How to Remove Default or Core Apps on Android Phone

This wikiHow teaches you how to disable or remove apps that require advanced access (also known as root access) to uninstall but can’t be removed the normal way on Android devices.

Table of Contents

Disable default and system apps

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7e/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-1- Version-7.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-1-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7e/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-1-Version-7.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-1-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open the Settings app on Android. If your device is not rooted then you can only disable the pre-installed app but not remove it completely. Disabling will prevent the app from running as well as showing up in the Apps list. To proceed, click on the gray gear-shaped Settings app located in the Apps list.

If the device is rooted, you can use a special tool to remove system apps.
If you don’t know how to get root access on your Android phone, your device may not be rooted. You can try rooting the device by jailbreaking the bootloader (bootloader).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/0/09/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-2- Version-7.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-2-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/0/09/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-2-Version-7.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-2-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Applications , Apps or Application manager . You may need to scroll down to find the Device section, but some Android devices have tabs at the top of the Settings menu for quicker access.

On Samsung devices, you need to tap Applications first, then choose Application manager.
The wording in the settings and menu layout will vary depending on the Android device.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/9/9a/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-3- Version-7.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-3-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/9/9a/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-3-Version-7.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-3-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap the More or ⋮ button in the upper-right corner of the app list.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d8/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-4- Version-7.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-4-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d8/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-4-Version-7.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-4-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap Show system apps . A list of system apps as well as apps you’ve downloaded will appear. However, we cannot disable the entire system application.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e6/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-5- Version-7.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-5-Version-7.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e6/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-5-Version-7.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-5-Version-7.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Scroll on the list to find the app you want to disable.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e4/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-6- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e4/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-6-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap the app to see more details.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/f/fc/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-7- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/f/fc/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-7-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Uninstall updates button if available. If the app is already up to date, you’ll need to remove these updates first before you can proceed to disable it.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/46/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-8- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/46/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-8-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Press the Force stop button. If the application is running, you need to stop the application before proceeding to disable.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/38/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-9- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/38/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-9-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Disable button. Note: we can disable most (not all) pre-installed applications, but essential system processes cannot.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1d/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-10- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1d/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-10-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Yes to confirm. The application after being disabled will stop running and will no longer be in the application list.

Remove system apps (root only)

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/7c/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-11- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/7c/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-11-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-11-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Get root access on Android devices. The process is different on every Android device, so there are many ways to discuss it. However, not all Android devices can be rooted. Usually when gaining root access you will need to jailbreak the bootloader.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e3/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-12- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e3/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-12-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-12-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Open Play Store. You need to download a special app capable of disabling all apps on a rooted device from the Play Store.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/1/1b/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-13- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/1/1b/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-13-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-13-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Search for “Titanium Backup.” This is one of the popular utilities for users of jailbroken Android devices. The function of the application is to create backups, but besides that, this utility can also delete applications that you cannot remove in the usual way.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/d/d0/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-14- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/d/d0/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-14-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-14-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Install . To delete the application, you do not need to use the Pro version. Just tap Install next to the free version of the app.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2c/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-15- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2c/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-15-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-15-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Open . This button appears after the application has finished installing.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/7/75/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-16- Version-3.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/7/75/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-16-Version-3.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-16-Version-3.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Grant for Superuser permissions. Titanium Backup will be given root access to be able to delete system apps.

If Titanium Backup can’t get premium access, your device hasn’t been jailbroken properly. You need to review your device’s rooting instructions to make sure everything was done correctly.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/2/2d/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-17- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/2/2d/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Backup/Restore button. The option is at the top of the screen after Titanium Backup launches.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/4/40/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-18- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/4/40/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-18-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-18-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Scroll through the list to find the app you want to remove. The list includes all the apps and services installed on the device.

You can click “Click to edit filters” and search by specific keywords, such as “messages.”

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/6/6f/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-19- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/6/6f/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-19-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-19-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Tap the app to show more details.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/3/34/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-20- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/3/34/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-20-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-20-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Swipe from left to right to switch to the “Backup properties” tab.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/e/e2/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-21- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/e/e2/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-21-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-21-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Backup button! (Backup). A backup of the application will be created, in case the device has problems without the application. If the system becomes unstable after the application is deleted, you can restore the application.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/86/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-22- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-22-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/86/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-22-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-22-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click the Un-install button! (Uninstall).

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/a/a2/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-23- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-23-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/a/a2/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-23-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-23-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Click Yes after reading the warning. You should keep this in mind. If you delete some important system process of the operating system, you may have to completely reinstall the Android ROM.

{“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/8/85/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-24- Version-2.jpg/v4-460px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-24-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https: //www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/8/85/Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-24-Version-2.jpg/v4- 728px-Remove-a-Default-or-Core-System-Apps-from-an-Android-Phone-Step-24-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth” :728,”bigHeight”:546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}

Repeat the process with any other apps you want to remove. Go back to the list and delete more apps you want. You should remove an application or two and test the system for a while, this way you will immediately know which application is the cause if there is an error.

Steps

Disable default and system apps

Remove system apps (root only)

Related Posts