A computer-implemented method, comprising: receiving , by a computing device , via a user interface of the computing device , user input to disable an application ; determining , by the computing device , whether the application is passive-enabled, wherein: an application which is passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a passive state; and an application which is not passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a disabled state; responsive to determining that the application is passive-enabled, causing , by the computing device , the application (122A, 122B. 222) to operate in the passive state, wherein while the application operates in the passive state, one or more essential functions or services provided by the application that are required by an operating system of the computing device are enabled and any remaining functions or services provided by the application are disabled; and after causing the application to operate in the passive state: outputting , by the computing device , via the user interface of the computing device , an indication that the application has been disabled in response to the user input to disable the application ; and performing , by the computing device , one or more operations that rely on the one or more essential functions or services provided by the application . receiving , by a computing device , via a user interface of the computing device , user input to disable an application ; determining , by the computing device , whether the application is passive-enabled, wherein: an application which is passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a passive state; and an application which is not passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a disabled state; an application which is passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a passive state; and an application which is not passive-enabled is configured to operate in either an enabled state or a disabled state; responsive to determining that the application is passive-enabled, causing , by the computing device , the application (122A, 122B. 222) to operate in the passive state, wherein while the application operates in the passive state, one or more essential functions or services provided by the application that are required by an operating system of the computing device are enabled and any remaining functions or services provided by the application are disabled; and after causing the application to operate in the passive state: outputting , by the computing device , via the user interface of the computing device , an indication that the application has been disabled in response to the user input to disable the application ; and performing , by the computing device , one or more operations that rely on the one or more essential functions or services provided by the application . outputting , by the computing device , via the user interface of the computing device , an indication that the application has been disabled in response to the user input to disable the application ; and performing , by the computing device , one or more operations that rely on the one or more essential functions or services provided by the application . <EOS>