[Script] Safe bloat removal script (50+ apps) [UPDATED 9/1/2011]

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

There's been a lot of speculation on what can and can't be removed as well as how to remove them without causing force-closes, boot loops, and other headaches. So I wrote this script that will let you disable all of the bloat with none of the hassle.

After a few prompts to find out if there's anything you want to keep that can't be replaced in the market, it will do its magic -- renaming files to a .bak extension so they are no longer recognized by Android. This will cause some system services to fail and force-close loop until you reboot (and the script reboots for you). Also included is a script that will undo all of this.

If you select every option, including the default launcher and text messaging apps (which are confirmed safe to remove without losing SMS or MMS ability or push notifications), then here's the list of apps removed:

AdService.apk, android-syncservice-app.apk, ArcVideoEditorLite.apk, BackupAssistanceClient.apk, Blockbuster.apk, BlurHome2.apk, BlurSNMessagingEngine.apk, BlurTasks.apk, BlurUpdater_VZW.apk, BooksPhone.apk, CitrixReceiver.apk, CityID.apk, Conversations.apk, DLNA.apk, DlnaSystemService.apk, FriendFeed.apk, gotomeeting-stub-1.0.74.apk, GuidedTours.apk, HelpCenter.apk, IMPresence.apk, IndexingService.apk, Kindle.apk, MessagesWidget.apk, Messaging.apk, MOTOPRINT.apk, MSExchangeService.apk, MyVerizon.apk, NewBayVault_4.2.99.36.Market.apk, NFLMobile.apk, OnlineAlbum.apk, PhotoEditor.apk, PortalStandAlone.apk, Preloaded.apk, RichLocationVzW.apk, SkypeBourbon.apk, Slackerradio.apk, SocialMessaging.apk, SocialShare.apk, StatusWidget.apk, SuggestionsProvider.apk, SuggestionsRuleCheckerCore.apk, SuggestionsServiceScheduler.apk, Swype.apk, ToggleWidgets.apk, UniversalInbox.apk, Upgrader.apk, VCAST_TONES_4_5_7.apk, VCASTMusic.apk, VCASTVideo.apk, VSuiteApp.apk, vzw_vnav_DROID3_rel_PROD_signed.apk, VZWIM.apk, VZWInstaller.apk, WeatherWidget.apk, ZumoCast_1.0.17.apk

Make sure you run these scripts using Script Manager or a comparable app and be sure to enable it to run as root or it won't have permission to make changes to /system/app.

This is version 1 of the scripts -- if any of the apps removed wind up causing problems or more are found, I'll add it to the list. I've tested the scripts back and forth myself and have tested it as much as I can without finding any issues. Also, some apps are removed without asking, such as ZumoCast or VCAST or NFL Mobile. You can find these apps in the market, so there's no point keeping them locked down in system.

Enjoy! Comments are welcome.

UPDATE 9/1/2011: fixed a typo in one of the variables (thanks everyone who reported this), added more options to keep (Swype and Car Dock Voice Commands), split into two versions -- one for the stock 5.5.959 build and 5.6.890 update (late August OTA), added a warning about removing the home screen without a launcher and that it removes the Calendar widget.

DoubleYouPee · Aug 28, 2011

Great, but maybe it would be nice to make a y/n option for each .apk where it asks you if you want to delete that apk

lodisax · Aug 28, 2011

script

instructions for use?
thanks

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

DoubleYouPee said:
Great, but maybe it would be nice to make a y/n option for each .apk where it asks you if you want to delete that apk

You shouldn't delete them -- we don't have an SPF yet. Someone posted the complete /system/app contents and you could restore, technically, manually, but it's a bad idea. Renaming to a .bak is completely effective.

lodisax said:
instructions for use?

Read the post.

You'll want to use Script Manager -- unzip the two scripts to your SD card (internal or external), launch Script Manager (free version is fine), find the script and click it, then tick on 'root' and then run the script. Follow the prompts from there.

lodisax · Aug 28, 2011

script

thanks for the answer

DoubleYouPee · Aug 28, 2011

psouza4 said:
You shouldn't delete them -- we don't have an SPF yet. Someone posted the complete /system/app contents and you could restore, technically, manually, but it's a bad idea. Renaming to a .bak is completely effective.

Yeh sorry that's what I meant.. Option to y/n rename the apk.
I'd like to use the script once I get my droid 3 but would like to 'keep' some of the apks.

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

DoubleYouPee said:
Yeh sorry that's what I meant.. Option to y/n rename the apk.
I'd like to use the script once I get my droid 3 but would like to 'keep' some of the apks.

There's Y/N for anything you'd want to keep. About 6-7 questions in total. Anything that you can't find in the market that isn't definitely bloat has a prompt.

lodisax · Aug 28, 2011

script

script manager that you use?
I use script manager and asked me if I want to remove each apk or not.
There is a script manager that does everything automatically?
thanks for the answer

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

lodisax said:
script manager that you use?
I use script manager and asked me if I want to remove each apk or not.
There is a script manager that does everything automatically?
thanks for the answer

Please read the thread thoroughly -- I'm going to ignore obvious questions like these.

DoubleYouPee · Aug 28, 2011

psouza4 said:
There's Y/N for anything you'd want to keep. About 6-7 questions in total. Anything that you can't find in the market that isn't definitely bloat has a prompt.

So what if I wanna keep DLNA, photoeditor and socialmessaging?

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

DoubleYouPee said:
So what if I wanna keep DLNA, photoeditor and socialmessaging?

Then answer 'Y' to the prompts asking if you want to keep 'DLNA' or 'social messaging'. There are plenty of photo editors in the market, so there's no prompt on that (although if you were so inclined, you could just rename the .BAK's back to their original files). I feel you haven't actually looked at the script or read my post.

serg675 · Aug 28, 2011

psouza4 said:
I've tested the scripts back and forth myself and have tested it as much as I can without finding any issues. Also, some apps are removed without asking, such as ZumoCast or VCAST or NFL Mobile.

I think the ultimate test is to do factory reset and see how device will go through initialization stage. It can be surprises which are not noticeable during normal use. Without this it is kind of premature to say what is safe to delete and what is not.

djrajir · Aug 28, 2011

serg675 said:
I think the ultimate test is to do factory reset and see how device will go through initialization stage. It can be surprises which are not noticeable during normal use. Without this it is kind of premature to say what is safe to delete and what is not.

Ehh I agree with you to a point, because i made the very noobish mistake of uninstalling bloat that i knew would not effect daily use; however, I did a factory reset to test a theory for krazy and learned that something I uninstalled makes the setup process FC and wont let you get to the blur launcher, luckily other launchers work and I was able to batch install via adb.

Thing is though is if the phone reboots when this stuff is renamed then it will survive a factory reset, though it may do the same thing mine has done. If it does its no big deal to load up adb and rename the files back so that you can complete the setup.

Xenoproctologist · Aug 28, 2011

You forgot the World Clock widget in your removal script; the only clock that thinks it needs a permanently-resident service, regardless of whether it's running or not.

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

Xenoproctologist said:
You forgot the World Clock widget in your removal script; the only clock that thinks it needs a permanently-resident service, regardless of whether it's running or not.

That messes with the dock though, so I don't consider it bloat.

Seirÿu · Aug 28, 2011

I know its a lot to ask... but can someone either create a comprehensive list of what each one actually does... or point us in a direction to where there already is one?

Sent from my DROID3 using Tapatalk

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

Seirÿu said:
I know its a lot to ask... but can someone either create a comprehensive list of what each one actually does... or point us in a direction to where there already is one?

Open the script in a text editor and read my comments -- it gives each one a title.

thingonaspring · Aug 28, 2011

@psouza4 - nice work, it's about time someone took a more organised approach to figuring out what apks are safe to remove.

I tried to get a similar effort going here :-
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17004394&postcount=11
but the way people behave on this forum, it's like trying to herd cats.

psouza4 · Aug 28, 2011

thingonaspring said:
@psouza4 - nice work, it's about time someone took a more organised approach to figuring out what apks are safe to remove.

I tried to get a similar effort going here :-
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=17004394&postcount=11
but the way people behave on this forum, it's like trying to herd cats.

Thanks!

Couple of notes, too:

It was asked in IRC why I'm removing 'android-syncservice-app.apk'. This service is the extra backup stuff that Verizon added on (as evidenced inside the package in /assets/system.properties you'll find several references to verizon servers for sync, like sm_connection_url=http://syncba.myvzw.com/syncml). This service doesn't do anything beneficial for you unless you really have a hard-on for Verizon's sync stuff. I've had it disabled since we achieved root and it has no affect on account sync services (contacts, gmail, calendar, reader, etc.) nor SMS/MMS push notifications, etc.

Also, a fellow PM'd me saying he got errors that variable names were invalid -- turns out he had edited the script in Windows, saved it, and that broke the UNIX-style line endings. If you're going to modify the script, use Notepad++, UltraEdit, or something that will maintain the correct line endings. Or just use an editor on the phone, such as in Root Explorer.

pplude · Aug 29, 2011

Thanks a bunch man, works great. About to run a benchmark to see the results!

[Script] Safe bloat removal script (50+ apps) [UPDATED 9/1/2011]

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