Many advanced users of devices based on Android sooner or later set the goal of changing the standard appearance of the system. Standard settings only allow you to switch themes or change wallpaper, but they do not give access to the internal structure of the interface. To completely recolor icons, change the location of buttons in settings, or remove unnecessary labels, you need to interfere with system resources.
This process involves working with markup files .xml and sometimes with graphic resources. To complete the task, you will need not only desire, but also specialized software, as well as an understanding of the basic principles of the operating system. Any intervention in the system partition system requires rights root or the use of debugging software USB.
Before you start editing, it is important to be aware of the risks. An incorrectly modified tag in a file can cause the system to become unbootable or certain applications to crash on startup. Always back up your original files before making any edits. This is the first and main rule of any modding.
Choosing tools for editing
In order to change the code of a specific element, you will need a text editor with syntax highlighting. Standard notepads are not suitable here, since they do not clearly display the structure of an XML document. There are several applications on the market that allow you to view and change system files directly on the device.
One of the most popular solutions is MT Manager. This tool allows you not only to edit code, but also to decompile APK files, translate applications and sign them after making changes. Another option is QuickEdit, which does a great job of editing text configurations and scripts if you already have access to the file system.
If you plan to make large-scale changes, you may need to connect to a computer. In this case, a combination Android Studio and a utility adbare used. This method is considered more professional, as it allows you to control the process of writing files and minimize syntax errors.
⚠️ Attention: Using third-party file managers to edit system folders requires root access. Make sure your bootloader is unlocked and superuser rights are activated.
The choice of a specific tool depends on your purpose. To quickly change the text color in the menu, a simple editor on your phone is suitable. For a global redesign of the interface, it is better to use a PC.
Before starting work, install the Terminal Emulator application to quickly check access rights to folders using the "su" command.
Preparing the device and gaining access
Access to system files is by default closed to ordinary applications. To bypass this limitation, you must activate developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About phone and click seven times on the item Build number. After this, a new section will appear in the menu For developers.
Inside this section, you must enable USB debugging. This will allow the computer to interact with the phone's file system at a low level. If you are working directly from the device, you will need a terminal application or file manager with root support, for example Root Explorer.
The process of mounting the partition for writing is also critical. By default, the system partition is mounted as read-only (ro). You need to remount it to read-write mode (rw). This can be done through the terminal with the command mount -o rw,remount /system.
☑️ Preparing for modding
Without completing these steps, any attempts to save changes to the files will fail with an access error. The system simply will not allow you to write the new element code to disk.
Finding the target resource file
The most difficult part of the process is finding the right file responsible for displaying the required element. The Android interface is built on the basis of resources that are stored in a directory /system/framework/framework-res.apk or in the resources of a specific application in /data/app/.
You need to extract the APK file and open it as an archive. Inside you will find a folder reswhere all resources are stored. Interface markup files are usually located in the folder layout, and string values are in the folder values. For example, to change the text of a button, you need to search for the file strings.xml.
To search for a specific element, you can use the text search function in the editor. If you know the name of the element in the system (for example, "battery_level"), the search will lead you to the desired file. However, names are often encrypted or minified, which complicates the task.
How to find the element ID?
Use the "Show Layout Bounds" tool in the developer settings. It will highlight the borders of all elements on the screen, which will help you understand the structure of the interface.
Sometimes the same visual element can be described in several files, depending on the screen orientation or Android version. Always check the layout-land (for landscape) and layout-sw600dp (for tablets) folders so that the changes are applied everywhere.
Editing XML markup
Once you open the target file, you will see the code in XML format. Each element is described by tags, such as <TextView> for text or <Button> for buttons. To change the element code, you need to change the attributes inside these tags.
For example, to change the text color, find the attribute android:textColor. Its value can be specified by a link to a resource (for example, @color/white) or a hex code (for example, #FFFFFF). Replace the value with the one you need.
If you want to change the font size, edit the attribute android:textSize. Values are usually specified in scale-independent pixels. Be careful: a font that is too large may extend beyond the screen and overlap other elements.
| Attribute | Description | Example value |
|---|---|---|
| android:id | Unique element identifier | @+id/btn_save |
| android:layout_width | Element width | match_parent |
| android:visibility | Element visibility | gone |
| android:background | Element background | @drawable/bg_blue |
After making changes, the file must be saved. If you are working with an APK file, you need to repackage it and sign it with a new signature, otherwise the system will refuse to install it. MT Manager does this automatically when saving.
Hiding elements through visibility attributes
A frequent task is not to change, but to completely remove an element from the screen. Doing this by removing lines of code is dangerous because it can break the logic of the application. It is much safer to change the visibility attribute.
Find the tag you need and change its property android:visibility. Set the value gone. This will completely hide the element and free up the space it was occupying. The value invisible will hide the element, but leave empty space in the layout.
- 🔍 gone — the element disappears, the interface is rebuilt.
- 👻 invisible —the element is invisible, but takes up space.
- ✅ visible —the standard display state.
This method often used to remove ads from system applications or hide unnecessary buttons in the settings menu. However, remember that the application logic may expect the presence of this element, and its absence may cause an error in the logs.
Use this method with caution in critical system processes such as phone or messages. Hiding a control element may make the function inaccessible to the user.
Compiling and installing modifications
After the element code has been changed, the file must be returned to its place. If you edited a file inside an APK directly on your phone, the file manager will prompt you to save the changes and update the archive. You will need to confirm the signing with a new signature.
If you were working on a computer, use the command adb push to download the modified file to the system folder. Before doing this, make sure that the file permissions match the original. Usually this 644 (rw-r--r--).
adb push framework-res.apk /system/framework/adb shell chmod 644 /system/framework/framework-res.apk
adb shell chown root:root /system/framework/framework-res.apk
Incorrect access rights are a common cause of a “bootlap” (cyclic reboot). The system will not be able to read the file if it does not have read rights for the group and other users.
⚠️ Attention: After replacing system files, be sure to restart the device. Changes to resources are not applied on the fly and require a full system restart.
Error diagnosis and rollback of changes
If after a reboot the device is stuck on the logo or the interface does not work correctly, it means there is a syntax error in the code. In this case, you need to boot into Recovery mode or use TWRP.
Use the file manager in recovery, find the file that you changed and replace it with the backup copy. If there is no backup, you can try to extract the original file from the stock firmware of your model.
Use logcatto analyze errors. Connect your phone to your PC and enter the command adb logcat. Look for lines marked FATAL EXCEPTION or AndroidRuntime. They will point to the file and line where the XML parsing error occurred.
Always save the original files in a separate folder on your SD card or in the cloud before you start editing. This is the only way to guarantee the restoration of system functionality.
Errors in color or size attributes usually do not cause a system crash, but only lead to visual artifacts. Errors in the structure of tags (unclosed tags, incorrect nesting) are almost guaranteed to cause the application or system to crash.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to change the code of an element without root access?
Without root access it is possible to change the resources of only those applications that are installed in user memory, and not all of them. System applications in the /system section are write protected. The only option is to use tools like Substratum (if supported), which overlay themes on top of the system without changing the original files.
Why are my changes reset after a system update?
When updating the firmware (OTA), the system partition is completely overwritten with new files from the manufacturer. All your modifications are deleted. To save the changes, you need to either disable auto-update or apply the mods again after each update.
Which editor is best to use for a beginner?
For beginners, it is best to MT Manager on the device itself. It has a built-in resource viewer, highlighting XML editor, and automatic APK signing. Working with it is easier than setting up a development environment on your computer.
Is it dangerous to change system files?
Yes, it carries risks. An error may cause the phone to stop turning on. However, if you have an unlocked bootloader and a custom recovery (TWRP), you can always restore the system from a backup. Without these tools, the risk of turning your phone into a “brick” is very high.
Where can you find the original files for recovery?
The original files can be extracted from the complete firmware dump of your model. Firmware is often posted on forums like 4PDA or XDA Developers. You can also use applications to backup system applications if you make a backup immediately after purchase or reset.