Some Android devices have the TEEService app preinstalled. A lot of users have expressed their concern about this app mentioning whether it has an important function or is it unnecessary bloatware.
TEEService or Trusted Execution Environment Service app is responsible for accessing the Trusted Execution Environment(TEE) which is a secure part of the processor used for key generation, key import, signing, and verification services.
In this article, we’ll explain in detail the TEEService app, what is it used for and can you uninstall it.
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What is the TEEService App Used For?
The TEEService app makes sure that applications that require access to sensitive data can access it through the Trusted Execution Environment which is a secure part of the device’s processor with its own memory and Operating system called Trusted OS. The applications that are loaded securely into the TEE to protect sensitive information are called Trusted Applications.
The package name of the TEEService app is com.trustonic.teeservice. This app is present in a few Android devices including Samsung, Vivo, LG, Oppo, etc.
If apps are stored in an unsecured environment, hackers can easily attack the Operating System and retrieve sensitive information from the apps. TEE solves this problem by ensuring that sensitive data is stored and processed in an isolated and trusted environment.
TEE ensures device security using two elements – Trusted OS and Secure Storage. The Trusted OS provides another Kernel layer in your processor that creates a secure and isolated environment. Secure Storage is a storage area in the Trusted OS that stores apps securely and protects sensitive app data.
The TEE provides secure separation for these processes:
- Lock screen passcode verification.
- Fingerprint template matching.
- Protection and management of KeyStore keys.
- Protected confirmation.
- Digital Rights Management (DRM).
Is TEEService Safe or Is It a Virus?
TEEService is not a virus or malware. It doesn’t cause any intentional damage to your device.
It is a safe application that makes sure apps used the TEE to maintain device security. It prevents hackers from accessing these apps and retrieve sensitive information.
This app doesn’t spy on your data or sell it to third parties so it is not Spyware.
Can You Uninstall TEEService?
Yes, you can uninstall the TEEService app using Android Debug Bridge(ADB), System App Remover app and Titanium Backup app.
But, TEEService is involved with device security so uninstalling the app will keep your device unsecured and there are chances that hackers can attack your important apps to get out sensitive information. This is why we recommend that you don’t uninstall this app.
If you still want to uninstall this app, you can use these methods:
(1) 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.
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 and set the USB mode as File Transfer.
Step 12 – You will receive a USB debugging notification on your phone, tap on OK to allow debugging access.
Step 13 – Re-enter the command adb devices.
Step 14 – You should now see the Serial number of your device on the Powershell window.
Step 15 – Run the command adb shell pm uninstall –user 0 com.trustonic.teeservice and wait for a few seconds. You’ll notice the app has been uninstalled from your device.
(2) Using System App Remover
This method requires you to root to your Android device. You can use our Android Rooting guide. After gaining root access follow the steps below to uninstall this system app.
- Download and install the System App Remover application.
- Launch the application, search for TEEService and select this app by tapping on the checkbox next to it.
- Tap the “Uninstall” button to completely remove the app from your device.
(3) Using Titanium Backup
This method also requires you to root your device. You can use our rooting guide and after gaining root access follow these steps to uninstall the app.
- Download and install the Titanium Backup application.
- Launch this application, search for TEEService and select this app by tapping on it.
- Tap “Un-install” to completely remove the app and delete its data from your device.
What Permissions Does TEEService Require?
The TEEService app doesn’t require any permissions to function properly on your device. If you check the permissions required you’ll find “No Permissions Required.”
You can check the permissions required by going to Settings > Apps > Show system apps > TEEService > Permissions.
Does TEEService Have High Battery Consumption?
The TEEService app doesn’t consume too much battery and we haven’t seen any signs of high battery usage or battery draining from this app.
This app doesn’t run in the background continuously nor it consumes cellular data so you won’t notice any CPU usage and drops in device performance due to this app.
If you do see high battery consumption due to this application, you can try to clear the app cache and force stop the app.
To clear the TEEService app cache, go to Settings > Apps > Show system apps > TEEService > Storage > Clear Cache.
To Force Stop the app, go to Settings > Apps > Show system apps > TEEService > Force Stop.
How To Get Back TEEService If You Uninstalled It?
If you uninstalled the TEEService app but want to reinstall this application then you can download the most recent version for your device manufacturer from the APKMirror website or you can Factory reset your device which restores your phone to factory settings.
To Factory Reset your device, go to Settings > General > Reset > Factory Data Reset > Delete All(Wipe Data).