adb-idea Can't Uninstall App if it's set as a Device Administrator

If the app is defined as a device administrator then it's not possible to uninstall it and the message that appears says that the app is not installed on the device, which is not correct.

If possible, it should remove the app from being a device administrator and then attempt to uninstall it.

If not, the error message should be corrected.

Nov 09 '17 23:11 filipesilvapt

Not sure if this will be useful for you, but it's not possible to uninstall a device admin app unless it's declared android:testOnly in the application in its manifest.

Try command adb shell dpm to check the documentation.

$ adb shell dpm usage: dpm [subcommand] [options] usage: dpm set-active-admin [ --user <USER_ID> | current ] <COMPONENT> usage: dpm set-device-owner [ --user <USER_ID> | current EXPERIMENTAL ] [ --name <NAME> ] <COMPONENT> usage: dpm set-profile-owner [ --user <USER_ID> | current ] [ --name <NAME> ] <COMPONENT> usage: dpm remove-active-admin [ --user <USER_ID> | current ] [ --name <NAME> ] <COMPONENT>

dpm set-active-admin: Sets the given component as active admin for an existing user.

dpm set-device-owner: Sets the given component as active admin, and its package as device owner.

dpm set-profile-owner: Sets the given component as active admin and profile owner for an existing user.

dpm remove-active-admin: Disables an active admin, the admin must have declared android:testOnly in the application in its manifest. This will also remove device and profile owners

Feb 03 '18 22:02 RGU5Android

There is no option dpm remove-active-admin in documentation.

May 09 '18 07:05 mushahidgillani

same issue here

May 13 '18 17:05 ysyyork

You can unset it programmatically. You need to call this function in your application DevicePolicyManager dpm = (DevicePolicyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE);

dpm.clearDeviceOwnerApp(context.getPackageName());

May 14 '18 07:05 mushahidgillani

After call dpm.clearDeviceOwnerApp(context.getPackageName()); I still can not uninstall the app. Did you have same issue?

Nov 06 '18 11:11 passos

what android api level you are working on ?

Nov 06 '18 11:11 mushahidgillani

try adb shell dpm remove-active-admin ComponentInfo{}

Aug 17 '20 10:08 fireb86

It's not working for me, I have message "my.package.name is already running" and I can't reinstall the app, Install with modified manifest-file or with code DevicePolicyManager dpm = (DevicePolicyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.DEVICE_POLICY_SERVICE); dpm.clearDeviceOwnerApp(context.getPackageName());

I can't do anything.

Sep 24 '21 19:09 kirkaDev

Having the same issue here, was trying to add admin function on my APP but the app becomes impossible to uninstall and the remove-active-admin becomes Error: unknown command