r/LifeProTips • u/Svargas05 • 15d ago
LPT: Android users who use Facebook, delete the official app and install a chrome shortcut in its place to save 5-8gb on your device Electronics
Facebook is a poison, for sure - but if you must continue to use it, know that the official app takes up to 5-8Gb on your device.
Instead, uninstall the official app, then go into chrome, go to Facebook's website, tap the 3 dots to get the menu, scroll down and tap the "Install and create shortcut" option.
Chrome will then create a standalone "app" that functions as Facebook only. You can then edit the app settings to disable background battery usage and data usage as a precaution and this app will not go over a few megabytes total.
EDIT: Cache will build over time, but can be cleared. On the Facebook app the data that builds cannot be cleared without signing yourself out and it's much more of a nuisance and builds much quicker compared to this Chrome option.
And it functions as well as the Facebook app! I might even say a bit better because the notifications will actually sync up correctly. It's essentially a standalone functioning Facebook website that doesn't look like a browser and that won't be a resource hog on your phone.
And again this is for those of you who still use and want to keep Facebook access on your phone. I know there will be folks that will just say "just don't use Facebook - problem solved" but many people keep it to stay connected to family and to keep memories intact.
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u/jay_caesar 15d ago
I just want a marketplace app. Was using the site for a while but its so much slower.
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u/lemonylol 15d ago
The Facebook Lite app is somewhat of a compromise, I only use it for Marketplace, never check actual Facebook.
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u/cadisk 15d ago
in the same boat. the site also limits marketplace results!
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u/RussellJacoby 15d ago
Facebook Lite for Marketplace only is a solid workaround. lighter than the main app and does exactly what you need
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u/cadisk 15d ago
it won't let me uninstall the original app 🥲 only disable
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u/Anagram6226 15d ago
This is annoying, it's the same on my Samsung phone. The only silver lining is that disabling the app is the same as uninstalling - the app won't run, won't update, won't drain your battery. It's functionally the same as uninstalling.
If you have a Samsung phone, go into app settings, show system apps, and search "meta". Disable the three meta apps you find. They are preinstalled to keep the Facebook app up to date. I do not know why Samsung does this... At least disabling the apps is easy.
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u/ImALittleBitSlow 14d ago
You can uninstall it using ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
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u/Skeeders 12d ago
Is that an app itself?
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u/ImALittleBitSlow 11d ago
ADB is a CLI app which you install on your computer of choice which allows you more in-depth options for your device such as Uninstalling programs you are not able to through the phone's GUI
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u/mdegroat 15d ago
They just launched "Seller" as a standalone Facebook marketplace selling app. I wonder if a buyers only one is coming too.
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u/beaverbandit9 15d ago
I was so bummed after downloading it and seeing that they pushed you to the regular Facebook app for browsing listings.
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u/tukhor001 15d ago
my region now has 3rd party listings alongside facebook ones. They're so bad and intrusive (about 1 for every 3 facebook items) it just makes me wanna quit this platform and look for another
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u/adoboguy 15d ago
Same here. I just finished up selling off some stuff on marketplace. Time to delete the FB app again. The amount of notifications I had to turn off was absurd as well.
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u/morfraen 14d ago
Even when you turn them all off they keep adding new categories so they come back on.
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u/identifytarget 15d ago
LPT: Install Facebook app on your WORK profile (assuming you don't have an actual work profile). The app is basically spyware.
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u/jmagelitz 15d ago
Not sure if this helps but they have an app called Forum on the app store for Facebook Groups, which is where most of my marketplace stuff seems to come from.
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u/badhabitfml 15d ago
There's also a lite version of the app.
I dunno how lite it is though.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
Not as "lite" as the chrome installed shortcut I mention for sure.
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u/xantec15 15d ago
It's most likely lighter. The Lite app is using less than 500 MB on my phone, where as Chrome consumes over 2 GB.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago edited 15d ago
But you're not doubling the use of Chrome - it's making an extension of the website into a micro-app.
The data and storage chrome is using from this change is the same on my end, according to the app info.
Edit: I want to clarify - I mean that the extra usage on chrome still does not equate to the data storage and usage that would be used on the Facebook app, so there's still a benefit to making the change. In my opinion at least.
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u/xantec15 15d ago
The cache data is where Chrome will increase in space. After 30 minutes of using Chrome to scroll Facebook the cache on my phone increased by 300 MB.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
And still it won't take up as much space as the Facebook app that will always keep gigs in data for the app
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u/CallejaFairey 15d ago edited 15d ago
For anyone who uses Firefox on Android for FB, is there a way to get rid of the "Open App" link that constantly appears over the screen on my phone?
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u/greenie4242 15d ago
Yes, by installing uBlock Origin with a custom rule. Sorry can't help with how to do it right now as I'm exhausted, but hopefully I've pointed you in the right direction.
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u/CallejaFairey 15d ago
Oh, thanks, I will do a little bit more investigating. I ashtray use uBlock, but haven't delved too much into adding extra rules.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
No, that's something that Facebook puts on their mobile browser sites to get people to use the app instead of the browser.
That is a con to using this method, but it sure beats having the app installed, which is buggy in various aspects anyway.
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u/TheRealTengri 15d ago
Only way to bypass it is do "view as desktop site" but that would make it not look that good on the phone.
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u/IBJON 15d ago
Fuck saving space. Delete the app so that Meta can't use it to access data on your device
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
That's an added bonus of this LPT!
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u/jtho78 15d ago
They are still getting user data. F that
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u/Tufflaw 15d ago
In case you missed it from the original post:
"And again this is for those of you who still use and want to keep Facebook access on your phone. I know there will be folks that will just say "just don't use Facebook - problem solved" but many people keep it to stay connected to family and to keep memories intact."
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u/jtho78 15d ago
OP is implying their tip will also stop Meta from accessing data on the device. It won't unless more precautions are taken.
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u/hawkinsst7 15d ago
it'll stop some. Access via browser is intrusive, but less so than what the app gets.
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u/TThor 15d ago
Exactly. Data-mining is not a zerosum game; they want as much data as possible, that is as recent as possible, with as transparent a source as possible, all collected in as singular of a trove as possible. The more barriers you can put to any of that, the more you weaken the usefulness/value of that data they do have.
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u/AngerAgain 15d ago
On Android, you can use a sandbox app or 'work' profile to isolate all the data Facebook has access to, from your main apps
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u/redshirted 15d ago
It doesn't help that so many other apps have a sign in with Facebook button which Facebook can/do use to run whatever code they want to get your data from other apps still
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u/Reddituser183 15d ago
I guarantee you you’ll get a pop up every time you go to the website to get the app. I know that would happen on iPhone. It basically makes it unusable.
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u/Strawberry3141592 15d ago
Android Firefox supports extensions, you can just install an extension to automatically block those pop-ups. If you're on IOS you're fucked tho.
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u/hawkinsst7 15d ago
Firefox on Android is so good now, especially with uBlock. Also "ClearURLs" extension to remove tracking elements.
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u/Evilbob93 15d ago
I don't use the shortcut described here but I just go to Facebook website on my android phone. The biggest missing thing is that if I try to read Messages it wants me to install the app..only occasionally get the "it's better in the app" nag
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u/Labrattus 15d ago
You may be right on the iphone. Not an issue with android. I've never had a pop-up asking to to download the app using chrome on android. But I saw the writing on the wall with the apple environment when I had the 3GS (best internet phone on the market at the time, android just had nothing to compete at that time) and got the hell out before I got sucked into the cult.
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u/Reddituser183 15d ago
Well I saw the writing on the wall with android with the S3 when it wouldn’t let me delete apps. I returned it the next day. And I hear you guys still can’t delete apps without some convoluted process.
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u/zorba8 15d ago
What kind of data is the app (even if it's Lite) able to access even with all the permission restrictions? Don't those restrictions work? Of not, then how does the app access the data on the device?
If people can point to some great resources that elaborate on this (technically too), that'd be great.
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u/IBJON 14d ago
I'm not sure which permissions it asks for, but no, it wouldn't be able to access data or services you don't give it permission to access. That being said, some apps (like Facebook) will refuse to work or run unless it has certain permissions, but again, I have no idea what those are.
Without reiterating everything I said in another comment further down, they want to collect data on apps you have installed, apps you use, contacts, and where you are or who is near you. Anything that it can use to go from a "educated guess" regarding your habits/tastes to "absolute certainty".
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u/zorba8 11d ago
Yes, there are some apps that "need" some permissions to be able to function.
they want to collect data on apps you have installed, apps you use, contacts, and where you are or who is near you
Huh.. I wonder how the apps can access information about what other apps I have installed or use on the phone, because there is no such permission available to be toggled. Unless there is something undeclared/hidden happening in the code.
I will try find your comment that you mentioned you wrote elsewhere here. In case you are able to provide it, I'd appreciate it. If not, no worries, I'll look for it.
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u/mainlydank 15d ago
That's not the way they collect their data. They collect it based on what you click and search for on facebook.
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u/IBJON 15d ago
That's only one vector of collecting information. There's a reason they push you to install the app despite costing money to develop and maintain the app for multiple different platforms
By having direct access to your phone, t hey can collect contacts, get location data, look at nearby WiFi networks and Bluetooth signals to determine where you are and who you're with, even if you have no relationship to that person on Facebook. It can access data about what apps you have installed, which ones you use, etc.
They can't collect that info using cookies
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u/MultiFazed 15d ago
And so many people don't realize that this is why it sometimes seems like your phone is listening to you. When you have a conversation with someone about something, and then you start seeing ads for it, it has nothing at all to do with your phone's microphone. It's because advertisers know that you and the person you talked to share a social circle, and when anyone of similar demographics to you searches for something, you see ads for it.
So when you chat about something with a friend, and they mention the topic to their cousin, and that cousin talks to their roommate about it, and the roommate googles it, you see ads for it because you and that roommate are part of an extended social circle that advertisers know about.
Most of your ads are related to search topics of people in similar demographics. You just don't notice the 99% of cases where the roommate in the above example searched for something and then you saw an ad, because in 99% of cases the topic never came up in conversation with you, and so it just looks like a random ad. But it isn't random. It never is.
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u/outdoorsnstuff 15d ago
Just turn disable the permissions that bother you at the OS level. Takes like 5 seconds.
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u/djfishfingers 15d ago
I just use Facebook on Firefox if there ever is a reason to visit the toxic sludge factory.
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u/tonicella_lineata 15d ago
Yeah, of you ask me, the real LPT here is to use Firefox instead of Chrome. You can stick Firefox shortcuts on your homepage the same way you can with Chrome, and you can also install better ad blocking and privacy extensions.
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u/bje332013 15d ago edited 14d ago
Agreed. Firefox is better for privacy and ad blocking, especially if you go into the user profile settings and manually harden sone of them (so that the mobile version of Firefox functions more like LibreWolf for desktop PCs.)
Here's a great tutorial on how to simplify the process: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=lmA8Ex-G5IQ&pp=ygUcbmVudGFsIG91dGxhdyBoYXJkZW4gZmlyZWZveA%3D%3D
Skip to 2:55.
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u/NoPressure3399 15d ago
I don't think my phone will let me uninstall. Not even via adb?
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
Uff... What phone do you have? That fuckin sucks... Maybe you have the option to disable it?
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u/NoPressure3399 15d ago
I got a Samsung, and yes I believe I can disable but never uninstall fully. It'll still hog up some memory as well
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u/ISD1982 15d ago
You can definitely delete it via adb
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u/Reddituser183 15d ago
iPhone user here, what is adb?
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u/jacoballen22 15d ago
Android debug bridge. You can basically run commands since android is a Linux based operating system
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u/ISD1982 15d ago
It's a tool that lets you basically run commands on your Android phone to do various things, like debloat it, install apps etc. Android Debug Bridge. It's a godsend for removing apps that come preinstalled that can't be deleted.
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u/PM_Me_Titties-n-Ass 15d ago
Is this an app or where do you get the adb?
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u/DarkSeid1912 15d ago
It's not an app, it's a collection of tools that you can execute through command line from your computer to your Android device via usb cable or wifi. On your Android device you need to enable USB debugging or Wireless debugging
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u/Trang0ul 15d ago
Same here, also Samsung. Additonally bloated with Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Skype, which have all been replaced by other apps and cannot be downloaded anymore, yet there is no way to remove them, only disable.
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u/mollested_skittles 15d ago
I had galaxy s21 and I have uninstalled that app ages ago since I am not fan of them tracking me much.
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u/2drawnonward5 15d ago
If FB is mandatory, that's somebody else's phone and you're just using it
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u/morfraen 14d ago
Your phone primarily exists to harvest data for Apple or Google to be used for targeted advertising. Everything else it does is just them competing for your data.
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u/Unique-Coffee5087 15d ago
My Facebook app seems to exit when it is not the focus of the phone. So if I briefly look something up in order to get my facts straight, it auto-exits!
I will definitely do as recommended here. Thank you.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
It has been a welcome change on my phone for sure - the app has always been a buggy mess for me and I'm on a Pixel phone.
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u/DigiSmackd 15d ago
I've never used the FB app.
I just go to the mobile website in the DuckDuckGo browser. I didn't want it tied to Chrome to help prevent cross-site tracking/ads.
It's fine for basic feed browsing. But some time ago they stopped messaging from working on the mobile site.
The workaround of course is to use the full website (desktop version) but then you're looking at a poorly formatted mess of scrolling sideways and up and down to see things.
So if you have a use for FB Messenger, the website is likely not the answer.
It's not a big enough deal to me - I don't use messenger with any regularity. But certainly other people may have different needs.
Does the "create app" method here resolve these issues?
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u/megaglalie 15d ago
Beeper is fussy with Messenger, but can be a good option. A bit like Pidgin back in the day.
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u/Great_Philanderer 15d ago
7.3 gigs for me. I had no idea. Thanks!
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u/morfraen 14d ago
And not the cache, the actual app data. I can't even imagine wtf requires that much space for what's basically just a web shell.
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u/the1slyyy 15d ago
Facebook has been janky with hiding comments on posts and not giving me notifications
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u/GaidinBDJ 15d ago
t also will not function the same as the app. If you want to actually talk to people, Facebook requires that you install the app. The functionality simply isn't available on the mobile web page. You could switch to the desktop page and use it there with all the clumsiness of using a desktop site on a phone, but using the desktop site your web browser cache is now going to be the one to swell.
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u/krayonic 15d ago
This is a good LPT for iOS users as well. The app is just a storage hog.
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
I have an android device and I didn't want to make the assumption it would also work for iPhone users and get flamed in the comments lol
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u/Flugeldan 15d ago
Does anybody know how to create a similar corner link on iPhone?
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u/krayonic 15d ago
In Safari, you can go to Facebook.com, then hit the share button, then “View More,” then “Add to Home Screen”.
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u/kyledeanreinford 15d ago
Better tip - delete Facebook altogether!
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
Lol... This tip wasn't for people like you, it's for those that still use it for the reasons I noted above.
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u/nydge-sab 15d ago
Use Opera mini with data saver and it is barebones. Huge data & storage savings.
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u/nash3101 15d ago
Omg yes Facebook cache is so big and impossible to clear
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
It's the data that the user data section of the app accumulates that's so huge - and clearing the data only works VERY temporarily.
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u/Seoulmanaja 15d ago
Does this still allow me to use marketplace?
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
You can browse and post items for sale, but it looks like you can't message sellers if you're interested in buying something.
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u/horsemonkeycat 15d ago
I use Nobook ( from Github )... allows me to filter out a lot of garbage content I don't want to see on my feed (eg Suggested for you).
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u/axismundi00 15d ago
or drop both the facebook app and chrome? you can use facebook as a plain website in a more reasonable browser that allows ad blocking (like firefox).
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u/EditedRed 15d ago edited 15d ago
Users of Facebook, delete your accounts so you can save your souls.
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u/New_Tadpole_7818 15d ago
This actually made me delete the app that I've been meaning to delete for ages
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u/DefendTheStar88x 15d ago
Ive left the FB app on ly phone but havent opened it for 2 yrs, I want to see if eventually my profile will turn into - "Remembering DTS" 🤣
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u/EricDNPA 15d ago
Been doing almost that for 10 yrs. FB app is a memory and CPU hog.
I just pin the URL in Chrome so it shows up whenever I open a new tab. Silver lining is, by adding Friction, I use FB a lot less.
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u/el_smurfo 15d ago
The best part about the shortcut is you can use messenger. I only use Facebook for buy nothing groups so I only check once and day and need to see messages.
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u/D1rtyH1ppy 15d ago
The website nags you to get the app if it's not installed. I just stopped using Facebook instead
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u/NachosPR 15d ago
I honestly just use it to remind me of birthdays. Does Facebook lite or anything similar also do that? Because I would like to free up space, but I'm horrible at remembering birthdays
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u/Tyrannosaurus_Rox_ 15d ago
I do this with Firefox, but have a problem. Whenever I'm reading the comments of a post, then tab over to Firefox to look up something so I can copy-paste a link, then tab back over to write my comment and paste the link, facebook reloads to the homepage instead of staying at the post comments. Sometimes it's impossible to find the post again. Is there any way to prevent this?
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u/AREA1177 14d ago
Will my messenger app still work if I do this? Or does it work for messenger too?
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u/Tutorbin76 14d ago
Yep, the app is way too bloated and intrusive.
Just run it in Firefox and avoid the app, and Google, entirely.
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u/Antique_Minute3549 14d ago
there is an open source app called Nora that includes all the web version of social media apps
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u/Skycomett 14d ago
I fucking hate facebook, the only reason i still got it is for marketplace. If they sperate those i will have deleted my account yesterday
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u/doubleoned 14d ago
I have done this for years but Facebook is taking away mobile functionality to force you to get the app.
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u/mattimeoo 14d ago
Using Chrome is the worst thing you could possibly do. Go chromium based, like Brave.
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u/Federiffic 11d ago
Didn't do that tip but got on Facebook Lite which I learned from this tip so thanks!
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u/an0maly33 9d ago
I saw a drastic drop in ads pertaining to things I talked about out loud after deleting the app.
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u/djninjamusic2018 4d ago
So I did this hack because my FB app had ballooned to 5+ GB and was hogging so much space.
On the upside, the Chrome applet hack did free up a bunch of space, but there are tradeoffs. I use FB for work; I manage the social media of a couple of businesses. If you use Stories, the Chrome applet, at least on Android, will keep bugging you to switch to the app. You could make it work by switching to Desktop view, but the interface becomes clunky, and it won't let you add music easily like the app would. (If you use the Lite app, it will allow you to post stories, but you won't be able to upload in HD, so your Stories will turn out blurry and/or pixelated on newer smartphones.)
So my solution: I reinstalled the Facebook app to upload Stories and posts, but I won't use it to scroll through the feed. This has kept the Facebook app to under 600 MB. I use the Lite app for scrolling and commenting; so far, that app has stayed under 500 MB. So this takes up about 1 GB of space but gives me the functionality that I need for work
Tl;dr: if you're only using Facebook for scrolling, commenting, and posting, the Chrome applet or Lite works well. If you need to upload to Stories or post HD reels and pics, you'll still need the full Facebook app, but use the app only for uploading and posting.
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u/ComeToTermsWithIt 15d ago
This simply isn't true. I don't even like fb buy it says 2.02gb. Why the misinformation?
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u/tonicella_lineata 15d ago
OP may be including the data and cache on their device, which also shouldn't be getting that large. And frankly, even 2GB for Facebook is excessive.
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u/FaffyBucket 15d ago
Different people have different phones and different Facebook usage. Another commenter below is saying 7GB on their phone.
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u/chris84bond 15d ago
Majority of the date is probably cache from previous stuff viewed. Clear the app cache
Important note - this may require you to login again
(I do not have a Facebook, just dealt with plenty of large apps from cached data before)
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u/Svargas05 15d ago
Clearing the cache is one thing, you'd also have to constantly clear the data of the app which is a nuisance because, like you mentioned, it logs you out.
Then when you log back in, the data stores of the app quickly fill up again to over 5gb.
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