Forced apps after Software Update

[mlandsburgh]

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 🤬

[MeSirG1]

Well it's just happened again, this time 6 apps downloaded without my permission, temu, next, amazon music, candy crush, solitaire game and a town something game. I even tried to press later button to stop it downloading, but it just ignored that and downloaded them anyways. This was all done under the "3" logo, not samsung or any other company, but "3". Unfortunately I have 7 months left on my 3 contract, but as soon as I'm done I will be leaving this company for good, after being with them for over a decade. They are a money grabbing, souless corporation, and tbh their coverage around here has gotten worse since rolling out 5g. Shame on you "Three". 

[Jake25uk]

I have the same thing, I've given up trying to stop it, it's 100% three, I think perhaps once when first installing three's software I MAY of ticked something offering a free game each week, and also when I do a software update I get the same thing offering the apps and you have to unclick some or they will download (annoying but not as bad as the games) so I get one game from the three app cloud on my phone each week which I do nit want!

[Juice]

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. 

[Longdog63]

It is so infuriating not getting any response from Three other than it is down to the brand of phone being used, which I know is rubbish because several of my family are on different brand phones and on Three and have the same issue. We are all moving to EE when our contract finishes.

[Longdog63]

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.

[Waldopepper]

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. 

[Oldandtired]

Thank you 😊 (more characters...)

[Oldandtired]

We have an S20 and an S23.

[Anonymous]

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.