System applications, also known as pre-installed apps or bloatware, are built-in apps that come with Android devices right out of the box. These apps are usually added by the phone manufacturer or service provider, and while a few of them might be useful, many simply sit there unused.
Over time, these unused apps can occupy valuable storage space and even run background processes that slow down your phone. For this reason, a lot of Android users look for ways to remove them and free up memory for apps and files that actually matter.
In this article on Naijaknowhow, we’ll explore practical ways to uninstall system apps on Android, both with and without rooting your phone. We’ll also cover the tools you need and important tips to avoid causing issues on your Android devices.
Why Remove System Apps?
There are several reasons why you might want to get rid of pre-installed apps:
- Free up storage space for apps, games, or important files.
- Reduce background activity that can drain your battery.
- Declutter your app drawer and make it easier to find the apps you actually use.
- Improve device performance by removing unnecessary system load.
Unfortunately, Android doesn’t provide a built-in option to uninstall these apps through the settings menu. That’s why we have explored other methods that will do the job effortlessly.
Method 1: Removing System Apps Without Root
If your Android phone is not rooted, you cannot directly uninstall system apps from within the phone. However, you can still disable or remove them using a computer and a piece of software called Debloater.
Follow these steps carefully.
Step 1: Download Debloater Software
First things first, make sure to download the Debloater Software tool, which is designed to help you block or remove unwanted apps from your Android device.
Once downloaded, install it and keep it ready for later.
Step 2: Install Android USB Drivers
Your computer needs to communicate properly with your phone. To do that, it requires the right USB drivers for your specific phone model. Search for “Your phone model + USB driver” on Google and install the drivers provided by your phone manufacturer.
Step 3: Enable USB Debugging
To enable USD debugging:
- Open Settings on your phone.
- Scroll to About phone and tap Build number seven times to enable Developer options.
- Go back to Settings, open Developer options, and enable USB debugging.
The USB debugging feature allows your computer to send commands to your phone, which is essential for the Debloater tool to work.
Step 4: Connect Your Android Phone to Your Computer
Use a good-quality USB cable to connect your phone. Wait for your computer to detect the device. If prompted on your phone, approve any permission requests to fully connect it to your computer.
Step 5: Launch the Debloater software
Open the Debloater software previously downloaded and installed. It will scan your phone and list all installed apps, including the system apps you normally can’t uninstall.
Step 6: Select Apps to Remove
Carefully go through the list and tick the system apps you want to remove. Double-check to make sure you are not selecting essential system apps that your phone needs to function.
Once you confirm, Debloater will remove them, freeing up space instantly.
Tip: If you are unsure about a pre-installed app, search its name online before removing it. Some system apps are tied to important phone functions.
If followed accordingly, the procedure above will help you to remove and uninstall all unwanted system applications from your Android device. This tutorial is mostly for non-rooted Android users.
Now let’s get to the process for rooted devices.
Method 2: Removing System Apps on Rooted Devices
If your Android phone is rooted, the process becomes even simpler. Root access gives you full control over your device, allowing you to uninstall system apps directly from your phone without a computer.
Here are two reliable apps you can use for this:
1. System App Remover
System App Remover is an application that will help you to uninstall built-in unwanted apps and bloatware from your Android device, and it also makes a backup of those uninstalled apps. This means you can restore any app later if needed. You can also use the system app remover application to filter apps that make your Android device unstable after uninstalling those system apps.
This application also has a whole lot of other features that you’ll surely come across when using the app.
Other features include:
- Filters to help you identify which apps are safe to remove.
- A clean, user-friendly interface that makes navigation easy.
- Additional tools to manage and organise your apps.
Download System App Remover:
2. Root App Deleter
Root App Deleter is one of the best applications that would help you to get rid of built-in apps from your Android phone, but of course, you’d need root access on your device before this application will work well. This application is fast and quite easy to use; it also works on old Android devices.
Key features:
- Quick and easy app removal.
- Junk cleaner to remove hidden files left behind.
- Support for devices with limited storage or older hardware.
This application holds a vast range of important features and functions which would prove useful in helping you to carry out other needed operations on your Android smartphone. It can be used to clean off junk apps and files that have been stored and hidden without your knowledge on your mobile device. Unfortunately, one of the cons is that Root App Deleter cannot be downloaded from the Google Play Store.
Safety Precautions
Removing system apps can make your phone cleaner and faster; however, it also carries some risks if you remove essential apps.
- Always back up your data before making changes.
- Do not remove core system apps that affect Android functions.
- If in doubt, disable instead of uninstalling. Disabling stops the app from running without removing it completely.
Conclusion
System apps can be a nuisance when they take up storage and resources without offering any real value. Thankfully, whether your device is rooted or not, there are proven ways to remove them.
- Non-rooted users can use the Debloater software on a computer.
- Rooted users have the convenience of apps like System App Remover and Root App Deleter.
Follow the steps carefully, back up important files, and avoid deleting essential apps. With the right approach, you can enjoy a cleaner, faster Android device.
If you found this guide useful, share it with friends so they too can learn how to uninstall system apps and keep their devices running smoothly.
