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!

score 17 · Answer 1 · answered Nov 29 '13 at 11:06

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()

is there any solution to auto change JNI c++ function package name — Mortuza Shahariar, Sep 05 '19 at 15:19

score 17 · Answer 2 · answered Jan 10 '17 at 16:43

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

score 13 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 03 '11 at 16:03

13

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.

answered Jul 03 '11 at 16:03

Nanne

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True, changing the package name in Android Manifest helped me. – Arturas M Oct 18 '15 at 14:34
How will this affect already downloaded applications if you change everything and "re-release" – quant Apr 13 '19 at 07:57

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 17 '14 at 17:30

10

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

answered Dec 17 '14 at 17:30

ARK

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score 9 · Answer 5 · answered Feb 14 '16 at 06:43

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.

score 7 · Answer 6 · answered Dec 27 '19 at 02:57

7

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.

answered Dec 27 '19 at 02:57

kakyo

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This worked, just had to clean build! – Raj Pawan Gumdal Jun 12 '22 at 15:17

score 3 · Answer 7 · answered Jun 12 '17 at 14:33

3

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

answered Jun 12 '17 at 14:33

Sultan Ali

2,497
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score 3 · Answer 8 · answered Jul 26 '18 at 13:26

3

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

answered Jul 26 '18 at 13:26

rharding

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Can you reuse the same google-services.json without creating a new app in Firebase? – oligofren Sep 09 '21 at 01:16
I don't think so, google-services.json is specific to each application id. – emil.c May 19 '22 at 13:33

score 3 · Answer 9 · answered Nov 27 '18 at 07:59

3

Change applicationId on app gradle.
Change file_provider_authority in strings.xml
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.

answered Nov 27 '18 at 07:59

Tahlil

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Can you reuse the same google-services.json without creating a new app in Firebase? Just changing `client[0].package_name` – oligofren Sep 09 '21 at 01:17

score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Aug 06 '14 at 11:24

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.

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Jan 28 '15 at 02:13

1

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".

answered Jan 28 '15 at 02:13

Sergio Sena

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2

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`. – SoftDesigner Mar 31 '17 at 11:30
@SoftDesigner You need to click the cogwheel and remove the selection on "Compact Middle Packages". Now you can change all levels. – oligofren Sep 09 '21 at 00:47

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Aug 02 '23 at 18:02

0

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

answered Aug 02 '23 at 18:02

merlindaily

1

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

12 Answers12

Solution to Renaming appid

Linked