(Preface for noobs : /system and /data are two different partitions. Freeying up /system won't get you more intrenal memory, but /data does. Old apks rest in /system and updated versions placed in /data. You can replace the old apks using newer versions)
I heared Titanium Backup PRO does something like, but you can do this with any File Explorer with ROOT access. Its works 100% for Android Gingerbread 2.3.x , try on other versions.
### Do it on your own risk, I am not responsible for anything ###
1. Update the desired app to the latest version from Google Play Store
2. Open File Manager, Enable ROOT_ACCESS, remount /System as writable
3. Goto /system/app and backup the desired apk to sdcard
4. Goto /data/app and copy updated apk
5. Paste into /System/app
6. Note down the filename of old apk and delete the old apk
7. Rename the new apk into the old filename
8. You may encounter a FORCE CLOSE if the app was running in background
9. The updated apk in /data/app will be removed automatically
10.Restart your device, Done!
I replaced Playstore, Maps, Google Search ect..
Example: For PlayStore, updated apk will be com.android.vending-1.apk, and old apk is vending.apk
Hit thanks it it works, Thanks
thanks, nice guide! All is ok (PlayStore, Terminal Emulator), but if I merge last version of "Google Play Service", then Gmail or Maps shows the message "Unknown issue with Google Play services" when I open them... do you know how to solve? thanks in advance
p.s. configuration in signature
Better use Link2SD. It makes the integration of updates into system seamless. Rebooting the device is optional (restart only if you encounter errors).
thank you for your suggestion! I tried TitaniumBackup but it gives me the same error, then now I'm trying with Link2sd and it works well, BUT the new apk file is in system/app instead of system/priv-app, and its name is "com.google.android.gms-1.apk" instead of "PrebuiltGmsCore.apk"... can this create some problems in future?
EDIT: I tried moving to the priv-app folder and renaming the apk to be identical as before and it seems to work... for now...
It's the package name, it won't create any problems. There is no need to rename the app to match the old one. Default location when converting to system app is in /system/app. I don't know if you can change the location, but you can move it manually to /system/priv-app thru root explorer. Just restart the device afterwards to eliminate FC errors.
I want to install Google Play on my Chinese restricted (Google free) Android OS - just installing googleplay.apk causes it to close
Which other apk files need to be added/removed from/to the system\apps folder to allow me to install Google play apk
You need: ROOT - File Explorers (I Prefer using ES File Explorer) good heart, determination, and Pray First.
after googling the solution for this, i found the tutorials on other sites useless.
i have the situation that i deleted important system apps like android system webview, email, and exchange services.
it was a bit late when i found that those apps are responsible for your browser, messages and other internet dependent apps to run. without this systems apps you cant open your apps and they will automatically force close.
for this to be fixed you need to mount the apk files back to /system/app partition. but other ppl have the problem that their apps wont install. i found that the reason behind this are the permissions and the way you copy/cut things.
for example i have my Email.apk on sd card and cut then paste it to my system/app. u cant do it just like that because the apk will lose its icon and the apk will not install after reboot.
here's how i did it.
Open ES file explorer. configure the root permissions, mount r/w
navigate to where the apk file is then copy it to the root of your internal storage.
next you must rename it to its package name (for example i have "Email.apk" i use the properties option on ES F.Ex to know what is the package name and i got "com.android.email-1.apk"
before you can move this apk file to your /system/app. you must configure the permission of the folder for the app icon to stay
i set the permission folder of /system to rwx r-x r-x
then for /app rwx rwx rwx.
you can now paste your apk to /system/app
after that set the permission of the apk to rw- r-- r--
after that reboot your device. pray. and you will see the app back on your menu. Congrats! ))))))))
(do the same if you have encountered it with .odex files) cheers!
XDA Assist is not the place for this post.
Thread closed.
I have tried to flash Google Apps multiple times. The apk files are copied correctly to folders in system/app and system/priv-app but they are not actually installed. Titanium backup, for example, does not see them. Not disabled, just not there.
How to destroy this ColorOS "security" feature?
i want to copy save data in my directory Android\data\org.ppsspp.ppsspp\files\PSP\SAVEDATA
acces denied and other file in data. and my app cannot acces all my file why?
and I tried it on my PC on windows exploler and not responding
help me pliss
use zarchiver
ZArchiver - Apps on Google Play
The easy 7zip app!
play.google.com
I use X-plore.
X-plore File Manager - Apps on Google Play
X-plore is dual-pane file manager with tree view, LAN/Root/Clouds and more.
play.google.com
use FX File explorer with root access enabled. since a11 the /android folder is protected and no longer accessible unless you have elevated privileges