Database Users

How to UNINSTALL unwanted stock/preinstalled apps from G1

How to remove unwanted stock/preinstalled apps
This is not a question. This is howto
I DID search through the forum and found nothing but
Q: how to remove/uninstall preinstalled apps ?
A: no way !!!
WHAT ??? WRONG ANSWER !!!
Here is how:
First of all I’ll describe my rooted, of course, phone configuration, so if you are on the same boat you can do same trick 99% if not you’ll know where to go
- CyanogenMod 4.1.2.1 (this is latest experimental as of sept-05-09) –works very stable for me
- 4GB SD card partitioned: FAT32, ext3 (512mb), linux_swap (32mb)
(great guide how to part your sd here: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f56/compcache-userinit-22465/index4.html#post232988 (page 4)
- CompCache with Backing Swap (here: http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f56/compcache-userinit-22465/index4.html#post232988 (page 1)
Requirements:
1) G1 rooted phone
2) Explorer with ability to explore /system folders – I use Astro (market)
3) PC/MAC
4) SDK installed on it (http://developer.android.com/sdk/download.html?v=android-sdk-windows-1.5_r3.zip)
Steps:
1) first and very important: full backup of your system.
- DO NANDROID (it’s preinstalled in Cyano, search forum for “nandroid” if you don’t have it)
- DO ext3.tar (if you use ext3)
- Make full SD copy to your PC
As described here: (yes, same tread, thanks to bdb4269) http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f56/compcache-userinit-22465/index4.html (page 4)
Now we are safe..well, almost
2) find full name for the application you want to uninstall, say for Amazon MP3 it will be com.amazon.mp3.apk
I did it like this
- open Astro explorer
- go to the very top (/)
- search “amazon”
- when search done, write down full app name
- long press trackball – chose – open containing folder – remember the path (ie /system/app)
3) Assume SDK and USB drivers are installed ( http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/device.html )
And phone is connected to pc/mac
= below guide is from http://oneclickandroid.blogspot.com/ with my comments =
- Start emulator (don’t think it is necessary, but lets follow – emulator located in SDK folder\tools\emulator.exe in my case C:\SDK_15\tools\
CMD window pops up for a second and disappeared
- open CMD prompt (in Windows: Start > run > print: cmd , hit OK/enter)
- execute "adb shell" in on terminal from SDK_ROOT/tool folder
(if you did not register SDK folder in windows variables you need to cd to this folder first:
print: cd c:\sdk_15\tools hit enter
print: adb shell hit enter, you’ll see new prompt appeared: #
- print: mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
This will mount your system folder with read/write permission
- go to system/apps folder of your phone
(print: cd /system/apps hit enter)
*** guide says “/system/apps” but in my case it is “/system/app” ??? (remember I asked you to write down full path and name from Astro ? check your path first ***
- print: rm yourunwantedapplication.apk
i.e. rm com.amazon.mp3.apk hit enter
now, check installed apps in your phone (no reload req.) – is amazon disappeared ?
I wish to try this with app for that has a replacement from the market, like
Dialer – aTakePhone or Music – Meridian etc
Hope someone brave will do it before I do
Deleting may be unsafe if other preinstalled apps or process have links to uninstalled app
What happens in this case? wish someone knows the answer.
I dont think this trick will speedup your phone if you've moved your apps to ext2/3/4 already I just dont want to see useless apps in my phone/pc
Please reply here if you have experience of deleting preinstalled apps
sorry, english is my second languague
Good luck !

Hahahaha... all that trouble just to install a few unnecessary apps off of a ROOTED phone?! If you had searched, you'd have seen the numerous posts where we've posted instructions on uninstalling apps through Terminal. Literally 4 lines of code at most! Note that you can do this with any app you don't want. I have xROM, and one of the first things I do whenever I clean install to the latest version is replace ringtones and remove apps, including HTC Mail, Email, Amazon mp3, and Android Music. It takes me about 2 minutes to remove these apps.
Example for removing Amazon MP3:
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
rm -r /system/app/com.amazon-mp3.apk
mount -o rw,remount /data
rm -r /data/data/com.amazon.mp3
exit
exit

uansari1 said:
mount -o rw,remount /data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/data is never mounted read-only.

zelipukin said:
...
- Start emulator (don’t think it is necessary, but lets follow – emulator located in SDK folder\tools\emulator.exe in my case C:\SDK_15\tools\
CMD window pops up for a second and disappeared
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not how you start the emulator, in the window that disappears is a message telling you to start with the proper parameters, which you'd see if starting from a command line. If the emulator actually was running, then all your adb commands would then fail because it wouldn't know what device you wanted to address, you'd have to use "adb -d" to tell it to use the real device rather than the emulator.

jashsu said:
/data is never mounted read-only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info.. guess I've been doing an extra step, but this means I can do I through terminal even faster.

Easy way to remove unwanted preinstalled apps
Use Root Explorer to browse to /data/app_s and find the applications you don't want. Delete the APK and ODEX files and you are done.
Always remember to make a backup of your phone, before you start deleting.

ewaldtx said:
Use Root Explorer to browse to /data/app_s and find the applications you don't want. Delete the APK and ODEX files and you are done.
Always remember to make a backup of your phone, before you start deleting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The app_s folder is only used for Hero ROMs because there isn't enough space in /system, so it's placed in /system/sd (the mount point of the ext partition) if you have an ext partition for A2SD.
For regular google source builds just go to /system/app.

there is an app called rootexplorer it has a button to remove syatem apps. real easy to use. http://www.cyrket.com/package/com.sp...e.rootexplorer

saprano614 said:
there is an app called rootexplorer it has a button to remove syatem apps. real easy to use. http://www.cyrket.com/package/com.sp...e.rootexplorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and it works great

Sorry to kind of hijack this but cyrket.com always shows as a blank page.
anyone know why or how to fix that?

i think simply deleting the apk files and data folder will keep an entry in some kind of registry in android. if i just delete the apk files and data folder and run fix_permissions, it shows the same number of processes.

SUFBS
is a rooted file browser and it is, by far, the easiest way of uninstalling any stock apps.
Click one button to make the system folder re-writable (same thing with data folder, just a button), navigate to the apps directory and just delete. or you can search for the app and just delete it from the search window. Voila!

Ssantos6981 said:
is a rooted file browser and it is, by far, the easiest way of uninstalling any stock apps.
Click one button to make the system folder re-writable (same thing with data folder, just a button), navigate to the apps directory and just delete. or you can search for the app and just delete it from the search window. Voila!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you talking about rootexplorer or what? elaborate a little..
i just bought and downloaded/installed rootexplorer simply to delete stock apps. upon opening it ask me to allow it. i say yes and it says my phone isn't rooted.
weird.. i just upgraded from cyanogen v4.1.999( or something around that) to the newest 4.2whatever. so how if my phone not rooted?!

blackinches said:
are you talking about rootexplorer or what? elaborate a little..
i just bought and downloaded/installed rootexplorer simply to delete stock apps. upon opening it ask me to allow it. i say yes and it says my phone isn't rooted.
weird.. i just upgraded from cyanogen v4.1.999( or something around that) to the newest 4.2whatever. so how if my phone not rooted?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try it again lol. it should work
make sure your not on the stock adp recovery

Root explorer!!!

Hi,
i'm trying ro remove stock apps for quite a few days, and i'm getting desperate!
I have everything... titatium, terminal, root explorer, etc etc
with terminal I also receive "directory not empty", but with root explorer I can delete the apk's from /system/app ... I confirm after that they are not there, bus as soon as I reboot the phone they come back.
what can I do ?
I have HTC desire with stock android, rooted .. and also a couple of programs I instaled I don't really knwo what they do.. like rom manager, clockword recovery, etc
plz help!

Sleeepy2 said:
Sorry to kind of hijack this but cyrket.com always shows as a blank page.
anyone know why or how to fix that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is because the full url path is not correct. Hover cursor over link and look at lower left corner to view the url path...it has those .... in it and will not work. We need the full exact url path.

just use titanum backup,rt click on application it will show (remove),be sure u didn't updated any stock app e.g gmail update

Regarding using Root Explorer on stock G Tab updated to 1.2-4349...
Trying to remove some of the apps preloaded and using Root Explorer get a statement - my phone not rooted.
I want to get the apps off. What to do now? Thanks http://media.xda-developers.com/images/smilies/smile.gif

Thanks for this clear procedure !

How to remove .apk's: A Complete Newbs Guide

So, I'm a newb. I got my Incredible and all I wanted to do was root it so I could start picking it apart. I patiently waited, reading all the posts on here and all the flaming by complete jackholes, that weren't contributing at all to any of the discussions. unrevoked, with all of their hard work, nailed it! It is now pathetically simple to root your Incredible.
I recently started installing custom ROMs on my Incredible (Jager, Virtuous, Ultimate Droid and SkyRaider). They're all great ROMs, but I totally dug CrystalClearROMs Ruby. It's slim, fast and intuitive. But, it had some bloatware that I didn't want, namely Amazon MP3. I researched and found a couple of pages that explained how to remove .apk's from other phones but not from the Incredible (correctly). After piecing the parts together, I came up with this...hope it helps.
I take no responsibility for you screwing your phone up. This worked perfectly on mine.
Pre-requisites
Your Incredible must be rooted
You must have ClockworkMod installed
You must have ROM Manager installed (buy it, it is totally worth it)
You must have the Android 2.2 SDK installed
You have to be able to follow directions
These directions assume you are using Windows 7
I would post links to all of this stuff, but I'm a newb and I can't post links...sorry.
OK, here goes...
Connect your Incredible to your PC with the micro USB port. You need to have the proper drivers installed and USB debugging turned on.
Open ROM Manager and select "Reboot into Recovery".
After your phone reboots, select "mounts and storage" and press the optical trackpad.
Select "mount /system" and press the optical trackpad.
Press the power button to return to the previous menu.
On your PC, unzip the Android SDK and place it in a folder, where you can get to it.
Browse to the Tools folder in the SDK and hold down shift while you right click inside the folder. Select "Open command window here". A command window should open in C:*****\android-sdk-windows\tools>
Type "adb devices" (without the quotes. all directions from here out are without the quotes). Your display should say..."List of devices attached" followed by a custom string of digits and the word "recovery". If you don't see this, you've done something wrong.
Try using your up and down arrow keys while in the cmd window instead of re-typing
Now type "adb shell". You should get "~ #" in the cmd window.
You are now browsing your Incredible using the shell.
Useful commands while inside the shell...
ls = list
cd = change directory
cd / = to the top directory
exit = exit out of the shell
Type "cd /system/app". You are now browsing the "system/app" directory.
Type "ls" to see a list of apk's that are currently installed on your Incredible.
The Amazon MP3 apk was named "com.amazon.mp3.apk".
To delete it, type "rm com.amazon.mp3.apk" and press enter.
This will work with any apk. However, make sure you know what you're deleting. You can do really bad things to your Incredible if you delete the wrong apk!
Once you've deleted all the apk's you want to, select "reboot system now" on your Incredible and sit back and enjoy an adult beverage, while your Incredible reboots.
Hopefully, if you've done everything right, your phone reboots with the offending app gone from your Incredible. If not, you better re-install your OS.
I hope this helped you in your quest to create the perfect ROM. Let me just say again that I love CrystalClearROMs Ruby. If you're looking for the ultimate in trimmed down ROM, look no further. If you want the Market, make sure you install the version with Google Apps or you'll be installing apk's to get it.
Good luck!
Jeremy

You should include instructions on fully removing said apks, including the use of pm. Just deleting is often not enough.

Just wondering, is it fine to just delete the apk in Root Explorer?

is it not the same to just remove them using root explorer?

What's the difference between apks in /system/app folder and /data/app folder ? I can easily delete (or move to another backup directory) the apks from the system/app folder and they disappear from the apps list. However, when I move/ delete apks from /data/app directory, they still remain there.
Yes, I can uninstall the apps in /data/app directory, but that's not what I want to do. I just want to move it temporarily and move it back when I need it.
Thanks

just to put my $0.02... i wouldnt totaly delete them, just in case you need to reinstal for whatever reason. try this instead...
mkdir /system/app.disabled
mv /system/app/"whateverapp".apk /system/app.disabled/
that way youre not seeing or using them but still around if you need to get them back. works for me anyway.....

I just use titanium backup and choose uninstall (i back the app up first incase I need it) easy and no shell commands.

Told you I was a newb. I checked out Titanium Backup and that is pretty sweet.
I am not familiar with pm...can anyone explain? Thanks!

From what I've read online the use of pm is
pm uninstall [nameofapk.apk]
Since its Linux I think you could type pm --help to get a full list and description of use but I'm not near a computer yet to test it

[Q] OK, rooted. Now what?

I've rooted my nook simple touch but am unable to install any apps. I get messages that for security reasons I am blocked from adding any apps that aren't from the android store. There is also a message in settings that to install apps I need to place the app in the /system/apps directory. OK, but I cannot get to /system/apps. There is no file manager function to be found and I cannot install one because of the above message/situation. I tried plugging into my computer but am not able to browse the nooks root directories. I'm stuck. How do I make this thing useful and get a file manager and apps installed?
I have a nook simple touch, version 1.1.0 and used touchnooter-2-1-31. Useless without a root file browser.

You don't need to install apps in /system/app
That directory is read-only.
To modify existing things in there, remount it read/write using ADB shell:
Code:
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
There are tools to change the settings to allow non-market apps.
Still, if you have sqlite3 installed on your desktop you can:
Code:
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db settings.db
sqlite3 settings.db
update secure set value=1 where name='install_non_market_apps';
.q
adb push settings.db /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db

Thanks...what tools?
Renate NST said:
You don't need to install apps in /system/app
That directory is read-only.
To modify existing things in there, remount it read/write using ADB shell:
Code:
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
There are tools to change the settings to allow non-market apps.
Still, if you have sqlite3 installed on your desktop you can:
Code:
adb pull /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db settings.db
sqlite3 settings.db
update secure set value=1 where name='install_non_market_apps';
.q
adb push settings.db /data/data/com.android.providers.settings/databases/settings.db
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What tools are available to allow install of non-market apps? I've been looking and finding nothing so far. Are these tools something that needs to be searched for and installed from the market?

Code:
adb install [i]whateverappyoulike[/i].apk

praedoratrebates said:
What tools are available to allow install of non-market apps? I've been looking and finding nothing so far. Are these tools something that needs to be searched for and installed from the market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have NookColorTools on your nook - it is sometimes included in the rooting process.
If so, when you open it, uncheck - and then check again - to allow non-market apps.

Doesn't work
ladykayaker said:
Do you have NookColorTools on your nook - it is sometimes included in the rooting process.
If so, when you open it, uncheck - and then check again - to allow non-market apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that. ALL apps that I then try to install gives me the "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package."
As for running adb anything: no such app on my linux system and, yes, I do have sqlite3 installed. There is no shell on the nook either so I cannot run it there either. I cannot access the root locations on the nook from my computer so I cannot move anything around and I cannot copy apk files over to install them that way. At this point, I may as well unroot the nook because it doesn't provide any functionality beyond the nook book reader. I wanted to install the kindle app so I could read my kindle books too but it is impossible.

praedoratrebates said:
I wanted to install the kindle app so I could read my kindle books too but it is impossible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To solve this problem I can suggest installing Calibre on your computer.
You will need to install the plugin to remove amazon-kindle DRM.
Download the kindle books onto your computer, open the book in Calibre.
Remove the DRM
Convert to epub .
Connect your nook to your computer, and you can then use 'send to device' to send the epub version of the book to your nook.
No rooting of the nook is needed for this. I do this to read kindle books on my nook!

Calibre
ladykayaker said:
To solve this problem I can suggest installing Calibre on your computer.
You will need to install the plugin to remove amazon-kindle DRM.
Download the kindle books onto your computer, open the book in Calibre.
Remove the DRM
Convert to epub .
Connect your nook to your computer, and you can then use 'send to device' to send the epub version of the book to your nook.
No rooting of the nook is needed for this. I do this to read kindle books on my nook!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have calibre installed and the DRM removal plugins. Problem with the kindle plugin, however, is it requires a serial number of your kindle to remove the DRM. I do not have a kindle, just a kindle app. I have no idea how to remove the kindle/amazon DRM from the books without a serial number for the plugin.

praedoratrebates said:
I have calibre installed and the DRM removal plugins. Problem with the kindle plugin, however, is it requires a serial number of your kindle to remove the DRM. I do not have a kindle, just a kindle app. I have no idea how to remove the kindle/amazon DRM from the books without a serial number for the plugin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmmm....I don't have a kindle.I also don't remember being asked for the kindle serial number.
Did you get the DRM removal plugin from Aprentice Alf?
I just looked at mine - if I click on customize plugin - it shows this as the PID - B006ODEPLC
I don't know where I got that from. See if that helps you.

You said that your Nook was "rooted".
To me, the standard for rooting is getting a root shell via ADB.
It doesn't sound like you are there.

praedoratrebates said:
I tried that. ALL apps that I then try to install gives me the "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package."
As for running adb anything: no such app on my linux system and, yes, I do have sqlite3 installed. There is no shell on the nook either so I cannot run it there either. I cannot access the root locations on the nook from my computer so I cannot move anything around and I cannot copy apk files over to install them that way. At this point, I may as well unroot the nook because it doesn't provide any functionality beyond the nook book reader. I wanted to install the kindle app so I could read my kindle books too but it is impossible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. "Parse Error: There is a problem parsing the package." = You've got the package for a different version of Android.
2. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1241935
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010
3. NookColorTools > Development > check 'USB debuging'.
tldr.. Learn to use your search engine. Everything has been already written at least twice in this forum.

[Q] How do I install 3rd-party APK on rooted NST? (Nook Color Tools doesn't help)...

Hi,
First of all let me say thanks to whoever first rooted the NST. It simply rocks. Also, XDA's introductory video made me laugh and scared at the same time.
I'm trying to install an apk which is not available through Google Play/Android Market. I go to the .apk in ES File Explorer, but it won't install. It says
'Install blocked
'For security, your phone is set to block installation of applications not sourced in Android Market'
In Nook Color Tools, 'Allow non-market apps' is checked. I note that below, it says
'For this to work, the apps apk files must be copied to system/app'.
However, I cannot persuade ES File Explorer to copy the .apk file to /system/app, which I assume is protected or something.
So, I'm stuck. How do I get this little terror to install?!
Many thanks.

http://nookdevs.com/NookColor_Enable_App_install_from_on-device_installers
On the device is an app called NookColor Tools. Run it, and ensure that the checkbox for on-device install is checked. If it's already checked, uncheck and re-check it to make sure that it's actually set. Exit the app and reboot your nook. You should now be able to sideload apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To copy files to the system partition you need to mount it read/write mode. In your ES file explorer there should be an option that allows you to do that "mount root" or something similar. You can also use Rhytm file manager (i use it therefore i know you can do this in RFM).
If you have adb access you can also connect to NST (adb shell) and run
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
http://nookdevs.com/Nook_Simple_Touch_write_enable_the_system_directory
5 seconds in web search engine
query : "install non market applications nook"
dude...

You only have to put things in /system/app if you don't want to "install" them.
Most apps go in /data/app which is easier anyway and no hassle when you want to upgrade.
I always install apps over ADB using "adb install myapp.apk"
(especially when I am developing and doing 20 installs an hour.)

osowiecki said:
If you have adb access you can also connect to NST (adb shell) and run
mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
5 seconds in web search engine
query : "install non market applications nook"
dude...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks .
I did try a lot of search strings, but not that specific one. I guess I didn't want forum people to get cross with me! Oh well...

forgottenit said:
However, I cannot persuade ES File Explorer to copy the .apk file to /system/app, which I assume is protected or something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem for an hour or two. However, ES File Explorer allows you to mount the system partition in read/write mode. Run ES File Explorer, click on the icon near the top LHS corner, choose Root Explorer from the menu, and choose Mount R/W from the pop-up menu. I needed to add and delete system files.

How to Root and set up a new Nook Glowlight 3

I got tired of having to jump between a bunch of threads when setting up my Glowlight 3. So I'm consolidating directions into one post in the hopes that it'll save others time and trouble. Credit for instructions should go to the people who actually wrote them: arnchav of mobileread; RyogoNA, Silent eInk, cazar and Renate NST here on xda; and everyone who figured out the root exploit, sideloading, the devs behind Relaunch, RelaunchX and F-Droid. Material lifted from their original posts (linked at the bottom).
Now, this is going to walk you through doing a few things:
A) Setting up a progam called ADB on your computer so that it can talk to your NG3
B) Adding a "Launcher" app to your nook so that you can access other apps you sideload later
C) Root theNook so that you can do more stuff with the settings, including the ability to...
D) Fix a bug that, after installing a launcher, causes the NG3 to get stuck on the loading screen after rebooting
Before you start, you need to set up ADB on your computer. Follow the instructions linked here. The rest of this post will assume you're using Windows, but won't be hugely different from other OSs.
Here we go:
To set up ADB on your nook:
1. On your Nook, go to Settings>About. You should see the serial number, app version, etc. At the top of that page, there is a nook icon. Tap that icon rapidly until the developer menu opens.
2. Tap "Android Development Settings" and check the box for "USB debugging".
3. At the Developer options screen you are on (where you checked the box), hit the back arrow at the top-left of the screen to go back. But do not exit the developer menu.
4. On your computer, open a command prompt and navigate to the folder where you put adb (in my case I typed in "cd adb/platform-tools")
5. Plug the USB in to the nook. When the nook prompts you to turn on USB mode, do so. At the adb command prompt, type adb devices. ADB should recognize the nook, but say that it is unauthorized.
6. From windows, eject the nook to disconnect nook's file sharing. Once the nook's USB file sharing screen goes away, you should be able to see the developer menu again. Tap "Allow Debugging" one time! There will be no confirmation, just do it one time.
6. Unplug the USB, plug it back in, turn on USB mode when prompted. Back in the command prompt, type adb devices again. This time it should see the device and simply say "device" where it used to say "unauthorized". Congratulations! You can now install a launcher.
To install a launcher, like RelaunchX
1. Download your launcher apk of choice. If you don't know what to pick, try RelaunchX, and download the latest version from plusz's thread here: https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?t=284418 (n.b. To make things easy, ignore his suggestion to get it through F-Droid as you'll need a new launcher to use F-Droid in the first place. Just download the apk).
2. In Command prompt, type adb install <filelocation>, where filelocation is the complete address of the apk. If you have file explorer open, you can just type adb install then a space, then drag the file in to the terminal and it will copy the location for you. (Make sure again that there is a space between "install" and the path or it won't work).
3. ADB should do it's thing and you will get a "success" message in Terminal.
4. Eject the nook from the PC. Shortly after the connection is cut, a window should open on the nook allowing you to select either the nook launcher or your new launcher. If you use RelaunchX, you may get a warning that it wasn't built with this device in mind. You can ignore it, it works great on this device.
This is all great, except there's a bug in how B&N set up the device that only shows up if you install a new launcher. If you reboot the device, you'll be stuck on the boot animation until you do weird things like hold down the power button for a long time to pull up the reboot/power off options (only seems to sometimes work). To fix that, we actually have to disable, remove, or replace the boot animation file itself.
To root:
1. Download the modified Glowlight Plus script attached here ("rootGL3.zip" - almost identical to cazar's rooGLP-3 script package, but with one line changing the model number from 510 to 520)
1. Enable USB debugging in Developer options
2. Connect USB cable and make sure your nook is showing up in 'adb devices'
3. Extract rootGLP.zip and run rootnook.cmd (or rootnook.sh on linux)
To fix (read: disable) the buggy boot animation:
1. Connect your nook to the computer again
2. (windows) open a command prompt and and navigate to the folder that adb is in.
3. Enter the following commands, in order:
Code:
adb shell
su
mount -o remount, rw /system
mv /system/bin/bootanimation /system/bin/bootanimation.bak
reboot
OPTIONAL: To restore a working boot animation (steps above will replace broken boot animation with a black screen that goes away after a few seconds)
1. Download the attached zip
2. If it's not still connected, connect the Nook to the computer again and tap the button on the nook to turn on USB mode when prompted,
3. On your computer, open up the Nook in Explorer(/Finder/your file manager of choice). Open up the NOOK Folder if you see one.
4. Copy the file inside the zip (bootanimation) to that folder on the Nook.
5. Eject the nook (as in, in windows, click the option to safely remove it as a device) but keep it physically connected
6. Open a command prompt(/terminal/whatever you use for adb) and navigate to the folder that adb is in.
7. Enter the following commands:
Code:
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
cp /storage/spsd/NOOK/bootanimation /system/bin/bootanimation
cd /system/bin
chmod 755 bootanimation
reboot
You now have a rooted Nook Glowlight 3 that'll boot into a launcher of your choice! You can now sideload apks of your choice using adb the same way you installed RelaunchX.
Have fun!
Sources for these instructions:
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showpost.php?p=3632665&postcount=118 (how to sideload onto nook 3)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=75717722&postcount=113 (same as above, diff user)
https://www.mobileread.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3632665#post3632665 (to get RelaunchX)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64191791 (for nook GLP rooting script)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=76042888&postcount=127 (to fix boot animation loop)
HELP! I DID THIS A LONG TIME AGO AND NOW MY NOOK GLOWLIGHT 3 IS STUCK ON THE LOADING SCREEN!
Don't worry, this is fixable. What's happened is that Barnes and Noble pushed out a system update that undid almost everything except that part that breaks the boot animation thing (specifically it overwrites the directory with everything that gives you root access and a working boot animation, but left your custom launcher in place).
All you have to do is re-do most of the steps above. Start from the "to root" step - even if the device is stuck on a boot animation, you should still be able to use adb. After redoing the steps, your GL3 should work normally again.
Unfortunately it looks like this is going to happen every time B&N pushes a system update, but that's not that often.

If someone knows a step-by-step way to replace the stock bootanimation with the 4.6 bootanimation file (zipped up and attached here, thanks to RyogoNA), let me know and I'll update the OP. I tried used adb shell to copy it to /system/bin/bootanimation, but I still just get a black screen on startup in its place.

jptiger said:
I still just get a black screen...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm, did the copy of bootanimation work?
Did you:
Code:
/system/bin # chmod 755 bootanimation

Tried that, but I got an error about a Read-only file system, even after using su. What's the basic thing I'm missing?

jptiger said:
Tried that, but I got an error about a Read-only file system, even after using su. What's the basic thing I'm missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got a private message pointing me to the command I was missing, apparently from a how-to page in Russian. For anyone else trying to do this, try:
Code:
mount -o rw,remount -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p5 /system
cd /system/bin
chmod 755 bootanimation

Can't get adb devices to give autorhized access to ng3 w 4.9.2.24 os
First off thank you for doing this work, and I am excited to root my ng3!
In trying to follow your directions on rooting, I am hitting a snag. The os is not operating in the anticipated manner. When I do the usb unplug and replug and hit the usb debugging checkbox I can not get authorization.
Please help!
Thanks in advance!

Trouble with root
Hi,
Thanks for putting this all together. However, I'm having trouble with the root step.
You'll have to put the link together because as a new poster I can't post links.
Any help would be appreciated!
imgur . com
/a
/ckm0jRq

xelcho said:
First off thank you for doing this work, and I am excited to root my ng3!
In trying to follow your directions on rooting, I am hitting a snag. The os is not operating in the anticipated manner. When I do the usb unplug and replug and hit the usb debugging checkbox I can not get authorization.
Please help!
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm. Did you get authorization after following the directions under "To Set up ADB on your Nook"?
L3R0k2b2 said:
Hi,
Thanks for putting this all together. However, I'm having trouble with the root step.
You'll have to put the link together because as a new poster I can't post links.
Any help would be appreciated!
imgur . com
/a
/ckm0jRq
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ooh, that's exotic. I've never seen that before. Just going off the error text, you might need to find a newer version of adb somewhere online. Try that or try a different computer?

Adb is super stable for many years now, although it can fail to connect to your device properly for many reasons.
Can you reach developer menu navigating with nooks keys? I sometimes enable /disable /enable usb Debug, followed or preceded by revoking all PC's permissions. These are all standard options in android phones s system. menus. Rebooting nook may help too, and numerous times I've seen bad cables get in my way. Tip, just because a cable works with one device is not a guarantee it's working everywhere.

RE: STEP 6. "From windows, eject the nook to disconnect nook's file sharing."
Note:
1. The location of the eject menu is where you typically see "Safely remove hardware and eject media" in the windows taskbar.
2. After attempting to eject your Nook GLP, you may get a window that pops up that says "Windows can't stop [your device]" because a process is using it -- and you may not be able to track down which process is using it (for me, closing all windows and apps didn't help). If this is the case, hit "WINDOWS+X >> Shut down or Sign Out >> Sign out" -- then log back in. This *should* stop all processes and allow you to proceed to the next step (it did for me).
*My Nook GLP recently updated and I lost root. This also caused the startup animation to continue non-stop (but holding the power button and then selecting cancel from the options allowed me to select which launcher I wanted to use).
** Additionally, I had one other issue. My (windows) laptop wouldn't recognize my nook at all. Turns out it was the USB cable. So if you have that issue, try using a different USB cable -- preferably the one that came with your nook.

Missing epubs
So I followed the instructions, everything comes up great. I can sideload apps, I have a new launcher etc. But if I copy a file (epub or otherwise) into the NOOK folder on my PC and then browse to the NOOK folder using the file manager on the Nook reader, its empty. At first I thought it was an issue with the file manager, so I installed another one. Same thing.
When I load epubs into the NOOK folder and open the B&N launcher, it sees the books and adds them to my library. But for whatever reason I can not find where the epubs are using a file manager. I even tried using grep to search for the file I copied in adb shell but it doesn't come up with anything. Anyone know whats going on and how to fix it?

Never mind its under /storage/spsd/

mount: Operation not permitted
I get this error after typing in the mount -o ... command.
Any help apprecidated!

root file missing
Hey, @jptiger In the setup instructions the rootgl3.zip file is missing a link now... Does anyone have an active link to this file, or another working root process? I couldnt find one by searching online..

Misssing files
I rebooted my nook recently and it comes back up but when I got /storage/spsd/ its empty. When I attach my nook to my pc, I can see all my books. So I did the following:
Code:
adb shell
su
busybox find / -name "*.epub"
The only files that it shows are the sample epubs that come with the Nook. I am kind of stumped as to how the files show up when I browse the nook as a usb drive. But will not show up when browsing for them via the nook itself or adb. Any thoughts?

Heretic09 said:
I rebooted my nook recently and it comes back up but when I got /storage/spsd/ its empty. When I attach my nook to my pc, I can see all my books. So I did the following:
Code:
adb shell
su
busybox find / -name "*.epub"
The only files that it shows are the sample epubs that come with the Nook. I am kind of stumped as to how the files show up when I browse the nook as a usb drive. But will not show up when browsing for them via the nook itself or adb. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like the flash memory on the Nook maybe going bad. There was a bunch of .chk files in the hidden LOST folder. Reformatting it and copying the books back to the nook seems to have fixed the problem for now. I may have to invest in the Kobo Clara HD in the future.

andjosgra said:
Hey, @jptiger In the setup instructions the rootgl3.zip file is missing a link now... Does anyone have an active link to this file, or another working root process? I couldnt find one by searching online..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's weird. I don't know why they took down the original attachment. I can't find it, but I've gotten the on from the NGP+ and modified it the way they did with the originals. It's attached to this post, give it a shot.
EDIT: I uploaded the version attached here to the OP, but with the original name. The two zips have the same contents.

Heretic09 said:
So I followed the instructions, everything comes up great. I can sideload apps, I have a new launcher etc. But if I copy a file (epub or otherwise) into the NOOK folder on my PC and then browse to the NOOK folder using the file manager on the Nook reader, its empty. At first I thought it was an issue with the file manager, so I installed another one. Same thing.
When I load epubs into the NOOK folder and open the B&N launcher, it sees the books and adds them to my library. But for whatever reason I can not find where the epubs are using a file manager. I even tried using grep to search for the file I copied in adb shell but it doesn't come up with anything. Anyone know whats going on and how to fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb can't access NOOK storage when it's still connected to PC. Eject the device under BNRV520 (should say "NOOK: (F" or similar), but do not disconnect. Then you can find files in both adb and later NOOK's file manager when you disconnect. (should be under /storage/spsd/)
Guide is great though. Thank you all so much! Fast and easy! (unlike making a B&N account)
btw, I had to run "adb shell su" instead of 'adb shell' -> 'su' to get su priviledge, so maybe try that.

what is the adb command to manually launch relaunchx? the launcher option stopped working, and i can't get it to run at all.

Happy to report that the excellent instructions work great on the new 7.8" Glowlight Plus that got released yesterday. Change the model number to BNRV700 in the rootnook.cmd file and you're good to go!