Database Info

How to push apk to system partition?

Im coming from a Samsung Vibrant which was my first android phone and I loved it. Now this Nexus S has found my heart but for some reason whenever I try to push an app such as the touchwiz launcher to system/app it moves the app to that folder but for some reason it doesnt install even after reboot. I tried to even reset defaults in the launcher but that was a no go. What am I doing wrong? I am running NSCollab.

try
adb install <path_to_apk>
if its on the same folder as your adb then just type the .apk

that will only install it to SD card, not SYSTEM partition
to install to SYSTEM you will need to include the APK to the ROM to be flashed

aamir123 said:
Im coming from a Samsung Vibrant which was my first android phone and I loved it. Now this Nexus S has found my heart but for some reason whenever I try to push an app such as the touchwiz launcher to system/app it moves the app to that folder but for some reason it doesnt install even after reboot. I tried to even reset defaults in the launcher but that was a no go. What am I doing wrong? I am running NSCollab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cant you just manually place it there with some like root explorer and manually install it?

I'm just getting to add an apk to an existing rom, I'll try adb install a lil later. But to me its odd since on the vibrant all I had to do was push to system partition and restart
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

bringonblink said:
Cant you just manually place it there with some like root explorer and manually install it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes...place it in the "system/app" folder
you will see all the other apk native to your ROM in that same folder
you may have to fix permissions (r,w/r/r)

rubbamade said:
yes...place it in the "system/app" folder
you will see all the other apk native to your ROM in that same folder
you may have to fix permissions (r,w/r/r)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have fixed permissions and everything but still its a no go. I dont get it, when I try to install in that directory it doesnt install. I figure this is a nexus S thing? Can anyone confirm this working?

I am running CM7 btw and after flashing my vibrant with it I am no longer able to push to system/app in order to install apk. Is this a problem or feature of CM7?

Reboot after changing permission. Btw, what app are you pushing?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

markfavis said:
Reboot after changing permission. Btw, what app are you pushing?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried pushing a modded version of the touchwiz launcher from the vibrant, theres a thread here somewhere in which someone was able to push without problems.
Edit: I tried rebooting but still not working. I also tried pushing a video player which others have successfully pushed and was unable to get that working either.

[Q] Can't Install Themed APK

I have a stock Sensation, temp-rooted, and have a couple of themed apps I like (TweetDark, Transparent G+). Using root explorer, I navigate to downloads on my SD, select the APK and select install. It prompts that the app will replace an existing one, keeping user data (normal). It asks me to accept permissions (normal). It says installing (normal). Then is says Application Not Installed with a Done button (definitely not normal). I have third party apps allowed, and it let me install an APK that wasn't an overwrite, so why can't I install my themed APKs? Any suggestions/information would be most helpful.

JaylanPHNX said:
I have a stock Sensation, temp-rooted, and have a couple of themed apps I like (TweetDark, Transparent G+). Using root explorer, I navigate to downloads on my SD, select the APK and select install. It prompts that the app will replace an existing one, keeping user data (normal). It asks me to accept permissions (normal). It says installing (normal). Then is says Application Not Installed with a Done button (definitely not normal). I have third party apps allowed, and it let me install an APK that wasn't an overwrite, so why can't I install my themed APKs? Any suggestions/information would be most helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant because the stock rom is .odex you need to de-odex the rom or apk for it to work or backup both the apk and .odex files to your sd now delete the .odex file install your apk and reboot

Thanks for your answer. I was afraid it would be something like that. The phone's a loaner as part of a T-Mobile feedback program so I don't want to muck with it to much.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using XDA App

Replacing Trebuchet with Apex Launcher

Hi there!
It's a little tutorial, how to completely replace Trebuchet with Apex Launcher.
So, first of all, you will need:
- an Android 4.0+ phone (of course)
- installed Apex Launcher from Google Play (recommended Pro version)
- root access
- Link2SD app (or another app with the needed functions)
- some backup app (doesn't needed, if you have the apk file of Apex Launcher)
// I used this method on my Samsung Galaxy Gio S5660 with the latest GalaxyICS ROM(10062012). I don't take responsibility for the unsuccess on other phones or other ROMs. You can use another app with the functions needed instead of Link2SD. //
So, how to do that?
Step 1: Install Link2SD and set it up to be working
Step 2: Install Apex Launcher
Step 3: Backup the apk of Apex Launcher
Step 4: Find Trebuchet in Link2SD, open it, click "Actions", and then choose "Convert to user app"
Step 5: With the same process, convert Apex Launcher to system app. It's possible, that an error message will pop up and after that Apex Launcher won't work. If you don't get error message, ignore step 6.
Step 6: Reinstall Apex Launcher from apk.
Step 7: Apex Launcher should be now listed as a system apk. If it works correctly, just go to Applications list in Android Settings, and remove Trebuchet.
// Do a backup, before removing Trebuchet! //
So that's all, Android should now recognize Apex Launcher as a primary launcher, so if you go to Settings, and click on Launcher, it should bring up Apex Launcher settings, instead of "Trebuchet missing" error message.
For me it's working perfectly
If you have any questions, don't be afraid asking.
Bye
(PS: Sorry for grammar mistakes )

Nice information.
I did it a little differently.
Using Root Explorer, I went into the /system/app folder and (after changing permissions) moved Trebuchet.apk to my SD. Took my Nova.apk from my SD and moved it to /system/app. Reboot.
Seems like the same process just a different app.

or you can delete the Trebuchet.apk and copy ApexLauncher.apk to the ROM in zip format before flash in CWM.

for what i need to do ut?apex will run faster?
i can do it with TB?

I just read replace trebuchet with apex.
Copy apex apk to system/app set 644 permissions and delete trebuchet. Easier
Sent from my SK17a using xda premium

ChavitoArg said:
I just read replace trebuchet with apex.
Copy apex apk to system/app set 644 permissions and delete trebuchet. Easier
Sent from my SK17a using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 +1.
It´s the easiest way to do it.

set permission 644??
i didnt get that. please elaborate!

blackpheonix93 said:
set permission 644??
i didnt get that. please elaborate!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Set permissions like that.

Simply meant as rw-r-r-
GREEEEETZ WITH BEATZ!!!

Yay
Worked for me using Nova Launcher instead of Apex Launcher

I lost original system app: text messaging app, can anyone email me the backup?

Hi all,
In order to show the SMS's sent timestamp, I replaced the system's messaging app with handcent message. I backup all the following apps with Titanium backup, and uninstall them by Titanium uninstalling function.
Conversations.apk
Messaging.apk
MessageWidget.apk
UniversalInbox.apk
But the Titanium backup failed to restore the system messaging app after experiment. When i want to restore the apps referred ahead, the Titanium frozen.
And I extract all the apps from a ROM, and want to restore them by "Systemapp Remover". The remover show success, and i reboot the phone, but nothing changed. and i found in the systemapp remover interface, all the 4 apps' status were "disabled".
I think a backup from a running Atrix 2 will help my restore all the apps.
so does anybody can backup all the four system apps by "Systemapp remover", zip the SD:\SystemAppBack folder, and email the zipped file to me. and i will try restore them.
Thank you in advanced, i do not want to reflash my phone. Thank you in advanced.
my email : [email protected] or [email protected]

First off, you should never uninstall or delete system apps, you should always freeze them, that way if you have a problem and need them later you can just defrost them.
Second, the core phone apps like messaging and dialer should never be frozen or removed, they are needed even by replacement apps such as Handcent.
Third, you can get those apps from any ROM that still has the stock apps such as SCv6 or better yet the Stock Monster which is in the Themes and Apps section. Just download, then unzip the ROM and go to the /system/app folder. If you get it from a de-odexed ROM just grab the apk files, if you get them from an odexed ROM (such as The Stock Monster) make sure you grab both the apk and the odex files for each app.
Lastly, please research before doing things to anything in the /system folder...messing up something there is a sure fire way to get stuck in a bootloop or softbrick.

lilhaiti said:
First off, you should never uninstall or delete system apps, you should always freeze them, that way if you have a problem and need them later you can just defrost them.
Second, the core phone apps like messaging and dialer should never be frozen or removed, they are needed even by replacement apps such as Handcent.
Third, you can get those apps from any ROM that still has the stock apps such as SCv6 or better yet the Stock Monster which is in the Themes and Apps section. Just download, then unzip the ROM and go to the /system/app folder. If you get it from a de-odexed ROM just grab the apk files, if you get them from an odexed ROM (such as The Stock Monster) make sure you grab both the apk and the odex files for each app.
Lastly, please research before doing things to anything in the /system folder...messing up something there is a sure fire way to get stuck in a bootloop or softbrick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait! The (now defunct) Stock Monster doesn't have those apps... Try Romulus if you are still on stock odexed, or Remus if you are deodexed - they both have most of the stock apps.
Also, you need the classes.dex file in the deodexed apks, so you couldn't just grab the apks only from the Stock Monster anyway if you are deodexed.
In fact, are you odexed or deodexed? I could throw those apps in a CWM recovery zip real quick for you...

Hi alteredlikeness,
Thank you so much.
but i used systemapp remover instead of recovering the zip file sent by you. But the same, all the 4 apps restored, but status were "disabled" even if rebooting the phone.
I'm wondering whether there was a file recorded the system files' hashing key? so i restore the file with system app remover always fails.

gjgj said:
Hi alteredlikeness,
Thank you so much.
but i used systemapp remover instead of recovering the zip file sent by you. But the same, all the 4 apps restored, but status were "disabled" even if rebooting the phone.
I'm wondering whether there was a file recorded the system files' hashing key? so i restore the file with system app remover always fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no experience with systemapp remover.. did you try to flash the zip through cwm recovery?
My thought is maybe the permissions are not correct.. you can check and change the permissions with root explorer, or use the "fix permissions" option in cwm recovery.
Sent from my phone's mind

alteredlikeness said:
I have no experience with systemapp remover.. did you try to flash the zip through cwm recovery?
My thought is maybe the permissions are not correct.. you can check and change the permissions with root explorer, or use the "fix permissions" option in cwm recovery.
Sent from my phone's mind
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Browse the /system/app/ directory with Root Explorer, all the 8 files permission were correct, and i reboot the phone, but all the apps were still disabled.

Thank all, i had recover all the files from a backup files from the same version. Maybe android will check the system apps' version or MD5 hash.

[Q] How to make any app system app?

I put KK launcher in my ROM.But,when i installed the ROM..A message apperared KK Launcher has crashed.Because it was not a system app,I dont really know that the reason for this crash is due to its lack of system permissions.
please help,i want to create a ROM.

Your Device Should Be Rooted!!
Go to Root Explorer and copy the apk file of launcher in system/app/

Or use link2sd.....
coolsuper13 said:
I put KK launcher in my ROM.But,when i installed the ROM..A message apperared KK Launcher has crashed.Because it was not a system app,I dont really know that the reason for this crash is due to its lack of system permissions.
please help,i want to create a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If u found the system/app method diddicult or cant do that way just install link2sd and the app then open link2sd then in option of the app convert it into system app ..............

Is your ROM deodexed? In particular, is your APK deodexed?
If so, decompile the APK. Search for a lib folder.
If there is, rejoice. If there isn't I can't help any further apart from finding a different launcher.
Okay, assuming your APK is deodexed(which it probably is) and has a lib folder, open the lib folder. Open the armeabi folder within. Copy all the libs inside to your ROM's /system/lib. Zip all, flash.
Do post the result. If any anomalies pop up, do post here as well.

Use link2sd . In the option there is one that is convert into system app. U can easily make anyapp into system app
Sent from my GT-S6102 using XDA Free mobile app

not sure if it matters but there is also the system/priv-app folder..
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium HD app