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How to remove bloatware on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Tired of looking at apps you never wanted or use? Here's how you can rid yourself of pre-installed apps on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

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Andy Baryer Producer/Host, GetConnected TV/Radio
Producer and co-host of the GetConnected TV/Radio show in Canada, Andy reviews new tech gadgets for the GetConnected TV show during the day, and writes about them for CNET at night. He can be heard weekly on the 'GetConnected Radio Show with Mike Agerbo' answering open line tech questions Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. PT across Corus Radio.
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Andy Baryer
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Josh Miller/CNET

Unlike downloaded apps from the Google Play Store, pre-installed bloatware on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can't be uninstalled without rooting. If you don't want to see any bloatware in your app drawer, the only other solution is to disable them so they become inactive. Here's how you do it:

In Settings under the Applications heading, click Application manager.

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Screenshot by Andy Baryer

Swipe right until the All pane comes up. Here, downloaded apps give you the option to uninstall but pre-installed apps have only have a Disable button.

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Screenshot by Andy Baryer

Click on the app and uncheck Show notification before pressing the Disable button. Repeat this process for all the bloatware apps you want to remove from your app drawer. Just make sure you don't remove any system-based apps, which are usually accompanied by a green Android logo.

Head to the Disabled pane to view all the apps you've removed. If you have a change of heart, you can easily re-enable apps by pressing the Enable button and checking the Show notifications box.