How to remove TouchUI - Galaxy S II Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

is there anyway to remove this samsung touchui and just have basic android launcher?

Member for 3 years and over 500 posts and you need this kind of question answered?
Install a different launcher, press the home button and set the new one as default. If you want to completely remove TouchWiz, freeze/uninstall the related system APKs afterwards.
A search for "AOSP launcher" on the market returned a theme for ADW launcher.

maybe i should have wrote a little more as to what i was fishing for.
I basically wanted to know if anyone had a list of all the apks that samsung touchui used that could safely be removed rather than just disable or install a seperate launcher.
thanks for the reply i will continue my search.

A|ex said:
is there anyway to remove this samsung touchui and just have basic android launcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Create a custom rom based on the Stock GS2 Rom and remove the std TochWizUI.
http://romkitchen.org/sgs2/
Else ger ADW or Go Launcher Ex and set it as default .......

A|ex said:
I basically wanted to know if anyone had a list of all the apks that samsung touchui used that could safely be removed rather than just disable or install a seperate launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Removing APKs won't magically give you a replacement launcher. TouchWiz isn't sitting on top of another one. If you remove it, you'll need a replacement regardless.
It sounds to me like you'd be better with an AOSP ROM rather than Samsung ROM if you're looking for a "pure" experience. But if you do want to stay stock, see Applications Safe To Remove, which has a spreadsheet showing what most of the APKs are and which are okay to remove. Remember though, if you remove the Samsung custom elements, you're going to need replacements.

Excellent, this is what i was looking for. Cheers

Related

Using Samsung Widgets with Launcher Pro?

It just dawned on me now that I am using Launcher Pro that when I long press, I no longer get the option to add a Samsung Widget to my home screen.
Any way around this?
... other than just going back to stock launcher ?
Nope. The Samsung widgets are part of TouchWiz.
bahnburner said:
Nope. The Samsung widgets are part of TouchWiz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So are many other elements of the device (notification panel, different contacts app, etc etc etc). Using another launcher app does not disable Touchwiz as a whole, its just a new launcher. The widgets are still <i>there</i> I'm just not able to get to them right now, so I'm hoping maybe someone is able to yank the APK or something so we're able to use them in non-default launchers.
They were written to be recognized and used by the Touchwiz launcher, they're not compatible with the ASOP launcher which is why they won't show up with other launchers. HTC Sense widgets have the same issue, and aside from completely rebuilding them, they haven't really found a way around it.
moonrock said:
So are many other elements of the device (notification panel, different contacts app, etc etc etc). Using another launcher app does not disable Touchwiz as a whole, its just a new launcher. The widgets are still <i>there</i> I'm just not able to get to them right now, so I'm hoping maybe someone is able to yank the APK or something so we're able to use them in non-default launchers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
um, no they're not. As I am using the LauncherPro Beta right now. The notification panel is stock, the contact is stock everything is stock except the dock bar at the bottom, which is different and better and the drawer which Is 3D!!! I love it.
boodies said:
um, no they're not. As I am using the LauncherPro Beta right now. The notification panel is stock, the contact is stock everything is stock except the dock bar at the bottom, which is different and better and the drawer which Is 3D!!! I love it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is exactly what I was saying.
Using a different launcher (i.e. LaunderPro) does not "disable TouchWiz" and therefore you should still be able to use the TouchWiz widgets. Everything else is still there and TouchWiz is most definitely still there, running, etc... changing the Launcher is not disabling TouchWiz.
moonrock said:
That is exactly what I was saying.
Using a different launcher (i.e. LaunderPro) does not "disable TouchWiz" and therefore you should still be able to use the TouchWiz widgets. Everything else is still there and TouchWiz is most definitely still there, running, etc... changing the Launcher is not disabling TouchWiz.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it does disable touchwiz. touchwiz is the launcher app. so when your not in touchwiz, you don't have it.
just like unless your on the sense home, you don't get the sense widgets.
the touchwiz widgets require the touchwiz launcher.
don't bother asking or repeating again because there is simply no way to make it work short of rebuilding the entire app as has been said.
Touchwiz and the touchwiz launcher are two different things.
You cannot "disable touchwiz" without flashing a custom rom. It IS the modified OS.
You are right that the widgets are built into the twlauncher apk, so you can't use them in any other launcher.
Let's be sure we aren't confusing touchwiz with twlauncher...
touchwiz is a skin on top of the android os just like sense is.......you disable the touchwiz launcher then everything associated with touchwiz is disabled only giving access to basic android widgets.
Oh lawrdy, the fighting...
When I was using launcher pro I couldn't use samsung widgets, but the apps were unaffected.. So just disabling touchwiz launcher disables the widgets (or makes them harder to use at least) but the apps with the phone (including the notification bar) keep going...
So even if you just disable the launcher, you lose the widgets (unless they are just hiding because the samsung widget button was gone and they weren't in my regular widget are either)
im no dev here and my coding knowledge is minimal so sorry if i sound stupid saying this, but if the twlauncher is integrated to the framework, couldnt someone use a modify a launcher replacement by kanging some code from the twlauncher so the launcher replacement utilizes the framework or is it much more complicated than that?
speedysilwady said:
im no dev here and my coding knowledge is minimal so sorry if i sound stupid saying this, but if the twlauncher is integrated to the framework, couldnt someone use a modify a launcher replacement by kanging some code from the twlauncher so the launcher replacement utilizes the framework or is it much more complicated than that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm understanding you correctly then yes it is that simple, but figuring out how to do that is not simple without the code...
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Okay ladies Ill explain all lol, disabling the touchwiz launcher does in no way effect the widgets but you cannot use them in other launchers because they are not programmed to recognize them touchwiz itself is the custom framework that samsung has created for this phone, so if a dev enabled it you could use them in any launcher as long as the system/framework/twframework.jar and twframework-res.apk are there along with some key files in the sytem/lib folder to associate them to the system so really the launcher is nothing but a pretty blind over the window if you will and in no way stops you from using the widgets other than the other launchers are not programmed to look for them.

superclean vs. just deleting apps?

like everyone else, there are a lot of icons or apps (depending on what we're talking about) that I don't use. what does superclean leave in, and how hard is it to just delete them.
SuperClean is much much more beyond just deleting apps.
This thread mostly details.
adrynalyne said:
DL30 super clean FROYO
Removed
-------
All bloatware
All verizon apps
All verizon framework
Touchwiz live walls and widgets
Touchwiz launcher
Touchwiz calendar
Touchwiz calculator
Memo and write apps
Flash
Nuance
Samsung keyboard
Startup animation
shutdown animation
startup sounds
market widget
setup wizard
backup assistant
Added
---------
2.2.1 launcher, modified to work with TW dialer. You need to set PHONE as default activity on the phone button for the first time use.
Musicmod
aosp calendar
aosp calculator
Google voice
Google voice enabled dialer (voicemail button)
aosp dock app
non binged car dock app
non binged browser
camera to include geotagging
latest market, search, voice, gmail, etc
resolv.conf
aosp ringtones
ad blocking hosts
aosp lockscreen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the changelog for any changes/modifications since the original. The latest SuperClean (2.6) is a hybrid of EB01 and EB16, as well.
Edit: And this should either be in the Super Clean thread, or in General- not a new thread in Development.
okay, thanks. I guess that rules out superclean. I like touchwiz too much. how do you delete stock apps?
m91-30 said:
okay, thanks. I guess that rules out superclean. I like touchwiz too much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the post! There's a patch to add TouchWiz.
m91-30 said:
how do you delete stock apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remove the .apk by hand, or use something like Titanium Backup and remove it, or use Titanium Backup's Freeze feature. Be careful what you remove! If you remove some things, TouchWiz and other stuff could stop working!
i don't miss touchwiz at all. honestly what do you like about it?
and i am not being rhetorical, seriously why do you like it over a clean rom running launcher pro?
I like the effects, look, and feel of it. I've never had any speed issues with it, and I use the touchwiz apps like program manager, media player, weather clock, calander, clock, ect...
This belongs in general discussion.
upsidedownaaron said:
i don't miss touchwiz at all. honestly what do you like about it?
and i am not being rhetorical, seriously why do you like it over a clean rom running launcher pro?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dogma serves no one. Several touchwiz apps are more functional than their aosp counterparts. Now I do agree that the touchwiz launcher is meh, but there is a lot more to a ROM than just the launcher.
rigglemania said:
Dogma serves no one. Several touchwiz apps are more functional than their aosp counterparts. Now I do agree that the touchwiz launcher is meh, but there is a lot more to a ROM than just the launcher.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, the launcher is the weakest part of TW, but even the launcher isn't so bad. As far as speed goes, the thing that really slows it down is the TW widgets. Those must be terribly bloated.
My biggest complaint is just the goofy app drawer with the seizure inducing app backgrounds, but the home screen setup isn't too bad. I've switched back to it from ADWex as EX was starting to exhibit some strange behavior (seemed like memory use was ballooning over time and the whole system was slowing down).
Why not just use titanium backup and freeze the apps instead of deleting. (you need the premium version though)
If you really want to know what files are different between ROMs, you can always download 2 zipped ROMs (such as stock deodexed EB01 and superclean EB01 for example), unzip them and use a program like WinMerge (Windows only) to compare the files between the two.
As far as TouchWiz is concerned, it's all personal preference. There was a thread on here where a bunch of people talked about liking the TouchWiz launcher - me included. I like horizontal scrolling, being able to re-arrange the apps to specific pages and I even like the backgrounds to all the apps in the drawer. It is visually more uniform and a lot easier for me to view/launch apps without all the dead space between the icons.
I don't like vertical scrolling and small icons the stock launcher provides. Part of the problem isn't just the launcher, it's the icons. Not all app developers follow the same guidelines for making app icons. Some are 2D, some are 3D, they're all different sizes. I guess the icon backgrounds from TouchWiz or MIUI give them all a uniform look that's appealing to me?
yeah. I'm not giving up touchwiz, or the touchwiz apps, I like how they work, I've liked it since my omnia 2 (even though, admittedly, it did slow that phone down). I also like the continuity it provides from one samsung phone to the next, as I plan on sticking by samsung as long as the phone works like it should for me from the git go (I never had any serious problems with my omnia 2, or fascinate). right now my only setback is only having a linux computer. I need to figure out how to hack android (linux kernel) from ubuntu (linux). you would think two linux OSs would play well together, oh well.
also, is there a list somewhere of .APKs you can delete without effecting touchwiz or android?
m91-30 said:
also, is there a list somewhere of .APKs you can delete without effecting touchwiz or android?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are lists around, but there has been a fair amount of work put into the superclean ROMs. That is a good basis for what you can/can not remove to an extent.
I say to an extent, because there are some things left in, some things removed and some things added to the superclean ROM that doesn't "officially" make it "super clean" to me.
For example, the Memo app can be removed (it has been in superclean) and it won't hurt anything. The additional fonts can be removed, but they haven't been in superclean. There are some Google apps which typically come stock that can be removed - some that don't come stock have been added to superclean - all of which can be installed from the Market.
Sometimes the best way to test is from trial and error (if you do use this method, use ADB and rename files to test - don't delete). If you go asking questions, people will either tell you to Google it, try it yourself, or you'll get 2 different answers that conflict which will cause you to try it yourself anyway.
I don't believe in breaking core functionality.
If I remove the extra fonts in superclean, there is a nice fat force closing sub menu under display settings.
My OCD will not stand for it. This is the same reason Samsung Mms.apk was added back. No multi-part messages= broken, imo.
superclean is a name. If you want a truly SUPER CLEAN rom, then use blackhole, and customize to your liking. Although i think you wil find that in some respects, SC is cleaner.
Typically, apps added to superclean are there to increase functionality. Its not meant to be an aosp replacement/clone.
adrynalyne said:
I don't believe in breaking core functionality.
If I remove the extra fonts in superclean, there is a nice fat force closing sub menu under display settings.
My OCD will not stand for it. This is the same reason Samsung Mms.apk was added back. No multi-part messages= broken, imo.
superclean is a name. If you want a truly SUPER CLEAN rom, then use blackhole, and customize to your liking. Although i think you wil find that in some respects, SC is cleaner.
Typically, apps added to superclean are there to increase functionality. Its not meant to be an aosp replacement/clone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting.. I never noticed a FC sub menu after removing fonts, but I (like most others else here) trust your judgment 200% over my own.
I'm making a bit of an assumption that if you remove the fonts, then go to display settings and mess with fonts there, it will crash. I've not tested the theory, but thats the main reason I have left them in. That and they take little space, and don't run in the background xD.
adrynalyne said:
I'm making a bit of an assumption that if you remove the fonts, then go to display settings and mess with fonts there, it will crash. I've not tested the theory, but thats the main reason I have left them in. That and they take little space, and don't run in the background xD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just re-flashed MIUI so I can't give you the step-by-step, but I recall removing a total of 3 files with the string *EUK* and they just don't show up in the fonts list in display settings. The option to download fonts is still there - no FC.
can someone give me a list of some of the apps to avoid freezing/uninstalling to avoid locking up touchwiz and android?
Good discussion

[Q] Root, asus etc

Hi guys!
So still learning my tablet to know and at the moment I have managed to make different wallpapers for each screen and downloaded some funny games.
So now I'm hungry for new experince! (Can you even say this in english? )
All the time people are talking about rooting their devices, is it the same thing when you jailbreak an iPhone? And when you do it, what does it to your device?
I'm really carefull about doing anything stupid since I'm from Europe and bought my Galaxy 10.1 in US.
Then people are talking about asus widgets and they have to push them to certain folders. I'm like
Something i'm really curious about, how do I get some new icons for my stuff? I would like to change some of them, but where do I get them? I have the Desktop Visualizer but need the icons.
What is honeycumb? Touchwiz is the interface we use navigate within our tablet, right?
I really want to learn this stuff, but when I read about it, i'm lost from the start. Everything I can tell me, so I can understand you guys in the forum would really be appreciated!
So, I'm by no means any techie who dares to compare myself to any of the geniuses in here.
But I can help you out a little bit..!
Rooting is nothing more than giving yourself full control over your tablet. When you're NOT rootet, certain aspects of controlling the tab is "locked", so to speak. And that goes for the apps, you install to. Certain files can not be changed, over-written, deleted or even just "watched", if you're not rooted. It's kinda like giving admin-rights on a PC..
Honeycomb is nothing more than the name of the Android-version for tablets, and Touchwiz is the interface and framework Samsung uses for all its Android-product - a way to differ from the other android-products. This tab was first sold without Touchwiz in some parts of the world (running barebone Honeycomb) and then got a touchwiz-update later on. Many of Samsungs own apps will not work on even Samsung-devices, if they do not have TW installed, as they're based on TW-framework.
Pushing something to a given directory basically means copying/moving it to that directory. However, as these directories are mostly "locked" folders, you will need to be have rooted your tab to do this. The "pushing"-term comes from using ADB, where you use a command that says to push the given file to the given directory. Most times off, though, you can do this with a simple file manager (with root-rights ) on your tab.
The only way I know to get new icons is to either
a) Use another Launcher or
b) flash a custom rom with other icons.
However, I'm sure there are other way to do this, that I'm not aware of myself
Hope this helps a bit. Tried not to make it too long and confusing, but I'm not so sure that went too well
Launchers like ADW EX allow you to download "theme" packs, which usually contain a lot of different and new icons.
How did you get a different wallpaper on each screen? Edit: Multipicture Live Wallpaper lets you do this.
DelLoce said:
Rooting is nothing more than giving yourself full control over your tablet. When you're NOT rootet, certain aspects of controlling the tab is "locked", so to speak. And that goes for the apps, you install to. Certain files can not be changed, over-written, deleted or even just "watched", if you're not rooted. It's kinda like giving admin-rights on a PC..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, that I get. Also what I thought, so almost the same thing jailbreaking and iPhone, but people with the galaxy have many more options afterwards.
DelLoce said:
Honeycomb is nothing more than the name of the Android-version for tablets, and Touchwiz is the interface and framework Samsung uses for all its Android-product - a way to differ from the other android-products. This tab was first sold without Touchwiz in some parts of the world (running barebone Honeycomb) and then got a touchwiz-update later on. Many of Samsungs own apps will not work on even Samsung-devices, if they do not have TW installed, as they're based on TW-framework.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm not tottaly wrong we are using Android 3.2 / 3.1 and that is what we call Honeycomb? Simply the name of the Android version. And as I thought, Touchwiz is the interface. I read somewhere it was sold without Touchwiz, but what difference does Touchwiz make? As I wrote, I bought in the US but I have no idea whether I had touchwiz or not. There came some new things after the update, "Indstillinger (Its on danish, dont know the word in english, but maybe "options"?) was completely change from black to white.
DelLoce said:
Pushing something to a given directory basically means copying/moving it to that directory. However, as these directories are mostly "locked" folders, you will need to be have rooted your tab to do this. The "pushing"-term comes from using ADB, where you use a command that says to push the given file to the given directory. Most times off, though, you can do this with a simple file manager (with root-rights ) on your tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so when people are talking about pushing something, that probably 'cause they have rooted their device? Not when I simply move a picture from one place to another?
DelLoce said:
The only way I know to get new icons is to either
a) Use another Launcher or
b) flash a custom rom with other icons.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another launcher, you mean another thing then Touchwiz?
Flash a custom rom? I'm lost again
That helped a lot! If you can explain me what "flash a custom rom" means, and simply "flash" and "rom".
Thank you !!
Mad A said:
Launchers like ADW EX allow you to download "theme" packs, which usually contain a lot of different and new icons.
How did you get a different wallpaper on each screen? Edit: Multipicture Live Wallpaper lets you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by "launchers" ? And yep, to get different wallpapers I downloaded and used multipicture live Wallpaper, but dont know if I like it that much, it seems to cause lag.
Thanks to you two, I can follow other peoples conversation easiere
Thor S said:
What do you mean by "launchers" ? And yep, to get different wallpapers I downloaded and used multipicture live Wallpaper, but dont know if I like it that much, it seems to cause lag.
Thanks to you two, I can follow other peoples conversation easiere
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A Launcher is basically the the desktop of your tablet/phone. It is what displays the shortcuts, application list, widgets etc. that you are using. It is used to 'launch' all other applications on your device. So if you don't like the default launcher on your phone or Tablet, you can use one from the marketplace. there are lots of different options but so far I only know for sure that ADW EX supports honeycomb (Android 3.x)
If you have ADW EX, you can download ADW Themes from the market, and those will change up the appearance of your device, including icons.

[Q] "Favorites" app

Hey all,
I have recently installed ADW Launcher EX in order to set my tablet up using the Hubs philosophy. Looks great so far, but the one thing I did like was the favorites shortcut in the status bar on the stock sony launcher. I would like to add it somewhere, but it won't let me add it, probably because it is some kind of hidden system app.
Does anyone know how to add these hidden system apps to homescreens or wherever without need root access or a custom rom?
Fluxman said:
Hey all,
I have recently installed ADW Launcher EX in order to set my tablet up using the Hubs philosophy. Looks great so far, but the one thing I did like was the favorites shortcut in the status bar on the stock sony launcher. I would like to add it somewhere, but it won't let me add it, probably because it is some kind of hidden system app.
Does anyone know how to add these hidden system apps to homescreens or wherever without need root access or a custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without some serious dev work, it looks to me like this is not possible. It seems to be a part of the stock launcher from what I can tell. You might be able to write a non-launchable app that just launches the Favourites, but that would only work if they had any public Intents built-in.
Not too sure, since I'm at work and can't check right now, but thats just my thoughts.
Thanks,
I had thought as much. I actually don't mind the sony stock launcher, just wish I could create shortcuts that can jump to certain screens like in ADW launcher. I'm sure if I rooted, I could find some way to access that applications independently, but I don't really want to go that route with my tablet. My phone was enough lol

Swapping out the stock launcher.

I've have a situation where an individual wants to replace the stock launcher. I've been successful in swapping out system launchers for third party ones before, but the S3 isn't liking it too much. The reason for this is the individual feels that his third party launcher suffers a lag that stock doesn't. This S3 is rooted stock, and the filing system is a little different from my other toys, the goal is to remove stock launcher completely and let Nova run all launcher tasks to see if the lag is from file location. On some devices, you can literally replace the launcher apk, reboot and its done, not the case here. Anyone ever permanently replace the stock launcher?
Sent from My Beast™
GTP7310
StarkCity said:
I've have a situation where an individual wants to replace the stock launcher. I've been successful in swapping out system launchers for third party ones before, but the S3 isn't liking it too much. The reason for this is the individual feels that his third party launcher suffers a lag that stock doesn't. This S3 is rooted stock, and the filing system is a little different from my other toys, the goal is to remove stock launcher completely and let Nova run all launcher tasks to see if the lag is from file location. On some devices, you can literally replace the launcher apk, reboot and its done, not the case here. Anyone ever permanently replace the stock launcher?
Sent from My Beast™
GTP7310
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am confused as to what you want here. Why not just install nova/apex and set it as default launcher? If you are too keen on removing TW launcher just delete Seclauncher2.apk and odex from system/app.
watsa said:
I am confused as to what you want here. Why not just install nova/apex and set it as default launcher? If you are too keen on removing TW launcher just delete Seclauncher2.apk and odex from system/app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The individual wants to completely wipe out stock launcher and replace permanently with Nova, he has moved the apk, but is getting force closed, I can't confirm if he's deleted or froze stock launcher, and I'm sure he didn't delete odex, which is what I needed to know. Like I mentioned, this file system is a tad different than what I had in front of me, so I was unable to tell him to remove odex. He had mentioned that for him, Nova had a file folder, he asked me if he was supposed to move just the apk or the whole thing, I've only swapped apks, not file folders. But you've been informative. Thank you......
Edit: Still getting force closures after the move. :/
Sent from My Beast™
GTP7310
StarkCity said:
The individual wants to completely wipe out stock launcher and replace permanently with Nova, he has moved the apk, but is getting force closed, I can't confirm if he's deleted or froze stock launcher, and I'm sure he didn't delete odex, which is what I needed to know. Like I mentioned, this file system is a tad different than what I had in front of me, so I was unable to tell him to remove odex. He had mentioned that for him, Nova had a file folder, he asked me if he was supposed to move just the apk or the whole thing, I've only swapped apks, not file folders. But you've been informative. Thank you......
Edit: Still getting force closures after the move. :/
Sent from My Beast™
GTP7310
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed Nova, set it as default, and deleted the TW Launcher without any issues with this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1667140&highlight=bloatware+remover
I'd guess in his/her case, edit the batch file to only remove the TW Launcher (provided he has installed a custom recovery).
I did it that way and not getting any FCs
forsakened said:
I installed Nova, set it as default, and deleted the TW Launcher without any issues with this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1667140&highlight=bloatware+remover
I'd guess in his/her case, edit the batch file to only remove the TW Launcher (provided he has installed a custom recovery).
I did it that way and not getting any FCs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, problem is moving Nova to system permanently. Deleting stuff is fine, its just Nova doesn't like being in system.app for some reason.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

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