Bloatware: Difference between revisions

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~~There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include~~:

'''Bloatware''' can be defined in 2 main classes:

*[[wikipedia:~~Software_bloat#Bloatware~~|Pre-installed ~~software~~]] ~~that is~~ not required ~~for~~ a system ~~functionality~~

*[[wikipedia:Pre-installed_software|Pre-installed]] or [[Dark pattern#Sneaking and information hiding|bundled]]: features not required by a system (physical or digital) to work properly, and/or [[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|undesirable programs]].

*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)

*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|~~Undesirable~~ programs]] ~~that were [https://www.deceptive~~.~~design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]~~

*Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]

While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.

==How it works==

Bundled features often arise as pre-installed software and applications, because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.

Software that gets bloated across updates typically happens because of [[wikipedia:Negligence|negligence]], but can also arise due to lack of resources (time, money, etc...) and external factors (such as [[wikipedia:Library_(computing)|libraries]] with [[wikipedia:Feature_creep|feature creep]]).

Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].

~~==How it works==~~

Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.

==Why it is a problem==

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Bloat is known for causing sub-par [[wikipedia:User_experience|user experience]] (UX):

*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>

*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>{{Cite web |title=Web performance |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance |url-status=live |website=[[MDN]]}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>

*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>

*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thrashing (computer science) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]]}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>

*High power usage increases energy bills and reduces battery lifespan

*Over reliance on network connections (e.g., internet) preventing data from being cached locally<ref>{{Cite web |year=2019 |title=Local-first software: You own your data, in spite of the cloud |url=https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first |url-status=live |website=Ink & Switch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130001648/https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>, which can both impede access as well as increase cellular-data billing

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==Examples==

*Examples of "desirable" software with much feature-creep are modern [[wikipedia:Graphical_user_interface|GUI]] web-browsers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVault |first=Drew |date=2020-03-18 |title=The reckless, infinite scope of web browsers |url=https://drewdevault.com/blog/Reckless-limitless-scope/ |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> This has lead to alternative "web-space" projects being created, such as [[wikipedia:Gemini_(protocol)|Gemini]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Sep 2023 |title=Project Gemini FAQ § Why not just use a subset of HTTP and HTML? |url=https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/faq-section-7.gmi#79-why-not-just-use-a-subset-of-http-and-html |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>

*The most popular example on Windows is Candy Crush, which is either preinstalled or pseudo-installed (only the icon is shown, but the app must be downloaded). MS also allows OEMs to bundle extra apps.

*On Android, while many users use the main [[Facebook]] app, most devices come with several hidden "stubs" such as "Facebook App Installer", "Facebook Services", "Facebook App Manager", etc... Some of those run in the background regardless of whether the user is logged-in or has the main app enabled.<ref>https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation/blob/644b30ae73c0f86fb5b99173c88132fc4bb1e1b8/resources/assets/uad_lists.json#L13903-L13942</ref>

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*[https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app Rethink], [[wikipedia:Domain_Name_System|DNS]] + Firewall + [[wikipedia:Virtual_private_network|VPN]] for Android. Can use local and remote DNS.

*[[wikipedia:Youtube-dl|youtube-dl]] & [https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp YT-DLP]. Audio/Video downloaders or "[[wikipedia:Ripping|rippers]]". Similarly to LibRedirect, it can be used to avoid bloat, by simply downloading the main content of a page. There's also <code>--get-url</code>/<code>--print urls</code> options that can be used to open the URL of the media in a browser, effectively streaming it, without a customized player

Note that those tools only help ''users'', they don't reduce bloat on the ''development'' side.

==External links==

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[[Category:Common terms]]

[[Category:Theme]]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-There are multiple definitions of bloatware within the context of software. They include:
+'''Bloatware''' can be defined in 2 main classes:
-*[[wikipedia:Software_bloat#Bloatware|Pre-installed software]] that is not required for a system functionality
+*[[wikipedia:Pre-installed_software|Pre-installed]] or [[Dark pattern#Sneaking and information hiding|bundled]]: features not required by a system (physical or digital) to work properly, and/or [[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|undesirable programs]].
-*Redundant or duplicate features included on a device (physical or digital)
-*[[wikipedia:Potentially_unwanted_program|Undesirable programs]] that were [https://www.deceptive.design/types/sneaking not requested by the user]
 *Software that has [[wikipedia:Software_bloat|become bloated over time]]
 While the term "bloatware" is commonly ascribed to software, ''hardware'' bloat also exists.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ionescu |first=Bogdan |date=2025-09-13 |title=Hosting a WebSite on a Disposable Vape |url=https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |access-date=2026-01-15 |website=BogdanTheGeek's Blog |url-status=live |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260209021718/https://bogdanthegeek.github.io/blog/projects/vapeserver/ |archive-date=9 Feb 2026}}</ref> See [[Internet_of_things|IoT devices]] for examples.
+==How it works==
+Bundled features often arise as pre-installed software and applications, because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.
+Software that gets bloated across updates typically happens because of [[wikipedia:Negligence|negligence]], but can also arise due to lack of resources (time, money, etc...) and external factors (such as [[wikipedia:Library_(computing)|libraries]] with [[wikipedia:Feature_creep|feature creep]]).
 Bloat can be a symptom of a decline in quality of devices and services, colloquially referred to as [[enshittification]].
-==How it works==
-Bloatware often arises as pre-installed software and applications because the device manufacturer (OEM) has a contract or partnership with another corporation. The terms and processes leading to these partnerships, however, lack transparency.
 ==Why it is a problem==
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 Bloat is known for causing sub-par [[wikipedia:User_experience|user experience]] (UX):
-*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>
+*Increased latency, "slowness", when using programs and applications<ref>{{Cite web |title=Web performance |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance |url-status=live |website=[[MDN]]}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260211103730/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Performance Archived])</ref>
-*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>
+*High memory use prevents or impedes multitasking<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thrashing (computer science) |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) |url-status=live |website=[[Wikipedia]]}} ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260207194502/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thrashing_(computer_science) Archived])</ref>
 *High power usage increases energy bills and reduces battery lifespan
 *Over reliance on network connections (e.g., internet) preventing data from being cached locally<ref>{{Cite web |year=2019 |title=Local-first software: You own your data, in spite of the cloud |url=https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first |url-status=live |website=Ink & Switch |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20260130001648/https://www.inkandswitch.com/essay/local-first/ |archive-date=30 Jan 2026}}</ref>, which can both impede access as well as increase cellular-data billing
@@ Line 45: / Line 45: @@
 ==Examples==
+*Examples of "desirable" software with much feature-creep are modern [[wikipedia:Graphical_user_interface|GUI]] web-browsers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeVault |first=Drew |date=2020-03-18 |title=The reckless, infinite scope of web browsers |url=https://drewdevault.com/blog/Reckless-limitless-scope/ |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref> This has lead to alternative "web-space" projects being created, such as [[wikipedia:Gemini_(protocol)|Gemini]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 Sep 2023 |title=Project Gemini FAQ § Why not just use a subset of HTTP and HTML? |url=https://geminiprotocol.net/docs/faq-section-7.gmi#79-why-not-just-use-a-subset-of-http-and-html |access-date=2026-04-21}}</ref>
 *The most popular example on Windows is Candy Crush, which is either preinstalled or pseudo-installed (only the icon is shown, but the app must be downloaded). MS also allows OEMs to bundle extra apps.
 *On Android, while many users use the main [[Facebook]] app, most devices come with several hidden "stubs" such as "Facebook App Installer", "Facebook Services", "Facebook App Manager", etc... Some of those run in the background regardless of whether the user is logged-in or has the main app enabled.<ref>https://github.com/Universal-Debloater-Alliance/universal-android-debloater-next-generation/blob/644b30ae73c0f86fb5b99173c88132fc4bb1e1b8/resources/assets/uad_lists.json#L13903-L13942</ref>
@@ Line 65: / Line 66: @@
 *[https://github.com/celzero/rethink-app Rethink], [[wikipedia:Domain_Name_System|DNS]] + Firewall + [[wikipedia:Virtual_private_network|VPN]] for Android. Can use local and remote DNS.
 *[[wikipedia:Youtube-dl|youtube-dl]] & [https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp YT-DLP]. Audio/Video downloaders or "[[wikipedia:Ripping|rippers]]". Similarly to LibRedirect, it can be used to avoid bloat, by simply downloading the main content of a page. There's also <code>--get-url</code>/<code>--print urls</code> options that can be used to open the URL of the media in a browser, effectively streaming it, without a customized player
+Note that those tools only help ''users'', they don't reduce bloat on the ''development'' side.
 ==External links==
@@ Line 81: / Line 83: @@
 [[Category:Common terms]]
+[[Category:Theme]]