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I've rooted all my devices since the days of the OG Droid. Up until a year or two ago, root and custom roms were a must have for a lot of useful features, but the dependency on root features has definitely gone down as stock android has advanced.
With the Moto X being mostly stock, and a little harder to root (especially with every OTA) I've been thinking about just going stock and keeping it unrooted when it arrives today.
As of now I use root mainly for just backing up and syncing app data between my phone and tablet (since a lot of apps don't implement google's cloud sync). It appears that Helium works with the Moto X, though that's definitely not as seamless or quick of a process. I also use Greenify but apparently that doesn't need root anymore.
Has anyone else gone down this path? I feel like I might end up missing a lot of things I can't even think of right now.
I just got my MotoMaker yesterday, and I was basically in the same boat. I was initially going to just unlock the bootloader, install TWRP, and install SuperUser, but the Moto site was rejecting my device key. I usually will immediately root a device and install Titanium Backup to install my standard set of apps. I gave up waiting for Moto to update their db and started installing apps without unlocking. Most apps I use don't really store much beyond some basic settings locally, so I just re-downloaded everything I wanted from the Play Store and logged into everything again. The few apps that had locally saved data that I wanted to transfer (games, mostly) I ended up using adb on my computer to backup individually, then used adb to push the apps to the new phone. This worked for most things... some apps don't let you back them up. My biggest concern was Google Authenticator, which I use for a number of websites. For that, I had to cheat. Since my existing phone was already rooted, I used adb to pull the stored secrets database off the phone (which you can't do without root). I found this awesome tool which lets you generate QR codes directly from a Google Authenticator db file, and used that to add the secrets to a freshly installed copy of Authenticator.
In the end, the Moto site finally let me get an unlock code, though I think I've decided to skip that, at least for the time being. Unlocking the device wipes it, and I've got things installed and configured the way I want. I don't see myself wanting to push any non-stock roms to this (I really like the Moto additions). I still want root (mostly for backups, though it does make tweaking the device a bit easier), but I can live without it for now.
detonation said:
I've rooted all my devices since the days of the OG Droid. Up until a year or two ago, root and custom roms were a must have for a lot of useful features, but the dependency on root features has definitely gone down as stock android has advanced.
With the Moto X being mostly stock, and a little harder to root (especially with every OTA) I've been thinking about just going stock and keeping it unrooted when it arrives today.
As of now I use root mainly for just backing up and syncing app data between my phone and tablet (since a lot of apps don't implement google's cloud sync). It appears that Helium works with the Moto X, though that's definitely not as seamless or quick of a process. I also use Greenify but apparently that doesn't need root anymore.
Has anyone else gone down this path? I feel like I might end up missing a lot of things I can't even think of right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am the same as you. Traditionally, I always rooted but for the X I've just felt no need. (I was worried about receiving future updates, mostly).
I wrote a guide on backing up and restoring app data to the Moto X without root.
Helium works well for backing up your old devices, but it seems to have trouble for many on restoring the data. That's where my guide comes in, helping lay out the adb commands to finish up.
I will add, though, that after the Lenovo/Moto X announcement, it seems likely that I will root this in the future in case Lenovo drops the ball with delivering future OS updates.
Thanks, forgot about using adb for backup/restore
First Andoid I haven't felt the need to root, it's just so stable and smooth. The only reason I can imagine rooting it would be to install Adaway. Didn't realize how many ads there are until now :laugh:
I have rooted all my previous phones up until the X. I'm still able to enjoy it without the root access.
Usually rooting was necessary to debloat the phone and tune it to a stock like Android experience. Haven't really needed it with the X obviously.
The only thing that bothers me I guess is I didn't realize some of the apps I use had ads....lol
I just want adblocking again.
I was in the same boat before. Flash flash flash... That's all I ever did. Of course it was due to HTC and Samsung. Then with my n4 I went custom kernel and a few mods. The only thing I truly miss root for is ad block but that I can live with out
Sent from my XT1053 using Tapatalk
This is my fifth android phone and the first I didn't root. Finally saw no need to as like you say android has come along way, especially with being able to disable and hide apps you don't want. I have used Helium for backup, it needs to be connected to a PC for the first use and then every time the phone is rebooted, a little bit of a hassle. I also have used mybackup pro since 2010 and it never needed root but doesn't have the option to back up to box or dropbox only their own cloud storage.
Same thing for me. Decided first phone not needing root. Tethering even works out of the box! (XT 1053 on AT&T).
The only catch I had with helium was that I wasn't able to restore google authenticator data. So I manually used an SQL lite tool to extract the keys and just re-enter in a new install of google authenticator.
I refuse to limit myself so I got a developers edition. Being one if the first in America with 4.4.2 and being able to fix the exchange email issues beforehand etc are reasons I made sure I had root as an option. However this and my Nexus5 are the first phones that don't have Cyanogen Mod and so far I don't see a need or have a desire to run a different OS.
MotoX GSM Developer Edition, Bootloader Unlocked, Rooted, Stock 4.4.2 Great Britain on T-Mobile !
You're a better man than I if you can pull it off
Galaxy S4 was my first bootloader-locked phone, and I couldn't stand it. I'm on Moto X Dev version now.
I got my Moto X (at&t version) a couple weeks ago and like you I've always rooted. This time the experience was great out of the box, I just reinstalled everything fresh. I hate seeing tons of folders on my "sdcard" so now I feel like its clean and there is no legacy garbage brought over from my old phone. The only thing I am missing over my old phone (HTC One X) is being able to tether for free.
Also, the Motorola Migrate app is actually pretty good at bring your pics, texts and call logs over to your Moto X.
compulov said:
found this awesome tool which lets you generate QR codes directly from a Google Authenticator db file, and used that to add the secrets to a freshly installed copy of Authenticator.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you share a link to this? I need this also!
msk said:
I got my Moto X (at&t version) a couple weeks ago and like you I've always rooted. This time the experience was great out of the box, I just reinstalled everything fresh. I hate seeing tons of folders on my "sdcard" so now I feel like its clean and there is no legacy garbage brought over from my old phone. The only thing I am missing over my old phone (HTC One X) is being able to tether for free.
Also, the Motorola Migrate app is actually pretty good at bring your pics, texts and call logs over to your Moto X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly how I felt... I wanted to start clean. I have all my photos uploaded to Google+ via auto backup and I occasionally import them all into Lightroom on my laptop, so that was a non-issue. As for SMS, I've been using SMS Backup+ for a few years now to automatically backup my SMS and call history to my Gmail account. It also makes it easy to search my SMS history if I'm looking for an old message.
Can you share a link to this? I need this also!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The tool I used can be found here: https://github.com/ikonst/authenticator-import
It's basically an html page and some javascripts that you run locally in your browser (no web server needed). I actually want to run this again and save the QR codes either into Lastpasss or an encrypted file or something, just so I have easy access to them in the future.
I can do lots of things without needing root now thanks to third party apps. There are still essential reasons I need root. Ads blocking and apps permission management mainly and have more to do with security and anti-malware, I purchase my apps so it's not about depriving devs. App Ops will no longer work with Android 4.4.2 without root, I think it's a major mistake by Google. Also Cerberus needs root to exist through factory reset.
But so far I haven't root my Moto X due to warranty, but will eventually. I think the Moto X is very usable without needing root and KitKat with ART performance really help with that.
Just a question about the bootloader on the MotoX. If I unlock it, can I relock it and unlock it later without needing to use the unlock code or run into any trouble?
sent via tapatalk
I was in the same boat for about a day. I couldn't help myself and had to get the Xposed Framework up and running. I need Gravity Box and Xprivacy.
Sent from my XT1053 using xda app-developers app
overthatscreen said:
I was in the same boat for about a day. I couldn't help myself and had to get the Xposed Framework up and running. I need Gravity Box and Xprivacy.
Sent from my XT1053 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
I am probably going to root but only because I often use tethering. I used to do all the custom roms and such, but those are more of a PITA than they're worth the majority of the time.
deanrobbins said:
I am probably going to root but only because I often use tethering. I used to do all the custom roms and such, but those are more of a PITA than they're worth the majority of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted because I needed to get that stupid at&t logo off the top of the screen and gravity box was + and greenify.
MOTO X Slapped
No, this is NOT the Xposed "Fix Memory Leak" install that fixes nothing, because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release. If you have it installed now, you can uninstall it because it is literally doing nothing but taking up free space on your device; and is another hook you don't need in your install process. That also requires root to be installed, and this is a no-root situation
After a week of battling with XZDR and [NUT] starting to hate me, I decided to just bite the bullet, and FTF flash the stock, unrooted firmware, and see what it was like without root and if I could live. Most of the apps, not all of them though, can be disabled completely from within Android app manager, so things like TiBu are not really needed. I don't use Facebook or Twitter apps so having the "Xperia for Facebook" apps, which can't be frozen/disabled, was a pain in the ass, but they don't have any login information so everything's safe there.
I was very unimpressed with the way certain apps loaded. As an example, using Disa for my messaging solution was great, but SwiftKey was being a jerk. I'd press on the text input field and the keyboard would show up and then disappear right away. It would sometimes take up to 3 minutes of constant press *hides* press *hides* press *hides* just to be able to type a "K" message to someone. Not happy. Then, I'd load up Clash of Clans, do what I needed to do, then close it, then load up Family Guy, and it would crash because CoC was in the background. I'd have to completely reboot my phone in order to go from one game to the other. Very unhappy.
I found the app "Android System WebView", and not knowing what it was, tried to disable it. I uninstalled updates and disabled the system package, but it wouldn't let me disable it, only remove and replace with stock, and I thought that that was good enough. Rebooted my phone, and blamo.. phone performance increased by at least 3 orders of magnitude!
I've yet to have the SwiftKey hiding issue, and as I typed this, I finished the gold mine upgrade and went to see if Peter was doing Shipoopiing, and all was well.
Great thing is, if this doesn't fix your issue - you can update it right back to normal from Google Play.
Wiltron said:
No, this is NOT the Xposed "Fix Memory Leak" install that fixes nothing, because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release. If you have it installed now, you can uninstall it because it is literally doing nothing but taking up free space on your device; and is another hook you don't need in your install process. That also requires root to be installed, and this is a no-root situation
After a week of battling with XZDR and [NUT] starting to hate me, I decided to just bite the bullet, and FTF flash the stock, unrooted firmware, and see what it was like without root and if I could live. Most of the apps, not all of them though, can be disabled completely from within Android app manager, so things like TiBu are not really needed. I don't use Facebook or Twitter apps so having the "Xperia for Facebook" apps, which can't be frozen/disabled, was a pain in the ass, but they don't have any login information so everything's safe there.
I was very unimpressed with the way certain apps loaded. As an example, using Disa for my messaging solution was great, but SwiftKey was being a jerk. I'd press on the text input field and the keyboard would show up and then disappear right away. It would sometimes take up to 3 minutes of constant press *hides* press *hides* press *hides* just to be able to type a "K" message to someone. Not happy. Then, I'd load up Clash of Clans, do what I needed to do, then close it, then load up Family Guy, and it would crash because CoC was in the background. I'd have to completely reboot my phone in order to go from one game to the other. Very unhappy.
I found the app "Android System WebView", and not knowing what it was, tried to disable it. I uninstalled updates and disabled the system package, but it wouldn't let me disable it, only remove and replace with stock, and I thought that that was good enough. Rebooted my phone, and blamo.. phone performance increased by at least 3 orders of magnitude!
I've yet to have the SwiftKey hiding issue, and as I typed this, I finished the gold mine upgrade and went to see if Peter was doing Shipoopiing, and all was well.
Great thing is, if this doesn't fix your issue - you can update it right back to normal from Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me? i don't find any issues with the memory management by Lollipop as of today (from the first release). In fact, my phone runs faster and smoother compared to KK. Battery is so good that i don't need to recharge at night after the whole day usage. I use also the google keyboard (the VERY first version) which i dont find any problems at all. I just make my phone as simple as possible. No root done and i just disable some bloatwares and un-installing some gapps. I also ask myself, what's the use of Android System Webview? i do some couple of search and i found that, it does not affect the performance of my phone, so i just keep it update.
Facebook WhatsApp camera etc crashesh frequently
Hi Team
I'm facing a serious issue. I'm not able to use Facebook WhatsApp camera etc because these apps crash frequently. Device is Samsung gt p3100 and ur lollipop. Can u pls help me get this resolved. Thank u so much.
Regards
Amresh
I just disabled it, Does anyone know which apps depend on it? So far everything works fine.
amresh.india said:
Hi Team
I'm facing a serious issue. I'm not able to use Facebook WhatsApp camera etc because these apps crash frequently. Device is Samsung gt p3100 and ur lollipop. Can u pls help me get this resolved. Thank u so much.
Regards
Amresh
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Bro,
Wrong thread. please direct you're question to Samsung Thread. maybe they can helped you in there. This is a Sony Xperia Z1 thread. But since you're here, Try to factory reset your phone or wipe dalvik and cache.
Wiltron said:
No, this is NOT the Xposed "Fix Memory Leak" install that fixes nothing, because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release. If you have it installed now, you can uninstall it because it is literally doing nothing but taking up free space on your device; and is another hook you don't need in your install process. That also requires root to be installed, and this is a no-root situation
After a week of battling with XZDR and [NUT] starting to hate me, I decided to just bite the bullet, and FTF flash the stock, unrooted firmware, and see what it was like without root and if I could live. Most of the apps, not all of them though, can be disabled completely from within Android app manager, so things like TiBu are not really needed. I don't use Facebook or Twitter apps so having the "Xperia for Facebook" apps, which can't be frozen/disabled, was a pain in the ass, but they don't have any login information so everything's safe there.
I was very unimpressed with the way certain apps loaded. As an example, using Disa for my messaging solution was great, but SwiftKey was being a jerk. I'd press on the text input field and the keyboard would show up and then disappear right away. It would sometimes take up to 3 minutes of constant press *hides* press *hides* press *hides* just to be able to type a "K" message to someone. Not happy. Then, I'd load up Clash of Clans, do what I needed to do, then close it, then load up Family Guy, and it would crash because CoC was in the background. I'd have to completely reboot my phone in order to go from one game to the other. Very unhappy.
I found the app "Android System WebView", and not knowing what it was, tried to disable it. I uninstalled updates and disabled the system package, but it wouldn't let me disable it, only remove and replace with stock, and I thought that that was good enough. Rebooted my phone, and blamo.. phone performance increased by at least 3 orders of magnitude!
I've yet to have the SwiftKey hiding issue, and as I typed this, I finished the gold mine upgrade and went to see if Peter was doing Shipoopiing, and all was well.
Great thing is, if this doesn't fix your issue - you can update it right back to normal from Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your telling me to disable or uninstall Android System Web View in order to increase performance on lollipop....
martin132014 said:
So your telling me to disable or uninstall Android System Web View in order to increase performance on lollipop....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the built-in Android uninstaller - don't use TiBu if you're rooted or completely uninstall it. Android interface won't let you uninstall it entirely, just remove the updates and return it to stock factory settings.
It's currently working perfect for me - no issues or slowdowns or crashes all day today. I've used Chrome, the key program that this app is designed for, and it still works fine, along with a few other select programs that utilize it. All is well.
I don't know about stability issues if you're rooted and you completely uninstall it - so proceed at your own risk..
Wiltron said:
Use the built-in Android uninstaller - don't use TiBu if you're rooted or completely uninstall it. Android interface won't let you uninstall it entirely, just remove the updates and return it to stock factory settings.
It's currently working perfect for me - no issues or slowdowns or crashes all day today. I've used Chrome, the key program that this app is designed for, and it still works fine, along with a few other select programs that utilize it. All is well.
I don't know about stability issues if you're rooted and you completely uninstall it - so proceed at your own risk..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As interesting as this solution seems, I think I found why you don't have an issue I used to have a lot of launcher redraws and slow downs every now and then. So I froze a bunch of apps using ROM Toolbox and boom, no more redraws or slow downs. Worked like a charm. I think freezing or uninstalling bloat was the reason your memory issue was fixed. Cause I didn't uninstall the web view or make any changes with regard to it.
Uninstall or freeze bloat, and it should fix it immediately
ROM Toolbox requires root.
Freezing and Uninstalling bloat also requires root.
My fix doesn't require root.
It dosnt fix it ? % but atleast better, i saw an article before mentioning that android webview cause lag problems idr where
I will test that! I also suspected that component to be a memory hog... Thanks for sharing, I will test and see what happens!
Security issue
Please be aware that you are opening yourself up to security issues by uninstalling these updates. This webview component is the part of Android used for displaying webpages inside of other apps. Since it is a full HTML renderer, it is susceptible to the same security issues that regularly get fixed in your Chrome installation. But previously, (pre-lollipop) this component was part of your ROM and could only be updated by firmware updates. Since lollipop, Google separated this component into an updateable Android package. I sincerely wonder if your ¨fix¨ was due to the uninstallation of these updates. You have, however, already missed 4 security updates.
Proceed with caution...
Wiltron said:
No, this is NOT the Xposed "Fix Memory Leak" install that fixes nothing, because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release. If you have it installed now, you can uninstall it because it is literally doing nothing but taking up free space on your device; and is another hook you don't need in your install process. That also requires root to be installed, and this is a no-root situation
After a week of battling with XZDR and [NUT] starting to hate me, I decided to just bite the bullet, and FTF flash the stock, unrooted firmware, and see what it was like without root and if I could live. Most of the apps, not all of them though, can be disabled completely from within Android app manager, so things like TiBu are not really needed. I don't use Facebook or Twitter apps so having the "Xperia for Facebook" apps, which can't be frozen/disabled, was a pain in the ass, but they don't have any login information so everything's safe there.
I was very unimpressed with the way certain apps loaded. As an example, using Disa for my messaging solution was great, but SwiftKey was being a jerk. I'd press on the text input field and the keyboard would show up and then disappear right away. It would sometimes take up to 3 minutes of constant press *hides* press *hides* press *hides* just to be able to type a "K" message to someone. Not happy. Then, I'd load up Clash of Clans, do what I needed to do, then close it, then load up Family Guy, and it would crash because CoC was in the background. I'd have to completely reboot my phone in order to go from one game to the other. Very unhappy.
I found the app "Android System WebView", and not knowing what it was, tried to disable it. I uninstalled updates and disabled the system package, but it wouldn't let me disable it, only remove and replace with stock, and I thought that that was good enough. Rebooted my phone, and blamo.. phone performance increased by at least 3 orders of magnitude!
I've yet to have the SwiftKey hiding issue, and as I typed this, I finished the gold mine upgrade and went to see if Peter was doing Shipoopiing, and all was well.
Great thing is, if this doesn't fix your issue - you can update it right back to normal from Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"...because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release." <- I reported that already.
About the WebView. If you think that WebView is responsible for your device not working properly then you definitely don't know what WebView is and when it's even being used. You don't just go and disable any system app you don't recognize. Those advices are worthless.
All you need is a stable ROM. I'm using my own custom ROM, have the latest Play services, Play Store and WebView embedded into the ROM. The ROM works perfectly and normaly has 700-800 free RAM.
Have a look here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z1/general/icylollymod-igor-eisberg-t3101848
Wiltron said:
ROM Toolbox requires root.
Freezing and Uninstalling bloat also requires root.
My fix doesn't require root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your attitude towards root does not make a lot of sense: your system apps have root regardless of rooting status. Your android runs as root without asking for permission. So, your phone IS rooted by default. The only one who does not have root access is you. Having root for you means having an app that alerts you and asks for your permission when there is a request for root by other apps. That prevents malicious script execution. Let me give you an example: your web browser sits in system partition which has automatic root access. Suppose, you visit a site thay silently executes a java script and takes over your browser. Now, it has root permission without any notice to you: it can download anything to your system and take over your phone. And there is nothing you can do to stop this unless you have root. Also, think about oem and google updates: they all can run silently, unless you have root.
So, in short, having no root equals no security at all...
Wiltron said:
No, this is NOT the Xposed "Fix Memory Leak" install that fixes nothing, because Sony already patched that in to their 5.0.2 release. If you have it installed now, you can uninstall it because it is literally doing nothing but taking up free space on your device; and is another hook you don't need in your install process. That also requires root to be installed, and this is a no-root situation
After a week of battling with XZDR and [NUT] starting to hate me, I decided to just bite the bullet, and FTF flash the stock, unrooted firmware, and see what it was like without root and if I could live. Most of the apps, not all of them though, can be disabled completely from within Android app manager, so things like TiBu are not really needed. I don't use Facebook or Twitter apps so having the "Xperia for Facebook" apps, which can't be frozen/disabled, was a pain in the ass, but they don't have any login information so everything's safe there.
I was very unimpressed with the way certain apps loaded. As an example, using Disa for my messaging solution was great, but SwiftKey was being a jerk. I'd press on the text input field and the keyboard would show up and then disappear right away. It would sometimes take up to 3 minutes of constant press *hides* press *hides* press *hides* just to be able to type a "K" message to someone. Not happy. Then, I'd load up Clash of Clans, do what I needed to do, then close it, then load up Family Guy, and it would crash because CoC was in the background. I'd have to completely reboot my phone in order to go from one game to the other. Very unhappy.
I found the app "Android System WebView", and not knowing what it was, tried to disable it. I uninstalled updates and disabled the system package, but it wouldn't let me disable it, only remove and replace with stock, and I thought that that was good enough. Rebooted my phone, and blamo.. phone performance increased by at least 3 orders of magnitude!
I've yet to have the SwiftKey hiding issue, and as I typed this, I finished the gold mine upgrade and went to see if Peter was doing Shipoopiing, and all was well.
Great thing is, if this doesn't fix your issue - you can update it right back to normal from Google Play.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As few peoples pointed out, by NOT installing Android System WebView update, your phone might have some security risk.
I would really not recommend using this "FIX" , My Z1 doesn't have this sort of problem anyway.
Webview IS security risk, because it is an html renderer with web connection abilities. There is no legitimate reason for a user to have this app, which purpose is to provide an advertising vehicle for corrupt developers (I call corrupt those devs who use ads in their "free" apps). It is better to just uninstall this app than constantly update it where updates are always behind bugs, malware and other security vulnerabilities. Only your web browser, e-mail client and internet messaging apps should be allowed to connect to the internet for security reasons and battery/performance sake. So, while I don't agree with OP's attitude towards root, I support him when he gets rid of another bloat/malware/security risk...
As far as deleting the app, if your rom does not provide for system app removal, just use a file manager (root required) and erase the app from the system...
For anyone who cares:
Webview is part of android. Not updating it is a bad idea as others have stated. There was an update about two weeks ago that had some bugs and was eating battery and causing some apps to crash. Google fixed it quickly and the current one in the play store is fine again. No battery drain and plays nice with all apps.
It's funny that if Google didn't release a buggy update, nobody would have even known or cared it was there. They would have just updated it.
As others have stated it was always there, only now they are updating it regularly through the play store instead of having to wait for an OTA. If you don't update it, that's fine, it is your choice.
It should be updated considering there are security and performance fixes in the updates. Giving others erroneous information and telling them to remove it completely when you don't even know what it is, is not a good idea.
A simple Google search when the buggy update dropped would have revealed that it was just that, a buggy update. Solution was, uninstall just the update UNTIL Google released a fixed one. Personally I have noticed better battery since the newest update.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
No matter the solution, this new Lollipop release is really bug when it comes to memory management. I can't listen to a podcast without the app being killed ten times an hour... It never happened to me before. My smartwatch is constantly disconnected because the Wear app is killed every time I receive a message and so on (while there are still at least 400 MB free in memory).
optimumpro said:
Webview IS security risk, because it is an html renderer with web connection abilities. There is no legitimate reason for a user to have this app, which purpose is to provide an advertising vehicle for corrupt developers (I call corrupt those devs who use ads in their "free" apps). It is better to just uninstall this app than constantly update it where updates are always behind bugs, malware and other security vulnerabilities. Only your web browser, e-mail client and internet messaging apps should be allowed to connect to the internet for security reasons and battery/performance sake. So, while I don't agree with OP's attitude towards root, I support him when he gets rid of another bloat/malware/security risk...
As far as deleting the app, if your rom does not provide for system app removal, just use a file manager (root required) and erase the app from the system...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I´m sorry, this really is just bad advise: you are breaking apps (legitimate apps, not the adviews you refer to) by removing this app. Again: this is not an app, it is a system component that Google made updateable via the play store. It is not meant to be removed without breaking apps.
stamppot said:
I´m sorry, this really is just bad advise: you are breaking apps (legitimate apps, not the adviews you refer to) by removing this app. Again: this is not an app, it is a system component that Google made updateable via the play store. It is not meant to be removed without breaking apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Name one app (that is no malware/bug/ad) broken because one removes webview...
Just because an app sits in the system does not make it a legitimate one. Any app, if it wants to display an internet page, can use stock browser. There is simply no reason to have an extra layer (webview) that exposes you to security risks. This is, by the way, what Google does: to make sure that your device is wide open to commercial/spying interests. But luckily, because of open source, one can remove most of this garbage...
If I recall correctly, the Priv's OS has some application that checks the integrity of the OS, thus prevents rooting.
And can't we simply flash a new ROM which would be just a clean Android? Maybe unlocking the bootloader would be easier than cat-and-mouse play with the real BB Android.
no it does not exist and the drivers for some hw on the device to work like izat and keyboard won't work, also the priv kernel is also secure along with bootloader so if i see a custom or AOSP rom for this device i will be like on twilight zone
There have been lost opportunities here and there but BlackBerry has been active on patching all security holes and that is why is important to the company that a root has to be impossible or this effort has been all for nothing and they became the newest "Blackphone" (now that rooting was unfortunate for a device sold as a "secure" phone).
I know that there are audience in Android just for root capacity but not everybody are in a "real" need for it.
I like that the BlackBerry Launcher leave most of AOSP element, except for icons and notifications sounds.
Personally I only ever use root for CPU control and ability to delete ANY app I deem fit, and on my previous SGS5 that meant all those heart rate and other nonsense apps that ran in background and chunked the battery to no end.
Gonna assume the Priv then has no CPU management ability due to the lack of root, correct?
Skv012a said:
Personally I only ever use root for CPU control and ability to delete ANY app I deem fit, and on my previous SGS5 that meant all those heart rate and other nonsense apps that ran in background and chunked the battery to no end.
Gonna assume the Priv then has no CPU management ability due to the lack of root, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. Though, they do use the interactive governor, and while I would kind of like to underclock the CPU a bit to deal with overheating, the default CPU management isn't too shabby. And since the Priv is almost completely stock, removal of unwanted apps is minimal, and all the carrier apps I had weren't system apps, so I was able to actually uninstall them, and what BB apps I didn't care for, I simply disabled. Learning that life without root isn't so bad on the Priv.
I just want root for Adblock for both YouTube and Chrome. I don't care if it's just a temp, as long as it lets me update the Filters for AdAway I am alright with it, I'll deal with the youtube ads.
KOAO said:
I just want root for Adblock for both YouTube and Chrome. I don't care if it's just a temp, as long as it lets me update the Filters for AdAway I am alright with it, I'll deal with the youtube ads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, you could use Firefox. It supports extensions on Android, and ublock works nicely to kill ads, though I find functionally that Chrome runs infinitely better on Android than Firefox does, so your kilometerage may vary.
Artemis-kun said:
And since the Priv is almost completely stock, removal of unwanted apps is minimal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true! The Priv is full of bloatware that you can only deactivate but not uninstall (Yahoo Finances, for example). And some of those apps will stay active and make the phone unusable despite being 'deactivated'. Like BB Hub. I deactivated it from the start and just recently saw that it still had several permissions (location, contacts, messages, calendar etc). So I revoked those permissions. Now it constantly pops up and wants permissions. I can't even add a contact without granting these permissions. Annoying as hell. It's ridiculous that BB regard themselves as a secure company with secure smartphones (which was rebutted several years ago) that emphasize on privacy but when it comes to their own apps, it can't get any more privacy invading. I so hate BB!
So I'm waiting for
a) another producer to make an Android phone with a hardware keyboard or
b) someone to make root for the Priv happen so that I can install a ROM of my choice.
Shani Ace said:
Not true! The Priv is full of bloatware that you can only deactivate but not uninstall (Yahoo Finances, for example). And some of those apps will stay active and make the phone unusable despite being 'deactivated'. Like BB Hub. I deactivated it from the start and just recently saw that it still had several permissions (location, contacts, messages, calendar etc). So I revoked those permissions. Now it constantly pops up and wants permissions. I can't even add a contact without granting these permissions. Annoying as hell. It's ridiculous that BB regard themselves as a secure company with secure smartphones (which was rebutted several years ago) that emphasize on privacy but when it comes to their own apps, it can't get any more privacy invading. I so hate BB!
So I'm waiting for
a) another producer to make an Android phone with a hardware keyboard or
b) someone to make root for the Priv happen so that I can install a ROM of my choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't call it full of bloat. Full of bloat is what Samsung has on offer. Yes, there are some bloatware apps that you can't uninstall, but they disable just fine. Sounds to me like your hub got re-enabled, mine has been disabled since day one, and still has no permissions, and doesn't harass me about anything.
Artemis-kun said:
Sounds to me like your hub got re-enabled, mine has been disabled since day one, and still has no permissions, and doesn't harass me about anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting. Did you do any of the BB OTA updates (mine's running the most recent version, 6.0.1, security patch from August 5th)?
The Hub is still deactivated, but it doesn't seem to 'care' about that. I activated and deactivated it again to no effect.
So you're telling me when you go into Settings -> Apps -> BB Hub -> Permissions, all six permissions (calendar, camera, contacts, storage, phone and BB Productivity Suite) are turned-off?
I'm pretty sure I had these turned off when I got the phone in May. So maybe some of the OTA updates changed something about it. Unless you're running the same version that I am.
Oh and the fullscreen pop-up says Blackberry Hub+, maybe this is a new thing then?
And yes, other manufacturers may have more Bloatware. But at least there you can uninstall them or flash a different ROM. And all the BB services like BB Hub count as Bloatware for me, too.
Maybe I should sell my Priv and get a S6 Edge Plus (again). I still got the keyboard cover for that model and it's flashable, although Samsung also makes it hard for the users. But the keyboard cover is not back-lit and the phone is even bigger than the Priv (already too big for my taste).
EDIT: Ah wait! I just saw that the 'Blackberry Services' were activate, so I deactivated it and revoked all its permissions and now the pop up is gone. I definitely had this deactivated before the update, but as with the other BB apps, you have to deactivate them again after each update. Guess I just overlooked this one. Yay!
Shani Ace said:
Interesting. Did you do any of the BB OTA updates (mine's running the most recent version, 6.0.1, security patch from August 5th)?
The Hub is still deactivated, but it doesn't seem to 'care' about that. I activated and deactivated it again to no effect.
So you're telling me when you go into Settings -> Apps -> BB Hub -> Permissions, all six permissions (calendar, camera, contacts, storage, phone and BB Productivity Suite) are turned-off?
I'm pretty sure I had these turned off when I got the phone in May. So maybe some of the OTA updates changed something about it. Unless you're running the same version that I am.
Oh and the fullscreen pop-up says Blackberry Hub+, maybe this is a new thing then?
And yes, other manufacturers may have more Bloatware. But at least there you can uninstall them or flash a different ROM. And all the BB services like BB Hub count as Bloatware for me, too.
Maybe I should sell my Priv and get a S6 Edge Plus (again). I still got the keyboard cover for that model and it's flashable, although Samsung also makes it hard for the users. But the keyboard cover is not back-lit and the phone is even bigger than the Priv (already too big for my taste).
EDIT: Ah wait! I just saw that the 'Blackberry Services' were activate, so I deactivated it and revoked all its permissions and now the pop up is gone. I definitely had this deactivated before the update, but as with the other BB apps, you have to deactivate them again after each update. Guess I just overlooked this one. Yay!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://puu.sh/qYFcI/bca42bb0e9.png here is a screenshot I just took. I should also point out that I have everything else BB disabled as well, and I've never had to re-disable any of them. I'm on the MM beta program, so that might also make some kind of diffeerence, but I stay up to date with patches, and haven't had to disable anything again. Not sure how it happened in your case, but glad that you got it sorted.
Another thing I do feel I need to bring up, this is also a BB phone made for BB people, so it does make sense that they include the software suite that their fans have grown to love. Sure, those of us who couldn't care less about BB's software, and just wanted in on their amazing hardware prowess, will find these apps bothersome, but if nothing else, visually they left Android alone, and for that, I can't not happily thank them. They could have given us something like a BB10 inspired touchwiz, could you imagine? Lol.
Yeah that's true and I'm also happy that they didn't over-customize their ROM. It's just hard to accept any deviation when you've been used to having full freedom on all kinds of custom ROMs for the last ten years.
Strange though that you didn't have to re-deactivate the apps after the updates. Then I guess I'll look into the beta program (had seen it before but didn't mind).
and I do not have 'Secure Start-up' turned-on.
There's enough bloatware that I'd like to remove, such as "Hang-Outs" & BBM is eating data with stupid pics of available 'stickies' & other crap I don't want to see/read about & my ONLY choice for disable is "Do you want to restore this app to Factory Default?". No, I don't I want to Restore it to Factory Default - I want to DISABLE it. I do understand that the PRIV's supposed to be secure & yes that's a Good Thing. I also understand that most users LIKE to be kept informed. I am NOT 'social' - Let ME decide what I want to be informed about & when. I didn't even get a choice of what subscription (?) I wanted (which is NONE). There's a bunch of apps that I can only Restore to Factory default. That, too me, means I CANNOT Remove or Disable them. I call that bloatware. Un-wanted bloatware. If I could remove them without Rooting, then I would not be looking to do so! I have an 'Essential Tremour' & I NEED a physical keyboard or I'd look elsewhere.
OK: I managed to get BBM to stop shouting at me (as noted: I make mistakes, but I do learn from them); it's just down to wanting to get rid of apps I don't want taking-up space. Rooting a PRIV appears to be dicey, with no firm info from Oct/2016, onwards, regarding 'safe' rooting of my device. I'm running 6.0.1 & Bell is my provider. If it makes any difference, I do not have 'Secure Start-Up' turned-on. As noted, if I didn't need a physical keyboard, I probably would not have chosen this make/model. Guess I'll live with it & keep looking for ways to put my phone on diet (& the battery barely lasts a day, unfortunately). I basically use it as a PDA - no games, few calls, occasional checking notes & calendar - it should last longer.
Bootstrap69 said:
There's enough bloatware that I'd like to remove, such as "Hang-Outs" & BBM is eating data with stupid pics of available 'stickies' & other crap I don't want to see/read about & my ONLY choice for disable is "Do you want to restore this app to Factory Default?". No, I don't I want to Restore it to Factory Default - I want to DISABLE it. I do understand that the PRIV's supposed to be secure & yes that's a Good Thing. I also understand that most users LIKE to be kept informed. I am NOT 'social' - Let ME decide what I want to be informed about & when. I didn't even get a choice of what subscription (?) I wanted (which is NONE). There's a bunch of apps that I can only Restore to Factory default. That, too me, means I CANNOT Remove or Disable them. I call that bloatware. Un-wanted bloatware. If I could remove them without Rooting, then I would not be looking to do so! I have an 'Essential Tremour' & I NEED a physical keyboard or I'd look elsewhere.
OK: I managed to get BBM to stop shouting at me (as noted: I make mistakes, but I do learn from them); it's just down to wanting to get rid of apps I don't want taking-up space. Rooting a PRIV appears to be dicey, with no firm info from Oct/2016, onwards, regarding 'safe' rooting of my device. I'm running 6.0.1 & Bell is my provider. If it makes any difference, I do not have 'Secure Start-Up' turned-on. As noted, if I didn't need a physical keyboard, I probably would not have chosen this make/model. Guess I'll live with it & keep looking for ways to put my phone on diet (& the battery barely lasts a day, unfortunately). I basically use it as a PDA - no games, few calls, occasional checking notes & calendar - it should last longer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to disable some of the apps on this device they must be restored to factory default. I have hangouts and BBM disabled. My battery life is pretty good. You have to figure out what's killing yours. Do you use a case that has the preview window on the front?
On non rootable devices I use AdGuard to have a firewall and adblocker. It works by routing everything through a local vpn server. Great concept and working fine for me.
I recently discovered the joys of package disabling, using this XDA article as a guide and it has been 99% amazing. My battery life went up significantly and the bixby button is disabled without having to use some third party app.
However, the 1% that isn't amazing is the fact that google play seems to no longer be able to automatically update my apps. I can go in and manually update them, and it still shows a big list of which apps are available to update, and auto update is still turned on... but I suspect something I disabled may be not allowing google play to actually run the updates. Any thoughts?
I was reading another thread about which things people have disabled, and someone mentioned the settings menu loads slower... another person knew right away that it was two services that you had to re-enable, so I figured maybe someone just kinda knew what to do without having to go through each service/package and guess...
jigielnik said:
I recently discovered the joys of package disabling, using this XDA article as a guide and it has been 99% amazing. My battery life went up significantly and the bixby button is disabled without having to use some third party app.
However, the 1% that isn't amazing is the fact that google play seems to no longer be able to automatically update my apps. I can go in and manually update them, and it still shows a big list of which apps are available to update, and auto update is still turned on... but I suspect something I disabled may be not allowing google play to actually run the updates. Any thoughts?
I was reading another thread about which things people have disabled, and someone mentioned the settings menu loads slower... another person knew right away that it was two services that you had to re-enable, so I figured maybe someone just kinda knew what to do without having to go through each service/package and guess...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran basically the same huge long list that guy exported in the thread about disabling Bixby / etc.. and I didn't experience this issue. You may have to play the 50/50 game until you isolate which service is responsible
Bump!
Hi,
Samsung Galaxy note 20 ultra Europe exynos sm-986b debloat/decrapify (Switzerland/Swisscom).
I'm starting my journey to debloat that phone which is entirely unusable for me, due to the unwanted presence of hundred of junk apps.
After realizing that I was not using a data cable but only a charging cable (computer not having usbc, I had to use another cable than the official one). I manage to get my bearings a bit.
So the connection is sorted out (out of topic), now start the actual decrapifying:
1) I used/will use this program, to list all programs:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/an...easy-management-android-applications-t4147837
Note: I could have used adb directly but this seems easier, especially as we talk about hundred of lines.
Note 2: each time I installed "ACBridge" which appears to show nice icons for that program.
2) I have compiled a list of applications currently installed. I did not install anything manually myself yet, not even connected to Android Play:
442 apps by default.
https://gofile.io/d/xGHoff
Note: Are some of these apps only specific to my seller and my region? It's possible, since the phone clearly had some of the FYI operator branded options installed.
3) I'm going to factory reset now. Again, nothing was really installed, just official rom updates done. But I want to start from fresh.
4) After I will reinitiate the phone, I will redo the list of applications capture, and start trimming down.
5) After the factory reset, it seems I had a new screen (unless I skipped it by mistake last time) proposing me to install additional apps like spotify, linked in... I refused this time. Last time I had the apps installed maybe a mistake click, or something new thanks to newer firmware.
6) Use the program again, I now have 429 apps only instead of 442.
7) I tried the list mentioned a starting point, I will look into this user list, allegedely 109 apps removed from a S20 (which is a different phone, I know):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/tool-windows-adb-appcontrol-v1-4-5.4147837/post-83980273
First that only has 104 apps over 109.
Second, I found a few items I wanted to keep and a few I wanted to remove.
Customization Work required here...!
Caution: the list of 109 items contains what is described elsewere as dangerous:
com.samsung.android.authfw ; Not Recommended: Used for password autocompletion, can be removed if you don't use it. This app is sometimes called by the system and might cause battery drain if removed
com.serv.android.preloadinstaller : App that install other application, do not remove!
I will check each non-obvious items.
This list seems more pro:
Samsung full apps list
Feuille 1 LAST UPDATED 01/09/2022,Reinstall an app using pm install-existing [the app package],Enter in shell using adb -d shell before running the command,Enter in shell using adb -d shell before running the command,<a href="https://docs.samsungknox.com/CCMode/G988B_Q.pdf">https://docs.samsungk...
docs.google.com
I made a custom preset with the 85 items in the list of " Safe to uninstall ". Only 71/86 where showing, some I wanted to keep like Android Auto.
--> I seems to have to choice but start from a bigger list and go through it myself.
After checking each items of that 109 list, vs the spreadsheet and sometimes google, I actually ended up reducing the list, or keeping more items. My final list is currently 68 applications to remove.
I also removed additional things like Netflix.
FINAL LIST:
Samsung SM-N986B_[All]_presetJSDec2020.txt
In the process I learned that this list seems rather personal to do. Yet, some items are marked not to be removed due to battery drain, so the initial list of 109 seems risky. I would say some manual work is mandatory.
8) Moving on, time to uninstall. Done.
9) Time to configure the basics again (basically language, etc...). Done.
10) Time to migrate data from old phone to new phone, I used "Samsung smart switch" app, installed it on both phone, used wifi, and unselected unwanted things. Done after some 1-2 hours (not so much data but it was slow and I interrupted twice).
11) Now the phone looks ok, a few apps had to be manually reinstalled like MCDonald's crapp.
12) Time to recover authenticator, relogin to apps, etc...Some apps I can't do now like RSA token, needs to regenerate a token elsewhere. GoogleAuth was simple, I could easily export from old phone/import new phone..
13) Phone works for now. I see I missed to remove some stuffs like "My files" which was basically simply like file explorer but from Samsung. That was indicated as "not remove" but probably can be ( com.sec.android.app.myfiles ).
Edit: day +1 after the step 13. Phone works properly. No visible impact on battery drain (seems high, as usual and with little usage overnight, same as before any intervention from my side). Unable to continue anything for now, being ill. Everything seems to work, even without the stuffs I removed.
On that note, I got rid of youtube and yt music, and installed YoutubeVance.
I tested the basics (phone, camera...) looks ok.
Note: this is WIP and more sharing the journey, as well as learning. Usually I would unlock bootloader, root, and install a decent ROM from XDA; but not happening this time.
Thanks for sharing cyber.cat thread ! Used it and removed 20+ useless app
ouroukai90 said:
Thanks for sharing cyber.cat thread ! Used it and removed 20+ useless app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad that could help- The tool from Cyber Cat and the threads are useful. Yet I saw quite a few tools/options around.
The idea was to share the experience of using one, do some sort of decrapifying/debloating and comment.
For me even if I expected a bit that, I was a bit surprise that this operation needs a lot of customization.
Let's say it was easier to start from a fresh Android ROM and add some selected Google apps, rather than trimming down that Samsung junk (That something I usually do with custom roms, here I stayed with official Samsung ROM, so I did not have that possibility to start fresh).
I see Android 11 update should come soon (around January 2021?).... I take it that they will reinstall all their garbage in the OTA update... And we will have to decrapify again!?
Yes I guess for a major update it will maybe reinstall crap like "tips" from Samsung. But i've done this using beta4 OneUI3.0 and it work very well
Is it possible to uninstall the google app? And then install it again? I have problems with hey google not working
Anskjer said:
Is it possible to uninstall the google app? And then install it again? I have problems with hey google not working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, which app specifically?
Not sure what is "hey google", are you talking about "Google Assistant"?
Anyway, usually clear cache, not uninstall/reinstall...(then clear data when sure what you doing...)
htchd2sucks said:
Yes, which app specifically?
Not sure what is "hey google", are you talking about "Google Assistant"?
Anyway, usually clear cache, not uninstall/reinstall...(then clear data when sure what you doing...)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The assistant is inside the google app. Clear cache I have try but didn't work. Thanks for the help
The phone shown me an update yesterday (01/01/2021), OneUI3, Android 11.
It updated without any issue, and all my apps and things are properly there after.
One strange thing is it was allegedely updating 470 apps on my phone, I don't remember having so many.
Another thing to notice, is that I did not notice any new garbage apps after the update. For example, some emoticons junk was not reinstalled. Also, the default keyboard remains Gboard, like I set myself before the update.
Anyway, time to check now, in details.
Verdict: # Total applications: 421
Some junk have been installed again during the update. (after my previous cleaning, I was at:
# Total applications: 361)
I don't see the same type of junk as it was before, like Netflix apps, Bixby...etc... So it's rather strange.
One horrible app I found is "eBay Partner Attribution". What is it? Affiliate marketing is a referral program where sites pay commissions to affiliates who send traffic to their site that results in a sale.
Well done Samsung, installing junk to get additional money...
App killed on sight (com.ebay.carrier).
I also removed com.google.android.videos.
That will be all for now, don't have the time to do better.
Is it really safe to debloat all knox related stuff? just asking if it helps anything?
jirka607 said:
Is it really safe to debloat all knox related stuff? just asking if it helps anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think knox junk tripping is only if you replace your bootloader:
Knox
I think removing the apps only is not tripping it (anyway, if it is, my phone is fine without it).
It depends what you mean "safe" anyway, if you are talking about some features that might not work, or a broken phone for example.
Thanks, im not sure if you should put the Knox app in the safe list.
danterape said:
Thanks, im not sure if you should put the Knox app in the safe list.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to delete it then u'll see xD