Just Heard About Motorola Smart Feed? Here's What It Does and How to Disable It

A lot of Motorola users probably hadn't heard of Smart Feed until this week.

The app suddenly became the center of attention after users noticed something odd when opening Amazon. Instead of launching the shopping app directly, some Motorola phones briefly opened a browser window before redirecting users back into Amazon.

According to a report by Android Authority, researchers investigating the issue found that Motorola's Smart Feed app appeared to be routing those launches through affiliate-tracking links. That immediately raised eyebrows because most people expect an app tap to open an app, not pass through another service first.

Motorola has since addressed the issue, telling Android Authority that the behavior was caused by an "unintended" routing configuration within Smart Feed. The company says the problem has been fixed and that apps should now open normally.

Still, if the controversy has left you wondering what Smart Feed actually does, or if you'd rather disable it entirely, here's how.

What Is Motorola Smart Feed?

Smart Feed is Motorola's built-in content platform that shows personalized news stories, recommendations, and other content. Depending on your device, you may see it as a dedicated panel that can be accessed from the home screen.

How to Disable Motorola Smart Feed

If you'd prefer to turn it off, the process is fairly straightforward.

Step 1: Open Settings

Open the Settings app on your Motorola phone.

Step 2: Head to Apps

Scroll down and tap Apps or Apps & Notifications.

Step 3: View All Apps

Tap See All Apps to see the complete list of applications installed on your device.

Step 4: Find Smart Feed

Scroll until you see Smart Feed. If your phone has a search option, you can use that instead.

Step 5: Disable the App

Tap Smart Feed, then select Disable.

Android may warn you that disabling a built-in app could affect certain features. Confirm the action if you're comfortable proceeding.

Once that's done, Smart Feed will no longer run on your phone.

Can You Turn It Back On Later?

Yes. If you decide you want Smart Feed back, simply return to the same page and tap Enable.

Nothing is permanently removed, so you can reverse the change whenever you want.

Should You Disable It?

That's really up to you.

Motorola says the Amazon redirect issue has already been resolved, so disabling Smart Feed isn't necessary to avoid the bug. If you use the feature and like having a personalized news feed, there's probably no reason to change anything.

On the other hand, if you've never used Smart Feed or you're uncomfortable with background recommendation services, turning it off is an easy option.