How to disable the Rakuten Viber application on an Android smartphone

Many users of smartphones based on the Android operating system are faced with a situation where a pre-installed application Rakuten Viber occupies space in memory or is simply not used. Often this software is installed by device manufacturers or carriers through partnerships, making it a system component. Complete removal of such software without obtaining superuser (root) rights can be difficult, however, there are a number of effective methods for forcibly stopping and deactivating it.

In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithms of actions that will allow you to isolate the messenger from the system, deny it access to the Internet and hide its icon from the desktop. You will learn how to use standard Android settings to turn an active application into a “sleeping” process that will not consume battery resources or transfer background data. More advanced ways to manage system software for experienced users will also be considered.

Checking the application status in the system settings

The first step before any manipulation is to diagnose the current state of the app. You need to determine whether Rakuten Viber a regular user application or it is built into the firmware as a system component. The set of management tools available to you directly depends on this. Go to the main settings menu of your device and find the section responsible for managing installed software.

Depending on the version of the manufacturer's shell, this section may be called differently: “Applications”, “Application Manager” or “Application Management”. Find the icon Viber in the general list and click on it. Here you will see key information: the amount of memory occupied, software version and, most importantly, control buttons. If the “Uninstall” button is active and highlighted, you are in luck - you will be able to erase the app in the standard way.

However, in most cases, on new smartphones this button will be inactive (grayed), and the “Disable” option will be available instead. This is a direct sign that the application is a system one. In such a situation, standard removal is impossible without interfering with system files, but the disable function allows you to achieve almost the same result from the user's point of view. The application will no longer launch, its icon will disappear from the menu, and updates will stop.

⚠️ Attention: If you see the “Disable” button, the system will warn you that other applications may not work correctly. For instant messengers, this is usually not critical, but be prepared for the fact that links like viber:// in the browser will no longer open automatically.

Forced stopping and clearing data

Even if you cannot remove the application completely, you can free up a significant amount of internal memory by clearing its cache and user data. This procedure will return the app to the “as after installation” state, deleting all your correspondence, media files and authorization settings inside the device cache. Go to the application information screen that we opened in the previous section.

Find the “Stop” or Force Stop. Clicking on it will immediately terminate all current messenger processes, including background synchronization services and notifications. This is a temporary measure as rebooting the phone may cause the service to start again, but it is a useful step before doing a deep clean. Once stopped, go to the “Storage” or “Memory” section inside the application menu.

Here you will be offered two options: “Clear cache” and “Erase data” (or “Clear storage”). Select the second option. The system will ask for confirmation, warning you that the action is irreversible. Agree with the operation. Now Rakuten Viber your device takes up the minimum possible amount of space equal to the size of the installation package, and all personal data inside it is deleted.

After completing these steps, the application will become “empty”. If you ever decide to use it again, you will have to go through the registration and configuration process again because the local database will be destroyed. This is a great way to quickly free up gigabytes of space if the messenger has been actively used and has accumulated a lot of media files.

Disabling a system application through the Android interface

The most reliable way to get rid of annoying system software without root access is to use the built-in disable function. When you click the button “Disable” in the application menu, the Android operating system performs a series of actions: it removes all updates received for this package, hides the icon from the launcher, and prevents any application components from running.

The disabling process may take several seconds. At this time, the system rebuilds the desktop configuration. After completion icon Viber will disappear from the general list of apps and from the main screen. For the system, the application will exist only as a hidden system file that is not executed and does not consume RAM. This state is often called "freezing" the application.

It is important to note that a disabled application cannot be launched accidentally. To reactivate it, you will have to go into the settings again, find the section with disabled applications (usually a filter in the application list) and click the “Enable” button. This ensures that even if a child or another user picks up the phone, he will not be able to accidentally activate the messenger.

Banning Internet access and background activity

If for some reason the complete shutdown function is not available or you want to leave the application installed but completely isolate it from the network, you can use the data transfer settings. Modern versions of Android allow you to flexibly manage network permissions for each installed package separately. This will prevent you from receiving notifications and syncing messages.

In the application information menu, find the item Mobile data and Wi-Fi or simply “Data Usage”. Here you will see a "Background" switch. Turn it off. This will prevent the app from using the internet when it is minimized or the screen is off. Next, disable the “Unlimited data” option if it is active so that the system does not prioritize messenger traffic.

For maximum isolation in some shells (for example, MIUI, EMUI, OneUI) it is possible to completely deny access to the network. Find the "Allow data usage" switch and turn it to the "Off" position. Now Rakuten Viber physically will not be able to connect to the developer's servers, even if you accidentally launch it. The application will only work in local mode, which for the messenger means the messaging function will not work at all.

Action	Impact on operation	Possibility of cancellation
Stopping the process	Temporary closing, restart after restart	Automatically or manually
Cleaning data	Deleting correspondence and settings, freeing up space	No (data lost)
Disabling the application	Full launch blocking, hiding the icon	Yes, through settings
Internet ban	Blocking synchronization and notifications	Yes, by enabling access

Management through the special features and administrators menu

Sometimes messengers request advanced rights, becoming device administrators or gaining access to special opportunities. This allows them to run in the background more aggressively and makes them harder to turn off. Before attempting to deactivate Viber, check the list of active device administrators.

Go to section Security and privacy → “Device Administrator Applications” (the path may differ depending on the model). If you see a check mark opposite Viberthere, uncheck it. The system will require confirmation. While the application has administrator rights, the “Disable” or “Delete” button in the main settings will be blocked.

Also check the “Accessibility” section. Malicious or aggressive applications can use this interface to hijack control. Make sure that the service Viber is not active in this list. If it is there and you do not use special messenger functions for people with disabilities, disable this module. This will increase the overall security of the system.

Why does the application come back after being deleted?

Some phone manufacturers have hidden mechanisms for restoring pre-installed software. When resetting the settings to factory settings or a major system update (OTA), the list of system applications can be checked against the standard, and deleted (but not cut from the firmware) components will be restored automatically.

Advanced methods: using ADB to uninstall

For users who are not afraid to work with the computer and the command line, there is the most radical method - removing the system applications via USB debugging (ADB). This method allows you to remove the package com.viber.voip from the system for the current user, which is essentially equivalent to a complete removal, even if the button in the menu is inactive.

First, you need to activate developer mode on the phone. Go to “About phone” and click on “Build number” 7 times. Then, in the “For Developers” menu that appears, enable USB debugging. Connect your smartphone to your PC, install drivers and tools ADB. Open a command prompt on your computer and enter the command to test the connection:

adb devices

After confirming the connection on the phone screen, enter the command to remove the package. Be extremely careful: removing critical system components can lead to unstable operation of the device or “bricking”. Make sure that you enter the package name specifically for the messenger:

adb shell pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.viber.voip

Parameter --user 0 means that the application is removed only for the main user, but remains in the system partition in case of a factory reset. This is a safe method that does not violate the integrity of the firmware. If you want to return the application, all you need to do is run the command cmd package install-existing com.viber.voip or simply reset the phone.

⚠️ Attention: Using ADB commands requires precision. An error in the package name can lead to the removal of the system component responsible for calls or the interface. Always double-check the package name before entering the command.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is it possible to completely remove Viber without root access?

It is impossible to completely cut files from the system partition without root access. However, using the ADB command uninstall --user 0 or the standard “Disable” function makes the application invisible and inoperative for the user, which is equivalent to deleting it.

Why does the application appear again after disabling?

This can happen after updating the operating system or resetting the settings to factory settings. Some firmwares have an auto-recovery function for pre-installed software. In this case, the disabling procedure will have to be repeated.

Does disabling Viber affect the operation of other applications?

In most cases, no. However, if you click on the link viber:// in a browser or other instant messenger, the system will report that the application was not found or not installed. The "Share via Viber" feature in the Android menu will also disappear.

Is it safe to use ADB to delete system applications?

Yes, if you delete the application for the current user only (--user 0). This does not affect the system recovery image. In case of any problems, you can always restore the phone to the factory state and the application will return to its place.

Does a disabled application take up space on the phone?

Yes, the basic installation file (APK) remains in the internal storage in the system partition, which is not available for cleaning by the user. However, the cache and user data, which can occupy hundreds of megabytes, will be deleted when clearing the data before disabling.