Disabling stock apps on the G2 (and other NAND locked devices)

[Guest Paul]

As promised on Twitter (@paulobrien), here's a guide on how to disable your chosen stock junk-ware on your G2.

Normally, you would remove stock apps by deleting the APKs from /system/app, however on the G2 this is not possible due to it's NAND protection. On reboot the apps will just re-appear, so that's no good. You could delete them on every boot via a script, but that's a bit kludgey... there has to be a better way right? RIGHT! :)

Internally, Android manages installed apps via something called 'Package Manager'. Package Manager (PM) references installed apps not by their filename or displayed name but by their internal package name (e.g. com.google.android.apps.maps). Handily, from a command line you can actually call Package Manager with the command 'pm', which gives you access to do some pretty cool stuff - especially if you have root - including disabling packages.

What does disabling a package do? It leaves the file on the system, but prevents the app from running or appearing in the launcher. This is actually quite cool because it means although the app isn't displaying or using any resources, if an update to the app is released, you'll still be notified by the Market. Should you choose to install the update, the package will be re-enabled, after which you can then disable it again if you choose. Neat eh?

So, let me give you a few examples of how you'd disable packages. Firstly you need to have temproot on your device (use VISIONary for this), and open a command shell. You can do this either via 'adb shell' on your PC, or using 'Connectbot' or 'Terminal Emulator' on your device (if you're feeling particularly sadistic). The shell needs to be elevated to root in order to use disable functionality, so type 'su'. You know if you are elevated because the prompt is a '#' instead of a '$'.

In order to disable a package, you first need to know the name of the package. pm has a function to list installed packages... simply type 'pm list packages' (obvious huh!). The output will look something like this:

# pm list packages

package:com.google.android.location

package:com.tmobile.selfhelp

package:com.android.voicedialer

package:com.android.defcontainer

package:com.android.launcher

package:com.google.android.maps.mytracks

package:com.android.debugtool

package:com.android.contacts

package:com.android.phone

package:com.tmobile.userkeystool

package:com.android.calculator2

package:com.android.htmlviewer

package:com.android.providers.calendar

package:com.android.bluetooth

package:com.android.calendar

package:com.android.browser

package:com.android.music

package:com.google.tts

package:com.android.email.policy

package:com.android.qxdmlog

package:com.android.mms

package:com.android.provision

package:com.htc.copyright

package:com.android.providers.media

package:com.android.certinstaller

package:com.google.android.deskclock

package:com.android.updater

package:com.android.settings

package:com.google.android.carhome

package:com.google.android.street

package:com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget

package:com.facebook.katana

package:com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox

package:com.android.providers.drm

package:com.adobe.flashplayer

package:com.android.musicvis

package:com.google.android.apps.unveil

package:com.google.android.apps.listen

package:com.android.wallpaper.livepicker

package:com.htc.web2goshortcut

package:com.android.packageinstaller

package:com.htc.fieldtest

package:com.android.providers.telephony

package:com.android.providers.subscribedfeeds

package:com.svox.pico

package:com.android.email

package:com.google.android.apps.maps

package:com.google.android.latinimetutorial

package:com.android.providers.settings

package:com.android.magicsmoke

package:com.android.providers.downloads

package:com.amazon.mp3

package:com.android.server.vpn

package:com.google.android.apps.googlevoice

package:com.photobucket.android

package:com.android.soundrecorder

package:com.htc.android.htcsetupwizard

package:com.android.vending.updater

package:com.android.inputmethod.latin

package:com.google.android.partnersetup

package:com.android.cardock

package:com.qo.android.oeme

package:com.google.android.voicesearch

package:com.google.android.apps.finance

package:com.google.android.feedback

package:com.google.android.apps.shopper

package:com.google.android.talk

package:com.htc.htcMessageUploader

package:com.cooliris.media

package:com.android.stk

package:com.android.providers.userdictionary

package:com.android.setupwizard

package:android.tts

package:com.google.android.stardroid

package:com.twitter.android

package:com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar

package:android

package:com.android.providers.contacts

package:com.android.protips

package:com.google.android.apps.uploader

package:com.google.android.apps.translate

package:com.android.providers.applications

package:com.android.vending

package:com.google.android.gm

package:com.swype.android.inputmethod

package:com.android.providers.htcCheckin

package:com.android.wallpaper

package:com.android.camera

package:com.google.android.youtube

package:com.google.earth

package:com.google.android.gsf

package:com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts

package:com.google.android.backup

#[/code]


Most of the names are pretty self explanatory... you can work out what you want to get rid of.



To disable an app, you use the 'pm disable' command with the package name. I wanted to disable the T-Mo App, MyTracks, Goggles, Listen, Web2Go, Amazon MP3, Google Voice, Photobucket, the Setup icon, Finance, Twitter and Translate, so I did this...



[code]pm disable com.tmobile.selfhelp

pm disable com.google.android.maps.mytracks

pm disable com.google.android.apps.unveil

pm disable com.google.android.apps.listen

pm disable com.htc.web2goshortcut

pm disable com.amazon.mp3

pm disable com.google.android.apps.googlevoice

pm disable com.photobucket.android

pm disable com.htc.android.htcsetupwizard

pm disable com.google.android.apps.finance

pm disable com.twitter.android

pm disable com.google.android.apps.translate

#

...which returned...

#Package com.tmobile.selfhelp new state: disabled

# Package com.google.android.maps.mytracks new state: disabled

# Package com.google.android.apps.unveil new state: disabled

# Package com.google.android.apps.listen new state: disabled

# Package com.htc.web2goshortcut new state: disabled

# Package com.amazon.mp3 new state: disabled

# Package com.google.android.apps.googlevoice new state: disabled

# Package com.photobucket.android new state: disabled

# Package com.htc.android.htcsetupwizard new state: disabled

# Package com.google.android.apps.finance new state: disabled

# Package com.twitter.android new state: disabled[/code]

[b]...and that's it, job done![/b]


You'll need to restart your Launcher to see the changes (you can do this from Settings -> Applications -> Launcher -> Force Stop) and then you're done! :)


P

[Guest gregferns]

Thanks Paul... tried this on my N1 (rooted, LOCKED bootloader) and it worked properly.

regards

[Guest Paul]

After I updated Amazon MP3, I couldn't disable it!

The fix was to do this...

#cat /data/system/packages.xml|grep com.amazon.mp3

...which returned this...

<package name="com.amazon.mp3" codePath="/data/app/com.amazon.mp3-1.apk" flags="1" ts="1287142896000" version="800022" userId="10049" enabled="false" installer="com.google.android.feedback">

<item name="com.amazon.mp3.client.activity.LauncherActivity" />

<item name="com.amazon.mp3.client.receiver.FirstBootReceiver" />

<item name="com.amazon.mp3.service.DownloadService" />

<item name="com.amazon.mp3.client.activity.IntentProxyActivity" />

<item name="com.amazon.mp3.client.receiver.RetryDownloadsReceiver" />

<updated-package name="com.amazon.mp3" codePath="/system/app/amazonmp3.apk" ts="1284540940000" version="800019" userId="10049">[/code]


...after which I manually disabled the launcher activity...



[code]#pm disable com.amazon.mp3/com.amazon.mp3.client.activity.LauncherActivity

...and it's all good! :)

In an ideal world you'd probably disable all the activities (or you could be able to use a wildcard).

P

[Guest Paul]

I think the problem above is related to having an updated version installed...

P

[Guest dansl]

Freegin sweet! :)

[Guest geahboi]

EDIT EDIT EDIT: answered my own question. apps that are disabled do not require root access to KEEP them disabled. secondly, a reboot does not re-enable apps that have been disabled. just in case any one else was wondering.

unfortunately, uninstalled - after INSTALLING this my phone was lag central. :) market downloads took over 5 minutes to begin downloading and I'm not exaggerating.

Edited October 16, 2010 by geahboi

[Guest rymaples]

I installed VISIONary and ran it, but when I type "su" in Terminal Emulator I get Permissions Denied. What could I be missing?

[Guest grumpy_o_g]

I installed VISIONary and ran it, but when I type "su" in Terminal Emulator I get Permissions Denied. What could I be missing?

You should have a window pop up on your phone which asks you if you want to allow root access. If you don;t answer in about 10 secs it simply comes back as Permission Denied. I would advise making sure you haven't got a box ticked which says remember or, if someone pinches your phone, they're in as root.

[Guest Cliq2G2_2020]

Thank you!! this worked like a charm.

[Guest NuShrike]

Let me get this straight, so having any root (perm/temp) doesn't get rid of the default apps, so the only way is to disable them -- beyond flashing a new rom?

And is anyroot needed to use PackageManager?

nevermind, anyroot is required. Disabling apps now. Thanks!

Edited November 22, 2010 by NuShrike