APK Downloader apkeep 1.0.0 Release Powers Android Research

The APK downloader apkeep 1.0.0 release arrived last week, signaling a mature milestone after years of steady work. This command-line Android package downloader now centers on Google Play while keeping safety and speed at the core.

What’s New in 1.0.0

You can download a dex metadata file for an app that includes a Cloud Profile, offering performance data from real usage.

You can log in anonymously using a token generated by the Aurora Store’s dispenser.

Users can specify their own device profiles when downloading apps from Google Play; the store serves the variant that matches your device.

The release fixes an authentication bug introduced by the Play Store API.

Since the last release in October, apkeep has been included in Homebrew for macOS users.

Beyond Google Play, the project now supports other stores like F-Droid for open-source apps.

How Researchers Use apkeep

Researchers and users helped shape this release, including the dex metadata feature with Cloud Profiles. This helps researchers highlight how Android profiles influence dynamic testing.

Exodus Privacy uses apkeep to power the εxodus tool’s downloads when monitoring app privacy properties.

In one widespread study, a team downloaded 21,154 apps to study Android evasive malware behaviors.

What’s in Store for apkeep?

The goals with apkeep remain constant: provide a reliable, fast, and safe way to download apps from multiple app providers, not just the Google Play Store.

We’d like to broaden the list of supported providers to enable easy cross-store analysis, and we welcome contributions from the community.

How You Can Help

You can contribute by adding providers or improving the tooling, helping researchers compare apps across contexts.

Conclusion

APK Downloader apkeep continues to be a valuable tool in the Android research toolbox, delivering reliability, speed, and safety to researchers and practitioners alike.