Tushar Mehta / Android Authority
The Android apps that come preinstalled on a phone have several advantages. For one, they’re already there — you don’t need to visit the Play Store and sift through numerous options to find one that might meet your needs. Secondly, they’re usually from the manufacturer itself, which means they’re tightly integrated into the broader framework of your phone.
However, as is often the case in life, what’s easiest isn’t always the best, and this is especially true for smartphone apps that non-tech-savvy users might employ. These users might benefit more from a more approachable or supportive product that you or they would need to install.
Whenever I’m tasked with fixing someone’s phone or offering suggestions, I always review their installed apps and suggest improvements that may make their lives a little easier. This includes a list of apps that they can set up themselves, others that may require some hands-on assistance from me, or direct replacements that offer additional functionality or improved usability.
Do you use a remote support app to troubleshoot friends' and family members' phones? 350 votes Yes, that's how I do all my troubleshooting. 6 % Yes, but only when is no other choice. 10 % No, I prefer hands-on troubleshooting. 47 % No, I don't troubleshoot others' devices at all. 37 %
Here’s the list of apps I urge non-techies to install on their Android phones:
TeamViewer
Andy Walker / Android Authority
Many of the apps I mention on this list require some intervention by an experienced or technically-minded user before the smartphone owner can use them. I’m aware that not everyone has physical access to these devices, which makes this process somewhat challenging. In those moments when the entire family isn’t gathered together at the year-end tech support symposium, better known as “the holidays,” TeamViewer will come in handy.
When installed on both the host and control devices, this remote support app allows you to troubleshoot or install apps on the user’s behalf. This includes file transfers, allowing you to send APKs from your device to the user’s device for later installation.
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