Apktool
Apktool reverse engineers Android APK files and provides a repository for the project.
About Apktool
Apktool is a command-line reverse engineering tool for Android APK files, hosted as an open source repository on GitHub. According to the project, it works on third-party, closed, binary Android apps. It decodes app resources to a form close to the original and can rebuild them after changes. It also supports step-by-step debugging of smali code.
The project says it is not intended for piracy or other non-legal uses. It lists legitimate uses such as localizing apps, adding features, and adding support for custom platforms. The main branch contains Apktool 3.x, and the 2.x branch is maintained for earlier releases. Security vulnerabilities are reported by email to the maintainer listed in the README.
Key features
- Decodes Android app resources to a form close to the original
- Rebuilds apps after modifications are made
- Supports step-by-step debugging of smali code
- Uses a project-like file structure for working with apps
- Automates repetitive tasks such as building APK files
- Separate main branch for 3.x and maintenance branch for 2.x
Best for: Developers and security researchers who work with Android apps they are legally permitted to analyze or modify, such as for localization or adding features.
Good for
- Open source under the Apache-2.0 license
- Project-like file structure and automation of repetitive build tasks
- Stated purposes include localization, adding features, and custom platform support
Watch out for
- Listed platform is Android only
- The project states it is not intended for piracy or other non-legal uses
Apktool at a glance
- Category
- Privacy & Security › Security Tools
- Type
- Open-source project
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Android
- Open source
- Yes · Source code
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Guides for Security Tools
Apktool alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Inspect and reverse engineer Android application packages using the Apktool utility.
Solve reverse engineering challenges published on challenges.re, a challenge-focused site.
Rizin supports analysis of executable programs through an open source reverse engineering framework.
Browse a cybersecurity-focused collection of links and resources in this repository.
This directory lists plugins for IDA Pro that add functions for reverse engineering workflows.
AndroGuard provides tools for reverse engineering and penetration testing Android applications.
Open source
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Apktool FAQ
Is Apktool intended for piracy?
No. The project states that Apktool is not intended for piracy or other non-legal uses.
Which branch should I use?
The main branch contains Apktool 3.x. The 2.x branch is a maintenance branch for 2.x releases.
How are security vulnerabilities reported?
The README asks people to send an email to the maintainer, Connor Tumbleson, at the address listed there.
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