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Root [Verizon] What is the easiest way to debloat your s4?

ymDroid

Well-Known Member
Do I just use Titanimum to uninstall?

I see there are Debloat utilities on XDA, but I just wanted to remove some apps, not all of the ones on this list.

Lastly, is there a list of apps that are safe to uninstall and aren't tied to some Samsung utility?



Thanks!
 
First, before you start deleting stuff, make a nand backup of your current ROM (I'm assuming you're still on the stock ROM). That way you have something that you KNOW works when/if something goes wrong.
If you haven't already done this, do it right now, before you do anything else. You WILL mess something up at some point (we all have), you'll be glad to have this backup.

Second, I'd suggest using Titanium to FREEZE the apps you want to delete, then use the phone for a few days to make sure you didn't break anything. If everything is fine then you can go back and delete those apps later.

Third, *I* would simply install a different ROM that is already 'debloated'. Typically there are other tweaks to a ROM that also increase speed and/or battery life. And will include other options that the stock ROM doesn't (the WiFi toggle for instance).
The problem with a debloated ROM is that what some folks call 'bloat' another person thinks is a useful app.

JoeSP has a nice list of apps that are supposedly safe to uninstall listed here
http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s4-all-things-root/734378-apps-freeze.html

Remember when deleting apps, as always, what you do to your phone is your fault, even if your working off a list that someone else created. :)
 
First, before you start deleting stuff, make a nand backup of your current ROM (I'm assuming you're still on the stock ROM). That way you have something that you KNOW works when/if something goes wrong.
If you haven't already done this, do it right now, before you do anything else. You WILL mess something up at some point (we all have), you'll be glad to have this backup.

Second, I'd suggest using Titanium to FREEZE the apps you want to delete, then use the phone for a few days to make sure you didn't break anything. If everything is fine then you can go back and delete those apps later.

Third, *I* would simply install a different ROM that is already 'debloated'. Typically there are other tweaks to a ROM that also increase speed and/or battery life. And will include other options that the stock ROM doesn't (the WiFi toggle for instance).
The problem with a debloated ROM is that what some folks call 'bloat' another person thinks is a useful app.

JoeSP has a nice list of apps that are supposedly safe to uninstall listed here
http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s4-all-things-root/734378-apps-freeze.html

Remember when deleting apps, as always, what you do to your phone is your fault, even if your working off a list that someone else created. :)


Thank you for this.

I indeed did create a nandroid. I'm going ot hold off until I can figure out if I messed up my recovery.

When I rooted, I flashed OuDHS CWM recovery (which I assume has LOKI).

I later (through ROM Manager) flashed Clockworkmod Recovery Touch 6.0.3.2

I took and I can boot to the rcovery with no problem. I even made my Nandroid with it.

But I don't know if this Recovery has LOKI. So I'm afraid to do anything right until I can figure out if I should go back to OuDHS CWM Recovery, or does ClockworkMod Touch have LOKI?

I've been pretty much searching and reading all day and can't figure this one out.

I'm also having a hard time trying to figureout if my bootloader is was unlocked when I followed the XDA root instructions, or am I just rooted? So I didn't want to flash a ROM until I could figure this out.

Sorry for the long post. Things are a little different than with my Nexus, and I'm trying to search to close this S4 learning curve.
 
Loki is nothing more than an installer to install the recovery. Traditional phones you can create a .zip file to flash from recovery to recovery. Since Verizon is Verizon they have some special software sitting in some partition to track this type of behavior when you flash a recovery. I tried creating a flashable recovery in a zip format and got the "your phone has installed some illegal blah blah please contact Verizon to reload your phone" and it wouldn't go past that. The only thing that that worked was the bootloader. I simply had to use Odin to flash the stock ROM and then root again. More info about the Loki installer is here

http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_jfltevzw

I checked out the script and it basically flashes the recovery.img like most phones but it needs to sneak it in past Verizon crap using su.
 
Check out this thread.

Here is what tool removes:
Books.apk
Music2.apk
Magazines.apk
Com2usPoker_ASGC.apk
Match3VS.apk
PolarisOffice5.apk
ChatONV_J.apk
InteractiveTutorial.apk
Flipboard.apk
Peel.apk
PlusOne.apk
SamsungLearning.apk
SecEmail_J.apk
SecExchange.apk
TripAdvisor.apk
SamsungApps_J_Only.apk
SamsungAppsUNA3.apk
SamsungBooks.apk
SamsungHub.apk
SamsungHubUpdater.apk
Episodes.apk
StoryAlbumWidget.apk
StoryAlbumWidget.odex
Talk.apk
Chrome.apk
Blurb.apk
GMS_Maps.apk
Street.apk
ChatON_feature.apk
KNOXAgent.apk
KNOXStore.apk
YahoonewsPhone2013.apk
YahoostockPhone2013.apk
VzTones.apk
VZNavigator.apk
VisualVoiceMail.apk
Viewdini.apk
TravelWidget.apk
TravelService.apk
MyVerizon.apk
acanid.apk
Amazon_MP3.apk
Amazon_Shopping.apk
Amazon_Widget.apk
Amazon_IMDB.apk
Amazon_Audible.apk
Amazon_Appstore.apk
 
You all are pure saints for this thread!!! I just received my S4 & holy BLOATWARE!!! Why do they do that? I know they are trying to fish for people to purchase some of them apps but dang, Do they need to be like Super Bowl commercials???
 
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