Bring Verizon S5 to another carrier and removing bloatware

[MasterBash]

So I bought the Galaxy S5 Verizon model for cheap and it works great on the Telus network in canada using UMTS (maybe LTE works too but didnt get a chance to try).

Currently have Lollipop 5.0 installed on it and there are a few things I am wondering.

Is it possible to remove the verizon bloatware? I guess I will have to downgrade to 4.4.2 and root the device. However, I am really interested in using Lollipop 5.0 without the bloatware, so I am wondering, is it possible to flash another Galaxy S5 version that doesnt belong to verizon? I know their S5 is a bit different than other versions out there.

As I mentionned, it works on Telus. However, it keeps telling me that "SIM card is not from Verizon", I wonder if it is possible to get rid of that with root?

Would I somehow be able to upgrade to 5.1 without having all the crap reinstalled? I also cant use system update...
I will have to update to 5.1 manually, somehow.

Lastly, would it be possible to replace the Verizon boot screen?

Thanks.

 

[ironass]

So I bought the Galaxy S5 Verizon model for cheap and it works great on the Telus network in canada using UMTS (maybe LTE works too but didnt get a chance to try).

Currently have Lollipop 5.0 installed on it and there are a few things I am wondering.

Is it possible to remove the verizon bloatware? I guess I will have to downgrade to 4.4.2 and root the device. However, I am really interested in using Lollipop 5.0 without the bloatware, so I am wondering, is it possible to flash another Galaxy S5 version that doesnt belong to verizon? I know their S5 is a bit different than other versions out there.

As I mentionned, it works on Telus. However, it keeps telling me that "SIM card is not from Verizon", I wonder if it is possible to get rid of that with root?

Would I somehow be able to upgrade to 5.1 without having all the crap reinstalled? I also cant use system update...
I will have to update to 5.1 manually, somehow.

Lastly, would it be possible to replace the Verizon boot screen?

Thanks.

Hello and welcome to Android Central MasterBash!

Could you post your Baseband?

Settings > About device > Baseband version

 

[MasterBash]

Hi and thanks!

G900VVRU1BOC4

 

[ironass]

Hi and thanks!

G900VVRU1BOC4

You dodged a bullet there. If you had said OE1 or OG5 then it would be no go for rooting.

Your G900V should work fine on the Canadian, Telus, network. You can check at... Will My Phone Work?

Because of the Verizon locked down bootloader, once you have rooted you will only be able to install TouchWiz based ROMs and therefore, AOSP ROMs such as the popular CyanogenMod are not available to you.

Lastly, Android 5.1.1 has not been released for the G900V yet.

 

[MasterBash]

Happy to hear!

What do you mean by TouchWiz based ROM? I know TouchWiz is a samsung thing, however I am wondering if you mean some other carrier's S5 rom or some stock rom without any bloatware from carriers (if the latter is true, where would I be able to find such thing?)

Also, lets say I want to go back to 5.0 (because rooting requires downgrading), would it be possible for me to upgrade to a firmware without crap on it? I dont care if it stays rooted or not, I just want to remove the apps I dont use and the SIM card not from verizon notification. Also I would like to change the verizon boot screen, not sure if possible. After that, I dont mind if the phone becomes unrooted.

Thank you for your kind help!

 

[ironass]

What do you mean by TouchWiz based ROM? I know TouchWiz is a samsung thing, however I am wondering if you mean some other carrier's S5 rom or some stock rom without any bloatware from carriers (if the latter is true, where would I be able to find such thing?)

This explains the difference between TouchWiz based and AOSP, ROMs... What is AOSP?

Also, lets say I want to go back to 5.0 (because rooting requires downgrading), would it be possible for me to upgrade to a firmware without crap on it? I dont care if it stays rooted or not, I just want to remove the apps I dont use and the SIM card not from verizon notification.

Once rooted, you could, with caution, remove the not inconsiderable amount of Verizon bloatware from the stock Verizon firmware as well as the SIM notification.

Alternatively you could choose to flash one of the custom ROMs that are specifically designed for the G900V model.

Also I would like to change the verizon boot screen, not sure if possible. After that, I dont mind if the phone becomes unrooted.

There are a number of ways to do this on a rooted phone. An app from the Play Store, A simple mod that is flashed in recovery mode or a custom ROM that usually has its own boot animation.

UPDATE:

Whilst researching this for you, I came across a specially modified version of the CyanogenMod 12.1 that has been released by a very talented developer, albinoman887. This is based on the stock Android 5.1 firmware. See, here. This is for competent users only. Please research and read before flashing at your own risk.


ironass motto... "Flash in haste... repent at leisure!"

 

[MasterBash]

Right, I understand.

So lets say I downgrade to 4.4.2 and I use a custom touchwiz rom based on 5.0 that doesnt include any verizon apps. By upgrading, are there going to be any left overs from the 4.4.2 (such as verizon bloatware) or anything or is it gonna be completely removed?

I looked aroud for a custom rom, apparently most of them are based on 4.4.2 or not supporting the g900v. Do you know which custom rom is the cleanest based on 5.0 or 5.1? I am looking to stay as close as possible to a stock touchwiz based rom without the bloatware, rather than a modified cyanogenmod. Also, something that is well supported would be awesome, meaning if there is a new android release, the custom rom will also be updated in the short term with the changes based on the new android version.

Sorry, totally new with this. I used to root my google nexus s... I used cyanogenmod, which is well known, so it is easy to find information, but I cant find everything I am looking for when it comes to the g900v.

 

[ironass]

Right, I understand.

So lets say I downgrade to 4.4.2 and I use a custom touchwiz rom based on 5.0 that doesnt include any verizon apps. By upgrading, are there going to be any left overs from the 4.4.2 (such as verizon bloatware) or anything or is it gonna be completely removed?

That depends on the custom ROM that you use for your G900V. Most that are designed for your carrier minority variant will have the Verizon bloatware removed entirely as this is the goal of most G900V users.

I looked aroud for a custom rom, apparently most of them are based on 4.4.2 or not supporting the g900v. Do you know which custom rom is the cleanest based on 5.0 or 5.1?

The cleanest ROM that is closest to stock Android that is on the Nexus and has no bloatware at all, will be the CyanogenMod ROM mentioned previously. This has no Touchwiz features either.

I am looking to stay as close as possible to a stock touchwiz based rom without the bloatware, rather than a modified cyanogenmod. Also, something that is well supported would be awesome, meaning if there is a new android release, the custom rom will also be updated in the short term with the changes based on the new android version.

OK. Your problem is that the Verizon G900V was never running stock Samsung TouchWiz firmware such as that I am running on my international G900F. Rather, as per #1.6 of 40 Galaxy S5 models - Dummies Guide, it is running Verizon's own, "cloneware", version of Samsung's Touchwiz firmware, (which is why you see such a disproportionate amount of complaints from Verizon and AT&T users when compared to the 99.5% of other S5 users), and because of the G900V hardware, CDMA modem for instance, and the locked bootloader, it does not receive the same support from ROM developers as, say, my worldwide, unlocked bootloader, G900F model. Therefore, ROMs for the G900V are few and far between. Also, Verizon made rooting impossible from Android 4.4.4, which is why users had to downgrade to 4.4.2 to root. It also cut down on the custom ROMs after this and explains why you are seeing so many old ones.

I have also done a search for up-to-date custom, TouchWiz based, ROMs for your G900V model and have discovered, as you have, that they are thin on the ground...

[=ROM=][5.0-OE1|OG5][900V] OptimalROM R14-4|15 *SILKY SMOOTH*FAST*STABLE* 08/19

Install Resurrection Remix ROM (KLTEVZW) Android 5.1.1 Lollipop on Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5 SM-G900V

There may be more but I am not aware of them.

Another way of tackling your problem is to downgrade and root the existing Verizon firmware and then to carefully upgrade to the latest Verizon release, OG5, with the Stagefright patch and then with your new rooted user rights, set about removing and /or disabling, the built-in Verizon bloatware. This has the advantage of being able to update your firmware every time Verizon issues an update but does require a lot of work and research on your part and will have to be de-bloated after each update in future.

Perhaps other Verizon G900V users could suggest some alternative ROM's.