Nothing to remove most phone ads after backlash from users

Nothing has confirmed it will roll back most advertisements and bloatware on its smartphones following widespread criticism from users, signaling a partial reversal of its controversial monetization push introduced late last year.

The changes come after the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite and other models shipped with sponsored app recommendations, lock screen ads branded as “Lock Glimpse,” and preinstalled apps tied to advertising partnerships. While some bloatware was initially made removable, ads largely remained in place, prompting continued backlash from customers.

In a recent blog post, Nothing announced updates to its advertising policy that will be rolled out via software updates to compatible devices. One of the most notable changes is that Meta-related system apps including Meta App Installer, Meta App Manager, and Meta Service can now be fully uninstalled instead of merely disabled. However, Nothing clarified that users who perform a factory reset will need to manually remove these apps again.

Nothing also said that sponsored app recommendations on Nothing Phone (a) series and CMF devices will soon be optional, with users able to disable them through system settings. That said, the company will continue to display advertising banners for certain paid app placements during device setup.

Lock screen ads under the “Lock Glimpse” feature will be completely removed on most devices, with the exception of the Nothing Phone (3a) Lite. Nothing noted that lock screen ads could return in the future once the feature has been “improved,” suggesting the door is not fully closed on ad-supported features.

The move reflects Nothing’s acknowledgement that ad revenue may not be worth the potential damage to customer trust and hardware sales, as the company recalibrates its approach to software monetization.