There is no magic tool to save space on your mobile, but there is an application. And you already have it installed

We usually download apps to have easier access to services, me first. And we often forget all this set of software that makes the mobile fatter is not essential: we can save space and energy, as well as protect our privacy, with what we have already installed. Because, if there is already an application that solves most tasks on the smartphone, why download more? This is my ode to the web browser.

“There’s an app for everything”, this saying is more than true: I’ve verified it over the years. And I would add a second motto: “Web browser is the app for everything“. A la Alexandre Dumas and the Musketeers (or the Musketeers, which also applies): this application that we use to visit the pages can replace most of the software installed on the phone. It is true that it requires a little more work than simply consulting an app, but, on the other hand, it has significant additional advantages.

The web browser, used as unknown

I highly doubt there is anyone who doesn’t use the web browser on their Android daily, it’s a basic app for searching information on Google, accessing an online store, or buying tickets for the next trip to the cinema. All these actions can be done with apps, here is the atomization of software for smartphones. Even so, there is a set of tasks that continue to be owned by Google Chrome and the company.

Looking (a lot) back, the internet was exclusively associated with the web browser. Say “I will connect” This was equivalent to connecting to the network and opening the browser in turn. I started with Mosaic Spyglass, it’s been raining ever since. Between my hands have passed Netscape Navigator, Internet Explorer, Firefox… And Google Chrome, currently the most used web browser in the world (65% use it). The fact that it comes pre-installed on Android phones contributes to Google’s hegemony in the browser arena.

Although the web browser continues to be a fundamental pillar of the use we make of the Internet, little by little its need has been diluted until fall on the different applications that give direct access to Internet platforms and services. It may seem that we use the services in this way in a more complete and simple way, which happens in the vast majority of cases, but this has trade-offs for our mobile experience.

Believe it or not, your phone’s web browser covers almost all of your device usage. Even tasks that seem to be app-exclusive:

• Web browser gives you access to all major social networks. You can use TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram; even if there are services that are only covered by the applications (the publication of content in some, for example).
• From the navigator you can view maps and even use GPS navigation. No need to open Google Maps, the site has a mobile version almost as good (and super lightweight).
• The web browser allows you to use WhatsApp instant messaging. There is a trick, because you have to start the account from an installed app, but once the boot is covered, you don’t need the app on your phone. And the same thing happens with Telegram (if you saved the mobile number, you don’t even need to install the app).
• Watch YouTube from outside the app. With the Google account connected to the web browser, YouTube works without the biggest problem. This is extensible to a large part of media content platforms.
• The browser allows you to install applications. This browser opens the door for you to download APK files so you can install everything you need on your Android. Moreover, you can also download the apps using Google Play: open the store in your browser, log in and remotely install the software on the phone.

All the previous uses, which are the majority on a daily basis in the smartphone, are provided by the web browser. They usually require a bit more work, especially since sites insist on forcing app installation before loading mobile version (It is usually solved by enabling desktop mode in the browser), but once the websites are bookmarked, loading Twitter, WhatsApp or YouTube is a two-step process. And you can still save these pages as charms on your Android desktop, some even as web apps.

Yes, there is a type of software a little more reluctant to the web browser: games. The most popular ones are usually downloaded as an appAgainst this, there is no simple solution. Still, there are plenty of web browser games to play without downloading a single app.

Benefits of Using Web Browser for Everything

The most obvious is that you save a lot of space on your mobile, since with just one app you cover the storage that would require a whole bunch of additional software. In current mobiles it does not make so much sense to reduce to the maximum what each application occupies, quite the opposite of what happens in these phones that start out somewhat limited.

Apart from saving space, there are more benefits of covering all phone usage with the help of the browser alone.

• You will save a lot of battery. All it takes is a little math: multiple apps running in the background versus just one. If you have in-browser notifications, it will always consume something else, but never at the level of a handful of installed apps.
• You will improve your privacy. From the web browser, you can better control that the services do not take your private data. Blocking cookies, restriction of identifiers, private browsing… Depending on the browser, you will have more or less means of protecting your privacy.
• You can avoid ads. Blocking advertising in the browser is much easier than in apps: with Brave, Vivaldi or DuckDuckGo you have an integrated “adblocker”, for example.
• It is much easier to clean everything stored on the phone. From the browser configuration you can clean the cache and all the cookies that the different services have saved. You can also use these services without the data being stored: private browsing is good for that.

one for all

If with a single application you cover most of the uses of the rest of the applications, why install all this software on your mobile? Centralizing usage in the web browser has its logical drawbacks, such as a increased number of steps for common actions and some options not appearing available, but you have already seen all the benefits it offers in return. I find myself doing the substitutions on my phones, installing fewer and fewer apps.

Let’s go back to the days when the web browser was the only window to everything the internet had to offer. Or maybe we shouldn’t be so extreme, just in part: Let’s avoid using apps for tasks that can be done in two clicks from the browser. Our mobile will thank you.