Database Info

What Bloatware Safe To Remove: Verizon S3

Is there a list of what Bloatware is safe to remove from Verizon Galaxy S3?

I ran across this spreadsheet the other day but don't recall which thread the link was from.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AqTvctlW89DtdC1qVUlLeVFTV3ZOdUtDclpBdVRQOUE&pli=1#gid=0

tgmorris said:
I ran across this spreadsheet the other day but don't recall which thread the link was from.
GOOGLE DOCS LINK (BLEH NEWBIE USER IS LAME)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another noob question...What is the difference between freezing an app and uninstalling one? I mean, it's a bit obvious, but also a bit vague...
My first few questions are rather broad/major... What's the different between a "package" and a ".APK" based on the spreadsheet being linked? Does freezing keep the process from restarting upon rebooting the phone??
Do I want to freeze apps that I want to keep for possible future use? Uninstall is for anything I want to get rid of completely and never plan to use, correct? I likely know the answers to these...But I also read that freezing an app is better and frees up more system resources than uninstalling....how can that be true? I assume uninstalling an app also "freezes" it, AKA stops it from processing...Correct?
So apps I might want in the future, like clock widgets, I just want to freeze, correct? Same for calender, calculator, etc?
On the other hand, I was to uninstall items like VZW Navigator, correct?
Sorry for redundent questions but I'm just making sure I do everything right.

Weioo said:
Another noob question...What is the difference between freezing an app and uninstalling one? I mean, it's a bit obvious, but also a bit vague...
My first few questions are rather broad/major... What's the different between a "package" and a ".APK" based on the spreadsheet being linked? Does freezing keep the process from restarting upon rebooting the phone??
Do I want to freeze apps that I want to keep for possible future use? Uninstall is for anything I want to get rid of completely and never plan to use, correct? I likely know the answers to these...But I also read that freezing an app is better and frees up more system resources than uninstalling....how can that be true? I assume uninstalling an app also "freezes" it, AKA stops it from processing...Correct?
So apps I might want in the future, like clock widgets, I just want to freeze, correct? Same for calender, calculator, etc?
On the other hand, I was to uninstall items like VZW Navigator, correct?
Sorry for redundent questions but I'm just making sure I do everything right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I understand, freezing essentially deactivates the app. As long as the app is frozen, it should not start, regardless if your phone reboots. If you freeze the app, it will still be there, just not working where as uninstalling it will completely remove the app. If you are not sure if you want it, just freeze it.

Freeze disables it and leaves it in the rom and usually hides from app drawer. Uninstall deletes it from rom making rom footprint smaller but saves it in TIBU backup folder. Defrost re-enables app in rom. Uninstalled apps can be reinstalled from TIBU. Bottom line frozen app is still in rom thus not actually debloated just disabled. Uninstalled is removed from rom but saved by TIBU thus debloated.

hi all,
hope this is the right forum.
I´ve rooted my samsung s3 lte today and uninstalled some apps (bloatware). but i´ve made a mistake: my statusbar is away!!
i guess i unsinstalled an samsung feature.
can you help me?
thx
i´ve made a backup with titanium before uninstalling but it didn´t solve the problem

keiloff said:
hi all,
hope this is the right forum.
I´ve rooted my samsung s3 lte today and uninstalled some apps (bloatware). but i´ve made a mistake: my statusbar is away!!
i guess i unsinstalled an samsung feature.
can you help me?
thx
i´ve made a backup with titanium before uninstalling but it didn´t solve the problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
reflash the rom over your setup

omair2005 said:
reflash the rom over your setup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i´m a noob. wich setup?
i used the "Samsung_Galaxy_S3_ToolKit_v7.0" to root it. Then i reflashed the stock via odin, didn´t work.

AW: What Bloatware Safe To Remove: Verizon S3
Maybe there is an app wich i can install.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda premium

AW: What Bloatware Safe To Remove: Verizon S3
Problem solved. I deleted some samsung apps (dont know how) and restored them manually out of my titanium backup.
Thx for your help.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda premium

I know this is an old thread, but does anyone have an updated list for TW 4.3?
I have this link
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqTvctlW89DtdC1qVUlLeVFTV3ZOdUtDclpBdVRQOUE&pli=1#gid=0
but it's clearly old as I don't see listings for Cloud and Backup Assistant Plus, which appear to be some Verizon (not Samsung) backup options.
Anyone have a current list?

How to detach an app from the Play Store

Right, I'm a PowerAMP pro user, but with a pretty old phone. The latest app is working but it's slow and sometimes lags. The poweramp site also offers the old 1.4 version which works right for me. Now, all is fine and dandy but I;m a bit annoyed by the app always showing up there to be updated. So I searched for a method to detach the app from the market and learnt that the bug has been solved long ago and apps can't be detached. So I tried changing the app's signature, of course with no luck, my android dev skills being close to absolute zero.
So I ask you, is there any way to do this? I am not pirating the app, so don't worry
I'm also trying to convince the developer to make an unsigned version of the app specifically for old timers like me, but with no success until now..

Just use LBE Privacy guard and freeze internet connection permission for this particular app..
So it will not connect to net and not telling you that new version is available..
we all should be polite enough to press thanks for anyone who helped US.

andrei1015 said:
Right, I'm a PowerAMP pro user, but with a pretty old phone. The latest app is working but it's slow and sometimes lags. The poweramp site also offers the old 1.4 version which works right for me. Now, all is fine and dandy but I;m a bit annoyed by the app always showing up there to be updated. So I searched for a method to detach the app from the market and learnt that the bug has been solved long ago and apps can't be detached. So I tried changing the app's signature, of course with no luck, my android dev skills being close to absolute zero.
So I ask you, is there any way to do this? I am not pirating the app, so don't worry
I'm also trying to convince the developer to make an unsigned version of the app specifically for old timers like me, but with no success until now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it doesnt need to connect to the internet for anything else you could use droidwall to block it from accessing the playstore

If your rooted you could use blackmart to download the app and never have to update it
Or see the updates notifications saying there's an update
Sent from my MB865 using XDA Premium HD app

andrei1015 said:
Right, I'm a PowerAMP pro user, but with a pretty old phone. The latest app is working but it's slow and sometimes lags. The poweramp site also offers the old 1.4 version which works right for me. Now, all is fine and dandy but I;m a bit annoyed by the app always showing up there to be updated. So I searched for a method to detach the app from the market and learnt that the bug has been solved long ago and apps can't be detached. So I tried changing the app's signature, of course with no luck, my android dev skills being close to absolute zero.
So I ask you, is there any way to do this? I am not pirating the app, so don't worry
I'm also trying to convince the developer to make an unsigned version of the app specifically for old timers like me, but with no success until now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know Titanium Backup can detach apps, though I am not sure if it is available in the free version. However, I do recommend the paid version of Titanium Backup anyway.

universeman said:
I know Titanium Backup can detach apps, though I am not sure if it is available in the free version. However, I do recommend the paid version of Titanium Backup anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have never been able to make that function actually work and I've tried with several apps that I don't want updates for.
Sent from my M886 using Tapatalk 2

On a related note, is there a way to remove apps from the "My Apps"list? It is really annoying to have to scroll through a list of apps containing tons of apps that you may have tried for a while and then uninstalled when you need to reinstall something. And why is the "My Apps" list in random order and not alphabetical?
"Dark is the night, I'm just a lonesome ol' shootin' star."
Sent from my Paranoid Android JB'd Infuse 4G using Tapatalk 2

lunarlandr said:
On a related note, is there a way to remove apps from the "My Apps"list? It is really annoying to have to scroll through a list of apps containing tons of apps that you may have tried for a while and then uninstalled when you need to reinstall something. And why is the "My Apps" list in random order and not alphabetical?
"Dark is the night, I'm just a lonesome ol' shootin' star."
Sent from my Paranoid Android JB'd Infuse 4G using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know (and after some quick Googling), there is no way to remove any apps from the giant "My Apps" list. However, I use the Appbrain android market replacement, and it lets you customize your lists and sort them better. You can remove devices from view though.

universeman said:
As far as I know (and after some quick Googling), there is no way to remove any apps from the giant "My Apps" list. However, I use the Appbrain android market replacement, and it lets you customize your lists and sort them better. You can remove devices from view though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will definitely look into that and continue to research the issue as well. If I find any other solutions, I won't hesitate to post an update.
"Dark is the night, I'm just a lonesome ol' shootin' star."
Sent from my Paranoid Android JB'd Infuse 4G using Tapatalk 2

List of bloat that can be (safely) removed

Okay, if another thread with a listing exists, please point me there and I'll ask to have this deleted. I did search "bloat", "remove apps", and so on and based on thread titles (sorry - can't check every one especially when the title suggests nothing obvious) and found nothing.
I'm certain that all of the various Google Play apps, i.e. Magazines, Books, Movies & TV can go, plus they're downloadable from the Play Store if I ever want them back.
-- What about the various Verizon apps, i.e. Tones ? Is Mobile Hotspot a Verizon app or an Android one ? FWIW, if I tether, I won't use that...
-- What about Samsung's apps like S Memo, S Suggest, AllShare Play, Group Play, etc ?
Any related widgets will go too !
If there's others, please list them ! I do know that just because I don't recognize an app that it doesn't mean it's safe or wise to delete it as many are used behind-the-scenes and are critical. Finally, I'm backing up any apps that I do delete just in case.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AqTvctlW89DtdC1qVUlLeVFTV3ZOdUtDclpBdVRQOUE&pli=1#gid=0

Excellent ! Thank you

What / where is the Mobile Hotshot app? Can't find it in order to remove it.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2

hallstevenson said:
What / where is the Mobile Hotshot app? Can't find it in order to remove it.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S3 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Settings.apk that is the hotspot app.
DO NOT REMOVE for obvious reasons. If you don't like the icon hide it. Almost every launcher (even stock) allows you to hide apps
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Hehe, yeap, I know that you can't remove that APK ! I didn't know you could hide apps with the stock launcher. Coming from HTC phones, though I typically ran non-Sense ROMs, you couldn't hide apps.

Can't you just use TiBu and freeze the apps?
From my SIII on Hyperdrive

RCOVA said:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/lv?key=0AqTvctlW89DtdC1qVUlLeVFTV3ZOdUtDclpBdVRQOUE&pli=1#gid=0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome resource. Thanks for the link!

OneSlice said:
Can't you just use TiBu and freeze the apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm correct, "freeze" is only available on the paid version of Titanium Backup, is it not ?

hallstevenson said:
If I'm correct, "freeze" is only available on the paid version of Titanium Backup, is it not ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct. Though it's possible to do a Disable on many apps that reside in /system.

Verizon Galaxy S III apps safe to remove
I know I'm necro-ing a thread, but I've just made my own list. (Somehow I missed this post.) I see different apps in my list from the one above, so I figured I would share it anyway!
This list is a copy of the one found here (Sprint version), with a new sheet for the Verizon version. I've stripped out the apps that were in the former list, updated APK names, and went through each app on my phone to do this. Oh, I'm running 4.1.2 on a stock rooted ROM, and I used Titanium Backup to inspect the various apps and test freezing/removing them.
Click here for the list. And feel free to make your own copies!
Edit: My list was for prior to 4.3, so it's likely not 100% accurate anymore. Can't really verify that, I'm afraid, as I used this pre-rooted stock ROM to install 4.3 on my phone, and it already had a great deal of stuff stripped out. Since then, however, I've switched to T-Mobile and picked up a Nexus 5, so I won't be able to maintain the list. (Though I'll leave it available just in case.)

[Q] Removing Apps from Custom ROMs

Although I had rooted my SK4G a while back, it took me a while to get the courage to flash a ROM.
But yesterday, I successfully flashed MeMory. First off, many thanks to TheLastSidekick. He did such a better job than TMobile devs.
I could go on and on about his great work, but my only complaint is about Lightening Launcher which I can not warm to. I purchased and installed Holo Launcher Pro and would like to get rid of LL. Forgive my noob question, but are apps such as these removable in a custom ROM? Or do I have to freeze them with a third-party app. Or is LL a necessary component of the OS, used or not?
For that matter, I wouldn't mind getting rid of the stock browser, either. But again, I don't want to break anything.
Again, especially, thank you, LastSideKick,
Jake

adb shell
cd system/app
ls
rm eachappyouwanttoremove.apk
When your finished reboot
So no, not needed if you have another launcher
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Thank you for a quick, very helpful response.
Been running MeMory for two days now, and have yet to see the same problems I had w/ the rooted stock ROM: the maddening delays when trying to get to Phone, the occasional inability to physically answer a call, and the general slowness going from app to app.
Memory managment seems much better as well.
I hate that cliche "breathed new life into my phone," but MeMory really has
Jake

I've been using MeMory for almost a year with only one complaint: the JB keyboard does not work. Does it work on your phone?
In addition to using ADB, you can use a 3rd party app like Root App Delete by TopDev to remove system apps (those that came with the custom ROM). There's also a mode to disable an app first to make sure your phone works without it.

I have noticed crashing w/ JB keyboard. I must admit, I didn't pay much attention since I always use the physical KB. Thanks for the Root App Delete tip. I may look into that or just blast away with ADB and delete LL. But I would like to test the removal of the stock browser to see how phone functions without that.
Jake

I usually use the physical keyboard, too, but sometimes it's more convenient to use the screen keyboard. You can install the keyboard of your choice (Swype, Swift, Perfect Key, etc.) and then remove the JB keyboard.
I deleted the stock browser and installed a different browser with no problems.

Thanks much for your follow-up. I'm glad to hear that stock browser can be removed.
Jake

You can just disable them by renaming the extension, in case you need to have them in the future...
On the Droid2 I had to rename them *.bapk, as renaming them .bak, or *.apk.bak didn't work... VZ was wise to my first attempt, preemptively.

Here's the interesting thing: deleted gmail, stock browser successfully. Could not delete LL. I removed its apks, but it's still available in Apps and still starts. Is it hidden someplace else? Or really burned into the ROM?
Jake

Go to app store there is a app call /system/bin
This app will make all per programmed apps like YouTube or even play store deleteable
Then you just have to go to your settings apps look for launcher and delete..
Also ics keyboard is really good IMO . don't know if it works or not for the rom
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

immorality said:
Go to app store there is a app call /system/bin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the tip, but I did not find an app named /system/bin
Are we talking about Google Play Store?
Jake

jakfish said:
Thank you for the tip, but I did not find an app named /system/bin
Are we talking about Google Play Store?
Jake
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/system/app
Sorry I am use to going into bin folder
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

Ah, okay. In the meantime, I had installed "Uninstall" which is a system app remover and it finally remove LL.
Jake

/system/bin isn't an app, its a system folder. You uninstall apps from there. An app that does this uninstall system process is the donate version of titanium backup.
Sent from my SGH-T839 using xda app-developers app

Hello everyone, I am looking for advice/solution from all of you genius people.
I have decompiled an Android Pie rom. I want to delete preinstalled apps from it (bloadtware). However, when I am deleting apps from Product/app folder, they're coming back in Rom and still working on device. What could possibly making them to be installed again?
I am working on Slimbox Rom and trying to customize it for Radxa Zero.
Thanks

Root Without Unlocking Bootloader

Hello All
How long does it usually take for root Without Unlocking the Bootloader to come out?
This is the only reason I have not purchased this phone yet.
So frustrated there will be no decent normal sized Nexus 6 and the Z3 loses camera features when unlocked ?

No ETA pls
Let's wait

funkyblue04 said:
Hello All
How long does it usually take for root Without Unlocking the Bootloader to come out?
This is the only reason I have not purchased this phone yet.
So frustrated there will be no decent normal sized Nexus 6 and the Z3 loses camera features when unlocked ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no "usual" number. Some phones got root before they were even out officially. Some took a few days. Some took over a month. And some end up retired without a safe root option.
First rule of xda: don't ask for eta

I know that. Just another frustration with android. We need more Nexus phones!

funkyblue04 said:
I know that. Just another frustration with android. We need more Nexus phones!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never thought I could use this phone without root but it turns out I'm wrong. Not really seeing any need for it at the present moment

I like to be about to restore all my data and apps with Titanium Backup. So much easier.

wolf0491 said:
I have nothing but force closes when restoring with titanium unless the ROM is very similar anyway. Like I was using AOSP on my Z before so I just came in fresh. Less issues down the road
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never had an issue switching ROM's being careful to avoid system apps and only restoring the call logs and SMS database, as well as non-system apps.

Everyone is different ☺ I also do nightly backups and sync with Dropbox.

Shudder123 said:
I never thought I could use this phone without root but it turns out I'm wrong. Not really seeing any need for it at the present moment
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never thought of using adblockers like AdAway, preventing a total waste of mobile data for loading unwanted ads which easily consume ten times the data needed ?
Never thought of kicking out bloatware also wasting your ressources ?

Would love to see root but for now I can manage quite fine without it... There is less bloatware then with certain other brands and you can uninstall or disable quite a bit.
The few things I WOULD like:
* Completely remove unused system apps
* Change LCD Density (it's all soooo big now)
* Full SDCard read/write access for all apps. (I love quickpic as a gallery, but because I save my pics/vids to sdcard it can not remove anything now)
* Titanium backup. Have never ever had issues with this (only user apps+data for me most of the time) and that's with switching between different roms, brands, aosp/stock, etc... Never failed me

Chefproll said:
Never thought of using adblockers like AdAway, preventing a total waste of mobile data for loading unwanted ads which easily consume ten times the data needed ?
Never thought of kicking out bloatware also wasting your ressources ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ABP doesn't require root and all of the bloat apps can be uninstalled or disabled / blocked using package manager.

cschmitt said:
ABP doesn't require root and all of the bloat apps can be uninstalled or disabled / blocked using package manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not to mention Xposed and everything it offers.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app

cschmitt said:
ABP doesn't require root and all of the bloat apps can be uninstalled or disabled / blocked using package manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ABP (please call it "Adblock Plus" so every readers knows what's meant) does not require root, but it's not too capable running under Android. It does a brilliant job with FireFox and Windows, but the Android implementation only captures a fracture of annoying ads. And: No plugin for defining your own black lists under Android.
AdAway additionally removes annoying ads from a wealth of apps. Just doesn't work without root.
Ok, I can hear you: "If everybody uses that means, app developers won't get paid."
Yes, that's correct.
But:
a) If I really like an app, I'll buy it. Example: Poweramp. NO ads, no annoyance. It just stops working after some time. I regard that as ok. I do NOT like apps getting on my nerves all the time.
My formula is simple: Annoying ads = deinstall, no purchase.
b) A majority of free app developers uses that "evil" ads, appearing at places previously occupied by regular buttons - so you tap on them although you just don't want to.
If that bad behavior gets to a stop, I'll think about disabling AdAway again. Fair play - but on BOTH sides.