[Q] Removing Google apps off KitKat - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi All,
I'm looking to remove many of the google apps off my rooted nexus 4. I'm currently running stock KitKat 4.4.2 straight from OTA update.
Many apps such as google drive, google+, hangouts, play games etc I won't be using, yet they are taking up space in my phone.
How can I permanently remove these off my phone? Can it be done? through CWR? through ADB?
If this is not possible, do I need to flash an AOSP custom ROM? I've not opted for this route so far as it's a pain to swap over apps and themes onto a new ROM and I want to experiment with eXposed framework too.
Thanks

If you are rooted just use titanium backup or you can just disable them and they'll disappear from the app drawer
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I recommend disabling as removing can coz some minor issues if it breaks rom
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Why have you posted this twice at the same time? Root and use titanium or a root explorer to remove system apps, make sure you know what you're doing as removing some system apps can break your rom.
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simply delete .apk and .odex in /system/app and /system/priv-app
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zarica said:
simply delete .apk and .odex in /system/app and /system/priv-app
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This. Just make sure to backup everything first, as there can be unintended consequences. Most apps are safe to remove though.
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Related

Possible to delete some stock apps?

For anyone who has a Nexus 7 - can anyone confirm if we will be able to delete stuff like the Magazines app or any of the stock applications, either through rooting or otherwise?
On stock ROM, you can only disable the stock apps. With root, I'm sure you can install Titanium Backup and delete them.
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Valerianus said:
For anyone who has a Nexus 7 - can anyone confirm if we will be able to delete stuff like the Magazines app or any of the stock applications, either through rooting or otherwise?
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yeah you can disable some stock apps without rooting. go applications>>all and click what you want to disbale and click disable at the top right
Root, install ES File Explorer, delete apps from root system app folder. Presto Change-o you're done!
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You can also use ADB to backup/delete apks.

[Q] saved apps

Where do you find apps you have download? I want to move some to my system apps but can't find download ones. I'm on glazed ROM 2.1 and can't find the folder using root browser. Any help would be great.
If you've downloaded them from a third party site then they'll appears in "Download" folder.
If you've downloaded them from the Play Store then they'll be in /Android/data
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There from play store and there not under data in android folder. I never have had a problem finding them until I went to glazed ROM
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Found it was in the data/ app folder
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/Android/data is for app's "data", i.e. settings and whatever else the app saves.
Yeah, all installed apps (no matter from where they originally came) are in /data/app.
System apps are in (big surprise :cyclops: ) /system/app
Just saying.

Can I use the cm10.1 message apk on a stock rooted Nexus 4?

I want to keep my Nexus stock but I really like the text message app from cm. Is there a way to use that one instead of the stock message app? I'm assuming I just have to remove the stock app and then replace it with the cm one right?
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Yup. Replace and set permissions. Reboot
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Replace it in root explorer.
Yes, just use any file manager with root access and replace it and then give correct permission (rwx-r--r-- I believe)
Also I highly advise you to make a copy of the stock app and place it somewhere in the phone, just in case.
ALSO if you're odexed, this might now work as it also needs odex file and if you are odexed and replaced the app, you might get into the bootloop I think. Never tried it on odexed ROMs, but I think that's what happens
kyokeun1234 said:
Yes, just use any file manager with root access and replace it and then give correct permission (rwx-r--r-- I believe)
Also I highly advise you to make a copy of the stock app and place it somewhere in the phone, just in case.
ALSO if you're odexed, this might now work as it also needs odex file and if you are odexed and replaced the app, you might get into the bootloop I think. Never tried it on odexed ROMs, but I think that's what happens
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I'm using stock. I'm not sure if stock is odexed. How do I get the app? Do I just unzip a cm update zip?
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armandosal said:
I'm using stock. I'm not sure if stock is odexed. How do I get the app? Do I just unzip a cm update zip?
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Did you do flash any ROM? If not, you have odexed ROM. Make sure to make a nandroid backup before doing this as I believe you might get into the bootloop.
You can easily get the app by doing that.
kyokeun1234 said:
Did you do flash any ROM? If not, you have odexed ROM. Make sure to make a nandroid backup before doing this as I believe you might get into the bootloop.
You can easily get the app by doing that.
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All ive done with the phone is unlock the bootloader and root it. So your saying that I should install a CWM and do a nandroid? Won't installing that wipe my phone?
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armandosal said:
All ive done with the phone is unlock the bootloader and root it. So your saying that I should install a CWM and do a nandroid? Won't installing that wipe my phone?
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Flashing custom recovery? Nope. Only unlocking not loader does
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armandosal said:
All ive done with the phone is unlock the bootloader and root it. So your saying that I should install a CWM and do a nandroid? Won't installing that wipe my phone?
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No. Before you screw with anything in system, make a backup. If you break something, a simple restore will fix it.
The cm message app is system/app/messaging.apk. Extract it from the cm zip and follow the directions above to install it.
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You won't go into a boot loop, only thing that will happen is either the Mms.apk won't show up in the launcher or it'll FC. Sometimes, using the newest one from nightlies will cause FC. One has been posted in the apps section that works and has what you're looking for. Its better to use any root explorer app and copy it to /system/apps and fix permissions. And like someone said, make a copy of your original Mms.apk and Mms.odex files to your phone..
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If you're just stock rooted, you'll have to go in and re-install the messaging app after every reboot because the stock uses the .odex files to create the mms app, but there is a stock, deodexed, rooted ROM here, and you can just load the CM10.1 MMS into it and it'll work fine. That's what I did
Or you could check out Glowfly on the play store.
It's a pop-up notification app with quick reply support.
Made the same recommendation in a similar thread in the Themes and Apps section. I'm not affiliated with the devs. Just wanted to show support for a good app.
anyone know if this app changes the orienation of your photos from landscape to portrait? This seemed to be a bug on all roms using this apk on my old Galaxy s2.
lookinoji said:
If you're just stock rooted, you'll have to go in and re-install the messaging app after every reboot because the stock uses the .odex files to create the mms app, but there is a stock, deodexed, rooted ROM here, and you can just load the CM10.1 MMS into it and it'll work fine. That's what I did
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Yea I just rebooted my phone after installing the mms app and now it's force closing.
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lookinoji said:
If you're just stock rooted, you'll have to go in and re-install the messaging app after every reboot because the stock uses the .odex files to create the mms app, but there is a stock, deodexed, rooted ROM here, and you can just load the CM10.1 MMS into it and it'll work fine. That's what I did
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Will I still get official ota updates like that?
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[Q] Can I delete busybox free, quick boot and supersu after rooting?

As per title, Can I delete busybox free, quick boot and supersu after rooting?
I have used the video title on youtube: How to Root the Google Nexus 4 - Latest, to root my device, was just wondering if I were able to delete those files after rooting or are they required? (I'll be installing ParanoidAndroid soon).
Thanks.
No they aren't required but what's the purpose of rooting if your gonna delete the app that's essential to being rooted?
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Crisisx1 said:
No they aren't required but what's the purpose of rooting if your gonna delete the app that's essential to being rooted?
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Alright thanks.
I was just asking since I can save some space. I don't understand why I would require them still, since I've made a custom backup etc;
SnowDefault said:
Alright thanks.
I was just asking since I can save some space. I don't understand why I would require them still, since I've made a custom backup etc;
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If you want to use root apps busy box(usually) needs to be installed and super user is a requirement.
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Have you run busybox and then used it's installer?
Your supposed to do that once.
Use root uninstaller to delete any app. Keep su
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Can i change the battery icon on my nexus 4??

Hey guys
I use simplistic app to change the battery icon to a flag... But its not working....
Anyone can help
Nexus 4 (kitkat 4.4.4) rooted and recovery
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joey jamal said:
Hey guys
I use simplistic app to change the battery icon to a flag... But its not working....
Anyone can help
Nexus 4 (kitkat 4.4.4) rooted and recovery
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Install xposed and the module "xuimod". There is a setting in it.
Hit thanks if i helped
It's not working maybe because I'm on 4.4.4 KitKat ????
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joey jamal said:
It's not working maybe because I'm on 4.4.4 KitKat ????
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It should work on kitkat, did so for me. What exactly is the problem?
N/m, misread.
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Just nothing change ... I installed the app and changed battery setting and rest system ui and nothing happen
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chrisrozon said:
N/m, misread.
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What you mean i don't understand??
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Please help ????
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Have you rebooted after you changed?
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joey jamal said:
Please help ????
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I don't know about the app you mentioned, but there were a couple of apps in the N4 Apps & Themes forum which did this - but it seems they work for 4.3 only.
As mentioned, there are apps which work via Exposed framework which will do what you are looking for (though bear in mind Exposed needs the Dalvik not Art, runtime).
Another good option is to try some ROMs - most of the popular ones have extensive UI customisation, such as battery, clock, navigation bar (the one at the bottom).
Download a ROM and its Gapps (eg AICP ROM and its Gapps, which I use and I can recommend, it's a good place to start)
Reboot into recovery.
Backup your current ROM (creates an image you can restore if you don't like the new ROM)
Wipe: data/system/cache/dalvik. NOT internal storage
Install the ROM and its Gapps
Reboot and begin to setup your phone
If you have Titanium Backup Pro or similar, you can restore all your user apps and data to the new ROM. Generally not recommended to restore system apps or data.
It may sound like a lot of effort to get a battery icon, but you also get a better ROM (faster, better battery and highly customisable UI). With the backup you took, if you don't like your new ROM, all you need to do is:
Go into Recovery,
Wipe data/system/dalvik/cache
Restore the backup
Reboot

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