Barebones
From CyanogenMod
Some of the apps that come with your phone can be safely removed without causing stability issues. They take up space and use resources that could be used for other things. Removing unwanted apps will theoretically make your phone run faster and smoother, plus, you can configure your phone just the way you want it.
Below is a chart that shows what apps might come pre-installed in CyanogenMod. You can delete any app that shows 'yes' under 'Remove'; However, if you delete an app, you will no longer be able to use its functionality until you reinstall it. So, for example, if you never listen to music on the device, it is perfectly safe to remove Music.apk. However, you will need to reinstall Music.apk if you ever do want to listen to music on your phone.
Contents |
Backup apks
You should back up any apks that you plan to remove. That way, you can easily re-install them if you change your mind. You have two main options:
- Nandroid backup from the recovery console, or
- Manual backup with
$ adb pull /system/app/ ~/Desktop/app/
How to find applications
To find what apps are installed on the device, you will need to run the following, either in adb shell, or the device's term:
$ ls /system/app
or
$ ls /data/app
You can also list installed packages using the package manager, either in Terminal Emulator or via adb shell:
$ pm list packages
To see a list of installed packages along with their associated files:
$ pm list packages -f
At a lower level, you can pull the packages.xml and the packages.list files using adb and examine them directly to determine what is installed and what the related .apk file is called and where it is stored. packages.xml will show you the package name and the .apk file installation path and name. In packages.list you can look up the package name and locate the data path. Both of these files will tell you a great deal more, these are the things that pertain to the present article.
$ adb pull /data/system/packages.xml
$ adb pull /data/system/packages.list
Generally, any apps you install from the market or otherwise manually install will be in /data/app, while any apps that come pre-installed will be in /system/app.
How to remove applications
Remember to watch the case of all files, directories, apk names, and package names!
- Case matters. Example.apk and example.apk are two different things.
First of all you should restart adbd as root
$ adb root
ADB
| /system apps | /data apps |
|---|---|
|
|
Term (on device)
| /system apps | /data apps |
|---|---|
|
|
How to reinstall applications
Change your mind? No problem! You have two options, depending on how you backed up your files:
- Restore your Nandroid backup from the recovery console, or
- Manually restore your app with
$ adb install ~/Desktop/app/<apk name>.apk
List of Default Apps for each version of Cyanogenmod
CM7 App list
| <apk name> | <package name> | Remove | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| AccountAndSyncSettings.apk | com.android.providers.subscribedfeeds | no? | Syncs settings to Google servers. Needed for Gmail app notifications. |
| ADWLauncher.apk | com.android.launcher | yes | ADW System Launcher. Only remove if you have a second replacement home. |
| ApplicationsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.applications | yes? | Fetches the list of applications installed on the phone to provide search suggestions. |
| Bluetooth.apk | com.android.bluetooth | yes | Bluetooth app |
| BooksPhone.apk | com.google.android.apps.books | yes[1] | Google Books application |
| Browser.apk | com.android.browser | yes | Internet Browser
PLEASE NOTE: This is apparently a hard-coded requirement for Google Voice Search (along with Talk and Voice); without it, Voice Search will FC after recognizing speech. Having Dolphin, etc., installed will not work. |
| Calculator.apk | com.android.calculator2 | yes | Calculator app |
| Calendar.apk | com.android.calendar | yes | Calendar app / widget |
| CalendarProvider.apk | com.android.providers.calendar | yes | Calendar sync |
| Camera.apk | com.android.camera | yes | Camera app |
| CarHomeGoogle.apk | com.google.android.carhome | yes[1] | Car Dock Search? |
| CarHomeLauncher.apk | com.android.cardock | yes[1] | Car Dock Launcher? |
| CertInstaller.apk | com.android.certinstaller | no? | (Web?) Certificate Installer. When removed, the WIFI will not be turned on (Automatically turned off). |
| ChromeToPhone.apk | com.google.android.apps.chrometophone | yes[1] | Send links from Chrome to phone |
| CMParts.apk | com.cyanogenmod.cmparts | yes | CyanogenMod Settings. Will FC if you try and access settings and this is not installed. |
| CMPartsHelper.apk | com.cyanogenmod.cmpartshelper | yes | CMParts Helper? |
| CMStats.apk | com.cyanogenmod.stats | yes | CyanogenMod anonymous statistics reporting service. Safe to remove, but will FC CMParts (CyanogenMod Settings) if you try and select the configuration options if it's not installed. (CMParts can be decompiled and edited to remove the menu options, but it's merely a cosmetic issue). |
| CMUpdateNotify.apk | com.cyanogenmod.updatenotify | yes | CyanogenMod Update Notifications. Safe to remove, but will FC CMParts (CyanogenMod Settings) if you try and select the configuration options if it's not installed. (CMParts can be decompiled and edited to remove the menu options, but it's merely a cosmetic issue). |
| CMWallpapers.apk | com.cyanogenmod.CMWallpapers | yes | Default CyanogenMod wallpapers. |
| com.amazon.mp3.apk | com.amazon.mp3 | yes[1] | App that links to Amazon .mp3 store. |
| Contacts.apk | com.android.contacts | no | Contacts app; the Call log, Contacts and Favorites screens |
| ContactsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.contacts | no | Contacts sync |
| DefaultContainerService.apk | com.android.defcontainer | no | Needed to install apps. |
| DeskClock.apk | com.android.deskclock | yes | Clock and Alarm app |
| Development.apk | com.android.development | yes | Development app |
| DownloadProvider.apk | com.android.providers.downloads | no | Handles downloading files (Market, Browser, etc) |
| DrmProvider.apk | com.android.providers.drm | no | Provides DRM functions, needed to access media files (including ringtones) |
| DSPManager.apk | com.bel.android.dspmanager | yes | Digital Sound Processing |
| Email.apk | com.android.email | yes | POP/IMAP email client |
| Facebook.apk | com.facebook.katana | yes[1] | Facebook app |
| FileManager.apk | org.openintents.filemanager | yes | IOFilemanager app |
| FOTAKILL.apk | com.cyanogenmod.android.fotakill | no? | OTA Killer |
| Gallery3D.apk | com.cooliris.media | yes | 3D Photo Gallery |
| GenieWidget.apk | com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget | yes[1] | News and Weather Widget |
| Gmail.apk | com.google.android.gm | yes[1] | Gmail app |
| GoogleBackupTransport.apk | com.google.android.backup | yes[1] | Backup Mechanism for apps and settings? |
| GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk | com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar | yes[1] | Calendar sync |
| GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk | com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts | yes[1] | Contacts sync |
| GoogleFeedback.apk | com.google.android.feedback | yes[1] | ForceClose reporting |
| GoogleGoggles.apk | com.google.android.apps.unveil | yes[1] | Google Goggles app |
| GooglePartnerSetup.apk | com.google.android.partnersetup | yes[1] | ??? |
| GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk | com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox | yes[1] | Google search box |
| GoogleServicesFramework.apk | com.google.android.gsf | yes[1] | Provides account / login information to Google Apps |
| googlevoice.apk | com.google.android.apps.googlevoice | yes[1] | Google Voice |
| HtcCopyright.apk | com.htc.copyright | yes | Puts "HTC Copyright" info in the Legal Information of the About Phone dialog. Useless and safe to delete. |
| HtcEmailPolicy.apk | com.android.email.policy | yes | Email.apk uses this for a connection to a Microsoft Exchange email server. Without it a connection to Exchange 2007/2010 will not work as the exchange device policy is not accepted. An Exchange administrator can configure the policy to allow/disallow features and functions on the device. In case of loss or theft the device can be reset to factory default remotely to prevent unauthorized acces. |
| HtcSettings.apk | com.android.htcsettings | yes | HTC Radio settings, probably better to leave alone but otherwise safe to delete |
| HTMLViewer.apk | com.android.htmlviewer | yes | Used by browser.apk to filter HTML. ??? Doesn't seem to be needed. |
| kickback.apk | com.google.android.marvin.kickback | yes[1] | Gives haptic feedback for some apps (accessibility menu option) |
| LatinIME.apk | com.android.inputmethod.latin | yes | On-screen keyboard |
| LatinImeTutorial.apk | com.google.android.latinimetutorial | yes[1] | Tutorial for on-screen keyboard |
| LiveWallpapersPicker.apk | com.android.wallpaper.livepicker | yes | Live Wallpaper Selector |
| Maps.apk | com.google.android.apps.maps | no[1] | Google Maps. Froyo depends on this apk, along with its associated dependencies (com.google.android.maps.xml, com.google.android.maps.jar), in order to access copy protected apps in the Android market. |
| MarketUpdater.apk | com.android.vending.updater | yes[1] | Updates app list / download list in market? Needed by Vending.apk |
| MediaProvider.apk | com.android.providers.media | no | Needed to access media files (including ringtones) |
| MediaUploader.apk | com.google.android.apps.uploader | yes[1] | Share media from the Gallery with MMS, Bluetooth, Email, Picasa |
| Mms.apk | com.android.mms | yes | Provides sms and mms (text) services |
| Music.apk | com.android.music | yes | Music Player (and "Video" Player) |
| NetworkLocation.apk | com.google.android.location | yes[1] | Provides network (cell) location (as opposed to GPS location) |
| OneTimeInitializer.apk | com.google.android.onetimeinitializer | yes[1] | Runs on first boot. Conflicts with google app "Provision.apk". |
| PackageInstaller.apk | com.android.packageinstaller | no | Used to manually install apks (i.e. non-market apks) |
| PassionQuickOffice.apk | com.qo.android.htcgep | yes[1] | Allows Email/Gmail apps to open attachments |
| Phone.apk | com.android.phone | no | Phone app; Dialer screen |
| PicoTts.apk | com.svox.pico | yes | Text to speech. From SD data? |
| Protips.apk | com.android.protips | yes | 'protips' widget |
| Provision.apk | com.android.provision | yes* | Runs on first boot. Conflicts with google app "SetupWizard.apk". Okay to delete if loading the gapps zip. |
| QuickSearchBox.apk | yes | Search box? Need for search in Phone app. | |
| RomManager.apk | com.koushikdutta.rommanager | yes | Rom Manager App |
| Settings.apk | com.android.settings | no | devices settings menu |
| SettingsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.settings | no | Settings sync? |
| SetupWizard.apk | com.android.setupwizard | yes[1] | Setup Wizard when you first use your phone. |
| soundback.apk | com.google.android.marvin.soundback | yes[1] | sound feedback (accessibility option) |
| SoundRecorder.apk | com.android.soundrecorder | yes | Sound Recorder app |
| SpareParts.apk | com.android.spare_parts | yes | Extra 'settings' menu |
| SpeechRecorder.apk | com.android.speechrecorder | yes | Records audio samples to test speech recognition |
| Stk.apk | com.android.stk | yes | Sim Tool Kit; Required if you use SIM applications (like authenticatino, banking, PKI etc) |
| Street.apk | com.google.android.street | yes[1] | Streetview for Google maps |
| Superuser.apk | com.noshufou.android.su | yes | Remembers 'su' settings |
| SystemUI.apk | com.android.systemui | no | Part of the system UI. |
| Talk.apk | com.google.android.talk | yes[1] | Google Talk |
| talkback.apk | com.google.android.marvin.talkback | yes[1] | voice feedback (accessibility option) |
| TelephonyProvider.apk | com.android.providers.telephony | no | Phone sync? |
| Term.apk | com.android.term | yes | Gives access to terminal |
| ThemeChooser.apk | com.tmobile.themechooser | yes | Part of the T-Mobile theming app |
| ThemeManager.apk | com.tmobile.thememanager | yes | Part of the T-Mobile theming app |
| Torch.apk | net.cactii.flash2 | yes | LED Flashlight |
| TtsService.apk | android.tts | yes[1] | Text to Speech. Needed by Google Navigator from Google Maps v5+. Otherwise, safe to remove. |
| Twitter.apk | com.twitter.android | yes[1] | Native Twitter client |
| UserDictionaryProvider.apk | com.android.providers.userdictionary | yes | Dictionary for LatinIME(keyboard) / Needed for LatinIME.apk to function |
| Vending.apk | com.android.vending | yes[1] | Market app |
| VoiceDialer.apk | com.android.voicedialer | yes | Voice dialer app |
| VoiceSearch.apk | com.google.android.voicesearch | yes[1] | Voice Search for Google Search, Google Maps, etc |
| VpnServices.apk | com.android.server.vpn | yes | Virtual Private Network app |
| YouTube.apk | com.google.android.youtube | yes[1] | YouTube player |
[1] NOTE: These are Google apps & are safe to remove as far as phone stability is concerned. Might break other Google apps if removed.
CM-10.1 App list (WIP)
| <apk name> | <package name> | Remove | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apollo.apk | com.andrew.apollo | yes | |
| ApplicationsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.applications | yes? | Fetches the list of applications installed on the phone to provide search suggestions. |
| BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk | com.android.backupconfirm | ||
| BasicDreams.apk | |||
| Bluetooth.apk | com.android.bluetooth | yes | Bluetooth app |
| Browser.apk | com.android.browser | yes | Internet Browser
PLEASE NOTE: This is apparently a hard-coded requirement for Google Voice Search (along with Talk and Voice); without it, Voice Search will FC after recognizing speech. Having Dolphin, etc., installed will not work. |
| CMFileManager.apk | com.cyanogenmod.filemanager | yes | IOFilemanager app |
| CMFileManagerThemes.apk | com.cyanogenmod.filemanager.themes | yes | IOFilemanager app themes |
| CMUpdater.apk | |||
| CMWallpapers.apk | com.cyanogenmod.CMWallpapers | yes | Default CyanogenMod wallpapers. |
| Calculator.apk | com.android.calculator2 | yes | Basic calculator |
| Calendar.apk | com.android.calender | yes | |
| CalendarProvider.apk | com.android.providers.calendar | yes | Calendar sync |
| Camera.apk | com.android.camera | yes | Camera app |
| CertInstaller.apk | com.android.certinstaller | no? | (Web?) Certificate Installer. When removed, the WIFI will not be turned on (Automatically turned off). |
| ChromeBookmarksSyncAdapter.apk | |||
| Contacts.apk | com.android.contacts | no | Contacts app; the Call log, Contacts and Favorites screens |
| ContactsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.contacts | no | Contacts sync |
| DSPManager.apk | com.bel.android.dspmanager | yes | Digital Sound Processing |
| DefaultContainerService.apk | com.android.defcontainer | no | Needed to install apps. |
| DeskClock.apk | com.android.deskclock | yes | Clock and Alarm app |
| Development.apk | com.android.development | yes | Development app |
| DownloadProvider.apk | com.android.providers.downloads.ui | no | Handles downloading files (Market, Browser, etc) |
| DownloadProviderUi.apk | |||
| DrmProvider.apk | om.android.providers.drm | no | Provides DRM functions, needed to access media files (including ringtones) |
| Email2.apk | com.android.email | yes | POP/IMAP email client |
| Exchange2.apk | |||
| FaceLock.apk | |||
| FusedLocation.apk | |||
| Galaxy4.apk | com.android.galaxy4 | yes | A live wallpaper |
| GalleryGoogle.apk | com.google.android.gallery3d | yes | 3D Photo Gallery |
| GenieWidget.apk | com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget | yes | News and Weather Widget |
| Gmail2.apk | com.google.android.gm | yes | Gmail app |
| GmsCore.apk | |||
| GoogleBackupTransport.apk | com.google.android.backup | yes | Backup Mechanism for apps and settings? |
| GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk | com.google.android.syncadapters.calendar | yes | Calendar sync |
| GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk | com.google.android.syncadapters.contacts | yes | Contacts sync |
| GoogleEars.apk | com.google.android.ears | yes | |
| GoogleFeedback.apk | com.google.android.feedback | yes | ForceClose reporting |
| GoogleLoginService.apk | |||
| GooglePartnerSetup.apk | com.google.android.partnersetup | yes | ??? |
| GoogleServicesFramework.apk | com.google.android.gsf | yes[1] | Provides account / login information to Google Apps |
| GoogleTTS.apk | com.google.android.tts | yes | |
| HTMLViewer.apk | com.android.htmlviewer | yes | Used by browser.apk to filter HTML. ??? Doesn't seem to be needed. |
| HoloSpiralWallpaper.apk | com.android.wallpaper.holospiral | yes | Wallpaper |
| InputDevices.apk | |||
| KeyChain.apk | |||
| LatinIME.apk | com.android.inputmethod.latin | yes | On-screen keyboard |
| LatinImeDictionaryPack.apk | |||
| LiveWallpapers.apk | yes | ||
| LiveWallpapersPicker.apk | com.android.wallpaper.livepicker | yes | Animated wallpaper chooser |
| MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk | com.android.magicsmoke | yes | Wallpaper |
| MediaProvider.apk | com.android.providers.media | no | Needed to access media files (including ringtones) |
| MediaUploader.apk | com.google.android.apps.uploader | yes[1] | Share media from the Gallery with MMS, Bluetooth, Email, Picasa |
| NetworkLocation.apk | com.google.android.location | yes[1] | Provides network (cell) location (as opposed to GPS location) |
| Nfc.apk | |||
| NoiseField.apk | com.android.noisefield | yes | Another wallpaper |
| OneTimeInitializer.apk | com.google.android.onetimeinitializer | yes | Runs on first boot. Conflicts with google app "Provision.apk". |
| PackageInstaller.apk | com.android.packageinstaller | no | Used to manually install apks (i.e. non-market apks) |
| PhaseBeam.apk | com.android.phasebeam | yes | dev wallpaper - Remove if you removed dev-tools |
| Phone.apk | com.android.phone | no | Phone app; Dialer screen |
| Phonesky.apk | |||
| PhotoTable.apk | |||
| PicoTts.apk | com.svox.pico | yes | Text to speech. From SD data? |
| QuickSearchBox.apk | com.google.android.googlequicksearchbox | yes | Search box? Need for search in Phone app. |
| RomManager.apk | com.koushikdutta.rommanager | yes | Rom Manager App |
| Settings.apk | com.android.settings | no | devices settings menu |
| SettingsProvider.apk | com.android.providers.settings | no | Settings sync? |
| SetupWizard.apk | com.android.setupwizard | yes[1] | Setup Wizard when you first use your phone. |
| SharedStorageBackup.apk | com.android.sharedstoragebackup | ||
| SoundRecorder.apk | com.android.soundrecorder | yes | Sound Recorder app |
| SpareParts.apk | om.android.spare_parts | yes | Extra 'settings' menu |
| Superuser.apk | com.noshufou.android.su | yes | Remembers 'su' settings |
| SystemUI.apk | com.android.systemui | no | Part of the system UI. |
| Tag.apk | com.android.apps.tag | ||
| Talk.apk | com.google.android.talk | yes | Google Talk |
| back.apk | |||
| TelephonyProvider.apk | com.android.providers.telephony | no | Phone sync? |
| Term.apk | com.android.term | yes | Gives access to terminal |
| ThemeChooser.apk | com.tmobile.themechooser | yes | |
| ThemeManager.apk | com.tmobile.thememanager | yes | |
| Trebuchet.apk | com.cyanogenmod.trebuchet | yes | System Launcher. Only remove if you have a second replacement home. |
| UserDictionaryProvider.apk | com.android.providers.userdictionary | yes | Dictionary for LatinIME(keyboard) / Needed for LatinIME.apk to function |
| VideoEditor.apk | com.android.videoeditor | yes | |
| VisualizationWallpapers.apk | com.android.wallpaper | yes | Wallpaper |
| VoiceDialer.apk | com.android.voicedialer | yes | Voice Search for Google Search, Google Maps, etc |
| VoiceSearchStub.apk | com.android.googlequicksearchbox | yes | Voice Search for Google Search, Google Maps, etc |
| VpnDialogs.apk | |||
| WAPPushManager.apk |
[1] NOTE: These are Google apps & are safe to remove as far as phone stability is concerned. Might break other Google apps if removed.
