How to Uninstall Preinstalled Android Apps

Preinstalled apps, often called bloatware, take up storage, drain battery, and clutter your app drawer. This guide shows you how to remove or disable them on a typical Android phone, covering both the simple method and the workarounds for apps that resist deletion. You’ll need your phone and about five minutes.

What You’ll Need

• Your Android phone or tablet
• Your Google account password (for some steps)
• USB cable and a computer (only for the advanced ADB method)

Step-by-Step

1. Try the simple uninstall first. Open your Settings app. Scroll down and tap Apps (or Applications on some phones). You’ll see a list of all installed apps. Find the preinstalled app you want to remove and tap it.
2. Look for the Uninstall button. On the app’s info page, you’ll see buttons like Force Stop, Disable, and sometimes Uninstall. If you see Uninstall, tap it and confirm. The app is gone. If you don’t see it, move to the next step.
3. Disable the app instead. If there’s no Uninstall button, tap Disable. The phone will warn you that the app and its data may stop working. Confirm. The app will disappear from your app drawer and stop running in the background. This is the official, safe way to “remove” most system apps.
4. Use the Play Store (for some carrier apps). Open the Google Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, and choose Manage apps & device. Tap Manage and find the app. If it has an Uninstall button, tap it. Some carrier or manufacturer apps can only be removed this way.
5. Try the advanced method: ADB (Android Debug Bridge). If an app can’t be uninstalled or disabled, you can remove it for your user profile using a computer. This does not require root access.
   1. On your phone, go to Settings > About Phone and tap Build Number seven times until it says “You are now a developer.”
   2. Go back to Settings > System > Developer Options and turn on USB Debugging.
   3. Plug your phone into your computer with a USB cable. If prompted on the phone, allow USB debugging.
   4. On your computer, download and install the Android Platform Tools (ADB). This is a free, official Google package.
   5. Open a command prompt (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux) in the folder where you extracted the tools.
   6. Type adb devices and press Enter. Your phone should appear as a device. If it says “unauthorized,” check your phone and allow the connection.
   7. Now, find the exact package name of the app. The easiest way is to search online for “[app name] package name” or use an app like “App Inspector” from the Play Store to look it up.
   8. Type the following command and press Enter, replacing com.example.app with the actual package name:
      adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.app
   9. The command will return Success. The app is now removed for your user account. It still exists in the system partition but is hidden and not running.
6. Restore a disabled or ADB-removed app. To get an app back, go to Settings > Apps, tap the three-dot menu (top right), and select Show system. Find the app, tap it, and tap Enable. For ADB, use the command adb shell cmd package install-existing com.example.app.

Common Mistakes

• Disabling critical system apps. Some apps like the phone dialer, messaging, or settings are essential. Disabling them can cause crashes or a boot loop. Stick to apps you recognize as bloatware.
• Using a third-party “uninstaller” app. Many of these require root access and can break your phone. The built-in methods above are safer.
• Forgetting to re-enable before a system update. A major Android update might fail if a core app is disabled. If an update fails, re-enable all disabled apps first.
• Typing the wrong package name in ADB. Double-check the package name. Removing the wrong system component can cause instability.

Tips

• Disable, don’t uninstall, when in doubt. Disabling is easily reversible and doesn’t risk system stability.
• Free up storage by clearing data first. Before disabling, go to the app’s info page and tap Storage > Clear Storage. This frees up space immediately.
• Check for updates to the app first. Sometimes a carrier app becomes uninstallable after an update. Check the Play Store for updates before giving up.
• Write down what you disable. Keep a note in your phone’s memo app so you can remember what to re-enable if you have problems later.

Troubleshooting

• The Disable button is greyed out. This means the app is a core system component. You can’t disable it without root, which is not recommended. Try the ADB method instead.
• ADB says “device not found.” Make sure USB debugging is enabled, the cable is a data cable (not charge-only), and you’ve accepted the debugging prompt on your phone. Try adb kill-server then adb start-server.
• ADB returns “Failure [not installed for user 0].” The package name is wrong or the app is already uninstalled. Double-check the package name.
• An app you disabled keeps coming back after a reboot. Some manufacturers re-enable apps on reboot. You may need to use the ADB method for a more permanent removal.
• Your phone is slow or crashing after disabling an app. Re-enable the app you just disabled. If you don’t remember which one, check your notes. If problems persist, restart your phone.
• You can’t find the app in Settings after disabling it. Tap the three-dot menu in the Apps list and select Show system to see hidden system apps.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will disabling an app free up storage space?
A: Yes, but only partially. Disabling stops the app from running and removes its updates, but the original app files stay on the system partition. To free up more space, clear the app’s data (Settings > Apps > [App] > Storage > Clear Storage) before disabling.

Q: Can I reinstall a disabled app?
A: Yes. Go to Settings > Apps, tap the three-dot menu, select Show system, find the app, and tap Enable.

Q: Is it safe to uninstall preinstalled apps with ADB?
A: Generally yes, as long as you only remove apps you recognize and use the --user 0 flag, which only affects your profile. Avoid removing system-critical apps like the dialer, settings, or launcher.

Q: What is the difference between uninstalling and disabling?
A: Uninstalling removes the app completely (if the system allows it). Disabling hides the app, stops it from running, and removes its updates, but the base app remains on the device. Disabling is safer and reversible.

Q: Why do some apps have no Uninstall or Disable button?
A: These are deeply integrated system apps that the manufacturer or carrier has locked. Your only options are the ADB method or rooting the device, which is risky and not recommended for most users.

Q: Will disabling apps improve battery life?
A: Often yes. Many preinstalled apps run background services that drain battery. Disabling them stops those processes. Monitor your battery usage in Settings > Battery to see which apps are using the most power.

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