---
title: "Preinstalled app user rights and removal checks"
canonical_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/preinstalled-app-user-rights-and-removal"
source_url: "https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/preinstalled-app-user-rights-and-removal"
author: "Sorena AI"
description: "Practical checks for mobile terminal preinstalled app distribution, user-facing controls, and cited evidence."
published_at: "2026-07-05"
updated_at: "2026-07-24"
keywords:
  - "China telecom"
  - "Network access permit"
  - "Radio management"
  - "Wireless equipment"
  - "Mobile terminal apps"
---
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---

# Preinstalled app user rights and removal checks

Practical checks for mobile terminal preinstalled app distribution, user-facing controls, and cited evidence.

*Product* *China*

## 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.

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.

## 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](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/gzdt/art/2020/art_bdc41fa5f1dd4a7d9f99b0dc8c483e52.html?ref=sorena.io) - Official MIIT source for app disclosure, personal-information notice and paid-app confirmation duties effective 1 July 2017.

## 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](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/gzdt/art/2020/art_bdc41fa5f1dd4a7d9f99b0dc8c483e52.html?ref=sorena.io) - 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](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/wjfb/art/2022/art_7812e0c079ef4bc595fa78cfd5404c4d.html?ref=sorena.io) - 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.

## 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](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/gzdt/art/2020/art_bdc41fa5f1dd4a7d9f99b0dc8c483e52.html?ref=sorena.io) - 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](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/wjfb/art/2022/art_7812e0c079ef4bc595fa78cfd5404c4d.html?ref=sorena.io) - Supports identifying the responsible preinstaller and testing the release against the current removability scope.

*Operationalize the requirement*

*Placement: Before cited sources*

## 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.

- [Map cited sources to evidence](/solutions/research-copilot.md): Research Copilot connects the citation, decision, owner, retained evidence, and change history.
- [Review the China route](/contact.md): Review unresolved equipment classification, approval, transition or product-change questions before release.

## Primary sources

- [Interim provisions on preinstallation and distribution of mobile smart terminal apps](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/gzdt/art/2020/art_bdc41fa5f1dd4a7d9f99b0dc8c483e52.html?ref=sorena.io) - Official MIIT source for disclosure, consent, removability, upgrade, network-access consistency, traceability and complaint duties.
- [MIIT and CAC notice further regulating preinstalled mobile apps](https://www.miit.gov.cn/jgsj/xgj/wjfb/art/2022/art_7812e0c079ef4bc595fa78cfd5404c4d.html?ref=sorena.io) - Current supplemental rules effective 1 January 2023 for covered preinstalled apps, the limited basic-function categories, safe removal and manufacturer responsibility.

## Related Topic Guides

- [2400MHz, 5100MHz and 5800MHz radio equipment rules](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/radio-equipment-2400-5100-5800-mhz.md): Band-specific China radio management requirements, implementation timing, and equipment evidence for products using these bands.
- [China network access vs radio management](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/china-network-access-vs-radio-approval.md): Crosswalk separating telecom network access licensing from radio transmitting equipment management for connected products.
- [China telecom and wireless deadlines and compliance calendar](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/deadlines-and-compliance-calendar.md): China telecom and wireless commencement dates, permit lead times, renewals, transitions, and change-triggered filings.
- [China telecom and wireless equipment requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/requirements.md): China network access, radio management, micro-power equipment, and mobile terminal app requirements for connected-device launch teams.
- [China Telecom and Wireless FAQ](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq.md): 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](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/checklist.md): 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](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/penalties-and-fines.md): China penalties for unlicensed telecom equipment, radio model approval, station licensing, interference, and mobile app violations.
- [China Telecom Equipment Network Access Permit Workflow](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/telecom-equipment-network-access-license.md): 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](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/connected-device-china-launch-workflow.md): 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?](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq/do-preinstalled-mobile-apps-have-special-china-requirements.md): 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?](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq/does-my-connected-device-need-china-network-access-permit.md): 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?](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq/is-radio-management-separate-from-network-access-in-china.md): 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](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/micro-power-short-range-radio-equipment.md): How to use the micro-power short-range radio equipment catalogue and technical requirements in China launch triage.
- [Mobile terminal preinstalled app requirements](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/mobile-terminal-preinstalled-apps.md): China mobile smart terminal preinstallation and distribution duties for device makers and app distribution workflows.
- [Network access permit application evidence template](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/network-access-permit-application-evidence-template.md): 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.
- [What changed for 2400MHz, 5100MHz and 5800MHz equipment?](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq/what-changed-for-2400-5100-5800-mhz-equipment.md): 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?](/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/faq/what-evidence-is-needed-for-a-network-access-permit.md): 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.


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Source: https://www.sorena.io/artifacts/apac/china-telecom-wireless-regulation/preinstalled-app-user-rights-and-removal.md