Disable Android system packages without root

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Steps

This method allows you to have more control over what packages are active. Packages are not really removed but instead 'uninstalled' for user '0'.

More info:

Steps:

  1. Download the latest Android SDK Platform-tools and extract the zip. You don't need to install.
  2. You might need to install USB drivers for access to your device. For example:
  3. Open your device Settings and turn on USB debugging from Developer options.
  4. Optionally increase the device Screen Timeout duration.
  5. Now connect your Android device to the computer via USB.
  6. DOS Command prompt:
    • cd /d d:\platform-tools\
    • adb devices
  7. On your mobile device: allow the connection

Adb commands

Start a shell

dos> adb shell

List system packages

Options:

  • -s : system packages
  • -3 : 3rd party packages (a package is either system or 3rd party)
  • -f : include apk location in the output
  • -d : disabled packages
  • -e : enabled packages
  • -u : include uninstalled packages

To get an overview of 'uninstalled' packages. List system packages from DOS commandline as below and compare _packages.txt with _packages_u.txt: 

dos> adb shell "pm list packages -f" > _packages.txt
dos> adb shell "pm list packages -f -u" > _packages_u.txt

List system packages from ADB prompt: 

adb> pm list packages -s -f

Example line in output.txt for package "com.android.package.application1" 

 package:/data/app/application1.apk=com.android.package.application1

Uninstall or "freeze" a package

#uninstall an app with its data
adb> pm uninstall --user 0 <package name>

#uninstall an app but keep its data
adb> pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package name>

Reinstall or "unfreeze" a package

adb> cmd package install-existing <package name>

Find Package name

1. Find in GooglePlay, the package name will be in the link. For example com.samsung.android.privateshare in: 

 https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.privateshare

2. Use an app like MiX Explorer

  • Go to Bookmarks and pick 'App'
  • Select USER or SYSTEM APP.
  • Click on the icon for more details including the package name
  • Close.

On Galaxy S20 FE: disabled these

Caption text
Description Package Apk
Private Share com.samsung.android.privateshare /system/app/Privacy/Privacy.apk
Your Phone Companion - Link to Windows com.microsoft.appmanager /system/priv-app/YourPhone_P1_5/YourPhone_P1_5.apk
Samsung Cloud Client com.samsung.android.scloud /system/priv-app/SamsungCloudClient/SamsungCloudClient.apk
Autofill with Samsung Pass com.samsung.android.samsungpassautofill /system/app/SamsungPassAutofill_v1/SamsungPassAutofill_v1.apk
Netflix mediaclient com.netflix.mediaclient /system/app/Netflix_stub/Netflix_stub.apk
Netflix partner activation com.netflix.partner.activation /system/app/Netflix_activationCommon/Netflix_activationCommon.apk
Bixby Vision Framework com.samsung.android.bixbyvision.framework /system/priv-app/BixbyVisionFramework3.5/BixbyVisionFramework3.5.apk
Wearable manager com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub /system/app/GearManagerStub/GearManagerStub.apk
Samsung Visit In com.samsung.android.ipsgeofence /system/priv-app/IpsGeofence/IpsGeofence.apk
Samsung Galaxy Friends com.samsung.android.mateagent /system/priv-app/MateAgent/MateAgent.apk
Samsung Cloud Platform com.samsung.android.scpm /system/priv-app/SCPMAgent/SCPMAgent.apk
Samsung Checkout com.sec.android.app.billing /system/priv-app/SamsungBilling/SamsungBillingv
Samsung account com.osp.app.signin /system/priv-app/SamsungAccount/SamsungAccount.apk
Group Sharing com.samsung.android.mobileservice /system/priv-app/SamsungExperienceService/SamsungExperienceService.apk
Galaxy Store com.sec.android.app.samsungapps /data/app/~~ow1msid40bDpTvc0puQaEg==/com.sec.android.app.samsungapps-_E3PPdpYn5ifrLho2WIQqw==/base.apk
Smart Things com.samsung.android.service.stplatform /system/priv-app/SmartThingsKit/SmartThingsKit.apk
Secure Folder com.samsung.knox.securefolder /system/priv-app/SecureFolder/SecureFolder.apk

On Galaxy S8: disabled these

Caption text
Description Package
Bixby com.samsung.android.bixby.wakeup
Bixby homepage launcher com.samsung.android.app.spage
Bixby features com.samsung.android.bixby.service
Bixby Vision com.samsung.android.visionintelligence
Bixby Voice com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
Bixby debug app com.samsung.android.bixby.agent.dummy

See also

Overview of packages with some info. Be warned that you can make it difficult for yourself if you disable packages:

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