It is expected that those following this guide should have prior knowledge of
1)How to use adb and/or terminal emulator to edit system files.
2)How to fix permissions using root explorer.
3)What to do if system process crashes or the phone hangs after replacing system files- pull battery and power on.
4)If you are an advanced user you can also first modify the systemui.apk first.Replace it in the cm7_update.zip file.Sign the new zip file so generated and install it.Then no need to go through many of the following steps
This is by far the simplest method to get a transparent notification bar. Some parts of this thread have been taken from the following source:http://www.lazytrap.com/?tag=systemui-apk
What you would think is simple though, isn’t quite. You would THINK that just updating the PNG files would be enough. It’s not. I tried it a million times while trying all those other bad ideas. After the PNG files are modified, you also need to edit the file, classes.dex, which is in the root of SystemUI.apk. Turns out, .dex is yet another format only native to the Android platform. You can decompile and recompile them using smali/baksmali. Once you have decompiled the .dex file, you’ll be left with a bunch of files. For transparency on the statusbar to work, we need to edit two entries in StatusBarService.smali. After the 2 entries are changed, we save the file then recompile classes.dex, update the SystemUI.apk, then put it on our android device. That’s it. So while it’s not as simple as just editing the PNG files and updating the SystemUI.apk archive, it’s still a hell of a lot simpler than all these forum posts lead on. Actual instructions below.
Instructions:
• Copy /system/app/SystemUI.apk to your sdcard and then to your computer where you can edit it(use root explorer or adb to pull it to your computer)
• Install 7-Zip if you do not already have it. 7-Zip can browse into .apk files and let you update them easily.
• Open SystemUI.apk in 7-Zip, do not extract it, just open it.
• Browse to the folder res/drawable-hdpi/, then find all the png files that start with “status_bar” & "statusbar_background.9". Drag them into a folder on your desktop.
• Open the PNG files in Paint.Net, Gimp, Photoshop, or whatever your favorite editor is capable of png transparency.
• Delete the background. It’s now transparent. If you want semi-transparency, do that instead.
• Select all of your modified PNG files and drag them back into same spot you got them from in the SystemUI.apk file
• Press Backspace a couple times in 7-Zip to go back up to the root folder in the .apk, you should see classes.dex sitting there.
• Drag classes.dex out to a folder
• Download smali and baksmali from here: http://code.google.com/p/smali/downloads/list, put them in the same dir you put classes.dex
• Open a CMD prompt and change to that directory
• Type the following (replace 1.2.6 with whatever version it was you dl’d):
• java -jar baksmali-1.2.6.jar -o classout/ classes.dex
• Back in the folder, go into the new classout directory that was created.
• Find the file named StatusBarService.smali, open it in a text editor.use notepad or notepad++(easier)
• Search for .line 1519, the line just under it should read: const/4 v5, -0×3. If it does not, but instead reads const/4 v5, 0×1 or const/4 v5, 0×2, change it.
• Search for invoke-direct/range {v0 .. v5}, Landroid/view/WindowManager$LayoutParams;-><init>(IIIII)V; a line above you should see const/4 v5, 0×2. Change it to const/4 v5, -0×3 also.
• Save the file and exit.
• Go back to your CMD prompt and enter this command (this recompiles the .dex file with your changes):
• java -jar smali-1.2.6.jar classout -o classes.dex
• Add classes.dex back to where you got it from in SystemUI.apk.
• Take your updated SystemUI.apk file and place it on your SD card. If you took it out, put the SD card back in your Android device. (instead of using a SD card you could use something else to move the files around, like dropbox).
• Open up Terminal on your Android device, change to the directory you put the update SystemUI.apk file. ex: cd /sdcard/myupdate/
• Type the following commands:
• mount -o remount,rw /system/
• cp -f SystemUI.apk /system/app
The above command probably just crashed Launcher. Press Force Close . Now, go to root explorer and fix permission for systemui.apk to rw-r--r-- and Reboot your device.
After making the update, make sure to turn off Wallpaper Hack. It’s under Settings->ADW Launcher->System Preferences->Wallpaper Hack – Not doing so will result in the transparency only working with Live Wallpapers and not others
That’s it. You should now have a transparent status bar.
Now, you can use only such themes that come with a transparent notification bar or glass effect as well as the 3 default themes included with cm7 theme chooser. But you won’t be able to use other themes i.e. they will continue to show a black notification bar and not a transparent one
WORKAROUND: But we can get transparent notification bar with ANY theme. Here’s how:
1)download the theme’s apk to your computer
2)open it with 7zip as an archive (Don’t extract it)
3)Go to res/drawable-hdpi and drag the following files to any folder:
com_android_systemui_statusbar_background.9.png; com_android_systemui_status_bar_background.9.png; com_android_systemui_status_bar_close_on.9.png
4) Open the PNG files in Paint.Net, Gimp, Photoshop, or whatever your favorite editor is capable of png transparency.
• Delete the background. It’s now transparent. If you want semi-transparency, do that instead.
Select all of your modified PNG files and drag them back into same spot you got them from in the Theme.apk file in 7zip and close 7zip
5)This will give you your new apk for the theme with a transparent statusbar .But you will need to sign it to be able to use it
6)use drag2sign_apk to sign your new apk file.
7)Transfer it to your phone and install apk using any file explorer. (If you did not sign the new apk then installation will FAIL)
8) Go to theme chooser and apply your New theme. That’s it you will now have a Transparent notification bar
This method can be used to get a transparent notification bar with ANY theme
Here I'm attaching the SystemUI.apk of cm7_rc1.5 which I'm currently using with transparent statusbar.I recommend using adb to push it.
In command prompt first change directory to the one containing the patched SystemUI.apk
Use this command: adb remount (to allow editing the system files)
next command: adb push SystemUI.apk /system/app/SystemUI.apk
Then fix permission using root explorer.
Reboot.
Don't forget to uncheck wallpaper hack in ADW settings
THOSE WHO FIND THIS THREAD USEFUL DON'T FORGET TO HIT THANKS
I had to update my system and hence had to create a new systemui.apk. This one is of cm-7.1.0-11 stable release. Here I'm uploading it for your convenience
thx for the instruction.
but anyhow, i cannot make it work on my latest nightly builds. status bar was dismissed after modification file pushed to system.
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"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
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"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
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You can go to this website http://uot.dakra.lt/kitchen/ and upload your framework-res and systemui and do all kinds of stuff to it including transparencies. check it out its pretty easy. You can also upload a theme.apk and modify that also. Here is a thread for asking questions and getting help for that site http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=990829
matchung said:
thx for the instruction.
but anyhow, i cannot make it work on my latest nightly builds. status bar was dismissed after modification file pushed to system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you fix permissions after pushing the systemui.apk and reboot ?
Also did you uncheck the wallpaper hack in ADW setting?
Are you using any different launcher ?this method works for adw
Did you apply a theme with transparent statusbar or not ?
request: flashable systemUI with only transparent status enabled !
Ok, i tried it, but my status bar is always black
I tried others methods, which are posted here, CM7 Theme Patcher v1.6, Transparent glass Theme CM7 RC1.5+Tutorial, still no luck.
Can some plz do this for me.
I just need the transparent status bar only, nothing else
am on cm7.1 rc1.5 defy.
just post me SystemUI.apk file which i can flash in recovery.
thanks for your time and help
-hanu
hanu_blr said:
Ok, i tried it, but my status bar is always black
I tried others methods, which are posted here, CM7 Theme Patcher v1.6, Transparent glass Theme CM7 RC1.5+Tutorial, still no luck.
Can some plz do this for me.
I just need the transparent status bar only, nothing else
am on cm7.1 rc1.5 defy.
just post me SystemUI.apk file which i can flash in recovery.
thanks for your time and help
-hanu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi.. try these patch.. You must apply the patch twice..
hanu_blr said:
Ok, i tried it, but my status bar is always black
I tried others methods, which are posted here, CM7 Theme Patcher v1.6, Transparent glass Theme CM7 RC1.5+Tutorial, still no luck.
Can some plz do this for me.
I just need the transparent status bar only, nothing else
am on cm7.1 rc1.5 defy.
just post me SystemUI.apk file which i can flash in recovery.
thanks for your time and help
-hanu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check the first post I've attached the SystemUI.apk
@tegezan, thanks for your help, it wrked, i was able to see the transparency when i set live wallpaper, and am using this theme GingerBlur-trans.apk
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021507
And am using go launcher ex.
if i dont want to use live wallpaper, then i shd use wall-paper with transparency ?, where to get this ?
@krd_medico, thanks, may be patch and undo recover files will be easier. anyways tegezan has attached it already
Edit:
Also in screen lock mode, i see more transparency, but on home screen its less transparent, is this ok ?
@hanu_blr
note from zdunex25 theme..
Wallpaper & transparency:
As you should know not each launchers supports
transparent statusbar, but if we will use
MiltiPicture Live Wallpaper we can get
transparent statusbar using any launcher
btw, I am used go launcher ex.. no need to use live wallpaper, just uncheck wallpaper hacks..
@tegezan,
in go launcher ex, where is the wallpaper hack settings, i coudnt find it
but its available in AWD, i hv disabled it, but am not using awd.
hanu_blr said:
@tegezan,
in go launcher ex, where is the wallpaper hack settings, i coudnt find it
but its available in AWD, i hv disabled it, but am not using awd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nothing to change in Go Ex, let it as is.
i dont know whats wrong with my modified theme file, it can be done by using other stock themes. here is theme Zdunex25 applied.
@krd_medico, i think u ment theame.apk, not SystemUI.apk.. in the WORKAROUND section. am i rt ?
"Select all of your modified PNG files and drag them back into same spot you got them from in the SystemUI.apk file in 7zip and close 7zip"
hanu_blr said:
@krd_medico, i think u ment theame.apk, not SystemUI.apk.. in the WORKAROUND section. am i rt ?
"Select all of your modified PNG files and drag them back into same spot you got them from in the SystemUI.apk file in 7zip and close 7zip"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for pointing out. I have edited my first post.
Am hving issues with go launcher ex, with this i dont see transparency in home screen, its rather 10% or semi-transparency with black color, in lock screen its clear transparent.
At times i saw full transparency in home screen, but lock/unlock made it to go back to 10% trans with black color.
If i change to AWD, even in home screen i see full transparency . Dont know wats going on
finally,, i can make it work. i did the modification by using apk_manager b4, but seems not.
running CM7, on Go Launcher Ex, with modified Zdunex25's Meizu theme
Is there any chance to make this?
forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17582887#post17582887
Sent from my MB525 using xda premium
for me works very fine... thanks
@matchung,
can u try installing the gingerblur-trans.apk form http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021507, and see if u see full transparent in GO lauhcher ex ?.
I guess gingerblur-trans.apk, is semi trans with black. If u see semi trans black, can u make it full trans for this gingerblur-trans.apk ?.
I did try to make gingerblur-trans.apk full trans with paint.net.
I took all statusbar* pngs from the gingerblur-trans.apk file, then opened it in paint.net, under layer window, layer properties, opacity was set 255, made it 0, this changed the image with small white_gray square pattern image, guess this is transparent image, save it as png, with bit depth auto-detect, then replaced all those statusbar* file in the original gingerblur-trans.apk, then resigned it. After installing it, still i see black bar in home screen, and full trans in lock screen, if i use live wallpapers, both home/screen lock is transparent, this is with go launcher ex,
if i use AWD, both home and lock screen is full trans . I dont like AWD much. Can u try and if it wrks fine on go laucnher ex, can u post the modified gingerblur-trans.apk file here plz ?
thanks for u time
NOTE: i didnt xtract gingerblur-trans.apk, just opened in winrar, tookout the png files, edited it and pushed back to gingerblur-trans.apk.
waterfish.. amazing..
i should try it..
hanu_blr said:
@matchung,
can u try installing the gingerblur-trans.apk form http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1021507, and see if u see full transparent in GO lauhcher ex ?.
I guess gingerblur-trans.apk, is semi trans with black. If u see semi trans black, can u make it full trans for this gingerblur-trans.apk ?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
untouch theme. wanna full transparent?
How to make any gingerbread or cm7/cm9 status bar transparent
Check my signature for all my statusbars including pre-made stock cm7/cm9 and Aosp statusbars and guides
There's three ways to make the statusbar bar Transparent and I'll post them all
One way works with any gingerbread rom (deodex & rooted) and one with cyanogen 7
I have not tried it on ics or jelly bean but you can try (for people who stumble across this thread who are not galaxy y users)
Please dont ask for support unless you are using a custom rom on galaxy y
Any other phones please goto your own phone forum for support
You also need a launcher that is capable of transparency
Adw works but you need to disable wallpaper hack in settings
holo launcher works
any other launcher if it doesn't work look in it's settings & try & disable wallpaper hack or manage internally
Method one for non cm (Stock Deodex Rom)
You need apk tool installed - if you don't know how to use it see my guide here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2206938
Once you have decompiled SystemUI.apk using apk tool goto res/layout Open status_bar.xml in notepad
Find the following line
Code:
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarView android:orientation="vertical" [COLOR="Red"]android:background="#ff000000"[/COLOR] android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
Notice the part highlighted in red android:background is normally a hexadecimal value or it could be a drawable value
either way change the red part to the following
Code:
<com.android.systemui.statusbar.StatusBarView android:orientation="vertical" [COLOR="Red"]android:background="@drawable/nameofpng" [/COLOR]android:focusable="true" android:descendantFocusability="afterDescendants"
Notice that android:background is now a drawable value
Change nameofpng to the name of your transparent background image (just the name - do not include the file extension .png)
place this image with the same name as the drawable value in res/drawable-ldpi
(of course other devices might be in mdpi or hdpi)
Recompile and sign apk
Put in a flashable zip and flash with system mounted
You can download and use the pngs in the attachment (for ldpi like galaxy y) or create your own
To create a transparent status bar image just take a non Transparent one and edit it in a photo application to make it Transparent (make sure image dimensions stay the same and is for your phone resolution)
Method two for cm7
Note you will need apk tool installed and notepad++ installed
Download the patcher tool by Z25 in attachment
Unzip the contents to a folder
Place your SystemUI.apk and framework-res.apk in files_to_patch
Run patcher.bat
Select status bar tweaks and enable only transparent status bar
Edit the smali file as described in the text file that pops up
Select option build and sign
Select option to create zip files
You now have a zip file called patch.zip
unzip this and take out the SystemUI.apk - we will save this for later
Now we have to either make our own transparent theme or you can download a theme from the playstore for theme chooser that already contains status bar transparency
If you are downloading a theme from the playstore skip the part "To create your own theme" and go straight to the part "final steps"
To create your own theme
Goto uot kitchen http://uot.dakra.lt/kitchen
Take cyanbread.apk from the app folder of your cm7 rom & place on pc (or any other Theme Chooser Theme you wish to make transparent)
Rename it to what you want to call theme
Upload it to kitchen (under cm7 theme in file upload)
In status bar tweaks set background transparency to around 70% Transparent and any other settings you need like carrier or footer - don't forget to generate preview once done
Make sure you have selected ldpi in statusbar tweak settings and ldpi/mdpi for theme chooser preview in file upload (other devices may vary) and in file upload change update binary to galaxy
Then goto summary section
If everything is green create the theme
If not make sure you have clicked generate preview on status bar tweaks
Kitchen will then create theme for you
Download the zip file from kitchen and unzip it
Take out your theme apk
Final Steps
Sign both your theme apk and SystemUI.apk that you saved from earlier with a platform key using zipsigner (playstore)
Put both apks in a flashable zip and flash in cwm with system mounted
(note if you are using a theme from the playstore just do this for SystemUI.apk)
Once the phone has booted goto
ADWLauncher
System Preference
Disable Wallpaper Hack (untick the box)
Your status bar is now transparent
Method three for cm9
Once you have decompiled SystemUI.apk with apktool
Goto smali/com/android/systemui/statusbar/StatusBar.smali
Find the following line
Code:
invoke-direct/range {v11 .. v16}, Landroid/view/WindowManager$LayoutParams;-><init>(IIIII)V
Above this line change
Code:
const/16 v16, 0x4
To the following
Code:
const/16 v16, -0x3
Now in notepad++ open the following
res/values/drawables.xml
Find the following line
Code:
<item type="drawable" name="status_bar_background">#ff000000</item>
Change the hex value to the hex value of the colour/transparency you want
For example
Completely transparent:
Code:
<item type="drawable" name="status_bar_background">#00FFFFFF</item>
70% transparent
Code:
<item type="drawable" name="status_bar_background">#b3000000</item>
50% transparent:
Code:
<item type="drawable" name="status_bar_background">#7f000000</item>
Recompile
Sign with a platform key using zipsigner (playstore)
Put in a flashable zip and flash in cwm with system mounted
What is the name for the png to put in drawable-ldpi?
Re: [Guide] [Mod] How to make any gingerbread or cm7 status bar transparent
remo1995 said:
What is the name for the png to put in drawable-ldpi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can rename it to ur own like
Jst open statusbar.xml in layout folder and on 2nd line u will find an attribute android;background change the file u want to add next to drawable/xx folder and put that file in ur drawable ldpi folder
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Reporting from incomplete blue theme
Status-paused
framework-working
remo1995 said:
What is the name for the png to put in drawable-ldpi?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Name it the name of the @drawable value
In my example it's nameofpng
Re: [Guide] [Mod] How to make any gingerbread or cm7 status bar transparent
Great guide :thumbup:
Sent from my GT-S5360 using xda app-developers app
Thank you, but when I go to recompile the file gives me error
remo1995 said:
Thank you, but when I go to recompile the file gives me error
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what rom are you using?
decompile then recompile the apk without making any changes - if it compiles correctly you know you have edited the xml file wrong or not placed the corresponding png in the drawable folder
if it still gives errors without you making changes then either you are using apk tool wrong or the apk has other errors from the orig source
marcussmith2626 said:
what rom are you using?
decompile then recompile the apk without making any changes - if it compiles correctly you know you have edited the xml file wrong or not placed the corresponding png in the drawable folder
if it still gives errors without you making changes then either you are using apk tool wrong or the apk has other errors from the orig source
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use the cod rom and I'm trying to change the systemUI of marinalin85, the bar s3 style android 4.2.2
remo1995 said:
I use the cod rom and I'm trying to change the systemUI of marinalin85, the bar s3 style android 4.2.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No reason why it shouldn't work - make sure you have loaded SystemUI.apk and framework-res.apk into apktool using the apktool if command
Make sure all your apk tool commands are correct I'll post a guide on it soon
marcussmith2626 said:
No reason why it shouldn't work - make sure you have loaded SystemUI.apk and framework-res.apk into apktool using the apktool if command
Make sure all your apk tool commands are correct I'll post a guide on it soon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to compile and decompile it does! the file does not work gives me forced closure! I made you those passages
Apk tool guide added see http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2206938
remo1995 said:
to compile and decompile it does! the file does not work gives me forced closure! I made you those passages
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Follow my apk tool guide I just posted - I can assure you if you follow all my guides correctly and Fully you will not get force closes - I have made many status bars using this method
Decompile my SystemUI.apk from my status bar thread so you can compare the line for the statusbar background in status_bar.xml with yours
If you get errors when you decompile the apk it means the apk was wrongly compiled to begin with and apk tool can't decompile it correctly - you will need to correct any errors that are in the original apk before you can recompile
how can i make launcher compatible with transparency like TW launcher?
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
iMaker said:
how can i make launcher compatible with transparency like TW launcher?
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some launchers do not support transparency
if it doesn't work and there is no option to disable wallpaper hack or manage internally in the launcher settings or something similar you will need to use a different launcher if you want transparency
even in go launcher it still wont have transparency
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
iMaker said:
even in go launcher it still wont have transparency
Sent from my GT-S5360 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think go launcher supports transparency
launchers that definitely do are
holo launcher
adw launcher (disable wallpaper hack in settings)
Added a zip of the full and semi transparent png images for people to use themselves with the guide
off topic question sir, how did you move the jellybean clock and date above toggle bar?
joelquerty said:
off topic question sir, how did you move the jellybean clock and date above toggle bar?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By placing <com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.DigitalClock with the corresponding ids and smali files under the relative layout in status_bar_expanded.xml above the line for toggles
marcussmith2626 said:
By placing <com.android.systemui.statusbar.policy.DigitalClock with the corresponding ids and smali files under the relative layout in status_bar_expanded.xml above the line for toggles
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you plzz give me the link of tutorial. i searched in google and xda but i could'nt find it... thank you
Hi
Very please help
The rom 4.1.2 I could using winrar for simple to change png to another png
Now I'm on 4.4.2 (DittoNote 5.2).
I want to change the png (tw_quick_panel_quick_setting_button_bg_normal.9 ???)
I think it is png a background toogles
I change my png i using winrar but nothing changes.
It is still the old png and no new png.
For what is this happening?
png's ending with 9 are not ordinary png's, they are 9-patch png's and in order to edit them you must DECOMPILE the APK, edit and then RECOMPILE. Anyway, simple adding with winRAR is nota good idea if you don't do ZIPALIGN because it slows down the reading of images....
Ah, and why post a question in app section, isn't Q&A more logical choice?
So I should do this in the Q & A - my mistake.
Ok thanks for the information.
delanik - this is just an example:
I'm trying to change the png in Note 5.2 Ditto 4.4.2
Is the file is tw_quick_panel_quick_setting_button_bg_normal.9 is background switches?
I exchange tw_quick_panel_quick_setting_button_bg_normal.9 another png
with another theme rom Note 2 but nothing has changed.
As I said - pngs with 9 at the end CAN'T be edited without recompiling. Use APKTOOL to decompile APK, then edit, then RECOMPILE. Then from recmpiled APK, copy PNGs (or whole res\drawable folder) to original APK.
If it doesn't change (and it should even when you don't do recompile - it should show BAD image) then you are not editing correct image.
Thank you very much dalanik
I SystemUi decompile framework-res.apk and now the rom DN4 v2.
It will be very difficult for me because there is a lot of files QMG
There is no custom QMG files (icons, button ....) in other roms or themes
to replace them in my rom DN4 v2