Apktool

What Apktool is

Apktool is a free command-line tool for reverse engineering Android APK files. It can disassemble an APK’s resources into a form close to their original structure, then rebuild an app after changes such as translation or permission edits. Its analysis mode attempts to extract resources and the manifest for inspection without rebuilding. Apktool runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS, and its official installation guide provides wrapper-script steps for each platform. Running it requires Java 8 or later. Decode settings include choosing resource-resolution behavior, skipping resource or source disassembly, and setting a framework directory. When building, users can specify an aapt2 binary, add a generic Network Security Configuration file, or disable APK repacking. The Apache-licensed tool may be redistributed, modified, or integrated into another project. There are compatibility limits: Android devices are not officially supported, and some APKs modified with OEM-specific tools may not decode or build. Builds are unsigned; copying the original signature preserves only the original APK signature v1 scheme. Community support is available through GitHub Discussions, Stack Overflow, and IRC.

Who it suits

Apktool suits developers and other users who need to inspect or modify Android APK resources on Windows, Linux, or macOS. Its command-line workflow and Java requirement fit users comfortable installing and running software that way.

Getting started

1. Open https://apktool.org/.
2. Choose the wrapper-script installation steps for Windows, Linux, or macOS.
3. Install Java 8 or later.
4. Use the command-line tool to disassemble or analyze an APK.
5. Rebuild the APK after making changes, if needed.

Verdict

Choose Apktool if you need a free command-line tool to inspect, disassemble, or rebuild Android APKs on a desktop operating system. Look elsewhere if you need official Android-device support or rely on modified OEM APKs that Apktool may not handle.