How to change Android App Name and ID of an existing application?

Question

I have two Android projects in Eclipse. I copied the one project from the other, then changed the app name (in strings.xml) and the project name (in Eclipse).

But now there is a problem: When I run either of the applications in the emulator, the other one gets lost (maybe overwritten?). So I guess that there is another setting I have to make, so that Android recognizes the two apps to be different?

Thanks!

Darrendarrey

Answer 1

Package name (in java).

The app name is also in the manifest, although I don't think that needs to be unique, but still would be good to change it for clarity.

Parturition

True, changing the package name in Android Manifest helped me. – Bornu

How will this affect already downloaded applications if you change everything and "re-release" – Sohn

Answer 2

Actually you need to change the name in several places:

First, as you said, the name of the string, which is the visible name of the application.

Second, go to activity->src and right click on the package (com.example.whatever) and do refactor->rename;

Then go to the manifest.xml: and change the field in:

<manifest package="com.example.whatever" >

If you are using native code, JNI, you will also have to change the names of the c++ functions, which is a pain in the ass:

Java_com_example_whatever_activity_function()

Sullyprudhomme

is there any solution to auto change JNI c++ function package name – Beaconsfield

Answer 3

For those who aren't using Android Studio and want to do it manually (e.g. if you're using React Native), I just recently went through this and had to change it in the following files:

index.android.js
android/settings.gradle
android/app/build.gradle
android/app/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
android/app/src/main/java/com/<app id>/MainActivity.java
android/app/src/main/java/com/<app id>/MainApplication.java

Mobley

Answer 4

For Android Studio users, you need to change your package name in AndroidManifest.xml and also in build.gradle file --> defaultConfig--> applicationId.

Kinkajou

Answer 5

My setup

• Android Studio 3.5.3
• Kotlin 1.3.x
• macOS 10.14.6

Solution to Renaming appid

• In Project Explorer, find app/java/com.company.app.
• Right-click > Refactor > Rename, then select Rename Package.
• Look down in the Refactoring Preview and make sure all package references are selected.
• Click Do Refactor.

No need to hack around by hand.

Feld

This worked, just had to clean build! – Dank

Answer 6

The most simple way I have found to accomplish this task is to utilize Product Flavor in .gradle

productFlavors {
    MainApp {
        applicationId = "com.company.app"
    }
    NewAppFlavor {
        applicationId = "com.company.newapp"
    }
}

buildTypes {
    debug {
        buildConfigField "java.util.Date", "buildTime", "new java.util.Date(" +  getDateAsMillis() + "L)"
        applicationIdSuffix ".debug"
    }
}

You then specify package name in AndroidManifest.xml as

<manifest xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
   package="com.company"
   android:versionCode="1"
   android:versionName="0.1.1" >

Upon release configuration, Android Studio (1.5.1 as of this writing) will ask which flavor to build.

Debug configuration is a little less intuitive, you must hover the cursor over the bottom left corner of the screen, select "Build Variants" and select which flavor your debug configuration will deploy when you press the play button.

Higgins

Answer 7

if you are using Android studio then
Your project identifier is in your build.gradle file just change the field applicationId "com.example.whatEver"
Hope it will work

Suppression

Answer 8

I found that my rename wasn't working because I also needed to change the package name in google-services.json

Mezuzah

Can you reuse the same google-services.json without creating a new app in Firebase? – Gentille

I don't think so, google-services.json is specific to each application id. – Nightgown

Answer 9

1. Change applicationId on app gradle.

2. Change file_provider_authority in strings.xml

3. If you are using firebase then add new project on firebase and download the new google-services.json file and replace the old one with this.

Optionally change your app name as well.

Rain

Can you reuse the same google-services.json without creating a new app in Firebase? Just changing client[0].package_name – Gentille

Answer 10

An application's unique identifier is the package name. If you change the package name and reinstall the app again, you will end up with two copies on your phone.

Eclipse can change it on all the places of your code automatically.

Just right click your project on the package explorer (project tree) and go to Android Tools->Rename Application Package

Voilà.

Avesta

Answer 11

Select Android on the top left of the Project window. So, right click over your package name under Java folder and select "Refactor" -> Rename... Click in Rename Package Button. Type the name of the new package you want, mark all options then confirm.

When it shows the results, click on "Do Refactor".

Onym

Thanks, but it only allows renaming the last portion of the package name: instead of com.example.app it renames to com.example.new_app. – Shoer

@Shoer You need to click the cogwheel and remove the selection on "Compact Middle Packages". Now you can change all levels. – Gentille

Answer 12

After refactoring, a simple "Find and Replace" would help in fixing the renaming in files that were not affected by refactoring

Malacostracan

Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. Please edit to add further details, such as citations or documentation, so that others can confirm that your answer is correct. You can find more information on how to write good answers in the help center. – Me

Answer 13

in build.gradle select applicationId and press command + shift + r and replace with new package name. then sync build.gradle. if you have error in manifest, add package name to start of class

Mikimikihisa