Z4 safe to debloat info-spreadsheet

[jelbo]

The stock ROMs are shipped with a huge amount of bloatware, from which I see many processes active when opening a task manager. Let's freeze/disable or uninstall crap we don't need You can disable many apps without root from Android's app manager, but you'll need root for many of them. Root is mandatory to uninstall system apps.

You can use this spreadsheet (of moly82) on the new tab named jelbo. I'm collaborating with moly82's generic Xperia Lollipop debloating script. Turns out the Z4 Tablet does have quite some things moved around / added / removed, so it's definitely good to have added support for it. New sheet contains both generic Xperia stuff and Z4 Tablet specific apps. The jelbo tab contains both my findings and the ones from moly82.

In the spreadsheet is a list of all the pre-installed unneeded system apps either I or moly82 has 'frozen' or disabled, without any problems. I've marked some yellow because you might need the functionality, for example DLNA or native Exchange support. It's not finished yet, but you can go ahead and use it as a base of your decisions to freeze/uninstall stuff.

You can debloat manually with apps like Titanium Backup. Here's a procedure to make a label, associate apps to it and batch freeze or uninstall them.

1. Get Titanium Backup and start it. You probably need Pro.
2. Go to the tab named Backup/Restore.
3. Tap 'Click to edit filters' in the top right.
4. Tap 'Clear' in the top right.
5. Tap 'Create label ...' in the bottom right.
6. Type a name, give a color (optional) and tap 'Add/Remove elements ...'
7. Check the boxes of apps you wish to free or uninstall (based on the spreadsheet for example).
8. Tap the green checkmark on the top right.
9. Tap 'Save'.
10. Back in th Filters section, make sure no filter is active (tap 'Clear'), select the newly created label (check the box) and tap the green checkmark.
11. Titanium Backup will display a list of the apps you've labeled.
12. Tap the 'file and checkmark' icon top right to get to the 'Batch actions' screen.
13. Scroll to 'Freeze / Defrost' and tap the RUN button next to 'Freeze all user & system apps (USE FILTERS & EXTREME CAUTION)'.
14. Profit.

For anyone wanting to collaborate, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll give you edit-rights.

Eventually, when this thing is 'done' I plan to either expand moly82's script or at least share my Titanium Backup 'custom' database with the labeled categories, for easy batch actions.

 

[scoobydu]

The stock ROMs are shipped with a huge amount of bloatware, from which I see many processes active when opening a task manager. Let's freeze/disable or uninstall crap we don't need You can disable many apps without root from Android's app manager, but you'll need root for many of them. Root is mandatory to uninstall system apps.

Here's a Google Sheets spreadsheet I made.

In it is a list of all the system apps I've 'frozen' or disabled, without any problems. I've marked some yellow because you might need the functionality, for example DLNA or native Exchange support.

You can debloat manually with apps like Titanium Backup. Here's a procedure to make a label, associate apps to it and batch freeze or uninstall them.

1. Get Titanium Backup and start it. You probably need Pro.
2. Go to the tab named Backup/Restore.
3. Tap 'Click to edit filters' in the top right.
4. Tap 'Clear' in the top right.
5. Tap 'Create label ...' in the bottom right.
6. Type a name, give a color (optional) and tap 'Add/Remove elements ...'
7. Check the boxes of apps you wish to free or uninstall (based on the spreadsheet for example).
8. Tap the green checkmark on the top right.
9. Tap 'Save'.
10. Back in th Filters section, make sure no filter is active (tap 'Clear'), select the newly created label (check the box) and tap the green checkmark.
11. Titanium Backup will display a list of the apps you've labeled.
12. Tap the 'file and checkmark' icon top right to get to the 'Batch actions' screen.
13. Scroll to 'Freeze / Defrost' and tap the RUN button next to 'Freeze all user & system apps (USE FILTERS & EXTREME CAUTION)'.
14. Profit.

/edit: I have added the remaining system apps, so now every system app is on the list. I've marked apps blue @moly82 uses in his/her debloating script I just stumbled across. I'll test with those frozen and if my system stays stable, will add them to the safe to freeze/uninstall list.

For anyone wanting to collaborate, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll give you edit-rights.

Thanks

Have you tried this one @jelbo? I use it for my Z3 compact and Z3 compact tab and it works well. It can be tweaked to leave some items in too.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/wip-debloat-lp-690-correct-functioning-t3076161

Edit: I see you have already found the script and this is an alternative from what I can understand How is TB these days, haven't used it for a while, even though I have a pro key.

 

[jelbo]

Thanks

Have you tried this one @jelbo? I use it for my Z3 compact and Z3 compact tab and it works well. It can be tweaked to leave some items in too.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/crossdevice-dev/sony/wip-debloat-lp-690-correct-functioning-t3076161

Yeah, I thought of that script a bit late. I'll have a look at the linked Google Sheet to get more insight in the Sony apps. I figure the Z4 Tablet is a bit of a different beast that might need a different set of safely frozen system apps so my sheet isn't a big waste of time. Took me a few hours though...

Edit: I see you have already found the script and this is an alternative from what I can understand How is TB these days, haven't used it for a while, even though I have a pro key.

TB is as tedious and gruesome as ever, but it's sadly still the only app in it's kind. Wish the dev would add some much needed features and overhaul the GUI.

 

[scoobydu]

Yeah, I thought of that script a bit late. I'll have a look at the linked Google Doc to get more insight in the Sony apps. I figure the Z4 Tablet is a bit of a different beast that might need a different set of safely frozen system apps so my sheet isn't a big waste of time. Took me a few hours though...


TB is as tedious and gruesome as ever, but it's sadly still the only app in it's kind. Wish the dev would add some much needed features and overhaul the GUI.

Its looks as though it took some time, so thanks and not wasted. I was hoping there was a way of selecting the key sony features from the script rather than doing it manually, or have config files to load into an app to remove the files selcted in the config files, but never found the time to investigate further.

Yeh, those are the reasons I haven't used it for some time and its a shame as its powerful but not intuitive for me when using it.

I thought the other script actually delted rather than being frozen, but I do recall it recreates a backup folder for the files in case you want to put them back later.

Believe you can delete the backups once you are happy that the changes you made are working.

 

[jelbo]

Its looks as though it took some time, so thanks and not wasted. I was hoping there was a way of selecting the key sony features from the script rather than doing it manually, or have config files to load into an app to remove the files selcted in the config files, but never found the time to investigate further.

Yeh, those are the reasons I haven't used it for some time and its a shame as its powerful but not intuitive for me when using it.

I thought the other script actually delted rather than being frozen, but I do recall it recreates a backup folder for the files in case you want to put them back later.

Believe you can delete the backups once you are happy that the changes you made are working.

Yes, moly82's script moves files to a backup location, making them non-functional but easily restoreable.

I'm not sure still what freezing effectively does, because I once saw some frozen apps in my task manager (OS Monitor). Better to uninstall/move when sure.

 

[ml11ML]

Nice!

I personally used the System app remover from playstore and just deleted all the useless stuff and then did a factory reset to get rid of all the *app not found* icons and flashed the smallest package from opengapps but when i reflash the stock FW in the future im sure going to give this a go

 

[scoobydu]

Yes, moly82's script moves files to a backup location, making them non-functional but easily restoreable.

I'm not sure still what freezing effectively does, because I once saw some frozen apps in my task manager (OS Monitor). Better to uninstall/move when sure.

Prefer to fully remove once I know I don't need and have no fc's

Nice!

I personally used the System app remover from playstore and just deleted all the useless stuff and then did a factory reset to get rid of all the *app not found* icons and flashed the smallest package from opengapps but when i reflash the stock FW in the future im sure going to give this a go

Some slight suspect reviews about this app on the play store.

A similar thing can be done with Sdmaid, which is my go to app for for everyday cleaning and more specific app removal.

Been using it a while and it works well, as an option.

 

[ml11ML]

Prefer to fully remove once I know I don't need and have no fc's


Some slight suspect reviews about this app on the play store.

A similar thing can be done with Sdmaid, which is my go to app for for everyday cleaning and more specific app removal.

Been using it a while and it works well, as an option.

Hmmmm... never really looked at the reviews but now that i did i see some ppl complaining about fullscreen ads which there are but not nearly as bad to not allow it to do its job. And the Sdmaid seems to be a nice option, might try it, thanks for suggesting it

 

[scoobydu]

Hmmmm... never really looked at the reviews but now that i did i see some ppl complaining about fullscreen ads which there are but not nearly as bad to not allow it to do its job. And the Sdmaid seems to be a nice option, might try it, thanks for suggesting it

Think I'll stick with sdmaid but thx for the suggestion.

Take a look at the sdmaid v4 beta apk available from the devs website.

Looks great and seems to work the same.

Pity v4 sdmaid can't take your file as input Jelbo to remove a batch of files.

Sent from my SGP621 using Tapatalk

 

[FcukBloat]

don't understand the need of making another script/list when there is mine and you saw it more then 10 days ago when you posted in my thread in general Xperia section (that can be contributed and kept updated by anyone) that works for all xperias oob or can be adapted very easily but no problem of course thats your choice.
my list is 100% safe though, me and other hundred people running lp on different xperias use(s/d) it without problems (just some features may be missing after applying my script of course but anything can be restored easily) and btw all xperias have almost identical apks just the names may be a little different somewhere that's all..

Never used tb but for sure it is completely different from my approach of completely moving away/deleting stuff, a freeze should be just based on pm unix command or similar that doesn't really touch anything, just disables stuff

cheers

 

[jelbo]

don't understand the need of making another script/list when there is mine and you saw it more then 10 days ago when you posted in my thread in general Xperia section (that can be contributed and kept updated by anyone) that works for all xperias oob or can be adapted very easily but no problem of course thats your choice.
my list is 100% safe though, me and other hundred people running lp on different xperias use(s/d) it without problems (just some features may be missing after applying my script of course but anything can be restored easily) and btw all xperias have almost identical apks just the names may be a little different somewhere that's all..

Never used tb but for sure it is completely different from my approach of completely moving away/deleting stuff, a freeze should be just based on pm unix command or similar that doesn't really touch anything, just disables stuff

cheers

I had a quick look at your script back then and saw some differences in apps that I didn't see on my device, that made me think the Z4 Tablet needed it's own approach I guess. Looking back I realise it's pretty much identical and it would have been better with just starting with your work. Ah well. Maybe we can merge our findings somehow? If a file isn't found on the Z4 Tablet it'll just be skipped. I'll PM you my e-mail address so you can add me as a contributor to your sheet. I think it's a good idea to discuss about a good format for both devices beforehand so I won't mess things up.

 

[FcukBloat]

No problem mate, saw the PM and I've just given you the write access feel free to edit it or make your own as you wish and yes if a package is not found it'll just be skipped so not a problem at all

In my list a few apks i found about recently are missing will update it as soon as i have some spare time available..

Bye!

 

[jelbo]

No problem mate, saw the PM and I've just given you the write access feel free to edit it or make your own as you wish and yes if a package is not found it'll just be skipped so not a problem at all

In my list a few apks i found about recently are missing will update it as soon as i have some spare time available..

Bye!

Hi moly82, I'm done with merging my data in your sheet. It's in the 2nd tab named jelbo. What a job, it took me half a day

• I've kept your split view (with the grey row) and ordering by path.
• I've added missing paths, paths including .apk file and 'friendly names'
• █ I've marked entries which I found on the Z4 Tablet, but not on your list as Cyan (left column)
• █ I've marked entries which were on your list, but not on the Z4 Tablet as Yellow (left column)
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which were found safe to debloat/feeze/move by either you or me Green
• █ I've marked the background and the text of the Friendly Name of entries which I think are surely not safe to debloat/feeze/move Red
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which I think are probably not safe to debloat/feeze/move Pink
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which are probably safe to debloat/feeze/move, but which most people want to keep due to connected basic functionality (phone, camera) as Yellow

On to what can be done:

• Your 'Added in LP5.1' entries are moved in between existing entries, while maintaning your Orange color. I guess they can be debloated and made Green?
• If it is meaningful, can you add the missing info on the stuff you've come across on other Xperia devices?
• Can you have a look at 'unclassified' entries and share your thoughts in the comment field on how safe you think they are to debloat?
• Can you update your script with my findings? I'm still testing some 'unclassified' entries to see if it works fine or not.

 

[FcukBloat]

Hi moly82, I'm done with merging my data in your sheet. It's in the 2nd tab named jelbo. What a job, it took me half a day

• I've kept your split view (with the grey row) and ordering by path.
• I've added missing paths, paths including .apk file and 'friendly names'
• █ I've marked entries which I found on the Z4 Tablet, but not on your list as Cyan (left column)
• █ I've marked entries which were on your list, but not on the Z4 Tablet as Yellow (left column)
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which were found safe to debloat/feeze/move by either you or me Green
• █ I've marked the background and the text of the Friendly Name of entries which I think are surely not safe to debloat/feeze/move Red
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which I think are probably not safe to debloat/feeze/move Red
• █ I've marked the background of the Friendly Name of entries which are probably safe to debloat/feeze/move, but which most people want to keep due to connected basic functionality (phone, camera) as Yellow

• If it is meaningful, can you add the missing info on the stuff you've come across on other Xperia devices?
• Can you have a look at 'unclassified' entries and share your thoughts in the comment field on how safe you think they are to debloat?
• Can you update your script with my findings? I'm still testing some 'unclassified' entries to see if it works fine or not.

hi mate, what a good job you did congrats!
honestly I won't have so much spare time available from now on, big changes in my life expected, so can't assure will be able to watch this in the future, if you want to handover and become a debloating guru it would be great :laugh:

I have added at the bottom of my tab some packages I did not include in the script I shared at the beginning, but I added in my local copy, so you can see info about those apks also, it could be helpful

what you mean with unclassified entries exactly? there are too many categories, colours, empty spaces etc not so clear for me

if you want to make a global script, please proceed, no problem for me! don't know if you did look at the script I made already, but if not, I am sure you will understand very easily how I prepared it just working on the com/google/android/updater-script file, so you can use it as base and then add/remove any apps you want from there, or make your own script or whatever, as you wish.

I will keep monitoring the file and your tab also though, hoping to see some new findings I didn't know about, as I'm sure there are still some packages that could be removed but I didn't try myself yet...

let me know!

 

[jelbo]

hi mate, what a good job you did congrats!
honestly I won't have so much spare time available from now on, big changes in my life expected, so can't assure will be able to watch this in the future, if you want to handover and become a debloating guru it would be great :laugh:

I have added at the bottom of my tab some packages I did not include in the script I shared at the beginning, but I added in my local copy, so you can see info about those apks also, it could be helpful

what you mean with unclassified entries exactly? there are too many categories, colours, empty spaces etc not so clear for me

if you want to make a global script, please proceed, no problem for me! don't know if you did look at the script I made already, but if not, I am sure you will understand very easily how I prepared it just working on the com/google/android/updater-script file, so you can use it as base and then add/remove any apps you want from there, or make your own script or whatever, as you wish.

I will keep monitoring the file and your tab also though, hoping to see some new findings I didn't know about, as I'm sure there are still some packages that could be removed but I didn't try myself yet...

let me know!

I might take over the list and script, thanks. I'll do some more testing and will attempt to adjust the script.

Mods, if things work out and I and moly82 agree, would it be possible to make me co-author of moly82's OP or something?

 

[D_STROY]

The stock ROMs are shipped with a huge amount of bloatware, from which I see many processes active when opening a task manager. Let's freeze/disable or uninstall crap we don't need You can disable many apps without root from Android's app manager, but you'll need root for many of them. Root is mandatory to uninstall system apps.

Here's a Google Sheets spreadsheet I made.

In it is a list of all the system apps I've 'frozen' or disabled, without any problems. I've marked some yellow because you might need the functionality, for example DLNA or native Exchange support.

You can debloat manually with apps like Titanium Backup. Here's a procedure to make a label, associate apps to it and batch freeze or uninstall them.

1. Get Titanium Backup and start it. You probably need Pro.
2. Go to the tab named Backup/Restore.
3. Tap 'Click to edit filters' in the top right.
4. Tap 'Clear' in the top right.
5. Tap 'Create label ...' in the bottom right.
6. Type a name, give a color (optional) and tap 'Add/Remove elements ...'
7. Check the boxes of apps you wish to free or uninstall (based on the spreadsheet for example).
8. Tap the green checkmark on the top right.
9. Tap 'Save'.
10. Back in th Filters section, make sure no filter is active (tap 'Clear'), select the newly created label (check the box) and tap the green checkmark.
11. Titanium Backup will display a list of the apps you've labeled.
12. Tap the 'file and checkmark' icon top right to get to the 'Batch actions' screen.
13. Scroll to 'Freeze / Defrost' and tap the RUN button next to 'Freeze all user & system apps (USE FILTERS & EXTREME CAUTION)'.
14. Profit.

/edit: I have added the remaining system apps, so now every system app is on the list. I've marked apps blue @moly82 uses in his/her debloating script I just remembered, so those should be safe to disable too. I'll test with those frozen and if my system stays stable, will add them to the safe to freeze/uninstall list.

/edit2: I'm collaborating with moly82's generic Xperia Lollipop debloating script. Turns out the Z4 Tablet does have quite some things moved around / added / removed, so it's definitely good to have added support for it. The amount of added Sony crap is unbelievable. Once something will be finished, I'll update this OP.

For anyone wanting to collaborate, send me a PM with your e-mail address and I'll give you edit-rights.

Eventually, when this thing is 'done' I plan to either make a script or share my Titanium Backup 'custom' database with the labeled categories.

Thanks for taking the time to do this Jelbo, it will be very useful! I couldn't believe the amount of background processes, etc, that were going on either when I have looked into a task manager, for stuff that I have never used and probably never will and has no business eating up RAM when I'm not looking! Not only that, even if you stop whatever is running it just starts up again anyway so the only way is to get it off the device or freeze it.
Keep up the good work mate!

 

[jelbo]

Thanks for taking the time to do this Jelbo, it will be very useful! I couldn't believe the amount of background processes, etc, that were going on either when I have looked into a task manager, for stuff that I have never used and probably never will and has no business eating up RAM when I'm not looking! Not only that, even if you stop whatever is running it just starts up again anyway so the only way is to get it off the device or freeze it.
Keep up the good work mate!

Thanks. Yeah it's pretty crazy how much stuff there is and how much more free RAM you have after debloating. By the way, check out the new sheet link in the OP, old one is dead.

I also found this 4pda post that might help in deciding on some tricky ones. @alex009988, do I guess correctly that you are Russian speaking? If so, would you give me some help on some items?

 

[mj084]

@jelbo

Big thx! Great work!:good::good::good:

Will have to compare now both lists to debloat my Z3 Tablet compact:laugh:

 

[jelbo]

@jelbo

Big thx! Great work!:good::good::good:

Will have to compare now both lists to debloat my Z3 Tablet compact:laugh:

You can just use the jelbo tab for now as it contains both my and moly82's findings.

 

[mj084]

Yes of course, but I think Z3 Tablet Compact stock apps are more like Z3 Compact...think I'll flash the debloating script from Z3C manually and take a look in system/app and system/priv app