[HOW-TO]Remove System Apps from the HTC Desire with ADB in Windows

[Guest VeeDubZ]

Im using Paul's R4 rooting files at the location C:/users/veedubz/r4-desire-root in Windows 7 so point your Command prompt there first and im also assuming that you have a rooted Desire and can get into recovery mode

****WARNING****

Be sure you know EXACTLY what you are removing as it can cause you problems down the line, ie. if you remove HTC_IME.apk then you have no keyboard installed and will not be able to enter text on the device....

1. First get into recovery mode with the Green menu then close that command prompt and open a new one and cd to /r4-desire-root folder

2. You now need to mount the /system folder using the code below

adb-windows shell mount /system

3. Now you will need to get the list of installed apk files

adb-windows shell ls /system/app/

and the output should look like this:

AccountAndSyncSettings.apk		 HtcWeatherWallpaper.apk

ApplicationsProvider.apk		   Jbed.apk

Bluetooth.apk					  LiveWallpapers.apk

BrcmBluetoothServices.apk		  LiveWallpapersPicker.apk

Browser.apk						MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk

Calculator.apk					 Mail.apk

Calendar.apk					   MarketUpdater.apk

CalendarProvider.apk			   MediaProvider.apk

CertInstaller.apk				  MediaUploader.apk

CheckinProvider.apk				Mms.apk

Clicker.apk						Mode10Wallpapers.apk

ContactsProvider.apk			   NetworkLocation.apk

CustomizationSettingsProvider.apk  NewsReader.apk

CustomizationSetup.apk			 PCSCII.apk

DCSImpl.apk						PDFViewer.apk

DCSStock.apk					   PackageInstaller.apk

DCSUtility.apk					 Phone.apk

DownloadProvider.apk			   PicoTts.apk

DrmProvider.apk					PluginManager.apk

EnhancedGoogleSearchProvider.apk   QuickLookup.apk

Facebook.apk					   RSS.apk

FieldTest.apk					  Rosie.apk

FilePicker.apk					 Settings.apk

FlashLitePlugin.apk				SettingsProvider.apk

FlashPlayer.apk					SetupWizard.apk

Flickr.apk						 SocialNetworkProvider.apk

FriendStream.apk				   Stk.apk

GSD.apk							Stock.apk

GenieWidget.apk					Street.apk

GlobalSearch.apk				   Superuser.apk

Gmail.apk						  Talk.apk

GmailProvider.apk				  TalkProvider.apk

GoogleApps.apk					 TelephonyProvider.apk

GoogleCheckin.apk				  TtsService.apk

GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk	  Updater.apk

GooglePartnerSetup.apk			 UploadProvider.apk

GoogleSettingsProvider.apk		 UserDictionaryProvider.apk

GoogleSubscribedFeedsProvider.apk  Vending.apk

HTCAlbum.apk					   VisualizationWallpapers.apk

HTCCamera.apk					  VoiceSearchWithKeyboard.apk

HTCSetupWizard.apk				 VpnServices.apk

HTC_IME.apk						Weather.apk

HTMLViewer.apk					 WeatherAgentService.apk

HtcAddProgramWidget.apk			WeatherProvider.apk

HtcClockWidget.apk				 WeatherSyncProvider.apk

HtcConnectivity.apk				WidgetDownloadManager.apk

HtcContacts.apk					WorldClock.apk

HtcDialer.apk					  YouTube.apk

HtcFMRadio.apk					 com.htc.FriendStreamWidget.apk

HtcFacebook.apk					com.htc.MusicWidget.apk

HtcFootprints.apk				  com.htc.NewsReaderWidget.apk

HtcFootprintsWidget.apk			com.htc.StockWidget.apk

HtcLocationPicker.apk			  com.htc.TwitterWidget.apk

HtcLocationService.apk			 com.htc.WeatherWidget.apk

HtcLockScreen.apk				  com.wsandroid.apk

HtcMessageUploader.apk			 gtalkservice.apk

HtcMusic.apk					   htcbookmarkwidget.apk

HtcNaviPanel.apk				   htccalendarwidgets.apk

HtcPhotoWidget.apk				 htccontactwidgets.apk

HtcRingtoneTrimmer.apk			 htcmailwidgets.apk

HtcSettingsProvider.apk			htcmsgwidgets.apk

HtcSoundRecorder.apk			   htcsearchwidgets.apk

HtcStreamPlayer.apk				htcsettingwidgets.apk

HtcSyncwidget.apk				  restartapp.apk

HtcTwitter.apk					 teeter.apk

4. there are 2 methods of removal, they are

1. 4a. Just delete the files
2. 4b. Move to the sdcard

Use one of the following methods 4a. Now you have a list of the files you can chose the ones you want to remove , note that this part is case sensitive so com.htc.twitterwidget.apk is not the same as com.htc.TwitterWidget.apk, use the following code(example used is the Stocks app and widget):

adb-windows shell rm /system/app/Stock.apk

adb-windows shell rm /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk

4b. Also case sensitive, to move the files to your sdcard(which aso removes from the device):

adb-windows shell mount /sdcard

adb-windows shell mkdir /sdcard/device_files

adb-windows mv /system/app/Stock.apk /sdcard/device-files

adb-windows mv /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /sdcard/device-files

The files will be moved to the new folder on your sdcard called /device-files, once there you can also backup to your pc for a bit of extra backup 5. Repeat Step 4. untill all the apk files that you want to remove are gone and to check that they are gone use

adb-windows shell ls /system/app/

Restoring your backed up files Use the following code,

adb-windows shell mount /sdcard

adb-windows shell mv /sdcard/device-filesStock.apk /system/app/

adb-windows shell mv /sdcard/device-files/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /system/app/

Hope this helps.

V.

Edited June 2, 2010 by VeeDubZ

[Guest NarutoDKz]

Will try later. Sounds good. :rolleyes:

[Guest impazzito]

Im using Paul's R4 rooting files at the location C:/users/veedubz/r4-desire-root in Windows 7 so point your Command prompt there first and im also assuming that you have a rooted Desire and can get into recovery mode

WOOOOOOORKSSSS!!!! You are the man!!!! Thankssssssss!!!!!! :rolleyes: :D :( :(

[Guest VeeDubZ]

glad you like, i looked round everywhere for a guide and cobbled this together from a couple of others

[Guest impazzito]

glad you like, i looked round everywhere for a guide and cobbled this together from a couple of others

good work! I wanna now try to install htc note widget.. do you know how i can install note.apk than i have on my c:\ folder (i'm using windows) with adb-windows.exe???

[Guest Woocash]

Yeah, it's work - but you know how I can delete "learn more" app?

I'm mean this.

[Guest impazzito]

Yeah, it's work - but you know how I can delete "learn more" app?

I'm mean this.

HTCSetupWizard.apk

HTCSetupWizard.odex

[Guest potter97]

HTCSetupWizard.apk

HTCSetupWizard.odex

If i were you m8, i would put a warning up top Just incase someone thinks its ok to delete all in here, because its not....

[Guest DerZombie]

If i were you m8, i would put a warning up top Just incase someone thinks its ok to delete all in here, because its not....

1 Question, what do htc stocks?

[Guest Bicets]

Great!

Thnx

[Guest VeeDubZ]

Warning added

Amended the post to include a backup method

[Guest vib_]

linux command - bash: http://ss64.com/bash/

busybox: http://home.tele2.ch/spblinux/doc/commands.html

[Guest VeeDubZ]

linux command - bash: http://ss64.com/bash/

busybox: http://home.tele2.ch/spblinux/doc/commands.html

this is a windows method using adb, links not really needed but thanks for the input

[Guest vib_]

android is *nix system and "adb" is Android Debug Bridge - adb working with all systems: Mac OS, Linux, Windows, maybe other...

you prompt in Windows command console (cmd) only "adb shell" and then you working in android console via usb :rolleyes:

Edited May 22, 2010 by vib_

[Guest dancedreamfly]

Tried this on a Mac, and it works with the appropriate changes to the commands. It would really help if we compiled a list of what is and what's not safe to remove.

[Guest sayatsugu]

I removed some stuff and now there are glitches in my "Add Widget" list.

How do I remove those ?

[Guest iCitronVert]

It's possible with OS X ? :huh:

I'm a newbie with Android :D

Edited June 1, 2010 by iCitronVert

[Guest Jercik]

It's possible with OS X ? :(

I'm a newbie with Android :(

Yes. As it was said before, adb works on windows, linux and macos. It is part of android SDK. You must download macos version of SDK first.

Edited June 1, 2010 by Jercik

[Guest Jimmy di Griz]

There is slight mistake in the first post:

adb-windows mv /system/app/Stock.apk /sdcard/device-files

adb-windows mv /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /sdcard/device-files

should be:

adb-windows shell mv /system/app/Stock.apk /sdcard/device-files

adb-windows shell mv /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /sdcard/device-files

[Guest Bol2riz]

Hi !

Thanks for the tuto.

One point to correct: shell is missing in your string adb-windows (shell) mv /system/app/...

This launch the help page on my windows XP home.

next to that, I've moved Stock.apk, com.htc.StockWidget.apk. Do you know if it's safe to move DCSStock.apk?

Thanks

:( WWhat a timing

Edited June 1, 2010 by Bol2riz

[Guest StuMcBill]

Can I use this method to move an app from normal app space into /system.

For example, if I installed a FroYo rom, and wanted to install WaveSecure into /system (like in MCR), could I just install WaveSecure as per normal, and then move it to /system?

[Guest VeeDubZ]

There is slight mistake in the first post:

adb-windows mv /system/app/Stock.apk /sdcard/device-files

adb-windows mv /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /sdcard/device-files

should be:

adb-windows shell mv /system/app/Stock.apk /sdcard/device-files

adb-windows shell mv /system/app/com.htc.StockWidget.apk /sdcard/device-files

Hi !

Thanks for the tuto.

One point to correct: shell is missing in your string adb-windows (shell) mv /system/app/...

This launch the help page on my windows XP home.

next to that, I've moved Stock.apk, com.htc.StockWidget.apk. Do you know if it's safe to move DCSStock.apk?

Thanks

:( WWhat a timing

sorted

[Guest VeeDubZ]

Can I use this method to move an app from normal app space into /system.

For example, if I installed a FroYo rom, and wanted to install WaveSecure into /system (like in MCR), could I just install WaveSecure as per normal, and then move it to /system?

could work, try it out and if it doesn't work move it back

[Guest pina]

isn'it possible that I keep some apps of the system, but move them to the sd-card, so it's still there? Instead it gets deleted?

[Guest WelcomB]

I tried to replace the HTC calendar with the stock Android one. So I copied Calendar.apk and odex, together with CalendarProvider.apk and odex from my Samsung Spica but it didn't work.

When I tried replacing the files which I unzipped from the r4 root rom, it didn't work. I don't see any calendar program, and neither all 3rd party calendars show empty. Is it not enough to just copy files over?