ProductChina

China Telecom and Wireless Mobile terminal preinstalled app requirements

China mobile smart terminal preinstallation and distribution duties for device makers and app distribution workflows.

Apply the 2017 manufacturer and app-distributor rules together with the stricter preinstallation notice effective 1 January 2023.

Back to main artifactReview sources
Author
Sorena AI
Published
Jul 5, 2026
Updated
Jul 24, 2026
Sections
4

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
3

Cited legal and guidance references.

Publication metadata
Sorena AI
Published Jul 5, 2026
Updated Jul 24, 2026
Overview

A mobile smart terminal is a mobile communication terminal that connects to a public mobile network, has an operating system and lets users install and uninstall apps. Smartphones, tablets and qualifying wearables are representative examples; industrial terminals, special-purpose in-vehicle terminals and products that do not connect to a public mobile network fall outside the 2022 notice's explained terminal scope. The 2017 interim provisions regulate terminal manufacturers and app-distribution service providers. For manufacturer-preinstalled programs with a user-interaction entry on the main or auxiliary screen that can operate independently, also apply the 2022 MIIT-CAC notice effective 1 January 2023.

Section 1

Manufacturer and distributor duties

The 2017 provisions set the disclosure, consent, charging, channel and distribution controls. The 2022 notice makes the company that preinstalls an app responsible for it and requires manufacturers to prevent operating-system replacement and unauthorized app installation during product distribution. Apply the duties by role: a terminal manufacturer owns the factory image and channel controls, an app provider owns its app conduct and disclosures, a distribution platform owns review and traceability, and a billing provider owns billing confirmation records.

  • Do not collect personal information, start apps or bundle-promote other apps without clear notice and user consent; do not call terminal functions unrelated to the service.
  • Disclose app name, function, uninstall method, developer, required permissions and personal-information collection purpose, method and scope.
  • For paid apps, disclose price and charging method and obtain user confirmation before charging.
  • Control sales channels so apps are not installed without user consent and warn users about channel-installation risk.
  • Retain the production app list, disclosure screens, consent tests, channel controls and the person or entity that preinstalled each app as release evidence.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Official MIIT text for regulated actors, notice, consent, charging and distribution-channel duties effective 1 July 2017.
MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps
Defines the preinstalled programs covered by the 2022 notice and adds manufacturer responsibility, permission-management and distribution-stage controls from 1 January 2023.
MIIT interpretation of the notice on mobile smart terminal app preinstallation
Explains the covered terminal test and gives principal covered examples and exclusions.
Section 2

Uninstallability and build consistency

All preinstalled apps outside the current basic-function list must have a safe and convenient uninstall method. Under the 2017 provisions, associated resource, configuration and user-data files must also be conveniently removable when that does not affect safe terminal use.

  • The current basic-function list is closed: system settings and file management; multimedia capture; calls, SMS, contacts and browser; and the app store. A label such as system app or vendor service does not add another category.
  • At most one preinstalled app performing the same basic function may be set as non-uninstallable.
  • Do not forcibly restore an app after the user removes it during an operating-system upgrade.
  • Keep preinstalled software consistent before and after network access permission; report newly added preinstalled software or major function changes to MIIT in a timely manner.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Supports removal of non-basic apps and associated files, the one-app-per-basic-function limit, upgrade non-restoration and network-access consistency duties.
MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps
Sets the current closed list of basic-function categories and requires every other preinstalled app to be removable from 1 January 2023.
Section 3

Distribution-platform controls

App stores and manufacturers that preinstall distribution platforms have additional traceability duties.

  • Verify provider, operator and developer identity and contact information.
  • Review and test apps, monitor them after publication, remove unlawful or malicious apps and operate complaints handling.
  • Disclose requested terminal permissions and their purpose.
  • Retain app, version, launch time, function, purpose, MD5 and server-access information for at least 60 days.
  • Keep charging confirmations and original billing data for at least five months where providing billing services.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Official source for identity verification, review, monitoring, removal, permission disclosure, traceability and billing-data retention duties.
Section 4

Supervision and effective date

The interim provisions took effect on 1 July 2017, and the supplemental MIIT-CAC preinstallation notice took effect on 1 January 2023. MIIT and provincial communications administrations supervise the 2017 duties; MIIT and CAC jointly supervise the 2022 preinstallation controls. Authorities can require correction or app removal, and administrative penalties under the applicable law may be recorded and published.

  • Maintain a complaint and report channel and respond within the published or required period.
  • Support regulator and testing-body access for supervision testing.
  • Keep software-build evidence tied to the exact terminal model and network-access record.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Sets the 1 July 2017 effective date, complaint handling, supervision testing, correction and app-removal framework.
MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps
Provides for joint MIIT-CAC supervision of preinstallation conduct from 1 January 2023.
Operationalize the requirement

Prepare the China connected-device launch file

Connect the applicable China route, cited source, accountable owner, approval, product configuration and change history in one reviewable model file.

Research workflow
Map cited sources to evidence

Research Copilot connects the citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history.

Explore next step
Talk to Sorena
Review the China route

Review unresolved equipment classification, approval, transition or product-change questions before release.

Explore next step
Primary sources

References and citations

Related guides

Explore more topics

2400MHz, 5100MHz and 5800MHz radio equipment rules
Band-specific China radio management requirements, implementation timing, and equipment evidence for products using these bands.
China network access vs radio management
Crosswalk separating telecom network access licensing from radio transmitting equipment management for connected products.
China telecom and wireless deadlines and compliance calendar
China telecom and wireless commencement dates, permit lead times, renewals, transitions, and change-triggered filings.
China telecom and wireless equipment requirements
China network access, radio management, micro-power equipment, and mobile terminal app requirements for connected-device launch teams.
China Telecom and Wireless FAQ
China connected-device FAQ covering network access permits, radio model approval, station licensing, 2400/5100/5800MHz rules and preinstalled mobile apps.
China telecom and wireless launch checklist
Release-gate checklist for China network access permits, radio band rules, micro-power equipment and preinstalled mobile apps.
China telecom and wireless penalties and enforcement exposure
China penalties for unlicensed telecom equipment, radio model approval, station licensing, interference, and mobile app violations.
China Telecom Equipment Network Access Permit Workflow
Decide whether equipment needs a China network access permit, then prepare the applicant, test, application, mark, renewal and change evidence.
Connected device China launch workflow
Decide which China network-access, radio, micro-power and mobile-terminal app requirements apply to a connected-device model, then control the evidence through release.
Do preinstalled mobile apps have special China requirements?
Yes. Covered mobile smart terminals have China-specific duties for app disclosure, consent, uninstallability, upgrade behavior, distribution controls and network-access consistency.
Does my connected device need a China network access permit?
Not every connected device needs a China network access permit. Check public-network connection, the current MIIT equipment directory, and the 2023 licensing reforms.
Is radio management separate from network access in China?
Yes. China network access and radio management use different scope tests and approvals. A product can need both, one, or neither.
Micro-power short-range radio equipment rules
How to use the micro-power short-range radio equipment catalogue and technical requirements in China launch triage.
Network access permit application evidence template
Model-level evidence index for a China telecom equipment network-access permit, from catalogue decision and applicant records through trial evidence, filing, approval and renewal.
Preinstalled app user rights and removal checks
Practical checks for mobile terminal preinstalled app distribution, user-facing controls, and cited evidence.
What changed for 2400MHz, 5100MHz and 5800MHz equipment?
MIIT's 2021 notice revised band uses, radio technical limits, interference controls, model approval and station licensing for 2400MHz, 5100MHz and 5800MHz equipment.
What evidence is needed for a network access permit?
China network-access permit evidence: Chinese application forms, applicant and manufacturer records, quality evidence, product description, test or certification records, and any required network-trial file.