Installing APK files on TELUS/Koodo Moto G - Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Phone: Koodo Moto G with Motorola Android 4.3
I've seen a post or two about not being able to install Android APK files on the Moto G, and I've seen some solutions. As far as I'm aware, on this particular release of Android this is to prevent malicious apps from installing from SD memory, which makes a lot of sense given the amount of malware, etc. targeting Android. Anyway, conjecture aside, here is my preferred route to installing apk files (like f-droid), since I don't like ES File Manager, and I don't like random hacks which in all probability are just going to introduce another security hole anyway.
First, be sure you have enabled the proper settings under Settings --> Security --> Unknown sources.
Get root. This is mandatory, and why do you want to muck about away from the relative safety of the Play Store if you aren't getting root anyway?
Install a file manager built for accessing protected partitions. My fave is Root Explorer (purchased).
Open your "Download" folder on the SD memory (where your web browser will have saved the apk) and select your apk for copying or moving. Now open the root folder, and here you have a choice. You will need to create a folder in the phone's protected storage. (Delete/Move random files anywhere in here at your own peril!) For simplicity and security, I used
Code:
/data
. I then created a folder named APKs (/data/APKs) and moved my apk files to that location. Now your files are somewhere the operating system considers "safe".
Click, install, enjoy!

Related

new x10 user, PLEASE HELP. =,(

i just bought an x10 phone and wanted to know how to install applications and themes... PLEASE HELP ME...
OK,
for apps:
From the market it should be pretty obvious, so I'm assuming you mean from an apk on your SD card.
You'll need a file explorer like Estrong (from the market) or RootExplorer (only works with 'root' (see below)).
You also need to allow 'applications from unknown sources' (Settings -> Applications)
Then just browse to the apk in the file explorer and selecting it should prompt the installation. After that you're good to go.
Themes:
this is a bit trickier (is that a word).
1. First up, you'll need root (kind of like admin rights on windows). The easiest way is to use the one-click root app from the development section, this installs as above and then on launching there's a 'Root' and an 'Unroot' button. Click root and you're done.
2. What you're doing when you install a theme is replacing the apk files for the phones framework and certain key apps. The modified versions that are copied mostly just contain updated resources (almost always .png files).
This is the reason you need root, you are replaced protected system files. It is also the reason that you can only have one theme at a time and can't 'hot-swap' them like in timescape, for example.
The best way to go about this, in my opinion, is to download one of chewitts themes. Before you install it take a look at the installer bat - open it in Notepad - sorry I'm just assuming everyone uses windows , probably get shot for those sort of assumptions here
It is my firm belief that, if you don't understand what is going on in that installer file then you need to do some more research, start with the stickies here (maybe the one about how to use chewitts installer) and check this thread out as well:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=714288&highlight=modify
Hope this is enough to get you started. Let me know if something isn't clear.

Need some clarification regarding app folders (newbie)

Hi,
This is my first post so first I'd like to say hello to all of users
I'd like to understand more how apk files are installed on android file system. So there go my questions:
1. After installation (via market for example) apk files are stored somewhere in file system - data/app for example from what i've heard - are those apk only backed up installation packages or actual "executable" and program itself?
2. Where are stored application settings, user preferences etc?
3. Is process of uninstallation always means removing ALL leftover from each application or after some time system gets cluttered with those (I know it is not windows with registry leftovers etc but even in linux from what i know there could be some problems if app won't remove all dependant libraries and file when uninstalling)
Thanks in advance

[solved] crashing accessibility app

To the Admins, I'm not entirely sure where you guys would want this thread...troubleshooting seemed to be the most sensible.
all right everyone, I'll explain here how I fixed this, but keep in mind I have the ATT LG G2 running KitKat with TWRP 2.7.0.0 and I'm rooted. I only recommend this for advanced users. If you aren't an advanced user, well, make sure you have a backup. I'm sure there was a faster way to fix this, but my goal wasn't to find the fastest way initially, it was to find a working way. For example, you could just ADB everything. You could also, assuming you know how to use your OS to search that deep into the device files, done a rename, copy/paste etc. etc. Not all devices are made equal, so be CAREFUL! BTW, I was in debugging mode + charge only.
WARNING: I AM ONLY OFFERING THIS FOR INSIGHT TO ADVANCED USERS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING - I DON'T OFFICIALLY RECOMMEND THAT ANYONE DO THIS. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY TRANSMUTATION FROM LG G2 TO BRICK.
Here's what I did:
1) I opened accessibility while hooked up to the debugger in Android Studio to see that it was producing a Null Pointer Exception.
2) I have a slightly modified version of the TOT file so that I can run TWRP and still be rooted in KitKat.
3) I am rooted, so I used Root Explorer to search for accessibility and found that the file is called "LGSettingsAccessibility.apk" and .odex - it's under (WITH ROOT ONLY) /system/priv-app/
4) I searched for a system dump copy online...I found this site: http://hunterspad.com/Domains/StorageCow/Xda/Users/garyd9/Extracted System/priv-app/
I found that by typing "LGSettingsAccessibility.apk" and initially found a Google Drive version but it was posted in September of 2013 - unlikely to be the odex and apk from KitKat hahaha. I used a Google Search that searched custom range between Feb 1st and today. I found 2 links, one of which is the above.
NOTE: I don't recommend anyone do the following unless you KNOW what you are doing and definitely have a backup to restore to if things go wrong
5) I sent the link for each file to myself on Google Hangouts. I used Hangouts to download the March 14th upload of the LGAccessibilitySettings.apk and LGAcessibility.odex
5.5) I copied each of the original files (.apk and .odex) from /system/priv-app/ to my /sdcard/LGBackup folder I created using the Root Explorer app.
6) I went into the app "Root Explorer" again after downloading both files (DID NOT INSTALL IT, though it probably won't let you anyway). I checked both files and copied them.
7) I went back to /system/priv-app/ and renamed the existing files to be replaced with the extension ".bak" so that the system no longer points to those files (NOTE: Root Explorer asked me to remount as R/W (read and write vs. read-only) a good feature of root explorer to be in read-only by default; dangerous territory.
8) Bottom right corner of Root Explorer it was waiting for me to "Copy Here" when arriving at the location where I wanted to copy the files: /system/priv-app/ and after copying them I decided to be a fool and install the apk and it told me something like "app not found" or something.
9) FINALLY went into Settings and touched Accessibility and VOILA! It worked! A lot of luck involved - the odexed and apk files may not have been the proper version. I could have checked with relative ease (though likely time-consuming) by using some of my android dev skills/utilities.
WARNING: I AM ONLY RECOMMENDING THIS FOR ADVANCED USERS THAT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
Thanks to garyd9 on XDA - without your uploaded files on storage cow, I couldn't have fixed this problem!

4 ways to move files to Android/data or Android/obb if your Android OS doesn't allow you to

Update (February 7, 2023)
Get the latest version of MixPlorer for Android 13 which was released a few days ago. Allow it to access data and obb folders. It's the only File Manager app that can access them right now.
Method 1-
• Download and install Files by Google
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android folder inside your device storage. Then move it to obb or data folder on Android.
Method 2-
• Download and install Mixplorer by Hootan Parsha.
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android/data or Android/obb folder inside your device storage. The app will ask you to choose the folder you want to modify. Simply open and select Android folder.
• Now you can copy/move without any hassle
Method 3 (requires root) -
• Download and install Root Explorer.
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android/data or Android/obb folder inside your device storage. It will ask write permission on the app, press okay.
• Then it will ask root permission. Grant it and you're good to go.
Method 4 (requires a custom recovery) -
• Reboot to TWRP, PitchBlack, OrangeFox
• Go to settings - mount and tick system
• Now go to recovery file manager, navigate to your file, tap or it or press and hold to get the options, then copy/paste it to Android/data or Android/obb
• Reboot
I know it's a really basic tutorial for a lot but the more people know the better.
Good day, update!
Method 1, ist kaput.
Does not work. Recognizes Android folder ONLY AND if you copy to it, it rejects your copy or move.
Method 2, failed as well
Don t know how to implement 3 n 4
On Samsung devices and others with android 12 and newest, simply doesn't work any method without root, even when u have app that is asking for permission to have access to copy or do something with android folder, because even with that kind of app your every next move is handled by samsung app, so needless to say, u need to do a root...
OneAboveAll132 said:
On Samsung devices and others with android 12 and newest, simply doesn't work any method without root, even when u have app that is asking for permission to have access to copy or do something with android folder, because even with that kind of app your every next move is handled by samsung app, so needless to say, u need to do a root...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get the latest version of MixPlorer for Android 13 which was released a few days ago. Allow it to access data and obb folders. It's the only File Manager app that can access them right now.
RyanCr7 said:
Get the latest version of MixPlorer for Android 13 which was released a few days ago. Allow it to access data and obb folders. It's the only File Manager app that can access them right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have that, its not working, its switching back to standart Samsung file manager because of protect, how i told
RyanCr7 said:
Update (February 7, 2023)
Get the latest version of MixPlorer for Android 13 which was released a few days ago. Allow it to access data and obb folders. It's the only File Manager app that can access them right now.
Method 1-
• Download and install Files by Google
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android folder inside your device storage. Then move it to obb or data folder on Android.
Method 2-
• Download and install Mixplorer by Hootan Parsha.
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android/data or Android/obb folder inside your device storage. The app will ask you to choose the folder you want to modify. Simply open and select Android folder.
• Now you can copy/move without any hassle
Method 3 (requires root) -
• Download and install Root Explorer.
• Tap and hold on it, go to app info, allow the app to modify system settings
• Open the app, copy your game/app obb or data file to the Android/data or Android/obb folder inside your device storage. It will ask write permission on the app, press okay.
• Then it will ask root permission. Grant it and you're good to go.
Method 4 (requires a custom recovery) -
• Reboot to TWRP, PitchBlack, OrangeFox
• Go to settings - mount and tick system
• Now go to recovery file manager, navigate to your file, tap or it or press and hold to get the options, then copy/paste it to Android/data or Android/obb
• Reboot
I know it's a really basic tutorial for a lot but the more people know the better.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only method 4 worked.

Stock Android Files app has Download icon and keeps crashing

I have a rooted OP6 with Oxygen OS 11.1.1.1 and after messing around in the Terminal and deleting system apps I don't use, my Files app suddenly had a Download icon. It also crashes upon launch. How do I fix this? I can't just switch to another file manager because the stock Files app gives the permission to other File managers to access /sdcard/Android/data and /sdcard/Android/obb which I need to access frequently. Total Commander and File Manager + both had issues accessing the folder with root permissions even when accessing the folder using /data/media/0/Android/ . The only way that works without any issues is accessing it through TWRP's built in file manager, but that is long and has it's own drawbacks (eg. TWRP can't make folders).

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