topic Re: Forced apps after Software Update in Account and services

Forced apps after Software Update

mlandsburgh — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 11:42:41 GMT

Absolutely disgusted by Three's latest money-grabbing scheme that forces game downloads after a Software Update.

As has happened with all software updates in recent months, when the latest Samsung/Android update happened this morning, Three forced me to review app suggestions.

I was irritated but expecting that, so went into it, unticked everything, and was about to Confirm, when I realised 3 apps didn’t have a box to untick and were called "essentials".

Sure enough, when I closed that menu, MistPlay, Solitaire, and Blackjack were slowly installed.

I immediately held their icons and uninstalled them again.

I have been carefully managing my storage and I have been avoiding new games for my mental wellbeing (to minimise screen time and distractions). It's annoying being asked about apps every update, but I can handle it. Being FORCED to take apps I don't want (presumably because Three gets a cut of the ad money) is horrendous customer service.

3 lessons for Three...

1. Stop forcing people to review games every software update - it's a stressor for people with limited digital skills.

2. Never force games and payment based apps onto people's phones. You are legitimising apps that look like scams (even if these 3 weren't) and are just asking for people to be harmed when they unwittingly get into difficulty.

3. I manage my storage. I manage what I need my phone for. Get your mits off my phone content 🤬

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 13:30:52 GMT

Oh for heavens sake people like you look for something to moan about even if there isn’t anything.My daughter is a gamer (on Three) and doesn’t recognise your description of the downloads. If the network “forced” you into a situation you strove to avoid that would be illegal. With absolute respect if you have a problem with gaming or gambling then you need to reach out to other agencies and not blame the messenger.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

JonathanB — Tue, 26 Mar 2024 14:06:44 GMT

Hi @mlandsburgh,

It's my understanding that this is a Samsung feature. If you search online for terms like Samsung suggested apps you'll see this occurs on Samsung devices from a number of service providers in various countries.

I'll happily pass your feedback on, but I'm not aware of this having any connection to Three's services.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

MeSirG1 — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 22:49:07 GMT

This is not about people moaning, it's about having a choice about what we want on OUR phones. I did the update and was also annoyed by the fact that these 3 apps were downloaded onto my phone without my permission. I had to wait till they downloaded till I could then delete them. So they were forced on me as a fishing expedition. I don't know the apps, I don't want the apps, I don't play any games on my phone, I never have and that's not because of any issues with gambling, I just don't like them because they are all about trying to con people into parting with their money and/or their time to have adverts and whatever other junk can be foisted on them. If your daughter is happy to play them, that's her choice, go for it. I don't want to play them, or have them foisted onto MY phone, and that should be my choice. Also to JonathanB. This is a 3 mobile thing, not samsung. It comes up as 3 everytime I get another update. Ty.

Kind regards. G.W.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 06:06:39 GMT

I really (and respectfully) don’t think it’s an issue related to Three and if as @JonathanB suggests it’s a Samsung issue (I don’t know as I don’t use a Samsung device) then take it up with them. My own opinion for what it’s worth is just delete them as you would any other app you didn’t like. I’ve been with Three for a good while and really don’t recognise the issue you’re describing.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

MeSirG1 — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 07:23:35 GMT

Hi, it is a 3 thing. After every update the 3 symbol appears at top of phone. You have to click on it to complete the update. When you click on it I opens 3 pages of apps, which all used to have a little tick box so you could decide if you wanted to download them or not. Except this latest time, when 3 games had no tick boxes and couldn't be stopped from automatically being downloaded. Wasting my time, my data and my patience. If you don't have the issue, that's wonderful! I do have the issue, I see it as an issue and I came to this forum hoping to find a fix for that issue, not a load of people "defending the man"! with nothing to really say that can help.

Kind regards G.W.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:58:53 GMT

I’m certainly NOT “defending the man”! Let’s get that perfectly straight. I’m simply saying I don’t have the issues you describe (Fact); you’ve had it suggested to you by a moderator that it’s likely to be a Samsung issue (Fact) and do I think you’re making a mountain out of a proverbial molehill,yes I do. (Final fact)

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

JonathanB — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:49:07 GMT

Hi @MeSirG1,

I can appreciate your frustration, but I do think this may be misplaced. If you've received a phone from Three, then you'll see some Three/3 branding here and there in the software, but we don't build completely distinct versions of Android, the bulk of any updates come from Google and Samsung, although we may make some optimisations to make sure features like Wi-Fi calling or VoLTE work, technical features which may vary a little bit from provider to provider.

Can you help me understand what you mean in terms of "It comes up as 3 everytime I get another update."? As I mentioned on my last reply to this thread, you can search online and find references to this happening on Samsung phones with other network providers.

Thanks,
Jonathan

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

MeSirG1 — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:48:39 GMT

I can only tell you what I see. When I do an os update, the phone turns of and then on again. Once I open up and the phone us ready to operate again the "3" logo appears in top left of phone next to the time. You click on it and it wants you to "finish setting up your phone" all with 3 logo's and branding. Once you open it up there are 3 pages of various apps, with little boxes to tick if you want to download them. Amazon music, solitaire and others. I untick all boxes as I don't want any of them. Normally that's that. But the last update there were three gaming apps without the tick boxes, so when I finished they automatically downloaded onto my phone. No choice. It was all done with "3" branding, nothing about Google or Samsung was anywhere to be seen. I will see out my last few months of this contract, after being with them for around 15 years, and go elsewhere.

Thanks. G.W.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 12:49:37 GMT

Final fact! 👋

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Oldandtired — Mon, 06 May 2024 23:07:02 GMT

The exact same thing happens to me and I absolutely hate it.

I do not want apps I haven't consented to being forced into my phone, without me having turned off tracking cookies for a start. Some apps throw out thousands of tracking attempts every time you open them. Why would I allow a company to do that without my consent?

It's an invasion of my privacy. I want to decide what goes on my phone. Surely that's my right as a consumer.

This time it didn't even get to the uncheck boxes stage - there was just suddenly a random game on my phone. Same thing happened to my partner a couple of days later, though that phone got 2 new apps, and they were different than mine.

At the same time (may or may not be related) a bunch of my privacy settings were changed and the government emergency alert can no longer be turned off (with a bonus 'can read sms messages') with it.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 05:41:30 GMT

Referring to an earlier post can I please ask what handset you’re using?

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Oldandtired — Tue, 07 May 2024 10:43:30 GMT

We have an S20 and an S23.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2024 10:57:53 GMT

Thanks. Then I can only refer you to the replies given by our forum moderator @JonathanB stating that this is likely to be a Samsung issue which apparently happens on other networks as well as Three. I’m sorry not to give you a more helpful answer.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Oldandtired — Tue, 07 May 2024 15:43:43 GMT

Thank you 😊 (more characters...)

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Waldopepper — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 15:45:56 GMT

Yeh I recently had to clear down a phone getting near the storage limit and found loads of games that I had no idea were installed! It was something like 2Gb used without my knowledge... assume from this Samsung update process.

I now know to uncheck games after the update, but there are always some that I am forced to install. I assume Samsung are paid to do this as it will show as more downloads on the Play Store? If it does, it's misleading other users to how popular the apps are.

For those on limited data allowance, it must be annoying, or for those using phones for government or with work phones which are audited/tracked it doesn't look good either.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Longdog63 — Wed, 28 Aug 2024 20:52:20 GMT

I recently noticed this. An undeletable message, "Complete your OS upgrade Click to get started" only disappears if you click it. And you aren't completeing your OS upgrade, but instead at least 3 apps get installed on your phone that you have not authorised!!!!! I have over fifty such apps on my phone and my phone is rapidily running out of space. My contract ends soon, had enough of being bombarded by ads and forced installation of apps. Goodbye 3 had enough of it.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Juice — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:16:58 GMT

Yeah, just experienced the same and had to Google it to see. I went through three pages of app recommendations and deselected ALL of them. Finished the process and made sure to give one out of five stars when asked just to see my phone start to download three different apps from the 3 cloud.

Very infuriating. If I didn't select anything to download, why is there still apps being downloaded?! This should be illegal.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Juice — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:18:56 GMT

You sound very stupid, no wonder you're anonymous.

This literally just happened to me. I had NOTHING selected to download and when I finished the process, three STILL pushed apps to my phone (which weren't even options mind you) to be downloaded, which I then uninstalled.

Re: Forced apps after Software Update

Juice — Sat, 07 Sep 2024 07:20:20 GMT

Except it is a Three issue because it comes from the Three app cloud. It has NOTHING to do with Samsung.