Short answer
A covered manufacturer must list preinstalled apps in the product instructions and show, in the instructions or on the outer packaging, how users can find detailed app information. The disclosed information includes the app name, function, uninstall method, developer, required permissions, and the content, purpose, method, and scope of personal-information collection and use.
The manufacturer and app provider may not use terminal functions unrelated to the service or send unlawful commercial messages. Collection or use of personal information, starting an app, or bundling another app requires clear notice and user consent under the provisions effective from 1 July 2017. Other privacy and app-service rules may impose additional requirements.
- From 1 January 2023, is limited to system settings and file management; multimedia capture; calls, text messages, contacts and browser; and the app store. At most one preinstalled app for each basic function may be non-uninstallable.
- All other preinstalled apps must have a safe and convenient uninstall method. Associated resource, configuration and user-data files must also be removable when removal does not impair safe terminal use.
- The manufacturer must prevent a user-removed preinstalled app from being forced back during an operating-system upgrade and must take measures against operating-system replacement or unauthorized app installation in distribution channels.
Articles 2 and 5-7 establish scope, notice and consent, disclosure, uninstallability, upgrade behavior, network-access consistency and change reporting; the provisions took effect on 1 July 2017.
Defines the limited basic-function categories, confirms that other preinstalled apps must be uninstallable, and requires controls against operating-system replacement and channel-installed apps from 1 January 2023.