How to Decompile an APK and Retrieve Source Code Using Android Studio

Learn to decompile an APK file and extract its source code with APKTool and JD-GUI responsibly.

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Decompiling an APK to get source code can be done through tools like APKTool or JD-GUI, but not directly with Android Studio. First, use APKTool to decompile the APK and extract its resources. Then, employ JD-GUI to view the source code. Be aware that reverse engineering might violate the app's terms of service, so use this method responsibly and legally.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is APKTool? APKTool is a tool used for decoding Android application packages (APKs) to extract resources and modify them.
  2. Is it legal to decompile APKs? Decompiling APKs can violate the app's terms of service, so it should only be done for educational purposes or with permission.
  3. What is JD-GUI used for? JD-GUI is a Java Decompiler used to view and analyze the Java source code from decompiled Java files.
  4. Can Android Studio be used for decompiling? Android Studio does not directly support decompiling APKs; tools like APKTool and JD-GUI are recommended for this purpose.