Disabling Annoying SIM Toolkit Pop-ups on Samsung Galaxy A01 Core (Claro Argentina)
The problem
This post is a work in progress.
If you're using a Samsung Galaxy A01 Core with a Claro Argentina SIM card, you might be frustrated by persistent pop-ups from the SIM Toolkit app appearing on your lock screen. These "flash messages" are typically promotional or service-related notifications pushed by Claro, and since can appear over the lock screen, you could "click" OK on it without noticing it (ie: if you have your phone on your pocket). The SIM Toolkit app (com.android.stk or com.android.stk2 for dual SIM devices) is a system app, meaning it cannot be uninstalled without root access. However, you can disable it or restrict its behavior using ADB (Android Debug Bridge).
Prerequisites
- Know what are you doing: don't blame me if you manage to brick your device. I might laugh at you and make fun of you on the net if you try to do so. Of course I am posting this because I already did it on my device and it works. Also: this procedure could work on other mobiles models or even on other mobile network providers. You just need to know what to look for.
- A not too old desktop computer with Linux and adb already installed. All commands are issued by using a terminal like xterm.
- USB Debugging enabled on your mobile, ie for Samsung A01Core:
- Go to Settings > About phone > Software information.
- Tap Build number 7 times to enable Developer Options.
- Go back to Settings > Developer options and enable USB debugging.
- A USB cable to connect your phone to the computer.
- Ensure your phone is recognized by ADB:
You should see your device listed. Not just any cable can do the trick, if you don´t see your device listed, keep trying other cables until you do.adb devices
Step-by-step solution using adb
1. Identify the package
The pop-ups are likely caused by Claro Argentina's SIM Toolkit app, which is pre-installed as com.android.stk (and com.android.stk2 for dual SIM setups). Confirm this by listing installed packages:
adb shell pm list packages | grep stk
Expected output:
package:com.android.stk
package:com.android.stk2
2. Disable SIM Toolkit
Since SIM Toolkit is a system app, you can't uninstall it without root, but you can disable it using ADB. Run these commands to disable both SIM Toolkit packages:
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.stk
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.android.stk2
Expected output:
Package com.android.stk new state: disabled-user
Package com.android.stk2 new state: disabled-user
This prevents the app from running and stops the pop-ups.
3. Force Stop (Optional)
To ensure the app stops immediately:
adb shell am force-stop com.android.stk
adb shell am force-stop com.android.stk2
4. Reboot the Device
Apply the changes by rebooting your phone:
adb shell reboot
This performs a "soft reboot," restarting the Android system and applying the disabled state.
5. Check Package Status (Optional)
To confirm the packages are disabled:
adb shell pm list packages -d | grep stk
Expected output:
package:com.android.stk
package:com.android.stk2
If they appear here, they're disabled. To check for enabled packages:
adb shell pm list packages -e | grep stk
If nothing appears, the packages are successfully disabled.
6. How to revert
adb shell pm enable com.android.stk
adb shell pm enable com.android.stk2
adb shell reboot
7. What if it does not work
Not many options, really: switching to another rom like LineageOS (which atm does not fully support A01Core) and/or another mobile model/brand.
Notes for Claro Argentina users
- Phone Functionality: Disabling SIM Toolkit is unlikely to affect calls, SMS, or data, as confirmed in tests on the Samsung A01 Core. However, always test after making changes.
- Android Version: The A01 Core likely runs Android 10 (Go edition), which doesn't support the
POST_NOTIFICATIONSpermission (introduced in Android 13). This is why revoking notification permissions via ADB doesn't work, making disabling the app the best solution.
