Tool Documentation:

apktool Usage Example

Use debug mode (d) to decode the given apk file (/root/SdkControllerApp.apk):

root@kali:~# apktool d Facebook\ Lite_v121.0.0.8.97_apkpure.com.apk
I: Using Apktool 2.3.4-dirty on Facebook Lite_v121.0.0.8.97_apkpure.com.apk
I: Loading resource table...
I: Decoding AndroidManifest.xml with resources...
I: Loading resource table from file: /root/.local/share/apktool/framework/1.apk
I: Regular manifest package...
I: Decoding file-resources...
I: Decoding values */* XMLs...
I: Baksmaling classes.dex...
I: Copying assets and libs...
I: Copying unknown files...
I: Copying original files...


Packages and Binaries:

apktool

A tool for reverse engineering 3rd party, closed, binary Android apps. It can decode resources to nearly original form and rebuild them after making some modifications; it makes possible to debug smali code step by step. Also it makes working with an app easier because of project-like file structure and automation of some repetitive tasks like building apk.

Installed size: 269 KB
How to install: sudo apt install apktool

Dependencies:
  • aapt
  • android-framework-res
  • default-jre-headless | java8-runtime-headless
  • libantlr3-runtime-java
  • libcommons-cli-java
  • libcommons-io-java
  • libcommons-lang3-java
  • libcommons-text-java
  • libguava-java
  • libsmali-java
  • libstringtemplate-java
  • libxmlunit-java
  • libxpp3-java
  • libyaml-snake-java
apktool

Tool for reverse engineering Android apk files

root@kali:~# apktool -h
Apktool v2.7.0-dirty - a tool for reengineering Android apk files
with smali v2.5.2.git2771eae-debian and baksmali v2.5.2.git2771eae-debian
Copyright 2010 Ryszard Wi?niewski <[email protected]>
Copyright 2010 Connor Tumbleson <[email protected]>

usage: apktool
 -advance,--advanced   prints advance information.
 -version,--version    prints the version then exits
usage: apktool if|install-framework [options] <framework.apk>
 -p,--frame-path <dir>   Stores framework files into <dir>.
 -t,--tag <tag>          Tag frameworks using <tag>.
usage: apktool d[ecode] [options] <file_apk>
 -f,--force              Force delete destination directory.
 -o,--output <dir>       The name of folder that gets written. Default is apk.out
 -p,--frame-path <dir>   Uses framework files located in <dir>.
 -r,--no-res             Do not decode resources.
 -s,--no-src             Do not decode sources.
 -t,--frame-tag <tag>    Uses framework files tagged by <tag>.
usage: apktool b[uild] [options] <app_path>
 -f,--force-all          Skip changes detection and build all files.
 -o,--output <dir>       The name of apk that gets written. Default is dist/name.apk
 -p,--frame-path <dir>   Uses framework files located in <dir>.

For additional info, see: https://ibotpeaches.github.io/Apktool/ 
For smali/baksmali info, see: https://github.com/JesusFreke/smali

Updated on: 2024-May-23