This isnt the first time someone has posted a stock app removal guide and probably wont be the last but lately i've seen a lot of threads on the topic so decided to put together a guide of apps that i have removed that has greatly helped out my battery life. For all intensive purposes this is the 'easiest' free way to get rid of the bloat, it does however require root access. You can always just buy root explorer from the market and delete them with it. I tried to make this guide as noob friendly as posible.
Edit: Created a rom that automate this process and removes pretty much anything that can be removed: http://forum.sdx-developers.com/roms/(rom)-infernal-1-0-bare-bones-rom-8-mflop-with-froyo-jit/
AmazonMp3.apk - com.amazon.mp3 - junk
*BejewledDemo.apk - junk
*Brightness.apk - junk
Broswer.apk - com.android.browser - stock broswer (safe to remove if you use another broswer, xscope is kickass and free)
*Calculator.apk - com.android.calculator2 - stock calculator (pleanty of better, free ones on the market)
cm-android.apk - visual voicemail (ok to remove if you dont want/need it)
*com.google.android.marvin.kickback.apk (accessibility stuff)
*com.google.android.marvin.soundback.apk (accessibility stuff)
*com.google.android.marvin.talkback.apk (accessibility stuff)
DrmProvider.apk - com.android.providers.drm - not sure what this does but i deleted it and no problems, one less thing ;P)
*Email.apk - com.android.email - stock email (email app for anything other than gmail)
*FactoryTest.apk (not sure here, but no problems with it gone...goodbye)
GlobalSearch.apk - com.android.globalserach - global search on phone (aka useless if you know where to look)
*im.apk - instant messenger app, isnt that what texting is for
InputEventApp.apk (once again dunno, works ok without)
*KeyBoardSlideUpCounter.apk - counts how many times the phone is slid open, gimme a break
*LatinImeTutorial.apk - dunno but im not latin and i dont need a tutorial
MediaUploader.apk - self explanitory, i dont upload....maybe you do??
*MoxierMail.apk - get rid of it if you dont use it
*nasacar09-prod-release.apk - this is what a tv is for
*nfl-prod-release.apk - same here
*PicoTts.apk - text to speech app, i can read but thanks
*SDSA.apk - sprint update crap, dont need it
*sfl-prod-release.apk - other nfl widget thingy
shutdown.apk - phone turns of fine without this, no worries
SprintAndroidExtension.apk - another app that sounds important but doesnt seem to do anything...kinda like the goverment
*SpintNavigation.apk - use google maps/nav its better
*SprintTV_MR2_Samsung_Moment_GM_Final_1.0.4.29-112596.apk - not paying to watch tv on my phone
*Sprint_App_Updater.apk - useless
Talk.apk - gmail talk app, i dont use it
*Term.apk - terminal app that doesnt work
version.apk - useless
VoiceSearchWithKeyboard.apk - keyboard and voice search app ok to remove but you should install 3rd party keyboard first, i like smart keyboard
*VSuiteApp.apk - Nuance Voice commands i think, if you remove this do it last, it will cause phone to force close loop until restarted...you've been warned
VpnServices.apk - dont need a vpn
*Weather2-16.apk - weather channel widget...doesnt like not having location on for me, and that kills the battery..goodbye
*WlanTest.apk - useless
*xms-android-1.1.4-signed.apk -
*YouTube.apk - stock youtube app....install the youtubehq from the kitchen if u want youtube
* removable with sdx kitchen
Note: It is not necessary to start from scratch, this guide can be started from any point for that matter, but if im going to spend time putting this together im going to do it right. This guide assumes a basic knowledge of the phone and installing custom roms/kernels/rooting. If you need help with this sdx-developers.com is where you need to start. Check out these videos as well - http://www.youtube.com/androidhelpers - thanks goes to IOWA for putting this together.
1. From a stock 2.1 flash install custom recovery of choice. Also going to need root access beyond this point. Pretty much every kernel other than stock that i've seen includes root. If your going to install any roms now is the time to do it, dont want to remove a bunch of stuff just to have a rom put it all back. Kernels arent a big deal as they dont have any effect on the /system/app folder.
2. **Optional** Take a trip over to the sdx custom rom kitchen (SDX-Downloads : Haxsung Custom ROM Kitchen) and create an update.zip file, any of the starred apps can be removed with this rom. (If you installed a rom already leave everything else alone until other than the apps, might screw somethin up and have to start over, not fun.)
3. BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP....not that many times in a row just getting the point across. Before you do anything else reboot into recovery and backup the data and system (or however else you prefer to backup, this is my prefered method). The /system backup stores stock apps and system files, whereas the /data backup is where market apps and user settings are located. Its also a good idea and will save you a big headache to make a backup before you make any major changes to /system. Keep in mind deleting these apps doesnt cause any problems with MY phone, that doesnt mean it wont on yours. Each one is different especially with all the custom stuff floating around the web. My suggestion is to remove a couple at a time, reboot the phone and give it a once over to see if anything odd happens and then backup if all is well. This will help to narrow down a problem should one arise. It is also recommend that you make copies of any files you delete in case you want to reinstall it down the road. Most of the free file explorer apps will be able to handle this since copying is a read only operation.
4. Now the fun begins, get yourself a shell terminal from the market...connectbot works well for me.
-Switch to local in bottom left corner and type a username, anything will do (connectbot specific
other apps may vary)
Commands are in bold
-type su the $ will change to # indicating root access
-type remount rw ..this gives you the ability to read/write and best of all delete
-type cd /system/app/ ..this will move you to the system/app folder where all the goodies are
-to remove apps type rm [appname.apk] (without the brackets and also make sure your punctuation is correct, Talk.apk and talk.apk are two different files in android) ..also any .odex files with the same name can be deleted if you remove the .apk. An alternate command to remove both at once would be rm [appname.*] You can also type ls to see a list of files in the current directory.
After remounting the file system as r/w you have free reign over the files and can back out to the home screen and use a file browser app to copy/paste/delete etc...
You will notice that after you have removed an .apk the package will appear in you applications menu, or any app management apps you may have. Its ok to uninstall these after you have removed the .apk and highly suggest you do. The ones i could find or know what they were i put the package name beside the .apk (e.g. com.android.calculator2). Removing as much of this crap as you are comfortable with will decrease the load on the system thereby increasing battery life. It also helps to follow the other well know tips like turning off location, wifi, and gps unless you are using them right now, when you are done turn them off....your battery will thank you for this by staying on longer.
Edit: Created a rom that automate this process and removes pretty much anything that can be removed: http://forum.sdx-developers.com/roms/(rom)-infernal-1-0-bare-bones-rom-8-mflop-with-froyo-jit/
AmazonMp3.apk - com.amazon.mp3 - junk
*BejewledDemo.apk - junk
*Brightness.apk - junk
Broswer.apk - com.android.browser - stock broswer (safe to remove if you use another broswer, xscope is kickass and free)
*Calculator.apk - com.android.calculator2 - stock calculator (pleanty of better, free ones on the market)
cm-android.apk - visual voicemail (ok to remove if you dont want/need it)
*com.google.android.marvin.kickback.apk (accessibility stuff)
*com.google.android.marvin.soundback.apk (accessibility stuff)
*com.google.android.marvin.talkback.apk (accessibility stuff)
DrmProvider.apk - com.android.providers.drm - not sure what this does but i deleted it and no problems, one less thing ;P)
*Email.apk - com.android.email - stock email (email app for anything other than gmail)
*FactoryTest.apk (not sure here, but no problems with it gone...goodbye)
GlobalSearch.apk - com.android.globalserach - global search on phone (aka useless if you know where to look)
*im.apk - instant messenger app, isnt that what texting is for
InputEventApp.apk (once again dunno, works ok without)
*KeyBoardSlideUpCounter.apk - counts how many times the phone is slid open, gimme a break
*LatinImeTutorial.apk - dunno but im not latin and i dont need a tutorial
MediaUploader.apk - self explanitory, i dont upload....maybe you do??
*MoxierMail.apk - get rid of it if you dont use it
*nasacar09-prod-release.apk - this is what a tv is for
*nfl-prod-release.apk - same here
*PicoTts.apk - text to speech app, i can read but thanks
*SDSA.apk - sprint update crap, dont need it
*sfl-prod-release.apk - other nfl widget thingy
shutdown.apk - phone turns of fine without this, no worries
SprintAndroidExtension.apk - another app that sounds important but doesnt seem to do anything...kinda like the goverment
*SpintNavigation.apk - use google maps/nav its better
*SprintTV_MR2_Samsung_Moment_GM_Final_1.0.4.29-112596.apk - not paying to watch tv on my phone
*Sprint_App_Updater.apk - useless
Talk.apk - gmail talk app, i dont use it
*Term.apk - terminal app that doesnt work
version.apk - useless
VoiceSearchWithKeyboard.apk - keyboard and voice search app ok to remove but you should install 3rd party keyboard first, i like smart keyboard
*VSuiteApp.apk - Nuance Voice commands i think, if you remove this do it last, it will cause phone to force close loop until restarted...you've been warned
VpnServices.apk - dont need a vpn
*Weather2-16.apk - weather channel widget...doesnt like not having location on for me, and that kills the battery..goodbye
*WlanTest.apk - useless
*xms-android-1.1.4-signed.apk -
*YouTube.apk - stock youtube app....install the youtubehq from the kitchen if u want youtube
* removable with sdx kitchen
Note: It is not necessary to start from scratch, this guide can be started from any point for that matter, but if im going to spend time putting this together im going to do it right. This guide assumes a basic knowledge of the phone and installing custom roms/kernels/rooting. If you need help with this sdx-developers.com is where you need to start. Check out these videos as well - http://www.youtube.com/androidhelpers - thanks goes to IOWA for putting this together.
1. From a stock 2.1 flash install custom recovery of choice. Also going to need root access beyond this point. Pretty much every kernel other than stock that i've seen includes root. If your going to install any roms now is the time to do it, dont want to remove a bunch of stuff just to have a rom put it all back. Kernels arent a big deal as they dont have any effect on the /system/app folder.
2. **Optional** Take a trip over to the sdx custom rom kitchen (SDX-Downloads : Haxsung Custom ROM Kitchen) and create an update.zip file, any of the starred apps can be removed with this rom. (If you installed a rom already leave everything else alone until other than the apps, might screw somethin up and have to start over, not fun.)
3. BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP....not that many times in a row just getting the point across. Before you do anything else reboot into recovery and backup the data and system (or however else you prefer to backup, this is my prefered method). The /system backup stores stock apps and system files, whereas the /data backup is where market apps and user settings are located. Its also a good idea and will save you a big headache to make a backup before you make any major changes to /system. Keep in mind deleting these apps doesnt cause any problems with MY phone, that doesnt mean it wont on yours. Each one is different especially with all the custom stuff floating around the web. My suggestion is to remove a couple at a time, reboot the phone and give it a once over to see if anything odd happens and then backup if all is well. This will help to narrow down a problem should one arise. It is also recommend that you make copies of any files you delete in case you want to reinstall it down the road. Most of the free file explorer apps will be able to handle this since copying is a read only operation.
4. Now the fun begins, get yourself a shell terminal from the market...connectbot works well for me.
-Switch to local in bottom left corner and type a username, anything will do (connectbot specific
other apps may vary)
Commands are in bold
-type su the $ will change to # indicating root access
-type remount rw ..this gives you the ability to read/write and best of all delete
-type cd /system/app/ ..this will move you to the system/app folder where all the goodies are
-to remove apps type rm [appname.apk] (without the brackets and also make sure your punctuation is correct, Talk.apk and talk.apk are two different files in android) ..also any .odex files with the same name can be deleted if you remove the .apk. An alternate command to remove both at once would be rm [appname.*] You can also type ls to see a list of files in the current directory.
After remounting the file system as r/w you have free reign over the files and can back out to the home screen and use a file browser app to copy/paste/delete etc...
You will notice that after you have removed an .apk the package will appear in you applications menu, or any app management apps you may have. Its ok to uninstall these after you have removed the .apk and highly suggest you do. The ones i could find or know what they were i put the package name beside the .apk (e.g. com.android.calculator2). Removing as much of this crap as you are comfortable with will decrease the load on the system thereby increasing battery life. It also helps to follow the other well know tips like turning off location, wifi, and gps unless you are using them right now, when you are done turn them off....your battery will thank you for this by staying on longer.