Big Ending Year Endeavor - Take the time to review all of your apps and accounts on your devices in an easy and secure way.
Photo: Andy Wolber / TechRepublic
If you use a phone, tablet, or computer, you likely have apps on these devices that you no longer need. There may be a bookmarked site that you're signed in to but aren't using. You downloaded this app to receive a discount. A niche product that solved a specific problem you once had. Or, if you're like many people in the tech industry, a multitude of apps that you've tried but haven't become tools that you or your team trust.
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I recommend checking out all of your apps and accounts on each of your devices by the end of the calendar year. Don't need an app? Uninstall it. Has its usage changed? Customize your subscription. Do you no longer need an account? Cancel or delete. These measures can reduce your application needs and your costs. Fewer apps and accounts also mean fewer places for potential security issues.
This process can take a while, especially if you are lucky enough to have multiple devices. Start with the device you use most often. For most people, I would suggest the following order of checks: smartphone, tablet, laptop, and then desktop. When you have some time, choose your device and use the instructions below to hear your thoughts.
1. Browse the apps on each device.
Look at your apps in the order in which they appear most clearly. Although the order varies depending on the system, the same question is asked: is this an application that I want, use, or always need? Leave it on, uninstall it, or just follow the steps to delete your account as you like. (Note that uninstalling or removing an application does not necessarily remove your account. The process to remove the account often requires you to sign in and follow the provider-provided procedure to close an account).
On smartphones and tablets, check all apps on every home screen. If you are using folders, check every application in every folder. Long-press an app to display options to remove it (on iOS ) or to access the app's information, then uninstall it (on Android ).
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On a Windows system, press Windows Key + I, then select Applications (and if necessary, select Applications & Features from the menu on the left). Select an installed application from the list and then select Uninstall to remove it, as shown in Figure A. In some cases, the uninstallation process may recommend or require a restart.
On a macOS system, select Apple menu | About this Mac | Storage | Manage ... then select Applications from the menu on the left. Your applications are displayed here, sorted according to the storage space used, from highest to lowest. To remove an application, click it in the list to select it, then choose the Remove… button.
On a ChromeOS system, select the launcher (circle, usually in the lower left corner), then select the ^ icon to display the apps. Scroll through all of the available screens as you browse your applications. Hold down the Alt key while clicking an app to reveal a menu, then choose the Uninstall option.
Figure a
First, take a look at all of the apps installed on each of your devices (Windows system shown). Delete the apps that you no longer need or want.
2. Browse bookmarks and extensions
For each browser installed on your system (e.g. Chrome, Safari, Edge, Firefox, etc.), check your preferred websites (e.g. in Chrome, enter chrome: // bookmarks in the multifunctional field) and the installed extensions (For example, in Chrome, type chrome: // extensions as shown in Figure B ). Because some extensions can access any webpage you visit, you remove the extensions that you no longer need or that you trust.
Generally, each bookmark represents a site (and often an account) that you want to save to make it easy to revisit. When you've placed bookmarks in folders, review each bookmark in each folder. Remove bookmarks and consider closing accounts if necessary.
B number
Then check the bookmarks and extensions (Chrome extensions will appear) in each browser you use. Remove the appropriate accounts and bookmarks, if they exist, and uninstall extensions that you no longer need or trust.
3. Check subscriptions
I recommend you check out the subscriptions:
- On Android devices, tap Play Store | Your account icon (top right) | Payments and Subscriptions | Subscriptions.
- On iOS and iPadOS devices, tap App Store | Your account icon (top right) | Subscriptions, as shown in Figure C.
- In macOS, select the Apple | menu System settings | Apple ID | Media and Shopping (left menu) | Manage ... to access your subscriptions.
In both cases, a list of subscriptions with renewal or expiration dates is displayed here. Touch an application to manage your subscription.
You can also check your credit card and other payment systems (e.g. PayPal) to see if there are any recurring fees. Small monthly payments can add up to large sums over time.
Figure C.
Manage app subscriptions (Apple subscriptions are shown on an iPad) to make sure the subscriptions you need to renew and the ones you don't use expire.
4. Check saved passwords
Whenever you save passwords either in your browser or with a password manager, be sure to review each of your saved account logins. This can help you identify accounts that you eventually created but may have forgotten.
Access to the browser password varies:
- In Chrome on desktops and mobile devices, go to passwords.google.com.
- In Microsoft Edge, go to Edge: // settings / passwords.
- Under macOS, select Apple menu | System settings… | Passwords (as shown in Figure D ).
- On iOS and iPadOS, tap Settings | Password.
Number D.
Review the list of saved passwords to identify any accounts you might want to close (list of macOS passwords is displayed).
What is your experience?
In late November 2021, I went through the above process and removed at least 20 apps on different devices and closed around 15 different accounts. Some of the apps and accounts were easy to remove (e.g. by simply uninstalling or selecting the Remove Account button). Other systems have asked me to have a live chat with a customer service representative or an email exchange.
How often do you check your apps and accounts? If you work in IT, do you encourage people in your company to go through this type of process? How do you constantly ensure that only the applications and accounts that you need are active on your systems? Please let me know how you rate your apps and accounts, either with a comment below or on Twitter ( @awolfber ).
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