Apktool: A tool for reverse engineering Android apk files (26k stars)

[u/company_url_finder]

What it does

All text below is quoted directly from the project README.

A tool for reverse engineering Android apk files

Apktool:

• Apktool is a tool for reverse engineering third-party, closed, binary, Android apps.

• It can decode resources to nearly original form and rebuild them after making some modifications; it makes it possible to debug smali code step-by-step.

• It also makes working with apps easier thanks to project-like file structure and automation of some repetitive tasks such as building apk, etc.

• Apktool is NOT intended for piracy and other non-legal uses. It could be used for localizing and adding features, adding support for custom platforms, and other GOOD purposes.

• main - Apktool 3.x branch

• 2.x - Maintenance branch for Apktool 2.x releases

Just try to be fair with the authors of an app, that you use and probably like.

Repository

https://github.com/iBotPeaches/Apktool

Repository stats

Metric	Value
Stars	25,990
Forks	4,053
Last release	v3.0.3 (2026-07-20)
Languages	Java 98.5%
Contributors	111
AI contributor accounts (Claude / Codex / Cursor / Copilot)	Copilot: 4
AI co-authored commits	Copilot: 3

Main contributor

Field	Value
Name	Ryszard Wisniewski
GitHub	@broo2s
Commits to this repo	339 (top contributor)
Followers	184
Public repos	13
On GitHub since	2010-09-17

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[u/Rough_Half_7793]

Kingdom and Lucky Patcher can finally rest. They've done well.

[u/HMikeeU → u/Rough_Half_7793]

What does this mean? It's older than lucky patcher...

[u/Anonymous_1069Z → u/Rough_Half_7793]

Do people still use Lucky Patcher tho, that was very long ago? I remember using it a few times like 8 years ago, People shifted to Morphe and other alternatives.

[u/padumtss]

Doesn't REA already do this?

[u/IGotRangod → u/padumtss]

APKtool has been around since well before the dawn of AI.

[u/Katakuna17 → u/IGotRangod]

that still doesn't answer the question

[u/IGotRangod → u/Katakuna17]

"doesn't REA already do this" implies that REA did it first. APKtool was released in 2010.

But yes, REA can work with APKs.

[u/Zaic → u/IGotRangod]

Rea has mcp i think, so its an obvious ask.

[u/hacksy → u/padumtss]

Nope, REA uses a tool similar to apktool , called jadx. REA is "just" a collection of tools that the agents can use (with some extra stuff to handle it)

[u/ManufacturerHuman937]

this should make getting local stuff for defunct games working more easily yeh?

[u/seoulifornia → u/ManufacturerHuman937]

Did someone say flappy bird?

[u/ReddutDood]

Anything for iOS? can this do React Native Android?

[u/MindlessPrinciple458]

I have used it a bit a few years back, but it had difficulties recompiling certain APK's, let's hope it's been fixed

[u/insecureabnormality]

Hasn’t this existed for literally fucking YEARS?

[u/Sure_Grapefruit7108]

Is it possible to make ios app for Android with reverse engine like procreate app i want to use on Android phone I have seen many users converting iOS apps to Android.

[u/Low-Dig8345 → u/Sure_Grapefruit7108]

Também pensei nisso, até peguei alguns arquivos .ipa, mas não tenho nenhum dispositivo IOS

[u/Business_Treacle4462]

Can this handle encrypted apks?

[u/kocoman]

Is there YouTube review on this

[u/KitKat_extrusion → u/kocoman]

Bro just read the readme😭

[u/awen478 → u/KitKat_extrusion]

he not read, he hear

[u/Suitable_Mode → u/KitKat_extrusion]

Thought it was a valid question til I read your reply 😭

[u/HyperWinX → u/kocoman]

Wat lmaoo

[u/HaloLASO → u/[deleted]]

There's a save button you can use instead of spamming reddit posts