How To Guide Just tweak it [Tab A7] - debloat, battery...

[doggydog2]

Tab A7 stock rootless setup​

model used: Tab A7 Lite SM-T220


Just a quick article for this nicely sized 8.7" tablet. It's a baby tablet, not wasting time with rooting We want:
* debloating
* better battery
* better privacy
* call recording
* disk encryption
* tweaks

Rooting​

No rooting. No logins, not even Google login, that's the plan. FDroid, Aurora, Vanced manager to deploy all you need. No contacts, no SMS, no location, nothing to protect.

Modules​

Magisk​

-

XPosed​

-

Apps​

* AdGuard -> supreme adblocker and firewall. Set VPN approach (rootless friendly, assuming device will stay at home), turn on HTTPS and turn off internet for all apps. Then enable few (browser, youtube, aurora) specifically.
* YouTube Vanced -> YouTube without ads and sponsor blocks.. install in non root mode, and remove the existing originals
* (optional) MiXplorer -> best file manager, replaces spyware ES File explorer you had before
* F-Droid -> open source apps
* Aurora -> all apps

Debloating​

What the script does:
* choose 8 categories of app removal, in the beginning of the file
for each say 0=skip 1=remove 2=revert back
* use more switch to disable some questionable/helpful stuff
* disable up to 70 apps with possibility to revert back

I usually cook these files carefully, here i just removed non existing packages, added existing vendor packages. Vendor garbage gets uninstalled straight away, majority of packages is disabled in non-root mode (per user) so it can be reenabled later. You can edit the file.

• unzip the file to some folder
• adb shell as it's plugged to PC and authorized (and usb debugging in developer otions on)
• go to the folder with script
• cp TabA7_cleanup.sh /data/local/tmp
• chmod +x /data/local/tmp/TabA7_cleanup.sh
• /data/local/tmp/TabA7_cleanup.sh;

Tested ok on August Android 11 EU firmware. It produced no errors (=packages relevant), but there could be regional differences.

Download: (file attached)

Battery​

Battery saving:

• turn off location
• turn off permissions and app usage for usual snitches
• in Adguard turn off WIFI/mobile for each app (will be the default), then reenable few - advantage: no ads in games, no stupid accidental payments. Also set WIFI/mobile off when screen off -> tablet won't do anything, just keep idle for days hopefully
• don't even enable GMS, this device can be a good throwawy tablet with no login to ANY service, without encryption, just pure gamepad.... likely no password/PIN to unlock. It's with slow CPU but games work nicely. It's not even slower than S4 flagship tablet honestly.

 

[Herb291]

hi, thanks for the guide, very insightful with me transitioning from iOS.

My only question is the script, I’ve downloaded ABD and can shell into my device. However I’m having issues when copying the script, it keeps coming up saying invalid path, I’ve looked everywhere for a tutorial but with me having limited knowledge I’m at a dead end

any help greatly appreciated

 

[doggydog2]

hi, thanks for the guide, very insightful with me transitioning from iOS.

My only question is the script, I’ve downloaded ABD and can shell into my device. However I’m having issues when copying the script, it keeps coming up saying invalid path, I’ve looked everywhere for a tutorial but with me having limited knowledge I’m at a dead end

any help greatly appreciated

i just flashed the new firmware and did it again, no problem. First i copied the script from Windows to somewhere on Android (/storage/emulated/0 or similar "noexec" quasi-sd card location), and then moved it to a location from where it can be executed. The location should work and is generally recommended. You can find another one /data/local, /tmp or whatever is there. Or use adb push <PC_file> <target_directory>. Or post the screenshot. This should be a trivial issue and can't stop you.

 

[raxahasan0077]

getting this error

 

[Herb291]

View attachment 5456865getting this error

Place the script on the tablet in an easy to remember location.
Open Powershell:
“adb shell” or “./abd shell” (whichever works)
“Cp /storage/emulated/0/FILELOCATION/TabA7_cleanup.sh /data/local/tmp”

then follow the rest of the instructions

 

[raxahasan0077]

now getting this error

 

[Herb291]

now getting this errorView attachment 5456963

Is your USB debugging turned on in the dev settings, did you hit authorise on your device when you first plugged it in?

you can check if you’re device is authorised with “adb devices”

edit: not sure if it matters but try a lowercase cp

 

[raxahasan0077]

Is your USB debugging turned on in the dev settings, did you hit authorise on your device when you first plugged it in?

you can check if you’re device is authorised with “adb devices”

edit: not sure if it matters but try a lowercase cp

yeah lowercase cp works

 

[tom.android]

Working with LADB ( no computer needed)
https://www.xda-developers.com/debloat-your-phone-run-adb-shell-commands-no-root-no-pc/

Download: https://disk.yandex.com/d/H02YifGGtrErbw

////////////Run an .sh file to install ///////////
cd /sdcard
cp cleanup.sh /data/local/tmp
cd /data/local/tmp
ls -l
chmod +x /data/local/tmp/cleanup.sh
ls -l
./cleanup.sh

/////////
Download: https://disk.yandex.com/d/NcQMhFp73OpwXw
( and run .sh script with LADB)


Tips howto install LADB:
important! Always use "Open in split screen view” for pairing devices. (only first connection, next time don't need)


View attachment 5457089

 

[nikoum]

@tom.android have you removed all theese 41 apps and the tablet functions ok, without any problems ? Is there any real benefit in performance and especially in lagging ?

 

[tom.android]

Reply: @nikoum
Just removed (switch off) my unused app, sorry not help for good performance but no trouble.

Note: LADB

https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachments/ladb_v1-7_test-zip.5457295/

 

[TheDroidKid]

How dose this work without rooting? When I try to run the script from ADB i get Can't execute: permission denied?

 

[nikoum]

I run "cmd", then "adb shell" and then "pm uninstall --user 0 <package name>". Make sure in developer options to check USB debugging to on and when connecting device with usb cable, authorize the conneftion, when asked by the phone.

 

[TheDroidKid]

Tab A7 stock rootless setup​

model used: Tab A7 Lite SM-T220


Just a quick article for this nicely sized 8.7" tablet. It's a baby tablet, not wasting time with rooting We want:
* debloating
* better battery
* better privacy
* call recording
* disk encryption
* tweaks

Rooting​

No rooting. No logins, not even Google login, that's the plan. FDroid, Aurora, Vanced manager to deploy all you need. No contacts, no SMS, no location, nothing to protect.

Modules​

Magisk​

-

XPosed​

-

Apps​

* AdGuard -> supreme adblocker and firewall. Set VPN approach (rootless friendly, assuming device will stay at home), turn on HTTPS and turn off internet for all apps. Then enable few (browser, youtube, aurora) specifically.
* YouTube Vanced -> YouTube without ads and sponsor blocks.. install in non root mode, and remove the existing originals
* (optional) MiXplorer -> best file manager, replaces spyware ES File explorer you had before
* F-Droid -> open source apps
* Aurora -> all apps

Debloating​

What the script does:
* choose 8 categories of app removal, in the beginning of the file
for each say 0=skip 1=remove 2=revert back
* use more switch to disable some questionable/helpful stuff
* disable up to 70 apps with possibility to revert back

I usually cook these files carefully, here i just removed non existing packages, added existing vendor packages. Vendor garbage gets uninstalled straight away, majority of packages is disabled in non-root mode (per user) so it can be reenabled later. You can edit the file.

• unzip the file to some folder
• adb shell as it's plugged to PC and authorized
• go to the folder with script
• cp TabA7_cleanup.sh /data/local/tmp
• chmod +x /data/local/tmp/TabA7_cleanup.sh
• /data/local/tmp/TabA7_cleanup.sh;

Tested ok on August Android 11 EU firmware. It produced no errors (=packages relevant), but there could be regional differences.

Download: (file attached)

Battery​

Battery saving:

• turn off location
• turn off permissions and app usage for usual snitches
• in Adguard turn off WIFI/mobile for each app (will be the default), then reenable few - advantage: no ads in games, no stupid accidental payments. Also set WIFI/mobile off when screen off -> tablet won't do anything, just keep idle for days hopefully
• don't even enable GMS, this device can be a good throwawy tablet with no login to ANY service, without encryption, just pure gamepad.... likely no password/PIN to unlock. It's with slow CPU but games work nicely. It's not even slower than S4 flagship tablet honestly.

How do I get the script file to.run from ADB? I get permission denied

 

[doggydog2]

How do I get the script file to.run from ADB? I get permission denied

that's literally discussed above incl all common mistakes, if you think it's unique, please post a screenshot.

 

[TheDroidKid]

Your right got it working. Didn't releaize it was a big deal not to have it in /tmp

 

[KumaVL]

I keep trying to do the cp step but it keeps saying no such file or directory.

I checked my tablet with MiX and there's no local folder on data... What am I doing wrong here?

 

[Elzbach]

Is better privacy only possible with rooting? I want to disable the radio entirely and remove all of the Google apps.

 

[doggydog2]

Is better privacy only possible with rooting? I want to disable the radio entirely and remove all of the Google apps.

i disabled google, and using Aurora without root. With no logins, no PIM data, no location tracking, there's almost no data to steal. But if I was using it as a mobile phone, with logins, contacts etc, i'd have to root.

 

[Elzbach]

i disabled google, and using Aurora without root. With no logins, no PIM data, no location tracking, there's almost no data to steal. But if I was using it as a mobile phone, with logins, contacts etc, i'd have to root.

I'm not using it as a phone and there is still no data to steal, but I still want to get rid of those things. I want to completely remove the tracking apps regardless of how little there is to track because they are bloat. I want to completely disable the radio, the microphone, gps, and blu tooth. I don't even want wireless internet connections to remain.