Some Apk file doesn't have classes.dex

Question

0.00/5 (No votes)

See more:

I wish to reverse engineering an APK file. I try to extract APK file and found that classes.dex is missing. But this file is available in other APK files.

Can anyone explain the reason?

Is it possible to hide classes.dex file in an APK or to create an APK without classes.dex?

Posted 3-Feb-14 22:51pm

ckumaresanmba

Updated 13-Nov-19 12:51pm

Add a Solution

Comments

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 4-Feb-14 5:54am

"Can anyone explain the reason?" - yes, but why should we?
Why in the first place you want to "reverse engineering an APK file"? It smells not good...

ckumaresanmba 4-Feb-14 6:31am

The main reason behind this is, I need to build a secure app. That is I why I try all possible ways of cracking apps. To do this, first I need to know how others secure their app.

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 4-Feb-14 6:39am

Hint 1 - do some Google
Hint 2 - .dex file is the executable inside APK and it's possible to build non-execute APK (resource only)...

ckumaresanmba 4-Feb-14 6:53am

It means a non-execute APK should not any functions on Phone, Right?

Kornfeld Eliyahu Peter 4-Feb-14 6:58am

It is possible to load an APK just for resources...
Other possibility that dex-preoptimization is enabled, while compiling and for that the extension you are looking for is .odex...

1 solution

Add a Solution

Add your solution here

Treat my content as plain text, not as HTML

Preview 0

…

Existing Members

Sign in to your account

...or Join us

Download, Vote, Comment, Publish.

Your Email
Password
Forgot your password?

Your Email
This email is in use. Do you need your password?
Optional Password

I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Please subscribe me to the CodeProject newsletters

When answering a question please:

Read the question carefully.
Understand that English isn't everyone's first language so be lenient of bad spelling and grammar.
If a question is poorly phrased then either ask for clarification, ignore it, or edit the question and fix the problem. Insults are not welcome.
Don't tell someone to read the manual. Chances are they have and don't get it. Provide an answer or move on to the next question.

Let's work to help developers, not make them feel stupid.

This content, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)

Member 10524107 · Answer 1 · 2019-11-13T12:52:00

Solution 1

Most probably it has been optimized and stored in a separate file ending with .odex, you need to search for it in nearby folders.
Look up on the web on .odex files and how to "deoxedize" it...

Posted 13-Nov-19 12:52pm

Member 10524107