Cloning APK

[kefir500]

Introduction

APK Editor Studio v1.5.0 release is finally out. It includes the long-awaited ability to clone APK (or, more technically, change the package name). However, the current state of this feature is marked experimental: certain applications are still not supported since the lack of information on this topic leaves us with no stable instructions or algorithms.

In this discussion, I would like to collect the community's knowledge that will help to improve the app cloning feature in APK Editor Studio or even help other users looking for the corresponding information for their own purposes.

Disclaimer

Neither the APK cloning feature nor this particular discussion encourages piracy. When cloning an Android application, make sure that its license allows this procedure.

Guides and Instructions

• XDA Developers – popular on the web (but outdated) guide
• Notes by iBotPeaches – additional notes from the current Apktool developer

Current Algorithm

AndroidManifest.xml

• All old.package.name entries are replaced with new.package.name.

res/

• All old.package.name entries are replaced with new.package.name.

smali*/

• All old.package.name entries are replaced with new.package.name.
• All Lold/package/name entries are replaced with Lnew/package/name.
• old/package/name directory is renamed to new/package/name.
• These changes are applied to smali and all smali_classesN directories.

unknown/

• Files in this directory are not modified.

Share your Experience

APK Editor Studio is an open-source project, and it's within the power of the community to make it better.

Any help, tips, personal experience, and observations are welcome. Feel free to join the discussion.

[StifflersMoM69]

Posted an issue here #128

[jrb80]

I am getting this error whilst trying to clone. It seems to get most of the way through processing the clone but bombs out mid way through. It has worked previously on other APKs. I have tried different Windows clients and therefore suggest it could be a APK specific issue.

Any suggestions to resolve? Is there a log file somewhere that can point to why the clone is failing?

[jrb80]

@kefir500 fyi, I passed the same APK through https://clonemy.app/ and it worked fine. So I am guessing there is something amiss with APK Editor Studio.

[kefir500]

Unfortunately, there is no source code for this tool. However, according its description, it is using nearly the same method as APK Editor Studio. Actually, it would be helpful to compare both APKs generated by each tool. And if APK Editor Studio doesn't generate the output APK, it would also be helpful to attach this APK so I could investigate it.

[Ibuprophen]

I was curious about the CloneMy.App and encountered the Developer's XDA Support thread [TOOL] CloneMyApp - Android APK Cloner.

Just wanted to let you know my friend @kefir500..

~Ibuprophen