How to Decompile APK Using MT Manager

If you have ever wanted to look inside an Android app and see how it works, decompiling is the first thing you need to learn. MT Manager makes this possible directly on your phone without any PC or coding knowledge.
This guide will show you exactly how to decompile an APK using MT Manager. It will also cover how to open and edit the AndroidManifest.xml file, which is one of the most important files inside any Android app.

What Does Decompiling an APK Actually Mean?

An APK file is a packed package. Think of it like a zip folder that holds all the pieces of an Android app: its code, images, text, layout files, and settings.

When you decompile an APK, you are unpacking that folder and converting the contents into a readable format. Instead of seeing raw binary files, you get proper folders and files you can open, read, and edit.

The main things you will see after decompiling are:

• AndroidManifest.xml — the app’s configuration file
• res folder — images, layouts, and text strings
• classes.dex — the app’s main code (converted to readable Smali)
• assets folder — extra files the app uses

You do not need to understand all of these right away. Start with the manifest file and the res folder. Those two will cover most of what beginners want to change.

What You Need Before You Start

Before decompiling any APK, make sure you have the following:

• MT Manager installed on your Android device
• The APK file you want to decompile saved on your phone storage
• Enough storage space (decompiled files can be two to three times larger than the original APK)
• A basic idea of what you want to edit, so you know where to look

Note: You do not need root access just to decompile and explore an APK. Root is only needed for editing system apps or applying changes to apps already installed in system directories.

How to Decompile APK Using MT Manager?

Step 1: Open MT Manager and Find Your APK

Open MT Manager on your Android device. You will see a dual-panel file browser. Use it to navigate to the folder where your APK file is stored.

If you downloaded the APK from your browser, it is usually in the Downloads folder. If you extracted it from an installed app, it may be in a folder you created.

Once you find the APK file, tap on it once to select it.

Step 2: Open the APK as a File

After tapping the APK, a menu will appear. Look for the option that says Open or View. This opens the APK like a folder, showing you everything inside without extracting it yet.

You will now see the internal structure of the app: the AndroidManifest.xml file, the res folder, the lib folder, and other files. This is your starting point.

Step 3: Use the Decompile Function

To fully decompile the APK, tap and hold the APK file to open the options menu. Look for Decompile or a similar option. MT Manager will then start the decompiling process.

This may take a few seconds or a minute depending on the size of the APK. Larger apps with more resources take longer.

When it is done, MT Manager will create a new folder with the same name as the APK. This folder contains all the decompiled files in readable format.

Step 4: Open the Decompiled Folder

Navigate to the newly created folder. Inside, you will find the same structure we discussed earlier: AndroidManifest.xml, res, assets, lib, and smali folders.

You can now open any of these files using MT Manager’s built-in text editor. For XML files, you will see clean, readable code that you can edit directly.

How to Edit AndroidManifest.xml in MT Manager

The AndroidManifest.xml file is one of the most useful files to edit. It controls core settings of the app like the app name, permissions, and behaviour when launched.

Here is what you can change in AndroidManifest.xml and why someone would want to change it.

What is Inside AndroidManifest.xml?

Every app has one AndroidManifest.xml file. It sits in the root of the decompiled folder. Open it with MT Manager’s text editor and you will see sections like these:

• package — the unique ID of the app (used for cloning)
• android:label — the name shown on your home screen
• uses-permission — all permissions the app requests
• android:versionName — the version number displayed to users
• activity — screens and launch points of the app

Step 1: Open the Manifest File

Inside your decompiled folder, find the file named AndroidManifest.xml. Tap and hold it, then choose Open With and select the text editor inside MT Manager.

The file will open showing structured XML code. It looks like a lot of angle brackets and labels. Do not worry. You only need to find the specific part you want to change.

Step 2: Find What You Want to Edit

Use the search function inside the editor to find the part you need. For example:

• To change the app name, search for android:label
• To remove a permission, search for uses-permission
• To change the package name (for cloning), search for package=

Once you find the right line, tap on it to place your cursor there. Make your change carefully. Do not delete extra brackets or quotation marks or the file will break.

Step 3: Common Edits and How to Make Them

Changing the App Name

Look for a line like android:label=”AppName” or android:label=”@string/app_name”. If it shows a direct name, you can change the text between the quotes. If it points to @string/app_name, go to the res/values/strings.xml file to change it there instead.

Removing a Permission

Permissions look like this: uses-permission android:name=”android.permission.CAMERA”. To remove a permission, delete the entire line. Make sure you only delete that one line and nothing else around it.

Changing the Package Name

The package name is the unique ID of the app. It looks like com.example.appname. Changing this is useful when you want to install a modified version alongside the original. Replace the package name with a new unique one, like com.example.appname.mod.

Step 4: Save the File

After making your changes, save the file using the save option in the editor. MT Manager will save it in place inside the decompiled folder.

Double-check your changes before saving. One small mistake in an XML file can stop the app from working after recompiling.

How to Recompile After Editing

Once you have finished editing, you need to put the APK back together. This is called recompiling or rebuilding.

In MT Manager, go back to the decompiled folder. Tap and hold it to open the options menu. Look for the option that says Recompile or Build APK.

MT Manager will pack everything back into a new APK file. After that, you will need to sign the APK before you can install it. MT Manager has a signing tool built in. Use it on the new APK file to sign it with a debug key.

Once signed, install the APK on your device. If you get an error, it usually means something in the XML was not saved correctly. Go back, find the issue, fix it, and recompile again.

Mistakes to Avoid

A few simple mistakes can cause problems when working with decompiled APKs. Here are the ones people run into most often:

• Deleting extra brackets or quotes in XML files — always edit only the value, not the surrounding code
• Forgetting to sign the APK after recompiling — unsigned APKs will not install
• Editing system apps without root — those changes will not apply
• Working on the original APK file instead of the decompiled folder — always edit files inside the decompiled folder
• Not making a backup first — always keep a copy of the original APK before making any changes

Final Thoughts

Decompiling an APK with MT Manager APK is simpler than it looks once you do it the first time. The process comes down to three steps: decompile, edit, recompile.

The AndroidManifest.xml file is a great place to start because the changes you can make there — app name, permissions, package ID — are practical and easy to understand.

Take your time with XML files. Read carefully before you change anything. And always keep a backup of the original APK. Once you get comfortable with these basics, the rest of APK editing becomes much easier to pick up.