安卓版Firefox：实现修改APK后的版本升级

Hey there, let's break down solutions for your two questions, based on your setup (unrooted, using F-Droid, allowing unknown sources):

Q1: How to get the latest Android Firefox APK from Google Play Store on Linux? #

You have a couple of reliable options tailored for Linux:

• Use an open-source command-line tool like apkeep (built to download APKs directly from Google Play). After installing it, run this command to grab the latest compatible build:

  apkeep -a org.mozilla.firefox
  

  Double-check the APK's version number matches the Play Store listing to ensure you're getting the newest release, and pick the build that matches your device's CPU architecture (e.g., arm64-v8a, armeabi-v7a) for full compatibility.
• Alternatively, use a trusted, well-established APK mirror platform (stick to sites with a proven track record of safe, unmodified APKs) to download the exact version you need.

Q2: How to upgrade a modified APK on Linux while preserving user data? #

Since modifying the APK changes its digital signature (from Mozilla's official one to your custom signature), Android blocks direct upgrades between mismatched signatures. Here's a step-by-step workflow to keep your bookmarks, credentials, and settings intact:

1. Backup your Firefox data first (no root needed):

   • Enable USB debugging on your Android device, then connect it to your Linux machine.
   • Run this adb command to create a backup file:

     adb backup -f firefox_backup.ab org.mozilla.firefox
     

   • On your phone, confirm the backup request (leave the password field blank to simplify restoration later).

2. Modify and sign the new APK:

   • Use apktool on Linux to decompile the downloaded APK:

     apktool d firefox-latest.apk
     

   • Open the decompiled folder's AndroidManifest.xml, locate the <manifest> tag, and add or update this attribute:

     android:installLocation="preferExternal"
     

   • Recompile the APK into a modified file:

     apktool b firefox-latest -o modified-firefox.apk
     

   • Generate a custom keystore if you don't already have one:

     keytool -genkey -v -keystore my-firefox-key.keystore -alias firefox-custom -keyalg RSA -keysize 2048 -validity 10000
     

   • Sign the modified APK with your keystore using apksigner:

     apksigner sign --ks my-firefox-key.keystore modified-firefox.apk
     

3. Replace the app and restore data:

   • Uninstall the official Firefox build (this deletes local data, but your backup has you covered):

     adb uninstall org.mozilla.firefox
     

   • Install your modified APK:

     adb install modified-firefox.apk
     

   • Restore your backup to retrieve all your saved data:

     adb restore firefox_backup.ab
     

   • Confirm the restoration on your phone, and your custom-installed Firefox will have all your original settings intact.

Bonus Tip #

If you prefer sticking with F-Droid long-term, consider building a custom Firefox variant from its source code. Set android:installLocation="preferExternal" in the manifest before compiling—this way, all future updates you build will use your custom signature, allowing direct upgrades without repeating the backup-uninstall-restore cycle.

内容的提问来源于stack exchange，提问作者MichaelOF