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China Telecom and Wireless Preinstalled app user rights and removal checks

Test whether a covered China mobile smart terminal gives users the required app information, consent and removal controls.

Test the exact China terminal build for disclosure, consent, non-basic-app removal, post-upgrade behavior and consistency with the network-access record.

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Author
Sorena AI
Published
Jul 5, 2026
Updated
Jul 24, 2026
Sections
3

Structured answer sets in this page tree.

Primary sources
2

Cited legal and guidance references.

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

Test user choice in the exact China release candidate and verify that any privacy-policy description matches the product. First confirm that the product connects to a public mobile network, has an operating system and lets users install and uninstall apps. Then inventory every manufacturer-preinstalled program with an independent user-interaction entry on the main or auxiliary screen, classify it against the closed basic-function list effective 1 January 2023, and reproduce the notice, consent, charging, removal and upgrade journeys.

Section 1

Information users must receive

Manufacturers and app providers must make the relevant app information clear through user prompts, websites, product instructions or packaging as specified. The terminal instructions must list the preinstalled apps and state where users can find the detailed information; the network-access application must include the manufacturer's declaration that the product meets those disclosure requirements.

  • App name and functional description.
  • Uninstall method, developer and permissions needed for installation and operation.
  • Content, purpose, method and scope of personal-information collection and use.
  • Price and charging method for paid apps, with user confirmation before charging.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Official MIIT source for app disclosure, personal-information notice and paid-app confirmation duties effective 1 July 2017.
Section 2

Removal decision

Only software within the current basic-function list may use non-removable treatment: system settings and file management; multimedia capture; calls, SMS, contacts and browser; and the app store. At most one preinstalled app for each basic function may be non-removable. Every other covered preinstalled app needs a safe, convenient uninstall method; the 2017 provisions also require associated resource, configuration and user-data files to be conveniently removable when removal does not affect safe terminal use.

  • Classify each covered preinstalled app against a specific listed basic function and record the reason; a broad label such as system app does not establish the exception.
  • Verify non-basic apps and their associated files can be conveniently removed where removal does not undermine safe use.
  • Verify operating-system upgrades do not forcibly restore apps the user removed.
  • Test the production build, not a development image.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Supports convenient removal of non-basic apps and associated files, the one-app limit for each basic function and the ban on forced restoration after an operating-system upgrade.
MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps
Defines covered preinstalled apps, limits the basic-function categories and requires a safe, convenient uninstall method for every other preinstalled app from 1 January 2023.
Section 3

Change and evidence record

The manufacturer must keep the app list consistent with the terminal's network-access state and reopen review for software changes. Report a newly added preinstalled app or major function change to MIIT in a timely manner; a routine app update still needs reassessment if it changes permissions, data practices, charging, removal behavior or the claimed basic function.

  • Versioned package inventory with screen entry, independent-use status, developer, hash, permissions, preinstaller and basic-function classification.
  • Screenshots or test results for notice, consent, uninstall and upgrade behavior.
  • Decision on whether a new preinstalled app or major function change must be reported to MIIT.
  • Complaint records and corrective-action evidence, with the published response period used by the manufacturer or app provider.
  • Where the business provides app billing, user confirmations and original billing data retained for at least five months.
Sources for this answer
Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps
Supports network-access consistency, reporting of added preinstalled apps or major function changes, complaint handling and traceability evidence.
MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps
Supports identifying the responsible preinstaller and testing the release against the current removability scope.
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.

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Talk to Sorena
Review the China route

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

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Primary sources

References and citations

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Do preinstalled mobile apps have special China requirements?
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