When you get a smartphone, it’s common knowledge that it comes with apps already on it. However, not all of those apps end up being all that useful.
Although it’s nice to know that when you get your new smartphone, there are lots of features and apps that can help you tackle creative or practical projects, so often, your preinstalled apps go unnoticed. After you get used to your device, you might notice that you only use apps that are essential for your everyday actions, like text messages, calls, social media, emails, etc. Therefore, other preinstalled apps simply sit in the background and eat up your storage. Read more about five preinstalled iPhone and Android apps you might not realize are taking up storage below.
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1. iMovie
Years ago, iMovie used to be one of the most exciting apps featured on iPhones and Apple computers, as it was a super fascinating way to create short or longer form films on your device and share them with friends. However, these days, iMovie is typically most popular among students needing to make short films for a class project. Other than that, it's just sitting there.
If you haven't created something on iMovie for a year or more, it's not a bad idea to delete it, as it holds a lot of data and files that are likely collecting dust on your device.
2. Samsung Free
Samsung Free is a built-in Android app, otherwise known as 'bloatware,' found on many Galaxy devices that displays news, TV, podcasts, and games in one place. It's there to help users discover entertainment and information without downloading extra apps, but most likely, users are already using separate apps for that information, via their favorite streaming platforms, news apps, etc.
Therefore, many Android users might want to disable Samsung Free to let their other apps run smoothly and save some storage on their phone.
3. GarageBand
Like iMovie, GarageBand is another one of those apps that used to be super fascinating and entertaining to iPhone users, but now, it's not nearly as popular as other at-home music-making platforms have evolved and taken its place. Unless you're an avid songwriter and music lover, there's a good chance that if GarageBand is still on your phone, it's useless and hasn't been opened in a long time.
GarageBand can take up a significant amount of storage space on your device, especially with its large library of loops, instruments, and sound packs. If you're not actively creating music, those gigabytes could be better used for apps, photos, or system updates. Deleting GarageBand can free up valuable space and help your device run more efficiently.
4. Samsung Kids
Samsung Kids is a bloatware app that creates a safe, child-friendly platform where kids can play games, watch videos, and explore content just for their age that can be accessed under parental supervision. While it's useful for families and people with young children, it can still take up a noticeable amount of storage space due to its built-in apps, graphics, and security features. If you don't have kids or rarely use the feature, deleting or disabling Samsung Kids can help free up valuable storage and improve your device's overall performance.
5. Books
The Books app on iPhone is Apple's preinstalled platform for reading and listening to digital books and audiobooks, allowing users to purchase books from the Apple Books Store or upload their own stories. While it's convenient for avid readers, the app can take up a surprising amount of storage, especially if you've downloaded multiple books or large audiobook files for offline access.
Therefore, if you mostly take to your Kindle or listen to audiobooks on streaming platforms, versus read books on your Books app, it might be worth deleting it to save on space and keep your phone running smoothly.
