I'm an Internet person, and pretty much a Linux guy as well but I don't have a lot of experience with Android yet.
Question: I have a rooted (thanks Jcase and team) HTC DNA phone. I want to know if I can just "delete an APK" to remove something that came with the phone.
Example: The carrier installed a game that keeps updating itself called Reign of Amira. CAN I just delete the .apk somewhere? Or are there implications?
Please advise. Thanks.
-Joe
Try futz.me - A Command line for the web.
You can. If it is a system app, you should be able to find it under /system/app, if not you can find it under /data/app. Before deleting, you can make a backup or instead of removing it you can rename file extension from .apk to .bak, for example. By doing the rename you are disabling the application because Android will only look for the .apk.
That is for a file that you know what it is. If you will be messing around with other files you don't know, then I highly advise to make a nandroid backup first.
Seems to work. Thanks for the confirmation.
-Joe
futz.me - Try Futz.me, A Command Line for the Web
bgcngm said:
You can. If it is a system app, you should be able to find it under /system/app, if not you can find it under /data/app. Before deleting, you can make a backup or instead of removing it you can rename file extension from .apk to .bak, for example. By doing the rename you are disabling the application because Android will only look for the .apk.
That is for a file that you know what it is. If you will be messing around with other files you don't know, then I highly advise to make a nandroid backup first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, there is a problem:
Anything in \system\app that I rename to .bak, will rename itself BACK when I reboot.
Also, My Google Play store "My apps" section went blank (white screen) for two reboots.
Do I need the s-off for the phone which hasn't been done yet?
bgcngm said:
You can. If it is a system app, you should be able to find it under /system/app, if not you can find it under /data/app. Before deleting, you can make a backup or instead of removing it you can rename file extension from .apk to .bak, for example. By doing the rename you are disabling the application because Android will only look for the .apk.
That is for a file that you know what it is. If you will be messing around with other files you don't know, then I highly advise to make a nandroid backup first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try Titanium Backup for freezing, disabling and deleting apps
avkiev said:
You can try Titanium Backup for freezing, disabling and deleting apps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your help, but is this a definitive method? If deleting the apk doesn't work, then can I use the "force remove" option in Titanium Backup? Or Could that hurt something? I'm just talking about removing obvious crap here like that game I mentioned, some NFL game, a few stupid verizon services, etc.
Live by this motto: "When in doubt, freeze it out". Use an application to freeze any applications you feel you don't need or want. It's best that way, and will help you avoid any problems by deleting an app and subsequently running into problems later on down the line...
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Freeze it. Don't delete. It might need to be restored in order to take an OTA system upgrade.
If I may:
1.) Is there some sort of app or file that calls these apps I'm going to freeze? Meaning, Can I just "freeze" (which I assume means disable) the app, and not have to worry about telling whatever file calls it to not call it?
2.) Do I need to buy that Titanium (free version doesn't freeze) or is there something else you use?
3.) Does freeze simply mean rename to .bak? Because if that's the case, I've already tried that with Root Explorer and the files rename themselves BACK to .apk upon reboot.
Thanks.
85gallon said:
Freeze it. Don't delete. It might need to be restored in order to take an OTA system upgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
commandlinekid said:
If I may:
1.) Is there some sort of app or file that calls these apps I'm going to freeze? Meaning, Can I just "freeze" (which I assume means disable) the app, and not have to worry about telling whatever file calls it to not call it?
2.) Do I need to buy that Titanium (free version doesn't freeze) or is there something else you use?
3.) Does freeze simply mean rename to .bak? Because if that's the case, I've already tried that with Root Explorer and the files rename themselves BACK to .apk upon reboot.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) If you freeze an app using another app designed to do just that, there will be no way the app can be launched by another file or program (I believe that's what you're asking here)
2) Boat Freezer is good or Root Uninstaller is free (also good)
3) Bloat Freezer will rename the app with a .bzw file extension, and others work similarly. However, you cannot simply rename apps yourself and expect not to cause problems. This is where a good app freezer comes into play.
Also, whenever you make a change using the Root Explorer, the modified file will have a .bak extension. If you want your modified file to stick passed boot, you must delete or move the .bak file created after the editing.
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Ok, I'll try that. Thanks.
Joe
Apex_Strider said:
1) If you freeze an app using another app designed to do just that, there will be no way the app can be launched by another file or program (I believe that's what you're asking here)
2) Boat Freezer is good or Root Uninstaller is free (also good)
3) Bloat Freezer will rename the app with a .bzw file extension, and others work similarly. However, you cannot simply rename apps yourself and expect not to cause problems. This is where a good app freezer comes into play.
Also, whenever you make a change using the Root Explorer, the modified file will have a .bak extension. If you want your modified file to stick passed boot, you must delete or move the .bak file created after the editing.
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i recommend using BloatFreezer ...
it freezes(or stops) unncessary system apps..or any other app you want...
and the advantage is that you can defrost it to get it back..!
neelay92 said:
i recommend using BloatFreezer ...
it freezes(or stops) unncessary system apps..or any other app you want...
and the advantage is that you can defrost it to get it back..!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true for any app freezer, in that you can freeze/un-freeze apps as you please. Even better: running a custom ROM that's already been de-bloated and using an app freezer for any other apps you don't want running.
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Can I just do this:
1.) adb shell
2.) Yay, I'm in Linux. I can now do stuff.
3.) Move the .apk files from \system\app to \sdcard\backup
4.) That's it.
Then if I need to move them back, I can.
Instead of all this "freezing", relying on a third-party app, etc.
Am I missing something here?
Please advise. Thanks.
Apex_Strider said:
1) If you freeze an app using another app designed to do just that, there will be no way the app can be launched by another file or program (I believe that's what you're asking here)
2) Boat Freezer is good or Root Uninstaller is free (also good)
3) Bloat Freezer will rename the app with a .bzw file extension, and others work similarly. However, you cannot simply rename apps yourself and expect not to cause problems. This is where a good app freezer comes into play.
Also, whenever you make a change using the Root Explorer, the modified file will have a .bak extension. If you want your modified file to stick passed boot, you must delete or move the .bak file created after the editing.
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question,
Can I just do "adb shell", then once I'm in Linux, I can just move the .apk files I want to stop over to another directory...so I have them?
Is "freezing" even a real thing?
Please advise, if you don't mind, whether or not the above method is as good as freezing. Then, I won't have to rely on a third-party app (regardless of how much people love these apps) to accomplish the task.
Thanks.
Apex_Strider said:
1) If you freeze an app using another app designed to do just that, there will be no way the app can be launched by another file or program (I believe that's what you're asking here)
2) Boat Freezer is good or Root Uninstaller is free (also good)
3) Bloat Freezer will rename the app with a .bzw file extension, and others work similarly. However, you cannot simply rename apps yourself and expect not to cause problems. This is where a good app freezer comes into play.
Also, whenever you make a change using the Root Explorer, the modified file will have a .bak extension. If you want your modified file to stick passed boot, you must delete or move the .bak file created after the editing.
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
commandlinekid said:
Question,
Can I just do "adb shell", then once I'm in Linux, I can just move the .apk files I want to stop over to another directory...so I have them?
Is "freezing" even a real thing?
Please advise, if you don't mind, whether or not the above method is as good as freezing. Then, I won't have to rely on a third-party app (regardless of how much people love these apps) to accomplish the task.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, but why go through all that trouble? The beauty of the app freezer is that it does what you want, right from your phone. No computer needed. If you use adb, you'll have to adb push them back to the right folder/directory of you want them again. Then, you'll have to set permissions, and is just more work. What if your computer crashed, how would you adb the apps of you ever needed them? The app freezer is all you need, right from your phone, no hassle, no worries! Trust me, that's the easiest way to go about this
ΧΔΑ Fraternity's Godfather. Read About Our History!
Related
Can some one provide some instructions on how to go about making a CW zip file to flash and install all the apps that is on my phone?
I've seen a few of these floating around in the forum, and wanted to make my own to save time after every ROM flash
Do I just grab all the APK files throw them into a folder and Zip & Sign it?
or do I have to do a Nandroid backup first, then only use the app files from the backup?
I would like to know this too....
Would be nice as well instead of restoring
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Take an existing update.zip type file. Add a folder to it with the full proper path for your apps you want to pre-install (typically this will be /data/app) and put all the apps in that folder. Should look something like this in a windows/mac explorer window:
Code:
META-INF
/com/google/android/updater-script
data
/app/myfirstapp.apk
/app/mysecondapp.apk
Then use a text editor to edit the META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script file to include the commands to copy over your stuff. It would something along the lines of:
Code:
ui_print("Installing New App Files to /data");
package_extract_dir("data", "/data");
Edit out anything in the update template you're working out of that you don't want to happen (ie., format or symlinks, etc).
Repackage the zip file and make sure nothing else got in there by mistake by re-opening it (like those pesky Mac .ds-store files).
You can re-sign it with the android tools, but I don't believe you need to with Clockwork.
I would have a fresh nandroid before testing anything, of course.
You feel this approach is better than just using Titanium to restore apps? You won't get back any app data that isn't stored on the sdcard.
Thanks!
yes, now that makes sense, i recall reading that some where else to add extra APK to the ROMs
so it's the same idea, just without the ROM portion
now i get it
distortedloop said:
Take an existing update.zip type file. Add a folder to it with the full proper path for your apps you want to pre-install (typically this will be /data/app) and put all the apps in that folder. Should look something like this in a windows/mac explorer window:
Code:
META-INF
/com/google/android/updater-script
data
/app/myfirstapp.apk
/app/mysecondapp.apk
Then use a text editor to edit the META-INF/com/google/android/updater-script file to include the commands to copy over your stuff. It would something along the lines of:
Code:
ui_print("Installing New App Files to /data");
package_extract_dir("data", "/data");
Edit out anything in the update template you're working out of that you don't want to happen (ie., format or symlinks, etc).
Repackage the zip file and make sure nothing else got in there by mistake by re-opening it (like those pesky Mac .ds-store files).
You can re-sign it with the android tools, but I don't believe you need to with Clockwork.
I would have a fresh nandroid before testing anything, of course.
You feel this approach is better than just using Titanium to restore apps? You won't get back any app data that isn't stored on the sdcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya essentially this method is doingan advanced nandroid restore for data only except without the settings.
Sent from my MattedBlues CM7 Nexus S from the XDA Premium app.
kenvan19 said:
Ya essentially this method is doingan advanced nandroid restore for data only except without the settings.
Sent from my MattedBlues CM7 Nexus S from the XDA Premium app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suppose if you want the app data restored as well, you would just need to identify it's location in the /data directory and add it to the /data folder in the update you're making. Seems like most of the app data goes into /data/data.
Just thinking out loud here...
So for a sample app on my phone I have called jefit pro I'd put the following in the update file.
Code:
/data/je.fit.pro-1.apk <---apk itself
/data/data/je.fit.pro <--the folder
/data/data/je.fit.pro/databases/data
/data/data/je.fit.pro/lib
/data/data/je.fit.pro/preferences/preferences.xml
I'd just pull the whole folder for the /data/data/je.fit.pro from the phone via adb.
I'm not sure how useful putting the data back is, since that's not a static set of files on many apps, but for some apps where the data is just some settings or preference files it may be a nice touch.
I don't really see any advantage to this over just use Titanium to restore apps and data, but it should work.
(<<---- this would be the whole folder and its subfolders that I pulled via adb off the phone)
distortedloop said:
I don't really see any advantage to this over just use Titanium to restore apps and data, but it should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AllGamer, I'm glad you brought this up, while I don't personally have any apps I want to put on the phone in this method, except perhaps titanium itself, I just realized we could of course do the same thing for all those little custom tweaks we put on our phones, like for me I push my personalized ringtones/notification sounds to /system. That's easy enough with adb or rootexplorer, but why not just flash them from a zip while in CW after a wipe or install of a new rom?
distortedloop said:
AllGamer, I'm glad you brought this up, while I don't personally have any apps I want to put on the phone in this method, except perhaps titanium itself, I just realized we could of course do the same thing for all those little custom tweaks we put on our phones, like for me I push my personalized ringtones/notification sounds to /system. That's easy enough with adb or rootexplorer, but why not just flash them from a zip while in CW after a wipe or install of a new rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the idea came up from several places, first Titanium Backup itself offers to create a signed .zip installer for CW
and i've seen other devices forums with people packing up like 100+ apps/tweaks/mods into it to flash after CW is done flashing the new ROM
yes, of course we can use TI, i have TI pro and it's very easy, but Ti is slow.... at restoring 300+ Apps
but everytime i see CW restoring a Zip file or even a full Nandroid backup, it does it so fast and quickly, that i though... hell might as well keep an updated signed .zip wtih all my must have apps, and flash it along right after any new ROM flash (when testing out different Custom ROMs) then i don't need to spend like an hour everytime restoring + configuring the phones
i noticed that Ti works a hell of a lot faster if the apps are already installed, and you only need to restore the data.
and that is the main reason i want to compile a list of all the apps
once they are all installed, then i can use any of the good market utilities that can do mass Apps2SD and i'll be up and running in as quickly as 15min vs. a whole hour waste on a restore/config everytime you change the ROM
using Ti i found most of the System settings can be restored safely without corrupting the new ROM
email
accounts & syncs
bluetooth pairings
wifi
... ah shoot forgot the rest
only do not restore settings for:
launcher,
wireless network (phone company)
android market
and anything that has to do with default settings
probably this weekend i'll dissect the CW zip created by Ti itself, and add more to it
Sounds like a good plan...but you've got 300+ apps if I recall correctly. I imagine that will take a long time to restore either method!
The Titanium update zip is a good place to start. Use the setting to make it a "user" app and it will put it in /data, where you want the rest of your apps as well. You could just dump what you want right into the zip file there in the folder that has titanium's apk itself and not even worry about messing with the updater-script file.
Hi all.
I'm, currently on ICBINB kI3 1.5 which came with the default launcher Touch Wiz.
I use launcher pro plus as my default launcher.
My question is will deleting twlauncher from system/app improve performance or battery life? Or will in cause instability?
-Any help is appreciated =]
-Note: Build prop contains "ro.HOME_APP_ADJ=1"
Other Stuff: Ive tried editing the rom before flashing as in replacing twlauncher.apk with launcher pro.apk and that wood not load a homescreen on boot. ive tried adding the both into the rom before flashing and that was unstable. but of course there is a pretty high chance i did this process incorrectly.
Details: gs4g/ icbinb 1.5/ ext4 on all/ uv at 1.3/
I always delete it, and I too use LPP. I haven't noticed a difference either way
i too wonder about this question. I don't think it will improve battery any if you close down the TW launcher and set the other launcher as default. If anyone have more experience please confirm or correct my reasoning.
I always delete it to using Titanium Backup. After I delete it I go into TB's More settings and clean the dalvik cache.
I've never had an issue with anything. After a reboot LP gets installed as a system app.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Mizun0h said:
Hi all.
I'm, currently on ICBINB kI3 1.5 which came with the default launcher Touch Wiz.
I use launcher pro plus as my default launcher.
My question is will deleting twlauncher from system/app improve performance or battery life? Or will in cause instability?
-Any help is appreciated =]
-Note: Build prop contains "ro.HOME_APP_ADJ=1"
Other Stuff: Ive tried editing the rom before flashing as in replacing twlauncher.apk with launcher pro.apk and that wood not load a homescreen on boot. ive tried adding the both into the rom before flashing and that was unstable. but of course there is a pretty high chance i did this process incorrectly.
Details: gs4g/ icbinb 1.5/ ext4 on all/ uv at 1.3/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is because you put the wrong apk file into system/app. remember, it is not the apk from your data folder, it is the one from the cache folder. i have done this many, many times on multiple phones and it has always worked. uninstall launcher pro, reinstall it from the market. immediately use root explorer to go to the /cache folder and copy the download.apk file. rename it to w/e and put that file in the system/app OF THE ROM ZIP FILE. then flash THAT ZIP file. should work every time. dont just put it in your system/app of the rom currently loaded on your phone. doesnt work that way
jager555 said:
this is because you put the wrong apk file into system/app. remember, it is not the apk from your data folder, it is the one from the cache folder. i have done this many, many times on multiple phones and it has always worked. uninstall launcher pro, reinstall it from the market. immediately use root explorer to go to the /cache folder and copy the download.apk file. rename it to w/e and put that file in the system/app OF THE ROM ZIP FILE. then flash THAT ZIP file. should work every time. dont just put it in your system/app of the rom currently loaded on your phone. doesnt work that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're the man! thanks. I think this is what I was missing. I remembered you tried to explain this process to me and I and I just failed. But again, thank you.
Can this be done for all apks? Like if I wanted pandora or google music as high priority system apps?
It can be done for most apps, but not all. Some apps install to more places than just data/app, so it won't work. it's trial and error, to be honest. But I guess that's half the fun, isn't it?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
jager555 said:
this is because you put the wrong apk file into system/app. remember, it is not the apk from your data folder, it is the one from the cache folder. i have done this many, many times on multiple phones and it has always worked. uninstall launcher pro, reinstall it from the market. immediately use root explorer to go to the /cache folder and copy the download.apk file. rename it to w/e and put that file in the system/app OF THE ROM ZIP FILE. then flash THAT ZIP file. should work every time. dont just put it in your system/app of the rom currently loaded on your phone. doesnt work that way
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jager, could you please reply with an example of what renaming a download.apk would look like.
I went into my cache folder using Root Explorer, long pressed the download.apk I have there and hit rename.
Do I literally change the name download.apk to w/e?
I'm sure this is a dumb question but I'm new to modding. I only very recently have learned enough to venture out of just flashing.
This is more than a curiosity for me. I want to learn and practice this kind of modding.
Thank you for your time and wisdom.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Jerry D said:
Jager, could you please reply with an example of what renaming a download.apk would look like.
I went into my cache folder using Root Explorer, long pressed the download.apk I have there and hit rename.
Do I literally change the name download.apk to w/e?
I'm sure this is a dumb question but I'm new to modding. I only very recently have learned enough to venture out of just flashing.
This is more than a curiosity for me. I want to learn and practice this kind of modding.
Thank you for your time and wisdom.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jerry,
i just name it whatever app it is. for example, i would rename download.apk to launcherpro.apk or to gosmspro.apk. I would, however, long press, click COPY, copy it to my "download" folder on my sd card, and then rename it. i do not MOVE the download.apk from the cache folder. i also do not rename it until i have copied it to my sd card. that just me though. i think the android system clears out the download.apk file by itself and it would be best to let it do that; as opposed to prematurely moving it and it causing errors.
After renaming the download.apk what do we do with it. Push to where?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
COPY the download.apk to any folder on your sdcard. Then rename it to whatever.apk
Copy this file to syatem/app in the new rom before you flash it.
From what ive been told this can be done from a lot of apps, but not all. So far ive tried and had good experiences with launcherpro, google music, and pandora.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA Premium App
A really easy way to do this as well is to use Titanium Backup.
If you currently have both TW and launcher pro on your phone... Open titanium backup and click on the middle tab up top labeled backup/restore.
Scroll down to TW launcher and select. It will give you an option to uninstall.
And launcher pro becomes your default and only launcher.
It also works to remove other system apps that you normally cannot as well.
Jiggly, while that may work, my approach does a couple of different things. It makes them true system apps, saves internal ROM and uses system ROM instead, cleans up a few things and it makes flashing a lot easier. With titanium backup, you ate not integrating the apps into the ROM. We are removing and adding things prior to flashing, causing less problems
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Babyj303 said:
After renaming the download.apk what do we do with it. Push to where?
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As stated in my post above yours, I put it in my downloads folder on my sd card.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium
As I stated earlier in this thread I too was using the "Titanium Backup method" and thought that my apps were System apps. That's what Titanium Backup says and they are red so they must be.
If I go into My system app folder using Super Manager I can see in my app list that they are not true System apps as Jager said. A system app looks like this in my app folder; My Account [SYS] Maps [SYS] Music [SYS] ect.
Here is what my "Titanium backup method" apps look like;
LauncherPro [SYS]Internal Only
Double Twist [SYS]Internal Only
Dolphin Browser HD [SYS]Movable
I noticed this a couple of weeks ago and that is why I was excited to see this thread. I know the method jager is describing is Superior to using TB. I'm working on "my" ROM now.
I just thought I'd throw this out there. There's nothing like a visual aid to put things into perspective.
jerry, let me know if you need help with that; or at least some pointers. i'm not raver or dsexton (krylon and drhonk goes without being said), but i still have a few tricks up my sleeve.
Hi. I just found out that apk files are kept in the device after installation of the app.
I just recently downloaded a file explorer app and I found out that the apk files of the free games which I downloaded and installed from android market are kept in this folder:
/mnt/asec (I'm using Samsung Galaxy Ace)
There are individual folders for each game, and in each folder are a lib folder and the apk file. For example:
Fruit Ninja folder (which is found in mnt/asec folder) contains a lib folder and an apk file.
Fruit Slice folder (which is also found in mnt/asec folder) contains a lib folder and an apk file.
My question is, is it ok to delete these apk files? Will the games still work?
Also, can I send these apk files to someone else via bluetooth so they may download the apps without having to visit android market?
yeah you can delete the apk file after installing any app for it to still function, I do it all the time. Yes you can send the apk file to your friend so they can install it. If you're still cautious, try doing a trial run with one apk file...send it to your friend first, then delete, see if it works.
The .apk files are like setup files for windows. Once installed, you don't need the apk, especially if you are backing up with Titanium or similar backup program.
follow up question
Hi. Thanks guys.
Is everything from the android market ".apk"? Is it possible that some have a different extension? I downloaded a dictionary app, I can't be sure but I think it's a .zip file.
Thank you.
pakattack
I tried to delete the apk file. It cannot be deleted.
However, I copied it to my sd card, uninstalled the app, re-installed it using the one already in my sdcard, and it installed just fine.
I still want to be able to delete the apk file that is in the system though (/mnt/asec).
Any ideas or do I just have to deal with it?
sending .apk signed with another device
PakAttack1994 said:
yeah you can delete the apk file after installing any app for it to still function, I do it all the time. Yes you can send the apk file to your friend so they can install it. If you're still cautious, try doing a trial run with one apk file...send it to your friend first, then delete, see if it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree with deleting it won't be a problem but sending to a friend?
sometimes I think there would be a message stating that its not sign
correctly.. correct me if I'm wrong Thank You
WillShaka, like I said, I tried to delete it. I can't. Not allowed.
I don't know why. I'm using ES File explorer
not sure if this works but have you tried unmounting the sd and delete?
WillShaka said:
I agree with deleting it won't be a problem but sending to a friend?
sometimes I think there would be a message stating that its not sign
correctly.. correct me if I'm wrong Thank You
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, and I don't mean to veer out of topic (this question is often ignored in Q&A forum), if I use Odin to upgrade my stock firmware instead of using Kies, will it erase all my data? I have a feeling it will...
WillShaka said:
not sure if this works but have you tried unmounting the sd and delete?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried it. Doesn't work, but thanks for suggesting. =)
Yes, you can delete the APK after installation. But the APKs in /system/app/ need to stay where they are to function appropriately
MarlonKaye said:
Also, and I don't mean to veer out of topic (this question is often ignored in Q&A forum), if I use Odin to upgrade my stock firmware instead of using Kies, will it erase all my data? I have a feeling it will...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MarlonKaye said:
Just tried it. Doesn't work, but thanks for suggesting. =)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes odin your phone would wipe out all the user and data status.
your welcome sorry I couldn't help
All-In-One Toolbox App
MarlonKaye said:
WillShaka, like I said, I tried to delete it. I can't. Not allowed.
I don't know why. I'm using ES File explorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the All-In-One Toolbox app to automatically find and delete all .apk files. It also has an automatic backup and restore function for apps.
So my daragon city and messenger are in the apk files I don't know if its backed by another zip folder my tablet is the amazon fire so if I deleted the apk files that is downloaded for an android would my appe still work the same
Hello folks,
I am tired of restoring all my apps settings and replaying my games from the beginning each time I install a new rom or do a factory reset so I was looking (a couple of hours ago) for how to restore my apps setting and especially my games progress after every data wipe......
I read that many users faced problems using helium and some similar apps (Titanium Backup seems to be perfect for this job but it's a paid app and that is the problem:laugh and after all this I figured out that what were doing these apps to make a full backup of an app is just making a copy of the app.apk and the app folder in /data/data where app is the name of the considered app(sorry if this is well-known but I really didn't know)
So I made this tutorial on how to backup/restore your apps and data MANUALLY because this let you choose which app to backup/restore...
This tutorial is for noobs (because I am noob!!!!!)
Requirements:
Galaxy SL or any other android device.
ES explorer or any other file explorer with root access support.
Your phone needs to be rooted.
Backing up app and data:
Enable your explorer read/write permissions (for ES explorer >>settings>>root options).
Go to /data/app and copy the app.apk to your SD card backup folder.
Go to /data/data and copy app folder to your SD card backup folder.
that's it, now your app is fully backed up.
Restoring app and data:
Install app.apk from backup folder
Go to /data/data and remove the existing app folder (don't launch the app now because it won't start)
Copy the app folder from the backup folder to /data/data
launch your app now, it should work!
that's it, now your app is fully restored.
Notes:
I tried this to backup and restore NFS most wanted progress and it WORKED!!!!
Maybe this methode don't work for some apps but it should work for the rest of them.
For system apps go to /system/app .
app folder should start with "com." (for example "com.ea.games.nfs13_na" for NFS most wanted).
I don't know what is the difference between this methode and the adb methode so can someone tell me if there is a difference.
Restoring apps settings from/to different android versions may not work
hey guys, this is my first thread so please don't blame me if it's not good enough
sorry for my bad English and hope this will be helpful for you
Best regards
any replays here???
how to restore helium backup manually????
:fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed::fingers-crossed:
ASMI1 said:
3. Copy the app folder from the backup folder to /data/data
4. launch your app now, it should work!
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Click to collapse
Thanks, it works!
But there is some small point. The Android system uses technical users to separate the data of the apps from each other. If you copy the files this way then the copied files will belong to root and be accessible for all apps.
So you should also take care that the file and folder attributes for rights, users and groups are correctly set. Therefore start and stop the installed app again, it will create its folder in /data/data. You can then see (and set) the attributes in the properties entry of ES file explorer. And only then overwrite the files with the backup and after this set the attributes.
Unfortunately this is not very comfortable with ES file explorer, because it has to be done for each and every file/folder separately and the technical user has to be chosen from a long list...
ThemGo said:
Thanks, it works!
But there is some small point. The Android system uses technical users to separate the data of the apps from each other. If you copy the files this way then the copied files will belong to root and be accessible for all apps.
So you should also take care that the file and folder attributes for rights, users and groups are correctly set. Therefore start and stop the installed app again, it will create its folder in /data/data. You can then see (and set) the attributes in the properties entry of ES file explorer. And only then overwrite the files with the backup and after this set the attributes.
Unfortunately this is not very comfortable with ES file explorer, because it has to be done for each and every file/folder separately and the technical user has to be chosen from a long list...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi ThemGo! You have reopened a bit old thread :laugh: Now a days, the play store is bull of useful apps to backup almost everything on your android device. I found that Titanium backup Pro is the best among them all. Its a paid app but it really deserve it
Kind Regards
ASMI1 said:
the play store is bull of useful apps to backup almost everything on your android device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, but what - as happened to me last month - if your phone dies suddenly, you get yourself a new one and fortunately have a not too old backup made with cwm recovery, what will you do?
Yes, extract the necessary data from the backup and then copy it manually to the new phone.
ThemGo said:
Of course, but what - as happened to me last month - if your phone dies suddenly, you get yourself a new one and fortunately have a not too old backup made with cwm recovery, what will you do?
Yes, extract the necessary data from the backup and then copy it manually to the new phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Havent really tried that but if both phones are using same android version that may work. Because some of my apps that were backed up on Jellybean are not working on Kitkat & Lollipop even when using the same phone so I guess the backup procedure is not just a matter of copying & pasting.
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