Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
haha no - only way would be to flash cyanogenmod, however that has yet to be developed for the s4
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
flipflop104 said:
Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
beaver2233 is correct. Touchwiz isn't just a launcher, its a complete framework including all the samsung apps and system customizations. Its pretty ingrained with the android os. The easy way to remove it is to flash a custom AOSP/CM/AOKP etc rom which is generally built from the ground up from source.
Shame, thanks guys
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
ilabs said:
beaver2233 is correct. Touchwiz isn't just a launcher, its a complete framework including all the samsung apps and system customizations. Its pretty ingrained with the android os. The easy way to remove it is to flash a custom AOSP/CM/AOKP etc rom which is generally built from the ground up from source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.....which will happen in due time!
deserthi said:
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
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Click to collapse
TouchWiz is the entire skin that Samsung puts on Android. As others have said, it is deeply integrated into Android, removing a lot of the things in stock Android. One part of TouchWiz is the launcher, which can easily be replaced. However, you are still left with the rest of TouchWiz, such as the dialer, messaging, settings, and contacts apps, the framework, many default widgets, lockscreen, and more.
It might be worth mentioning that if you went the route of removing TouchWiz by installing Cyanogen for example, you'd lose all the Samsung features like Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, Air view, Air gestures, IR Remote control, and a few more. I realize that a lot of people don't care about these features, but some people (like me) bought the phone for that reason and might miss them after the switch to AOSP
My Galaxy Nexus is my AOSP phone, my Galaxy S4 is my 'Samsung' phone
You might be happy with just a different launcher. Try Nova
deserthi said:
Are you saying that we can't put something like Apex Launcher on the S4?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got Apex Launcher on mine - it automatically appeared when I restored all my apps via google (had it with JellyBam ROM on previous SGSII). And it seems to work. I keep getting the Apex Launcher and Touchwiz Home options of "Always" or "just once" everytime I hit the home key as I've not decided which to go with yet.
prodigyX said:
It might be worth mentioning that if you went the route of removing TouchWiz by installing Cyanogen for example, you'd lose all the Samsung features like Smart stay, Smart pause, Smart scroll, Air view, Air gestures, IR Remote control, and a few more. I realize that a lot of people don't care about these features, but some people (like me) bought the phone for that reason and might miss them after the switch to AOSP
My Galaxy Nexus is my AOSP phone, my Galaxy S4 is my 'Samsung' phone
You might be happy with just a different launcher. Try Nova
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow thanks. I didn't realise that. Looks like I will be sticking with TouchWiz and trying a different launcher. Will try Nova, ta, as I've seen it mentioned before. :highfive:
use other launcher
Same bs answers as usual
1. Root phone
2. Install Clockwork mod recovery
3. Make a backup of the current stock rom to an external sd card for safe measures
4. Reboot and download Titanium Backup app
5. Then download your favorite launcher (Go Launcher is the best I have found)
6. Make Go launcher default launcher (option should popup when you press the home key)
7. Open Titanium backup and Make a backup of touchwiz then press clear app data then press uninstall
The launcher you choose will now stand alone. That's if the S4 works like the S3. I doubt there is much of a difference in this case. If things go sideways, just restore your ROM backup
How to kick a dead horse... :laugh:
touchwiz removed
flipflop104 said:
Is there a simple way to remove touchwiz from Samsung Galaxy S4? Can it just be lifted out/off somehow so that the handset is left just running Android on it's own?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can remove touchwiz with titanium bkup like i did but ruined my phone which im yet to get help how to fix it
Related
Hey,
On the old Touchwiz, it was heavily integrated into the phone, so much so that if you did a home replacement like LauncherPro, it still would give you the weird notification bar, etc. The dialer and contact apps were touchwiz too and couldn't be replaced.
Could one of you guys try launcherpro and tell if it does the replacement right? Or is the phone still separate in the odin images?
Thanks.
Wii60 said:
Hey,
On the old Touchwiz, it was heavily integrated into the phone, so much so that if you did a home replacement like LauncherPro, it still would give you the weird notification bar, etc. The dialer and contact apps were touchwiz too and couldn't be replaced.
Could one of you guys try launcherpro and tell if it does the replacement right? Or is the phone still separate in the odin images?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LauncherPro doesn't replace the notification bars, dialers etc. Only the launcher and the app menu I believe. I don't have a single problem with the touchwiz stuff though, and will probably go back to Touchwiz launcher too.
Haukifile said:
LauncherPro doesn't replace the notification bars, dialers etc. Only the launcher and the app menu I believe. I don't have a single problem with the touchwiz stuff though, and will probably go back to Touchwiz launcher too.
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Click to collapse
Ok, just one more question then, what about the settings, are they the stock settings menu or another custom UI like the old Touchwiz?
Thanks.
People have used both launcher pro and adwlauncher and they say they work perfectly fine with the phone.
Personally I'm staying with touchwiz, I love it and I love the smooth application menu, unlike other android devices where it's sluggish and strange. Also, it looks very very good, unlike the videos online, in real it's beautiful. to me anyways
Wii60 said:
Ok, just one more question then, what about the settings, are they the stock settings menu or another custom UI like the old Touchwiz?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
stock Android 2.1 settings with a few added features like vibration intensity, tv out, video calling, lcd power save etc...
Archius said:
stock Android 2.1 settings with a few added features like vibration intensity, tv out, video calling, lcd power save etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great thanks. I'll flash my nexus before deciding, but maybe Samsung got it right this time.
Sorry to be ragging on your phone guys, but touchwiz absolutely ruined the Behold 2.
yes that's what I heard that touchwiz 2222222222 ruined but the 3 is great for me. I haven't seen the 2
Title says it all.
I hate touchwiz. Looks to iPhone-ish for me. Now that this phone has root access, all that's left for me is to kill touchwiz and get over to no LED flash
PS. Been looking for an answer to this question, havent found it so Im posting here.
TouchWiz is great. The only thing that looks "iPhoneish" is the app menu which you can change to a scrolling list view.
You can load up launcher pro on top of it...and afterwards maybe it can be token out of the source code that samsung released and flashed on as custom rom.
That said Touchwiz doesn't look too bad..I mean the iphone didn't invent icons on a black screen...I had icons on my windows 95 pc and chose black background...must have been copying the iphone back in 1995 >.> lol
I have Launcher Pro Beta installed and I love it. It takes away all the ugliness of TouchWiz, while still leaving a lot of the great features and apps that TouchWiz has to offer. My friend was very jealous of how my phone looked like this compared to his vanilla android Droid. Especially the text messaging field.
I really wish there was a way to use the standard contacts, calendar, messaging without the touchwiz integration, using something like adw launcher is nice until you go into the touchwizish apps and then it feels quirky.
Waiting for standard android 2.1/2.2 instead of just changing the launcher
So is there a definite answer to this?
Adw launcher
Check out adw launcher its awesome and its on the market
I am using launcher pro beta right now and it is working great.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Don't know how you guys can hate on TouchWiz. Only issue I have is it's a bit jerkier than LauncherPro, but looks wise it's nice.
LOL when the phone was first released in the Galaxy S version i was like WTF SAMSUNG? why did you make the phone look like an iPhone and make the icons and app drawer look like the iPhones? it seemed very unoriginal, but after the Vibrant came out and they took the single home button look away and added the 4 capacitive buttons i liked the phone and one of the first things i did was get adw.launcher and i couldnt be happier
only thing that blows about it is not being able to use any of the new Samsung widgets but no biggie adw.launcher is the best replacement IMO. Its super fast, you can use Live walls and you can make your task bar and notification bar go bye bye for a cleaner sleeker look
ADW all the way!
Thought the same thing when I first saw the Galaxy (threw up in my mouth a little). Realized it was TouchWiz and I knew I'd put ADW on first thing. Problem Solved!
cojonesx said:
I really wish there was a way to use the standard contacts, calendar, messaging without the touchwiz integration, using something like adw launcher is nice until you go into the touchwizish apps and then it feels quirky.
Waiting for standard android 2.1/2.2 instead of just changing the launcher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can probably pull the APKs out of a standard vanilla ROM and push them to system/app dir to replace the touchwize apps. Just pull them out of a N1 rom or soemthing.
So there still hasn't been an answer to this. I have LauncherPro installed, and only 98MB memory available. Uninstalled, I have 140+MB available. I like how LP can have a customizable, infinite loop dock and all that. I like how its snappier than TW and how you can have a 3D "cube" style apps drawer. I just wish there was a TW style app drawer. I like the pages deal going side-to-side with customizable pages. I put all important apps on the 1st page, tools on 2nd, games on 3rd and rarely used apps on the 4th. I just don't like how I can't customize the dock and how slow it makes my phone (because it does and you can't deny it.)
also, how the heck do I "watch" a thread and make it email me on replies? I haven't figured out this board so much, but then again, I don't use my computer alot since I have this handy dandy vibrant haha.
You can customize the dock. Three of the four icons can be replaced (Not Apps). I replaced Messaging with Gmail. Check the full user manual (on T-Mo site).
hey guys, i've been looking for ages but can't find what i'm looking for, was wondering if anyone knows where i could find a mod, to replace the touchwiz home screen's carousel effect with the new s5/old icecream sandwich "card stack?" effect without using another launcher, i'm looking for a flashable zip or a xposed framwork module that can be used on touchwiz, sumthin like this must surely exist?
thanks
hey guys, i've been looking for ages but can't find what i'm looking for, was wondering if anyone knows where i could find a mod, to replace the touchwiz home screen's carousel effect with the new s5/old icecream sandwich "card stack?" effect without using another launcher, i'm looking for a flashable zip or a xposed framwork module that can be used on touchwiz…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wanam offers three minor tweaks to TW launcher (among many other valuable phone tweaks):
1 – infinite scrolling on/off
2 – wall paper scroll with pages on/off
3 – dock icon labels on/off
sumthin like this must surely exist?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I’m not so sure. Using Xposed to tweak the stock launcher seems like unnecessary overkill (considering the huge doorway into your phone's security that you give to every dev who's module you install). People who want to customize launchers generally go with alternate launcher. Then you don't even have to reboot to try out changes (like Xposed would have to). Nova would be my recommendation. I know it’s not the recommendation you’re looking for but you got it anyway.
electricpete1 said:
Wanam offers three minor tweaks to TW launcher (among many other valuable phone tweaks):
1 – infinite scrolling on/off
2 – wall paper scroll with pages on/off
3 – dock icon labels on/off
I’m not so sure. Using Xposed to tweak the stock launcher seems like unnecessary overkill (considering the huge doorway into your phone's security that you give to every dev who's module you install). People who want to customize launchers generally go with alternate launcher. Then you don't even have to reboot to try out changes (like Xposed would have to). Nova would be my recommendation. I know it’s not the recommendation you’re looking for but you got it anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is exactly what i figured, i found those options in exposed but not quite what i'm lookin for.
i used nova launcher on my s3 for a year and loved it, i just want to keep my high def lookin stock touchwiz icons since the nova launcher icons look like they belong in the 90's, i seen a stock touchwiz icon looking pack for nova launcher but they didn't have that "high def" look/feel to them (no shadows/reflections? or bad shading? on the icons, i dunno they just look bland compared to stock icons where they feel kinda 3d)
the reason i don't wanna use nova launcher is because if i do use nova launcher and go back to that stock android feeling i midaswell be on stock android itself, GPE or Cyanogenmod and it feels to bland which is why i'm on a touchwiz based rom.
i'm just kinda hopeing someone will come along with an idea of how i can impliment this without removing touchwiz launcher, ORRR maby get the real stock touchwiz icons (the acual stock ones, not just look alikes) into nova launcher.
Hi all,
I really want to use the Google Edition ROM on my i9505 - but a couple of things keep me on the bloaty Touchwiz ROM.
1) Touchwiz Camera
2) Touchwiz Video Player
There are other things, but if these 2 were working on Google Edition I would be there in a flash.
Does anyone know if these are working?
The other alternative is to get Google Now 'OK Google' working with my Nova Launcher .... but looks quite far off.
I recently updated to the S5 video player and that works perfectly on the S4.
Any help appreciated.
Many thanks.
I was in the same boat, would like a rom like cyanogenmod but I was to use features like gestures, air view etc and the camera app is way better than the stock app.
Anyway I installed Omega rom which is the same as the s4 stock rom with touchwiz but lets you deselect all the bloatware before installing, so I've got all the samsung features but without the crap. Also downloaded the google launcher which is nice
Thanks a lot. I've used the Omega ROM a while ago, but didn't think about it for this.
Does the Google Launchers allow you to change the grid layout on the home screen? I want 5 columns and 6 rows if possible.
barrygoddard said:
Thanks a lot. I've used the Omega ROM a while ago, but didn't think about it for this.
Does the Google Launchers allow you to change the grid layout on the home screen? I want 5 columns and 6 rows if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could use Nova, looks like the Google launcher but way more customisable (you can change the columns/rows), dont think there google now integration on the home screen though.
Another couple of options are to try the AOSP themed touchwiz roms. You can keep all the touch wiz features and have the vanilla android look. Or you can also dual boot a touchwiz rom and CM11 to get the best of both worlds.
Thanks.
I'm already using Nova ... even paid for the extras. What I really want is Touchwiz with the 'always on' OK Google command.
If like me, you dislike the look and feel of Touchwiz ... it is possible to replace at least the launcher portion of it with Google Launcher. This will make the Note look cosmetically similar to a Nexus device. The remainder of the Touchwiz interface will remain unaffected.
For those of us on JB 4.3
Download the zip file from this post (credits @geoworld_200)
Extract the 3 apks but copy only GoogleHome.apk to external storage
Install (requiring temporary disabling of the "unknown source" security block)
Run the app and it will invite use of GoogleNow which you can either accept or decline
Press the physical "Home" button and you can now chose to use the Google Launcher instead of Touchwiz
I've tried this on my (rooted and custom ROM) P605 and it works just fine with no FC or issues so far. But, per usual, YMMV. And it obviously won't get updates via Play.
Presumably the same could be achieved for KK using the more recent version of the apk found here. But I haven't tested it yet pending a 4.4 ROM release ...
rickinoz said:
If like me, you dislike the look and feel of Touchwiz ... it is possible to replace at least the launcher portion of it with Google Launcher. This will make the Note look cosmetically similar to a Nexus device. The remainder of the Touchwiz interface will remain unaffected.
For those of us on JB 4.3
Download the zip file from this post (credits @geoworld_200)
Extract the 3 apks but copy only GoogleHome.apk to external storage
Install (requiring temporary disabling of the "unknown source" security block)
Run the app and it will invite use of GoogleNow which you can either accept or decline
Press the physical "Home" button and you can now chose to use the Google Launcher instead of Touchwiz
I've tried this on my (rooted and custom ROM) P605 and it works just fine with no FC or issues so far. But, per usual, YMMV. And it obviously won't get updates via Play.
Presumably the same could be achieved for KK using the more recent version of the apk found here. But I haven't tested it yet pending a 4.4 ROM release ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or just use Apex or Nova - which will be updated in Google Play? My personal preference is Apex, and I also use the LG Lock Screen app on the Play Store too.
I'm rooted, so have removed TW Launcher via Titanium completely.
YmmV
I own NOVA launcher on GS3 and tried on P600 but I prefer Touchwiz ability to show unread FB notification count directly on icon. I didn`t find any replacement with similar feature.
kornelius1982 said:
I own NOVA launcher on GS3 and tried on P600 but I prefer Touchwiz ability to show unread FB notification count directly on icon. I didn`t find any replacement with similar feature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just place the FB widget on the home screen, and resize to 1x1. Does the same thing. Then you can escape the lag that TW gives.
cdinoz said:
Just place the FB widget on the home screen, and resize to 1x1. Does the same thing. Then you can escape the lag that TW gives.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the solution, I`ll give it a try later, but to be honest, Touchwiz on KK isn`t as laggy as older one, at least I for me.
p.s. I just tried on GS3 but when I try to resize I get white little widget without any info on it.
I was excited about trying the Google Experience Launcher because it would respond to "OK Google" on any launcher screen.
However, I was extremely disappointed with the lack of ability to configure the launcher. No, that's too general. There's absolutely no configuration options at all.
One of the things I don't like about the TouchWiz and Google Launcher is that there's no way to control the number of rows/columns and the spacing between them. I use Apex where I can get a lot more rows and columns on the page. And I can control the spacing so I can get icons right up to the edge of the screen. In addition I can reduce the size of the icons for a better look.
It's not like I want to fill the screen with icons, on the contrary, I like to have the icons near the edges and out of the way so I can better see the wallpaper. The TouchWiz and Google launchers are pretty much an iPad launcher. No flexibility and no configurations.