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How to Remove Stock Android Apps

in Android 2.1 Modifications,App Removal

This article details you on how to remove stock Android apps. There is a List of Stock Android 2.1 Apps for you to use as a reference, to know if it is safe to remove an app in question or not.

Now, there are quite a few different ways to do this, but we will touch on the most popular ways. First, you need to have a rooted phone, and superuser permissions which almost always come with a custom ROM when you install it. If you haven’t rooted your phone, then check our site to see if we have a rooting guide for you yet. If not, send us an email!

Now, let’s dive into the app removal process, shall we?

Back up Your Apps!

If you’re going to be removing apps from your phone, you may want to back them up in case you ever want to replace them in the future! Enter these simple commands into a command prompt to do this:

1. Open command prompt.
2. Navigate to your tools folder:

cd C:\Android\tools

3. Enter the following commands:

adb pull /system/app ~/Desktop/app

This will copy all of the apps you have installed in your phone to your computer, in a folder called ‘app’ on your desktop.

You can also do a Nandroid backup. Power your phone off, then press and hold Home and Power at the same time until recovery screen opens, then scroll to Backup/Restore, and select Nand Backup. Press Home to confirm, and wait. That’s it!

Using Root Explorer

First and simplest method of removing apps on your rooted phone is by downloading and installing Root Explorer. It is searchable in the Market, and will show you all of the files that are on your phone, allow you to install and uninstall/delete apps you don’t want any more, and even change permissions of the folders inside your phone.

Once you download Root Explorer, you can navigate directly to your /system/app folder, which is where all of your apps are stored on your phone. Long press on the app you’d like to delete, and when the popup menu opens, press DELETE. Simple as that.

Using ADB from Command Prompt

If you want to have that feeling that you’re doing some cool technical stuff, or just like to use the ADB command prompt, then this is for you. Following the steps below will get you the exact results you want, removing apps from your phone.

– To Completely Uninstall an Application and its Data

1. Open a command prompt.
2. Change directory to your tools folder:

cd C:\Android\tools

3. Enter the following commands, one per line. Do not enter anything in red, those are notes for you.

adb shell rm -f /{data,system}/app/<apkname>.apk //Replace the blue text, <apkname>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

adb shell pm uninstall <package name> //Replace the blue text, <package name>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

These commands will uninstall the application and remove all of its data from your phone.

– To Delete Only the APK File of an App

If you want to remove only the actual app from your phone, and leave the data it created on your phone, then follow these instructions.

Note: some apps may be found in /system/app/ and others may be found in /data/app/. Please check both locations.

For Apps Located in /system/app/

1. Open a command prompt.
2. Change directory to your tools folder, then enter each command below, one per line (do not enter any notes we made for you in red):

cd C:\Android\tools

adb remount

adb shell rm -f /system/app/<apkname>.apk //Replace the blue text, <apkname>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

adb shell pm uninstall <package name> //Replace the blue text, <package name>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

For Apps Located in /data/app

1. Open a command prompt.
2. Change directory to your tools folder, then enter each command below, one per line (do not enter any notes we made for you in red):

cd C:\Android\tools

adb shell

su

mount -o rw,remount /data

rm -f /system/app/<apkname>.apk //Replace the blue text, <apkname>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

pm uninstall <package name> //Replace the blue text, <package name>, with the name of the APK you want to remove.

This comprehensive guide should help you out tremendously. If you find any discrepancies or need help, feel free to ask us and we’ll do what we can for you!

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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Ad fundum November 13, 2010 at 2:18 PM

android-sdk-windows\tools>adb shell rm -f /{data,system}/app/Swype.apk
rm failed for -f, No such file or directory

I get this error, how can I solve that?

Thanks in advance.

admin November 13, 2010 at 3:36 PM: don’t use the -f command. If that doesnt work, then try rm -rf /{data,system}/app/Swype.apk

That’s only IF that is the name of the application. Might wanna check first :)

Previous post: How to Make Swype Work on the Evo

Next post: Stock Android 2.1 Apps List

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