Google Pixel Users Reveal Hidden Apps That Slow Down Their Phones

The author of this article has been using Google Pixel phones since the Pixel 2 and has come to love their relatively bloatware-free experience. However, in recent years, Google has loaded up new Pixels with more unnecessary apps, which can slow down performance and consume storage space.

One such app is My Pixel, a repository of information on how to use the phone's features. While it may be helpful for newcomers who are still learning about their device, the author finds it overdesigned and unhelpful for long-term use. In fact, they uninstall it immediately after setting up their new phone.

Another app that takes up a lot of storage space is AI Core, which powers features like Magic Cue and AI-powered apps like Pixel Journal. The author disables this app as well, reserving up to 3.5GB of RAM. They also uninstall other supported apps, such as Pixel Screenshots, Pixel Journal, and Device Intelligence.

Google TV is another preinstalled app that the author finds unnecessary on their phone. While it provides a single portal to access all streaming purchases and the Google TV store, the author prefers to use dedicated streaming apps or search for them directly.

The author also prefers to use third-party password manager apps like Proton Pass over relying on Google Password Manager. They uninstall Google Password Manager before anything else to avoid confusion with multiple password managers installed.