Tired of apps that don’t show up in your app store but clutter your phone? These pre-installed apps—added by OEMs (phone brands)—can range from useful tools to spyware or even ad-supported partner apps that brands don’t want you to remove.
I personally prefer stock Android devices that come with minimal bloatware. However, if your phone is packed with unwanted apps, try Universal Android Debloater GUI:
GitHub Repository
This cross-platform app works seamlessly—I used it on Ubuntu 24.04.1. If you’re using Linux, I recommend the following build as it works well with Wayland:
uad_gui-linux-opengl.tar.gz
Steps to Get Started:
- Enable Developer Mode on your phone.
- Turn on USB Debugging from Settings.
- Launch the Universal Android Debloater app, which will detect your device and show a list of removable packages.
Key Features:
- Click on a package name to see what it does before deciding to remove it.
- If you encounter issues, you can re-enable any app using the same tool.
?? Disclaimer: Removing essential packages might render your phone unusable. Proceed with caution!
After making changes, verify your phone works fine and disable USB debugging to minimize security risks.
My Experience:
I was planning to use Universal Android Debloater to remove Glance, a lock screen app packed with ads and games that my daughter could access without my consent. Family Link couldn’t monitor or disable it, and searching for terms like “Glance” or “lockscreen” didn’t help.
I am still looking for the name of the package.
#Samsung #Glance #Disable