apktool-termux-troubleshooting

name	apktool-termux-troubleshooting
description	Use when apktool rebuilds fail on Android/Termux, especially around aapt2, resource compilation, signing, install failures, or shell-specific rebuild issues on-device.

Apktool Termux Troubleshooting

Use this skill when the reverse workflow is blocked by rebuild, packaging, signing, or install failures.

Fast triage order

1. Confirm which binaries are actually used: apktool, aapt2, java, apksigner.
2. Re-run the failing step with stderr redirected to a file.
3. Read the tail of stderr first, not the whole log.
4. Only after that inspect the specific resource, manifest, or smali file named in the error.

Immediate checks

• which apktool
• apktool --version
• which aapt2
• aapt2 version
• java -version

High-value rules

• For apktool 3.x, use --aapt, not -a.
• If the reverse-flow helper script is available, prefer it over retyping the full Termux rebuild command.
• If aapt2 works directly but apktool still fails, verify what apktool actually invokes before blaming the binary.
• Resource compile errors are usually local to one XML/file name/value, not the whole project.
• Keep build logs in files and inspect them incrementally.

When to read references

• Read references/common-failures.md for failure signatures and the first commands to run.
• Read references/rebuild-loop.md for the shortest practical rebuild/sign/install/debug loop on Termux.