Renaming Titanium gun zip files to apk...? - Thunderbolt Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I would like to use one of the Apps from my Titanium backup folder and install it onto my wife's phone, however, all of the apk files the folder are apk.gz files. Can these be renamed to apk files or do I first have to extract the apk from the gz file with winrar or like program before copying to her SD card. Thanks to anyone who has experience with extracting apks from Titanium Backup folders
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is your wife's phone not rooted? you could just install the free version of titanium and move the file to her backup folder.

m00nshake said:
I would like to use one of the Apps from my Titanium backup folder and install it onto my wife's phone, however, all of the apk files the folder are apk.gz files. Can these be renamed to apk files or do I first have to extract the apk from the gz file with winrar or like program before copying to her SD card. Thanks to anyone who has experience with extracting apks from Titanium Backup folders
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
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I haven't tried that way personally but it should work.
Alternatively, just restore your backup to your phone which will install the app to /data/app and then you can just copy the apk from there to her phone.
Additionally, if rooted you could do as Viper said and restore your TiBu backup (redundant?) to her phone.
Hopefully you aren't pirating a paid app though
Edit:
haha, sorry...by "it should work" I meant extracting from the zipped file as you mentioned. Sorry

I think you have to unzip them with an unzip app like Androzip. I haven't messed with it in a bit but seem to remember it was something like this.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Related

Side Loading question...

I am trying to sideload titanium backup to my g tab. I am running vegan 5.1.1. I downloaded titanium backup to my computer and it is a zipped file. I then copied it over to my g tablet. How ever when I open it with es file explorer it doesn't ask to install it, it just opens it up and lists the folders and files in it. How do I install it.
outdooz said:
I am trying to sideload titanium backup to my g tab. I am running vegan 5.1.1. I downloaded titanium backup to my computer and it is a zipped file. I then copied it over to my g tablet. How ever when I open it with es file explorer it doesn't ask to install it, it just opens it up and lists the folders and files in it. How do I install it.
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Click to collapse
This will not install.. You will need to unzip it first and then extract the .apk file out of it and then either move it over or copy it to the SD card or usb stick and attach it. Once detected in the Gtab you will have the option to install the app.
Let us know how u make out.
Did you create an "update zip" using titanium backup? If so you need to boot into recovery and flash it like a rom
Probably named wrong by the computer
Your computer probably changed the extention from .apk to .zip during the download. Change it back either on the computer or GTab itself and try to install it again.
michaeljwestii said:
Your computer probably changed the extention from .apk to .zip during the download. Change it back either on the computer or GTab itself and try to install it again.
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Click to collapse
+1
I've seen this lots of times where some browsers like to rename .apk files to .zip. Just rename it and then open it.

ok some help understnading apk files

please help this windows guy/android noob figure this out. ok i'm thinking an apk file is equivalent to an msi file.
i download an app from the android store...
it downloads as apk file to /data/app...
ok so is that the final home for the apk file or does this extract and "install" files and folder in other locations on the internal memory or sdcard?
does the app run from this location? when uninstalled, is it removed entirely or are there orphan files that can be left behind? where is the data associated with that app saved? same folder /data/app/?
when titantium backs up an app, does it just copy the apk files from /data/app?
thanks
mark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APK_(file_format)
thanks, i already saw your link. doesn't really address my questions though. and yeah i do google questions prior to posting.
markkal123 said:
please help this windows guy/android noob figure this out. ok i'm thinking an apk file is equivalent to an msi file.
i download an app from the android store...
it downloads as apk file to /data/app...
ok so is that the final home for the apk file or does this extract and "install" files and folder in other locations on the internal memory or sdcard?
does the app run from this location? when uninstalled, is it removed entirely or are there orphan files that can be left behind? where is the data associated with that app saved? same folder /data/app/?
when titantium backs up an app, does it just copy the apk files from /data/app?
thanks
mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was in a hurry when I posted the link and that was the best I could do at the time.
apk is more like a java jar file (in fact you can sign your apk with jarsigner in java) or self extracting zip. Don't quote me on it, but you need both the files in /data/app and /data/data to run the application. Some gets left inside the container, and files that get modified a lot are extracted to /data/data (along with data that personalizes the app for you, such as settings and profiles).
The xml manifest file in the apk tells it what permissions to ask for and what systems it can run on and such. If you get this http://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/ you can reverse the apk so you can make sense of the files inside of it.
Titanium backup takes both the app and the data and stores them on the sdcard (unless you only tell it to backup the app, then it only takes from /data/app). The files located under /data/app are the entire application itself though and that will run if you give it to someone else as if you downloaded it from the market.
thanks for the great response.

[Q] Would this work?

i want to change the colors on a couple widgets.
if i took the .apk file from the /data/app/ and copied it to my computer, renamed it from .apk to .zip, opened it and edited/changed the .png files, saved it, rezipped it and named it back to .apk and put it back in /data/app/ folder and overwrote it would that work?
GandhisEvilTwin said:
i want to change the colors on a couple widgets.
if i took the .apk file from the /data/app/ and copied it to my computer, renamed it from .apk to .zip, opened it and edited/changed the .png files, saved it, rezipped it and named it back to .apk and put it back in /data/app/ folder and overwrote it would that work?
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Click to collapse
I tried to do just that with SystemUI.apk and had issues. I haven't tried with any other apps. I got around it by using 7zip. Within 7zip you can look in the apk and just drag and drop you're new pngs into the apk without actually extracting and re-zipping anything.
If your not familiar with 7zip. It's a free compression app just google it.
i've heard of 7zip, not sure if i've actually ever used it before though.
do you know is /data/app/ the right place to pull the .apk file from?
Yep, I think that's right the right place for apps that you've installed. System apps are in /system/app.
Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App
that will definitely not work. Go get 7zip... never never unzip an app. use 7zip to open the app and find your image folders. drag only those to the desktop.. or a new folder.. then edit and stick those images back into the app using 7zip.

Multiple app install: will this work?

Hi
I'm looking for an easy way to batch install all of my already backed up applications on external SD (in *.apk format) after new rom flashing. My phone is rooted (running RR 2.7). what if using a root explorer I just copy all the apk files to data\app and copy some of them to system\app and then reboot the phone? Will all of these application be automatically installed, while apk's copied to data\app will be installed as user apps, and those copied to system\app will install as system apps? Will this work? Is there a problem in this method? If so I may create a CWM based installer that will do this automatically...
I'm talking about 400 apps, about 600MB in total size//
Thanks
How are they backed up? What did you use to do it? I use Titanium Backup. The paid version allows batch operations.
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boborone said:
How are they backed up? What did you use to do it? I use Titanium Backup. The paid version allows batch operations.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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I used an app called File expert. It can simply find the apk file used in the installation and back it up. I can reinstall the app with the backed up apk. I also tried copying a new apk file to data/app and after restarting the app did install correctly. So I want to use this method to restore all of my apps automatically by creating a CWM zip installation. I need to know if this method is safe and will not cause problems...
Thanks
EB10000 said:
I used an app called File expert. It can simply find the apk file used in the installation and back it up. I can reinstall the app with the backed up apk. I also tried copying a new apk file to data/app and after restarting the app did install correctly. So I want to use this method to restore all of my apps automatically by creating a CWM zip installation. I need to know if this method is safe and will not cause problems...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to do any of that crap and mess around. Just use Titanium Backup Pro (paid version) and you can backup all your apps plus the app data so they keep all their settings etc. Then when you install a new rom you can batch install them all back in couple of clicks.
EB10000 said:
I used an app called File expert. It can simply find the apk file used in the installation and back it up. I can reinstall the app with the backed up apk. I also tried copying a new apk file to data/app and after restarting the app did install correctly. So I want to use this method to restore all of my apps automatically by creating a CWM zip installation. I need to know if this method is safe and will not cause problems...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know that app. You can define the backup folder in TiBu to reinstall your apps that way. Or iirc Rom Toolbox will take a batch of apps and create a cwm zip file to batch install.
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EB10000 said:
I used an app called File expert. It can simply find the apk file used in the installation and back it up. I can reinstall the app with the backed up apk. I also tried copying a new apk file to data/app and after restarting the app did install correctly. So I want to use this method to restore all of my apps automatically by creating a CWM zip installation. I need to know if this method is safe and will not cause problems...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using CWM zip installation is actually the best method. It is safe and faster too.
Thanks. I'm familiar with TB and MB. I do not need to restore the app's data. I'm just looking for a way to install all my market apps without actually using the market. I noticed that when you reboot the phone, any new apk file in either system/app or data/app gets installed automatically. So I thought maybe I take a CWM setup file (zip with simple copy to system + data updater-script)' and add all of my backed apk's into the data/app directory then I can install this zip file right after I flash a new rom file. For some reason, CM9 recommends that you do not use TB. I also noticed that dev's use this method to add additional apps to their rom.. I just need to know that this method is ok to use and not cause problems like acquire extra space by creating duplicates of each app (I notice using this method that sometime the original apk I copied was reset to a 0Kb file, and a new apk that starts with the name "com.something.something.apk" is created instead. Is this normal?)
Thanks
boborone said:
Don't know that app. You can define the backup folder in TiBu to reinstall your apps that way. Or iirc Rom Toolbox will take a batch of apps and create a cwm zip file to batch install.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Do you mean this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.liberty.toolbox
???
I already have it (paid version). I couldn't find a way to creat CWM zip file... Am I missing something?
Thx
EB10000 said:
Do you mean this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.liberty.toolbox
???
I already have it (paid version). I couldn't find a way to creat CWM zip file... Am I missing something?
Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll help you create a CWM zip template. I'll upload it in about 3 hrs time as soon as i get to my pc
This is a CWM.zip I created for you.
How to:
1. Open the zip file using 7zip, winrar or similar apps (don't extract it)
2. Copy your users apps to data/app, and copy system apps to system/app
3. Close the zip file.
4. Flash the zip file via CWM recovery.
enjoy.
EB10000 said:
Thanks. I'm familiar with TB and MB. I do not need to restore the app's data. I'm just looking for a way to install all my market apps without actually using the market. I noticed that when you reboot the phone, any new apk file in either system/app or data/app gets installed automatically. So I thought maybe I take a CWM setup file (zip with simple copy to system + data updater-script)' and add all of my backed apk's into the data/app directory then I can install this zip file right after I flash a new rom file. For some reason, CM9 recommends that you do not use TB. I also noticed that dev's use this method to add additional apps to their rom.. I just need to know that this method is ok to use and not cause problems like acquire extra space by creating duplicates of each app (I notice using this method that sometime the original apk I copied was reset to a 0Kb file, and a new apk that starts with the name "com.something.something.apk" is created instead. Is this normal?)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't install all your apps to system. Why would you want to da that?
EB10000 said:
Do you mean this app:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.liberty.toolbox
???
I already have it (paid version). I couldn't find a way to creat CWM zip file... Am I missing something?
Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that might be the one, guess not. I'll ask in another thread.
But this guy was kind enough to make one for you. Ought to slap him a thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
---------- Post added at 11:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:42 AM ----------
Jokesy said:
This is a CWM.zip I created for you.
How to:
1. Open the zip file using 7zip, winrar or similar apps (don't extract it)
2. Copy your users apps to data/app, and copy system apps to system/app
3. Close the zip file.
4. Flash the zip file via CWM recovery.
enjoy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man. Hell I'll even take a bite of that.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium
Jokesy said:
This is a CWM.zip I created for you.
How to:
1. Open the zip file using 7zip, winrar or similar apps (don't extract it)
2. Copy your users apps to data/app, and copy system apps to system/app
3. Close the zip file.
4. Flash the zip file via CWM recovery.
enjoy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Mate!
tested it with a few apps and it worked great. Is there a file size limitation to cwm.zip? If I add all my apps the zip files grows to about 350MB
Thx
EB10000 said:
Thanks Mate!
tested it with a few apps and it worked great. Is there a file size limitation to cwm.zip? If I add all my apps the zip files grows to about 350MB
Thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nah. Just take longer.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Nandroid backup files missing

Hi, Everyone
I was attempting to make a new backup of my HTC one using TWRP. For some odd reason, I can't find the file when I browse my phone SD. The TRWP folder has the old backup, but when I attempt to do a restore I can see the new files. I tried using the ES explorer app to find the missing backup files but nothing. I know for a fact that these files are stored somewhere and they are taking space on my HTC. Can I restored to an early restore and it will delete these files?
I'm new to the Android scene and still learning. Any suggestions will be gladly appreciated.
Thanks.
djorn2k said:
Hi, Everyone
I was attempting to make a new backup of my HTC one using TWRP. For some odd reason, I can't find the file when I browse my phone SD. The TRWP folder has the old backup, but when I attempt to do a restore I can see the new files. I tried using the ES explorer app to find the missing backup files but nothing. I know for a fact that these files are stored somewhere and they are taking space on my HTC. Can I restored to an early restore and it will delete these files?
I'm new to the Android scene and still learning. Any suggestions will be gladly appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nevermind, I found the solution. The problem is that the ES file explorer does not have root access to /data folder. I enable root access in ES file and there was the following folder: /data/media/twrp.
I was able to make a new folder in the /SD and copy the files to that location. Then I deleted the folder.

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