Hello,
I did some searching before posting this and have come up with little results that are working for me. I have been able to change my stock icon apps using the method on androidcentral (sorry, can not post links yet). However, trying the same thing with Free Market Apps, I have been unsuccessful.
I am able to get the com.*.*.apk file off of my phone, and can extract the res folder, but after editing and pushing the file back onto the phone, the application is "uninstalled." I believe that I have to sign the apk file again, which I've tried doing with no success.
What I do not understand, is the app Bettercut has the ability to change these Market App Icons, so I thought we should be able to do so as well. If anyone has any knowledge of how to do this, I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks
Hey you
Change your graphics. Uninstall the app from your phone, put the edited .apk on your sd card and install it with astro (or another app that installs apk files). If you update from market you'll lose customizations.
Hiya.
Yeah, I tried that, but I keep getting unable to install. I do have non-market apps checked, but still no luck. I'm basically just editing the graphic from the com.*.*.apk file, opeing the com.*.*.apk file with 7zip, placing the new graphic in the res/drawable folder, closing 7zip, then I put the com.*.*.apk file onto my SD card (after uninstalling original app) then use astro to install. Doing this is not working. I thought I might have to sign the apk file, rename it or something. Not really sure at this point.
ccapasso said:
Hiya.
Yeah, I tried that, but I keep getting unable to install. I do have non-market apps checked, but still no luck. I'm basically just editing the graphic from the com.*.*.apk file, opeing the com.*.*.apk file with 7zip, placing the new graphic in the res/drawable folder, closing 7zip, then I put the com.*.*.apk file onto my SD card (after uninstalling original app) then use astro to install. Doing this is not working. I thought I might have to sign the apk file, rename it or something. Not really sure at this point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got it to work by pushing the .apks back through adb and not using a File Manager. I changed a bunch of my Market icons without any problem. No fc's or install failures.
So say for example you were to change the Market Icon for Spare Parts. I assume you did the following:
Pulled com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk from /data/app
Edited the app_icon.png file within the res/drawable folder
Uninstalled Spare Parts
Pushed com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk back to /data/app
Or did you do it differently?
Thanks again for all the help on this. Not sure exactly what is going wrong on my end.
I never uninstalled the apk. I just drug a copy of the .apk to my computer, edited the image, and then pushed it back over the original one. Im in no way any kind of expert, but it worked when I did it.
Hmm. So are you going into /data/app and pulling the com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk (for example), editing, then pushing back w/ out signing or anything? I assume you are pushing back the same file, name exactly the same and everything.
So for example you would have pulled com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk from /data/app, edited the png within the apk file, then pushed com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk back to /data/app and it worked?
No rebooting, signing or anything?
I'm using Fresh 1.1 with MCK and again, do not have SD card partitioned for apps2sd yet.
Thanks again.
Yep, that's what I did. No updating, signing, nothin. I did reboot after I was all done. And I dont mess around with that apps2sd business either. So it should be the same.
gomorrah said:
I never uninstalled the apk. I just drug a copy of the .apk to my computer, edited the image, and then pushed it back over the original one. Im in no way any kind of expert, but it worked when I did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that worked pretty nicely! I was trying to change the little slide bar that moves as you change screens. I kept upzipping the file and modifying it, then rezipping and trying to reinstall. 7zip lets you modify the .apk with out opening it up...glad this subject came up and you answered this!
Ok. Step by step here is what I did just now:
1. adb pull /data/app/com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk C:\Users\Chris\Desktop
2. Used 7zip to open the apk file.
3. Moved my app_icon.png file into the res/drawable folder and overwrote the current one
4. adb push C:\Users\Chris\Desktop\com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk /data/app/
5. adb shell
6. reboot
Doing this did not work. It only made the icon on my home screen for Spare Parts go away, and the app is no longer listed as being installed. I can still see the file in my /data/app/ directory, but it is not installed or showing up anywhere.
Any ideas?
ccapasso said:
Ok. Step by step here is what I did just now:
1. adb pull /data/app/com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk C:\Users\Chris\Desktop
2. Used 7zip to open the apk file.
3. Moved my app_icon.png file into the res/drawable folder and overwrote the current one
4. adb push C:\Users\Chris\Desktop\com.androidapps.spare_parts.apk /data/app/
5. adb shell
6. reboot
Doing this did not work. It only made the icon on my home screen for Spare Parts go away, and the app is no longer listed as being installed. I can still see the file in my /data/app/ directory, but it is not installed or showing up anywhere.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try pulling the original icon and editing it. Just make it a solid black square. Then put it back in and push to the phone. Sounds like your new icon changes the filesize enough that it needs resigned.
Related
How could I change icon of already installed apps on my N1 (Using Desire ROM).
Try Better Cut from the market.
Sniuff said:
How could I change icon of already installed apps on my N1 (Using Desire ROM).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you really want to change the icon of any apk and you're rooted... pull the file onto your computer. You can use Terminal to move it to your SD card first, then to your pc. Make a copy as a backup. Open the apk in 7zip. Find the correct drawable folder which holds the icon and drag/drop whatever icon you want into that folder. 7zip will automatically handle the rest. Just close 7zip, and move the file back over to the SD card, then use Terminal to copy it back to the phone.
Might need to reboot as well.
uansari1 said:
If you really want to change the icon of any apk and you're rooted... pull the file onto your computer. You can use Terminal to move it to your SD card first, then to your pc. Make a copy as a backup. Open the apk in 7zip. Find the correct drawable folder which holds the icon and drag/drop whatever icon you want into that folder. 7zip will automatically handle the rest. Just close 7zip, and move the file back over to the SD card, then use Terminal to copy it back to the phone.
Might need to reboot as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How could I pull all the apps ?
My only contribution to XDA. Hope it can help.
It was written for the G1, but I can only assume it will work for the N1, too.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=503007
Sniuff said:
How could I pull all the apps ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have to ask, maybe you shouldn't be attempting this yet. If you're rooted, all you need to do is use Terminal Emulator or connect the phone to your phone if you have ADB setup, and copy the apk files whose icons you want to change to your computer.
Essentially, you're just copying them onto your computer, editing them, then overwriting the ones on your phone.
Are you sure, that it works with Apps from Market?
I think, there is a problem with signing after that procedure.
I've been trying to theme Google voice and Gmail. I pull the apk with adb, add a new notification icon and push it back to the phone. The app then disappears. What am I doing wrong?
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Are you signing the apk?
Yeah... no. Good call.
Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
Well, I pulled it, decompiled with apktool, added the icon, compiled it, signed it, and pushed it to my phone and it still doesn't work (google voice). Any suggestions?
Are they just PNG? If they are you can just use 7zip and just drop them in.
Sent from my slutty assistant.(HTC Incredible)
Or you can make an metamorph file.
Sent from my slutty assistant.(HTC Incredible)
That's what I had tried. I pulled the com.google.android.gm-1.apk from my phone, added the modified png, and then pushed it back. After a reboot, the app was gone.
It's pissing me off.
Same thing happened with metamorph. The icon was changed, but then when I rebooted the app was gone.
OSully said:
That's what I had tried. I pulled the com.google.android.gm-1.apk from my phone, added the modified png, and then pushed it back. After a reboot, the app was gone.
It's pissing me off.
Same thing happened with metamorph. The icon was changed, but then when I rebooted the app was gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok pm me the apk and the png and i will make a flashable zip for you.
or send me the png and i will fix it. the gmail apk you speak is not the correct one. the correct apk is in system/app gmail.apk
synisterwolf said:
ok pm me the apk and the png and i will make a flashable zip for you.
or send me the png and i will fix it. the gmail apk you speak is not the correct one. the correct apk is in system/app gmail.apk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the current gmail update they sent it to data/app and not to system/app anymore. I did what he did and my successfully was changed. I used root explorer to copy paste to my sd card then 7zip the file and copy paste back to data/app. Make sure your using 7zip.
james_pnut said:
With the current gmail update they sent it to data/app and not to system/app anymore. I did what he did and my successfully was changed. I used root explorer to copy paste to my sd card then 7zip the file and copy paste back to data/app. Make sure your using 7zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was using winrar... didn't know if it'd make a difference. I'm going to give it a shot, and if I'm still unsuccessful, I'll send over the pngs and the apks.
Thanks!
OSully said:
I was using winrar... didn't know if it'd make a difference. I'm going to give it a shot, and if I'm still unsuccessful, I'll send over the pngs and the apks.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is my modified apk if you want to replace yours with this one. Just copy paste to data/app and it should replace it. Use root explorer. Let me know if it is successful.http://dl.dropbox.com/u/13697779/com.google.android.gm-1.apk
OSully said:
I was using winrar... didn't know if it'd make a difference. I'm going to give it a shot, and if I'm still unsuccessful, I'll send over the pngs and the apks.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
winrar unpacks it i think. with 7zip you just
right click the zip
hover over 7zip and click on open archive
navagate to the folder with the png's you would like to swap
and drop them in.
(did not know that the moved gm. For some reason i have gmail.apk still in system/app)
looks like it was because i had a themed GM....
Actually all market GApps are in data/app I just use app monster(free on market) save the apk to SD then mount pull the apk from my phone use winrar to drop my edited images in finally use the apk manager tool too optimize, zip and sign. Then put it on your SD and install normally. If u push the market gapps to system they wont update.
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App
Okay, it didn't work AGAIN. I copied the apk in root manager, and pasted it to my sdcard. Mounted the sdcard on the computer, opened the apk in 7zip, dropped in the png file, unmounted the sd card, copied the apk and pasted it back to data/app in root manager, rebooted and... didn't work.
Here's the files.
Am I supposed to be changing permissions or something? I don't know what I'm missing. I never had an issue with the Gmail.apk in the system folder.
OSully said:
Okay, it didn't work AGAIN. I copied the apk in root manager, and pasted it to my sdcard. Mounted the sdcard on the computer, opened the apk in 7zip, dropped in the png file, unmounted the sd card, copied the apk and pasted it back to data/app in root manager, rebooted and... didn't work.
Here's the files.
Am I supposed to be changing permissions or something? I don't know what I'm missing. I never had an issue with the Gmail.apk in the system folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just uninstalled gmail. Re installed it. Made sure I was mounted r/w in root explorer and replace the apk with my modified one. It took so I dont know what your doing wrong.
I dropped yours in, james.... still didn't work!
here is a flashable zip if you still cant get it to work.
sorry i got my zip's mixed up. im uploading the right one now.
(please do a nandroid before flashing)
synisterwolf said:
here is a flashable zip if you still cant get it to work.
sorry i got my zip's mixed up. im uploading the right one now.
(please do a nandroid before flashing)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Synister that is the htc clock widget.apk and also mine is messed up now. Sorry for the confusion sully. If you can get this fix synister your the man
james_pnut said:
Synister that is the htc clock widget.apk and also mine is messed up now. Sorry for the confusion sully. If you can get this fix synister your the man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry. i was working on another zip for someone else. and i used the same update.zip template but named it wrong.... sooooooo sorry. long week.
I cannot believe this **** won't work, it makes no sense. I even deleted the gmail.apk in the system directory.
Ive been messing around in the framework for a little while now, replacing icons and such. I have managed to replace all my notification icons with custom ones that i am making, but i cant seem to find the H+ icon. all the other ones are in drawable-hdpi(3g h ect)
can someone please shed some light on this
gjc5500 said:
Ive been messing around in the framework for a little while now, replacing icons and such. I have managed to replace all my notification icons with custom ones that i am making, but i cant seem to find the H+ icon. all the other ones are in drawable-hdpi(3g h ect)
can someone please shed some light on this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are in the rosie. Apk
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Were in Rosie.API are they? I found some + icons but not the h+ ones
I believe they are actually in framework-res.apk.
Gene Poole said:
I believe they are actually in framework-res.apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Negative they are definetly in the Rosie.apk unless they changed the location in sense 3.0. It should be in the same folder as it would be in framwork-res.apk.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
SystemUI.apk (system/app). I change mine all the time.
*Drawable-HDPI, btw
Simba501 said:
SystemUI.apk (system/app). I change mine all the time.
*Drawable-HDPI, btw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats on a non inspire based rom correct?
Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
gho5t82 said:
Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you unpakcing the apk, if not when you are putting new things in do you have it set to store?
mudknot2005 said:
thats on a non inspire based rom correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any ROM that has a SystemUI.apk.
In any instance where there isn't one, those icons are in the framework-res.apk.
Im not unpacking it. What do u mean by having it set to store?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
gho5t82 said:
Every time i edit an icon in frameworkres.apk i get a bootloop. What am i doin wrong?
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hard to tell. What are you using to change the icons?
Simba501 said:
Hard to tell. What are you using to change the icons?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was trying to drag some icons from coredroid to virtuous unity's framework and systemui.apk's, using 7zip.
gho5t82 said:
I was trying to drag some icons from coredroid to virtuous unity's framework and systemui.apk's, using 7zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need to be on a laptop/pc to do this method. Before you get started, make sure you have a backup of the apk you're modding (placed on the sd card somewhere). Also wouldn't hurt to make a nandroid. In the event where you need to revert the old apk back, skip to the steps regarding moving the apk to the original folder.
Download APK manager, open it, place the desired system apk into the "place here for modding", run the script, and select the "don't clear out current projects" option.
Near the top you'll see "extract apk". Select this option, wait for it finish, and navigate to the original apk manager folder. Here you'll see a new folder, "out". This is where the apk you extracted is. Navigate to res > drawable-hdpi and replace the desired icons. Make sure the new icons are named to exactly what you're replacing (you should get a "do you want to overwrite" dialog). They should also be sized to what the original file is (or close to it). Once you're done, back out back to the apk manager folder. Run the script again, select optimize images, wait for it to finish, then run zip apk, then 1 (for system app). Your new apk will be in the "place here for modding" folder under the name of "repackaged-unsigned" apk. You'll need to put this on your sd card, move it to "system" first (this will allow you to change permissions), rename it to the original system apk that you're replacing. Change the permissions to rw-r-r (accessible in root explorer by long pressing the file and selecting permissions - first two boxes on the first line and only the first box on the next two lines). From here, move it into the folder where it's replacing the original apk, you should get a "do you want to overwrite", select yes. Scroll down to verify the apk has the correct permissions and that the last modified date is showing as recently. If you don't get an "overwrite" prompt, you need to move it back and correctly name it until you do get the prompt. Lastly, reboot. In some situations (e.g., modifying the Mms apk or other system applications), it would help if you cleared cache and dalvik cache (boot will take a long time). You should see your changes. Seems like a lot but it's very simple. Good luck.
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Simba501 said:
Unfortunately, it's not that simple. Seems as though the apk may be losing its system signature (when you edit it like that). You'll need to be on a laptop/pc to do this. Before you get started, make sure you have a backup of the apk you're modding (placed on the sd card somewhere). Also wouldn't hurt to make a nandroid. In the event where you need to revert the old apk back, skip to the steps regarding moving the apk to the original folder.
Download APK manager, open it, place the desired system apk into the "place here for modding", run the script, and select the "don't clear out current projects" option.
Near the top you'll see "extract apk". Select this option, wait for it finish, and navigate to the original apk manager folder. Here you'll see a new folder, "out". This is where the apk you extracted is. Navigate to res > drawable-hdpi and replace the desired icons. Make sure the new icons are named to exactly what you're replacing (you should get a "do you want to overwrite" dialog). They should also be sized to what the original file is (or close to it). Once you're done, back out back to the apk manager folder. Run the script again, select optimize images, wait for it to finish, then run zip apk, then 1 (for system app). Your new apk will be in the "place here for modding" folder under the name of "repackaged-unsigned" apk. You'll need to put this on your sd card, move it to "system" first (this will allow you to change permissions), rename it to the original system apk that you're replacing. Change the permissions to rw-r-r (accessible in root explorer by long pressing the file and selecting permissions - first two boxes on the first line and only the first box on the next two lines). From here, move it into the folder where it's replacing the original apk, you should get a "do you want to overwrite", select yes. Scroll down to verify the apk has the correct permissions and that the last modified date is showing as recently. If you don't get an "overwrite" prompt, you need to move it back and correctly name it until you do get the prompt. Lastly, reboot. It would help if you cleared cache and dalvik cache (boot will take a long time). You should see your changes. Seems like a lot but it's very simple. Good luck.
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions, i will try this asap!
gho5t82 said:
Thank you very much for the detailed instructions, i will try this asap!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck! Report back!
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Simba501 said:
Good luck! Report back!
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I keep getting adb not found messages when i run the script. I have adb installed through sdk.
So I checked system/app and there is not a systemui.apk. I haven't been able to find that apk anywhere.
gho5t82 said:
I keep getting adb not found messages when i run the script. I have adb installed through sdk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Manually check via a root explorer on your phone. If you have one, entering it in adb is probably case sensitive. You'd have to enter it exactly as it appears. What ROM are you using?
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
gjc5500 said:
So I checked system/app and there is not a systemui.apk. I haven't been able to find that apk anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM are you using?
Sent from the most interesting device in the world.
Hey guys,
I still rename my bloat, I know, you probably see this as lame, but maybe someone has the answer anyway.
In system/app, the Motorola Migrate apk (fswriter.apk) can be renamed using root and Root Explorer, but after a minute or so, or a reboot, the apk returns to the original name (I usually add .old to the end). Just about all of the other apks I rename in that folder retain .old in the name even after a reboot. The entire contents of system/vendor/app does this. I can rename the apks, refresh and see they are still renamed, and then a minute later, or a reboot later, they drop the .old or .delete extension.
For now, I disabled the ones that appear in the app drawer, but maybe someone who is curious enough knows the answer.
Thanks,
Jason
JaBr1884 said:
Hey guys,
I still rename my bloat, I know, you probably see this as lame, but maybe someone has the answer anyway.
In system/app, the Motorola Migrate apk (fswriter.apk) can be renamed using root and Root Explorer, but after a minute or so, or a reboot, the apk returns to the original name (I usually add .old to the end). Just about all of the other apks I rename in that folder retain .old in the name even after a reboot. The entire contents of system/vendor/app does this. I can rename the apks, refresh and see they are still renamed, and then a minute later, or a reboot later, they drop the .old or .delete extension.
For now, I disabled the ones that appear in the app drawer, but maybe someone who is curious enough knows the answer.
Thanks,
Jason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you rebooting into R/W mode aka recovery mode? For this line of Droids, after rooting, in order for you remove or change anything within the system you need to reboot into "recovery" and i use the quotations is because in all androids in the past (at least the ones i have had) recovery is TWRP or CWM but with our phones recovery is the OS but the OS is R/W...so make sure you are rooted and then you can either use an app like Rom Toolbox for example, use the rebooter option within and in that menu select Reboot Recovery, it'll reboot into the OS but rewritable once you are booted that way you can add and remove system apps as well as make any name changes to the system files and whatnot...hope this helps
Holo reboot in play store works great for rebooting into recovery or just a normal reboot!
Sent from my XT1080 using xda app-developers app
This is NOT my work I'm only posting a link to the original thread. Fully working! The keyboard is weird but kind of cool.
How I installed. I downloaded every file, I wanted to try it all. then extracted them all to the same folder. Then I copied the priv-app folder into System root/system using FX Explorer (you need root) any root Explorer will do the trick. After that just reboot. With the launcher you can use icon packs as well!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3244542
Don't forget to thank @entrysky for all his hard work.
Mentions that CWM or TWRP Recoveries are needed?
I just extracted the zips then copied the priv-app into System using a root explorer and rebooted. Worked for me, I'm guessing flashfire might work but could take longer to do.
Hope this helps.
englishmale said:
I just extracted the zips then copied the priv-app into System using a root explorer and rebooted. Worked for me, I'm guessing flashfire might work but could take longer to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still not quite sure exactly what you are doing here. Each Zip has it's own priv-app folder. What exactly are you combining before putting it into the system folder?
FYI: Flashing zips in order with Flashfire didn't work.
I extracted each one into the same folder, so all the apps ended up in the same priv-app folder as seen in this pic. Then I copied the priv-app folder.
Here is a step by step guide with pictures.
1) download the files.
2) get RAR from Google play. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rarlab.rar
3) open RAR and go to where you download the files, select all the files you want (see first PIC)
4) click the extract button and tick overwrite without prompt. (See PIC 2) then click OK.
5) using a root explorer open the files you just extracted i use FX
6) open the system folder (see PIC 3)
7) copy priv-app (see PIC 4+5)
8) go to your system(ROOT) (see PIC 6)
9) scroll down to the system folder then open it (see PIC 7)
10) in FX there is a padlock at the top to allow read/write click this (see PIC 8, 9 and 10)
11) Go to clipboard then paste select merge/overwrite (see PIC 11 and 12)
12) Long press the middle button on the back of your phone in the middle of volume up/down and select reboot.
13) click thanks
@mase123987 done a step by step guide for you with pictures. Hope it helps
englishmale said:
@mase123987 done a step by step guide for you with pictures. Hope it helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very much appreciate the effort! Unfortunately, even though I followed your directions perfectly, I still don't have any of the apps. I'm not sure if using flashfire to flash the files previously screwed something up.
That's strange? Did you download 1-4 as these are the main files you need. As you can see its worked for me. Have you tried to fix permissions?
Thank you for sharing. BTW, have you tried BB HUB? also, what about permissions? Maybe I missed but you didnt mentioned anything about it.
I've used the hub its quite handy having all your notifications in one place, also the password keeper is very handy for storing and generating passwords.
Permissions need to be 644 there are apps which will fix it all automatically for you or you can do it manual set to read/write then read and read. See PIC
I have copied resources, productivity edge, services, launcher and hub, but nothing works. Changed permissions for folders and files.. I took only priv folders from zips and coppied to system..
That's strange, i can't be the only one it works for? Did you download the BlackBerry exchange services fixed?
englishmale said:
That's strange, i can't be the only one it works for? Did you download the BlackBerry exchange services fixed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
priv folder in fixed zip is empty, no apk inside... btw I extradited it on PC, then transferred to sd.
Strange? I've zipped what I used and uploaded it to my Google drive there is also 2 apps in the app folder I didn't bother with these t.b.h. I've only just noticed them lol. Try extracting the zip the copy app and pri-app into your root system folder let me know if it works? You might have a corrupt download or 2.
Here's the link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2sMKdcrmUR1TXJ6YWZXTVZ6c00/view?usp=docslist_api
http://forums.crackberry.com/androi...-any-android-device-no-root-required-1059855/
if anyone is still interested in BB apps