Root [CDMA] Can I permanently remove of main app from my custom ROM?

[TurboS81]

Just curious how hard it is to remove some of main apps I don't necessarily use on my custom ROM. No offense to the dev, just want to free up a bit more space. Alternatively, how can I permanently install an app within a ROM to make it a main app? Is it as simple as placing the .apk file into a specific app folder?

Eventually, I'd like to attempt a custom ROM build of my own, so basic information like this should come in handy.

 

[Brian706]

Sometimes the rom won't let you delete apps but you can freeze them. If you delete the apk from the rom zip before flashing it will get rid of it. I would imagine you could add an apk to that same spot but never tried.

 

[TurboS81]

So whatever I want removed, remove it before flashing (if it lets me), then flash to phone. If I want to add, add before flashing. That makes sense. I'll have to play around with it a bit.

 

[Brian706]

So whatever I want removed, remove it before flashing (if it lets me), then flash to phone. If I want to add, add before flashing. That makes sense. I'll have to play around with it a bit.

Post results! I'm curious about adding apps!

 

[TurboS81]

I was able to remove a couple of apps on the custom ROM I'm using now. It is not like removing a downloaded app from the phone using the "Uninstall Apps" feature. To remove a main app within a ROM, you must do the following:

(This assumes you have already downloaded a ROM and have saved it to your computer or laptop, and are using a Windows PC)
1. Right-click on the ROM .zip folder
2. Select Extract All (extract to where ever you want on the PC...I extracted mine to the desktop)
3. Once extracted, go into the 'system' folder
4. From here, go into 'app' folder
5. In the 'app' folder you should find all the applications listed as a .apk file; simply go down the list and delete any apps (.apk) you no longer want loaded as a main app
Note: If you want to add any .apk files for other apps, so that they are loaded as a main app, you can do it at this time as well.
6. Once you've removed the apps, go back to the main folder (the main folder should have several sub-folders listed such as META-INF, system, kernel, etc.); highlight everything in the main folder, right-click over the highlighted portion and select "Send to...Compressed (zipped) Folder
7. Once the files are zipped, you will have the option to rename the file...I chose to name my file the same as the original .zip, but added "Lite" before the .zip. I only did this so I could tell the difference between the two .zip folders
8. With that done, I plugged my phone into the computer and mounted the scard; I moved the new .zip ROM over to my card, unmounted the card, and disconnected the phone
9. Launch into recovery and simply commit to the usual steps for flashing a new ROM

The original ROM measured in at 430MB, whereas after the removal of the apps I didn't want, it came in at 410MB. I know, I know, this is not something to gawk at or get overworked about. Remember, I am not trying to discredit my ROMs creator, just test out my knowledge, as I hope to create my own custom ROM someday. After setting up my phone again, I went back and compared storage space from before and after the removal of the apps. They can be found below:

Before:
Total Space: 1.15GB
Apps: 296MB
Available: 880MB

After:
Total Space: 1.15GB
Apps: 284MB
Available: 892MB

Again, not a huge increase, but something nonetheless.

Steve

 

[Brian706]

If you want to save a couple steps you could just browse the zip and delete any files you want. This would save from unzipping and rezipping. Obviously make a copy of zip beforehand if you want to keep the original...

Thanks for posting your results... I might use this to snag wallpapers from different roms and put them into other roms I flash!

I was able to remove a couple of apps on the custom ROM I'm using now. It is not like removing a downloaded app from the phone using the "Uninstall Apps" feature. To remove a main app within a ROM, you must do the following:

(This assumes you have already downloaded a ROM and have saved it to your computer or laptop, and are using a Windows PC)
1. Right-click on the ROM .zip folder
2. Select Extract All (extract to where ever you want on the PC...I extracted mine to the desktop)
3. Once extracted, go into the 'system' folder
4. From here, go into 'app' folder
5. In the 'app' folder you should find all the applications listed as a .apk file; simply go down the list and delete any apps (.apk) you no longer want loaded as a main app
Note: If you want to add any .apk files for other apps, so that they are loaded as a main app, you can do it at this time as well.
6. Once you've removed the apps, go back to the main folder (the main folder should have several sub-folders listed such as META-INF, system, kernel, etc.); highlight everything in the main folder, right-click over the highlighted portion and select "Send to...Compressed (zipped) Folder
7. Once the files are zipped, you will have the option to rename the file...I chose to name my file the same as the original .zip, but added "Lite" before the .zip. I only did this so I could tell the difference between the two .zip folders
8. With that done, I plugged my phone into the computer and mounted the scard; I moved the new .zip ROM over to my card, unmounted the card, and disconnected the phone
9. Launch into recovery and simply commit to the usual steps for flashing a new ROM

The original ROM measured in at 430MB, whereas after the removal of the apps I didn't want, it came in at 410MB. I know, I know, this is not something to gawk at or get overworked about. Remember, I am not trying to discredit my ROMs creator, just test out my knowledge, as I hope to create my own custom ROM someday. After setting up my phone again, I went back and compared storage space from before and after the removal of the apps. They can be found below:

Before:
Total Space: 1.15GB
Apps: 296MB
Available: 880MB

After:
Total Space: 1.15GB
Apps: 284MB
Available: 892MB

Again, not a huge increase, but something nonetheless.

Steve

 

[TurboS81]

If you want to save a couple steps you could just browse the zip and delete any files you want. This would save from unzipping and rezipping. Obviously make a copy of zip beforehand if you want to keep the original...

Thanks for posting your results... I might use this to snag wallpapers from different roms and put them into other roms I flash!

Well, maybe it was computer or something, but I tried altering the .zip first, but I kept getting an error and I couldn't delete any .apk. I researched a bit, and it hit me that the files may have to be extracted before altering any part of the .zip

 

[Brian706]

Hmm that's odd.. My computer lets me add and delete files to/from a zip. I wonder if maybe the author write protected that zip file or something??

I'm on windows 7, what version are you running?

Well, maybe it was computer or something, but I tried altering the .zip first, but I kept getting an error and I couldn't delete any .apk. I researched a bit, and it hit me that the files may have to be extracted before altering any part of the .zip

 

[TurboS81]

Perhaps. I'm on the coveted Vista [sigh]. I'll have to use my Linux machine next time. Maybe that'll work.

 

[Brian706]

Lol! It may just be a difference between our versions then!

Perhaps. I'm on the coveted Vista [sigh]. I'll have to use my Linux machine next time. Maybe that'll work.

 

[scotty85]

Perhaps. I'm on the coveted Vista [sigh]. I'll have to use my Linux machine next time. Maybe that'll work.

you can easily delete system apps from your custom rom,and make other apps become system apps,if you wish.

you can do it with root only file manager like root explorer. just mount system/app as r/w and delete what you wish. then you can copy .apks from data/app and paste them to system/app to make them system apps. they will now "stick" thru a factory reset

i believe titanium backup has an option to "make a system app" but ive not personally used it that way. titanium can also be used to delete or freeze any apps,system or user installed.

some things,just make sure you have a replacement installed prior to deleting the original system app. for example, launcher or keyboard. its pretty tough to work a phone without one of those

 

[Brian706]

Great to know!!! I wonder if that is why my rom wouldn't let me delete system apps and only freeze them. I must have not had write permissions! I love when you post on the 3d forums because I learn something every time!!

you can easily delete system apps from your custom rom,and make other apps become system apps,if you wish.

you can do it with root only file manager like root explorer. just mount system/app as r/w and delete what you wish. then you can copy .apks from data/app and paste them to system/app to make them system apps. they will now "stick" thru a factory reset

i believe titanium backup has an option to "make a system app" but ive not personally used it that way. titanium can also be used to delete or freeze any apps,system or user installed.

some things,just make sure you have a replacement installed prior to deleting the original system app. for example, launcher or keyboard. its pretty tough to work a phone without one of those

 

[scotty85]

lol,ima hafta pick meself up one of these evo3Ds what were you using to delete your apps? a regular file manager? or some other app?

 

[Brian706]

lol,ima hafta pick meself up one of these evo3Ds what were you using to delete your apps? a regular file manager? or some other app?

Yes please do!!! I tried rom toolbox pro app manager and also mybackup pro. One of which worked on another rom... So I assumed that the developer somehow made them non-deletable but could not figure out how! I saw a setting in 4ext recovery app for /system read/write and I think it is set to read only by default. That was likely the problem.