APKTool is an application (made by Brut.all) which decompiles and recompiles android APKs. If you know what you are doing, it also allows you to debug the smali code step by step. In our case it will enable us to build a language pack by translating the .xml strings inside APK files.
This tutorial is for the Windows version of APKtool.
The Google.Code page for APKTool is here, however, we have prepackaged everything you need and uploaded it here
The Video Tutorial is Below:
The Supplementary guide to common errors in APKTool is below:
You need to do the following preparations (the video outlines these steps anyway):
- Download the prepackaged APKTool zip.
- Extract them to a directory you will remember.
- Extract framework-res.apk AND apk files you want to decompile from the MIUI_Au ROM and copy them to the root directory of APKTool.
This step must be completed every time you are dealing with APKTool:
- Open a command window
- Navigate to the root directory of APKtool and type the following command:
apktool if framework-res.apk
The output should be:
I: Framework installed to: C:\Users\Josh\apktool\framework\1.apk
This step does the actual decompiling of the APK (I will assume that the chosen APK is Settings.apk):
apktool d Settings.apk
The output should be:
I: Loading resource table…
I: Decoding resources…
I: Copying assets and libs…
After doing that, a new directory with the name of the APK you decompiled should have been created. You need to:
- Change into the newly created directory.
- Change into the /res folder
- Check to see if a values-xx folder exists, where xx is the two letter code of the target language to be translated into. For example, if you are aiming to translate into German, check for a values-de folder. If it does not exist (and chances are that if you are translating into a new language, that it will not exist), you need to create it. Then, copy the arrays.xml and strings.xml files from the /values folder into the folder you just created.
- Open these two files (in Notepad ++) and alter the strings (the text in BLACK ONLY). Look out for things that look like %d and %s /’ - Don’t edit these, as they are variables. Also, if you see &, it represents the ‘&’ sign, so feel free to change it. Finally, you MUST be sure to place a backslash ‘\’ before an apostrophe, for example Proxy\’s would be the equivalent of Proxy’s.
- Once you have translated and edited your arrays.xml and strings.xml files, save them, and return to the root directory of APKTool.
- Open a command prompt to that directory
Enter the following command to recompile your edited and translated APK (assuming that Settings.apk is the chosen APK):
apktool b Settings
The output should be:
I: Checking whether sources has changed…
I: Smaling…
I: Checking whether resources has changed…
I: Building resources…
I: Building apk file…
You may get a couple of these messages:
aapt: warning: string ‘app_killed_message’ has no default translation in C:\Users\Josh\Desktop\NF\framework-res\res; found: fr it ja
aapt: warning: string ‘global_action_reboot’ has no default translation in C:\Users\Josh\Desktop\NF\framework-res\res; found: fr it ja
aapt: warning: string ‘reboot_system’ has no default translation in C:\Users\Josh\Desktop\NF\framework-res\res; found: fr it ja
aapt: warning: string ‘toast_reboot_recommend’ has no default translation in C:\Users\Josh\Desktop\NF\framework-res
However, it will build the apk anyway. These messages mean that some strings don’t have values. It is only an issues if the text im blue includes your translation language.
Once that is done, two directories will have been created within the decompilation directory. One will be called “dist”, and this is where it will place a built, but not signed, apk file. The other one is called “build”, and here it will place everything “loose” (the contents of the APK).
I have trouble using the APK files it spits out in the /dist folder ( they force closes if they are an application, or bootloop it a framework-res.apk; I think the reason is because Android will not accept APK files that are not signed). Instead, copy the resources.arsc from the /build directory into the original framework-res from the rom (just overwrite the old resources.arsc one with the new one).
This tutorial is for the Windows version of APKtool.
When i type:
apktool d myapk.apk
it returns an error:
input file was not found or was not readable. What does that mean? What should i do???
Thanks in advance
Either your APK is corrupt (from an incomplete copy operation, perhaps?) or you aren’t pointing APKTool to the correct location.
Dead Link
I’d like to translate 4-way reboot menu in MIUI_Au 2.4.3, but I don’t know which apk file to decompile.
android.policy.jar
I did it the lazy way.
Say’s HTC Desire at the Top, but was wondering if this would work with HTC Evo 4G too? using ubuntu10LTS and installed apktool just wanted to know before heading in Deeper? Thank’s and very appreciative.
Yeah apktool and apk editing works the same for any Android rom.
Hi , i did all steps
1- apktool if framework-res.apk : and the directory has been created
C:\Users\beshoo\apktool\framework
and it hase
1.apk
127.apk
but when i type :
C:\Users\beshoo>C:\android-sdk1hhb\apktool\apktool.exe d C:\android-sdk1hhb\apkt
ool\net.ponury.faceniff-1.apk
i got :
ERROR: no dump file specified
please advice
‘java’ is not recognized as an internal or external command getting this error on start up
try this
>java apktool.jar d xxx.apk
This step must be completed every time you are dealing with APKTool:
Open a command window
Navigate to the root directory of APKtool and type the following command:
apktool if framework-res.apk ———-substitute this for what i typed above
type it exactly how i typed it only substituting the xxx.apk for whatever apk you have to decompile – also make sure the apk you want to decompile is in the same folder as the apktool
When I type the commands in a command window all I get is ‘java’ is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program, or batch file.
I’ve watched the video and I do exactly as he does but it just don’t work. It’s maddening!
Hi,
Ted and Matt, your problem for ‘‘java’ is not recognized as an internal or external command getting this error on start up’ is meant you have not install java on your machine.So you need to install java2sdk from oracle.com and it is free.
Hi, I tried to decompile the Phone.apk of my Galaxy S2. So I copied
the framework-res.apk to the root of apktool and installed it but
when I try to decompile the Phone.apk or the Browser.apk I get
this error:
Can’t find framework resources for package of id: 2. You must install proper fra
mework files, see project website for more info.
I have uploaded the files here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?k36ak52gwqay45d
I hope anybody knows a way to decompile and can help me.
Best Regards
anyway to get this working on cm7 apks like cm settings, cm7 frameworks or system ui? it errors on the decompile and recompile saying it has missing resources.
most notably on the png9 files
You must be sure to copy the framework-res.apk from the ROM you will be working with into the same directory as APKTool.
Then issue the command: apktool if framework-res.apk
After this, you should be free to decompile any apk coming from the ROM you are working with and not encounter any issues.