Where Are APK Files Stored and Root System File Manager

[Yurtzky]

CAUTION: These instructions are for Expert Users only. If you are not comfortable with managing operating system files, then you should probably not attempt this as you may cause your device to become disabled.

NOTE: These instructions are for Samsung Galaxy S4 and similar Samsung devices. If you have another brand of device, you can extrapolate to achieve the same results.

If you have the right File Manager app, you will find the APK files here:

• root: /system/app

After some digging around, I found a file manager app that gives you access to your app's APK files without having to "root" your device, X-Plore File Manager.

From your phone or tablet, you will be able to see all files on your device.

Another great feature is you can access all those files (with Read AND Write permissions) from a web browser on another device such as another Android, PC/Mac laptop, or PC/Mac desktop. You will be able to upload/download all files to your hard drive to perform a backup, for example.

To access files on your device, go to Google Playstore and install X-Plore File Manager. Then, follow these steps:

1. From your phone "Settings," enable Wi-Fi.

2. Open X-Plore and click the (Blue) Wi-Fi server icon to turn on X-Plore Wi-Fi sharing.

3. You must make a note of the IP address that X-Plore is using for your device. But to do this you must find where it is displayed. Here's one way I found...

• There are two viewing screens in the X-Plore app, left and right. Go to the right side viewer. You can tap the "Screen Switcher" icon at the very top right corner of the app.
  
  
• Scroll all the way down until you see the Wi-Fi icon. It will say, "WiFi file sharing." Underneath that text will be displayed the IP address.

4. Tap the "WiFi sharing" text to display a dropdown selection menu. Tab the selection: "WiFi server enabled." Then select, "WiFi sharing options." Make a note of the 4-digit Port number. You can change it, or use the default. Tap your device's "soft" return button (bottom right, next to the "home" button.)

• WiFi sharing > WiFi server enabled > WiFi sharing options > Port Number

5. Go to any web browser and enter the IP address and Port number (separated by a colon).

• For example: http://192.168.xxx.xxx:1111

6. You now basically have "Root" access to your phone, so BE CAREFUL!

Non-Sequitur Tangential Factoid: History and Definition of Wi-Fi (wikipedia)

 

[scary alien]

Welcome to our AndroidForums, @Yurtzky .

Nice tip about X-Plore!

FYI, the /system/app directory structure has always (I believe) been read-available, which is pretty cool; you just can't remove the files / apps in there without truly being rooted.

Cheers!