Database Users

Which apps (bloatware) are okay to remove?

I rooted my phone, installed lagfix, and removed some bloatware from the phone via Titanium. The phone was stupid fast after doing this, almost everything loaded up instantly. However I started to notice some things weren't functioning properly. Apps on the marketplace would not download, I would try to download Launcher Pro and nothing would happen, nothing downloaded. Tried this with other apps, same thing. I rebooted the phone and noticed upon reboot that a force close/app error happened, not sure which app it was but it had google in it. I have no idea what app it could have been since I only removed apps if I knew what they were like Slacker, Kindle, Sims etc. Maybe removing the Sims caused the error?
I also noticed that emails wouldn't send (or would take a long time) even when I was on wifi. And the XDA app wouldn't work. I would go to make a post, click the text input box, but it wouldn't let me move the text cursor. I would press the keyboard and nothing happened.
I removed a crap ton of apps but they weren't anything major. I also removed the samsung widgets since I would never use those. Guess I should have asked on the forums before removing so much stuff.
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Which apps are okay to remove? Any ideas on which app could have caused the market to mess up?

From what you listed, those are all safe apps to dump. I would have thought any issue is more likely to come from the lag fix than nuking "safe" apps. There are several threads discussing the apps that are safe to get rid of, take a look in the stickie for a link if you can't find it via seach.

Cool thanks!

SykesAT said:
From what you listed, those are all safe apps to dump. I would have thought any issue is more likely to come from the lag fix than nuking "safe" apps. There are several threads discussing the apps that are safe to get rid of, take a look in the stickie for a link if you can't find it via seach.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I 2nd that, I accidentally installed both lag fixes and got the force close thing. I had to nandroid restore and reinstall.
Sent from the best phone from TMO... Vibrant

DELETE THE BLOAT!
Download Root Explorer (i'm not associated with) and go to System/App to remove a lot of the bloatware that came on the phone. I strongly encourage researching what can & can NOT be removed. ALWAYS make a backup. Here is a good thread about removing the bloat. Remember, I am not responsible. It will be some time before we have a custom ROM that removes this crap for us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the Tips and Tricks sticky. There's a lot of good stuff in there.

Which is the best for removing bloatware; Titanium, Root Explorer, or Root Manager?

Arcadia310 said:
Which is the best for removing bloatware; Titanium, Root Explorer, or Root Manager?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used root explorer, to "move" apps to a backup folder on sd card. Then went into Android settings -apps-manage apps --filter - all and uninstalled the apps.
Two step process. First step puts them out of sight, second properly gets rid of them. FYI, you can not do step 2 without doing the first step.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk

SykesAT said:
I used root explorer, to "move" apps to a backup folder on sd card. Then went into Android settings -apps-manage apps --filter - all and uninstalled the apps.
Two step process. First step puts them out of sight, second properly gets rid of them. FYI, you can not do step 2 without doing the first step.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense. What if I move lets say 10 "bloatware" apps onto the SD card, delete them from the phone, then something goes wrong or something stops working. I can just move it back and it'll be fine right? And you don't literally mean you can't do step two without doing step one right?
I did filter all in the manage apps but I have two questions.
1. I went to a random app ThinkFree Office, there was no option to delete it there. I thought you could only delete bloatware in an app like Titanium?
2. When you delete an app it creates that long "com.app.uselessword here.word" listing right? In order to truly remove an app you would have to delete it in Titanium/Root Explorer then delete the thing I said right?

Unless you do step 1 you can not delete them in apps manager. Not sure why and it makes it a PITA.
when I dumped my bloat files were compeately gone from system/app. there was no com.app.uselessword here.word type listing.
I have not used Ti to remove apps so I can not speak as to how it works, if it truley uninstalls then it could be a one step process (I would still back the apk odex files first).
Again I have not tried to reinstall but I would imagine it works in reverse, move apk/odex to system/app and install.

How to remove Lookout Antivirus from rooted Note 3?

How can I remove the Lookout Antivirus from the Note 3? I tried using Titanium Backup but it says "Failed to locate the apk file". Thanks.

awdrifter said:
How can I remove the Lookout Antivirus from the Note 3? I tried using Titanium Backup but it says "Failed to locate the apk file". Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it can't be found, maybe just disable it?

If it's an N900T (T-Mobile) it's baked into the firmware I think so cannot be removed.

I froze mine, so it doesn't run all the time. Much better that way, since if you had a virus or some other security issues, you could unfreeze it and find it actually helpful. Also deleting some apps could break your phone, for example my phone stop working properly when I froze beeming service for beep n go program which I uninstalled. It was easy to fix it by unfreezing.

I was able to uninstall it using Clean Master

Anonymous777 said:
I was able to uninstall it using Clean Master
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, I'll give that a try. Thanks.

Want to save more battry and Ram..

Its Very Easy....
1) Use Greenify (We All know About it)
Second Method Is Below.
>Go To
A)Settings
B)Apps
C)Click Any Apps And Select Any Pre Installed App
(Ex.. Google Play Games or Any other app which you Use Rarely)
Now click Disable To Disable It...
Tadaaa its Done.. Now Disable what u want And Save More Battry And Ram.
You Can Also Enable It. :beer:

dont want to be an ass
but.......
being root you can delete those system apps like google music, movies, books, etc, all that crap bloatware
i believe if you restart the phone they will be active again, so it is better to delete them, also titanium backup can freeze those apps

Using App Quarantine myself to disable unwanted apps.
If you are rooted you can even freeze apps that usually can not be frozen.
After a restart the apps remain frozen.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ramdroid.appquarantine

maurocds said:
dont want to be an ass
but.......
being root you can delete those system apps like google music, movies, books, etc, all that crap bloatware
i believe if you restart the phone they will be active again, so it is better to delete them, also titanium backup can freeze those apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Itz For NoN Rooted User (Noob)
Sent from my XT1033

maurocds said:
i believe if you restart the phone they will be active again, so it is better to delete them, also titanium backup can freeze those apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, they will stay disabled even after OTA. Only factory reset brings them back.
Very good way for those without root.

bookworth said:
No, they will stay disabled even after OTA. Only factory reset brings them back.
Very good way for those without root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so even if critical apps are disabled on stock , locked , unrooted xt1032, OTA will still be successful?
wont fail due to missing critical system apps?

iluvatrix said:
so even if critical apps are disabled on stock , locked , unrooted xt1032, OTA will still be successful?
wont fail due to missing critical system apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can not disable critical system apps. Just try and you will see.

You can disable apps same way from Android too, it is feature.
Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

what about disabling Google Services Framework?
is this a critical system app?
i am able to disable it.

iluvatrix said:
what about disabling Google Services Framework?
is this a critical system app?
i am able to disable it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you kill play and bunch of other features, not a good idea.
Sent from my XT1032 using Tapatalk

was just using GSF as a quick example
but back to my original question is it better to enable ALL apps before taking OTA to avoid possible failure?
or will disabled apps still be "seen" during OTA updating?
i have disabled most Motorola apps that can be disabled are they considered critical when updating thru Motorola OTA?

iluvatrix said:
so even if critical apps are disabled on stock , locked , unrooted xt1032, OTA will still be successful?
wont fail due to missing critical system apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't delete anything. You just tell the system not to start or use those apps. And as a worst case scenario, if you screw up something so bad that you can't even use the phone (but by default you cannot disable really critical apps without root and 3rd party software), a factory reset will solve it.

maurocds said:
dont want to be an ass
but.......
being root you can delete those system apps like google music, movies, books, etc, all that crap bloatware
i believe if you restart the phone they will be active again, so it is better to delete them, also titanium backup can freeze those apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Terrible and dumb advise.
Remove system apps and every ota on any android device from any manufacturor will crash and fail. Are you going to help clean flash stock Android back to functional for Ota's with people who followed this advise? At least advise to put system apps back before applying OTA. (One can remove system apps and install as more battery and recources friendly user-app. But before OTA uninstall those apps and copy back apk's of those system apps).
But like said disable apps (also non-root) or freeze (only root) them solution. With Greenify Pro and Xposed Framework (root) one can Greenify (do not all but only for system non important) system apps. Without root Greenify can (when Greenify enabled in accesibilty options) force close all in Greenify by user defined unwanted still in background running user apps all at once with a shortcut. Not fake like every task killer in Play Store is.

Becareful with system applications!
I agree with the previous post...don't remove system applications unless you know it's not going to be linked to anything of use to you, and even then I would do a backup just in-case...having a broken installation of android simply due to having deleted some system app in an attempt to save a few MB of RAM would be...unfortunate.

juliatan said:
Terrible and dumb advise.
Remove system apps and every ota on any android device from any manufacturor will crash and fail. Are you going to help clean flash stock Android back to functional for Ota's with people who followed this advise? At least advise to put system apps back before applying OTA. (One can remove system apps and install as more battery and recources friendly user-app. But before OTA uninstall those apps and copy back apk's of those system apps).
But like said disable apps (also non-root) or freeze (only root) them solution. With Greenify Pro and Xposed Framework (root) one can Greenify (do not all but only for system non important) system apps. Without root Greenify can (when Greenify enabled in accesibilty options) force close all in Greenify by user defined unwanted still in background running user apps all at once with a shortcut. Not fake like every task killer in Play Store is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol really? you better use an iphone
i remove system apps of all my cell phone, and guess what, they work perfect, never had issues
and if i did someday i don't care, why? because you are root, you can recover roms, flash, upgrade, etc
and yes, i give advice to people who bricked their phones and give guides and methods of doing it, because bricking phones and recovering them it part of learning

NO ROOT REQUIRED - Manually Uninstall System Apps

***This will NOT work on FireOS 5.4.0.1 If your device hasn't updated to that version, it is advisable to IMMEDIATELY 'uninstall' DeviceSoftwareOTA.apk.***
I can confirm this is working on the Fire HD 8 . Here is the article from XDA with detailed instructions for newbies. Like all other hacks or tricks, I cannot be held responsible for any possible permanent damage you may cause to your devices.
**NOTE**
A factory rest will restore all SYSTEM/Amazon apps you 'uninstalled.' So if you mess your tablet, you can at least start over.
**WARNINGS**
1) If you plan on installing 3rd party apps to replace the Amazon apps you uninstalled, please install and setup your 3rd party apps BEFORE uninstalling Amazon apps. In many cases, installing replacement apps after the uninstalling of Amazon apps, causes some 3rd party apps to malfunction. You will then have to uninstall the 3rd party app or do a reset. Once you uninstall an Amazon app, you CANNOT install it again. Not even from the Google Play Store. The only way to restore any uninstalled system apps is to do a factory reset.
2) Uninstalling Fire Launcher, Retail Demo, and the Oobe settings apps, *WILL* disable your home button. If you uninstall any parental controls, your camera picture roll will not work. Recommend installing replacement camera and gallery before uninstalling Amazon's. As of July 27, 2017 9:20am a *pre uninstall* fix exists to make sure your home button stays functional. If you already uninstalled the apps listed in the following link, you will have to perform a reset and download the tool linked just below, or if you prefer manually uninstalling the apps, *avoid uninstalling*: com.amazon.kor.demo, com.amazon.firelauncher and com.amazon.kindle.otter.oobe. You can also edit the tool's .bat to keep the apps you want. This link lists all the apps you can uninstall, that will NOT affect the home button. The three listed at the top should NOT be uninstalled.
** Gloating **
1) A tool has been created that allows this process to happen automatically. A huge thanks to 'savvytechwinner' for helping for months to get us to this stage and an even bigger thanks for creating the tool, something I have no idea how to do.
2) A little gloating: We've scored a great write up on Liliputing!
You can use an app like App Inspector to view the package name of each app, rather than list all of them in a shell window. Nonetheless, I kept the list command in the code.
Here you go:
Code:
adb shell
$ pm list packages
$ pm uninstall -k --user 0 <name of package>
Example: (this removes Amazon video)
Code:
adb shell
$ pm list packages
$ pm uninstall -k --user 0 com.amazon.avod
Success

Why do you keep the data and cache directories?
This is a good thing, however, as it means that these applications truly aren’t being uninstalled from the device, they are just being uninstalled for the current user (user 0 is the default/main user of the phone). That’s why, if you omit the “–user 0” and “-k” part of the command, the command won’t work. These two commands respectively specify that the system app will only be uninstalled for the current user (and not all users, which is something that requires root access) and that the cache/data of the system application will be preserved (which can’t be removed without root access). Therefore, even if you “uninstall” a system application using this method, you can still receive official OTA updates from your carrier or OEM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/

Hallo32 said:
Why do you keep the data and cache directories?
Source: https://www.xda-developers.com/uninstall-carrier-oem-bloatware-without-root-access/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fine by me. I wonder if the same method can be applied to install apps and if so, into system? This could be the chance to replace Amazon's apps with forever broken ones while we can, if possible.

Work on my Fire 7" Gen7 with 5.4.0.0.
Thank You!

DragonFire1024 said:
Fine by me. I wonder if the same method can be applied to install apps and if so, into system? This could be the chance to replace Amazon's apps with forever broken ones while we can, if possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Into system should not be possible, because you need root rights to mount /system as write able.
Hasn't there been a few tries to install modified Amazon apps which are broken? I think I have read there something on xda.
--> Firelauncher aplk https://forum.xda-developers.com/am...-remove-default-launcher-amazon-fire-t3288310

Hallo32 said:
Into system should not be possible, because you need root rights to mount /system as write able.
Hasn't there been a few tries to install modified Amazon apps which are broken? I think I have read there something on xda.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Another member and I have been trying to do just that. We've been trying to modify Amazon apps to either bring out block parts of that APKs software, or stop the apps from functioning at all. The closest I got was somehow managing to delete all User AND system app data and storage. Great eh? I thought so too. Until I realized I couldn't download or install anything. I tried, but haven't been able to repeat the process. So far that's as far as we've gotten.

Hallo32 said:
Into system should not be possible, because you need root rights to mount /system as write able.
Hasn't there been a few tries to install modified Amazon apps which are broken? I think I have read there something on xda.
--> Firelauncher aplk https://forum.xda-developers.com/am...-remove-default-launcher-amazon-fire-t3288310
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That works to an extent. I tried it, replacing launcher with whatever Amazon app. It uninstalls it, but then is immediately reinstalled to another folder...usually from /system/priv-app/ to /data/app and with a different name. Though this might have been how I got all app and system app data erased...by screwing around with the DeviceOTA apk.

See edit above. ^^
But what does this mean in relation to the ota apps? Are the ota updates also deactivated?

Hallo32 said:
See edit above. ^^
But what does this mean in relation to the ota apps? Are the ota updates also deactivated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would've presumed that to be a yes, given nothing could be downloaded and or installed anymore. Everything worked fine aside from that and being able to uninstall apps. What little bit I could find on the web, no one mentioned the cause and most of them ended up with permanently damaged internal SD cards. I waited a few days after posting a thread and no one replied. So I factory reset it and everything was fine again. I wish I could repeat it.

Can we disable "special offers" using this method? Or is that part of the launcher?
If we "uninstall" the launcher, will it ask if you want to use a different installed launcher to map to the home button?

deepdvd said:
Can we disable "special offers" using this method? Or is that part of the launcher?
If we "uninstall" the launcher, will it ask if you want to use a different installed launcher to map to the home button?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did special offers. Haven't tried the launcher yet.

DragonFire1024 said:
I did special offers. Haven't tried the launcher yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it actually remove them from the lock screen or just make the app not work?

deepdvd said:
Does it actually remove them from the lock screen or just make the app not work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. I didn't have the ads.

on my kindle fire 7 on 5.3.2.1, this gives the error Failure [DELETE_FAILED_INTERNAL_ERROR].
EDIT: nevermind, i must have missed a step
I have removed most user facing apps. i have not tried the launcher or appstore.
I can confirm that you can remove everything whisperplay and the stock fire keyboard. I install the gboard before i removed the fire keyboard. I have rebooted after removing this.

Does anyone have more than their own profile on their tablet? I'm wondering if this extends to all profiles. So far, Nova, Activity Launcher, Brevent And NetGuard all say all the Amazon apps I uninstalled are gone. Has anyone tried root after nuking Amazon?
If you keep blocking individual Amazon IP addresses like I do with NetGuard, I'd keep a few apps. As long as one app keeps blocking IPs, then your firewall will still work. Otherwise I'm not sure how to block incoming connections.

Is there a list of packages which can be removed without problems?
I will need to restart from a factory reset because now the launcher crashes happily a few times after closing an app.

Hallo32 said:
Is there a list of packages which can be removed without problems?
I will need to restart from a factory reset because now the launcher crashes happily a few times after closing an app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will list all installed packages. I'm not sure if a safe list has yet been made.
Code:
adb shell
$ pm list packages
It will be a long list. Remove at YOUR own risk. One person's safe list may not be the same as yours.

DragonFire1024 said:
This will list all installed packages. I'm not sure if a safe list has yet been made.
It will be a long list. Remove at YOUR own risk. One person's safe list may not be the same as yours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've removed quite a bit so far, appstore, freetime, kindle store and app, content management because Amazon has no right to manage any of my content, managed provisions though I'm not sure that did anything, video and Amazon shopping, and a few others i can't recall at this moment. I am hoping removing prime photos later will allow me to use live wallpapers.

If this is the closest we ever get to root or a custom rom, I don't think we could've asked for something better.

@DragonFire1024
You may mention at the first post, that a factory reset will bring back the automatic update stuff if the method has been used to deactivate it.
Worst case:
* factory reset
* enable wlan conection
* tablet gets updates and installs them

Titanium Backup-restoring Google Keep failed

I wanted to restore Google Keep(just the app) because I don't like its material design. But whatever I did, it failed. Does Titanium Backup still works restoring system apps or did I do something wrong?

If you just want the app, then go to apkmirror.com and you'll find all versions of almost any apps.

When downgrading, you should uninstall the app first as data files are rarely backwards compatible, in most cases it ends up with app crashing or misbehaving. Then you can restore it via Titanium backup or just from apkmirror as already advised.

_mysiak_ said:
When downgrading, you should uninstall the app first as data files are rarely backwards compatible, in most cases it ends up with app crashing or misbehaving. Then you can restore it via Titanium backup or just from apkmirror as already advised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't uninstall Google Keep because I have it as a system app. I just can disable it.

freekarol said:
I can't uninstall Google Keep because I have it as a system app. I just can disable it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disable it - this will uninstall all updates, enable again and install whichever version you want.

Just to clarify:
1.disable google keep
2.download google keep apk(a version I want to have)
3.open the downloaded apk and it will update google keep
Do I understand it well?

1. uninstall updates (restore factory app) - disable app and then enable it again
2. yes, download version from apk mirror or use one from Titanium backup
3. install the apk manually and disable automatic updates in Google play store so you won't be in the same situation in a few days

OK, everything is clear now. Thanks. :good: