There's a simple little method in newer versions of Android (not sure when it started but I first noticed it in 4.2 with my Google Nexus 7) called "disable."
A lot of people don't seem to know about it, and think they HAVE to root in order to remove bloatware, and considering the Galaxy S4 is on AT&T and made by Samsung, there's bloatware GALORE on this thing.
A quick run through...
Open up "Settings" from your "Apps" menu, hit the "More" tab in the top right hand corner, and select "Applications manager." From here, you'll find 3 sections, "DOWNLOADED" "RUNNING" and "ALL" (you may have to tap running in order to have the selector move to where all is visible). Select "ALL" and find the program you want gone, select it, and in place of the "uninstall" button you'll see a button saying "disable." Click this button (if it asks to uninstall updates, do so, and press the disable button again) and enjoy that one annoying program showing up in your apps list no longer being there. As added good measure, I also force stop the program.
Keep in mind, there are system level processes listed here, that if you disable, your phone may freak out. ONLY DO THIS WITH ITEMS YOU KNOW YOUR PHONE CAN DO WITHOUT.
I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU DISABLING SOMETHING THAT RENDERS YOUR PHONE INOPPERABLE.
*edit* This is not a COMPLETE removal. It DOES remove the application icon from your apps list, and I have not had any update notifications or any push messages from a disabled app. They will still show up in the "ALL" listing of the Application manager at the very bottom saying "Disabled." You can also uncheck the "Show Notifications" box to ensure that no notifications are sent from that application as an extra annoyance-killing measure.
A poster had a question about background services:
datura77 said:
This thread seem to focus on applications. what about background services that can be safely removed with autostats?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could anyone with a more extensive knowledge on services shed some light on this? The original quote can be found at the bottom of page 6.
*EDIT* While I DO have my phone rooted, it's easier for me to go through my list of everything using Titanium Backup. Here's my list of currently disabled apps that I have frozen using TiBa. You may not be able to disable near everything I have disabled because there are a couple of applications that cannot be disabled using the built in controls. I DO NOT use a lot of certain features on my phone (NFC, Swype, Talkback, S Voice, Group Play, etc) so my list may differ from yours a bit. Keep in mind if you disable something, that program will fail to function. You can NOT disable NFC services and go to starbucks and still expect NFC to function. If you have a question about what a particular service or app does, it'll be best to google it and see what it does. If no information is provided, we can try and figure out what it does.
I will try and mark the ones I KNOW that cannot be disabled through the applications manager in the list. There are only a couple I know of since going through TiBa was so much faster for me.
IF YOU DISABLE YOUR LAUNCHER VIA ROOT MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ANOTHER ONE INSTALLED BEFORE DOING SO. LAUNCHER IS WHAT CONTROLS YOUR HOME SCREEN. IT'S A PAIN TO FIX SOMETIMES WITH NO ACCESS TO YOUR HOME SCREEN.
My list of disabled apps:
AllShare ControlShare Service
AllShare FileShare Service
AT&T Family Map
AT&T Hot Spots
AT&T Locker
AT&T Messages
AT&T Navigator
BlurbCheckout
Briefing 1.0
Bubbles 1.0
ChatON
ChatOn V (cannot be disabled using apps manager)
Com2uSPoker
DirectConnectManager
DirectShareManager
Exchange Services
Flipboard
Google Play Magazines
Google Play Movies & TV
Google Play Music
Google Search (there are 2. One has an icon of a search bar and another has the G symbol on the icon. Both were re-enabled when I had trouble using voice-to-text and this seems to have corrected my issue)
Google+
Group Play
HP Print Service
Kies via Wifi
Match3VS
Mobile TV
Multimedia UI Service Layer 1.8
Music 6.0.1
Nearby devices
Nearby Service
Nfc Service
NFC Test
PageBuddyNotiSvc
Phase beam
S Health
S Memo
S Note Provider
S Translator
S Voice
Samsung account
Samsung Apps
Samsung Apps Widget
Samsung Books
Samsung Calendar SyncAdapter
Samsung Cloud Data Relay
Samsung Cloud Quota
Samsung Contact SyncAdapter
Samsung Games
Samsung Hub
Samsung Link
Samsung Music
Samsung Push Service
Samsung SBrowser Bookmark SyncAdapter
Samsung SBrowser Tab SyncAdapter
Samsung SNote SyncAdapter
Samsung SyncAdapter
Samsung WatchON (both listings, one can only be disabled via TiBa)
SamsungHubUpdater
Share music
SNS 1.1.0
Story Album
Story Album Widget
Swype
Talk
Talkback
Travel 1.0
Travel wallpaper
TripAdvisor
Yahoo! Finance
Yahoo! News
YouTube
YPmobile
I will update the list and give any reports to any instabilities or issues I notice.
Here is what I have disabled with no issues:
AT&T Drivemode
AT&T FamilyMap
AT&T Hot Spots
AT&T Locker
AT&T Messages
AT&T Navigator
AT&T Smart Wi-Fi
BlurbCheckout
Bubbles
ChatOn
Com2uSPoker
DioDictService
DirectConnectionManager
DirectShareManager
Face Unlock
Favorite Contacts
Gmail
Google Play Books
Google Play Magazines
Google Play Movies & TV
Group Play
Help
Match3VS
MobileTV
myAT&T
PageBuddyNotiSvc
Phase beam
Photo Screensavers
S Translator
S Voice
Samsung Account
Samsung Apps
Samsung Apps Widget
Samsung Books
Samsung Games
Samsung Music
Samsung SBrowser Bookmark
Samsung SBrowser Tab Sync
Samsung WatchOn
Story Album
Story Album Widget
Swipe
Talk
Talkback
TripAdvisor
Yahoo Finance
Yahoo News
YPMobile
though it still in the memory of the phone right? still use some sdcard space for those junk apps unless we uninstall it with root
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
lyrad12 said:
though it still in the memory of the phone right? still use some sdcard space for those junk apps unless we uninstall it with root
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disabled apps won't use RAM because they won't load but they do still use storage space if that makes sense.
Once disabled they disappear from Application Manager. How do you re-enable them?
The same way you disabled. Go back inti the Application Manager, scroll all the way down, and "enable"
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium
its nice to disable, but its alot of bloatware and we should be able to remove it completely.
RaptorMD said:
its nice to disable, but its alot of bloatware and we should be able to remove it completely.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, but some people don't like rooting their devices. This is an alternative to rooting, and it's built into the device. No arguing about "voiding your warranty" should something happen and you can't un-root. Some people don't like that idea of the whole warranty thing.
raqball said:
Here is what I have disabled with no issues:
AT&T Drivemode
AT&T FamilyMap
AT&T Hot Spots
AT&T Locker
AT&T Messages
AT&T Navigator
AT&T Smart Wi-Fi
BlurbCheckout
Bubbles
ChatOn
Com2uSPoker
DioDictService
DirectConnectionManager
DirectShareManager
Face Unlock
Favorite Contacts
Gmail
Google Play Books
Google Play Magazines
Google Play Movies & TV
Group Play
Help
Match3VS
MobileTV
myAT&T
PageBuddyNotiSvc
Phase beam
Photo Screensavers
S Translator
S Voice
Samsung Account
Samsung Apps
Samsung Apps Widget
Samsung Books
Samsung Games
Samsung Music
Samsung SBrowser Bookmark
Samsung SBrowser Tab Sync
Samsung WatchOn
Story Album
Story Album Widget
Swipe
Talk
Talkback
TripAdvisor
Yahoo Finance
Yahoo News
YPMobile
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Somewhere in the process of this, I lost my voice to text. I'm still trying to figure out exactly which processes are tied to this, and I have been unsuccessful. Glad I have the rest of the weekend to do it lol.
*edit* I believe it MAY have been linked to the google search I disabled (you didn't, I just got it along the way because it was there and I wanted to test). I re-enabled everything and rebooted my phone, then went through and left the google search related items enabled and it seems to have corrected my loss of voice to text. I did disable S Voice and S Translator as well.
gothpunk4christ said:
Somewhere in the process of this, I lost my voice to text. I'm still trying to figure out exactly which processes are tied to this, and I have been unsuccessful. Glad I have the rest of the weekend to do it lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked and it works for me..
Look at the keyboard settings and make sure Google Voice Typing is enabled..
this is my first Sammy device, but I gotta say S voice might be the most redundant and dumbest application ever. Its nowhere near as good as Google Now but yet it's the default
raqball said:
I just checked and it works for me..
Look at the keyboard settings and make sure Google Voice Typing is enabled..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I updated my post on there. I think it was related to the Google Searches that I disabled. I went back through and disabled a lot more stuff this time, but keeping those 2 on seems to have left my VTT in tact.
Disabling processes...for science!
mr_blanket said:
this is my first Sammy device, but I gotta say S voice might be the most redundant and dumbest application ever. Its nowhere near as good as Google Now but yet it's the default
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it seems to only control a select portion of the phone, but then, it should be specifically tailored to the device it's installed on. Not like being a generic voice controller like Googles and spanning multiple devices. I still don't use it though.
gothpunk4christ said:
I agree, but some people don't like rooting their devices. This is an alternative to rooting, and it's built into the device. No arguing about "voiding your warranty" should something happen and you can't un-root. Some people don't like that idea of the whole warranty thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree completely. My disappointment is Google touts this as some big thing when you are not getting back lost RAM and in 2013 we are getting worse storage options than in 2010 based on average app sizes.
Thanks for the lists! The main reason I have been freezing apps (even though I have root) instead of removing is because I don't yet have custom recovery installed. I don't want to start stripping my system until I can make a decent backup.
Some apps I disabled that I did not see on previous lists are:
All AT&T apps EXCEPT Software Update
Briefing 1.0
Chrome 25.0.1364.169
Easy Launcher 1.0 (I use ADW and have it set as default)
Kies via Wi-Fi v42_1304_1_2
Mobile TV 2.0
Multimedia UI Service Layer 1.8
Music 6.0.1
My Files 1.0.0 (I use Ghost Commander or Root Explorer)
myAT&T 3.4
OmaDrmPopup 1.0
S Health 1.5.2
S Memo 2.17.422276
S Note Provider 13.01.6000
S Translator 0.8.8
S Voice 11.0.0.1
All Samsung apps EXCEPT Keyboard, KNOX, Print Service, SetupWizard
SensorService 1.8
SNS 1.1.0
TouchWiz home 4.2.2-I337UCUAMDB (I use ADW and have it set as default)
Try air move 1.0
I used to Titanium Backup, some of these services are not visible without it. I have not had any errors or issues yet. I will update the list if anything changes.
dbg11235 said:
Thanks for the lists! The main reason I have been freezing apps (even though I have root) instead of removing is because I don't yet have custom recovery installed. I don't want to start stripping my system until I can make a decent backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This too is a valid reason.
Has anyone figured out how to remove the "Samsung Mobile" bookmarks folder? Seems like it can't be deleted by normal methods and I don't know where to go digging in the phone to remove them with root.
so hypothetically, when a chunk of these are disabled, and threfore not using RAM upon loading... (or not loading) that should help speed up the phone even more correct?
JL84 said:
so hypothetically, when a chunk of these are disabled, and threfore not using RAM upon loading... (or not loading) that should help speed up the phone even more correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yuuup
Just rooted my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1 from T-Mobile, it's running JB 4.1.2. I'm taking the Tab on a long drive using the Waze app and battery life will be crucial for me.
I installed AnTek App Manager and froze the following bloat apps:
Google Play Books
GMail
Google+
Gallery (I'm using QuickPic)
Lookout Security
T-Mobile TV
T-Mobile My Account
I'm wondering if anyone else can identify any other bloatware? There are lots of apps I can't identify, like "Bonus apps" and Samsung apps but I can't be certain if they are needed or just bloat.
Thanks!
Google TTS, Google maps, Voice search, and the most heavy Samsung app S-Voice.
Sent from my P5100 Samsung Galaxy Note 8
dr.faramroze said:
Google TTS, Google maps, Voice search, and the most heavy Samsung app S-Voice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see a "Samsung app S-Voice".
Hello Guys,
Im busy on a new reactivation bypass on the Samsung S6 Lollipop 5.1.1. When the installation menu pops up after a hard reset i can manage to get into the phone, this i can do:
Acces play store and install apps.
Acces setting menu.
Open google now to lauch apps.
I cannot add a samsung account when i press settings and add account. I can add google account firefox account etc. It looks like permissing to samsung account is disabled.
Maybe we can get to a solution from here? any helpers?
momo.bouhafa said:
Hello Guys,
Im busy on a new reactivation bypass on the Samsung S6 Lollipop 5.1.1. When the installation menu pops up after a hard reset i can manage to get into the phone, this i can do:
Acces play store and install apps.
Acces setting menu.
Open google now to lauch apps.
I cannot add a samsung account when i press settings and add account. I can add google account firefox account etc. It looks like permissing to samsung account is disabled.
Maybe we can get to a solution from here? any helpers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a Samsung Account listed in settings already? Does it ask you to sign into one while trying to set up the device?
Is this a stock device or a custom rom?
Prior to buying my Gear S3 I was a crack-flasher - always flashing new ROMs on my phone (Nexus 6). Since getting my S3, that's come to a halt because I notice the Samsung Health app does not restore data from my Samsung Account and even using Titanium Backup to backup/restore the data isn't a solution. I've noticed when I restore data through Titanium Backup, the Samsung Health app does not sync with my watch.
Anybody know of a way to do this? I'd really like to keep jumping around and experimenting with ROMs, but only if my watch can use historical data.
Go to settings of Samsung Health app, click on Samsung account and set up sync.
When you install Samsung Health on new device It should sync all data to new device.
daggebauer said:
Go to settings of Samsung Health app, click on Samsung account and set up sync.
When you install Samsung Health on new device It should sync all data to new device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the word thing. I've done all that and it backs up but doesn't seem to restore. I wonder if it restores based on device ID instead of purely the account.
When I install a new ROM, it generally creates a new device ID.
daggebauer said:
Go to settings of Samsung Health app, click on Samsung account and set up sync.
When you install Samsung Health on new device It should sync all data to new device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just saw that the account is setup but auto sync wasn't enabled. I bet that's why.
Hello all, I have successfully installed the Galaxy Health Monitor app following the instructions from here (apk to the phone and to the watch) now I just need to calibrate the blood pressure. THANK YOU!
What I am struggling with is to install the actual Galaxy Health App to have all kinds of general fitness tracking (sleep etc.) on a phone app.
I have downloaded different versions of the app and I always get "parse error" when the app manager installs it and so it does not work (as it does not install).
How can I install the Galaxy Health Monitor app on Xiaomi Redmi? (The generic Galaxy Phone app works - so I can change watch faces etc. - but I am unable to get any health stats on the phone app).
Maybe I am just a dummy and its already in there somewhere? But then - where? ( We have several smart watches / fitness bands in the family: they all give detailed stats on their phone apps - while so far I get no stat whatsoever for the Galaxy 4 watch - and I do not even see where the stats should be, hence trying to use the Galaxy Health App)
Thank you for any suggestions!
Try installing "Health Platform" from Play Store (it's a Samsung app) and sync your Samsung account to it by opening the health platform settings and enabling all permissions. Do that on watch and phone.
It comes pre-installed on Samsung devices including watch but you have to sync Samsung health to it manually. Your Xaomi phone won't have it installed by default.
bingblop said:
Try installing "Health Platform" from Play Store (it's a Samsung app) and sync your Samsung account to it by opening the health platform settings and enabling all permissions. Do that on watch and phone.
It comes pre-installed on Samsung devices including watch but you have to sync Samsung health to it manually. Your Xaomi phone won't have it installed by default.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately there is no health platform (or other similar Samsung app) in my app store... All I see is Galaxy Wearable and that does not give me any health stats...
Gadgetguy65 said:
Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately there is no health platform (or other similar Samsung app) in my app store... All I see is Galaxy Wearable and that does not give me any health stats...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Health Platform - Apps on Google Play
The Health Platform is an Android-based mobile/Watch platform service
play.google.com
Try this (Link to health platform in play store)
bingblop said:
Health Platform - Apps on Google Play
The Health Platform is an Android-based mobile/Watch platform service
play.google.com
Try this (Link to health platform in play store)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! It says that this app does not work on my phone. And a sideload version gives the same parse error
Just to be clear are you trying to get Samsung Health Monitor or Samsung Health? 2 different apps.
Health Monitor is only for blood pressure. Samsung Health has all the features Including sleep.
Samsung Health - Apps on Google Play
Lifestyle companion to track your fitness, weight, diet, food & sleep.
play.google.com
Samsung Health Monitor will only work on Galaxy Devices.Samsing Health should be downloadable from app store and will sync with watch.
I am looking for any app that will give me health stats on my xiaomi phone. I was able to download (sideload) samsung health monitor and blood pressure and ecg works. But I am unable to download or sideload samsung health as it is not available in the app store on my phone and sideload versions give me a parse error
Gadgetguy65 said:
I am looking for any app that will give me health stats on my xiaomi phone. I was able to download (sideload) samsung health monitor and blood pressure and ecg works. But I am unable to download or sideload samsung health as it is not available in the app store on my phone and sideload versions give me a parse error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I just confirmed Xiaomi isn't compatible with Samsung Health Apps. There's a workaround. Install Google Fit and sync up. You can get the Google fit app on your galaxy watch too. On your phone, download Health Sync. Sync your Google fit to Samsung health and it will automatically sync your metrics between the two apps. That's the only way.
or you can just use Google fit. It provides everything health does except sleep but you can use health sync to get sleep metrics in Google fit.
Health Sync - Apps on Google Play
Sync health data between Samsung Health, Google Fit, Fitbit, Garmin and others
play.google.com
Just be sure to download Google fit activity tracker on Galaxy watch.. it can check all the sensors and step tracker.
Through that workaround all your Samsung health data will be viewable I'm the Google fit App or Samsung Health app on your watch .. it can sync data both ways.
It syncs the data in the cloud so you don't need Samsung health installed on your phone to sync data.
Ok I wrote this very confusing...
You can use the alternative Google fit by downloading Google fit activity tracker on your watch and phone. All data will sync through Google fit. Don't need health sync.
If you want to view Samsung health data from your watch on your phone, download Health sync and sync your Samsung health data TO Google fit. Your Google fit will display your Samsung health data but DONT download the Google fit activity tracker on your watch if you use health sync since you'll be using Samsung health to log data instead.
You have options using Google Fit and Health Sync is my point.
bingblop said:
Ok I wrote this very confusing...
You can use the alternative Google fit by downloading Google fit activity tracker on your watch and phone. All data will sync through Google fit. Don't need health sync.
If you want to view Samsung health data from your watch on your phone, download Health sync and sync your Samsung health data TO Google fit. Your Google fit will display your Samsung health data but DONT download the Google fit activity tracker on your watch if you use health sync since you'll be using Samsung health to log data instead.
You have options using Google Fit and Health Sync is my point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, this is very helpful. I appreciate your patience with me!