What is apktool x and how to use it for Android app development?
If you are an Android app developer or enthusiast, you may have heard of apktool, a powerful tool that allows you to decompile, edit, and recompile APK files. APK files are the executable files that contain all the code, resources, and metadata of an Android app. By decompiling an APK file, you can access its source code, modify its features, change its appearance, remove ads, add translations, fix bugs, or learn how it works.
apktool x
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However, if you have an Android Q device (Android 10), you may have encountered some problems when using apktool. Apktool does not work well on Android Q devices due to some changes in the system. Fortunately, there is a solution for that: apktool x.
Apktool x is a modified version of apktool that works on Android Q devices. It is a terminal-based tool that can be installed on your device with root access and termux. It can also be used as an app with a graphical user interface. Apktool x can decompile and recompile APK files on your device without any issues.
In this article, we will show you how to install apktool x on your Android Q device, how to use it to decompile and recompile APK files, how to sign and install the modified APK files on your device, and how to troubleshoot some common errors and issues. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about apktool x.
How to install apktool x on Android Q devices
To install apktool x on your Android Q device, you will need the following requirements and prerequisites:
An Android Q device with root access. Root access means that you have full control over your device's system and can modify it as you wish. You can root your device using various methods depending on your device model and firmware version. You can search online for guides on how to root your device or use apps like Magisk or KingoRoot.
Termux. Termux is a terminal emulator app that allows you to run Linux commands on your Android device. You can install Termux from Google Play Store or F-Droid.
Wget. Wget is a command-line tool that allows you to download files from the internet. You can install wget in termux by running this command: apt update && apt install wget -y
Once you have these requirements and prerequisites ready , you can proceed to install apktool x on your device by following these steps:
Open termux and run this command to download the installation script for apktool x: wget
Run this command to make the script executable: chmod +x setup.sh
Run this command to run the script and install apktool x: ./setup.sh
Wait for the installation to finish. You may be asked to grant some permissions or enter some inputs during the process. Follow the instructions on the screen.
Once the installation is done, you can check if apktool x is working by running this command: apktool -version. You should see something like this: Apktool v2.4.1 - a tool for reengineering Android apk files
Congratulations, you have successfully installed apktool x on your Android Q device!
How to configure apktool x settings and options
Before you start using apktool x to decompile and recompile APK files, you may want to configure some settings and options to suit your preferences and needs. You can do this by editing the apktool.yml file in the $HOME/.apktool/ directory. You can use any text editor app or termux to edit this file.
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The apktool.yml file contains various parameters that affect how apktool x works. Some of the most important ones are:
doNotCompress: This parameter specifies which file types should not be compressed when recompiling an APK file. By default, it includes some common file types such as png, jpg, mp3, etc. You can add or remove file types from this list as you wish.
aaptPath: This parameter specifies the path to the aapt binary file that apktool x uses to handle resources. By default, it is set to /data/data/com.termux/files/usr/bin/aapt. You should not change this unless you know what you are doing.
sdkInfo: This parameter specifies the SDK version and build tools version that apktool x uses to decompile and recompile APK files. By default, it is set to minSdkVersion: 21 and targetSdkVersion: 29. You can change these values according to the SDK version and build tools version of your device or the app you are working on.
useAapt2: This parameter specifies whether to use aapt2 or aapt for handling resources. By default, it is set to false, which means it uses aapt. You can set it to true if you want to use aapt2 instead, but be aware that aapt2 may cause some errors or issues when decompiling or recompiling some apps.
You can find more information about the parameters and their values in the . After editing the apktool.yml file, save it and exit.
How to decompile and recompile APK files using apktool x
Now that you have installed and configured apktool x on your device, you can start using it to decompile and recompile APK files. Here are the steps to do that:
How to extract the APK file from an installed app or a downloaded file
The first step is to get the APK file of the app you want to modify. There are two ways to do that:
If you have already installed the app on your device, you can use termux to copy the APK file from the system directory to your storage directory. To do that, run this command in termux: cp /data/app/-*/base.apk /sdcard/.apk. Replace with the package name of the app (for example, com.facebook.katana for Facebook) and replace with any name you want for the APK file (for example, facebook.apk).
If you have downloaded the APK file from an online source, you can use a file manager app or termux to move or copy the APK file from your download directory to your storage directory. Make sure that the APK file is not corrupted or modified by a malicious app or website. You can check the integrity and authenticity of the APK file by using tools like VirusTotal or APKMirror.
Once you have the APK file in your storage directory, you can proceed to the next step.
How to decompile the APK file into a folder with apktool x commands
The second step is to decompile the APK file into a folder that contains all the source code, resources, and manifest files of the app. To do that, run this command in termux: apktool d /sdcard/.apk -o /sdcard/. Replace with the name of the APK file (for example, facebook.apk) and replace with any name you want for the folder (for example, facebook-decompiled).
This command will create a folder in your storage directory with the name you specified and decompile the APK file into it. You can use a file manager app or termux to browse the folder and see its contents. You should see something like this:
File or Folder
Description
AndroidManifest.xml
The manifest file that contains information about the app, such as its package name, permissions, activities, services, etc.
apktool.yml
The configuration file that contains information about the APK file, such as its version, SDK, compression, etc.
assets
The folder that contains any assets files that the app uses, such as fonts, sounds, videos, etc.
lib
The folder that contains any native libraries that the app uses, such as .so files.
original
The folder that contains the original signature files that the app uses, such as META-INF and CERT.RSA files.
res
The folder that contains all the resources files that the app uses, such as layouts, drawables, values, etc.
smali
The folder that contains all the source code files that the app uses, in smali format. Smali is a human-readable representation of Dalvik bytecode, which is what Android apps run on.
unknown
The folder that contains any unknown files that apktool x could not identify or process.
Congratulations, you have successfully decompiled the APK file into a folder with apktool x!
How to edit the source code, resources, and manifest files in the folder
The third step is to edit the source code, resources, and manifest files in the folder that you created in the previous step. This is where you can modify the app's features, appearance, behavior, etc. You can use any text editor app or termux to edit these files.
Here are some examples of what you can do with these files:
AndroidManifest.xml: You can change the app's package name, permissions, activities, services, etc. For example, you can change the app's name, icon, theme, orientation, etc. by editing the application tag and its attributes.
assets: You can add, remove, or replace any assets files that the app uses. For example, you can change the app's fonts, sounds, videos, etc. by adding or replacing the files in this folder.
lib: You can add, remove, or replace any native libraries that the app uses. For example, you can change the app's functionality or performance by adding or replacing the .so files in this folder.
original: You can ignore this folder as it is not relevant for modifying the app.
res: You can edit any resources files that the app uses. For example, you can change the app's layouts, drawables, values, etc. by editing the files in this folder. You can also add new resources or remove unused ones.
smali: You can edit any source code files that the app uses. For example, you can change the app's logic, algorithms, variables, methods, classes, etc. by editing the smali files in this folder. You can also add new code or remove unused code.
unknown: You can ignore this folder as it is not relevant for modifying the app.
You can find more information about how to edit these files and what they contain in the and online tutorials and guides. Be careful when editing these files as any mistake or error may cause the app to crash or malfunction. Always backup your original APK file and folder before making any changes.
How to recompile the folder into a new APK file with apktool x commands
The fourth step is to recompile the folder into a new APK file that contains all the changes you made in the previous step. To do that, run this command in termux: apktool b /sdcard/ -o /sdcard/.apk. Replace with the name of the folder that contains your modified files (for example, facebook-decompiled) and replace with any name you want for the new APK file (for example, facebook-modified.apk).
This command will create a new APK file in your storage directory with the name you specified and recompile your modified files into it. You can use a file manager app or termux to check if the new APK file is created successfully.
Congratulations, you have successfully recompiled your modified files into a new APK file with apktool x!
How to sign and install the modified APK file on your device
The final step is to sign and install the modified APK file on your device. Signing an APK file means adding a digital signature to it that proves its authenticity and integrity. Installing an APK file means copying it to your device's system directory and registering it as an app.
To sign and install the modified APK file on your device , you will need the following requirements and prerequisites:
Apksigner. Apksigner is a command-line tool that allows you to sign APK files with a signing key. You can install apksigner in termux by running this command: apt update && apt install apksigner -y
Adb. Adb is a command-line tool that allows you to communicate with your device and perform various actions, such as installing apps, transferring files, debugging, etc. You can install adb in termux by running this command: apt update && apt install adb -y
A signing key. A signing key is a file that contains a private key and a public certificate that are used to sign APK files. You can generate a signing key with apksigner by running this command: apksigner keygen --key-size 2048 --out /sdcard/.pk8 --cert /sdcard/.x509.pem. Replace and with any names you want for the key and certificate files (for example, mykey.pk8 and mycert.x509.pem).
Once you have these requirements and prerequisites ready, you can proceed to sign and install the modified APK file on your device by following these steps:
Open termux and run this command to sign the modified APK file with your signing key: apksigner sign --key /sdcard/.pk8 --cert /sdcard/.x509.pem /sdcard/.apk. Replace , , and with the names of your key, certificate, and APK files (for example, mykey.pk8, mycert.x509.pem, and facebook-modified.apk).
Run this command to check if the modified APK file is signed successfully: apksigner verify /sdcard/.apk. Replace with the name of your APK file (for example, facebook-modified.apk). You should see something like this: Verified using v1 scheme (JAR signing): true
Run this command to connect your device to adb: adb connect localhost. You should see something like this: connected to localhost:5555
Run this command to install the signed APK file on your device: adb install -r /sdcard/.apk. Replace with the name of your APK file (for example, facebook-modified.apk). You should see something like this: Success
Congratulations, you have successfully signed and installed the modified APK file on your device!
How to test and verify the changes made in the modified app
The last step is to test and verify the changes made in the modified app. To do that, you can simply open the app on your device and check if it works as expected. You can also use tools like Logcat or Frida to monitor or debug the app's behavior.
Here are some tips and best practices for testing and verifying the changes made in the modified app:
Make sure that the app does not crash or malfunction due to your modifications. If it does, try to identify and fix the cause of the error or issue.
Make sure that the app does not violate any terms of service or policies of the original app developer or provider. If it does, try to respect their rights and avoid any legal or ethical problems.
Make sure that the app does not compromise your device's security or privacy due to your modifications. If it does, try to protect your device and data from any threats or risks.
Make sure that the app does not affect your device's performance or battery life due to your modifications. If it does, try to optimize your modifications or reduce their impact.
Make sure that the app does not interfere with other apps or services on your device due to your modifications. If it does, try to avoid any conflicts or compatibility issues.
You can find more information about how to test and verify the changes made in the modified app in online tutorials and guides.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to use apktool x for Android app development and reverse engineering. We have explained what apktool x is, how to install it on your Android Q device, how to use it to decompile and recompile APK files, how to sign and install the modified APK files on your device, and how to test and verify the changes made in the modified app. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about apktool x. We hope that this article has helped you learn more about apktool x and how to use it for Android app development and reverse engineering. Apktool x is a powerful and useful tool that can help you modify, customize, or learn from any Android app. However, you should also be careful and responsible when using it, as it may cause some errors, issues, or problems if not used properly or ethically. If you want to try apktool x yourself or learn more about it, you can download it from . You can also find more tutorials and guides on how to use apktool x online. Happy hacking! FAQs
What are some common errors and issues when using apktool x and how to fix them?
Some of the common errors and issues that you may encounter when using apktool x are:
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: Could not decode arsc file: This error means that apktool x could not decode the resources file of the APK file. This may happen if the APK file is encrypted, obfuscated, or corrupted. To fix this error, you can try to use a different version of apktool x, use a different APK file, or use a different tool or method to decompile the APK file.
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: Could not find resources: This error means that apktool x could not find the resources file of the APK file. This may happen if the APK file is incomplete, damaged, or modified. To fix this error, you can try to use a different APK file, restore the original resources file, or use a different tool or method to decompile the APK file.
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: Could not find framework resources for package of id: X. You must install proper framework files: This error means that apktool x could not find the framework resources for the APK file. This may happen if the APK file belongs to a system app or a custom ROM that uses a different framework than your device. To fix this error, you can try to install the proper framework files for the APK file by running this command: apktool if /sdcard/.apk. Replace with the name of the APK file (for example, settings.apk).
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: Could not smali file: X.smali: This error means that apktool x could not smali (convert back to bytecode) a source code file. This may happen if the source code file is invalid, corrupted, or incompatible. To fix this error, you can try to edit or remove the source code file, use a different version of apktool x, or use a different tool or method to recompile the APK file.
adb: failed to install /sdcard/.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE]: This error means that adb could not install the modified APK file on your device because it conflicts with an existing app with the same package name. This may happen if you have already installed the original app on your device and did not uninstall it before installing the modified app. To fix this error, you can try to uninstall the original app from your device or change the package name of the modified app in the manifest file.
You can find more information about these errors and issues and how to fix them in online forums and communities.
What are some alternative tools or methods for Android app development and reverse engineering?
Some of the alternative tools or methods that you can use for Android app development and reverse engineering are:
: The original version of apktool that works on most Android devices except Android Q devices.
: A tool that decompiles APK files into Java source code instead of smali code.
: A tool that decomp iles APK files into Java, smali, or bytecode code and allows you to edit them.
: A tool that converts APK files into jar files that can be opened with Java decompilers like JD-GUI or Procyon.
: A tool that provides a graphical user interface for apktool and other tools for Android app development and reverse engineering.
: A tool that allows you to run and modify apps without installing them on your device or rooting your device.
: A tool that allows you to inject code into apps using Xposed modules without modifying the app or the system.
You can find more information about these tools and methods and how to use them in online tutorials and guides.
Is apktool x legal and ethical to use for modifying apps?
The answer to this question depends on the app you are modifying, the purpose of your modification, and the laws and regulations of your country or region. Generally speaking, apktool x is a tool that can be used for both legal and illegal purposes, depending on how you use it.
Some of the legal and ethical purposes of using apktool x are:
To learn how Android apps work and improve your skills as a developer or researcher.
To customize or personalize an app to suit your preferences or needs.
To fix bugs or errors in an app that the original developer has not fixed or updated.
To translate or localize an app to a different language or region.
To remove ads or unwanted features from an app that you have paid for or have permission to use.
Some of the illegal and unethical purposes of using apktool x are:
To steal or copy the code, resources, or ideas of an app without the permission or credit of the original developer or provider.
To modify or distribute an app that violates the terms of service or policies of the original developer or provider.
To modify or distribute an app that infringes the intellectual property rights or privacy rights of others.
To modify or distribute an app that contains malware, spyware, viruses, or other harmful code or content.
To modify or distribute an app that is illegal, immoral, offensive, or harmful to others.
You should always respect the rights and interests of the original developers, providers, and users of the apps you are modifying. You should also always comply with the laws and regulations of your country or region when using apktool x. You should also always be aware of the risks and consequences of using apktool x, such as damaging your device, losing your data, getting sued, getting banned, etc. You should always use apktool x at your own responsibility and discretion.
How to update apktool x to the latest version or switch between different versions?
To update apktool x to the latest version or switch between different versions, you can use the same installation script that you used to install apktool x in the first place. You can run this command in termux to download the installation script: wget
Then, you can run this command to run the script and update apktool x: ./setup.sh. You will be asked to enter the version number of apktool x that you want to install. You can enter latest to install the latest version, stable to install the stable version, beta to install the beta version, old to install the old version, or any specific version number (for example, 2.4.1) to install that version. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
How to contact the developer or get support for apktool x?
If you want to contact the developer of apktool x or get support for it, you can visit for updates and news. 44f88ac181
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