Develop Bugs

why do devs put updated apps in /system?

i mean is there a benefit to doing it over the data part? only diff i'm aware of is that (in this case, street view) putting an app in the system bit means i can't update it and as i can't get adb working on my PC, then i have to :
backup all my apps, barr those in system, flash a new rom (but remove the apks from the zip file), then reinstall all apps again
i need google street view and since adb doesnt work, this is the only way that i know of how to do this.

They're put on /system/app as that's where they originally live...if it's an app from the Market it will update itself correctly
It's also a space thing as if they were all on /data/app then you'd eat up your space in no time (unless using A2SD)

umm, ok stupid queston, why is it then no matter whose rom i try (here or modaco), if an app is on /system it is never updated? i *always* get an error during installation
few weeks back, it was google maps, now it's the updated street view.
i've flashed a new rom now but removed street.apk from the zip and can now install just fine, and can update as needs be.

I dunno, I'm stock and just today had Flash and Maps update automatically

If your system apps won't update there's something wrong with your custom ROM.

it wouldn't just be me then though?
i'm using leedroids latest and that's not updating, same with opendesire earlier on, modaco ones etc etc

Are you wiping before you install the ROMs? I've never had a problem updating system apps via the market in my ROM.

of course. full wipe

tommo123 said:
of course. full wipe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just uninstall the app and re-install it from market

You can't if its on the system partition. Updates go on the /data/ partition, though...
Other way is to get the APK in question and install it using a file manager, it'll do the same thing

uninstalling also isn't allowed, neither is updating. it seems that once it's there, it's there.
now, i've got adb working and can list what's in system etc but it gave a read only error when i was trying to 'rm Street.apk'
remount didn't appear to be a valid option. alls working now anyways. just need to remember to remove certain apks from a zip before flashing.
funky

You *can* update system apps with market updates, as has been said before. The app remains on the system partition and the phone uses the data version instead. If it's not working for you I don't know why, but it's absolutely fine for me.

So what we need is a mod that will give you the option of replacing the system/app with updated market version, but replaces it on system and not data.

j5m said:
So what we need is a mod that will give you the option of replacing the system/app with updated market version, but replaces it on system and not data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well that's exactly what I do in mine. And I get those by updating the system app via the market.

teppic74 said:
Well that's exactly what I do in mine. And I get those by updating the system app via the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats great for you, and i appreciate that you do that with your rom +mods, but it means relying on you. Would be good if android would have it as an inbuilt function.
But i guess with newer phones having increased internal storage + a2sd this won't be an issue for much longer.

It's never going to happen as part of standard Android, because the system partition is read only. Also the system has to be a set standard in order to allow upgrades to work.

[Q] Needed: Idiots guide to updating system apps

In a lot of the custom roms threads I see that people are always asking the cooks to update the system apps as soon as a new one is released.
Rather than us users constantly hassling the cooks to do this, could somebody post an 'idiots' guide how to update the system apps ourselves?
I have seen a few threads about how to remove apps using adb, but none on how to update them.
Any help would be appreciated, not just by the users, but probably by the overworked cooks too
Cheers.
EDIT: by this I mean a way to update the apk in the system folder rather than the date to save space on the phones memory.

One way is to open the market and click on the 'downloads' link at the top and it will give you a list of installed apps and the ones highlighted in red have updates.
Another way is to search the market or a free app called 'aTrackDog' which will check all your apps for updates.

Thanks, but that is not what I meant. I should have made it clearer in my question.
What I want is this: a way to update the applications so that the updated apk goes into the system folder rather than the data folder. That way the update doesn't take up any more of the precious space on my phone.
I'll edit the OP to show this.
But thanks anyway for your help.

Don't you mean the fact that certain apps included in roms cant be updated. Only possible by flashing an updated version of that rom.
Wrong section.

prodygee said:
Don't you mean the fact that certain apps included in roms cant be updated. Only possible by flashing an updated version of that rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that's not true. Often when a cook produces their own rom they will release an "Update pack" when a system app has been updated (such as Flash or Maps). For an example, see here under 'updated system apps':
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=773997
What I am asking for is if anybody knows how to use adb to update apps on the system partition. When updating from the market a the update takes place on the data folder, not the system one.
Ta.

scutworker said:
No, that's not true. Often when a cook produces their own rom they will release an "Update pack" when a system app has been updated (such as Flash or Maps). For an example, see here under 'updated system apps':
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=773997
What I am asking for is if anybody knows how to use adb to update apps on the system partition. When updating from the market a the update takes place on the data folder, not the system one.
Ta.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you mean by example
Code:
adb push Vending.apk /system/app
adb reboot

TomLeeDesire said:
do you mean by example
Code:
adb push Vending.apk /system/app
adb reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is something like it. What I want is a guide to what to do to update these apps when an update is out in the market place. Something like being able to update the app from the market, but then move the new apk to the system folder so to save space on data.

Thing is, if you're using a cooked ROM you're likely to be using A2SD+ which makes the need to not have system updates redundant as you've got your EXT partition. The other way would just be to edit the original ZIP file and reflash the ROM without a wipe

EddyOS said:
Thing is, if you're using a cooked ROM you're likely to be using A2SD+ which makes the need to not have system updates redundant as you've got your EXT partition. The other way would just be to edit the original ZIP file and reflash the ROM without a wipe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is not entirely true, even though I sport A2SD+ (and it's 1/3 free) my /data is always begging for room... I'm always at the 15MB-free-limit.

Then you've either got a LOT of apps storing data or something's not right

Small dirty 0.1beta guide
I'll use teppic's update zip as example (hope he doesn't mind), sample of his updateapps.zip can be found in this thread -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=773997
1. Install the update from Market, then open Appmonster and backup it on SD. After that, uninstall the update, to free up space.
2. Open the update.zip with WinRar (don't unpack it), you'll see 2 folders
META-INF
system
Open the inside of META-INF till you get to update-script and open it for editing, here's the example:
Code:
show_progress 0.1 0
delete SYSTEM:app/YouTube.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/YouTube.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/Facebook.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/Facebook.odex
delete_recursive DATA:data/com.android.vending
copy_dir PACKAGE:system SYSTEM:
set_perm_recursive 0 0 0755 0644 SYSTEM:app
show_progress 0.1 10
Replace/add/remove .apk's (you can add .apk without .odex) in this list, as those commands will delete existing apps from /system/app on phone
The rest of the script will copy the content of the other folder you saw before (system with subfolder app), so you want to add/remove apk's you like to there. Remember to use WinRar's function to add the file to archive, everything done here's is inside of the archive. When you're done, save the update-script, check everything again and close WinRar.
3. Flash the zip ;]

or do it manually:
h_ttp://forum.cyanogenmod.com/topic/8067-how-to-manually-update-system-apps/

EddyOS said:
Then you've either got a LOT of apps storing data or something's not right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do think A LOT fits (about 300 apps installed)...

That's exactly what I wanted.
Thanks for the help, everybody.

Does this work on a Rooted (Unrevoked) phone with HTC's Original Froyo?
- I've been following teppic74's thread for some time now, and for every app that get an updated I get closer to flashing his ROM... but if I can just update my apps I wouldn't have to go through the process of reinstalling everything else after...

gosa said:
Does this work on a Rooted (Unrevoked) phone with HTC's Original Froyo?
- I've been following teppic74's thread for some time now, and for every app that get an updated I get closer to flashing his ROM... but if I can just update my apps I wouldn't have to go through the process of reinstalling everything else after...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure thing.

thed0g said:
Sure thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice!
That means my weekend is saved, I 'm gonna give myself some updates!
- Thanks!

One thing...if using the push and pull commands in adb to move the apk files to the system partition, what happens to the .odex files? Do you move them as well?

scutworker said:
One thing...if using the push and pull commands in adb to move the apk files to the system partition, what happens to the .odex files? Do you move them as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
.odex files are only on some custom rom's, you probably dont have them.

Hello again...
I kind of never got around to doing this last weekend - both because lack of time but also because the more I read the more worries I have. (Don't know when I lost my "gung ho" attitude, but age seems to turn me into a chicken...)
Anyway - I wanted to ask one important question.
How do I keep an eye on the space I have available for updating my apps? What if the updates are so much larger than the apps I'm replacing, what will happen then?
I read in teppic74's thread that he recommended some adjustments to save space, but how do I know what I have to "play" with? Is there a good app to read available space in "system"?
Thanks in advance,
gosa

Some things saying "Insufficient space" to install but NOT for everything

Be it an apk from my sd card or from google play. It doesn't matter what size it is. Some will install fine some will claim i need to free up space.
And i have 1.1gb free + link2sd linking bigger files to my sd card.
Why would some things not install?
*edit
sitting at 1.9gb free
just deleted backup apks and rebooted and still no go.

NiMaD83 said:
Be it an apk from my sd card or from google play. It doesn't matter what size it is. Some will install fine some will claim i need to free up space.
And i have 1.1gb free + link2sd linking bigger files to my sd card.
Why would some things not install?
*edit
sitting at 1.9gb free
just deleted backup apks and rebooted and still no go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have any stray .odex files in your /data/app directory from say lucky patcher?

elesbb said:
do you have any stray .odex files in your /data/app directory from say lucky patcher?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing but apk files in the folder

NiMaD83 said:
Nothing but apk files in the folder
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried disabling link2sd?

elesbb said:
Have you tried disabling link2sd?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Disabling or un-installing? If not the same what is just disabling? Cause wouldn't that stop the other apps that are linked not to work?

It's also doing this on some (still random and not all) updates too :/

Just unlinked all apps and uninstalled Link2Sd and rebooted. Nothing has changed.
I really dont want to flash a new rom... AGAIN
-im on [ROM]KOT49H【4.4.2】AOSP official Google Edition
GT-I9505G
4.4.2
M919UVUEMK2
kernel
3.4.0-gba1b939
[email protected] #2
Build
KOT49H.03.04.2014

*dupe post
And my original is a SGH-M919
So this seriously has to be the issue or maybe the kernel?
*edit....
not sure if this matters but i do have a modded google play store as to ensure some games work.

NiMaD83 said:
*dupe post
And my original is a SGH-M919
So this seriously has to be the issue or maybe the kernel?
*edit....
not sure if this matters but i do have a modded google play store as to ensure some games work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The modded play store could be messing with it. Especially if Google Play tries to update itself (which is does without telling you) might even mess with the edits. You would have to get a logcat when you try to install something that says there's not enough storage space. The package manager should throw some sort of code to let us know whats going on.

elesbb said:
The modded play store could be messing with it. Especially if Google Play tries to update itself (which is does without telling you) might even mess with the edits. You would have to get a logcat when you try to install something that says there's not enough storage space. The package manager should throw some sort of code to let us know whats going on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried to install logcat and it gave me the same error lol

This happens when you have a corrupt data Dir for the app.
Use Root Explorer or something similar, and go to data/data and look for the app folder that is giving you the error message and delete the app folder.
You should be able to reinstall the app.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda premium

I got Catlog installed and here are the logs from 2 that I saved.
I was trying to install Sixaxis_Controller_0_7_4.apk
2014-03-07-21-01-56.txt
2014-03-07-20-59-01.txt

rjohnstone said:
This happens when you have a corrupt data Dir for the app.
Use Root Explorer or something similar, and go to data/data and look for the app folder that is giving you the error message and delete the app folder.
You should be able to reinstall the app.
Sent from my SM-N900T using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks but there is no folder in relation to this app. And I get the same error when trying fresh apps never before installed. Its very very random to even the size, which leans towards smaller sized.

NiMaD83 said:
I got Catlog installed and here are the logs from 2 that I saved.
I was trying to install Sixaxis_Controller_0_7_4.apk
2014-03-07-21-01-56.txt
2014-03-07-20-59-01.txt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is interesting
Code:
No content provider found for permission revoke: file:///mnt/extSdCard/Sixaxis_Controller_0_7_4.apk
But other than that. Im not sure whats going on. Try turning off xposed I also think its link2sd but you said you disabled it so i really am not sure

elesbb said:
This is interesting
Code:
No content provider found for permission revoke: file:///mnt/extSdCard/Sixaxis_Controller_0_7_4.apk
But other than that. Im not sure whats going on. Try turning off xposed I also think its link2sd but you said you disabled it so i really am not sure
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put back OG Google Play 4.4.21 and rebooted same thing.
-wierd not on this, up top in the Installer cracked Google Play. Up to pis shows System Rom (/system): -1375mb (-1904mb free)
I uninstalled the framwork for Exposed in the Exposed Installer and rebooted, same thing (modules unchecked)
Just uninstalled the Installer and the XuiMod and rebooted ......... same thing.
Time for a new rom i guess.

NiMaD83 said:
I put back OG Google Play 4.4.21 and rebooted same thing.
-wierd not on this, up top in the Installer cracked Google Play. Up to pis shows System Rom (/system): -1375mb (-1904mb free)
I uninstalled the framwork for Exposed in the Exposed Installer and rebooted, same thing (modules unchecked)
Just uninstalled the Installer and the XuiMod and rebooted ......... same thing.
Time for a new rom i guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stuff isn't installed to the system. Your apps are installed to the /data so it doesn't matter how much free space is in /system.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk

[Q] Where is the File Manager?

Am I missing something? or is there no preinstalled File Manager?
Preinstalled apps, and google apps are the only apps allowed to write/edit to the miceSD card, so why wouldn't HTC install one?
Already regretting getting this phone, since I download a Lot of work files via my phone, and now I'm unable to move them from the downloads folder to the proper folder on the microSD.

Just downloaded one from Google play, loads to choose from.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk

UberSlackr said:
Am I missing something? or is there no preinstalled File Manager?
Preinstalled apps, and google apps are the only apps allowed to write/edit to the miceSD card, so why wouldn't HTC install one?
Already regretting getting this phone, since I download a Lot of work files via my phone, and now I'm unable to move them from the downloads folder to the proper folder on the microSD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=en_GB
this is the best one on the market never use stock file mangers always this one

jonny68 said:
Just downloaded one from Google play, loads to choose from.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ones I've installed won't let me delete files or move anything to them...

jaythenut said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=en_GB
this is the best one on the market never use stock file mangers always this one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will try... Thanks for the suggestion.

jaythenut said:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=en_GB
this is the best one on the market never use stock file mangers always this one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I tried it, but that app, just like all the other ones on the play store do not let you move files from the phone memory to the microSD.
It won't let you Delete anything either...
All you can do is view the microSD. No writes can be made to it.
Android 4.4 won't let the apps do that anymore. (Unless rooted)

UberSlackr said:
Android 4.4 won't let the apps do that anymore. (Unless rooted)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then no other File Manager can do it either (without root). Can you delete files when connected to a PC?

EddyOS said:
Then no other File Manager can do it either (without root). Can you delete files when connected to a PC?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes the files on the microSD can be altered via the PC. But apps like airDroid won't work anymore.
Working all the go, I don't have time to stop to plug the phone up to the computer every time I need to move/rename/delete a file.

UberSlackr said:
Yes the files on the microSD can be altered via the PC. But apps like airDroid won't work anymore.
Working all the go, I don't have time to stop to plug the phone up to the computer every time I need to move/rename/delete a file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same boat here. I copy via USB2go all the time on my Note 3, and this is crippled for the M8. There's a work around, but you need to unlock the boot loader first, which for me is a pain, since it will reset the phone. I'm pretty OCD and it takes me some time to set everything up the way I like it. At this point, i'm just doing the PC transfer thing.

Upload the files to Google drive and then download to your memory card?
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

clax6 said:
Upload the files to Google drive and then download to your memory card?
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Drive saves any downloaded files to the internal memory, under the download folder. And there is no way to change where its saved to (that I know of)
It was just a poor choice of Google to disallow 3rd Party Apps from emaking changes to the external memory. They should have atleast
Made it a requirement for the manufacturer to include a file manager. Or Google them self should have. I understand they trying to push people to use Google Drive, but until data usage is free I won't used Google Drive to save nothing more than Google docs.

UberSlackr said:
Google Drive saves any downloaded files to the internal memory, under the download folder. And there is no way to change where its saved to (that I know of)
It was just a poor choice of Google to disallow 3rd Party Apps from emaking changes to the external memory. They should have atleast
Made it a requirement for the manufacturer to include a file manager. Or Google them self should have. I understand they trying to push people to use Google Drive, but until data usage is free I won't used Google Drive to save nothing more than Google docs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A google backed file manager with full write permissions would be awesome, but that would be going against what they are trying to accomplish.

Cann't install apps anymore on Pixel 2XL

Hello all,
I cann't find a solution to install apps in sideload on my Pixel 2XL.
It was after flashing version 10 in the beginning of september.
After a lot of trying I give up and hope someone else here can help me.
My Pixel 2XL is unlocked but not rooted.
Normally I do the sideload by transfer an apk to my dropbox. After that I start it up and do what the system tells me.
Nowadays I got a return of a message in dropbox that -it is impossible to open the apk and download an app to open the apk-.
After that I download the apk to my download folder to try again. Then, when trying to startup, I get a popup with the name off the apk, the version nr, the size and packagename.
There is also a button to view apk content. When I push that button the right folders of the apk are indeed visible.
There are also 3 options. One to install, one to go to playstore and one to stop further actions and go back.
When I try to use the button install the result is that nothing happened, no signal, no message from the system, no popup, really nothing.
You all know that this is not what I want. I just want to install the apk. I have tried it with a few other apk's with the same results. :crying:
Before the last OTA upgrade to android 10 it was normal to install with these methods.
Thanks for who can helping me and others for trying to help me.
Greetings.

retaliator said:
Hello all,
I cann't find a solution to install apps in sideload on my Pixel 2XL.
It was after flashing version 10 in the beginning of september.
After a lot of trying I give up and hope someone else here can help me.
My Pixel 2XL is unlocked but not rooted.
Normally I do the sideload by transfer an apk to my dropbox. After that I start it up and do what the system tells me.
Nowadays I got a return of a message in dropbox that -it is impossible to open the apk and download an app to open the apk-.
After that I download the apk to my download folder to try again. Then, when trying to startup, I get a popup with the name off the apk, the version nr, the size and packagename.
There is also a button to view apk content. When I push that button the right folders of the apk are indeed visible.
There are also 3 options. One to install, one to go to playstore and one to stop further actions and go back.
When I try to use the button install the result is that nothing happened, no signal, no message from the system, no popup, really nothing.
You all know that this is not what I want. I just want to install the apk. I have tried it with a few other apk's with the same results. :crying:
Before the last OTA upgrade to android 10 it was normal to install with these methods.
Thanks for who can helping me and others for trying to help me.
Greetings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you enabled install apps from unknown sources? You'll also need to enable apps to install apps from what I can see in android 10. If you pull up an apps indignation you can expand the options and there will be an option to allow it to install apps, which Dropbox may need. The first one needs to be enabled to install apks from the download folder.

wgrant said:
Have you enabled install apps from unknown sources? You'll also need to enable apps to install apps from what I can see in android 10. If you pull up an apps indignation you can expand the options and there will be an option to allow it to install apps, which Dropbox may need. The first one needs to be enabled to install apks from the download folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for helping me.
I did all these settings before.
Now I tried to open another filemanager (Google Files) and that did the job.
I don't know why installing in dropbox or installing in es file explorer doesn't do the same with equal settings.
Maybe an idea to uninstall and re-install these apps?
Anyway, a lot of thanks for your answer.
grts

retaliator said:
Thanks for helping me.
I did all these settings before.
Now I tried to open another filemanager (Google Files) and that did the job.
I don't know why installing in dropbox or installing in es file explorer doesn't do the same with equal settings.
Maybe an idea to uninstall and re-install these apps?
Anyway, a lot of thanks for your answer.
grts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android 10, install from unknown sources is like an app permission now, you have to grant it to things like chrome (download apk and install) and file managers rather than a global setting for phone. Safer as you trust an app o do it rather than letting some malware in background filling your phone with crap.

retaliator said:
Maybe an idea to uninstall and re-install these apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uninstalling and reinstalling will not work, as I've done that with my modded version of ES File Explorer. This is a change in Android itself.
Go to Settings > Apps & Notifications > Special App Access > Install Unknown Apps. A list of apps will appear. Select an app and toggle the switch.
NOTE: Dropbox is on the list, but at least on my device my modded version of ES File Explorer is not.