[GUIDE]MAKE APK'S ON YOUR PHONE-for kustom live w'paper app ONLY- inc playstore ready

This tutorial is for lollipop & marshmallow rom users only !​

​

Works with or without Root !​

​

For making apk's for kustom live wallpaper app only !​

​

The apk's should run on any ROM 4.4 upwards​

Welcome to my tutorial for making apk's for kustom live wallpaper ( klwp ) on your PHONE.

Please don't be put off by the length of the tutorial, its IMHO very easy to follow and I have tried to write it in such a way that anybody can follow and understand it and have an end result without too much head scratching.:fingers-crossed:




Top tip, (as if you didn't know this already)
Have this tutorial up on your PC whilst following it, no keep swapping between recents on your phone then.:good:


I would like to thank @plegdroid AKA Pete Nolan for introducing me too and walking me through the stages needed to use ApkTOOL :good:






Sounds like a lot to do, right?....
Setting up everything up the first time takes a bit of time, But once you've done it, and got used to the fairly simple instructions, you'll be making apk's in MINUTES on your phone....


FYI.

I deleted and uninstalled all associated with this tutorial so that I could write the instructions as a person following this tutorial I.e. installing the apps first then writing the instructions step by step as I went through each stage, thereby hopefully getting them as clear and succinct as possible :good:

There is a thread for ApkTOOL here for kitkat, although it is a general thread as ApKTOOL can do much more than just make apk's for kustom, but please don't post on this thread about it as I don't use it on kitkat and only use it for kustom, so if this interest's you please post your queries there.:good:

Using your file explorer for steps 1, 2 and 3..

1, Make a folder on your sd card (internal memory, not on micro SD) and call it [highlight]Apktool[/highlight].

2, Move [highlight]ApKTOOL.apk[/highlight] to the folder you just created and install [highlight]ApKTOOL.apk[/highlight], (If you can't install the ApKTOOL.apk, then goto your phone settings select security then check allow unknown sources, then install ApKTOOL.apk again.) when its finished installing press open, it will then ask you to install an update, install the update and when its finished press done.

3, Also move [highlight]klwp.sample.apk[/highlight] and [highlight]komp.sample.apk[/highlight] to the Apktool folder you created in step 1, [highlight]BUT DO NOT INSTALL THEM[/highlight].

4, Go into your app drawer and open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app.
(If you are rooted open the three dot menu top right of the screen, press settings, scroll to the bottom and check the root option, there's no need to really do this, I do just because I can :laugh

5, Navigate to [highlight]sdcard[/highlight] then the [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder you made earlier,select it, now your screen should now look like this...



6, Click on the [highlight]klwp.sample.apk[/highlight] and pick [highlight]decompile resources[/highlight], leave it to do its thing for some moments (sometimes up to 40 seconds), once complete you should get this on your screen...



Press OK.

7, Your Apktool folder should now have the decompiled apk called [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] in it and should look like this...

Note..
Also if you already have a ic_launcher.zip from previous apk's you have made then you can skip straight to step 5.

1, Firstly using a photo editor, make, crop or resize a picture to a size of [highlight]256x256[/highlight], it can be whatever you like a photo, an image you've made or just text on a background, remember it will end up small though so too much detail may be hard to see and if making an app for playsore be considerate of copyright laws etc..then save it.

2, Goto Android asset studio (that I asked you to bookmark in post 1) In your browser, and click the word 'image' near the top of the page, this will then give you the option of choosing an action . Navigate to the image you made in step 1 and pick it..

3, The Android asset studio page should now look like this, but obviously with your picture .



You can play about with the settings on the page if you like, but I just leave them the way they are.

4, Press the download zip button, this will then put the zip in your downloads folder, it will be called [highlight]ic_launcher.zip[/highlight].

For steps 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, use your file explorer.

5, Go into your download folder and extract the [highlight]ic_launcher.zip[/highlight], once extracted open the folder which will be called [highlight]ic_launcher[/highlight] and then open the res folder and delete the [highlight]mipmap-xxxhdpi[/highlight] folder as this is not needed. Copy the other 4 '[highlight]mipmap[/highlight]' folders.

6, Navigate to your [highlight]sdcard[/highlight] then open your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder, click on the [highlight]klwp.sample_SRC[/highlight] folder, select [highlight]res[/highlight] folder and paste the 4 '[highlight]mipmap[/highlight]' folders you copied, in there.

7, click on [highlight]mipmap-hdpi[/highlight] and copy [highlight]ic.launcher.png[/highlight], then go back into the [highlight]res[/highlight] folder and click on [highlight]drawable-hdpi[/highlight] folder then paste the image you just copied, you should get a prompt with options , choose overwrite.

8, Copy step 7 for the remaining 3 [highlight]mipmap[/highlight] folders, taking care to make sure you copy and paste/overwrite from and into the correct folders

9, Now delete the four [highlight]mipmap[/highlight] folders (not the drawable folders, which I did once and had to do the whole procedure over again ) and exit your file explorer..

Suggestion.
If you are planning to make ultra fast apk's as detailed in post#7, then use a default ic_launcher pic I.e.your avatar that way you can use the same launcher pics for all your apk's and can skip this post

[highlight] Due to changes in the way that klwp saves your wallpapers or komponent you now need to rename your klwp/komp file with a .zip at the end either before or when you place them in the assets folder [/highlight]

Use your file explorer for step 1

1, Decide which [highlight]klwp zip/s[/highlight] (yes you can add more than one) you want to make into an apk, you can find these in your kustom/wallpaper folder, copy the one/s you want and navigate back to your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and select it, then click on [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] and then select the [highlight]assets[/highlight] folder, then select [highlight]wallpapers[/highlight] folder , paste the [highlight]klwp zip/s[/highlight] you copied here, (you will see a [highlight]read me[/highlight] file here also, it just tells you to put your wallpaper zips in this folder, [highlight]delete[/highlight] it), exit your file explorer.

2, Open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app from your app drawer and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and click on it then click on [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder select [highlight]browse[/highlight]
your screen should now look like this.



3, Just to check you zip is in there click on [highlight] assets[/highlight], then click on [highlight]wallpapers[/highlight]
And your screen should look like this, with one or more zips (obviously your zip name will be different)



4, Navigate back to your [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder, then select [highlight]res[/highlight] folder then click on [highlight]values[/highlight] folder then click [highlight]strings.xml[/highlight], you will then be prompted to open with, pick the [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app you downloaded from post#1.
Your screen should now look like this.



On this screen only edit (with your app name and description )what is written in WHITE, Using only text and numbers you may also use capital letters and spaces...like so..



If you delete anything else by accident, unless you know what your doing I suggest you exit droid editor and start from step 4 again.
Once edited press the little icon I've arrowed on the left of the option ribbon.



And press [highlight]save[/highlight]

5, Navigate back to your [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder, then click on [highlight]AndroidManifest.XML[/highlight], again you will receive a promt and again open with [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] and edit (with your app name ) ONLY what I've highlighted in next pic.Use lowercase text only and no spaces.



So it looks like this



Click on the little icon I arrowed earlier and press [highlight]save[/highlight]

6, Navigate back to your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and click on [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder, select [highlight]recompile[/highlight] if you have done everything correctly you should get a pop up that looks like this..:fingers-crossed:



Click OK.

7, you should now have an extra apk in your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder called [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight] with ( if you have made one) your own launcher icon..



Click on your new [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight] and pick [highlight]sign[/highlight] you should then get a pop up like this..



Press OK

Then you will notice another apk in your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder called [highlight]klwp.sample_src_sign.apk[/highlight] if you long press on this apk and select [highlight]rename[/highlight] you can then name it the name of your app but don't forget to leave the [highlight].apk[/highlight] on the end..(if you are using the apk for the play store, don't rename it yet this will happen in following posts). Like so..



if you want to go onto the next stage and make the apk play store ready, then keep the [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight] otherwise you can delete it.

8, you can now test your newly built apk by installing it, either by clicking on it now and selecting [highlight] install[/highlight] or installing it the usual way you install apk's, its also ready for you to share via your favorite cloud etc..

Note....
To make a komponent/s apk follow the same instructions from post#2 step 6 but instead use the [highlight]komp.sample.apk[/highlight]. (But obviously copy your komponent zip/s into the komponent folder in post#4 'building your apk, step 1.

Suggestions...
Do not delete the decompiled [highlight] klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder as this can be used for making ultra fast apk's as detailed in post#7.

If you are planning to update your app then leave the finished apk in the [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder for ease of update (copy it somewhere else for backup if you want, though).

1, Using [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app, navigate to your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder, click on it then select [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight] then from the menu list select [highlight]zipalign[/highlight]. You should get a pop up like this.



Click OK.

You should now have a [highlight]klwp.sample_src_zipalign.apk[/highlight] in your [highlight] Apktool[/highlight] folder, as below..



Exit [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app.

2, Open [highlight]zipsigner[/highlight] app from your app drawer, press the 3dot menu on top right of screen, select [highlight]my keys[/highlight] from the menu list then press the 3dot menu again and select [highlight]new keystore[/highlight] scroll to the bottom of the new page and click [highlight]continue[/highlight] and fill in the form like so..



Note.You can change the directory if you want but I use my internal storage (sdcard0) then after I have finished all the steps to register my keystore I find the keystore file on my sdcard0 and copy it to my sdcard1 (external storage/micro sd card) as a backup.
Click [highlight]continue[/highlight] then fill out the next page like so..



Obviously I have blacked out my key name/alias, it is 'cert' by default but you can change it if you like and for the key/verify passwords make sure you use the same one that you entered on the previous page, don't change anything else on this page unless you understand what it means. Press [highlight]continue[/highlight].
On the next page leave the defaults as they are (unless you know what your doing) and fill out the form as per the instructions (I just put my name and country code I.e.GB (GreatBritain). Close [highlight]zipsigner[/highlight] app.

3, Now we can sign your new apk...
Open [highlight]zipsigner[/highlight] app again, and press underneath the [highlight]key/mode[/highlight] option which will bring up a menu and amongst the options will be either [highlight]cert[/highlight] (if you didn't change your key name/alias) or your new key [highlight]name/alias[/highlight] (you may have to scroll the menu to find it. Then select it.
Next click [highlight]choose in/out[/highlight] this will bring up a page of folders select [highlight]Apktool/[/highlight] then select [highlight]klwp.sample_src_zipalign.apk[/highlight], your screen should now look something like this..



(I have blacked out the key/mode as its my alias and you may not have the word 'emulated' in your file names that's just a quirk of my old galaxy s3 i9300 I think )
Click [highlight]sign the file[/highlight], you will then get a pop up screen asking you to enter your keystore password, enter it and press OK. You should then get a toast message saying [highlight]file signing operation succeeded![/highlight]

Note...
For future apk's that you make you now have you keystore and can skip steps 1 and 2. :good:

4, last bit ......
Open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app from your app drawer and navigate to your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and open it, you should now have an apk called [highlight]klwp.sample_src_zipalign_signed.apk[/highlight], like so...



Long press on the [highlight]klwp.sample_src_zipalign_signed.apk[/highlight] and select rename from the menu, then rename it the name of your apk remembering to leave the [highlight].apk[/highlight] on the end (and you can delete the other stage apk's now if you want, just long press on them and select [highlight]delete[/highlight])
like so...



[highlight] Your APK is now ready to publish to the Play Store.[/highlight]



[highlight]Voilà [/highlight]



Suggestion...
If you are planning to update your play store app then leave the finished apk in the [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder for ease of update (copy it somewhere else for backup if you want, though).

1, Using [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app, navigate to your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder, click on it then select the 'play store'.apk you wish to update, mines called taxi (obviously yours will be different so from now on certain folders I reference I will write 'your app name') click on it and select [highlight]decompile resources[/highlight] and wait for it to do its thing...you then should get a pop up like this...



Click OK.

You should now have a new folder called [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] like so...



Use your file explorer for step 2.

2, Depending on what you are updating....

If you're adding a [highlight]klwp.Zip/s[/highlight] to a collection then copy the extra [highlight]klwp.Zip/s[/highlight] you want to add from [highlight]kustom/wallpaper folder[/highlight] then goto [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder then click on [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] then [highlight]assets[/highlight] select [highlight]wallpapers[/highlight] and paste the [highlight]klwp.zip/s[/highlight] here.

If you are updating an existing [highlight]klwp.zip[/highlight], then firstly goto [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder then click on [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] then [highlight]assets[/highlight] select [highlight]wallpapers[/highlight] and delete the [highlight]klwp.zip[/highlight] already there, then copy your updated zip from [highlight]kustom/wallpaper folder[/highlight], navigate back to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder then click on [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] then [highlight]assets[/highlight] select [highlight]wallpapers[/highlight] and paste the updated [highlight]klwp.zip[/highlight] here.
Exit file explorer.

3, Open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app again from your app drawer and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and click on it, then select [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] folder and from the pop up select [highlight]browse [/highlight].
(You can check if your zips are in the assets/wallpapers folder if you want)
Click on [highlight]apktool.yml[/highlight] file. Open with [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app, then this should be on your screen.



4, Edit the [highlight]version code[/highlight] to [highlight]2[/highlight] and edit the [highlight]version name[/highlight] to [highlight]1.1[/highlight] as highlighted below.



Any further versions will be increments of 1 also I.e. 3 & 1.2 etc
Now press the little icon arrowed in post#4 and press [highlight]save[/highlight]. Exit [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app.

5, Open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app again from your app drawer and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder then click on [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] then click [highlight]recompile[/highlight]. You will now have a folder called [highlight]'your app name_src.apk[/highlight], click on this folder and select [highlight]zipalign[/highlight], you will now have a folder called [highlight]'your app name'_src_zipalign.apk[/highlight]

6, now open [highlight]zipsigner[/highlight] app and press the [highlight]choose in/out [/highlight] button and select the [highlight]'your app name'_src_zipalign.apk[/highlight] then press [highlight]sign the file[/highlight] (your key mode should still be the same as previously used I.e cert or your own alias) and enter your keystore password.
Exit [highlight]zipsigner [/highlight] app.

7, Open [highlight]ApKTOOL[/highlight] app again from your app drawer and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder then click on it.
You should now have a [highlight]'your app name'_src_zipalign-signed.apk[/highlight], like so.



Now you can delete [highlight]'your app name'_src.apk[/highlight] and [highlight]'your app name'_src_zipalign.apk[/highlight], and also the [highlight]'your app name'_src[/highlight] folder, by long pressing on them and selecting delete.
Lastly long press on the [highlight]'your app name'_src_zipalign-signed.apk[/highlight] select [highlight]rename[/highlight] and rename it [highlight]'your app name' V1.1.apk[/highlight]

[highlight] Your updated APK is now ready to publish to the Play Store.[/highlight]



And Hey-presto..

Now everthings set up we can make personal apk's I.e to share via cloud (not play store) by just changing zips and XML's.


Using your file explorer for step 1.

1, You should already have a decompiled [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder in your Apktool folder as per suggestion at the end of post#4.
Copy which kustom wallpaper you wish to apk next, from kustom/wallpaper folder. Navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder,open it then click on [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder, then [highlight]assets[/highlight], then click on [highlight]wallpapers [/highlight] and paste your copied wallpaper here, then [highlight]delete[/highlight] the previous wall (unless you wish to keep it in the apk)
Exit file explorer.

2, Open [highlight]ApkTOOL[/highlight] app and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder, open it and click on [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder and select [highlight]browse[/highlight], then click on [highlight]res[/highlight] then [highlight]values[/highlight] then click on [highlight]strings.xml[/highlight] and open with [highlight]droid edit[/highlight].

3, Edit the names you have previously used to your new name, only using upper/lower case letters and also spaces (as per highlighted pic)



Now press the little icon arrowed in post#4 and press [highlight]save[/highlight]. Exit [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app.

4, Navigate back to [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] and select [highlight]AndroidManifest.xml[/highlight] and open with [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app and edit to your new app name, only using lower case letters with no spaces (as per highlighted pic)



Again press the little icon arrowed in post#4 and press [highlight]save[/highlight]. Exit [highlight]droid edit[/highlight] app.

5, Open [highlight]ApkTOOL[/highlight] app and navigate to [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder and click on it. Then click on the [highlight]klwp.sample_src[/highlight] folder and select [highlight]recompile[/highlight] from the pop up list, and wait for a few seconds for it to recompile, and if you've done everything correctly you should get a pop up like this..



Press OK.

6, Now you should have an extra apk in your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder called [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight], click on this and select [highlight]sign[/highlight] from the pop up list and click OK on the next pop up .

7, Now you will have another apk in your [highlight]Apktool[/highlight] folder called [highlight]klwp.sample_src_sign.apk[/highlight], long press on it and select [highlight]rename[/highlight], then rename it to your new app name.
You now have your new apk ready for sharing via your favorite cloud etc.
Delete the [highlight]klwp.sample_src.apk[/highlight] now as its no longer needed.

So to summarize your ultra fast apk build
Transfer new klwp zip/s
Edit strings.xml
Edit AndroidManifest.xml
Sign
Rename
Done :victory:

Reserved

Reserved one more

Might as well reserve this one also :laugh:

Judge Joseph Dredd said:

First! Ha, moved here and if any more assistance is needed, just ping JJD. Thanks and great job here.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

:laugh: Thank you JJD , and be sure I'll take you up on your offer if needed :good:

BRKotucs said:

Awesome! That's some impressive detailed job.. Well done and thanks for sharing it with us.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thank you , for you great response:highfive: and your very welcome.:good:
And when you've created your first apk using this method please don't forget to report on your success on the thread. :good:

Matze060906 said:

Awesome tut for noobs and pro's. Subscribed to this thread... ?

Gesendet von meinem LG-D802 mit Tapatalk

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

phonefixguy said:

What a great source for reference this is, as well as one of the best tutorials I have come across! Great job buddy.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Thank you both for your great comments , its appreciated :good:

plegdroid said:

Steve, corkin Matey, love your writing style, and thank you for the Playstore signing guide. And yes I will continue to help if needed ?

ⓐⓝⓓⓡⓞⓒⓛⓓⓔ ⓘⓢ ⓝⓞⓣ ⓐ ⓢⓘⓝ

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Cheers Pete, your comments mean a lot..
Your welcome (play store signing)
And I suspect yours and @rkucheran 's tech help is gonna come in useful as you've both been using this method far longer than me.
Thanks again mate :good:

Right, so ive spotted my first (and hopefully only) mistake. I've updated post#4 'building your apk', instruction number 1, where I ask you to paste your copied wallpaper zips into your asset folder , there is an extra step and very important copy the zips into the wallpaper folder within the assets folder....
Sorry about that....