APKs/files safe to remove in Gingerbread/Gingerblur...
So, let's get this started.
I'm making a list of files it is safe to remove/not safe to remove in the Gingerbread release. This list is a lot different from the FroYo list so I thought it was best to make a new thread.
I've got two sections here, a section that it is definitely safe to remove, and the unknown section. In brackets next to the APK names will be the app that uses the file if it's not obvious, so it's documented what we're impacting with this. If you use the app/functionality in brackets, don't remove the APK.
I'm not labeling if it's obvious. If you have insight into anything labeled "Unknown" or the list of unremoved APKs, post it up! This list is not intended to be inclusive yet, just a starting point - I will edit the original post as more are documented.
Please don't post "I removed <this> and see no problems." It's all very dependent on usage - I used to remove ContactsProvider2_0.apk, but after I added my Google Apps account, it started causing force closes. We want to know what it is before it gets removed, and by the same token, I know that BlurCamera can probably be removed... but I haven't tried it and don't know if it throws errors anywhere. So try it first before recommending.
Did you delete something you need? Here are the links to the entire /system/app contents:
You can restore any app by pulling it out of the appropriate zip file above, moving it to /system/app, changing its permissions and rebooting. Change its permissions either by long pressing on it with an app like Root Explorer, and set the values to:
Owner: Read / Write
Group: Read
Other: Read
Alternately, you can use a terminal emulator, open it, and type:
su
cd /system/app
chmod 644 <name of file>
Safe to remove:
amazonmp3_1.8.32_signed_zipligned.apk
BackupAssistanceClient.apk
Blockbuster.apk
blur_facebook.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_flickr.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_lastfm.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_linkedin.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_myspace.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_orkut.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_photobucket.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_picasa.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_skyrock.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_twitter.apk [Social networking integration]
blur_youtube.apk [Social networking integration]
BlurAlarmClock.apk
BlurCamera.apk [Stock camera]
BlurEmail.apk
BlurEmailEngine.apk [Used by stock messaging app and when adding calendar events]
BlurHome.apk [You lose the new app drawer if you remove this]
BlurUpdater_VZW.apk
BooksPhone.apk [Google Books]
Browser.apk
BuaContactAdapter.apk [Used for Backup Assistant restoring contacts]
Calculator.apk
CarDock.apk
CityID.apk
ClockWidget.apk
Cmas.apk [Emergency app]
ContactsProvider2_0.apk [Used if you have a Google Apps account]
Conversations.apk [Stock texting app; if removed, 3rd party SMS works, MMS does not]
DLNA.apk
DlnaSystemService.apk
Dock.apk
DockService.apk
FileManager.apk
FMRadioService.apk
FriendFeed.apk
Gmail.apk
GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk [Prevents you from using the global search]
HelpCenter.apk
HomeSyncWizard.apk
Kindle-OEM-2.0.5.103970165-20110202.apk
KpiLogger.apk [Unknown]
LiveWallpapers.apk
LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
Maps.apk [Google Maps]
MediaGallery.apk [Shortcut to recently-shot pictures in the Camera app stops working]
MessagesWidget.apk
Messaging.apk [Unknown; if removed, stock texting app still works, 3rd party MMS/SMS works]
MotoFMRadio.apk
MSExchangeService.apk [Remove ONLY if you use POP/IMAP email]
Music.apk
MyVerizon.apk
NewsWidget.apk
PhotoWidget.apk
Protips.apk [The little Android guy that gives hints]
QuickContactWidget.apk
Quickoffice.apk
QuickSms.apk [Removes ability to auto-respond via text to declined calls]
Skype_mobile.live.apk
SocialMessaging.apk
SocialShare.apk [Unknown]
StatusWidget.apk
StickyNoteWidget.apk
Street.apk
Swype.apk
Talk.apk [Google Talk]
ToggleWidgets.apk
UniversalInbox.apk
VCast.apk
VoiceSearch.apk [If removed, speech-to-text is also disabled]
VpnClient.apk
VpnServices.apk
VSuiteApp.apk [Voice Commands app; causes multiple FCs when deleting it, must reboot after]
Vvm.apk [Visual Voicemail]
vzw_vnav_DROIDX_rel_PROD_signed.apk [VZW Navigation]
VZWInstaller.apk [Unknown]
WeatherWidget.apk
WorkContacts.apk [Used if you use the Corporate Sync]
YahooContacts.apk
YouTube.apk
Unsafe/unknown:
AccountAndSyncSettings.apk
AdminFeedNotifier.apk
AdService.apk
android-syncservice-app.apk
ApplicationsProvider.apk
ArcPhotoworkshop.apk [Used to crop wallpapers or resize images]
ArcVideoEditorLite.apk
AtCmd.apk
AudioEffectSettings.apk
BatteryManager.apk
BatteryReport.apk
Bluetooth.apk
BluetoothMot.apk
blur_activesync.apk [Removal causes Contacts to crash]
blur_email.apk [Removal causes Contacts to crash]
blur_yahoo.apk [Removal causes Contacts to crash]
BlurCalendar.apk
BlurCalendarProvider.apk
BlurChooser.apk
BlurContacts.apk
BlurContactsSync.apk
BlurDialer.apk
BlurPhone.apk
blur-services.apk
BlurSNMessagingEngine.apk
CalendarSync.apk
CertificateManager.apk
CertificateProvider.apk
CertInstaller.apk
ChargeOnlyMode.apk
CompassCalibrate.apk
ConnMO.apk
ContactsData.apk
DataCollection.apk
DataCollectorProvider.apk
DataCollectorService.apk
DatamanagerApp.apk
DataManagerService.apk
DefaultContainerService.apk
DeviceStatistics.apk
DMService.apk
DownloadProvider.apk [Causes force closes in the Market app if removed]
DownloadProviderUi.apk [Causes force closes in the Market app if removed]
DrmProvider.apk
DroidEye.apk
EncryptionSettings.apk
ExtDispService.apk
FirewallService.apk
GlobalUnplug.apk
GoogleBackupTransport.apk
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleFeedback.apk
GooglePartnerSetup.apk
GoogleServicesFramework.apk
HTMLViewer.apk
IndexingService.apk
LatinIME.apk [Default keyboard]
LocationConsent.apk
LocationProxyDmPlugin.apk
MarketUpdater.apk
MasterClearErrorReport.apk
MediaProvider.apk
MediaSync.apk
MediaUploader.apk
MotHstcmd.apk
MotoAtCmdPlugin.apk
MotorolaSettingsProvider.apk
MotoVzwAtCmdPlugin.apk
NetworkLocation.apk
oma1motService.apk
OMADownload.apk
OMAProvisioning.apk
OverlaySettingsProvider.apk
PackageInstaller.apk
PhoneAddons.apk
PhoneConfig.apk
PicoTts.apk [Text-to-speech]
PNI-Moto.apk
PolicyMgrProvider.apk
PolicyMgrService.apk
Preloaded.apk
ProgramMenu.apk
ProgramMenuSystem.apk
RichTextCommon.apk
Settings.apk [This APK stores the 3G Hotspot App now, so you can't remove the hotspot]
Setup.apk
SetupProvider.apk
SetupSettings.apk
SetupWizard.apk
SoundRecorder.apk
SpellingCheckService.apk
StorageMonitorService.apk
SuggestionsProvider.apk
SuggestionsRuleCheckerCore.apk
SuggestionsServiceScheduler.apk
SystemUI.apk
TelephonyProvider.apk
Term.apk
TtsService.apk [Text-to-speech]
Upgrader.apk
Usb.apk
UserDictionaryProvider.apk
Vending.apk
VideoPlayer.apk
VisualizationWallpapers.apk
VoiceReadoutService.apk
WmdrmDla.apk
WmdrmWebpush.apk
ZoomService.apk
Last edited by binary visions; June 16th, 2011 at 12:26 PM.
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thanks for making this up BV
I actually didnt even realize it but my contacts were crashing because i'd renamed the blur_yahoo.apk but when I saw it on the list it explained it, changed it back and its good to go now.
thanks again for taking the time to do it up
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Removed the CODE tags because I visited the thread on my phone and realized the mobile browser doesn't handle those internal frames very well. I'll continue testing some of these that I don't currently have removed.
GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk [Prevents you from using the global search]
BlurCamera.apk [Stock camera
Messaging.apk [Unknown; if removed, stock texting app still works, 3rd party MMS/SMS works]
SocialShare.apk [Unknown]
Conversations.apk [Stock texting app; if removed, 3rd party SMS works, MMS does not]
Last edited by binary visions; April 17th, 2011 at 05:15 PM.
Guys, just FYI, I found an easier way to remove them is to use Root Explorer, navigate to /system/app, hit the menu button and use "Multi Select" - then move them to a folder on my SD card.
I can then batch move them back again and no more tedious renaming. The only trick is moving them changes their permissions, so after you move them back to /system/app, you open Terminal Emulator and type:
su
cd /system/app
chmod 644 *.*
...annnd boom, you're good to go.
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Great list here. Was waiting to see if anyone would do this. Glad to see what some of these actually are so I don't have to waffle on whether or not I want to delete these..
VoiceSearch.apk [If removed, speech-to-text is also disabled]
VSuiteApp.apk [Voice Commands app; causes multiple FCs when deleting it, must reboot after]
From what has been said it is actually in the system build files now. I don't think anyone has found a way that it can be removed....yet.
Most of the user-facing apps (i.e. not system processes of some kind) have an icon on the .apk package that matches up with the icon in the app drawer. There's no icon that matches the hotspot, and obviously what used to be Mynet.apk is missing entirely. So it looks like it's encapsulated inside another package.
Hacking through this process is a little tedious because it requires rebooting and testing every time you move something to see if it affected functionality that was not obvious (e.g. conversations.apk removes 3rd party MMS capabilities), but if the hotspot goes away during my testing I'll be sure to post it up.
I just wanted to say that renaming blurhome.apk or dlna.apk causes severe lag on my phone to the point where I can't keep them renamed. As you freeze or rename apps be sure to check the phones functionality after each app.
__________________
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Most of the user-facing apps (i.e. not system processes of some kind) have an icon on the .apk package that matches up with the icon in the app drawer. There's no icon that matches the hotspot, and obviously what used to be Mynet.apk is missing entirely. So it looks like it's encapsulated inside another package.
Hacking through this process is a little tedious because it requires rebooting and testing every time you move something to see if it affected functionality that was not obvious (e.g. conversations.apk removes 3rd party MMS capabilities), but if the hotspot goes away during my testing I'll be sure to post it up.
The hotspot app it tied into the settings.apk file, if you rename it the HotSpot app goes away.
Last edited by Airmaxx23; April 18th, 2011 at 07:36 AM.
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I just wanted to say that renaming blurhome.apk or dlna.apk causes severe lag on my phone to the point where I can't keep them renamed. As you freeze or rename apps be sure to check the phones functionality after each app.
I'd love to do some troubleshooting on that with you. I've never seen this happen on many types of installs on several phones. The only thing I can think is that there's something that's calling to BlurHome that's installed on your phone.
Have you tried clearing off your entire Blur desktop before removing? Maybe force close BlurHome in the settings before removing? Can I peek at your app list (i.e. do you have an AppBrain or something)?
DLNA is a weird one, too. I could see it happening immediately after the rename, but having it happen after the reboot is odd.
I'd love to do some troubleshooting on that with you. I've never seen this happen on many types of installs on several phones. The only thing I can think is that there's something that's calling to BlurHome that's installed on your phone.
Have you tried clearing off your entire Blur desktop before removing? Maybe force close BlurHome in the settings before removing? Can I peek at your app list (i.e. do you have an AppBrain or something)?
DLNA is a weird one, too. I could see it happening immediately after the rename, but having it happen after the reboot is odd.
I cleared the entire stock launcher screens before switching the Go Launcher EX. Here's the odd thing, I renamed it and rebooted a few days ago and had a lot of lag, I just tried it again and it seems fine. Strange.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by binary visions
Car dock/media dock. The DockService.apk monitors for the magnetic trigger on the back of the phone and launches the appropriate dock.
OT but I wish there was a way to trick the apk without using a magnet... so I could use the media dock mode without having the media dock (yes I know there are apps on the market, im using "alarm clock plus" right now but I'd like to not have to have an extra app for a built in function)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ECFfighter7232
OT but I wish there was a way to trick the apk without using a magnet... so I could use the media dock mode without having the media dock (yes I know there are apps on the market, im using "alarm clock plus" right now but I'd like to not have to have an extra app for a built in function)
On the flip side, I have a magnetic closing holster that puts the phone in home dock mode every time I put the phone up. PITA! I suppose that I could delete this and put a shortcut on my home screen for home and car dock. I really only use the car dock app anyway.
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Sticky-tastic. In fact, I'm going to sticky this at the top, then move it to the sticky post tomorrow. Just want everyone to know it's here. This is !muy importante!
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Will someone please send me a copy of blur_yahoo.apk? I didn't come here to read when using Root Explorer to delete away and I'm getting Contacts force closes.
Edit: Nevermind...just did a wipe, went to bootloop, factory recovery wipe, bootloop, had sbf ready to go, tried loading .595 again...bootloop...ok one last thing then sbf....factory recovery wipe...boot into .595. I love the thrill of wondering if my battery will hold vs. solving the problem.
Last edited by alprazolam; May 13th, 2011 at 01:12 AM.
I don't think that is your problem. I removed all those blur-social share apps, like blur-yahoo, blur-linkedin, blur flickr etc and have had no problems. Have you removed the rest of the social share items? Also, what other apps did you drop?
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pm1066
I don't think that is your problem. I removed all those blur-social share apps, like blur-yahoo, blur-linkedin, blur flickr etc and have had no problems. Have you removed the rest of the social share items? Also, what other apps did you drop?
Don't you find it a little odd that I removed that apk, and MY CONTACTS AREN'T CRASHING, that it is the one and only reason?
The safe to remove list is a good starting point, but by no means 100% correct, scientific or accurate.
Just saying.
This has been pretty well documented by many users that removing this APK causes Contacts to have problems.
It only happens if you try to actually go into a contact, not just scroll through your list.
There may be a variable at work that's causing yours not to crash, but it's strictly an added variable in your system, which neither I nor anybody else can account for. This list is accurate as to the stock Gingerbread install. If you remove any of those three APKs, going into a contact from your contacts list will simply exit out of contacts immediately.
If you'd like to comment on this list's accuracy or inaccuracy, and suggest that it's not "scientific" - would you like, perhaps, to consider adding something more scientific than "...but it works for me, so this list must be wrong"? That seems a little asinine.
Incidentally, I welcome feedback from anyone who has different experiences. I just think it's silly to suggest the list is wrong based on one data point when a number of other people have correlated my findings. It's 100% repeatable on the stock install.
Last edited by binary visions; May 15th, 2011 at 11:44 AM.
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Exactly what Binary said. This isn't a pissing match man. It's just that folks like Binary pay attention to what causes problems and simply reports those findings. I do believe that scientific in this case means being able to reproduce results in an experiment. It has been repeatedly shown to make contacts go away. I unknowingly reproduced and got the repeatedly tested result.
Hey, many thanks for this list! Does anyone know of a site where you can download the bloat from GB .591 or .595. There's a site that uploaded all of them for Froyo, which was great!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluskyline21
Hey, many thanks for this list! Does anyone know of a site where you can download the bloat from GB .591 or .595. There's a site that uploaded all of them for Froyo, which was great!
It seems to me that running sbf is easier than looking for and re-installing each individual app. Just my .02.
I'm sure you're right. However, when you install a custom ROM that is blurless and you WANT some blur, sbf'ing isn't really an option...
I may see about just taking a dump of the .apk files out of /system/app and posting them in one big zip. That way people can pick and choose if they deleted/don't have something.
That said, Steven is right: some stuff will work with your de-blurred system, some will not. You'll just have to experiment.
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Make sure to check out the ROM makers post really well. Often they include a script to restore the blur apps that you want. Fab does this for apex and I think jrummy does for Liberty.
Hey, many thanks for this list! Does anyone know of a site where you can download the bloat from GB .591 or .595. There's a site that uploaded all of them for Froyo, which was great!
I'd also like something like that. I'm running zombie stomped over .595 and I prefer the blur car dock app.
Hey, many thanks for this list! Does anyone know of a site where you can download the bloat from GB .591 or .595. There's a site that uploaded all of them for Froyo, which was great!
What does removing apk files mean and is it the same as freezing apps or removing apps i'm not understanding this too well.
I have the same question, I froze a bunch of mine with bloat freezer.Everything still seems to work fine,things may be faster, not sure because i froze them minutes after switching to rooted Gb.
Actually, I believe Titanium Backup and some other "bloat freezer" apps rename the files in order to freeze them.
There's no real difference between freezing an app, renaming it, or deleting it. From the system's perspective, a renamed app (where you rename the extension .apk to something else, like .bak) can't be used, so it's the same as if you had deleted it.
The advantage of renaming or freezing apps over deleting them is if you want to restore them, they're right there ready to be renamed back or unfrozen. If you delete them, you have to go looking for someone else that has the files.
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APKs/files safe to remove in Gingerbread/Gingerblur...
