One of the things that lead many users to root their smartphone is the possibility of removing system applications that are installed and cannot be uninstalled. Obviously, being Root Yes you can, but some of these apps can affect the system if we uninstall them. So which ones can we uninstall without being Root?
Common applications
First of all, we are going to focus on the common applications that we see on every smartphone. As you know, Android is an operating system used by many smartphone and tablet manufacturers, and each of them installs different apps with different interfaces. Let's start by focusing on the common ones, the ones every user should have on their smartphone. And we'll discuss them in order of relevance and usefulness.
- Google Play Books, Music, Newsstand, Movies and Games: These applications are installed on the new generation Android and probably on all those that have a relatively recent version of the operating system. In many cases, we do not use them. If you have Spotify, you don't want to have Google Play Music. If you don't read books on your mobile, you don't want Play Books either, and the same goes for Movies or Newsstand. If you play video games a lot, maybe you want Google Play Games, but as in my case, it can also happen that even while playing, you don't want to have Play Games. You can uninstall them all one by one, which will free up space in your smartphone's memory.
- Google+: I don't think you need even a definition. If you do not use the social network, something that is likely in 90% of you, you can uninstall it from your smartphone without problems.
- Mail or Gmail: On the smartphone you have two email applications, the Mail and the Gmail. Recently, Gmail also allows the use of external accounts, so perhaps it does not make much sense to use Mail. If you have a Gmail account as the main one, it is even more logical to uninstall Mail. But if you are one of those who use the Mail application, you can also uninstall Gmail.
- Animated backgrounds: Animated backgrounds are not used by many users because they consume more battery. But it is that, each animated background is an individual application. Therefore, even if we want to install a live wallpaper, nothing will happen to uninstall those that are integrated into the smartphone, which are already very boring. You can locate them by name on your smartphone.
- Gallery: Many smartphones have two galleries, the one from the smartphone manufacturer, such as Motorola, and the Android Gallery. One of the two is plenty, since they are almost the same, and even if you have an additional gallery, you may have more than two. You can uninstall them without problems.
- Calendar: There are many better calendars than the one built into Android. From Google Calendar itself, to Sunrise, for example. If you have any of these, you can uninstall Calendar without a problem.
- Calculator: Perhaps less relevant is the case of the calculator, because it is always a useful application. Even so, there are many others that are also better. So you can finish this one.
- Camera: Today there are already many cameras for Android with advanced functions, and if you have one or more of these installed, you will not even want to run the Camera application of your Android.
- Google Chrome: It is one of the best browsers, and that is why we have left it for almost the end, because it is not very logical to uninstall it. However, you may prefer a different one, or you may be using the Beta version and want to delete the original. No problem.
- Google Maps: Another one that one does not usually want to eliminate, but if you want to minimize the space occupied by system apps, it could be an option.
- StreetView: If you end up with Google Maps, Street View should be behind, because the application has no function without Google Maps.
- Google Play Store: I don't see any reason why anyone would want to uninstall the Google Play Store. But there are Other stores, or you may even want the smartphone to be used by a user who doesn't have access to the app store to avoid expensive app purchases, perhaps a child or a very elderly person. It can be uninstalled without damaging the system.
Finally, it should be mentioned that there are applications installed by the manufacturer which can also be uninstalled. Generally, it's best to do a Google search for "what system apps can I uninstall in a few seconds," and you'll find posts from various forums where users explain how to do it.
Important notes about some of these apps: Although many can be removed without affecting stability, it is advisable to consider alternatives before deleting. Play Store and associated services are the gateway to upgrades and purchases; if you decide do without them, make sure you have one reliable alternative store and that you understand the limitations. In the case of Camera o Gallery, only delete it if you already have a replacement app installed. And remember, if you don't have root, in many cases it's safest to disable or use ADB methods explained below.
What is bloatware?
Is named bloatware at pre-installed applications that add no value for the user or that duplicate functions. On Android, the term is used primarily for apps from the manufacturer, the operator, or even some Google apps that not everyone uses.
These system apps reside in a distinct partition to your data partition (the system partition). Therefore, deleting them without root using ADB or disabling them, you won't always get much space back of storage. What you do gain is that do not run, stop consuming resources and disappear from the drawer Of applications.
The safest strategy is to advance in layers: first check if they can be uninstalled like any app; if not, disable; and only in the last resort delete with ADB or root. This reduces risk and allows for easy reversal.
How to remove pre-installed apps without root
1) When they can be uninstalled as usual
Some secondary apps Yes, they allow direct uninstallation. Press and hold the icon and tap on uninstall, or go to Settings > Apps, open the app and tap on uninstallThis usually happens with optional apps from the manufacturer or with less critical Google utilities.
2) Disable if the uninstall button does not appear
When uninstallation is not available, the safest option is disable. A) Yes does not run It doesn't take up any resources, and you can reverse it instantly. General steps:
- Open Settings > Apps.
- Tap on See all and activate the filter Show system if necessary.
- Go to the app you want to hide.
- Balance Disable and confirm.
3) Remove bloatware without root with ADB
For apps that can neither be uninstalled nor disabled, ADB allows you to remove them from the user profile without root. Note that this is a process for cautious users: If you remove something critical, you can cause failures. Summary of the method:
- Activate the developer options tapping the build number several times.
- Enter the new menu and enable the USB debugging.
- Install the PlatformTools on your computer and connect your mobile via USB.
- Enable debugging on the phone when the RSA dialog appears.
- In the console, list the apps and remove the desired one with
pm uninstall -k --user 0 nombre.del.paquete. For example, for YouTube:pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.youtube.
This method removes the app for the current user, does not delete the APK from the system partition. After a major update or reset, it may reappear. If you don't want to type commands, tools like App Manager o Universal Android Debloater they put one Graphic interface above ADB to safely select and remove with recommendations and filters. Still, use it with caution and always read the description of each package.
How to uninstall them?
Of course, you won't be able to uninstall them like any other app. To uninstall these apps, you'll need, as we said, root, and also an app that allows you to uninstall these. In this case, Root Uninstaller could be the app you're looking for. It's the best-known, has a free version, and works very well.
What root access provides: It is the only way to physically remove system APKs. This won't gain you much space on your data partition, but it will remove their updates, data and cache. The risk is higher because some components are essential. Before deleting, perform a backup if the app allows it and evaluates it first freeze (disable at system level) to test that everything is still stable.
RootUninstaller It's an app that allows us to uninstall (or freeze) any other app on our Android device, even if it's pre-installed or a system app. However, as its name suggests, we'll need a rooted device to use this feature.
Although the application is specifically designed to work with rooted devices, it also offers features for users without superuser privileges. Among the most interesting features is the ability to delete apps in bulk, with a single tap on the screen. Additionally, we can manage all the APK files we have in the device's memory: delete, install, or install as a system app (only in the PRO version).
users with rooted terminals Root Uninstaller is an application that, although especially recommended for users with rooted devices, also offers very interesting features to other users.
Useful features inspired by the best uninstallers that you should know if you opt for a tool of this type:
- bloatware removal: Scans and suggests unnecessary system apps to free up resources and improve performance.
- batch operations: Select a list of system or user apps and uninstall them all at once to save time.
- Launcher-only mode: filter to show only visible apps in the launcher or the entire system assembly, reducing errors due to confusion.
- User App Uninstaller: If you are overwhelmed by eliminating one by one, the tools with batch help keep your device clean.
- Freeze/Thaw: a less drastic alternative that allows block Temporarily uninstall a system app to confirm that it's no longer needed. If all goes well, you can now delete it.
- APK Management: review, delete and, in advanced modes, option to convert an app in the system.
In addition to Root Uninstaller, there are similar utilities like Root App Delete, which stand out for their speed, their ability to manage bloatware, including cleaning temporary files and, in some cases, a Task Manager Basic. The idea is the same: to make it easy to remove or freeze pre-installed components with the least possible impact.
Best practices when using root apps: Create a pre-list of what you are going to play, check in specialized communities if your model has critical packages that you shouldn't delete, and start by freezing. Try it for a few days and, if everything is stable, then uninstall. Some tools allow export a copy of the apps to delete and restore them if something fails.
Google Play – Root Uninstaller.
Removing system apps can be as simple as disabling them or as advanced as using ADB or root. The key is choosing the method that works best for you. less risk that fulfills your objective: hide them, prevent them from consuming resources, and, if necessary, delete them. With the guide above, you'll know how to identify bloatware, what to do with each category, and which tools are best for you in each case.
