Database Users

Noobie here... Seeking some advice post root

Hi everybody,
I just moved from an iphone 3g (which i had jailbroken) to an incredible thanks to at&t contract finally finishing. Hv rooted the inc on my mac using the unrevoked method. Everything works fine (still have stock eclair 2.1 and sense running). Hv installed a bunch of apps from the market but hv not sideloaded anything yet or uninstalled anything (htc sense etc etc) yet. I would really appreciate some guidance from the community on the following since i am very new to the platform as a whole.
1. I dont want to lose the ability to update to the official froyo release (whenever it happens) so will I have to unroot (if thats even possible) to get the froyo update? If yes, whats the correct way so that I can bookmark that.
2. I want to be able to use the tethering without paying 20$ extra per month to VZ (in fact would probably use USB tethering to my macbook more often than wifi tethering/hotspot, but obviously I would like both! ). How should i do that? Obviously the stock app will just alert verizon, right? Is there another app that will work now that i hv rooted? Any special instructions to follow?
3. Would like to optimize the capability of the device by removing crapware and useless stuff which comes with the phone. Hv not yet even figured out what each app does yet. I will use my inc primarily for entertainment - games, social networking, browsing, streaming music, videos, google voice, true VoIP (not official VZ skype), GPS navigation, tethering (when no wifi) but will be OTA syncing my office exchange email account, contacts, calendar as well to make this a backup phone to my official bberry. Any suggestions on which apps to remove? Also how should I remove them without bricking the phone. Is there a cleaner method?
4. I actually like Sense even though it seems it uses up some memory - any way i can remove the useless parts of Sense (since I wont be using USB sync and I am sure some other stuff in sense is just bloatware) without losing the other features that look great - to be honest the phone looks too plain without sense (nexus 1 looked really naked). I would like to retain the look and feel of the sense ui.
5. How do I get swype on this? I played with it when i was shopping for android phones on the captivate (which unfortunately was on at&t) and I am amazed at how great that was! I badly badly badly badly need that!!
6. Any standard add-ons, apps which you would recommend for my intended usage?
7. Now that I am rooted which post-root apps should i install to make the inc more useful? Any obvious ones which you would recommend?
8. The people sense widget is just too much, anything a bit saner which is like a launchpad but without the screen wastage?
9. In jailbroken iphones, you could install lockinfo which was a spectacular agglomeration of all things (missed calls, voice mails waiting, email msg list, twitter feed, facebook feed, weather, calendar, tasks, sms msgs) in 1 simple scrollable screen. Anything similar in Sense/HTC widgets/App store? Just one glance would tell me everything.
Sorry, since I am new I decided to ask all questions in 1 shot. Obviously dont expect to have all questions answered by 1 person but if the devs/users can point me in the right direction, with links and some comments, I will greatly appreciate it.
Thanks and hoping to be a contributor to the android community sometime soon as I was in the iphone community until i just could not take at&t anymore.

1.yes you need to unroot to recieve otas
2.there is an app incthe market called wifi tether that is free.
3.look in the theme/app sectiom. there is a skinned version there.
4. adb in recovery os the only way to remove crapware
7-8 . there are not many apps for root users lile there was with cydia.
also, there are many widets avaliable in the android market. there is lots of good apps in the market. explore.
if you have any other questions feel free to pm me amy time.

jdkoreclipse said:
1.yes you need to unroot to recieve otas
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, if you are running the stock rom ou will recieve OTAs. The OTA doesn't magically detect "this phone is rooted."

rpearl said:
No, if you are running the stock rom ou will recieve OTAs. The OTA doesn't magically detect "this phone is rooted."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesnt somethong change the ctacerts and otacerts?
Sent from my Incredible using XDA App

No. it's also not suggested and is reported to have negative side effects.

One important thing, Install Rom Manager from the market.
With this app you can do a backup of the Rom (stock sense and rooted) you're running now and install others to try, if you don't like them just restore the one you had before and done, you can as many back up as you want.
Also check in the theme section and you'll find lots of themes to make your phone look and work beautiful, this also allows you to get to recovery without having to turnoff your phone and install anything you want from the sd card.
Also, if you don't like some of the crap ware that Sense has, there's a post for removing the apps you don't want on Sense and it tell you which ones are safe to remove.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=710009
Hope this helps a little.
Some apps for us the rooted...shootme or drocap to take pictures of your screens, titanium backup, wifi tether, etc.

Appreciate the help everybody! Only thing I am still seeking an answer for is swype on my inc if anybody can guide me.
Thanks

khanam said:
Appreciate the help everybody! Only thing I am still seeking an answer for is swype on my inc if anybody can guide me.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here you go. I use the red skinned Swype, looks great and works great.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=701198

Thanks! Just realized one more thing. I cant seem to be able to use skype over wifi only. Is this verizon's way of using up my minutes one way or another?

Instead of rooting...?

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.

Plan not to root new Samsung S20

Hi All
Soon to be retiring my trusted rooted Samsung S7 Edge I have had for nearly 30 months for a new S20.
I have been rooting my androids for over 10 years now but am thinking that when it comes to the S20 I no longer wish to root. The reason is the security of the device is pretty high on my agenda and unfortuntely I dont get the time nowadays to keep my phone up to date via the unconventional means.
I have use few rooted apps over the years such as Titanium backup and few apps within Magisk such as the Youtube Vanced (no ADS) and also viper4android.
Before I make this decision can anyone convince me that rooting is still the way to go and I can do it without taking up too much of my time? I can already see there is some rooted builds already available. Is it even more dificult to perform the root process with the newer phones? I assume Knox won't work and other similar apps which rely on a unrooted phone or are there ways around this?
Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Thanks

On Samsung devices rooting allows you to debloat the phone a lot, which on my Galaxy S8 improved performances and battery peformances A LOT (it was a fast as the bloated S9+ of my parents on daily usage)
Also it allows you to install apps such as Viper4Android as you said, also it allows me to backup my WHOLE phone so that if any **** happens I can just restore everything.
The update process is fairly easy when it works, just download the updated zip and flash it via TWRP, however except some issues which would require you to reinstall, everything. sometimes with custom roms.
On my side as soon as a good custom rom is here, I will root it and go to a custom rom.
Also the rooting process doesn't take too much time, I'd say 1 hour if you encounter no problem, and yes knox features won't work tho I don't use any of them so.

Personally, rooting isn't near as great as it use to be. Adblock can be done via VPN or through private DNS. Music sounds just as good without Viper. Performance and battery life are incredible. You can uninstall anything via adb. Only thing I wish we could do without root is backup everything as well as titanium does.

Kind of similar situation here... I also used s7, rooted and flashed every device since android 2.1, and guess what - my s20 is still in factory condition
I'm not sure how long it will last, but for now I'm managing to find replacement for most things I got used to, without root. If i got bored some day, I might root it, but for now I'm enjoying it as it is :angel:

Same here. I'm enjoying my root free s20+
Haven't rooted since note 2.. Even on my s7 and note 8.. Except had to root my note 8 when samsung decided to lock usage of dual sim with sdcard. Before that I modded my simcard (remove the simcard from the plastic card, file off few mm off my sdcard and stick the simcard chip on the microsd card) on s7 and note 8 that allows me to have dual sim.
When samsung updated my note 8 to one ui, they locked dual simcard function when they detect the sdcard. So had to root my note 8.
Now that the s20 allows dual sim (1 sim and 1 esim) and sdcard, there really isn't a reason to root the phone anymore, well for me that is..
Having rooted phones with magisk is just horrible. Had to reset the phone every time there is an update (prerooted custom rom, dr ketans rom) and sometimes magisk just doesn't hide root properly. It fails sometimes then i have to update magisk..
Sent from my SM-G985F using Tapatalk

I'm wondering the same, and did root my S20+. It was painful and it half work: Google Pay and Netflix no longer work. And I did use Magisk Hide to no avail. Now when I sell it it Google Pay might work, but Samsung Pay will not (didn't verify).
Nowadays I found a way to do a lot of things without root. With a little PC app I unlock a lot of features and it makes root far less mandatory. So I mainly root to test my apps. For my daily device I no longer intend to root it.

Dont take this the wrong way but i am really curious. What are the pros for rooting phones, especially $1000+ phones, in 2020?
I dont remember the last phone i rooted. I wanna say my Nexus 5 but really cant recall.

Could you please share which pc app you are using, I'd like to try it.
Thanks
3c said:
I'm wondering the same, and did root my S20+. It was painful and it half work: Google Pay and Netflix no longer work. And I did use Magisk Hide to no avail. Now when I sell it it Google Pay might work, but Samsung Pay will not (didn't verify).
Nowadays I found a way to do a lot of things without root. With a little PC app I unlock a lot of features and it makes root far less mandatory. So I mainly root to test my apps. For my daily device I no longer intend to root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

crows said:
Could you please share which pc app you are using, I'd like to try it.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's this app: https://3c71.com/3cc
You'll need to use one of my apps which is able to take advantage of it transparently. It's pretty recent and still work in progress. I have to check every features one by one to know which one works with this method. Recently added disabling app (and their individual components) and force-stop. Just that is pretty awesome IMO . Allows debloating a device painlessly.
It will also enable app data backup in the future. Limited to apps which have authorized data backup by Google framework.
I'm so excited since I discovered all the things that could be done that way.

Im downloading now, when you say use one of your apps, what do you mean app on phone?
3c said:
It's this app: https://3c71.com/3cc
You'll need to use one of my apps which is able to take advantage of it transparently. It's pretty recent and still work in progress. I have to check every features one by one to know which one works with this method. Recently added disabling app (and their individual components) and force-stop. Just that is pretty awesome IMO . Allows debloating a device painlessly.
It will also enable app data backup in the future. Limited to apps which have authorized data backup by Google framework.
I'm so excited since I discovered all the things that could be done that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

crows said:
Im downloading now, when you say use one of your apps, what do you mean app on phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, an app on phone. You'll get links for them and more details when you start the companion app. For now only toolbox allows disabling (called freezing) apps, but there's an app coming soon for app management alone that will have that.

Does it allow to edit root files such as CSC files?
3c said:
Yes, an app on phone. You'll get links for them and more details when you start the companion app. For now only toolbox allows disabling (called freezing) apps, but there's an app coming soon for app management alone that will have that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

crows said:
Does it allow to edit root files such as CSC files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't give root access, but only gives access to "dev" features that you can do with ADB.

jojos38 said:
On Samsung devices rooting allows you to debloat the phone a lot, which on my Galaxy S8 improved performances and battery peformances A LOT (it was a fast as the bloated S9+ of my parents on daily usage)
Also it allows you to install apps such as Viper4Android as you said, also it allows me to backup my WHOLE phone so that if any **** happens I can just restore everything.
The update process is fairly easy when it works, just download the updated zip and flash it via TWRP, however except some issues which would require you to reinstall, everything. sometimes with custom roms.
On my side as soon as a good custom rom is here, I will root it and go to a custom rom.
Also the rooting process doesn't take too much time, I'd say 1 hour if you encounter no problem, and yes knox features won't work tho I don't use any of them so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can debloat using ADB....

3c said:
I'm wondering the same, and did root my S20+. It was painful and it half work: Google Pay and Netflix no longer work. And I did use Magisk Hide to no avail. Now when I sell it it Google Pay might work, but Samsung Pay will not (didn't verify).
Nowadays I found a way to do a lot of things without root. With a little PC app I unlock a lot of features and it makes root far less mandatory. So I mainly root to test my apps. For my daily device I no longer intend to root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download magisk hide prop to fix that google pay issue. Now hide all google pay in magisk. I have a rooted s20+ exynos with working gpay.

ranjb said:
Hi All
Soon to be retiring my trusted rooted Samsung S7 Edge I have had for nearly 30 months for a new S20.
I have been rooting my androids for over 10 years now but am thinking that when it comes to the S20 I no longer wish to root. The reason is the security of the device is pretty high on my agenda and unfortuntely I dont get the time nowadays to keep my phone up to date via the unconventional means.
I have use few rooted apps over the years such as Titanium backup and few apps within Magisk such as the Youtube Vanced (no ADS) and also viper4android.
Before I make this decision can anyone convince me that rooting is still payg way to go and I can do it without taking up too much of my time? I can already see there is some rooted builds already available. Is it even more dificult to perform the root process with the newer phones? I assume Knox won't work and other similar apps which rely on a unrooted phone or are there ways around this?
Any advice on this would be appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly the same situation ; Now it's possible to delete & / or disable so many apps i don't feel the need to root.
You don't need to be rooted to use YouTube Vanced , ive installed it already! But.... Viper4Android is a huge benefit for an audiophile (I had the LG G8 ThinQ , can't root it , sent it back , A Quad DAC with V4A ??)
Knox & warranty for me are the hindrances , apparently depending on your nation warranties must be adhered to by manufacturers if hardware fails even if you manipulate the software.
Titanium backup has carried me since my Sony Xperia z3 plus , i have old versions of apps like SwiftKey before Microsoft purchased it.
I'll probably root in a few months when things are more stable , i don't use Samsung pay or secure folders so.... Literally down to warranty reasons as this s20+ 5G (I don't need 5g , either 4G is so fast) is expensive, never thought I'd get a phone like this (suppose its a computer really)
An exposed module called LTE Only (There's other variants) is also useful as this phone sometimes opts for 5bars of h+ over 3 bars of 4g , so annoying that LTE only isn't standard given you can call over VoLTE & still receive texts
---------- Post added at 02:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:00 AM ----------
Djapatos said:
Dont take this the wrong way but i am really curious. What are the pros for rooting phones, especially $1000+ phones, in 2020?
I dont remember the last phone i rooted. I wanna say my Nexus 5 but really cant recall.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends what you like or don't like.
I hate the Notion that the microphone gets activated by apps whenever the algorithm is triggered , rooted phoned allow the easy manipulation of app permissions - not that I've anything to hide it's just creepy , I don't use alexa or Google (whatever it's called) or bixby voice.
Essentially rooting your phone allows absolute manipulation of the system.
My S8 is rooted & has now employed a smashed screen , I thoroughly enjoy rooting but its actually to long winded for me now.
I don't think I've ever rooted & installed a rom once & left it , there's always wiping , reflashing , updating TWRP , updating roms , returning to stock to receive official firmware updates then reflashing updated rom
Ugghh as I write I think I've convinced myself. Rooting maybe dead for me. Being an audiophile / music maker I'd now only root an LG V or G phone as V4A & the incredible quad DAC is a heavenly combination for my ears

I stopped rooting years ago. It's just not worth it for most users.

Changed my mind , ended up rooting the phone (The adverts tipped me over the edge - seriously annoying).
debloated alot , disabled even more & can backup using titanium backup if i ever need to restart etc (quicker than / & i don't use cloud transfer).
i had to reflash after disabling too much & realised my data wasn't lost when flashing HOME_CSC rather than CSC which deletes everything (i know I'm preaching to the choir) which made me realise that updating this rooted s20+ is actually very easy.

jojos38 said:
On Samsung devices rooting allows you to debloat the phone a lot, which on my Galaxy S8 improved performances and battery peformances A LOT (it was a fast as the bloated S9+ of my parents on daily usage)
Also it allows you to install apps such as Viper4Android as you said, also it allows me to backup my WHOLE phone so that if any **** happens I can just restore everything.
The update process is fairly easy when it works, just download the updated zip and flash it via TWRP, however except some issues which would require you to reinstall, everything. sometimes with custom roms.
On my side as soon as a good custom rom is here, I will root it and go to a custom rom.
Also the rooting process doesn't take too much time, I'd say 1 hour if you encounter no problem, and yes knox features won't work tho I don't use any of them so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need root to debloat a phone. Just ADB. I removed nearly everything Samsung soon as I got the phone.

How many Samsung features and services can you disable on the note 20 ultra.

I really like the hardware profile of this phone. I am not a fan of all the Samsung apps and services. I know that defeats the purpose of buying a note 20 ultra, but at the same time. I don't think there will be an android phone released this year that will actually compete with this power house of a device. While I am currently in the iPhone camp, I am looking to switch back to android. I have yet to find a phone that makes that permanent and I always just go back to iPhone. I am asking this because that was the main reason I never kept the note 10+, had so many issues with their services and apps that after a few days I said **** it and just switched back.
I know there are some things that can be done via adb to remove and disable certain things on previous samsung devices. The question is how much of samsungs bloat can you actually disable and remove from this phone?

swagglepuff said:
I really like the hardware profile of this phone. I am not a fan of all the Samsung apps and services. I know that defeats the purpose of buying a note 20 ultra, but at the same time. I don't think there will be an android phone released this year that will actually compete with this power house of a device. While I am currently in the iPhone camp, I am looking to switch back to android. I have yet to find a phone that makes that permanent and I always just go back to iPhone. I am asking this because that was the main reason I never kept the note 10+, had so many issues with their services and apps that after a few days I said **** it and just switched back.
I know there are some things that can be done via adb to remove and disable certain things on previous samsung devices. The question is how much of samsungs bloat can you actually disable and remove from this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can disable or uninstall anything you want with adb but once uninstalled you may be up a creek without a paddle. I am proficient with adb but I us Package Disabler Pro from the Play Store. If you disable something important just go back and re-enable it.
I've been using adb since the T-Mobile G1, back then you had to use adb commands just to get a screen shot. Package disabler pro has 3 tabs - bloat, system apps and apps you've installed.

If you read about how to uninstall chinese apps from chinese phones, you will xome across a post which explains how to debloat from adb. Try it if you want to debloat

PD MDM package blocker, buy direct from their website for like $3.99, not it's on Playstore. Uses little battery or resources as it runs at boot in the background.
You can block or unblock apks as you wish and set a widget to turn off/on selected ones.
Playstore is one I do this with as it's always busy in the background. You can block carrier software updates so unwanted firmware isn't jammed down your throat.
I have about 60 blocked apks.
It will block all bloatware and many system apks however not all of Knox and Samsung Pay.
You can kill wittle Bixby, amen. However the cam needs Bixby Vision and Bixby Vision framework to function properly.
Rarely does malfunction but if it does you will need to disable it as system administrator as it will run in Safe Mode too. You can save your blocked list for future reloads or refreshes too.
Without this app my unrooted Samsungs be a complete mess... it's my favorite apk. It gets loaded first.

blackhawk said:
PD MDM package blocker, buy direct from their website for like $3.99, not it's on Playstore. Uses little battery or resources as it runs at boot in the background.
You can block or unblock apks as you wish and set a widget to turn off/on selected ones.
Playstore is one I do this with as it's always busy in the background. You can block carrier software updates so unwanted firmware isn't jammed down your throat.
I have about 60 blocked apks.
It will block all bloatware and many system apks however not all of Knox and Samsung Pay.
You can kill wittle Bixby, amen. However the cam needs Bixby Vision and Bixby Vision framework to function properly.
Rarely does malfunction but if it does you will need to disable it as system administrator as it will run in Safe Mode too. You can save your blocked list for future reloads or refreshes too.
Without this app my unrooted Samsungs be a complete mess... it's my favorite apk. It gets loaded first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That picture you attached brings me hope!! I ran into a lot of issues when I tried the note 10 will all the different crap it has you set up. Had to factory reset in less than 24 hours of having the phone to fix issues with Samsung services mainly Bixby and smart control services. I honestly like the simple ass turn on iPhone use iPhone setup. I miss having the little things around like changing my icons. I miss tasker the most, that program is stupidly powerful and had some really useful profiles setup.

swagglepuff said:
That picture you attached brings me hope!! I ran into a lot of issues when I tried the note 10 will all the different crap it has you set up. Had to factory reset in less than 24 hours of having the phone to fix issues with Samsung services mainly Bixby and smart control services. I honestly like the simple ass turn on iPhone use iPhone setup. I miss having the little things around like changing my icons. I miss tasker the most, that program is stupidly powerful and had some really useful profiles setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung has the most customizable non-rooted phones there are. Apple doesn't come close.
It comes at price though as there's a lot to learn.
You need to play with it, a lot.
The Good Lock apps especially One Hand Operation+, custom themes and hundreds of free icon packs are some of the Samsung Android perks.
The 10+ is my first phone to have the memory I need; 1 tb.... hell yeah.
The bad part is unlike Apple there can be conflicts caused by the many different software's and hardware's.
A reload is ok; the next load is always better.
I'm on my 3rd... my SD card is the data/backup drive now. So I won't need to upload near as much the next reload.
I backup all my apks for the next reload to save time and in case they go playstore extinct.

swagglepuff said:
That picture you attached brings me hope!! I ran into a lot of issues when I tried the note 10 will all the different crap it has you set up. Had to factory reset in less than 24 hours of having the phone to fix issues with Samsung services mainly Bixby and smart control services. I honestly like the simple ass turn on iPhone use iPhone setup. I miss having the little things around like changing my icons. I miss tasker the most, that program is stupidly powerful and had some really useful profiles setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you like to tinker, you can also use substratum to theme your Samsung now. You need substratum lite and synergy to make it work. Been using it since the Note 8, the current instructions are toward the end of the thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/substratum/official-starting-substratum-andromeda-t3798316

blackhawk said:
my SD card is the data/backup drive now. So I won't need to upload near as much the next reload.
I backup all my apks for the next reload to save time and in case they go playstore extinct.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you use to backup abs does it Also retain the data? Looking for something similar while also saving the app/data
Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

Ziocomposite said:
What do you use to backup abs does it Also retain the data? Looking for something similar while also saving the app/data
Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apk Export: https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ort&pcampaignid=APPU_1_A_9MX9iMKsnesAWR5Z_YDA
Remember to save a backup copy to your SD card and/or computer in case the OS crashes and burns. It's rare but it can happen especially if your loading new 3rd party apps.
It allows you to backup system apps/updates too.
Occasionally you want the 2nd update to a system app but the 3rd one is buggy and the factory loaded version is inferior to the 2nd update; no problem if you saved the 2nd or whatever version!
Unfortunately if the app doesn't allow you to export the settings data your boned. Apps like Poweramp fortunately do, it take a lot of work to configure it, lol I keep a couple backups.
Also explore Demo Mode. You can stop animations completely to get even more speed as well as other system tweaks. Get Samsung's Sound Assistant to dail in the volume settings.
As for 3rd launchers be warned, those reloads I talked of were caused by a 3rd party launcher.
Put the phone in a boot loop.... twice.
I've tried a couple launchers but none ran as good as the native Samsung one. It's fast, reliable and isn't a power hog.
You're going to have a lot of fun... I'm still learning new things about my 10+ and Pie.
The 20 U is a very capable Android
This is what my stock 10+ looks like.

blackhawk said:
Apk Export: https://play.google.com/store/apps/...ort&pcampaignid=APPU_1_A_9MX9iMKsnesAWR5Z_YDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Much appreciated. Will download and give it a try.
Have been using Action Launcher since Note 8 and works so far with gestures on the N20U!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actionlauncher.playstore
Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk

Ziocomposite said:
Much appreciated. Will download and give it a try.
Have been using Action Launcher since Note 8 and works so far with gestures on the N20U!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.actionlauncher.playstore
Sent from my SM-N986U1 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a great app. No ads.
It allows batch processing too.
All too often a new owner and/or update kills a once great app, so...

Latest 10.1 inch Onn Tablet. Any way to remove Walmart button from the Navbar / remove other Walmart branding?

My dad has purchased a few of the 10.1 inch tablets for other members of our family, and I've been tasked with setting them up.
Is there any way to remove the Walmart branded stuff off of this thing? Especially the Walmart button in the Navbar?
If this were for me, I'd just look to root and installed Lineage OS, but since these are for someone else, I just want to get the stupid Walmart stuff out of there and make things as simple as possible for them.
Happy to provide more information as needed.
Thanks in advance!

Use Link 2SD to freeze the four apps. You can also freeze a WmApps to disable the icon, but I don't know yet if it'll take a hike. Will know after a bit probably. Both of my tablets are acting weird atm.
OK, got it. Disabling WmApps leaves the Walmart icon on the navbar but it locks the tablet instead of showing the four Walmart apps. If you leave WmApps enabled but freeze the four Walmart apps, the icon will bring up a "favorite apps" screen, presumably with whatever apps you want to move to it.
I could use it as instant lock myself.

I was hoping to get rid of the icon, but yeah, I already disabled the other apps. That'll have to do.
Thanks.

shadow460 said:
Use Link 2SD to freeze the four apps. You can also freeze a WmApps to disable the icon, but I don't know yet if it'll take a hike. Will know after a bit probably. Both of my tablets are acting weird atm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I tried to use Link2SD and it seems to require root to freeze app? I am ok with using the * button for favorite apps.
Thanks!

mailmailmail said:
Hi, I tried to use Link2SD and it seems to require root to freeze app? I am ok with using the * button for favorite apps.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anytime!
Yes it does require root, which has caused me some issues itself.
Have a good weekend!

shadow460 said:
Anytime!
Yes it does require root, which has caused me some issues itself.
Have a good weekend!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a preferred procedure you can point me to for this? Really appreciate it!

I posted a bloat remover script at https://github.com/ikluft/ikluft-tools/blob/master/scripts/bloat-remover-onntab.sh for use on Linux or other Unix-like systems. You must have ADB, and may (or may not) need root access on your desktop/laptop system to run ADB. It requires developer access to the tablet, but not root. (This doesn't remove the Walmart button because that changed in Android 10/11. I saw others posted examples for Android 9 in other threads.)

I have just purchased a walmart 10.1" Model 100003562. (Pro Tablet)
it has Android 11 software and is got the out of the box software including the walmart apps.
I would like to remove the walmart apps and the spying software for the camera and the microphone. I have not yet allowed it to connect to the WiFi to update or have allowed it to identify a google account.
Is there any hope? I have searched over and over for hours for some kinda of guide on what to do with this tablet and I haven't come up with a rock solid description of what I need to do.
I would be extremely grateful for any help and wouldn't hesitate to donate if I need too. I have a few days left with it before I can return it and get a refund if I accidently brick it or if its just impossible to make "clean"
Thank you much.

I thought I'd share my method to remove the Walmart button for others searching. I had removed some of the bloatware using the GitHub script posted. Put that button was still there. I'm using Nova launcher. But I imagine this should work with the stock launcher. You can just get rid of the navigation bar. Enable gestures in settings. This completely removes the navigation bar. The gestures are working well for me and are intuitive. It looks great and clean.