Database Users

[Q] making system apks Into regular installable apks.

I was wondering how to make a system apk such as idk the browser into a regular installable apk so that someone with no knowledge of pushing apks can install it along side their apk.

Generally system apps are just normal apps, only installed on a system partition. If you pull a system apk from a device, then you should be able to install it normally on any other device.
There are exceptions from this rule:
You can't install an app if you have it installed already. Many system apps are installed on most devices by default and this is the reason, why you can't install e.g. Browser.apk pulled from other device - most probably you have it installed already.
There are 2 solutions: you could remove system app before installation of new one or just replace it - but this isn't what you want. To create normal, installable apk you would have to modify its package name as I did with Google Maps.
Some system apps use system internals, private APIs or privileges, some additional libraries, etc. For example Settings.apk changes internal settings of OS - you can't do that in normal apk.
You can't easily move/install such apps, they're integrated with system.

thanks for this long great reply. So lets say I pulled my dialer apk changed the package name, could I install it on a friends phone NOT on the system partition ?
I'm trying to pull the dialer apk from gingerbread and port it into a normal apk using apk tool, but once and changed the package name and all that and compile it I go to install it on my phone but it says that it could not open it as an apk file. Any ideas?

Newklearx3 said:
thanks for this long great reply. So lets say I pulled my dialer apk changed the package name, could I install it on a friends phone NOT on the system partition ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think not. Note that Phone.apk is only one app that can dial, you can't add such feature to your own app, so most probably it uses private APIs to do that. It's integrated-with-system one. Same for Settings.apk and PackageManager.apk, but you should be able to pull Browser.apk, Launcher.apk, MMS.apk, Gmail.apk, Talk.apk, etc., change their package name and install on another device.
Ahh, there is one more group: SenseUI, Motoblur, etc. apps, which use additional framework resources: images, colors, texts. They won't work on a device lacking this framework, but it should be possible to make these apps framework-independent by copying all dependencies to app itself. Not that easy, but possible

Brut.all said:
I think not. Note that Phone.apk is only one app that can dial, you can't add such feature to your own app, so most probably it uses private APIs to do that. It's integrated-with-system one. Same for Settings.apk and PackageManager.apk, but you should be able to pull Browser.apk, Launcher.apk, MMS.apk, Gmail.apk, Talk.apk, etc., change their package name and install on another device.
Ahh, there is one more group: SenseUI, Motoblur, etc. apps, which use additional framework resources: images, colors, texts. They won't work on a device lacking this framework, but it should be possible to make these apps framework-independent by copying all dependents to app itself. Not that easy, but possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude, you're amazing! So how would I go about porting the gingerbread dialer to workable installable apk?
I might be doing something wrong but I pulled the launcher and changed the package name and still the same error
Okay, i guess I'm not. I copied the apk ( unmodded ) from the rom zip and placed it on my SD card to install it and the same error, so there must be something wrong.
figured out it was the sdk version, got it to show up but wont install now.

im also interested in porting specific development apk, lets say.. CM Settings into a non Cyanogen. Tried that once by pulling CM*.apk and push it to other non Cyanogen but got cant be installed message.. any hints on this?

phoezies said:
im also interested in porting specific development apk, lets say.. CM Settings into a non Cyanogen. Tried that once by pulling CM*.apk and push it to other non Cyanogen but got cant be installed message.. any hints on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use logcat as a start to see dependencies
XDA App

[Q] Installing app on unmodified Stock 1.4.1 NC [Solved]

My wife has a NC and likes it the way it is, i.e. BN store, but I would like to add an app that does not require root. I was thinking that I could use a clockwork recovery SD card with a zip of the app, just like we do with google apps.
Will this work?
How do I make a apk into a flashable zip?
The app is You Version Bible
Thanks
-EDIT-
So I have figured this out, it is possible to install apps (that do not require root) with out rooting anything. I would call it side loading via CWM sd card.
The key was to use the mount paths from ManualNooter (\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script)
0.1.) Get apks for you apps (either with titanium or copy from 'data/app')
0.2.) Get a apk for 'Nook Color App Manager' (search the android market, can't post links yet)
1.) Start with the ManualNooter file and remove all folders but 'data' and 'META-INF'
2.) Delete all files in the 'data/app' folder
3.) Place the apks you want to install in the 'data/app' folder
4.) Edit '\META-INF\com\google\android\updater-script' using a programing text editor (otherwise you will not see the line spaces) remove all sections except the following: 'Mounting partitions...' 'Installing apks to /data/app...' 'Unmounting Partitions...'
5.) Save the script file and put all this back together in the zip.
6.) Use the CWM sd card to install the file. (if you don't know how, use google)
7.) Remove card and reboot after done. A new app App Manager will show up in your nook app list, go to the home page to run it and add links for your new installed apps.
Note: I did not post an files as I used other peoples work i.e. GMPOWER and apps from the market

So I have done lots of research and even tried this. I think I got the app installed but in this case there is no way to show the app in the stock launcher as it only lists apps it installs.
For reference I will include the procedure to install apps via CMW(Clockwork Mod Recovery)
Thread
You download the file attached to post 17 in the above thread, it is a empty zip that can be filled with your apks that you want. Simply place the new file on a CWM sd card and install the file via regular instructions in the above post.
If I ever find a script to add a link to the stock launcher I will post that and then this might be a usable idea for side loading apps.

Which .apk can be deleted?

Hello!
Can anybody tell me which .apk files I am safe to delete? My setup:
-NookManager
-GApps
-Kindle
-Will not be using *any* B&N Apps (however removing them using NookManager stops the Market from working)
The only GApp I am really interested in is the Market - Is it possible to side load this *only*? It's just lots of other stuff is installed as part of GApp which I have no need for... But there are so many .apk files in system/app and I'm concerned removing some may cause instabilities.
Thanks.

LavaChild0809 said:
Hello!
Can anybody tell me which .apk files I am safe to delete? My setup:
-NookManager
-GApps
-Kindle
-Will not be using *any* B&N Apps (however removing them using NookManager stops the Market from working)
The only GApp I am really interested in is the Market - Is it possible to side load this *only*? It's just lots of other stuff is installed as part of GApp which I have no need for... But there are so many .apk files in system/app and I'm concerned removing some may cause instabilities.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can't install just the Market. The Market is dependent on the Google Talk and other backend apks. There are patches to system files to get Android setup to work to activate the market. Better to install NTGAppsAttack and then delete what you don't need. After installing NTGappsAttack you can probably remove GenieWidget.apk, Calculator.apk, Calendar.apk, Gmail.apk and Talk.apk. These are all frontends so they shouldn't cause trouble. Before you do this you probably want to use Gmail to get into account and sync settings to turn off mail, calendar and contacts sync. Then you can try removing some of the backend stuff - GmailProvider.apk, CalendarProvider.apk, ContactsProvider.apk and GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk. I would start with renaming these apk's and seeing how it goes then if all is well you can delete them. Everything else I would leave alone.
Read through the NookManager and NTGAppsAttack threads. There is a discussion there somewhere about the disabling of B&N apps and the affect on the market.

Barebone Stock Galaxy Note 10.1

Hi guys, I'm giving up on CyanogenMod. It is slimmer but it has more problems on Galaxy Note 10.1. If you have answer concerning the SDCard problem, please reply to my topic there.
Anyway, still I want to trim all those bloatwares from my device, so I did couple of researches, combining articles and tutorials on trimming roms on other devices (Note 1, 2, 3 and some other devices like sony)
The result? So far it's pretty stable and functional. Phone, bluetooth, wifi, sms, video call, stylus pressure sensitivity etc, all working just fine.
I also had several games, emulators and some graphic apps installed and running without any problem. No crashes so far.
I'll report more if there's anything came up. But I'm pretty happy with it now.
Might work on other tab/note variants too. So here it is :
1. Root your stock, using any method you want (I'm using Odin + ClockworkMod + CF-Auto-Root)
2. Use root file explorer of your choice and delete everything (or you can add .old extension if you had doubts, or maybe everyone's favorite, using freeze in Titanium Backup) in system/app EXCEPT THESE :
Code:
mcRegistry
ApplicationsProvider.apk
ApplicationsProvider.odex
BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk
BackupRestoreConfirmation.odex
CertInstaller.apk
CertInstaller.odex
ClipboardSaveService.apk
ClipboardSaveService.odex
DefaultContainerService.apk
DefaultContainerService.odex
DrmProvider.apk
DrmProvider.odex
FFFFFFFF000000000000000000000001.drbin
GoogleLoginService.apk
GoogleServicesFramework.apk
LogsProvider.apk
LogsProvider.odex
MtpApplication.apk
MtpApplication.odex
OmaCP.apk
OmaCP.odex
PackageInstaller.apk
PackageInstaller.odex
PhoneErrService.apk
PhoneErrService.odex
Phonesky.apk
ResourceManager.apk
SecBluetooth.apk
SecBluetooth.odex
SecContacts.apk
SecContacts.odex
SecContactsProvider.apk
SecContactsProvider.odex
SecDownloadProvider.apk
SecDownloadProvider.odex
SecLauncher2.apk
SecLauncher2.odex
SecMediaProvider.apk
SecMediaProvider.odex
SecMms_Tablet.apk
SecMms_Tablet.odex
SecOmaDownloadProvider.apk
SecOmaDownloadProvider.odex
SecPhone.apk
SecPhone.odex
SecSettings.apk
SecSettings.odex
SecSettingsProvider.apk
SecSettingsProvider.odex
SecTelephonyProvider.apk
SecTelephonyProvider.odex
SecurityProvider.apk
SecurityProvider.odex
SecWallpaperChooser.apk
SecWallpaperChooser.odex
SignatureLock.apk
SignatureLock.odex
SPenGesturePad.apk
SPenGesturePad.odex
SurfSetProp.apk
SurfSetProp.odex
SystemUI.apk
SystemUI.odex
TabletJobManager.apk
TabletJobManager.odex
WAPPushManager.apk
WAPPushManager.odex
You can find editable Google Doc spreadsheet here
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...NTT0pSaThYWkdYc0pWRF92bkE&usp=drive_web#gid=6
updated with more infos and compared with SGS2 spreadsheet from this thread :
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=39&topicid=114574&page_no=6
Also, for SGS 3 from this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/themes-apps/applications-safe-to-remove-t1634624/page28
If you find any similar spreadsheet for other devices (Sony, HTC, or Motorola and probably even chinese handsets), or minimalist custom ROMs, please let me know, so I can do further comparison, and fetching more infos on the apks. Might just as well create a universal list for it. If I get my hands on new handsets, I'll probably do this too.
Note, from my list above, I deleted SamsungIME.apk (the default keyboard) so if you're doing factory reset you won't be able to type anything. I have myself a hardware keyboard to do the intial setups and such. But after that I used SwiftKey for my daily needs.
If you don't have any hardware keyboard at your disposal, leave it. You can delete it after you installed 3rd party keyboard.
I removed camera (SamsungCamera.apk) as well since I didn't use it much on my tablet. You can leave it if you want to, or use third party apps for it.
For the browser, I installed Chrome afterwards, since it have much more features compared to the stock/built in browser.
As for the multimedia player I use MXPlayerPro, fetched from Google Play as well
With this setup, from 345 apks/odexes I'm left with only about 78 apks/odexes. And it feels blazing fast.
that's 267 bloatwares/junks within your device, even if it's not coming from some service provider (OEM)
From 1 gb space used in factory settings to about 200 mb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Couple more extra debloatings
Deleting Extra Junks (credit to : mimmolm (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44921616, modified for GT N80XX)
system\etc\kies\
Remove all
system\lib\
libChatOnAMSImageFilterLibs-1.0.2.so
libcrayonphysics.so
libfacelock_jni.so
libfacerecognition.so
libFaceRecognition_JNI.so
libgcomm_jni.so
libgoogle_recognizer_jni_l.so
libINDIAgent.so
libINDIServer.so
liblifevibes_mediashare_hw_jni.so
libmagnet.so
libNodeJS_Android.so
libpaperartist.so
libpatts_engine_jni_api.so
libpolarisofficedump.so
libpolarisoffice_tablet.so
libsnote_P4C.so
libvideochat_jni.so
libVideoHub.so
libWnnJpnDic.so
system\tts\lang_pico\ (remove all files except those where it appears the language that you use)
Example Italian language: Remove everything except it-IT_cm0_sg.bin , it-IT_ta.bin
system\tts\lang_SMT\ (remove all files except those where it appears the language that you use)
Example Italian language: Remove everything except:
smt_it_IT.lng ,
smt_it_IT_f01.am,
smt_it_IT_f01.cfg,
smt_it_IT_f01.dt,
smt_it_IT_f01.qs
system\usr\srec\en-US\
Remove all
system\wakeupdata\sensory\ (remove all files except those where it appears the language that you use)
Example Italian language: Remove everything except it_galaxy_tuned_endsil_cg.raw , nn_it_mfcc_16k_15_big_250_v3_2.raw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bisabling mini app tray (which I never use and often accidentally hit the arrow icon) :
Deleting Mini Apps (credit to : miketoasty http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1692173)
Basically it just involves deleting these :
Any apps in System/app that has "Mini" in its name (Including minimode-res.apk).
Next remove :
System/framework/minimode.jar
System/framework/minimode.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Multi Window Icon Removal :
That annoying little button that often covered up other important button below.
Basically it's from this thread
And using heavylildude 1x1 png to remove the included icon here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=43684011
Step by step :
1. Download the JamMasterClay's custom MultiWindow Cascade Icon
2. Find tw_icon_cascade_no_ab_default.png and tw_icon_cascade_no_ab_pressed.png (it's in vrtheme\system\framework\framework-res.apk\res\drawable-mdpi folder within the zip)
3. Update the zip using; replace both files with heavylildude's 1x1 pngs, (tw_icon_cascade_no_ab_default.png and tw_icon_cascade_no_ab_pressed.png) using any zip editor you use (winrar or winzip, any will do).
4. Flash it using ClockWorkMod recovery.
5. ????
6. Profit!
OR
Just use the zip I made for this. It's built using the steps above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PDF/Scribd links :
http://www.scribd.com/doc/208285135/Android-Barebone
http://www.scribd.com/doc/208153382/Debloating-Android
I'm not responsible if you bricked your device. Proceed carefully.
Cheers, enjoy and hope this help.

Thanks for the bloatware list, it's gonna be useful ^^

You're welcome. Be aware the list of the APK above is NOT listing the bloatwares.
Those are the ones you should LEAVE ALONE.
Additional guide :
Adding third party apps as default system app
As noted above, I've removed SamsungIME.apk, which is the default samsung keyboard (which I hated much, with passion) and replaced it with SwiftKey.
What you'll need :
ES File Explorer
Zip tool; could be Winzip or Winrar on PC, or I use ZArchiver for Android
Purchased apps are stored as .asec in /data/app-private. Using ES File Explorer app backup feature, you can save it as .apk and install it like common apps.
Step-by-step instruction :
After you backed up the purchased apps, uninstall the old (google play installed) one.
Open the newly created apk using zip or zarchiver, you'll find "lib" folder.
Copy the content of "lib" folder (usually with .so extension) to system/lib folder in your device.
Set the copied .so file permission to rw-r--r-- (chmod 644 if you use terminal)
Install the apk like usual using apk installer
find the new installed apk in data/app folder and copy it to system/app folder
set the copied .apk file within system/app folder permission to rw-r--r-- (chmod 644)
The app should become system app and will stay within your device even if a factory reset was done.
Tested on SwiftKey, Delver, ES File Explorer, etc. Doesn't work with MXPlayerPro (let me know if you had success with MXPlayerPro)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Compiled from this thread :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2115947&page=3
And found from this page :
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/how-to-install-any-app-as-system-app-on-android/
Complete and Editable Google Doc file :
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...dEszRWNTT0pSaThYWkdYc0pWRF92bkE&usp=drive_web

Aftermath, background processes and battery consume list. Also attached RemoveMultiWindowIcon.zip (flash it using ClockWorkMod if you hate the multiwindow icon).
I installed dropbox and swiftkey, so if you did a factory reset, you'll only left with 2 active background processes at most (excluding SystemUI and Android core, of course)
Also, list of apk/odex updated, with SecTabletAlarmClock_P4NOTE.apk, ContextAwareService.apk, SecDownloadProviderUi.apk removed, along with their odexes. No problem so far.
SecDownloadProviderUi.apk didn't do anything significant. I rebooted after I removed it, downloading google play still working fine and still give me some progress bar on the download.
However, I've lost the "downloads" icon, which means I cannot clean up the logs, and may be cluttered over time.
Edit :
A full day running the super slim tablet :
Running CSR Racing, Delver, Autodesk Sketchbook Pro, TrueSculpt and Google Drive/QuickOffice and tons of other apps without any problem.
MTP detected flawlessly and can send files from my computer through USB without problem.
Wifi internet run without problem, browsing from tablet work marvelously and also mobile data working properly.
Battery obviously last MUCH longer.
Found out that CSC.apk (after first boot/factory reset) and Personalisation.apk (not sure what it does, maybe had something to do with ringtones and wallpapers) are safe to remove. Can anyone confirm this? I've did a full unroot on my device. Well those two are minor, now that you're left with about 40 apks from 170 default apks (78 and 340 if you count the odex files). I think deleting them won't do much now. But just curious, whether they are safe to delete or not.
Also google docs updated

Tested removing these :
BadgeProvider.apk - those badges on the app icon which displayed numbers of received messages/notifications. No crashes removing this.
CSC.apk - Can be removed after first boot. Not sure what it do.
Personalization.apk - said to be safe to remove, and so far it is. Not sure what it do.
NetworkLocation.apk - provide GPS location through Wifi, didn't use GPS on my tablet anyway
Keystring_DFT.apk - contains sets of USSD codes
Keystring_factory.apk - contains sets of USSD codes
Keystring_misc.apk - contains sets of USSD codes
No errors/crashes or anything. Updated first post.

Updated OP, now that I can post links, also added original threads.
Enjoy guys.

stubbe said:
Updated OP, now that I can post links, also added original threads.
Enjoy guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi in your scribd document u gave the list of things that can be removed. so as u have explained the functions for those which shouldnt be removed.can u do the same for those to be removed. then it will help us to more customise(for example- i may need bluetooth,camera,gallery,music player,s note app) so can u specify which are those for the app i mentioned.:good::good::good::good:

eragon143 said:
hi in your scribd document u gave the list of things that can be removed. so as u have explained the functions for those which shouldnt be removed.can u do the same for those to be removed. then it will help us to more customise(for example- i may need bluetooth,camera,gallery,music player,s note app) so can u specify which are those for the app i mentioned.:good::good::good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will update the doc. Thanks for the suggestion. Probably I'll compile something like blackviper's sheet.

[MOD] Remove unnecessary built-in APKS

Hello friends this is my first contribution to this forum, this file removes unnecessary built-in apks present in, /system/app & /system/priv-app.
I will miss the applications removed?
No, because a current copy of them is running on /data/app
Goal
Remove unused applications by the system
Free up space in the device memory
Compatibility
Nexus 5 android 6.0.1 must have root and twrp
How to use
Installed the android 6.0.1, get in playstore and update all applications, now just flash the zip via TWRP.
Removal list click to see
delete_recursive("/system/app/Chrome");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Books");
delete_recursive("/system/app/CloudPrint2");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Drive");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsDocsStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsSheetsStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsSlidesStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/FitnessPrebuilt");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GCS");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltNewsWeather");
delete_recursive("/system/app/NewsstandStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Maps");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltBugleStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Photos");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PlusOne");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GoogleContacts");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltDeskClockGoogle");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GoogleDialer");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltGmail");
delete_recursive("/system/app/GoogleCamera");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/Velvet");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltKeepStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/talkback");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Music2");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PlayGames");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Hangouts");
delete_recursive("/system/app/GoogleTTS");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Videos");
delete_recursive("/system/app/WebViewGoogle");

This is a system partition
The deletion is useless because you can't use this space and you won't appreciate any differences
Read here, it is very very important
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64208563&postcount=3393
Personally I prefer to disable unnecessary apps
Pay attention

I do not like duplicate files, disabling an app the same will continue in the system, the idea is to not disable an app.
If I have the upgraded chrome in data\app I will not want an unusable copy of it on \system\app. My list does so with 30 Apps, if they are all updated on DATA I see no utility in maintaining obsolete unusable in the SYSTEM, and we still have the possibility to uninstall those we dislike.

ivn888 said:
This is a system partition
The deletion is useless because you can't use this space and you won't appreciate any differences
Read here, it is very very important
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64208563&postcount=3393
Personally I prefer to disable unnecessary apps
Pay attention
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read that post he clearly says that to modify system you need to delete things from it to be safe. He is pointing out that it is an unknown. He said even to make small changes you would need more space. I see no reason to leave unneeded files in system. Maybe you want to run an app as system app and these unneeded files are getting in the way. Nothing wrong with getting rid of them.

We can use some root enabled file app managers (like es explorer, solid explorer) to uninstall the system apps.
I just want to know if is it safe or not?
And is it different than using flashable script?

parag60288 said:
We can use some root enabled file app managers (like es explorer, solid explorer) to uninstall the system apps.
I just want to know if is it safe or not?
And is it different than using flashable script?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
File explorers with root function can enable manual removal of system apps, but it is laborious and tedious remove as many apps, It is safe if you know what you are removing, because the system is running if you give problem can fall into a bootloop... my flash file is safe removal of 30 apps, all with updated copies of the same in DATA folder so I ask you to enter the play store and update it before you use it, nothing is lost only copies obsolete and useless are removed.
The advantage here is not to miss anything, remove enough waste Rom, and return the power to uninstall what you do not want. I do not use play books, play movies, keep, Drive, Hangouts... so without losing any, then after the flash zip i have the freedom to uninstall what I want.