Related
I'm just carious to where my Phone only apk is download to? It's not in the download folder and i would like to back it up in case something goes wrong with the phone. Anyone happen to know where i can find all the file i download off the market? Thanks.
If you installed an app from the market, the phone doesnt save the apk file, it just installs it. If you downloaded an apk from the browser, it will be in SD card/download.
Most of the time the app called appsaver will find installed programs and copy the apk to the card. There is also titanium backup.
I would use titanium to back up your apps. (Backs them up to sd card and you can then back up the folder to your computer.)
/data/app is where all the installed apk's go.
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
Hello!!!
i am another happy owner of the Ideos X5! New to android but i read a lot, before every step.
Here is one problem that i can't find a solution.
My device has preinstalled the app "Documents to go" v 2.5004 (748). I got the "documents to go" v 3.001 but i can't install it. :S
I used Root Uninstaller to uninstall the app, it said that the app is uninstalled, but i still can't install the newer version.
I got a message that says that the app is not installed.
what should i do? :S
with root explorer go into system/app folder and see if there is any trash of this app left... also check into data/data folder...
in the first directory there aren't any leftovers and the second is empty.
any other suggestions?
maybe you can use a new room?
xjabdda said:
maybe you can use a new room?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's the most difficult solution, for a simple problem.
finally i switched to OfficeSuite v4.0.351.
the portuguese model have the stock apps in the folowing path:
cust/tmn/pt
The "TMN" is the company name, soo you maybe have some like this.
You can go in this path and delete the apps with Root Explorer, Mount R/W and long press on the app and select Delete.
Sorry about my english
As syckopt says, you can delete the .apk files via Root Explorer, but the directories may vary depending on which carrier you have (and which country).
For example, my directory is: /cust/Dialect/SE/app
@ syckopt , sebgus
The Greek model has most of the stock applications at this directory: system/app/
while at the /cust/wind/gr/app/ there are only three (GreekPack.apk , Layar.apk and TouchPal.apk)
there are some applications, they say that they can "freeze" some stock apps. what exactly is freezing?
please check out and my other active thread: [Q] how to migrate to a new SD card?
thank you all for your help!
sakis_the_fraud said:
@ syckopt , sebgus
The Greek model has most of the stock applications at this directory: system/app/
while at the /cust/wind/gr/app/ there are only three (GreekPack.apk , Layar.apk and TouchPal.apk)
there are some applications, they say that they can "freeze" some stock apps. what exactly is freezing?
please check out and my other active thread: [Q] how to migrate to a new SD card?
thank you all for your help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Freezing is basically the same as renaming the app or removing it. Its just allows to to unfreeze it (or rename it back to original name again), which is a lot easier than using something like root explorer.
ryronz said:
Freezing is basically the same as renaming the app or removing it. Its just allows to to unfreeze it (or rename it back to original name again), which is a lot easier than using something like root explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh, i see!
which is the best app to do this?
Hello,
I've got the same problem. As it is not possible to update the pre-installed Documents to Go via Google Play (I always get error -104) I uninstalled that app using Titanium Backup. But unfortunately, it is still not possible to install ANY version of Documents to Go. If I try to sideload the APK file, I only get "App was not installed". Google Play gives me various errors, mostly -4 or -104, refusing to install the app, either.
In System/apps, there is no remnants of Documents to Go as far as I can see, a directory named cust does not exist.
Please help.
Thank you very much in advance and kind regards,
DAC324
Does anyone know where those installed-apps getting stored on the Nook?
I thought they stored in /system/app but when browsing there, it only seems having those built-in apps such calendar, email, market, ...., and not those that manually downloaded and installed such google earth, astro, ...
Thanks
votinh said:
Does anyone know where those installed-apps getting stored on the Nook?
I thought they stored in /system/app but when browsing there, it only seems having those built-in apps such calendar, email, market, ...., and not those that manually downloaded and installed such google earth, astro, ...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have a SD card installed, it depends on the app. There is a setting in CM settings for applications to by default it set to automatic. In that case, the app chooses where it wants to install. You can change it to card or internal. I believe there is also an internal partition that mimics SD so they may be going there. I don't have mine with me to look right now. Perhaps someone can provide more detail.
If you're just looking for the apk, I usually get the path via package manager in terminal.
Open terminal (or adb shell) then enter the following command
pm list packages
This will show a list of packages for the system installed. They are usually named com.android.application.name (that an example) or similar, so its easy to find which one you want. After you find the appropriate package you can use the following command to find where it is location
pm path com.android.application.name
It should spit out the path and you can find it via file manager or anything else.
I'm sure there is an easier way to do it, but that usually works for me.
Big thanks to both patruns and biohazrd for your quick response.
@patruns,
I tend to use my NC w/o an uSD card, so no, I don't have it installed.
Yes, I am aware of the "application" setting and I did set it to "internal" from the default "automatic".
I keep thinking they were stored under /system/app but apparently not.
If you do have time, pls help with the answer. TIA
@bio,
Never think of that way. I'll definitely try it out, hopefully I can learn something new.
Thanks, m8
votinh said:
Does anyone know where those installed-apps getting stored on the Nook?
I thought they stored in /system/app but when browsing there, it only seems having those built-in apps such calendar, email, market, ...., and not those that manually downloaded and installed such google earth, astro, ...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're looking for the .apk files for stuff for installed apps, they're in /data/app.
Downloaded apps (like a beta linked from a webpage) land in /sdcard/download (at least with the default browser), but the .apk in /data/app gets overwritten when you install.
At least, that's what the sizes and mod times on the files would indicate, and the only obvious jarfiles I can find are from Apparatus (in /sdcard/Apparatus) and in /system/framework.
If you're looking for app config info and minor storage, that's in /data/data, in a stylized tree that (I suspect) lets the app manager find and clear an app's data and cache when you tell it to, and in /sdcard for some apps.
I'm having a hard time making things put their data in /emmc, but the default music player finds .mp3 files in /emmc/My Files/Music automagically.
The app framework hides much of this inside abstracted APIs, so the app itself may not actually know where its files are. Try getting a filename out of the Music app...
stolenmoment said:
If you're looking for the .apk files for stuff for installed apps, they're in /data/app.
Downloaded apps (like a beta linked from a webpage) land in /sdcard/download (at least with the default browser), but the .apk in /data/app gets overwritten when you install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.apk files are what I am looking for. I'll look into the /data/app folder.
You meant, I won't be able to get those .apk files from the /data/app folder after installed since they gets over-written?
Thanks stolenmoment
I found .apk files in 2 locations:
mnt/asec & system/app
stolenmoment said:
If you're looking for the .apk files for stuff for installed apps, they're in /data/app.
Downloaded apps (like a beta linked from a webpage) land in /sdcard/download (at least with the default browser), but the .apk in /data/app gets overwritten when you install.
At least, that's what the sizes and mod times on the files would indicate, and the only obvious jarfiles I can find are from Apparatus (in /sdcard/Apparatus) and in /system/framework.
If you're looking for app config info and minor storage, that's in /data/data, in a stylized tree that (I suspect) lets the app manager find and clear an app's data and cache when you tell it to, and in /sdcard for some apps.
I'm having a hard time making things put their data in /emmc, but the default music player finds .mp3 files in /emmc/My Files/Music automagically.
The app framework hides much of this inside abstracted APIs, so the app itself may not actually know where its files are. Try getting a filename out of the Music app...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/data folder is empty. Nothing in there.
/sdcard/download. I don't have an external uSD installed so /sdcard is empty.
I don't even know where those downloaded apps stored.
patruns said:
I found .apk files in 2 locations:
mnt/asec & system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/mnt/asec is empty and nothing in there.
/system/app has a lot of .apk files but all of them are the built-in apps, not the manually downloaded apps.
Maybe stolen was right as they got over-written after installed.
I did what biohazrd instructed and sure enough, all the .apk files (packages actually) are indicated storing under /data/app, which exactly what stolen has said earlier.
How come I see NOTHING there. I'm sure I am not blind as I tried both Astro Manager and built-in File Manager.
Are you sure you gave the file manager root permissions? You can usually find this in settings.
---
- Sent from my LG Optimus V using Tapatalk
votinh said:
I did what biohazrd instructed and sure enough, all the .apk files (packages actually) are indicated storing under /data/app, which exactly what stolen has said earlier.
How come I see NOTHING there. I'm sure I am not blind as I tried both Astro Manager and built-in File Manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Astro doesn't do root access. For the best filesystem digging, buy Root Explorer. Yes, it's a paid app, but it was the first app I bought; this is why.
Astro claims that /data is empty for me too, but Root Explorer shows me everything.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
votinh said:
/data folder is empty. Nothing in there.
/sdcard/download. I don't have an external uSD installed so /sdcard is empty.
I don't even know where those downloaded apps stored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look in /emmc/download; that's the /media NC partition and is supposed to be treated like an SD card.
If you get Root Explorer, do a find for apk and see what turns up. The .dex files are dalvik "object" files, but they contain the apk filename they were compiled from, so they'll show up in the search results.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
stolenmoment said:
Astro doesn't do root access. For the best filesystem digging, buy Root Explorer. Yes, it's a paid app, but it was the first app I bought; this is why.
Astro claims that /data is empty for me too, but Root Explorer shows me everything.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may be it.
Will do
Thanks m8
stolenmoment said:
Look in /emmc/download; that's the /media NC partition and is supposed to be treated like an SD card.
If you get Root Explorer, do a find for apk and see what turns up. The .dex files are dalvik "object" files, but they contain the apk filename they were compiled from, so they'll show up in the search results.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have my NC with me now but I swear to Buddha that I don't have "download" folder under eMMC. Only .LOST (directory?) and some of my own self-created folders.
Anyway, will take a look at it again.
Until I get the Root app, I rest my case here.
Big thanks to all
votinh said:
Until I get the Root app, I rest my case here.
Big thanks to all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm going to assume you want to pull the apks off the device?
biohazrd51 said:
I'm going to assume you want to pull the apks off the device?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, m8, that's what I intend to do.
In some case, when I boot off the uSD (both CM7 and Honeycomb), some apps were not available on Market for some reason, so I try to get those apk files that currently installed on my NC eMMC for sideloading them later on the uSD boot-off.
votinh said:
Yes, m8, that's what I intend to do.
In some case, when I boot off the uSD (both CM7 and Honeycomb), some apps were not available on Market for some reason, so I try to get those apk files that currently installed on my NC eMMC for sideloading them later on the uSD boot-off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there are a few ways to get around that.
1) Use adb to copy the .apk off the device.
adb pull /data/app/nameofapplication.apk c:\locationyouwanttocopyto
Use the push command to send it to it/another device.
http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/adb.html
2) Another way to get around the new market device restrictions is to uninstall the Market updates OR find an old gapps zip file and sideload vending.apk. Either one of these will revert the market back to old where devices restrictions weren't there.
I know either of these methods will work in CM7. I haven't touched HC so I'm not sure.
Thanks again, bio
Will definitely try it out.
votinh said:
I don't have my NC with me now but I swear to Buddha that I don't have "download" folder under eMMC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I humbly apologize for being wrong. I don't have one, either...
Do you have the Downloads app? Does it show any files? You can download things w/o the SD in, right?
I took out my SD and it remembers the downloads, but can't find them.. I'm gonna reboot and play around.
Sent from my NookColor using XDA Premium App
Hi, as the title says, I have a rooted Nook with Relaunch on it and I want to understand how I can install the google store app or other apps on the Relaunch system. thank you for your time. I've tried researching it but with no luck.
Dre000 said:
Hi, as the title says, I have a rooted Nook with Relaunch on it and I want to understand how I can install the google store app or other apps on the Relaunch system. thank you for your time. I've tried researching it but with no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume you are referring to an old NST or NSTG, not the new Glowlight Plus.
You've come late to the party for the PlayStore. Google has rolled up the welcome mat for devices running Eclair (Android 2.1) as of June 30, 2017.
You can side-load apps using Relaunch by transferring the apk files from your PC via USB to you Nook (place in a convenient folder, preferably on the SD card). Using the file manager capabilities of Relaunch, navigate to the folder where you copied the apk files. Touching on the apk file icon should bring up the option to install.
You can find various apks by searching with Google or trolling the forum here (a bunch that work in the link in my signature).
nmyshkin said:
I assume you are referring to an old NST or NSTG, not the new Glowlight Plus.
You've come late to the party for the PlayStore. Google has rolled up the welcome mat for devices running Eclair (Android 2.1) as of June 30, 2017.
You can side-load apps using Relaunch by transferring the apk files from your PC via USB to you Nook (place in a convenient folder, preferably on the SD card). Using the file manager capabilities of Relaunch, navigate to the folder where you copied the apk files. Touching on the apk file icon should bring up the option to install.
You can find various apks by searching with Google or trolling the forum here (a bunch that work in the link in my signature).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, do you by any chance no the search to show all the files found on the main memory my PC doesn't seem to show the SD card when I plug in my Nook, so I cant upload the apk to the SD card it seems. I tried /root/
Dre000 said:
Hi, do you by any chance no the search to show all the files found on the main memory my PC doesn't seem to show the SD card when I plug in my Nook, so I cant upload the apk to the SD card it seems. I tried /root/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your USB drivers are installed correctly you should see two "drives" when the NST is attached. One is the user accessible internal partition. You can copy over apk files into the "My Files" directory there if need be, as long as you can navigate to that folder using Relaunch, and install from there as described above--at least I think you can. The second "drive" should be the SD card which will show a similar directory structure unless you have added folders yourself.
There is no way to access all files on the internal memory via USB. Only the user data partition can be seen. To get to anything else you need a root browser (I think Relaunch has settings which enable root browsing).
If you're not seeing the SD card you either have an issue with the USB connection or there is an issue with the card itself. Can you see the card with Relaunch?
nmyshkin said:
If your USB drivers are installed correctly you should see two "drives" when the NST is attached. One is the user accessible internal partition. You can copy over apk files into the "My Files" directory there if need be, as long as you can navigate to that folder using Relaunch, and install from there as described above--at least I think you can. The second "drive" should be the SD card which will show a similar directory structure unless you have added folders yourself.
There is no way to access all files on the internal memory via USB. Only the user data partition can be seen. To get to anything else you need a root browser (I think Relaunch has settings which enable root browsing).
If you're not seeing the SD card you either have an issue with the USB connection or there is an issue with the card itself. Can you see the card with Relaunch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I can see the card using Relaunch. And I was able to copy the apk into the My files directory, however, I was trying to figure out what the exact path is to specify in the Relaunch file browser/explorer so that i can see and install the apk? Do you know what it may be?
Dre000 said:
Yes I can see the card using Relaunch. And I was able to copy the apk into the My files directory, however, I was trying to figure out what the exact path is to specify in the Relaunch file browser/explorer so that i can see and install the apk? Do you know what it may be?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/media/My Files
nmyshkin said:
/media/My Files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thank you. I managed to find the package, however I'm presented with the error "There is a problem parsing the package" when trying to install. I tried installing some of the apps from your signature also but still the same issue persists.
Dre000 said:
Ok thank you. I managed to find the package, however I'm presented with the error "There is a problem parsing the package" when trying to install. I tried installing some of the apps from your signature also but still the same issue persists.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Parsing errors generally mean the Android version is incorrect. That would not be the case for apps from my zip package.
How did you root your Nook?
Edit: try moving the apk files to the SD card and retry the install