Root Removing Bloat, Take Care

[LUMtnHwk]

Received my Volt today, immediately set about rooting/installing my apps/uninstalling bloat.

Figured I'd throw a heads-up out there - I uninstalled *something* and now I can't get to the home screen. Everything else seems to be working though. My phone just can't figure out the home screen - so I can't access my apps list even though I can use the phone, the pulldown menu, etc.

Generally, I uninstalled most of the LG stuff like Quick Memo and File Manager. I uninstalled Google apps that I never use (Play Music, Games, Books, Newsstand). I'm gonna fiddle around and try to get my stuff back; if I can get Uninstall Master or w/e to launch, I'll be able to restore it all.

Just a reminder to use caution when removing bloat!

EDIT:

APPS THAT ARE SAFE TO UNINSTALL

I am using "App Master(Uninstall Master)".

This list forfeits functionalities that I don't necessarily need or use. Use it as a guide, not an absolute mandate... if you happen to like something like Picasa, you probably shouldn't uninstall Picasa Uploader. Some of the things I'm uninstalling are things I use different apps for - e.g., I use Poweramp instead of the stock music app.

Lastly, this is a dynamic list. If something suddenly craps out because something else is gone, I'll update this. I make no guarantees here.


- SmartShareProvider
- Picasa Uploader
- Lumen Toolbar
- Drive
- Google Play Books
- Google Play Games
- Google Play Movies
- Google Play Newsstand
- Google+
- Hangouts
- Swype

 

[mjhealy1978]

Received my Volt today, immediately set about rooting/installing my apps/uninstalling bloat.

Figured I'd throw a heads-up out there - I uninstalled *something* and now I can't get to the home screen. Everything else seems to be working though. My phone just can't figure out the home screen - so I can't access my apps list even though I can use the phone, the pulldown menu, etc.

Generally, I uninstalled most of the LG stuff like Quick Memo and File Manager. I uninstalled Google apps that I never use (Play Music, Games, Books, Newsstand). I'm gonna fiddle around and try to get my stuff back; if I can get Uninstall Master or w/e to launch, I'll be able to restore it all.

Just a reminder to use caution when removing bloat!

Sounds like you might have axed your launchers.

 

[LUMtnHwk]

Sounds like you might have axed your launchers.

I may have, but I wouldn't have purposely uninstalled my launcher without previously installing and defaulting another.

Anyhow -

I couldn't get my Uninstall program to launch, so I went ahead and followed our "unbrick" thread. http://androidforums.com/volt-all-things-root/861292-how-restore-phone-dl-mode.html for reference

Worked like a charm!

Now I've got to reroot and reinstall everything........and until we get a recovery, I don't think I'll try removing bloat

EDIT: For research's sake, I might go through this weekend and remove bloatware bit by bit until I have to reset my phone again, and document the whole process - what's safe, and what isn't. Of course, if we get a recovery by this weekend (unlikely), the whole thing would be moot.

 

[bg4m3r]

For reference, the stock launcher is called Home, and there is another app called Home Selector that handles picking which launcher to use. That list would be great. I keep removing something that causes a gapps crash at boot, but I can't figure out what it is as all over removed is seemingly innocuous apps.

 

[LUMtnHwk]

For reference, the stock launcher is called Home, and there is another app called Home Selector that handles picking which launcher to use. That list would be great. I keep removing something that causes a gapps crash at boot, but I can't figure out what it is as all over removed is seemingly innocuous apps.

Oh, yeah, I think I uninstalled that the first time through. That would do it, wouldn't it? (what a dumb thing to name your launcher)

=====

I'll be updating my OP with apps that are okay to uninstall. Check back for updates as I adventure further in to my phone.

 

[bg4m3r]

If you figure out what provides the shortcut ring l let me know... Although I suspect it may be part of something else and not is own thing.

 

[LUMtnHwk]

Updated the OP.

bg4m3r, I haven't figured out the shortcut ring. I think it might be a feature native to 4.4?

 

[bg4m3r]

Updated the OP.

bg4m3r, I haven't figured out the shortcut ring. I think it might be a feature native to 4.4?

Hmm... Could be, this is my first experience with stock KitKat.

 

[bg4m3r]

Wasn't there more stuff on the list before? Did everything crap out on you again?

 

[ODGeek]

Does anyone know what app is responsible for the "pop down" menu that appears when headphones are plugged in?

What about the nagging message when volume is turned up "too loud"?

Would be nice to disable these...

 

[bg4m3r]

Does anyone know what app is responsible for the "pop down" menu that appears when headphones are plugged in?

What about the nagging message when volume is turned up "too loud"?

Would be nice to disable these...

Did you look in the sound settings? There's headphone related stuff in there.

 

[ODGeek]

Did you look in the sound settings? There's headphone related stuff in there.

Really? Where? I don't see anything headphone related in my sound settings.

 

[Gendo420]

It's under settings > accessories

 

[bg4m3r]

It's under settings > accessories

Oh yeah, I forgot about those two items, lol.

 

[Rarewolf]

I usually do this process for phones that i get. Thank you in advance i know its not HARD work but it is very tedious. Again thank you.
Cant wait to unbloat with your guide.
I like keeping it stock.

 

[trichome]

Dang I went a little deep and axed something that controls my home button led and now it's just cycling colors. Kinda cool but not when I don't want it. Any ideas if it's a fixable thing or unbrick?

 

[Gendo420]

Dang I went a little deep and axed something that controls my home button led and now it's just cycling colors. Kinda cool but not when I don't want it. Any ideas if it's a fixable thing or unbrick?

Follow this guide and just reflash this non carrier specific Stock LG firmware, its already debloated just freeze MobileID and make sure you do a factory reset after you flash it. Then do a prl and profile update you'll be good to go.
How To Restore Phone With DL Mode
http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?t=861292

 

[bg4m3r]

Google Search, LG Search Widget Provider, Voice Mate and Quick Memo can be uninstalled. This will also disable the Pie Ring. You will need to clear the dalvik cache and cache partition after uninstalling.

Oddly, if you have Greenify installed, the Pie Ring search shortcut will target the Greenify Automator function. Not sure how to get around that, although it could make for a handy shortcut.

 

[trichome]

Follow this guide and just reflash this non carrier specific Stock LG firmware, its already debloated just freeze MobileID and make sure you do a factory reset after you flash it. Then do a prl and profile update you'll be good to go.
How To Restore Phone With DL Mode
How To Restore Phone With DL Mode. - Android Forums

Thanks bro, got it working correctly with this guide.

 

[itsnotadam]

Google Search, LG Search Widget Provider, Voice Mate and Quick Memo can be uninstalled. This will also disable the Pie Ring. You will need to clear the dalvik cache and cache partition after uninstalling.

Oddly, if you have Greenify installed, the Pie Ring search shortcut will target the Greenify Automator function. Not sure how to get around that, although it could make for a handy shortcut.

Don't we need a recovery to wipe dalvik cache and cache? Or is there an app that does that? lol

 

[ODGeek]

Does anyone know what app is responsible for the "pop down" menu that appears when headphones are plugged in?



What about the nagging message when volume is turned up "too loud"?



Would be nice to disable these...

Answer my own question. "Plug & Pop" seems to be the pop down menu when headphones are plugged in.

 

[bg4m3r]

Don't we need a recovery to wipe dalvik cache and cache? Or is there an app that does that? lol

You can use root explorer to go and manually delete the contents of the folder, then reboot. There are also apps that can do it for you

 

[bg4m3r]

I've been slowly working on eliminating apps I don't use. I'm getting close to having everything off that I feel comfortable attempting to remove. (This process invokes making a backup, removing a few apps, waiting several days to make sure all is well, then removing a few more, and so on.) When finished, I will post a list of what is still on the phone and which of those are frozen. I am running the non-carrier specific ROM.