How to delete Sprint apps from rooted HTC EVO 4G
Unless you're one of the few people who actually think they're useful, those Sprint apps that came preloaded on the HTC EVO are just taking up space. There's no way to delete them from an unrooted phone because the "Uninstall" buttons are disabled in Settings -> Applications -> Manage applications.
On a rooted EVO, however, you can get rid of the Sprint bloat (as well as many other apps you couldn't touch before) in a matter of minutes. There are several ways to do this, but the fastest and easiest—especially if you're not comfortable with adb commands—is by using a root-only app like Root Explorer (£2.50) or Titanium Backup (free).
I have both on my EVO because they serve different purposes, but if you only want to get rid of the apps you don't want, then you may as well go with the free option.
Either way, here's how to uninstall Sprint/unwanted apps.
IMPORTANT: All of the Sprint apps are safe to delete, but removing some of the other apps could cause problems. For example, Android Market won't function properly if you remove the seemingly unrelated gtalkservice. If you're unsure of whether getting rid of an app could negatively affect your system, don't delete it.
Root Explorer
1. Download Root Explorer (£2.50) from Android Market or scan the QR code below.
2. Open the app, scroll to the bottom, and tap system -> app.
3. Tap the "Mount R/W" button at the top to get write access (R/W = read/write; R/O = read only) in the folder.
3. Scroll down until you get to the Sprint apps.
4. Long press an app and select "Delete" from the options windows that appears.
5. Tap "Yes" to delete the app. Note that the app is really deleted, so you can't change your mind and get it back afterwards. If you think you might have a change of heart somewhere down the line, move the app to your SD card (long press the app -> Move -> Back button twice -> sdcard -> whatever folder you want -> paste).
6. When you're done (if you're deleting non-Sprint apps—again, please make sure they're safe to delete—get rid of the both the .apk and .odex files), tap the "Mount R/O" button at the top to put the folder back into its original read-only state.
Titanium Backup
1. Download Titanium Backup (free) from Android Market or scan the QR code below.
2. Open the app and press the "Backup/Restore" button at the top.
3. Scroll down until you get to the Sprint apps. If you have a lot of third-party apps installed and want to minimize scrolling, tap Menu -> Filters -> Filter by type: System -> Apply so that only the system apps are shown.
4. To uninstall the app, tap its name and press the "Un-install!" button.
5. Tap "Yes" to permanently delete the app.
The donate version of Titanium ($3.99 minimum) allows you to "freeze" apps, which is only as permanent as you want it to be; you can defrost/thaw at any time. Freezing is also a good way to test which apps are safe to delete.
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And now only the apps you want on your EVO!
