We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
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vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.
Advertising Disclosure

vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

What Is Bloatware & How to Remove It in 2024 [IN SECONDS]

Kristina Perunicic Former Managing Editor

Have you noticed that your phone or computer is running a lot slower? If you've ever tried to investigate, you may have found that your device is packed with apps or software that you don't remember installing.

This is bloatware—and it can be annoying at best, or dangerous at worst.

Read our guide to find out how bloatware got onto your device and how you can get rid of it.

How to Remove Bloatware: Quick Guide

  1. Download free anti-bloatware software. We recommend Should I Remove It?
  2. Run a system scan.
  3. Uninstall the apps or software identified as bloatware in the scan.

What Is Bloatware?

Bloatware encompasses apps or software installed on your device that are excessively large or inefficient, resulting in system slowdowns and/or battery drain.

For example, some software continuously updates until it is overloaded with features, taking up huge amounts of room on your device and preventing it from working properly.

Other bloatware comes preinstalled on your device—whether you like it or not—such as music apps or video editing software created by your device's maker,  or trialware created by third-party companies, which you can use for a certain amount of time before being asked to pay.

More ominously, bloatware can make its way onto your device by more malicious means. You can unknowingly download bloatware onto your device by visiting suspicious websites or clicking on links and ads from unsecured sources. It can also sometimes be hidden in other seemingly legitimate downloads.

Usually, bloatware is simply annoying. It takes up space in your device memory and can result in poor performance. The malicious type can include nasty spyware such as malware or adware.

How to Remove Bloatware

Getting rid of bloatware depends on your device and the kind of bloatware you're dealing with.

If the bloatware is visible, the process can be simple. For example, trialware and other third-party apps can often be uninstalled in your device settings.

If you're looking to remove a preinstalled app from a smartphone, however, you may find that manufacturer-made apps cannot be uninstalled. The best you can do in these circumstances is to disable the app. Depending on your device, you should be able to do this via your settings.

Some tech companies do sell "clean" devices, such as the Windows Signature Edition PCs. These are promised to arrive free from annoying add-ons or unwanted third-party apps. However, you can expect to pay quite a bit more.

The best idea is to check your apps and run an anti-bloatware scan on any new device to make sure nothing is slowing you down from the beginning.

If your device performance is really taking a hit, we recommend that you check out our top free recommendations for anti-bloatware software:

Any of these programs will run a scan of your device to identify potential bloatware. You can then remove the bloatware via the program, or manually.

Stay Protected from Malicious Bloatware

Antivirus software can go a long way to protecting you from any accidental downloads.

You can also opt to use a VPN that comes with built-in anti-malware and adware capabilities. For example, CyberGhost comes with built-in features that block any suspicious websites or downloads and protect you from spyware.

Editor's Note: Transparency is one of our core values at vpnMentor, so you should know we are in the same ownership group as CyberGhost VPN. However, this does not affect our review process.

Conclusion and Further Reading

Bloatware is mostly a matter of annoyance—until it threatens your cybersecurity. Make sure to remove any unwanted software that's slowing down your device, and protect yourself from malicious bloatware by using a good VPN.

Worried that malware has already made its way onto your device? Read our in-depth guide to spyware and how to remove it in minutes.

If you’d like to know more about CyberGhost, you can read real user reviews here.

Want help picking a VPN to protect you from bloatware? Read our guide to choosing the best VPN.

Privacy Alert!

Your data is exposed to the websites you visit!

Your IP Address:

Your Location:

Your Internet Provider:

The information above can be used to track you, target you for ads, and monitor what you do online.

VPNs can help you hide this information from websites so that you are protected at all times. We recommend ExpressVPN — the #1 VPN out of over 350 providers we've tested. It has military-grade encryption and privacy features that will ensure your digital security, plus — it's currently offering 48% off.

Visit ExpressVPN

We review vendors based on rigorous testing and research but also take into account your feedback and our affiliate commission with providers. Some providers are owned by our parent company.
Learn more
vpnMentor was established in 2014 to review VPN services and cover privacy-related stories. Today, our team of hundreds of cybersecurity researchers, writers, and editors continues to help readers fight for their online freedom in partnership with Kape Technologies PLC, which also owns the following products: ExpressVPN, CyberGhost, and Private Internet Access which may be ranked and reviewed on this website. The reviews published on vpnMentor are believed to be accurate as of the date of each article, and written according to our strict reviewing standards that prioritize professional and honest examination of the reviewer, taking into account the technical capabilities and qualities of the product together with its commercial value for users. The rankings and reviews we publish may also take into consideration the common ownership mentioned above, and affiliate commissions we earn for purchases through links on our website. We do not review all VPN providers and information is believed to be accurate as of the date of each article.

About the Author

Kristina Perunicic is a former editor for vpnMentor. She’s a cybersecurity expert with an interest in VPNs and their importance in the digital privacy landscape.

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