Database Develop

[GUIDE]Changing System Icons + MISC MODS

All mods are at the bottom of this post.
Here is a simple way to change system icons on your application drawer. I was looking for a guide to do this but I couldn't find any so I gave it a try and it worked. So I decided to post the method here for like minded people who wanted to change the system icons in their app drawer and not only on the homescreen.
I will show an example of changing the contacts icon. To change the icons of some other app you just have to pull the relevant apk. I know this looks long and tiresome but bear with me and the results will amaze you. After a few times it becomes really easyYou have to be rooted to do this
A couple of things to note
a. You can change icons in framework-res.apk, SystemUI.apk or any other apk this way too.
b. Please note that the icons you replace should be of the same dimensions.
c. The specific icons name inside the drawable_hdpi might change. Sometimes its icon.png. Sometimes its ic_launcher_XYZ. Just use your head and replace the correct png.
d. The files are located either in system/app or data/app depending on whether its a system file or a data file. System files have to be pushed. Data files have to be installed.
Changing Icons works for all ROMS
1. Download android-sdk from here http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
2. Install all libraries.
3. Install jdk from here http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
Make sure you download jdk and not just jre.
4. Download apk manager from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=695701
5. extract apk manager inside platform-tools inside android-sdk folder. Should be something like this
C:/Android-sdk/windows/platform-tools/("extract apk manager here")
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6. Open cmd
7. Navigate to the platform-tools folder. (Simple DOS commands)
8. Do "adb pull /system/app/HtcContacts.apk" (-Do this without the quotes. If you want to change the icon for, lets say the camera, then instead of HtcContacts.apk, type HTCCamera.apk. To see all the system files just navigate to system/app on your phone using es file explorer or root explorer or any other file explorer you fancy. You can see all the system apks and you can pull anyone you want)
9. Ok so now the HtcContacts.apk should be in the platform-tools folder. Paste it into the folder "place apk here for modding".
10. Start script.bat (apk manager) from the platform-tools folder.
11. Choose option 22 to select a project
12. Choose the number of the project. In this case it would be 1.
13. Choose one again on the next screen. This will extract the apk to the projects folder.
14. Now get to the folder res/drawable-hdpi/ on your windows explorer.
15. Replace people.png with the icon of your choice. Please remember that your new icon has to be of 72x72 dimension and should have the same name. You can also replace other pngs like dialer and stuff.
(Next step is only for system files)
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16. Select option 3 on the apk manager cmd
17. Now select 8. This is a system apk and so we have to retain the system signature.
18. Enter the full path of the file ( system/app/HtcContacts.apk)
Follow these steps for data files
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19. Select 7.
20. Wait for install.
Here are my mods. Please note that I have not made these icons and tweaks. I have just put them all together in one place. If you want to give any credit then please follow the developers.
These are designed for sense based Roms. Please DO NOT try with any other rom. Just download and push to system/framework/framework-res.apk. Please note : This is for the older sense (sense 2.0) Do not try with newer sense.
To get transparency you have to use this file -- Transparency Hack -- through metamorph. I will make this into a flashable zip once I understand how to do that.
App icons are from Tenuis theme - Images
My framework-res
Screenshot - http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/9167/snap20110125163003.png
Download
System Icons Zip
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/18171691/Mms.apk

Hello,i just use Bettercut.apk available from market .

Marcdu81 said:
Hello,i just use Bettercut.apk available from market .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I dont use bettercut but does it let you change the system icons in the app drawer. you know the drawer that comes up when you press the menu on the launcher???
Edit: OK i just tried bettercut. Using this you cannot change system icons in the app drawer. You are only changing icons on the homescreen, basically shortcuts. You could do that with launcherpro, desktop visualizer and 10 other apps.

CREDITS
CREDITS
MultiCulti for giving me the idea to get the services.jar for transparency
Icons from MIUI framework
Icons from Gingerbread aosp ROM
sopL87 for his guide
he_stheone64 for his awesome transparency hack
Ps. tell me if I have forgotten to credit anyone and I will add your name here. Thanks to all of the above for inspiring and helping.

Good work
Check this out too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=10157000
Simple Java app to edit .apk files with a nice GUI

You're Just Awesome THNX man !

Nice guide

Ninjamorph lets you edit and change out images within apk files right on your phone. Its a free app on the market.
Still a very nice guide though!

thanks .. i was just looking to put up something which you could use to edit any apk on your phone .. the thing with ninjamorph is that it wasn't working for me. And plus I prefer to do it this way. Gives me more area.
EDIT: Anyone wants to see an MIUI framework on your sense?? I am thinking about getting the exact MIUI framework over to our sense based ROMs. As you can see in my framework I have already copied some of the elements. I am thinking about getting the power toggles and removing the current apps from the notification pulldown.

hi could u help me to change the battery icon plzzzz
i know about kitchen. any thing else i have some pic of a battery icon but dont know how to make one..... htc desire hd rom runny 3.37

Can't extract file
I tried to put option 22 where project start. Then I enter the project name as 1 and following another option 1 to extract files. However, the CMD just close by itself and I opened the project file and still empty inside. Please help!!

Can I change a programs icon using Root Explorer?

So I'm messing around with SPB shell and one of my 2 grips with it is that I can't set custom icons for programs on the launcher at the moment.
Is there a way through root explorer for me to change the icons for a few programs? Mainly the dialer, handcent and the web browser?

no
(10 char)

The images are stored in the .apk themselves. But i bet you could ninjamorph an image into a apk and put it back...but the problem is the app if downloaded from the market wont update

There is a great program for pc that allows you to do that very easily. Its called apk edit. They just released a new version. I dont have the link with me but if you do a search on xda you should be able to find it
HTC Thunderbolt
s-off rooted
VirusROM RC1B2

How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED
How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED
discovered and written by Verum of DroidForums
•open root explorer
•find apk of appyou want to modify
•if the app is installed, the APK should be located in /Data/app
•in root explorer long press the apps APK and select extract all
•go to where the apk was extracted sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•open the Res file
•fine all the icon files in all of the "Drawable" folders
•use picsart to modify each icon without changing it's canvas size
•save the new image in same folder, with same name , and as same file type (pnj/jpg) as the original
•re-open root explorer
•find the folder where everything was extracted to sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•Long press the folder and select Zip
•deleter the folder you zipped sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•clong press the resulting zip and change its extension from .zip to .apk
•click the apk to install
•click ok to replace the non-modified version of the app
•enjoy the new icons and buttons you just created!!!!

@Verum..
Thank you! Do you know at what compression level is required when you re-zip, if any?

Verum said:
How to change app icons ROOT NEEDED
discovered and written by Verum of DroidForums
•open root explorer
•find apk of appyou want to modify
•if the app is installed, the APK should be located in /Data/app
•in root explorer long press the apps APK and select extract all
•go to where the apk was extracted sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•open the Res file
•fine all the icon files in all of the "Drawable" folders
•use picsart to modify each icon without changing it's canvas size
•save the new image in same folder, with same name , and as same file type (pnj/jpg) as the original
•re-open root explorer
•find the folder where everything was extracted to sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•Long press the folder and select Zip
•deleter the folder you zipped sdcard/speedsoftware/***APKNAME***
•clong press the resulting zip and change its extension from .zip to .apk
•click the apk to install
•click ok to replace the non-modified version of the app
•enjoy the new icons and buttons you just created!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I go to install the package it said "there is a problem parsing this package".

Themed Messaging APK's

I found these themed messaging apk's while browsing the moto x forum. I tried 4 of them and all work fully including MMS.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2519733
Do not delete stock app. Rename it adding .bak or move it to sd or to the computer just in case you want it back.
Take any of the SMS zip files according to your choice from the site above. Extract it and find Mms_Signed in the system/priv-app. Copy Mms_Signed.apk to the Phone – SD. In Root explorer (or equal manager) change rights to rw and copy Mms_Signed.apk to the system/priv-app. Change permissions to rw-r-r. Reboot and find the new SMS app in the application drawer. That’s it.

[Q]Xperia T(LT30p) Stuck on Android is Upgrading

This is exactly what i did before the stuck came.
Rooted my Phone using Towelroot
Installed SuperSU and RootChecker
No Custom Rom whatsoever
I was looking for a way to edit the Dock background for the icons where the app drawer is then found that it is called "home_stage_bg.png" looked for it using ES file explorer then found it in /system/ui/app/Home.apk I then coppied the Home.apk then placed it in SD Card incase something happens :laugh: then I downloaded a transparent version of the home_stage_bg.png and also downloaded the Apk Editor on Google Playstore opened it and chose Select an Apk file i chose the Home.apk from the SD Card then replaced the stock home_stage_bg.png with the tranparent one then Clicked save. Went to the folder of Apk Editor where the edited Home.apk was then replaced the Home.apk in /system/app/ then suddenly it went black and rebooted then stuck on Android is Upgrading Starting Applications. Any solution for this?
Thanks XDA.

You can fix this by installing a new launcher.
Use Aroma File Manager to move your Home backup back to system/app. Remember to mount system in recovery before entering aroma file manager.
Done.

Active09 said:
This is exactly what i did before the stuck came.
Rooted my Phone using Towelroot
Installed SuperSU and RootChecker
No Custom Rom whatsoever
I was looking for a way to edit the Dock background for the icons where the app drawer is then found that it is called "home_stage_bg.png" looked for it using ES file explorer then found it in /system/ui/app/Home.apk I then coppied the Home.apk then placed it in SD Card incase something happens :laugh: then I downloaded a transparent version of the home_stage_bg.png and also downloaded the Apk Editor on Google Playstore opened it and chose Select an Apk file i chose the Home.apk from the SD Card then replaced the stock home_stage_bg.png with the tranparent one then Clicked save. Went to the folder of Apk Editor where the edited Home.apk was then replaced the Home.apk in /system/app/ then suddenly it went black and rebooted then stuck on Android is Upgrading Starting Applications. Any solution for this?
Thanks XDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you know how to use ADB (or you can use the Aroma File Manager as suggested above), you can copy another launcher, or the same (original) launcher, to the /system/app folder. Make sure permissions are correct (owner/group = root, permissions = 0644, or rw-r-r--), then reboot. Most likely, the only reason it's not starting up is because you ruined the launcher and there is nothing to start up to.
I don't know if that method of editing an APK is correct, and if you try to replace an APK that is currently being used, such as the "home.apk" or "framework-res.apk" you'll get an automatic reboot.
Safest is to do it on a computer using 7zip.

Keyboard Theme MODs from Galaxy Themes on Note 5

Editing Keyboard themes in Galaxy Themes on Note 5
I have been trying to figure out how to change only the Keyboards from Galaxy themes on my Note 5 for a while and have not found any links on how to accomplish this. It is similar to changing the Icon packs and other settings in the themes only there are separate apk files that are installed specifically for the keyboard during the install, so you can not just edit the script file to change them. I am just posting this in case anyone else was wondering how to do this and hopefully it will help someone. Please let me know if there is an easier way.
First, Make a Backup!
Make sure the default theme is applied!
To get to your themes, Go To [Root]:
Data > Overlays > jsonfiles > UserJSON (Themes)
To use Keyboard from Theme A with Theme B
Data > Overlays > Style
You’ll see a list of your themes there...
Find Theme a Folder and open:
Copy the 3 files that end in “inputmethod.apk” “inputmethod_cn.apk” & “Japan.apk”
After copying in a new folder They should look like:
Theme_A.inputmethod.apk
Theme_A.inputmethod_cn.apk
Theme_A.Japan.apk
Rename the 3 files to the name of the theme that you want to use them with, but leaving the ".inputmethod.apk..." (I’m using Theme B)
When finished they should look something like This:
Theme_B.inputmethod.apk
Theme_B.inputmethod_cn.apk
Theme_B.Japan.apk
Go back to:
Data > Overlays > style
Open Theme B Folder and copy the 3 renamed Keyboard apk files over the 3 matching files in Theme B Folder...
ReBoot!
After restarted, Apply Theme B and the only thing different should be that it will have Theme A’s Keyboard.

letsgotowawa said:
Editing Keyboard themes in Galaxy Themes on Note 5
I have been trying to figure out how to change only the Keyboards from Galaxy themes on my Note 5 for a while and have not found any links on how to accomplish this. It is similar to changing the Icon packs and other settings in the themes only there are separate apk files that are installed specifically for the keyboard during the install, so you can not just edit the script file to change them. I am just posting this in case anyone else was wondering how to do this and hopefully it will help someone. Please let me know if there is an easier way.
First, Make a Backup!
Make sure the default theme is applied!
To get to your themes, Go To [Root]:
Data > Overlays > jsonfiles > UserJSON (Themes)
To use Keyboard from Theme A with Theme B
Data > Overlays > Style
You’ll see a list of your themes there...
Find Theme a Folder and open:
Copy the 3 files that end in “inputmethod.apk” “inputmethod_cn.apk” & “Japan.apk”
After copying in a new folder They should look like:
Theme_A.inputmethod.apk
Theme_A.inputmethod_cn.apk
Theme_A.Japan.apk
Rename the 3 files to the name of the theme that you want to use them with, but leaving the ".inputmethod.apk..." (I’m using Theme B)
When finished they should look something like This:
Theme_B.inputmethod.apk
Theme_B.inputmethod_cn.apk
Theme_B.Japan.apk
Go back to:
Data > Overlays > style
Open Theme B Folder and copy the 3 renamed Keyboard apk files over the 3 matching files in Theme B Folder...
ReBoot!
After restarted, Apply Theme B and the only thing different should be that it will have Theme A’s Keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks.
IT WORKED
But as soon as I reboot the phone, the keyboard goes back to normal.
ANY SOLUTION?

I haven't had that problem. It could possibly have something to do worth the read write permissions on your system partition. Maybe they are reseting back to read only when you're restart and somehow it is deleting your change. The only thing I would make sure is you have BusyBox installed Superuser is updated to the newest version and that your system drive has read write permissions.
When I flash a new ROM to make sure I have read write permissions on system partition, this is what I do:
Go in to recovery (I use TWRP)
Go to ADVANCED -> TERMINAL EMULATOR
TYPE the command: restorecon -Rv /data/media (press enter)
When it's finished running command I restart. Go to root explorer and make sure system partition Is R/W (rw-r-r 0644) and not read only.
It was something I just kind of came across I'm not 100% familiar with why it would do that the only thing I can tell you is that I'm using TEKHD ROM MM and getting the read write permissions to stick is the most difficult thing I have come across. This is what usually works for me but I would look the permissions. If anyone else has any suggestions on getting the permissions fixed I would like to know also because it also affects multi-window for all apps.