How to remove forced apps from my smartphone

Tutorial: Delete Pre-installed Samsung Apps with ADB (Without Root)

⚠️ Important Notes and Risks Ahead

• Caution with System Apps: Some pre-installed apps are essential for the system. Deleting them can lead to malfunctions or instability.
• For Current User Only: The apps are removed only for the current user, not system-wide. They will reappear after a factory reset.
• Secure Folder Consideration: If you receive an error message like “Shell does not have permission to access user 150”, uninstall the Samsung Secure Folder beforehand (Settings → Biometrics and Security → Secure Folder → More Settings → Uninstall).
• Backup Recommended: Back up important data and apps before deleting.
• Reinstalling Apps: Deleted apps can usually be reinstalled via the Play Store.

Prerequisites

• PC with installed ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
• USB cable to connect the smartphone to the PC
• Samsung smartphone with USB Debugging enabled

Step 1: Enable USB Debugging on the Samsung Smartphone

1. Open Settings.
2. Go to About Phone → Software Information.
3. Tap Build Number multiple times (about 7 times) until the message “Developer options enabled” appears.
4. Return to Settings.
5. Open Developer Options (usually at the very bottom).
6. Enable USB Debugging.

Step 2: Set up ADB on the PC

On Linux/Debian, you can install ADB like this:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install adb

Step 3: Connect Smartphone to PC and Verify Connection

1. Connect the Samsung smartphone to the PC via USB cable.
2. Open a terminal (Linux) or command prompt (Windows).
3. Check if the device is recognized:

adb devices

4. Confirm the debugging request on the smartphone if it appears.

Step 4: Find Package Names of Apps to Remove

1. Start an ADB shell: adb shell

2. List all installed apps: pm list packages

3. To filter for Samsung apps only, use: pm list packages|grep samsung

4. Note the package name of the app you want to remove, e.g., com.facebook.katana for Facebook.

Step 5: Uninstall App for Current User

1. Enter the following command (replace paketname with the actual package name): pm uninstall -k --user 0 paketname

2. Example for Facebook: pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana

3. On success, the message appears: Success

4. Exit the ADB shell with: exit

Step 6 (Optional): Restart Device

To ensure the changes take effect, you can restart the smartphone:

adb reboot

Alternative: Disable Apps Instead of Deleting

If you prefer to disable apps instead of deleting them (they disappear from the overview but remain installed), you can use this command:

adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 paketname

Tips and Tools for Simplification

• ADB AppControl (Windows): Graphical tool that automates many steps and creates a backup before deletion.
• Universal Android Debloater: Open-source tool for all platforms with predefined lists of safely removable apps.
• App Inspector (Android App): Shows package names directly on the smartphone.

Final Note

With this tutorial, you are able to uninstall forced apps for yourself. This is indeed risky!

You should be aware that you can easily break a lot while doing so. Therefore, think carefully before deciding to uninstall forced apps.

While it certainly helps that you will no longer be tracked by certain dubious platforms, you might accidentally uninstall the wrong app and the device stops working!