Howdy all!
Earlier this year, Snapchat introduced a new "Feature" called Discovery that allows you to see live events around the world, as well as sponsored stories from their partners. These can not be disabled in the 9.12 update, and previous to that, they required you to "hide" each of them every time from your feed. There are potentially thousands of these events on your feed, and they drain battery, drain your data, or both! Since SnapChat refuses to allow their users to disable the "feature", many turned to third party apps to get rid of them.
Most (if not all) 3rd party apps are against Snapchat ToS, because they usually allow you to save received snaps, and share images from your gallery (aka. pictures that may not be of you). Your account can be banned permanently from using 3rd party apps, and since they've been really hitting it hard with cracking down on people using them, it's not a viable solution to figuring out how to block the Discovery "feature".
I found the solution! This solution IS COMPLETELY FREE for one, as well it will keep you using the official app, so no 3rd party apps will be used. You'll also NOT be using any xposed modules, so nothing ToS breaking like saving snaps or whatever, either
Requirements:
ROOTED Android 4.4+, 5.0+
Titanium Backup Premium - Free Version and Premium Unlock Key
Latest Snapchat APK - Google Play or APK Mirror
Snapchat 8.1.2 APK - APK Mirror
How to:
Install the latest official client from the links above, and login as normal. Close the app once you're logged in, and swipe it away from recents.
Open up Titanium Backup Premium, and back up the Snapchat app.
Uninstall the Snapchat app.
Install the 8.1.2 version (linked above).
Open up Titanium Backup Premium, and restore ONLY THE DATA PORTION of the backup. DO NOT RESTORE APP OR APP+DATA!
Once successful, close TiBu and open up Snapchat
Notes:
You will get a notice from "teamsnapchat" that says your version is out of date, and that it will stop working shortly, however it's not limited in any way for me. I've sent and received snaps from friends, chatted with friends, and even received story updates from other friends. All of it is working, including push notifications of new stuff.
I've not seen or heard anything Discovery wise from the app, nothing appears on my list of friends, and lastly, the data/battery problems are all but gone since it's not background syncing infinitely.
My screen does turn on whenever I receive a new notification, and I can't seem to disable it. I've unchecked the option to wake screen in settings, however it re-checks itself upon save/exit. I'm OK with this though, since my lockscreen timeout is 5 seconds.
Nice work but it is a bit misleading to say that this is removing/disabling the discovery feature in Snapchat 9.11 when the underlying solution here is to downgrade Snapchat to before the feature was enforced or introduced.
Kevin M said:
Nice work but it is a bit misleading to say that this is "removing/disabling" the discovery feature in Snapchat 9.11 when the underlying solution here is to downgrade Snapchat to before the feature was enforced or introduced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not really a downgrade entirely though, since if you downgrade to 8.1.2 without the backup/restore data operation, then it refuses to let you login.
You're downgrading, then upgrading partially..
Pretty sure it doesn't work on 5.1.1. I get an error saying it won't work on this version of your Operating system.
Wiltron said:
It's not really a downgrade entirely though, since if you downgrade to 8.1.2 without the backup/restore data operation, then it refuses to let you login.
You're downgrading, then upgrading partially..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you're making the downgrade possible due to restoring the data of the newer version of Snapchat. Its a tweak to make the downngrade possible. Restoring the data doesn't brint back the new version.
I find the title misleading aswell, since you are not removing nor disabling the discovery feature at all.
It isn't Snapchat 9.11+ either when you downgrade to 8.1.2.
Its not really your solution neither, as this is was the default solution to use Snapprefs and simular mods before it was recently updated to work woth the latest Snapchat versions.
Doesn't work for me unfortunately. Automatically logs me out upon opening Snapchat 8 even with version 9 data restored.
After installing the current version of snapchat and logging in, try to go to settings and uncheck the option for Wake Screen, THEN proceed with the downgrade instructions. I haven't tried it, but it might work for you if your screen keeps waking once you downgrade.
I'll try this once they release root for my phone
To solve your wake screen problem i think all you have to do is backup the data AFTER you uncheck wake screen then restore the data to the downgraded app.
Good tip and much appreciated, although this has been known. And I agree it is misleading since the app is being downgraded and we are not actually disabling the feature in Snapchat 9.11+.
Again, the post is appreciated, but I think you should edit the thread title.
Doesn't work. After restore data and open Snapchat app, my account was disconnected and when I try to do login again, I receive a message saying that Snapchat is not updated and I need to update to login (something like this).
I usually just install the 8.1.2 update over the latest snapchat ☺. Data restore hasn't been working too fine with me ...
Thread closed per OP request. Method no longer works.
Darth
Forum Moderator
Related
I have been searching all over the place for the last several days for an answer to this issue. I hope someone can help with this.
So I decided a few days ago to upgrade my phone (an HTC Sensation) to ICS. It was previously on Gingerbead. I didn't even know the update was available until I was messing around in the settings.
So the upgrade went well. Didn't lose any data and I thought it was great. Until I decided to watch a YouTube video. Then I locked the screen and the video paused. I know it was not doing this before the upgrade. I subscribe to a few YouTube channels that are just people talking, so I turn off the screen and just listen. So I did a search online and found out a lot of other people were complaining about this as well.
So then I came across a forum post stating they were able to downgrade their YouTube app to an older version and get the play while locked functionality back. I found the APK for 2.1.6 and installed it. Worked great, back up and running with lock and listen.
Then I rebooted the phone. Android "helpfully" decides to re-update my YouTube app to the new "improved" version.
I rooted the phone during the process of trying to fix this. So it has S-OFF, root, and Super SU installed. I also put System Tuner on the phone.
Already checked the Play store to make sure updates are disabled there. I don't have updates enabled for any apps.
How can I stop this automatic upgrading? YouTube is a stock app and from what I understand, Android updates these (gmail, maps, youtube, etc) automatically and you can't stop it on the front end. Any ideas? Something I can do in System Tuner?
Thanks.
TL;DR Try using the search function and you might find something called Titanium Backup which can 'freeze' apps.
Already tried it. System Tuner has this feature. Freezing an app removes it from the drawer and will not allow it to run. Not exactly what I want.
Maybe I didn't make that clear enough. Titanium Backup allows you to effectively remove an app from the Play Store update routine, so it will not update anymore.
SimonTS said:
Maybe I didn't make that clear enough. Titanium Backup allows you to effectively remove an app from the Play Store update routine, so it will not update anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I didn't want to pay for Titanium Backup, but you at least got me going in the right direction. The issue appears to be that YouTube on my phone is marked as a system app and that causes Android to update it automatically regardless of what you select in the Play Store settings. I was able to use an app called "/system/app mover" to convert YouTube to a user app. Now it won't update automatically.
lightfusegetaway said:
Thanks for the info. I didn't want to pay for Titanium Backup, but you at least got me going in the right direction. The issue appears to be that YouTube on my phone is marked as a system app and that causes Android to update it automatically regardless of what you select in the Play Store settings. I was able to use an app called "/system/app mover" to convert YouTube to a user app. Now it won't update automatically.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an app calls Addons Detector from Play Store, you can use it to turn on and off the auto notification and download.
actually under Play Store, you can browse your preinstalled app and untick the "Allow automatic updating" option.
I'm having problems with quite a few apps either stalling, force-closing, or just being unstable after receiving the OTA 4.1.1 upgrade. One example that comes to mind is the Smartactions app (which worked fine with 4.0.4, but now force closes and won't let me make some changes).
Is this an app problem (which might be resolved when the apps themselves update to support 4.1.1), or is this a 4.1.1 build problem on Motorola's end (as though they released a sh!tty update that makes apps unstable)?
LifeAsADroid said:
I'm having problems with quite a few apps either stalling, force-closing, or just being unstable after receiving the OTA 4.1.1 upgrade. One example that comes to mind is the Smartactions app (which worked fine with 4.0.4, but now force closes and won't let me make some changes).
Is this an app problem (which might be resolved when the apps themselves update to support 4.1.1), or is this a 4.1.1 build problem on Motorola's end (as though they released a sh!tty update that makes apps unstable)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no expert but I'd expect this to be an app issue for two reasons:
1) The apps were created for 4.0.4. If you are noticing this problem with a Jellybean app (like Google Now for instance) it would make more sense that it's an android issue but since you're talking about smart actions I'd think it's likely just bad compatability between the app and the OS.
2) Moto/Verizon put this build through a butt load of testing before releasing it. We had a leak well before the official OTA that was extremely stable and Moto still wouldn't release the OTA. Generally OEMs, especially one's like Motorola, and especially for flagship devices like the Razr HD, do not release updates without thorough (as in what might seem as unnecessarily thorough) testing. They don't want to take the chance of having to give people their money back because they can't use their phones after the update.
Lastly, it's possible that something happened along the way of your update and that may be causing your problem.
Are you rooted? Were you rooted before updating? This may have caused a problem while updating.
I'd suggest using the DROID RAZR HD UTILITY to fastboot restore and start with an out of the box experience. It's also possible that the app data for smart actions (as in the data your phone saved about what you already had programmed into smart actions) was not wiped before you updated and now you are getting conflicts with app data from 4.0.4 not working with 4.1.1. Your best bet is to start fresh if it really is a problem. I ran the update after fastboot restore and I haven't had any problems. I also haven't used smart actions since updating, though.
Hope this helps...good luck
LifeAsADroid said:
I'm having problems with quite a few apps either stalling, force-closing, or just being unstable after receiving the OTA 4.1.1 upgrade. One example that comes to mind is the Smartactions app (which worked fine with 4.0.4, but now force closes and won't let me make some changes).
Is this an app problem (which might be resolved when the apps themselves update to support 4.1.1), or is this a 4.1.1 build problem on Motorola's end (as though they released a sh!tty update that makes apps unstable)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you try a factory reset (master clear)? You can also try wipe data and dalvik if you have access to these options.
Only app I have a problem with is draw something. Works on my nexus 7 but not on this jb update. It also works on cm 10, unfortunately that's too buggy to be a dd.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2
no
After I updated the amazon app store keeps crashing upon opening. And also draw something doesn't work.
ray4jc said:
After I updated the amazon app store keeps crashing upon opening. And also draw something doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazon sent me an email saying they noticed I was having app store issues and a link to download a update outside of their app store.
The only issue I'm having and can't figure out is when I set the alarm on my phone and it goes off there's nothing that pops up to turn it of or snooze. I literally have to shut the phone down and restart it to turn the alarm off. I've looked thru my disabled apps and can't find anything disabled that would be affecting this. Any advice?
James
I don't have any issues with my alarm. Maybe try clearing the cache?
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Amazon sent me an email with a like for the new appstore. Haven't had issues since.
We recently learned that you may be having trouble signing into the Amazon Appstore for Android after upgrading the operating system on your Verizon Android phone.
We've made a newer version of the Amazon Appstore available that addresses this issue. To download and install this latest version:
1. Go to http://amzn.to/getappstore from your mobile phone's web browser.
2. If prompted, choose "Browser" in the "Complete action using" pop-up and Appstore will begin to download.
3. Once the download is complete, pull down the Notification bar at the top of the screen and tap "Amazon_Appstore_release.apk" to install.
4. Select "OK" to replace the application, then tap "Install."
5. Tap "Open," then enter your log-in information.
6. If you previously turned on Parental Controls or adjusted other Appstore settings, you will need to make those changes again. To do so, tap "Menu," and then "Settings."
Your previously purchased apps will remain available. You can view them by tapping "Menu," and then "My Apps." Your previously downloaded apps and progress will also not be impacted when you download the new version of the Amazon Appstore for Android.
We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused and we look forward to seeing you again soon.
Sincerely,
Customer Service
Amazon.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a (4GB) Tronsmart TS7 (some times known as a Alps Glacier TS7). It's a Chinese MTK6589 based phone running Android 4.2 purchased from geekbuying.
For the most part the device is stock, there are next to no pre-installed apps apart from the usual, and the only additional apps I have installed are: Playstation, Steam, ColorNote, Shuttle+, Root Explorer DI Radio, Chrome & Gmail
The problem I have is that there are apps appearing on the device that I am not installing. So far it has been the same set of apps that appear:
Mobo Market
UC Browser
TrustGo Security
DU Battery Saver
337 Game Master
GameCenter
(there may be more)
These apps don't start appearing right after a factory reset, but start to arrive 1-2weeks later. They also seem to be packaged similarly; when I say packaged I mean opening them seems to prompt with the same menu & style (accept licence etc) before it gets to the main app. Also, after you open the app from the app drawer it then creates an icon on the desktop. Maybe opening it actually does the installing?
The apps themselves seem to be legit.
I have factory reset the device (twice), and changed my Google password but they are still appearing. They don't show up in my Play store history so they must be coming from elsewhere.
My main concern is that if it is downloading things without my permission, what might it be uploading ? Not to mention wasting my 3g data etc.
So I have a few questions:
Should I be (really) worried?
Is there a way to monitor this? eg connect to a wifi hotspot and packet capture the network traffic? or maybe use a process monitor (the ones I've tried so far haven't shown anything) to see if there is some sort of script in the background?
Can it be stopped?
Thanks in advance, I would be interested to know if anyone else has/had this problem?
I have the same problem.
I haven't tried flashing some other ROM yet, but I guess that is the only way to get it to stop installing those things.
Have you actually found any other roms to install?
For anybody's information:
You may have noticed how you always end up with a 'Tronsmart.mp4' video file appearing in your gallery app. This is damn annoying since it appears twice, once on the internal and once on the external SD card. There is an '\system\app\CopyTest.apk' file which creates both of these. Should be safe to delete it and thus prevent the file(s) appearing
I have actually decompiled this apk. It works as a service that runs when MEDIA_UNMOUNTED or MEDIA_MOUNTED is invoked, and does absolutely nothing else.
I have the same problem, those random apps installing and the video always in my gallery. I have managed to stop tge apps by using a firewall and allowing only my apps that i want to use the internet. I havent found a solution though to fix the problem. Probably tronsmart is spamming its customers...
mariosm1cy said:
I have managed to stop tge apps by using a firewall and allowing only my apps that i want to use the internet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Firewall did you use? I might be able to use something like that to pinpoint the app that's causing this.
Sory for the late reply. I am usin "android firewall" free from google play store.
USB debugging disabled stopped it on mine
edit: not that easy, wasn't enough. made some cleanup by disabing/removing some system apps. seems to work so far although there are still some strange events like superuser crashing and right after that system downloader.apk reappearing. haven't seen any other junk coming back
these are the apk's i removed:
systemupdateassistant
systemdownloader
omacp
mtkbt
midtest
galaxy4
fusedlocation
engineermode
engineermodesim
cds_info
basicdreams.
Hey Guys,
I have 2 old apps, which I dont want updating via Playstore.
I have already closed "Enable auto updates"
but after a firmware update (OTA) one of these gets updated automatically and Playstore resets, and while these 2 are updated, I dont see updates for the other common apps.
is there a way to permanently hide these 2 apps from the playstore ?
Disable OTA updates for one thing.
I set Playstore to auto update by wifi only, wifi is always disabled on my phone.
You can firewall block Playstore too.
I use a package disabler as well.
Temporarily disabling Google play Services will also kill Playstore. OTA updates will likely switch it back on though if it updates.
Really Playwhore has gotten so obnoxious I very rarely use it now and never allow it to run in the background.
I'm experimenting with APK Mirror now. Of course everything will be scanned first with online Virustotal.
JazonX said:
Hey Guys,
I have 2 old apps, which I dont want updating via Playstore.
I have already closed "Enable auto updates"
but after a firmware update (OTA) one of these gets updated automatically and Playstore resets, and while these 2 are updated, I dont see updates for the other common apps.
is there a way to permanently hide these 2 apps from the playstore ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have root, you can use Magisk modules to detach apps from playstore.
blackhawk said:
Disable OTA updates for one thing.
I set Playstore to auto update by wifi only, wifi is always disabled on my phone.
You can firewall block Playstore too.
I use a package disabler as well.
Temporarily disabling Google play Services will also kill Playstore. OTA updates will likely switch it back on though if it updates.
Really Playwhore has gotten so obnoxious I very rarely use it now and never allow it to run in the background.
I'm experimenting with APK Mirror now. Of course everything will be scanned first with online Virustotal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does APK mirror have an app that can auto update all apps ?
JazonX said:
Does APK mirror have an app that can auto update all apps ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know.
Lol, haven't you learned your lesson on updates yet? Don't fix what isn't broke and runs well.
JazonX said:
Does APK mirror have an app that can auto update all apps ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apparently not.
However it appears to have little gems like the old free versions of WPS Office.
Yes a fully self contained office app that can created and edit MS docs... free.
I use the 10.0.5 version from 2017 on my N10+'s Pie and 10. I simply firewall block it to keep it from updating or doing other nasty things.
To save a docx file I have to do it twice, otherwise it runs well. I use it a lot.
I'm slowly exploring the site. It's a valuable app database I had forgotten about. Relatively secure and well rated. I'm pretty cautious about installing any app and then only if needed. So far nothing's caught my eye. One of the reasons this load has survived so long and runs so well.
Therefore, the only way to prevent updates for pre-installed system apps is to remove the official version. You can only do that if you're rooted (but if you are, it's just a matter of deleting the APK file from /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/)
ahsan aslam said:
Therefore, the only way to prevent updates for pre-installed system apps is to remove the official version. You can only do that if you're rooted (but if you are, it's just a matter of deleting the APK file from /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you upgrade the firmware the system apps will likely need to be updated.
Rule #1, if an OS is fast, stable and fulfilling its mission, let it be.
Any Android version from Pie and up are reasonably secure unless you do something stupid.
I do turn off from Playstore app - settings - network preference - auto update app - set to don't auto update app and it never gets updated automatically.
play store auto installing apps on all devices
Whenever I install something on my s22, it will install it on my galaxy tablet.
How can I prevent this.
In Playstore settings change to update by wifi only and disable wifi. I normally keep Playwhore package blocked and firewall blocked unless needed. Once a Playstore paid for app is activated I firewall block it as well if it doesn't need internet access. I avoid Playstore as much as possible and create installable backups for all the apps from Playstore so I never need to use Playstore again when reloading except for paid apps. It streamlines reloads and they go much faster.
I also use more Playstore alternatives now but always scan them first with Virustotal. A Playstore app may be clean when installed only to download it's payload latter as an "update". Another reason I don't allow updates or an internet connect if not needed. Playstore updates can and do ruin once working apps. Tired of that bs.
Thanks for your thoughts.
But this did not ever happen before.
I've always had a Samsung mobile and Samsung tablet and the mobile app never auto-installed on the tablet till now.
I don't want to turn off auto-update because thats not a real fix.
Need to find out why its auto-installing.
I checked playstore on mobile and on tablet and on browser - but theres no mention of auto-install on all devices.
CorruptedSanity said:
Thanks for your thoughts.
But this did not ever happen before.
I've always had a Samsung mobile and Samsung tablet and the mobile app never auto-installed on the tablet till now.
I don't want to turn off auto-update because thats not a real fix.
Need to find out why its auto-installing.
I checked playstore on mobile and on tablet and on browser - but theres no mention of auto-install on all devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can manually install updates from Playstore which is a wiser way to do it. One of the reasons I can run Pie securely is I use vetted apps, some are 6 yo and I firewall block them. Updates bring trouble far too often. Once a system is running fast, stable and fulfilling its mission updates serve no purpose most of the time. Auto updates bring rude surprises and make troubleshooting much harder in tracking down the offender.
In 2.5 years (that's how old this current load is) I've had no malware but spent a lot of time undoing damage updates have caused including a firmware "upgrade" for my Buds+ that trashed the sound. That pair now needs to be reflashed and it's a pain to do. meh.
If you try unmark one or more of your devices before instalation on the app, did it help?
See the pictures.
Same, annoying feature, as on iPhone. On the other device go to settings/network preferences and disable auto update.
Simply manually periodically check for updates on tablet and it will check and update any apps installed if necessary
Monipeev said:
If you try unmark one or more of your devices before instalation on the app, did it help?
See the pictures.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that was exactly it!
both devices were checked
many thanks to you!!
raul6 said:
Same, annoying feature, as on iPhone. On the other device go to settings/network preferences and disable auto update.
Simply manually periodically check for updates on tablet and it will check and update any apps installed if necessary
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
see above solution