On non-rooted Android 17, ADB uninstall of system apps fails

Android 17 has wandered into a full-on comment-section meltdown after reports that people can no longer use a common computer command to remove certain built-in phone apps on non-rooted devices. Google still lets users disable those apps, which is safer and sometimes reversible in Settings, but for many commenters that was not the point. They wanted the option to truly kick out the preloaded stuff they see as junk, trackers, or storage-hogging clutter. And wow, the reaction was not calm.

The loudest voices framed this as a giant "you don’t really own your phone" moment. One commenter called it part of a "war on users owning devices," while another dragged in Europe, asking why leaders talk big about digital independence while everyday mobile life is controlled by two US giants. That’s the big drama: is this a reasonable safety change, or another small step toward locked-down pocket computers?

Then came the practical panic. One user said this change is so bad they’re considering pausing updates entirely, even though that means missing security fixes, because their phone is stuffed with unwanted apps like Facebook and analytics-heavy extras. Others pushed back with a softer take: maybe disabling is fine, maybe it’s safer, and privacy-focused alternatives like GrapheneOS mean you shouldn’t be manually cleaning out a messy phone in the first place. Still, the vibe in the crowd was clear: fewer choices, more suspicion, and a whole lot of "very Googly" side-eye.