How to remove bloatware and make any Android or Galaxy devices faster

Samsung Galaxy smartphones and tablets can now run faster thanks to the release of a debloater script by the industrious XDA member blaz1nr.

The debloater script tool has been tested with several Galaxy devices to ensure maximum compatibility. It allows you to remove all those unwanted apps and native add-ons from Samsung, and consequently make your device run faster.

The debloater script reportedly allows users to reduce the size of the ROM by up to 400MB by removing bloatware including apps like Gmail, Google+, S Voice, Amazon app and Facebook messenger, besides a bunch of carrier-based bloatware added by AT&T's Uber and Home.

Galaxy users can back up their important data and settings on the device via custom recovery tools such as CWM or TWRP recovery before using the debloater tool, so that one can restore the device to original state and then reinstall the affected or missing apps easily from Google Play Store.

The debloater script is known to delete some useful apps alongside the unwanted ones. Hence, if you want to prevent such a happening you must edit the script manually as follows:

• Extract the zip file of debloater tool to a separate folder. You will see a single folder called "META-INF" after extraction.
• Open the folder and look for the updater-script. You should see the delete-recursive command for all apps that are meant to be removed by the script (by default).
• If you want to add an exception for a certain app on your phone that you don't want to delete, just add a # tag at the beginning of the command line as shown in the example below:

For example: Change the line from: delete_recursive("/system/app/Gmail2″) to #delete_recursive("/system/app/Gmail2″);

• Repeat this step for all apps that you want to retain. Then save the updater-script file, and create a zip of the META-INF folder again in a similar format like the original you downloaded.
• Alternatively, just open the updater-script file in the META-INF folder and open it with Notepad++ file editor on PC, and then save it.
• Choose Yes when prompted to save the modified zip file that includes the modified updater-script with necessary commands for bloatware removal.

IBTimes UK reminds readers that it will not be held liable for any damage to device during or after the debloater tool installation. Users are advised to proceed at their own risk.

Downloads Required

Download Galaxy Debloater tool script

Download Debloater tool for any Android device (Windows)

Download Debloater tool for any Android device (Mac)

Prerequisites

• Developer Options turned on with ADB or USB debugging enabled
• Manufacturer USB drivers installed on the computer
• KitKat – No Root Needed
• Lollipop, Jelly Bean and below require root access

Steps to use Debloater tool on any Samsung Galaxy device

• Make sure you have TWRP recovery, or CWM recovery, installed on your device.
• Reboot into recovery mode as follows:
  • Power off your device.
  • Press and hold Power, Home and Volume up until the Samsung logo appears on screen and then the device should enter recovery mode.
• Create a backup in TWRP or CWM recovery in order to be able to restore data, if your device enters bootloop or cannot boot for some reason.
• Select Install option and browse for the debloater tool's zip file, Galaxy_Cleaner.zip, and choose it for installation.
• Reboot the device for changes to take effect and your device must be running faster than before.

In related news, XDA Recognised Developer gatesjunior has also shared a debloater tool for all Android devices (via Windows or Mac), which can be installed as suggested in the video tutorial below:

[Source: The Android Soul]