Mastodawn

👊🇺🇸🔥

@evacide I've already removed Gemini via adb once. I'll do it again if it comes back after this forced opt-in.

I am not going to tell anyone that the Gemini app package is actually called com.google.android.apps.bard. I am also not advising anyone to follow these instructions:

1. Download and install ADB on your computer from the Android SDK Platform-Tools package

2. Enable Developer Options on your Android device:

3. Go to Settings > About phone > Software information

4. Tap "Build Number" seven times

5. Go to Settings > Developer options > USB debugging

6. Connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable

7. Open Command Prompt or Terminal in the folder where ADB is installed

8. Verify the connection via command prompt or terminal by running the command: adb devices

9. Then run one of the two following commands:

adb uninstall com.google.android.apps.bard

adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.apps.bard

10. Then verify the package has been removed by running: adb shell pm list packages | grep bard

Or use graphene.

@Elias @evacide Not doable on anything but a Pixel. If Google's trade-in deals were better, I would've switched a long time ago. As it stands, they are insultingly pitiful.

Peter SIMON Jul 9, 2025

@Avitus @evacide there is an easier option: replace your android by /eOS/ @gael

@Tradusk @evacide @gael Replacing the OS is definitely not easier.

Peter SIMON Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide @gael sure, but replacing your Android phone by an /eOS/ powered phone is a piece of cake

sb arms & legs Jul 12, 2025

@Tradusk @Avitus @evacide @gael
If you're buying, I'll take one, thanks!

@Tradusk @evacide @gael If you trust buying a phone with a custom OS on it, I certainly don't. I wouldn't even buy a phone with GrapheneOS already installed. There's no telling what else someone could've installed before shipping.

Gaël Duval - /e/OS & Murena Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus @Tradusk @evacide 👎👎👎

cedricdes Jul 9, 2025

@Avitus @evacide or install a custom ROM like #iodéOS based on Lineage

@cedricdes @evacide Lineage is generally not available for awhile on very recently released smartphones. And now that OEMs are committing to very long support timelines, there's not much motivation. Removing packages is easier, faster, and I don't have to spend hours resetting everything back to the way I want it.

cedricdes Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide that's true

DB Schwein Jul 9, 2025

@Avitus

Thank you for the instructions. I knew how to get into developer mode, but I couldn't find anywhere the actual package names!

@evacide

Pete / Syllopsium Jul 9, 2025

@Avitus @evacide

Cheers, I have definitely not bookmarked that so that I can run those commands against the Pixel phone I have arriving tomorrow.

(There may be marginally better alternatives, but phone buying is usually a 'least worst' game and I need the phone to fit in a Clicks case for which the choice is iPhone, Razr, or Pixel 9/9 Pro)

@syllopsium @evacide If you've got a Pixel and don't rely too heavily on banking apps, I highly recommend GrapheneOS: https://grapheneos.org/

The web installer is stupid simple.

GrapheneOS: the private and secure mobile OS

GrapheneOS is a security and privacy focused mobile OS with Android app compatibility.

GrapheneOS

Pete / Syllopsium Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide I refuse to put banking apps on my mobile phone, have moved away from Google Mail, and will be looking at a non Google Maps alternative.

What's the compatibility like with other proprietary apps (messaging, dating etc)? Seems like it should work, so I could give it a go.

@syllopsium @evacide I put it on my alt phone and haven't used it as a primary yet, but there are guides all over the place online that'll tell you what will and won't work. And when things don't work, there are options to fix them.

Luke Ebersole Jul 10, 2025

@syllopsium @Avitus @evacide
I've been running it on my main phone since January.

I can't speak to any of the dating apps, but it seems like many of the messaging apps rely on googles notification servers for notifications (discord is the primary one I have noticed this with). Element works great without the sandboxed Google services.

I have not found any apps that are dealbreakers if unable to install yet - all my banking apps have worked great so far (in their own isolated profile)

Chocotalo Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide This is great, thank you! Now to find me a computer..

PolyCat Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide I'm dealing w this sorta stuff w my Quest 3. I used to be able to disable the social features but if I do now the whole interface bugs out.

schrotthaufen Jul 10, 2025

@Avitus @evacide @mu Don’t forget to disable developer mode again.

@schrotthaufen @evacide @mu As a personal preference, I leave mine on because I use adb with some frequency; so I can quickly remove again apps I've removed previously that get reinstalled when there's a major update to the OS. There is no danger without physical access to the device.

Kornelis Jul 11, 2025

@Avitus @evacide

You forgot to disable developer mode and restart your device. Bad idea to leave developer mode on on your daily driver.

Grant_H Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus @evacide any way to run adb via a a local shell? I just tried a local shell connectBot from FDroid, and that gives the following: adb (and ls!)

:/ $ ls
ls: .: Permission denied
1|:/ $ adb
/system/bin/sh: adb: inaccessible or not found
127|:/ $

@grant_h @evacide I think this doesn't work because you need sudo access, which isn't natively available on Android. You'd need to root your phone to get sudo access, but rooting requires connecting to a computer anyway.

I prefer connecting to a computer so I'm not installing an app on my phone that claims it can root without a computer, but gives me malware instead 😅.

Leendaal Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus @evacide thx for not telling anyone

Luca Hammer Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus @evacide @malteengeler Do you know if it's possible to remove it through Canta? Would probably be easier for most users. https://github.com/samolego/Canta

@luca @evacide @malteengeler I've never heard of this, but if it's possible, that's great!

happyborg Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus
Be good to have an app for that 😆 ...

🤔 or a script!
@evacide

@happyborg @evacide Steps 1-7 can't be automated, but if you choose to leave developer options on (not advisable), 10 steps becomes two or three. There are lists of pre-installed apps that are safe to remove depending on OEM all over the Internet, so it would be a matter of finding the one you need and building a script around it.

Majid Hussain Jul 12, 2025

@Avitus @evacide
I love your stile there,
I do not condone the removal of built in apps
no sir.
adb app control is a gui interface to your mentioned toot there.
can disable enable remove reinstall apps.
from user0 and system.
hope this is of help to someone.
thank you for your toot, folowing you now.