To get the source code from an APK (Android Package) file, you can use a decompiler tool. There are several online tools that can decompile an APK and extract the source code from it.
What is a Source Code?
Source code is the set of instructions that a programmer writes in a programming language to create a software program. It is the human-readable version of a program that can be edited and modified by a programmer.
When a program is compiled, the source code is transformed into machine code, which is the version of the program that can be run on a computer.
Source code is written in a specific programming language, such as C++, Java, or Python. Each programming language has its own syntax and rules for how you should write the code. A programmer must be familiar with these rules in order to write and understand the source code for a program.
Source code is an important part of the software development process because it is the basis for ultimately creating the program. It allows programmers to write and test code, debug errors, and make improvements to the program.
You can also use a source code to document a program, explaining how to create it and how it works.
In general, source code is an essential part of the software development process and is an important part of creating and maintaining software programs.
What is APK?
An APK (Android Package Kit) is the package file format used by the Android operating system for the distribution and installation of mobile apps. It contains all the necessary files for an app, including the Java class files, resources, and manifest file.
How to Get Source Code From Apk Online
To get the source code from an APK file, you can use a tool called “dex2jar” to convert the APK file into a JAR file. JAR files are Java Archive files and contain all the compiled Java class files and resources from the APK.
Once you have the JAR file, you can use a tool called “JD-GUI” to open the JAR file and view the source code. JD-GUI is a standalone graphical utility that displays Java source codes of “.class” files. You can download both dex2jar and JD-GUI for free from the internet.
Here are the steps to get the source code from an APK file:
Step 1:
- Copy the .apk file that you want to decode into a new folder.
- Now, save this .apk file by changing its extension to .zip (from filename.apk remain to filename.zip). The classes.dex files can now be accessed. You can see drawables at this point, but you can’t see the .xml and .java files.
Step2:
- Now, either extract this .zip file into the same folder or create a new folder.
- Download and extract dex2jar into the same folder or a different folder (do not download the source code; instead, click the releases button on the right, now download the file named
dex2jar-X.X.zip
).
- In the dex2jar folder, place the classes.dex file.
- Now, open Command Prompt and navigate to that folder’s directory. Type
d2j-dex2jar classes.dex
and then press enter (or./d2j-dex2jar.sh classes.dex
for Mac or Ubuntu). The classes.dex.dex2jar file is now located in the same folder.
- Download Java decompiler and then open the classes.dex.dex2jar file in the jd-gui folder by right-clicking on it and selecting Open File from the context menu: The class files are now available.
- Click File -> Save All Sources in jd-gui to save all of these class files by the src name. You get the Java code at this point, but the .xml files are still unreadable.
Step 3:
Enter the .apk file that you wish to decode.
- Download the most recent version of apktool AND the apktool install window (you can download both from the same site) and save them in the same folder.
- Launch the Command Prompt.
- Now, run the command
apktool if framework-res.apk
(don’t have it? get it here) and then
apktool d myApp.apk
(myApp.apk indicates the filename that you want to decode)
- You now have a file folder in that folder and can read the .xml files.
Step 4
Simply copy the contents of both new folders into a single folder, and then enjoy the source code!
Keep in mind that getting the source code from an APK file is only possible if the app was built using Java or a similar language that can be decompiled. If the app was built using a compiled language like C++, it will not be possible to get the source code from the APK file.
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How to See the Source Code of a Mobile App
There are a few different ways to view the source code of a mobile app:
- If the app is open source, you can usually find the source code on the developer’s website or on a code hosting platform like GitHub.
- If the app is not open source, you can use a tool called “dex2jar” to convert the APK (Android Package Kit) file of the app into a JAR file, which contains the compiled Java class files and resources from the APK. You can then use a tool called “JD-GUI” to open the JAR file and view the source code.
- You can use a tool called “APK Extractor” to extract the APK file of the app from your Android device and save it to your computer. You can then use dex2jar and JD-GUI as described above to view the source code.
Keep in mind that viewing the source code of a mobile app is only possible if the app was built using a programming language that can be decompiled, such as Java. If the app was built using a compiled language like C++, it won’t be possible to view the source code.
Can You Decompile an Apk?
Yes, it is possible to decompile an APK (Android Package Kit) file and view the source code. APK file is the package file format that Android OS uses for the distribution and installation of mobile apps.
It contains all the necessary files for an app, including the Java class files, resources, and manifest file.
To decompile an APK file, you can use “dex2jar” to convert the APK file into a JAR file. JAR files are Java Archive files and contain all the compiled Java class files and resources from the APK.
Once you have the JAR file, you can use a tool called “JD-GUI” to open the JAR file and view the source code. JD-GUI is a standalone graphical utility that displays Java source codes of “.class” files.
You can download both dex2jar and JD-GUI for free from the internet. Here are the steps to decompile an APK file:
- Download and install dex2jar and JD-GUI on your computer.
- Open the command prompt and navigate to the directory where the APK file is located.
- Use the following command to convert the APK file into a JAR file: d2j-dex2jar your_apk_file.apk
- This will create a JAR file with the same name as the APK file.
- Open JD-GUI and use it to open the JAR file.
- The source code of the app will be displayed in JD-GUI. You can browse through the code and view it in detail.
How to Reverse Engineer an Apk?
Reverse engineering an APK (Android Package Kit) file involves analyzing the app’s compiled code and resources in order to understand how it works and potentially modify its behavior.
This process can be useful for a variety of purposes, including analyzing the app’s security vulnerabilities, understanding how the app works, and creating custom versions of the app.
To reverse engineer an APK file, you can use a tool called “dex2jar” to convert the APK file into a JAR file. JAR files are Java Archive files and contain all the compiled Java class files and resources from the APK.
Once you have the JAR file, you can use a tool called “JD-GUI” to open the JAR file and view the source code. JD-GUI is a standalone graphical utility that displays Java source codes of “.class” files.
You can download both dex2jar and JD-GUI for free from the internet. Added to viewing the source code, you can also use other tools to analyze the app’s resources and compiled code.
For example, you can use a tool called “APKtool” to decode and rebuild the app’s resources, or you can use a disassembler like “IDA Pro” to analyze the app’s compiled code.
Here are the steps to reverse engineer an APK file:
- Download and install dex2jar, JD-GUI, and any other tools you want to use on your computer.
- Extract the APK file from your Android device and save it to your computer.
- Use dex2jar to convert the APK file into a JAR file: d2j-dex2jar your_apk_file.apk
- Use JD-GUI to open the JAR file and view the source code.
- Use APKtool or other tools to analyze the app’s resources and compiled code.
READ ALSO:
Know that getting the source code from an APK file is only possible if the app was built using Java or a similar language that can be decompiled. If the app was built using a compiled language like C++, it will not be possible to get the source code from the APK file.
Decompiling an APK file and viewing the source code can be useful for a variety of purposes, such as analyzing the app’s security vulnerabilities, understanding how the app works, and creating custom versions of the app.