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CLI Parameters

Utility Options​

Options used for utility commands (apktool {options})

-advance, --advanced
  • Dumps out advanced usage output.
-version, --version
  • Outputs the current software version. (Ex: 1.5.2)

Decoding Options​

Options used for decoding commands (apktool d file.apk {options})

-api, --api-level <API>
  • Sets the API-level used in the generated smali files.
    • Defaults to targetSdkVersion
-b, --no-debug-info
  • Prevents baksmali from writing out debug info. (.local, .param, .line, etc.).
-f, --force
  • Forces the deletion of the destination directory.
--force-manifest
  • Forces Apktool to decode AndroidManifest.xml regardless of your decoding options.
--keep-broken-res
  • Use if an error was thrown and some resources were dropped and you want to decode them anyway.
    • E.g. Invalid config flags detected. Dropping resources.
    • You will have to fix them manually before building.
-m, --match-original
  • Matches the generated files as close as possible to the originals.
    • Comes at the cost of possibly preventing re-build.
--no-assets
  • Prevents decoding/copying unknown asset files.
--only-main-classes
  • Only disassembles dex classes that are in the root of the application.
-p, --frame-path <DIR>
  • Sets the folder framework files are stored/read from.
-r, --no-res
  • Prevents decompiling resources.
    • Keeps resources.arsc intact.
-resm,--resource-mode <mode>
  • Sets the mode used when resolving resources.
    • remove (default) - Removes resources that cannot be resolved.
    • dummy - Adds a dummy resource for resources that cannot be resolved.
    • keep - Keeps unresolved resources using APKTOOL_MISSING_{resId} nomenclature.
-s, --no-src
  • Prevents disassembling dex files.
    • Leaves the dex files untouched and moves them upon build.
-t, --frame-tag <TAG>
  • Uses framework files tagged by TAG.

Building Options​

Options used for building commands (apktool b folder {options})

-a, --aapt <FILE>
  • Loads aapt/aapt2 binaries from the specified location.
    • These are used instead of the internal version.
-api, --api-level <API>
  • Sets the API-level of the smali files to build against.
    • Defaults to minSdkVersion.
-c, --copy-original
  • Copies the original AndroidManifest.xml and META-INF.
-d, --debug
  • Adds debuggable="true" to AndroidManifest.xml.
-f, --force-all
  • Overwrites existing files during build.
    • Includes resources and sources.
-n, --net-sec-conf
  • Adds a generic Network Security Configuration file in the apk.
-na, --no-apk
  • Disables repacking of the built files into a new apk.
-nc, --no-crunch
  • Disables crunching resource files during build.
    • This prevents automatic bitmap optimization by aapt/aapt2.
-o, --output <FILE>
  • Sets the name of the output apk.
    • The Default is dist/{apkname}.apk.
-p, --frame-path <DIR>
  • Sets the folder framework files are stored/read from.
--use-aapt1
  • Use aapt instead of aapt2.
    • aapt2 is used by default in Apktool v2.9.0 and above.
--use-aapt2
  • Use aapt2 instead of aapt.
    • aapt is used by default in Apktool v2.8.2 and below.

Empty Framework Directory Options​

Options used for empty-framework-dir commands (apktool empty-framework-dir {options})

-f, --force
  • Forces the deletion of the destination directory.
-p, --frame-path <DIR>
  • Sets the folder framework files are stored/read from.

List Framework Directory Options​

Options used for list-frameworks commands (apktool list-frameworks {options})

-p, --frame-path <DIR>
  • Sets the folder framework files are stored/read from.

Common Options​

Options that can be used with any command

-j <NUM>, --jobs <NUM>
  • Sets the number of threads to use when parallel operations are available.
    • Defaults to the number of processors available, with a max of 8.
-v, --verbose
  • Verbose output.
    • Includes any log messages tagged with FINE.
-q, --quiet
  • Quiet output.