Removing applications from Honor 7A seems like a simple task - until you encounter stubborn system apps, leftover files or errors after uninstallation. Even after clicking “Delete” in the menu, many applications leave behind cache, settings and service files that continue to take up space in the device’s memory. What to do if the standard method does not work and the application is not uninstalled at all?

In this article we will look at all possible removal methods from basic to advanced, including working with ADB, root access and even resetting to factory settings. You will learn how to get rid of pre-installed apps (bloatware), why some applications cannot be removed through the menu, and what to do if “tails” remain after uninstallation. The instructions are adapted specifically for Honor 7A taking into account its features: Android 8.0 Oreo version, EMUI 8.0 shell and limited resources (2/3 GB of RAM, 16/32 GB of memory).

1. Standard removal through the settings menu

Let's start with the simplest method that works for most user applications. This method does not require additional tools and is suitable for apps that you installed manually (for example, from Google Play or APK files).

Open Settings → Applications and notifications → Applications. Find the desired app in the list and tap on it. Here you will see three possible options:

  • 🗑️ Delete — complete uninstallation (available only for user applications).
  • ⚙️ Disable — the application will remain in the system, but will stop working (for system applications) apps).
  • 🔄 Reset settings — clearing data without deleting (useful if the app is buggy).

If the “Delete” button is inactive or missing, it means the application is system —proceed to the next methods. Please note: even after standard deletion, cache folders may remain in the device memory (usually in /Android/data/[package_name] or /Android/obb/[package_name]). They can be deleted manually through any file manager (for example, Files by Google or Total Commander).

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Before By uninstalling, check whether the application is associated with important functions (for example, Huawei Mobile Services or Google Play Services). Removing them may disrupt the operation of the device.

2. Uninstalling via Google Play (if the application was installed from there)

If the app was installed from Google Play Market, it can be removed. straight from there - this sometimes works even when the standard method does not work. Open Play Market, tap on the profile avatar in the upper right corner and select Manage applications and device. Here you will see a list of all installed apps with the ability to mass delete.

The advantage of this method:

  • 🔍 Associated data (cache, settings) is automatically cleared.
  • 📱 Synchronizes with all devices under your account Google.
  • 🔄 You can quickly reinstall the application if you need it again.

However, there are limitations: system applications are not displayed here, and some apps (for example, updated versions of pre-installed software) may not be removed. In this case, Play Market will offer only disable application.

📊 How often do you delete unnecessary applications from your smartphone?
Once every a week
Once a month
Only when the memory runs out
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3. Disabling system applications (without root access)

Many pre-installed apps on Honor 7A (for example, Huawei AppGallery, HiCare, Phone Clone) cannot be removed using standard methods, but they can disable. This will free up some memory and stop background processes, although application files will remain on the system.

Instructions:

  1. Go to Settings → Applications and notifications → Applications.
  2. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Show system processes.
  3. Find the desired application (for example, Huawei Browser) and click on it.
  4. Select Disable (if the button is inactive, it means the application is critical for system).

Disabled apps will disappear from the menu and stop updating, but their data will remain in memory. To return the application, just go to its settings again and click “Enable”.

What applications on Honor 7A can be disabled without risk?

Safely disable:

- Huawei AppGallery (if you use Google Play)

- HiCare (support service)

- Phone Clone (data transfer)

- Huawei Browser (if you use Chrome)

- Huawei Music or Video (if there are alternatives)

⚠️ Not disable:

- Google Play Services

- Huawei Mobile Services

- System UI or Settings

4. Uninstallation via ADB (for advanced users)

If the standard methods did not work and you do not have root access, you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) a debugging tool that allows you to remove system applications without getting root. the method requires connecting Honor 7A to a computer and installing ADB drivers.

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download and install Platform Tools (included Android SDK).
  2. On your phone, turn on Developer mode (go to Settings → About phone and tap on the build number 7 times).
  3. In the developer menu, activate USB debugging.
  4. Connect Honor 7A to the PC via a USB cable (select mode File transfer).
  5. Open command line line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with platform-tools.
  6. Enter the command to test the connection: 
    adb devices

    The name of your device should appear.

  7. Find out the application package name (for example, via App Inspector in Play Market or command: 
    adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword"

    For example, for Huawei AppGallery this com.huawei.appmarket.

  8. Delete application with the command: 
    adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 package_name

    Flag -k saves the data, without it they will also be deleted.

This method does not remove the application completely from the systembut only hides it for the current user (user 0). After a factory reset or firmware update, the app may return. For complete removal you need root.

Install Platform Tools on the PC|Enable developer mode on Honor 7A|Activate USB debugging|Connect the phone in file transfer mode|Check the connection with the command adb devices-->

5. Complete removal using root access

If you are ready to take radical measures, obtaining root access will open access to deleting any applications, including critical ones (which can lead to inoperability of the device!). On Honor 7A root is obtained by unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom recovery (for example, TWRP), but this voids the warranty and increases the risk of the phone being bricked.

After getting root, you can delete the application:

  • 📱 Through a file manager with root support (for example, Root Explorer or FX File Explorer): find the folder /system/app or /system/priv-app, delete the folder with the package name.
  • 💻 Via ADB with superuser rights: 
    adb shell

    su
    

    mount -o rw,remount /system
    

    rm -rf /system/app/package_name
    

    rm -rf /system/priv-app/package_name
    

    rm -rf /data/app/package_name
    

    rm -rf /data/data/package_name

  • 🛠️ Using specialized applications (for example, Titanium Backup or System App Remover).

Warnings:

⚠️ Attention! Removing system applications (for example, Huawei System Manager or Google Services Framework) can lead to:

- Loss of connection to the network (not mobile data or Wi-Fi will work).

- Errors when updating the firmware.

- Cyclic reboot of the device (“bootloop”).

Always do backup via TWRP before deleting!

If after deletion the phone stops working correctly, try returning the application from the backup or perform a factory reset.

6. Reset to factory settings (last chance)

If none of the methods helped, and the device is full of unnecessary apps, the only option left is hard reset reset to factory settings. This will delete all user databut will return the phone to its original state, including pre-installed applications.

How to reset to Honor 7A:

  1. Back up important data (photos, contacts, messages).
  2. Go to Settings → System → Reset.
  3. Select Reset settings (or Restore and reset → Reset data in older EMUI versions).
  4. Confirm the action and wait until the reboot (takes 5-10 minutes).

After the reset:

  • 🔄 Applications you installed will be deleted completely (including their data).
  • 📱 System apps will return to their original state.
  • ⚠️ Some OTA updates may restore previously deleted applications.

If The goal is to get rid of the bloatware; resetting will only help temporarily. For a permanent solution, you will have to use ADB or root.

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Resetting to factory settings is the only way to restore the phone's functionality after unsuccessful removal of system applications with root access.

Comparison of removal methods

Method Required rights Deletes user applications Deletes system applications Cleans residual files Risk for system
Standard deletion No ✅ Yes ❌ No ❌ Partially ❌ No
Disablement No ❌ No ✅ Yes (not all) ❌ No ❌ No
ADB (without root) USB debugging ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (partially) ❌ No ⚠️ Low
Root + manual removal Root ✅ Yes ✅ Yes (all) ✅ Yes ⚠️ High
Reset settings No ✅ Yes ❌ Restores ✅ Yes ⚠️ Medium (data loss)

The choice of method depends on your goals and willingness to take risks. For most users, the combination standard removal + manual cache clearingis sufficient. If you need to get rid of system apps, try ADB it's safer than root. Radical measures (root, reset) are justified only in extreme cases.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to remove Google Play Services from Honor 7A?

No, this is a critical system application. Removing it will result in most functions not working, including Google Playaccount synchronization and many applications. The maximum that can be done is disable updates for it in Play Market.

Why after deleting the application does it appear again after updating?

This happens because some system applications (Huawei AppGallery, HiCare i etc.) are restored when updating the firmware via OTA. To prevent this, you need to either disable automatic updates in the settings, or uninstall the application via ADB with the flag --user 0 (but this does not guarantee 100% results).

How to find the application package name for ADB?

There are several ways:

  1. Use the command adb shell pm list packages | grep "keyword" (for example, grep "huawei").
  2. Install application App Inspector from Play Market - it shows package names.
  3. Look for the package name in the application URL in Play Market (for example, for Facebook this com.facebook.katana).
What to do if after deleting the system application, the phone stopped turning on?

Most likely, you deleted a critical component (for example, System UI or SettingsTry:

  1. Boot into Safe Mode (hold the power button →). long tap on “Turn off” → “Reboot in safe mode”).
  2. If there is a custom recovery (TWRP), restore the backup.
  3. Reset to factory settings via Hard Reset (press Volume up + Power with the phone turned off).

If all else fails, you will have to reflash the device via Huawei eRecovery or Fastboot.

How to clear the remains of deleted applications (cache, settings)?

Residual files are usually stored in the following folders (use a file manager with access to the root directory):

  • /Android/data/[package_name] — application data.
  • /Android/obb/[package_name] — additional files (for example, game cache).
  • /data/data/[package_name] — settings (requires root).
  • /sdcard/[package_name] — sometimes applications create folders on the internal memory.

For complete cleaning, also use applications like SD Maid or Files by Google (section “Cleaning”).