How to delete an app without deleting app data?

Question

I'm on an Android and my device is a Huawei. I got this device a few months ago and I don't want to root my device because I don't trust myself.

Is there a way to delete an app without deleting app data?

If possible, I don't want to use ADB because I don't know any good apps and my computer is in a bad state and I just don't want to use it. Even if it's a hard or complicated way, I might do it. I do have other devices that might help.

Possible duplicate of How to fully backup non-rooted devices? — Morrison Chang, Jul 20 '19 at 05:55
Don't think it's possible, especially without root. When an app is uninstalled all its folders are automatically deleted unless it explicitly creates a folder in your internal storage (which is why many apps do). — SSS, Jul 20 '19 at 06:06
@SSS for "user apps" it is easily possible, see my answer below. For pre-installed apps you need root, and a more complicated approach. — Izzy, Jul 20 '19 at 08:22
@gaurav patil and how am I supposed to acess root files without rooting? — Aaron P, Jul 21 '19 at 01:05
I feel there's a missing context that might give alternative solutions: is there a reason why you want to uninstall the app but still keep the app's data? — Andrew T., Jul 21 '19 at 07:46
https://www.xda-developers.com/google-releases-separate-adb-and-fastboot-binary-downloads — alecxs, Jul 21 '19 at 13:59

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 20 '19 at 08:21

Assuming you are talking about apps you've installed yourself (and not about pre-installed apps), you can utilise adb for this. You need to know the app's package name first (the part shown in the Play Store URL in the id= parameter, or at F-Droid following the /package/ in the URL). Then, with your device connected:

adb uninstall -k <app.package.name>

replacing <app.package.name> by the app's package name. The -k parameter is telling uninstall to keep the app's data. So when you next install the app, the data is already there and will be used.

How to delete an app without deleting app data?

1 Answers1