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Android Shell Tricks: Using Mass Device Provisioning as an Example, Part 2
Packages
Now let’s install an app:
adb install MyAwesomeApp.apk
Uninstalling an app is a little more work, because the app to be removed has to be specified by its package name, not the APK filename, which requires a little guessing. First let’s get the list of APKs installed:
adb shell pm list packages package:com.google.android.ears package:com.android.launcher package:com.android.defcontainer package:com.google.android.exchange package:com.subsplash.esv package:com.android.providers.partnerbookmarks package:com.android.contacts package:com.hotrod.utility.rfsignaltrackereclair package:com.android.phone package:com.dominospizza package:com.urbanspoon package:com.android.calculator2 package:com.google.android.apps.walletnfcrel package:com.android.htmlviewer package:com.android.cellbroadcastreceiver package:com.google.android.gsf.login package:com.android.bluetooth package:com.android.providers.calendar package:com.zynga.words package:com.google.android.email package:com.awesome.stuff ...
Looking through the list, com.awesome.stuff seems likely to be the package name for MyAwesomeApp.apk. So let’s delete it:
adb uninstall com.awesome.stuff Success
You can also do the same thing while you’re in the Android shell (rather than executing an adb command on the host). This might be useful in a provisioning script running on the device:
shell@mako:/ $ pm install /sdcard/MyAwesomeApp.apk pkg: /sdcard/MyAwesomeApp.apk Success shell@mako:/ $ pm uninstall com.awesome.stuff Success
What if you want to make it harder for someone to dump the contents of your apk? Install it encrypted (locked):
adb install -l MyApp.apk
The pm command has a ton of other options; run adb shell pm to see what it can do.
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