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I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Not sure if in understood well, did you mean if instal anything from SD card? If you are asking that the answer is yes, i install everything from SD card and the apk file stay there after installation.
What if u install any app from Market?
vijay.gupta said:
I have a confusion regarding android. this is very general query.
In Computer, first we have to have exe file to install anything and then we click on it to install the app on windows computer generally. when the app is installed on computer, we have installed app files in program files and then a dump (that is exe file) which we keep to install this app on any other computer.
Now, please let me know if this is applicable in android phones also?
I know that in android, there is .apk file instead of .exe file in computer. I observed that after installation apk file disappears. Is this true?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even in Android you can see the .apk files under /system/app. Also applications installed by you can be backed up & later restored using software available on market.
"Normally" these apks dissapear when you download from.market, but all of.your apks are stored in your phone, the thing is that you have to hav permission to do that, when you download an apk (the single file) and store it in sd card to install it, the apk is copied to the phone.
Sent from my GT-I5801 using XDA App
But if u back up ur apps as .apk and install them later using softwares (with exception of Titanium backup) u will loose connection between the app and android market (that means no updates)
the best option is to backup ur apps with titanium backup along with user data and restore it using the same
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
vijay.gupta said:
how do i access /system/app? Do I need to root the phone in order to see this directory?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download Terminal emulator from market & you are ready to go to /system/app !!!!
You can also download Root Explorer and so the same
Thank all. Can you please confirm what I am writing below:
Suppose I buy a android phone (with android 2.1 so you cannot install apps from SD card) in which I installed an application named XYZ from Market. Now, there is a apk file for XYZ which gets downloaded somewhere in the phone memory and then it gets installed automatically.
Now, I just want to know, where does this apk file go after XYZ is installed? Does it stay in phone memory with the installed files of XYZ.
If it goes to phone memory and not deleted from there, then phone memory
if u install .apk from market it will be stored and installed in /data/app in phone memory. i do not think it is stored twice in the phone.
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Do u mean to say that only the installed file gets stored and. apk. File got deleted automatically after getting installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Remember that an .apk file its a variant of the .jar files when you install an .apk this file gets stored inside the phone along with its necesary dependencies when the app starts, the os reads this file line by line while the app is executed.
In short terms the .apk file its the application itself that need a proper interpreter to run, in that way when you install and app to the phone, it copies this file and links the dependencies, so the .apks downloaded from makret are stored directly inside the app folder, in that way you can extract them from this folder and use it in another android phone.
You are relying too much on the windows ways of things. You see an exe file installion in windows essentially unpacking everything (other things aside) where it is needed and you then often see a bunch of files and folders. This is not what happens in android, the apk file is conserved when installed and can be found in the root part of your phone. Its data/app/ if installed on your phone, mnt/asec. (or something like asec) if installed on your sd card. You can copy that file to your sd card or send it to another device and install it again. I did just that today (I sent an apk to a friend)
anyway i dont think its same if i delete .apk + odex files from /data/app as i uninstall it with titanium backup. i think TB will be delete also data stored by the app inside the database (its the place where the apps are saving data, settings, etc...)
In case you are installing from Android Market:
1. When you are at market, it doesn't ask you to download. You will only get option either to install or update the existing app.
2. If you are a normal user, after installing, you won't be able to see the apk file anywhere on your memory card. But if you are a root user or with the help of special file managers and specific apps like root explorer and terminal emulators, you can locate those spk files in the phone's hidden memory.
3. If you are a root user, or with the help above mentioned type of apps, you can locate the apk files in phone memory and copy it on your memory card and distribute it to your wish.
4. If you are worried for paid apps and losing your phone or apps because of resetting or any other reason then stop worrying. A record of your paid apps is stored in google servers. So, even if you reset your phone or lose your phone, once you log in to a your new android device with the same google account, it will automatically show your paid apps. You don't have to pay for it again. Just need to install it again. This is applicable only if you are paying for the app through android market and you are logging into your android device with the same google account you had before losing your apps.
In case of installing via your SD card:
1. apk files are just like java files (.jad or .jar). You can download it on your PC from various sources and transfer it to your SD card or any of your friends' via USB, bluetooth or any other way.
2. After transfering the apk file to your SD card, it doesn't get automatically installed. You have to click it or open it to install, just like how we double click the exe file in windows.
3. Whether installed or not installed, the apk file you transfer to your SD card will always remain there unless and untill you or someone else delete it or you format your memory card.
4. Once installed, a copy of the same apk file would also be there in your phone's hidden memory, which you can access using special apps.
If you worried about losing your apps, try searching for other apps which backups apk... you can do so at android market. Moreover, also search on the net about having root access on your android device.. it'll let you access files in your phone's memory.
I hope, this would solve down all your queries !!!
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2 devil. Very gud explanation. It cleared almost all confusions. I have some more confusions that i want to clear out.
1) just a general query that just like exe file got unpacked after double clicking on it and install its files in c: genrally, does the same happen with apk, jad and jar files?
2) just want to clear out that phone memory which is hidden for normal users contains the copy of only those apk files that are currently installed on the phone and not the ones that are uninstalled or not installed at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. I am not sure about JAD and JAR files, but yes, APK files unpack itself to get installed. You can come to know the exact size/space that would be taken by the app directly from the android market. Details would be given there.
2. Yes, the phone memory would be having copy of files only which is installed. There would be no copy of any apk file which in not installed.
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
vijay.gupta said:
Thanks next2devil. Your response give rise to one more query.
if i compare unpacking logic from windows, there is no need for original exe file to remain in existence after it has been installed and user can delete exe file after installing it. Deleting exe file has no negative impact on the working of installed app. Please let me know if this is also the case with apk files? If yes, then what is the need of apk file to remain in phone memory after it has been installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Short and simple. Deleting the apk file from /data/app removes the app.
Sent from my Lestatious v1.4.5.5 Galaxy 3 FROYO
Just installed multirom and have a question. When you download a new rom zip, which folder are you supposed to put it in .
I assumed it would be the multirom folder, but I cannot find any way to move the zip from my download folder to the multirom one.
I have tried moving, copy and paste and about any way I could think of to move a file, but no go.It seems like for some reason access to the multirom folder is denied. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong and someone that's a lot smarter than me will clue me in.
Thanks
Dennis
Old Guy said:
Just installed multirom and have a question. When you download a new rom zip, which folder are you supposed to put it in .
I assumed it would be the multirom folder, but I cannot find any way to move the zip from my download folder to the multirom one.
I have tried moving, copy and paste and about any way I could think of to move a file, but no go.It seems like for some reason access to the multirom folder is denied. I am sure it is something I am doing wrong and someone that's a lot smarter than me will clue me in.
Thanks
Dennis
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can have it in whatever folder you want, when you go to flash the zip file in TWRP it will ask you to select the folder that the zip is stored in.
The multirom folder isn't accessible normally for performance reasons (Android's media scanner would spend a lot of time scanning the files in there, wasting CPU cycles and battery). If you really do need to access that folder though, there are other ways to do so.
farmerbb said:
You can have it in whatever folder you want, when you go to flash the zip file in TWRP it will ask you to select the folder that the zip is stored in.
The multirom folder isn't accessible normally for performance reasons (Android's media scanner would spend a lot of time scanning the files in there, wasting CPU cycles and battery). If you really do need to access that folder though, there are other ways to do so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right you are.For some strange reason when when I tried this before there was no file tree when I clicked on choose rom , just a blank page.
That's what really had me stumped.
Tried again after reading your post and and installed a rom no problem.
Again many thanks
Dennis
I've already debloated the ROM (D802 30b) and deleted preload folder and other useless apps from system, but we all now that after every reboot, "something" is re-creating this Preload folder even if the real folder no longer exist..
The folder itself is 0 byte, but how to avoid this symlink?
I've decompiled framework, lge-res and other system apk, but I became blind watching lot of xml, so if anyone can help me, I will be very grateful....
Ps.. Something is also creating "Quickset setup" folder, but is linked to Quick remote app (the only LG quick app in my phone) and will be beautiful to get rid of this too..
+1 also deleted preload system folder but every boot the folder shows up at sdcard.
Must be in some script
Hello guys i have an issue with one app i couldnt install it says "app not installed" I readed i need to delete smdl2tmp1.asec in android secure folder on the SD but i dont have that folder anywhere, i have i9505 with android 5.0.2... so what can i do ?
Thanks.
JezZu said:
Hello guys i have an issue with one app i couldnt install it says "app not installed" I readed i need to delete smdl2tmp1.asec in android secure folder on the SD but i dont have that folder anywhere, i have i9505 with android 5.0.2... so what can i do ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted you can force-install the app by moving the apk into the /sytem/app folder or /system/priv-app folder.
Note: System apps are installed in /system/app folder. User apps are installed in the /system/priv-app folder.
Then set the right permissions for the apk, reboot your device and you're done.
JezZu said:
Hello guys i have an issue with one app i couldnt install it says "app not installed" I readed i need to delete smdl2tmp1.asec in android secure folder on the SD but i dont have that folder anywhere, i have i9505 with android 5.0.2... so what can i do ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You had a similar app already installed and it was moved to sdcard
So now you have to identify which app is this and then uninstall it from your phone
Second option is to insert your sdcard into pc and then you will get /.android_secure folder then just look for the file and delete it
But i will recommend to remove deprecated app first.
GDReaper said:
If you're rooted you can force-install the app by moving the apk into the /sytem/app folder or /system/priv-app folder.
Note: System apps are installed in /system/app folder. User apps are installed in the /system/priv-app folder.
Then set the right permissions for the apk, reboot your device and you're done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok i did what u tell me i move the apk to system/app folder, i reboot my device and it appears as icon then when i open it Force close i think is for the permissions but i dont know what permissions i need to set.
I'm trying to find a way to move an app from /data/app to /system/priv-app correctly. I'm on Oreo 8.1.0 with January 5, 2018 security patches. I'm rooted with Magisk v16.0.
I've tried using ES File Explorer to move it manually and apply correct permissions. I've tried using Lucky Patcher and Titanium Backup Pro to move it. With the manual move and Lucky Patcher, the app disappears (icon/shortcut is shaded out and doesn't work). With Titanium Backup, it starts the processing and sits with "Processing" forever.
Does anyone know of a way to move the app to system correctly?
What app are you trying to do it for? The most efficient way that I've found is to...
1. Install the app normally.
2. Find the app within /data/app/ and copy the folder to your internal storage
3. Uninstall the app
4. Copy and paste the folder either into /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/
5. Reboot and see if it works
---------- Post added at 05:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:32 PM ----------
What app are you trying to do it for? The most efficient way that I've found is to...
1. Install the app normally.
2. Find the app within /data/app/ and copy the folder to your internal storage
3. Uninstall the app
4. Copy and paste the folder either into /system/app/ or /system/priv-app/
5. Reboot and see if it works
Edit: It would seem that XDA is lagging for me. Excuse the double post, lol.
jvnat said:
I'm trying to find a way to move an app from /data/app to /system/priv-app correctly. I'm on Oreo 8.1.0 with January 5, 2018 security patches. I'm rooted with Magisk v16.0.
I've tried using ES File Explorer to move it manually and apply correct permissions. I've tried using Lucky Patcher and Titanium Backup Pro to move it. With the manual move and Lucky Patcher, the app disappears (icon/shortcut is shaded out and doesn't work). With Titanium Backup, it starts the processing and sits with "Processing" forever.
Does anyone know of a way to move the app to system correctly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you mount system in TWRP, you can use file explorer in advance setting to move any file anywhere. No need to set any permissions. Just reboot. Been doing that for while now. No problems at all.
I use root explorer,install app normal .got to data/app.copy to system/privapp.then go back to data/app delete the app,then reboot.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give those methods a go.
I am trying to install an app in /system/priv-app and the app is not showing up in Settings -> Apps even with "Show system" selected.
This is on Google HTC Nexus 9 (flounder) Android 7.1.1 Security patch level October 5, 2017. I used TWRP to remount the root filesytem rw and move the app. I am trying to install com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1.
I installed the app from the Google Play store and copied it from
/data/app/com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1
to
/system/priv-app/com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1
The directory and all files and subdirectories are owner and group root.root. The permissions on the directory and files and subdirectories look correct. The com.incorporateapp.fakegps_route-1 directory is 755.
The directory and files are look to be correctly placed on the file system under /system/app-priv. I've checked multiple times. The app does not show up in System -> Apps even if "Show system" is selected. I understand that Android is supposed to find the new app in priv-app on boot and install it. That does not seem to be happening. Any other suggestions? Are there log files on boot I can check for error messages? Any help is appreciated.
TIA.
I have the same issue. When I move the fakegps app from data/app to system/priv-app then I have no icon to select the application from the home screen.
even after a reboot.
anybody knows how to get back the fakegps icon to be able to start the application?
If you guys are using Magisk root, I've found a module called App Systemizer which through a simple command line interface is able to convert apps you pick and choose from a list of installed ones on your phone to convert into system apps. Then when updates occur I use titanium backup's "integrate system dalvik into app" feature (it hangs so you have to force close it but it does the job) reboot and it's done.
The raw copy/paste way which has been described here has messed up my phone once or twice, and gave me a message on boot that "My phone has been corrupted or something along those lines and to contact the manufacturer".
TaZeR369 said:
If you guys are using Magisk root, I've found a module called App Systemizer which through a simple command line interface is able to convert apps you pick and choose from a list of installed ones on your phone to convert into system apps. Then when updates occur I use titanium backup's "integrate system dalvik into app" feature (it hangs so you have to force close it but it does the job) reboot and it's done.
The raw copy/paste way which has been described here has messed up my phone once or twice, and gave me a message on boot that "My phone has been corrupted or something along those lines and to contact the manufacturer".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
App systemizer just grants the app the status "system app"(likely through linking and granting permissions). It in no way moves it to the system partition.
Ive come to the same realization after running into some questionable free space on my /system Hehe. I copy the APK using TWRP now seems to do the trick.
TaZeR369 said:
Ive come to the same realization after running into some questionable free space on my /system Hehe. I copy the APK using TWRP now seems to do the trick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what version of android can you get, I'm not getting on android 10 can you help me?
Above method didn't worked for me. Below worked perfectly and is safe:
1. Install the app as usual.
2. Copy the app folder from /data/app to internal storage
3. Uninstall the app and reboot to recovery
4. Copy the app folder from internal storage to /system/priv-app folder (If you don't see system folder then you need to mount "system" partition in recovery first)
5. Give permissions to app folder (for all 9 checkboxes), reboot. Enjoy
Anyone else unable to see the folder with the app they moved after a reboot? I want to de-systemize, but I can't now.
I took the folder for the app I want to systemize and moved it from data/app to system/priv-app. Then rebooted. The app is now systemized (can't uninstall it, only disable) But the folder no longer exists under PRIV-APP.
I've done this many times with other apps and I've never seen this problem. Is it because I moved the entire folder and didn't rename it?
After reboot the folder can no longer be found under system/priv-app OR data/app. The app is still installed as a system app. Where is the folder with the app?
Running Android 9. Pixel 3.
I have come across a very strange phenomena on Galaxy M12. When I install an app as user it exists in /data/app forder in a weird way. The folders in /data/app are like ~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g== (see attachment) and in these folders there is another folder with the app package name. On regular devices I hvae seen app package folder in /data/app itself.
When I copy the app package folder from /data/app/~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g== to /system/app it does not work. I can see the app folder after reboot or even reset but app in not installed on the system. I have confirmed by running the activity using 'am' and tried listing with 'pm'. I have also given same permissions as other app folders in /system/app. I have also tried /system/app~~h8DR1aXXIZfV_DXfqwYf3g==.
Edit: As it turns out when I am copying to /system/app the base.apk is not copied properly. I have tried it multiple time, the system is mounted. Whatever I do it is either 0 kb or 100 kb exactl and the file is ~6mb. Still strange behaviour.