Develop Bugs

What files can be safely deleted in the HTC Desire Root folder?

I've been looking at the root folder using Astro and there are several files/folders. Can any be deleted, without causing any problem? I'm running out of space and am hoping some are just temporary files etc...
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Thanks
p.s - I am using an unrooted HTC Desire.

bradavon said:
I've been looking at the root folder using Astro and there are several files/folders. Can any be deleted, without causing any problem? I'm running out of space and am hoping some are just temporary files etc...
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Thanks
p.s - I am using an unrooted HTC Desire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant delete them using astro, we only have write access to /system in recovery, use adb in recovery to delete them
edit, without root you cant delete anything lol

bradavon said:
For example I've spotted the APK files are in \system\app. I never use the Peep or Teeter apps. Can I safely delete their APK files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In addition, deleting anything from /system won't actually gain you any more space for applications anyway due to the way that the filesystems are partitioned.
Regards,
Dave

Thanks guys. I take it you mean we've got write but not modify access to the \system folder? So we can write to existing files but not delete them.
I wasn't just asking about \system though but any files/folders in the Root folder. Are there any at all, that can be safely deleted? Or are you saying you cannot delete a thing without rooting?
Not that it sounds like it will make any difference, due to partitioning.
Thanks

Ok to put it as simple as possible:
- no you cant pretty much delete a thing apart from sd without root
- we cant do anything in the system partition while the system is booted due to the nand protection
- we can modify /system while in recovery (using adb)
- when you are running out of space it is on the /data partition, which have a fixed size so deleting from /system or anything else won't help
And at last my advice to you is to go root and install a2sd easy as pie and i've never had space problems since.

Thanks for the informative reply mortenmhp

I have just rooted my 2.1 Desire, trying to remove two of the mms.apk and one other mms file in the /system folder so I can install a different mms.apk, however when I try to do it, it says I dont have the proper permissions. Its rooted, I see the Super User icon in applications.
Any suggestions?

Please read a little before asking questions. It is commonly known, that we dont have full root access on the desire yet.
Due to the nand protection you cant edit the system partition while the system is bootet. You have to use a custom recovery image either via fakeflash or installed by unrevoked. Then you can edit the system partition by using adb commands.
Edit: which i also stated quite clearly 2 posts above yours several months ago

Is A2SD better than the Android 2.2 implementation? Which as far as I can tell just moves the APK (not apps/data) to the SD Card.
Thanks.

Well it is kinda off topic here but in my opinion yes it is better. I'm running a2sd+ atm. and you can make it move /data/data as well.
In froyo there have been some complications though when remountingSD after using it as mass storage. But you can read more about that elsewhere(i would provide a link but I'm writing from my phone)
So the conclusion must be that it is down to personal preferences

Thanks because the official implementation is something of a cop out. On WM you could run the entire App/Data etc... on an SD card.

How do I remove internal apps thru update.zip

I heard some people can remove internal apps thru update.zip , to reclaim internal storage space.
For example, the internal google maps still exist even though newer version of google maps is updated from market. it is wasting of space.

Either do it using adb (check other thread ive posted commands)
Most prolly if ur upgrading through market n system version exists then u can simply delete the apk/odex
Or
Search for Systemapp remover on market.

Daneshm90 said:
Either do it using adb (check other thread ive posted commands)
Most prolly if ur upgrading through market n system version exists then u can simply delete the apk/odex
Or
Search for Systemapp remover on market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
one more question, it is required a rooted device to use adb commands to remove internal/system/built-in apps ?

adrianmak said:
one more question, it is required a rooted device to use adb commands to remove internal/system/built-in apps ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea u need root, as u have to delete the apk/odex before running "pm uninstall"
Edit : Well i suppose if u have a testkey accepting recovery like ours, u could technically delete a file on /system using a update.zip
Should work, haven't tried it though. Also note this : deleting an apk is not equivalent to uninstalling it
Apk exists in several places to be confirmed as installed (packages.xml,dalvik-cache,data/system,.odex)
In order to properly delete a system app, u must delete its apk/odex followed by running the uninstall command on its package name.

You can put a script in update.zip that just executes with root privileges.
Rom makers use this method, however they usually format the system partition then start writing to it.

Installing/Uninstalling apps from /system?

I use the facebook app and twitter app so can I just go into clockwork and mount /system and then just rm peeps apk and odex or do I have to run a uninstall command? Same for installs, do i just add the apk and odex or run an install command like pkgadd or something along those lines? Thanks!

For any of the apps preinstalled to system you would need to go to recovery and mount system as you mentioned and rm the apps. For installing, some work by simply copying the apk to your phone/sdcard and running them and others have to be moved to the system folder in recovery. I know this is also different based on the RON you're using possibly...

Ok thanks, I just wanted to know if I needed to do uninstall/install commands or just simple rm. Thanks!

[Q] Safe to remove APKs?

My Desire's ROM is full. I have rooted the phone and using root explorer to remove garbage from the ROM. There are many apps in /system/app. Each app has a .apk file and an .odex file. Is it safe to move the *.apk files to my sd card to save up space? Or are they needed to run the application?
Thanx

norad73 said:
My Desire's ROM is full. I have rooted the phone and using root explorer to remove garbage from the ROM. There are many apps in /system/app. Each app has a .apk file and an .odex file. Is it safe to move the *.apk files to my sd card to save up space? Or are they needed to run the application?
Thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think you may need to read a fair few of the posts in the forum if you are asking is it safe to remove apk's.
A fair answer is yes and no.
Some you can some you can't.
Removing the wrong ones will cause havoc with your phone.
Why not try flashing one of the custom Roms on here.

Thanx Raze.
I believe that the operating system either *needs* or *doesent need* an apk file in the system/app folder for the app to function correctly.
My question is: Does android 2.2 *need* or *not need* the .apk file of an app to exist in the /system/app folder in order for the app to function correctly? Isnt the odex file enough?
Since apk's are package files, my impression was that maybe they are not needed after the app is installed.

deleted .apk file = uninstalled app
deleted important.apk file = havoc on your phone

norad73 said:
My Desire's ROM is full. I have rooted the phone and using root explorer to remove garbage from the ROM. There are many apps in /system/app. Each app has a .apk file and an .odex file. Is it safe to move the *.apk files to my sd card to save up space? Or are they needed to run the application?
Thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't get any advantage from that; freeing space on the system storage partition won't lead you to have more room for your apps on the internal storage of your device: those are two different partitions. If you want more space on the internal storage partition you should flash a custom, resized partition table (you need s-off, look on the related topic for the howto) and (if you didn't do that yet) partition your sd, so that you can use a2sd scripts to move your stuff there. That's the best you can do if you wanna have more room for your apps, everything else won't help much imo

norad73 said:
Thanx Raze.
I believe that the operating system either *needs* or *doesent need* an apk file in the system/app folder for the app to function correctly.
My question is: Does android 2.2 *need* or *not need* the .apk file of an app to exist in the /system/app folder in order for the app to function correctly? Isnt the odex file enough?
Since apk's are package files, my impression was that maybe they are not needed after the app is installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My understanding (please correct me if i am wrong as i am so used to windows phone) is that the odex file is simply the integrity of the apk. lots of roms now are de-odexed so you can push or zip-flash a file into its place and it will still function. if the rom still has the odex files this is not possible as the phone will check the apk against the odex file and bootloop. The apk is the install package and the woking part of the file itself. Your best bet would be to flash a rom with A2SD installed in it. This accesses a fat3 partition on your sd card which the android os sees as extra internal space. I'm running LeeDroid 2.2d A2SD version. I have more apps installed now than when i was on a stock rom (motonav, psx4droid, angry birds, snesoid etc) and my phone still says i have 85mb or 52% of my space left

Thank you guys, now it is clear.
I keep getting a storage space low warning on my Desire, and I am trying to find out how to free up some space. My phone is rooted, my sd is partitioned, and most of my apps are installed on the SD with apps2sd.
Any apps still installed on the phone do not support installing on the SD. I have removed almost all apps and left only a very few that cannot be moved.
EDIT: Just realized that HTC Mail data was taking up 65mb of the phone memory.... deleted it and now my phone can breathe again

you are rooted? well if you use a2Ext you dont have to move your Apps to SD.

Moved to Q&A as not development.
Please do not post such questions in development.

Check those articles:
Safe to remove apks:
http://androidforums.com/droid-x-al...t-apps-apks-removable-non-removable-root.html
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Barebones
Custom MTD Partitions (resize data, system, and cache):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=806321

Question How to actually delete gmail app from system?

I'm looking for a way to actually delete/uninstall gmail from system.
I know you can do a command in adb to uninstall, but that just disables the app and leaves the files in the partition.
Looking for a way to actually delete the file, and when i install it through Play Store, it just installs like a regular app, not as system app.
I've been looking through files with MiX explorer. But I'm scared if i delete the file i find, that it bricks my phone after reboot.

it shouldn't
root and use system app remover

I'm rooted and use debloater module in magisk to delete system apps. I like that I can save the list of apps I want to delete and just flash the module after each update to repeat the process.
Deleting an app folder shouldn't break anything, but if you ever have concerns just rename the folder instead of deleting. That way the system can't find it, but it's still there if you need it back.

Make sure usb debugging is active on phone in developer options, download fastboot tools connect phone to computer and select always allow usb debugging from this computer on text pop up on phone.
Open cmd line in fastboot tools dir and type
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gm
Or try this
[TOOL] ADB AppControl 1.8.0 🚀 Ultimate App Manager & Debloat Tool + Tweaks
ADB AppControl 🚀 Root is not required. Works with any Android device. Can do almost everything you dreamed about with applications. ADB AppControl - the desktop program, that will allow you to easily manage applications on your android device...
forum.xda-developers.com

toolhas4degrees said:
Make sure usb debugging is active on phone in developer options, download fastboot tools connect phone to computer and select always allow usb debugging from this computer on text pop up on phone.
Open cmd line in fastboot tools dir and type
adb shell pm uninstall --user 0 com.google.android.gm
Or try this
[TOOL] ADB AppControl 1.8.0 🚀 Ultimate App Manager & Debloat Tool + Tweaks
ADB AppControl 🚀 Root is not required. Works with any Android device. Can do almost everything you dreamed about with applications. ADB AppControl - the desktop program, that will allow you to easily manage applications on your android device...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the command i was talking about. It doesn't delete the apk. After i run this and reinstall the app from play store, it is back into system app.

Why are you reinstalling it if you want to delete it?
Maybe look at systemize module to move it from system to data if that's what you are trying to do

FizzyAps said:
it shouldn't
root and use system app remover
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't work.
It is only able to delete the updates. System apk remains.
According to the app it is located here:
/product/app/Gmail2/Gmail2.apk
I dunno if i can delete it, since this phone uses A/B partitions. Usually system apps are located in a different folder.

toolhas4degrees said:
Why are you reinstalling it if you want to delete it?
Maybe look at systemize module to move it from system to data if that's what you are trying to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying to delete it to see if it fixes the notifications.
This phone is hunted with push notifications not receiving at all for this app.
Hoping that this would fix it.

bokkoman said:
I'm trying to delete it to see if it fixes the notifications.
This phone is hunted with push notifications not receiving at all for this app.
Hoping that this would fix it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a different email app hasn't been solved yet, lot of false claims around here. There is a thread on it.

toolhas4degrees said:
Try a different email app hasn't been solved yet, lot of false claims around here. There is a thread on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've read all those. No one has tried this yet.
Hence I'm trying to delete it

bokkoman said:
I'm looking for a way to actually delete/uninstall gmail from system.
I know you can do a command in adb to uninstall, but that just disables the app and leaves the files in the partition.
Looking for a way to actually delete the file, and when i install it through Play Store, it just installs like a regular app, not as system app.
I've been looking through files with MiX explorer. But I'm scared if i delete the file i find, that it bricks my phone after reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use alpha backup pro to delete gmail (and many other apps), which will permanently remove a system app (need root), however, if you want to do it the safe way, use de-bloater (playstore), which removes apps via magisk, i.e systemless, so you can revert if you f something up. cheers

Titanium Backup (root) can delete, freeze, and of course, backup system and user apps. Make a backup first, and look over the list of system apps, there are a lot there which are google-related. Freezing will do the same as pm disable....... Uninstall will remove it completely. Whether your device is A/B or not will not matter.
The nice thing about TB is you can see the actual (full) filenames of the packages, and any uninstall/freezes are easily reversible. There are probably other (google) notification service-type apps which are giving you the undesired notifications,
Good luck!

All these apps can't delete the actual apk in the /products folder.
I guess I'll have to do it manually.

bokkoman said:
All these apps can't delete the actual apk in the /products folder.
I guess I'll have to do it manually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you mean. Several of these apps do exactly that.
De-bloater Pro (from playstore) deletes the apk from /product (or /vendor, etc.) and moves it to its own folder in /data/adb/modules so that you can restore it later if you so choose (or if you accidentally delete the wrong thing and bootloop).
Debloater (magisk module for terminal) does the same thing. I use it to fully remove several system apps (Netflix, YouTube, YTMusic, etc.) in order to install non-system versions.

terlynn4 said:
Not sure what you mean. Several of these apps do exactly that.
De-bloater Pro (from playstore) deletes the apk from /product (or /vendor, etc.) and moves it to its own folder in /data/adb/modules so that you can restore it later if you so choose (or if you accidentally delete the wrong thing and bootloop).
Debloater (magisk module for terminal) does the same thing. I use it to fully remove several system apps (Netflix, YouTube, YTMusic, etc.) in order to install non-system versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the apps i tried all failed with an error it could not delete it.
I didn't try that one you mentioned, because you have to pay for it.
So i went and tried the debloater module, and you are right. It did delete it. Thank you!
Let's see if this makes any difference.

So far, so good.
I have been receiving notifications from Gmail since i deleted the system app and installed it from Play Store as a regular app
Let's see if this continues working.