Database Info

[Q] what is the process for upgrade pre-installed app?

Hi,
In my understand, the pre-installed apps are placed on path /system/app, and the /system partition should be read-only partition without rooted, right?
So how the pre-installed apps can be upgraded?
For example, the pre-installed Google Maps app can be updated from Android Market. How it can replace the old Google Maps app with a new one on /system/app? What is the process?
Can someone help me to understand it?

They're installed normally to /data/app, then system uses them instead of files from /system/app. You could have checked this out by yourself.

what is the details about Google maps upgrade?
Hi, Brut
Thank you.
But could you please explain more details? I'm using Motorola ME600, no built-in Google Maps and Android Market. I can't check it by myself.
If the updated apps are installed in /data/app, how can they do that? I mean they should not be installed successfully if the updated apps used the same package name as the olds. It should fail due to the old one still exist. And how about the signature of updated app? Should it same as the old one?
Even the update apps can be installed, how does the system use them to replace the built-ins? I think we should find 2 icons in the Lanucher if they have same main entry. But in fact, there is only one icon. Why?
PS: Sorry, I have no way to find the details by myself. Please give me a hand. Thanks in advance.

I think Android OS treats system apps differently. It knows these apps can't be overwritten directly, so it uses above technique for updating them. It permits to have these apps installed twice and then it ignores system ones. Of course both files have to be signed by the same key.
If you have root, then you could check this by yourself without Market or Maps.
Remount /system .
If you have 0 free space on this partition, then remove something to have at least 100KB.
Create empty app, build it and sign.
"adb push YourApp.apk /system/app/" - Android OS should detect this and install your app. You could see this in the logcat.
"adb install -r YourApp.apk" - Android will install it to /data and use it instead of version installed to /system .
Maybe Android not always prefers /data app, but one with greater versionCode. I don't know, didn't test this.

Thanks, Brut
I followed your suggestion and tried. Yes, system replace the /system one with /data one.
Thank you help me to know this behavior of Android system.

[Q] App missing from market after upgrade to ICS

Hello
I have jus upgraded my Nexus S to ICS OTA (manually) and cannot install application that I own. It cannot be found in phone's market and on the page in my desktop computer it says that this app is incomatible with my Samsung Nexus S. Can sth. be done? I have bought this app, this is crazy that I cannot use it!

When i updated to ICS i couldn't find ES File Explorer in market, no idea why not. However from memory i fixed it just by googling the name and clicking on the market link, then opening it with the market app (option pops up). Alternatively, the market now has a sync feature, click install on your computer browser and it will "send" it to your phone (ie. download it from market automatically).

Mic43 said:
Hello
I have jus upgraded my Nexus S to ICS OTA (manually) and cannot install application that I own. It cannot be found in phone's market and on the page in my desktop computer it says that this app is incomatible with my Samsung Nexus S. Can sth. be done? I have bought this app, this is crazy that I cannot use it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not Google's fault. The developer of your app restricted it based on android version number. Complain to the app developer.

App author needs to update version and possibly updates it for ICS compatibility. Not ICS fault. Here's a workaround: if you have another Android device that can install the app from the Market, extract the app apk using Astro (app backup), copy the apk to your phone's sdcard, and manually install it.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

Not app's fault
I had this happen with a bunch of apps on my Optimus V and I really don't think it's the devs' fault. I was looking through Tripit's androidmanifest.xml file and there are no device restrictions (besides SDK minimum of 3). Also when I try to install them manually, I just get "application not installed". It's driving me batty, I might have to downgrade.

[Q] Titanium, Detach from market, not stick

Sprint gs5, CM-root, TWRP, SDfix...
I have an app which I do not want updates to...
The developer is making changes to the app to fix issues with other brands/models...
The current version works well on mine and I don't want it to update to a version which might break it for my brand/model...
In the playstore I disabled auto-update, but it still shows up in the manual and group update list...
I went into titanium (pro) and detached it from the market and it showed 'attach to market (forced)'
I checked playstore and it is off my app list...
Several minutes later it re-appeared in playstore and titanium went back to 'detach from market'
So the detach function is not sticking...
Any Ideas?

KaptainRandom said:
Sprint gs5, CM-root, TWRP, SDfix...
I have an app which I do not want updates to...
The developer is making changes to the app to fix issues with other brands/models...
The current version works well on mine and I don't want it to update to a version which might break it for my brand/model...
In the playstore I disabled auto-update, but it still shows up in the manual and group update list...
I went into titanium (pro) and detached it from the market and it showed 'attach to market (forced)'
I checked playstore and it is off my app list...
Several minutes later it re-appeared in playstore and titanium went back to 'detach from market'
So the detach function is not sticking...
Any Ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its been an issue with Titaniium before and appears as it does on your device. Try this:
1) get the Apk you wanna detach (ex using TitaniumBackup) into location you can easily get to (ex. SD card)
2) install ZipSigner from play store
3) re-sign the extracted Apk using ZipSigner and test key
4) uninstall the original app and install the re-signed Apk you made
5) profit

Hi, I realise this is an old post but it's something I've been trying to do for a while too. I've finally accomplished it successfully so I thought I'd share it on in some of the topics.
It works by changing the apk signature so the app typically becomes 'different' to the one on the Google Play Store and therefore doesn't appear in your Google Play Store list. But by doing this, you won't be able to update the app from Play Store.
How to:
Need Root.
First do a TB backup of current apk just to keep it.
With a file explorer, go to root\data\app and copy the app apk that you want to change and paste it somewhere on SD card.
Now uninstall the app
Download and install: ZipSigner by Ken Ellinwood from Play Store.
Open ZipSigner, choose input file and navigate to earlier copied apk
I used key/mode: auto-testkey
Sign the file
The new signed apk will be put in the same directory the original file was.
Now install that signed apk and your're done. Check market.
Worked for me - hope it works for you!
HTC One

RevelationOmega said:
Its been an issue with Titaniium before and appears as it does on your device. Try this:
1) get the Apk you wanna detach (ex using TitaniumBackup) into location you can easily get to (ex. SD card)
2) install ZipSigner from play store
3) re-sign the extracted Apk using ZipSigner and test key
4) uninstall the original app and install the re-signed Apk you made
5) profit
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazing, Thanks for this.

[root] Playing around and accidentally uninstalled the play store - how to undo?

So, this is my first time rooting a phone, and once I managed to get it to work, I started playing around to see what capabilities I had now.
In doing this, I uninstalled the play store. I've tried multiple methods to reinstall it, but none have worked so far.
I've tried installing a new play store apk and used systemize to turn it into a system app, but that didn't work (the app crashed on launch)
I've also tried using link2sd but the app wouldn't let me convert to system app.
If anyone else has any tips for me I'd be grateful.
Using a samsung running android 11 - rooted with magisk, recovery method.

Copy it from another device using ApkExport then transfer the installable copy over to the victim device and install.
I haven't tried it with Playstore but it works on other apks even if the donor device is on a different Android OS version.

blackhawk said:
Copy it from another device using ApkExport then transfer the installable copy over to the victim device and install.
I haven't tried it with Playstore but it works on other apks even if the donor device is on a different Android OS version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sadly the only other device i have is a samsung galaxy S2 that is barely functional. I doubt that'll work.

Before you do anything I'd make sure you have a good backup of your device. Copy text messages, contacts, photos, etc all to external storage.
My first thought was just download install APK, but I see you've done that.
Someone else may have a better suggestion, but, if nothing else works, I'd try installing pico GApps to restore Playstore functionality.
https://opengapps.org/
Pico Package​This package is designed for users who want the absolute minimum GApps installation available. In this package you will find the core Google System Base, Google Android Shared Library, Google Play Store, Google Calendar Sync, Dialer Framework and the following Play Store applications:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

FreSchDude said:
sadly the only other device i have is a samsung galaxy S2 that is barely functional. I doubt that'll work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try it. It will copied system apks and updates.
I copied apks from a S4 running on Kitkat to my Note 10+. If it loads Playstore will need to update, that may be a problem... or not.
APK Export (Backup & Share) - Apps on Google Play
Manage and extract your apps.
play.google.com

blackhawk said:
Try it. It will copied system apks and updates.
I copied apks from a S4 running on Kitkat to my Note 10+. If it loads Playstore will need to update, that may be a problem... or not.
APK Export (Backup & Share) - Apps on Google Play
Manage and extract your apps.
play.google.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No dice. App crashes on launch.
SMcC2 said:
Before you do anything I'd make sure you have a good backup of your device. Copy text messages, contacts, photos, etc all to external storage.
My first thought was just download install APK, but I see you've done that.
Someone else may have a better suggestion, but, if nothing else works, I'd try installing pico GApps to restore Playstore functionality.
https://opengapps.org/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill give it a shot, thanks

FreSchDude said:
So, this is my first time rooting a phone, and once I managed to get it to work, I started playing around to see what capabilities I had now.
In doing this, I uninstalled the play store. I've tried multiple methods to reinstall it, but none have worked so far.
I've tried installing a new play store apk and used systemize to turn it into a system app, but that didn't work (the app crashed on launch)
I've also tried using link2sd but the app wouldn't let me convert to system app.
If anyone else has any tips for me I'd be grateful.
Using a samsung running android 11 - rooted with magisk, recovery method.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Play Store app by type is a normal 3rd-party app. Wondering why you want to convert it to a system app?

jwoegerbauer said:
Google Play Store app by type is a normal 3rd-party app. Wondering why you want to convert it to a system app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's originally a system app. trying to get mine fixed because no matter what I do the app crashes on launch.

FreSchDude said:
it's originally a system app. trying to get mine fixed because no matter what I do the app crashes on launch.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah it's a system app on my Note 10+, can't be uninstalled*.
Normally it doesn't crash although it's common for it to not connect to Playstore. It does that if Google play Services is disable but even then it doesn't crash.
* I think, it has a disable option but to find out if there's an uninstall I would need to revert to the factory load first... which isn't something I want. It appears to be as I originally stated.

blackhawk said:
Yeah it's a system app on my Note 10+, can't be uninstalled*.
Normally it doesn't crash although it's common for it to not connect to Playstore. It does that if Google play Services is disable but even then it doesn't crash.
* I think, it has a disable option but to find out if there's an uninstall I would need to revert to the factory load first... which isn't something I want. It appears to be as I originally stated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no uninstall option. I uninstalled it through other means as my phone is rooted. Now I'm having issues re-installing it and getting it to work.

My last 2 cents here:
Per definition only apps that are needed by Android OS to work are called system apps and are stored in /system/apps. Other apps - called 3rd-party apps like Google Play Store - may be stored in /system/priv-apps.
BTW:
If you manually install Google Play Store APK then it installs to /data/app directory - as expected.

(guide) Install play store on lineageOS 16 (Huawei p9)

I have come across a lineage OS 16 (android 9) treble ROM by Mse1969. Since I am used to flashing Gapps, I did it too. However, Gapps all refuse to flash citing no space in the system partition. I tried to resize the system partition only to break my phone.
But after getting the phone back up and running again, I found that there was an app called Fakestore with
com.android.vending
which suggests that it could be replaced by the real one.
I unzipped a MindtheGapps package, then with internal root deleted the fakestore directly from priv-app folder phonesky using root explorer and replaced it with the real one. After a reboot, it showed up on the home screen and worked normally.
Detailed instructions:
Go to settings and enable developer options.
In developer options, you can find the enable root (which has been ported from CM)
Use a root explorer (Preferably one from the play store, as giving root privileges to unknown apps can result in very bad consequences)
(You can find apps also on Apkpure, Aurorastore, F-droid, UptoDown and other sites. Be sure it is a legitimate site as Trojans still are a thing on Android, that is probably why you should install Google Play in the first place as it has policies in place, so you are less vulnerable to malware)
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=6006931924117895957
Unzip the MindtheGapps package from Androidfilehost and find the folder containing phonesky with the Google play apk.
Replace the folder in the Root explorer called fakestore in Priv-app with the phonesky folder. Go back to settings and revoke root. Reboot your device and now you should have Play store ready!
I have tried other variants of Gapps but currently only MindtheGapps work.
The Play store currently cannot update itself and refuses to run after a forced apk update. Will be looking into this issue.
Spoiler
Huge thanks to Mse1969 for his contributions to the modding community, for an old phone that has been abandoned by Huawei which repeatedly let down us, eventually refusing to unlock the bootloader.
This company deserves the sanctions.
For now I guess I would support Asus and HTC which are based in a democracy.

HI ..
I am interested in the procedure .. Please it could be possible to have some more info ?
Thanks

golvelliuscs said:
HI ..
I am interested in the procedure .. Please it could be possible to have some more info ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your suggestion. Original post updated with detailed instructions.