[MOD](Non-Root)Remove "What's New" from NavRing, Small Apps From Recents

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ikon8

ikon8

Senior Member
Feb 23, 2010
407
127
L.A.
You can use ADB on unrooted devices to remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing and to remove the Small Apps Widget launcher from Recent Apps.

I will assume you know how to install and use ADB.

To remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing:
Code: 
adb shell
pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
exit
adb reboot

Make sure to reboot before proceeding if you're removing both items.
To remove the Small Apps Widget Launcher from the Recents screen:
Code: 
adb shell
pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher
pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
exit
adb reboot

To revert changes substitute "unblock" for "block" in the command.
 
Last edited:
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A

aford89

Senior Member
Oct 9, 2010
123
8
Good to note that these work just have to be run seperatley, i tried to block all 3 at the same time and it did not work you have to remove the whats new then reboot then remove the small apps then reboot again

Thanks for this OP i hate that whats new thing
 
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P

punshkin

Senior Member
Jan 6, 2010
1,021
257
Thank you!
The what's new was really bugging me :-/
do you know if the block command does the same as "deactivate" would do from the Settings->Apps menu? (if it were enabled)
 
someone755

someone755

Senior Member
Sep 27, 2011
2,048
1,380
Ljubljana
I can not thank you enough! I still don't know what Sony was thinking with "What's New".
Favorite'd, I just know I'll be needing this soon enough xD
 
cyphomatic

cyphomatic

Senior Member
Jan 12, 2013
344
72
Working like a charm. Glad to have my recents cleaned up. Any other bloatware we can disable this way? Love to get rid of the walkman, sony app updates, movie, movie creator, etc
 
Last edited:
M

Mr Sliff

Senior Member
Mar 31, 2012
138
16
Im just trying to do this but when I type adb shell reboot it says device not found. It does say im in shell@5803 though. Anyone know whats wrong?
 
cyphomatic

cyphomatic

Senior Member
Jan 12, 2013
344
72
Mr Sliff said:
Im just trying to do this but when I type adb shell reboot it says device not found. It does say im in shell@5803 though. Anyone know whats wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

do adb devices, should be able to see your device listed. if it reads not autorized: unlock your lockscreen and confirm the dialog to give computer access.
 
AllAboutTheCore

AllAboutTheCore

Senior Member
Oct 21, 2012
659
159
Leeds, UK
Thanks! worked perfectly for me, at least it did when I installed the Android SDK on my Windows partition instead of my Mac ... Really didn't want to work on the Mac side, nor is there a native way to transfer wirelessly from my Mac but everything works well on the Windows end.

Thanks again OP :good:
 
P

phroenix

Senior Member
Mar 13, 2011
77
25
Mr Sliff said:
Im just trying to do this but when I type adb shell reboot it says device not found. It does say im in shell@5803 though. Anyone know whats wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Got the same thing before I found out you need to exit remote shell before you run reboot command (I'm new to using adb for anything other than push/pull)
So after:
pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
exit
adb reboot
 
ikon8

ikon8

Senior Member
Feb 23, 2010
407
127
L.A.
phroenix said:
Got the same thing before I found out you need to exit remote shell before you run reboot command (I'm new to using adb for anything other than push/pull)
So after:
pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
exit
adb reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, you need to exit shell before running any adb command, I'll add that to the OP.
 
M

Mr Sliff

Senior Member
Mar 31, 2012
138
16
Alright for some reason it doesent remove whats new for me. Ive rebooted a few times and it doesnt work. Removing the small apps did work though.
 
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S

sxtester

Senior Member
Sep 11, 2014
458
164
ikon8 said:
You can use ADB on unrooted devices to remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing and to remove the Small Apps Widget launcher from Recent Apps.

I will assume you know how to install and use ADB.

To remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing:
Code: 
adb shell
pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
exit
adb reboot

Make sure to reboot before proceeding if you're removing both items.
To remove the Small Apps Widget Launcher from the Recents screen:
Code: 
adb shell
pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher
pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
exit
adb reboot

To revert changes substitute "unblock" for "block" in the command.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

This whole thread is actually a repetition of what has already been discussed and suggested over here:
http://xdaforums.com/z3-compact/help/deactivated-apps-getting-activated-t2889082
 
pchoppe79

pchoppe79

Senior Member
Nov 6, 2010
63
14
Berlin
oh Thankgod ! whats new and the quick launch widget are gone !!!!
Thankyou Thankyou Thankyou

:)


ps; is there a list of commands to get rid of certain other apps, widgets, bloat etc ?
 
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  • 83
    ikon8
    ikon8
    You can use ADB on unrooted devices to remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing and to remove the Small Apps Widget launcher from Recent Apps.

    I will assume you know how to install and use ADB.

    To remove the "What's New" option from the NavRing:
    Code: 
    adb shell
pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
exit
adb reboot

    Make sure to reboot before proceeding if you're removing both items.
    To remove the Small Apps Widget Launcher from the Recents screen:
    Code: 
    adb shell
pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher
pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
exit
adb reboot

    To revert changes substitute "unblock" for "block" in the command.
    View
    9
    E
    erousr
    My Setup

    I uninstalled and disabled what i could from within Android and then i used the following to remove the rest of the bloatware:

    adb devices
    adb shell
    pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
    pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher
    pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
    pm block com.sonyericsson.textinput.chinese
    pm block com.sonymobile.simplehome
    pm block com.sonymobile.anondata
    pm block com.google.android.apps.books
    pm block com.google.android.music
    pm block com.google.android.videoeditor
    pm block com.google.android.videos
    pm block com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget
    pm block com.google.android.apps.uploader
    pm block com.facebook.katana
    pm block com.sonyericsson.idd.agent
    pm block com.android.stk
    pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream
    pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.facebookplugin
    pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.twitterplugin
    pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.twitterpostviewer
    pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine
    pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine.plugins.facebook
    pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine.plugins.picasa
    pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.facebook_sharefrwk
    pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.playmemories
    pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.twitter_sharefrwk
    pm block com.sonyericsson.socialpane.friends
    pm block com.sonyericsson.facebook.postview
    pm block com.sonyericsson.facebook.proxylogin
    pm block com.sonyericsson.fbmediadiscovery
    pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbcalendarsync
    pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbmusiclike
    pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbsetupwizard
    pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.storefront
    pm block com.sonymobile.twitter.account
    pm block com.sonymobile.twitter.setupwizard
    pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.music
    pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.notewidget
    pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.photo
    pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.weather
    pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.timescapefeedsplugin
    pm block com.sonyericsson.video
    pm block com.sonyericsson.timescape.ui
    pm block com.sonymobile.mx.android
    pm block com.sony.snei.mu.phone
    pm block cjp.co.sony.tablet.PersonalSpace
    exit
    adb reboot

    ---- to reverse use unblock

    Many of the packages are self explained by its name but some arn't. Therefor I would recommend to do a quick search on the below posts to figure them out.

    https://crowd.xprivacy.eu/?letter=X
    http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1089470
    http://blog.burrowsapps.com/2014/03/what-android-apps-are-safe-to-remove.html

    Also check out this guy. He got really far in debloating. It is in german or something but thats what Google Translate is for!
    http://www.android-hilfe.de/sony-xp...bloatware-zwecks-deaktivierung-ohne-root.html

    Good luck debloating!
    View
    7
    Rhonin86
    Rhonin86
    snaggvar said:
    I don’t know when it happened but it seems like all changes I made has now been reset, the "What’s new" ring in back etc.
    Anyone else noticed this?
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse

    Did you reboot your phone in the meanwhile ? From my readings here in the different threads i assume that the What'S new ring is resetted like the deactivated app through system/app-settings. This seems to be a bug in the Sony firmware. Every reboot seems to reset all. But in my case i can't confirm this behaviour concerning the blocked stuff.

    But something is strange though - i blocked some live wall papers - and after controlling in the system/app-settings i find them active in RAM and i could kill them ? So what exactly happened with this blocked packages ? Could someone please explain - all stuff all around the different forums are only vague concerning our application. It seemed as if all packages in the batch file are blocked correctly but why could they be killed from RAM ?

    THX in advance

    Rhonin

    BTW: I expanded my BatchScript a little - you can find it in the attachment. you can find the content of the batch file below.

    Code: 
    @echo off
COLOR 70
echo Welcome to this small DEBLOATING-batch
echo.
echo Please hit any key to proceed...
pause
echo.
echo.
COLOR 74
echo Debloating process starts...
echo.
REM SmallApps
echo Block Smallapp stuff ?
echo. 
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :SmallApps
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Block1
GOTO ENDE
:SmallApps
echo.
adb shell pm block com.sony.smallapp.managerservice REM NEW
adb shell pm block com.sony.smallapp.appframework REM NEW
adb shell pm block com.sony.smallapp.launcher
adb shell pm block com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.smallapps.calc
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.smallapps.clipper
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.smallapps.timer
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.smallbrowser
:Block1
REM SonyApps
echo.
echo Block Sony-Apps and ANT-Server ? 
echo.
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :SonyApps
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Block2
GOTO ENDE
:SonyApps
echo.
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.lifelog
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.sketch
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.textinput.chinese
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.pobox REM NEW
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.simplehome
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.anondata
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.idd.agent
adb shell pm block com.dsi.ant.server REM NEW
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.retaildemo REM NEW
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.synchub REM NEW
:Block2
REM Android stuff
echo.
echo Block Android Stuff ? 
echo.
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :Android
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Block3
GOTO ENDE
:Android
echo.
adb shell pm block com.google.android.apps.books
adb shell pm block com.google.android.music
adb shell pm block com.google.android.videoeditor
adb shell pm block com.google.android.videos
adb shell pm block com.google.android.apps.genie.geniewidget
adb shell pm block com.google.android.apps.uploader
adb shell pm block com.facebook.katana
adb shell pm block com.android.stk
:Block3
REM Social Media stuff
echo.
echo Block Social Media Stuff ? 
echo.
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :Social
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Block4
GOTO ENDE
:Social
echo.
adb shell pm block com.bambuser.sociallive
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.facebookplugin
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.twitterplugin
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.eventstream.twitterpostviewer
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine.plugins.facebook
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.socialengine.plugins.picasa
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.facebook_sharefrwk
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.playmemories
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.socialengine.plugins.twitter_sharefrwk
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.socialpane.friends
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.facebook.postview
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.facebook.proxylogin
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.fbmediadiscovery
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbcalendarsync
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbmusiclike
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.fbsetupwizard
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.storefront
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.twitter.account
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.twitter.setupwizard
:Block4
REM Advancewidgets
echo.
echo Block Advancewidgets ? 
echo.
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :Advance
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Block5
GOTO ENDE
:Advance
echo.
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.music
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.notewidget
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.photo
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.advancedwidget.weather
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.androidapp.timescapefeedsplugin
adb shell pm block com.sonyericsson.timescape.ui
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.mx.android
adb shell pm block com.sony.snei.mu.phone
adb shell pm block cjp.co.sony.tablet.PersonalSpace
:Block5
REM Themes and Live Wallpapapers
echo.
echo Block Themes and Live Wallpapers ? 
echo.
SET /P X=(Y)es or (N)o ?
IF /I "%X%"=="Y" goto :Themes
IF /I "%X%"=="N" goto :Ende
:Themes
echo.
adb shell pm block com.android.phasebeam
adb shell pm block com.android.magicsmoke
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id001
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id002
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id003
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id004
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id005
adb shell pm block com.sonymobile.themes.id006
:Ende
adb shell exit
COLOR 72
echo.
echo Debloating complete
echo.
echo.
echo Please hit a key to reboot...
pause
adb reboot
    View
    7
    Rhonin86
    Rhonin86
    Debloating via batch file

    Rhonin86 said:
    Hi guys,

    i tried to combine some pm commands in a script, executed it and rebooted. But it seemed not to work. I saw in the terminal window only killed and not new status block : true
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse
    OK - after some research i found a temporary solution for me. I took @erousr's post as a base and put all his proposed packages in a DOS-Batchfile. I saved it in the ADB-Folder on my PC. After connecting the phone with my PC activating USB Debugging i doubleclick the batch file and it runs the way i wanted it to work :laugh:

    A big THX goes to @erousr for his selection

    If someone is interested in this batch-file -> Have a look at the attached file.
    Feel free to use it as a base and delete the lines which contain packages you need or you can insert lines of packages you do not need.

    I will investigate on other packages which can be blocked, and maybe we can build a little database of packages for the z3c - though there are a lot of collections around here at XDA....
    View
    6
    seXneo
    seXneo
    nrlulz said:
    Try 'pm hide' instead of 'pm block'
    Click to expand...
    Click to collapse
    Thanks!

    Small apps are gone, but Google Search bar is still there after:
    Code: 
    adb shell
pm hide com.sonymobile.advancedwidget.entrance
pm hide com.sony.smallapp.launcher
pm hide com.sony.smallapp.app.widget
exit
adb reboot
    View

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