How To: Install Preware on the Palm Pre (Install Root Required Apps, Themes, Patches, and Tweaks)

I. Before You Begin

1. This should work on all Palm Pre’s. Regardless of whether they are GSM, Sprint, or Verizon. Please let us know if this works or doesn’t work for you Palm Pre and what carrier you are using it on! Thanks!

2. THIS IS TECHNICALLY NOT GAINING ROOT ACCESS VIA COMMAND LINE. IT IS HOW TO INSTALL PREWARE. Preware allows you to install any root required app though, and since that is the main reason for rooting a device this procedure has superseded gaining root access via command line.

II. Download the Necessary Files

1. Click here to check that you have the latest version of Java installed on your computer. If you don’t please install it from that page.

2. Click here to download the latest WebOS Doctor for your carrier (do NOT install it yet, just download it). *If you have an unbranded Palm Pre, install the UK version of WebOS Doctor.

3. Click here to download WebOS Quick Install (WebOS DOCTOR AND WebOS QUICK INSTALL MUST BE IN THE SAME FOLDER TOGETHER!)

III. Put Your Device In Developer Mode

1. Open the Universal Search Box on your phone.

2. Type in it the following and you should be presented with the Developer Mode Enabler:

upupdowndownleftrightleftrightbastart

3. Click on the Developer Mode Enabler and turn it on.

4. It will ask you to reset the device, click that and wait for the device to reboot (nothing is deleted it is simply rebooting).

5. Once it reboots, connect your phone to the computer via USB cable, and select Just Charge on the phone when prompted.

IV. Use WebOS Quick Install to Install PreWare

1. Double click the WebOSQuickInstall.jar file you downloaded (it will only let you double click it if you have the latest version of Java installed).

2. Click on the Blue Down Arrow (third button down on the right) in the WebOS Quick Install program.

3. Choose WebOS Internal Feeds (All) from the dropdown list at the top.

4. Then Select Package Manager Service from the list. (*If WebOS Quick Install offers to install this automatically, decline it! And continue as written).

5. Then Select Preware.

6. Click Download.

7. Click Close.

8. Click Install.

9. Reboot the phone by opening the keyboard and holding down Orange, Sym, and R until the phone reboots.

10. Once it reboots, open Preware from the launcher and begin downloading, root required apps, themes, patches etc! Even WiFi tethering is in there 🙂 Enjoy!

V. (Optional) Organize Preware

1. Open Preware and click the Preware button at the top left of the app.

2. Then select Preferences

3. Then goto the Main Scene section and check Show Available Types to Yes.

4. Make sure everything underneath it in the Main Scene section is Yes, EXCEPT for Show Other Types, select No for that.

5. Now you Preware is organized into apps, themes, and patches/tweaks. Enjoy!

Reported Issues:

Issue: Quick Install says it cannot find the device.

Solution: Make sure Developer Mode is enabled…

Issue: It says I installed Preware, but I can’t see it in my Launcher.

Solution: Double click the WebOS Doctor .jar file while the phone is plugged in via USB cable (Charging Only Mode) and this will wipe  the phone and put it to out of box state. Then try this procedure again.

45 thoughts on “How To: Install Preware on the Palm Pre (Install Root Required Apps, Themes, Patches, and Tweaks)”

  1. i have an apple computer and it says that my device isn’t connected but it is. i also made sure it was in developer mode. what should i do?!?!?!?!

  2. I have done everything on this
    Carrier bell
    Like tweaks and stuff works but everytime I goto internal all I dnt see any packet service and my developer mode is on
    so I went to emulator I see preware tried to install it but doesn’t work either
    Plz help thank you

  3. My computer wont allow me to download novocam so i can get the package manager service, but i see preware as an option by itself. could i click just preware and download it and put it on my phone without the package manager service? or would that cause problems for my phone??? (last thing i want)

    1. The package manager service moved with the new version of webos quickinstall… goto the pre feed or pixi if you have that and preware should b there.

      this is the video where i found this info, and i tested it myself.

    2. The package manager service moved with the new version of webos quickinstall… goto the pre feed or pixi if you have that and preware should b there.

      this is the video where i found this info, and i tested it myself.

  4. yo tengo una palm pre cdma instalé todo con detalles y no me funcionó
    si me pueden decir cual es el problema que tengo, y me pueden responder en español please

  5. HI i dowloaded the Webos doctor and the Quick install but i cant see the Package manager anywhere?? can u help me??

  6. I did everything that was mention from the video but i can’t find the package manager service in the webos internals (all) and it not there.

  7. Idowloaded the Webos doctor and the Quick install but i cant see the Package manager and Preware are not on the list when I go to WebOS-Internal Feed (All) can u help me??

  8. I’m with Bell too and was not able to find the package manager or preware. I dropped the selected menu to webos etc etc to pre and it was there. worksgood

  9. I’m with Bell too and was not able to find the package manager or preware. I dropped the selected menu to webos etc etc to pre and it was there. worksgood

  10. I’m with Bell too and was not able to find the package manager or preware. I dropped the selected menu to webos etc etc to pre and it was there. worksgood

  11. I followed the directions exactly and when I get into preware and select themes, there are only 13 and are all for the virtual keyboard. Everywhere I have read preware is suppose to allow you to install themes from prethemer.com. This is the sole reason I wanted this and all its been is a headache. Please help.

  12. totally disappointed

    How come no one gets their questions answered, I tryed to do this install today and was totally nervous and upset when it did not work!!! Like the other questions of last year 2010 there was no preware or package manager in the locations mentioned in the video, this is a real let down and it makes me wish now for a android phone!!!!!!!!!! Please address these concerns, and I was glad to see my phone still intake after this nerve racking process!!!!

  13. preware can be found in pre or pixi feeds, however package manager does nto show up anywhere, if this demo is from a previous version of quickinstaller possibly it’s time for a new demo that shows current and relevant info

    1. Yes this is outdated for anyone who is wondering, simply find preware in the applications list (its there trust me) and install. Then REBOOT and you’ll be good to go. A lot of tweaks like iphone-agent-spoof and removing rounded edges that were in old quickinstalls are not longer available because they lost compatibility with 1.4.5 i think.

  14. i tried to put preware in my phone but i couldnt find preware so i stopped it half way and now i cant call ppl they can only call me

  15. i tried to put preware in my phone but i couldnt find preware so i stopped it half way and now i cant call ppl they can only call me

  16. please help my preware says “the service is not running. first try to restart preware, or reboot your phone and try again” I did and it wont work. please help.

  17. is there any way i can load paid apps on my palm pre2 ? I am from India and though i bought my phone from the US i activated it here… so now i am unable to access the paid apps… please help me.. I love the phone but am now getting frustrated with the limited apps available.

  18. First, thank you very much for this blog. I had been trying to install Preware for sometime now but every time some problem occurred regarding “Java” or “Device not detected” etc, but this time it worked smoothly. 

    Just a few tips for people who are having a few issues even with the instructions given above:

    “Preware” is available in “WebOS internal feed (Pre)”, not in “WebOS internal feed (all). So, select the “Pre” one.

    Secondly, in the last step it may show an “error” message, but it’s fine. Simply click “Ok” and restart your phone. “Preware” is installed in your phone and you can see it in menu.

  19. Help!!  I installed the preware but did not see the packaage manager service I then rebooted using
    and left the usb attached to the computer.

    I the phone we now not turn on at all?

    K

  20. When I go to the blue arrow no screen will pop up no matter how many times I click, re-install or restart my computer.

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