Samsung Galaxy S5: How to Disable and Enable the Stock Applications in Android 4.4.2 Kitkat

As we all know that Samsung Galaxy S5 is equipped with some stock/default applications that are designed to meet your basic need, such as make a call, send a message, etc. You can use those apps directly without having install them first and of course most of them are ads-free so that you can use them conveniently. However, for some reason, if you don't want some of pre-installed apps are displayed in your apps menu then you can disable them because the default apps can't be uninstalled. Once you disable the app, you or other related-apps won't be able to use or access the app.


How to disable the stock apps?
Before disabling an app in the Samsung Galaxy S5, you have to know that the app may be linked and accessed by other apps. That's why disable an app can cause error for other related-apps. Given to that fact, when your phone encounters any error after an app is disabled, then you have to re-enable the app to fix this problem.

Method #1: From the additional menu in the Apps menu
This method is easier than other method to disable app and it also allows you to disable multiple apps with ease, but not all apps can be disabled by using this method even when the app is listed in the apps menu.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Uninstall/disable apps. All stock apps that can be disabled will have in their shortcuts.
3. Tap the required stock app you want to disable.
4. Tap Disable button.
5. The selected app has been disabled.
6. To disable more apps, repeat from the step #3.

Method #2: From the Disable icon in the Apps menu
This method allows you to disable apps quickly from the apps menu. But, the disable icon may not available for some apps therefore some apps can't be disabled by using this method.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Tap and hold the required app you want to disable and then drag it to the Disable icon located at the top of the screen.
3. Tap Disable button.
4. The selected app has been disabled.

Method #3: From the App info icon in the Apps menu
This method allows you to go to the app info for particular app with ease and fast, compared if you have to scroll the screen down and up in the application manager to find the app. Some app that can't be disabled using method #1 or #2 may be able to be disabled by using this method. But, still, there are some apps that can't be disabled by default.

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Tap and hold the required app you want to disable and then drag it to the App info icon located at the top of the screen.
3. In the app info screen, tap Turn off button.
4. Tap OK button to confirm.
5. The selected app has been disabled.

Method #4: From the Settings menu
Since this method will show you all of installed apps in your phone, then make sure only use this method to disable user apps not system apps. Disabling system apps can make you phone doesn't work well.

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Applications section and then tap Application manager .
4. Swipe the screen from right to the left until you see the All tab. All installed apps in your phone will be displayed here.
5. Tap the required app you want to disable.
6. Tap Turn off button.
7. Tap OK button to confirm.
8. The selected app has been disabled.

How to re-enable disabled apps?
For any reason, if you want to re-enable disabled apps, you can do so either through the apps menu or the settings menu. As a note, both these methods will allow you to re-enable all disabled apps regardless the method you are using to disable that app.

Method #1: From the Apps menu

1. In Home screen, tap Apps to go to apps menu.
2. Long tap the Recent apps key or tap to open up the additional options and then select Show disabled apps(this option only available if you have disabled apps before).
3. Tap the required app you want to re-enable. The selected apps will be check-marked.
4. Tap Done button.
5. The selected apps will be re-enabled.

Method #2: From the Settings menu

1. Swipe down the top of the screen to open up the notifications panel.
2. Tap the Settings icon to enter the Settings menu.
3. With the Settings menu is displayed in grid view, scroll down to the Applications section and then tap Application manager .
4. Swipe the screen from right to the left until you see the Turned off tab. All disabled apps will be listed here.
5. Tap the required app you want to re-enable.
6. Tap Turn on button.
7. The selected app will be re-enabled.

As a note, the shortcut of an app will be removed from Home screen and the apps menu when you disable the app. Then when you re-enable it, only the shortcut in the apps menu will be displayed again, thus if you want the shortcut of the app is displayed again in Home screen, then you have to add the app to the Home screen manually.