How to remove pre-installed apps on Android using ADB without root and other secure tools

If you own an Android phone, you've probably encountered unwanted apps that, frustratingly, can't be removed in conventional ways. These types of apps, known as bloatware o pre-installed softwareThey often take up space and sometimes even slow down the device, in addition to consuming unnecessary resources and displaying Unhelpful notifications that only generate noise. Removing these apps isn't always easy, as the system limits access to protect essential components, but there are ways to get rid of them without rooting your phone.

Keeping your phone clean of unnecessary apps not only helps free up space, but also improves performance general device, reduces the possibility of having background software which is not necessary and can improve your privacy by limiting the number of apps that collect data. Today we'll explain this in detail. How to remove pre-installed apps without root using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) And, in addition, we will show you other alternatives without rootWith and without a computer, so you can choose the one that best suits you.

Why are there so many pre-installed apps on mobile phones?

When buying an Android phone, it's common to find several layers of pre-installed applications: the basics of the systemGoogle's own apps (like Gmail, Photos, Maps, YouTube), manufacturer tools (like Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei, Motorola, etc.) and even some added by your telephone operator or through commercial agreements (social networks, promotional games, alternative stores, etc.). The result is a device loaded with more apps than you're likely to use on a daily basis.

This phenomenon is called bloatware, which refers to that extra software that comes from the factory and which is rarely truly useful for all users. On phones with limited storage, it can be a real problem, although even on devices with more generous storage, it's still annoying to have an app drawer full of unnecessary icons and services that You can't uninstall it easily.

Furthermore, many of these pre-installed apps run in the background, which implies constant RAM consumption, certain use of CPU, possible data connections and in consequence, battery drainAlthough modern mobile phones tend to come with increasingly more internal storage, this does not prevent bloatware from generating duplications of functions (multiple galleries, multiple browsers, multiple email clients) or that colonizes your notification panel.

It is worth noting that most system applications and services are hosted on a protected partition different from that of your photos, documents, and apps you installed. That's why, even when you use advanced methods to "uninstall" bloatware, You don't always recover a large amount of space in total memory, although you do free up the part corresponding to data, cache and updates And, above all, you eliminate its presence for your user.

What options exist to remove bloatware?

Not all pre-installed applications are the same, nor do they require the same removal procedure. Depending on the level of protection and their integration with the operating system, you can choose from different, more or less aggressive, strategies. It's crucial to understand what each option does before applying it. minimize risks.

Direct uninstallation: Some apps can be deleted like any other downloaded app. Usually, you just need to long-press the icon and select the option uninstallor you can do it from Settings > Applications. This option is usually available for secondary apps from Google, the manufacturer, or third parties that are not critical to the system.
Disabling or deactivationIn many cases the app cannot be deleted, but it can deactivatewhich prevents it from functioning or consuming resources. It will disappear from the app drawer and it will stop running, although your base file remains in the system. It's a very secure way to "hide" apps without risking breaking anything important.
Removal via ADBThis is the most advanced and effective option when disabling the app isn't even possible. It requires the use of commands from a computerBut you don't need root access. It's the recommended way to truly remove bloatware at the user level, although it carries some risks if you delete essential packages.
Use specialized applications with a graphical interfaceThere are computer utilities that simplify the process (such as Universal Android Debloater o ADB AppControl), allowing select which apps to delete without having to manually type commands. These tools use ADB under the hood, but make management easier for users with less technical experience.
Alternative without PC with Shizuku + SingIf you don't want to use a computer, there are apps like Shizuku y Canta These programs leverage special permissions to manage bloatware directly from your phone, even without root access. It's a very convenient method as long as you follow the tool's own security recommendations.

Advantages and risks of removing pre-installed apps

Removing bloatware has obvious advantages: you free up space, improve performance, reduce resource and battery usage and you avoid the visual saturation in the applications menuYou can also win at privacy by uninstalling apps that collect data or constantly connect to the internet without you actually using them.

However, one must also have a lot of cautionSome apps that seem unnecessary are linked to critical system functions or are used for other processes; Deleting them could cause instability or even that the phone doesn't work correctly. There are telephony services, system messaging, security components, the main launcher, or Google Play services that, if removed, can cause this. serious failures (missed calls, problems with push notifications, errors when starting the interface, etc.).

Additionally, you should consider that with most non-root methods (including ADB) apps are deleted. For current user onlyThe system file usually remains on the protected partition, so the overall memory space gain may not be as dramatic as you expect. Even so, the data and resource consumption of those apps disappears, as do their... data and cache associates.

Another aspect to consider is that, after a major system update or factory resetMany of the system applications that you had removed for your user may reappearThis isn't a bug, but rather how the system image is distributed on Android. If it happens, you can always repeat the removal process.

For all these reasons, it's always advisable to check what function an app performs before deleting it, and if you have any doubts, It's best to leave it disabled. or check it in forums and specialized guides about your specific mobile phone model.

How to know which applications you can uninstall

Before resorting to more technical methods, always check if it's possible to remove the app easily. Often, there's no need to complicate things with ADB or external tools because the system itself already allows for easy removal. normal uninstallation or a safe disabling.

Press and hold the app icon on the home screen or in the app drawer.
If the option appears uninstallYou can delete it without any problem and you will recover the space. app, data and cacheThen you can reinstall it from Google Play if you need to.
If only the option appears Deactivate o DisableThen you can only disable it, but it will stop running and disappear from view.
From Settings> ApplicationsFind the app, go into its details, and see what options are available. In many cases, you'll find buttons like uninstall, Disable, Force stop o Delete data.
On some phones you have to tap the three-dot menu and select Show system to see all apps, including pre-installed apps and internal services.

The uninstallation option is usually enabled in secondary apps from Google and manufacturers that aren't critical, but for key services or system utilities you'll need to resort to advanced methods. As a general guideline, it's usually a good idea to start by removing or disabling:

Promotional games and demos that come standard.
Operator apps (account manager, own store, diagnostic tools) if you don't use them.
Duplicate apps (two galleries, two browsers, two calendars, etc.) leaving only the one you prefer.

On the other hand, it's best not to touch anything without investigating components such as Google Play services, dialer/telephony, system launcher, Android framework, system messaging services or elements of security, y encryption.

Disabling Apps: The Safe Option

If you're not sure whether an app is essential or you can't remove it, the first step is usually disable it. This process is simple and reversibleTherefore, you run virtually no risk. It's an excellent way to test whether you really need an app: if after a few days you don't miss anything, you can consider more aggressive methods.

Sign in Settings and find the section Applications (on some mobile phones it's called Application manager or similar).
Tap on the list of apps, activate the option Show system If it appears, look for the one you want.
Enter your profile and click Disable o Deactivate. On some phones only the button will appear Force stopIf that's your only option, the app cannot be disabled directly without external methods.
Confirm the action. The app will no longer be active and will disappear from your apps menu.
If you need it at any point, you can re-enable it from this same menu by clicking on Enable.

Important: Although disabling apps It does not free up storage space from the system partition (It only stops its operation and clears user data and cache.) This is the most recommended way to start, because reduces risks y You can reverse the action if you regret itIt is also useful to verify that the system continues to function correctly without that app before resorting to ADB.

Preparing to remove apps with ADB

If you want to go a step further and remove apps that Android and manufacturers have hidden or protected, you need to use ADB (Android Debug Bridge)With this tool you will access advanced features from your computer and you will be able to remove pre-installed applications that normally do not allow uninstallation or direct disabling.

Keep in mindThis method is safe in practice If you follow the steps and know what you're removing, deleting a key package could leave your system unstable or cause important functions to malfunction. Proceed with extreme caution and at your own risk, always double-checking what you're uninstalling.

Getting Started: Enable USB Debugging

Accede to Settings> About phone and press several times (about 7-10) on Build Number until the system tells you that Are you a developer?.
Go to Settings > System > Developer options (or a similar path, depending on the customization layer) and activate USB debugging.
If your version of Android includes options to Pair device with pairing codeThese may be useful later for tools like Shizuku, although for standard ADB, simply enabling USB debugging is sufficient.

Download and install ADB tools

On your computer (Windows, Mac or Linux), download PlatformTools from the official Android developer website.
Unzip the folder to an accessible location, for example on the Desktop or in your user's root directory.
On Windows you can also download a specific installer which includes everything you need to connect your device, although the Platform Tools package is usually sufficient.
On macOS and Linux, you will only need to have the folder platform-tools and open a terminal in that path to launch the commands.

Connect the mobile to the computer

Use a good quality USB cable and keep your mobile phone screen on and unlocked.
When you connect for the first time, accept the RSA security key which will appear on the phone to authorize the computer.
If you're going to use ADB frequently, you can check the box for Always trust this computer so you don't have to accept the message every time.

Detecting the device and listing the applications

Once you have USB debugging enabled and the ADB tools installed, it's time to verify that your terminal is correctly detected by your computer. This step is crucial to ensure that commands are sent to the correct device.

Open a command window in the folder platform-tools (for example, in Windows you can hold down the Shift key, right-click on an empty space in the folder and choose Open PowerShell window here or similar).
Write the command adb devices and press Enter (on macOS or Linux, if you are in the platform-tools folder, you may need to type ./adb devices).
If everything goes well, your device's serial number will appear along with the status. device o authorized.
If it doesn't appear, disconnect and reconnect your mobile phone, and check that the USB debugging be active and make sure you have the drivers suitable ones installed on Windows.

Once ADB recognizes the device, you can list all installed applications (including system applications) with their package nameswhich is the information you need to uninstall them.

Use the command: adb shell pm list packages to see the complete list of packages.

This list can be very long, so it's helpful. filter results Searching for keywords to locate the exact app. For example:

adb shell pm list packages | grep youtube (On Windows, in PowerShell, you can use findstr instead of grep).

This way you'll only see packages whose name contains a specific string, like youtube It's recommended to search for the exact app to avoid accidentally deleting something. Keep in mind that the name you see on the icon (for example, YouTube) may correspond to a package called com.google.android.youtube.

Uninstalling pre-installed apps with ADB commands

Once you have identified the name of the package you want to remove, it's time to run the uninstallation command for it. main user (user 0)This operation causes the app to cease to exist for your profile, even though the system APK remains in the protected partition.

Run the following command: adb shell pm uninstall -k –user 0 package-name

For example, to remove pre-installed YouTube, the command would be:

adb shell pm uninstall -k –user 0 com.google.android.youtube

If the operation is successful, you will see a message like this: Success The app will disappear from your phone. From that moment on, it will no longer appear in the app drawer or run in the background.

Repeat the process for each app you want to remove, but do it with extreme cautionOnly remove what you are certain is not essential to the system. Some helpful tips for reducing risk:

Start by obvious bloatwarePromotional games, operator apps, duplicates of apps you already have.
Avoid touching packages whose name includes clear references to framework, services, telephony, systemui, launcher or similar terms.
Write down in a document the package names that you uninstall so that they can be restored if necessary.

Warning: This process removes the app only for the main userIf you perform a factory reset or install a major update, some apps might reappear. You can remove them again by repeating the process. And if you change your mind or something stops working as expected, you can also use ADB to... restore the existing app on the system with the command adb shell cmd package install-existing package-name.

How to find out the package name of an app

If you don't know the package name of the application you want to remove, there are several ways to find it without guessing or going through endless lists of commands:

Find the app on Google Play from the browser; the URL includes the package name at the end, after id =For example, for Google Meet you'll see something like id=com.google.android.apps.tachyon.
Press and hold the app icon and go to Information o Details of the applicationwhere in many customization layers the package name appears in a specific section.
Use the command adb shell pm list packages as we saw before, and searches for an approximate match by filtering by name with grep o findstr.
In some third-party tools (such as Universal Android Debloater o ADB AppControlYou can see the list of apps with their friendly name and their Package ID at the same time, which greatly facilitates the task of identifying them.

The more precise you are in locating the package name, the lower the probability of accidentally delete somethingWhenever you have doubts, verify the package by searching online and reading reviews from other users who have performed the same process on your specific phone model.

Graphical tools to remove bloatware without typing commands

If you're not comfortable working with the terminal or simply prefer a more visual interface, there are desktop programs that use ADB under the hood but offer lists of apps, filters, and tags about what is safe to delete. They are an excellent aid for users who want to clean their system without learning all the commands.

Universal Android Debloater (Windows, macOS and Linux)

Universal Android Debloater (UAD) It's a cross-platform tool that connects to your mobile device via ADB and displays all system and user applications in a very clear interface. Its main advantage is that it includes profiles and recommendations which indicate which packages are generally safe to remove on most devices.

When you connect your mobile device and allow debugging, UAD lists the apps and categorizes them according to their risk level. This allows you to quickly identify them. typical bloatware from Google, the manufacturer, or the carrier, and uninstall it for the active user with a couple of clicks. Internally, the tool executes commands equivalent to pm uninstall –user 0Therefore, the behavior is similar to doing it by hand.

Its main value lies in that extra layer of context and securityYou can read brief descriptions of what each package does, see if other users have marked it as safe, and select multiple apps at once to uninstall. Even so, it's best not to be overconfident: each manufacturer customizes certain components, and although UAD minimizes risks, it's always a good idea to double-check what you're selecting before tapping "Uninstall." Uninstall.

ADB AppControl (Windows)

Another very convenient option in Windows is ADB AppControlwhich also leverages ADB to offer a modern and simple interface for viewing, filtering, and managing system and user apps. uninstall, disable, reinstall APKs, clear data and some extra customization features.

The usual workflow involves enabling the USB debuggingConnect the phone via cable, authorize the connection, and from the applications tab, select the ones you don't want and tap on UninstallFor those who are not proficient with the command line, this type of tool makes the process much more accessible, while essentially maintaining the same logic as ADB Shell commands.

The same recommendation applies to both Universal Android Debloater and ADB AppControl: Do not eliminate essential services And if you're unsure, leave the app as is or simply disable it. Remember that these programs don't delete the system partition either; they only uninstall for the active user, so the changes are partially reversible.

Remove bloatware from your mobile: Shizuku + Canta

If you prefer to do everything from your device and don't want to rely on a computer, there's a very interesting alternative based on two apps: Shizuku y CantaShizuku allows certain applications to be granted permission. advanced permissions without needing root access, and Canta takes advantage of that bridge to list, classify, and remove bloatware in a fairly intuitive way.

The basic configuration consists of activating the developer options, enable the USB debugging and, depending on the Android version, use the pairing by code To start the Shizuku service. Once Shizuku is active, Canta will be able to access the full list of apps, including system apps, and display icons and labels which indicate the level of security when uninstalling them (recommended, advanced, expert, not recommended).

The most interesting thing about Canta is that it helps you distinguish what is typical bloatware And what forms part of the system's essential infrastructure? Apps marked as safe are usually promotional games, duplicates of basic tools, or non-essential Google and manufacturer apps. The rest are grouped into increasing risk levels to prevent you from accidentally deleting something critical.

When you select the apps you want to delete, Canta offers a button with an icon of paper bin to apply the changes. Later, it maintains a history of deleted appsThis makes it easy to reinstall them if you notice any unusual behavior. You might see the label in your system settings. "App not installed for this user" In some entries, it indicates that the package exists on the system partition but is uninstalled from your profile.

This Shizuku + Canta combination is ideal for those who want a Fine-tuning bloatware control without touching the consoleprovided they follow the app's own warnings and do not delete packages without first understanding their function.

Final tips and alternatives if you have doubts

Before deleting anything, check specialized forums and updated lists of which apps can be safely deleted from a specific phone model. Many users share detailed experiences.
If you don't know if an app is important, it's best to just disable it Use it for a few days and see if you miss any features.
Take the backup back up your important data (photos, contacts, documents, chats) before starting the process, in case you need to perform a factory reset.
After removing bloatware, restart the mobile to check that everything is working correctly and the system starts without errors.
Remember that if you reset your phone to factory settings or apply important updatesYou may need to repeat the removal process using ADB or your favorite tools.
Prioritize removing clearly dispensable apps and duplicates, and avoids manipulating telephony components, system notifications, Google services, and customization layers.

Removing pre-installed apps from your Android phone without rooting the device is perfectly possible, and if you follow a prudent strategy, it can be a fairly controlled process. Starting with traditional uninstallation and disabling, and then moving on to ADB or graphical tools judiciously, you'll achieve a cleaner phone with fewer background processes, tailored to your actual needs without compromising its stability.