Start

Name: Start
Rating: 3.563805 (248190 reviews)
Author: Taboola News

Make your phone yours! Get the news you care about whenever you wake your phone

Install Compare

Start is your ultimate phone companion giving instant access to news, sports, entertainment, business, and viral videos without complex menus. Key features include a vast wallpaper gallery, built-in music player with playlist creation, real-time weather updates, easy selfies from the home screen, intelligent smart search, integrated social networks, caller ID for unknown numbers, and an intelligent notifications manager prioritizing what's important to you. Designed to simplify your digital life, Start brings all the essential content and utilities to one screen, making your phone uniquely yours.

App News & Magazines Entertainment Productivity Utilities Social Media

By:

Taboola News

Downloads:

129,106,343 144.15K

Rating:

3.56

(248,190) 33 new ratings

Version:

7.5.0 Last updated: 2025-06-22

Version code:

7500

Creation date:

2012-08-01

Permissions:

android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_AD_ID
android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_ATTRIBUTION
android.permission.ACCESS_ADSERVICES_TOPICS
android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE
android.permission.ACCESS_NOTIFICATION_POLICY
android.permission.ACCESS_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.BLUETOOTH
android.permission.BLUETOOTH_ADMIN
android.permission.CHANGE_WIFI_STATE
android.permission.DISABLE_KEYGUARD

Size:

16.49MB

Email:

ta*****@taboola.com

URLs:

Website ,Privacy policy

Full description:

Source:

Google Play Store

Data ingested on:

2025-07-08

Ranking

# 962 ▲ 1

User reviews

Users overwhelmingly find the Start app intrusive and frustrating due to its pre-installed status which prevents uninstallation. It overrides personalized lock screen settings and consumes significant system resources, causing slowdowns and freezes. Many report annoying notifications and ads, as well as forced updates that often fail. However, some appreciated early versions that offered customization, useful shortcuts, and visually appealing themes. Overall, the app is seen as intrusive bloatware that diminishes phone usability and user control, with very limited benefits.

Pros

Visually appealing design and good-looking interface according to some users.
Initial functionality included useful features like adding shortcuts to contacts and apps, and multiple themes.
Some users appreciated the customization options available in early versions.
Useful for users who want quick access to news and information without unlocking the phone.

Cons

Cannot be uninstalled as it comes pre-installed, leading to frustration among users.
Intrusive and annoying notifications and ads that disrupt user experience.
Removes or overrides user customizations like lock screen wallpaper and settings.
Consumes system resources, making phones run slower, particularly on lower-spec devices.
Forced updates and persistent app activation even when disabled, leading to instability and freezes.

Recent reviews

I just kind of dealt with it for the majority of the time I had it, but now it doesn't show up when I turn off and on my phone. I was ok with this but now it's giving me notifications saying it's "preparing start" but then it does absolutely nothing. Is this just an issue I'm having or is this a common thing because I've tried everything to fix it, I've uninstalled and reinstalled updates I've cleared cache I've even force shut down and back on again but nothing works.

cy*****, 2024-11-01

Worthless. Absolutely a worthless app, and the fact that you can't remove it makes it worse. I disabled it, and it bugged out my system UI, so thanks for that. The update removes the wheel of ACTUAL useful things, and shoves a news feed on your phone that you are basically stuck with. It isn't even GOOD or WANTED news stories. Please get rid of this ridiculous app.