When you buy a new Android phone, it's likely that it will come loaded with a number of pre-installed apps. Some of these may be useful, but more often than not, they come with programs you don't need that take up space, slow down your device, or you'll simply never use. These types of apps are often known as bloatwareNow, removing these pre-installed apps from Android without root is a separate issue.
Removing this bloatware may seem like a complicated task, especially without having root permissions, but the truth is that there are several ways to get rid of pre-installed applications without having to get too involved. If you want to know how to do it, in this article we are going to explain the different ways to achieve it, step by step.
What exactly is bloatware?
The term bloatware originated in the computer world to refer to programs that take up a lot of space or consume a lot of resources. In the case of Android, bloatware refers to those often useless applications that come pre-installed on devices and that usually take up space or slow down the system. These apps can come from the manufacturer itself, from the telephone operator or, in some cases, are promotional apps from third-party companies.
Unlike what happens on a computer, where you can often easily uninstall this type of software, on Android some system or pre-installed apps cannot be removed so easily, which can be frustrating. Fortunately, there are ways to get rid of them, and they don't necessarily involve rooting your device.
How to remove pre-installed apps on Android without root?
The process for removing pre-installed apps on Android varies depending on the app and the device. However, one of the key points to understand is that some apps can be deleted uninstall directly, while others can only be disableHere we explain each method.
Check if they can be uninstalled
Before you get down to more complex methods, the first thing you should do is check whether the app you want to remove can be uninstalled in the traditional way. Some apps that come pre-installed, such as Google Play Games or certain manufacturer apps, are optional and can be removed like any other app.
To uninstall an app in a conventional way, just hold down the app icon and check if the option to uninstall appears. uninstallIf you don't see that option, then you'll need to explore other methods to remove it.
Disable system applications
If the app cannot be uninstalled, you may be able to disable it. Disabling an app will stop it from running in the background and will remove it from your app drawer, but it will still be there and take up space on your system. However, you will prevent it from consuming resources and data on your device, which is a useful solution if you can't completely uninstall it.
To disable an app, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your mobile.
- Access the section of Applications.
- Select option See all applications and, if necessary, activate the option Show system to also see system apps.
- Select the application you want to disable and tap Disable. Confirm the action.
Please note that some manufacturer apps may have additional restrictions, and you may not be able to disable them without further advanced settings.
Uninstall pre-installed apps on Android using ADB (without root)
If you want to go a step further and completely remove certain pre-installed apps, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) commands. This method allows you to get rid of pre-installed apps without root, although it requires a bit more technical knowledge since you'll need to use a computer and run commands.
Here are the steps to do it:
- First, you need to activate the developer options on your mobile. To do this, go to Settings> About phone and tap the build number several times until a message appears indicating that you are now a developer.
- Then, activate the option USB debugging in the developer options.
- Download the ADB drivers to your computer and install them.
- Connect your phone to your computer using a USB cable and make sure to authorize ADB connection on your device when prompted.
- Open a command window (cmd or terminal) on your computer and type the following command to connect your device:
adb devices
- Once connected, you can uninstall the applications you want using the command:
pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name
Remember Each application has a different package name And to delete a specific app, you'll need to find out that name. This method will delete the app only for user 0 (your main profile), meaning it will technically remain on the system, but it won't be available or take up resources.
Use Universal Android Debloater
If using ADB commands seems complicated to you, there is a much more visual and simple tool called Universal Android DebloaterThis tool simplifies the use of ADB by providing a graphical interface that allows you to select the applications you want to uninstall without having to enter manual commands.
Here are the steps to use Universal Android Debloater:
- Connect to your phone via ADB following the steps above to enable USB debugging.
- Download Universal Android Debloater on your computer and run it.
- The application will show you a list of all the apps installed on your device, including those that you can remove without harming the system.
- Select the apps you want to uninstall and tap Uninstall.
This tool allows you to uninstall multiple apps at once, making the process much faster and more efficient. However, it is important to be careful when uninstalling system apps, as removing essential apps could cause errors or instability on your phone.
Remove pre-installed apps on Android with root permissions
It tienes root permissions On your device, you can completely remove system apps, which includes deleting the APK file from the system partition. This won't free up much space on the user data partition, but it will remove any traces of the app.
With root, you can also use apps like app remover o RootUninstaller to completely remove system apps. However, keep in mind that uninstalling a system app is irreversible if you don't back it up first, which can cause problems if you delete something important by accident.
Ultimately, while rooting gives you full control over apps, it is also a riskier option, especially for novice users. If you decide to go this route, make sure you know what you are doing and have a way to restore any changes what you do.
Removing pre-installed apps from Android is not an impossible task, and there are several ways to do it without root. Some apps can be removed in the traditional way, others can be disabled, and for the most persistent ones, there are solutions based on ADB or tools like Universal Android Debloater. And if you have root, You can remove them completelyThe important thing is that you are clear about what your goal is and to what extent you want to make changes to your device.
