Mod apks are a modified version of the Android operating system. They are edited using software such as apktool or baksmali, which decompiles the original system image and allows for new code to be inserted. In many cases, these tools allow you to use resources and code found in newer versions of Android on older devices.
A modded application is easy to tell because it will have an app extension at the end of the file name like “.apk”. If you want to keep the original version of an app, there is no need to rename it.
The modded version of an app can be installed on a device running Android 4.0 or newer using the standard “install” command while the original can be installed using the “install -all” command. These two commands are often used together as part of a package installation. When used in this way, the modifications are not seen until you use the application.
APKs are often used to help speed up navigation when using a navigation app, especially when the app is large.
There are many reasons why you would want to modify an application and use it on a non-supported version of Android, usually without rooting your device. While most of these applications do not go entirely unnoticed, they can be dangerous and can cause serious issues with the device on which they are installed.
Many modifications are likely to cause problems with the filesystem and may even lead to data loss. Using a modified version of an application may also render that application unusable on Android 4.0 or newer, which is a serious security risk. Any modification to an Android application will break support for that version of the operating system, which means that you will not be able to install new updates after installing any modifications.
Module installation requires root permissions and should only be used by advanced users who fully understand the risks involved.
As with any other modification, you could lose all of your data if something goes wrong. It’s recommended that you backup your data before installing any mod.
All of the previously listed issues are why we have recommended that you do not use third-party application stores. While these stores are convenient places to download apps, there is a very high chance that the app you want to download has been modified, or has even been entirely replaced with an application that looks similar but has a malicious purpose.