If you’re not sure about a system application named com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim running on your Android device and its purpose then don’t worry because I have all the answers for you.
In this article, I’ll explain everything there is to know about com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim, what does it do, and can you delete it and if so then how can you delete this app.
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What is com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim?
com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim is the Android Package(APK) name of the Compatibility Test Suite system application which is a free, commercial-grade test suite that allows Android device manufacturers to inspect incompatibilities during early stages, and make sure it remains compatible throughout the entire development process of the device.
The Compatibility Test Suite is available on your Android device with two different package names com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and com.android.cts.ctsshim, where the “priv” stands for Privileged app. A Privileged app is a system application located in the priv-app directory on one of the system image partitions.
There has been some confusion about what the “priv” stands for. Some Android forums stated that the “priv” stands for private which is totally wrong. The “priv” stands for Privileged app.
What are Android Packages and How are they Named?
Android packages are files that contain all the resources, assets, certificates, and source code required for the distribution and installation of mobile apps and games on Android devices.
Every Android package name has a unique application identifier(App ID) that is used to identify the app on Google Play Store and on your device. This makes it easy for developers to update their apps.
Almost all Android packages for system applications and third-party applications are named in the format com.developername.appname.
Is com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim a Virus or Malware?
A lot of users have complained that com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim is a Trojan virus but this is totally false. The Compatibility Test Suite(CTS) is a system application developed by Google so they would never inject a virus within their own application.
Some people believe that this app is Malware which is also not true. It doesn’t harm your device or spy on your data. It is a totally safe application that is present in all Android devices.
This app isn’t bloatware either because it doesn’t consume your system resources unnecessarily.
How to Fix Issues caused by com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim?
The com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim package file doesn’t cause any issues with your Android device but a few people have complained that sometimes they get an error message like “com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim has stopped” or “com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim has stopped working.”
These error messages could be due to a corrupted cache or some unknown problem with the app.
You can fix these issues by clearing the app cache, force stopping the app, or by factory resetting your device. All of the methods are mentioned below in detail.
Clear com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim App Cache
If the issue is due to a corrupted cache then clearing the app cache will fix the problem. Here are the steps to clear the app cache.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on Apps.
Step 3 – Tap on the Ellipsis icon (3 vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
Step 4 – Tap on Show System Apps.
Step 5 – Search for com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and tap on it.
Step 6 – Tap on Storage.
Step 7 – Tap on the Clear Cache button.
After it’s done you will need to repeat all the steps for the package file com.android.cts.ctsshim.
If this didn’t fix the issues then you’ll need to Force Stop the app.
Force Stop com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim
Force Stop kills the ongoing Linux process of the app and restarts the Linux process. It is used to fix app issues. You can Force Stop the com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and com.android.cts.ctsshim system apps by following the steps mentioned below.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on Apps.
Step 3 – Tap on the Ellipsis icon (3 vertical dots) in the upper right corner.
Step 4 – Tap on Show System Apps.
Step 5 – Search for com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and tap on it.
Step 6 – Tap on the Force stop button.
After it’s done you’ll need to repeat the steps for the com.android.cts.ctsshim system application.
If Force Stopping the app didn’t fix the issues then your last resort is to Factory reset your device.
Factory Reset your Android Smartphone
A Factory Reset erases all the data from your phone and restores your phone to its original state. If you can’t fix the error message using the methods mentioned above then a factory reset will hopefully remove this error message for good.
Before factory resetting your device, you should backup your data. After the backup is complete, follow the steps below to Factory Reset your Android device.
Step 1 – Go to Settings.
Step 2 – Tap on General.
Step 3 – Tap on Reset.
Step 4 – Tap on Factory Data Reset.
Step 5 – Tap on the “Reset” button and you may need to enter your PIN or password.
Step 6 – Tap on Delete all or Wipe Data and your phone will be reset.
Should you Delete com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim?
No, you shouldn’t delete the com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim system app because it doesn’t cause any problems in your device. However, deleting this app could lead to issues with your device.
System applications should never be deleted because they are required for the proper functioning of the device. Removing a system application might cause malfunctions in your device.
Can you Delete com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim?
com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim is a default system application so you cannot uninstall it in the traditional way you uninstall other apps.
To uninstall com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim, you’ll need to use either the Android Debug Bridge(ADB) or the System App Remover application (requires root access).
How to Delete com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim?
You can delete com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and com.android.cts.ctsshim by using ADB which doesn’t require root access or using the System App Remover application that requires root access. Both these methods are mentioned below.
Uninstall com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim using ADB
ADB allows you to bring up a Unix shell so you can issue commands directly on the Android device. You’ll need a Windows PC to use ADB.
Here are the steps to uninstall com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim using ADB.
Step 1 – Go to Settings > System > About phone.
Step 2 – Tap on the Build number 7 times to activate Developer Options.
Step 3 – Go back to the main Settings menu and tap on Developer Options to open it.
Step 4 – Enable USB debugging by tapping on it.
Step 5 – Download ADB on your PC.
Step 6 – Extract the ZIP file into a folder.
Step 7 – After extracting the ZIP file, open that folder.
Step 8 – Press and hold the shift button and right-click in a blank area.
Step 9 – Click on “Open Powershell window here.”
Step 10 – Enter the command adb devices.
Step 11 – Connect your Android device to the PC using a USB data cable.
Step 12 – Type the command adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim and press Enter to run this command. Wait for a few seconds and you’ll notice the app has been uninstalled from your device.
Note – To disable com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim instead of uninstalling it, you need to replace “uninstall” with “disable” in Step 12 of the adb command shown above.
To uninstall com.android.cts.ctsshim, you’ll need to repeat all the steps and replace com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim with com.android.cts.ctsshim in Step 12.
Uninstall com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim using System App Remover
This method requires you to gain root access to your device. If you don’t know how to root your Android device then check our Android Rooting guide.
After gaining root access follow the steps below to uninstall com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim.
Step 1 – Download and install the System App Remover application.
Step 2 – Launch the System App Remover application, search for com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim, and tap the checkmark box next to the app.
Step 3 – Tap on the Uninstall button to completely uninstall the app and delete its data.
To uninstall com.android.cts.ctsshim, you’ll need to repeat all the steps and replace com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim with com.android.cts.ctsshim in Step 2.
Conclusion
com.android.cts.priv.ctsshim is the Android Package(APK) name of the Compatibility Test Suite system application which is required for developers to inspect incompatibilities of the app with your Android device. This system app is totally safe and isn’t a virus or malware.
You shouldn’t delete this app because it is a system application required for the proper functioning of the device. If it’s causing issues then you can try clearing the app cache or force stopping the app.
However, if you still want to delete this app then you’ll have to use either ADB or System App Remover and follow the steps mentioned in this article.