[TUT] Remove Junk Apps + List (4.0.A.2.368, 4.0.1.A.0.283 & 4.0.2.A.0.42/.58/.62/.69)

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Hello guys,
with the latest update(s) the Xperia Arc got a lot of additional junk apps, some of them run always and slow the phone down due running in the background and using RAM and CPU power.
So I'm writing a tutorial for you to remove these unnecessary apps.

How to delete the junk apps:
Go into "system/app" with Root Explorer, in that folder are all the junk apps. Now press "Mount R/W". Now you can delete the junk apps one by one or multi-select them. To have a backup of the apps, I'd suggest you to move them to the sd card. It's good to make a folder called "Junk Apps - name of the firmware" on your sd card.
Now select the apps, press move and go to the sd card and to the folder "Junk Apps - name of the firmware" and press paste. Done.

List of the junk apps for 4.0.A.2.368 :
- chinesetextinput.apk (chinese keyboard)
- datamonitor.apk (datamoitor widget)
- Home.apk (SE launcher, only delete this when you have another launcher installed!!)
- IddAgent.apk (Anonymous Usage Stats)
- JapaneseIME.apk (japanese keyboard)
- letsgolf_A_353.apk (Let's Golf HD)
- neoreader.apk (Neoreader)
- OmaDatasyncService.apk (part of SE Sync)
- playnowclientarvato.apk (Play Now)
- POBoxSknPink.apk (skin for chinese keyboard)
- POBoxSknWood.apk (skin for chinese keyboard)
- SemcCrashMonitor.apk (Crash Monitor)
- SEMCSetupWizard.apk (Setup Wizard)
- Stk.apk (SIM Tool Kit)
- storefront.apk (all the new stuff that has something to do with Fun&Downloads. Removes 3 items from the app drawer that belong to that game thing)
- Sync.apk (SE Sync)
- SyncWizard.apk (part of SE Sync)
- touchnote.apk (postcard app)
- trackid.apk (Track ID)
- UpdateCenter.apk (Update Center. Will remove "softwareupdate" from phone information in settings)
- usersupport.apk (Support)
- widgetdigitalclock.apk (small digital clock widget)
- widgetonoff.apk (most on/off widgets)
- wisepilot.apk (Wisepilot)

List for 4.0.1.A.0.283 + 4.0.2.A.0.42/.58/.62/.69:
- chinesetextinput.apk
- com.sonyericsson.androidapp.storefront.apk
- datatrafficswitch.apk
- Home.apk (SE launcher, only delete this when you have another launcher installed!!)
- IddAgent.apk
- JapaneseIME.apk
- letsgolf_A_353.apk
- neoreader.apk
- OmaDatasyncService.apk
- playnowclientarvato.apk
- POBoxSknPink.apk
- POBoxSknWood.apk
- SemcCrashMonitor.apk
- SEMCSetupWizard.apk
- Stk.apk
- Sync.apk
- SyncWizard.apk
- trackid.apk
- UpdateCenter.apk
- usersupport.apk
- widgetdigitalclock.apk
- widgetonoff.apk
- wisepilot.apk

I've removed all these apps from my Xperia Arc and it's running fine and faster than before. Plus you have more free RAM so your apps don't get killed as fast anymore when you minimized them.

There might be more apps that are removable without bricking the ROM, but then you lose some functions. If you want to do that you can use the link I posted below.

If you want to remove even more, here's another good list but some new apps are missing. Check the link below
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1089470

This might also work on the Xperia Neo and Xperia Play when they are on the mentioned firmwares, too. But I can't test that.

Do this at your own risk. I'm not responsilbe if you brick or damage your phone by doing this!

If this helped you, please press "Thanks"

Regards,
Flo

Very Good Man Thanks... =)

Thanks man! Good share!!

sent from Hinata's Arc

hi there,
thanks for the tutorial but i cant seem to delete the files from the system app.
you metioned something about "MOUNT R/W"? what command is that? im using ex file explorer and i cant find that option.. thanks again..

Originally Posted by blackirish

hi there,
thanks for the tutorial but i cant seem to delete the files from the system app.
you metioned something about "MOUNT R/W"? what command is that? im using ex file explorer and i cant find that option.. thanks again..

u shud use the "root explorer" app.

i think file explorer doesnt have the root access..

Originally Posted by blackirish

hi there,
thanks for the tutorial but i cant seem to delete the files from the system app.
you metioned something about "MOUNT R/W"? what command is that? im using ex file explorer and i cant find that option.. thanks again..

If you meant ES File Explorer ( not EX File Explorer ) then you don't need that mount R/W option as this command is specific to Root explorer...

however, in both cases you NEED TO BE ROOTED, if you're not then both apps ( Root explorer & ES File Explorer ) won't help you... and also not any other app will help...

Originally Posted by Flo95

If you want to remove even more, here's another good list but some new apps are missing.

I think you're missing a link here.

Thanks for the hint

Added the link to 1st post

Isn't removing the 'Home.apk' without an alternate home screen app a dangerous idea?

Originally Posted by Zedd.

Isn't removing the 'Home.apk' without an alternate home screen app a dangerous idea?

install any launcher first before you delete the home.apk... and make sure you use as default the launcher that you install.... its now safe to remove the home.apk



hit the "thanks" if i help you....


cheers!