Hello guys, I state that I am no expert.
When decompiling a apk with apkmagager I find the folder with values in the file string.xml, when I go to compile it can not find the folder inside the folder keep values/ string.xml, why?
How do I edit the file string.xml?
Thanks to all
Sorry for the inconvenience
make sure when you decompile the SystemUI.apk you also put framework-res .apk in your apktool folder. Then in cmd type
apktool if framework-res .apk
apktool d SystemUI.apk
Accidentally sent from my Google Nexus S using XDA Premium
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
Hello everyone,
I hope I'm posting this to the right forum.
Up until Android 4.4 KitKat we were able to use apktool for decompiling an apk, making modifications and then recompiling it.
In case we were dealing with an ODEXed ROM, we could also use backsmali and various other tools to deodex before using apktool.
Now, in Lollipop, which uses ART, we get an APK file, but also a .odex file in a '/arm' subfolder.
From what I've read so far, that's not really an odex file, but rather an Android runtime .OAT file.
My question is - how does this affect our abilities to edit APKs?
Is it possible to "deodex" the OAT file to get an all-inclusive APK to use with apktool? If so, how?
After we rebuild the APK, can we just run it 'deodexed' or do we need to recreate an OAT file?
Any insight would be appreciated
purpleman2k said:
Hello everyone,
I hope I'm posting this to the right forum.
Up until Android 4.4 KitKat we were able to use apktool for decompiling an apk, making modifications and then recompiling it.
In case we were dealing with an ODEXed ROM, we could also use backsmali and various other tools to deodex before using apktool.
Now, in Lollipop, which uses ART, we get an APK file, but also a .odex file in a '/arm' subfolder.
From what I've read so far, that's not really an odex file, but rather an Android runtime .OAT file.
My question is - how does this affect our abilities to edit APKs?
Is it possible to "deodex" the OAT file to get an all-inclusive APK to use with apktool? If so, how?
After we rebuild the APK, can we just run it 'deodexed' or do we need to recreate an OAT file?
Any insight would be appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Files needed:
1. bootoat2dex.jar
2. Cygwin
3. APKTOOL
4. Java will need to be installed also
Install Cygwin and run it once so your userfolder is created, will be in c:/cygwin/home/<User Name>
Copy bootoat2dex.jar into this folder
Go to priv/app/SystemUI/arm/ and use 7zip to extract SystemUI.odex from the SystemUI.odex.xz file
Copy SystemUI.odex to your cygwin folder c:/cygwin/home/<User Name>/
Open cygwin and run the following command:
java -jar bootoat2dex.jar SystemUI.odex
This will output 2 folders dex and odex, if you look in the odex folder you should see SystemUI.odex.
Rename this file to classes.dex and drop it into the SystemUI.apk file
Follow the same instructions for the twframework-res.odex file also.
now copy the files SystemUI.apk, framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk into you apktool folder and install framework ex. apktool if framework-res.apk, apktool if SystemUI.apk, apktool if twframework-res.apk
After the framework install you should be able to decompile SystemUI.apk, you should be able to do this with all the apk files.
C13v3r0n3 said:
Files needed:
1. bootoat2dex.jar
2. Cygwin
3. APKTOOL
4. Java will need to be installed also
Install Cygwin and run it once so your userfolder is created, will be in c:/cygwin/home/<User Name>
Copy bootoat2dex.jar into this folder
Go to priv/app/SystemUI/arm/ and use 7zip to extract SystemUI.odex from the SystemUI.odex.xz file
Copy SystemUI.odex to your cygwin folder c:/cygwin/home/<User Name>/
Open cygwin and run the following command:
java -jar bootoat2dex.jar SystemUI.odex
This will output 2 folders dex and odex, if you look in the odex folder you should see SystemUI.odex.
Rename this file to classes.dex and drop it into the SystemUI.apk file
Follow the same instructions for the twframework-res.odex file also.
now copy the files SystemUI.apk, framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk into you apktool folder and install framework ex. apktool if framework-res.apk, apktool if SystemUI.apk, apktool if twframework-res.apk
After the framework install you should be able to decompile SystemUI.apk, you should be able to do this with all the apk files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great info! Thanks! I have used oat2dex.py to extract the OAT file, baksmali'd, modified smali code, recompiled it but that's where I'm stuck. How do I get it back into the original OAT format for inclusion in an Odexed rom? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I'm working with SystemUI.odex.
jermaine151 said:
Great info! Thanks! I have used oat2dex.py to extract the OAT file, baksmali'd, modified smali code, recompiled it but that's where I'm stuck. How do I get it back into the original OAT format for inclusion in an Odexed rom? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. I'm working with SystemUI.odex.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't been able to find anything that will take the files the other direction.
Hi have the problem with bootloop after overwrite framework-res.apk to /system/framework
use apktool2.2.2
phone note 3 with phronesis rom
I made
1.apktool if framework-res.apk (0 error)
2. decompile apktool d framework-res.apk (0 errors)
3. changed color.xml and styles.xml (only changed color text)
4. from orginal framework-res.apk drag resources.arsc to decompiled folder
5.make re-compile (apktool b framework-res) (0 errors) after this, program created new folder BUILD and DIST, in /build/apk/is META-INF, android manifest,RES folder and resources.arsc
Now i tried ( with tutorials ) drag from orginal framework-res.apk, folder META-INF, AndroidManifest.xml to BUILD folder and recompile second time (0 errors) then, from DIST folder i took framework-res.apk and overwrite to phone/system/framework and reboot = bootloop
Also trying after 1st re-compile, drag META-INF and androidmanifest.xml from orginal framework-res to newly recomplied framework-res.apk in DIST folder, again overwrite in phone/system/framework but still bootloop
before overwrite make permission rw-r--r- the same permisson of orginal framework-res.apk
then overwrited my apps example touchwiz, google play has stopped, reboot but unfortunately booloop
Also i tried push framework-res.apk through adb normal but cant do this, acces permission failed, and during recovery mode, but file not changed
Who can help ?
So I decided to write up a little guide on how to modify apk and jar files on the Axon 7 for those of you who do not know how and would like to make some modifications such as the ones in my guides.
Prerequisites
A Windows/Linux/Mac computer
A rooted device with TWRP Recovery
USB cable
ADB installed and USB debugging enabled
Java JDK: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
APKTool: https://ibotpeaches.github.io/Apktool/install/ (Follow all the instructions)
Baksmali: https://bitbucket.org/JesusFreke/smali/downloads/baksmali-2.2.0.jar
7-Zip or another archive manager
1. Install the frameworks to your computer
Open a command window in your working directory and connect your device to your computer with the USB-C cable.
Pull the framework files with
Code:
adb pull /system/framework/framework-res.apk
adb pull /system/framework/framework-zte-res.apk
Install them
Code:
apktool if framework-res.apk
apktool if framework-zte-res.apk
Depending on which ROM you are on you may need to install other frameworks. The above is for the stock ROM.
2. Decompile the apk/jar file.
Pull the apk/jar you want to decompile with
Code:
adb pull path_to_apk_or_jar
Here are paths for some commonly modified apk/jars:
SystemUI: /system/priv-app/SystemUI_ZTE/SystemUI_ZTE.apk
Settings: /system/priv-app/Settings_ZTE/Settings_ZTE.apk
services.jar: /system/framework/services.jar
Decompile the apk with
Code:
apktool d <apk/jar>
If you did everything correctly, a folder should now exist with the name of your apk/jar.
3. Decompile the .odex file
You can skip this step if your apk/jar does not have an .odex associated with it or you only need to modify res and not smali.
Pull the odex file
Code:
adb pull path_to_odex
For example if you want to pull the odex file for SystemUI you would do
Code:
adb pull /system/priv-app/SystemUI_ZTE/oat/arm64/SystemUI_ZTE.odex
Create a folder called "smali" in the directory of your decompiled apk/jar. Then go back to your working directory.
Pull all boot oat files from your device with
Code:
adb pull /system/framework/arm64
Move all the oat files inside the arm64 folder on your PC to your working directory.
Using baksmali, decompile the odex file to smali
Code:
java -jar baksmali.jar deodex -a <api> filename.odex
where api is 23 for Android 6.0, 24 for Android 7.0, and 25 for Android 7.1
A new folder should now be created called "out". Cut and paste the files and folders inside this folder into the "smali" folder you created earlier.
4. Make your modifications.
5. Recompile the apk/jar
From the working directory (not the directory of the decompiled apk/jar) Recompile the apk/jar with
Code:
apktool b name_of_folder
where name_of_folder is the name of the directory of the decompiled apk/jar.
The complied apk/jar should now exist in the "dist" folder in the directory of the decompiled apk/jar.
6. Sign the apk.
Using 7-zip or another archive manager, copy the res folder, resources.arsc file, and the classes.dex file (if you modified smali in steps 3 and 4) from the NEW apk to the ORIGINAL apk.
7. Replace the apk/jar on your device.
Reboot your device into TWRP recovery with
Code:
adb reboot recovery
For user apps: Make sure data is mounted in TWRP's mount menu. If you have encryption turned on you must enter your password otherwise data will not be mounted!
For system apps and framework files: Make sure system is mounted in TWRP's mount menu. Uncheck "Mount system read-only" if it is checked.
Push the ORIGINAL apk/jar to the correct directory on your device
Code:
adb push <apk/jar> path_to_apk_or_jar
Set correct permissions on the apk/jar
Code:
adb shell chmod 0644 path_to_apk_or_jar
If you did step 3, use TWRP's file manager in Advanced<File Manager to navigate to the apk/jar file's directory and delete the existing .oat or .odex file associated with it.
You did it
No go
Hi,
Tried it with the SystemUI_ZTE.apk (and odex) from the 2017G B08 ROM. I ended up with a folder named SystemUI_ZTE. I created a smali folder in that folder and moved the android, com and cn folders (that I got using the "java -jar oat2dex.jar smali SystemUI_ZTE.odex" command) to that smali folder. But when I try the apktool b command I get the following error:
Code:
C:\Users\Blub\ZTE>apktool b SystemUI_ZTE
I: Using Apktool 2.3.0
I: Checking whether sources has changed...
I: Smaling smali folder into classes.dex...
SystemUI_ZTE\smali\android\support\v17\leanback\app\BackgroundManager.smali[102,4] iput-wide-volatile is an odexed instruction. You cannot reassemble a disassembled odex file unless it has been deodexed.
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: Could not smali file: android/support/v17/leanback/app/BackgroundManager.smali
at brut.androlib.src.SmaliBuilder.buildFile(SmaliBuilder.java:75)
at brut.androlib.src.SmaliBuilder.build(SmaliBuilder.java:59)
at brut.androlib.src.SmaliBuilder.build(SmaliBuilder.java:36)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildSourcesSmali(Androlib.java:412)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildSources(Androlib.java:343)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:299)
at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:270)
at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:224)
at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:75)
Any idea what I am doing wrong?
TIA,
Cheers,
/Cacti
le_cactus said:
Hi,
Tried it with the SystemUI_ZTE.apk (and odex) from the 2017G B08 ROM. I ended up with a folder named SystemUI_ZTE. I created a smali folder in that folder and moved the android, com and cn folders (that I got using the "java -jar oat2dex.jar smali SystemUI_ZTE.odex" command) to that smali folder. But when I try the apktool b command I get the following error:
Any idea what I am doing wrong?
TIA,
Cheers,
/Cacti
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I updated the OP with a different tool for the odex file. Try it now.
Hi,
Thanks,but "java -jar baksmali-2.2.0.jar -a 25 -x SystemUI_ZTE.odex -d %CD%" gives me this error
Code:
Exception in thread "main" com.beust.jcommander.MissingCommandException: Expected a command, got -a
at com.beust.jcommander.JCommander.parseValues(JCommander.java:725)
at com.beust.jcommander.JCommander.parse(JCommander.java:304)
at com.beust.jcommander.JCommander.parse(JCommander.java:287)
at org.jf.baksmali.Main.main(Main.java:90)
Cheers,
/Cacti
le_cactus said:
Hi,
Thanks,but "java -jar baksmali-2.2.0.jar -a 25 -x SystemUI_ZTE.odex -d %CD%" gives me this error
Cheers,
/Cacti
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try it without any arguments: "java -jar baksmali-2.2.0.jar SystemUI_ZTE.odex"
Hi,
The command "java -jar baksmali.jar deodex -a 25 SystemUI_ZTE.odex"gives me
Code:
Error occurred while loading class path files. Aborting.
org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver$ResolveException: Error while loading oat file boot.oat
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.loadEntry(ClassPathResolver.java:250)
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.loadLocalClassPathEntry(ClassPathResolver.java:179)
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.loadLocalOrDeviceBootClassPathEntry(ClassPathResolver.java:191)
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.<init>(ClassPathResolver.java:120)
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.<init>(ClassPathResolver.java:105)
at org.jf.baksmali.AnalysisArguments.loadClassPathForDexFile(AnalysisArguments.java:129)
at org.jf.baksmali.AnalysisArguments.loadClassPathForDexFile(AnalysisArguments.java:86)
at org.jf.baksmali.DisassembleCommand.getOptions(DisassembleCommand.java:203)
at org.jf.baksmali.DeodexCommand.getOptions(DeodexCommand.java:71)
at org.jf.baksmali.DisassembleCommand.run(DisassembleCommand.java:177)
at org.jf.baksmali.Main.main(Main.java:102)
Caused by: org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver$NotFoundException: Cannot find dependency boot-core-libart.oat in null
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.loadOatDependencies(ClassPathResolver.java:270)
at org.jf.dexlib2.analysis.ClassPathResolver.loadEntry(ClassPathResolver.java:248)
... 10 more
Cheers,
/Cacti
le_cactus said:
Hi,
The command "java -jar baksmali.jar deodex -a 25 SystemUI_ZTE.odex"gives me
Cheers,
/Cacti
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pull boot-core-libart.oat from /system/framework/arm64/boot-core-libart.oat and try again
Muchas gracias
Hi,
Had to pull all the .oat files from the /system/framework/arm64/ folder, only then I didn't get an error any more using the command "java -jar baksmali.jar deodex -a 25 SystemUI_ZTE.odex". The "command "java -jar baksmali.jar -a 25 -x SystemUI_ZTE.odex -d %CD%" still gave an error, you might wanna change that in the OP.
Now apktool b SystemUI_ZTE didn't give me any errors anymore. Executed the other steps, and bingo! Everthing seems to work. And byy replacing the charging.ogg, my device charges silently.
Thanks from my wife as she now doesn't wake up when I go to bed (and connect the charger). Many thanks for your patience and your excelent guide! I guess I'll bemodding some more APK's now
Cheers,
/Cacti
le_cactus said:
Hi,
Had to pull all the .oat files from the /system/framework/arm64/ folder, only then I didn't get an error any more using the command "java -jar baksmali.jar deodex -a 25 SystemUI_ZTE.odex". The "command "java -jar baksmali.jar -a 25 -x SystemUI_ZTE.odex -d %CD%" still gave an error, you might wanna change that in the OP.
Now apktool b SystemUI_ZTE didn't give me any errors anymore. Executed the other steps, and bingo! Everthing seems to work. And byy replacing the charging.ogg, my device charges silently.
Thanks from my wife as she now doesn't wake up when I go to bed (and connect the charger). Many thanks for your patience and your excelent guide! I guess I'll bemodding some more APK's now
Cheers,
/Cacti
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! I'll add that to the OP! Thanks for helping me out!
Updated the OP with a new signing method that should fix boot hang issues with some apks (aka Settings_ZTE)
bkores said:
Updated the OP with a new signing method that should fix boot hang issues with some apks (aka Settings_ZTE)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMO it was just the same as your previous method (under 5.)was saying : move META-INF ( and manifest but not necessary imo) from original apk into the new apk (in dist folder).
Now you're saying : put res, resources and classes from new apk into new apk...that's just the same, no ? Only more files to move imo.
Since res, resources and classes are indeed changing by compile, wouldn't it be better by just saying : put META-INF from original apk into new apk, like you first wrote in OP ? Easier no ?
ALSO : under 6. you say : Open a command window in the "dist" folder and push the ORIGINAL apk/jar to the correct directory on your device
Shouldn't that be : push ORIGINAL (since you copied files under 5 from NEW(in "dist") to ORIGINAL(in working folder) ) FROM WORKING FOLDER ? Since there is no original apk in DIST folder, only our new apk. Imo you make things a bit confusing here, no ? :cyclops:
raystef66 said:
IMO it was just the same as your previous method (under 5.)was saying : move META-INF ( and manifest but not necessary imo) from original apk into the new apk (in dist folder).
Now you're saying : put res, resources and classes from new apk into new apk...that's just the same, no ? Only more files to move imo.
Since res, resources and classes are indeed changing by compile, wouldn't it be better by just saying : put META-INF from original apk into new apk, like you first wrote in OP ? Easier no ?
ALSO : under 6. you say : Open a command window in the "dist" folder and push the ORIGINAL apk/jar to the correct directory on your device
Shouldn't that be : push ORIGINAL (since you copied files under 5 from NEW(in "dist") to ORIGINAL(in working folder) ) FROM WORKING FOLDER ? Since there is no original apk in DIST folder, only our new apk. Imo you make things a bit confusing here, no ? :cyclops:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fixed!
bkores said:
Fixed!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thnx Mate ! Appreciate all your work :good:
i have some problem with framework.jar, it doesn't have classes.dex in jar but it also doesn't have odex file in /system/framework/oat/arm64 (also arm). Because of it i can't decompile it using smali/baksmali tool. I want to make more volume steps mode like VolumeSteps+ but without Xposed. Hope someone can help.