android-debloater

A POSIX-compliant shell script for automating the debloat process of Android Devices.

Requirements:

• POSIX-Compliant Shell (dash, ash, etc..)
• USB-Capable PC running Linux-Distribution (Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora, Arch-Linux) for now
• Android Device w/ USB-Cable (root NOT required)
• Know which apks you wish to debloat (obviously)

Overall Scope

• portability (POSIX-compliance provides greater conformity)
• automation (automate the task of debloating or restoring apks)
• simplicity (does two things: debloats and restores)

Getting Started

Before proceeding, perform the following steps:

1) [Enable Developer Mode]

1. Go into the "Settings" app on your Android Device

2. Search for: "Build Number"

(usually located somewhere in Settings -> About)

3. Tap "Build Number" 5 times consecutively (agreeing/responding to any prompts as required)

After performing these steps, you should receive a notification that Developer Mode was enabled

2) [Enable USB Debugging]

1. Go into the "Settings" app on your Android Device

2. Search for: "Developer Settings"

(usually located in the root of the settings menu, otherwise in Settings -> System)

3. Toggle "USB Debugging" to on (continue, if given a warning)

IMPORTANT NOTE:

Do not leave USB Debugging on for longer than you intend to keep your device connected!

Then, finally, obtain the sources

git clone https://github.com/Seabass5701/android-debloater.git
cd android-debloater
chmod u+x ./*.sh

Usage

    android_debloater.sh { [<action>] [<apk_list>] || help }

Parameters

action   - action to perform on [<apk_list>]
apk_list - apk[s] to perform [<action>] upon
help     - display help menu

[<action>]

debloat - debloat packages
restore - restore [deleted] packages

[<apk_list>]

• may be passed as a file, which contains list of apks (comments allowed)

# file should be formatted as follows:

# here is a test comment
[package:]com.android.chrome        # Google Chrome APK
[package:]com.android.bluetooth     # Bluetooth APK
[...]                               # Etc..

• may be passed as actual apk name[s]

./android_debloater.sh [<action>] \
       com.android.chrome \
       com.android.bluetooth \
       [...]

Miscellaneous

Although many debloat scripts exist already, this script (in particular) was written to:

• vastly minimize (amount of) work needed,
• be fast in execution-speed,

...when debloating/restoring apks on an Android Device.

If adb is not installed, the script will run the "get_sdk_tools.sh" script.