How to debug apk signed for release?
AndroidGoogle PlayAndroid Problem Overview
I have an apk which I've signed and uploaded to Android Market, and installed on my phone. I would like to debug this release apk (by means of Eclipse) whilst it is running on my phone. I have done this before (and remember it being with one of the Android development tools; perhaps Dalvik Debug Monitor) but unfortunately cannot remember how to do it and have been unable to find any articles online. Does anyone know how this can be done?
> Note: I have set android:debuggable="true"
in the manifest and have enabled USB Debugging on my phone.
Android Solutions
Solution 1 - Android
I know this is old question, but future references. In Android Studio with Gradle:
buildTypes {
release {
debuggable true
minifyEnabled true
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.txt'
}
}
The line debuggable true
was the trick for me.
Before Gradle 1.0 it was runProguard
instead of minifyEnabled
. Look at here.
Solution 2 - Android
Be sure that android:debuggable="true"
is set in the application
tag of your manifest file, and then:
- Plug your phone into your computer and enable USB debugging on the phone
- Open eclipse and a workspace containing the code for your app
- In Eclipse, go to Window->Show View->Devices
- Look at the Devices view which should now be visible, you should see your device listed
- If your device isn't listed, you'll have to track down the ADB drivers for your phone before continuing
- If you want to step through code, set a breakpoint somewhere in your app
- Open the app on your phone
- In the Devices view, expand the entry for your phone if it isn't already expanded, and look for your app's package name.
- Click on the package name, and in the top right of the Devices view you should see a green bug along with a number of other small buttons. Click the green bug.
- You should now be attached/debugging your app.
Solution 3 - Android
Besides Manuel's way, you can still use the Manifest.
In Android Studio stable, you have to add the following 2 lines to application
in the AndroidManifest
file:
android:debuggable="true"
tools:ignore="HardcodedDebugMode"
The first one will enable debugging of signed APK, and the second one will prevent compile-time error.
After this, you can attach to the process via "Attach debugger to Android process" button.
Solution 4 - Android
I tried with the following and it's worked:
release {
debuggable true
minifyEnabled false
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.pro'
}
Solution 5 - Android
Add the following to your app build.gradle and select the specified release build variant and run
signingConfigs {
config {
keyAlias 'keyalias'
keyPassword 'keypwd'
storeFile file('<<KEYSTORE-PATH>>.keystore')
storePassword 'pwd'
}
}
buildTypes {
release {
debuggable true
signingConfig signingConfigs.config
proguardFiles getDefaultProguardFile('proguard-android.txt'), 'proguard-rules.txt'
}
}
Solution 6 - Android
In case of you decided the debug your apk which is already in market but not assigned to be debuggable and you do not want to publish it again. So follow the below steps;
- Decompile the Apk with ApkTool(eg.
apktool d <APK_PATH>
) - Open the AndroidManifest.xml from decompiled files
- Set
android:debuggable="true"
inapplication
tag - Compile the modified source with ApkTool (eg.
apktool b <MODIFIED_PATH>
) - Debuggable apk ready(which unsigned means cannot publish store). You can debug as you wish.