Hey all, right now Im trying to compile a list of apps that are safe to remove, for all of us manual debloaters out there. So far Ive frozen many of the apps listed in GameTheory's website that were included in his old debloat flash file. Ive also removed some things he didn't list.
Once Im done testing various apps by freezing them in Titanium Backup, I will delete them with ES Explorer and then report back with my list of safe to remove apps.
Lastly, I took a gander at Tokenpoke's thread and apparently he had a zip file that was available before that listed apps he tested and removed. Anyone have a copy of that?
Anyways, I figured this would be a good thread to have for people who simply want to poke into one thread and know what apps are safe to remove or not. I did a lot of sleuthing here, as well as on XDA and Android Central. Its much easier to have a central thread for manual debloaters.
Wish me luck.
UPDATE 8/26/14 :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: As it is said many times, in numerous threads all over this forum and the rest of the internet, YOU are the only one responsible for anything that results from tinkering around with the files and software of your phone. Always do your research, and understand the effects of rooting, flashing, and deletion of system files.
I use ES File Explorer to manage my files. Make sure the Root Explorer option is turned on, and BE CAREFUL. Don’t rush. Simply delete files 2 to 4 files at a time as a safety precaution. What I do is make my list of what I want to remove, and then click the few files needed to remove a specific program. Next I select delete, and then verify that the names of the file and the number of files I want to delete, matches the names and amount of files specified in the “Are you sure you want to delete?” prompt. Then I move on to deleting files for the next app in my list.
I’m serious when I say it’s better to be slow and meticulous about this. Because I’ve seen guys accidentally move or delete the wrong files and screw up their phone. I’ve almost done so myself. Please pay close attention to detail. And make sure to create a nandroid backup before doing any of this!
I read numerous threads and sites across the net and then removed and tested all of these files on my own. Special credit should go to GameTheory, as his removal list was the initial base from which I started debloating my phone. I advise using something like SD-Maid to clean up unneeded data after removing these apps. It’s a great utility.
Ok here is the list guys. Please contribute to it by adding apps that you have tested as being safe for removal. After safety has been verified, Ill edit the list accordingly.
/system/app
• Books
• ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter
• ChromeWithBrowser
• ECID-release (this is the MetroPCS Screen-It service. If you pay for this service, it provides caller ID for numbers not inside your contacts. Essentially its Enhanced Landline Caller ID)
• Gmail (I like the android email app better since I can use it for more than one email client. Keep Gmail if you like, but you dont need it.)
• GMS_Maps (Google Maps. You can delete, but I kept it because in my opinion it’s a lot better than alternatives like Waze or MapFactor)
• GoogleDrive
• Hangouts
• LGBrowser_JB (MetroPCS web browser)
• LGHome3_Theme_Biz
• LGHome3_Theme_Optimus
• LGSetupWizardApp
• LGSetupWizard_JB
• Magazines (Google Play Magazines)
• MemoWidgetbin (This is your Memo App Widget. I keep it since its easier than going into another screen for the memo app)
• MLT (MLT is basically LG spyware used to collect data on porn, suicide, bullying, etc...but obviously can be used to collect anything from your phone. It seems to revolve around the welfare of minors, but its an invasion of privacy consumers should know about upfront. You can either learn how to disable it through hidden menus or simply delete it )
• MPCS-VVM-release-4211-signed-zipaligned (This is the Visual Voicemail app. Keep it if you like it. I prefer the Tmobile app)
• Music2 (Google Play Music)
• Musicbin (android default music player)
• MusicWidgetbin (android music widget)
• MyMetro
• PhotoAlbumWidgetbin (android photo album widget)
• PlayGames (Google Play Games)
• PlusOne (Google +)
• SetupWizard ( I have not removed this yet, as Im cautious with regards to setup wizards. GameTheory removed it though himself.)
• Street (Street view in Google Maps)
• Tasksbin (personal tasks app. I kept it since it’s helpful)
• VidClipbin (You can delete it, but it may be useful in the future for use with various videos)
• Videos. (Google Play Videos. Don’t delete “Videosbin” files as those are different and are the files for the default video player)
• VuTalkbin (This is a discontinued LG app. They don’t support it anymore, so you cant even install and use this if you wanted to. Watch this video if youre wondering what this app did.)
• WeatherMultiCPbin
• WeatherThemebin
• YouTube
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/system/apps/bootup
(In this section, basically everything is safely delete-able except the task manager.)
• Dictionarybin.apk
• FileManagerbin.apk
• FileSharebin.apk (I found this program to be especially useless. Its LG’s Wifi-Direct app, but it only works with other LG products. Keep it if you have other LG devices. Delete it if you don't have other LG stuff, or just prefer to use the settings menu to connect Wifi-Direct to other devices)
• Metro411_2_1_2.apk
• MetroAppStore.1.8.1.apk
• mp_metropcs-5.3.0.24-prod-aligned.apk
• PolarisViewerbin.apk
• privacystar-android-metro-2.0.25-aligned.apk
• Rhapsody.apk
• store-MetroMusicStore-release.apk
• QTranslatorbin.apk (I dont need it, but this is a very good app. Its able to translate printed words by using your camera. I was even able to translate spanish on my computer screen by using my camera.)
• WorldClockWidgetbin.apk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/system/sounds/lgeSounds (Nothing but a bunch of test sounds. It sounds like a dang hearing test at the doctors office. I have to wonder why these were even put in the phone)
/system/media/video/ (These videos are used in the camcorder app as backgrounds that you can put yourself in front of. In other words, these are a waste of space and youll never use these files)
/system/media/audio/alarms (I deleted half of the alarms in here as I only needed a few)
/system/media/audio/ringtones (I deleted all of the ringtones and use Audacity on my PC in order to create new .ogg files for custom ringtones)
Once Im done testing various apps by freezing them in Titanium Backup, I will delete them with ES Explorer and then report back with my list of safe to remove apps.
Lastly, I took a gander at Tokenpoke's thread and apparently he had a zip file that was available before that listed apps he tested and removed. Anyone have a copy of that?
Anyways, I figured this would be a good thread to have for people who simply want to poke into one thread and know what apps are safe to remove or not. I did a lot of sleuthing here, as well as on XDA and Android Central. Its much easier to have a central thread for manual debloaters.
Wish me luck.
UPDATE 8/26/14 :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: As it is said many times, in numerous threads all over this forum and the rest of the internet, YOU are the only one responsible for anything that results from tinkering around with the files and software of your phone. Always do your research, and understand the effects of rooting, flashing, and deletion of system files.
I use ES File Explorer to manage my files. Make sure the Root Explorer option is turned on, and BE CAREFUL. Don’t rush. Simply delete files 2 to 4 files at a time as a safety precaution. What I do is make my list of what I want to remove, and then click the few files needed to remove a specific program. Next I select delete, and then verify that the names of the file and the number of files I want to delete, matches the names and amount of files specified in the “Are you sure you want to delete?” prompt. Then I move on to deleting files for the next app in my list.
I’m serious when I say it’s better to be slow and meticulous about this. Because I’ve seen guys accidentally move or delete the wrong files and screw up their phone. I’ve almost done so myself. Please pay close attention to detail. And make sure to create a nandroid backup before doing any of this!
I read numerous threads and sites across the net and then removed and tested all of these files on my own. Special credit should go to GameTheory, as his removal list was the initial base from which I started debloating my phone. I advise using something like SD-Maid to clean up unneeded data after removing these apps. It’s a great utility.
Ok here is the list guys. Please contribute to it by adding apps that you have tested as being safe for removal. After safety has been verified, Ill edit the list accordingly.
/system/app
(In this section, remove both the .apk and .odex files unless otherwise noted. Some apps will contain notes in parenthesis explaining the apps function or my thoughts on the app)
• ApplicationManagerbin
• Books
• ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter
• ChromeWithBrowser
• ECID-release (this is the MetroPCS Screen-It service. If you pay for this service, it provides caller ID for numbers not inside your contacts. Essentially its Enhanced Landline Caller ID)
• Gmail (I like the android email app better since I can use it for more than one email client. Keep Gmail if you like, but you dont need it.)
• GMS_Maps (Google Maps. You can delete, but I kept it because in my opinion it’s a lot better than alternatives like Waze or MapFactor)
• GoogleDrive
• Hangouts
• LGBrowser_JB (MetroPCS web browser)
• LGHome3_Theme_Biz
• LGHome3_Theme_Optimus
• LGSetupWizardApp
• LGSetupWizard_JB
• Magazines (Google Play Magazines)
• MemoWidgetbin (This is your Memo App Widget. I keep it since its easier than going into another screen for the memo app)
• MLT (MLT is basically LG spyware used to collect data on porn, suicide, bullying, etc...but obviously can be used to collect anything from your phone. It seems to revolve around the welfare of minors, but its an invasion of privacy consumers should know about upfront. You can either learn how to disable it through hidden menus or simply delete it )
• MPCS-VVM-release-4211-signed-zipaligned (This is the Visual Voicemail app. Keep it if you like it. I prefer the Tmobile app)
• Music2 (Google Play Music)
• Musicbin (android default music player)
• MusicWidgetbin (android music widget)
• MyMetro
• PhotoAlbumWidgetbin (android photo album widget)
• PlayGames (Google Play Games)
• PlusOne (Google +)
• SetupWizard ( I have not removed this yet, as Im cautious with regards to setup wizards. GameTheory removed it though himself.)
• Street (Street view in Google Maps)
• Tasksbin (personal tasks app. I kept it since it’s helpful)
• VidClipbin (You can delete it, but it may be useful in the future for use with various videos)
• Videos. (Google Play Videos. Don’t delete “Videosbin” files as those are different and are the files for the default video player)
• VuTalkbin (This is a discontinued LG app. They don’t support it anymore, so you cant even install and use this if you wanted to. Watch this video if youre wondering what this app did.)
• WeatherMultiCPbin
• WeatherThemebin
• YouTube
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/system/apps/bootup
(In this section, basically everything is safely delete-able except the task manager.)
• Dictionarybin.apk
• FileManagerbin.apk
• FileSharebin.apk (I found this program to be especially useless. Its LG’s Wifi-Direct app, but it only works with other LG products. Keep it if you have other LG devices. Delete it if you don't have other LG stuff, or just prefer to use the settings menu to connect Wifi-Direct to other devices)
• Metro411_2_1_2.apk
• MetroAppStore.1.8.1.apk
• mp_metropcs-5.3.0.24-prod-aligned.apk
• PolarisViewerbin.apk
• privacystar-android-metro-2.0.25-aligned.apk
• Rhapsody.apk
• store-MetroMusicStore-release.apk
• QTranslatorbin.apk (I dont need it, but this is a very good app. Its able to translate printed words by using your camera. I was even able to translate spanish on my computer screen by using my camera.)
• WorldClockWidgetbin.apk
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/system/sounds/lgeSounds (Nothing but a bunch of test sounds. It sounds like a dang hearing test at the doctors office. I have to wonder why these were even put in the phone)
/system/media/video/ (These videos are used in the camcorder app as backgrounds that you can put yourself in front of. In other words, these are a waste of space and youll never use these files)
/system/media/audio/alarms (I deleted half of the alarms in here as I only needed a few)
/system/media/audio/ringtones (I deleted all of the ringtones and use Audacity on my PC in order to create new .ogg files for custom ringtones)
