OnePlus 12, OnePlus Open Spotted Offering Bloatware During Setup, Company Responds: Report

OnePlus 12 and OnePlus Open are the top-of-the-line handsets from the Chinese smartphone maker. Now, users of these smartphones have claimed that their smartphones offered to install 'bloatware' apps. A user took to X (formerly Twitter) to claim that OnePlus is installing up to four additional third-party apps on the OnePlus 12 in India during the device setup process. These unwanted apps appear under the “From OnePlus” header in the “Review additional apps” screen during the setup. The issue has since been addressed by the company.

X user Gauraang Arora spotted a new “Review additional apps” screen presented during the setup process on his OnePlus 12. This screen shows four Google Play apps pre-selected by default — LinkedIn, Policybazaar, Block Blast And Candy Crush Saga. These apps were located under a header that reads “From OnePlus”.

Android Authority recently tested the setup process in three regions and found that four apps are pre-selected during setup on Indian variants of the OnePlus 12 running the latest Oxygen OS 14.0.0.610 build. The US reportedly offers one third-party app, while there are no pre-selected apps presented in the EU. Users can opt out of installing the listed apps, which are selected by default. However, there are chances that they might skip through the setup process pushing the bloatware on their handsets.

Additionally, the publication found three more pre-installed Meta apps — Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services on the OnePlus Open. All these Meta apps were reportedly spotted on the OnePlus 8 series earlier and the brand had been criticised for this inclusion as they cannot be easily uninstalled from the handsets.

OnePlus has reportedly addressed the issue saying it was in error. "The soft-preloads on OnePlus 12 was an error made during testing and has been rectified as of May 6. The OnePlus 12 does not come pre-loaded with any of these apps and will continue to remain light, fast and smooth" OnePlus told Android Authority.

The company added that it keeps OxygenOS bloatware free, but the company admits that there were two pre-installed apps (Instagram and Agoda) on the OnePlus Nord CE 4. It also said the apps are as simple to remove or uninstall and the company is working closely with app developers to ensure better performance on OnePlus devices.

Prominent tipster 1NormalUsername on X suggests that more bloatware will head to the OnePlus 12 in the latest OxygenOS version. Third-party apps like Fitbit, Bubble Pop, Facebook, Amazon, Amazon Music, Amazon Prime Video, Zomato, Agoda and Swiggy could either be pre-installed or will be shown as APK shortcuts.