[Q] modify an apk - Other Tools & General Discussion

i was trying to modify an apk with apktool and others and all went ok but when i run the app on my phone it says this is a pirated app...how to i remove this restriction

yigajoel said:
i was trying to modify an apk with apktool and others and all went ok but when i run the app on my phone it says this is a pirated app...how to i remove this restriction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you sign it first?
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4835925/unsigned-apk-can-not-be-installed

Related

[Question]App Editing

Lately I've been editing all my apps from the market using mixpix404's tips. I just wanted to know is it possible to pull stock apps to edit and if so could someone give me the code to pull and re-install?
creid2352 said:
Lately I've been editing all my apps from the market using mixpix404's tips. I just wanted to know is it possible to pull stock apps to edit and if so could someone give me the code to pull and re-install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure about that stuff but where is the mixpix404's tips? I'd like to read them.
n19htmare said:
not sure about that stuff but where is the mixpix404's tips? I'd like to read them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's posted under the themes section
not sure about pulling them but i know you can if you do it in the update.zip before flashing.
creid2352 said:
Lately I've been editing all my apps from the market using mixpix404's tips. I just wanted to know is it possible to pull stock apps to edit and if so could someone give me the code to pull and re-install?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's mixpix405... get it right! jk... but seriously!... jk
As for editing stock apps, I think you'll have to edit an update and flash the update to your phone. In a theme, the stock apps are in the system/app folder... Use 7-zip to open the archive, edit, resign, reflash... I havent tried it, so I can't say for sure it works... And I dont really know how else to do it.
You may just be able to extract, for example, the Calendar.apk from the update.zip, edit it, and then use conventional means (appmananger, astro, ADB, etc) to install it, but I have absolutely no clue.

[Q] Is it ok to delete apk files after installation? Please read further.

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

[Q] "google play services" requirement without gapps

Hi,
I run OmniRom without gapps (with NOGAPPS actually) and there's an app that refuses to start with the error "google play services is not installed, contact the device manufacturer".
Is there anything I can do to "fool" the app in thinking GSF is installed? I don't care about the push notifications the app is using.
Thank you.
wkwkwk said:
Hi,
I run OmniRom without gapps (with NOGAPPS actually) and there's an app that refuses to start with the error "google play services is not installed, contact the device manufacturer".
Is there anything I can do to "fool" the app in thinking GSF is installed? I don't care about the push notifications the app is using.
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is this problematic app?
thenookieforlife3 said:
What is this problematic app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello. Thanks for your reply. It's:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.asb.asbmobile
I tried using apktool to decompress it, remove the dependencies from AndroidManifest.xml but I couldn't compile it back.
Thoughts?
Thank you
wkwkwk said:
Hello. Thanks for your reply. It's:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.asb.asbmobile
I tried using apktool to decompress it, remove the dependencies from AndroidManifest.xml but I couldn't compile it back.
Thoughts?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The hard thing about decompressing, editing, and recompiling apps is that when you recompile it you also have to resign it. See, when you take apart an app the signature is stripped, and the signature is what allows the app to install properly.
Fortunately, there are several utilities out there that will help you do this.
thenookieforlife3 said:
The hard thing about decompressing, editing, and recompiling apps is that when you recompile it you also have to resign it. See, when you take apart an app the signature is stripped, and the signature is what allows the app to install properly.
Fortunately, there are several utilities out there that will help you do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem wasn't the signing part, I wasn't reaching that step since the apk wasn't building anymore afterwards, it was giving out errors about not finding some files (I don't recall exactly as I haven't tried lately).
Would you recommend a particular app (ideally to run under linux but can manage with Windows if need be) to decompile and compile an apk?
Thank you
wkwkwk said:
The problem wasn't the signing part, I wasn't reaching that step since the apk wasn't building anymore afterwards, it was giving out errors about not finding some files (I don't recall exactly as I haven't tried lately).
Would you recommend a particular app (ideally to run under linux but can manage with Windows if need be) to decompile and compile an apk?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I meant to say was, don't actually decompile the app and then try to recompile it! It will give you errors, as you've seen.
Instead, try the following steps:
1. Copy the .apk file to a safe, secure place as a backup.
2. Download and/or open up an archive management program, i.e. 7zip or WinRAR.
3. Navigate to the directory where the .apk you want to mod is located. Not the backup one, of course!
4. Extract the .apk to a folder of your choice. Folder name example - "[name_of_app] modding" (without quotes).
5. Open up your regular file manager and navigate to that folder you just extracted to. Modify the files you want to modify.
6. Now, pay close attention to this part - In your archive manager, go into the acual .apk file you want to modify. It will just open right up as if it was a .zip.
7. Navigate to the directory in the .apk where the files you modded belong.
8. Now, back to your file explorer, click-and-drag the file(s) you modified from the file explorer window to the archive manager window. Drop the file in the archive manager window. It will ask you if you're sure that you want to overwrite, hit "Yes".
9. Once the file's in place, close the archive manager to finalize the change.
10. Now, all you have to do is put the modified app back on your device, use a tool like ZipSigner (find on Google Play) to resign it, and install!
Please do give me a few post thanks if the above instructions helped you. :good:
thenookieforlife3 said:
What I meant to say was, don't actually decompile the app and then try to recompile it! It will give you errors, as you've seen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the detailed instructions, however, to modify AndroidManifest.xml (where the GSF requirement is put) you need to decompile the apk using apktool or similar.
Simply unzipping the APK will not allow you to change AndroidManifest.xml.
I wish it were that simple
wkwkwk said:
Thanks for the detailed instructions, however, to modify AndroidManifest.xml (where the GSF requirement is put) you need to decompile the apk using apktool or similar.
Simply unzipping the APK will not allow you to change AndroidManifest.xml.
I wish it were that simple
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's odd, because that method is what has consistently worked for me!

APK compatibility

Hi guys. Im trying to install mobile NFC payment app of my bank. As Im rooted, I can not see it in device play store. I managed to download a copy using friends non rotted phone and install it manually. Unofortunately that did not work, it just said "App not installed". Then I learned, that AndroidManifest.xml file from decompiled apk can tell me what are the compatibility restrictions of the app to change build.prop accordingly. However, looking at AndroidManifest.xml did not give me any clue what should cause an issue. Could anyone who is more skilled in this topic tell me what are the restrictions from attached decompiled file? Thanks.

Question Install Android app with many apks

Help, i would like to try and install an app from my government id, so maybe I can go to more places without both wallet and cellphone. Knowing it's a government app, I'm 100% sure it will never make it to a smartwatch...
When I tried to pull the APK from the cellphone, i saw that on the path it had the base.apk and done others, like config_xx.apk, another .apk and one like arm64.apk...
If I shall try and install it to the watch, should I do it on each one of the apks? Adb install-multiple?
Uninstall all apks on phone, isolate the necessary apk & find it's dependencies
miravision said:
Uninstall all apks on phone, isolate the necessary apk & find it's dependencies
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I pulled all apk files from the app to my PC and used this program from here, called SAP (Split Apk Packer).
I was able to get it all into 1 apk, but when trying to install on the watch I get an error. If I don't sign the recompiled .apk with this SAP program I get the "failure collecting certificates". If I check the Sign apk on the program, then I get another error "failed to extract native libraries", as the photo attached.
I'm not an expert at all, I just try my stuff... so if anyone has any idea if it's at all possible, I would really appreciate the help.
EDIT: apparently, this error could mean that the device is not supported, from what I read. Don't know if that's really it though

Categories

Resources