How to Remove Bloatware and Pre-Installed Apps from Your Android Phone
How to Remove Bloatware from Your Android Phone (Without Bricking It)
So you’ve got a brand-new Android phone, ready to live its best life. But wait—what’s this? A bloated mess of pre-installed apps you didn’t ask for and don’t need? Welcome to the wonderful world of bloatware, where your device comes with more apps than your local app store, and none of them actually make your life easier. They just take up storage and slow things down like a traffic jam on your favorite freeway.
But don’t worry, I’m here to help you liberate your phone from this digital prison, and guess what? You won’t even have to root it (unless you’re feeling a little adventurous, in which case, we’ll talk later). Grab your computer and your trusty USB cable because it’s time to kick some bloatware to the curb. Don’t have a computer? Don’t worry also, you can also get something done to these “culprits”, in addition you’ll get to learn something.
Step 1: Start with the Easy Stuff—Disabling Apps (Before You Break Anything)
First off, let’s play it safe. You can usually disable apps that you’ll never use without the need for any crazy tools or root access. Disabling an app is like putting it in timeout. It doesn’t disappear, but it stops running in the background and eating up resources. Here’s how to do it:
- Go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps.
- Find that annoying app (you know, the one that makes you think “Why is this even here?”).
- Tap on the app, and if you’re lucky, there will be a Disable button. Hit it, and boom! That app is now effectively out of sight and mind.
Disable app from settings - Pro Tip: Disabling an app won’t delete it from your device, so if you ever change your mind, you can just re-enable it later.
If your phone doesn’t give you the option to disable an app, then we’re going to have to get a little more technical—enter the world of ADB.
Step 2: ADB Method—The Secret Power of Your Computer
Alright, if disabling apps isn’t enough and you want to go full ninja mode, you’ll need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge). ADB lets you communicate with your Android phone through your computer, and it can help you uninstall or freeze apps that just won’t go away. Don’t worry, this method doesn’t require rooting your device, but you’ll need to enable Developer Options first. Here’s how to get started:
- Enable Developer Options:
- Go to Settings > About Phone, then tap Build Number 7 times. This unlocks the Developer Options menu (which, let’s be real, sounds way cooler than it is).
- Enable USB Debugging:
- Go to Settings > System > Developer Options and toggle on USB Debugging. Now your phone is ready for some ADB action.
- Install ADB on Your Computer:
- Download and install ADB tools on your computer. It’s available on both Windows and macOS. A quick Google search will get you there. Lazy? Download from here.
- Connect Your Phone to Your Computer:
- Plug your phone into your computer via USB and make sure ADB can detect it. Open a command prompt (or terminal) on your computer and type the following:
adb devicesIf everything’s set up correctly, you’ll see your phone listed as a connected device.
ADB Devices - List All Installed Apps:To see a list of apps installed on your phone, run:
adb shell pm list packagesThis will show you a ton of apps—don’t panic. We’ll narrow it down to the ones that matter.
Packages listed by ADB
Step 3: Honorable Mentions—Bloatware That Should Be Banned
Now, let’s talk about some of the most notorious offenders in the bloatware game. These apps are the in-your-face, why-are-you-still-here types. Here’s a special shout-out to the usual suspects:
- Carrier apps:”Carrier Support & Protection”? More like “Carrier, please stop tracking me.”
- Samsung Bloat:Samsung Health, Samsung Members, Samsung Pay—I didn’t ask for a workout plan from my phone, thanks.Package names: com.samsung.android.health, com.samsung.android.members, com.samsung.android.samsungpay
- Xiaomi Apps:MIUI Themes, Mi Video, Mi Music—because why wouldn’t you need 5 different apps for watching videos and listening to music?Package names: com.miui.weather2, com.miui.miservice, com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer
- Pre-installed games:“Candy Crush Saga”? I didn’t download that—why is it sitting on my phone like it owns the place. Not to forget some blocky games filled with AdWare?Package name: com.king.candycrushsaga
- Pre-installed “OEM” apps:OEM App Store, News, Their Mobile app ie. Mi store. Do I really need an app store when I already have Google Play?
- HiOS/XOS/Itel Launcher:The default launcher on some Chinese devices—hey, I’m not saying it’s bad, but it feels like trying to surf the web on a 1990s dial-up connection(Not to mention the ads on the app drawer 🙁 ). Why not try other great and minimalistic launchers like NOVA launcher and Lawnchair?. (Preferably disable it)Package name: com.hios.launcher
- Cleaner Apps:”Cleaner” apps like PhoneMaster that somehow ends up taking more space than it saves and eating more ram that it “Actually frees”. It’s a smartphone and it knows how to manage background apps and clearing their cache them slows your device instead.
Pre-installed social media apps:Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, LinkedIn—again, I didn’t ask for these. My phone is not your personal billboard.
Package names: com.facebook.katana, com.instagram.android, com.whatsapp
Uninstall or Disable Apps:
To disable an app, use this command:
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 <package-name>
To remove a specific app (yes, remove, not just disable), use this command:
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 <package-name>
Replace <package-name> with the actual name of the app (e.g., com.samsung.android.health). You can find the exact package name from the list you generated earlier.
Pro Tip: Be super careful here. Removing the wrong app could make your phone behave like a confused robot. If you’re not sure what an app does, it’s better to disable it first (using adb shell pm disable-user <package-name>).
Yikes! You’ve solved your Bloatware Issue now.
Additionally, you can use Universal Android Debloater GUI. It is a GUI that automates this process. Download it from here:
Universal Android Debloater GUI
Step 4: The Root Method—The Final Frontier
Okay, so you’ve tried the ADB method, and now you’re thinking, “What if I go full throttle and just root my phone?” Well, rooting gives you complete control over your device, meaning you can remove any app (system apps included). However, before you go all in, remember that rooting voids your warranty, and one wrong move can leave your phone in a sad, unresponsive state.
Pro Tip: Rooting is not for the faint of heart. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could end up with a phone that’s about as useful as a brick. Proceed with caution.
Step 5: Reboot and Enjoy Your Fresh, Lean Phone
Once you’ve disabled or uninstalled your bloatware, it’s time for a reboot. No, this isn’t just a “turn it off and on again” thing—it’s a victory lap. You’ve successfully removed the junk, and now your phone should be faster, cleaner, and finally ready to do what it’s supposed to: Be your phone, not the phone of the software developers who decided to shove random apps down your throat.
Takeaway:
Bloatware may be unavoidable, but removing it doesn’t have to be a headache. Start with disabling apps, move on to ADB if you need a little more control, and maybe consider rooting if you’re feeling brave. Either way, you’re freeing your phone from the tyranny of unnecessary apps and getting back to what really matters: A faster, smoother experience.
And as for the bloatware culprits—well, they’re not going anywhere. But now, at least you know how to fight back. Your phone, your rules.
