Database Users

Removing Stock App Icons

I've removed a bunch of the crap apps that come pre-installed on the Galaxy, however the stupid icons still show up in my app menu. Anyone know how to get rid of these icons??

You can make a custom app draw and place the apps in the order you want. Not sure if you can fully remove an icon but you could create another page and place them all on that.
Edit: How did you remove the stock junk? I've looked in the Setting > apps menu but uninstall was grayed out.

you need to r00t it then use adb shell goto data>app> then use the rm -r command to remove anything u don't want....
I don't know how to create a custom app drawer, can you elaborate?
There has to be a better solution than that btw, anyone else?

open app draw > menu > view type > customizable grid > puts you back at app draw.
Menu > edit > move app icons at will and create multiple pages, pages can have as many for as few icons as you chose.

I have removed these so far from /system/app:
AccountAndSync.apk
AddToHome.apk
Avatar.apk
BuddiesNow.apk
DualClock.apk
DualClock.odex
Email.apk
Email.odex
GoGo.odex
KindleStub.apk
MediaHub.apk
MobiTV.apk
MyAccountStub_4-5-10.apk
Swype-Tips.apk
Telenav.apk
vvm-signed.apk

how did you get them to delete? when i do rm -r BuddiesNow.apk i get a permissions denied

Mookie_Jones said:
how did you get them to delete? when i do rm -r BuddiesNow.apk i get a permissions denied
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to be root.

Mookie_Jones said:
how did you get them to delete? when i do rm -r BuddiesNow.apk i get a permissions denied
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Grab ADB from the SDK from Google and put the tools dir somewhere easy to access via command line
2. Install the USB drivers (I had to install 3 drivers)
3. Root the phone
4. CMD to wherever you put the tools directory
5. Run "adb remount"
6. Run "adb shell"
7. (inside of the shell) "su" to root (only if you get a $ prompt, if you have a # prompt skip this step)
8. "cd /system/app"
9. Delete the above apk's
Do not enter any quotes above, only enter the command inside of the quotes.
Any suggestions on any other apk's to delete?

Simply reboot! That's all I did after I removed a bunch of apk and none of the icons show up anymore

I removed them and now it tells me that my camera doesn't work.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

t1n0m3n said:
1. Grab ADB from the SDK from Google and put the tools dir somewhere easy to access via command line
2. Install the USB drivers (I had to install 3 drivers)
3. Root the phone
4. CMD to wherever you put the tools directory
5. Run "adb remount"
6. Run "adb shell"
7. (inside of the shell) "su" to root (only if you get a $ prompt, if you have a # prompt skip this step)
8. "cd /system/app"
9. Delete the above apk's
Do not enter any quotes above, only enter the command inside of the quotes.
Any suggestions on any other apk's to delete?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just wanted to post an alt method for those that dont like adb (we're out here, i have yet to install the drivers for this phone lol
Alt Method
1. If you’re rooted, purchase Root Manager (a must have tool for rooted androids)
2. Open Root Manager
3. Select System apps
4. Select App Remover
5. Seleck .apk files you don’t want and remove them.
6. Reboot the phone immediately after
7. Now go to menu
8. settings
9. manage applications
10. you will see apps that have their long name/path name “com.xxxx.xxxx.xxxx” and no icons
11. those are the remnants of the apk files you used to have which were locked (hence needing Root Manager)
12. uninstall these like you would any other non OEM/3rd Party app
13. You should be done!
)
i've removed telenav, mobitv, amazon mp3, and slacker radio so far
Let me know if this works for you guys or if i've missed anything (i am here to learn from this great community as well)
P.S. I had a hard time with Slacker Radio because i deleted the .apk as mentioned above but still had app in the app drawer and it still launched when i selected the icon. Turns out, I had updated it with AppBrain. When i went to uninstall Slacker through manage applications, it removed the update first then gave me a "uninstall unsuccessful". However when i went back to the list of apps, it did remove the icon and revert to "com.slacker.radio" in the apps list, then i went in to uninstall that and it worked fine. So, if any apps have updates on top of "factory", keep that in mind

I have noticed that the slacker radio and layar from samsung/TMO are quite gimped and don't really function very well. They seem to be tied to TMO and wants to charge your TMO account monthly for something. (I didn't really look close, I got to the "we want to charge your account" part and canceled.) I deleted them from the phone and then went to the market and downloaded the "real" apps... Yeah, there is none of that crap on the real apps.
>:-(
Most of the other TMO/Samsung apps did this as well, but I deleted most of them pronto. So if you want to use layar or slacker radio... Do yourself a favor and delete them, and grab them from the market.
I actually use Amazon MP3, so I kept that one.
When, oh when do the CMs a come!? Get along little doggy. Yehaw. *Bullwhip* (Yay, we got Cyanogen!)

I'm just uninstalling them with Titanium Backup (root needed). Things that I think I MAY want back, I just back up... I found that some after uninstalling, you can see in Settings->Applications->Manage, right under 3rd party at 0 bytes. I just uninstalled from there and it appears it removed all traces.
Note: Titanium Backup is acting flaky with restores, apps go back but it FC's before restoring data. Then I have to go back and restore data only. I felt better just reinstalling from market then restoring data only from TB. But that is another thread

could someone tell me what these apk are?
MyAccountStub_4-5-10.apk
vvm-signed.apk
My list of backed up and removed files are
AccountAndSync.apk & odex
Amazon apk
Avatar.apk & odex
AddToHome.apk & odex
DualClock.apk & odex
Email.apk & odex
Infoalarm.apk & odex (daily briefing)
KindleStub.apk
layar-samsung.apk
MediaHub.apk
Memo.apk & odec
MiniDiary.apk & odec
Myfiles.apk & odex
slackerradio.apk
Telenav.apk
Writeandgo.apk & odec
I will probably take out most of the sammy widgets and some of the dull live wallpapers also. Will report back if there are any issues but they all came from other people's "safe" lists. (thanks Jonas.M and t1n0m3n)

SykesAT said:
could someone tell me what these apk are?
MyAccountStub_4-5-10.apk
vvm-signed.apk
My list of backed up and removed files are
AccountAndSync.apk & odex
Amazon apk
Avatar.apk & odex
AddToHome.apk & odex
DualClock.apk & odex
Email.apk & odex
Infoalarm.apk & odex (daily briefing)
KindleStub.apk
layar-samsung.apk
MediaHub.apk
Memo.apk & odec
MiniDiary.apk & odec
Myfiles.apk & odex
slackerradio.apk
Telenav.apk
Writeandgo.apk & odec
I will probably take out most of the sammy widgets and some of the dull live wallpapers also. Will report back if there are any issues but they all came from other people's "safe" lists. (thanks Jonas.M and t1n0m3n)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
couple of noob questions for you, that addtohome thing, if you uninstall that, what happens when you long press on an empty space on a home screen? launching addtohome brings up the same menu as a long press so i was wondering. Also what are the .odex files and what do they do?

jblade1000 said:
couple of noob questions for you, that addtohome thing, if you uninstall that, what happens when you long press on an empty space on a home screen? launching addtohome brings up the same menu as a long press so i was wondering. Also what are the .odex files and what do they do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
long press on home screen brings up.... add to home menu
I believe removing that apk just removes the icon in the app draw, Similar to the Avatar APK which is also just an icon with a link... Not too sure about odex but read they should be removed also. When I "removed" items it was more move to a backup folder on the SD card just incase.

Jeez, I found another one. The kindle app (which I use) was not uninstallable. It had a "remove updates" button instead. I click on remove updates, and it basically uninstalled the app, but left all of the shortcuts on the home screen and the app menu orphaned.
I had to install it from the market, uninstall it from the market, and install it from the market again to get it working correctly. Now I have a proper "uninstall" button and market updates for this app.
It seems to me like every T-mobile/Samsung pre-installed app has something wrong with it. I can't wait until we get a real rom for this phone.

SykesAT said:
could someone tell me what these apk are?
MyAccountStub_4-5-10.apk
vvm-signed.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
vvm-signed.apk - T-Mobile's Visual Voice Mail (If you use this, I recommend deleting this version and installing from the market instead.)
All of the stubs are basically shortcuts to the market to install the real apps. That one is the stub to install the T-Mobile "My Account" app. I removed all of the stubs. They just get in the way IMO.

jblade1000 said:
couple of noob questions for you, that addtohome thing, if you uninstall that, what happens when you long press on an empty space on a home screen? launching addtohome brings up the same menu as a long press so i was wondering. Also what are the .odex files and what do they do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The addtohome apk just puts a shortcut in the app tray to bring up the same menu as when you long press the background. I found it annoying, so I removed it. Removing it does not effect the menu that pops up when you long press an empty space on the home screen.
As I understand it, Odex files are there to speed up boot and to lessen the dalvik-cache usage a bit.

T1n0m3,
thanks again vvm and myact are removed myact added back from market, use GV for VM.
So its correct and safe to delete the the odex files of any apk you've removed?

i cant remove adwlauncher on cm7

Hi there;
I'm using cm7 #5 with launcherpro and i want to delete adwlauncher.
On terminal emulator typing
$ su
# mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
# rm -r /system/app/ADWLauncher.apk
then write on emulator "cant remove app because folder is not empty"
What can i do?
Thanks in advanced
P.S sorry for my bad English.

Use titanium backup to uninstall or use adb, or wait for someone to make a .zip to remove it.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App

Here you go, flash in recovery

@Michealtbh Thanks for the zip file. Just one question. If I already have ADWLauncher EX installed, and I flash this zip file, will it remove both the ADWLauncher that came with CM7 and the EX version?? Or will it only remove the one that came with CM7?

You can always use Titanium backup to delete it...

ddvniek12 said:
@Michealtbh Thanks for the zip file. Just one question. If I already have ADWLauncher EX installed, and I flash this zip file, will it remove both the ADWLauncher that came with CM7 and the EX version?? Or will it only remove the one that came with CM7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you see both adw and adw ex launchers in your settings/applications/manage applications.
If you see both, then it removes adw only. And if you see only one, which means both are same. I think both will be same.
Little suggestion is donot attempt to flash that zip file without extra launcher ( like lpp) installed.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA App

why you wont to delete them? instal launcherPro and adw dont work ...

Markoleti said:
why you wont to delete them? instal launcherPro and adw dont work ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its because of people's obsession with "free space/free internal memory".

Accidentally installed old market, how to replace with latest?

I accidentally installed an old android market (download917.mediafire.com/holh5mrm74gg/rest29bka7mm0ck/Vending.apk) to my kindle after rooting, I definitely want the latest one and have seen that it's possible in many different youtube video's. Can anybody help me with the removal of the old android market and provide me with a way to install the latest one?
Thank you very much!

1. Install Root Explorer from the market.
2. Deinstall the version you have using the by going to settings > more > Applications > All Applications > Market > Clear Data > Uninstall.
3. Copy attached market APK to your Downloads folder on the Fire.
4. Using Root Explorer, navigate to Downloads and copy market apk.
5. Using Root Explorer, navigate to System/App and click Mount R/W.
6. Paste market apk into folder.
7. Long press Market APK and change permissions to all permissions (or similar to your other system/app apks if you like).
8. Exit Root Explorer.
9. Shutdown and restart KF.

I didn't find "settings > more > Applications > All Applications > Market > Clear Data > Uninstall" under root explorer, but I used File Expert, where I did find something similar. After doing the necessary steps, I indeed managed to reinstall with the new market. Thank you so very much for the help!

ctgchaos said:
I didn't find "settings > more > Applications > All Applications > Market > Clear Data > Uninstall" under root explorer, but I used File Expert, where I did find something similar. After doing the necessary steps, I indeed managed to reinstall with the new market. Thank you so very much for the help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to tap the top menu bar on the Fire (where you see the gear icon). You can then see the more (+) button when the menu drops down. The steps are then as I laid out. This is standard OOTB functionality to deinstall an app.
Glad you were able to remove the app via the alt method you found.

terracode said:
1. Install Root Explorer from the market.
2. Deinstall the version you have using the by going to settings > more > Applications > All Applications > Market > Clear Data > Uninstall.
3. Copy attached market APK to your Downloads folder on the Fire.
4. Using Root Explorer, navigate to Downloads and copy market apk.
5. Using Root Explorer, navigate to System/App and click Mount R/W.
6. Paste market apk into folder.
7. Long press Market APK and change permissions to all permissions (or similar to your other system/app apks if you like).
8. Exit Root Explorer.
9. Shutdown and restart KF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dont work for me....

vmonsan said:
dont work for me....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to be more specific if you want help.

Hello,
I have similar problems but I the "uninstall" button is inactive for me. Any idea what to do?

Assuming you properly installed the old version of market just run the new version someone posted on this thread to install it. No need to do anything else. It's no different than any other system app that gets an update. The new version gets installed in /data/apps and gets run instead of the old version in /system.
Sent from my HTC Flyer P512 using Tapatalk

Alternative Launcher + Backup Launcher

Thanks to @jkchr1s for the steps
I have also attached a backup com.amazonfire launcher just incase soeone messes up.
Working Launcher replacement thanks to @diegocr and @Awesomeslayerg ! Here's the steps:
See @diegocr post at http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=23 and download "boot-firelauncher.img"
Enable USB debugging
Install your launcher of choice!
On your computer, run
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Once your tablet reboots in to fastboot, run on your computer (if you are not in the same directory as boot-firelauncher.img, put the full path):
Code:
fastboot boot boot-firelauncher.img
Tablet will reboot
Once booted open an adb shell:
Code:
adb shell
To back up the existing app, run:
Code:
cp /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk /sdcard/Download/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Then nuke it!
Code:
rm /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Now, run to restart your device:
Code:
reboot
Confirmed working on my tablet with FireOS 5.0.1.
Enjoy!
If you mess up and your fire dosent have a launcher then download the apk file and adb sideload it once your at the lock screen.

Just wanted to mention can keep the Fire launcher installed without having it forced as default. Follow the above then using a file manager go to where you made a copy of the apk file and install it. It will install and can be used and selected as home or not via the usual home method.

You sir deserve a medal sir! You just saved me 15 € for Netflix and chilling.

or just use Titanium Backup with Pro Key, to Freeze the app

Someone care to explain a bit more? Does this allow us to select a new launcher within system settings making the home button select this launcher?

ruokblah said:
Someone care to explain a bit more? Does this allow us to select a new launcher within system settings making the home button select this launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes
Sent from my KFFOWI using XDA One

After removing the default launcher, I moved to Nova launcher and lost access to all the apps I had saved to my SD card via the system settings. Does this have something to do with the firelauncher? Is there a way to re-enable sd card read/write access?

shiz0id said:
After removing the default launcher, I moved to Nova launcher and lost access to all the apps I had saved to my SD card via the system settings. Does this have something to do with the firelauncher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
shouldn't, did you remove other amazon apps?

sd_shadow said:
shouldn't, did you remove other amazon apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nope, just the FireLauncher, the apps are grayed out in nova, if that means anything.

shiz0id said:
nope, just the FireLauncher, the apps are grayed out in nova, if that means anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps on sd card working fine with Google now launcher
Sent from my KFFOWI using Tapatalk

sd_shadow said:
Apps on sd card working fine with Google now launcher
Sent from my KFFOWI using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
fixed after forcing a restart of nova, appears to be some kind of issue with the app itself
On another note, do you know any way to re-enable sd card write access?

shiz0id said:
fixed after forcing a restart of nova, appears to be some kind of issue with the app itself
On another note, do you know any way to re-enable sd card write access?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nextapp.sdfix
Sent from my KFFOWI using Tapatalk

Awesomeslayerg said:
Thanks to @jkchr1s for the steps
I have also attached a backup com.amazonfire launcher just incase soeone messes up.
Working Launcher replacement thanks to @diegocr and @Awesomeslayerg ! Here's the steps:
See @diegocr post at http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=23 and download "boot-firelauncher.img"
Enable USB debugging
Install your launcher of choice!
On your computer, run
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Once your tablet reboots in to fastboot, run on your computer (if you are not in the same directory as boot-firelauncher.img, put the full path):
Code:
fastboot boot boot-firelauncher.img
Tablet will reboot
Once booted open an adb shell:
Code:
adb shell
To back up the existing app, run:
Code:
cp /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk /sdcard/Download/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Then nuke it!
Code:
rm /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Now, run to restart your device:
Code:
reboot
Confirmed working on my tablet with FireOS 5.0.1.
Enjoy!
If you mess up and your fire dosent have a launcher then download the apk file and adb sideload it once your at the lock screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found it was easier to download a 2nd launcher (google now/apex/nova) after I gained root access, then backup the com.amazon.firelauncher in the system/priv-app folder to my SD card or outside the priv-app folder using es file browser. Delete the com.amazon.firelauncher folder inside priv-app, restart the tablet then I was asked on reboot to confirm the default launcher.
Thought it may help someone out who doesn't fancy running the commands.
Cheers as this forum has helped me a lot, much appreciated for all the hard working devs!

Awesomeslayerg said:
Thanks to @jkchr1s for the steps
I have also attached a backup com.amazonfire launcher just incase soeone messes up.
Working Launcher replacement thanks to @diegocr and @Awesomeslayerg ! Here's the steps:
See @diegocr post at http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...8&postcount=23 and download "boot-firelauncher.img"
Enable USB debugging
Install your launcher of choice!
On your computer, run
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Once your tablet reboots in to fastboot, run on your computer (if you are not in the same directory as boot-firelauncher.img, put the full path):
Code:
fastboot boot boot-firelauncher.img
Tablet will reboot
Once booted open an adb shell:
Code:
adb shell
To back up the existing app, run:
Code:
cp /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk /sdcard/Download/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Then nuke it!
Code:
rm /system/priv-app/com.amazon.firelauncher/com.amazon.firelauncher.apk
Now, run to restart your device:
Code:
reboot
Confirmed working on my tablet with FireOS 5.0.1.
Enjoy!
If you mess up and your fire dosent have a launcher then download the apk file and adb sideload it once your at the lock screen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could the "boot-firelauncher.img" also be used for the Fire HD 10?

Black Hawk90 said:
Could the "boot-firelauncher.img" also be used for the Fire HD 10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, see [Root] Amazon Fire HD 8 & 10 (5th Gen 2015) for details

Anyone noticed that you cant pin widgets to the startscreen?
Everytime i try, it redirects me to the Amazon-Settings app und the widget isnt pinned.
This happens when the widgets are larger than 1x1

*Igel* said:
Anyone noticed that you cant pin widgets to the startscreen?
Everytime i try, it redirects me to the Amazon-Settings app und the widget isnt pinned.
This happens when the widgets are larger than 1x1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Widgets are working for me with Now launcher

*Igel* said:
Anyone noticed that you cant pin widgets to the startscreen?
Everytime i try, it redirects me to the Amazon-Settings app und the widget isnt pinned.
This happens when the widgets are larger than 1x1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Convert the launcher to a system app.

csolanol said:
Convert the launcher to a system app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How would I convert it to a system app?

I've found https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.j4velin.systemappmover&hl=en which works good.
Moved my new apex launcher to system map, reboot was required, then widgets worked with apex launcher which hadn't worked before.

[7.1.1] Action Launcher as System App

Hi there,
I just recently discovered that moving Action Launcher 3 into /system makes it act like Google Now launcher.
I've tried:
using Titanium Backup, but it gets stuck in an endless loop
Then I tried using this app, and it says that it fails to remount /system
I've tried with Root Explorer, but got no success,
and lastly I've tried with shell commands in Material Terminal, but got no luck,
I'm rooted with SuperSU and Stericson BusyBox installed, and I was wondering if I'm missing something -- Is there a simple way to achieve this?

Rimher said:
Hi there,
using Titanium Backup, but it gets stuck in an endless loop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A simple update: simply waiting a while and then rebooting with Titanium seemed to have worked. Apparently TiBu remains looping, but the move has succeeded.

use root browser - there should be no need to mount anything as i do these steps for a modded pixel launcher
system > priv-app > *create folder called Action Launcher > add app and name it the same as folder > set permissions for folder > set permissions for app > reboot then select the launcher you want to you
Permissions must be set after folder and app are added
Action Launcher folder : owner - read,write,execute / group -read,execute / others - read,execute
Action Launcer apk: owner - read,write / group - read / others - read