Problem pushing apps to System - Zenfone 2 Laser Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I own Zenfone 2 Laser (ZE550KL) running Marshmallow powered by Snapdragon 615 and boosted by 3GB RAM. I have rooted the device and have a TWRP flashable backup in case required.
I have deleted many bloat system apps that I never used but was pushed by Asus. Howevr there are few apps that I want to be system apps. So, I installed them as user apps then pushed them to system using ES File Explorer and changing permissions properly. On reboot they work properly and show as system apps. However after every so many tweaks like this, I wanted to reset the phone. I did a reset and was surprised to see that the apps that i pushed as system apps have disappeared from the app drawer. However when inspected through ES File Explorer, they are still very much present in the system/app & system/priv-app folder accordingly but doesn't show up as apps in the drawer! Why is this happening? What am I doing wrong?

Related

[Q] Is deleting files from /System/App safe?

Navigating through my root tree, I´ve stumbled at so many bloatware files I just want to delete to save some storage space (16GB version here) but I´m a little afraid of. They are on the /System/App folder and for every .apk there´s a .odex file, so I would like to delete them both. Is it safe? Is there any verification process at boot of these files? Some of them look like really system apps that I´ll never touch, but others are for other phone carries in my country, social networks I´ve never heard before etc.
There´s another folder called /System/Apps/Bootup that I would love to delete files from, there´s a lot of LG crapware in there that I think are loaded at boot but I have the same fear of bootloops...
Any solution to my urge to free some memory?
Hi,
Delete some apps in /system/app not gonna free up your "sd card" storage... You always will have the same free amunt of memory available on your 16 Gb...
It's normal to have an .odex file under eachs system apps, your rom is odexed (search on Google if you don't know what is it).
You can delete some system apps but be careful at what apps you delete, make a backup first.
Some system apps are alright to delete along with the .odex ones too. There's a list in the general section I believe that lists off apps that can be deleted with no issue.
Problem is though unless you plan to store stuff in your system partition, deleting apps doesn't really increase your usable storage.
Sent from my LG G2
Re,
Yes there is a (brief) list here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2456974&highlight=list or http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2521066.
Like SupaSwag said when you delete an app, delete the .odex file too. If you don't know what you are doing I recommend you to leave the system apps as there are to avoid any kind of issues. At best you'll gain a little free RAM and maybe a little battery life without some apps runing/connecting to the network in background but in any case you will not gain more usable storage. At worst some function will not work at all, Force Closes, bootloop, etc...
In any case backup first (backup in recovery if something goes wrong and you encounter a bootloop) or at least a backup with an app like Titanium Backup (and make an uptade.zip in Titanium).
And what do you think of the apps in the bootup folder?
And then, how van I free some space for my mp3s? Coming from a S3 with a 64gb microSD card.
sylviofurtado said:
And what do you think of the apps in the bootup folder?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Re,
It's some LG apps, the name of the apps say all: TaskManager, FileManager, etc... Nothing very important it's LG stuff but it depends of you... I deleted all the apps in the /system/apps/bootup because I don't need them with my use, but you?
I think the best is to freeze those apps with Titanium Backup, use your phone as "normal" for a few days and if you don't have any issues or if you realize that you don't need them, then delete them...
Another solution is to rename the apps you don't want with the .bak extension, in case you need an app you can rename it by removing the .bak extension, reboot and the app is here

Debloating - Went One Step Too Far

Rooted, stock, 4.4.2 and I went one step too far manually debloating my Note3. I've always used QuickPic for images so I removed SecGallery2013.apk and .odex from /system/priv-app folder. Now I find that Gallery is tied to both the Camera and Contact apps. (ie. it won't let me use QuickPic for adding Contact images).
Reinstalled .apk and .odex files to /priv-app folder, but Gallery not showing up in Apps screen. Titanium doesn't see it either, and camera complains "Unable to open app: com.sec.android.gallery3d is disabled". Perhaps I need to reinstall another Samsung component which I may have removed in my zeal to own my Note3?
Fixed
Never mind, it was incorrect permissions. All OK now.

Titanium restoring system apps on lollipop

Hey all, I'm having problems restoring system apps on stock lp d802, (such ass lg messaging). titanium stucks on restoring, after reboot app is there, but it's not responding (tried multiple apps). What am I missing?
Never restore system apps... Try restore only data, or use some sms backup app
_____________________________________Read more write less and be smart
Closed Force said:
Hey all, I'm having problems restoring system apps on stock lp d802, (such ass lg messaging). titanium stucks on restoring, after reboot app is there, but it's not responding (tried multiple apps). What am I missing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Siggey is right. Try to avoid system app restoring.
But, as a possible solution.. Set SELinux to Permissive and trying to restore your Titanium Backup again.
Just want to report that I managed to restore some of the system apps. After titanium stuck at restoring, force close it, go to es explorer navigate to root, system, apps, at root of folder there you will find the app you tried to restore in my example lggallery.apk. Create folder of the same name, change it's permissions to match other folders, move apk to folder, reboot.
Closed Force said:
Just want to report that I managed to restore some of the system apps. After titanium stuck at restoring, force close it, go to es explorer navigate to root, system, apps, at root of folder there you will find the app you tried to restore in my example lggallery.apk. Create folder of the same name, change it's permissions to match other folders, move apk to folder, reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's one of the apps that is causing the issue. For me it's Google Drive. Restore some first and you'll soon weed out which ones you can and can't restore.

[MOD] Remove unnecessary built-in APKS

Hello friends this is my first contribution to this forum, this file removes unnecessary built-in apks present in, /system/app & /system/priv-app.
I will miss the applications removed?
No, because a current copy of them is running on /data/app
Goal
Remove unused applications by the system
Free up space in the device memory
Compatibility
Nexus 5 android 6.0.1 must have root and twrp
How to use
Installed the android 6.0.1, get in playstore and update all applications, now just flash the zip via TWRP.
Removal list click to see
delete_recursive("/system/app/Chrome");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Books");
delete_recursive("/system/app/CloudPrint2");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Drive");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsDocsStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsSheetsStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/EditorsSlidesStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/FitnessPrebuilt");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GCS");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltNewsWeather");
delete_recursive("/system/app/NewsstandStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Maps");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltBugleStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Photos");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PlusOne");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GoogleContacts");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltDeskClockGoogle");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/GoogleDialer");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltGmail");
delete_recursive("/system/app/GoogleCamera");
delete_recursive("/system/priv-app/Velvet");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PrebuiltKeepStub");
delete_recursive("/system/app/talkback");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Music2");
delete_recursive("/system/app/PlayGames");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Hangouts");
delete_recursive("/system/app/GoogleTTS");
delete_recursive("/system/app/Videos");
delete_recursive("/system/app/WebViewGoogle");
This is a system partition
The deletion is useless because you can't use this space and you won't appreciate any differences
Read here, it is very very important
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64208563&postcount=3393
Personally I prefer to disable unnecessary apps
Pay attention
I do not like duplicate files, disabling an app the same will continue in the system, the idea is to not disable an app.
If I have the upgraded chrome in data\app I will not want an unusable copy of it on \system\app. My list does so with 30 Apps, if they are all updated on DATA I see no utility in maintaining obsolete unusable in the SYSTEM, and we still have the possibility to uninstall those we dislike.
ivn888 said:
This is a system partition
The deletion is useless because you can't use this space and you won't appreciate any differences
Read here, it is very very important
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64208563&postcount=3393
Personally I prefer to disable unnecessary apps
Pay attention
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you read that post he clearly says that to modify system you need to delete things from it to be safe. He is pointing out that it is an unknown. He said even to make small changes you would need more space. I see no reason to leave unneeded files in system. Maybe you want to run an app as system app and these unneeded files are getting in the way. Nothing wrong with getting rid of them.
We can use some root enabled file app managers (like es explorer, solid explorer) to uninstall the system apps.
I just want to know if is it safe or not?
And is it different than using flashable script?
parag60288 said:
We can use some root enabled file app managers (like es explorer, solid explorer) to uninstall the system apps.
I just want to know if is it safe or not?
And is it different than using flashable script?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
File explorers with root function can enable manual removal of system apps, but it is laborious and tedious remove as many apps, It is safe if you know what you are removing, because the system is running if you give problem can fall into a bootloop... my flash file is safe removal of 30 apps, all with updated copies of the same in DATA folder so I ask you to enter the play store and update it before you use it, nothing is lost only copies obsolete and useless are removed.
The advantage here is not to miss anything, remove enough waste Rom, and return the power to uninstall what you do not want. I do not use play books, play movies, keep, Drive, Hangouts... so without losing any, then after the flash zip i have the freedom to uninstall what I want.

How to correctly move app into /system/priv-app

I'm trying to find a way to move an app from /data/app to /system/priv-app correctly. I'm on Oreo 8.1.0 with January 5, 2018 security patches. I'm rooted with Magisk v16.0.
I've tried using ES File Explorer to move it manually and apply correct permissions. I've tried using Lucky Patcher and Titanium Backup Pro to move it. With the manual move and Lucky Patcher, the app disappears (icon/shortcut is shaded out and doesn't work). With Titanium Backup, it starts the processing and sits with "Processing" forever.
Does anyone know of a way to move the app to system correctly?
What app are you trying to do it for? The most efficient way that I've found is to...
1. Install the app normally.
2. Find the app within /data/app/ and copy the folder to your internal storage
3. Uninstall the app
4. Copy and paste the folder either into /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/
5. Reboot and see if it works
---------- Post added at 05:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------
What app are you trying to do it for? The most efficient way that I've found is to...
1. Install the app normally.
2. Find the app within /data/app/ and copy the folder to your internal storage
3. Uninstall the app
4. Copy and paste the folder either into /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/
5. Reboot and see if it works
Edit: It would seem that XDA is lagging for me. Excuse the double post, lol.
jvnat said:
I'm trying to find a way to move an app from /data/app to /system/priv-app correctly. I'm on Oreo 8.1.0 with January 5, 2018 security patches. I'm rooted with Magisk v16.0.
I've tried using ES File Explorer to move it manually and apply correct permissions. I've tried using Lucky Patcher and Titanium Backup Pro to move it. With the manual move and Lucky Patcher, the app disappears (icon/shortcut is shaded out and doesn't work). With Titanium Backup, it starts the processing and sits with "Processing" forever.
Does anyone know of a way to move the app to system correctly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mount system in TWRP, you can use file explorer in advance setting to move any file anywhere. No need to set any permissions. Just reboot. Been doing that for while now. No problems at all.
I use root explorer,install app normal .got to data/app.copy to system/privapp.then go back to data/app delete the app,then reboot.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give those methods a go.
I am trying to install an app in /system/priv-app and the app is not showing up in Settings -> Apps even with "Show system" selected.
This is on Google HTC Nexus 9 (flounder) Android 7.1.1 Security patch level October 5, 2017. I used TWRP to remount the root filesytem rw and move the app. I am trying to install com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1.
I installed the app from the Google Play store and copied it from
/data/app/com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1
to
/system/priv-app/com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1
The directory and all files and subdirectories are owner and group root.root. The permissions on the directory and files and subdirectories look correct. The com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1 directory is 755.
The directory and files are look to be correctly placed on the file system under /system/app-priv. I've checked multiple times. The app does not show up in System -> Apps even if "Show system" is selected. I understand that Android is supposed to find the new app in priv-app on boot and install it. That does not seem to be happening. Any other suggestions? Are there log files on boot I can check for error messages? Any help is appreciated.
TIA.
I have the same issue. When I move the fakegps app from data/app to system/priv-app then I have no icon to select the application from the home screen.
even after a reboot.
anybody knows how to get back the fakegps icon to be able to start the application?
If you guys are using Magisk root, I've found a module called App Systemizer which through a simple command line interface is able to convert apps you pick and choose from a list of installed ones on your phone to convert into system apps. Then when updates occur I use titanium backup's "integrate system dalvik into app" feature (it hangs so you have to force close it but it does the job) reboot and it's done.
The raw copy/paste way which has been described here has messed up my phone once or twice, and gave me a message on boot that "My phone has been corrupted or something along those lines and to contact the manufacturer".
TaZeR369 said:
If you guys are using Magisk root, I've found a module called App Systemizer which through a simple command line interface is able to convert apps you pick and choose from a list of installed ones on your phone to convert into system apps. Then when updates occur I use titanium backup's "integrate system dalvik into app" feature (it hangs so you have to force close it but it does the job) reboot and it's done.
The raw copy/paste way which has been described here has messed up my phone once or twice, and gave me a message on boot that "My phone has been corrupted or something along those lines and to contact the manufacturer".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App systemizer just grants the app the status "system app"(likely through linking and granting permissions). It in no way moves it to the system partition.
Ive come to the same realization after running into some questionable free space on my /system Hehe. I copy the APK using TWRP now seems to do the trick.
TaZeR369 said:
Ive come to the same realization after running into some questionable free space on my /system Hehe. I copy the APK using TWRP now seems to do the trick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what version of android can you get, I'm not getting on android 10 can you help me?
Above method didn't worked for me. Below worked perfectly and is safe:
1. Install the app as usual.
2. Copy the app folder from /data/app to internal storage
3. Uninstall the app and reboot to recovery
4. Copy the app folder from internal storage to /system/priv-app folder (If you don't see system folder then you need to mount "system" partition in recovery first)
5. Give permissions to app folder (for all 9 checkboxes), reboot. Enjoy
Anyone else unable to see the folder with the app they moved after a reboot? I want to de-systemize, but I can't now.
I took the folder for the app I want to systemize and moved it from data/app to system/priv-app. Then rebooted. The app is now systemized (can't uninstall it, only disable) But the folder no longer exists under PRIV-APP.
I've done this many times with other apps and I've never seen this problem. Is it because I moved the entire folder and didn't rename it?
After reboot the folder can no longer be found under system/priv-app OR data/app. The app is still installed as a system app. Where is the folder with the app?
Running Android 9. Pixel 3.
I have come across a very strange phenomena on Galaxy M12. When I install an app as user it exists in /data/app forder in a weird way. The folders in /data/app are like ~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g== (see attachment) and in these folders there is another folder with the app package name. On regular devices I hvae seen app package folder in /data/app itself.
When I copy the app package folder from /data/app/~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g== to /system/app it does not work. I can see the app folder after reboot or even reset but app in not installed on the system. I have confirmed by running the activity using 'am' and tried listing with 'pm'. I have also given same permissions as other app folders in /system/app. I have also tried /system/app~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g==.
Edit: As it turns out when I am copying to /system/app the base.apk is not copied properly. I have tried it multiple time, the system is mounted. Whatever I do it is either 0 kb or 100 kb exactl and the file is ~6mb. Still strange behaviour.

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