[Q] SystemUI.apk without META_INF - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am trying to modify a few APKs in an updated ROM I just installed. I was able to modify these in a previous release but now I am having trouble with SystemUI.apk. The SystemUI.apk in the ROM has no META-INF. How does this work?
If I modify and replace, I loose my status bar. If I copy the original from the ROM back, my status bar does not return. The only way to get my status bar back is to restore from a full backup.
Any help in how to modify this, or just understand how it is working in the first place would be appreciated.

What are you using to decompile the apks? Are you getting any error messages when you try to recompile it?

Apktool 1.4.5174001. No errors or warnings on decompile. No errors and one translation warning on compile.

Have you placed the right 1.apk and 2.apk in your C:\Documents and Settings\"your user name"\apktools

Yup framework-res and twframework-res from this ROM. Even though it looks like its only using 1.apk.
Update:
It's not the decompiling tools at all. I tried copying the unmodified SystemUI.apk back to /system/app, verified ownership and permissions. When I rebooted the phone, the same thing happened. No notification bar.

IDK sorry try pulling a systemui from a stock updated rom and past all you modified on that one. Sorry I could not help more Ill try to work on mine when I get home see if I can figure anything else for you.

I got it to work, sort of. I took the ROM and placed my SystemUI.apk inside, then flashed. I'm still curious about this SystemUI not being signed but still working as long as its not replaced.
Update:
After I found that the above worked, I create my own update.zip with just the SystemUI.apk inside. This also worked! Is there some reason that it did? The only difference I can tell is that the file access and modify time stamps are set to 2008
Code:
[email protected]:/ $ stat /system/app/SystemUI.apk
stat /system/app/SystemUI.apk
File: /system/app/SystemUI.apk
Size: 1108265 Blocks: 2168 IO Block: 4096 regular file
Device: b318h/45848d Inode: 41066 Links: 1
Access: (0644/-rw-r--r--) Uid: ( 0/ UNKNOWN) Gid: ( 0/ UNKNOWN)
Access: 2008-08-01 12:00:00.000000000
Modify: 2008-08-01 12:00:00.000000000
Change: 2012-05-26 23:27:02.000000000

I'm glad it worked out for you.

Related

apktool won't decompile

I'm trying to decompile a few apks for modifying the dialer on an ICS rom. When I go to decompile I get an empty folder and this error:
I: Baksmaling...
Exception in thread "main" java.lang.RuntimeException: bad magic value: 64 65 78 0a 30 33 36 00
at org.jf.dexlib.DexFile.<init>(DexFile.java:377)
at org.jf.dexlib.DexFile.<init>(DexFile.java:274)
at brut.androlib.src.SmaliDecoder.decode(SmaliDecoder.java:44)
at brut.androlib.src.SmaliDecoder.decode(SmaliDecoder.java:33)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.decodeSourcesSmali(Androlib.java:68)
at brut.androlib.ApkDecoder.decode(ApkDecoder.java:85)
at brut.apktool.Main.cmdDecode(Main.java:128)
at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:65)
I'm using this ver: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22845681
All I would like to do is edit a few xml files to change the color on text. Anyone have any idea on what the issue is? Could I just rename the apk to .zip and extract the files to be edited?
There's another you can edit APK's.
- Extract the apk
- Modify the files in the folder you get after extracting
- Right click on the original APK and open it with 7zip ( click on "open archive " )
- Drag the edited file from the folder to the original APK and overwrite it.
With this method you don't need to decompile and then recompile !
Sent from my GT-I9003 using xda premium
Use the proper one, not an auto tool. download the latest apktool and make sure you add the framework files needed
thanks! it turned out I needed to use a different jar file from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=23483528 for the new ICS roms. So far so good but I'll definitely try the ways you mentioned. seems abit easier. appreciate the feedback.
New issue: when I try and compile it, all I get is a classes.dex file so I tried copying the files to the original apk with 7zip and whenever I flash the zip and try and access the dialer/phone app, i get an acore.process error and it force closes. All I did was edit some pngs and change some color values in a few xml's.
killerb777 said:
New issue: when I try and compile it, all I get is a classes.dex file so I tried copying the files to the original apk with 7zip and whenever I flash the zip and try and access the dialer/phone app, i get an acore.process error and it force closes. All I did was edit some pngs and change some color values in a few xml's.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never had a problem doing this method!
What I did was :
After changing the files and putting them on the original APK
I just replaced it with the original one by going in System/App
And rebooted!
It worked everytime!
Don't flash, just replace it!
But take a backup of the original one before you replace!

[Q] How can I recompile system apk using ONLY APKTool while keeping signature?

I don't want to use APK Multi-Tools or APK_Manager or whatever. I want to know exactly what those tools are doing in order to recompile the system apk while keeping the original signature.
What I initially did...
Code:
apktool d "%~dpnx1.apk" "%~dpnx1"
...modify files here...
apktool b "%~dpnx1" "%~dpnx1.apk"
But obviously that's unsigned. I need to sign it, but I want to use the original signature, which I'm guessing is the META-INF stuff, right?
So I attempted this...
Code:
apktool d "%~dpnx1.apk" "%~dpnx1"
7za x -o"%~dpnx1-signature" "%~dpnx1.apk" META-INF -r
...modify files here...
apktool b "%~dpnx1" "%~dpnx1.apk"
7za a -tzip "%~dpnx1.apk" "%~dpnx1-signature/*" -mx9
You'll notice I now use 7-Zip to pull out META-INF from the original APK and then insert it back into the recompiled one afterwards.
The only other thing I can think of would be to go with my first method, but then use 7-zip to pull out the compiled files from the unsigned apk and insert them into the signed apk. I haven't tried that yet, but it will be the next one I go with. Every time this fails, though, I have to do a nandroid restore, and it's getting a little frustrating, which is why I'm asking you folks.
--
edit: I got it all figured out.
For those interested, after running "apktool b" (to build/compile), ignore the output zip. Instead go into the source directory and there is now a build directory. In that is an apk directory. Simply add your changed files to the original untouched APK (if you modified any XML files, then replace resources.arsc; if you added anything to smali, then replace classes.dex; if you added any XML files, then you need to include those as well; for me, i copied resources.arsc, classes.dex, and one new XML file). I used the following command:
Code:
zip -9 ..\SystemUI.apk res\layout\status_bar.xml classes.dex resources.arsc
I use zip instead of 7za for cosmetic reasons. You can also use "7za a -tzip etc..." if you want.
hello i know how you feel well....i never did.
you keep a backup and a copy of your system apk and once you did your changes look in your copy and go to /res and delete the destinations you modded and putted them in the modded apk now look into your modded apk file in /res and take the files you deleted from the copy apk and move them to the copy apk and your all set.
if this didnt understand ill show you an awesome thread that will help you
sorry i didnt see your edited section

[Q] Android reverts SystemUI.apk edits

Hi! I have a very odd problem: somehow my SystemUI.apk mods won't keep (i.e. after pushing, the XML edits are reversed to stock). I'm attempting to remove the brightness slider. It should be a simple edit to the tw_status_bar_expanded.xml: add the red code; many others have used this edit successfully (Verizon GS3, international GS3, etc.):
Code:
<LinearLayout android:orientation="vertical" android:id="@id/brightness_controller" [B][COLOR="Red"]android:visibility="gone"[/COLOR][/B] android:background="#ff000000" android:layout_width="fill_parent" android:layout_height="56.0dip">
However, it didn't work on my phone, even after three attempts. So, on a hunch, I edited something totally different:
Code:
android:background="ff000000"
to
Code:
android:background="00000000"
-- which should make the brightness bar transparent: that didn't work after pushing, either! Frustrated, I pulled the SystemUI.apk back and saw that...somehow...the XML had "reverted" back to stock, showing
Code:
[B]android:background="ff000000"[/B]
Here's my "flow," if anyone can diagnose this wacky issue:
1. Use Virtual Ten Studios (an IDE, integrated development environment) to pull SystemUI.apk (after installing framework-res.apk resources).
2. Create backup of SystemUI.apk
3. Edit XML in SystemUI.apk -> save -> recompile and zipalign.
4. Copy AndroidManifest.xml and META-INF folder from backup apk to modded apk.
5. Boot phone into recovery -> push modded SystemUI.apk to /system/app [states that it pushed correctly] (I do recovery because, as I just learned, you can't push to a phone that's on, if it has a secure kernel; adb remount or adb shell mount still yield permission denied, but recovery doesn't!).
6. Reboot.
I thought it was just a fluke, but I ran the experiment again, this time changing the color of the bar: ff000000 -> ff000001 (left is XML before pushing; right is XML after pulling): http://prntscr.com/qoqcx
Thought it could be a permissions issue, but I ran adb shell -> chmod 644 /system/app/SystemUI.apk from recovery. Still doesn't work! I pulled the just-modded pushed APK and, boom, there it lies with none of my edits. :/
Any thoughts out there?
There's got to be a reason... My phone can't be a demon. Right?
For what it's worth, I've successfully flashed a SystemUI.apk as a flashable zip, so my phone isn't immune. There's just something wrong with my process....
A friendly bump because of subforum change!

After set chmod 644 system-app error

I had to make some changes to system-apps, I have a lot of problems with them.
What I have tried after the error: App stopped: I have copied z. B. SystemUI.apk (not changed) only from the phone to my laptop (Windows 7) and back to the phone and then I get the error: SystemUI stopped (I use Lineage OS on motorola g4)
I did it as described here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1466183
(You put the file in /system/ so it IS there. Then you change the permissions. Now that the file has correct permissions, you put it in /system/app or /system/framework and let it overwrite the original, so the INSTANT it replaces the original one it already has the correct permissions. You HAVE to put it into /system/, otherwise you can't change to those permissions, but you need to do it before you overwrite the originals.)
BUT IT WILL NOT WORK I ALWAYS GET THE ERROR MESSAGE: APP STOPPED
Thank you for your help :crying:

[SOLVED] Installing WebView (rooted Stock ROM)

I am trying to install a clean Android System WebView (packagename: com.android.webview) onto stock LG G5 RS988 RS98821d Android 7.0 that is rooted.
I downloaded an arm64 WebView APK from the Bromite Releases GitHub page:
https://github.com/bromite/bromite/releases
I tried installing the Bromite WebView APK to "/system/app/webview/" (0644 permissions) and rebooted, but the WebView implementation could not be used.
There are instructions regarding installing Bromite System WebView available:
https://github.com/bromite/bromite/wiki/Installing-SystemWebView
From my reading of the installation instructions, "res/xml/config_webview_packages.xml" from "/system/framework/framework-res.apk" must contain the an entry for the package with the particular package name ("com.android.webview" in this case).
After examining the stock "config_webview_packages.xml" member file, it appears that a reference to "com.android.webview" is not present. The "config_webview_packages.xml" XML file also appears to not be easily readable in a text editor. My guess is that it has some kind of signing.
What must be done to get the system to allow the newly installed WebView? My impression is that the "config_webview_packages.xml" XML file must be edited, but it is not clear how to do so, given that it does not appear to be just plain text.
I have attached a copy of the "config_webview_packages.xml" XML member file and the original framework-res.apk file zipped into a ZIP 2.0 archive.
XML files inside apks are compressed, you should unpack the framework-res.apk using a tool for apk editing, not just a zip archiver program. On Android, you can use APK Editor Pro, for example.
By the way, have you already uninstalled Chrome? If Chrome is installed, it will be forced as the standard WebView provider.
tremalnaik said:
XML files inside apks are compressed, you should unpack the framework-res.apk using a tool for apk editing, not just a zip archiver program. On Android, you can use APK Editor Pro, for example.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was my impression that the APK files were zip files with a particular signature block. I shall try a tool like APK Editor Pro and report back.
tremalnaik said:
have you already uninstalled Chrome? If Chrome is installed, it will be forced as the standard WebView provider.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have uninstalled/removed both Chrome and the Android System WebView (Google Apps version).
Ascii3 said:
It was my impression that the APK files were zip files with a particular signature block. I shall try a tool like APK Editor Pro and report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I'm on PC and I remember the name of the tool I use sometimes on PC: APKChanger. It's very complete, although very heavy (about 650MB with my current configuration);
If you have platform tools installed on your pc, or the whole Android Studio, you can also use
Code:
aapt d xmltree framework-res.apk res/xml/config_webview_packages.xml
to see the list of allowed webview packages.
Ascii3 said:
I have uninstalled/removed both Chrome and the Android System WebView (Google Apps version).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So we can be sure the problem is not the system forcing Chrome as default WebView provider. So, as Bromite's wiki states, "Changing the package name does not make installation easier/possible;", so the only solution is to add com.android.webview to config_webview_packages.xml, or, if it is already there, remove the requirement for Google's signature on the webview package. EDIT: I checked, on your file com.android.webview is missing, you just need to add it:
Code:
E: webviewproviders (line=20)
E: webviewprovider (line=21)
A: description="Chrome Stable" (Raw: "Chrome Stable")
A: packageName="com.android.chrome" (Raw: "com.android.chrome")
A: availableByDefault=(type 0x12)0xffffffff (Raw: "true")
E: webviewprovider (line=24)
A: description="Google WebView" (Raw: "Google WebView")
A: packageName="com.google.android.webview" (Raw: "com.google.android.webview")
A: availableByDefault=(type 0x12)0xffffffff (Raw: "true")
A: isFallback=(type 0x12)0xffffffff (Raw: "true")
E: webviewprovider (line=27)
A: description="Chrome Beta" (Raw: "Chrome Beta")
A: packageName="com.chrome.beta" (Raw: "com.chrome.beta")
E: signature (line=28)
C: "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"
E: webviewprovider (line=30)
A: description="Chrome Dev" (Raw: "Chrome Dev")
A: packageName="com.chrome.dev" (Raw: "com.chrome.dev")
E: signature (line=31)
C: "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"
E: webviewprovider (line=33)
A: description="Chrome Canary" (Raw: "Chrome Canary")
A: packageName="com.chrome.canary" (Raw: "com.chrome.canary")
E: signature (line=34)
C: "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"
E: webviewprovider (line=36)
A: description="Chrome Debug" (Raw: "Chrome Debug")
A: packageName="com.google.android.apps.chrome" (Raw: "com.google.android.apps.chrome")
On Android, I used APK Editor Pro 1.10.0 to modify res/xml/config_webview_packages.xml of /system/framework/framework-res.apk. A new APK with a generic signature was generated with the modification. I used the XML file editing option to select and modify the config_webview_packages.xml. The XML file editing functionality is given to be in beta and appears buggy.
I replaced the original /system/framework/framework-res.apk file with the patched one using the TWRP 3.2.3-0 file manager and attempted to boot to system. The system would start, but get stuck at the LG logo screen. I tried wiping data, and cache in recovery and booting again, but received the same result. I note that adb was available and usable after the boot process got stuck on the LG Logo screen.
My impression is that the patched framework-res.apk file is incompatible or defective. Perhaps APK Editor Pro 1.10.0 malformed the output APK (the XML editing feature appeared unfinished) or that the LG stock ROM expects framework-res.apk to have have a particular signature.
Perhaps a different APK editing tool should be tried. What could the problem be?
I have attached a ZIP archive containing the APK Editor Pro 1.10.0 modified framework-res.apk.
EDIT: Attachment has been removed; the file was defective and should not be used. Attachment is no longer necessary.
I have now patched framewor-res.apk successfully, and Bromite System WebView is working.
Did you use again APk Editor Pro or a PC tool?
The tools I used were Windows tools (and with a Java dependency in the case of Apktool) and were: Apktool 2.3.1 and WinRAR 5.6.1. I found that it is best to avoid newer versions of the tool unless trying to manipulate Android 9 Pie or newer resources.
Ascii3 said:
I have now patched framewor-res.apk successfully, and Bromite System WebView is working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know this is an old post, but how did you get it to boot?
I'm using apktool 2.5 and seems to be stuck on the boot screen as you were
burny02 said:
I know this is an old post, but how did you get it to boot?
I'm using apktool 2.5 and seems to be stuck on the boot screen as you were
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From somewhere else it seems that you are now using Apktool 2.3.1.
After comparing my notes, my impression on what you are missing and some related notes:
The modified framework-res.apk should use the unmodified APK file's "AndroidManifest.xml" root file and META-INF directory contents. It is not sufficient for any of the content to be the same after decompiling.
Copy "AndroidManifest.xml" and META-INF directory from original framework-res.apk to modified framework-res.apk using zip program, if contents are different.
v2 APK signing scheme (which includes the APK file itself in validation), if present, would be broken, but the scheme's enforcement is not enforced on /system; v1 APK signing scheme (on APK contents ("AndroidManifest.xml" file and META-INF directory contents)) is still enforced.
I zipaligned output/modified framework-res.apk prior to transferring original "AndroidManifest.xml" file and META-INF directory contents, but I do not believe it matters for the purposes of getting a functional framework-res.apk.
EDIT: Some added things to keep in mind:
Sometimes clearing system cache and the runtimes cache is also necessary before system will boot after framework-res.apk replacement. Also make sure that the permissions of the replaced framework-res.apk file are at minimum whatever the original file permissions were. Depending on what software you use to replace the framework-res.apk file, the permissions set may be different.
I really appreciate the help, still does not work unfortunately.
Here is what I do:
adb pull framework-res.apk
apktool d framework-res.apk (tried most versions, mainly now 2.3.1)
Edit framework-res/res/xml/config-webview-packages.xml to:
Code:
<webviewproviders>
<webviewprovider description="Bromite WebView" packageName="com.android.webview" availableByDefault="true" isFallback="true" />
</webviewproviders>
Removing other dev versions with signatures etc
apktool b framework-res
zipalign -v 4 framework-res.apk framework-res-new.apk
Move META-INF and AndroidManifest.xml from the 1st original framework-res.apk > framework-res-new.apk (Have also tried moving res & resources from the new to the original...7Zip, WinRAR, CLI - Linux)
adb push framework-res-new.apk /system/framwork-res.apk
Modify permissions in TWRP > 0644
Move framework-res.apk from /system/ to /system/framework/framwork-res.apk (I read somewhere this is better than pushing directly. Neither worked)
Clear Davlik & Cache
Reboot
Hangs on boot screen
Any ideas if I am missing something important?
@burny02 - Please clarify whether the framework-res.apk you are trying to modify is for LG G5 stock ROM Android Nougat.
I note that you are using the "isFallback="true"" flag with the webviewprovider tag. The purpose of the isFallback attribute set to true (its default is false) is to specify that the WebView provider should be disabled by deault and should only become available when allow other WebView providers are disabled. Using the attribute with the true value with only a single WebView provider seems improper. I do not know if boot should fail if the attribute is present in the way that it is, but in both scenarios I would recommend its omission.
It has also been a while since I used Apktool versions and do not exactly remember the command lines. Do not take my not pointing to an issue with it as there necessarily not being an issue. One thing I would mention is that one typically first install a frameworks before decompiling and building. For the LG G5 RS988 Android Nougat, I believe installing the framework-res.apk as a framework was sufficient. You would specify on command line "apktool if framework-res.apk" and any tags you wish to explicitly specify, if any.
The moving of framework-res.apk to /system/ before /system/framework/ is oftentimes done by people to try to install a modified framework-res.apk with proper permissions and on a live system before the system crashes and reboots. Once framework-res.apk is copied to /system , but does not replace the framework-res.apk file, proper permissions can be set prior to using that file to replace the live framework-res.apk. It is still important to note that some software disregards permissions set when a file is relocated or copied, so this could be an issue if framework-res.apk is replaced with more restrictive permissions than the original framework-res.apk (less restrictive permissions should not usually be a problem for the app to be used). I particularity do not like the idea of the system crashing and prefer to make such changes offline (such as via the aid of a custom recovery).
Sorted. Got it working. Really appreciate the help, Ascii3
For anyone looking at this in the future, the isFallback back seems to stop booting, regardless of whether it is the only entry or not.
The procedure then works as above:
adb pull framework-res.apk
apktool d framework-res.apk (2.3.4 worked for me - SDK 24 Android 7.1 (LGG5))
Edit framework-res/res/xml/config-webview-packages.xml to:
Code:
<webviewproviders>
<webviewprovider description="Bromite WebView" packageName="com.android.webview" availableByDefault="true" />
</webviewproviders>
apktool b framework-res
Move META-INF and AndroidManifest.xml from the 1st original framework-res.apk > new framework-res-new.apk (Used 7Zip drag & drop)
adb push framework-res-new.apk /system/framework/framwork-res.apk
Modify permissions in TWRP > 0644
Clear Davlik & Cache
Reboot
I found the following unnecessary :
Installing framework (apktool if)
Zip-aligning
Moving to /system prior to /system/framework/ (Using TWRP, live system; it might be necessary)
burny02 said:
Sorted. Got it working. Really appreciate the help, Ascii3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure.
burny02 said:
For anyone looking at this in the future, the isFallback back seems to stop booting, regardless of whether it is the only entry or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The isFallback attribute is supposed to only be set to true for no more than one webviewprovider. Explicitly setting it to false (its default) should not be problematic (but does result in a larger config-webview-packages.xml file generated). Setting isFallback to true on the only webviewprovider item is not an intended use and apparently results in no boot.
burny02 said:
I found the following unnecessary :
Zip-aligning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not think zip-aligning apps is necessary generally . My understanding around the reason to do so is to try to optimize the packaged data to be more efficiently fetched in the manner which Android fetches the data.
@Ascii3 @burny02
Hello guys, sorry to exhume this post but I'm struggling and all other threads are maybe ten years old...
So I'm struggling to replicate what you did! I'm no expert but I can follow basic instructions.
So I do as you say, decompile framework-res.apk, modify the xml file (I just add the line). This step seems okay since I did some errors while editing the file and apktool would not recompile properly. Now this goes fine.
Then I got my freshly recompiled framework-res.apk, but 7zip on linux won't let me insert META-INF and AndroidManifest.xml. So I had to rename the extension .zip, do it, then rename in apk. Could this be an issue? It looks dirty.
Anyway, after this you didn't had to resign the apk? I read everywhere you had to, so I did. I did not zipaligned it since I used a resign tool I found on xda and I could not tell if I had to do it before or after resigning, but since you said you didn't zipalign it I thought whatever.
The problem is the following: after replacing framework-res.apk in /system/framework, the phone won't start, I get stuck on the starting screen and I could extract the following from logging:
01-24 04:15:17.470 +0000 4042 4042 I PackageManager: /system/framework/framework-res.apk changed; collecting certs
01-24 04:15:17.749 +0000 4042 4042 W PackageManager: Failed to scan /system/framework/framework-res.apk: Failed to collect certificates from /system/framework/framework-res.apk
Have you got any ideas of what I did wrong? It's my fourth soft-brick today, I'm getting a bit annoyed.
Thanks in advance
@LeSplendide did you ever get this working? Not sure if I'm having the same trouble, but I followed burny's instructions and my phone fails to boot. I checked logcat but I don't see anything relating to framework-res. I'm using magisk to overlay it because if I touch the /system partition for real, VoLTE stops working on my phone (known issue for this phone). I'm successfully overlaying stuff in /system/app and /system/priv-app so I do have overlaying generally working, though this is the first apk in the framework directory I've tried to overlay. Boy do I want to get this working. I've extensively degoogled and debloated this phone and the only glaring thing that remains is chrome handling webview.
TheShanMan said:
@LeSplendide did you ever get this working? Not sure if I'm having the same trouble, but I followed burny's instructions and my phone fails to boot. I checked logcat but I don't see anything relating to framework-res. I'm using magisk to overlay it because if I touch the /system partition for real, VoLTE stops working on my phone (known issue for this phone). I'm successfully overlaying stuff in /system/app and /system/priv-app so I do have overlaying generally working, though this is the first apk in the framework directory I've tried to overlay. Boy do I want to get this working. I've extensively degoogled and debloated this phone and the only glaring thing that remains is chrome handling webview.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry I have no idea, rn Webview Implementation says I have Android System Webvew 102.0.5005 so I assume this is chrome webview? But I have no clue what I did or not but I know for sure I fixed my problem which was that Webview would crash when trying to sign in a google account on my MicroG'd LEAOS. Now this works so I guess I did make it work. All I found that could be a clue is a update.zip containing instructions and the webview in question. Iirc, the issue was that the zip needed to be signed so that twrp could flash it, so I think I just signed my zip and it worked but can"t tell for sure.

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