Root List of apps safe to remove

[andyo70]

edodonnell says he has a way to root 2.2.1. How to do it I have no idea. I'm currently looking into a different method.

 

[richiedaze]

I have broken down the /system/app folder for a better understanding.

NOTE:
-Android bare system, Android system standard extras, Lg Optimizations are signed with LG's private keys.
-Lg Google enhanced rom package are from google and signed with Google's private keys.
-Lg included 3rd party apks are partnered with LG and are signed by their partners private keys.
-Metro package apks are signed by MetroPCS by their private keys.


Here is the list of applications aka .apk (Android PacKage)'s

Android Bare system:
AccountAndSyncSettings.apk
ApplicationsProvider.apk
Bluetooth.apk--------------------->Replaced by BrcmBluetoothServices.apk
Browser.apk
Camera.apk
CameraApp.apk
CertInstaller.apk
Contacts.apk
ContactsProvider.apk
DefaultContainerService.apk
DownloadProvider.apk
DrmProvider.apk
ExternalMemoryTest.apk
Gallery3D.apk
HTMLViewer.apk
LatinIME.apk
Launcher2.apk-------------------->Replaced by LGHome.apk
MediaProvider.apk
Mms.apk
Music.apk
NetworkLocation.apk
PackageInstaller.apk
Phone.apk
PicoTts.apk
RSSViewerWidget.apk
Settings.apk
SettingsProvider.apk
SetupWizard.apk
SoundRecorder.apk
Stk.apk
TelephonyProvider.apk
TtsService.apk
UserDictionaryProvider.apk
VoiceDialer.apk
VpnServices.apk

Android system standard extras:
Calculator.apk
Calendar.apk
CalendarProvider.apk
CalendarWidget.apk
CarHome.apk
CarHomeLauncher.apk
ClockWeatherWidget.apk
DeskClock.apk
Email.apk
LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
Protips.apk

Lg Google enhanced rom package:
Gmail.apk
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleFeedback.apk
GooglePartnerSetup.apk
GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk
GoogleServicesFramework.apk
Maps.apk
MarketUpdater.apk
MediaUploader.apk
Street.apk
Talk.apk
Vending.apk
VoiceSearch.apk
YouTube.apk

Lg Optimizations:
AnalogClockWidget.apk
BookmarksWidget.apk
CDGHiddenMenu.apk
DigitalAlarmWidget.apk
DualClockWidget.apk
DunServer.apk
HiddenSdCard.apk
Homeselector.apk
LiveWallpapers.apk
LgHiddenMenu.apk
LGHome.apk
LGMS690_UNO_DEMO_V3.0.8_Build308_11022010.apk
LGSetupWizard.apk
MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
MemoWidget.apk
MessageWidget.apk
MoviePlayer.apk
Mvpdm.apk
MyExtras.apk
OPP.apk
PhotoWidget.apk
PowerOff.apk
SNS.apk
VisualizationWallpapers.apk
WapService.apk

Lg included 3rd party apks:
Boingo_Wi-Fi.apk
Loopt.apk
Mocospace-1.2.4.apk
Swype.apk
thinkdroid.apk

Metro package:
EasyWiFiandroid.apk
LGMS690_MetroNavigator_4.9.1_Build_64_12032010_rel_signed_PROD.apk
Metro411.apk
metroappstore-v1.3a.apk
metroBACKUP.apk
MetropcsHiddenMenu.apk
MetropcsHiddenMenu.odex
MobileBanking.apk
MobilePosse.apk
MobileIM.apk
MVC.MetroPCS.android02.apk
PEX-3.1.1.1-metro-rc.apk
PGA_Metro_v2.apk
z7-android2x.apk

 

[aaricchavez]

Hey, guys. Just want to make a suggestion. Deleting/moving the .apk's really doesn't save that much space. What I suggest you do is use Titanium Backup and freeze the System apps you don't want. The .apk's will still be there, but the app won't run or show up in the app list, and if you ever want to use one of the frozen apps again, you can. Good luck!

 

[ChazzMatt]

ed you added talk back to list of apps safe to remove, but MANY others say this is not good.

I delete gtalkservices.apk, and now I can't download by Android Market, how can I fix it? - Android Market Help

These apps can safely be removed from the LG Optimus M.

Just because an app is listed here does not necessarily mean that it is useless or that you will want to remove it. It only means that it can safely be removed without damaging anything else.

If you remove an .apk, then you can also remove the corresponding .odex. Not all apps will have an .odex.

Apps safe to remove:

• Talk.apk - Google Talk
  

 

[elusion]

HELPPPP!!! I installed Root Explorer / Android Mate / AndExplorer. I cant delete anything!!!! Now how can I delete annoying things off the phone. Android newb Just got my first cellphone in over 5 years. Using Root Explorer the filesystem wont mount as RW!!!. Android Mate gives me an error saying it cannot delete the file. Is there any help or should I go back to not even bothering with cellphones. I hate this bloatware crap, if this was a pc id have my way with it. thanks

 

[elusion]

Hey, guys. Just want to make a suggestion. Deleting/moving the .apk's really doesn't save that much space. What I suggest you do is use Titanium Backup and freeze the System apps you don't want. The .apk's will still be there, but the app won't run or show up in the app list, and if you ever want to use one of the frozen apps again, you can. Good luck!

Yeah and this crap wont run without ROOT!!!

"Sorry I could not acquire root priveleges. This application will *****NOT!!!!**** work!!!! (F$%^&*) Please verify that your ROM is rooted and includes BusyBox and try your call again"

 

[ChazzMatt]

HELPPPP!!! I installed Root Explorer / Android Mate / AndExplorer. I cant delete anything!!!! Now how can I delete annoying things off the phone. Android newb Just got my first cellphone in over 5 years. Using Root Explorer the filesystem wont mount as RW!!!. Android Mate gives me an error saying it cannot delete the file. Is there any help or should I go back to not even bothering with cellphones. I hate this bloatware crap, if this was a pc id have my way with it. thanks

Yeah and this crap wont run without ROOT!!!

"Sorry I could not acquire root priveleges. This application will *****NOT!!!!**** work!!!! (F$%^&*) Please verify that your ROM is rooted and includes BusyBox and try your call again"

So, did you actually ROOT it first before installing all those other things? Rooting it is like becoming Administrator in Windows.

With Android 2.2 you can use the 1-click Z4 root. Search here in the forum. With 2.2.1, it's harder. Again, search here in the forum, especially in the sub-forum, all things root.


Optimus M - All Things Root - Android Forums

Which version of the Android do you have on your phone? Your box is going to say 2.2, but you probably have 2.2.1. On the home page (not in a program), click the bottom left menu button, click "settings", scroll down to "About Phone", click that, then see the Android version number.

 

[mateo038]

I notice on the list that the phone.apk is listed as something you generally don't want to remove... I use GOContacts which is much better and want to rid myself of the stock phone app, I just don't know if it's safe to do so?

When I look through my apps in the app 'Uninstaller for root' I see 2 things I can remove: >Dialer which is 4KB and then Dialer which is 24KB.

Reason is because it is still using memory I think; however this may just be a process needed in the background for phone calls?

Safe to remove???

 

[kanaida]

LGHome is NOT safe to remove.
If you do a factory reset, you will boot to a blank desktop. Not worth the little bit of space that it takes up. It's less hassle to just leave that one in there.

These apps can safely be removed from the LG Optimus M.

Just because an app is listed here does not necessarily mean that it is useless or that you will want to remove it. It only means that it can safely be removed without damaging anything else.

If you remove an .apk, then you can also remove the corresponding .odex. Not all apps will have an .odex.

Apps safe to remove:

• AnalogClockWidget.apk - Analog Clock widget
• Boingo_Wi-Fi.apk - Boingo WiFi
• Calculator.apk - Calculator
• Calendar.apk - Calendar App
• CalendarProvider.apk - Supports the calendar. Remove only if Calendar.apk and CalendarWidget.apk have been removed.
• CalendarWidget.apk - Calendar Widget
• CarHome.apk - Car Home - Remove CarHomeLauncher.apk if this is removed.
• CarHomeLauncher.apk - Car Home Launcher - Linked to CarHome.apk
• ClockWeatherWidget.apk - Clock Weather Widget
• DeskClock.apk - Clock app
• DigitalAlarmWidget.apk - Alarm Clock widget
• DualClockWidget.apk - Dual Clock widget
• Email.apk - Email app - Safe to remove if you use Gmail or some other email app
• GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk - Google Search widget and app
• Homeselector.apk - Home Selector - Will not work if LGHome.apk is removed
• LG-MS690_MetroBackup_1.27_PRODBuild_10082010.apk - MetroBackup
• LGHome.apk - LG Home launcher - Safe to remove only if another launcher is installed. Home Selector will not work if this is removed.
• LGMS690_MetroNavigator_4.9.1_Build_57_10222010_rel_signed_PROD.apk - MetroNavigator
• LGMS690_MetroPCS_EasyWiFi_V4.0.90.apk - EasyWiFi
• LiveWallpapers.apk
• LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
• Loopt_Android_2.4.1_Oct.13.2010.apk - Loopt
• MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
• Metro411.apk - Metro411
• metroappstore-v1.3a.apk - MetroPCS App Store
• MobileBanking.apk - Mobile Banking
• MobilePosse.apk - MyExtras
• Mocospace-1.2.4.apk - Moco Space
• MPCS-MobileIM-0.4.24.2.apk - MobileIM
• Music.apk - Music Player
• MVC.MetroPCS.android02.apk - Virtual Card
• PEX-3.1.1.1-metro-rc.apk - Pocket Express
• PGA_Android.apk - Free Games
• Protips.apk - Tips widget
• RSSViewerWidget.apk - RSS Reader
• SNS.apk - LG Facebook and Twitter app
• Talk.apk - Google Talk
• thinkdroid.apk - Think Free Office
• UNO_DEMO_LG_MS690_EN_NONIGP_MetroPCs_TS_307.apk - UNO Game
• YouTube.apk - YouTube video player
• z7-android2x.apk - Mail@Metro

These apps SHOULD NOT be removed:

• Browser.apk - MetroWEB - Required for Android Market
• Phone.apk - Phone app/dialer
• Settings.apk - Settings menu

 

[kanaida]

You need to copy the APK from someone, place it back in /system/app
and then use the terminal (download it from the market) and type:
su
cd /system/app
chmod 644 gtalkservices.apk

That puts the app where it was, and sets root permissions that allows the phone to install it.
reboot your phone, it should be there when u boot back up.

Note: the APK name is case sensitive.

ed you added talk back to list of apps safe to remove, but MANY others say this is not good.

I delete gtalkservices.apk, and now I can't download by Android Market, how can I fix it? - Android Market Help

 

[Darnell0216]

I notice on the list that the phone.apk is listed as something you generally don't want to remove... I use GOContacts which is much better and want to rid myself of the stock phone app, I just don't know if it's safe to do so?

When I look through my apps in the app 'Uninstaller for root' I see 2 things I can remove: >Dialer which is 4KB and then Dialer which is 24KB.

Reason is because it is still using memory I think; however this may just be a process needed in the background for phone calls?

Safe to remove???

It's better to just leave it alone. Android likes to link stuff in the background and you find out the hard way deletion was a bad idea. If it does use memory, it's not enough to concern you. Your replacement app might even hook into the android app and deleting it might disable everything.

 

[Interwebs]

Great Thread thanks everyone.

I deleted most of the bloat. One thing... I deleted the music app, but on the "desktop" it still tries to load the music widget and it says "Problem loading Widget" at the top. Also goes for the weather/clock on the other side of the desktop.

Did I miss something?

OK, figured it out. I'll leave this up in case some other donkey needs it.

-You have to trash the widget box off the desktop!

 

[blaxican25]

when you delete an app you have to delete the widget off the screen were it was just press and hold widget and drag it to dock and a trash bin will pop up.

 

[jabbawest]

I've have a few questions.

1. Anyone know what MetropcsHiddenMenu,apk, LgHiddenMenu.apk and CDGHiddenMenu functions are?
2. Currently using Handcent and wondered if the stock messaging app could safely be removed or does Handcent need it?
3. MemoWidget.apk, safe to delete if using something like Color Notes?

Thanks

 

[puyow18]

jabbawest - can't help you with #1; i was wondering that myself. As for #2, it is my understanding that you need to keep the stock messaging on your phone in order for MMS to work. For #3, I've already removed the memowidget.apk and have never encountered a problem.

 

[jabbawest]

jabbawest - can't help you with #1; i was wondering that myself. As for #2, it is my understanding that you need to keep the stock messaging on your phone in order for MMS to work. For #3, I've already removed the memowidget.apk and have never encountered a problem.

Thanks and you're correct. I froze Messaging 2.2.1 and could not send MMS.

 

[buc813]

how do u get browser.apk back??

 

[double1]

so i can remove this easy wifi and it's not gonna mess up my wifi? I really don't care for it. If i want wifi i just look at my phone. the annoying pop up sound every time it detects a spot is annoying and 1.86mb is too much space to waste.

 

[blaxican25]

YES ITS SAFE TO DELETE and boingo wifi is whats makes that sound every time a wifi signal is detected.

 

[kimc5555]

Hi, I just rooted my Optimus M 2.1.1 using the one click.... Can some one please tell me how to go about removing the Metro crap?

Thanks!
Kim

 

[ginji_ban07]

what software do you guys use for deleting? I use titanium backup but I really don't like it.

 

[jabbawest]

what software do you guys use for deleting? I use titanium backup but I really don't like it.

Root explorer would be the next choice but that means you need be sure you identify the correct .apk to delete and any .odex associated with it
It's not that hard but to me, it was more cumbersome than using TiBu and has a larger margin for error.
What is it that you don't like about using TiBu to delete apps?
At least with TiBu, you can delete safely since you would have a backup.

 

[Darnell0216]

... Nevermind. jabba posted it when I walked away, lol.

 

[ginji_ban07]

Root explorer would be the next choice but that means you need be sure you identify the correct .apk to delete and any .odex associated with it
It's not that hard but to me, it was more cumbersome than using TiBu and has a larger margin for error.
What is it that you don't like about using TiBu to delete apps?
At least with TiBu, you can delete safely since you would have a backup.

The free ver can only let me backup once
my phone keeps crashing everytime I want to uninstall something (I just replaced that old phone, so I don't know if its still the same)
I couldn't understand what programs to delete because I couldn't read the proper .apk names.

 

[jabbawest]

The free ver can only let me backup once
my phone keeps crashing everytime I want to uninstall something (I just replaced that old phone, so I don't know if its still the same)
I couldn't understand what programs to delete because I couldn't read the proper .apk names.

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