# Making an Android app survive a factory reset **URL:** \ **Category:** Android\ **Tags:** root, android, question\ **Created:** [July 29, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245 "2026-07-29T02:44:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/u/T_bochur)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 2:44am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/1 "2026-07-29T02:44:26Z")
how do i install an app that makes it factory reset persistent? ---
**Author:** ![Zvi\_Wolf](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/zvi_wolf/32/11163_2.png) [@Zvi\_Wolf](https://jtechforums.org/u/Zvi_Wolf)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 3:09am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/2 "2026-07-29T03:09:28Z")
It has to be baked into the rom ---
**Author:** ![T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/u/T_bochur)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 5:42am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/3 "2026-07-29T05:42:48Z")
can you please explain? ---
**Author:** ![flipphoneguy](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/flipphoneguy/32/11165_2.png) [@flipphoneguy](https://jtechforums.org/u/flipphoneguy)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:59am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/4 "2026-07-29T08:59:50Z")
When you factory reset, everything is restored to the original state in the system image. To make an app persist (apps usually aren’t in the system partition) you’ll have to make it a system app baked into the ROM itself. Basically you’ll have to be sure you can flash modified partitions, (unlocked bootloader, vbmeta etc), unpack the super and edit the system.img and adding the desired app and other files depending on your device, repack and flash ---
**Author:** ![T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/u/T_bochur)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/5 "2026-07-29T20:29:08Z")
and then after a flash it won’t have to install? what about if i use adb shell su and add an apk i do not think that it installs automaticly ---
**Author:** ![dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/dfrydman/32/1947_2.png) [@dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/u/dfrydman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:23pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/6 "2026-07-29T22:23:22Z")
you can also use root to place an apk in the system partition and it will survive a factory reset ---
**Author:** ![T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/4bbf92/32.png) [@T\_bochur](https://jtechforums.org/u/T_bochur)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:34pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/7 "2026-07-29T22:34:47Z")
but how do you install it , by using root you are just placing a file it does not install it. ---
**Author:** ![dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/dfrydman/32/1947_2.png) [@dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/u/dfrydman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:35pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/8 "2026-07-29T22:35:34Z")
if you place the file in the system partition and then reboot the phone automaticall detects the new apk in system and installs it ---
**Author:** ![dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/dfrydman/32/1947_2.png) [@dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/u/dfrydman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:48pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/9 "2026-07-29T22:48:57Z")
tell me if you need help placing a certain apk in system ---
**Author:** ![dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/dfrydman/32/1947_2.png) [@dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/u/dfrydman)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/10 "2026-07-29T22:49:41Z")
make sure you device is - bootloader unlcocked and you have correct vbmeta (empty ones work) and you have proper root accsess ---
**Author:** ![flipphoneguy](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/flipphoneguy/32/11165_2.png) [@flipphoneguy](https://jtechforums.org/u/flipphoneguy)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 7:12am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/11 "2026-07-30T07:12:31Z")
On all devices? I’m pretty sure some require you to make changes to some config files before the phone recognizes them. Not really sure though. ---
**Author:** ![ys770](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/ys770/32/2595_2.png) [@ys770](https://jtechforums.org/u/ys770)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 7:18am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/12 "2026-07-30T07:18:36Z")
depends on what permissions it wants, sometimes you need to add a config file to whitelist it. usually only if its asking for privileged permissions, most apps don’t ---
**Author:** ![dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/dfrydman/32/1947_2.png) [@dfrydman](https://jtechforums.org/u/dfrydman)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2026, 10:24am UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/13 "2026-07-30T10:24:26Z")
if you place the app in /system/app usually that all you need. ---
**Author:** ![West-Brun](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/west-brun/32/10909_2.png) [@West-Brun](https://jtechforums.org/u/West-Brun)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 8:31pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/14 "2026-10-05T20:31:32Z")
how do i remove an app that survived factory reset ---
**Author:** ![The-curious](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/the-curious/32/11254_2.png) [@The-curious](https://jtechforums.org/u/The-curious)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2026, 8:34pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/15 "2026-10-05T20:34:22Z")
Root? Delete it from the partitions. Which app? ---
**Author:** ![Aron](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/aron/32/9306_2.png) [@Aron](https://jtechforums.org/u/Aron)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/16 "2026-10-06T14:35:18Z")
Easiest way just use a root app uninstaller ---
**Author:** ![The-curious](https://jtechforums.org/user_avatar/jtechforums.org/the-curious/32/11254_2.png) [@The-curious](https://jtechforums.org/u/The-curious)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2026, 4:32pm UTC](https://jtechforums.org/t/making-an-android-app-survive-a-factory-reset/9245/17 "2026-10-06T16:32:03Z")
> [@Aron](#): > > Easiest way just use a root app uninstaller [Link2SD.apk](https://jtechforums.org/uploads/short-url/sqtkCJyJtQ3O0b50QhC79loEUmd.apk) (3.8 MB)