This list may not be suitable for all users. Read the description of each app before uninstalling, and if you’re not sure that you use/need it, don’t uninstall.

I am not responsible for any mess you make by following the steps outlined. This is your risk, not mine.

Read this first: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

PLEASE NOTE: I recently (Feb 2020) went on an extreme debloat hunt with the F1, F2 and Power 3. This article was updated to include more packages, so if you used it prior to February 2020 you can re-check for even more debloating.



com.mediatek.ppl
“Privacy Protection” by LIFECorp. I believe this allows you to password-protect apps.

com.mediatek.autobootcontroller
A poweron/poweroff scheduler.

com.mediatek.autodialer
Can’t find any integrations to this app anywhere, and I really dislike the idea of an autodialler as a background service.

com.mediatek.mms.appservice
This is MediaTek’s MMS service. Note, MediaTek’s. Not Android’s. This is not needed and will not stop you from sending or receiving MMS messages.

com.adups.fota
“Wireless Update” app for over-the-air updates. Not expecting any further updates to this device, so we may as well get our 190MB RAM back.

com.mediatek.emcamera
Don’t be fooled by the name. This is Mediatek’s default camera app but isn’t used.

com.android.ons
Made by Samsung, so I imagine this is the app that Droi used to build its camera library. Not needed – camera works fine without it.

com.mediatek.batterywarning
Low battery or “hot” battery warning. It’s useless; if your phone is hot, you can’t hold it!

com.google.android.webview
Recommend you install “WebView Canary” from Play Store, then go into Developer Options and set this as your default WebView app instead. Then you can safely remove this one.

com.mediatek.ims
MediaTek’s version of Google Carrier Services. Might work with some Huawei-driven networks in EU or US, but if your carrier actually supports IMS you will 100% want to use Carrier Services & Android IMS instead. Safe to get rid of this.

com.google.android.ims
IMS is a replacement for old SMS and MMS. Kinda useful if your carrier supports it, but otherwise another system service running for no reason.

com.debug.loggerui
com.android.traceur
com.android.htmlviewer

Useful apps for developers, but never touched by us regular users.

com.google.android.apps.restore
This is the backup restore wizard used for pulling Android system backups from your Google account. You only need this if you factory restore the phone, in which case it’s automatically reinstalled for you.

com.android.mtp
MTP/PTP is an old-school ‘digital camera’ protocol that’s used via USB to transfer photos to a computer. In the age of Google Photos and Dropbox it’s pretty useless.

com.android.carrierconfig
com.android.carrierdefaultapp
Supposed to receive default APN settings from carrier networks, but it’s unlikely that your network will know what “Droi F2” is.

com.freeme.supershot
Droi’s screenshot app. It’s broken – sometimes doesn’t save screenshots to the filesystem. Better off removing this app, then using the built-in screenshot option via long-pressing power button.

com.mediatek.gnssdebugreport
com.mediatek.lbs.em2.ui
GPS testing and debugging, accessed via Engineer Mode. Doesn’t stop GPS from working by removing – and you will explicitly know if you need these.

com.mediatek.atmwifimeta
For some reason it logs WiFi data. Not needed.

com.tyd.app.memtester
Memory test utility for factory testing.

com.google.android.overlay.searchlauncherconfig
Supposed to be a search feature for Settings, but doesn’t work.

com.android.calllogbackup
Uploads your recent calls to Google’s cloud. Spyware!

com.android.sharedstoragebackup
Backup wizard for “your” files, like downloads and pictures. Used to transfer to a PC or Chromebook. Most users won’t use this.

com.mediatek.engineermodecmas
Part of Engineer Mode, but doesn’t stop it from working. I think this is for 3G settings.

com.mediatek.dataprotection
I think this is for decrypting an encrypted user partition, but I can’t be sure. My device works flawlesly without it.

com.mediatek.security
com.mediatek.security.service

MediaTek’s app permision controls. These aren’t used when Google Play Services are installed.

com.mediatek.telephony
This is not Android’s “telecom server” or even MediaTek’s equivalent. Truthfully no idea what it does. Inbound & outgoing calls work without it, and have been for weeks so I don’t know.

com.mediatek.mdmconfig
com.mediatek.capctrl.service

These are used for corporate deployment/controlling of devices.

com.mediatek.gba
Generic Bootstrapping Architecture. A ‘common ground’ of code used for many MediaTek apps, but since we’ve removed everything that GBA depends on, this can be removed too.

com.mediatek.ygps
GPS test app that shows satellite positioning, accessed via EngineeringMode

com.android.theme.color.green
com.android.theme.color.ocean
com.android.theme.color.space
com.android.theme.color.orchid

com.android.theme.color.cinnamon
Android colour themes for icons. Can be changed in Developer Mode. I do not use these ones.

com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.twobutton
com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural_wide_back
com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural_extra_wide_back
com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural_narrow_back
com.android.internal.systemui.navbar.gestural

These are navigation bars (eg the two/three buttons at the bottom of the screen, and gestures). I use FluidNG so don’t need these — although they install themselves on every boot anyway.

com.mediatek.duraspeed
Performance killer. This kills background apps when the screen is locked. Doesn’t help for 6GB+ RAM devices, just leaves GBs of free RAM.

com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
com.android.printspooler

com.android.bips
Android printing support. I don’t need it.

com.freeme.game
Some tea, sis? Sure. Droi is the device manufacturer, and Freeme is the Android “skin” like Miui. Game supposedly improves performance and blocks notifications. Don’t want it, I don’t play games.

com.freeme.factory
Used by Droi for factory testing devices before shipping.
com.android.partnercustomizations
com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks

com.android.bookmarkprovider
As the names suggest.

com.mediatek.omacp
com.mediatek.simprocessor

These control and import contacts saved on a SIM card. Not needed if you sync contacts with Google.

com.android.fmradio
FM radio app. If you use it then keep it, if not uninstall.

com.android.stk
SIM ToolKit. Might be useful for PAYG people. Adds a menu with SMS contacts that can be used to add credit to PAYG SIMs.

com.google.android.gm
Google Gmail app

com.google.android.apps.tachyon
Google Duo


com.android.settings.intelligence
This is the search box and recommendations in the Settings page. Not really helpful and the search sucks anyway.

com.google.android.apps.wellbeing
Digital Wellbeing in Settings.

com.google.android.apps.docs
Google Docs

com.android.chrome
Google Chrome. Do not remove unless you have another browser.

com.google.android.videos
Google Play Movies & TV

com.google.android.feedback
Feedback provider for crashed apps. Not useful unless you have a Pixel or a “named brand” phone.

com.elephanttek.faceunlock
The face unlock app. Uses a lot of RAM. I don’t use it.

com.google.android.projection.gearhead
Android Auto

com.google.android.apps.youtube.music
YouTube Music app

com.mediatek.cellbroadcastreceiver
Receives weather and government warnings through any worldwide GSM network.

com.google.android.inputmethod.latin
Google Gboard. Do not uninstall unless you have an alternative keyboard.

com.google.android.onetimeinitializer
com.google.android.setupwizard
Setup wizards. Not needed – factory reset will replace these.

com.verizon.remoteSimlock
This should not be installed by default, and certainly not on an EEA ROM where Verizon doesn’t serve.

com.google.android.apps.messaging
Google Messages. Do not uninstall unless you have a different SMS app.

com.mediatek.mdmlsample
Mobile Device Management and Managed Provisioning are used by corporations whose IT departments want to control their employees’ Android devices. Not needed here.

com.google.android.captiveportallogin
If you connect to a paid WiFi network, this will pop up the registration box. It’s pretty useless because you’ll see the registration box as soon as you open your browser anyway.

com.google.android.tts
Text to speech. You might use this, but you can reinstall it from Play Store if so.

com.android.proxyhandler
Allows the setup of HTTP/s web proxies. You probably will never use this.

com.android.managedprovisioning
Used for implementing central security policies and app installs in company-managed devices.

com.android.bluetoothmidiservice
Used to play Midi ringtones via Bluetooth as far as I can tell. Not needed for many years since ringtones are MP3 or WAV.

com.wapi.wapicertmanager
A Chinese WiFi standard. Makes sense to be on this device but not needed for most of its users.

com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim
com.android.cts.ctsshim

Something to do with app testing. Not entirely sure. Nothing is broken without it.

Categories: Tech stuff

8 Comments

Gregory Zeng · 2020/02/11 at 10:06

https://www.reddit.com/r/umidigi/comments/f21pae/debloating_the_umidigi_f2/
Mentioned in above link. Left my comment there:
======
“Is this debloating worth it? So much storage space already: 128 GB storage & 6GB system memory. Looked at the removed parts; so small & so trivial, especially in megabytes. Then the operating system is updated, so the debloating needs to start – AGAIN!”

    Olorin · 2020/02/16 at 03:22

    This equates to 0.5-1.9GB of RAM, and a lot of battery use, so yes it’s definitely worth it.

    I doubt there will be any further OTA updates for this handset so don’t build up your hopes.

    I went on an extreme debloat adventure today, to the point of almost leaving the device bare of apps. I’ll be updating this post soon with 30+ more apps.

Braille Js · 2020/04/28 at 03:34

Hi, I find your list very interesting and you like clean and simple phone. I have umidigi power 3 and I’m thinking of doing the magisk root. Have you try this method and deboat using the debloat module. I’m very interested to hear from you about this. Hope you have the time to read this.

    Olorin · 2020/04/28 at 04:16

    Hey. Glad you found it useful. I never root devices because there is zero gain; no camera benefits, no performance benefits, no customisation benefits. Additionally, rooting causes problems with banking apps, NFC, and is a security disaster waiting to happen.

lugnut · 2020/07/03 at 00:12

I don’t even have this device, but for anyone out there who’s considering making a debloat list for ANY device, this is the way to do it. It always stuns me how every device has 600 so-called “debloat guides” available, but almost none of them give any explanation of what you’re disabling, why they’ve come to the decision that it needs disabled, or what will be impacted when you do so. You nail all that and more, so bravo. My only question is how exactly were you able to figure out the function of some of the more obscure, poorly-documented apps (poke around the source?) and how did you determine the amount of RAM or CPU drain that was being consumed by a given app?

    Amolin · 2020/09/03 at 17:02

    Yes, a very well written guide (very detailed). If I were to venture a guess, I think the app function can be found by researching the app name as outlined via instructions in the linked article: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

    Quote: “14. ALTERNATIVELY: You can also easily find the package name of an installed system application by installing the App Inspector app on your phone. I prefer doing it this way so you know exactly what the app name is of the application that you are about to uninstall.”

    I hope this helps.

w1nst0n · 2020/09/16 at 00:09

[Sorry if it is a duplicate. I’m not sure the reply was registered. My Ublock Origin config blocks 3rd party scripts/frames by default and there was no feedback after I clicked on “Post comment” so I try again with 3rd party scripts]

Hi,

Thanks for making this list. I’m the maintainer of the Universal android debloater (https://gitlab.com/W1nst0n/universal-android-debloater) and I see there are many packages not included in my lists.

It’s very nice you documented the packages. People rarely do it. It will be quicker to me to add them in the officials list (even tho I will review your documentation and improve it if necessary).

Just a note (from a quick look at the list), “com.android.calllogbackup” does not send your call logs to Google servers.
It is an AOSP package so you can easily review the source code (https://android.googlesource.com/platform/packages/providers/CallLogProvider/+/refs/heads/master/src/com/android/calllogbackup)

Have a nice week.

Joe · 2021/01/23 at 18:43

Thank you Mr. Olorin for nice write up. I removed some packages including some from your list and ended with empty search bar on home screen. I cannot enter anything there. I think it happened after removal of com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox. My goal was to improve sound on Power 3 per XDA forum tips and perhaps allow call recording with 3rd party app by blocking microphone access to Google app. Where was Google search bar I now have text entry bar with word “Search” on the left. I tried wm overscan 0,0,0,-45. Any ideas perhaps how to get rid off that bar?

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