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Uninstall ADL

There are several reasons you might want to remove the Linux desktop setup you built by following ADL:

  • You need to reclaim storage space on your Android device.
  • You want to start fresh with a clean installation.
  • You no longer need a Linux desktop environment on your phone or tablet.
  • You are switching to a different Linux-on-Android solution.

Uninstalling ADL involves removing the Ubuntu distribution installed through proot-distro, and optionally removing Termux and Termux:X11 as well. This guide walks through each step so nothing gets left behind.

⚠️Data Loss Warning

ALL data inside your Ubuntu environment will be permanently deleted. This includes your home directory, installed applications, configuration files, and any documents or projects stored within Ubuntu. This action cannot be undone. Make absolutely sure you have backed up everything you need before proceeding.

Step 1: Back Up Your Data​

Before removing anything, copy important files from your Ubuntu environment to your Android storage where they will be safe.

What to Back Up​

  • Home directory (~/): personal documents, projects, downloads, and scripts.
  • Configuration files: .bashrc, .profile, .ssh/, .gitconfig, and any application configs in ~/.config/.
  • Database files: any local databases (SQLite files, PostgreSQL data directories) you have created.
  • Custom scripts: anything in /usr/local/bin/ or other locations where you placed your own scripts.

How to Copy Files to Android Storage​

Your Android shared storage is accessible from within Ubuntu at /sdcard (or via the ~/storage symlink if you ran termux-setup-storage). Copy your important files there.

To copy your entire home directory to Android storage:

$cp -r ~/Documents ~/Pictures ~/Projects /sdcard/ADL-Backup/

Create the backup directory on Android storage first:

$mkdir -p /sdcard/ADL-Backup

To back up your configuration files:

$cp -r ~/.ssh ~/.gitconfig ~/.bashrc ~/.profile /sdcard/ADL-Backup/configs/
✅💡 Tip

If you have large files, check your available Android storage space first with df -h /sdcard before starting the backup.

⭐Best Practice

Verify your backups before proceeding. Open a file manager on Android and confirm the files appear in the ADL-Backup folder. Do not rely on the copy command succeeding without checking.

Step 2: Remove the Ubuntu Distribution​

Exit out of the Ubuntu environment if you are currently inside it. You should be at the Termux shell (not the Ubuntu shell) before running this command.

If you are inside Ubuntu, type exit to return to Termux first.

Remove the Ubuntu distribution installed by proot-distro:

$proot-distro remove ubuntu
Expected Result

The command removes the Ubuntu root filesystem and all associated data. You should see output confirming the distribution has been removed. This may take a moment depending on how much data was stored.

ℹ️Note

This only removes the Ubuntu distribution. Termux itself and any packages you installed directly in Termux remain untouched.

Step 3: Remove Termux (Optional)​

If you want to completely remove ADL and no longer need Termux for any purpose:

  1. Open Android Settings on your device.
  2. Navigate to Apps (or Apps & notifications).
  3. Find Termux in the app list.
  4. Tap Uninstall and confirm.

This removes the Termux app, its internal storage, and all packages installed within it.

Step 4: Remove Termux:X11 (Optional)​

If you installed Termux:X11 for the graphical desktop environment:

  1. Open Android Settings on your device.
  2. Navigate to Apps.
  3. Find Termux:X11 in the app list.
  4. Tap Uninstall and confirm.

Step 5: Clean Up Remaining Storage​

After uninstalling the apps, some files may remain on your Android shared storage. Clean these up manually:

  1. Open your Android File Manager app.
  2. Look for any Termux-related folders in your internal storage.
  3. Check for and remove the ADL-Backup folder once you have moved your backed-up files to their final destination (cloud storage, a computer, etc.).
✅💡 Tip

Some file managers have a "storage analyzer" feature that can help you find leftover files taking up space after uninstallation.

Step 6: Re-enable Battery Optimization​

If you disabled battery optimization for Termux and Termux:X11 during the ADL setup process, you can re-enable it now:

  1. Open Android Settings.
  2. Navigate to Battery (or Battery & performance).
  3. Go to Battery optimization or App battery management.
  4. Find Termux and Termux:X11 (if they still appear after uninstall) and set them back to Optimized.

If you already uninstalled the apps in steps 3 and 4, Android typically re-enables optimization automatically, so this step may not be necessary.

Partial Uninstall: Reset Ubuntu Only​

If you want to keep Termux and Termux:X11 installed but start with a fresh Ubuntu environment, you can remove and reinstall just the distribution.

Remove the existing Ubuntu installation:

$proot-distro remove ubuntu

Then reinstall a fresh copy:

$proot-distro install ubuntu
Expected Result

A fresh Ubuntu root filesystem is downloaded and extracted. You will have a clean Ubuntu environment with none of your previous data, packages, or configuration.

This approach is useful when your Ubuntu environment has become cluttered or broken and you want to start over without reinstalling Termux itself. After reinstalling Ubuntu, you will need to re-run the ADL setup steps to configure the desktop environment again.

🔧Troubleshooting
proot-distro remove says the distribution is not installed
The distribution may already have been removed, or it was installed under a different alias. Run `proot-distro list` to see all installed distributions and use the exact name shown in that list.
Cannot delete files because of a permission error
Make sure you have exited the Ubuntu environment before attempting removal. If processes are still running inside Ubuntu, the removal may fail. Close all Termux sessions, reopen Termux, and try the remove command again.
Storage space was not freed after uninstalling
Android may not immediately reclaim space. Restart your device and check storage again. You can also clear the Termux app cache from Android Settings > Apps > Termux > Storage > Clear Cache before uninstalling.
Termux does not appear in the Android app list
If you installed Termux from F-Droid, it may appear under a slightly different name. Search for 'Termux' in the settings search bar. You can also try uninstalling from the app drawer by long-pressing the Termux icon.