Disable OTA Update. No Wakelocks. Need Root. - Nexus 5 General

I'm just relaying my experiences and make no guarantees that you will see the same results that I have but I think most everyone should. First of all, for a long time now I had the SystemUpdateService$Receiver disabled in Google Services Framework and was shocked and extremely annoyed to see the update Monday morning on my N7 and then Tuesday on my N5. I've always been one to flash images as soon as they were available but I've decided to wait. Therefore...
The solution is simple. It really only requires one app but you can use two if you're extra cautious. AutoStarts which is a paid app is what I'm using. I have no idea how much it costs now because I've had it for 2-3 years. The other app is Disable Service. Using Disable Service by itself will cause a major wakelock (SystemUpdateService) which I verified with BetterBatteryStats and also with Wakelock Detector. All of the entries that need to be disabled will be in Google Play Services. In the Autostarts app menu use "Group by application," and under View make sure "Hide systems apps" is not checked. In Google Play Services the third "After Startup" entry from the top needs to be disabled and the second "Connectivity changed" entry from the top needs to be disabled. In the popup for both you will see "SystemUpdateService$Receiver" in the description. My experience so far is that only using Autostarts was sufficient as long as you did NOT go to Settings/About phone/System updates. As soon as you open the "System updates" page the system would re-enable the "Connectivity changed" entry and you will start getting the notifications. Even without going into the "System updates" page the system might at some point re-enable the entry but it never happened to me the day or two I only used Autostarts. To prevent that from happening and to save myself from curiosity when I felt compelled to look in the system updates page, I used the Disable Service app which will completely prevent the system from re-enabling the "Connectivity changed" entry. With the Disable Service app the entry that needs to be disabled is also in Google Play services and it is "SystemUpdateService." After all of the entries are disabled reboot and the notification will be gone and the "System updates" page will say that "Your system is up to date." The "Check now" button is now non-functional and the last time you booted up will be the "Last checked for update" time. I'm getting all of my notifications and the Play Store is auto updating the apps I'm letting update and I'm seeing those notifications also. From what I can see the only thing that is not working is the OTA system update.
Update: I've been using Autostarts by itself to disable two entries in Google Play Services for a few weeks with no issues, no notifications about a system update. Just looked in About phone/System updates and the OTA is still there. Re-enabled the second "Connectivity changed" entry, rebooted and notification is once again gone.

wantabe said:
I'm just relaying my experiences and make no guarantees that you will see the same results that I have but I think most everyone should. First of all, for a long time now I had the SystemUpdateService$Receiver disabled in Google Services Framework and was shocked and extremely annoyed to see the update Monday morning on my N7 and then Tuesday on my N5. I've always been one to flash images as soon as they were available but I've decided to wait. Therefore...
The solution is easy but by no means elegant. It requires two apps and one of those is a paid app (AutoStarts). I have no idea how much it costs now, I've had it for 2-3 years. The other app is Disable Service. Using Disable Service by itself will cause a major wakelock (SystemUpdateService) which I verified with BetterBatteryStats and also with Wakelock Detector. All of the entries that need to be disabled will be in Google Play Services. In the Autostarts app menu use "Group by application," and under View make sure "Hide systems apps" is not checked. In Google Play Services the third "After Startup" entry from the top needs to be disabled and the second "Connectivity changed" entry from the top needs to be disabled. In the popup for both you will see "SystemUpdateService$Receiver" in the description. My experience so far is that only using Autostarts was sufficient as long as you did NOT go to Settings/About phone/System updates. As soon as you open the "System updates" page the system would re-enable the "Connectivity changed" entry and you will start getting the notifications. Even without going into the "System updates" page the system might at some point re-enable the entry but it never happened to me the day or two I only used Autostarts. To prevent that from happening and to save myself from curiosity when I felt compelled to look in the system updates page, I used the Disable Service app which will completely prevent the system from re-enabling the "Connectivity changed" entry. With the Disable Service app the entry that needs to be disabled is also in Google Play services and it is "SystemUpdateService." After all of the entries are disabled reboot and the notification will be gone and the "System updates" page will say that "Your system is up to date." The "Check now" button is now non-functional and the last time you booted up will be the "Last checked for update" time. I'm getting all of my notifications and the Play Store is auto updating the apps I'm letting update and I'm seeing those notifications also. From what I can see the only thing that is not working is the OTA system update.
Update: I've been using Autostarts by itself for over a week with no issues, no notifications about a system update. Just looked in About phone/System updates and the OTA is still there. Re-enabled the second "Connectivity changed" entry, rebooted and notification is once again gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the post. I was searching for a resolution to my 5.0.1 update for my the NEXUS 6. It was literally driving me crazy. I saw a couple of post on how to disable the OTA before, but none worked as efficient as this. Followed your instructions rebooted, no OTA !!!!!!!!So ...................Happy Days are Here Again.

juscozimme said:
Thanks for the post. I was searching for a resolution to my 5.0.1 update for my the NEXUS 6. It was literally driving me crazy. I saw a couple of post on how to disable the OTA before, but none worked as efficient as this. Followed your instructions rebooted, no OTA !!!!!!!!So ...................Happy Days are Here Again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate the feedback! I thought that it would work on the N6 and N9 but couldn't test it myself. Glad it worked for you!

wantabe said:
Appreciate the feedback! I thought that it would work on the N6 and N9 but couldn't test it myself. Glad it worked for you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not one single OTA, now I can patiently wait for the wugfreh tool kit to update to 2.0.

My autostarts says "No applications are autostarting". Any ideas?
Rooted Nexus 5 running Dirty Unicorns 4.4.4 ROM

Related

How to avoid play store update for an app

Hi
The latest google search crash on my rom, so I don't want to update it from play store, but I don't know how to disable the update for the apps that I want. I tried to detach from market with titanium but still wants to update it.
any idea?
if you go to Google Play, select the app, there is check box that can disable automatically updating. You'll still get a push notification of the update, but you can clear it and won't show up till a reboot.
There is setting within Google Play to change autoupdate for all apps too.
lovekeiiy said:
if you go to Google Play, select the app, there is check box that can disable automatically updating. You'll still get a push notification of the update, but you can clear it and won't show up till a reboot.
There is setting within Google Play to change autoupdate for all apps too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that's not that I wanted to ask.
I have auto-updates disabled, but when I go to "my apps", play store shows all my apps that needs to be updated, if I click the update button, all of them starts the update, I want to play store don't show that app so it will never update.
Right now I need to update all of them, then look to search and then cancel that one.
Its just like he said on the new play store auto update is under options on the particular app screen if you uncheck that that app wont update on you..i know dor a fact because i have a few apps set that way...wallet in particular because the new play store auto set everything to auto update and screwed mtly wallet up for a bit and i had to find the auto uodate option.
I don't know of any other way. You may want to try to side load the application. I know the apps I side load, which are not available in the US, don't update the usual way. Some I was to get when you could still use MarketEnable and other similar apps. This has been my experience with NFL Game Pass, BBC iPlayer, etc. They don't show up having an update. I have to go to all apps in the my application list, and manually check all app, and manually update those apps that show an update is available.
I'm not saying it'll work. It's just might do what you're seeking.
Also, TB did an update and had something about delinking. You may want to give it another try.
Personally, I had a few apps I didn't want to update. I would either update the apps I wanted one by one. Otherwise, when I hit update all, I would just hit the one I didn't, and hit stop update. Hopefully, the app wasn't the first to be updated.

Phone got a whole lot of HTC Updates this morning from the google play store

HTC Dot View App
HTC Gallery App
HTC Guide App
HTC Sense TV App
HTC Service Pack
ZOE
Odd.. I notice these having updates, but they don't get listed in with the available updates in the "My apps" section in Google Play.
If you go to the apps individually in Google Play though, it shows an "update" button (clicking the other apps by this developer link is helpful in finding the others BTW).
This sounds familiar for some system apps, but not others (many Google apps auto-updated when I first activated the phone, even before I could get to the UI to turn off auto-updating). Anyone found a way to actually find -all- apps that have updates?
gbritton said:
Odd.. I notice these having updates, but they don't get listed in with the available updates in the "My apps" section in Google Play.
If you go to the apps individually in Google Play though, it shows an "update" button (clicking the other apps by this developer link is helpful in finding the others BTW).
This sounds familiar for some system apps, but not others (many Google apps auto-updated when I first activated the phone, even before I could get to the UI to turn off auto-updating). Anyone found a way to actually find -all- apps that have updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh man I hate the autoupdating, I always turn that off, I like to be in control of that. I don't know why that setting doesnt save when you get a new phone or wipe your device.
The updates may be rolling out in phases. I recipes those updates yesterday afternoon while I was setting g the phone up for the first time.
Restart your phone and you'll get them

Massive battery drain by google service with fresh install of CM11 nightly

After a fresh install, i experienced massive battery drain (50%+ over night).
the culprit was google service, easily identified in the battery overview.
It prevents the phone from going to sleep mode.
i searched for the problem and found
http://forum.cyanogenmod.org/topic/...ce-wakelock-on-cm11-m7-massive-battery-drain/
"it's a new ota update service that was added in a recent Google Play Services update."
Solution:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=53739230&postcount=5031
quote:
Finally I was able to block the SystemUpdateService wakelock, using this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rs.autorun (Autorun Manager)
go to settings, enable the option to show system entries
(refresh services)
find google play services and disable:
SystemUpdateService$Receiver
SystemUpdateService$ActiveReceiver
SystemUpdateService$SecretCodeReceiver
done... no more wakelock and it didn't break anything, syncs all work ok
I know this app doesn't look the best, but I tried others like "Android Tuner Free", "Disable Services", "Gemini App Manager", etc, but they allowed me to only disable the main service and didn't show the other receivers that had to be disabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One thing to add: If you clicked too much in Autorun Manager, it stops working and says "only changing of 10 entries allowed in the free version".
I wont give tipps to bypass this behaviour, so first think, then click.
the app can reset your services status from the menu, if you misclicked.
well, im not sure if this worked out well..
after 6 hrs, still google service takes a huge chunk of my battery. will report tomorrow.
installed latest nightly over this one, flashed google apps zip again, did not wipe anything, did not deactivate any google apps nor services, problem gone.

SystemUpdates App Self Installed

So in perusing my apps in the Play Store the other day, I noticed an app called SystemUpdates by chondong. I've never installed this app and there is no option to uninstall it.
It was created and forced into my phone on June 15.
I don't buy for one second that this is a system update app as the phone had the ability to search for and receive OTA updates prior to this being installed. The only description in English says "Update update the internal system of the application" (yes, it says update twice).
This is a Chinese phone and I'm very skeptical of what this app is.
Permissions are intrusive as well; see screenshots.
Any thoughts on this? Reading the feedback on the app, I'm not the only one concerned about this and it appears it doesn't only apply to ZTE, but other Chinese phones as well.
Let's keep this thread alive until someone can answer...
I just noticed the same app on my Axon A1R. One difference though - mine says it is produced by ZZte.
I have no idea when the app was installed (for sure less than 3 weeks ago - I know I went though all my apps because I was having WiFi issues and wanted to make sure it wasn't caused by a random app I'd downloaded). There is no way to uninstall it. I managed to disable it - but that just made the 'System updates' section disappear in the Settings>About Phone menu.
I'm starting to think that installing a mod OS published by some random person might be safer than using the Google approved, ZTE modified and FIDO distributed OS.
TX-Brad said:
So in perusing my apps in the Play Store the other day, I noticed an app called SystemUpdates by chondong. I've never installed this app and there is no option to uninstall it.
It was created and forced into my phone on June 15.
I don't buy for one second that this is a system update app as the phone had the ability to search for and receive OTA updates prior to this being installed. The only description in English says "Update update the internal system of the application" (yes, it says update twice).
This is a Chinese phone and I'm very skeptical of what this app is.
Permissions are intrusive as well; see screenshots.
Any thoughts on this? Reading the feedback on the app, I'm not the only one concerned about this and it appears it doesn't only apply to ZTE, but other Chinese phones as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks to me that you need to do a factory reset, and discontinue installing non-play store apps.
If you did indeed get it from the Play Store, then report it to Google, so it won't be there anymore.
But I find it really hard to believe it came from the Play Store, as Google does a lot of testing of new apps.

Recent File Manager update (hating Alcatel right now)

Idol 4 6055u hidden update last week and File Manager is now like a 'Clean Master' clone with all the clean-your-phone and boost-your-phone notifications spam. And since there's no way to root it the app is not removable.
Anyone had any luck stabbing this one to death?
Sucks right? Mentioned it in a thread I made a few weeks back:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/idol-4s/help/alcatel-phone-t3634870
If possible, uninstalling updates or disabling the app should revert the app to its pre-spam state. If not, disabling the apps and using a less invasive file manager app is an option.
Alternatively a factory reset will return all system apps to their pre-spammy state if I recall correctly. From there, you can just avoid updating that individual app.
macallik said:
Sucks right? Mentioned it in a thread I made a few weeks back:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/idol-4s/help/alcatel-phone-t3634870
If possible, uninstalling updates or disabling the app should revert the app to its pre-spam state. If not, disabling the apps and using a less invasive file manager app is an option.
Alternatively a factory reset will return all system apps to their pre-spammy state if I recall correctly. From there, you can just avoid updating that individual app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately you can't disable the app, even though it appears you can under dev options (tried that, it just updates itself in the background again). Have tried uninstalling (updates) but it updates itself again and the spam reappears. It also places a perma-notification (can't slide off) at the top of the notifications.
BUT: The latest update to File Manager allows you to turn off notifications. Problem solved.
NOTE: You do have to give permissions for storage before you can get into the settings that allow turning off notifications/shortcuts.
This is well-known problem, ads presents in all latest preinstalled Acatel's apps updates: File Manager, Sound Recorder, Weather, Launcher and others. All of them puts notifications with spam-news and in some cases tries to change default homepage of Google Chrome browser. To prevent this need to do the following things:
1. Uninstall all updates of these apps to revert it to stock-state.
2. Deny auto update of these apps in Google Play.
3. Deny auto update of system apps in standart Update application.
DeckerSU said:
This is well-known problem, ads presents in all latest preinstalled Acatel's apps updates: File Manager, Sound Recorder, Weather, Launcher and others. All of them puts notifications with spam-news and in some cases tries to change default homepage of Google Chrome browser. To prevent this need to do the following things:
1. Uninstall all updates of these apps to revert it to stock-state.
2. Deny auto update of these apps in Google Play.
3. Deny auto update of system apps in standart Update application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, following these steps I think I got them tamed. Not all the apps show up in Google Play but disabling auto-update in 'Updates' (Alcatel's version) should take care of those...
yosemite610 said:
Thanks, following these steps I think I got them tamed. Not all the apps show up in Google Play but disabling auto-update in 'Updates' (Alcatel's version) should take care of those...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Several of Alcatel's Apps updates throught Google Play and other via Updates app. For example, sound recorder updates via Google Play. If it's already updated - just remove updates and Google Play app for Sound Recorder and forbid / deny future updates. In 'Updates' need to forbid updates of system apps too. I already done all of this steps for each preinstalled app which tries to update - all fine. There is no any unwanted push notifications.
Rip ._. I hate this phone so much.
They are pathetic. Updating all apps and adding ads to them.
DeckerSU said:
Several of Alcatel's Apps updates throught Google Play and other via Updates app. For example, sound recorder updates via Google Play. If it's already updated - just remove updates and Google Play app for Sound Recorder and forbid / deny future updates. In 'Updates' need to forbid updates of system apps too. I already done all of this steps for each preinstalled app which tries to update - all fine. There is no any unwanted push notifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tips and detailed info @DeckerSU. I had begun to prepare to unlock, root, and flash a custom ROM due to this adware and push notification nonsense. Up until the recent app updates, I had truly enjoyed the clean, stock android UI experience on my idol3 ... now I can relax again, the aggravation of those push notifications is gone!
DeckerSU said:
This is well-known problem, ads presents in all latest preinstalled Acatel's apps updates: File Manager, Sound Recorder, Weather, Launcher and others. All of them puts notifications with spam-news and in some cases tries to change default homepage of Google Chrome browser. To prevent this need to do the following things:
1. Uninstall all updates of these apps to revert it to stock-state.
2. Deny auto update of these apps in Google Play.
3. Deny auto update of system apps in standart Update application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you, I hadn't thought of step 3
I signed in just to thank you
edit: just realized this thread is for idol 4s, but it applied to my idol 3..
I didn't realize this is a problem on later phones.. so messed up
Very bad, all those spamming programs on a phone we paid for. They beter come out with a recent
Android update. Its a Shame for the alcatel brand.
DeckerSU said:
This is well-known problem, ads presents in all latest preinstalled Acatel's apps updates: File Manager, Sound Recorder, Weather, Launcher and others. All of them puts notifications with spam-news and in some cases tries to change default homepage of Google Chrome browser. To prevent this need to do the following things:
1. Uninstall all updates of these apps to revert it to stock-state.
2. Deny auto update of these apps in Google Play.
3. Deny auto update of system apps in standart Update application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tips! I was starting to think I would have to root the device... Very dissapointing to see this kind of behaviour from Alcatel
Cheers
It may be worse than you think!
It's bad enough for a SYSTEM app to be serving up potentially malicious advertising that could Pwn your device, but it ventures deep into dark waters if that SYSTEM app has the Facebook "Graph" API inside of it that could allow a developer (or in this case your Chinese phone manufacturer) to use your Facebook access token to pillage through your Facebook account and look through your photos, tags, pages visited, URL's, or even create Facebook posts or messages on your behalf!
Sound crazy?
Take a look at the Facebook "Graph" developer site for yourself:
https://developers.facebook.com/docs/graph-api/using-graph-api/
And if someone was familiar with some open source tools that could allow them to look inside an Android app:
https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool
https://github.com/pxb1988/dex2jar
https://github.com/sreenivasmula/JDGUI
http://www.7-zip.org/download.html
That person might look to see if the app has the Facebook Graph API inside of it:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrdcom.filemanager&hl=en
Any one have a custom rom? Like Lineage or CM or AOSP any other one except the crapy stock rom?
Not good enough!
I no longer trust ANYTHING that is installed on my Alcatel device after the recent adware/spyware "upgrades"!
I installed TWRP and the (unofficial) Lineage ROM until I get a different phone all together.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/id...ficial-lineageos-14-1-idol36045x-5-5-t3615700
I will NEVER purchase another Alcatel device as long as I live and I will advise all my friends and family and anyone else that will listen to avoid Alcatel as well.
I also suggest that anyone with a stock Alcatel device not to use any "widgets" that create shortcuts that may use your access tokens for Facebook and/or Twitter until we know what is going on.
The Facebook Graph API on a native app has a greater access level than a web application and the token(s) don't expire for 60 days and can be extended.
I advise people to avoid logging in to apps or websites with their social media and/or Google credentials and to change your passwords and set up 2 factor authentication and remove any apps associated with your social media accounts.
Wtf
yosemite610 said:
Idol 4 6055u hidden update last week and File Manager is now like a 'Clean Master' clone with all the clean-your-phone and boost-your-phone notifications spam. And since there's no way to root it the app is not removable.
Anyone had any luck stabbing this one to death?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That update is from google play store! Not from alcatel.... Uninstall updates and don't let google play do whatever it wants in your phone!
That update is from google play store! Not from alcatel....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The update may have come the Google Play Store but is every bit Alcatel!
The "boost" function comes from TCL (Alcatel) owned Hawk app's "Super Cleaner" and the antivirus function comes from Hawk's Hi Security app that uses McAfee technology.
http://www.ehawk.com/en/
Can you help me to unlock a sharp phone?
DeckerSU said:
This is well-known problem, ads presents in all latest preinstalled Acatel's apps updates: File Manager, Sound Recorder, Weather, Launcher and others. All of them puts notifications with spam-news and in some cases tries to change default homepage of Google Chrome browser. To prevent this need to do the following things:
1. Uninstall all updates of these apps to revert it to stock-state.
2. Deny auto update of these apps in Google Play.
3. Deny auto update of system apps in standart Update application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you help me to unlock a sharp phone?
I have the modem.elf file.
Following the advice on this thread, I was able to revert to the old versions of these apps back in October, and my phone stayed usable from then until about 2 weeks ago. Suddenly, the "updates" installed themselves (as part of a "critical system update" that I was notified my phone needed, and now, I don't have the option to uninstall the updates (or rather, it uninstalls to another spammy, bloatware version, not to the factory original).
Any ideas on what I can do now? Or is it time to throw this phone in the trash, and get one from a company that doesn't do this?
critical system update
Following the advice on this thread, I was able to revert to the old versions of these apps back in October, and my phone stayed usable from then until about 2 weeks ago. Suddenly, the "updates" installed themselves (as part of a "critical system update" that I was notified my phone needed, and now, I don't have the option to uninstall the updates (or rather, it uninstalls to another spammy, bloatware version, not to the factory original).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have got to be kidding me!
Now Alcatel and McAfee are tricking users into installing their adware/spyware through the use of fake "critical update" patches?
I think it is high time to do a complete breakdown/inspection of the app and do a full public disclosure.
It isn't surprising that Alcatel would infect a users phone with adware/spyware but for a so-called "security" company like McAfee to be involved is both frightening and disturbing.

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