[SCRIPT] [2021-01-30] [v2.9] Universal Android Debloater

[w1nst0n_fr]

Universal Android Debloater

[Logo to be created]


Bash script using ADB to debloat rooted and non-rooted smartphones. Improve your privacy and increase your battery life.

DISCLAIMER : Use this script at your own risk. I am not responsible for anything that could happen to your phone.
​

Summary
I try to maintain a universal tool which removes bloatwares on any Android phones by using ADB.

The main goal is to improve battery performance and privacy by removing unnecessary and obscure system apps. This can also contribute to improve security by reducing the attack surface. The script has a menu that lets you choose what debloat list you want to use. I strongly encourage you to take a look at the lists because the default selection may not suit you. All packages are as well documented as possible in order to provide a better understanding of what you can delete or not.

This script should be safe with the default selection. The worse thing which could happen is preventing an essential system process to be loaded during boot causing then an unfortunate bootloop. If you used the non-root solution, after about 5 failed system boots, the phone will automatically reboot in recovery mode and you'll have to perform a FACTORY RESET. So make a backup!


If you have a rooted device you can also physically delete the apks. Ironically this solution is safer because the script saves the apks before their removal. In case of bootloop you just need to run the script from a recovery with ADB support (e.g TWRP) and restore them.


In any case, you can NOT brick your device with this script ! That's the main thing, right ?

Features

• Quick search among all the packages of an android device
• Uninstallation of system/user packages (manually or with the debloat lists)
• Reinstallation of system packages (manually or with the debloat lists)
• ADB backup/restore (not really reliable, see the FAQ)
• Device brand detection and auto-selection of the appropriate manufacturer debloat list
• Logging: debloated_packages.txt, remaining_packages.txt, deleted_apks.txt (for root users)
• Root support (system and systemless with Magisk)
• Installation of alternative open-source apps replacing stock apps (list in the WIKI section) (Not yet : WIP)

NB : The non-root method is NOT a real uninstallation for system apps (see the FAQ)

Universal debloat lists

• GFAM (Google/Facebook/Amazon/Microsoft)
• AOSP
• Manufacturers (OEM)
• Mobile carriers
• Qualcomm / Mediatek / Miscellaneous

Manufacturers debloat lists

• Asus
• LG
• Google
• Huawei
• Motorola
• Nokia
• OnePlus
• Oppo
• Samsung
• Sony
• Xiaomi

Mobile carriers debloat lists

• French carriers : SFR / Orange / Free / Bouygues / Sosh
• US carriers : T-mobile / Verizon / AT&T / Sprint
• German carriers : Telekom

Download

• Lastest Version

How to use

• Newbie guide

Acknowledgement

• @orelta (his incredible samsung root debloat script motivated me to start this project)
• @dark3n (developer of the SD-Maid app)
• @xgouchet (developer of the Stanley app)
• @skylot (developer of the Jadx software)
• All the awesome contributors to this project!

 

[w1nst0n_fr]

Reserved

 

[w1nst0n_fr]

How to contribute

Fetch the list of all the system packages of your phone. My script automatically exports this list in a file called remaining_packages.txt after choosing any action in the main menu.

1. Seek for new packages not present in my debloat lists. You can use this script to check if your list has no duplicate with the current lists in the repository.
2. Try to document each new packages and create a new issue on Gitlab.

How to decompile an APK

- Apktool
- Jadx (what I use)
- Bytecode Viewer

How to report bugs

Open an issue on Gitlab and precisely explain the issue. Screenshot(s) can help.

 

[kurtn]

Nice approach. Has someone tried to debloat Google play services? Up till now I install GApps free custom ROMs on my phones.

 

[kurtn]

I try extreme google debloat on Samsung A3 2017. First check was OK. Debloater 2.1 with standard settings GFAM worked fine. Factory reset completely restored all the bloatware.

Second try:
Install f-droid and hacker's keyboard before install
$ adb push F-Droid.apk /storage/emulated/0
$ adb push org.pocketworkstation.pckeyboard_1041001.apk /storage/emulated/0
Replace all #"com.google with "com.google in /lists/Google.sh
Debloat GFAM
Reboot is OK. Playstore still there, but can be deactivated. Samsung_bloat can't be debloated.
Sometimes I get the message Google play services has stopped.
F-Droid can install apps. They run.
Galaxy store can't get deactivated.

Edit: debloating webview was no good idea. I've got many crashes of antennapod app. Restoring helped.

 

[kurtn]

Noob solution: copy Samsung list into Google list and debloat GFAM. Looks good. Only headlines are now says four times Samsung.
GMS debloat fails with some device policy error.

Next noob trick
$ adb shell
a3y17lte:/ $ pm uninstall com.google.android.gms
Failure [DELETE_FAILED_DEVICE_POLICY_MANAGER]
a3y17lte:/ $ pm disable-user com.google.android.gms
Package com.google.android.gms new state: disabled-user

 

[Maybeyou]

Hi, thank you for this nice thread, exactly what I was looking for.
Possibly a solution for google play services:
I did deactivated the Google play services on Samsung a20 without computer by entering settings app, then "biometric and security" then "other security settings" then "device admin apps" and unselect "find my device", then head over apps in settings and "show system apps, then search for Google play services and now it can be disabled,
For samsung apps you can deactivate it by deactivating "galaxy store"
Perhaps the user must do that before running the code.
HOPE you can manage to translate that into your code language, and integrate it into your script, so we can all enjoy it.

 

[Maybeyou]

Thank you very much, worked like a charm.

 

[Maybeyou]

Universal Android Debloater

@xgouchet (developer of the Stanley app)
[/LIST]
[/LEFT]​

Hi, I encountered a very small problem today when i tried to share a video to another phone through Wi-Fi Direct, I can't share with wifi Direct, the only available option is bluetooth (see attachment), do you how can I solve this ?​

 

[kurtn]

Hi, I encountered a very small problem today when i tried to share a video to another phone through Wi-Fi Direct, I can't share with wifi Direct, the only available option is bluetooth (see attachment), do you how can I solve this ?

Search your "debloated packages" list for wifi related stuff and restore that. Or make sure both devices are i the same wlan and use an app like TrebleShot or KDE connect

 

[w1nst0n_fr]

Sorry for the wait!

I'm glad you find my project useful !

Nice approach. Has someone tried to debloat Google play services? Up till now I install GApps free custom ROMs on my phones.

I don't understand your question. If you want to debloat Google Play Services why installing Gapps in the first place ?

Install f-droid and hacker's keyboard before install [...]
Reboot is OK. Playstore still there, but can be deactivated. Samsung_bloat can't be debloated.
Sometimes I get the message Google play services has stopped. [...]
Edit: debloating webview was no good idea. I've got many crashes of antennapod app. Restoring helped.

Small tip : you can directly do

$ adb install F-droid.apk

There was a pretty nasty bug in v2.1 which prevented using the "manufacturer lists". Use v2.2.1 (or, better, wait for the v2.3 which should be released within the week!)

If you have the message `Google Play Services has stopped` it means you didn't uninstall the package. Did you uninstall some Google packages in the advanced debloat section ?

Regarding the Google Webview you can uninstall it but a lot of apps will no longer work correctly or even open. Bromite WebView is a good and more private alternative if you really need a Webview (which is a kind of mini web browser for apps which need to display web content btw)

Looks good. Only headlines are now says four times Samsung.
GMS debloat fails with some device policy error.

Hi, thank you for this nice thread, exactly what I was looking for.
Possibly a solution for google play services:
I did deactivated the Google play services on Samsung a20 without computer by entering settings app, then "biometric and security" then "other security settings" then "device admin apps" and unselect "find my device", then head over apps in settings and "show system apps, then search for Google play services and now it can be disabled,
For samsung apps you can deactivate it by deactivating "galaxy store"
Perhaps the user must do that before running the code.
HOPE you can manage to translate that into your code language, and integrate it into your script, so we can all enjoy it.

@Maybeyou is right. You need to uncheck Find My Device from the Device admin apps before trying to uninstall the Google Play Services.

I already mentioned this in the Google.sh file and a script can't do it. It's something you need to do ! I assume a user will read the package description I wrote in the advanced debloat section before doing anything.

Hi, I encountered a very small problem today when i tried to share a video to another phone through Wi-Fi Direct, I can't share with wifi Direct, the only available option is bluetooth (see attachment), do you how can I solve this ?

Mhm... I delete Wifi-direct by default but I'm gonna change this behavior for the next version.

Restore com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare to get Wifi-direct back

 

[kurtn]

@w1nst0n_fr thank you. My first post was not about debloating custom rom from GApps. It was a general question: is the debloater an alternative approach to get a 99% Google free phone. My answer: yes, but you need some luck. You can't know how your phone perfoms afterwards. For custom rom there are tons of reports for each device.

 

[Maybeyou]

Sorry for the wait!

I'm glad you find my project useful !

Mhm... I delete Wifi-direct by default but I'm gonna change this behavior for the next version.
Restore com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare to get Wifi-direct back

Yes this is a great project for me, and I did restore com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare and now wifi Direct is working again. Thanks mate, keep up this great work brother

 

[w1nst0n_fr]

@w1nst0n_fr thank you. My first post was not about debloating custom rom from GApps. It was a general question: is the debloater an alternative approach to get a 99% Google free phone. My answer: yes, but you need some luck. You can't know how your phone performs afterwards. For custom rom there are tons of reports for each device.

Oh ! I misread you first post actually. You were talking about Gapps free phone. I understand better now!

IMO the most reliable and safest way to get a 99% Google free phone is to install an AOSP custom ROM without Gapps. For the 1% left you need to tinker with DNS, WebView, GPS... (this guide is not bad)

I insist on AOSP custom ROM because a stock-based custom ROM has the same issues as my script. The thing is it is not always possible to unlock the bootloader or to find an AOSP ROM for one's device. This why I created this script.

What is really tedious and not always simple is to document all the packages. There is a LOT of system packages whose the exact function is hard to determine and the consequence of their uninstallation very obscure. When I have the apk I can at least try to reverse-engineer to make some assumptions but it isn't bulletproof.

Yes this is a great project for me, and I did restore com.samsung.android.allshare.service.fileshare and now wifi Direct is working again. Thanks mate, keep up this great work brother

Thanks.

 

[kurtn]

Oh ! I misread you first post actually. You were talking about Gapps free phone. I understand better now!

IMO the most reliable and safest way to get a 99% Google free phone is to install an AOSP custom ROM without Gapps. For the 1% left you need to tinker with DNS, WebView, GPS... (this guide is not bad)

I insist on AOSP custom because a stock-based custom ROM has the same issues as my script. The thing is it is not always possible to unlock the bootloader or to find an AOSP ROM for his/her device. This why I created this script.
What is really tedious and not always simple is to document all the packages. There are a LOT of system packages whose the exact function is hard to determine and the consequence of their uninstallation very obscure. When I have the apk I can at least try to reverse-engineer to make some assumptions but it isn't bulletproof.



Thanks.

Nice promotion! "Hey this is second best" I see quite some advantages over aosp rom.
Better hardware support like camera or graphics acceleration.
Better security due to locked boot loader and latest patches in proprietary components.
Better stability - no hobbyists mess around.

 

[rameshhelp]

hi developer
can u pls screenshot or youtube record the process please? im abit lost with the whole thing. i am aware how to use adb n remove manually bloatwares. unless u could provide the whole lists of bloatwares?

 

[kurtn]

hi developer
can u pls screenshot or youtube record the process please? im abit lost with the whole thing. i am aware how to use adb n remove manually bloatwares. unless u could provide the whole lists of bloatwares?

Download zip from link in OP. There are human readable files inside

 

[netcrk]

I did "install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) in order to be able to use bash scripts and Install ADB. If you want ADB support everywhere on your PC, you need to add the path of the ADB folder in the system variables"
When i use bash app: bash debloat_script.sh and get error "debloat_script.sh: line 112: adb: command not found"
Plz help me, tnx

 

[kurtn]

I did "install WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) in order to be able to use bash scripts and Install ADB. If you want ADB support everywhere on your PC, you need to add the path of the ADB folder in the system variables"
When i use bash app: bash debloat_script.sh and get error "debloat_script.sh: line 112: adb: command not found"
Plz help me, tnx

At some point it's easier to run a real Linux system. Dual boot or live usb stick.

 

[xradiation]

- hi guys, i would like to share this exported txt file from 'debloater' which i installed as a magisk module to debloat a samsung phone, in essence debloater works in the same way as the script in the main thread ( thanks @w1nst0n_fr ) other than it can be used locally in termux.
- it took me a while to get the phone to a stable state with multiple tries but i eventually managed to do it.
- I've managed to debloat most of samsung/google junk out including but not limited to google apps, i hope this will help