How to Uninstall Bloatware on Any Android Phone (No Root Required)

If you’re tired of unwanted system apps taking up storage space and slowing down your Android phone, you’re not alone. Most Android devices come with pre-installed apps that can’t be removed through the normal uninstall process. But here’s the good news—you can safely remove them without rooting your phone.

This simple guide will walk you through everything you need to do to get rid of bloatware on any Android device.

Preparation Steps

Before you start uninstalling system apps, follow these steps to prepare your phone and PC.

1. Enable Developer Options

1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
2. Scroll down and tap About phone.
3. Tap Build number 7 times until you see a message saying, “You’re now a developer.”
4. Go back to the main Settings screen and open Developer options.

2. Enable USB Debugging

1. In Developer options, scroll down to Debugging.
2. Turn on the USB debugging toggle.

This feature lets you send commands to your phone from a computer using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

3. Download SDK Platform Tools

Download the official Android SDK Platform Tools from Google’s developer site.
These tools are essential for running ADB commands.

Download SDK Platform Tools

After downloading, extract the ZIP file to a folder you can easily access (like your desktop).

4. Install Your Device’s USB Driver

To ensure your phone is recognized by your computer, install the correct USB driver for your device.
You can usually find it on the manufacturer’s official support website (e.g., Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus).

5. Find App Package Names

Before removing apps, you’ll need to know their package names.
Install the free app Package Name Viewer 2.0 from the Play Store to find this info.

How to Uninstall Bloatware via ADB (No Root Required)

Once everything is ready:

1. Open the folder where you extracted platform-tools.
2. Click the address bar, type cmd, and press Enter.
   This will open the Command Prompt in that folder.
3. Connect your Android phone to your PC via USB.
4. Run the following commands one by one:

adb devices

Approve the “Allow USB debugging?” prompt on your phone.

adb shell

To uninstall an app, use this format:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.example.appname

Example: To uninstall the default email app:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.email

Optional: Restore or Disable System Apps

If you change your mind, you can reinstall a previously removed app:

cmd package install-existing com.example.appname

Or disable it instead of uninstalling:

pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.appname

These methods require a PC; if you do not one, follow this guide: How to Uninstall System Apps Without Root Using Canta and Shizuku

Final Thoughts

Removing unwanted apps can speed up your phone and free up storage space. Just be sure not to remove essential system apps that your phone needs to function properly. And the best part? All of this can be done without rooting your phone.

If you run into any problems, drop your questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to help!