| Aspect | ARSC Decompiler | AXML Decompiler | |--------|----------------|----------------| | | resources.arsc | AndroidManifest.xml , res/layout/*.xml (binary XML) | | Output | res/values/*.xml | Plain‑text XML files | | Purpose | Rebuild typed resource values | Rebuild layout XML tags/attributes |
The decompilation community actively maintains tools to support these new features. Tools like ArscEditor 1.0.3, released in late 2024, explicitly added support for these modern table types, demonstrating the ongoing development in this space.
Note: This is a simplified educational version. A full decompiler requires handling type specs, configs, and complex values. arsc decompiler
: ARSC decompilation tools are intended for legitimate purposes such as localization, adding features, or supporting custom platforms. They are NOT intended for piracy or other non-legal uses.
: Drag and drop your .arsc file into the decompiler window. | Aspect | ARSC Decompiler | AXML Decompiler
Security researchers and penetration testers use ARSC decompilers to examine applications for vulnerabilities. By decoding resource files, they can identify hardcoded secrets, API keys, and endpoint URLs that may pose security risks. Tools like APKscan can quickly scan decompiled ARSC files for sensitive information.
🔍 : Audit app strings, localized values, and configurations. A full decompiler requires handling type specs, configs,
| Tool | Description | Output | |------|-------------|--------| | (most popular) | Full resources.arsc decoder + binary XML decoder ( aapt -compatible). Restores res/values/*.xml . | res/ directory + AndroidManifest.xml | | aapt / aapt2 (Android SDK) | Official compiler; also has dump subcommand to list resources in text form. | Text table, not XML files | | androguard (Python) | Library axml and arsc parsers; can export resources to JSON. | JSON / Python dicts | | jadx | Primarily DEX decompiler, but includes an ARSC parser to show resource IDs in the GUI. | Inline references in decompiled code | | Enjarify / Bytecode Viewer | Limited ARSC support (mainly for reference mapping). | Basic string table | | Custom parsers (e.g., arsc-parser npm, pyaxml Python) | Lightweight, focused on extracting specific data (e.g., package name, version). | CLI output / JSON |