Disable Bloatware for Free on Your Galaxy Note 10 or 10+

You may have noticed your Note 10 came with quite a bit of bloatware. Even the unlocked version of the phone comes with Facebook preinstalled, and if you bought it from a carrier, it's much worse. Luckily, there's a way to remove any apps you don't want, and you don't need root or a paid app to do it.

In the past, we used an app called Package Disabler Pro to do this, but there were two major downsides: the app cost $3.49 and it kept getting removed from the Play Store. It would eventually come back with a slightly different name and a different URL, but the version you purchased was gone for good.

So with the Note 10, we recommend doing it the manual way. It's a little harder, but I'll walk you through it. Plus, this method will never get shut down, so you'll be able to use it on your future phones once you know what you're doing.

What You'll Need

• Windows, macOS, or Linux computer
• Galaxy Note 10 or 10+
• USB cable

Step 1: Enable Developer Options & USB Debugging

Head to your phone's Settings menu and tap "About phone." From there, go to "Software information," then tap the "Build number" entry seven times. Enter your PIN when prompted to activate the hidden Developer Options menu.

Now, go to the bottom of the Settings app's main page and select "Developer options." Enable the switch next to "USB debugging" and press "OK," then plug your phone into your computer with the USB cable. If you see an "Allow USB debugging?" popup at this point, tick the box next to "Always allow" and press "OK."

• More Info: How to Enable Developer Options on Your Note 10 or 10+

Step 2: Install ADB on Your Computer & Open a Command Window

On your PC now, download Google's standalone platform-tools package (Linux | macOS | Windows), then extract the ZIP to your desktop.

Open the Terminal app (macOS, Linux) or Command Prompt (Windows).

Type "cd" followed by a space, then drag the platform-tools folder from your desktop and drop it into the command window. Once the folder's location populates into the prompt, hit enter on your keyboard.

• More Info: How to Install ADB | How to Open an ADB Command Prompt

Changing directories to the platform-tools folder.

Step 3: Verify the Connection

Now type "adb devices" (without the quotes) into the prompt and hit enter. If you're on Linux or Mac, type "./adb devices" instead. The prompt should return a series of letters and numbers and the word "device." If not, refer to this guide for help.

If you didn't see the "Allow USB debugging" popup in Step 2, check your phone and you'll see it now. Tick the box next to "Always Allow," then press "OK" on this popup.

Step 4: Use ADB to Disable Bloatware

With ADB, we can only disable bloatware, not uninstall it. The difference is, when you disable an app, it will come back if you factory reset your phone. But you won't see it in your app drawer or on your home screen, and it won't run in the background and consume system resources or use any battery.

The next thing you'll need is the package name of the app you wish to disable. The easiest way to get that is to install App Inspector from the Play Store:

• Play Store Link: App Inspector (free)

Open App Inspector and select the app you wish to remove. Copy the "Package name" field. Now, enter the following line in the command prompt on your computer, replacing with the actual package name:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package>

If you're on Mac or Linux, or if you're on Windows and that returns an error, add a period and a slash to the beginning of the command. So resend the same command, but with "./adb shell" at the beginning:

./adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package>

As soon as you do this, the app will be gone! No need to reboot or anything.

List of Apps to Remove

Thanks to XDA member Neo3D, we have a list of most of the bloatware and Samsung apps that you might want to remove. We've added a few of our own discoveries to the list and cleaned up formatting to make it easy to copy and paste. Again, remember to add a "./" to the beginning of each command if you're on Mac or Linux.

AM/FM RADIO
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.dsi.ant.sample.acquirechannels
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.dsi.ant.service.socket
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.dsi.ant.server
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus

BIXBY
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.wakeup
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.spage
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.routines
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.service
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.visionintelligence
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.agent
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixby.agent.dummy
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.bixbyvision.framework
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.systemui.bixby2

FACEBOOK
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.katana
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.system
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.appmanager
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.facebook.services

FLIPBOARD
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 flipboard.boxer.app

GENERAL
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.egg
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.dreams.phototable
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.easyonehand
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.widgetapp.samsungapps
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.app.launcher
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.mateagent
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.easyMover.Agent
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.dreams.basic
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.watchmanagerstub
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.daemonapp
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.social
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.messaging
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.vvm

GOOGLE:
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.gm
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.videos
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.ar.core

MICROSOFT
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.microsoft.skydrive

PRINTING
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.bips
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.android.printservice.recommendation
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.android.printspooler

SAMSUNG AIR COMMANDS
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.service.aircommand
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.aircommandmanager

SAMSUNG ALWAYS-ON DISPLAY
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.aodservice

SAMSUNG APPS
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.wellbeing
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.da.daagent
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.service.livedrawing

SAMSUNG AR DOODLES
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.ardrawing

SAMSUNG AR EMOJI
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.aremoji
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.mimage.avatarstickers
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.emojiupdater

SAMSUNG BROWSER
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.app.sbrowser
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.sbrowseredge

SAMSUNG CAR MODE
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.drivelink.stub

SAMSUNG DEX
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.app.dexonpc
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.app.desktoplauncher
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.desktopmode.uiservice
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.desktopsystemui
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.desktopcommunity

SAMSUNG EDGE
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.service.peoplestripe

SAMSUNG EMAIL
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.email.provider
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.wsomacp

SAMSUNG GAME LAUNCHER
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.game.gamehome
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.enhance.gameservice
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.game.gametools
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.game.gos
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.gametuner.thin

SAMSUNG GEAR VR
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.hmt.vrsvc
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.vrsetupwizardstub
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.hmt.vrshell
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.google.vr.vrcore

SAMSUNG GLOBAL GOALS
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.sree

SAMSUNG KIDS
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.kidsinstaller
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.camera.sticker.facearavatar.preload
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.app.kidshome

SAMSUNG LED COVER
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.ledbackcover
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.sec.android.cover.ledcover

SAMSUNG PAY
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.samsungpassautofill
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.authfw
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.samsungpass
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.spay
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.spayfw

SAMSUNG SECURE WI-FI
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.fast

SAMSUNG STICKER CENTER
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.camera.sticker.stamp.preload
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.stickercenter
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.camera.sticker.facearframe.preload
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.camera.sticker.facearexpression.preload
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.camera.sticker.facear.preload

SAMSUNG TIPS
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.android.app.tips

SAMSUNG TTS ENGINE
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.SMT

SAMSUNG VOICEMAIL
adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.samsung.vvm.se

If You Happen to Crash Another App

If removing an app causes another app to crash, you can bring it back. Just input the following code, substituting the package name of the app you disabled:

adb shell cmd package install-existing <name of package>

Remember to add "./" to the beginning if you're using macOS or Linux. If this doesn't work, the other option is to factory reset your phone. This will return it to its out-of-box state, including all the apps you just disabled. Once restarted, redo the process, but this time avoid the app that caused the problem.

Cover image by Jon Knight/Gadget Hacks