Reverse engineering an Android app using MT Manager involves decompiling the APK, viewing/modifying its smali or XML code, and potentially rebuilding it. MT Manager is an Android-based tool with a user-friendly interface and is widely used for modding and reverse engineering. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Reverse engineering is often against the terms of service of most apps and may be illegal in some jurisdictions. Do it only for educational purposes or if you have permission.
Disclaimer
Reverse engineering is often against the terms of service of most apps and may be illegal in some jurisdictions. Do it only for educational purposes or if you have permission.
What You Need:
- MT Manager (installed on your Android)
- The APK file you want to reverse engineer
- Basic understanding of smali, Java, or XML
Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Open the APK in MT Manager
- Launch MT Manager.
- Navigate to the APK file and tap on it.
- Choose "View as archive" – this opens the APK like a ZIP file.
2. Decompile the APK
- Long press the APK file inside MT Manager.
- Choose "Extract to…" and select a folder.
- MT Manager will extract the contents (you'll see folders like smali, res, AndroidManifest.xml, etc.).
3. Modify Resources (Optional)
- Inside the res folder, you can modify layouts (layout/), strings (values/strings.xml), drawables, etc.
- XML files can be edited with MT’s built-in text editor.
4. Edit Smali Code
- Navigate to the smali directory.
- Open the class files you want to modify (they look like com/example/app/MainActivity.smali).
- Edit method instructions, constants, etc. – be careful, smali is low-level and errors can crash the app.
5. Modify AndroidManifest.xml
- This is the app’s blueprint.
- You can change permissions, main activity, receivers, etc.
6. Recompile the APK
- Go back to the extracted folder.
- Tap the three-dot menu > "More" > "Recompile".
- MT will generate a modified APK.
7. Sign the APK
- After recompiling, MT Manager will ask you to sign the APK.
- Use MT’s built-in signer to do it – most devices will block unsigned APKs.
8. Install and Test
- Uninstall the original app (if installed).
- Install your modified APK and test your changes.
Optional Tools Inside MT:
- Dex Editor: View/edit compiled .dex files (similar to smali but easier for some users).
- Text Editor: Powerful and supports syntax highlighting.
- String search: Useful to find hardcoded URLs, API keys, etc.
Tips:
- Backup original APK before modifying.
- Use Logcat (via ADB or an app) if your modded app crashes.
- Use tools like JADX or Bytecode Viewer for Java-level decompilation if you want higher-level code outside MT.