Develop Bugs

Deleting system apps after root?? (Root Explorer won't do it)

I used to use "Root Explorer" on my hero to delete system apps before..doesn't seem to work anymore..
solution??
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

did you mount /system in rw mode? (it's ro by default)

U dont have write access to system partition in normal use if i read the tutorial right. U have to do it with an update.zip (editing the update script) or with adb both u have to do in recovery menu from modaco i think. Tell me if i am wrong.
Sry for my bad english

@cezarL yes I did
@xtcislove I wish u were wrong..seems like pain.. anyway to do it without a pc?
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Damn, you're right. Previously, I had deleted an .apk just to check if it's working, then reinstalled the app right away.
But I just tested now, it looks like after a reboot, the .apk magically reappears, and the application is running as usual

Damn, you're right. Previously, I had deleted an .apk just to check if it's working, then reinstalled the app right away.
But I just tested now, it looks like after a reboot, the .apk magically reappears, and the application is running as usual
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ye..I'm sure it has something to do with the root limitations Paul mentioned in his rooting guide. hope it'll be fixed soon.
Sent from my HTC Desire using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

Try this: Boot in recovery menu and try the following commands:
adb remount
adb shell rm /system/app/APP.apk
adb shell rm /data/app/APP.apk
where APP.apk is the filename of the apk with the .apk extention, remember case-sensitive!
for example:
adb remount
adb shell rm /system/app/FriendStream.apk
adb shell rm /system/app/FriendStream.odex
take a look before if your app has a odex or try this: (here u need only one command)
adb remount
adb shell rm /system/app/*FriendStream*
Good luck and have fun =)
Edit: Just find a topic =)
hxxp://android.modaco.com/content/htc-hero-hero-modaco-com/297207/removal-of-apps-via-adb/#entry1124362
(replace hxxp with http)

I'm trying to do these things in windows at the moment. No issues getting in the recovery with the windows scripts. But when I try to open a ADB Shell after I've gone to recovery I can't really do anything with it and the recovery hangs (not controllable with the track pad).
Anyone can tell me what I'm doing wrong?

You're not doing anything wrong, from what I've seen opening a new adb instance on Windows will kill the server created by the .bat file used for recovery... which means the connection to the device is lost. I haven't looked into it further, but it might be fixeable somehow.

Ah I see, so basicly you undo the patched recovery by opening a new session. It does work properly under Linux then? I run ubuntu on my netbook so It's not a big issue anyway. Thanks for the tip, gonna try under linux now!

I'm having the same problems as:
http://android.modaco.com/content/h...co-com/307401/removing-sys-apps/#entry1256015
I removed a load of HTC widgets but I get strange entries on the widget menu. Anyone know how to get rid of these?
Also, I removed Stocks (.apk and .odex), now I get a force close on 'Accounts & sync'. Anyone know how to remove Stocks properly?
Cheers.

After running the bat file to get into recovery, start a new cmd prompt in windows and use again adb-nilezon for shell commands instead of ordinary adb, and it wont be killed.
This has worked for me atleast

blackadder1000 said:
Anyone know how to remove Stocks properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best, foolproof, failsafe way is to remove them from the rom before installing it... and remember that some services are still required, weather you use them or not.
But, if a system app is already installed you need to remove:
the apk from /system/app
the data from /data/data/appname
the cache from /cache/dalvik-cache
Do not remove Accounts & Sync...

Thanks for the answer.
I guess now is a good time to bake my own ROM!

blackadder1000 said:
Thanks for the answer.
I guess now is a good time to bake my own ROM!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, that's what I do... see my sig...

Remove ALL Sprint Crapware? (Q from an ex-WinMo Poweruser)

I moved from an HD2 to the Evo this week (no more TMobile, woot!). I am very familiar with custom WMO ROMS, Hard SPL, blah blah...
I have nearly zero Android development, custom ROM knowledge, etc, however.
I'd like to flash a custom ROM based on the factory, without all the Sprint programs preloaded.
Clearly I need to root; I am on steady ground with that knowledge. After that? Not so clear. There doesn't seem to be a thread with the steps I need to proceed.
Any info would be invaluable, thanks!
(PS - side question: why does Android launch all sort of processes in the background seemingly at random?)

ifiweresolucky said:
I moved from an HD2 to the Evo this week (no more TMobile, woot!). I am very familiar with custom WMO ROMS, Hard SPL, blah blah...
I have nearly zero Android development, custom ROM knowledge, etc, however.
I'd like to flash a custom ROM based on the factory, without all the Sprint programs preloaded.
Clearly I need to root; I am on steady ground with that knowledge. After that? Not so clear. There doesn't seem to be a thread with the steps I need to proceed.
Any info would be invaluable, thanks!
(PS - side question: why does Android launch all sort of processes in the background seemingly at random?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This should be in Q & A.. But unless someone creates a rom with the apps removed. Its easier to just do it yourself.
If you did toasts method of rooting. Boot into recovery and type this
adb remount
adb shell
cd /system/app
ls
This displays all apps on the phone. Do this to delete them.
rm NameOfApp.apk
rm NameOfApp.odex
It is caps sensitive and make sure you type the apk exactly as its written.

Jus10o said:
This should be in Q & A.. But unless someone creates a rom with the apps removed. Its easier to just do it yourself.
If you did toasts method of rooting. Boot into recovery and type this
adb remount
adb shell
cd /system/app
ls
This displays all apps on the phone. Do this to delete them.
rm NameOfApp.apk
rm NameOfApp.odex
It is caps sensitive and make sure you type the apk exactly as its written.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any reason adb remount isn't working for me? I do adb devices and my devices is there but when i type adb remount i get "remount faild: Invalid argument"

I started Toasts root directions, placing PC36IMG.zip on the base directory of the SD card. Shut down, loaded with the Vol Down and Power buttons. The bootloader checked the file on the SD card but then stopped on the white screen.
It seems it was supposed to proceed automatically? But I am dropped off with options on the white screen: FASTBOOT, RECOVERY, CLEAR STORAGE, SIMLOCK, and HBOOT USB.
Directions show Vol Up and Down for previous and next and Power for select.

Alright, I resolved this issue. I recopied the file to the SD card and made sure to eject drive before shutting the device down. Seemed to make all the difference! Proceeding with the remainder of Toast's directions now...

p-slim said:
any reason adb remount isn't working for me? I do adb devices and my devices is there but when i type adb remount i get "remount faild: Invalid argument"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running in to the same issue...

rgordon3091 said:
I'm running in to the same issue...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i fixed it. you have to do this.
adb shell
mount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
cd /system/app
ls

Getting error trying to remove nascar..
Code:
rm Sprint_NASCAR.apk
rm failed for Sprint_NASCAR.apk, Directory not empty
Any ideas?

That's Linux trying to protect you. Essentially the rm command by default just removes one file at a time.
Try...
rm -r NameOfFolder
...to delete recursively.
Sent from my EVO 4G using Tapatalk

Go see the thread in the apps sub-forum about this. I have a post (#28, I believe) with the exact code to remove the bloatware. You can just copy any paste.
-------------
Sent from my HTC EVO 4G using Tapatalk Pro.

nick325i said:
Getting error trying to remove nascar..
Code:
rm Sprint_NASCAR.apk
rm failed for Sprint_NASCAR.apk, Directory not empty
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you shouldn't have a problem deleting the apk, because an apk is not a directory.
i deleted it without the same message.

p-slim said:
i fixed it. you have to do this.
adb shell
mount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
cd /system/app
ls
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
'
hmmm i put im adb shell then i got a "#" so i put in "mount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system"
and i got mount:mounting /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system failed: No such file or directory
so what did i do wrong?

Found the issue. Thanks all

Jus10o said:
This should be in Q & A.. But unless someone creates a rom with the apps removed. Its easier to just do it yourself.
If you did toasts method of rooting. Boot into recovery and type this
adb remount
adb shell
cd /system/app
ls
This displays all apps on the phone. Do this to delete them.
rm NameOfApp.apk
rm NameOfApp.odex
It is caps sensitive and make sure you type the apk exactly as its written.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By the way, when I "cd /system/app" and then "ls" I see only NamesOfApps.apk. There are displayed no *.odex files. Is that normal?

thread dead?
IDK if this threads still monitored by anyone, but here's my question: I don't use adb, but I just rused root explorer to locate sprint crap, and added a .bak to the end of all of them to essentially 'disable' them. Is this a safe method? Will Android system waste energy looking for them anymore (they no longer show in app tray, but are they still using resources) ? Thanks much.

scottspa74 said:
IDK if this threads still monitored by anyone, but here's my question: I don't use adb, but I just rused root explorer to locate sprint crap, and added a .bak to the end of all of them to essentially 'disable' them. Is this a safe method? Will Android system waste energy looking for them anymore (they no longer show in app tray, but are they still using resources) ? Thanks much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was just about to say something similar. I had uninstalled Nascar using Titanium Backup, and the found out that I cant do the 2.2 OTA unless its there. TB didn't have the ability to restore it for some reason, so I got an APK from XDA, and put it in the system/app folder via Root Explorer. Then, I had to reset the permissions to match the other APK's, and it showed up and launched perfectly. Even did an update. Much easier than all that adb stuff, I think.

I used system app uninstaller for a buck on the market.. Easy and all there with the icons for easy to find and delete sprint and gapps.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

scottspa74 said:
IDK if this threads still monitored by anyone, but here's my question: I don't use adb, but I just rused root explorer to locate sprint crap, and added a .bak to the end of all of them to essentially 'disable' them. Is this a safe method? Will Android system waste energy looking for them anymore (they no longer show in app tray, but are they still using resources) ? Thanks much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats a good way.. If something goes wrong just have to rename.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Flash this zip and it should remove most of the Sprint apps. It will back them up to /sdx on your SD card so if anything is removed that you want, it will still be there. It's signed to work with RA.
http://grathwohl.me/uploads/android/evo/Sprint-Apps-Remover-signed.zip

I've seen a few people reference my post, but my post was really just trying to ask if anyone knew if, now that I've renamed them, and they don't run, they shouldn't be using up resources? Right, is that correct, or am I wrong in thinkin this?
And thanks cosine83, that's a really helpful post for a lot of people.

[Q] how to uninstall system Apps (f.e.Flickr) ?

is there a way to uninstall system apps like FLICKR service?
Maybe via console?

Via ADB with the phone in recovery.
adb shell mount /system
adb ls /system/app
then find the apk file you want to delete and:
adb shell rm /system/app/(app name here).apk

You can also delete the files before you install a new version of the ROM you're using. You can delete .apk files from the ROM.zip file to flash so when you flash it they wont install.

philje123 said:
Via ADB with the phone in recovery.
adb shell mount /system
adb ls /system/app
then find the apk file you want to delete and:
adb shell rm /system/app/(app name here).apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you only have to put yourself in adb shell once,
adb shell
mount /system/
ls /system/app/
rm /system/app/xxxx.apk will do lol
btw roms with the new file overlay system can delete system apps normally now, using a file explorer!! ive done it

AndroHero said:
btw roms with the new file overlay system can delete system apps normally now, using a file explorer!! ive done it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sounds great

I use root explorer to do this
sent from my mind to yours using the power of suggestion

I'm in recovery and have no idea how to follow that instructions.
I see my options, don't see what you wrote.

Bump, sry
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

[Q] cannot delete .APK files!

Hi All
Apologies if this is in the wrong place or if it has been answered elsewhere, I have been searching all weekend, so hopefully not!
I have recently installed gingervillain v1.0 on my Desire, and wanted to remove some .APKs for programs I do not use, such as DSPManager.
In an effort to do this I have purchased the paid versions of Root Explorer and Titanium Backup. Using Root Explorer I have tried deleting the .APKs from system/app, but to no avail.
In Titanium Backup I have tried using the uninstall feature, but the apps in question, persisted.
So I began running searches in Google and found a few articles which claimed you could for example delete the .APKs in the ZIP archive close and resign, but I tried this several times and could not get it to work.
I have now downloaded the Android SDK and USB driver for ADB. But when attempting to utiilise ADB to delete the .APKs CMD returns "'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file"
After searching the XDA forums i came across a post which stated I needed to amend the path under Environment Variables to the location of the ADB, which I have done (and rebooted my PC).
I am still receiving the ADB is not a ... statement, in CMD.
I am running windows 7 and have tried the above with and without HTC Sync installed.
Thanks in advance

I think you need to be S-Off to delete system apps whilst booted in Android. You can delete the apps from the zip file before you flash it.

GoogleJelly said:
I think you need to be S-Off to delete system apps whilst booted in Android. You can delete the apps from the zip file before you flash it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Googlejelly, none of the articles i followed mentioned S-Off but I will look into it. Regarding the deletion of aps from the zip, is this something you have done yourself? Everytime I try too I get Error 0x80004005. I did unzip which allowed me to delete without the error, but after flashing the rom, I got stuck in a bootloop.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

for deleting anything on the system file itself, u def need s-off. i was on a sgs fascinate rooted which came witrh s-off included in its root. so when i came to a htc desire, i figured it would b the same. but it wasnt. u need to s-off to delete sysrem apks like google talk, file manager, etc

if you want to delete apps while android is running you need to be S-OFF.
you can also edit .zip before flashing.
since you get a bootloop you either delete something you should not OR you have to edit updater script (but since you wrote about GingerVillain i doubt it, so probably you just delete some important stuff)

dzumagos said:
if you want to delete apps while android is running you need to be S-OFF.
you can also edit .zip before flashing.
since you get a bootloop you either delete something you should not OR you have to edit updater script (but since you wrote about GingerVillain i doubt it, so probably you just delete some important stuff)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dzumagos. Do you know if I need to resign the zip, after editing? Also do you know why I might be getting the error which is stopping me from deleting the files in the zip?
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

You shouldn't need to unzip the file to take out the apks, just use winzip to access the the zipped file, delete which apks you don't want then exit out of winzip and flash it, if you delete something important it'll probably loop.
I've done this with leedroid 2.3d and took out footprints,teeter,stocks and a couple of other apks, it flashed fine with no problems.

Actually, you don't need to be S-OFF to remove files from system. Can be done via ADB.
You must have the phone connected via recovery (better, since nothing is in use) with USB debugging on.
Run CMD as administrator, then change to the directory where you have the adb.exe (In my case c:\android-sdk-windows\tools\)
Then type in the command adb shell after you should get an information something like starting daemon.
Then type in mount /system
Now, you can remove files with the rm /system/app/(APPFILENAME).apk command.
When finished type umount /system then exit
If you need the list of files, then type ls in the command prompt.
Worked for me, S-ON.
Sent from my customized HTC Desire using TTP

nagypapi said:
Actually, you don't need to be S-OFF to remove files from system. Can be done via ADB.
You must have the phone connected via recovery (better, since nothing is in use) with USB debugging on.
Run CMD as administrator, then change to the directory where you have the adb.exe (In my case c:\android-sdk-windows\tools\)
Then type in the command adb shell after you should get an information something like starting daemon.
Then type in mount /system
Now, you can remove files with the rm /system/app/(APPFILENAME).apk command.
When finished type umount /system then exit
If you need the list of files, then type ls in the command prompt.
Worked for me, S-ON.
Sent from my customized HTC Desire using TTP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would do this but for the aforementioned error.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

Tried it or not?
Because from what I read you are writing wrong commands.
Dont write adb if you are already in the shell, because that's not a valid command.

All I do is when I download a rom is open it using WinRar and delete the files straight from the archive. I don't extract the files from the archive, just edit it. I add my own font, notification sound, delete the boot animation and I delete some system apps that I don't use. This beats having to S-Off (I have it anyway) but it is a nice work around.

GoogleJelly said:
All I do is when I download a rom is open it using WinRar and delete the files straight from the archive. I don't extract the files from the archive, just edit it. I add my own font, notification sound, delete the boot animation and I delete some system apps that I don't use. This beats having to S-Off (I have it anyway) but it is a nice work around.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
GoogleJelly - I did the following, uninstalled 7zip, installed winzip, right clicked the archive with the rom, selected "open with winzip", navigated to the system\app\ folder, right clicked DSPManager.apk, selected delete and got this... (see attached). It just freezes everytime and i get the (not responding) postfix
Perfectly willing to accept I am an idiot who has done something wrong. But I really do fail to see what.
Help, this is so frustrating!!!

nagypapi said:
Tried it or not?
Because from what I read you are writing wrong commands.
Dont write adb if you are already in the shell, because that's not a valid command.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry nagypapi, you have lost this Noob! I will try to follow your suggestion again, and report back.
Thanks

I don't use Winzip, I use Winrar.

Solved - cannot delete apks
GoogleJelly said:
I don't use Winzip, I use Winrar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That got it *feel like a tool* Thank you Googlejelly!! No More boot loops either.

madffrogs said:
You shouldn't need to unzip the file to take out the apks, just use winzip to access the the zipped file, delete which apks you don't want then exit out of winzip and flash it, if you delete something important it'll probably loop.
I've done this with leedroid 2.3d and took out footprints,teeter,stocks and a couple of other apks, it flashed fine with no problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, madffrogs, it work. In this case, I am just removing some 'excessive' files from a CyanogenMod files, and used 7zip.

[Q] replace framework-res.apk?

Was just wondering if there is a way to replace the framework with just using root without a custom recovery for the stock Rom?
On my s3 I couldn't do it with just root don't know if that would work on this or if I might have missed something.
Sent using xda premium.

re: install apks
TheArtiszan said:
Was just wondering if there is a way to replace the framework with just using root without a custom recovery for the stock Rom?
On my s3 I couldn't do it with just root don't know if that would work on this or if I might have missed something.
Sent using xda premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you need is to be rooted, it does not matter if you have custom recovery or not.
You can install any apk's since you do not need to go into recovery to install apks.

When I tried with root only before on a different phone I used root explorer to replace.
But when I went to paste it in the folder the phone locked up and rebooted.
Was that not the right way to do it?
Maybe using adb terminal would be better and not cause it to lock and reboot when I paste over the existing framework-res.apk.
Being in the system directory causes some issue with being that is also a constant used file.
Sent using xda premium.

re: install apk
TheArtiszan said:
When I tried with root only before on a different phone I used root explorer to replace.
But when I went to paste it in the folder the phone locked up and rebooted.
Was that not the right way to do it?
Maybe using adb terminal would be better and not cause it to lock and reboot when I paste over the existing framework-res.apk.
Being in the system directory causes some issue with being that is also a constant used file.
Sent using xda premium.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The framework-res.apk should be installed like any other app
unless the OP of wherever you got it from gives instructions
to "copy" it to the /system/app folder.
Why not do it the default normal way? just double click on it
when you are in root explorer and it should install like any
other app. If it gives an error, then you can copy it.
If you "copy" it you have to fix permissions and you have to
change the attributes of the /system/app folder so it's "read and write".
NOTE: if there is an existing framework-res-apk in /system/app
delete it with root explorer before doing any of the above.

Framework-Res.apk must reside in system directory. /system/framework to be exact.
Easiest way to do it without locking up is with adb.
You were right OP that it locks up because it's consistently being used. When I make my mods and such to the framework, this is how I quickly get it to the device.
adb remount (if the kernel supports it in other words, anything but stock)
Turn phone screen on
Adb shell stop (your phone should now have a black screen. This command stops all running threads except the one for adb)
Adb push framework-Res.apk /system/framework
Adb shell chmod 644 /system/framework/framework-Res.apk
Adb shell start
You should now see the boot animation then the prompt "android is upgrading"
If you do not have adb remount option (it returns with permission denied)
Copy new framework Res apk to root of internal sd card.
Adb shell stop
Adb shell mount -o remount,rw /system
Adb shell cp /sdcard/framework-Res.apk /system/framework/framework-Res.apk
Adb shell chmod 644 /system/framework/framework-Res.apk
Adb shell start
Just a pointer, disregard my capitalization. Only capitalize when needed.
This method should get everything copied successfully. Any issues just post back!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2

Oh thank you very much.
I will give that a try and sounds exactly like what I was looking for.
Sent using xda premium.

Not sure if this is really relevant but...
When I had the samsung vibrant, I used root explorer to make a copy of my framework-res.apk. I extracted the entire thing, found my battery icon files, replaced them with different images given the same name, then repacked the file. Then I copied it back to the original folder to replace the original apk and my phone immediately shut off and rebooted. When it came back I had my new battery icon working just as I had hoped. I was rooted running stock.

Wait... Are you saying that I can simply copy the framework-res.apk from SlimKat and use it on a Google Play Edition ROM?
I'm going to try it!