Mod APK File To Block From Checking For Newer Version - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello,
Is there any way to mod / disable an APK from checking to see if the app itself is on the latest version? To explain, I open an older version of an app on my Android tablet, but it then pops up a message telling that I need to download a newer version of the app from the Play Store and then I'm prevented from using the app until I upgrade.
I can use the instructions from this post to do the modding, but wasn't sure if there is anything you can modify (line, etc) in the APK to block the update from checking for a newer version?
Shaw FreeRange for MI Box V4.2.1.001
Shaw Free Range v 4.2.1.001 on MI Box I used these instruction posted from another user in a different forum, thought i would share. Tools used: APK Icon Editor apktool APK 4.2.1.001 APK from apkpure.com ( shaw Freerange ) 1.) Download APK 2.)...
forum.xda-developers.com
Thanks in advance!

Related

[Q] Two versions of one app installed at the same time?

It seems that this is the first time I start a new thread.
Hi, all. I want to know how to install two versions of one same application at the same time.
As a matter of fact, I want to install Opera Mini 4.2 China Version and Opera Mini 4.2 Internaional Version at the time. But...Since Opera Mini 5 makes it difficult to describe the question, here takes HelloWorld.apk as an example.
Well, there are two versions of the application "HelloWorld": 1.0 and 1.1. (This is just an example)
I have installed HelloWorld 1.0 on my phone, and when I try to install HelloWorld 1.1, the 1.0 version will be replaced. But...I want to have both of them installed on my phone. That is to say, there will be two "HelloWorld" icons in the app drawer.
I use APKTool to extract the com.hello.world.apk into some "text" files, including an AndroidManifest.xml and a lot of *.smali files. In the AndroidManifest.xml, I saw this:
<manifest package="com.hello.world" versionCode="100" versionName="1.0">
I chaged the value "com.hello.world" to "com.goodbye.world". Then I re-build the apk file and transferred it to my phone.
I installed the modified package, it was successfully installed and I see two "HelloWorld" icons in my app drawer!
I try to launch the HelloWorld 1.0, it succeeds.
I try to launch the HelloWorld 1.1, it FCs immediately.
Well, this is my situation. How can I make both of them launch-able in my phone? Is it possible? What should I modify apart from "package" filed in AndroidManifest.xml?
Thanks a lot.
~~~~
wzyboy
wzyboy said:
It seems that this is the first time I start a new thread.
Hi, all. I want to know how to install two versions of one same application at the same time.
As a matter of fact, I want to install Opera Mini 4.2 China Version and Opera Mini 4.2 Internaional Version at the time. But...Since Opera Mini 5 makes it difficult to describe the question, here takes HelloWorld.apk as an example.
Well, there are two versions of the application "HelloWorld": 1.0 and 1.1. (This is just an example)
I have installed HelloWorld 1.0 on my phone, and when I try to install HelloWorld 1.1, the 1.0 version will be replaced. But...I want to have both of them installed on my phone. That is to say, there will be two "HelloWorld" icons in the app drawer.
I use APKTool to extract the com.hello.world.apk into some "text" files, including an AndroidManifest.xml and a lot of *.smali files. In the AndroidManifest.xml, I saw this:
<manifest package="com.hello.world" versionCode="100" versionName="1.0">
I chaged the value "com.hello.world" to "com.goodbye.world". Then I re-build the apk file and transferred it to my phone.
I installed the modified package, it was successfully installed and I see two "HelloWorld" icons in my app drawer!
I try to launch the HelloWorld 1.0, it succeeds.
I try to launch the HelloWorld 1.1, it FCs immediately.
Well, this is my situation. How can I make both of them launch-able in my phone? Is it possible? What should I modify apart from "package" filed in AndroidManifest.xml?
Thanks a lot.
~~~~
wzyboy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm not an android programmer but if I'm understanding you correctly you did the following (in the order I'm listing them):
1) Installed helloworld 1.1 (which over-wrote v1.0)
2) Opened the APK for helloworld 1.0 and made the manifest change
3) Installed the modded helloworld 1.0 on your phone
From a programmer point of view (just not with Android), if you followed the above scenario what is happening is HW1.1 installs it's files which are updated versions of the previous one (why else install an update). When you modded the HW1.0 you only changed the name and nothing else.
What is happening is when you go to install the modded version it's overwriting the newer files with the older ones since the phone is assuming the modded app is an entirely new program and allows the process to occur. This is why the modded one works and the 1.1 won't since the files it needs are the wrong version.
The only option of really have is to mod the actual program to look for different filenames, but without the source code to that app, that isn't going to happen.
Basically you need to have version 1.1 use the default files, and with the modded 1.0 you need to tell the software to "look" for the updated filenames (just don't forget to rename the actual files too).
Short of all that, as far as I know your SOL.
Rayvenhawk said:
Well I'm not an android programmer but if I'm understanding you correctly you did the following (in the order I'm listing them):
1) Installed helloworld 1.1 (which over-wrote v1.0)
2) Opened the APK for helloworld 1.0 and made the manifest change
3) Installed the modded helloworld 1.0 on your phone
From a programmer point of view (just not with Android), if you followed the above scenario what is happening is HW1.1 installs it's files which are updated versions of the previous one (why else install an update). When you modded the HW1.0 you only changed the name and nothing else.
What is happening is when you go to install the modded version it's overwriting the newer files with the older ones since the phone is assuming the modded app is an entirely new program and allows the process to occur. This is why the modded one works and the 1.1 won't since the files it needs are the wrong version.
The only option of really have is to mod the actual program to look for different filenames, but without the source code to that app, that isn't going to happen.
Basically you need to have version 1.1 use the default files, and with the modded 1.0 you need to tell the software to "look" for the updated filenames (just don't forget to rename the actual files too).
Short of all that, as far as I know your SOL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great thanks to your reply. But...
Android uses .apk files to install and run the application. When installing an apk file, the package installer just copys the apk file to /data/app directory and "register" the program in the system. The apk itself will not be "extracted" or anything else. That is to say, an apk file can be installed, and also can be run.
On the other hand, the apk will generate some files in /data/data directory when running. I am considering that it was these file that made the modded version FCs. I will try to look into these files to see will this works...
English is my second language, hoping that I did not made many grammar misktaks...
+1 on this topic. It's been a year and a half since the last reply and I've done a bit of searching online to find no answers. I anyone have some feedback on this? I'd ultimately like to use this to install two Google voice applications. I actually have an app from a blacked out version with a different icon. But if I install it it will overwrite the original Google voice app
cowboyaryk said:
+1 on this topic. It's been a year and a half since the last reply and I've done a bit of searching online to find no answers. I anyone have some feedback on this? I'd ultimately like to use this to install two Google voice applications. I actually have an app from a blacked out version with a different icon. But if I install it it will overwrite the original Google voice app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are one hell of an archaeologist
Sent from My Samsung Galaxy S2 running Paranoidandroid Rom.What else if not?=P
I'd also like to know if that's possible. Even if it were possible, and an updated version of helloworld is relaeased (Say, HelloWorld v1.2), which version would it replace? Would it replace the (original) HelloWorld 1.1 or the (modded)HelloWorld 1.0?
Yes. Titanium backup. Profiles. These are the keywords.
lambstone said:
Yes. Titanium backup. Profiles. These are the keywords.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any idea how i would use TB and "profiles" to do it? sounds like you know from experience
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A
lufc said:
Please use the Q&A Forum for questions &
Read the Forum Rules Ref Posting
Moving to Q&A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks cheif i'm not the one who posted this almost two years ago
bbsrailfan said:
I'd also like to know if that's possible. Even if it were possible, and an updated version of helloworld is relaeased (Say, HelloWorld v1.2), which version would it replace? Would it replace the (original) HelloWorld 1.1 or the (modded)HelloWorld 1.0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would replace the only legitimate version found, the unmodded one. The point of modding the APK is to make Android see it as a completely different app, and not think of one as an update to the other.
dstruct2k said:
It would replace the only legitimate version found, the unmodded one. The point of modding the APK is to make Android see it as a completely different app, and not think of one as an update to the other.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do how do you mod the apk? change the filename? i'm sure theres more to it than that
lambstone said:
Yes. Titanium backup. Profiles. These are the keywords.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that feature on tibu is for switching DATA profiles basically so two or people can play the same game or whatever and keep they're progress separate like having multiple saved games. its not for switching versions of an app
I've tried to googling how to install multiple same applications in one device,but i didn't found anything how to do that simply...there are lot of stuff using ant and ruby script,but don't understand with that..so anyone figured out how to install multiple same apps with simply method? because i want to install operamini 7.5,but I've already instaled version 6.5...
sorry for my bad english
Need to install Galaxy S4 gallery on custom rom which has S4 gallary apk
Need help to install two versions of Gallary S4 and S5 Gallary can someone help...since I like the spiral option very good in S4 gallary which I miss and I like few features of Gallary from S5....in Ozcan rom on S4 i19500...please help
Necro, sorry. I have the same question. I have a copy of the old ifunny app and want both the new and the old, I would also like to run two versions of the same game (one with a nodded apk for unlimited coins and etc and one stock) I wouldn't mind if they shared data but if there's a way to make it where the asks do not share days that would be cool too.
Possible solution
Hi there,
While searching for a solution I found this thread and as it is one of the first results in google I thought to share what I found (didn't try yet) :
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/19935/how-to-keep-two-versions-of-an-app-installed
It's first answer has a guide how to run two versions of same app throigh modifying onee of them with apktool.
Greets
Gachmuret said:
Hi there,
While searching for a solution I found this thread and as it is one of the first results in google I thought to share what I found (didn't try yet) :
http://android.stackexchange.com/questions/19935/how-to-keep-two-versions-of-an-app-installed
It's first answer has a guide how to run two versions of same app throigh modifying onee of them with apktool.
Greets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I would also like to do this for Google earth app I want to have both version 7.1.3 and 8.0.1 because the earlier version has more features but the latest looks more beautiful so I read the instructions from that link but it is way too complicated for a noob user like me plus judging from the last message it seems it hasn't been resolved so isn't there an app or xposed mod that does this automatically ?

[Q] New to modding apk's

Hi there, I have to android phones and I found an app on the store that doesn't appear for my second phone (xperia ray and Desire S).
So I extracted the apk from my /data/app/ fodler but of course I still can't install it on my other phone.
I guess this is something to do with the AndroidManifest.xml, so here are the questions :
- What tool I can use to extract, compile apk's ?
- What tool can I use to mod my apk so it launches on my 2nd phone ?
Thanks
you can use apk tool to decompile the apk. then you can edit the whole apk using eclipse. to be able to install an apk from system/app you have to put the apk into the same spot and restart the phone.
Dataslycer said:
you can use apk tool to decompile the apk. then you can edit the whole apk using eclipse. to be able to install an apk from system/app you have to put the apk into the same spot and restart the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, so the device compatibility list is generated when compiling from Eclipse ?
You are unlikely to be able to get the apk working on an incompatible phone. The reason for the incompatibility is likely to be that the phone lacks certain necessary features (e.g. CPU type or version of android) so can't run. Unless you intend to reprogram the app to run on reduced features you are better off asking the app dev to add support for the 2nd phone.
Both phones have exact same features : 1Ghz 7x30 and adreno 205 GPU.
Both on GB and planned to get ICS...
Both on the latest MIUI GB release
Is there an option to make it unavailable/available for some specific devices when compiling ? in the XML ?

[Q] How to download priviously uploaded versions of your app from dev console.

Hi,
The latest version of my app wich is uploaded to google play is version 6. I need some source code from the first version of my app.
I'm not able to turn on a older version of my app in dev console, i get the following message: A newer apk version is lower than the previous apk version.
So how can i get the source code of the first version of my app?
Greetings,
lxdankd

[REQ] Whatsapp Latest APK

As above anyone can help? Isn't available on play store yet for camera and I downloaded few version through searching on google but after it successfully installed and when I key in my number it prompt me to download latest version as it is too old .. Or is there anyway I can bypass it using the old version?
I've found it finally. Those who need..
http://www.papktop.com/tag/whatsapp-messenger-apk
Question:
WHY haven't you looked at the WHATSAPP-site?
http://www.whatsapp.com/android/

Installing youtube on an old Samsung phone

I have Acer A500 with Android 4.0.3
I'm trying to install apk Youtube 11.01.70
Youtube won't run without Google Pay services
Google Play services is not present
I try to install apk Google Play services 14.3.69. When I try to install it, it tells me there is a problem parsing the package
Any more ideas?
Because you're using an outdated version of Android.
So it's not possible at all? I thought for an old version of Android I just had to find the right old version of the apps (apk) and installed them.
jj0011 said:
So it's not possible at all? I thought for an old version of Android I just had to find the right old version of the apps (apk) and installed them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even if you did that, it'll ask you to update your apps.
And you can't manually just add all the apps you need? (like Google Play Services in my case)
I find it surprising that this old Android cannot go back to the state it was 10 years ago, if I can get the same software (apk)
In general, the problem parsing the package means that your system software is too old to install that apk file.
Can't you upgrade your Acer A500 system software via OTA at first?
On the other hand, does your mobile phone system really have no built-in Google service framework?
jj0011 said:
I have Acer A500 with Android 4.0.3
I'm trying to install apk Youtube 11.01.70
Youtube won't run without Google Pay services
Google Play services is not present
I try to install apk Google Play services 14.3.69. When I try to install it, it tells me there is a problem parsing the package
Any more ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install this apk ( google play services) .
Google Play services 8.1.04 (2215451-036) (036) APK Download by Google LLC - APKMirror
Google Play services 8.1.04 (2215451-036) (036) APK Download by Google LLC - APKMirror Free and safe Android APK downloads
www.apkmirror.com
James_Watson said:
In general, the problem parsing the package means that your system software is too old to install that apk file.
Can't you upgrade your Acer A500 system software via OTA at first?
On the other hand, does your mobile phone system really have no built-in Google service framework?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the idea. I have never done something like that. Where can I find a OTA image for A500? If you have any instructions for installation it would be also appreciated
Thanks for all the answers. To clarify:
I had Google Services Framework 4.0.4-278776
I just installed Google Play Services 8.1.04 (2215451-036) (036) (successfully, as per indications in this post)
I had install Youtube 11.01.70
When I try to run Youtube tells me that there is a newer version and doesn't go further.
This tablet won't run anything past android 4.0.3, at least without some hacks. With hacks this will run with android 5.1, thus allowing the installation of YouTube.
Follow this guide
[TUT] Flashing your first A500 custom ROM
Well, flashing a custom ROM on our beloved Iconias became quite easy now thanks to developers on xda. Most of you are quite familiar with the procedure but there are still people that ask basic things all over the ROM developement threads. This...
forum.xda-developers.com
Custom ROM zip:
[ROM][A500][5.1]Katkiss rom
Katkiss ROM for the a500 lollipop 5.1.1 Disclaimer: Flash this at your own risk I am not responsible if this damages your device. This is a rom that a ported a while ago. I used Thor's omnirom to port this so it likely has the same bugs. Since...
forum.xda-developers.com
Use Alternative Youtube app like WeTube ?
WebTube | F-Droid - Free and Open Source Android App Repository
Play YouTube videos
f-droid.org
F-Droid Search: youtube
search.f-droid.org

Categories

Resources