Related
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")
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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!!
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".
Hey guys, I recently just got into the rooting and modding stuff here so excuse me, but im just a beginner and don't know much of what I'm doing. I've searched and searched and searched for the mods that i want, but with no luck, so I'm wondering if anyone had any free time to make some mods for me? I have a Sony xperia TL (Lt30at) and its rooted. I have CWM to flash zips so if i could get a zip made up to be able to do this, i would greatly appreciate it! okay, so this is what i was looking for. I wanted to change the statusbar background to a different image, which is the first attatchment i have. I would also like to make the chat bubbles that same image in the sms app. I also wanted to change the clock, battery, notification icons, all of that stuff on the statusbar to red instead of the stock colors, but keep all of the stock icons. Now, only two more things. If somebody could make, or point me in the direction where to find red soft keys for my phone, that would be awesome. I found some on here but none seemed to work on my phone, it just made systemui crash. Last, i wanted to change the sms background from white to the picture i have in my second attatchment. I have JB v4.1.2 with stock rom and whatnot. If anybody could do any of these things for me or point me in the direction of an already made one, i would greatly appreciate it!! Thank you very much.
I don't think you can change the nav bars background to a picture, just the color. You can however, change the softkeys. Check this thread for new ones. Or download one, make your own images, and just replace them in the zip with yours using winrar, 7zip, or even unzip and re-zip on your phone with root explorer.
As for the background image on sms... Use winrar, 7zip, or whatever and unpack the apk. Navigate to the "res" (meaning resources) folder, then into the "drawable-xhdpi" (other drawables are for other phone resolutions, we use xhdpi always). In that folder, see if you can find a background image. If not, then its probably not an image but a color code thats inside an xml file. Other than that, use another sms app such as GoSMS. Which allows custom themes/backgrounds.
Info about zips from the link above...
The SoftKey threads zips are ones that modify apk's without actually replacing them. It does it that way in case you have mods on an apk that you don't want to lose just because you want to change an image.
When you unzip one you'll normally see a few folders but the one you'll need to focus on is the "vrtheme" folder. Inside vrtheme there is a "system" folder with two folders "app" and "framework". Inside "app" is a folder "SystemUI.apk", which is the file to be modified. Inside that folder will be the layout of the original apk, excluding folders that your not modifying. If u don't understand that, try unpacking your original SystemUI.apk and you will see a ton of folder and files. But since we only need to replace specific images, only those folders are reconstructed in the SystemUI.apk folder as... "SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-xhdpi/"
If this confused you then you might have to wait until someone decides to drop what they're doing for everyone else, and help you. Which is as about as possible as you unlocking our bootloader. So ill try to help, but I'm still learning here as well. Luckily I've been a PC software programmer for over 15 years so the transition isn't as bad for me.
- Xperia TL, XperimenT v2.6 ~ via XDA App
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1433053
This might help also... http://rootzwiki.com/topic/17417-updated-solution-in-op-navigation-bar-background-image/
Ill attempt it in a minute and let you know my results. If it works, ill upload you a flashable zip.
- Xperia TL, XperimenT v2.6 ~ via XDA App
First, about the status bar, I haven't tried yet so I can't help
Second, about the soft keys, it's quite easy, decompile systemui (remember installing framework-res.apk and SemcGenericUxpRes.apk in apktool), go to res/drawable-xhdpi, edit the nav buttons (open in PTS and change the color to red ), then recompile the SystemUI
about the background image of sms, it use the background semc_bg_bright_tile.png in res/drawable-xhdpi of SemcGenericUxpRes.apk, but if you change this image, other apps using this background will be affected like SemcPhone T___T.
About nav background, you can edit the navigationbar.xml in SystemUI , you can search for Transparent Nav bar in this section, instead of giving the hex color, you can change it to the path of the image like /drawable-xhdpi/background.png (of course you have copied the file into editing folder). You should know some about xml editing . This is just some quick ideas, I'm quite busy so I can't help you out , good luck
redincali said:
I don't think you can change the nav bars background to a picture, just the color. You can however, change the softkeys. Check this thread for new ones. Or download one, make your own images, and just replace them in the zip with yours using winrar, 7zip, or even unzip and re-zip on your phone with root explorer.
As for the background image on sms... Use winrar, 7zip, or whatever and unpack the apk. Navigate to the "res" (meaning resources) folder, then into the "drawable-xhdpi" (other drawables are for other phone resolutions, we use xhdpi always). In that folder, see if you can find a background image. If not, then its probably not an image but a color code thats inside an xml file. Other than that, use another sms app such as GoSMS. Which allows custom themes/backgrounds.
Info about zips from the link above...
The SoftKey threads zips are ones that modify apk's without actually replacing them. It does it that way in case you have mods on an apk that you don't want to lose just because you want to change an image.
When you unzip one you'll normally see a few folders but the one you'll need to focus on is the "vrtheme" folder. Inside vrtheme there is a "system" folder with two folders "app" and "framework". Inside "app" is a folder "SystemUI.apk", which is the file to be modified. Inside that folder will be the layout of the original apk, excluding folders that your not modifying. If u don't understand that, try unpacking your original SystemUI.apk and you will see a ton of folder and files. But since we only need to replace specific images, only those folders are reconstructed in the SystemUI.apk folder as... "SystemUI.apk/res/drawable-xhdpi/"
If this confused you then you might have to wait until someone decides to drop what they're doing for everyone else, and help you. Which is as about as possible as you unlocking our bootloader. So ill try to help, but I'm still learning here as well. Luckily I've been a PC software programmer for over 15 years so the transition isn't as bad for me.
- Xperia TL, XperimenT v2.6 ~ via XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! tons of help!
dully79 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1433053
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply!
redincali said:
This might help also... http://rootzwiki.com/topic/17417-updated-solution-in-op-navigation-bar-background-image/
Ill attempt it in a minute and let you know my results. If it works, ill upload you a flashable zip.
- Xperia TL, XperimenT v2.6 ~ via XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you work anything out for that? I've been trying to do it myself but i'm not all that familiar with what to do.
blackcat510 said:
First, about the status bar, I haven't tried yet so I can't help
Second, about the soft keys, it's quite easy, decompile systemui (remember installing framework-res.apk and SemcGenericUxpRes.apk in apktool), go to res/drawable-xhdpi, edit the nav buttons (open in PTS and change the color to red ), then recompile the SystemUI
about the background image of sms, it use the background semc_bg_bright_tile.png in res/drawable-xhdpi of SemcGenericUxpRes.apk, but if you change this image, other apps using this background will be affected like SemcPhone T___T.
About nav background, you can edit the navigationbar.xml in SystemUI , you can search for Transparent Nav bar in this section, instead of giving the hex color, you can change it to the path of the image like /drawable-xhdpi/background.png (of course you have copied the file into editing folder). You should know some about xml editing . This is just some quick ideas, I'm quite busy so I can't help you out , good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive been trying to do this, but i can't get my framework onto my computer. When i copy it to my sd card using root explorer it just doesnt show up when im looking for it on my pc..frustrating...
I forgot to add this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=40026013&postcount=20
Since I can't find any thread about this I decided to make one,
For those who enabled "show touches" in developers option and can't stand that ugly white dot, good thing about android is everything is modifiable. You can to replace that white dot to whatever icon you like, but you'll need a PC and a usb cable.
1. Connect your phone to your pc.
2. Copy /system/framework/framework-res.apk to your pc
3. Extract it to Desktop use the search bar and type pointer.
4. Once you see the pointer icon you click open file location.
5. Now, download some picture you want and resize it to smaller resolution like 50x50 then convert it to png format.
6. Save it to desktop and change the name into the file that you are going to replace.
7. Use 7zip (best free zipper ever) and navigate to where you found your white dot and paste your desired icon in it.
8. Copy the modified framework-res.apk to your phone.
9. Use any root explorer (ES File Explorer) and paste the modified framework-res.apk to /system/framework/
10. Replace the original file and change its permission to rw--r--r--.
now reboot and voila you're done. any thanks will be appreciated.
video
is there any video or can you make a video
Can u plz give me that smily png file
Is there any way to change the white dot to sparkling dot
more people needs to see this!
B U M P !!
I used ninjamorth for this and it did a job!
I would LOVEEE to change the pointer and do alote of things with the xposed installer but it says that its not compatible with android SDK version 22 goddamit now im sad :crying:
I got bootloop. Just wasting my time.
AidiLWays said:
I got bootloop. Just wasting my time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lmao u tried the method that was posted in 2015 ofc u get bootloop
MM.626 said:
lmao u tried the method that was posted in 2015 ofc u get bootloop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any way to do this now on Android 10 or 11 if you could point me in the direction
Avendo said:
Is there any way to do this now on Android 10 or 11 if you could point me in the direction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://github.com/thesandipv/pointer_replacer
Download the latest APK in assets and follow directions provided, if the Magisk shortcut on app doesn't work remember the file directory to apply manually tried and working perfect on Android 10!
Good morning all,
Before getting a Nexus 6P around a week ago, I had been using an app called "Emoji Switcher (root)" to use the iOS-styled emojis in conjunction with Google Keyboard. I prefer to use this emoji style, despite Google's updates, because many of my friends and family use iPhones, and I like to make sure we are conveying the same message as emojis are a very visual language.
Emoji Switcher (root) Thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2722892
I was looking to replicate this on the Developer Preview of Android N, and after a great deal of headache going through many incompatible apps and methods, I have figured it out and would like to spare anyone else who is interested the headache. Many root file explorers will not allow you to modify the system .tff file that controls the emojis across the device, so I had to get old school with it.
I first downloaded a .tff file from the thread below that includes all of the iOS emojis through Unicode 9 as well as the Unicode 10 candidates that those of us on Android N have on their keyboards currently. Download and unzip the attachment "iOS_unicode9_emojis_Mr.Yawnie.zip." You do not need any of the modified keyboards if you are on Android N! Within this container is the file "NotoColorEmoji.tff." This is the same name as the file we will be replacing, just keep it in your downloads folder for now.
Mr.Yawnee's iOS Emoji Thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gene...mojis-t3348544
Next, you will need to reboot into TWRP and mount the system partition. When your system is mounted return to the TWRP home screen, go to "Advanced," and then "File Manager."
Within the File Manager navigate to the root folder --> System --> Fonts, and scroll down until you see the file "NotoColorEmoji.tff." This is the standard emoji font that Android pulls for your keyboards, incoming messages, etc. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. Simply rename the file to "NotoColorEmojiOld.tff" (Or whatever you would like to call it) and LEAVE IT IN THE FONTS FOLDER.
Now, still within the TWRP file manager, navigate back to your downloads folder where you unzipped the "NotoColorEmoji.tff" file that we downloaded earlier. Simply copy this file into the / --> System --> Fonts folder we were just in. It will not overwrite anything since we renamed the original file.
Unmount the system partition and reboot your Nexus. Your emoji should all be updated and replaced with iOS-style emoji! These emoji are working on the stock keyboard for me, and I imagine that since they replaced the system font they should work with any custom keyboards you may be using.
If you wish to revert, simply reboot into TWRP, mount system, go back into the Fonts folder, delete the "NotoColorEmoji.tff" file that we added in, and then RENAME "NotoColorEmojiOld.tff" to "NotoColorEmoji.tff." You can potentially get your phone into a bootloop if you do not do this step!!
Credits and thank you to @Mr.Yawnie for the wonderful emoji .tff, and thank you to @D_Steve595 for the Emoji Switcher (root) app that I would typically use and have enjoyed so much.
Please go easy on my forum skills as this is my first post on XDA. I will answer and questions as well as I can. I am excited to repay this amazing community with some knowledge of my own!
Cheers,
Eric
@Mr.Yawnie, would you be cool with the iOS emoji font being added to Emoji Switcher?
I was able to do this all within the OS using Root Explorer Pro. Thanks for the info - was curious about this myself!
@Nitemare3219 How were you able to mount system with the phone running? For the life of me I couldn't get any root file explorers to even let me change permissions on anything in my system folder.
esthornhill said:
@Nitemare3219 How were you able to mount system with the phone running? For the life of me I couldn't get any root file explorers to even let me change permissions on anything in my system folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I literally hit the button that said MOUNT R/W when in the system folder. I can swap back and forth between the two with no issues, running latest SuperSU beta & BusyBox.
Thank you for sharing these links. I too prefer these emoji. Worked perfectly.
Well I ****ed up... I tried using it on Es file explorer now I need the original ttf ..
Can someone upload
Update *** I got it back...