Remove Bloatware From Android without Root

Boycott China, the buss word of the hour. On my personal front I do support, but what to do, with the products that i am currently using. With News in all the platform are currently encouraging to reduce or boycott Chinese software in first phase, so was thinking, is there something that I can do to support this.

As am using an Redmi phone bought about 4 yrs back, although it is still working as a charm, but one of the problem that I found was, most of these MI's phone show advertisement, that pop's up, from all most every Mi's app or setting. Also there are many bloatware app which I may never use, So how about getting rid of them.

After reading few of the blogs and technical articles found this could be a simple cup of a tea.

Following step I followed to remove them

1. Install adb tool in PC to connect your device and execute adb commands, (how to install : follow the references share in last)

2. Enable USB Debugging in you device (steps are available in references)

3. Connect the device to PC via USB Cable.

4. Check if your device is detected via adb drivers. Command : adb devices

? adb devices

List of devices attached

aa768dd device

5. Now since the device is connected, enter in adb shell using command adb shell

? adb shell

whyred:/

6. On entering the shell you will find adb command prompt.

7. Now to verify all the packages installed execute command pm list packages -f

whyred:/ $ pm list packages -f

package:/data/app/com.miui.screenrecorder-Kh-YC44bqQAWaMG7sarQoA==/base.apk=com.miui.screenrecorder

package:/data/app/nps.nps-D3Wnpo-ZjDqNroDyemQPaw==/base.apk=nps.nps

package:/system/priv-app/CtsShimPrivPrebuilt/CtsShimPrivPrebuilt.apk=com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim

package:/data/app/com.google.android.youtube-RkQlEjnW0bU-uCXqC9_HSA==/base.apk=com.google.android.youtube

package:/system/app/Perfdump/Perfdump.apk=com.qualcomm.qti.perfdump

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8. Check the package names that you want to uninstall

9. To uninstall execute command pm uninstall -k — user 0 <package name>

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.msa.global

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.browser

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mipay.wallet.in

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.player

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.mipay.wallet.id

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.xiaomi.payment

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.notes

Success

whyred:/ $ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.miui.cleanmaster

Success

whyred:/ $

you may uninstall all app that you don't need any how. If you think what if any thing goes wrong, don't worry, give your device an factory reset, after taking backup of all your important data and you will have all the uninstalled apps back again.

Following is the list of packages with command to uninstall, if you are interested.

GetApps

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.mipicks

Browser

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.android.browser

Calculator

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.calculator

Calendar

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.android.calendar

Compass

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.compass

E-mail

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.android.email

Feedback

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.bugreport

File Explorer

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.mi.android.globalFileexplorer

FM Radio

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.fm

Gallery

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.gallery

Games

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.glgm

Mi Drop

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.midrop

Mi Pay

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.mipay.wallet.id

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.mipay.wallet.in

Mi Payment

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.payment

Mi Recycle

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.mirecycle

Mi Roaming

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.virtualsim

Mi Video

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.videoplayer

Music

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.player

Notes

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.notes

Recorder

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.android.soundrecorder

Scanner

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.scanner

Screen Recorder

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.screenrecorder

Wallpaper

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.miwallpaper

Weather

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.weather2

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.providers.weather

Yellow Pages

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.yellowpage

AntiSpam

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.antispam

SIM Activate Services

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.xiaomi.simactivate.service

MSA

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.miui.msa.global

Google Drive

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.apps.docs

Google Duo

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.apps.tachyon

Gmail

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.gm

Google Play Music

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.music

Google Play Videos

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.videos

Google Photos

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.apps.photos

Talkback

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.google.android.marvin.talkback

Facebook Apps

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.facebook.appmanager

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.facebook.services

pm uninstall –k ––user 0 com.facebook.system

Cleanmaster

pm uninstall -k ––user 0 com.miui.cleanmaster

References:

1. https://medium.com/@mail.anonymous.root/services-bloatware-safe-to-remove-on-xiaomi-devices-via-android-debug-bridge-2e5bcd94dfa0
2. https://www.fonearena.com/blog/275578/how-to-uninstall-apps-on-xiaomi-without-root.html
3. https://c.mi.com/thread-2137684-1-0.html
4. https://github.com/Szaki/XiaomiADBFastbootTools
5. https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

Hack to access Webinar Session without installing it's software

• Register to the webiner from the link provide to you Ex. https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/<webinar id> providing Email ID.
• Once joining link received in your mail box. Right click on "Join Webinar" button.
• Select and click "Copy Hyperlink", now the hyperlink is copied to your clipboard buffer.
• Past the copied to any text editor and at the end add '?clientType=html5' without quotes

Example:

original from clipboard : https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3152008843210963981/123456789

after adding: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3152008843210963981/123456789?clientType=html5

• Now past it to your chrome browser and access the session without installing any software

Usefull search

Find all the files in current folder and sub folder which do not have ".class" extension

for /r %i in (*.*) do @echo %~nxi | findstr /v ".class"

Get full path of all file in current folder and sub folder

for /R %f in (.\*) do @echo %f

Search more than one file in the windows search

*.jpr OR *.jpx OR *.properties OR *.gif OR *.html OR *.library OR *.txt OR *.jbx

Flashing lineageOS 14.1 in Moto E (Ist Gen)

1. Collect all the important software needed
    a. https://download.lineageos.org/condor : lineage-14.1-20170821-nightly-condor-signed.zip
    b. Download twrp-3.1.1-0-condor.img : https://dl.twrp.me/condor/twrp-3.1.1-0-condor.img.html : https://dl.twrp.me/condor/twrp-3.1.1-0-condor.img
        (APK link : TWRP recovery link for Moto E (condor) : https://dl.twrp.me/twrpapp/me.twrp.twrpapp-26.apk.html : https://dl.twrp.me/twrpapp/me.twrp.twrpapp-26.apk)
    c. Lineage OS GApps :    http://opengapps.org/app/ and http://opengapps.org/?api=7.0&variant=pico
    d. Installing adb and fastboot : https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html#installing-adb-and-fastboot : https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-windows.zip
    e. Motorola Device Manager contains USB drivers and software : https://mobilesupport.lenovo.com/us/en/solution/MS88481 : http://www.motorola.com/getmdmwin
    f. Enable the USB Debugging Mode on the Moto E by navigating to Settings > Developer Options > check the box for USB
   
2. Install adb and fastboot (Read ref d)
    a. download platform-tools-latest-windows.zip in PC from https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-windows.zip
    b. unzip it to a local drive
    c. Add the unzip path to System PATH
    d. Verify commands
        adb devices
        fastboot devices (will work only in bootloader)
    e. Other commands
        adb shell - launches a shell on the device
        adb push - pushes the file to
        adb pull [] - pulls the file to . If isn’t specified, it will pull to the current folder.
        adb logcat - allows you to view the device log in real-time. You can use adb logcat -b radio to view radio logs, and adb logcat -C to view logs in colour
        adb install - installs the given .apk file to your device
       
        adb reboot bootloader : Reboot to bootloader : Another way -> by pressing VolumeDown + Power button for about 6-7 seconds
       
3. Unlocked bootloader on the Moto E (condor)  : http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/unlock-bootloader-motorola-phone-step-step-guide/
    Before moving further do verify the mobile is getting connected via usb and adb verify commands are working.
    if not need to install "Motorola USB drivers" : https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/88481
   
    adb devices
    fastboot devices
    fastboot oem get_unlock_data
   
        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools
        ? fastboot devices
        ZX1B334PNR      fastboot

        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools
        ? fastboot oem get_unlock_data
        (bootloader) slot-count: not found
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found
        ...
        (bootloader) 3A95030165931159#5A583142333334
        (bootloader) 504E5200585431303232000000#F6D3
        (bootloader) 7E6A3CCC08AA9124652A86057BB277B
        (bootloader) 1A89E#5916150412000000000000000
        (bootloader) 0000000
        OKAY [  0.275s]
        finished. total time: 0.277s

        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools  
       
    copy only the Alpha-Numeric data (including the # or any other symbol in between) by discarding the (bootloader) on Windows output
    3A95030165931159#5A583142333334504E5200585431303232000000#F6D37E6A3CCC08AA9124652A86057BB277B1A89E#59161504120000000000000000000000
    or can use  Data scrub Tool : https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/standalone/bootloader/data_scrub
    copy the final one line loooong string into the Motorola Bootloader Unlock page and click on Can my device be unlocked?
    If your device can be unlocked then Request unlock key button will appear.
   
   
    The unlock key will be mailed to you on your e-mail Id
    unique code to unlock the bootloader of your Motorola phone. : CEPN3OG2Y6WTQWOBDGWM
   
    copy the Unlock Key and execute the following command : fastboot oem unlock UNLOCK_KEY
   
        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools      
        ? fastboot devices                                      
        ZX1B334PNR      fastboot                                
                                                                 
        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools  
        ? fastboot oem unlock CEPN3OG2Y6WTQWOBDGWM              
        (bootloader) slot-count: not found                      
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found                    
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found                    
        ...                                                      
        (bootloader) Unlock code = CEPN3OG2Y6WTQWOBDGWM          
                                                                 
        (bootloader) Unlock completed! Wait to reboot
         
        finished. total time: 17.114s                                
                                                                     
        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS\platform-tools      
           
    Now your Motorola phone’s bootloader is unlocked.
   
4. Now install TWRP
    a. move to the folder in PC where twrp-3.1.1-0-condor.img
    b. rename the twrp-3.1.1-0-condor.img to recovery.img
    c. reboot in bootloader : adb reboot bootloader
    c. execute in PC : fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS                  
        ? fastboot flash recovery recovery.img                  
        (bootloader) slot-count: not found                      
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found                    
        (bootloader) slot-suffixes: not found                    
        (bootloader) has-slot:recovery: not found                
        target reported max download size of 299892736 bytes    
        sending 'recovery' (6890 KB)...                          
        OKAY [  0.250s]                                          
        writing 'recovery'...                                    
        OKAY [  0.704s]                                          
        finished. total time: 0.960s                            
                                                             
        F:\keshav_pers\Lenovo_backup\lineage_OS              

    d. From fastboot mode, you must press the Volume Down, highlight the recovery and press down the Power key to select it.
    e. Now your Moto E is booting to recovery mode. Wait for a minute for the touch feature on the phone to start working as it needs to catch up.
   
5. Take NANDROID Backup (Read: How to Take NANDROID Backup on TWRP Recovery: http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/take-nandroid-backup-twrp-recovery/)
6. Clean/Wipe Data using TWRP (Read:How to Clean/Wipe Data using TWRP on any Android Phone : http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/clean-wipe-data-partitions-using-twrp/ )
7. Install Lineage OS (Read: http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/how-to-install-lineage-os-android-phone/)
    Before taking this step rembember to copy
        open_gapps-arm-7-pico-20170825.zip
        lineage-14.1-20170821-nightly-condor-signed.zip
    to internal memory of mobile.

8. Finally

   
References:
Using ADB and fastboot :     https://wiki.lineageos.org/adb_fastboot_guide.html#popular-adb-commands
The official OpenGApps.org app : http://opengapps.org/app/opengapps-app-v16.apk : http://opengapps.org/app/
How to Enter Recovery Mode on Moto E (2015) : http://www.teamandroid.com/2015/06/24/enter-recovery-mode-moto-e-2015/
HOW TO INSTALL A CUSTOM ROM WITHOUT PC LINEAGE OS IN MOTOROLA MOTO E ANDROID 7.1.1 : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHFtDKgKImM&feature=youtu.be
How to restore stock firmware on Motorola Moto G : http://www.nerdoholic.com/mobiles/restore-stock-firmware-motorola-moto-g/
Install Lineage OS on Moto E (condor) : https://hacksandgeeks.com/single-post/2017/01/05/Install-Lineage-OS-141-On-Moto-E-condor-1
How to prevent TWRP / CWM from automatically getting replaced by Stock recovery : https://forum.hovatek.com/thread-10992.html