anyway to modify and then install an apk on a non rooted phone?

[jasonb]

i know this isn't the incredible section but it will work the same on the droid, if it works at all of course.

now is there any way for me to edit an apk and then install it on a non rooted phone? i want to change the widget background for the feedr (rss feeds) widget. it is now white and i want to change it to a smoked glass background. i tried simply replacing the picture and then installing it but it would not install. i keep reading something about resigning the apk. the phone is obviously not rooted so i can't just adb push it on.

is there anyway i can do this?

[bill12690]

well, if you modified the apk already and tried installing that from the sdcard and it didnt work, I would look more into resigning it. thats the only way i know of on a non-rooted phone. Did you rename the apk to a zip, unzip it, replace the pic and just rezip and rename to apk? Try just renaming the apk to a .zip, and replace the pic without unzipping it (if thats what you did), then rename to .apk again. From what i've seen, actually unzipping it can sometimes mess it up.

[sportsterBK8]

I posted this thread,

How to resign apk files after modding them!

this SHOULD work on Non-rooted phones, but only with apps that arent in the /system/app folder, as you don't have access and the phone will try to overwrite it.

But as long as you're not trying to modify an app that came with the phone it should work, as you're just re-signing an apk, as far as the phone knows, it's a completely stock app, and you'll just need to install like any other non-market .apk


Good luck, let me know if you have success.

[jasonb]

not working. i tried both methods described in that thread and still no go. it still won't let me install it.

anybody want to try it for me?

[kevdog]

What tool did you use to resign the apk? Please be more specific

[jasonb]

What tool did you use to resign the apk? Please be more specific

the one from this thread: xda-developers - View Single Post - [HOW TO] Manuals for creating a theme

it's telling me it was signed with no errors but still won't install with astro.

i tried it with two different apps, Geniewidget and Feedr. neither would install.