How To Remove / Uninstall Android System Apps
There are a few ways of doing this depending on the tools you are more comfortable with. The method that we are going to use requires a root access file browser application on your Android phone.
Your phone needs to be rooted in order to proceed so if it isn’t, search our site for “how to root phone_name”, replacing ‘phone_name’ with the name of your phone. We have rooting guides available for almost all popular Android devices but if you can’t find one for yours, mail us at tips [at] addictivetips [dot] com and we will be happy to feature one for your phone.
Make absolutely sure NOT to delete any critical system files. Usually if you do NOT know whether deleting a particular file is safe or not, ALWAYS make it a rule to NOT delete it. Apps like Facebook, Google Voice, Twitter, Gmail etc. can be safely deleted. Do NOT delete any file other than the .apk files for the apps that you want to get rid of.
Disclaimer: Remove system apps from your Android phone at your own risk. While the process is safe for most apps, removing critical apps or system files can potentially make your phone unbootable.
AddictiveTips will not be liable if your device gets damaged or bricked during the process.
The method:
You need a root access file browser installed on your Android phone to delete system apps. The most popular app for this purpose is called Root Explorer but it costs $3.95. Fortunately, there are free alternatives available and the one we’ll be using is called Super Manager. You can install it for free from the Android Market. After you install it, launch it, bring up its menu and tap ‘Setup’. Check ‘Enable ROOT function’ and grant the superuser privileges when requested. Super Manager is now ready to perform as Root Explorer.
Now simply browse to /system/app using Root Explorer or Super Manager. If you are using Super Manager, you will be asked for the access level you want when you open /system. Choose R/W for read and write access. Now just delete the apk files for the system apps you want to uninstall, and you’re done.
i have rooted my device with root 4.3 and it failed but now i cant delete the superuser apk it created how can i do that with my pc?
I want to remove my default launcher, setting and all which keep on causing unfortunately apps has stop so how do I do it . I m dell venue 7 user I do not expect this thing from dell
i have deleted the internal memory and there is nothing left android software. how can i get that again plz answer.
I’ve tried using me explorer but it displays that this feature can’t run on my phone. can you help
i also delete all system apps on android tablet.after i reboot the tablet. it is not connect to computer
You deleted ALL system apps? It’s a miracle that your tablet is still booting into Android! As I mentioned in the post, you shouldn’t delete any apps that you are not 100% sure about. At this point, I will recommend that you reinstall Android using a full factory image, or a custom ROM. You can search at AddictiveTips or on Google to find instructions for your device.
Deleted some files that should have not been deleted….I see them in the deleted folder, how to do I reinstall then?
Copy them from that folder into /system/app/ and you should be good to go. =)
connect device via usb to computer that has android sdk tools. (ubuntu better on this job)sudo adb shell su
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
cd /system/app
ls
rm example.apk
mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
exit
exit
for your device use mount to get correct mtdblockX number. mine is 3 yours maybe 5 or 7
great thank you!!!!
Does any one know how to do this for zte droid
Ive got a file with 2300 smaller files that is titled promo is that safe to delete the files inside have different dates soim guessing ok plus it says file un able to open when i try to open one. Text me the answer if u know 9378693692
Super Manager will not run from SD card on my tablet Froyo2.2.2. Not enough memory to move it elsewhere to free up more memory…Catch 22.
never knew that it is very easy to manage applications on Android system..
It worked for me , i removed Facebook , Twitter and all the ATT crap i had in the phone. Just foollow the steps, easy to do. My phone : Lg Phoenix
Is there a way to remove apps without voiding your warranty or even rooting your phone?
Is there a way to remove apps without voiding your warranty or even rooting your phone?
I am trying to search in Google and found you article. Thanks for lovely post
I am trying to search in Google and found you article. Thanks for lovely post
Much easier with free astro file manager. If root is done.
Where are the APK files stored? What is the path
Is it in /system/app? Saw some APK files there using Astro.
Another question is – will deleting the APK file delete the app. I thought APK file is the installation file. But once a APK file is installed – it has not much use.
Where are the APK files stored? What is the path
Thanks for this useful post. I was looking for it from long time. I must say you have done lot of hard work on it. I must appreciate your work. Keep this spirit going.
thanks for this post. I was looking for it from long time.
Can I do this using adb shell? i.e. just mv the file to some other location? thanks.
Can I
downloaded the rooter but its telling me that the ROOT function in this program is not support your device,please solve the ROOT issue yourself
use root uninstall. works perfectly in removing system apps
does not work!!!
I need to removed the app system in my samsung galaxy gri9003 phone and i need how and plz help me to remove some app system
worked with Root Explorer!
Super manager doesn’t let me enable ROOT function. It says, “the ROOT function in this program does not Support your device or system image.”
HTC EVO 4G
Any luck with the problem sited above?… i’ve the same problem
Have you rooted your device yet?
hi when the “enable root function” is checked, it says “sorry, the root function does not support your device”. i ma using lenovo A396, Android 2.3.5, kernel 3.10.17.
it cant root the device
Awesome thanks!!!!!
I’ve downloaded and installed Super manager to my htc desire but I’m not able to Check ‘Enable ROOT function’. The function is visible but it seems the function is disabled. Is there any solution for this..?
Hi, I was able to delete unwanted apps from the system folder with Super Manager. However it would seem the apps are not physically deleted from the phone’s internal memory, although the phone is running at a better speed now and the icons and files don’t show up any more. But when I check the internal memory the amount of free memory left on the phone is the same as before deleting, and it should be showing nearly 20MB more which is the total size of deleted apps!
Is there something as a “pending” recycle bin somewhere?
Thanks for any help!
Caroline
I have the same problem here, any solutions?
That’s because the /system partition is separate from the /data partition where all your user data is stored.
@jim Make sure you enabled ROOT in Super Manager (in Settings). it should work that way.
I have Spice Mi 720 TAB (I’m not sure if you, if any one has heard about it cause its has been recently launched) Run’s on Android 2.2 * 800 MHz processer with 2 GB RAM
I’ve downloaded the super manager and I tried checking on enable ROOT Function This message pop’s up “The ROOT Function in this program is not support your device or system image!”
Can any one help me with this problem!
You can use ginger break to root spice Tab .It works.
yes its true…we can root…spice tab using ginger break..
My device says you cannot enable root function. I guess they got wise to us trying to get rid of google items.
i have a rooted desire, downloaded super manager, deleted .apk files, rebooted, and all the apps were still there. literally NOTHING i’ve tried has worked.
same here.. the deleted apps just re-appear.
Hey Jim, were you able to make it work? I have the same problem. Deleted the .apk files, now they don’ t show in root explorer, but they are still in the menu and run as if nothing happened!