How to remove default preinstalled apps and bloatware on Android

Here's how to remove those unwanted preinstalled apps and bloatware that slows down our device.

Bloatware slows down our device. I had this slowdown recently, along with battery getting dried way too fast. Sure thing, it's an old Samsung Galaxy J7 On NXT, but it is a very reasonable phone. Even now.

I ran out of storage, memory getting filled and etcetera, only to know that these default, unwanted apps were the reason.

Soon, I went up to google, to search the various ways of removing those bloatware and I found an easy way.

Most of the times, those apps can be disable by long pressing the app, Click on app info, and disable. But not all apps can be removed that way. 

Disclaimer

I hate rooting my phone as much as you do. So, I will be using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) to remove those apps. This won't void your warranty and bank apps will run with no problems. At least, that's what happened to me. There's practically no chance of getting your phone bricked. Follow the steps carefully, and you'll be safe. 

This requires some technical knowledge. So, if you're scared of the command line, then I suggest you don't try this out.

I will be removing the basic apps like even messages, to install the google version in my device. If you've been around here for a while, some of you might have come from my stock android experience on android article. Make sure to read that. It's great.

I am not responsible for any damage on your phone by this process. Follow closely to avoid any damage. Stay safe.

Setting up ADB on your device

On your Phone

Doing so will allow your phone to give allow your computer to remove or install any app remotely without any prompts or notifications. 

• Head over to settings and then about phone (It might vary for some devices but make sure your on the software details page)
  
  
• Now scroll down until you find an option called Build Number. Tap on it multiple times until you get you're a developer dialog box (No, that's a toast widget).
  
  
• Some phones require you to type in your password or draw the pattern you've kept, make sure you do that.
  
  
• We've done all this to enable developer options. How cool!
• Now back to settings and go to developer options. 
• Enable USB debugging along with ADB. (Again, it may vary according to phones)
• Make sure you've kept your screen on while the process is going on. To do that, head over to Display -> Screen -> Set the screen time for a good measure, say 30 mins. You can revert it back when you're done.

We've completed less than quarter of the work, Phew!

On your Windows

You'd want to install the Android  SDK Platform Tools (Command-line) for your Windows machine. You can download it for various other platforms like Linux and macOS.

Extract the zip file to a directory you're quite familiar. Head over to the extracted location and shift right click to open the menu. Select the open in terminal (It might be Powershell for some people). Anyway, select it and a terminal or Powershell window should pop up.

Plug in your android device to the computer and allow File Transfer (MTP). Now type in:

./adb devices

Now you should see a prompt popping up. Allow it and you're good to go.

On your macOS

There are 2 ways : 

• Using Homebrew

• Using the Android SDK Platform Tools.

Using Homebrew is my favourite, it is very easy and simple. It also install Homebrew, which is great.

Type in the following commands. Administrator password is required to continue:

You can find the other method in this stack overflow thread : Here

On Linux

Here's how to do it in Linux. It's really easy, Just type in these 3 commands.

sudo apt update
sudo apt-get install android-tools-adb android-tools-fastboot

To Stop the adb server:

adb kill-server

Now, that we have completed setting things up. Let's get started.

Finding Package Names.

Connect your mobile to your computer and type in

adb devices

You should see a notification popping up. Click allow. If you're doing this frequently, you may want to check the checkbox.

Now, there are 2 options :

• Being able to see only system apps (Package Names)

• adb shell pm list packages -s

• Being able to see all apps including one's that you've manually installed (Package Names)

• adb shell pm list packages

If you type in these commands, you'll be able to see all the apps' package names, which we'll need soon.

Next one's crucial, make sure you follow carefully.

Deleting Unwanted Apps

You don't want to brick your phone by removing the important apps. Make sure you deleting the right app by cross checking with various sources in the internet. I know, the package list isn't clear, you can install some apps to show you the list of package names for each device, which i don't recommend to everyone. What you can do is that search the app's name on a computer, click on the Google Play Store link, and then select the part of URL after https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id, which is the package name.

Now, you can't retrieve app package names by this method, you have to cross check the package name you're choosing. Make sure you don't delete system apps like Home Launcher.

After getting the package name, type in the following command on the terminal:

adb shell

This will initialise the ADB Shell, after which you don't have to type adb shell after each and every command.

Then type in the following command:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 

Followed by the package name. 

Note: Some apps like Facebook have various package names, for which you have to delete everything.

Restore back those Apps.

If you're a tech savvy, you should have known the --user 0 command suffix. What this does is that it deletes the application for the main user, User 0. Now, in programming, nothing starts with 1. It starts with 0. From this you should have understood that these apps will be deleted for the primary user, the user 0.

And that's why you can restore back those apps. Here's how to do it, incase you deleted an important system default app.

Type in the following command:

cmd package install-existing 

Followed by the package name of the app.

Conclusion

The process is really simple, once you're familiar with it. This is the most easiest, non-root way to uninstall those unwanted apps. If you found this helpful, do share it with others.

Thanks.