Database Users

Advantages of Rooting This phone.

Hey lads,
Going to have this phone soon and haven't yet found a reason to go rooting/custom rom rout, As it seems, it's quite well cooked as it is. So i'm wondering what are the Reasons you guys rooted your phones?
Can't you get that hide nav bar without root? and xposed framework work without root? We got some neat statusbar icon sets out and need rooting?
some other reason you had to root and 'void warrancy'?

The two reasons I did it on Verizon are for Greenify, and to enable free wifi tethering.

Here are my reasons:
Custom DPI to use with Action Launcher.

Clownzer said:
Here are my reasons:
Custom DPI to use with Action Launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are several useful apps that require superuser privileges. As far as I know one must root the phone to install and enable superuser.

Adaway and xposed framework with app settings and xprivacy.

Smaller navigation keys for WAY more screen real estate. Camera improvements. Debloated. These are a few so far. Here's a pic of the nav buttons.
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Proper backup solutions. Hopefully things like this won't require root in the future.
Sent from my LG-D801 using Tapatalk 4

How do you shrink the on screen buttons?
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 4

Heres the link to smallet nav buttons
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2457634
Sent from my VS980 4G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Bloatware and Carrier IQ removal, Wi-Fi tethering on unlimited data plan, Xposed framework and various modules for it, essential root apps like AdAway, Root Explorer and Titanium Backup, Custom recovery with Nandroid backup functionality, ViPER4Android Audio Affects,... and list goes on and on. But most important benefit of all is that root access gives you freedom to do whatever you want with your device.

ROMs
I like rooting so I can install twrp and run aosp software. Cm alpha now.

Firewall

The phone came finally.
Had it for 30min's and couldnt resist rooting. Still on Stock rom but modified some.
My steps if anyone is wondering why and how,
1. Install root thread.
2. install TWRP thread easy method
And your all set. Take a TWRP backup from your phone, and you're safe to start tweaking.
Things i did,
1. Installed my favorite apps, titanium backup, romtoolbox and bbs etc... changed dpi and did backups.
1. Xposed+App Settings to get camera and msg apps back to 480 ( Using 360 dpi systemwide )
2. Xposed xprivacy (really liking this) for handling apps and what they can do. Found inside xposed on modules list.
3. Bought GMS autohide soft keys root from google play, seems like a godsend. Found on google play store.
4. Allso bought g2 xposed mod from play store for nice black statusbar. found on google play store.
Next in project list is to clear bloatware and find some nice status bar icons or autohide statusbar that works with stock rom.

moonjak said:
Next in project list is to clear bloatware and find some nice status bar icons or autohide statusbar that works with stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of you find a proper auto hide statusbar solution let me know. The best i came up with is forcing full screen in most apps with xposed app settings and putting a nova shortcut of "expand statusbar" into swipepad. Works but is too laggy now and then.
If you haven't got a firewall but want one take a look at afwall+ by the way. Easy setup and high practicability due to different profiles. If you got apps you don't want to completely deny Internet with xprivacy you can deny it at certain times with afwall+

Ad-blocking on Note 4

*EDITED*
Hey guys
Is there any way to block the system wide ads? I have tried Adblock plus and adaway none seem to be working. Does it have anything to do with knox? Any workaround ??

adaway should work just fine, as long as you're rooted and you've updated it from within the app.
ABP is a bit unreliable.
if you're not rooted you could try adguard.
it's very reliable, but a bit expensive(free for browser-only)
it uses VPN, so it does need a constant notification.

If you're rooted, a simple hosts file will work very nicely.

as above said....plus if you want additional features try Lucky Patcher
But all of that require ROOT

Try webguard free from playstore
Sent from my SM-N910C using XDA Free mobile app

Try dolphin browser and use the integrated plugin ADBLOCKER (part of lab).

All of the above!

For me firefox with ublock works fine for web browsing only.

Adguard

Hey guys. So I found this absolutely great app to block all ads in any browser and across all apps called adguard and it doesn't even requir root! Here's the link for those interested.
https://adguard.com/en/adguard-android/install.html
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app

My review:
For those of you that trust and support XDA development, there's actually an XDA thread for this app from the developer.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57172864&postcount=1
I didn't realize that at first but had an issue with #NoChroma browser; I used the in-app support to report. I was impressed with the response and follow-up. My settings actually work better with Chrome so Chrome with Adguard is a better alternative to #NoChroma's limited ad blocking browser. I'm using the Adguard root settings.
Having the quick disable service is handy but the one site that hit me with a persistent welcome screen that suggested I view their lite ad browsing experience was squashed by the user filter. I may be wrong but mobile browsers need more freedom from such persistent ads, pop-ups, full banners and admonishment to disable ad blockers.
The filters can be synced to update without user intervention. If you use the root settings, the persistent notification can be disabled. Both settings are deep in the menu. If you try to disable the notification with a long press in pull-down, the service will stop frequently. Do it right and service is reliable.
Only web browsing ad blocking is free but using with Xposed MinMinGuard module and YouTube Adaway, the rest is covered. So far the experience is actually better than Adaway with MinMinGuard.
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Thanks for the info! Wasn't aware of all that. I simply stumbled upon it from a Google search after hearing someone mention it in a comment on sammobile but I do like it. It does block all of my app related adds but it's a free trial only so I do plan on purchasing it whenever that's up and also to support the developer of course. I'm completely stock so this is great because ads are the number one thing I miss with root.
Sent from my SM-N910P using XDA Free mobile app

samep said:
My review:
For those of you that trust and support XDA development, there's actually an XDA thread for this app from the developer.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57172864&postcount=1
I didn't realize that at first but had an issue with #NoChroma browser; I used the in-app support to report. I was impressed with the response and follow-up. My settings actually work better with Chrome so Chrome with Adguard is a better alternative to #NoChroma's limited ad blocking browser. I'm using the Adguard root settings.
Having the quick disable service is handy but the one site that hit me with a persistent welcome screen that suggested I view their lite ad browsing experience was squashed by the user filter. I may be wrong but mobile browsers need more freedom from such persistent ads, pop-ups, full banners and admonishment to disable ad blockers.
The filters can be synced to update without user intervention. If you use the root settings, the persistent notification can be disabled. Both settings are deep in the menu. If you try to disable the notification with a long press in pull-down, the service will stop frequently. Do it right and service is reliable.
Only web browsing ad blocking is free but using with Xposed MinMinGuard module and YouTube Adaway, the rest is covered. So far the experience is actually better than Adaway with MinMinGuard.
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Better than Adaway? I use Adaway with custom host sources (like most all of the adblockplus, fanboy subscriptions, unbelovedhosts, malwaredomains_full, and more) and minminguard and youtube adaway in xposed. I got a whole bunch of host sources in my Google Keep I just copy and paste every time I flash a new rom and reinstall Adaway. I've not used this one though...

richardjrdeal said:
Better than Adaway? I use Adaway with custom host sources (like most all of the adblockplus, fanboy subscriptions, unbelovedhosts, malwaredomains_full, and more) and minminguard and youtube adaway in xposed. I got a whole bunch of host sources in my Google Keep I just copy and paste every time I flash a new rom and reinstall Adaway. I've not used this one though...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Adaway was more work but does a better job at blocking ads in apps. I had an export file that took nearly 30 minutes to import from extSdCard and apply at one time but cut it down to 10 minutes (slow). But it still needed occasional add-ons and finding that I'm blocking a potential wanted service is sometimes annoying to find. I've still only had to add one user filter get around one site.
This one does the browser blocking with a lot less effort and gets updated frequently. Some of those other hosts sites can block too much but that would depend on your preference as well. If your labor is rewarding, enjoy what you have. If you find it high maintenance, try this as alternative.
It's not an alternative to YouTube Adaway and MinMinGuard. I prefer to use it with those services as I did with Adaway, before. It's best use is for blocking browser ads, that service is free.
The fact that it doesn't require root, means it could possibly become more popular in time.
Sent from my SM-N910P using Tapatalk

Multi-Window Issues

Hey guys,
Normally, I use Mobicip browser to block undesirable content on my family's phones. I just found out that my kid has found a way to access porn on the LG V20 through multi-window. When you hit the multi-window button, you can access blocked apps or the Play Store and bypass the page that asks for your password if you press it the right way and he downloaded Titanium Backup and froze Mobicip. I blocked all the apps that would allow this to happen but multi-window allows it if you use it properly.
My question is, can I disable multi-window in any way? Like editing a .xml file or something? I will edit the Nougat code if I have to. Is there any way to edit any of the files to break the multi-window function? I was pretty shocked when I found this out but now I would like to do something about it. Thanks for your help guys.

Use applock and lock access to package installer and settings. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sp.protector.free
Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk

thisguyinoc said:
Use applock and lock access to package installer and settings. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sp.protector.free
Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
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Thank you for the suggestion. It seems like that will do the trick! The main thing in that app that works to prevent access is under System Lock, the option for Recent Apps (Multitasking).The problem is that when the Mobicip block screen comes up asking for a password for a blocked app, you can just press the Recent Apps button and reopen the blocked app in multiwindow while leaving the other page open that is asking for a password. You then have the Mobicip password page open in the top multiwindow and the app you're trying to get to in the bottom multiwindow, but you can use the blocked app in the bottom multiwindow. Applock blocks the Recent Apps altogether so that solves the problem.
I didn't know this app even existed so thank you again for your help!

When all else fails, either limit your child's access, or consider it in a supervised setting.
Relying on software to limit access is not a good plan. Your son figured it out once, chances are he will again. Kids have nothing but time and in the case of a horny male child, determination.

Game Tools and Game Launcher

Hello out there,
anyone with an idea how to get rid of these two "functions"?
I already deactivated Game Launcher and also denied Game Tools to write over other apps, to get rid of these two additional buttons on the navigation bar. But once i start a game, it still pops up with "not able to overlay on other apps, please activate in options". And this even as i deactivated notifications for it!!
I don't want this "functions" and their notifications are not relevant for me, not at all.
But, I also do not want to root for this.
Maybe anyone knows a hint.

CullenTrey said:
Hello out there,
anyone with an idea how to get rid of these two "functions"?
I already deactivated Game Launcher and also denied Game Tools to write over other apps, to get rid of these two additional buttons on the navigation bar. But once i start a game, it still pops up with "not able to overlay on other apps, please activate in options". And this even as i deactivated notifications for it!!
I don't want this "functions" and their notifications are not relevant for me, not at all.
But, I also do not want to root for this.
Maybe anyone knows a hint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever work out how to hide these extra functions? I've recently set my S8 to Game Mode to help with lag I've started getting but when opening apps (non game apps) the two extra functions appear in the nav bar and I cannot find a way to disable these.

I have the same frustration. I have unchecked every option. I'm tired of the stupid notification.
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Package disabler pro......does the trick
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I use adhell which has a package disabler. Works without root but you have to follow steps to have it installed and working. I've disabled alot of Samsung stuff including the Game tools and launcher you mentioned with no trace of it whatsoever to bother me.
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

adie1234 said:
Package disabler pro......does the trick
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I killed Bixby too!
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