Introduction: How I Optimized My Phone!

Okay there are folks who love all the bells and whistles with their phones. Most won't even use all those bloatware features. If you are one of those people then skip this instructable.

I don't like unnecessary features and power hogging apps running in my Galaxy Note 4. I like its OS lean, fast and sipping power. Here is how tweaked my stock Android 4.4.4 phone and I have benefited from:

1. Longer battery run time.

2. Faster WiFi setup and speed.

3. Zero carrier adware.

4. A cooler (temperature wise) phone.

5. Reduced mobile data being leeched away in the background.

6. Faster Charging.

7. No spying inherent in the Android OS and stock bloatware.

All the steps taken are intended for advanced users. Do not blame me for any mishaps on your phone but in step 2 I will explain a nice get out of trouble card to play (i.e. recovering a bricked phone).

As always it is best to have a popular phone which is supported by modders and forums. Non-popular phone are a nightmare to customize if even possible.

Step 1: Root!

This allows access to the OS folders and files. You will need to search online to get the necessary software (eg. ODIN) and files to replace the stock kernel. It is a good idea to download a copy of your stock kernel prior to doing this in case you need to revert back.

Step 2: Recovery Capability.

If you cannot find the CWM or TWRP for your phone then STOP. It makes no point continuing. Why? With either of these wonderful kernel add-ons, you can in less than 2 minutes, restore your bricked (non-functioning) phone to its previous working glory. I mean phone book contacts, messages, browser history/bookmarks, calendar, etc.

Once you search online and get the compatible version for your phone, go ahead and flash it in! Make sure to test the key combinations during power up to get into the much desired menu. At this point, make a backup of your phone! The backup size for a stock phone can be up to 6Gb so be patient (plugging in your phone to charge is recommended).

Step 3: Accessing the Crap Files.

There are two folders that need pruning for the advanced user. They are located in the system folder and are called "app" and "priv-app"

You will need to install an app from google play store called root explorer, or a similar file browser to access the OS folders. The files removed include stuff for YouTube, Weather, stock widgets, Radio service, animated backgrounds, AllShare, Chrome, extra Clocks, cloud Storage, FaceBook, KNOX, Google Maps/Streets, Mobile print, Games, Video/Audio players and any other stuff if deemed irrelevant for my uses.

When removing files, cut and paste 3 at a time into a "holding" folder on the external micro SD card. Reboot after each such operation to ensure the phone starts and without errors.

Step 4: Removed Files: System APP

Here is a list of the files I cut and pasted out:

<em>AccuweatherPhone2014_T.apk<br>AccuweatherPhone2014_T.odex
ActiveApplicationWidget-common-release.apk
ActiveApplicationWidget-common-release.odex
AdvSoundDetector.apk
AdvSoundDetector.odex
AirWakeUp.apk
AirWakeUp.odex
AllShareCastPlayer.apk
AllShareCastPlayer.odex
AllshareFileShare.apk
AllshareFileShare.odex
AllshareFileShareClient.apk
AllshareFileShareClient.odex
AllshareFileShareServer.apk
AllshareFileShareServer.odex
AllshareMediaServer.apk
AllshareMediaServer.odex
AllshareMediaShare.apk
AllshareMediaShare.odex
AntHalService.apk
AntHalService.odex
ANTPlusPlugins.apk
ANTPlusPlugins.odex
ANTRadioService.apk
ANTRadioService.odex
AssistantMenu2.apk
AssistantMenu2.odex
BasicDreams.apk
BasicDreams.odex
BeaconManager.apk
BeaconManager.odex
BeamService.apk
BeamService.odex
Bluetooth.apk
Bluetooth.odex
Blurb.apk
Blurb.odex
Books.apk
Books.odex
Bridge.apk
Bridge.odex
BrowserProviderProxy.apk
BrowserProviderProxy.odex
CapabilityManagerService.apk
CapabilityManagerService.odex
CertInstaller.apk
CertInstaller.odex
ChocoEUKor.apk
ChocoEUKor.odex
Chrome.apk
Chrome.odex
ChromecastFrameworkService.apk
ChromecastFrameworkService.odex
ChromeCustomizations.apk
ChromeCustomizations.odex
ColorBlind.apk
ColorBlind.odex
CoolEUKor.apk
CoolEUKor.odex
CoverService.apk
CoverService.odex
DigitalClock.apk
DigitalClock.odex
DigitalClockEasy.apk
DigitalClockEasy.odex
Drive.apk
Drive.odex
DriveLink.apk
DriveLink.odex
DriveLinkRemote.apk
DriveLinkRemote.odex
Dropbox.apk
Dropbox.odex
DualClockDigital.apk
DualClockDigital.odex
EasymodeContactsWidget.apk
EasymodeContactsWidget.odex
EasyOneHand2.apk
EasyOneHand2.odex
EasySettings.apk
EasySettings.odex
EasySidePanel.apk
EasySidePanel.odex
EdmSimPinService.apk
EdmSimPinService.odex
EdmVpnServices.apk
EdmVpnServices.odex
ELMAgent.apk
ELMAgent.odex
EmergencyLauncher.apk
EmergencyLauncher.odex
EmergencyModeService.apk
EmergencyModeService.odex
EmergencyProvider.apk
EmergencyProvider.odex
Evernote.apk
Evernote.odex
Facebook.apk
Facebook.odex
FactoryCamera_FB.apk
FBAppManager.apk
FBAppManager.odex
FBInstagram_stub.apk
FBInstagram_stub.odex
FBMessenger_stub.apk
FBMessenger_stub.odex
FBPagesManager_stub.apk
FBPagesManager_stub.odex
FFFFFFFF000000000000000000000001.drbin
FilterInstaller.apk
FilterInstaller.odex
FilterManager.apk
FilterManager.odex
FilterProvider.apk
FilterProvider.odex
FlashAnnotate.apk
FlashAnnotate.odex
FlashAnnotateSvc.apk
FlashAnnotateSvc.odex
Flipboard.apk
Flipboard.odex
FlipboardBriefing.apk
FlipboardBriefing.odex
FWUpgrade.apk
FWUpgrade.odex
GearManagerStub.apk
GearManagerStub.odex
GestureService.apk
GestureService.odex
Gmail2.apk
Gmail2.odex
GMS_Maps.apk
GMS_Maps.odex
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.odex
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.odex
Hangouts.apk
Hangouts.odex
InteractiveTutorial.apk
InteractiveTutorial.odex
KeyguardWallpaperUpdator.apk
KeyguardWallpaperUpdator.odex
KNOXAgent.apk
KNOXAgent.odex
KnoxAttestationAgent.apk
KnoxAttestationAgent.odex
KnoxSetupWizardClient.apk
KnoxSetupWizardClient.odex
LocalFOTA.apk
LocalFOTA.odex
Magazines.apk
Magazines.odex
MDMApp.apk
MDMApp.odex
MediaConverter_Trim.apk
MediaConverter_Trim.odex
MirrorLink.apk
MirrorLink.odex
MobilePrint4.apk
MobilePrint4.odex
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS.apk
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS.odex
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend.apk
MobilePrintSvc_CUPS_Backend.odex
MobilePrintSvc_Epson.apk
MobilePrintSvc_Epson.odex
MobilePrintSvc_HP.apk
MobilePrintSvc_HP.odex
MobilePrintSvc_Samsung.apk
MobilePrintSvc_Samsung.odex
MobileTrackerEngineTwo.apk
MobileTrackerEngineTwo.odex
MultiWindowTrayService.apk
MultiWindowTrayService.odex
Music2.apk
Music2.odex
NfcNci.apk
NfcNci.odex
OCRSeg.apk
OCRSeg.odex
OCRService.apk
OCRService.odex
PageBuddyNotiSvc2.apk
PageBuddyNotiSvc2.odex
Panorama360Viewer_T.apk
Panorama360Viewer_T.odex
PartnerBookmarksProvider.apk
PartnerBookmarksProvider.odex
PENUP.apk
PENUP.odex
PhotoTable.apk
PhotoTable.odex
PlayGames.apk
PlayGames.odex
PlusOne.apk
PlusOne.odex
Post_T_Promo.apk
Post_T_Promo.odex
PowerSharing.apk
PowerSharing.odex
Preconfig.apk
Preconfig.odex
PreloadInstaller.apk
PreloadInstaller.odex
QuickConnect.apk
QuickConnect.odex
QuickConnectInteraction.apk
QuickConnectInteraction.odex
RCPComponents.apk
RCPComponents.odex
RemotePlayer.apk
RemotePlayer.odex
RoseEUKor.apk
RoseEUKor.odex
sa.txt
SafetyInformation.apk
SafetyInformation.odex
SamsungAppsWidget_BannerStyle_common.apk
SamsungAppsWidget_BannerStyle_common.odex
SamsungCamera3.apk
SamsungCamera3.odex
SamsungCameraFilter.apk
SamsungCameraFilter.odex
SamsungContentsAgent.apk
SamsungContentsAgent.odex
SamsungDrmProvider.apk
SamsungDrmProvider.odex
SamsungIME.apk
SamsungIME.odex
SamsungMusicRemoteController.apk
SamsungMusicRemoteController.odex
SamsungSans.apk
SamsungSans.odex
SapaAudioConnectionService.apk
SapaAudioConnectionService.odex
SapaMonitor.apk
SapaMonitor.odex
SBrowser.apk
SBrowser.odex
SBrowserTry.apk
SBrowserTry.odex
SCONE_Android_ProxyService_NoPersistent.apk
SCONE_Android_ProxyService_NoPersistent.odex
SecCalculator2.apk
SecCalculator2.odex
SecDict.apk
SecDict.odex
SecEmail_K.apk
SecEmail_K.odex
SecExchange.apk
SecExchange.odex
SecFactoryPhoneTest.apk
SecSetupWizard2013.apk
SecSetupWizard2013.odex
SecurityManagerService.apk
SecurityManagerService.odex
SecurityProviderSEC.apk
SecurityProviderSEC.odex
SecVideo.apk
SecVideo.odex
SecVideoPlayer.apk
SecVideoPlayer.odex
SettingSearchProvider.apk
SettingSearchProvider.odex
ShootingModeProvider.apk
ShootingModeProvider.odex
SLocation.apk
SLocation.odex
SmartcardManager.apk
SmartcardManager.odex
SmartcardService.apk
SmartcardService.odex
SmartClipService.apk
SmartClipService.odex
SmartRemote_T.apk
SmartRemote_T.odex
SnsImageCache.apk
SnsImageCache.odex
SPenKeeper.apk
SPenKeeper.odex
SPlannerWidget.apk
SPlannerWidget.odex
SPrintSpooler2.apk
SPrintSpooler2.odex
Stk.apk
Stk.odex
Street.apk
Street.odex
SysScope.apk
SysScope.odex
talkback.apk
talkback.odex
TapandpayWidget.apk
TapandpayWidget.odex
TetheringAutomation.apk
TetheringAutomation.odex
TravelService.apk
TravelService.odex
TuiService.apk
TuiService.odex
UniversalMDMClient.apk
UniversalMDMClient.odex
VideoEditor_Lite_T.apk
VideoEditor_Lite_T.odex
Videos.apk
Videos.odex
WeatherDaemon2014.apk
WeatherDaemon2014.odex
WebManual.apk
WebManual.odex
WfdBroker.apk
WfdBroker.odex
WhatsApp.apk
WhatsApp.odex
WritingBuddyService.apk
WritingBuddyService.odex
YahooLiveWeather.apk
YahooLiveWeather.odex
YouTube.apk
YouTube.odex</em>

Step 5: Removed Files: System PRIV-APP

Here is a list of the files I cut and pasted out:

<em>3DTourViewer_WQHD_lightTheme.apk<br>3DTourViewer_WQHD_lightTheme.odex
AutomationTest_FB.apk
BackupRestoreConfirmation.apk
BackupRestoreConfirmation.odex
CloudAgent.apk
CloudAgent.odex
ConfigUpdater.apk
ConfigUpdater.odex
ContextProvider.apk
ContextProvider.odex
DCMProvider.apk
DCMProvider.odex
DiagMonAgent.apk
DiagMonAgent.odex
DirectShareManager.apk
DirectShareManager.odex
DSMLawmo.apk
DSMLawmo.odex
FBInstaller.apk
FBInstaller.odex
FotaClient.apk
FotaClient.odex
GalaxyApps_3xh.apk
GalaxyApps_3xh.odex
GmsCore.apk
GoogleBackupTransport.apk
GoogleBackupTransport.odex
GoogleFeedback.apk
GoogleFeedback.odex
GoogleLoginService.apk
GoogleLoginService.odex
GoogleOneTimeInitializer.apk
GoogleOneTimeInitializer.odex
GooglePartnerSetup.apk
GooglePartnerSetup.odex
GoogleServicesFramework.apk
GoogleServicesFramework.odex
HancomOfficeViewer.apk
HancomOfficeViewer.odex
HealthService.apk
HealthService.odex
Hearingdro_KK_L.apk
Hearingdro_KK_L.odex
HwModuleTest.apk
intelligenceservice_1.1.apk
intelligenceservice_1.1.odex
Kies.apk
Kies.odex
KLMSAgent.apk
LocationWidget.apk
LocationWidget.odex
MagicShot_WQHD_T.apk
MagicShot_WQHD_T.odex
Msa.apk
Msa.odex
MSS.apk
MSS.odex
MusicCommonUtility.apk
MusicCommonUtility.odex
NoiseField.apk
NoiseField.odex
OmaCP.apk
OmaCP.odex
OutOfFocusViewer_WQHD_K.apk
OutOfFocusViewer_WQHD_K.odex
pa.txt
PayWithPaypal.apk
PayWithPaypal.odex
PersonalPageService.apk
PersonalPageService.odex
PhaseBeam.apk
PhaseBeam.odex
Phonesky.apk
Phonesky.odex
PhotoStudio_WQHD_K.apk
PhotoStudio_WQHD_K.odex
Pinboard.apk
Pinboard.odex
RNB.apk
RNB.odex
RNBShell.apk
RNBShell.odex
S-Voice_Android_phone.apk
S-Voice_Android_phone.odex
SamsungBilling.apk
SamsungBilling.odex
SamsungLinkPlatform.apk
SamsungLinkPlatform.odex
SamsungMagnifier.apk
SamsungMagnifier.odex
SamsungMusic_20.apk
SamsungMusic_20.odex
Samsungservice2_xxhdpi_RTL.apk
Samsungservice2_xxhdpi_RTL.odex
sCloudBackupApp.apk
sCloudBackupApp.odex
sCloudDataRelay.apk
sCloudDataRelay.odex
sCloudDataSync.apk
sCloudDataSync.odex
sCloudQuotaApp.apk
sCloudQuotaApp.odex
sCloudSyncCalendar.apk
sCloudSyncCalendar.odex
sCloudSyncContacts.apk
sCloudSyncContacts.odex
sCloudSyncMemo.apk
sCloudSyncMemo.odex
sCloudSyncSBrowser.apk
sCloudSyncSBrowser.odex
SecGallery2014.apk
SecGallery2014.odex
SecLiveWallpapersPicker.apk
SecLiveWallpapersPicker.odex
SecMyFiles2014.apk
SecMyFiles2014.odex
SecSafetyAssurance.apk
SecSafetyAssurance.odex
SetupWizard.apk
SetupWizard.odex
SFinder.apk
SFinder.odex
SharedStorageBackup.apk
SharedStorageBackup.odex
SHealth3_5.apk
SHealth3_5.odex
SmartSelfShot.apk
SmartSelfShot.odex
SNS.apk
SNS.odex
SOAgent.apk
SOAgent.odex
SoundAlive_20.apk
SoundAlive_20.odex
SPDClient.apk
SPDClient.odex
SPPPushClient_Prod.apk
SPPPushClient_Prod.odex
SStudio_WQHD_K.apk
SStudio_WQHD_K.odex
SyncmlDM.apk
SyncmlDM.odex
Tag.apk
Tag.odex
test
TrimApp_phone_light_rotation.apk
TrimApp_phone_light_rotation.odex
Velvet_for_T_3.8.apk
Velvet_for_T_3.8.odex
VpnDialogs.apk
VpnDialogs.odex
VRSetupWizardStub.apk
VRSetupWizardStub.odex
WallpaperCropper.apk
WallpaperCropper.odex
WlanTest.apk
WlanTest.odex
Wluc.apk
Wluc.odex
wssyncmlnps.apk
wssyncmlnps.odex</em>

Step 6: Firewall.

For your well rooted phone, I recommend a firewall. I use AFWall+ and this is not for privacy but to save on mobile data and power! Even though you restrict background data, the OS will continue to use data. I have no wish to online backup my contacts, calendar and other stuff. I manually backup and make safe copies in portable drives. Using the firewall app I have disabled all system app from using the mobile or WiFi with the following exceptions:

(gps) = to find my way!

(media) = to stream videos from YouTube or any site on the web browser.

The last pic shows all the app I have allowed to have internet access. Most are allowed only on WiFi. This way I'm guaranteed to not have my money zap away on its own.

I hope my instructable has been helpful to at least a few folks.