[MOD/GUIDE] How to change the system backgrounds

ShinySide · July 17th, 2012, 02:10 AM

This is how you can change all the system backgrounds plain colors (settings, contacts, etc) to an actual image instead of a color (I'll add the lines to change the colors too

)

ATTENTION This changes the background in so many places I havent even found them all. It also changes the background in Root Explorer and other non system apps (Setcpu,ADW settings, Metro web settings, media scanner,Google maps settings, possibly MMS I dont know mines themed and blacked out, any cut, Antutu settings,Lucky P, SD maid, Youtube and god knows what else Ahaha Those are just apps I have)

First preview:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePP4jeqfo8I&feature=plcp

The how to:

1. Decompile the framework-res.apk

2. navigate to the res>layouts>styles.xml and with notepad++ locate <style name="Theme"> and edit these lines:

change:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/background_dark</item>

to this

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/transparent</item>

then change:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/screen_background_dark</item>

to this one to use a png for the background:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/backgroundftw</item>

or to this if you want to change the color:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/name of the color</item>

3. Locate <style name="Theme.Black" parent="@style/Theme">

and change this line:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/black</item>

to this:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/transparent</item>

then change:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/black</item>

with this if you are going to use a png:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/backgroundftw</item>

or to this if you want to change the color:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/the name of the color</item>

4a. If you are using a png, Create a 480x800 png , name it "backgroundftw" and place it in drawable-hdpi folder

4b. If you are using a color, you need to look in the res>values>colors xml to see if the color you are wanting to use is defined. If its not defined, just copy any of the lines in there and add it. So if you wanted hot pink you would copy an existing line in the colors xml and change it.

Example:
existing line: <color name="white">#ffffffff</color>

copy it and make your change to hot pink:
<color name="pink">#ff00ff</color>

5. Recompile and enjoy.

OptiC-ShotS · July 17th, 2012, 03:07 AM

Are you over locked? Lol

blaxican25 · July 17th, 2012, 03:38 AM

thanks for sharing mr shinyside .

ShinySide · July 17th, 2012, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OptiC-ShotS

Are you over locked? Lol

Am I over clocked? Nope.

ShinySide · July 17th, 2012, 06:10 AM

Added an ATTENTION at the top of the OP with a list of apps I have that this changed backgrounds in. This changes so many back grounds and not only system backgrounds but back grounds in apps.

p-bOt · July 17th, 2012, 02:34 PM

holy shit dude this is a great find!! just when i sold my esteem too

mrpnut · July 17th, 2012, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ShinySide

This is how you can change all the system backgrounds plain colors (settings, contacts, etc) to an actual image instead of a color (I'll add the lines to change the colors too

)

ATTENTION This changes the background in so many places I havent even found them all. It also changes the background in Root Explorer and other non system apps (Setcpu,ADW settings, Metro web settings, media scanner,Google maps settings, possibly MMS I dont know mines themed and blacked out, any cut, Antutu settings,Lucky P, SD maid, Youtube and god knows what else Ahaha Those are just apps I have)

First preview:

Change system backgrounds - YouTube

The how to:

1. Decompile the framework-res.apk

2. navigate to the res>layouts>styles.xml and with notepad++ locate <style name="Theme"> and edit these lines:

change:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/background_dark</item>

to this

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/transparent</item>

then change:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/screen_background_dark</item>

to this one to use a png for the background:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/backgroundftw</item>

or to this if you want to change the color:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/name of the color</item>

3. Locate <style name="Theme.Black" parent="@style/Theme">

and change this line:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/black</item>

to this:

Code:

<item name="colorBackground">@color/transparent</item>

then change:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/black</item>

with this if you are going to use a png:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@drawable/backgroundftw</item>

or to this if you want to change the color:

Code:

<item name="windowBackground">@color/the name of the color</item>

4a. If you are using a png, Create a 480x800 png , name it "backgroundftw" and place it in drawable-hdpi folder

4b. If you are using a color, you need to look in the res>values>colors xml to see if the color you are wanting to use is defined. If its not defined, just copy any of the lines in there and add it. So if you wanted hot pink you would copy an existing line in the colors xml and change it.

Example:
existing line: <color name="white">#ffffffff</color>

copy it and make your change to hot pink:
<color name="pink">#ff00ff</color>

5. Recompile and enjoy.

I see ur rolling shinyside nice work bud...

Fuzzy13 · August 16th, 2012, 11:03 PM

Im getting force close on settings, rom toolbox, etc.....

What am I missing?

Fuzzy13 · August 16th, 2012, 11:35 PM

Never mind. Like i've said. 9 times out of 10 its user error. SMH

horsecharles · August 18th, 2012, 02:52 AM

This oughta be a stickie.

Killah1994 · November 18th, 2012, 10:23 PM

wait nvm i found another way

Dr0idWhisperer · November 19th, 2012, 05:47 AM

Backgroundftw? LoL! Nice job and good work! This sounds like a great excuse for LD to update again! LoL just kidding...

RomWiz · February 2nd, 2013, 05:43 AM

Little problem when compiling

C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs>apktool b framework-res framework-res.apk
W: Could not find sources
I: Checking whether resources has changed...
I: Building resources...
C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-res\res\values\styles.xml:81: error: Resou
rce entry Theme already has bag item colorBackground.
C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-res\res\values\styles.xml:46: Originally d
efined here.
Exception in thread "main" brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.androlib.Androl
ibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-
sdk-version, 15, --target-sdk-version, 15, -F, C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Local\Tem
p\APKTOOL4525109202112720381.tmp, -x, -S, C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-
res\res, -M, C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-res\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:357)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResources(Androlib.java:282)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:205)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.build(Androlib.java:176)
        at brut.apktool.Main.cmdBuild(Main.java:218)
        at brut.apktool.Main.main(Main.java:74)
Caused by: brut.androlib.AndrolibException: brut.common.BrutException: could not
 exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sdk-version, 15, --target-sdk-version, 15, -F, C:
\Users\Daniel\AppData\Local\Temp\APKTOOL4525109202112720381.tmp, -x, -S, C:\User
s\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-res\res, -M, C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framewor
k-res\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:349)
        at brut.androlib.Androlib.buildResourcesFull(Androlib.java:335)
        ... 5 more
Caused by: brut.common.BrutException: could not exec command: [aapt, p, --min-sd
k-version, 15, --target-sdk-version, 15, -F, C:\Users\Daniel\AppData\Local\Temp\
APKTOOL4525109202112720381.tmp, -x, -S, C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-re
s\res, -M, C:\Users\Daniel\apktool\izs\framework-res\AndroidManifest.xml]
        at brut.util.OS.exec(OS.java:89)
        at brut.androlib.res.AndrolibResources.aaptPackage(AndrolibResources.jav
a:347)
        ... 6 more

RomWiz · February 15th, 2013, 03:18 PM

Nothing??