[GUIDE] How to remove/disable bloatware apps in S8+ without root

[Kizoky]

Hi, thought this might be useful to users who are new to Android, or to other users who just got a phone with a new Android
This guide not only applies to S8/S8+ but to other phones that are higher than Android 6.0+

With this method you can remove apps that are by default unremovable If you try to manual removing them in the settings, aka. the bloatware that nobody needs.
For example, you can't remove Bixby Voice because it is part of the System, but with this method you can easily remove it. (I don't know if it completely removes it, but it won't be running in the background anymore)

So what do we do?
First we need to find out the package name of this app, you can do this by downloading System app removal, that has an option to view package names, aswell as the size of an app

We just found out the package name of this app, now we need to fire up ADB
You can download ADB from this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2588979

If you installed adb systemwide, you can just bring up cmd, and enter adb
Note, that adb requires enabling USB debugging, otherwise it won't work!
in cmd type adb devices and press enter

You should see a message in your phone, just tap ok
Your PC now should see the phone
It should show random numbers and letters, next to device If you did it right
Note: You may need to type again adb devices If your PC didn't recognized it at first

For the next step we'll finally remove the said app
Type adb shell then press enter

You will see something like this, and now comes the removing part
If you wish to remove an app, you need to enter this:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package name>

And now I will remove Bixby Voice

Note: I already removed it, and it gives me this message, but I'll show you what happens
If you remove an app that is still installed on your phone

And that's it! These apps no longer exists on the phone

For proof I will show you that System app removal can't find the apps anymore:

Hope you find this useful
Note: Some system apps will reinstall themselves such as Bixby, there's no known method ATM on how to completely disable them

 

[benyou54]

Hello. By this method it's not removed but hide for the user 0 (you). If you factory reset your phone, the app will appear again [emoji6]

Hi, thought this might be useful to users who are new to Android, or to other users who just got a phone with a new Android
This guide not only applies to S8/S8+ but to other phones that are higher than Android 6.0+

With this method you can remove apps that are by default unremovable If you try to manual removing them in the settings, aka. the bloatware that nobody needs.
For example, you can't remove Bixby Voice because it is part of the System, but with this method you can easily remove it. (I don't know if it completely removes it, but it won't be running in the background anymore)

So what do we do?
First we need to find out the package name of this app, you can do this by downloading System app removal, that has an option to view package names, aswell as the size of an app

We just found out the package name of this app, now we need to fire up ADB
You can download ADB from this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2588979

If you installed adb systemwide, you can just bring up cmd, and enter adb
Note, that adb requires enabling USB debugging, otherwise it won't work!
in cmd type adb devices and press enter

You should see a message in your phone, just tap ok
Your PC now should see the phone
It should show random numbers and letters, next to device If you did it right
Note: You may need to type again adb devices If your PC didn't recognized it at first

For the next step we'll finally remove the said app
Type adb shell then press enter

You will see something like this, and now comes the removing part
If you wish to remove an app, you need to enter this:

pm uninstall -k --user 0 <package name>

And now I will remove Bixby Voice

Note: I already removed it, and it gives me this message, but I'll show you what happens
If you remove an app that is still installed on your phone

And that's it! These apps no longer exists on the phone

For proof I will show you that System app removal can't find the apps anymore:

Hope you find this useful

Envoyé de mon SM-N935F en utilisant Tapatalk

 

[Kizoky]

Hello. By this method it's not removed but hide for the user 0 (you). If you factory reset your phone, the app will appear again [emoji6]

Envoyé de mon SM-N935F en utilisant Tapatalk

Well that sucks, atleast it isn't running in the background

 

[MiMtnBiker]

There is a similar guide on how to do this here.

Does this work with Oreo? I thought I read somewhere that the pm uninstall command was disabled in Oreo for the S8/+? Please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[PapaD78]

There is a similar guide on how to do this here.

Does this work with Oreo? I thought I read somewhere that the pm uninstall command was disabled in Oreo for the S8/+? Please correct me if I am wrong.

I have done it with Oreo. No problems at all

 

[Taz420nj]

I have done it with Oreo. No problems at all

You can also do it with any of the package disablers. I did it with Adhell 3.

 

[wintermute000]

if you use the adb method is there a way to reinstall short of a factory reset? obviously there is no apk (or is there?).

I trashed all the bixby packages which is great, except that breaks bxactions which isn't so great lol (then again bxactions may be broken by Sammy next update anyway)

 

[Kizoky]

if you use the adb method is there a way to reinstall short of a factory reset? obviously there is no apk (or is there?).

I trashed all the bixby packages which is great, except that breaks bxactions which isn't so great lol (then again bxactions may be broken by Sammy next update anyway)

If you do a factory reset, they should be re-enabled

 

[bovoro]

Thanks @Kizoky I was looking for a solution for this precisely, and obviously all mods in stock ROMs are deleted when doing a hard reset, like wallpaper, font, ringtone, all back to stock......

 

[Detafewa]

Caaaan't you guys just use this thing? I see it's removed from Play Store, replaced with an ad-riddled one, but surely it's Googleable.

 

[scenty]

Thanks for posting this - along with adhell3 there is no need to root anymore!

 

[jesus4android]

Still works, just tested it on a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.

Thanks for sharing!