Nothing OS 4.0 AppServices Bloatware Installer

PhantomPolygon · 2025-12-30T13:27:31+00:00

I just installed Nothing OS 4.0 a few hours ago on my CMF Phone 2 Pro. While I was happy with the UI-changes and features compared to Nothing OS 3.0, I noticed that there was this system app called "AppServices". I only noticed it because of a notification that suddenly appeared while I was using my phone. [upl-image-preview uuid=cc4c0b89-0736-449c-b256-fc17c71caafc url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-12-30/1767100871-462774-screenshot-20251230-204808.png alt={TEXT?}] So, out of curiosity, I checked the notification and found that it wants to install some "crappy" games and apps. [upl-image-preview uuid=122e8d89-c6ee-462a-9ea0-ff7e0ba076bd url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-12-30/1767100919-852553-screenshot-20251230-205002.png alt={TEXT?}] [upl-image-preview uuid=ced0a8aa-e5ae-4c69-be48-f5593db11301 url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-12-30/1767100932-424837-screenshot-20251230-205015.png alt={TEXT?}] Fortunately, despite the "AppServices" being a system app, its notifications can be disabled easily. [upl-image-preview uuid=d378e2bb-0fd7-41e3-b93b-b4d39f4e4a3d url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-12-30/1767101053-986602-screenshot-20251230-210219.png alt={TEXT?}] [upl-image-preview uuid=2244b018-adf1-44a6-a743-06b59d7fb34b url=https://cdn.nothing.community/2025-12-30/1767101062-79764-screenshot-20251230-210226.png alt={TEXT?}] Now, here's a question: why didn't Nothing tell us about this "AppServices" being included with Nothing OS 4.0? While I appreicate the fact that the controversial "Lock Glimpse" feature is disabled by default, I'm disappointed that the inclusion of this new app wasn't even disclosed in the update's changelog.

Err_404NotFound

steveeeg This new AppServices bloat is only available for CMF Phones and Phone 3a Lite, as these phones each make Nothing a loss in overall sales as each unit is sold, so Nothing uses this on Thier budget models to make up for the losses.

Same tactic that Samsung uses for Thier budget model phone with the AppCloud service.

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk

Err_404NotFound So what, so when next

Nothing phone has a serious loss, we will be having pop up adds in the app installation page, app drawer, etc., right?

Coldpaw

Err_404NotFound The issue here it hasn’t been clearly communicated and customers didn’t know about it when they purchased their devices. Some people have chosen CMF phones in particular because they didn’t come with any ads and bloatware installed. Now Nothing is forcing it via update on these devices. I mean even for the new Nothing Phone (3a) Lite, people didn’t really knew it.

If I would own one of the affected phones, I’d be disappointed too. Especially considering I am getting nearly daily Youtube notifications by Nothing where Carl Pei talks down other brands, while fully ignoring the fire his own brand started by abandoning the statements he said himself.

Err_404NotFound

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk It is only the extremely cheap budget models such as CMF Phone 1 and Phone 2 Pro, 3a Lite that will get losses because they are budget phones at an extremely low price.

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk

Err_404NotFound First we thought Nothing is totally against the bloatwares , then they have come with “hand picked bloats and ads ” , now they are coming up with unknown “appservices installer” .

So how can you be so sure that this will not get any worse ?

Just because they make worst mobiles and face losses , should they betray us everytime ?

PhantomPolygon

Err_404NotFound
If I remember correctly, Nothing stated that only non-flagship devices will get the bloatware apps (including the controversial Lock Glimpse feature).

The CMF Phones probably got this “AppServices” (aka “Aura”) first because they’re currently running the latest build of Nothing OS 4.0 under December 2025 security patch. The rest of Nothing’s mid-range lineup may probably get the same “AppServices” later once the next security update rolls out for them.

KaranKaran_kvJXIX5hmp

KodelaNikhilesh also get this but i disable it from settings

lakshya7s

The reasons i got nothing were:

No ads in the UI (added)

and NDOT looked so good but now they’re phasing it out, bring back NDOT and remove ads!

PiyushJamnik

PhantomPolygon So Sorry To Here That BTW From Which Country Are You From Because In India There Is No App Installed Named As App Service.

PhantomPolygon

PiyushJamnik

It’s a system app called “AppServices”. You can only find it within “All Apps” by selecting “Show system” within its three-dot menu as shown here:

I’ve already disabled it on my phone so that I won’t get any notifications from it in the future.

JP

PiyushJamnik it’s in every cmf devices.. it’s not related to country…

PrimeAyan you can remove system app…but for perticular user only… its not in app list so it will not run in background or try to start like lock glymps … it’s kind of disabling the app but better.. if that make sense…

PrimeAyan

JP removed it ! It is system app

So you need to root your device to do that.

I don’t know much about side loading and all and don’t want to break the security of the device.

So for now just disabled it.

PiyushJamnik

PhantomPolygon Oo Thanks Brother To Tell Me Now I Have Also Disabled It Once Again Thank You So Much Cause I Don’t Like Notifications.

PrimeAyan

PhantomPolygon it’s sad they install this as system apps.

If it can be uninstalled easily we won’t be fussing around this much.

Still I hope this app stay disabled and won’t cause any further problems I guess.🙃

PrimeAyan

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk yes i know this is the direction i don’t want nothing to go.

But even we yell or anything they are a company they will take the feedback and do what they want to do.

If they want to make CMF their bloatware pushing devices then it’s sad for users like us who can’t go for a more premium phones for complete clean OS.

But hey, it still not any world ending thing it still can be disabled. I hope they won’t push any further things like this. In day to day life it won’t cause any harm but still they should be transparent about this.

AbiS_MjZL72iTVk

PrimeAyan See that’s the problem , you are ok with this because you can disable it , consequently one day it can’t be disabled.

What I’m saying is , if we criticize, condemn , raise our voices against , atleast it will not get any worse.

Nothing is not a foolish company to directly impose bloats which can’t be disabled right away , they know that they should move step by step , that’s what they are doing…

And if they realised if we are okay with the present bad condition, then they will decide to go to the next worse case .. That’s what is happening till now

PhantomPolygon

PrimeAyan

Agreed.

I’m disappointed that they never told us about the inclusion of this “AppServices” in the first place. Not even the update’s changelog contains any mention of “AppServices” being included in the latest builds of Nothing OS 4.0.

PiyushJamnik

JP Yes Bro Now I Also Disabled It By The Help Of @PhantomPolygon Firstly I Just Search It On Essential Search And Then Replied You I Thought It Was Due To Country But Now I Am Really Disappointed From Nothing And Thanks To You And @PhantomPolygon To Notice This Big Issue Cause People Like Me Will Never Notice This In Day To Day Life

PrimeAyan

JP that’s using adb right? You need to root your device for that or need to unlock boot loader and all. I don’t know much but I don’t want to do such complex things without knowing it properly.

So if disabling will do the work I am sticking to that.👍

JP

PrimeAyan yup… im aware of that…I’m not going to root my device for that app anyways…

Data always get collected by almost every app and sent to servers all over the world and used to make advertisement profile for perticular person or group of people or city/state/country… meta apps and google also does the same thing… it’s the trust in companies that scares people…

I installed pcadroid to see if lock glymps is sending data if i dont agree to their terms or not… and almost all requests/packages sent from Instagram WhatsApp and google… even nothings own universal search (essential search) and gallery is constantly pinging and sending data to servers in Germany Europe…

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