Database Develop

How to Mass Install Apps with ADB?

So, I want to do a flash and have backed up all the APPs into a folder. So, is there anyway to install all the apps onto the phone that is in inside the backed up folder using ADB after I reinstalled? I know this should be possible since there is a way to do a mass pull using ADB.

shaolinx said:
So, I want to do a flash and have backed up all the APPs into a folder. So, is there anyway to install all the apps onto the phone that is in inside the backed up folder using ADB after I reinstalled? I know this should be possible since there is a way to do a mass pull using ADB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could write a batch file/shell script to iterate through a folder and adb install the contents of it.

shaolinx said:
So, I want to do a flash and have backed up all the APPs into a folder. So, is there anyway to install all the apps onto the phone that is in inside the backed up folder using ADB after I reinstalled? I know this should be possible since there is a way to do a mass pull using ADB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure there is:
If you have app2sd:
adb push folder of apps /system/sd/app
If not:
adb push folder of apps /data/app

Assuming adb is in your path, open a command prompt at the folder containing your APKs and issue:
Code:
for %f in (*.apk) do adb install "%f"

Thanks all, both of your way works.

Thanks
Awesome thank you for the help. Have been trying to figure this out for a while.

AdamPI's answer will only work if you use a virus instead of an operating system. The correct answer is this;
for FILE in *; do /path/to/adb install "$FILE"; done

Can separate apps be moved between SD and system?

I was wondering something, and couldn't find it through search.
If I run into performance issues with certain apps, can I move just those apps back to the system, or would I have to move all of the apps from the SD back to the system?

johnequickiii said:
I was wondering something, and couldn't find it through search.
If I run into performance issues with certain apps, can I move just those apps back to the system, or would I have to move all of the apps from the SD back to the system?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The way a symlink works (apps2sd) you would have to move the whole application folder back.
If you are having performance issues, invest in a class 6 card. Which is supposedly faster than the internal storage.

ok Thanks for the info. ^^

Actually, that depends on what ROM you are running. With DarchDroid 2.6.2, I know for certain (cause I did it this morning) that you can choose where you want an app installed. You go into manage applications, click on the app you want to move, and scroll down a bit. You will come to a box that has info about how much memeory the app is taking up and were it is stored. There is also a button that says "move". Clicking takes the app from were it is (either internal storage, or sd storage) and moves it to the other. I don't know if any other roms have this option.

Is it possible to put an app into the main system app folder? Those apps aren't moved to the SD card.

centran said:
Is it possible to put an app into the main system app folder? Those apps aren't moved to the SD card.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if this answers your question exactly, but you can install apps into your /system/app folder by using adb.
Open a Windows command prompt, navigate to your android-sdk-windows/tools folder, then use the 'adb push' command:
Code:
adb push Filename.apk /system/app

chromiumleaf said:
Not sure if this answers your question exactly, but you can install apps into your /system/app folder by using adb.
Open a Windows command prompt, navigate to your android-sdk-windows/tools folder, then use the 'adb push' command:
Code:
adb push Filename.apk /system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Keep in mind when you do this, you will have to also uninstall it the same way.

/system/app/ is internal storage
/data/app/ is external storage
you can do a ls in the directory to see where it actually is
the move command would be
Code:
mv /system/app/<name of apk> /system/sd/app/<name of apk>
or
Code:
mv /system/app/<name of apk> /data/app/<name of apk>
as the symlinks should put it to /system/sd/app

nfinitefx45 said:
/system/app/ is internal storage
/data/app/ is external storage
you can do a ls in the directory to see where it actually is
the move command would be
Code:
mv /system/app/<name of apk> /system/sd/app/<name of apk>
or
Code:
mv /system/app/<name of apk> /data/app/<name of apk>
as the symlinks should put it to /system/sd/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I do that second move command, does that put it on my hard drive in the android-sdk-windows\tools\ folder? Or, does it put it on the sd card? Sorry, I'm a newb.
I want to copy my htclockscreen.apk file to the android-sdk-windows\tools\ folder on my C:\ drive so I can open it up and make changes to the png files that create the slide bar on the lock screen... see my post on creating a custom lock screen under Q & A. Newb restrictions won't let me post the link yet.
Thanks!

mbuchholz said:
If I do that second move command, does that put it on my hard drive in the android-sdk-windows\tools\ folder? Or, does it put it on the sd card? Sorry, I'm a newb.
I want to copy my htclockscreen.apk file to the android-sdk-windows\tools\ folder on my C:\ drive so I can open it up and make changes to the png files that create the slide bar on the lock screen... see my post on creating a custom lock screen under Q & A. Newb restrictions won't let me post the link yet.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the command you want is
Code:
adb pull /system/app/HtcLockScreen.apk
that will copy it out of /system/app and put it in your tools folder.
linux is case-sensitive and i don't know the exact capitalization.

thedudejdog said:
the command you want is
Code:
adb pull /system/app/HtcLockScreen.apk
that will copy it out of /system/app and put it in your tools folder.
linux is case-sensitive and i don't know the exact capitalization.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome! Thank you for that.
Perhaps you could take a look at my other post and tell me how to replace the .pdf images with new ones and then load it back onto the phone?

mbuchholz said:
Awesome! Thank you for that.
Perhaps you could take a look at my other post and tell me how to replace the .pdf images with new ones and then load it back onto the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
haha...no sorry i don't know anything about signing apps. but i can pull and push stuff to and from my phone like nobody's business

lol - thanks anyway. Perhaps someone will see and be able to help me out. You at least got me started!
-mb

ADB help...

OK, I know how to use ADB to reboot and get into download mode on my phone, but I have a kind of emergency. I was attempting to replace a framework-res.apk file on my phone to change the battery icon, and now I am stuck FCing all over the place. So much that I can't put my backed up framework-res.apk file back in /system/framework via Root Explorer like I normally do.
I am connected to my phone, can list directories, but cannot seem to push the framework-res.apk file.
Can someone give me a step by step on how to do this and soon please...
EDIT: I think I got it. I needed to be in Recovery Mode, and then it seemed to copy fine.
While I do have someone's attention (hopefully), how do you change directories if the directory you want to change to is two names, IE 'Battery Mod'?

Demented71 said:
OK, I know how to use ADB to reboot and get into download mode on my phone, but I have a kind of emergency. I was attempting to replace a framework-res.apk file on my phone to change the battery icon, and now I am stuck FCing all over the place. So much that I can't put my backed up framework-res.apk file back in /system/framework via Root Explorer like I normally do.
I am connected to my phone, can list directories, but cannot seem to push the framework-res.apk file.
Can someone give me a step by step on how to do this and soon please...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your backed up framework on your sdcard? You could try adb shell.
from pc,
adb shell
su
cp XXXX/framework-res.apk system/framework <<<may need to use busybox cp
exit
exit
adb reboot

bobbylx said:
Is your backed up framework on your sdcard? You could try adb shell.
from pc,
adb shell
su
cp XXXX/framework-res.apk system/framework <<<may need to use busybox cp
exit
exit
adb reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My backed up framework file was on my PC. The first one I was trying to get to was on my phone, in a folder called Battery Mod, which I could not get into because ADB kept saying wrong substitution or something?
Either way, I was able to get it done, so I learned something new again.

EDIT: I think I got it. I needed to be in Recovery Mode, and then it seemed to copy fine.
While I do have someone's attention (hopefully), how do you change directories if the directory you want to change to is two names, IE 'Battery Mod'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense, it may not let you Push to the file system while it's in use.
As for 2 names, do you mean from a windows command box or in the android command line. Windows you just type it as is. Linux is a little more picky, I usually try to remove spaces from directory names so I don't run into any problems with that. In linux a backslash works, ie, cd /sdcard/Battery\ Mod
Not sure if it will work on our phones.

How: can I mod the stock phone.app?

Ok, I must have posted this question somewhere but I would like to know the answer cause no one has answered it. "how do I get the stock phone app to modify?. How would I get it and put it back into my phone? please I would like to know.
38 views and no response?

the .png files for the phone are actually in the contacts.apk.
Are you asking how to modify the apk, or just specifically where are the phone images?

To copy the app from your phone just do: adb pull /system/app/Phone.apk
That will put a copy of the file in your "tools" directory in the android sdk folder
Then when you want to put it back on you should be able to overwrite it with: adb push /system/app/Phone.apk
What exactly are you planning on doing with this file?

Thank you. I want to create my own images to make it look different then the stock colors.

There are 2 apks that contain dialers, one is the Contacts.apk as stated bfore that brings up the phone when the phone icon is pressed the second is in the Phone.apk appears once a call is placed, and the persons picture appears of the person you are calling.

I don't know how to do a adb pull. can you explain?

johnny quest said:
I don't know how to do a adb pull. can you explain?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In terminal or command prompt, navigate to the tools directory in the android SDK and run the following commands:
Code:
adb remount
adb pull /system/app/Phone.apk
That will dump the file in you tools directory.
If you are having trouble with this, let me know what operating system you are using and if you have the android SDK installed.

synesthete said:
In terminal or command prompt, navigate to the tools directory in the android SDK and run the following commands:
Code:
adb remount
adb pull /system/app/Phone.apk
That will dump the file in you tools directory.
If you are having trouble with this, let me know what operating system you are using and if you have the android SDK installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is confusing. I didn't think it would be so hard. I do UI's for iphone and ipod touch and this is way different. There are so many different things. Its discouraging in some ways. Sorry. I would love to create an app but of course its different. So, I stick to creating themes.
I would love to take a ROM and mod it myself or even modifying Launcher pro but it has that 9.pngs which makes it hard.
Ok, I have the Eris 2.1 rooted with Tenzo Rcmix2.0 installed. I have the SDK installed but don't know what to do with it. I appreciate you taking the time to help me out. I really want to create and mod lots of apps.

this is what I've done to a phone app I downloaded from the market:
-I created my images through Photoshop and saved them to a folder with its correct name used.
-I opened draw9patch and saved the images with the correct name again to a folder.
-I named the folder drawable-hdpi that belongs in the Res folder
-took the files and folder and created a zip out of it.
-opened the AvaboxV2 and signed it.
-loaded to my phone and changed the name to the correct name and installed it
but it keeps saying application not install, I just don't get it. What step did I messed up on?
Anybody? anybody?...............................

This is what you need to do:
1. Open Contacts.apk in 7-zip
2. Copy the images over top of the original images in drawable, drawable-mdpi, and drawable-mdpi-finger (notice I didn't say anything about hdpi)
3. Close the archive.
4. Copy it back onto the device with:
Code:
adb remount
adb push Contacts.apk /system/app
Your phone may not appreciate you pushing Contacts.apk while it is running, so it may become unstable at this point. I would recommend restarting.

icbeer said:
This is what you need to do:
1. Open Contacts.apk in 7-zip
2. Copy the images over top of the original images in drawable, drawable-mdpi, and drawable-mdpi-finger (notice I didn't say anything about hdpi)
3. Close the archive.
4. Copy it back onto the device with:
Code:
adb remount
adb push Contacts.apk /system/app
Your phone may not appreciate you pushing Contacts.apk while it is running, so it may become unstable at this point. I would recommend restarting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you but I'm trying to understand what you mean by push ADB. is that the one in the sdk folder? if so, I open it and it just flashes for a few seconds then closes.

ADB is a command line program that allows you to debug and move/edit files on your phone. You need to run those commands from a command prompt (should be a link in the Accessories folder on the Start menu if you can't right-click on the sdk folder and open one). Navigate to the tools folder, then run the remount and push commands like icbeer said to get your modified .apk on your phone:
Code:
C:\users\brtnbrdr> cd c:\android-sdk-windows\tools
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools> adb remount
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools> adb push Contacts.apk /system/app

Can't get apk's to install?

I got my NC rooted (I think LOL) I went through the root process and everything looks fine but now i'm trying to install some apk's and I cant get it to work. I want to install root explorer so I pulled the apk from my Htc Evo and put it in a folder on my desktop. Then in cmd I type
cd\
cd android-sdk-windows\platform-tools
adb kill-server
adb devices
I get my device listed so then I type (before the cursor it says C:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools>)
adb install C:\documents and settings\owner\desktop\apks\root explorer 2.12.4.apk"
and I get a message that says "can't find 'explorer 2.12.4.apk' to install
I am stuck I don't know what to do. Please help me!!
I have tried the name root explorer 2.12.4.apk with and without spaces

Novarider said:
adb install C:\documents and settings\owner\desktop\apks\root explorer 2.12.4.apk"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If cmd is like Linux you have to put \ before spaces like root\ explorer\ 2.12.4.apk

its definitely related to where the apk is located or the file name.
Try putting quotes around the path such as....
adb install "c:\docume...."
If that doesn't work then create a folder on your c:\ called apk then move the file over to that folder and rename the .apk file to something without spaces.
Good luck!

So I am at the correct path? What EXACTLY do you type after you open the cmd? Can you just open the cmd and start installing apps or do you have to navigate to android-sdk-windows...
What do I need to type from the time I open cmd?

rob04 said:
its definitely related to where the apk is located or the file name.
Try putting quotes around the path such as....
adb install "c:\docume...."
If that doesn't work then create a folder on your c:\ called apk then move the file over to that folder and rename the .apk file to something without spaces.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The " around the path worked. Thanks!
Now that I have root explorer installed how do I use it? Can I put it on my home screen?