Nothing has decided to make changes after users complained about its new phone. The company said that people using the Nothing Phone 3a Lite will soon be able to fully delete the Meta apps and services that came already installed on their phones.
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| Image Credit: Toms Guide |
These include Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, along with hidden background apps such as Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Services. Earlier, users could only turn off these apps, but they could not remove them. The company will now add the delete option through the new Nothing OS 4.0 beta update, which will be released later this month.
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The Nothing Phone 3a Lite was launched in October 2025 in some global markets. Soon after its launch, users started criticizing the company for adding these apps. Many people who liked Nothing phones for their simple software said this move went against the brand’s promise. Nothing has always been known for its clean and minimal software without unnecessary apps, but this time, users felt the company changed its approach.
To respond to this backlash, Nothing’s co-founder Akis Evangelidis posted a message in the community. He confirmed that users will soon be able to remove all Meta services from their phones. He said that the feature will come with the Nothing OS 4.0 beta update later this month. Evangelidis also said that Nothing’s flagship phones will continue to come without extra apps, but some mid-range and budget phones may still have a few pre-installed apps in the future.
The company explained why these Meta apps were added. It said that having them pre-installed helps the phone perform better. The apps open faster, use less battery, and make the camera smoother. Nothing also said that these partnerships help them reduce the phone’s production cost. But many users did not like this reason. They said that these extra apps go against Nothing’s idea of giving users a clean and simple experience with full control.
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| Image Credit: HT Tech |
Another thing that users did not like is a new feature called Lock Glimpse. This feature automatically changes the lock-screen wallpaper and shows random articles and pictures from a company called Vilykke. Users can turn this feature off in the settings, but many people said it feels annoying and unnecessary. They believe it doesn’t match Nothing’s simple design style. The company has not said yet whether this feature will be removed in future updates.
Even though there is still some criticism, Nothing’s decision to let users delete the Meta apps is being seen as a good step. It gives users more freedom than most Android phone brands. For example, companies like Samsung and OnePlus usually only let users disable pre-installed apps instead of deleting them. Many fans have still asked Nothing to stop adding such apps altogether and go back to its original plan of keeping the software clean and bloat-free.
For people who already have the Nothing Phone 3a Lite, this update means they will soon be able to delete Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and other Meta apps completely. Once the Nothing OS 4.0 update becomes available, users can check in the settings to find the new uninstall option. Those who plan to buy this phone can wait for the update to roll out, so they can start fresh with more control.
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