Can I undo root?

Tippon@lemmy.world to Android@lemmy.world – 43 points –

Hi all :)

It's been a while since I modded a phone, so I'm a bit out of touch. If I root my phone and uninstall some apps, can I remove root afterwards so that I can use things like banking apps without workarounds?

I've got a Xiaomi Mi 10t Lite 5g, and it keeps automatically reinstalling its own apps, which then screw up my apps because they take over functions.

If I can completely remove apps rather than just hiding them, that would be a bonus.

Thanks for your help :)

17

If you just want to uninstall system apps, you do NOT need to root your phone. You can use ADB to uninstall or disable any system apps (regardless of if your phone allows that in settings).

This! Here's a guide to do that: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

Thanks for replying :)

This works because applications truly aren’t fully uninstalled from your device. They are just being uninstalled for the current user

This is what I mean by hiding them. It's essentially just removing the shortcuts. Can't they still be restored by an update this way?

It honestly depends on the manufacturer. Samsung's One UI for example doesn't re-install uninstalled system apps. I'd guess MIUI does the same. I don't think every update would come with an updated version of every system app that would automatically get installed.

I don't think every update would come with an updated version of every system app that would automatically get installed.

I think we're on the same page, but looking at it from different angles.

I've uninstalled updates and disabled the apps, but a system update restores them. I would imagine that disabling them with ADB would end up with the same result. Removing them with root should, in theory at least, remove them completely.

If I get more than five minutes to myself this weekend, I'll try the ADB method and see what happens 👍

It depends on what method you use. If you just need a temporary shell as root to fully uninstall system apps, try out a temporary root method like mtk-su.

If that doesn't work, you can use SnoopSnitch to check your Android security patch level and see if there’s any "Privilege Escalation" exploit that you can take advantage of.

For device-specific details I recommend you to checkout the XDA forum for your device

There are LineageOS versions and custom XDA Forum ROMs for the "Mi 10t Lite" but I can't find any with 5G in the name, are you sure that's in there?

https://m.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_10t_lite_5g-10480.php

That's how it was advertised at the time. It may officially be the Mi 10t Lite, and the 5G was added to show the capabilities, but I don't know for sure.

You can check the system info section in your settings to get a model number and find out what you have exactly using that and a search engine.

Unfortunately it doesn't clear anything up. It's a m2007j17g, and some sites label it with the 5G, while some label it without. Xiaomi UK doesn't have any results for the model number, and lists both versions. The specs are pretty vague for both, saying things like one supports lpddr4 vs lpddr5

Damn, no clue how to solve that one but please just don't flash a ROM till you are certain it is for your phone because it could brick! :/

yes, I rooted my old phone to install custom ROM and save the recovery( my Chinese phone would remove custom recovery if I didn't root

iirc, the process was miui->twrp+pixel exp.+magisk+format data then I had a rooted phone but I didn't need the root so I flashed pixel exp. and did a format data again and magisk was gone

root should go away after clean flashing the ROM again as the update guides always say if you want to retain root, flash magisk after flashing ROM