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Root [MetroPCS] Help Removing Crapware

B

Billy Cracker

Lurker
I'm a self-employed Contractor and so must publish my personal (MetroPCS) cell phone number, and because of this I get a LOT of unwanted telemarketing phone calls.

Tried to use the "Metro Block-it" and found out it was trialware and after 5 days they want $1.00 a month. So I installed something else and now I want to get rid of this "Metro Block-it", and everything else that's installed on the phone that I don't use, don't want, etc...

I do computer repair professionally, so I assume that anything installed on the phone is using resources. Even if it's not, I like to keep things clean & neat, so if it's something I am never going to use, I'd like it gone. There's a whole bunch of things I'd like to get rid of. But when I look for a way to "uninstall" applications, I can't find anything. Either "Stop" or "Disable", and I'd like to get rid of it completely. Metro Block-it in particular, because I'm concerned they are going to want to start charging me in 4 days if I don't get rid of it before then. MetroPCS is turning out to be a bit of a slimy, scamming company, but that's a different topic.

Phone is an LGMS500
 
Unfortunately, you'll need to root your device to be able to permanently remove metro's bloatware. The good news is you can disable most of the metro apps and other system apps you don't need. Once disabled, they disappear from the app tray and don't use any system resources. There should be a way for you to be able to cancel your metro block it trial. Perhaps calling metro's customer service? They're pretty helpful most of the time.
 
LG Fanatic said:
Unfortunately, you'll need to root your device to be able to permanently remove metro's bloatware. The good news is you can disable most of the metro apps and other system apps you don't need. Once disabled, they disappear from the app tray and don't use any system resources. There should be a way for you to be able to cancel your metro block it trial. Perhaps calling metro's customer service? They're pretty helpful most of the time.
Click to expand...



Thanks for the help, LG. What's the best, safest, fastest, easiest way to root my LGMS500? Also do you have any recommendations on a call-blocking application? I picked the most popular one at the Google Play Store and it seems extremely basic. It doesn't even look like it's integrated enough to be able to do "on the fly" (my made-up phrase) call blocking, where, when the call comes in, you can reject the call and add it to the list for future blocking. I haven't fully tested it out yet, but it seems that the one that I have installed only allows you to manually access the call log and selectively pick-out which numbers you want to add to the black and/or white list.
 
Billy Cracker said:
Thanks for the help, LG. What's the best, safest, fastest, easiest way to root my LGMS500? Also do you have any recommendations on a call-blocking application? I picked the most popular one at the Google Play Store and it seems extremely basic. It doesn't even look like it's integrated enough to be able to do "on the fly" (my made-up phrase) call blocking, where, when the call comes in, you can reject the call and add it to the list for future blocking. I haven't fully tested it out yet, but it seems that the one that I have installed only allows you to manually access the call log and selectively pick-out which numbers you want to add to the black and/or white list.
Click to expand...

I'm not too familiar with call blocking apps. So unfortunately, I can't advise you there. What firmware is your phone currently on? If you're not sure, you'll find it in the settings menu. Scroll down toward the bottom of the settings menu and tap on "About Phone" and then tap on "Software information". The info you see in "Software version" is the firmware your phone is on.

That firmware info will determine which root method is best for your phone.
 
Okay! The towelroot app looks to be the best method for rooting your device. You download that app from here - https://towelroot.com/ . If accessing that website from a PC just right click on the upside down red Y and select save link. Install the app on your phone. If you haven't already, make sure "Unkown sources" is checked in your phone's security settings. That will allow you to install apps that aren't directly from the Playstore. Once you have towelroot installed, tap on the "make it rain" button. If it works, your device should reboot on its own in 15 seconds.

To check if you successfully rooted your device, download and install the app "Root Checker" from the Playstore. Open the app and tap on "Verify Root" it will tell you if your devices is rooted. If it is, you'll then need to install an app called "SuperSU' from the Playstore. This is app that allows you to control which apps gain root access. With that done you'll have the power to raise armies, conquer planets or remove metro's bloatware.:D

I would suggest reading this thread before removing system apps http://androidforums.com/threads/masterlist-of-safe-to-remove-apps-come-contribute.866390/
 
Welcome to our AndroidForums @Billy Cracker and thank you for your detailed help here, @LG Fanatic :).

I've moved this thread for you guys to the the LG F6 all-things-root area.

By the way, it might be better/safer to freeze (disable) an app vs. actually deleting/removing it...it's much easier to re-enable an app than it is to find the proper .apk (and .odex) file(s) than it is to re-enable it. Be very careful with system apps as you wouldn't want to get into a bootloop (having a Nandroid backup that you can restore from a custom recovery is a very good idea before touching anything related to files in your /system partition).

Cheers and best of luck!
 
Thanks again, LG. I haven't time to actually DO this right now; I think I'll wait until later this evening when I have time to pay full attention.

Do the instructions have a step where a copy is made of the original firmware/configuration, etc... the android equivalent of a "System Restore". Will I have the ability to "go back" to where it is right now, on the chance that something goes wrong?

Thanks again.
 
use towelroot make it rain.download supersu and busybox from play store install and good to go.this and more info in the root forums for the f6.if you wish you can also reach me and I can help.I've moved to HTC one sv project now but am well intune with the f6.happy modding
 
LG Fanatic said:
Okay! The towelroot app looks to be the best method for rooting your device. You download that app from here - https://towelroot.com/ . If accessing that website from a PC just right click on the upside down red Y and select save link. Install the app on your phone. If you haven't already, make sure "Unkown sources" is checked in your phone's security settings. That will allow you to install apps that aren't directly from the Playstore. Once you have towelroot installed, tap on the "make it rain" button. If it works, your device should reboot on its own in 15 seconds.
Click to expand...

I assume you have this backwards. The installation message said that if it DOESN'T reboot, the operation was successful. On my phone, it didn't reboot and said it was successful, however it looks the same. How do I know if I've successfully "rooted" the phone?

Now that I've done this, what's next?

frosthax1 said:
use towelroot make it rain.download supersu and busybox from play store install and good to go.this and more info in the root forums for the f6.if you wish you can also reach me and I can help.I've moved to HTC one sv project now but am well intune with the f6.happy modding
Click to expand...

What does "supersu" and "busybox" do for me? Guess I'll go find out. Thanks again for all the help.
 
Okay back. Is there a way to simply "Download" software from the Google Play Store, vs. "Installing" it? I don't connect to the internet much with my phone, and don't want to. Don't want a "Google Account" between my phone and Google, don't want a username, password or a bunch of updaters running constantly in the background doing God-knows-what and telling the NSA, FBI, etc... blah, blah, blah.

Can I just "cleanly" get something from Google Play Store without having to create a fake account, installing a bunch of crap on my phone and then uninstalling it later?
 
o_O. dude unless your hacking the government or something no1 gives a damn what your doing with Google account as it's legal to hack any hand held just void your warranty if you go to the store like that.thank George geohotz for that one.sadly he lost the fight on ps3 otherwise it be legal on all devices,but he only won the war for handheld thanks to apple law there are ways around a Google account yes but using things not Google play can get you viruses so good luck on that
 
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Billy Cracker said:
I assume you have this backwards. The installation message said that if it DOESN'T reboot, the operation was successful. On my phone, it didn't reboot and said it was successful, however it looks the same. How do I know if I've successfully "rooted" the phone?

Now that I've done this, what's next?



What does "supersu" and "busybox" do for me? Guess I'll go find out. Thanks again for all the help.
Click to expand...

Whoops. You're right about towelroot. Sorry about that. Supersu and busybox are apps needed for the proper control and utilization of apps that need root access. Though, I think you can just install supersu and still get the full benefits of a rooted device.
 
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Billy Cracker said:
Okay back. Is there a way to simply "Download" software from the Google Play Store, vs. "Installing" it? I don't connect to the internet much with my phone, and don't want to. Don't want a "Google Account" between my phone and Google, don't want a username, password or a bunch of updaters running constantly in the background doing God-knows-what and telling the NSA, FBI, etc... blah, blah, blah.

Can I just "cleanly" get something from Google Play Store without having to create a fake account, installing a bunch of crap on my phone and then uninstalling it later?
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I can understand your concerns about privacy. If you're not comfortable with creating a Google Play account, you can still side load the Supersu apk file(the file that will install the app) on to your phone. You can download from here - http://download.chainfire.eu/448/SuperSU/. Unzip the file and transfer the "Superuser.apk"(it's located in the "common" folder) to your phone and you can install it. You'll need a file browser to locate and install it. Do you have one on your phone?
 
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frosthax1 said:
1.http://download.chainfire.eu/448/SuperSU/
2.http://www.mediafire.com/download/ydkmuvih79as3df/LG-F6-TWRP-V3.apk
3.http://androidcreations.weebly.com/flashable-bloatware-remover.html (install") in the twrp recovery you just installed)

honestly all the crapware your refering to.flashing this zip in #3 gets rid of all,yes i repeat all metropcs bloatware,enjoy
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I would caution advising to the OP to start flashing zip files before he fully understands how to properly do it. A mistake there could soft brick the phone. I think Scary Alien's advise about simply freezing(disable) the unwanted apps is probably the best way to go. The app "Link2sd" is a excellent app for that.
 
that was made by gametheory and is perfectly safe.i pulled that from this same forums.i put my credit on the line to say that is perfectly safe as i have given advice in this forums over and over.i appreciate your concern though.this debloater was auto included in xperion whitch is the most stable 4.1.2 for this phone and it does the same in xperion that it does in this as far as removing metropcs apps.nothing breaks
 
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Just want to point out one thing that we discovered the hard way around when this phone first came out...

If you debloat the phone it will work fine, but if you factory reset any time after the fact for whatever reason, the phone will soft brick. To prevent this you must have an unsecured kernel installed that allows debloating. Only needed if you're removing apps completely off the phone.

There's 2 unsecured kernels here, if you're not interested in overclocking, just use the one without it.

For JB 4.1.2 firmware 12b only...
http://androidforums.com/threads/kernel-ms500-freedom-kernel-overclocked-updated-9-18-14.827737/

SuperUser is to manage root permissions for root apps, and Busybox is a root toolbox that contains many root tools that many root apps depend on to function.

Scary alien's solution is very beginner friendly and I would start there, then once you have a better understanding you can try frosthax1's advice.

For call blocking I've been using this app for a long time, does exactly what I need...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vladlee.easyblacklist
 
frosthax1 said:
1.http://download.chainfire.eu/448/SuperSU/
2.http://www.mediafire.com/download/ydkmuvih79as3df/LG-F6-TWRP-V3.apk
3.http://androidcreations.weebly.com/flashable-bloatware-remover.html (install") in the twrp recovery you just installed)

honestly all the crapware your refering to.flashing this zip in #3 gets rid of all,yes i repeat all metropcs bloatware,enjoy
Click to expand...

Okay, I have SuperSU installed and have an icon in "Applications".
I also have a "TWRP" icon, and this allows me to "Reboot Recovery" which looks like DOS/Linux.

From Recovery, in the /emmc/DCIM directory, I find the "Flashable_Debloater_F6_7-1-2014/zip".

When I ticked "Zip file signature verification" the operation failed. But when I leave it UN-ticked, the last line is "Successful", but previous to that it says "Checking for MD5 file" and "Skipping MD5 check: no MD5 file found". Not sure if the MD5 bit is an error, or merely and irrelevant informative message, but on reboot, all the MetroPCS applications are still installed, and the MetroPCS splash screen remains unchanged.

I manually copied the "Flashable_Debloater...zip" file to the only directory I had available. Does the location matter? What should it be and how do I get a copy there?
 
GameTheory said:
For call blocking I've been using this app for a long time, does exactly what I need...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.vladlee.easyblacklist
Click to expand...

Is there any kind of "mirror" that allows people to "sideload" apps, instead of outing their IRL identity and publically declaring a connection between their easy-to-monitor phone number (with the physical address, VISA card, bank account and all that is tied with it) to a gmail account? I started to give in and then half-way through the process I realized that I've been using some of these email accounts for years and have absolutely no desire to publically connect my real identity with whatever it is that I might have said or done while signed-up under any of those gmail accounts, or whatever forums I may have joined using those accounts, etc...

I mean I CAN make another fake gmail account. I have about 20 of them. One more extra gmail account isn't going to make a difference to either me or Google, but really, I find the whole thing completely unacceptable. I'd rather drop my pants in the middle of an airport check-in & screening station. Couldn't I just have a TSA employee grope my private parts instead? I'd really rather NOT give in on this. Really. I'd REALLY RATHER NOT give in on this. Really. I just don't understand how some people can just whip-out their electronic genitalia on demand whenever some odd little whim for a call blocker takes hold. Really. I just don't understand it. HOW can you folks just do this as if it were nothing? They had some guy under arrest in New Mexico about a year ago, who was suspected of carrying drugs in his colon (aka "butt hole") and so the NM police took him to the hospital and had like 5 or more surgical probes done on his colon looking for drugs.

Instead of giving an email address and a password to Google in order to get an App at the (stupid) "App Store", couldn't I, instead, just drop my pants have have a Google employee stick a finger up my butt? It might (or might not) feel better to me physically, but it will certainly feel a lot less invasive and less of an invasion on my privacy rights.

I mean really. I would think that by this time, free-thinking and freedom-loving people using more-or-less "open source" software would have institutionalized some hard-core workarounds to this issue. A mirror site set-up somewhere, something like a "Pirate Bay" or whatever, where app developers could upload their apps and make them available for download to people without the anal probe. I would think that, minimally, developers would have independent download options made available on their personal/business websites but (at least in this case) I could not find one. Does EVERYONE make a "for Google Play Store Use Only" fake, dedicated gmail account in order to get around this goofy requirement that people drop their trousers in order to install android apps? Or am I surrounded by compliant drones that Read the Message, Heed the Message and Obey the Message? This all feels very "Twilight Zone" to me. Am I the only person on the planet that feels like this?

Are the nice people in white laboratory coats coming soon to give me my medication, and send me back for more "therapy"?
 
Wow. You're really concerned(and maybe rightfully so) about your privacy. Hmm, perhaps a good feature phone might be a better option for ya? You seem to not really need all the bells and whistles that smartphones offer. There are some really good feature phones that have features like a touch screen, micro sd card expansion, camera and slide out keyboard. Best of all there's no need to drop your pants or your wallet.:D
 
Wow I've never been given a long rant and called a drone for suggesting an app to someone. Sheesh!

Welcome to the 21st century. Now it's all about being connected and having everything easily at your fingertips. With the internet practically being tailored to each individual on demand. (i.e. ads and content displayed on the web are almost unique to each individual)

They can invade my privacy all they want, I don't mind since I have nothing to hide. All they'll find is a law abiding working man. As long as you're not visiting shady porn sites or any of the sort and using common sense, your internet connected devices shouldn't be hacked and your credit cards and indentity should be just fine. I've never had a problem with any of that.

If your this paranoid about privacy get yourself a flip phone from the 90's and a typewriter or just go off the grid. Basically just live under a rock.
 
Here in New Mexico, we have another custom.

You tell the Play Store that you want your purchases applied to your phone carrier billing, and you're OK with Google having your phone number because you can use that to recover your password or take emergency action in the event of identity theft.

We call it, thinking with your brain.

Not nearly as hilarious as the rant, but far more effective. :D
 
Billy Cracker said:
I mean really. I would think that by this time, free-thinking and freedom-loving people using more-or-less "open source" software would have institutionalized some hard-core workarounds to this issue. A mirror site set-up somewhere, something like a "Pirate Bay" or whatever, where app developers could upload their apps and make them available for download to people without the anal probe.
Click to expand...

It's not Pirate Bay-esque (in that it doesn't give you paid stuff for free), but there is an open-source Android app repository over at https://f-droid.org/. I can't guarantee it will have what you need, but it is at least legitimate alternative source of apps. :thumbsupdroid:
 
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