Pixel 4a Debloat

[fronto]

Now that factory images have finally been posted, we got to work with what many people have pre-installed (qd4a.200805.003). Pretty clear of bloat compared to many of the other manufactures, but there are still some apps we really don't need, and some that we can definitely do without, especially those that nibble away simultaneously at your privacy, data allotment, and battery. We have tried to categorize each type, and comment a little regarding each entry.

Probably the easiest way to debloat on this phone today is to issue the "pm disable-user --user 0" command via ADB as explained here:

https://www.xda-developers.com/disable-system-app-bloatware-android/

Without further ado, here is what we came up with:

# Google Pixel 4a qd4a.200805.003 Debloat Script
# ================================================
#
# Generally Undesirable or un-nessary Pre-Loaded Apps
#-------------------------------------------------
# bookmark provider
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.bookmarkprovider
# Device Personalization Services
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.as
# Google Partner Setup
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.partnersetup
# Google Market Feedback Agent
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.feedback
# Google Carrier App Logging
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.carrier.log
# Google Connectivity Metrics
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.connectivity.metrics
# Partner Bookmarks
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
# Google Wearables Companion
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.wearables.maestro.companion
# OTA / Dynamic System Updates (if you prefer to manually update)
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.dynsystem
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.factoryota
# Tethering (Un)Entitlement
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.tetheringentitlement
#
# Verizon - Specific Stuff
# -------------------------------------------------
pm disable-user --user 0 com.verizon.mips.services
pm disable-user --user 0 com.customermobile.preload.vzw
pm disable-user --user 0 com.verizon.llkagent
pm disable-user --user 0 com.verizon.obdm_permissions
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.vzwomatrigger
pm disable-user --user 0 com.customermobile.preload.vzw
#
# Pre-Loaded Google Apps I personally dont use 
#-------------------------------------------------
# Chrome 
pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.chrome
# Stock Youtube App 
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.youtube
# 1st Run Setup Wizard
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.setupwizard
# Digital Wellbeing (battery drain)
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.wellbeing
# GMail 
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.gm
# Google Docs
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.docs
# Youtube Music
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
# Google Play Movies & TV
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.videos
# Google Photos (uses lots of data...use other gallery app instead)
pm disable-user --user 0 com.google.android.apps.photos
#

This is just our first draft of what we have done so far on our phone, so please feel free to comment, add, and delete.

 

[PhobiaSoft]

I was surprised to learn that my device came with all of these Verizon services preloaded (but disabled at least) even though I purchased the unlocked version. Its kind of disturbing to learn the amount of influence Verizon has on device manufacturers, I was happy to see it gone. Thanks for the helpful list!

---------- Post added at 05:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:19 AM ----------

Actually, has anyone tested using this command to uninstall the Phone application? i use Google Hangouts exclusively for phonecalls, meaning that every call I receive on my SIM number is either a missdial or spam, and since Android doesn't let you mute those notifications, it can be pretty annoying as you might expect. Some devices tolerate the uninstallation of the Phone app just fine, while others will crash and reboot from an incoming call with no application to handle it. I'm planning to go with a custom ROM once one is available, so I will test this personally soon to see how the 4a behaves

 

[Riku98523]

I was surprised to learn that my device came with all of these Verizon services preloaded (but disabled at least) even though I purchased the unlocked version. Its kind of disturbing to learn the amount of influence Verizon has on device manufacturers, I was happy to see it gone. Thanks for the helpful list!

I have an unlocked phone and there is no Verizon apps. If you bought it from Verizon that's the problem.

 

[PhobiaSoft]

I have an unlocked phone and there is no Verizon apps. If you bought it from Verizon that's the problem.

I didn't buy it from Verizon, I bought the unlocked version from the Google Store. The apps don't appear on the phone itself, only when you push "Adb shell pm list package -d". Try it for yourself.

 

[fronto]

same here...mine is Fi directly from Google Fi store and it had all those Verizon apps even though Fi does not use Verizon!

 

[digger16309]

I have an unlocked phone and the Verizon apps are on it, but disabled and not visible. They do show up in Titanium Backup, which is the only way I knew they were there.

 

[yaggermr]

I bought my phone unlocked from Google and it grabbed a bunch of AT&T bloatware. I use an AT&T sim so I figure it sends a pull request and grabs that garbage on first run. Easy to uninstall but pretty ****ty.

 

[PhobiaSoft]

I bought my phone unlocked from Google and it grabbed a bunch of AT&T bloatware. I use an AT&T sim so I figure it sends a pull request and grabs that garbage on first run. Easy to uninstall but pretty ****ty.

Definitely possible. The weird thing is that I use a T Mobile SIM. So no idea where my Verizon stuff came from unless Google flashes the same image to every phone and then "activates" the Verizon apps if you buy the Verizon version? I have no idea truthfully. If so, what a ****ty way to do it...

 

[digger16309]

Turning off, or freezing Photos, breaks the camera preview of recent shots you've taken. I just tried it and got a black screen. It wouldn't access my third-party gallery app. When I unfroze Photos, the preview worked (again). I don't want Photos running nor do I want to use it, but it seems like that camera functionality is broken without it(?)

 

[aven_soulgazer]

I thought the "# Tethering (Un)Entitlement " would be where the phone checks to see if you can tether or not. When I disabled it the tethering option was greyed out and couldn't even tether through my visible card. My plan is so old that they didn't say we could or could not use hotspot but with the 4a now it tells me I can't if I try to enable it.

 

[dpaine88]

I'm gonna give this a shot, thanks for posting!

With this method, do system updates or factory resets undo this debloating?

 

[xxTECRAxx]

hey so i just noticed you're disabling these and not uninstalling. any particular reason why we wouldn't want to issue pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package> instead of pm disable-user --user 0 <name of package> also located a few more verizon apps to add to the list

sunfish:/ $ pm list packages | grep 'vzw'
package:com.vzw.apnlib
package:com.customermobile.preload.vzw
package:com.android.vzwomatrigger
sunfish:/ $ pm list packages | grep 'verizon'
package:com.verizon.mips.services
package:com.verizon.obdm_permissions
package:com.verizon.services
package:com.verizon.obdm
package:com.verizon.llkagent

 

[PhxCliff]

Thanks for the post.

Do you know what to disable to remove the obnoxious date and weather "widget" from the home screen?

 

[xxTECRAxx]

Thanks for the post.

Do you know what to disable to remove the obnoxious date and weather "widget" from the home screen?

i am not running the stock google nexus launcher but iirc, you just hold down that date/weather widget (while on the home screen obviuously) for a second or two and then either drag the widget to the top of the screen OR select remove if a menu appears. i run nova launcher and that widget can be added or removed similarly and it's referred to as google's "At A Glance" widget. i ran grep on "google" which produced a bigger list, also "glance", which produced nothing, and finally "widget". that output is below:

sunfish:/ $ pm list packages | grep "widget"
package:com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget

there's the "At A Glance" widget

 

[dpaine88]

I'm wondering if some of these actually are necessary. Settings has been acting strange and force closing a lot since disabling these. Haven't made any other sort of system changes.

 

[DB126]

I'm wondering if some of these actually are necessary. Settings has been acting strange and force closing a lot since disabling these. Haven't made any other sort of system changes.

Debloaters are netoriously aggressive w/o a demonstrated benefit for each item on the scratch list. Adverse side effects are common. My advise is to use the tools already built into Android to identify offenders and only act on those that are truly egregious. Share your experiences so others can learn.

 

[xxTECRAxx]

I'm wondering if some of these actually are necessary. Settings has been acting strange and force closing a lot since disabling these. Haven't made any other sort of system changes.

bruh, you're going to need to be more detailed with your responses in order to receive help. specifically, which p4a do you have (verizon, fi, or whatever) on android 10 or 11? which of the apps did you disable and have you installed any apps post disabling some of the system apps?. can you give us a display output from

1. adb shell pm list packages
2. adb shell pm list packages -d
3. adb shell pm list packages -u

 

[digger16309]

I'm wondering if some of these actually are necessary. Settings has been acting strange and force closing a lot since disabling these. Haven't made any other sort of system changes.

I don't use the method in the OP to disable apps. I use Titanium Backup (requires root) because if something screwy happens, it's easier to find the culprit and reverse it.

I disabled everything in the OP except Tethering, 1st run, and Photos. So far, so good on A10 running Nova launcher. I haven't had a Settings crash.

A bad disabling can cause that, but so can a poorly matched launcher, or an older app that Hooks Settings that isn't updated for the latest Android version.

Are you rooted?

Also try clearing the cache/data in Google Play Services. I've found a corrupt Play Services update can crash Settings. In the past, I've had to revert to an older version manually and let it update again.

 

[dpaine88]

Debloaters are netoriously aggressive w/o a demonstrated benefit for each item on the scratch list. Adverse side effects are common. My advise is to use the tools already built into Android to identify offenders and only act on those that are truly egregious. Share your experiences so others can learn.

bruh, you're going to need to be more detailed with your responses in order to receive help. specifically, which p4a do you have (verizon, fi, or whatever) on android 10 or 11? which of the apps did you disable and have you installed any apps post disabling some of the system apps?. can you give us a display output from

1. adb shell pm list packages
2. adb shell pm list packages -d
3. adb shell pm list packages -u

I don't use the method in the OP to disable apps. I use Titanium Backup (requires root) because if something screwy happens, it's easier to find the culprit and reverse it.

I disabled everything in the OP except Tethering, 1st run, and Photos. So far, so good on A10 running Nova launcher. I haven't had a Settings crash.

A bad disabling can cause that, but so can a poorly matched launcher, or an older app that Hooks Settings that isn't updated for the latest Android version.

Are you rooted?

Also try clearing the cache/data in Google Play Services. I've found a corrupt Play Services update can crash Settings. In the past, I've had to revert to an older version manually and let it update again.

Damn you guys kick ass. I wasn't even really asking for help and certainly not expecting it but thank you!!! I was just gonna try to fix things on my own.
I was about to try the Android 11 beta anyways so I went ahead and updated to that which has helped SOME- Settings still will back out on its own or jump around but hasnt FC'd since. It is especially wonky on the battery page and will sometimes go back to home on its own.

So this is my first Android phone(going back to OG Droid) that I have NOT rooted. I normally would just freeze via TiBu myself too. I am also using Nova Launcher. I am using TMobile on the phone FWIW.

Here is the disabled packages list . I can do the others too but its quite long and didnt want to clog it up.

PS D:\Downloads\platform-tools_r30.0.3-windows\platform-tools> .\adb shell pm list packages -d
package:com.google.omadm.trigger
package:com.google.android.youtube
package:com.vzw.apnlib
package:com.android.sdm.plugins.connmo
package:com.verizon.mips.services
package:com.verizon.obdm_permissions
package:com.android.sdm.plugins.usccdm
package:com.android.sdm.plugins.sprintdm
package:com.verizon.services
package:com.android.sdm.plugins.diagmon
package:com.google.android.apps.wellbeing
package:com.google.android.apps.carrier.log
package:com.android.chrome
package:com.google.android.partnersetup
package:com.customermobile.preload.vzw
package:com.google.android.feedback
package:com.android.sdm.plugins.dcmo
package:com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks
package:com.android.bookmarkprovider
package:com.google.android.projection.gearhead
package:com.verizon.obdm
package:com.google.android.tetheringentitlement
package:com.android.omadm.service
package:com.google.android.apps.wearables.maestro.companion
package:com.google.android.hiddenmenu
package:com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
package:com.android.connectivity.metrics
package:com.verizon.llkagent

This one is interesting
package:com.google.android.hiddenmenu

Looks like in general a lot of apps are disabled by default? Cause there's plenty I don't see in the OP list but I have only done things on that list.

Can anyone who has not disabled anything post their disabled list please?

 

[Limeybastard]

All I removed via adb was Carrier services , Chrome , Google voice and assistant and the Verizon tripe.