Develop Bugs

Removing T-Mobile CRAPPS from Huawei U8730

Hello fellow XDAers,
My wife replaced her Samsung Gravity Smart with the T-Mobile MyTouch Q, AKA the Huawei U8730 (not the older LG C800 model w/ the same name). She gave me the task of cleaning the junk APKs off of it to de-clutter it.
Rooting the phone was the first task. This method worked perfectly for me without any fuss (the app will return error 64, but after installing Superuser and rebooting, I had root access). I was able to use Titanium to remove much of the crap ware, but the most annoying bits gave the error "cannot find APK." Weird.
After digging around, I took an inventory of the apps in /data and /system.
The T-Mobile junk wasn't there.
I threw busybox on the phone and used the 'find' command, and I found where the apps were hiding: /cust/t-mobile/us/apps, which is a loopback-mounted ext3 partition. I tried to remount it read/write, but got 'permission denied' error. I figured something had the filesystem locked, so I ended all the apps that were running and tried again, but no luck.
However, I was able to remount the volume that held the ext3 image file read/write. It mounts to the /.cust_backup directory.
IMPORTANT NOTE: For those who will be following these steps themselves, at this point you will want to make sure to go into the Applications manager and uninstall any updates downloaded for the crapware you are going to remove. I will explain why below. It's not absolutely critical, but it will save you some head-scratching.
I remounted the partition read/write, grabbed the image file (located in /.cust_backup/image/cust.img), and uploaded the image file to a linux server.
On the linux server, I mounted the image, nuked the unwanted APKs, and unmounted the filesystem.
I created a backup of the original cust.img file, then overwrote the one in /.cust_backup/image
Last step was to reboot the phone, and most of the junkware was gone.
Here's where the head-scratching came in. A couple of the apps were still there, and I didn't know why. I double-checked the phone, and the APKs were in fact deleted. Then I realized: the app had received an update and I was seeing the update. When I uninstalled the update, the uninstall "failed" but the icon still disappeared. However, I had to reboot the phone again to fully remove it.
So, here's the process in a nutshell:
1. Uninstall all app updates for the crapware you plan to remove
2. Root the phone using This method .
3. copy down /.cust_backup/images/cust.img
4. Using a linux system, mount cust.img as a loopback device, then delete the unwanted APKs (they will be in t-mobile/us/apps)
5. Unmount the image (this writes your changes back into the cust.img you mounted in step #3)
6. On the phone, remount /.cust_backup r/w
7. overwrite /.cust_backup/images/cust.img with the modified version
8. Reboot the phone
That's it! Enjoy your uncluttered phone!

I know it's been a while since the original post, but I was wondering if OP has had any problems with the phone since then, or if anyone else has tried this with the Huawei u8730 and had success. My wife also wants all this crap removed from her phone, but she would probably murder me if I bricked it in the process.
Thanks!

Just on a side note here as I'm still using this device. How did you get around the non-working tethering on this device? Both the USB and Wifi hotspot won't work unless you've subscribed to the T-Mobile Smartphone Mobile HotSpot app option on your account? Mine is unlocked and being used with another carrier, but only recently wanted to tether to it so I can't figure out how to correct this one. Also still looking around for any working custom ROM for this. Thx.

Lg g4 system data

Ive used the low effort rooting method. I can't find any .img file in storage so I'm pretty sure I deleted it right after I completed the process. But I noticed In settings>storage>internal storage under miscellaneous there is a +10gb file { system data} that is whited out. I was thinking that it was part of the .img file when i rooted with thecubed s method that i forgot to delete. But I can't find the .img anywhere in Root Browser>storage. What is the 10 gb system data file whited out. Under internal storage? And I am curious post a screenshot of some of your internal storage screen.
P.s. And its not anything to do with twrp backups cause that's below on the bottom of miscellaneous.

dontbeweakvato said:
Ive used the low effort rooting method. I can't find any .img file in storage so I'm pretty sure I deleted it right after I completed the process. But I noticed In settings>storage>internal storage under miscellaneous there is a +10gb file { system data} that is whited out. I was thinking that it was part of the .img file when i rooted with thecubed s method that i forgot to delete. But I can't find the .img anywhere in Root Browser>storage. What is the 10 gb system data file whited out. Under internal storage? And I am curious post a screenshot of some of your internal storage screen.
P.s. And its not anything to do with twrp backups cause that's below on the bottom of miscellaneous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's no just a file. That is the whole OS with System files/Caches/Reserved-space/logs/backups and Apps + their generated data. You may reduce its size a little by wiping caches and removing preloaded bloatware.

dontbeweakvato said:
Ive used the low effort rooting method. I can't find any .img file in storage so I'm pretty sure I deleted it right after I completed the process. But I noticed In settings>storage>internal storage under miscellaneous there is a +10gb file { system data} that is whited out. I was thinking that it was part of the .img file when i rooted with thecubed s method that i forgot to delete. But I can't find the .img anywhere in Root Browser>storage. What is the 10 gb system data file whited out. Under internal storage? And I am curious post a screenshot of some of your internal storage screen.
P.s. And its not anything to do with twrp backups cause that's below on the bottom of miscellaneous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you lose any apps in the rooting process? I lost a lot of LG apps (bloat) in the process, even the stock video player. I'm just curious to know.

m_rod_01 said:
Did you lose any apps in the rooting process? I lost a lot of LG apps (bloat) in the process, even the stock video player. I'm just curious to know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I didn't lose any apps. The 81110h.img file is the same img thats on the phone, i think, but with supersu injected.
Now i did flash the xtreme rom that is debloated. And it works fine. Its just that i was trying to reset the sys data in storage back to nominal because i dont. Remember if i deleted the origional h81110h.img from internal stor.
Download the lg smart world apk and you should be able to get that video player back.

How did yoou reduce the system file size
Did you reduce the size ?

Device is Rooted,Still Cannot Remove Bloatware

My device is rooted.
I've read a few other topics regarding this issue, but I'm still confused. As I understand it, using typical uninstall apps such as Titanium or Root Uninstaller do not remove the manufacturer apps from the phone still because of an S feature? I'm new to this process, so please forgive my naive rhetoric. I tried those programs, and as previously stated in other posts, the bloatware comes back.
I installed AROMA file manager to try and manually find the bloatware and delete the physical files, but I can't find the files that I'm looking to delete. I don't mind taking the time and manually deleting these unnecessary files, but, I need some guidance on where to look (or any other viable solutions.)
Thanks for your time!

Download this patch and edit update-binary file what application need remove then flash via recovery mode .

espmma said:
My device is rooted.
I've read a few other topics regarding this issue, but I'm still confused. As I understand it, using typical uninstall apps such as Titanium or Root Uninstaller do not remove the manufacturer apps from the phone still because of an S feature? I'm new to this process, so please forgive my naive rhetoric. I tried those programs, and as previously stated in other posts, the bloatware comes back.
I installed AROMA file manager to try and manually find the bloatware and delete the physical files, but I can't find the files that I'm looking to delete. I don't mind taking the time and manually deleting these unnecessary files, but, I need some guidance on where to look (or any other viable solutions.)
HTC devices are set "S on" from the manufacture. That means there are certain partitions in the nand storage that you can't access without S off ( boot partition, radio partition). The write permissions to the system partition are also not accessible unless you either obtain S off through the Sunshine app which costs $25 or a another option that is not true S off is a write permission mod called WP.MOD_ko that you flash to your phone and it installs a script and changes your phone's SElinux permissions and enables the system partition write permissions to be able to uninstall system apps or fully use certain root apps like Link2SD that also need the system write permissions at bootup.
1st option " fully" unlocks your phone and all partitions. 2nd option just installs scripts to kind of trick your system partition to allow apps to write to it and you to be able to uninstall system apps. It also changes your SElinux permissions from enforcing to permissive so be aware that's disabling the phone's security system. Not a problem unless you get malware but you should be aware of what any mod does to your phone. They have to do that because the mod can't get the phone to be true S off so this is a workaround for that one partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Okay cool, thank you for breaking that down for me. So, if I use what pham posted, then that would be a script change? But, even if it were a script change I could still fully uninstall the bloatware, with the risk of a potential virus. Is that correct?

espmma said:
Okay cool, thank you for breaking that down for me. So, if I use what pham posted, then that would be a script change? But, even if it were a script change I could still fully uninstall the bloatware, with the risk of a potential virus. Is that correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome. I'm not familiar with what Pham linked you but I'm sure it's similar to the 2nd option I mentioned. The one I was referring to was written for lollipop versions by CaptainTitti I believe is his handle but if you search XDA for our phone WP_MOD.ko that forum should be for kit Kat and a few pages forward is the link to the lollipop version with instructions from CaptainTitti on how to install it. The malware risk is minimal i just wanted to mention it. You have that as well with just rooting and also full S off it's just those 2 leave your SElinux permissions set to enforcing not permissive. Just giving you the info so your informed because no one but us pays for our devices so we should have as much info as possible I believe but good info .
The only one of these I've actually tried is the full S off one with Sunshine so understand and read the whole forum for the other before flashing so you know all the feedback but it does work. Also be aware that the WP_MOD.ko would have to be fully removed and SElinux reenabled to be able to do stock updates and there's not just an " uninstall" box with them. You have to use a root file explorer and remove what was changed and replace with the stock files I believe. Good idea to do a stock Android backup using your custom recovery before flashing any of these, S off excepted as it doesn't mess with doing stock updates. Not knocking the others but these are the things you don't find out about till after you flash them. Now you know before.
Below is the link to the forum page for the kitkat mod and if you scroll down a bit CaptainTiiti had a link to the one for lollipop.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2707378&page=7

Can't you just use Root Browser, then go to system/app & system/priv-app to remove the bloat? That's what I do on my phone everytime I install a new ROM [emoji1]

Stachura5 said:
Can't you just use Root Browser, then go to system/app & system/priv-app to remove the bloat? That's what I do on my phone everytime I install a new ROM [emoji1]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know my friend I've never tried that. Maybe he can try it first and see if it works. To be honest I never tried to just remove system apps before i was S off I just read of all the people here on XDA saying they couldn't without S off so I did it. Turns out I switched to debloated CM roms soon after and never even debloated my stock rom, which definitely needed it ! I used Titanium backup to debloat my Samsung tablet after root to get rid of Knox and Samsung junk but it wasn't nand locked like the HTC's are. Can't hurt for him to try it because S off costs and the other mods have their down sides also.

i have completely deleted their bloatware folder, but bloatware will appear if the device boots without root and there is no app folder in user app or system folder but they can run and update normally, maybe it specially designed. Will the above patch zip help me clear the problem completely? i want to clean up the crap, and my device uses system as root so i need to flash modified binary in boot.img separately after signing.

hey xda - resize system partition?

Hey XDA, hope all is going as well as possible.
I'm hoping if you could provide some information.
So, I tried to move an app to the system partition, but, the system partition is full and , well, the attempt to move the app obviously was unsuccessful.
Is it possible to resize partitions without corrupting any data or something?
I didn't do any search just yet. I felt this was the first step being that this is the device I own and it's the question and answer sub.
Hope you're willing to help, thanks.

Which version of Android are you running? If it is 11 then you can't resize it. If you want to move a app to the system then you need to install systemizer module for magisk and install it with terminal. Though I haven't had much luck with that either.
What has worked for me 100% reliably is to make a module for magisk that will inject the app into system
Androids new Scoped storage format will not allow edit the system partition.

tha_mechanic said:
Which version of Android are you running? If it is 11 then you can't resize it. If you want to move a app to the system then you need to install systemizer module for magisk and install it with terminal. Though I haven't had much luck with that either.
What has worked for me 100% reliably is to make a module for magisk that will inject the app into system
Androids new Scoped storage format will not allow edit the system partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I'm on 10.

I believe 10 is formatted the same way

As mentioned, it is not a space issue, the issue is that you cannot write to the system. If you want an app to act like a system app you would have to compile it that way or use a magisk module to mount it to system. You cannot directly put it in system otherwise.

Question Root file manager impossible delete system file on Android 11

Hello all I want to delete Facebook services and Facebook installer app folder in root>system>priv-app directory... I installed some file manager app with root access but none can delete that folders... Anyone know how fix this problem ? This is a big problem for me...
Thanks to everyone.

Is the application running in the background. You can't modify files if they are currently in use
However otherwise it might be an issue with the way magisk works and so there might not be a solution (i.e magisk is systemless so it doesn't actually modify system files it just mounts modified file in such a way that Android sees the file changes whilst the actual system remains unmodified)

Angyone1 said:
Hello all I want to delete Facebook services and Facebook installer app folder in root>system>priv-app directory... I installed some file manager app with root access but none can delete that folders... Anyone know how fix this problem ? This is a big problem for me...
Thanks to everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is very complicated now. Systemless root has a lot of benefits but it also has lost some of its power. This is 1 area that is hard because technically no you can't touch the system otherwise it'll bootloop on all of my devices. If your rooted with magisk you have busybox magisk installed than you want to get system debloater module on magisk manager and use termux or terminal emulator but termux is the best than you can use the system debloater module to find system apps and uninstall them. It works on some of my android 11 devices not all it's getting outdated. I use it to uninstall Facebook and actually YouTube on Samsung that way I can use vanced YouTube properly. I don't understand why you can't just delete the app but the system isn't writable I believe. You would have to use adb or twrp recovery and there's no real information on this topic. Magisk isn't as good as people think though for instance the build prop module if it was really able to hide your device when I signed into my Google account it would say I was on a new device not the device I'm using trying to hide

Have you tried to remove them using TWRP? That shall do it.

Techguy777 said:
This is very complicated now. Systemless root has a lot of benefits but it also has lost some of its power. This is 1 area that is hard because technically no you can't touch the system otherwise it'll bootloop on all of my devices. If your rooted with magisk you have busybox magisk installed than you want to get system debloater module on magisk manager and use termux or terminal emulator but termux is the best than you can use the system debloater module to find system apps and uninstall them. It works on some of my android 11 devices not all it's getting outdated. I use it to uninstall Facebook and actually YouTube on Samsung that way I can use vanced YouTube properly. I don't understand why you can't just delete the app but the system isn't writable I believe. You would have to use adb or twrp recovery and there's no real information on this topic. Magisk isn't as good as people think though for instance the build prop module if it was really able to hide your device when I signed into my Google account it would say I was on a new device not the device I'm using trying to hide
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply, I have tried with my old phone, mi note 3 with crdroid 7.8 rom and android 11 and I have rooted with magisk and installed the file manager, so I can delete and modified all the files ! why with mi note 3 yes and with poco f3 no? very strange...

laid1995 said:
Have you tried to remove them using TWRP? That shall do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes thanks I think that in this way works... tomorrow I try... thx

Was it done in TWRP recovery mode? If yes please guide me with the steps... I actually tried the TWRP method unsuccessfully...

With swift backup, you can uninstall system apps using root.

Animesh Singh said:
With swift backup, you can uninstall system apps using root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed Swift Backup (paid latest version) and tried uninstalling system app. But there is only option to disable system apps.
Also I need a way by which I can even paste files in system/app folder so that apps behave like system apps.
By the way I did use magisk module Systemizer. It was a bit complicated for me and did not give full access to the root folders.

[GUIDE] How to make your System RW / Super R/W read/write-able
Welcome to the one and only, the original, universal SystemRW / SuperRW feat. MakeRW / ro2rw by lebigmac This script removes the read-only lock of all partitions embedded in the super partition of your stock firmware. This allows you to mount...
forum.xda-developers.com

pl1992aw said:
[GUIDE] How to make your System RW / Super R/W read/write-able
Welcome to the one and only, the original, universal SystemRW / SuperRW feat. MakeRW / ro2rw by lebigmac This script removes the read-only lock of all partitions embedded in the super partition of your stock firmware. This allows you to mount...
forum.xda-developers.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If anyone tries it successfully and it will work on F3, please let me know here. Thanks.

I can verify that the above procedure worked flawlessly in first attempt. My installed rom was Xiaomi.eu 12.5.4.0 on Poco F3/ Mi 11x btw. Thanks a lot...