Several popular Android device manufacturers, including Samsung, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, and Xiaomi, put their custom UI skins on top of Android and offer unique user experiences. However, the companies are also quite notorious for preloading dozens of unwanted apps and games on their devices, which are called bloatware.
Many users initially struggle to deal with the usual bevy of bloatware. Although you can get rid of some of the preloaded software, others are permanent and can’t be removed unless you root your device or send ADB commands to it via a computer.
Fortunately, that has changed with an app named LADB, which utilizes Android’s Wireless Debugging feature and allows users to send ADB commands to their own phones. This guide will show you how to use it for uninstalling system bloatware.
Step 1: Install LADB and Package Name Viewer
The first thing you need to do is download and install two apps from the Google Play Store – LADB and Package Name Viewer 2.0. You can use Package Name Viewer to find the package name of the app you wish to remove.
As mentioned previously, LADB lets you send ADB commands to your own Android device. It does cost $2.99 on the Play Store, which is a small price to pay to support its development. Simply tap the Play Store links below and hit the Install button.
- LADB — Local ADB Shell by Tyler Nijmeh
- Package Name Viewer 2.0 by csIng
Step 2: Find the package name of the bloatware
Once you install the Package Name Viewer app, launch it from the app drawer. You can then use the app’s search (magnifier icon) function to find the package name of an app.
All you have to do is tick the boxes next to the apps you wish to uninstall, then tap the clipboard icon above. You can then paste the package names into a notes app and save them for now. Also, make sure to delete everything else from the copied text except the package name between “package” and “Launcher.” It will save you some time when you start sending ADB commands.
Step 3: Enable the hidden Developer Options menu
The LADB app relies on Android’s Wireless Debugging feature to work. You need to turn it on from the hidden Developer Options menu in Android, which you can activate by following the steps below.
- First, go to the Settings from your device’s app drawer.
- Scroll down to the bottom and tap the About Phone option.
- Now tap the Build Number repeatedly until you get the “You are now a developer” message.
You may have to confirm your lock screen PIN or pattern first.
Step 4: Turn on Wireless Debugging
Now that the Developer Options menu is activated, go to the System > Advanced menu in the Settings and click Developer Options. On some Android devices, you might find the option at the bottom of the main Settings page.
When you are in the Developer Options menu, scroll down to the Debugging row and toggle the slider ON next to Wireless debugging. Tap OK to ignore the warning message. In case your device is running Android 11, you need to enable Wi-Fi first to turn the feature on.
It’s worth mentioning that Wireless Debugging is available on devices running Android 9 Pie or above. However, it varies depending on the manufacturer.
Step 5: Request ADB connection over LADB
After enabling Wireless Debugging, launch the LADB app and wait for the “Allow USB debugging” box to appear. When it does show up, check the box next to “Always allow from this computer” and tap Allow.
If your device runs Android 11, you will get a prompt asking you to enter a port number and pairing code instead. Minimize the app window and head over to the Developer Options menu in Settings, then tap Wireless Debugging.
In the following menu, select the “Pair device with pairing code” option. It should give you a Wi-Fi pairing code and a port number. Note them down and switch back to the LADB app window from the Recents menu. Alternatively, put the Settings menu and LADB app window in split-screen mode to make things easier.
Enter the pairing information in the LADB app and tap OKAY below the pop-up window. If everything goes correctly, you should receive the “Wireless debugging connected” notification.
Step 6: Uninstall bloatware app over ADB
Once the LADB app gets permission to send ADB commands, you are pretty much ready to uninstall the bloatware apps on your phone. Tap the Shell command field in the LADB app and run the following command:
- pm uninstall -k –user 0 <package name>
Here, you need to replace the <package name> with the bloatware app’s package name you copied earlier. For example, if you wish to disable the Microsoft Office app on your phone, you have to enter this:
- pm uninstall -k –user 0 com.microsoft.office.officehubrow
The “-k” parameter in the command ensures that the data associated with the app don’t get deleted in the process. You can remove it from the command in case you don’t plan to keep the bloatware app’s data. Here’s how it should look like:
- pm uninstall –user 0 <package name>
Once you enter the command properly, tap the Enter key on the on-screen keyboard to send it to your own phone over ADB. The LADB terminal should return a “Success” message. At this point, the app should be gone from the app drawer.
Repeat the process for the other system apps that you can’t normally uninstall. Note that the command doesn’t outright uninstall the app. Instead, it disables it and keeps the original APK file in the system. When you factory reset your device, the disabled apps will reappear once again.
Just in case you want to restore a disabled app, run the following command in LADB:
- pm install-existing –user 0 <package name>
Disclaimer: If disabling an app causes the system to crash frequently or behave abnormally, you need to put your phone in recovery mode and initiate a factory reset. While it should fix the system-related issue, you will lose all data saved on your Android device.
Talha Ali is your tech generalist, covering a wide spectrum of topics within the ever-evolving world of technology. With a curiosity for the latest innovations, industry trends, and breakthroughs. Whether it’s hardware, software, emerging technologies, or the intersection of tech with daily life, Talha’s articles provide readers with a well-rounded perspective on the dynamic landscape of the tech industry.
