Galaxy phones are finally letting users remove this longtime Microsoft app

Samsung Galaxy smartphones running the latest One UI 9 operating system now offer users the ability to completely uninstall the pre-installed Microsoft SwiftKey keyboard app. A significant shift in Samsung's long-standing pre-installation partnership with Microsoft marks this development. This change comes as the company quietly winds down its long-term collaboration with Microsoft.

SwiftKey has long been recognized as one of the top Gboard alternatives for Android devices, with dedicated fans expressing their loyalty through community polls. However, Microsoft's recent account policy changes have cast doubt on its future. These changes included the discontinuation of Google account login and cloud backups, leading to a backlash from Microsoft loyalists. The impact was felt by millions of Samsung Galaxy users who found themselves unable to remove the app despite their desires.

For years, Samsung and Microsoft had a partnership that resulted in SwiftKey and other apps being bloat-installed on One UI devices. While disabling SwiftKey or removing its updates was possible on One UI 8.5, the core app still consumed valuable system storage. With the removal of SwiftKey from newer Samsung devices like the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy A57, it appears that this long-standing agreement is gradually coming to an end.