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?

Disapperance of markedplaces app??

---SOLVED---
Hi
Im missing marketplaces suddenly, was only starting eBook and then a update of some sort started and next second the market.app terminated and all its icons disappeard??
i might also miss the app itself in /system/app/ could only find marketupdater.apk
anyone with ideas?
best regards
pete
------------Edit----------
Had to follow this guide:
1. Go to internal memory root
2. navigate to /system/app
3. Locate Vending.apk
4. push on it to install it
It may force close the first time you run it but the second time it should work
If you still encounter Force Close or download issues. Do the following ( you might want to do it anyway as it is sometimes better to start with a clean slate)
1. Settings -> Applications -> Manage Applications
2. Chose All
3. Find Market
4. Push on it and select Clear data
Market.app is back

[Q] Missing Gmail Widget after root!

After I rooted my Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 my Gmail Widget went missing. Please help me getting in it back.

You need to reinstall using the .apk manually. Download a root explorer (ES File Explorer is a good free one). Go in settings and give it root access + mount for writing. Then, go into the /system/app folder, find the Gmail.apk file and open it. Hit uninstall, then install. If this doesnt work, rename the Gmail.apk to something like Gmail.bak, reboot, and then rename it back to Gmail.apk.
You can do this off adb / term. as well if you know how

gmail missing now?!
Okay, I went to try this, and uintalled Gmail.apk, but now it's gone so I can't re-install it. Ack! Help! Please!

Okay, for anyone else who makes the same mistake and doesn't back up the apk before installing... reflash the rom for the full ota update, and it brings back gmail! yay!

caboos3 said:
You need to reinstall using the .apk manually. Download a root explorer (ES File Explorer is a good free one). Go in settings and give it root access + mount for writing. Then, go into the /system/app folder, find the Gmail.apk file and open it. Hit uninstall, then install. If this doesnt work, rename the Gmail.apk to something like Gmail.bak, reboot, and then rename it back to Gmail.apk.
You can do this off adb / term. as well if you know how
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, I've tried this and still no. Even tried the re-flash with OTA update, no luck. When I select/open the Gmail.apk, it doesn't give me an uninstall option, just install. Here's what I've tried:
1. Open gmail.apk to reinstall (no uninstall option)
2. Rename gmail.apk to gmail.bak, reboot, rename back to gmail.apk, no luck (tried reboot after rename back to .apk, too)
3. rename to Gmail.bak, reflash with OTA update (which does bring back the gmail.apk)
Other thoughts?
Thanks!

slotbumwaller said:
Hmm, I've tried this and still no. Even tried the re-flash with OTA update, no luck. When I select/open the Gmail.apk, it doesn't give me an uninstall option, just install. Here's what I've tried:
1. Open gmail.apk to reinstall (no uninstall option)
2. Rename gmail.apk to gmail.bak, reboot, rename back to gmail.apk, no luck (tried reboot after rename back to .apk, too)
3. rename to Gmail.bak, reflash with OTA update (which does bring back the gmail.apk)
Other thoughts?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, solved it by:
In a terminal
su -
cp /system/app/Gmail.apk /sdcard/Gmail.apk
rm -fr /system/app/Gmail.apk
reboot
Open ES File Explorer
Open (install) /sdcard/Gmail.apk
Voila!

I apologize for this (seemingly) really easy question, but: How do you do this?
"Go in settings and give it root access + mount for writing."
[I have rooted my device, and suffer from the same problem; I installed ES File Explorer too.. I've been in the Settings, and don't see 'root access' anywhere]

armondob said:
I apologize for this (seemingly) really easy question, but: How do you do this?
"Go in settings and give it root access + mount for writing."
[I have rooted my device, and suffer from the same problem; I installed ES File Explorer too.. I've been in the Settings, and don't see 'root access' anywhere]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Tap the Menu icon (next to the Task Switcher icon when you open ES FE)
2. Tap 'Settings'
3. Scroll to the bottom and select 'Root options (NEW)'
4. Check both boxes (Root Explorer and Mount File System)

Hey there, I just saw your post.. this part about:
"reflash the rom for the full ota update" to bring back gmail - I was under the impression that I already flashed the ROM for the 3.1 OTA.. did I not? Or do I just have to do it again?
Just putting the Tab into Downloader Mode and select the 'left' option, and select the 3.1 OTA file again ?

armondob said:
Hey there, I just saw your post.. this part about:
"reflash the rom for the full ota update" to bring back gmail - I was under the impression that I already flashed the ROM for the 3.1 OTA.. did I not? Or do I just have to do it again?
Just putting the Tab into Downloader Mode and select the 'left' option, and select the 3.1 OTA file again ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure which guide you followed, but I followed this:
galaxytabhacks.com/galaxy-tab-10-1-hacks/how-to-root-galaxy-tab-10-1
I re-flashed with hc-3.1_ota-full_sam_tab_10.1.zip, but I don't think you need to if you backed up your Gmail.apk to /sdcard
If you didn't back up the Gmail.apk file and it's gone, you'll need to either re-flash with this file (under step 5 in the page I linked to) or reset to factory.

Hi, I've tried everything stated here it doesn't work.
I can't rename the apk. file as it says it's a file system read-only.
In a terminal
su -
cp /system/app/Gmail.apk /sdcard/Gmail.apk
rm -fr /system/app/Gmail.apk
reboot
Open ES File Explorer
Open (install) /sdcard/Gmail.apk
Can someone further explain this steps? maybe I did something wrong.
*******************************
It's fine I made an mistake, on the es file explorer, I thought I gave it access but apparently I did not. Thank you.

When I followed Step 5 again, the menu I got was:
- No
- No
- No
- No
- No
- Yes - Install /sdcard/update.zip (not the <samsung_root.zip> file like it's supposed to be)
- No
- No
I even recopy/pasted the .zip file from my laptop into the root folder of the Tab 10.1, and redid it - same listing. I'm not sure why it's not showing the file again..

Google play force close help!

Hi, i have rooted my kindle fire recently ( i had to do it manually because the KFU failed to root it) and installed the google framework and google play APK's manually.
but whenever i try to purchase an app, it force closes. and then it force closes every time after that when i try to open it again. when i go to clear the app data for it it will open again, but will still force close when i try to download an app
i also tried to install the app market version 3.4.4, but that always force closed as soon as i tried to open it
maybe i didnt root it right or maybe its not even rooted? how can you tell if its rooted properly. it als wont let me push anything to /system/. it says its read only or something
Edit: nevermind, i solved it. i had to put the kindle into recovery mode, mount /system/ using clockwork recovery, and then push the vendor.apk and install it while still in clockwork recovery

A little more detail please
robotnikman said:
Edit: nevermind, i solved it. i had to put the kindle into recovery mode, mount /system/ using clockwork recovery, and then push the vendor.apk and install it while still in clockwork recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same thing going on. Can you elaborate a little more. How did you push it while in recovery? Did you have to make it a zip? I can only find zip files to open and since it isn't a zip I can't find another way to open the file.
Thanks in advance.

guitarwizard89 said:
I have the same thing going on. Can you elaborate a little more. How did you push it while in recovery? Did you have to make it a zip? I can only find zip files to open and since it isn't a zip I can't find another way to open the file.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what rom are you using stock rooted
EDIT:Try this thread

DJLamontagneIII said:
what rom are you using stock rooted
EDIT:Try this thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using the Stock rooted. I followed the first part of the thread and it didn't work for me so I followed the second part and this is were I get lost:
8 - Under "Path settings" Check the box "Up to Root"
9 - Under "Root settings" Check the box "Root Explorer" Tap "yes" on the popup and tap "allow" on the super user window.
10 - Under "Root settings" check "Mount File System"
11 - now your ready to copy the files. Tap back to go back to the sdcard. Tap "Select" on the top toolbar. Select by taping the three .apks you copied over. Once all three are selected Tap "Copy" on the top toolbar
12 - Tap "Up" on top toolbar. Tap "system". Tap "app" and Finally tap "Paste" on top toolbar.
13 - Reboot your kindle and you should now have the Market working on your kindle.
Root Explorer is not there? hmmm, I must be missing something.

in es file explorer -> settings -> scroll down to the section root options ->
first point is root-explorer -> second point is something with file system -> check both

guitarwizard89 said:
Root Explorer is not there? hmmm, I must be missing something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you have es file explorer installed just do what b63 said so file explorer will have write permissions on the kindle and drag and drop those 3 apks that were in that link 2nd page into the system/app folder and than reboot.... dont try to install them or anything like that just drop them in the app folder and reboot

Thanks guys I got it. I should have made my name NoobCake. What I was missing was....
I didn't understand that I needed to hit the little system folder next to the back arrow at the bottom of the Kindle to check the Root boxes. Once I found that it went great and Market is working good.
I really appreciate your help and to have it so fast is awesome. You guys ROCK!

[Q] Alternative Keyboards

Is there any way to change the keyboard of NST? I have rooted the NST v1.2.1 with Nook Manager. I've downloaded SwiftKey and Go Keyboard but both require enabling the keyboard under settings. What would I have to do to change this?

yujioh said:
Is there any way to change the keyboard of NST? I have rooted the NST v1.2.1 with Nook Manager. I've downloaded SwiftKey and Go Keyboard but both require enabling the keyboard under settings. What would I have to do to change this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- Download desired_keyboard apk from somewhere (don't install it via google play).
- Mount your system partition as R/W using ABD or 'ESFile explorer' / 'Rhytm File manager'
- Download NookColorTools
- put both apk's (NCT adn your keyboard.apk) in /system/app/
- reboot
- chose keyboard in NCT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=868366
http://nookdevs.com/Nook_Simple_Touch_mounting_the_boot_partition

I downloaded the keyboard and NookColorTools in /system/app and rebooted. However, the app doesn't show up. Is there something I'm missing?
osowiecki said:
- Download desired_keyboard apk from somewhere (don't install it via google play).
- Mount your system partition as R/W using ABD or 'ESFile explorer' / 'Rhytm File manager'
- Download NookColorTools
- put both apk's (NCT adn your keyboard.apk) in /system/app/
- reboot
- chose keyboard in NCT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=868366
http://nookdevs.com/Nook_Simple_Touch_mounting_the_boot_partition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

More specifically, NCT doesn't show up unless I install it but if I try to uncheck "Allow Non-Market Apps" and check it again, it says that the app must be installed under /system/app. That means to me that it's not running under /system/app.
yujioh said:
I downloaded the keyboard and NookColorTools in /system/app and rebooted. However, the app doesn't show up. Is there something I'm missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Nevermind,
Had to change permissions. Thanks!
yujioh said:
More specifically, NCT doesn't show up unless I install it but if I try to uncheck "Allow Non-Market Apps" and check it again, it says that the app must be installed under /system/app. That means to me that it's not running under /system/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse