What third-party applications actually are

A third-party process is any program or software that someone other than your device's maker installed on your computer, phone, or tablet. If you downloaded Chrome instead of using Edge, installed Spotify instead of Apple Music, or put Discord on your gaming PC — those are third-party applications. The "third party" is the company that made the software, separate from the two main parties: you (the user) and the device maker (Apple, Microsoft, Samsung).

Third-party apps run on top of your operating system. Your operating system — Windows, macOS, iOS, Android — is the software that came with your device and controls how everything works. Third-party applications ask the operating system for permission to do things: access your files, use your camera, connect to the internet, or store data. You typically see these permission requests when you first open an app or when it needs something new.

The distinction matters because third-party apps behave differently than built-in software. A built-in app like Windows Notepad or Apple Mail comes from the device maker and is deeply integrated into the system. A third-party app like Notepad++ or Gmail is separate — it can be removed without breaking your device, and it follows different rules about what it can access and how it updates.

Key Takeaways

  • Third-party applications are programs made by companies other than your device maker, like Spotify on an iPhone or Firefox on Windows.
  • You control whether third-party apps install and run, and you can remove them without harming your device.
  • Third-party apps request permission to access your files, camera, location, and other device features before they can use them.
  • Third-party apps update independently from your operating system, so you may need to update them separately to get security fixes.

Where third-party applications come from

Most third-party applications come from official stores: the Microsoft Store on Windows, the App Store on iPhones and iPads, Google Play on Android phones, or the Mac App Store on Apple computers. These stores vet applications before listing them, though the level of checking varies. Apple's App Store is generally stricter than Google Play, which is stricter than the Microsoft Store.

You can also read third-party applications directly from a developer's website. Firefox, for example, can be downloaded from mozilla.org. VLC media player can be downloaded from videolan.org. This route gives you more control but also more responsibility — you need to make sure you are on the real website and not a fake one designed to steal your information.

Some third-party applications are free, supported by ads or by selling your data to advertisers. Others cost money upfront. Still others are free but offer paid features — Spotify is free with ads, paid without them. Understanding how an app makes money helps you understand what it might do with your information.

How third-party applications request permission

When a third-party app needs to access something sensitive — your location, your contacts, your photos, your microphone — it must ask your permission first. On Android and iOS, you see a popup the first time the app needs that access. On Windows and macOS, the request may appear in settings or as a system notification.

You can always change these permissions later. On iPhone, go to Settings, scroll to the app name, and toggle permissions on or off. On Android, go to Settings, then Apps, find the app, tap Permissions, and adjust what it can access. On Windows, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, and you will see a list of apps and what they can access. On macOS, go to System Settings, then Privacy & Security, and do the same.

Denying permission usually means the app cannot use that feature — a weather app without location access will ask you to enter your city manually, a video call app without camera access will show a black screen. Some apps will not run at all without certain permissions, and that is when you decide whether you trust the app enough to grant access or whether you should use a different one.

Security and safety with third-party applications

Third-party applications are a common way malware and spyware reach your device. A fake app that looks like a real one, or a real app with hidden malicious code, can steal passwords, track your location, or lock your files until you pay. This is why downloading from official stores is safer than downloading from random websites — the store has already checked the app.

Check the app's reviews and read count before installing. An app with 500,000 downloads and mostly five-star reviews is lower risk than an app with 47 downloads and vague descriptions. Look at the permissions it requests — if a flashlight app asks for access to your contacts and location, that is a red flag. If a calculator app wants permission to make phone calls, do not install it.

Keep your third-party applications updated. Updates often include security fixes for vulnerabilities that hackers have discovered. On most devices, you can turn on automatic updates so you do not have to remember to do it manually. On iPhone, go to Settings, then App Store, and toggle "Automatic Updates" on. On Android, open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to Settings, then Network preferences, and choose "Auto-update apps".

How third-party applications affect your device's performance

Every third-party process running in the background uses some of your device's memory and processing power. If you have dozens of apps installed and many of them run automatically when you start your device, you will notice your computer or phone feels slower. Closing apps you are not using, or uninstalling ones you no longer need, frees up that power.

Some third-party applications are poorly written and use far more resources than they should. A social media app that constantly checks for new messages, a game that runs graphics at maximum quality, or a file-syncing app that constantly uploads files can drain your battery or make your device hot. If you notice your device getting slow or hot after installing something, that app might be the culprit.

You can see which apps are using the most power and memory. On Windows, open Task Manager (press Ctrl+Shift+Esc), click the Performance tab, then open Resource Monitor to see which apps are using CPU and memory. On Mac, open Activity Monitor (search for it in Spotlight), and you will see a list of running processes and how much CPU and memory each uses. On iPhone, go to Settings, then Battery, and you will see which apps used the most battery in the last 24 hours.

Removing third-party applications

Uninstalling a third-party app is straightforward and safe — it will not break your device or your operating system. On Windows, go to Settings, then Apps, then Apps & features, find the app, click it, and click Uninstall. On Mac, open Applications in Finder, right-click the app, and click Move to Trash. On iPhone, press and hold the app icon on your home screen, tap Remove App, then tap Delete App. On Android, press and hold the app icon, tap Uninstall, and confirm.

When you uninstall an app, it removes the program itself but usually leaves behind some data — saved settings, cached files, or login information. If you want to completely remove all traces, you may need to go into your device's storage settings and manually delete the app's folder. This is rarely necessary unless you are selling the device or the app left behind something you do not want.

Some third-party applications come pre-installed on your device by the manufacturer or your phone carrier. These are sometimes called bloatware. You can usually uninstall them, though on some Android phones the option may be grayed out. If you cannot uninstall it, you can at least disable it so it does not run in the background.

Third-party applications versus built-in software

Built-in applications come with your device and are made by the device maker. Windows Notepad, Apple Mail, Android Messages, and Safari are built-in. They are integrated into the operating system, update along with the system, and cannot be fully removed without breaking something. Third-party applications are separate — they update independently, can be removed completely, and are made by other companies.

Built-in apps usually have fewer permissions because they are part of the system itself. A third-party email app like Gmail or Outlook must ask permission to access your contacts and calendar, but the built-in Mail app already has that access. This does not mean built-in is always better — many third-party apps are more powerful and more useful than their built-in equivalents. Gmail has more features than most built-in mail apps, and Chrome is faster than many built-in browsers.

You can choose which third-party app to use as your default. If you install Chrome and want it to open when you click a link, you can set it as your default browser. If you install Outlook and want it to open when you click an email address, you can set that too. On Windows, go to Settings, then Default apps, and choose which app opens for each file type. On Mac, right-click a file, click Open With, choose the app, then click Change All.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall third-party apps I do not use?

Not when ready, but uninstalling apps you do not use frees up storage space and removes the risk that an old, unpatched app could be exploited. If an app has not been updated in years and you never open it, uninstalling it is the safest choice. If you might use it again, leaving it installed is fine as long as you keep it updated.

Can a third-party app see my passwords?

Not unless you give it permission or you enter your password inside the app itself. If an app asks for your password, be suspicious — legitimate apps usually use a login screen provided by the service itself (like Google's login page) rather than asking you to type your password into the app. Password managers like Bitwarden or 1Password are exceptions — they are designed to store passwords securely.

Why do some third-party apps ask for permissions they do not seem to need?

Sometimes an app needs a permission for a feature you have not discovered yet. A maps app needs location access to show where you are, but it also needs access to your contacts to let you navigate to a saved address. Other times, an app requests broad permissions to make development easier, even if it only uses part of them. If the permissions seem unreasonable, you can deny them or choose a different app.

What happens if I deny all permissions to a third-party app?

The app will still run, but it will not be able to use the features that require those permissions. A weather app without location access will ask you to type your city. A camera app without camera permission will show a black screen. Some apps will not work at all without certain permissions — in that case, you decide whether to grant access or uninstall the app.

Are free third-party apps safe?

Free apps are as safe as paid ones if they come from official stores and have good reviews. Many legitimate apps are free because they show ads or offer paid features. The risk is not the price — it is the source and the permissions. read from official stores, check reviews and read counts, and be suspicious of apps that request unusual permissions.