Different OEMs skin the Android software differently to their liking. While this brings meaningful features, that are otherwise not found on stock Android. More often than not, brands overdo and burden the user experience with needless apps and services. In technical lingo, such intrusive elements are called bloatware, as they get in the way and bog down the phone. Although over the years, Android skins like MIUI, One UI, Color OS, and its sibling Realme UI have trimmed down a lot, still you’d find some unwarranted app stuffed in the library.
If that bothers you, here we have laid down an easy-to-follow process to uninstall almost all of that junk. You just need a PC and a bit of patience to get this done. If you follow the steps verbatim, you shouldn’t have a problem. Having cleared that, let’s begin.
Also Check: 10 Cool ADB tricks to try on your Android phone
Uninstall System Apps from Realme, Xiaomi, and Other Phones
1. First of all, you must activate Developer Mode on your phone. Go to system settings, scroll to About Phone. Then tap 7 times on the Build Number, until you see the message — You are now in Developer mode!
2. Now, go to Additional Settings, inside where you’d find the new Developer options. Open it and you’ll see an array of toggles. You just have to enable USB debugging.
3. Connect the phone to the PC using a USB cable.
ALSO READ: How to turn punch hole on your phone into a battery indicator
4. Onto the PC now. Download the ADB Installer and Platform Tools (Windows | Mac | Linux) zip files. Once downloaded, unzip both files. Install, ADB-setup-1.4.3.exe file.
5. Go inside the Platform-tools folder. Then, Shift + right-click and click on “Open Powershell/command prompt window here”.
6. Type “adb devices
” and press enter. You’ll get a prompt box on the phone. Check the “Always allow… option” and grant permission. Then the Powershell/command prompt window should show something like the image below.
7. Enter “adb shell
”, which will display your device model name. I tested it on a Realme phone. So, the code begins with RMX.
8. Then next to the $ sign, enter this “pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.heytap.browser
”
ALSO READ: How to use Samsung AltZLife and Secure Folder
9. If it’s done right, you’ll see a success remark. So, continue entering the same command with just the "com.heytap.browser
” part changed to the respective app’s package name. You can grab the package name of all the apps on your phone using the Package Viewer app in the Google Play Store.
Here’s a list of the apps on the Realme phone that are safe to uninstall:
- Android Auto: com.google.android.projection.gearhead
- Realme/ColorOS browser: com.heytap.browser
- Realme Community: com.realmecomm.app
- DocVault: com.os.docvault
- Default file manager: com.coloros.filemanager
- Focus Mode: com.coloros.focusmode
- Google One: com.google.android.apps.subscriptions.red
- Google Play Movies & TV: com.google.android.videos
- Google Podcasts: com.google.android.apps.podcasts
- Heytap Cloud: com.heytap.cloud
- Realme/ColorOS music: com.oppo.music
- One-Tap Lock Screen: com.coloros.onekeylockscreen
- Realme Link: com.realme.link
- Realme PaySa: com.realmepay.payments
- Realme Store: com.realmestore.app
- Realme Recorder: com.coloros.soundrecorder
- Default video app: com.coloros.video
- Default Weather app: com.coloros.weather2 | com.coloros.weather.service
Now, if you want to reinstall any of the uninstalled apps, enter this:
“cmd package install-existing [type package name]"
If you want to just disable any app:
“pm disable-user --user 0 [type package name]
”
And enable back using:
“pm enable [type package name]
”
Even using this method, the system won’t let you uninstall certain apps like Game Center and the Theme Store on Realme phones. But, I guess it shouldn’t be a big problem considering much of anything else can be removed. Even this —
Uninstall Facebook bloatware
You can get rid of Facebook apps from your OnePlus, Samsung, and other brand devices, by aping the above steps, but with the following ADB commands:
adb shell
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.appmanager
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.services
pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.system
Note that with OTA software updates, there is a chance that the phone will be repopulated with these apps, and you may have to repeat the steps again. But, that shouldn’t take much time and after the first time, you’ll get a hang of it. So, let us know about your debloating experience down in the comments.
This is a excellent web site, might you be involved in doing an interview regarding just how you developed it? If so e-mail me!
Don’t remove weather services on realme ui 2.0. It causes bootloop
is this bloatware list still work in 2023? my phone is narzo 50 pro 5g
Can I get package name to uninstall themestore for realme ui 4.0
I must say that i love Android in every shape and form and would rather take it over any iPhone. I just wish that Android phone makers let us uninstall everything same way iPhone do. I understand why they have to put all that bloatware in. And i sm fine with it as long as i can easily just remove things that i don’t wont or have no use of it.
The suggested apps in this blog are safe to uninstall. They won’t brick after uninstall. EXCEPT!!! do not uninstall the Weather services {com.coloros.weather.service}. IT will brick your phone after the restart. If the mistake is already done, do not worry, just follow the reinstallation process given in this blog of this particular service, it should restore the device, worked for me.
I don’t think you know the meaning of bricking, this happens when you flash the phone and it no longer boots. Anything you do with removing apps and getting errors is fix by factory reinstall. In no way can you brick a phone simply by removing apps.
Thank you… It happened as you said. But after reinstalling the weather services package – problem solved.
Hi Bro
Thanks for the blog.
Mainly, followed your blog
I used wifi debugging, Realme X2 (Android 11)
removed the below list of apps – now restarted my mobile, and screen is flickering in the lock screen, couldn’t do any thing.. any suggestion..??
like this below command
pm uninstall -k –user 0 com.heytap.browser
com.heytap.browser
com.coloros.gallery3d
com.android.chrome
com.finshell.fin
com.os.docvault
com.coloros.alarmclock
com.coloros.calculator
com.coloros.filemanager
com.coloros.video
com.heytap.cloud
com.heytap.music
com.coloros.weather2
com.coloros.weather.service
com.facebook.appmanager
com.facebook.services
com.facebook.system
Thanks
I face the same problem… my lock screen flickering and can’t open phone.. but I can receive call, previously set alarms ring, scheduled Power on/off work normally….
suggest me how to fix it
reinstall this : com.coloros.weather.service
How i cannot even open my mobile after restart? Please help
I found error
RMX1851:/ $ pm uninstall –user 0 com.coloros.waether2
Failure [not installed for 0]
spelling of weather is wrong bruhh
I uninstalled these apps from realme 8 pro.
But now time doesn’t get updated on AOD, it remains the same as when device was locked. And also dark mode note able to turn on off automatically according to sunrise and sunset time, I am guessing weather app might have something to do with it, I will try reinstalling it.
Did anybody else face such issues?
And if u r someone considering uninstalling app be cautious about weather app.
Warning: do not remove ‘weather app service'(it is different from weather app). Otherwise your device won’t start and u will lose data.
Hi Ashutosh, this just happened in my 7 pro. Is there a way to fix this?
*way to fix this without losing data? I removed the weather service accidently and now the phone won’t start.
please reply if possible same for me happen? what to do now?
yeah i did this in my realme 5 worked fine thanks
I am unable to uninstall some apps like realme store and theme. It says [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR].
pm uninstall-user –user 0 com.heytap.themestore
Hey Man,
I’ve recently bought Realme 7 Pro with Android 10 inbuilt. This phone has come up with Google dialer & messaging app which has caused immense inconvenience among entire realme community of users as we are unable to uninstall it & the default Realme dialer & messaging app in earlier phone is too good, extremely feature-rich, user-friendly & convenient.
I’ve tried installing apk from my wife’s realme XT Phone with Andorid 9 but getting ‘app not installed’ error. Can you help me if there is any way to do that even thru adb?
You will be my hero if you can help me with this. Thanks a ton in advance!
Eagerly Awaiting…
Will look into this. The new dialer app comes due to new guidelines enforced by Google. Most of the new phones (except those from Samsung and Vivo) now have stock dialer and messaging app. Related read: https://www.smartprix.com/bytes/auto-call-recording-is-missing-on-new-android-phones-in-india-how-to-fix/
Thanks for sharing this, I just bought a new realme and first thing I wanted to do was remove the bloat ware, this gives me a list and then I can search what each app is for or does and decide to remove.
You just buyed a new Realme phone and you will remove Bloatware apps.
Removing Bloatware can cause any effects on phone ? I’m scare to do it i also wanted to remove Bloatware but i didn’t.
No, it doesn’t.
Reallly Awesome! But one question, does it mess with their warranty terms?
I mean these modifications won’t void warranty of the phone?
No, if you do factory reset all the apps will be installed again. Now rooting the phone will void your warranty.