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Hi everyone! I'm still relatively new to all these customizations that can be made on these phones, and I am curious about all these .apk files I keep seeing around. Everyone time one is posted, it says to push it to your phone to replace whatever file is there... The thing is, every time I read about it I find a new way of doing it. Some say to use root explorer, some say SGS tools app, some say to use easy installer, and I think I've even read to use ADB? I just was wondering what's the best method? Easiest method? Can you screw your phone up by replacing these files? I keep reading things like if you want to switch a camera in your ROM to a different version, just install the .apk! Or, if you want to use live wallpapers in a ROM that doesn't come with it, here is the .apk for that!
Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks guys!
tarastaryo said:
Hi everyone! I'm still relatively new to all these customizations that can be made on these phones, and I am curious about all these .apk files I keep seeing around. Everyone time one is posted, it says to push it to your phone to replace whatever file is there... The thing is, every time I read about it I find a new way of doing it. Some say to use root explorer, some say SGS tools app, some say to use easy installer, and I think I've even read to use ADB? I just was wondering what's the best method? Easiest method? Can you screw your phone up by replacing these files? I keep reading things like if you want to switch a camera in your ROM to a different version, just install the .apk! Or, if you want to use live wallpapers in a ROM that doesn't come with it, here is the .apk for that!
Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You CAN screw your phone up if you do it to the wrong APK (like /system/framework/framework-res.apk, if you install a bad one, your phone won't boot, but there is an easy fix, nandroid!).
Basically all the methods do the same thing. In Android "Installing" an app is as easy as moving it to the correct location. All of these methods do just that.
The easiest way IS to probably use Root Explorer because you can rename the old one just in case, and it will handle the system read/write mounting for you. Plus GUIs are always easier.
So here's how it works: user apps go in /data/app, and system apps go in/system/app. User apps can't really mess anything up, but be careful with System ones. Live wallpapers, things of that nature usually don't hurt. Camera is ok to mess around with, too.
Edit: my ramblings are probably confusing, don't hesitate to ask me to clear something up
usually most apk files can be installed easily by transferring the file to the root of your internal sd card then go to MY FILES locate the apk file and click on it and it will ask you to install. Thats it. You can also root explorer and just place it in the system/app folder then reboot. I install all of my apks through the first way I mentioned. On my wife's Mytouch4g there is no my files so use Astro file manager. Come to think of it any file manager from the market will do. Good luck...
tarastaryo said:
Hi everyone! I'm still relatively new to all these customizations that can be made on these phones, and I am curious about all these .apk files I keep seeing around. Everyone time one is posted, it says to push it to your phone to replace whatever file is there... The thing is, every time I read about it I find a new way of doing it. Some say to use root explorer, some say SGS tools app, some say to use easy installer, and I think I've even read to use ADB? I just was wondering what's the best method? Easiest method? Can you screw your phone up by replacing these files? I keep reading things like if you want to switch a camera in your ROM to a different version, just install the .apk! Or, if you want to use live wallpapers in a ROM that doesn't come with it, here is the .apk for that!
Any help is much appreciated!
Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An apk is a specialized application file used by android (uses the same file headers as .zip files).
You are correct that there are various methods to push or move apk's to appropriate directories with in the phone. now as to which is easier or best, all methods work about the same, though there are minute differences.
If you want to move apk's into a certain directory while using a phone i find it easiest to use a file manager like root explorer that has root permissions to move apks around. keep in mind that when moving system files most often you will have to reboot for the changes to take effect with out bugs.
If instead you want to use a computer personally i find ADB to be the easiest. After installing the android sdk you will have to navigate into the android sdk directory then to the platform-tools directory within the android sdk folder. then in command prompt type " adb push <directory of file on your computer> /<directory of where you want it on your phone> hit enter and all is gravy. keep in mind that pushing/moving files to your phone using adb works the best when in recovery mode.
as to which of these operations is the best is a personal decision personally i like to use adb to move around system files and root explorer for applications.
hope this helps
Thanks guys!! Ok, so just to be sure. I'm currently running the Malice rom, and somewhere in the threads is the LiveWallpaperPicker.apk
So all I have to do is download this, place it on the root of my internal SD card, go into file manager and find it, click on it, and it will ask me to install it? It's really that easy??
Or, should I download root explorer and copy and paste it to a specific place?
tarastaryo said:
Thanks guys!! Ok, so just to be sure. I'm currently running the Malice rom, and somewhere in the threads is the LiveWallpaperPicker.apk
So all I have to do is download this, place it on the root of my internal SD card, go into file manager and find it, click on it, and it will ask me to install it? It's really that easy??
Or, should I download root explorer and copy and paste it to a specific place?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For that file you will need to place it in /system/app (it can't be installed normally because it's a system app). So you need something like Root Explorer
I think EStrongs File explorer is a decent free alternative, but when I tried it a couple months ago I had no luck with it so I just bought Root Explorer (good investment)
The guide in my signature touches on this, but BT has you covered. I am also a huge advocate of Root Explorer.
Just take the .apk, move it to system/apps and I reboot, but it may not be necessary... no need to click on it and select install, as BT referenced.
Thanks so much everyone! Just purchased root explorer and will try this out.
IT WORKED IT WORKED IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
After I rebooted, none of my widgets could load, but I have live wallpapers again! I love learning new stuff! Thanks sooooooooooooooooo much! You guys are the BEST!!!
Odd about the widgets. Were you able to just remove them and re-add them back?
Yep, just deleted them off my home screen and added them back again. All of them had errors saying widget could not load
Hi all,
Hope you guys can help me.
Two days ago I was digging my rooted device(2.3.5) and had accidentally uninstalled my "settings.apk",... Now I cant change my settings because I've lost my access to settings menu..Also, many functions like widgets, wifi config and sms service seems to be gone.
Can you guys believe I was able to do that?? haha...
I need someone to send me this apk again or..... Since My device is from Brazil and I dont know if there's something diff between verions, I need to reinstall my Android but I couldnt find a tutorial..
Could please try to help me??
Regards,
Fernando
look for the fastboot files for your device in the development section
My razr is also from Brazil, but was bought in Canada. It is not rooted. Can I help you anyway?
Hummmm...Maybe....if you could send me the "settings.apk" I can try to reinstall it... Since your RAZR is from Brazil, I bleieve you'll find it with diff name, "Configurar.apk"
I'd be glad if you try..
Fernando
"fergione @ g m a i l . c o m"
Didnt work. still no access to settings menu.
Hey
A user has sent me the settings.apk, bur it hasnt worked, it finishes the instalation with the msg "Application is not installed"...I believe I'll have to reinstall 2.3.5 (brasilian versionagain... I saw lots of threads talking about it, but since I'm not familiar with this it will be hard to find the right one?
Could you please point me the right thread to follow?? Is there a step by step?
Thanks,
Fernando
You don't install system apks, you push them to /system/app, or drop them in there manually with a file explorer that has root access (root explorer, es file explorer, et cetera). User-installed apps live in the /data partition.
Make sure you have the matching settings.odex in /system/app as well.
Sent from my XT910 using xda premium
Hummmm.. i hope this will help u
Great...
I'll try that, but I also need the ".odex" as for razr 2.3.5 as well.
MAX6500, could you send me your ".odex" file too??
Thanks
Hi all,
I'm facing similar issues...
I stupidly deleted some system files which I had backed up, the backup however dosent seem to work even after placing it in the system/app folder with the right permissions and ownership.
also I can't seem to find a leaked fastboot file for my system version: 65.1.21.XT910.PSHAsiaRetail.en.03
any ideas?
My RAZR is back...
dco717 said:
look for the fastboot files for your device in the development section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've downloaded SBF file and reinstalled using RSD file and now it's fixed...
Moderator can now close this thread.
Tks
Hey there, if I'm retarded and don't know how to search properly, flame away, but I found nothing. I really like having the allshare feature to stream to my Samsung TVs and Bluray players, but all the non-original roms have removed the allshare application. Does anyone have some insight for me?
flatlandju said:
Hey there, if I'm retarded and don't know how to search properly, flame away, but I found nothing. I really like having the allshare feature to stream to my Samsung TVs and Bluray players, but all the non-original roms have removed the allshare application. Does anyone have some insight for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Custom roms remove lots of stuff,no worries because you can always download a rom that you know has what you need and extract stuff.I'm pretty sure you are looking for this Dlna.apk for allshare.I extracted it out of the newest n7000 note stock dodexed-rooted rom.You will have to put it in system/app file and set correct permissions.There is a lot of info on how to do this in the forums if you don't know how.
technut said:
Custom roms remove lots of stuff,no worries because you can always download a rom that you know has what you need and extract stuff.I'm pretty sure you are looking for this Dlna.apk for allshare.I extracted it out of the newest n7000 note stock dodexed-rooted rom.You will have to put it in system/app file and set correct permissions.There is a lot of info on how to do this in the forums if you don't know how.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It still doesn't seem to want to let me install it no matter what I do or where I place the APK. I must be missing something.
Are you using tw rom or aosp rom. the stock dlna is for tw only. there are other apps that work like twonky.
flatlandju said:
It still doesn't seem to want to let me install it no matter what I do or where I place the APK. I must be missing something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To install .apk's you need a file manager like esf file explorer and set the permissions in the settings of the app to:root explorer/up to root/mount file system as writable(this is how you are allowed to change permissions of .apk's) then it's a matter of moving the .apk file into the system/app folder and changing the properties of the .apk to rw-r--r--(see attached).That .apk might rely on .lib files or other files to run,I'm not sure,I looked for any lib files that looked like they might of belonged with that .apk but I couldn't find any.Anything really beyond this I am not advanced enough to help out getting it to run on your rom but many here are though.If you are on an ICS rom it will run on it though if you get the correct files and permissions.Good luck.
technut said:
To install .apk's you need a file manager like esf file explorer and set the permissions in the settings of the app to:root explorer/up to root/mount file system as writable(this is how you are allowed to change permissions of .apk's) then it's a matter of moving the .apk file into the system/app folder and changing the properties of the .apk to rw-r--r--(see attached).That .apk might rely on .lib files or other files to run,I'm not sure,I looked for any lib files that looked like they might of belonged with that .apk but I couldn't find any.Anything really beyond this I am not advanced enough to help out getting it to run on your rom but many here are though.If you are on an ICS rom it will run on it though if you get the correct files and permissions.Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you all so much for the replies, I never knew how well one would be treated on here! I still haven't gotten it to work, probably due to being on the new PA cm10 release, but you guys are great regardless
Hi all,
I am having issues with copy and paste on my stock ROM. According to Clipper, nothing goes into the clipboard when I cut/copy text. I've tried this in S Memo, Gmail, Chrome, Messaging and Whatsapp, so it should be a system issue. Is anyone else having similar problems? Mine is running PDA: I9305ZHALI8. Any help would be much appreciated, thanks in advance!
Not mine. I've tried copying text from webpage to search bar, and even copied some text from Gmail to Whatsapp.
But...does I9305ZHALI8 exist? Mine is ZHALI7.
Where's your S III LTE brought from? Mine is HK.
Edit: Seen the upgrade. I decide not to upgrade first.
Fix
I hade the same problem, but i found a salution.
First open upp any root explorer app.
data and look for the folder named clipboard.
delite that folder and boot your phone in to recovery mode.
then you fix permissions.
hoped i helped
ansonscleung: I just upgraded today hoping that the update would fix this copy paste issue, but unfortunately it does not. I was on I9305ZHALI7 for almost two weeks.
Curwer: Thanks for your fix! I was hoping I wouldn't have to root but if I may have to do so if it really gets on my nerves...
sry I dont know any other way to fix this, maybe factory reset will but i´m not 100% on that :/
Curwer said:
I hade the same problem, but i found a salution.
First open upp any root explorer app.
data and look for the folder named clipboard.
delite that folder and boot your phone in to recovery mode.
then you fix permissions.
hoped i helped
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It definitely worked, I love you
vyper91 said:
It definitely worked, I love you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP. This is the dev section. Please put your questions in to the appropriate forum Q & A next time. it helps make the moderators jobs less tiresome and makes teh dev section less cluttered
Ok you I9305 guys really have to stop posting non dev stuff in the dev forum...
Thread moved to general
Hello xda forum!
This is my first post, so please forgive me if I am doing anything wrong.
Probably like others who frequent this forum, the second I got my S4, I immediately rooted the phone and tried to delete all the Verizob/Samsung bloatware using Titanium Backup. This went without hitch, BUT there was one problem: Backup Assistant Plus.
I have completely uninstalled the Backup Assistant Plus app itself, but the uninstall did not get rid of the "Backup Assistant Plus" icon from the "Accounts" menu in the settings. Now the button just causes the settings to force close and annoys me to now end. I have attached a screenshot of my settings to be clear as to what I am talking about.
I have googled the problem, and see that the owners of the Galaxy S3 have solved the problem by modding the secsettings.apk on this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1814099
However, the thread does not provide any explanation as to how the modder did it, so I was not able to reproduce it on the S4.
Can anyone help quell my ocd and give advice on getting rid of the menu?
Thanks in advanced!
It is indeed in secsettings. Do you know how to decompile and recompile apks?
sent from my Verizon Galaxy s4
Dubbsy said:
It is indeed in secsettings. Do you know how to decompile and recompile apks?
sent from my Verizon Galaxy s4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, thanks for replying!
I have read about the process while scouring the forums, but have never actually had a reason to try it
I am a quick learner though and know how to program, so if it requires decompiling and recompiling, I think I'd be fine.
TheChoBro said:
Hello, thanks for replying!
I have read about the process while scouring the forums, but have never actually had a reason to try it
I am a quick learner though and know how to program, so if it requires decompiling and recompiling, I think I'd be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Head over the android development section and download whichever apktool/apkeditor/decompile+recompile tool you want. I use Rujelus22's AIO Script personally but they all work.
You'll need SDK and JDK downloaded. You'll need 4.2.2's SDK branch downloaded. Installed and path setup correctly(you'll find that info while gathering the tools). Then you'll need 7zip and notepad++(a modified notepad++ is included in Ruj's AIO)
While at it decompile the framework-res.apk, systemui.apk, and settingsprovider.apk. You may want to dig in those as well to pick out lingering VZW services.
When you go to decompile make sure your AAPT in your SDK folder is in platform-tools folder. Make sure it's up to date. Make sure you are using whatever the latest apktool is. If using the Ruj AIO it will walk you through setup. But if you go about the more manual methods you will need to install your framework-res and tw-framework-res files so that it can decompile and recompile correctly.
Be careful what you delete and what you modify. Fair warning, you will likely boot loop the first few times. You also will probably find recompiling will error out often. That's because when it decompiles it sometimes drops neccesary symbols that need to be in the files in order to pack back up. For systemui specifically there was a missing + sign from a bunch of strings. When you run across these errors, read your log, and then google search... 9 times out of 10 you will find something of use to correct the issue.
:good: