[APP][root] Android Auto 3rd party App Enabler

[turboAWD]

Not new to computers, but haven't hacked on Android too much. I have an old phone (Moto E4, Android 5.1) that was just retired. Willing to hack as much as necessary - would like to display jb4 app (car ECU piggyback software) on my Stinger main display.

I've used my S10 to test basic android auto and use the jb4 app (Edit: obviously NOT on android auto), but can't hack my S10 (for work reasons), so I don't want to hack around on that phone.

What are my chances of success? Would like to know that it SHOULD work in theory before I invest any time.

Also, use phenotype patcher (I saw somewhere it was Android 6.0+, so I couldn't use it), or root the phone + AA3AE (or whatever this app is called).

Thanks for any hints.

 

[drnightshadow]

Not new to computers, but haven't hacked on Android too much. I have an old phone (Moto E4, Android 5.1) that was just retired. Willing to hack as much as necessary - would like to display jb4 app (car ECU piggyback software) on my Stinger main display.

I've used my S10 to test basic android auto and use the jb4 app (Edit: obviously NOT on android auto), but can't hack my S10 (for work reasons), so I don't want to hack around on that phone.

What are my chances of success? Would like to know that it SHOULD work in theory before I invest any time.

Also, use phenotype patcher (I saw somewhere it was Android 6.0+, so I couldn't use it), or root the phone + AA3AE (or whatever this app is called).

Thanks for any hints.

This is depreciated .. not working, old stuff..
Go follow to new app from link..

[ROOT ONLY] AA AIO TWEAKER - The ultimate Android Auto Utility

Meet AA AIO TWEAKER, the new Swiss Army Knife for a less restrictive and more feature-ful Android Auto! How do I use it? Allow root access, choose what you want, reboot, and then forget about it :) How does it work? This app uses SQLite...

forum.xda-developers.com

 

[fcaronte]

Still wait for some methods? Oh, it is!
Here is NO-ROOT method to add designed for android auto app, to the screen of your car! Just told to your device that your app installed from Google Play.
Use adb as described here: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/39265358/android-auto-app-testing (mobile-debug.apk is an app that need to install from PC)

adb push mobile-debug.apk /sdcard/app.apk
adb shell pm install -i "com.android.vending" -r /sdcard/app.apk
adb shell rm /sdcard/app.apk

Want without PC? Use special flags!
Attached app "asKing.apk" great to install the app as if it were downloaded from Google Play. Just select a file and press Install. Use custom file manager like Total Commander to correct select file, if your path starts with /root - remove /root from a path (string with path is editable). For example, /root/storage/emulated/0/Download/tmp/my.apk - not correct, but /storage/emulated/0/Download/tmp/my.apk is OK.
It work on all AA on Android 10 and lower, on Android 11 and higher it works on AA 6.3 and lower or AA 6.6 and higher (exclude 6.4 and 6.5 if we be simple)
But if you have Android 11 and Android Auto 6.4 or 6.5 seems to it use this that works like this and cannot change without root.
However, with root you can got it (It is only on Android 11, if you have Android 10 and lower, can use without root with any version AA.).
Before you start root manipulations, just imagine that your phone may stop booting losting all data, as this is an important system file!
See system name of your car APP, that you want add to the car screen AA. com.best.app for example! It must be already installed. Actions below told your device that it from Google Play (car app updates are installed in the same way, it is unlikely that it will be possible to update from Android)
So reboot to TWRP and connect to PC with adb.
Then, open command line on your pc!

adb pull /data/system/packages.xml

Near adb appears file packages.xml on your PC
Open it with any text editor. Find by your system app name:

<package name="com.best.app" codePath="/data/app/com.best.app-1" nativeLibraryPath="/data/app/com.best.app-1/lib" primaryCpuAbi="arm64-v8a" publicFlags="675855940" privateFlags="0" ft="179523e9258" it="179523ea69a" ut="179523ea69a" version="1" userId="10215">

And add this (installer="com.android.vending" installInitiator="com.android.vending") to end before the closing tag. If it already in file, but not equals "com.android"vending", it need to correct this. Example for this case:

<package name="com.best.app" codePath="/data/app/com.best.app-1" nativeLibraryPath="/data/app/com.best.app-1/lib" primaryCpuAbi="arm64-v8a" publicFlags="675855940" privateFlags="0" ft="179523e9258" it="179523ea69a" ut="179523ea69a" version="1" userId="10215" installer="com.android.vending" installInitiator="com.android.vending">

Be aware, installInitiator needs only in Android 11 and high.
If your Android is 10 or lower, and installInitiator were not in packages.xml, you should not add it to file - add only installer.
Save file on your PC and push to device:

adb push packages.xml /data/system/packagesnew.xml
adb shell "cat /data/system/packagesnew.xml > /data/system/packages.xml"
adb shell rm /data/system/packagesnew.xml

Very important not remove or not completely rewrite /data/system/packages.xml - only replace text in this. So using cat instead mv/rm/cp.
Reboot mobile. If it booted, youre lucky. If not, return to TWRP, do all again to prevent errors, or remove on your own risk file /data/system/packages.xml from TWRP (adb shell rm /data/system/packages.xml). Next booting will long, system recreate this file... maybe. Always has a chance! For lost your data also. So always have your backup and do all tihis for your own risk!
Want without PC? Oh, sure, but be careful, I warned you!
Just use attached changeInstaller.apk [ROOT ONLY] instead of all the described actions with the computer adb!
1. Install
2. At the first start, grant root rights and access to the repository. After issuing the rights, close and reopen the application. It is important.
3. Select the application from the list that you want to mark as installed from Google Play. Its status will appear. On the left is a log of events, on the right - errors, there should be no errors
4. Press Start, wait for the status to change. We carry out the procedure for all the necessary applications
5. Press Force Reboot and wait for reboot.
Booted? Excellent.
Didn't load? At the root of the internal sdcard is the packages_backups folder with the packages.xml backup.
Check out the manual version of the solution to understand what has been fixed and what to look for.
Remember that /data/system/packages.xml cannot be overwritten, only change the text inside.

All of this is only for testing your apps.

seem this things aren't work on android 13. i try with lineage os 20 on emulator is work correctly but in the car app disappear. i try to pull the packages.xml but seem crypted and is read bad and probably this is why changeinstaller can't find any app in the packages list
Edit: I fix the problem reinstalling rom and flash nikigapps BEFORE a first rom boot

 

[GPSMapper]

seem this things aren't work on android 13. i try with lineage os 20 on emulator is work correctly but in the car app disappear. i try to pull the packages.xml but seem crypted and is read bad and probably this is why changeinstaller can't find any app in the packages list
Edit: I fix the problem reinstalling rom and flash nikigapps BEFORE a first rom boot

I am having the same issue with lineageos 19.1 - none of the methods are working because
/data/system/packages.xml is encoded and not an editable text file.

[OFFICIAL] LineageOS 20 for Xiaomi Mi 6 (sagit)

#include /* * Your warranty is now void. * * I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, * thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please * do some research if you have any concerns...

forum.xda-developers.com

I was trying with both recommended Mindthegapps and with Nikgapps (full)
I was flashing the gapps before the first boot.

What Nikgaps package you've been using?

 

[fcaronte]

I am having the same issue with lineageos 19.1 - none of the methods are working because
/data/system/packages.xml is encoded and not an editable text file.

[OFFICIAL] LineageOS 20 for Xiaomi Mi 6 (sagit)

#include /* * Your warranty is now void. * * I am not responsible for bricked devices, dead SD cards, * thermonuclear war, or you getting fired because the alarm app failed. Please * do some research if you have any concerns...

forum.xda-developers.com

I was trying with both recommended Mindthegapps and with Nikgapps (full)
I was flashing the gapps before the first boot.

What Nikgaps package you've been using?

Full package, but probably you can use another package + android auto addons

 

[GPSMapper]

Full package, but probably you can use another package + android auto addons

Thanks, undortunately for me this does not work. I have been trying LOS 19.1 clean install + Nikgapps full - same issue - can't make AA to see S2A/Fermata, not matter which options I try (AAEase, King Installer, ADB, AIO Tweker)

Changeinstaller does not work while /data/system/packages.xml file is not plain text.

With another rom (Pixel Experience Plus) - everything is OK (but it's unofficial and some AA functionality is broken there)

 

[lupastro82]

Hi, I try to patch hybrid assistant app, but also after reboot is still not listed.
Is there any way to enable this app?

Ty.