About
In this guide I will be telling you about how to create your own device mods like this. This involves using an engine built into Android Nougat. There is no root required.
Prerequisites
- Apktool installed (official guide here)
- The apk of the app you wish to modify (ex: SystemUI.apk) (system dump here; USE WINRAR AS 7z DOESN'T EXTRACT RIGHT)
- Android Studio
- Basic knowledge of apk guts
- Template RRO project
- optional: Finished Example Project (for reference)
Tutorial
The first step is to decompile your target APK so we can see what options we can change. For this tutorial, I am going to be modding SystemUI.apk.
"apktool d SystemUI.apk"
After it finishes, go to "SystemUI/res/values", as this will be where we change most things.
Here we can see files like "bools.xml, strings.xml, integers.xml, etc..."
Let's look in "bools.xml".
I see a line in here that mentions lock screen rotation:
"<item type="bool" name="config_enableLockScreenRotation">@android:bool/config_enableLockScreenTranslucentDecor</item>"
For this tutorial, let's change this value, as it is easy to change, and we can visually see this change.
It looks like this boolean is enabled if "config_enableLockScreenTranslucentDecor" is enabled. To override this, we have to change it to "true" instead.
Now that we know what we are changing, let's open up the "RRO_Template" project in android studio.
First navigate to the Gradle Scripts and select the "build.gradle" for the "(Module: app)"
Here lets change some variables. First is the "theme_name". Let's change it to "Lockscreen Rotation"
Next is "theme_id". Let's make it "com.mod.lockscreen_rotation"
We don't need to mess with "priority"
Last is the "package_id" Since default is the id for the SystemUI, we don't have to change anything. If you need to find this for another app, look in the decompiled APKs AndroidManifest.xml under "package="com.app.id""
Next, navigate to the res folder. If you remember, our "bools.xml" file is under "res/values/bools.xml", so let's add that file.
We can delete the sample "strings.xml" as we don't need to change anything there, and add the "bools.xml" file.
Inside of the newly created XML file, we should see a setup like this (if not add it):
"<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<resources></resources>"
Looking back at the setting we want to change, it's "<item type="bool" name="config_enableLockScreenRotation">@android:bool/config_enableLockScreenTranslucentDecor</item>". So let's add that line.
But since we are overriding the value to true, it will now look like this :"<item type="bool" name="config_enableLockScreenRotation">true</item>"
And that's it for the value changing!
Now let's go build the APK. Press "Alt + B" to bring up the Build menu and press "Build APK"
Click "Show In Folder" on the bottom right after it compiles to see the APK.
Put this on your phone and install the APK.
Since we modified the SystemUI.apk, we need to reboot to see the changes.
Now, lets try going to the lock screen and rotating the screen. It should rotate!
Congratulations! You made a mod / theme!
If you have any questions, please ask. I will try to help if I am available. I have classes starting in a few days so I may be busy. Enjoy the guide!
Hello tytydraco,
Not sure if my problem is totally related to your posted thread but it sounds like you are very knowledgeable on Galaxy theming! I have a rooted Galaxy S8 and have merged/moded different themes from the Theme store, such as using another theme’s icon pack or wallpaper by swapping them out of their respective .apk files and implementing them with success!
My problem is with a theme’s "InCallUI" (accept, reject, hangup icons in phone dialer) after adding cool graphic .png icons (then changing to .qmg) it works flawlessly, however every time I restart my phone or a Samsung system app is updated, they revert back to those default Samsung cartoony icons. I then have to apply stock theme then re-apply customized theme to get icons back. This process also changes/breaks 3 or 4 other theming aspects, which are not affected by restarts, that I have to re-adjust!
Not only have I altered the theme’s “base.apk” in /Data/App/MyTheme folder, but also the theme’s InCallUI.apk and placed into; Data/Overlays/Style/Mytheme folder, then changed permissions to "rwx r-- r-w". I use these permissions because all the other apk's in this folder use them. I have even tried using different theme’s InCallUI.apk, whose icons remain after restart, by just changing the icons and renaming to my theme….but to no avail, same problem!
I know this all sounds really OCD, like probably most of us within these forums, but it’s getting to be a real pain in darse to constantly have to change everything back again every restart if I want to maintain my theme!
So if I may poach upon your smart nature, do you know if there is a configuration file/folder that can be edited/altered to make those “InCallUI” icons stick upon a restart?
Any advise or corrections in what I'm doing would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
eltoro5 said:
Hello tytydraco,
Not sure if my problem is totally related to your posted thread but it sounds like you are very knowledgeable on Galaxy theming! I have a rooted Galaxy S8 and have merged/moded different themes from the Theme store, such as using another theme’s icon pack or wallpaper by swapping them out of their respective .apk files and implementing them with success!
My problem is with a theme’s "InCallUI" (accept, reject, hangup icons in phone dialer) after adding cool graphic .png icons (then changing to .qmg) it works flawlessly, however every time I restart my phone or a Samsung system app is updated, they revert back to those default Samsung cartoony icons. I then have to apply stock theme then re-apply customized theme to get icons back. This process also changes/breaks 3 or 4 other theming aspects, which are not affected by restarts, that I have to re-adjust!
Not only have I altered the theme’s “base.apk” in /Data/App/MyTheme folder, but also the theme’s InCallUI.apk and placed into; Data/Overlays/Style/Mytheme folder, then changed permissions to "rwx r-- r-w". I use these permissions because all the other apk's in this folder use them. I have even tried using different theme’s InCallUI.apk, whose icons remain after restart, by just changing the icons and renaming to my theme….but to no avail, same problem!
I know this all sounds really OCD, like probably most of us within these forums, but it’s getting to be a real pain in darse to constantly have to change everything back again every restart if I want to maintain my theme!
So if I may poach upon your smart nature, do you know if there is a configuration file/folder that can be edited/altered to make those “InCallUI” icons stick upon a restart?
Any advise or corrections in what I'm doing would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the apk is reverting back... There may be another QMG file that puts the icon back. Other than that, it may be samsung's themes overriding this. Good luck and thanks for the question!
Couple of quick questions
Thanks for the guide OP!
I had a couple of quick questions.
You mention at the beginning of your guide that your method works because of a built in engine in Nougat and that it doesn't require root. I thought that RRO support was added to the AOSP by Sony in Marshmallow? Is this different, or did it just take until Nougat for Samsung to catch up?
The reason I ask is that I tried to do something very similar on an A5 (2017) running 6.0.1 and had no success. I had full root access so I manually installed my .apk into /system/vendor/overlay and could see that the app was installed in the Application Manager, but the desired changes did not take effect. I based my .apk on a similar guide from tutsplus and they say it should work on a device running Marshmallow or higher, but they emulate a Nexus which is obviously closer to AOSP than a Galaxy.
Is this guide Nougat specific or S8 specific? i.e. will a J5 2017 (released after the S8) running Nougat also work in the same way? Can you still install the app manually to the /system/vendor/overlay folder or do you have to manually install it through the UI?
Thanks again for the guide!
tytydraco said:
Enjoy the guide!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, sorry for waking this up, the RRO template links are down. Can you attach them here?
Starting from Android 8.1, when you set a wallpaper, the OS might change its colors based on it.
On Android 12 and above, it got more official as "Monet" feature.
Sometimes though, what you get might not be what you'd wish to have.
This is why I've made this tiny live wallpaper app:
With this app, you can stay with your own wallpaper and still have more control about the colors.
APK mirror:
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/androiddeveloperlb/lwp-live-wallpaper-with-customized-colors/
ApkPure:
https://apkpure.com/lwp-live-wallpaper-with-customized-colors/com.lb.lwp_plus
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"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
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The app allows you to manually set which colors you'd like to request the OS to use.
This means, for example, that even if you have a relatively yellow background, you can still (if the OS allows it) choose to have green colors.
For now the app is very basic, so only features are:
1. Ability to import your current wallpaper, and have more control of it. Alternatively, you can import a different one, or animation, or just a solid color.
3. Ability to have a double-tap-to-lock device.
4. Ability to choose which colors to request from the OS.
5. Some experimental flags.
How to use:
1. Make sure that in "Wallpaper & style" setting screen, it is set to use "Wallpaper colors" and not the manual "Basic colors". Choose the first option there.
2. In the app, optionally choose content to be shown. You can choose the current wallpaper as an image (as long as the current app isn't set as the default live wallpaper). If you choose an image as content, choose how to crop it for portrait and landscape mode. You can also choose to do it automatically via the toolbar action items. You have to choose it for both portrait and landscape mode. Other types of content work a bit differently.
3. Optionally choose to double tap on the live wallpaper, to lock the device. If you have a rooted device, you can choose that it will turn off the screen instead.
4. If you wish, you can (try to) set which color to use for the OS, which on some devices will change the color of the navigation drawer, volume bar, etc... It might change colors on other apps too, such as the launcher. Do note that it might not work this way on all devices, if at all. Read more about this matter below.
5. Set the app to be the live wallpaper of your device. This is the most important step.
For the custom colors (or the colors of the wallpaper) to be used by the OS and other apps, turn off the display, to let the OS check out the new colors.
That's it!
FAQ
Q: What's with the different colors? What are they for?
A: The app only requests the OS to use the colors. The OS is the one to decide what to do with them, if at all. Same goes for other apps in case they check the colors.
The meaning of each of the 3 colors (primary, secondary, tertiary) you can set depends on the OS alone.
For me, changing the colors have changed the volume color and the quick-settings tiles colors.
On different devices, the colors can mean different things. It can change a lot on some devices, change a little on others, or change nothing... The purpose of each color you choose depends on the OS alone, and on the apps that check the colors.
This is why I can't add description of what each of them do.
If you think this is a bug on the app, please try any other live wallpaper that tells the OS about which colors it uses, such as Muzei . There, set the background to be completely black, and see if it affects the OS UI.
Q: How can I know if my device supports dynamic colors?
A: On Android 12 it is a bit rare to find devices that support them, and only on Android 13 it began to be more widely supported. In order to find if your device supports it, start by changing your wallpaper (normal wallpaper images, not a live wallpaper app) to very clear colors, such as pure red, pure yellow, pure green. Then turn off and on the display/device (to let the OS re-generate the dynamic colors based on the wallpaper). After that, you should notice on various places on the OS that the colors have changed, or at least on apps that support it, such as Gmail.
If you've noticed the change, it means your device supports dynamic colors.
If not, either your device doesn't support it, or you need to change something in the settings of the OS to have it enabled.
Q: I choose some color, but it's not used on the OS and other apps, or the color becomes different. How come?
A: As I wrote, it all depends on the OS (and other apps), of what they will do with it.
Android might choose a "Pastel" color based on what you've chosen, which didn't happen in the past. That's why I've reported about it here, hoping they will go back to showing the real colors you've chosen.
Recently Google also created a website explaining the change to this "Pastel" colors, here.
Q: It works fine, but after a few hours/days, the OS goes back to the default wallpaper and/or colors. How come?
A: It seems this issue exists for some OEMs, such as OnePlus and Xiaomi, and that it's not just for my app, but for many live wallpaper apps.
Try to search about the problem over the Internet for your specific device.
For example, if you have "Redmi K20 Pro", you can search for "Redmi K20 Pro phone wallpaper back to default", and maybe one of the solutions that works for you will be there, such as setting the wallpaper only to the home screen, or disabling/removing some built-in wallpaper app.
Q: Why doesn't horizontal-scrolling work for me?
A: It works only on launchers that support it, and have it enabled for them.
On Nova launcher, for example, it exists, but you need to enable it there.
Q: What if I want a different wallpaper for lock screen?
A: You can still do it. Choose a normal wallpaper photo (using your launcher, not my app) for the lock screen. Then choose my live wallpaper app to be of your home screen.
According to my tests, the colors of my app should be the ones that define what's being used, and not the photo you chose for the lock screen.
If you wish to still have your previous live wallpaper, you have some choices:
1. Request the developer of the live wallpaper to allow customized colors.
2. Update to Android 9.0, where you can choose the theme.
3. Record a video of your current live wallpaper in full screen, as sometime in the future (I don't know when) I plan to allow to view videos in addition to images and animations.
Q: Can I use a different live wallpaper , while using this app?
Sadly, you can't use 2 live wallpapers at the same time, especially not one that hosts another.
This app is a live wallpaper, and Android allows to choose only one, and it alone will be shown.
That being said, it could be nice to have 2 live wallpapers at the same time, one for the lock screen and one for the home screen, just like of normal wallpapers.
This is why I've put a request for such a thing, here. If you wish for it too, please star it and optionally cast your opinion about it there.
Q: Is this app consuming any battery ?
A: If you choose a photo as the content, not at all. All it does is draw the photo. No animation needed, so no CPU is needed after that.
If you choose animated content, it will take what is needed to show it, but of course only when you can see it. It won't be using any CPU/GPU while the live wallpaper isn't showing.
Q: I can't download, install, or use the live wallpaper. How come?
A: You have to have at least Android 8.1, and the OS must allow to use live wallpapers.
For example, many say that the device called "Asus Zenfone Max Pro M1" can't use any live wallpaper, and it seems this is a known bug on the OS for this device (reported here). I don't know if Asus will fix it.
Q: Why are there multiple ways to lock the screen? Which should I choose?
A: If you use a secured lock screen , you should use root or accessibility, because using admin will cause the unlocking request you for the unlocking method you've chosen (password, pattern, ...).
In all other cases (swipe, no lock screen...), admin and root should be fine.
Q: Monet was introducted on Android 12. What about previous version?
A: Originally the app was actually meant for Android 8.1 and above, to try to get dark theme no matter which wallpaper you've chosen. There was even a video of it, here.
Over time, as dark theme was a part of the OS, the colors that you've chosen barely changed anything, but now on Android 12 they are useful again, as you can see that they might even affect other apps.
Q: What about the status bar color?
A: There are already various apps that change the color of the status bar to whatever you wish. Here's one for a black status bar :
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.xda.nachonotch
And one that lets you choose the color:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.conghuy.colorstatusbar
And one that lets you choose even a background image:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.firezenk.ssb
Q: What about the nav bar?
A: There are apps for this too. Here are some cool ones:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.damianpiwowarski.navbarapps
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=ace.jun.simplecontrol
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.axndx.navbaranimations
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.perfectapps.muviz
Articles
https://www.xda-developers.com/how-to-customize-android-12-monet-colors-no-root/
https://www.googlewatchblog.de/2021/12/android12-material-you-mit-app-farben/
https://www.androidcentral.com/lwp-lets-you-force-android-81-oreos-dark-theme-any-wallpaper
https://9to5google.com/2018/03/05/how-to-google-pixel-dark-mode-wallpaper-android-basics/
https://www.howtogeek.com/345132/how-to-force-the-dark-quick-settings-theme-in-android-oreo/
https://www.androidrank.org/application/lwp_live_wallpaper_with_customized_colors/com.lb.lwp_plus
Privacy policy ?
Written on this post.
This is perfect! Thanks for the time and effort!
I've found a bug that is related to choosing a new photo (it doesn't get updated).
I will fix this soon.
In the meantime, you can clear-data of the app.
Published a new version with the fix of this issue.
Annoying that after all this time of testing, I still had a bug...
Mind sharing the source or at least the wallpapercolors implementation? I've been struggling to make it work on another app. Thanks!
Synx7 said:
Mind sharing the source or at least the wallpapercolors implementation? I've been struggling to make it work on another app. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure.
Inside your class that extend WallpaperService.Engine, When you decide the color have changed, call :
Code:
if (VERSION.SDK_INT >= VERSION_CODES.O_MR1)
notifyColorsChanged()
And then in the function onComputeColors , you prepare the WallpaperColors object.
You can create it from CTOR, from Bitmap, and from Drawable. Your choice.
According to my tests, I think Bitmap is the best, even though I wanted to use the CTOR.
AndroidDeveloperLB said:
Sure.
Inside your class that extend WallpaperService.Engine, When you decide the color have changed, call :
Code:
if (VERSION.SDK_INT >= VERSION_CODES.O_MR1)
notifyColorsChanged()
And then in the function onComputeColors , you prepare the WallpaperColors object.
You can create it from CTOR, from Bitmap, and from Drawable. Your choice.
According to my tests, I think Bitmap is the best, even though I wanted to use the CTOR.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, it seems the WallpaperColors api is kinda broken, creating a new WallpaperColors object with the 3-parameter constructor doesn't work well, building it from a bitmap does the job. Thanks a lot!
Does this require root? It does nothing on my non-rooted nexus 5x (tried clearing date, restarting). Background doesn't change to pictures chosen via the app and choosing colours doesn't change anything.
judofist said:
Does this require root? It does nothing on my non-rooted nexus 5x (tried clearing date, restarting). Background doesn't change to pictures chosen via the app and choosing colours doesn't change anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't require root.
If you wish to set the custom colors, you have to enable "use custom colors".
The whole point of the background, is that you can choose whatever you wish, yet when "use custom colors" is enabled, it's your choice if you wish the notification drawer will be dark or white (assuming it works on the device&OS).
On Nexus 5x, it should work fine. I've tested it myself.
If you wish, I can make a video to show how to use it.
AndroidDeveloperLB said:
Doesn't require root.
If you wish to set the custom colors, you have to enable "use custom colors".
The whole point of the background, is that you can choose whatever you wish, yet when "use custom colors" is enabled, it's your choice if you wish the notification drawer will be dark or white (assuming it works on the device&OS).
On Nexus 5x, it should work fine. I've tested it myself.
If you wish, I can make a video to show how to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's ok, I got it to work, thanks you for your help, it's a great app :good:.
judofist said:
That's ok, I got it to work, thanks you for your help, it's a great app :good:.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But maybe I should make a video and put on the Play Store, though.
What do you think?
AndroidDeveloperLB said:
But maybe I should make a video and put on the Play Store, though.
What do you think?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It might be no harm, if not's too much trouble for you and if anyone else is as dense as me .
I thought that I just needed to set a photo as a wallpaper as normal, then use your app to set custom colours. I didn't realise that I needed to set the wallpaper as a live wallpaper via your app to get the custom colours to set.
judofist said:
It might be no harm, if not's too much trouble for you and if anyone else is as dense as me .
I thought that I just needed to set a photo as a wallpaper as normal, then use your app to set custom colours. I didn't realise that I needed to set the wallpaper as a live wallpaper via your app to get the custom colours to set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A live wallpaper can only work for you if you set it...
That's true for all live wallpapers...
Sadly the only way for the system to use customized colors, is via a live wallpaper, as far as I know.
If you don't use a live wallpaper, the colors are automatically set by the normal wallpaper instead.
But I will think about creating a video.
Shouldn't take much time, as the app barely has any features.
OK I've published a video as a tutorial for this app, available via the app's page on the Play Store:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.lwp_plus
Hope now it's clear how to use the app, and how to (request to) make the notification drawer to be dark .
I've updated the app with a new version, that allows you to choose which part of the photo to show on the live wallpaper.
You have to set both portrait and landscape, and you can use the automatic choosing, as it worked previously.
So I can't use another Live wallpaper (e.g. Moab) via this app?
re1743 said:
So I can't use another Live wallpaper (e.g. Moab) via this app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's impossible in current Android versions.
How would you want to use 2 Live wallpapers?
One for launcher (AKA "home screen") and one for lock screen?
If so, this could a nice idea, but sadly there is only one live wallpaper that can be set on Android for you.
I've decided now to request it, just because it could be cool:
https://issuetracker.google.com/issues/74056699
Please consider starring it and optionally put your opinion there. Maybe you can write a better explanation or better idea than what I've written.
The only thing that you can do, is set a simple background to the lock screen, and a live wallpaper for the launcher.
It works . Thanks.
Too bad you can't choose a live wallpaper from the Google Wallpapers app
Microsoft_PowerPoint said:
It works . Thanks.
Too bad you can't choose a live wallpaper from the Google Wallpapers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Google Wallpaper app has live wallpapers of its own.
I can't host a live wallpaper within my own live wallpaper...
I wanted to be able to switch the Status Bar, Lock Screen, At A Glance and the Launcher's Fonts to a dark color. I've been trying to get this one particular wallpaper dependent feature of android with your app but it doesn't seem to work properly. I know your app never promised this feature but I don't get why doesn't it work. Take a look at the attachment.
dropbox.com/s/2avpkhqq69asyz0/Screenshots%20O.png?dl=0
-With a Solid White Wallpaper (from the wallpapers app) it changes these elements to dark.
-With Light or Semi-White wallpapers it doesn't work (It creates ugly shadows behind the Elements and Fonts)
-I thought that applying a white background with your app and then the live wallpaper on top should of worked but no.
However, I would understand if you don't wanna put time into this. Or if it's just not possible.
But if you can do something I'll be very grateful, I think it would look very nice with some light wallpapers.