be uninstallable. This aims to regulate the mobile app pre-installation market.

Moreover, the Ministry requires that all non-basic apps should be easily uninstalled by users. After uninstalling, the normal use of the phone should not be affected, and the related files should also be deletable. It also mandates that pre-installed apps shouldn’t be forcibly restored during OS updates. If a malicious app is found, it should be removed promptly.

Although this regulation hasn’t been officially implemented yet, it is expected to put pressure on mobile phone manufacturers.

Some manufacturers have started to adjust their policies. For example, ZUK, a sub-brand of Lenovo, claimed that its ZUI system has very few pre-installed apps. Its CEO stated that users can delete unused apps without rooting the device.

LeTV, which entered the mobile phone market in 2015, only pre-installs a few self-developed apps like “LeTV Community” and “LeTV Mall,” without any third-party commercial apps.

Samsung has also added a separate section on its official website for pre-installed apps. For example, on the Galaxy S6 Edge+, the site lists “basic applications (non-uninstallable)” and “recommended applications (uninstallable).”

Many phone brands have previously included clauses in their after-sales service terms stating that rooting the phone may void the warranty. However, companies like Coolpad and Nubian have taken a different approach, offering warranty support even after rooting.

Despite these efforts, the majority of manufacturers still maintain their pre-installation policies.

Wang Yanhui, secretary-general of the Mobile China Alliance, explained that the pre-installation of apps has formed a complex industrial chain involving mobile phone manufacturers, channel vendors, and app developers, making it difficult to change quickly.

Li Jianhua, an industry veteran, highlighted that each link in the supply chain benefits from pre-installed apps, and changing the status quo is challenging.

Xiang Ligang, a communications analyst, pointed out that telecom operators also play a role in this ecosystem, often requiring pre-installed apps as part of their partnerships with manufacturers.

From a consumer perspective, while pre-installed apps offer convenience, they also raise concerns about privacy and choice. Experts suggest that users should have the right to decide which apps to keep or remove.

Ge Youshan, director of the Consumer Law Committee of the China Lawyers Association, emphasized that manufacturers should inform consumers when pre-installing third-party apps.

Ultimately, the goal should be to provide users with more control over their devices, ensuring transparency and choice.

Glossary: Rooting refers to gaining administrative access on Android systems, allowing users to remove pre-installed apps and run apps that require elevated permissions.

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