Root AT&T "Bloatware" getting in your way? Delete some of it!

[maerlim]

*** Standard Disclaimer: I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG WITH THIS PROCEDURE. ***

*** READ THIS PARAGRAPH BEFORE PROCEEDING ***
I purposefully do NOT include the commands to DELETE the AT&T apps. I am simply renaming the applications to something Android ignores. The reason for this is that this deletion is PERMANENT. It will persist through a factory reset. By renaming and not deleting, we can UNDO this if necessary. If you're squeamish about AT&T seeing that you've tinkered with your phone, a back-out procedure is included at the end of this post. If you don't care, delete away, but I'm not responsible for any problems you incur.


Here's how you can remove some (I stress SOME) of that AT&T bloatware from your app list.

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access ( look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Turn on USB debugging on your phone.
Plug in your USB
Open command prompt on your computer, cd to your SDK install directory.
cd to tools within the SDK directory
type this:
adb shell
su
mv /system/app/ATTNav-Samsung-Vega-1488.apk /system/app/ATTNav-Samsung-Vega-1488.tmp
mv /system/app/ATT_Radio_2.1.07.apk /system/app/ATT_Radio_2.1.07.tmp
mv /system/app/MobiTV_800x480_320_20100610_1.0.0.15-118829.apk /system/app/MobiTV_800x480_320_20100610_1.0.0.15-118829.tmp
mv /system/app/MobileBanking.apk /system/app/MobileBanking.tmp
mv /system/app/attmaps20-1094.apk /system/app/attmaps20-1094.tmp
exit
exit

DONE!

If you can find the install path to some of the other AT&T "tools", please post in this thread.

-----------------------------------------------------
BACK-OUT PROCEDURE:
The above procedure persists through a factory reset. If for some reason you're planning a factory reset of the phone and you want the above apps to show up again, do the same as above BEFORE you do the factory reset, but in the renaming section (all those 'mv' commands), do this instead:

mv /system/app/ATTNav-Samsung-Vega-1488.tmp /system/app/ATTNav-Samsung-Vega-1488.apk
mv /system/app/ATT_Radio_2.1.07.tmp /system/app/ATT_Radio_2.1.07.apk
mv /system/app/MobiTV_800x480_320_20100610_1.0.0.15-118829.tmp /system/app/MobiTV_800x480_320_20100610_1.0.0.15-118829.apk
mv /system/app/MobileBanking.tmp /system/app/MobileBanking.apk
mv /system/app/attmaps20-1094.tmp /system/app/attmaps20-1094.apk

 

[maerlim]

There's another step to this. Once you've renamed the files, you can delete the application remnants from the phone. This will NOT delete the renamed .tmp files or affect the back-out procedure in any way.

On the phone..
Settings->Applications->Manage Applications

You'll see several unusual entries. like "com.mspot.android.music.radio". These are the remains of your AT&T Bloatware. Simply click on them, then hit the "Uninstall" button. Use your noggin, match up the apps you're deleting to the apps whose apk files you renamed in the previous post.

 

[mesasone]

Although we can mostly read what it is in the commands, it would be nice if you would specify what specifically we are deleting incase it there was something a user wanted to keep.

 

[subie41ife]

Although we can mostly read what it is in the commands, it would be nice if you would specify what specifically we are deleting incase it there was something a user wanted to keep.

agree, please update what is what thank you

 

[keredini]

Each "mv" command is for one application. The five applications from top to bottom are:

AT&T navigator
AT&T radio
MobiTV
Mobile banking
AT&T maps

 

[subie41ife]

thank you sir!

 

[Jack45]

I understand the desire to get rid of this crapware, but all in all - how much memory was freed up?

 

[maerlim]

I understand the desire to get rid of this crapware, but all in all - how much memory was freed up?

For me, it was less about memory and more about getting them out of the app list

 

[subie41ife]

For me, it was less about memory and more about getting them out of the app list

ditto for me

 

[keredini]

ditto for me

+1

 

[YellowGT0]

Whats the allshare?

 

[maerlim]

Whats the allshare?

I believe that's the DLNA (media sharing) app.

 

[rohizzle121]

I believe that's the DLNA (media sharing) app.

according to the galaxy site it only works for samsung tv's made after 2010





when i try and do this i get a permission denied message
i am rooted
i installed busybox but i have no idea what that is lol


what should i do?

 

[YellowGT0]

Anyone else do this and now have the phone stuck in Debugging mode?

 

[maerlim]

Anyone else do this and now have the phone stuck in Debugging mode?

Yes, actually, but I'm not sure if it's a byproduct of this or of my other method to enable side-loading apps (or neither). It's kind of weird, earlier when in debug mode my phone wouldn't allow me to use it as mass storage. Now, I have debug mode AND can use as mass storage at the same time.

Did you only do this procedure, or did you also enable side-loading in my other thread? I'd be interested to know which one (if either) is causing this. That way I can at least post a warning in the original post.

 

[maerlim]

according to the galaxy site it only works for samsung tv's made after 2010





when i try and do this i get a permission denied message
i am rooted
i installed busybox but i have no idea what that is lol


what should i do?

When you type "su" in the ADB shell, your phone should have a pop-up that asks for permission to run it. You'll need to allow it.

 

[MisterEd]

Or simply (after rooting) download the free Titanium Backup app from the Market, find the app(s) you don't want in the Titanium Backup list and touch "delete." Why go through all that ADB crap?

 

[maerlim]

Many edits to original post. I've confirmed that this procedure does NOT affect USB Debugging in any way. I've also included a back-out procedure in case you want the AT&T apps back.

 

[maerlim]

Or simply (after rooting) download the free Titanium Backup app from the Market, find the app(s) you don't want in the Titanium Backup list and touch "delete." Why go through all that ADB crap?

Have you tested this? I was unaware Titanium Backup could delete the apps even with root.

Also, my way allows for a back-out procedure if for any reason you want those AT&T apps back on the phone.

 

[immortel]

Have you tested this? I was unaware Titanium Backup could delete the apps even with root.

Also, my way allows for a back-out procedure if for any reason you want those AT&T apps back on the phone.

This DOES work, just tested. Clicked the Family maps, and ATT maps and clicked remove. They are gone from my app list

 

[MisterEd]

Have you tested this? I was unaware Titanium Backup could delete the apps even with root.

Also, my way allows for a back-out procedure if for any reason you want those AT&T apps back on the phone.

I've done it on every rooted Android phone I have had including 2 models of MyTouch 3G and my former EVO. As long as it is fully rooted it works fine. The original root on the EVO didn't work, but when they got the full root it worked fine. Can't see why it would be any different on this device if it is truly rooted. You can also restore with TB. You can also save all the files you have removed.

 

[MisterEd]

This DOES work, just tested. Clicked the Family maps, and ATT maps and clicked remove. They are gone from my app list

Reboot to make sure they are really gone. They should be. If not the phone isn't fully rooted.

 

[MisterEd]

Have you tested this? I was unaware Titanium Backup could delete the apps even with root.

Also, my way allows for a back-out procedure if for any reason you want those AT&T apps back on the phone.

If you made a backup first you can easily restore what you have removed by simply touching "restore."

 

[rohizzle121]

When you type "su" in the ADB shell, your phone should have a pop-up that asks for permission to run it. You'll need to allow it.

hmm, weird i tried that and i didnt work

so i went to superuser app and told it to forget everything and then i tried it again and it worked with out asking me..

thanks tho!

no more att bs. i wish it was easier to delete tho.

 

[YellowGT0]

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
chmod 777 /dbdata/databases/com.android.providers.settings/settings.db

That will fix your phone 100%.