How to extract data from an .APK file?

Question

I want to extract or copy every detail that .apk contain, like for example extracting data from whatsapp.apk or linked-in.apk or twitter.apk.

Please note that I dont want to extract my personal data from any installed app on my phone instead I want extract the data and images which the app developer had added while making the app.

Answer 1

An APK is the same as a JAR file which is the same as a ZIP file.

Rename the .APK to a .ZIP and then extract the .ZIP

Answer 2

As suggested earlier, Apktool is a good option,

Requirements:

• Java Runtime Environment

• Windows wrapper script (Right click, Save Link As apktool.bat)

• Apktool.jar

(For Linux and Mac OS the files and installation instructions are also available: Installation for Apktool)

Usage

Copy the apktool.bat and apktool.jar files to a folder preferably with no spaces eg inside the C:\ directory. (e.g C:\Apktool)

1. Open command prompt by pressing shift and right click simultaneously.

2. In the command prompt type apktool d [apkname.apk] (e.g apktool d WhatsApp)

3. Find the extracted apk in the folder with the apk name (in this case (C:\Apktool\WhatsApp)

4. You can now browse through the folder to find all resources of the app e.g manifest.xml and PNG images in res folder or doing a search.

Acknowledgements:

Apktool a tool for reverse engineering