Extracting .APK Files from a Physical Android Device

Extracting installed applications (.apk files) from an Android device is a common task for security analysis, backup, or reverse engineering. This guide walks you through the process using Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

Prerequisites

• Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging on your Android device.
• Connect the device to your computer via USB cable.
• Install ADB tools on your computer.

Step 1: Verify Device Connection

List all connected devices (including emulators):

adb devices

You should see your device listed. If multiple devices are connected, use the -s flag with the device serial number to target a specific one.

Step 2: Access the Device Shell (Optional)

To enter the device shell directly:

adb -s W8F6D6Q8MBKJFANV shell

Replace W8F6D6Q8MBKJFANV with your actual device ID from adb devices.

Step 3: Extract the APK from the Device

1. List all installed packages:

   adb shell pm list packages

2. Find the APK path for the target app:

   adb shell pm path com.example.app

   Replace com.example.app with the actual package name. The output will look like:

   package:/data/app/com.example.app-XXX==/base.apk

3. Pull the APK file to your computer:

   adb pull /data/app/com.example.app-XXX==/base.apk .

   The dot (.) at the end means "current directory". You can specify any path, e.g.:

   adb -s W8F6D6Q8MBKJFANV pull /data/app/com.example.app-XXX==/base.apk D:\NewFolder

If the app uses split APKs (e.g., language, screen density, or architecture splits), repeat the process to extract all related .apk files.

Step 4: Install Multiple APKs on an Emulator

Navigate to the directory containing the extracted APKs and use:

adb install-multiple base.apk split_config.armeabi_v7a.apk split_config.ru.apk split_config.xhdpi.apk

This command installs all components of a split APK application, allowing full functionality on the emulator.