hacktricks/mobile-pentesting/android-app-pentesting/apk-decompilers.md

# APK decompilers

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**For further details on each tool check the original post from** [**https://eiken.dev/blog/2021/02/how-to-break-your-jar-in-2021-decompilation-guide-for-jars-and-apks/#cfr**](https://eiken.dev/blog/2021/02/how-to-break-your-jar-in-2021-decompilation-guide-for-jars-and-apks/#cfr)

### [JD-Gui](https://github.com/java-decompiler/jd-gui)

As the pioneering GUI Java decompiler, **JD-Gui** allows you to investigate Java code within APK files. It's straightforward to use; after obtaining the APK, simply open it with JD-Gui to inspect the code.

### [Jadx](https://github.com/skylot/jadx)

**Jadx** offers a user-friendly interface for decompiling Java code from Android applications. It's recommended for its ease of use across different platforms.

* To launch the GUI, navigate to the bin directory and execute: `jadx-gui`
* For command-line usage, decompile an APK with: `jadx app.apk`
* To specify an output directory or adjust decompilation options: `jadx app.apk -d <path to output dir> --no-res --no-src --no-imports`

### [GDA-android-reversing-Tool](https://github.com/charles2gan/GDA-android-reversing-Tool)

**GDA**, a Windows-only tool, offers extensive features for reverse engineering Android apps. Install and run GDA on your Windows system, then load the APK file for analysis.

### [Bytecode-Viewer](https://github.com/Konloch/bytecode-viewer/releases)

With **Bytecode-Viewer**, you can analyze APK files using multiple decompilers. After downloading, run Bytecode-Viewer, load your APK, and select the decompilers you wish to use for simultaneous analysis.

### [Enjarify](https://github.com/Storyyeller/enjarify)

**Enjarify** translates Dalvik bytecode to Java bytecode, enabling Java analysis tools to analyze Android applications more effectively.

* To use Enjarify, run: `enjarify app.apk` This generates the Java bytecode equivalent of the provided APK.

### [CFR](https://github.com/leibnitz27/cfr)

**CFR** is capable of decompiling modern Java features. Use it as follows:

* For standard decompilation: `java -jar ./cfr.jar "app.jar" --outputdir "output_directory"`
* For large JAR files, adjust the JVM memory allocation: `java -Xmx4G -jar ./cfr.jar "app.jar" --outputdir "output_directory"`

### [Fernflower](https://github.com/JetBrains/intellij-community/tree/master/plugins/java-decompiler/engine)

**Fernflower**, an analytical decompiler, requires building from source. After building:

* Decompile a JAR file: `java -jar ./fernflower.jar "app.jar" "output_directory"` Then, extract the `.java` files from the generated JAR using `unzip`.

### [Krakatau](https://github.com/Storyyeller/Krakatau)

**Krakatau** offers detailed control over decompilation, especially for handling external libraries.

* Use Krakatau by specifying the standard library path and the JAR file to decompile: `./Krakatau/decompile.py -out "output_directory" -skip -nauto -path "./jrt-extractor/rt.jar" "app.jar"`

### [procyon](https://github.com/mstrobel/procyon)

For straightforward decompilation with **procyon**:

* Decompile a JAR file to a specified directory: `procyon -jar "app.jar" -o "output_directory"`

### [frida-DEXdump](https://github.com/hluwa/frida-dexdump)

This tool can be used to dump the DEX of a running APK in memory. This helps to beat static obfuscation that is removed while the application is executed in memory.

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