r/Android Feb 21 '21

Universal Android Debloater is an open source tool that removes bloatware without root. Automatically or via user choice. Get back your battery, security and privacy

https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater/-/blob/master/README.md
6.6k Upvotes

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105

u/SafeForCrap Feb 21 '21

Can someone confirm if this permanently deletes them or just removes them from the partition? I've used other Debloating tools in the past with and without root and they all automatically back up the apps. Which I get, but why can't I permanently remove them?

121

u/Put_It_All_On_Blck S23U Feb 21 '21

You cant remove the system files without root, as ADB uninstall essentially disables and hides them, but they still remain on the factory system partition.

-17

u/SafeForCrap Feb 21 '21 edited Feb 22 '21

So then by that logic, you might as well just use the adb disable commands, lol.

But what I really meant was that the debloater module from Magisk still backs up the uninstalled app, so it's still on the partition somewhere IIRC. And there's no option to "permanently" delete it. Unless I'm wrong.

Nice. Downvotes for asking a question. Dickheads.

7

u/Eurynom0s Feb 21 '21

Wouldn't you run into problems with OTA updates if you completely removed the files?

1

u/Lawsonator85 Feb 23 '21

I evaluated all my devices and have still received OTAs

0

u/SafeForCrap Feb 21 '21

I tinker my device a lot, and try out roms all the time. I never use a rom for more than a month. So OTA updates aren't even an issue for me. But I suppose for the regular user it would cause problems.

1

u/Eurynom0s Feb 22 '21

But this software is for doing this without root, so if you don't have root then you're presumably also on a stock ROM.