Get Installed APK From Android Devices Using ADB

Tired of sideloading apps the old-fashioned way? Want to back up your favorite apps or analyze their code? Well, you've come to the right place! In this guide, we'll walk you through a simple process to extract APK files directly from your Android device using the powerful Android Debug Bridge (ADB).

What You'll Need:

• An Android device with Developer Options enabled and USB Debugging turned on.
• A computer (Windows, macOS, or Linux) with ADB installed.

Let's Get Started!

1. Connect Your Device:

   • Use a USB cable to connect your phone to your computer.
   • On your phone, tap "Allow USB Debugging" when prompted.

2. Open a Terminal or Command Prompt:

   • Windows: Open the Command Prompt.
   • macOS/Linux: Open the Terminal.

3. List Installed Apps:

   • Type the following command and press Enter:

     adb shell pm list packages
     

   • This will display a list of all installed packages on your device.

4. Find the Package Name:

   • To find the package name of a specific app, you can either scroll through the list or use the grep command to filter the results. For example:

     adb shell pm list packages | grep 'package-name'
     

     Replace package-name with part of the app's name.

5. Get the APK Path:

   • Once you know the package name, use the following command to get the path to the APK file:

     adb shell pm path com.example.package
     

     Replace com.example.package with the actual package name.
   • This will output a path like:

     package:/data/app/com.example.package-1/base.apk
     

6. Extract the APK:

   • Finally, use the adb pull command to copy the APK to your computer:

     adb pull /data/app/com.example.package-1/base.apk ./desired-location
     

   • Replace ./desired-location with the path where you want to save the APK on your computer.

A Few Things to Keep in Mind:

• Root Access: For apps installed in system partitions, you might need root access on your device.
• Legal and Ethical Considerations: Always respect app licenses and copyright laws.
• Troubleshooting: If you encounter any issues, check your device's USB connection, ensure ADB is working correctly, and verify the package name and path.

Conclusion

By following these simple steps, you can easily extract APKs from your Android device and explore the world of app development, customization, and analysis. Remember to use this knowledge responsibly and ethically.