JADX
- Android app
- Not listed
- Free plan
- Yes
- Runs on
- Linux, Mac, Windows
Summary
JADX is a free tool that produces Java source code from Android Dex and APK files, with both command-line and graphical interfaces. It also decompiles AAR, AAB, and ZIP files and can decode AndroidManifest.xml and resources.arsc. An included deobfuscator offers mapping and identifier-renaming options. The GUI provides syntax highlighting, navigation to declarations, usage lookup, and full-text search. Its debugger supports stepping, breakpoints, and changes to register values and object fields, but requires adb and a debuggable app or a rooted device or emulator. Developers can use JADX as a library in Java projects, and the CLI can manage plugins. Downloaded releases require 64-bit Java 11 or later. JADX warns that it cannot recover all code in most cases, so decompilation errors can occur. It runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows and is licensed under Apache 2.0.
Who it is for
JADX suits developers and analysts who need to inspect Android application code or resources. Debugging requires adb and either a debuggable app or a rooted device or emulator.
What is good
- Command-line and GUI tools are included.
- Handles APK, DEX, AAR, AAB, and ZIP files.
- GUI offers search and declaration navigation.
- Includes a debugger and plugin support.
- Apache 2.0 licensed and free.
What to know first
- Decompilation may not recover all code.
- Downloaded releases require 64-bit Java 11 or later.
- Debugger requires adb and a debuggable app or rooted device.
Verdict
JADX offers several ways to inspect Android packages, including GUI navigation and debugging tools. Treat its output as an imperfect decompilation, since errors can occur and not all code can be recovered.
JADX plans and pricing
All plansCompared on reverse engineering tools
- Free plan
- Yesgithub.com
- Native-code decompilation
- Nogithub.com
- Bytecode decompilation
- Yesgithub.com
- Debugger integration
- Yesgithub.com
- Plugin support
- Yesgithub.com
- License type
- freegithub.com
Facts
- Purpose
- JADX provides command-line and GUI tools for producing Java source code from Android Dex and APK files.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Input formats
- It decompiles APK, DEX, AAR, AAB, and ZIP files and can decode AndroidManifest.xml and resources.arsc.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Deobfuscation
- A deobfuscator is included, with options for mappings and identifier renaming.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- GUI navigation
- The GUI supports syntax highlighting, jump to declaration, find usage, and full-text search.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Smali debugger
- The GUI debugger supports stepping, breakpoints, and modifying register values and object fields; it requires adb and a debuggable app or rooted device/emulator.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Library use
- JADX can be used as a library in Java projects.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The CLI can list, install, update, disable, enable, and uninstall plugins, including plugins from the JADX plugin marketplace.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Platforms
- The project documents Windows batch files, macOS Homebrew installation, Arch Linux packages, and Flathub installation.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Runtime requirement
- Running downloaded releases requires Java 11 or later in a 64-bit version.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Limitation
- JADX warns that it cannot decompile all code in most cases, so errors can occur.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is licensed under Apache 2.0.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Security reporting
- The security policy asks users to report issues through a new security advisory and says maintainers will respond within three working days.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users to its troubleshooting wiki and invites issue reports and pull requests through GitHub.github.com · 4 Oct 2026
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Sources
- github.com/skylot/jadx· checked 4 Oct 2026
- github.com/skylot/jadx/wiki/Smali-debugger· checked 4 Oct 2026
- github.com/skylot/jadx/blob/master/SECURITY.md· checked 4 Oct 2026