Warning about removing system apps

[Guru82]

Hi,
I've been playing with my Huawei G510. Believe I've learnt some valuable lessons and wish to share, will also asking the community if you agree...

I use Clean Master, but now never ever clear/force stop apps, because the system is capable of managing itself.
Never use AutoKill apps.
Never remove System Apps that are embedded, unless you want to drain more battery. Having an app load and sit dormant is better than the system attempting to start (continually) something that doesn't exist. It not only chews your battery, but also makes your phone lag considerably when Android System is trying to load those apps. Perhaps one or two things you simply hate can be disabled/uninstalled with a root app remover, but go crazy and you'll be going backwards.

Am I right?

 

[El Presidente]

You're right about autokill apps, they'll drain battery as opposed to save it.

However in some instances, deleting system apps can prevent the device from booting. Only delete system apps if you're 100% sure it's safe to do so and you have a way of restoring a stock system image/nandroid backup.

In ICS and above, you can safely disable system apps Via Settings -> Apps (as opposed to deleting them entirely).

 

[Guru82]

Thanks El Presidente,
I found that with the Huawei G10-0200, that removing one (with System app remover) in particular caused some havok with the power menu function on the power button. However, was still mostly operational. Have since restored and now use the method of only disabling with the native system app management. Will never again try and strip the system extensively using any System App uninstall/remover.

Do you have knowledge on whether the Android System will still attempt to start system apps when they are removed using something like System app remover or RootAppDelete? I ask because I thought I had removed system apps that would not hamper performance, but the system seemed to drain the battery faster and everything, from opening app drawer to reloading the launcher after a game was slow. Also, I was using Nova Launcher as a System app with the default home launcher removed. Would that be the cause? You've probably glanced at my constantly edited posts in the G510 development thread. Sorry for trashing your servers with 100's of edits

 

[Hadron]

I've never used those tools to remove system apps (I either use Titanium Backup or edit the ROM .zip file before installing it), but in general have found nothing special about removing system apps as opposed to any others as regards to battery life or performance. Of course that is only true if you know what apps are safe to remove, including knowing which apps have other apps which depend on them. If you remove the wrong system app you could render the phone unstable, break important services or stop it booting altogether. I generally advise people to take a nandroid backup before messing with system apps, and if you don't have a custom recovery (so can't take a nandroid) to make sure you know what is safe before doing it.

Removing a stock launcher and installing Nova to system should not cause problems. I've done such things many times (though right now am just using Nova as a user app).

 

[funkylogik]

Yeah this ^

 

[Guru82]

Your advice is sound and thank you, but my question still remains. When using Titanium Backup or editing and removing system apps from a ROM before install, does the kernel or android system attempt to load those system apps at all or does it do a check on start-up and only attempt to load whats available or something similar?

Actually, I should rephrase. Is it possible that a kernel or system component could have code that calls system apps, even those that you would think are safe to remove? I understand that such things as Google Calendar relies on Calendar sync as an example.

 

[funkylogik]

Good question :thumbup:
I know a phone runs perfect without any of the proprietary google apps so i suppose it depends on the app?