BASICS ABOUT ANDROID APK MODDING IN GENERAL | LEARN MODDING TODAY FOR FREE!

Beginner's Guide to Modding

Welcome! If you're here, you probably want to start learning how to mod games. We have all the tutorials you need, but it can be overwhelming at first. Let me help you get started by explaining the basics.

What is an APK?

An APK file is an Android installation file, similar to an .exe file on Windows. You need this file to install an app or game on your Android device.

How to Open an APK File on Your Computer

1. Download the APK of the game from a site like apkcombo.com.
2. Open the APK with WinRAR, WinZip, or 7-Zip by renaming the file extension from .apk to .zip.
3. To delve deeper, you may need to decompile the APK to get the smali files. Decompiling breaks the APK into its constituent parts, which can be done with tools like APK Easy Tool.

Signed vs. Unsigned APKs

When a developer publishes a game on the Google Play Store, it gets a unique signature. Modders need to replace this signature with a test key:

• Signed APK: Uses a test key to run on non-rooted devices but can't be installed over the original game.
• Unsigned APK: Keeps the original key and requires a rooted device to install, allowing you to update the original game and login with Google+.

For more information, read this Tutorial.

Understanding DLL, .so, .NET, and IDA

Games generally use three types of file systems:

DLL Running Games

Identify by browsing to \assets\bin\Data\Managed folder. If you find DLL files, the game uses DLLs, and you'll need tools like .NET Reflector to mod them.

.so File Running Games (IDA)

Identify by browsing to /lib/armeabi-v7a/ folder. If there's a large .so file (but no libil2cpp.so), you'll need IDA Pro to mod the game. For tutorials, check out:

• Modding Native Game with IDA
• IDA Pro Basic Instructions

.so File Running Games (il2cpp)

Identify by finding the libil2cpp.so file. You'll need to dump the il2cpp offsets and mod with HxD editor.

Dealing with Errors in DLLs

If you get errors when opening DLLs with .NET Reflector, they might be protected against modding. Start with unprotected games to learn the basics.

Extra Tips for Beginners

• Start with games that are already modded and not VIP to learn what's possible.
• Set small goals to stay motivated.

Note

This tutorial is free to share, but please give proper credit to the creators. Respect the time and effort put into teaching these skills.