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The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+

Mar 13, 2018 12:09 AM
May 29, 2018 09:59 PM
Mobile phone displaying a list of apps on a dark background.

Carrier-branded Galaxy S9 models come with a ton of bloatware that you usually can't get rid of without rooting. With a little digital elbow grease, however, there is a way to disable bloatware on your S9 or S9+, and it's a lot safer that attempting to root and modify you precious device.

Package disablers are a great way to disable useless bloatware and free up RAM on your smartphone. Unfortunately, they can be a little dangerous to use, as carelessly disabling the wrong package can cause your S9 to act erratically or even freeze up entirely. Thankfully, there's a safe and painless way to disable over 120 bloatware apps and packages thanks to XDA user BAYmustafa96.

Download the Bloatware Remover File

First up, you'll need to download an XML file which automatically disables bloatware apps by way of Package Disabler Pro+ for Samsung. The file was originally created by BAYmustafa96, which leaves the guesswork out of disabling unwanted apps, though we've edited it to clean things up a bit and make it even safer. So to start, tap the following link from your Galaxy S9 or S9+.

Download notification for bloatware remover XML file.

Install Package Disabler Pro+ for Samsung

Now it's time to download Package Disabler Pro+ (Samsung). To install it, you can either go to the Play Store and do a search, or simply tap on the link below to purchase the app.

Package Disabler Pro + (Samsung) app on Google Play Store

Grant Package Disabler Pro+ Administrator Privileges

Before using Package Disabler Pro+ to disable apps, you'll first need to grant it administrator privileges. So open the app to get the ball rolling, then simply tap on ""Enable Admin" on the main page. You'll now be taken to a Device Administrator page, so tap on "Activate" to finish setting up. You can now proceed with de-bloating your S9

The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
Package Disabler Pro app notification on a mobile device.
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
Package Disabler Pro app notification on a mobile device.

Disable Bloatware

Now, open Package Disabler Pro+, then tap on the three-dot menu icon on the upper-right corner of the screen. From there, select "Import from XML."

The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
App interface showing options for managing applications, including import and export features.
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
App interface showing options for managing applications, including import and export features.

A popup window will now appear, so tap on "Select" to reveal a file selection prompt. Next, head to the Download folder to retrieve the XML file you downloaded earlier, then hit "Select" on the lower-right corner of the prompt once you found and selected the file.

Import options displayed on a mobile app interface.
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
Import options displayed on a mobile app interface.
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+

The XML file will now populate the initial "Import from file" prompt, so tap on the "Import" button. Doing so will now automatically disable 122 bloatware apps for you, and end with a confirmation prompt. Tap on the "OK" button on the bottom of the prompt to go back to the app's main page, then scroll down and verify by looking for bloatware that's been checked off and disabled.

Import file dialog in an application界面
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+
Import file dialog in an application界面
The Safest Way to Disable All Bloatware on Your Galaxy S9 or S9+

Please bear in mind that this process is automated, so be sure to carefully check for frequently used apps —like Bixby, Adapt Sound, and Photo Editor — that might've gotten disabled. If that turns out to be the case, just open the Package Disabler Pro+ app, scroll through the list and find the app you're missing, then simply tap on the box next to it re-enable it.

Has this made your S9 or S9+ noticeably snappier? Let us know in the comment section below.

Cover image and screenshots by Amboy Manalo/Gadget Hacks

The next big software update for iPhone is coming sometime in April and will include a Food section in Apple News+, an easy-to-miss new Ambient Music app, Priority Notifications thanks to Apple Intelligence, and updates to apps like Mail, Photos, Podcasts, and Safari. See what else is coming to your iPhone with the iOS 18.4 update.

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