Extract source code (Java and XML) from Android APK File

Extract source code (Java and XML) from Android APK File

Not getting any idea how to make good layout in Android activity or not getting how any application doing that things which you want in your project but you don’t know how to implement it in your APK File. So, I came here with new technology & new thinking which can make you crazy in android world.

Now time for backtracking…start your time to do hacking. Do you know you can get source code of Android APK file? Time to break the code..Let’s learn step by step.

In this tutorial we will learn how to convert android APK file into source code. Android .apk file is a compressed form of a file which contains Java classes (in .dex form), XML files and all necessary files. So first we will learn how to get Java source File from android apk using dex2jar and Java decompiler tools and then we will learn how to get XML source file using apktool and apkinstall tools.

To get the source code from APK file, we will need these tools:

1. dex2jar
2. java decompiler
3. apktool
4. apkinstall

Steps to get source:-

Get Java files from APK:-

1. Rename the .apk file into .zip file (example SharedPr.apk into SharedPr.zip).
2. Extract SharedPr.zip file and copy classes.dex file from extracted folder.
3. Extract dex2jar.zip and paste classes.dex into dex2jar folder.
3. Open command prompt and change directory to the dex2jar folder. Then write dex2jar classes.dex and press enter. Now you will get classes.dex.dex2jar file in the same folder.

Convert classes.dex to classes.dex.dex2jar

4. Now double click on jd-gui(Java decompiler) and click on open file. Then open classes.dex.dex2jar file from that folder. Now you will get class files and save all these class files (click on file then click “save all sources” in jd-gui) by src name.

classes.dex.dex2jar will be in dex2jar folder

Save All Java Files

Get XML files from APK:-

1. Extract apktool and apkinstall in a folder(Example : New Folder).
2. Put SharedPr.apk(your apk file) in same folder(i.e New Folder).

Keep Android Apk File with apktool and apkinstall

3. Open the command prompt and go to the root directory(i.e New Folder).
4. Type command on command prompt: apktool d SharedPr.apk

Get All XML Files In Resource Folder

5. This will generate a folder of name SharePr in current directory (here New Folder) and all XML files will be in res->layout folder.

See All XML Files in new created Folder

Now you have source code. If you have any doubts please comment. Share and help others.

Note:- Video of this post is also available on YouTube, Watch video "How to get source code (Java code and XML code) From Android APK File".

Note:- I disabled comment option on this post because I was getting lots of comment on this post. I updated download links  & if anybody facing any problem than contact me directly.

For more related to Android tutorials see List of Android Tutorials.