android_id script - Android Software/Hacking General [Developers Only]

For various reasons I need to change the android_id from time to time and to keep things nice and tighty, I always backup any settings before hand and restore to my original settings (android_id) when done. I wanted to have everything in one little package because plugging the commands in a terminal on the phone is not fun when the SDK is not available.
I could not find a solution for this so for simplicity, I wrote a quick bash script and decided to alter to make it more user friendly in case someone else has the need.
By default it will backup your settings.db (android_id location), generate a random letter/number 16 characters long and update the existing settings.db. You can edit the script to specific paths and even if you would like use your own hex code instead of a randomly generated one.
Anyways, from the terminal/adb this can be executed with 'sh android_id.sh'
Note: I used an array to generate the random hex. you may need to follow the steps here to obtain bash on your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=537827

can you explain a bit more abt the script? why is it needed to change the android_id?

nicandris said:
can you explain a bit more abt the script? why is it needed to change the android_id?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's nothing too complicated..
the script provides a prompt with 3 options, backup, update and restore.
Backup does just that - it checks if the specified directory exists and if so, copies it to that location creating a backup of the original.
update checks for the settings.db in the backup location, generates a 16 character random number/letter string, updates the settings.db via sqlite and reboots the phone. Once your phone is rebooted, the randomly generated string is now your android id.
Restore deletes the altered settings.db and copies the original so the specified location reverting your phone back to it's original settings. This may or may not be necessary for some people....I'm just anal.
Why change the android_id?
I'm no stranger to Linux but am rather new to the droid. However, from what I read everybody has a unique android_id. Some apps will check the id when you register and won't allow you to register again (some games for example). Also, there are some roms will install a generic android id that multiple users may share. This can be problematic for certain apps that require a unique ID.

paxx- said:
Why change the android_id?
I'm no stranger to Linux but am rather new to the droid. However, from what I read everybody has a unique android_id. Some apps will check the id when you register and won't allow you to register again (some games for example). Also, there are some roms will install a generic android id that multiple users may share. This can be problematic for certain apps that require a unique ID.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanx for the heads up! will have this on mind

Digging Deeper
paxx- said:
By default it will backup your settings.db (android_id location), generate a random letter/number 16 characters long and update the existing settings.db. You can edit the script to specific paths and even if you would like use your own hex code instead of a randomly generated one.
Anyways, from the terminal/adb this can be executed with 'sh android_id.sh'
Note: I used an array to generate the random hex. you may need to follow the steps here to obtain bash on your phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=537827
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this is an old post, But id like to know if this .sh can be added to a ROM and run after each ROM restore. The purpose is to use the same CWM backup, but during the restore process create unique android_id's.
I need to duplicate this on over 4500 devices. Pantech Element Tablet to be specific.

Related

android2sd

Hi All,
Here is my second contribution to the Android community, android2sd!
I tried to make the installation a bit more straight forward and the readme very verbose.
There is NO going into recovery and wiping of the Android to install this construct. (Of course you can if you want to have a clean slate to build from but it is by your choice only!)
Remove .zip from filename, then unrar (sorry to zip users, zip was too big) the package and copy the android2sd.sh install script to the Android say /data/local and make executable with something like chmod 0750 and copy the android2sd.img install image to the sdcard. (Detailed instructions are in the readme file.) Once the install is complete, you can delete both install files.
Execute the script {where ever you installed it}ie:
/data/local/android2sd.sh and follow the instructions.
Included are several of my scripts (updated from the ones in data2sd) and the rules still apply, adjust or remove as you see fit. The readme explains them all.
I have noticed an improvement in speed based on the install, but you can judge for yourself and tweak as you see fit!
The construct uses Overlay Profiles to overlay the Android system and thus any changes to the Android once loaded, are actually done to the overlay profile thus you have like a safe mode which is the untouched Android under the overlay.
Hope you find it useful!
Darkstrumn
Darkstrumn said:
Hi All,
Here is my second contribution to the Android community, android2sd!
I tried to make the installation a bit more straight forward and the readme very verbose.
There is NO going into recovery and wiping of the Android to install this construct. (Of course you can if you want to have a clean slate to build from but it is by your choice only!)
Remove .zip from filename, then unrar (sorry to zip users, zip was too big) the package and copy the android2sd.sh install script to the Android say /data/local and make executable with something like chmod 0750 and copy the android2sd.img install image to the sdcard. (Detailed instructions are in the readme file.) Once the install is complete, you can delete both install files.
Execute the script {where ever you installed it}ie:
/data/local/android2sd.sh and follow the instructions.
Included are several of my scripts (updated from the ones in data2sd) and the rules still apply, adjust or remove as you see fit. The readme explains them all.
I have noticed an improvement in speed based on the install, but you can judge for yourself and tweak as you see fit!
The construct uses Overlay Profiles to overlay the Android system and thus any changes to the Android once loaded, are actually done to the overlay profile thus you have like a safe mode which is the untouched Android under the overlay.
Hope you find it useful!
Darkstrumn
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn man. Good work.
sounds interesting, what is this all about?
brilliant?!? I think.
So basically, this is a non-destructive method that enables us to run new roms on the G1 without flashing? Am I reading this right? If so... wow.
edit: or, erm... maybe not... i think i've been up too long. Gonna have to watch this thread to get a better grasp on this. interesting nonetheless.
Rename To RAR
Darkstrumn said:
Remove .zip from filename, then unrar (sorry to zip users, zip was too big) the package and copy the android2sd.sh install script to the Android say /data/local and make executable with something like chmod 0750 and copy the android2sd.img install image to the sdcard. (Detailed instructions are in the readme file.) Once the install is complete, you can delete both install files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
very interesting .. at first i failed to see this part as i'm sure many pay skip over the whole "rename to rar" thing - LOL - so this loads profiles from the SD to the phone
for anyone having trouble with the whole "rename" process try this:
http://files.lucidrem.us/jf/android2sd.rar
as i know windows with hidden file extensions does not allow a rename easily
So what exactly does this do? I see install instructions, but no description.
Overlay Profiles...
tr.slate said:
So what exactly does this do? I see install instructions, but no description.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well,
I've worked up the natural progression to this XXX2SD business, and have made an Android2SD construct which can expand the Android similarly to the the previous constructs, but puts /system, /data and /cache on sd.
So let me explain the overlay thing:
An overlay profile is a snapshot of the Android file system, namely /system, /data, and /cache.
The initial profile is called 'android2sd' and is a snapshot of your android at the time of install, plus the file system structure as explained in the readme adding the mnt/ dir structure and additional scripts in bin/ (which you can remove or adjust as you need).
Typically I reckon folks would only have the one profile and under it your original Android. But you can create additional profiles and set them up however you like. The overlay is overlayed on top of the Android file system with any changes or edits to the system affecting the profile and not the Android under.
The effective change is that the /system /data/, cache are moved to the sdcard thus expanding them to however large your sdcp2 is; on a class 6 card also improving access time.
A second benefit is that the underlying Android is safe from alteration and can be booted into like a 'safe mode'. (It can also serve as the base for new profiles, or you can make new profiles from active overlays. These snapshots can serve as a form of backup, but that is a fringe benefit.
It cannot protect the Android from update.zip installs exactly, as those will modify the Android directly, but say you try a theme and it gafs your 'droid...you can reapply the firmware update to clean out the theme, then copy the desired profile back to the Android and restore the Android to the state of the profile. (I would recommend having a 'base' profile of the Android but not using that as an active profile which will thus serve as a backup) Note: To restore the Android as described above, you cannot restore using a profile with 250+ apps in /data as the Android doesn't have the space for it!
Originally I used unionfs for the overlays but it was too slow.
Hope that explains things here; the readme has far more detail.
I've gotta go, but if I see that I've been as clear as mud, I'll try to explain better when I have more time.
Hmm just out of curiosity: What are you using now? Bind mounts?
I got a little bit lost in setup, I am not sure if I had problems because I was using Cyanogens latest or something else but either way Im going back to JF to try this.
I installed it using the "-COMMIT" addition
But when I made it to installing/linking apps things wouldnt link
Maybe I will let a few other people try it first.
More info...
[email protected] said:
Hmm just out of curiosity: What are you using now? Bind mounts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Originally it was to have a multi profile layered system using unionfs: union0 the ro base snapshot and union1 the rw profile containing the copy-on-write data. But as the tests went on, the unionfs was too slow to use for /data; Android is unforgiving of unresponsiveness and was ANR'ing the apps that didn't respond fast enough.
The faster bind mount means that union1 is now not used and union0 is rw.
The reason I wanted the union0,union1 path was that the union0 could serve as base and various profiles could be layered over any part of the file system granting "Lego" like flexibility in how the user could adjust their a2sdLoader.sh script (the android2sd loader which controls the overlay process).
You could have a pristine base and several "change" profiles that you layered to your liking and could change any sub layer to different effect.
While you still can under this paradigm, it is not as compact.
But the unionfs option is not completely done away with. It can still be used for the above layering but shouldn't be used for that apps and package system.
An example of the layering I'm on about:
The Android 0-layer which the base layer is a snapshot of.
The base layer is pristine (fully configured settings, but minimal apps loaded, maybe a particular base launcher layout and wallpaper).
A change profile containing my apps and package system
A change profile containing a version of etc with reconfigured bluetooth settings.
A change profile with a theme (manually installed, or snapshot to profile and restored to pristine)
Now I could take these 4 profiles and arrange several different setups:
'base' with all apps loaded, themed with custom bluetooth
'base' with all apps loaded, themed with normal bluetooth
'base' with all apps loaded with custom bluetooth
'base' with all apps loaded with normal bluetooth
'base' with all apps loaded
'base' themed with with custom bluetooth
'base' themed with normal bluetooth
'base' with custom bluetooth
'base' with normal bluetooth
...
Those would be set to serve as the ro union0 and the rw union1 which will hold the copy-on-write changes to the overlay (which preserves the sub layers)
You could have several more theme profiles and have a script that randomly chooses one at boot...
You could simply use the overlay to protect a favored configuration. Should anything untoward happen such as accidentally damaging the packages.xml file while experimenting with the system, you could simply delete the change profile, make a new blank change profile and the damaged files are undone.
The things one can do with the overlay concept are limited only by your imagination and need (and if they slow down app processing too much causing ANR's)
It vary well could if done correctly allow one to have multiple roms as profiles and switch them based on the selected profile, but I have yet to experiment on that...I reckon that is my next move! (Note that this path would have a high space cost as the roms are about 40MB zipped!)
brandenk said:
I got a little bit lost in setup, I am not sure if I had problems because I was using Cyanogens latest or something else but either way Im going back to JF to try this.
I installed it using the "-COMMIT" addition
But when I made it to installing/linking apps things wouldnt link
Maybe I will let a few other people try it first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taken from [Rom] CyanogenMod:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=518851
"DO NOT RUN ANY OTHER APPS2SD APPLICATIONS ON THIS BUILD. YOU WILL BREAK YOUR SYSTEM. THEY ARE NOT NECESSARY BECAUSE THIS ROM WILL DO A2SD AUTOMATICALLY AND BETTER!"
The android2sd construct pretty much falls into the A2SD category and thus is likely the reason you had issues with the install.
My Android is based on JF 1.51... and thus your mileage will vary based on the rom you are using. I reckon with a rom derived from theh JF roms, the install may work as intended.
As I go into the next construct build process, I will see if I can't make it multi-rom compatible (to support multi-rom profiles) I'm sure it will take some time to do as I would have to use my actual Android to test with, but no worries!
Hope that helps a little. Sorry it's not better news though.
An excellent "misuse" of this concept would be to run ion (picking it for its speed and almost stock nature) with a hero overlay (picked due to known instability as we are still developing it) so that ion would serve as a "safe mode" for when you crash hero.
I have a spare phone if i crash this and a secondary sd for if that gets corrupted. Let me know if you need help testing.
twistedumbrella said:
An excellent "misuse" of this concept would be to run ion (picking it for its speed and almost stock nature) with a hero overlay (picked due to known instability as we are still developing it) so that ion would serve as a "safe mode" for when you crash hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting thought, and if this could be done, I suppose it would be possible to have bluetooth working in ION while using a Hero overlay?
Request for feedback...
Hi All,
Those who've installed android2sd, how is it going?
Can you give some pros and cons of your experience so I may improve things going forward? (Hopefully no cons exists!)
I know that roms that already make use apps2sd will encounter issues as the apps2sd and android2sd function similarly and thus step on each other. I may be able to detect this condition and adjust for it going forward...we'll see.
Thanks in advance for your input!
Darkstrumn
LucidREM said:
very interesting .. at first i failed to see this part as i'm sure many pay skip over the whole "rename to rar" thing - LOL - so this loads profiles from the SD to the phone
for anyone having trouble with the whole "rename" process try this:
http://files.lucidrem.us/jf/android2sd.rar
as i know windows with hidden file extensions does not allow a rename easily
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for putting the rar up, XDA wouldn't take the .rar and I didn't want to signup to a file-share site just yet.
And it being seemingly natural to make windows show file extensions, it didn't cross my mind to make a note about that.
Thanks again!
Darkstrumn said:
Thanks for putting the rar up, XDA wouldn't take the .rar and I didn't want to signup to a file-share site just yet.
And it being seemingly natural to make windows show file extensions, it didn't cross my mind to make a note about that.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come no one is trying this? It seems to me an excellent idea and would be really cool to boot mutipe roms if someone figures that out. I'm not testing this because I'm using appstosd and didn't want conflicts...but no one else with jf1.51 Rom is testing this idea?
Just curious
so wait a second. let me get this straight ... if I have a class 6 8gb card i might be able to install a hero build without rosie or widgets with the original launcher on the sd card that might actually come sorta, kinda, a little close to a speed that might be bearable? at least for like 5 minutes?
Can this be adapted to install bigger roms such as hero without the dangerspl .
XD
Ill try this with ion later tonight
wow this is beautiful work! now to test it!
Im trying so hard to understand this lol.. Correct me on my errors but from what i read this is my hypothesis on what i think this does..
This is like a apps2sd but with data and that type thing from the build we are using? And you Said this takes snapshots So we can create several profiles of the phone? Like for example have a profile with some apps loaded and another profile with all removed and be able to switch between them at will?

[TOOL] ApkSpy v1.8 - Resurrected (APK: view manifest on PC and/or Install APK via PC)

APKSPY - RESURRECTED​
First:
I want to thank @ido for the original application -- It was his idea (and his code I've hacked :cyclops and modified.
Second:
Since Ido seems not to be active anymore I'll re-publish the application here.
Unless for some reason Ido will specifically ask me to remove it.
The original post
ido said:
ApkSpy is a simple tool I hacked up tonight which allows you to easily view the manifest of an APK (screenshots attached - not up to date though) just by double clicking it. (It can even associate with the .apk filetype, yay!)
ApkSpy relies on the aapt.exe tool from the android SDK, so you must have that installed (or just copy aapt.exe from somewhere, that's the only file needed to run ApkSpy).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Third:
Requires Microsoft©® .Net Framework v4
(Kind of since I've done it some time ago and waited for Ido [the orignal developer] to respond and allow or disallow me to re-publish... So, I don't remember all the changes I've already done...)
v1.8.19 CHANGELOG:
Fixed some Date parsing function (zipped file with no time stamp) in ZipStorer (by @Jaime Olivares) maybe causing some of the error reported here...
v1.8 CHANGELOG:
Changed Icon - CONTRIBUTED BY @Jarmezrocks
Removed unneeded tabs (System, Batch Rename, Log)
Minimize / Maximized restored back
v1.7 CHANGELOG:
(Actually 4.1.7.870, but the first and the last parts are internally used :fingers-crossed:)
Try to automatically find adb.exe and aapt.exe in ApkSPY directory or in PATH variable: If failed finding any of the executables, the user is asked to manually locate them
(★ Currently the location is not saved... ★).
Check if the ADB server is running and Start or ask if to Restart ADB server
Tidy up the code
Refining the original libraries written by Ido related to ADB and AAPT
Some more minor code updates
Revised most of the "General" tab (other tabs ware not touched) of the UI:
Grouped and ordered controls on form
Added DropDown of devices attached (★ Not automatically updating upon plugging... ★)
Added some control over ADB actions
Added status bar that some other details are shown, e.g. device type (Nexus, I9100...), OS version (4.1.2, 4.4.2...) and OS build (KOT49H, KVT49L...)
Added (nice looking) information panel with clickable links (for actions on the form) and coloring
Other changes (I can't recall right now, since I've done it some time ago and waited for a response from Ido for permission to republish)
(★ Maybe I'll add an option for this later, depending on my -- not to much -- free time and requested by users .... ★)
Known bugs:
Sometimes ADB fails to return build.prop property for the status bar (however it has not caused any critical problem, so (I think) it can be safely ignored) -- haven't been able (yet) to find the exact state it is happening
Please take the time to look at the application ABOUT tab
Any Other ideas are welcome!
If you like it, Don't forget to Thank me
If you enjoy using this application as much as I have enjoyed re-writing it
please donate to show your appreciation​
RESERVED
Nice
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Good news
Bug report, every time I open this program, this dialog pops up, after click OK, this program works well.
PS, aapt.exe is in the same dir with ApkSpy
I got this errors:
1:
2:
Error in property: [email protected]@usrdata
cmlx said:
Good news
Bug report, every time I open this program, this dialog pops up, after click OK, this program works well.
PS, aapt.exe is in the same dir with ApkSpy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey dude,
I am not sure what you are doing wrong on your PC but it's certainly not the app as it works perfectly fine on my computer? Out of interest and for the sake or helping the new dev I thought I would raise a few points just to eliminate any finger pointing. There's a wishy-washy area when it comes to building/hacking things that were originally someone elses work...so yeah one can easily make great improvements yet open the door to bugs at the same time too. Anyway...thought I'd ask this:
Does aapt sit on your path? I know you said it is in the same directory, however just like a batch script in Windows it needs to "CD" or change directories to the %~dp0 if it is to understand what an executable is that happens to be sitting in the same directory as it's self. So this is is kinda directed at the new dev now. What I think is happening is that aapt is assumed to be in the system path when quite often it is not (i.e. those on XDA who have not yet played with the Android SDK properly). Put simply unless the application knows it is in the same directory as your executable it won't at all understand what aapt is. Does that make sense?
@dmagician , I would make sure that the apkspy app can do a check (even if it is a string search for the first few lines returned from aapt.exe), a simple if statement before throwing that error ....actually it would likely be an 'if not' statement. I don't have any of the code in front of me atm but I can help you out if you like? I was hacking this app myself sometime ago when ido first released it just using reshacker.
Note: If you are stuck and don't have source code you technically could write a full AutoIT wrapper for this app that could do all the checks and more and then bundle everything up into the one exe still. Check out the newer WinAPI stuff for AutoIT and in particular "Run binary" (yes that's correct you can just about run anything repackaged now and not need to deploy the original exe's or even libraries....they can all be stream fed to AutoIT @Compile time and need not be typically "installed" like you used to have to do. Anyway...I am waffling on shoot me a PM man.
@cmlx, to overcome your ApkSpy woes, and until dmagician can put his finger on what the cause is or what ido did when building it ages ago.....then you will firstly need to be patient (props to dmagician to figuring sh!t out so far) but till then where ever you have dumped the ApkSpy and aapt.exe on your system; just copy the address and put it on your system path. To do this 1) right click on My Computer or Computer if you are on Win 7 or 8. 2) Choose properties. 3) Advanced System settings and then at the bottom of tab you will see 'Environment Variables', click it and you will see some "User" and "System" options. Depending on your User access rights on the system you are running on (hopefully you are running as Admin surely?) then you can choose to edit your main system path or create a new variable in your user settings called 'path' Note User variables are always postfix to system variables but should always work anyhow.
Disclaimer: cmlx, if however you have already got an aapt.exe already existing on your system path but it is dodgy then you have to ensure that the good aapt.exe in your app directory is placed on path BEFORE the dodgy one....just sayin. Cause your system searches till it finds what it wants and then doesn't search anymore. Simple but can stuff people up quite often....and likely your case. Nowdays we tend to work from the known application location and not from a "Global environment path" when we know that there are going to be conflicts...and I can assure you that aapt is possibly the worst and most modified binary out there LOL. Hence this is also a note to the dev to ensure that ApkSpy reads from the current directory.....or like I am suggesting, wrap aapt up in the main application as well and that way there is no confusion EVER.
And I am done.....
Oh wait no I am not....sorry bug reports LOL :good: you thought I was all praise eh? Got another thing coming man
OK....so um the red boxes should explain everything. A picture says a thousand words (and yeah I needed at least 1 picture for this god damned long arsed post - sry). Um why in gods name would you remove the minimise and expand buttons? WTF? Anyway...it works but errrm yeah it doesn't wrap the text anymore? and it cuts the words off lol.
Other than that....I only really have one suggestion and it isn't even really a suggestion as I have kind of already made it so I can just give it to you if you want it? And that is that most people (well I can't say most as I am not speaking for everyone) tend not to like how apps take over their system. This isn't your fault at all in anyway as the first dev thought it was a good idea back then.....and back then hardly anything in Windows knew what a freakin apk was so it was a GOOD thing.....However now, every man and his dog wants to steel .apk extension for himself. I myself tend to be all over the shop with apks so I tend not to want to have any particular Windows app take it away from my control. I use WinZip as the main app for simple double click open as I want to see the contents of apks without needing to decompile them (great for theming) however I have apk shell extensions displaying the apks main icon to explorer, so if I set WinZip as default I get a nice lumping hunk of gold turd/box running rampet all over my Windoze bro ......so if you like I can show you my code that allows me to have default apps for specific tasks without interfering with anyones existing sh!t It looks neat too as you can right click any apk and just choose from a dropdown list what particular app you want at the time. If one has the need to use more apps then they need only put those apps in a list. There is nothing worse than double clicking an apk to find that Bluestacks or some other rubbish Windoze crApp has taken offf with your apk.
Lastly I thought I'd ask, Why no config file? Why store everything in memory? I know it's only small....but seeking for things everytime it is executed is a pain in the arse and not good practice. At the very least if you have no idea how to make an exe totally portable then you could reference a config file in the same directory....Or do as most do and write entries to the registry all neat and tucked away. If we get paranoid about "portable-ness" then we write to temporary space in the registry and make sure we clean up upon closing and/or inspect at runtime. simple!
I have plenty of AutoIT scripts that do exactly that too, so if you are stuck for ideas let me know. Anyway I have rambled enough, good luck and I will keep reporting bugs haha
Edit: That's waaaay too many emoticons. Oooops someone is a little high aren't they?
PS: I have attached my PNG of the icon I used for this bugger waaaaaay back....it's less generic and feel free to take it and abuse it and do as you please.
cmlx said:
Good news
Bug report, every time I open this program, this dialog pops up, after click OK, this program works well.
PS, aapt.exe is in the same dir with ApkSpy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know of this one (and I've specifically wrote about it in the OP), it is NOT related to AAPT executable but to the way ADB is acting (sorry, out of my hands... :angel:
Explanation
The error comes from the application when trying to query the "ro.build.id" property via adb ('ADB shell getprop "ro.build.id" ') command.
I've came across this one but cannot determine the exact situation it is happening (as it can occur when first launching of the app, but after the app is loaded, clicking on refresh does not show this error)...
[ I've tried it on with the (only) two devices I own (1st dev. is stock (only the kernel is changed) 4.4.2 Nexus 4, 2nd dev. is S2-i9100 with customized RR ROM)and it seems to happen ONLY on the S2...]
It looks that in times, the getprop is being executed before the whole "build.prop" is being processed by ADB (This one I cannot control since it is happening on the ADB shell side [running on the device] -- unless MAYBE doing some [UGLY] delay after first initialization of ADB, which is, by far NOT best practice of process handling according to the literature)...
CyberianIce said:
I got this errors:
1:
2:
Error in property: [email protected]@usrdata
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which came first, the "SpkSpy spy stopped working" or the "Error in property" (if anyways related)?
Was it on the same run or two different runs?
As of the 1st one:
I do not have enough information from your post to check it up...
I'll post a new version which shows the exception details
As of the 2nd one:
Can you send me a copy of your /system/build.prop (so i'll be able to dig trough it and check it)?
It looks like my name-value splitter character exist as part of a given value in your build.prop .
Wooow, Long one! But it is nice to know people are using (trying) it!
Jarmezrocks said:
Hey dude,
I am not sure what you are doing wrong on your PC but it's certainly not the app as it works perfectly fine on my computer? Out of interest and for the sake or helping the new dev I thought I would raise a few points just to eliminate any finger pointing. There's a wishy-washy area when it comes to building/hacking things that were originally someone elses work...so yeah one can easily make great improvements yet open the door to bugs at the same time too. Anyway...thought I'd ask this:
Does aapt sit on your path? I know you said it is in the same directory, however just like a batch script in Windows it needs to "CD" or change directories to the %~dp0 if it is to understand what an executable is that happens to be sitting in the same directory as it's self. So this is is kinda directed at the new dev now. What I think is happening is that aapt is assumed to be in the system path when quite often it is not (i.e. those on XDA who have not yet played with the Android SDK properly). Put simply unless the application knows it is in the same directory as your executable it won't at all understand what aapt is. Does that make sense?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
As I've replied to @clmx, This error is not related to AAPT (either executable [location or whatever] or results), but to the ADB command being used...
Jarmezrocks said:
@dmagician , I would make sure that the apkspy app can do a check (even if it is a string search for the first few lines returned from aapt.exe), a simple if statement before throwing that error ....actually it would likely be an 'if not' statement. I don't have any of the code in front of me atm but I can help you out if you like? I was hacking this app myself sometime ago when ido first released it just using reshacker.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I did not understand... Check for what?
Jarmezrocks said:
Note: If you are stuck and don't have source code you technically could write a full AutoIT wrapper for this app that could do all the checks and more and then bundle everything up into the one exe still. Check out the newer WinAPI stuff for AutoIT and in particular "Run binary" (yes that's correct you can just about run anything repackaged now and not need to deploy the original exe's or even libraries....they can all be stream fed to AutoIT @Compile time and need not be typically "installed" like you used to have to do. Anyway...I am waffling on shoot me a PM man.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not need the Auto-IT to wrap these files (although I am using it for other automation in windows), as I can do it right in the C# code (on one of my early versions these files was embedded...)
BTW, I know there are some antiviruses out in the wild that do not like the embedded executables -- but it can be done -- and probably will save some time to anyone using this app...
If it will be required / asked, I'll embed the 4 binaries (AAPT.EXE, ADB.EXE, and two DLL's AdbWinApi.dll and AdbWinUsbApi.dll [I'm not sure both are required]) needed by the application.
Jarmezrocks said:
@cmlx, to overcome your ApkSpy woes, and until dmagician can put his finger on what the cause is or what ido did when building it ages ago.....then you will firstly need to be patient (props to dmagician to figuring sh!t out so far) but till then where ever you have dumped the ApkSpy and aapt.exe on your system; just copy the address and put it on your system path. To do this 1) right click on My Computer or Computer if you are on Win 7 or 8. 2) Choose properties. 3) Advanced System settings and then at the bottom of tab you will see 'Environment Variables', click it and you will see some "User" and "System" options. Depending on your User access rights on the system you are running on (hopefully you are running as Admin surely?) then you can choose to edit your main system path or create a new variable in your user settings called 'path' Note User variables are always postfix to system variables but should always work anyhow.
Disclaimer: cmlx, if however you have already got an aapt.exe already existing on your system path but it is dodgy then you have to ensure that the good aapt.exe in your app directory is placed on path BEFORE the dodgy one....just sayin. Cause your system searches till it finds what it wants and then doesn't search anymore. Simple but can stuff people up quite often....and likely your case. Nowdays we tend to work from the known application location and not from a "Global environment path" when we know that there are going to be conflicts...and I can assure you that aapt is possibly the worst and most modified binary out there LOL. Hence this is also a note to the dev to ensure that ApkSpy reads from the current directory.....or like I am suggesting, wrap aapt up in the main application as well and that way there is no confusion EVER.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The application IS searching for AAPT and ADB executables; The order is
Application directory (where ApkSpy.exe resides)
PATH environment variable
Jarmezrocks said:
OK....so um the red boxes should explain everything. A picture says a thousand words (and yeah I needed at least 1 picture for this god damned long arsed post - sry). Um why in gods name would you remove the minimise and expand buttons? WTF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mostly I like it this way, otherwise - No specific reason...
It will be back in the next version...
Jarmezrocks said:
Anyway... it works but errrm yeah it doesn't wrap the text anymore? and it cuts the words off lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This Tab was NOT changed by me in any way... To be honest, I've thought of removing it completely -- But -- out of respect to Ido's work -- I've left it in.
I assume it is not wrapping due to Font size changed by me globally...
I'm seriously giving it second thoughts -- if it should stay at all (It was originally meant for batch rename of multiple APK's... I haven't used it even once...)...
I'm Really, REALLY, think of removing it completely (unless someone is / will be using it -- then I'll fix it all)...
Jarmezrocks said:
Other than that....I only really have one suggestion and it isn't even really a suggestion as I have kind of already made it so I can just give it to you if you want it? And that is that most people (well I can't say most as I am not speaking for everyone) tend not to like how apps take over their system. This isn't your fault at all in anyway as the first dev thought it was a good idea back then.....and back then hardly anything in Windows knew what a freakin apk was so it was a GOOD thing.....However now, every man and his dog wants to steel .apk extension for himself. I myself tend to be all over the shop with apks so I tend not to want to have any particular Windows app take it away from my control. I use WinZip as the main app for simple double click open as I want to see the contents of apks without needing to decompile them (great for theming) however I have apk shell extensions displaying the apks main icon to explorer, so if I set WinZip as default I get a nice lumping hunk of gold turd/box running rampet all over my Windoze bro ......so if you like I can show you my code that allows me to have default apps for specific tasks without interfering with anyones existing sh!t It looks neat too as you can right click any apk and just choose from a dropdown list what particular app you want at the time. If one has the need to use more apps then they need only put those apps in a list. There is nothing worse than double clicking an apk to find that Bluestacks or some other rubbish Windoze crApp has taken offf with your apk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The application is NOT taking over anything, Unless you've clicked the asterisk ("*") button on the System Tab...
Was it registered for you without clicking this button?
If so, I'll recheck the code (may be it's some residue from the original code).
BTW
As the previous part of the answer I've wrote -- this one was left in as of respect to @ido's work...
2nd BTW
I'd like to see that explorer extension (and [preferable] the code of it - if you are willing to share it) you ware writing about...
Jarmezrocks said:
Lastly I thought I'd ask, Why no config file? Why store everything in memory? I know it's only small....but seeking for things everytime it is executed is a pain in the arse and not good practice. At the very least if you have no idea how to make an exe totally portable then you could reference a config file in the same directory....Or do as most do and write entries to the registry all neat and tucked away. If we get paranoid about "portable-ness" then we write to temporary space in the registry and make sure we clean up upon closing and/or inspect at runtime. simple!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I've thought of it... But... I was thinking, that (at least) everyone is as geeky as me dauuh , and the most are setting the path correctly...
It'll be added in next version (I hope... TIME, TIME!!!! :cyclops...
Jarmezrocks said:
I have plenty of AutoIT scripts that do exactly that too, so if you are stuck for ideas let me know. Anyway I have rambled enough, good luck and I will keep reporting bugs haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer writing my own code (sorry, I'm a developer in heart and soul...) then using automation like Auto-IT...
Jarmezrocks said:
Edit: That's waaaay too many emoticons. Oooops someone is a little high aren't they?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jarmezrocks said:
PS: I have attached my PNG of the icon I used for this bugger waaaaaay back....it's less generic and feel free to take it and abuse it and do as you please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(@Jarmezrocks please see my PM to you.)
PHEW...
Long Answer, BUT HEY, I'm not the only one writing longies... :angel: (and i like referencing each and every part separately)...
dmagician said:
PHEW...
Long Answer, BUT HEY, I'm not the only one writing longies... :angel: (and i like referencing each and every part separately)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh yes. I write long messages sometimes when my medication has kicked in and I am high....not my fault I kinda need to get all the info out of my head in one go while I am awake.....or else there would just be zeds on the response zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz lol :laugh: (ref narcolepsy).
I commend you on your efforts at responding to such gibberish and making good sense of it! :highfive:
I have responded to your PM accordingly, and hopefully covered all you need? I have attached all info and sources etc.....well most of it...actually a fair bit of it you will have to workout your self but that is part the fun. Shoot me any questions if you need to...although I have a feeling that you will have mostly all of it covered as you are streets ahead of my knowledge already. I may have misjudged a little in my previous post (although hopefully not to make you feel any less than you actually are? please excuse me if I had said anything that may offended - being naive or what ever....you ARE definitely on the right track). As for the middle menu....I think you could easily remove it and not offend the original dev. It wasn't being used as you mention...and I think it could make way for more/better functionality don't you think? (discuss). However I would ensure all the things I mentioned in my PM first before going too deep and releasing on here.
Good move on bringing the buttons back. They were functional. But I DO like the single button close GUI myself on just about everything else....It looks clean. We have similar taste in that regard. It just isn't functional for me to pressing the task notification desktop link everytime I want to minimise the app LOL.
The rest I we can discuss via PM, this is pretty much only posted here as an open area for other forum members to provide input and opinion (or complaint....like how often it usually is, eh?).
CyberianIce said:
I got this errors:
1:
2:
Error in property: [email protected]@usrdata
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd got the same error!
For me it helped to copy two files to the install dir
"adb.exe" and "AdbWinApi.dll"
Both are installed with the well known MyPhoneExplorer into "Program Files\MyPhoneExplorer\DLL"
Hope it helps!
Feature Request
I use this tool for testing new APK builds on a project I am working on it. It allows me to quickly verify the version number and push to the device. However, since I am usually installing another version of an existing installed APK, I must manually uninstall before using APKSPY. Would it be possible to add a check box that would uninstall any previous versions? It would be really helpful.
Nevermind - I didn't fully read the message presented when it fail. It say uninstall/update and it allows the installation. HOWEVER, that brings up a question... Does it uninstall or does it update? There is a difference as you know.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Hi, I try to run this on Mac via Wineskin Winery, but no luck. Do I need something like .Net, or something else to run ApkSpy?
Thank you.
Ja_som said:
Hi, I try to run this on Mac via Wineskin Winery, but no luck. Do I need something like .Net, or something else to run ApkSpy?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only requirement is the Microsoft .Net 4.
(I'll add this to OP)
jmo said:
I use this tool for testing new APK builds on a project I am working on it. It allows me to quickly verify the version number and push to the device. However, since I am usually installing another version of an existing installed APK, I must manually uninstall before using APKSPY. Would it be possible to add a check box that would uninstall any previous versions? It would be really helpful.
Nevermind - I didn't fully read the message presented when it fail. It say uninstall/update and it allows the installation. HOWEVER, that brings up a question... Does it uninstall or does it update? There is a difference as you know.
Thanks,
Jonathan
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I know there is difference between the two (update vs uninstall and install again).
It is updating the application (like using "adb install -r apk_file_name.apk"), not doing remove and install
Removed unneeded tabs (System, Batch Rename, Log)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The unneeded Batch Rename tab was the only tab I needed really. :laugh: Luckily I found Ido's original version. It's ideal for renaming all those apk's I downloaded and still have the package name when I back them up to my PC.
I have an Asus Memo Pad 10 and an Asus Memo Pad 7 and neither are recognised by APKSpy. Not that it's a problem as I have no problem copying to and from them with Windows Exploder or Total Commander.
Other than that, it's been a handy little app for this tablet/smartphone virgin newbie.
Martin.
wolrik said:
The unneeded Batch Rename tab was the only tab I needed really. :laugh: Luckily I found Ido's original version. It's ideal for renaming all those apk's I downloaded and still have the package name when I back them up to my PC.
I have an Asus Memo Pad 10 and an Asus Memo Pad 7 and neither are recognised by APKSpy. Not that it's a problem as I have no problem copying to and from them with Windows Exploder or Total Commander.
Other than that, it's been a handy little app for this tablet/smartphone virgin newbie.
Martin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello.
1st:
I can -- if requested - re-add the Batch rename.
2nd:
I don't know why these two devices are not being recognized -- unless not being recognized by ADB itself -- since I'm spawning devices by parsing the resulting text of "ADB devices" command, So unless being unrecognized by ADB, there should be NO PROBLEM detecting ANY android device with ADB on...
if you have any exception messages thrown by the application, please post them here.
dmagician said:
Hello.
1st:
I can -- if requested - re-add the Batch rename.
2nd:
I don't know why these two devices are not being recognized -- unless not being recognized by ADB itself -- since I'm spawning devices by parsing the resulting text of "ADB devices" command, So unless being unrecognized by ADB, there should be NO PROBLEM detecting ANY android device with ADB on...
if you have any exception messages thrown by the application, please post them here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to re-add the tab just for me, but thanks for the offer. As I get to know my way around Android I'll probably need such things less and less.
Sorry, but I know nothing about ADB other than APKSpy needing it. As you can see from the attached pic, the Asus is recognised by Total Commander
Martin.
Hi dmagician,
Nice work, and a shout-out to Ido who originally created it.
I have a feature request:
Could you add the option to remove certain permission(s) and save the modified APK file?
There are many apps which I feel allow themselves way too much permissions, and this option could be very useful to tame them apps.
One more thing:
I noticed that APKSpy v1.8.2 doesn't work with the latest version of AAPT.exe (1432KB), from the Android SDK r24.
So I had to use a previous version of AAPT.exe (833KB), which worked.
Thanks,
Eric
Hey does anybody know where the name of the apk is in the XML files inside the apk?

Accessing system folder without root access

Hi all.
I'm after quite specific need but would like to know more general answer / solution if possible at all.
I know that wihtout being rooted there's not much one can do with system folders, but still, there are some ways and tricks to get to them, one of them being Backup option provided by android, using ADB shell.
I'm after specific file, that is /data/data/com.android.mms/shared_prefs/com.android.mms.categoryInfo.xml
Using Htc One M8, stock rom, I've tried to do adb backup of com.android.mms application, but all I got was 1kb (actually 41 bytes) sized file, which contains nothing.
I wonder, is there any other way to get to the specific system app folder, if you're NOT rooted?
Any help would be highly appreciated.
Additional info: I'm after that file because it has stored Secure message box password in Plain text. My phone is about to go to the service due to several issues, including battery getting way overheated when used, and not charging over 25% at all, and the only thing left to make a backup is the secure box storage, which I used as an "Other inbox" folder in order to have the main Inbox a bit more "clean", and I know I've set it to something stupid and short, and I've accessed them not long ago, but for the f's sake I can't get in the folder anymore (and I'm highly betting that after several attempts even the real password is no longer accepted, and that being the reason I can't figure out the pass by trying, but there's nowhere info it thats true, and if so, how long to wait before real one would be accepted etc...)
Big thanks if anyone could help out, if not - not gonna be the end of the world. But would kinda like to store some of the messages that are newer than my latest backup...
Cheers!
cucolino said:
Hi all.
I'm after quite specific need but would like to know more general answer / solution if possible at all.
I know that wihtout being rooted there's not much one can do with system folders, but still, there are some ways and tricks to get to them, one of them being Backup option provided by android, using ADB shell.
I'm after specific file, that is /data/data/com.android.mms/shared_prefs/com.android.mms.categoryInfo.xml
Using Htc One M8, stock rom, I've tried to do adb backup of com.android.mms application, but all I got was 1kb (actually 41 bytes) sized file, which contains nothing.
I wonder, is there any other way to get to the specific system app folder, if you're NOT rooted?
Any help would be highly appreciated.
Additional info: I'm after that file because it has stored Secure message box password in Plain text. My phone is about to go to the service due to several issues, including battery getting way overheated when used, and not charging over 25% at all, and the only thing left to make a backup is the secure box storage, which I used as an "Other inbox" folder in order to have the main Inbox a bit more "clean", and I know I've set it to something stupid and short, and I've accessed them not long ago, but for the f's sake I can't get in the folder anymore (and I'm highly betting that after several attempts even the real password is no longer accepted, and that being the reason I can't figure out the pass by trying, but there's nowhere info it thats true, and if so, how long to wait before real one would be accepted etc...)
Big thanks if anyone could help out, if not - not gonna be the end of the world. But would kinda like to store some of the messages that are newer than my latest backup...
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and not.
if you don't have root access, you can not copy an application from the system folder, to make this the ADB would need root permissions. but....
You can download the stock rom, and copy/extract/edit the app you need it.
xdedeone said:
Yes and not.
if you don't have root access, you can not copy an application from the system folder, to make this the ADB would need root permissions. but....
You can download the stock rom, and copy/extract/edit the app you need it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually no, if the file is user specific, as in my case, the help of stock rom's file is not gonna help.
Anyway, SOLVED now.
As per this post: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2054401
The backup of the app was made and got the file. I've done the same thing without success, because on HTC, the messaging app is com.htc.sense.mms and NOT com.android.mms.
Therefore creating backup of the com.htc.sense.mms did result kin getting exactly what I needed.
In the extraction of the tar .ab archive using dd in linux, I got folder app, within there is a folder com.htc.sense.mms, wihtin there's a folder sp, and there is com.htc.sense.mms.categoryInfo.xml which has the secure box password stored in plaintext.
Voila! )

[Guide] Multi User Setup for Kitkat 4.4.4 (for noobs)

This tutorial will show you how to setup your device as admin and configure other user profiles (this is important when you're not the owner). Your device maker disabled multiuser functionality in Kitkat, like on my Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70L? - then this for you. At least, that's where this procedure is tested on. Afaik, this should work on Lollipop too. But will it work for your device? - No clue, you tell us!
Basically it's an accumulation of what I've read here (thanks again) and my personal experience as a noob myself.
So far, this guide is incomplete and I'm hoping for some pro tipps to perfect it. Please help me sort out the unclear parts highlighted in red and I'll update this post accordingly. The sooner the better, because this actually is not my device and someday soon I'll have to pass it over to my mom since it's my present to her, I'm only setting this slab up...
Preconditions:
Android treats the first account created as "owner". Only owner will have root privileges if installed accordingly (=admin).
Root permission and a file manager (e.g. ES File Explorer) are required for this fix so go get that first. For the Lenovo Tab 2 A10-70L, I followed this beautiful guide, besides that, I can't help much here.
Unable/uninstall all bloatware (I was adventurous with Titanium Backup with no probs so far, but some crap remained from looking at new user folders; still in search of a vendor/device-specific "save to remove" list)
Install ALL apps you and the other users suppesdly need. This will avoid the need to redownload and reinstall all the apps for each and every user wasting storage. Think thrice, usually it'll be more than desired, but better you do it instead of a DAU... Each user will be able to install apps later though. Full control over user restrictions can be applied for "guest profile" only.
Steps:
In file explorer, go to /system/ and open build.prop
Check if you have anything like the below text (you shouldn't, otherwise edit accordingly) and add these lines at the end of it:
Code:
# Multi Users
fw.max_users=[COLOR="DarkGreen"]X[/COLOR]
fw.show_multiuserui=1
Replace X with your desired digit (up to 7?)
(I've read somewhere that 7 users is maximum that system can handle, but I haven't tried)
Save, reboot and log in as "owner" (your profile)
Go to Settings>Device and say hello to new item "Users"
Create new users and/or a guest profile (important: write down the order in which you created them!)
All new user profiles are now shown as "new user" no matter what you wrote in the profile properties (only guest will be shown as "guest"). Mind you, this also applies for the lockscreen!
In file explorer, go to /data/system/users/ to find your users' folders containing some system files (what exactly?) Now guess what - the order of the numbered folders and #.xml files match the order you created them. "0" is you, the owner.
Open each .xml file and replace "Owner" with "Your Name" and "New user" with "Username"
Put the device to sleep, trigger lockscreen and log in to each user profile and
Pull down shortcut menu from top right and enable autorotate
Go to Settings>Users>Security, check all settings and note each unlock-code
Disable background services like sync, location, etc. that could potentionally drain battery where applicable
Rinse & repeat 8) for all new profiles
Install "Multi-User App Share" and set apps per user. (Or is there a newer app or more hackish approach without the need for xposed or compiling stuff etc.?)
= DONE =
If you want the user icon in status bar, follow http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-users-mod-t3017782/post58659868#post58659868 (haven't tried that ).
Well... build.prop fixes are working, at least for me. It's good alternative to multi-user app from Xposed (we don't want to use Xposed too much...).
Still tried with decompiling & compiling framework for fixing icon problem, and... in framework-res there is not status_bar_expanded_header.xml file, se we are in deep ****.
I am working on: LP

Backup and Restore ALL Accounts on android

GOAL - a universal backup and restore solution that can take ALL device accounts and ALL their related passwords - back them up - and restore them to ANY version of android - including Phones, Tablets, and Emulators such as bluestacks, memu, nox etc. even from different android versions.
This is primarily to get all EMAILS - google - outlook - etc loaded into a new device *This is NOT for apps as there are plenty of solutions for apps already but none for ACCOUNTS
This software should basically have a database, preferably in an easy to edit CSV format - which would never need to change as it would always have ACCOUNT_TYPE,USERNAME,PASSWORD,RANDOM_DATA
-you could manually populate this via your computer or you could have the android software export it via coding magic. Maybe use a different format and have it load a spreadsheet or a different database type...
Importing would be trickier- you'd have to have a drop down asking questions like - What android version are you importing to- so that the code could be properly inserted...
I intend to ask for advice here and see what solutions you all have; I will edit this first topic to help others if a solution exists.
Some people spend 50 hours of labor installing hundreds of apps on their phone; each needing custom configured, many require having an Account to access data through the app.
What if you have to load 50+ emails into the phone; each of them having huge complicated passwords.
What if you are always buying new devices, changing roms and having to set this all up again?
=Some Solutions exist but none have worked for me.
1. Built in google 'set up new device' -
This only seems to work when you have reset your phone.. once the phone is active and you've actually used it -- there appears to be no way to turn this on and attempt to bring new accounts over...
q. How can you activate this after the fact?
If you have more than a few accounts on the device, say.. 4... maybe you have 20 or 40 email accounts loaded.. it is almost guaranteed to fail.
q. What causes it to fail? Is there any work around.
If you are on android versions too far apart its also likely to fail
q. Why? is there any work around.
*Here is a site with code related to the account transfer API; I'm not sure how accurate it is:
Account Transfer API | Android Developers
developer.android.com
2. Samsung Smart switch
This only copies ONE account - but it also does a fine job of moving text messages, SOME apps and other info over.
*Is there any way to get it to copy all email accounts; and other random app accounts to the new device?
3. Titanium backup - for non root and root.
I've played with this numerous times over the past 10 years and never successfully. I dont think it is capable of taking all accounts and backing up / restoring to different devices.
More to be added later.
Reserved for random info so I can update later;
One month later and no replies...
Anyone?
1. Is there any app on the planet that can do this - or close? ((samsung smart switch - sometimes - though it mostly fails -- Googles built in set up - which fails 95% of the time) - I know of no other solutions.
2. Is there any desire for this? have any of you been annoyed with the menial task of setting this stuff up again and again?
another month goes by.. now I have a new android tablet.. and guess what?
Samsung smart switch wont copy my accounts...
I cant seem to get the built in google 'set up device' to start == and I'm not looking forward to adding 50 email accounts and various other accounts into this manually.. thats gonna take ages...
Buying a new device every couple months.. is a grueling task when it comes to account transfers...
Nobody has any suggestions on a solution for this? I'm searching around randomly again and finding Nothing.
what is your concern?? reading your thread give me headache
I have the same issue. I am "bored" in getting another mobile because i have to setup from beggining soooo many things
IIRC then account details are stored in SQLite database named accounts.db, its location depends on Android version.
Wi-Fi passwords are stored in file named wpa supplicant.conf.
@jwoegerbauer thanks for the tip. using your filename I found a tutorial that listed the location as follows:
/data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db
I've verified this on Nox; my bluestacks still isnt rooted and it seems the phones I have with all email accounts loaded == are not rooted either== I'm going to need to find a workaround for that or make time to root bluestacks to get the account data out of it...
Problem is;
1 there are no passwords included here. Where are they? mine are all crazy long and I have no clue what they are... its very time consuming to manually input them via my password managing tool.
2 Once I export; and change the CSV into a spreadsheet to include all the other missing email /google accounts; how do I replace the accounts_de.db file on each device
3. Why isnt there an app that can do this already; lol?
EDIT
Titanium backup does have an 'accounts' export option that -sorta - works... problem is how picky the app is about using root plus super SU and refuses to work with Magisk (sometimes) or will constantly crash on (some) devices - or will fail to export/import unless you try (5 different file managers that can eventually figure out how to import their file type) - or is otherwise NEEDING root access to function...
Would be nice if a solution existed via ADB or simply in an un rooted device to do this; sorta like how google ''set up nearby device'' was supposed to work (and will; if you use only 5 or less accounts... but its also buggy and fails)
Any ideas on how we can export/import accounts?
Still no successful solution.
1. Notes regarding Titanium:
I've tried about 15 versions of bluestacks using android 4.4.2 and have had mild success with titanium to backup/restore =
however it seems to randomly restore less than all the accounts (missing a few different ones each time)
it also seems to randomly miss the google password tokens randomly =forcing me to log into 10% of the imported accounts with each restore.
It also seems to fail 100% when trying to restore a bluestacks 4.4.2 accounts file on to android 7 bluestacks; or nox / or memu
It has limited success importing into a proper non emulated tablet (again missing about 60% of the accounts randomly)
all in all Titanium doesn't appear to be a good solution.
2. Perhaps a direct edit of the Accounts DB file would be wiser;
I've attempted to export it a few times and am not sure yet how to edit it ...
HeidiSQL has errors when accessing the file
Oracle's sql developer is WORSE; most of the text is gibberish.
*Any ideas on how to edit this?
3. Other xda searches lead me to:
The google password isn't a real password. After first successful authentication, an Auth Token is downloaded to device which is stored in accounts.db.
From the Auth Token is impossible to guess the password.
So I guess I answered my own question on that... I was hoping the passwords were stored on the device database so I could import/export them via a text editor.
4.
*File manager for super users allows one to explore and edit (to a point) a sql database - but one can not add new entries; only edit existing entries.
one can only export to csv; not import.
so this is only a partial solution.
5. an open source XDA solution looks promising but will not work.
Each OnAndBackup version uses different file extensions that are not compatible between versions... so yuo can't backup one android version and restore to another.
OAndBackupX is a fork of the popular open source backup app for Android
Looking for an open source solution to backup individual apps and their data? OAndBackupX is a handy Android app for the job. Check it out!
www.xda-developers.com
Blombardo said:
2. Perhaps a direct edit of the Accounts DB file would be wiser;
I've attempted to export it a few times and am not sure yet how to edit it ...
HeidiSQL has errors when accessing the file
Oracle's sql developer is WORSE; most of the text is gibberish.
*Any ideas on how to edit this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In post #7 you were told it's a SQLite database. Hence use a SQLite browser.
Downloads - DB Browser for SQLite
sqlitebrowser.org
It appears that the art of editing the database file on this is more complicated than it should be...
1. Taking the old DB file from 4.4.2 with a million accounts loaded... -- Export the 'accounts' table into csv
2. taking the new DB file from 7.1.1 with one account loaded - delete existing and then import the old 'accounts' table -
Swap original .db file with new edited one...
and congrats you too have a bootloop...
Anyone know how to PROPERLY export / import the accounts information ?
The sql table otherwise appears the same.. but I'm by no means an expert on these databases so perhaps I missed something simple.
Can't wait to see what happens from nox to bluestacks to memu to real versions of android on multiple devices with multiple android versions...
There HAS to be a better way to do this.?
Edit: 20 plus hours and many weeks into this problem
delving deeper into Titaniums site they have a suggestion for use on emulators that I did not notice; I will try and report back.
12. I have an Android device that is x86 based, and rooted. Can I use Titanium Backup ?​
YES. Please ensure that you have a working BusyBox on your device and make the following changes in TB preferences:
enable the “Force use external BusyBox” option (under Troubleshooting) then hit MENU -> Reload application.
1. I've noticed there are two places for saved account info; I still have no success in getting my edited database to properly recognize in the emulator.
system DE on older 4.4.2
and
system CE on 7.1 (also has the DE folder)
2. No luck on titanium either.
a. I've tried making busy box work on the emulator; it pretends to install successfully but when running shell commands it doesnt seem to work; therefore the number 12 from Titanium FAQ is something I can't seem to accomplish either... so Titanium will not work yet; maybe due to the busybox fail.
Blombardo said:
@jwoegerbauer thanks for the tip. using your filename I found a tutorial that listed the location as follows:
/data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db
I've verified this on Nox; my bluestacks still isnt rooted and it seems the phones I have with all email accounts loaded == are not rooted either== I'm going to need to find a workaround for that or make time to root bluestacks to get the account data out of it...
Problem is;
1 there are no passwords included here. Where are they? mine are all crazy long and I have no clue what they are... its very time consuming to manually input them via my password managing tool.
2 Once I export; and change the CSV into a spreadsheet to include all the other missing email /google accounts; how do I replace the accounts_de.db file on each device
3. Why isnt there an app that can do this already; lol?
EDIT
Titanium backup does have an 'accounts' export option that -sorta - works... problem is how picky the app is about using root plus super SU and refuses to work with Magisk (sometimes) or will constantly crash on (some) devices - or will fail to export/import unless you try (5 different file managers that can eventually figure out how to import their file type) - or is otherwise NEEDING root access to function...
Would be nice if a solution existed via ADB or simply in an un rooted device to do this; sorta like how google ''set up nearby device'' was supposed to work (and will; if you use only 5 or less accounts... but its also buggy and fails)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip just used Titanium Backup to transfer accounts backup generated from one phone to another (using the generated backup files) both N916K rooted with Magisk version 23.0 (23000) without issues!
So is there any Progress or Solutions found yet?
A good thing would be to see all the accounts and then retype them manually if needed.
Else it would be much better to have something like Smart Switch.
Problem I noticed with SmartSwitch, when you try to transfer the Accounts. Samsung trys to grab and upload all the accounts to their server!! Why? I don't know, but it always asks for Internetconnection etc. ONLY when you want to transfer accounts, everything else works more or less.. some appdata not included sadly anyway.
Swift Backup doesn't seem to or did someone manage it to work with it?
Tipps and possible Solutions would be greatly appriciated.
It seems to be especially problematic with Android 12...
Hello, I'm having the same problem. I'm "bored" with obtaining a new phone because I have to set up so many things from scratch. real estate istanbul
A shame there still doesn't seem to be a good solution for this. TB only tries to backup the non-existent location, while the correct is /data/system_de/0/accounts_de.db
Manually moving just puts me into a bootloop, even after setting the correct permissions.
I dont know if this works, someone should test it.
GitHub - cluk33/android-multiuser-backup: A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser android devices.
A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser android devices. - GitHub - cluk33/android-multiuser-backup: A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser andr...
github.com
akhilkhan said:
I dont know if this works, someone should test it.
GitHub - cluk33/android-multiuser-backup: A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser android devices.
A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser android devices. - GitHub - cluk33/android-multiuser-backup: A set of scripts to backup and restore apps and data of multiuser andr...
github.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I spent hours trying to get the script to work, but it will not backup anything in A13. I even disabled DFE on the device and started it over to test.

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