UAD CLI

Using the UAD Command-Line Interface

The UAD command-line interface (CLI) provides the same core debloating functionality as the graphical application in a form suited to terminals, scripts, and remote sessions.

Important

Back up your data and read the FAQ before changing system packages. Removing an essential package can make a device unbootable and require a factory reset.

Features

• Direct command execution without graphical overhead
• Package-manager-like commands
• Filtering by package state, removal level, debloat list, or search term
• Dry runs and warnings for unsafe packages
• Enable, disable, uninstall, and restore actions
• An interactive shell that keeps device state in memory
• Shell completions for Bash, Zsh, Fish, PowerShell, and Elvish
• Multi-device and multi-user support

Requirements

• ADB installed and available in PATH
• An Android device with USB debugging enabled
• The device authorized for ADB connections

Run adb devices to confirm that the device is connected and authorized.

Installation

The CLI currently needs to be built from source. Follow the build instructions, then build only the CLI package:

cargo build --release -p uad-cli

The binary is written to target/release/uad. The Cargo package is named uad-cli, but the installed binary is named uad.

Usage

List connected devices

uad devices

List packages

List all packages on the first connected device:

uad list
# Short alias
uad ls

Filter packages by state:

uad list --state enabled
uad list --state disabled
uad list --state uninstalled

Filter by removal level:

uad list --removal recommended
uad list --removal advanced
uad list --removal expert
uad list --removal unsafe

See removal definitions before acting on packages in the Advanced, Expert, or Unsafe categories.

Filter by debloat list:

uad list --list google
uad list --list oem
uad list --list aosp

Search for packages:

uad list --search "facebook"
uad list -q "chrome"

Filters can be combined:

uad list --state enabled --removal recommended --search "google"

Show package information

uad info com.android.chrome
uad info com.facebook.katana --device SERIAL123

Uninstall packages

Uninstall one or more packages:

uad uninstall com.facebook.katana
uad rm com.facebook.katana com.facebook.services

Use a dry run to preview an operation:

uad uninstall com.facebook.katana --dry-run

Select a device and Android user:

uad uninstall com.facebook.katana --device SERIAL123 --user 0

Enable or restore packages

uad enable com.android.chrome
uad restore com.google.android.gms

Disable packages

uad disable com.facebook.katana

Update package lists

Update the locally cached UAD lists:

uad update

Interactive shell

Start an interactive session for faster repeated operations:

uad repl
# Alias
uad shell

Commands in the interactive shell use the same syntax:

uad> help
uad> list --state enabled
uad> info com.facebook.katana
uad> uninstall com.facebook.katana
uad> enable com.android.chrome
uad> device
uad> exit

The interactive shell:

• Keeps device state in memory
• Saves command history for access with the up and down arrow keys
• Loads the UAD lists once at startup
• Supports the same device and package operations as the regular CLI

Shell completion

Generate a completion script for your shell:

# Bash
uad completions bash > /usr/share/bash-completion/completions/uad

# Zsh
uad completions zsh > /usr/local/share/zsh/site-functions/_uad

# Fish
uad completions fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/uad.fish

# PowerShell
uad completions powershell > uad.ps1

Command reference

Command	Alias	Description
devices	—	List connected Android devices
list	ls	List packages with optional filters
info	—	Show detailed package information
uninstall	rm	Uninstall one or more packages
enable	restore	Enable or restore packages
disable	—	Disable packages while keeping their data
update	—	Update UAD package lists
completions	—	Generate shell completions
repl	shell	Start the interactive shell

Run uad --help or uad <command> --help for the options supported by the installed version.

Examples

Remove Facebook packages

uad list --search facebook
uad uninstall com.facebook.katana com.facebook.services --dry-run
# If the preview is correct:
uad uninstall com.facebook.katana com.facebook.services

Work with a specific device

uad devices
uad list --device SERIAL123
uad uninstall com.facebook.katana --device SERIAL123

Safety

• Preview changes with --dry-run.
• Read warnings for packages marked as Unsafe.
• Most operations can be reversed with enable or restore.
• Specify --device when more than one device is connected.
• Specify --user when working with Android secondary users or work profiles.

Note

Without root access, system applications are not physically removed from the system partition. See the FAQ for details.

Troubleshooting

No devices found

• Ensure USB debugging is enabled.
• Run adb devices and authorize the computer on the device.
• Disconnect and reconnect the USB cable.
• Follow the connection steps in Getting started.

Package not found

• The package might already be uninstalled for the selected user.
• Check its exact name with adb shell pm list packages.
• Run uad update to refresh the package lists.

Permission denied

Some system packages cannot be changed without root access, and device vendors may impose additional restrictions.

Contributing and license

See the project's contribution guidelines. UAD-ng is licensed under GPL-3.0.