diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/AppWidgetsRestoredReceiver.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/AppWidgetsRestoredReceiver.java
index 880aaf1..5e7a012 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/AppWidgetsRestoredReceiver.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/AppWidgetsRestoredReceiver.java
@@ -90,5 +90,10 @@
                 }
             }.executeOnExecutor(AsyncTask.THREAD_POOL_EXECUTOR, (Void) null);
         }
+
+        LauncherAppState app = LauncherAppState.getInstanceNoCreate();
+        if (app != null) {
+            app.reloadWorkspace();
+        }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/AutoInstallsLayout.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/AutoInstallsLayout.java
index 9180dcf..dac79a8 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/AutoInstallsLayout.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/AutoInstallsLayout.java
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@
             // failed to add, and less than 2 were actually added
             if (folderItems.size() < 2) {
                 // Delete the folder
-                Uri uri = Favorites.getContentUri(folderId, false);
+                Uri uri = Favorites.getContentUri(folderId);
                 SqlArguments args = new SqlArguments(uri, null, null);
                 mDb.delete(args.table, args.where, args.args);
                 addedId = -1;
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/Folder.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/Folder.java
index 23582ce..4529a94 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/Folder.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/Folder.java
@@ -845,7 +845,7 @@
             View v = list.get(i);
             ItemInfo info = (ItemInfo) v.getTag();
             LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(mLauncher, info, mInfo.id, 0,
-                        info.cellX, info.cellY, false);
+                        info.cellX, info.cellY);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
index 8a9db71..8a21d62 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/Launcher.java
@@ -1554,7 +1554,7 @@
             return;
         }
 
-        LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(this, info, container, screenId, cellXY[0], cellXY[1], false);
+        LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(this, info, container, screenId, cellXY[0], cellXY[1]);
 
         if (!mRestoring) {
             mWorkspace.addInScreen(view, container, screenId, cellXY[0], cellXY[1], 1, 1,
@@ -1616,7 +1616,7 @@
         launcherInfo.user = mAppWidgetManager.getUser(appWidgetInfo);
 
         LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(this, launcherInfo,
-                container, screenId, info.cellX, info.cellY, false);
+                container, screenId, info.cellX, info.cellY);
 
         if (!mRestoring) {
             if (hostView == null) {
@@ -2409,8 +2409,8 @@
         folderInfo.title = getText(R.string.folder_name);
 
         // Update the model
-        LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(Launcher.this, folderInfo, container, screenId, cellX, cellY,
-                false);
+        LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(Launcher.this, folderInfo, container, screenId,
+                cellX, cellY);
         sFolders.put(folderInfo.id, folderInfo);
 
         // Create the view
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
index 555b1cc..2a08b81 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherAppState.java
@@ -19,16 +19,13 @@
 import android.annotation.TargetApi;
 import android.app.SearchManager;
 import android.content.ComponentName;
-import android.content.ContentResolver;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.IntentFilter;
 import android.content.res.Configuration;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
-import android.database.ContentObserver;
 import android.graphics.Point;
 import android.os.Build;
-import android.os.Handler;
 import android.util.DisplayMetrics;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.view.Display;
@@ -116,11 +113,6 @@
         filter.addAction(SearchManager.INTENT_GLOBAL_SEARCH_ACTIVITY_CHANGED);
         filter.addAction(SearchManager.INTENT_ACTION_SEARCHABLES_CHANGED);
         sContext.registerReceiver(mModel, filter);
-
-        // Register for changes to the favorites
-        ContentResolver resolver = sContext.getContentResolver();
-        resolver.registerContentObserver(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI, true,
-                mFavoritesObserver);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -131,23 +123,16 @@
         final LauncherAppsCompat launcherApps = LauncherAppsCompat.getInstance(sContext);
         launcherApps.removeOnAppsChangedCallback(mModel);
         PackageInstallerCompat.getInstance(sContext).onStop();
-
-        ContentResolver resolver = sContext.getContentResolver();
-        resolver.unregisterContentObserver(mFavoritesObserver);
     }
 
     /**
-     * Receives notifications whenever the user favorites have changed.
+     * Reloads the workspace items from the DB and re-binds the workspace. This should generally
+     * not be called as DB updates are automatically followed by UI update
      */
-    private final ContentObserver mFavoritesObserver = new ContentObserver(new Handler()) {
-        @Override
-        public void onChange(boolean selfChange) {
-            // If the database has ever changed, then we really need to force a reload of the
-            // workspace on the next load
-            mModel.resetLoadedState(false, true);
-            mModel.startLoaderFromBackground();
-        }
-    };
+    public void reloadWorkspace() {
+        mModel.resetLoadedState(false, true);
+        mModel.startLoaderFromBackground();
+    }
 
     LauncherModel setLauncher(Launcher launcher) {
         mModel.initialize(launcher);
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupAgentHelper.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupAgentHelper.java
index ddfd70d..5f7173f 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupAgentHelper.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupAgentHelper.java
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@
             super.onRestore(data, appVersionCode, newState);
             // If no favorite was migrated, clear the data and start fresh.
             final Cursor c = getContentResolver().query(
-                    LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION, null, null, null, null);
+                    LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI, null, null, null, null);
             hasData = c.moveToNext();
             c.close();
         } catch (Exception e) {
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupHelper.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupHelper.java
index c034800..064f436 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupHelper.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherBackupHelper.java
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@
 
         ContentResolver cr = mContext.getContentResolver();
         ContentValues values = unpackFavorite(buffer, dataSize);
-        cr.insert(Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION, values);
+        cr.insert(Favorites.CONTENT_URI, values);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherModel.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherModel.java
index dcb3759..c6ed0da 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherModel.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherModel.java
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@
                         // Add the shortcut to the db
                         addItemToDatabase(context, shortcutInfo,
                                 LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTAINER_DESKTOP,
-                                screenId, cordinates[0], cordinates[1], false);
+                                screenId, cordinates[0], cordinates[1]);
                         // Save the ShortcutInfo for binding in the workspace
                         addedShortcutsFinal.add(shortcutInfo);
                     }
@@ -652,7 +652,7 @@
             long screenId, int cellX, int cellY) {
         if (item.container == ItemInfo.NO_ID) {
             // From all apps
-            addItemToDatabase(context, item, container, screenId, cellX, cellY, false);
+            addItemToDatabase(context, item, container, screenId, cellX, cellY);
         } else {
             // From somewhere else
             moveItemInDatabase(context, item, container, screenId, cellX, cellY);
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@
     static void updateItemInDatabaseHelper(Context context, final ContentValues values,
             final ItemInfo item, final String callingFunction) {
         final long itemId = item.id;
-        final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(itemId, false);
+        final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(itemId);
         final ContentResolver cr = context.getContentResolver();
 
         final StackTraceElement[] stackTrace = new Throwable().getStackTrace();
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@
                 for (int i = 0; i < count; i++) {
                     ItemInfo item = items.get(i);
                     final long itemId = item.id;
-                    final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(itemId, false);
+                    final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(itemId);
                     ContentValues values = valuesList.get(i);
 
                     ops.add(ContentProviderOperation.newUpdate(uri).withValues(values).build());
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@
      * cellY fields of the item. Also assigns an ID to the item.
      */
     static void addItemToDatabase(Context context, final ItemInfo item, final long container,
-            final long screenId, final int cellX, final int cellY, final boolean notify) {
+            final long screenId, final int cellX, final int cellY) {
         item.container = container;
         item.cellX = cellX;
         item.cellY = cellY;
@@ -1017,8 +1017,7 @@
         final StackTraceElement[] stackTrace = new Throwable().getStackTrace();
         Runnable r = new Runnable() {
             public void run() {
-                cr.insert(notify ? LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI :
-                        LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION, values);
+                cr.insert(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI, values);
 
                 // Lock on mBgLock *after* the db operation
                 synchronized (sBgLock) {
@@ -1102,7 +1101,7 @@
         Runnable r = new Runnable() {
             public void run() {
                 for (ItemInfo item : items) {
-                    final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(item.id, false);
+                    final Uri uri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(item.id);
                     cr.delete(uri, null, null);
 
                     // Lock on mBgLock *after* the db operation
@@ -1197,7 +1196,7 @@
 
         Runnable r = new Runnable() {
             public void run() {
-                cr.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(info.id, false), null, null);
+                cr.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(info.id), null, null);
                 // Lock on mBgLock *after* the db operation
                 synchronized (sBgLock) {
                     sBgItemsIdMap.remove(info.id);
@@ -1205,7 +1204,7 @@
                     sBgWorkspaceItems.remove(info);
                 }
 
-                cr.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION,
+                cr.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI,
                         LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTAINER + "=" + info.id, null);
                 // Lock on mBgLock *after* the db operation
                 synchronized (sBgLock) {
@@ -1823,7 +1822,7 @@
 
                 final ArrayList<Long> itemsToRemove = new ArrayList<Long>();
                 final ArrayList<Long> restoredRows = new ArrayList<Long>();
-                final Uri contentUri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION;
+                final Uri contentUri = LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI;
                 if (DEBUG_LOADERS) Log.d(TAG, "loading model from " + contentUri);
                 final Cursor c = contentResolver.query(contentUri, null, null, null, null);
 
@@ -2304,8 +2303,7 @@
                         }
                         // Don't notify content observers
                         try {
-                            client.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(id, false),
-                                    null, null);
+                            client.delete(LauncherSettings.Favorites.getContentUri(id), null, null);
                         } catch (RemoteException e) {
                             Log.w(TAG, "Could not remove id = " + id);
                         }
@@ -2324,7 +2322,7 @@
                         selectionBuilder.append(")");
                         ContentValues values = new ContentValues();
                         values.put(LauncherSettings.Favorites.RESTORED, 0);
-                        updater.update(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION,
+                        updater.update(LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI,
                                 values, selectionBuilder.toString(), null);
                     } catch (RemoteException e) {
                         Log.w(TAG, "Could not update restored rows");
@@ -2395,7 +2393,7 @@
          */
         private void updateItem(long itemId, ContentValues update) {
             mContext.getContentResolver().update(
-                    LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION,
+                    LauncherSettings.Favorites.CONTENT_URI,
                     update,
                     BaseColumns._ID + "= ?",
                     new String[]{Long.toString(itemId)});
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherProvider.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherProvider.java
index dfacfa3..a23553a 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherProvider.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherProvider.java
@@ -70,7 +70,6 @@
 
     static final String TABLE_FAVORITES = "favorites";
     static final String TABLE_WORKSPACE_SCREENS = "workspaceScreens";
-    static final String PARAMETER_NOTIFY = "notify";
     static final String EMPTY_DATABASE_CREATED = "EMPTY_DATABASE_CREATED";
 
     private static final String URI_PARAM_IS_EXTERNAL_ADD = "isExternalAdd";
@@ -150,7 +149,8 @@
 
         // In very limited cases, we support system|signature permission apps to add to the db
         String externalAdd = uri.getQueryParameter(URI_PARAM_IS_EXTERNAL_ADD);
-        if (externalAdd != null && "true".equals(externalAdd)) {
+        final boolean isExternalAll = externalAdd != null && "true".equals(externalAdd);
+        if (isExternalAll) {
             if (!mOpenHelper.initializeExternalAdd(initialValues)) {
                 return null;
             }
@@ -162,7 +162,14 @@
         if (rowId < 0) return null;
 
         uri = ContentUris.withAppendedId(uri, rowId);
-        sendNotify(uri);
+        notifyListeners();
+
+        if (isExternalAll) {
+            LauncherAppState app = LauncherAppState.getInstanceNoCreate();
+            if (app != null) {
+                app.reloadWorkspace();
+            }
+        }
 
         return uri;
     }
@@ -187,7 +194,7 @@
             db.endTransaction();
         }
 
-        sendNotify(uri);
+        notifyListeners();
         return values.length;
     }
 
@@ -211,7 +218,7 @@
 
         SQLiteDatabase db = mOpenHelper.getWritableDatabase();
         int count = db.delete(args.table, args.where, args.args);
-        if (count > 0) sendNotify(uri);
+        if (count > 0) notifyListeners();
 
         return count;
     }
@@ -223,17 +230,12 @@
         addModifiedTime(values);
         SQLiteDatabase db = mOpenHelper.getWritableDatabase();
         int count = db.update(args.table, values, args.where, args.args);
-        if (count > 0) sendNotify(uri);
+        if (count > 0) notifyListeners();
 
         return count;
     }
 
-    private void sendNotify(Uri uri) {
-        String notify = uri.getQueryParameter(PARAMETER_NOTIFY);
-        if (notify == null || "true".equals(notify)) {
-            getContext().getContentResolver().notifyChange(uri, null);
-        }
-
+    private void notifyListeners() {
         // always notify the backup agent
         LauncherBackupAgentHelper.dataChanged(getContext());
         if (mListener != null) {
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherSettings.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherSettings.java
index d161fbb..d657cb5 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherSettings.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/LauncherSettings.java
@@ -109,8 +109,7 @@
          * The content:// style URL for this table
          */
         static final Uri CONTENT_URI = Uri.parse("content://" +
-                LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_WORKSPACE_SCREENS +
-                "?" + LauncherProvider.PARAMETER_NOTIFY + "=true");
+                LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_WORKSPACE_SCREENS);
 
         /**
          * The rank of this screen -- ie. how it is ordered relative to the other screens.
@@ -127,36 +126,18 @@
          * The content:// style URL for this table
          */
         static final Uri CONTENT_URI = Uri.parse("content://" +
-                LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES +
-                "?" + LauncherProvider.PARAMETER_NOTIFY + "=true");
-
-        /**
-         * The content:// style URL for this table
-         */
-        static final Uri OLD_CONTENT_URI = Uri.parse("content://" +
-                LauncherProvider.OLD_AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES +
-                "?" + LauncherProvider.PARAMETER_NOTIFY + "=true");
-
-        /**
-         * The content:// style URL for this table. When this Uri is used, no notification is
-         * sent if the content changes.
-         */
-        static final Uri CONTENT_URI_NO_NOTIFICATION = Uri.parse("content://" +
-                LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES +
-                "?" + LauncherProvider.PARAMETER_NOTIFY + "=false");
+                LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY + "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES);
 
         /**
          * The content:// style URL for a given row, identified by its id.
          *
          * @param id The row id.
-         * @param notify True to send a notification is the content changes.
          *
          * @return The unique content URL for the specified row.
          */
-        static Uri getContentUri(long id, boolean notify) {
+        static Uri getContentUri(long id) {
             return Uri.parse("content://" + LauncherProvider.AUTHORITY +
-                    "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES + "/" + id + "?" +
-                    LauncherProvider.PARAMETER_NOTIFY + "=" + notify);
+                    "/" + LauncherProvider.TABLE_FAVORITES + "/" + id);
         }
 
         /**
diff --git a/src/com/android/launcher3/Workspace.java b/src/com/android/launcher3/Workspace.java
index ad15a6c..a79add0 100644
--- a/src/com/android/launcher3/Workspace.java
+++ b/src/com/android/launcher3/Workspace.java
@@ -4323,8 +4323,7 @@
                     cellX = hotseat.getCellXFromOrder((int) info.screenId);
                     cellY = hotseat.getCellYFromOrder((int) info.screenId);
                 }
-                LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(mLauncher, info, container, screenId, cellX,
-                        cellY, false);
+                LauncherModel.addItemToDatabase(mLauncher, info, container, screenId, cellX, cellY);
             }
             if (v instanceof FolderIcon) {
                 FolderIcon fi = (FolderIcon) v;