Database Develop

[HOWTO] Delete system apps

There is many of you that asks how to remove this and that preinstallaed apps in different ROM
When a developer put apps in system/app it can not be removed so easy.
But if you have RomManager or fakeflash´s update.zip there is a other way.
I have attached a zip fil that contains a ordinare ROM installation script that only contains delete and copy.
Download file and unzip on your computer and take a look in the folders
data/app
META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
system/app
If your only wish is to remove a systemapp
edit the file update-script (textfile)
and add line with the filename of what you want to remove:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
If you want to install some apps put them in system/app for not installable
and data/app for apps that can be removed as usual
rezip folders and install zip with RomManager NO WIPE!!
cm6 azures you will get a error because not same structure for data/app
never mind just select reboot. Delete will work anyway.
Sometimes there will be .so files in system/libs too. They are little more difficult to know which to remove so that demands more knowledge of the app.
Use for instance Astro filemanager or Estrong to look in system/app for correct filename to delete
Script work even if *.odex not exist.
The fact that when you zip folders it will not be signed so file will not work with adb recovery
Googleapps filenames:
CarHomeGoogle.apk, CarHomeLauncher.apk, com.amazon.mp3.apk,
Facebook.apk, GenieWidget.apk, Gmail.apk, GoogleBackupTransport.apk,
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk, GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk,
GoogleFeedback.apk, GoogleGoggles.apk, GooglePartnerSetup.apk, GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk, GoogleServicesFramework.apk, googlevoice.apk,
HtcCopyright.apk, HtcEmailPolicy.apk, HtcSettings.apk, kickback.apk, LatinImeGoogle.apk, LatinImeTutorial.apk, Maps.apk, MarketUpdater.apk, MediaUploader.apk, NetworkLocation.apk, OneTimeInitializer.apk, PassionQuickOffice.apk, SetupWizard.apk, soundback.apk, Street.apk, Talk.apk, talkback.apk, Twitter.apk, Vending.apk, VoiceSearch.apk, YouTube.apk, QuickSearchBox.apk, Provision.apk
Other apps:
ADWLauncher.apk, Gallery3D.apk
but filename may be different depending of ROM
Mainpart must exist for using phone normally
Hope that this help to remove "non-removable" systemapps in future.
/Snakehult

Good guide.
via Legend using XDA-app

Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
snakehult said:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!

c_man said:
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use some regular filemanager such Astro or Estrongs and look in system/app
Always delete both, script work even if odex file is missing

c_man said:
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool guide!
anyway you have to detect the filename of the apps this way:
enter the recovery mode (in modaco-root-r4: recovery-windows.bat)
now type:
adb shell
mount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
ls -l /system/app
(this will give you the list of system apps, with space usage)
you have to delete both .apk and .odex files (the latter may not exist)
I use to delete the bigger ringtones too, the list is given by
ls -l /system/media/audio/ringtones
it is safe to delete, after you setup the google accounts (ie after first boot):
HTCSetup*
com.htc.Setup*
Stock*
HtcFoot*
NewsRead*

wow its working......thanks dude........
Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://android.modaco.com/content/h...apps-from-the-htc-desire-with-adb-in-windows/
Simple guide from MoDaCo

That must be the hardest way to remove apps i guess Have you seen "modaco guide"? All you have to do is reboot your phone in to recovery mode and type 2-3 commands in ADB. Simple as that.
Thanks anyway for your efforts

Many way för same thing
But with a custom-made zipfile you always remove/install favourite apps without adb. And quick modify new ROM install.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App

Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.

bobstar_fr said:
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I see it, no use to do much in the dev forum without an rooted Phone

hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete

Learners Lisence said:
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just delete what you will never use and....no regret

thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks

im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid

Learners Lisence said:
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
@kdma : install ROM Manager from the Market, and there is an option inside the app : Reboot into Recovery (easiest way to get into recovery mod)

I also deleted /system/etc/clock* and saved some space again
(of course I don't need Htc clock widgets)

cryshop said:
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cryshop, i was typing in the wrong directory
Ps - snakehults's appfixer is real delight ! smooooth.
except that my winzip is a trial version and legend dont recognize winrar files.
I was wondering how i got such good figures for change in space and ram the first time. i havent since then. my legend just likes the rebooting involved coz i dont use task killers anymore. and maybe i deleted more than just stock the first time

Will this work with android 2.2 on Hero?
Hey I've been looking all over for something like this. I downloaded the zip, added the lines
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/email.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/email.odex
and rezipped it.
I used Rom Manager and selected install rom from SD card. It rebooted, seemed to execute the zip. But the original email and mms apps are still installed. What am i doing wrong?

kdma said:
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first thing you should do is download the required zip file from modaco (I'm a new user of xda and is not permitted to post outside links here. You may easily find that post "24/May r4 - HTC Legend rooting guide - Now with 1.31.x" in android.madaco.com)
I think many of us rooted the device followed the instructions of Paul. So that file might be already in your hands.
Fastboot and then recovery, as you have done before. Run Recovery-linux.sh (or Recovery-windows.bat, if you use Windows) in a terminal window - your device shall be at the green recovery screen.
Open another terminal window and enter:
./adb-linux shell mount /system
and then you can push, pull or rm file. For example,
./adb-linux shell rm /system/app/Calculator.apk
./adb-linux push abc.so /system/lib
--
I didn't notice you have already solved the problem, when I compiled this post. It is no longer useful.

Deleting Ringtones thru Root Explorer

I had made some custom ringtones thru iTunes and a ringtone app. They show up under Menu/Settings/Sound/Phone Ringtone. Most show up on the sd card under media either Ringtones (a folder I created for the iTunes one) and media/audio/ringtones.
But when I go to system/media thru Root Explorer, only the stock ones show. Using eVils 1.18 rom.
How can I delete the ones under Menu/Settings/Sound/Phone Ringtone? If I can't see them thru root explorer. Or, am I looking in wrong place?
Ken

Files in the /system/media folder are the system ringtones. The ones that you saved are on the sdcard under /media.
The ones you see under settings are all the ringtones from both the system and sdcard.
I personally don't use any of the system ringtones...so I delete them with Root Explorer. But, to see the effects...you must reboot. At this point...you'll only see your saved ringtones when you go back into settings. Hope that's what you were asking to solve.

Thanks SiNJiN76,
I now understand.
Problem now is I have some ringtones in Menu/Settings/Sound/Phone Ringtone that don't show on the sd or root explorer. They don't even have the right song tied to the title. Almost like they multi duplicated.
How can I delete them. My guess is I can't unless I restore.
Thanks,
Ken

I'm a bit stumped here. Maybe use the search function on Root Explorer for those file names? I know that I often overlook the search function all the time. Maybe the app that you used is somehow populating the menu with those ringtones hidden in its own folder somewhere? Hope I've been able to give you clues to solve this mystery of yours.

No problem,
It is a wierd one, I have 7 ringtones titled Hotel California that play Gypsy. Not sure how they got there or why there is 7 of them.
They only appear on the phone dropdown menu for ringtones, nowhere else.
I'll try the search.
EDIT: Search found them. Deleted, rebooted, gone. Thanks for the tip. It is a forgotten function.
Ken

SiNJiN76 said:
so I delete them with Root Explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when I try and delete it says I can't because the file is system read only file. Checked properties, but it doesn't show that (like a normal computer property list). So how do you change this so I can delete the stock ringtones which I never use?

Learnerspermit said:
when I try and delete it says I can't because the file is system read only file. Checked properties, but it doesn't show that (like a normal computer property list). So how do you change this so I can delete the stock ringtones which I never use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Be sure to use a file explorer that has root access. If you are using the latest version of root explorer, it asks you if you temporarily want to mount as read/write (something like that). Once deleted restart the phone.

SiNJiN76 said:
Be sure to use a file explorer that has root access. If you are using the latest version of root explorer, it asks you if you temporarily want to mount as read/write (something like that). Once deleted restart the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, got that and deleted all the OGG files, restarted and they're all gone... thanks

Learnerspermit said:
Okay, got that and deleted all the OGG files, restarted and they're all gone... thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NV. Misread. Ha ha. You must have been editing your post while I was posting.

[Q] Root Explorer can't paste file to system

Hi guys, I have a problem with my I9000, when I try to copy a MOD or someting to System/app for example, I can't paste bcoz I don't have enought space to paste in that folder...
Sorry for my english.. and I hope someone help me..

Best thing to use root explorer and go to that folder.You can see if the folder is mounted as read only(ro) or read write (rw).And you can see how much space do you have in that folder.If you have enough space mount system/app as rw and you can copy files to it.
Find root explorer on market best for working with files.

malcho said:
Best thing to use root explorer and go to that folder.You can see if the folder is mounted as read only(ro) or read write (rw).And you can see how much space do you have in that folder.If you have enough space mount system/app as rw and you can copy files to it.
Find root explorer on market best for working with files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And when I am running Root explorer, in folder /system/app when I want to copy a file, I have 275mb used and 64k free.. how I can free more space ?

An that not is one issue, Root explorer on the Gingerbread. Try delet file, and yes make it, but go another folder, and back on , you will see again deleted file, is not deleted !???
Regards

SaniM said:
And when I am running Root explorer, in folder /system/app when I want to copy a file, I have 275mb used and 64k free.. how I can free more space ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have to delete some unused system apps like aldiko or whatever you dont't use.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App

[Q] Market downloads: where are the files?

I was just wondering... when you download an app from the market, the apk file is clearly saved somewhere... but where? I mean, sometimes the download is successful, but the installation fails. instead of downloading the file again, I'd like to launch the downloaded apk and re-install directly. Anybody has a clue?

/system/data
EDIT: Oh, nevermind, I didn't realize you meant when the install fails.

If not on root/data/app than try root/mnt/asec/ and they have many folders wich have inner files that name "pkg.apk" but apk icon say about that file was installed...You can copy in external drive and change on original name.
Regards

miro666 said:
If not on root/data/app than try root/mnt/asec/ and they have many folders wich have inner files that name "pkg.apk" but apk icon say about that file was installed...You can copy in external drive and change on original name.
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!

ZioGTS said:
...when you download an app from the market, the apk file is clearly saved somewhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/cache
The size of this partition may be the root of your install failed problems. When I first flash JVR, I hit the marked like a madman and just hit download on all the apps I regularly downloaded. The /cache partition quickly filled up and half of my installs failed. To make matters worse, the half downloaded files stayed in /cache and I had to manually remove them to regain the space (although I assume they would have been cleaned up next boot).
If the app installs successfully the apk is deleted from /cache and you can then find it in the locations mentioned by miro666.

How to Integrate apps into system on 4.4? They keep FC'sing

I want to save some space on the internal storage, and since tha system partition is enormous, on 4.3 I integrate the updates into system/app. For example If Facebook gets an update I delete "facebook-xhdpi.apk" and I just move the new facebook from data/app to system/app and voila! Even after a factory reset I have no problems...
But on Kit Kat this is almost impossible. Even after signing the apks, renaming them like the old ones and giving the correct permissions via root explorer they force close. Even Google+ gives a "reinstall-loop" as I call it :crying:
What can I do? Fixing permissions by TWRP doesn't work either.

Open the APK using 7zip, extract the libraries there(the files inside the lib folder), place the extracted libraries inside /system/lib/, delete the libs folder inside the apk, move the apk to /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/ depending what type it is.
Just a warning though... Be careful with replacing already existing libraries in /system/lib/ sometimes they break stuff so if that happens just don't replace them.

Doesn't titanium offer this kind of switch? Have never done it but if it's automated then it's worth a look.

It does... But once you wipe data of the app you moved to system it force closes again. Thing is... System apps doesn't extract libraries in /data/data/ folder hence they force close.

Riyal said:
It does... But once you wipe data of the app you moved to system it force closes again. Thing is... System apps doesn't extract libraries in /data/data/ folder hence they force close.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would it be possible to change the path via titanium or even shift the files via a file explorer? Again haven't done it myself before either.
Also could the apps be added to the ROM you're installing prior to the initial flash?
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app