Disable KNOX, OTA and Block Bloat Apps on Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Without Root

Root privilege on an Android device is the gateway to all kinds of UI and performance related customization. It gives you control over the very files that lie at the core of everything that happens on your phone. And thus, by modifying those system files, one can improve the performance of one’s device.

Usually, most Android devices get a working root method just after their release but sometimes users of a certain device have to wait for longer and longer. In the recent years, if there is one OEM/carrier that has been using cunning ways to prevent users from gaining root access, it’s Verizon. Since rooting paves the way for things like unlocking the SIM restrictions, enabling WiFi tethering, removal of bloat apps without the wish of the carrier, they tend to make gaining root impossible.

It took a long time before the Verizon S5 got a root exploit as Geohot’s Towelroot but it was patched by the big red within a few weeks. Even if you manage to get root, it’s almost impossible to get a custom recovery like CWM or TWRP on Verizon phones due to locked bootloaders. There is still no working root method available for phones like the Verizon Droid Turbo and Verizon Galaxy Note 4. The pledged bounty for one who comes up with a root method has been soaring higher and higher and yet it appears like we’ll have to keep waiting forever. No hope for now!

Anyway, if you got the Verizon Galaxy Note 4 and feel sad because you are not able to do things like getting rid of bloat apps, disabling KNOX security and OTA updates from Verizon for lack of root privilege, there’s now a way. XDA member Misterxtc has discovered a way that help you with disabling your desired bloat apps and KNOX without root access. Yes, you heard it right!

Misterxtc’s magical tool that is available as a script that is a modified version of a similar script for the Motorola Droid Turbo. Most Verizon devices come stuffed with a ton of bloat apps including the ones from Samsung and the carrier. Since many of these apps keep running in the background, then constantly consume a lot of disk space, RAM memory, and battery juice too.

The script contains a big list of such useless or scarcely used apps. In case you wish to disable apps as per your preference, you can even customize the list. While disabling bloat apps, the script also disables Samsung KNOX security, its agent apps, and apps responsible for new software checker and OTA update apps.Thus you easily get rid of KNOX and unwanted OTAs too.

List of Bloat Apps on Verizon Note 4

com.sec.knox.bridge
 com.sec.knox.seandroid
 com.sec.enterprise.knox.attestation
 com.sec.knox.knoxsetupwizardclient
 com.samsung.klmsagent
 com.samsung.sdm
 com.sec.knox.app.container
 com.sec.knox.containeragent
 com.sec.knox.eventsmanager
 com.sec.knox.store
 com.sec.knox.knoxsetupwizardclient
 com.sec.knox.setupwizardstub
 com.samsung.knox.rcp.components
 com.slacker.radio
 com.vzw.hss.widgets.infozone
 com.amazon.mp3
 com.verizon.familybase.companion
 com.vznavigator.Generic
 com.asurion.android.verizon.vms
 com.gotv.nflgamecenter.us.lite
 flipboard.app
 com.yahoo.mobile.client.android.liveweather
 com.amazon.kindle
 com.imdb.mobile
 com.amazon.fv
 com.google.android.apps.books
 com.google.cequint.ecid
 com.google.android.videos
 com.verizon.messaging.vzmsgs
 com.google.android.videos
 com.logiagroup.logiadeck
 com.google.android.apps.magazines
 flipboard.app
 flipboard.boxer.app
 com.sec.android.automotive.drivelink
 com.sec.android.app.billing
 com.vcast.mediamanager
 com.isis.mclient.verizon.activity
 com.google.android.apps.mag
 com.android.email

com.sec.android.app.popupcalculator
 com.sec.android.app.setupwizard
 com.google.android.play.games
 com.hp.android.printservice
 com.google.android.apps.magazines
 com.sec.android.widgetapp.galaxygifts
 com.facebook.katana
 com.google.android.apps.docs
 com.dsi.ant.service.socket
 com.dsi.ant.server
 com.dsi.ant.plugins.antplus
 com.sec.android.widgetapp.ap.hero.accweather
 com.android.exchange
 com.samsung.android.service.travel
 com.samsung.vvm
 com.whatsapp
 com.google.android.marvin.talkback
 com.nuance.swype.input
 tv.peel.smartremote
 com.audible.application
 flipboard.app
 com.cequint.ecid
 com.sec.android.app.voicenote
 com.amazon.venezia
 com.vzw.hss.myverizon
 com.vzw.hss.widgets.infozone
 com.vcast.mediamanager
 com.samsung.android.app.pinboard
 com.sec.android.app.music
 tcom.sec.android.app.myfiles
 com.samsung.helphub
 com.facebook.katana
 com.instagram.android
 com.facebook.system
 com.facebook.orca
 com.facebook.pages.app

Block Bloat Apps on Verizon Galaxy Note 4

1. Download and install Samsung USB Drivers on your computer of you have it installed already.
2. Enable Developer options on your phone and then turn on USB Debugging found in Settings> Developer options.
3. Download the bloat blocker package for your Galaxy Note 4: VZW_Note4_Block_Bloat.zip
4. Unzip the downloaded zip and open the extracted folder.
5. Connect your phone to your computer.
6. Now launch the Block and Unblock Bloat.bat file.
7. Allow USB Debugging on your phone’s screen when prompted.
8. Now follow the on-screen instructions on the command window.

That’s it! Having gone through the desired steps, you would already have got rid of the bloat apps on your Verizon Note 4. You can use the same procedure to unblock any disabled app in future.