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.
Hi there,
I have found a lots of .tmp files on my tablet in path /sdcard. Each of it use 1,17 kb and avaliable to delete.
Is there any app or trick to delete these files easily? And of course, the big question: how could I explain which app generates these files?
Thank you for yours advice!
Kind Regards,
IPFCS
Hello Friends, I have a basic general query.
Can .apk files saved on a computer be installed without the absolute necessity of a file management app/file manager?
I ask this because a friend of mine, believe it or not, has no form of internet access! She has Temple Run on her computer which she intends on installing on her Samsung Galaxy Ace GT-S5830.
I suggested her to get ES File Explorer and that is when she informed me, she has no internet access. Yesterday, on 13 July 2012, she informed me that she has the .apk file of ES File Explorer as well but she has no clue how to install it on her device.
She has enabled Unknown sources to allow installation of non-Market applications.
Is there a way she can atleast install ES File Explorer, which will take care of her follow-up app installations? Will Samsung Kies to the job?
Thanking you all in advance and anticipating your responses.
She just needs to move the .apk from her computer (assuming she has one?) to the root of her sdcard. Then install like any other .apk file through file manager. Simple!
Sent from my MB865 using xda's premium carrier pigeon service
Apex_Strider said:
She just needs to move the .apk from her computer (assuming she has one?) to the root of her sdcard. Then install like any other .apk file through file manager. Simple!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Apex_Strider.
But does she need to have a file management app (such as ES File Explorer or ASTRO File Manager) installed on her device?
YLNdroid said:
Thank you Apex_Strider.
But does she need to have a file management app (such as ES File Explorer or ASTRO File Manager) installed on her device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, just simply plug in the phone and select "USB Mass Storage" option, locate the .apk file on the computer, copy to root of sdcard, eject the phone or select "Charge Only" and then use the built-in file manager to locate and install the .apk (or any .apk file for that matter) and install... easy as pie!
Sent from my MB865 using xda's premium carrier pigeon service
Apex_Strider said:
copy to root of sdcard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apex_Strider, you mean /sdcard, right? The .apk file must not be placed in a folder.
Thank you for being patient with my naive behaviour.
YLNdroid said:
Apex_Strider, you mean /sdcard, right? The .apk file must not be placed in a folder.
Thank you for being patient with my naive behaviour.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, sir. Don't place in any of the folders within the sd card, but at the root of the /sdcard and you're all set!
Hello Friends, I am back with another general query.
How can I download a .apk file from the Google Play Store and save it on my computer? There are situations when I have no internet access and thus I intend on keeping basic apps such as HC-kTool, Temple Run, ES File Explorer, etc., ready at hand if and when I require them.
:silly:
Thanking you in advance and awaiting your replies.
YLNdroid said:
Hello Friends, I am back with another general query.
How can I download a .apk file from the Google Play Store and save it on my computer? There are situations when I have no internet access and thus I intend on keeping basic apps such as HC-kTool, Temple Run, ES File Explorer, etc., ready at hand if and when I require them.
:silly:
Thanking you in advance and awaiting your replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to install them to your device from the market, and then either use another app to backup the apk files to your sdcard, or if your rooted you can simply navigate to the /system/app folder and copy the apk files to the sdcard yourself
zacthespack said:
You will need to install them to your device from the market, and then either use another app to backup the apk files to your sdcard, or if your rooted you can simply navigate to the /system/app folder and copy the apk files to the sdcard yourself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you zacthespack, I was unaware Android apps could be "re-used" if needed, after installation. All this while I was under the self-created foolish presumption that an "installed" application cannot be copied and saved.
Thank you once again for educating me. I love this community.
YLNdroid said:
Thank you zacthespack, I was unaware Android apps could be "re-used" if needed, after installation. All this while I was under the self-created foolish presumption that an "installed" application cannot be copied and saved.
Thank you once again for educating me. I love this community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your welcome, yes the apps are stored in there apk form and just run (much like a java program is compiled to a .jar and run)
A humble enquiry directed at the Superiors of the community. Can a forum for the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus GT-S7500 be considered?
:fingers-crossed:
Thank you.
YLNdroid said:
A humble enquiry directed at the Superiors of the community. Can a forum for the Samsung Galaxy Ace Plus GT-S7500 be considered?
:fingers-crossed:
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That request should go in this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1660354
Sent from my M886 using Tapatalk 2
Hello Friends, I have another query.
Am I correct to presume the user installed apps are stored under /data/app? If so, using Root Explorer I can copy the apps and save them wherever I desire, right?
Also, can I rename these apps after I copy and save them to another location? For example, the HC-kTool app I downloaded from the Google Play Store, is stored as net.hellcat.droiddev.ktool-1.apk under /data/app. Can I rename it to whatever I desire, as long as it ends as .apk, after I save it to a different location?
:silly:
Thank you for bearing my stupidity. I look forward to your replies.
YLNdroid said:
Hello Friends, I have another query.
Am I correct to presume the user installed apps are stored under /data/app? If so, using Root Explorer I can copy the apps and save them wherever I desire, right?
Also, can I rename these apps after I copy and save them to another location? For example, the HC-kTool app I downloaded from the Google Play Store, is stored as net.hellcat.droiddev.ktool-1.apk under /data/app. Can I rename it to whatever I desire, as long as it ends as .apk, after I save it to a different location?
:silly:
Thank you for bearing my stupidity. I look forward to your replies.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES for all questions
Cannot locate an app
Hello Friends, I downloaded the npower app, https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDMsImNvbXBzb2Z0LmFuZHJvaWQubnBvd2VyIl0. from the Google Play Store, but it is not visible under /data/app.
Is there another location where apps get stored after installation?
YLNdroid said:
Hello Friends, I downloaded the npower app, https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDMsImNvbXBzb2Z0LmFuZHJvaWQubnBvd2VyIl0. from the Google Play Store, but it is not visible under /data/app.
Is there another location where apps get stored after installation?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cannot install this app in my country to tell you the exact location of file. If you are using root explorer then use the inbuilt search fuction, root explorer will find it for you.
Sent from my GT-N7000
Hello all, I have another general query.
Is there a repository/database of stock firmwares for Sony mobile devices similar to Sam Mobile?
I will soon have a plethora of Sony mobile phones to fiddle around with!
:silly:
YLNdroid said:
Hello all, I have another general query.
Is there a repository/database of stock firmwares for Sony mobile devices similar to Sam Mobile?
I will soon have a plethora of Sony mobile phones to fiddle around with!
:silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Friends, any suggestions?