Google's ARC Welder is a developer app for porting Android apps to Chrome and Chrome OS. But there's nothing stopping you from using it to run your favorite Android apps on your Chromebook. Apr 19, 2019 - 'Flash SD App Required To Proceed' is a misleading alert that may be produced in Google Chrome and some other browsers. The occurrence.
Recently, Google made the first batch of Android apps available for Chrome. It was only a matter of time before some clever users gave that power to everyone. Now that time has come. Here's how to install (nearly) any Android app on any operating system.
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Obvious Disclaimer: This is still eight million kinds of broken and absolutely nothing here comes with a guarantee. In addition to apps that are in no way officially supported, you're also going to be messing around with low-level stuff in Chrome. This is probably not something you should attempt on a work computer, nor should you expect this to be simple or bug-free. This process is the opposite of both those things. You will need Chrome 37+ for the following guide.
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Glossary
This process is pretty new, so to make things simple, we'll define a few terms first:
ARC: The App Runtime for Chrome (or ARC) is the piece of software that allows Android apps to run in Chrome. In the same way that ART (and the older Dalvik) currently run Android apps in Android itself. By making a modified version of the Android runtime for Chrome, Google can allow developers to add support for Chrome without rebuilding their apps from the ground up.
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Read more ReadARChon Custom Runtime: ARC is officially only designed for Chrome OS at the moment. To get around this, developer vladikoff created the ARChon Custom Runtime, which not only allows Windows, OS X, and Linux to run Android apps, but also removes the limit on how many can be run.
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Google Play Services: We've discussed what Google Play Services are in the past. As we've explained before, app developers can plug into these APIs to get pre-written functionality. Think of them as plugins that Google gives to developers for their apps. In the context of this article, we'll be talking about apps that may or may not be supported in Chrome based on whether or not they include functionality from Google Play Services.
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Unpacked Extension: Extensions normally come from the Chrome Web Store or prepackaged in a .CRX file. For the purposes of Android apps, we're going to use unpacked extensions. These are folders that contain all the files for an extension (or, in this case, Android APK). They function the same as extensions, but are not wrapped up in a single file.
Step One: Install the ARChon Runtime
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Chrome OS uses a specialized runtime that allows Android apps to run natively inside it. This means that it's not an emulator or virtualization stack, but a proper runtime. In layman's terms, Chrome OS is using the same type of engine that Android uses to run software directly. So instead of a Genymotion-like situation where you have a whole Android phone running on your computer, here you can launch Android apps from the Chrome launcher.
To begin, we'll need to download the ARChon Custom Runtime. This is necessary to run Android apps in Windows, OS X, and Linux. While you can technically run Android apps in Chrome OS, you're currently limited to one of four apps. The methods in the rest of this article will run alternative apps by spoofing the signed key on those apps, but if you want to run any app you'd like, download ARChon. Here's how:
- Download the ARChon runtime here.
- Unzip the archive.
- Open your extensions page in Chrome by going to Menu > More Tools > Extensions
- Enable Developer mode in the top right corner, if it is not already enabled.
- Select 'Load unpacked extension.'
- Choose the folder containing the ARChon runtime you unzipped earlier.
The ARChon runtime will now be running as an extension in Chrome. You may see a couple warnings like the following on the extensions page. However, these are normal and shouldn't affect your ability to run Android apps.
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Next, you'll need some Android apps to run. This is a little complicated, since Android APKs are not properly packaged for Chrome. However, with a little elbow grease (or some help from your friendly neighborhood internet), you can get some of them to launch. Whether they function properly is an entirely different matter.
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Step 2: Install Existing Android Apps
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The quickest, most dead-simple way to get some working Android apps is to find some online. Forums like this subreddit are already working on getting some functional. However, this is a far cry from the 1.3 million apps on the Play Store. While most of those will probably remain out of your reach due to incompatibility issues, we'll also look at how to (try to) create your own.
Disclaimer: Distribution of modified apps is, generally speaking, some degree of copyright violation. In practice, there's little distinction between downloading a pre-modified app, and downloading the regular version and modifying it yourself. For this reason, it's unlikely any developer of a free app will be too concerned if you download a pre-modified app to play around with. However, downloading a modified paid app is piracy. Please support developers and don't download modified versions of paid apps without paying for them. And, while it should go without saying, don't write a bad review or criticize the developer if an app is broken in Chrome. You're on your own here.
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Some helpful internet users have created a growing list of apps that work in Chrome. You can find download links in that document, or find more in communities currently working on Chrome APKs. Once you have a .zip file containing one of these modified APKs, here's how to install it:
- Unzip the file and place the folder (likely named something like 'com.twitter.android') in a place you can easily find.
- Open the Extensions page in Chrome.
- Click 'Load unpacked extensions.'
- Select the folder with the modified APK you downloaded.
The app will now appear in your list of Chrome extensions. If you're a particular fan of Chrome apps, you might also notice that a shortcut has been added to the Chrome app launcher. Depending on how it was packaged, it may have a benign Android icon and the package name instead of a proper app name.
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There are a few ways to make and tweak APKs so that they can run on Chrome. These methods are also under active development, so if you're reading this later, there may be even easier ways that have been developed to convert them. For the sake of completeness, we'll go over how to install the chromeos-apk tool, as well as how to convert them manually, should you need to do any extra tweaking.
Windows:
- Download the node.js .msi file (not the .exe) from here.
- Install node.js.
- In a command prompt, run the following command: npm install chromeos-apk -g
That's it. You now have the chromeos-apk tool installed on your machine and can call it from any folder in the command line. You can skip ahead to the section below on how to use it.
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OS X/Linux:
The chromeos-apk tool was originally developed for Linux and OS X devices. Here's how to install it there:
- In a terminal, run the following command:
sudo apt-get install npm
- (Ubuntu only): Run the following command:
sudo apt-get install lib32stdc++6
- Download node.js.
- Unzip the tar.gz file you downloaded from the above link.
- Per the README file, open a terminal to the unzipped folder containing node.js. And run the following commands in order:
./configure
make
make install
- Run the command:
sudo npm install chromeos-apk -g
- To make sure you're updated to the latest version (now or in the future), run:
sudo npm install -g chromeos-apk@latest
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How to Use the Chromeos-apk Tool
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You now have the chromeos-apk tool installed on your machine. To use it, first you'll need to acquire an APK. If you're trying to convert a free app, you can use this tool to pull an APK directly from the Play Store. You can also use this tool to get an APK from an app installed on your phone. Many file managers and backup utilities like ES File Explorer and Titanium Backup can also pull APKs on your device.
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Once you have your APK, it's super simple to create a Chrome-friendly version. Open a command prompt or terminal in the folder where you have the APK stored, then do the following:
- Run the following command:
chromeos-apk [NAME OF APK]
- Example:
chromeos-apk com.evernote.apk
- If prompted, enter the package name of the app. This can usually be found in the URL of the Play Store listing. For example, in this URL, the portion after '?id=' is the package name. In this case, 'com.evernote'.
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You now have a modified APK, ready for Chrome! You can install it using the same instructions in Step 2 earlier in this post. Namely, open your extensions page, click 'Load unpacked extension,' and choose the folder you just created.
At the time of this writing, the chromeos-apk tool still only gets the app working. It won't remove the key (which allows you to run more than one app at once), nor does it fix the app icon. We'll handle that in the cleanup section.
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Alternative: Convert APKs Manually
If you can't (or don't want to) use the command line utility to modify APKs for Chrome usage, you can repackage them yourself. You'll still need to download chromeos-apk from Github here. You'll also need an APK for the app in question, so use the methods described in the section above to get them. Then, follow these steps:
- There is a folder named '_template' inside the chromeos-apk tool you downloaded. Make a copy of this somewhere else (preferably near the APK you downloaded).
- Copy the APK into '_template > Vendor > chromium > crx'. There should be a README file in the correct folder that says 'APK goes here.' in the correct folder.
- Rename the '_template' folder to the package name. The package name can usually be found in the Play Store listing URL after '?id='.
- Modify the 'manifest.json' file in the main folder of the package. This is considerably easier to do with an app like this.
- Add the app's package name (like 'com.pandora.android') to the 'package name' field.
- Add the app's regular name (like 'Pandora') to the 'name' field.
- Delete the entry named 'key', which will have a very long, seemingly random string for a value.
- Save the modified JSON file as 'manifest.json' and replace the existing version with the new, edited one.
- Download the app icon from Play Store.
- On a Play Store listing page like this one, right-click the icon image.
- In the URL bar, change 'w300-rw' to 'w128'. Hit enter.
- Right-click the new image and save it as 'icon.png' in the main folder of the modified template folder.
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Congratulations! You have just manually modified an APK to run in Chrome. The entire process isn't terribly complicated, it's just time consuming if you're altering each app manually.
You'll also note that none of this process involves changing the app itself. The APK sits inside an elaborate wrapper. Either it works or it doesn't. Time will tell if Android apps can or will be targeted for desktop use, but for now the floodgates are open to tinkerers if you really want to try them out.
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A browser extension named SD App is now widely spread on the Internet. Many computer users have got affected by this extension and are struggling to remove it from their PC systems. The SD App is browser hijacker that could harm your computer if not deleted without a wait. A usually malicious actions of the extension is to rewrite users’ Chrome browser settings such as the start page, newtab page and default search engine to its own without any permission.
Except that the SD App makes changes to web browser’s homepage and newtab, it also modifies your search provider, which leads to the fact that use of the web browser’s search becomes uncomfortable. The reason for this is that the search results will consist of a ton of ads, links to unwanted and ad pages and only the remaining part is search results for your query from well-known search engines such as Google or Bing.
It is probably that you might be bothered with the SD App extension and other browser’s malicious extensions. You should not disregard this unwanted software. The extension might not only modify your homepage or search provider, but redirect your web-browser to shady web pages. What is more, the addon can analyze your browsing, and gain access to your privacy data and, subsequently, can sell it to third party companies. Thus, there are more than enough reasons to delete SD App from your internet browser.
We suggest you to free your computer of plugin as quickly as possible. Use the guidance below which will assist to remove SD App Chrome extension and adware, which may be installed onto your machine along with it.
How to remove SD App Chrome Extension
We can assist you get rid of SD App, without the need to take your computer to a professional. Simply follow the removal guide below if you currently have the intrusive addon on your personal computer and want to delete it. If you’ve any difficulty while trying to delete the extension, feel free to ask for our help in the comment section below. Certain of the steps will require you to reboot your system or exit this web-site. So, read this tutorial carefully, then bookmark or print it for later reference.
The below tutorial for devices using Microsoft Windows, for Android phones, use How to remove virus from Android phone, and for Apple computers based on Mac OS use How to remove browser hijacker, pop-ups, ads from Mac
To remove SD App, perform the following steps:
- Get rid of SD App extension without any tools
- SD App extension automatic removal
Get rid of SD App extension without any tools
The useful removal guide for the SD App extension. The detailed procedure can be followed by anyone as it really does take you step-by-step. If you follow this process to remove SD App extension let us know how you managed by sending us your comments please.
Remove SD App associated software by using MS Windows Control Panel
Some of potentially unwanted applications, adware and extension can be removed using the Add/Remove programs tool that is located in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel. So, if you’re running any version of MS Windows and you have noticed an unwanted application, then first try to remove it through Add/Remove programs.
Make sure you have closed all web browsers and other apps. Press CTRL, ALT, DEL keys together to open the Microsoft Windows Task Manager.
Click on the “Processes” tab, look for something suspicious that is the SD App extension which developed to redirect your browser to an unwanted web site then right-click it and select “End Task” or “End Process” option. Most commonly, malicious software masks itself to avoid detection by imitating legitimate Microsoft Windows processes. A process is particularly suspicious: it’s taking up a lot of memory (despite the fact that you closed all of your programs), its name is not familiar to you (if you’re in doubt, you can always check the application by doing a search for its name in Google, Yahoo or Bing).
Next, uninstall any unwanted and suspicious apps from your Control panel.
Windows 10, 8.1, 8
Now, click the Windows button, type “Control panel” in search and press Enter. Select “Programs and Features”, then “Uninstall a program”.
Look around the entire list of software installed on your PC system. Most likely, one of them is the SD App addon that designed to redirect your web-browser to an annoying webpage. Select the suspicious program or the program that name is not familiar to you and delete it.
Windows Vista, 7
From the “Start” menu in Windows, select “Control Panel”. Under the “Programs” icon, select “Uninstall a program”.
Choose the dubious or any unknown apps, then click “Uninstall/Change” button to delete this unwanted application from your PC system.
Windows XP
Click the “Start” button, select “Control Panel” option. Click on “Add/Remove Programs”.
Select an undesired application, then click “Change/Remove” button. Follow the prompts.
Remove SD App extension from Google Chrome
Reset Chrome settings will delete SD App extension, restore you new tab page, homepage and search engine and disable harmful plugins. It will also clear cached and temporary data (cookies, site data and content). Essential information such as bookmarks, browsing history, passwords, cookies, auto-fill data and personal dictionaries will not be removed.
- First, launch the Chrome and click the Menu icon (icon in the form of three dots).
- It will open the Chrome main menu. Choose More Tools, then press Extensions.
- You will see the list of installed extensions. If the list has the extension labeled with “Installed by enterprise policy” or “Installed by your administrator”, then complete the following tutorial: Remove Chrome extensions installed by enterprise policy.
- Now open the Chrome menu once again, click the “Settings” menu.
- Next, press “Advanced” link, that located at the bottom of the Settings page.
- On the bottom of the “Advanced settings” page, click the “Reset settings to their original defaults” button.
- The Chrome will show the reset settings prompt as on the image above.
- Confirm the web browser’s reset by clicking on the “Reset” button.
- To learn more, read the post How to reset Chrome settings to default.
SD App extension automatic removal
The manual tutorial above is tedious to use and can not always help to completely remove the SD App extension. Here I am telling you an automatic solution to remove this extension from your machine completely. Zemana, MalwareBytes and Hitman Pro are anti-malware utilities that can scan for and get rid of all kinds of malicious software including SD App addon that reroutes your browser to intrusive sites.
Use Zemana to get rid of SD App extension
You can download and use the Zemana Anti-Malware for free. This antimalware utility will scan all the MS Windows registry items and files in your personal computer along with the system settings and browser addons. If it finds any malware, ad supported software or harmful extension that is responsible for modifying your web-browser settings to SD App then the Zemana Anti Malware will remove them from your machine completely.
Now you can setup and use Zemana AntiMalware (ZAM) to get rid of SD App addon from your web browser by following the steps below:
Visit the following page to download Zemana Free installer named Zemana.AntiMalware.Setup on your system. Save it on your Microsoft Windows desktop.
Zemana AntiMalware
60566 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: February 14, 2019
60566 downloads
Author: Zemana Ltd
Category: Security tools
Update: February 14, 2019
Start the installation package after it has been downloaded successfully and then follow the prompts to install this utility on your computer.
During install you can change some settings, but we recommend you do not make any changes to default settings.
When installation is complete, this malware removal tool will automatically run and update itself. You will see its main window as shown in the figure below.
Now press the “Scan” button to perform a system scan for the SD App extension which cause an undesired web-page to appear. This task can take quite a while, so please be patient. When a malicious software, adware or PUPs are detected, the count of the security threats will change accordingly.
After the scan is finished, Zemana will show a list of all threats found by the scan. Review the scan results and then press “Next” button.
The Zemana Free will start to remove SD App extension related files, folders and registry keys. When the process is complete, you can be prompted to reboot your personal computer to make the change take effect.
Delete SD App extension from web-browsers with Hitman Pro
HitmanPro is a free removal utility. It deletes PUPs, adware, browser hijackers and undesired internet browser add-ons. It will identify and delete SD App extension and other browser’s harmful extensions. HitmanPro uses very small system resources and is a portable program. Moreover, HitmanPro does add another layer of malware protection.
Please go to the link below to download HitmanPro. Save it on your Windows desktop or in any other place.
HitmanPro
3553 downloads
Author: Sophos
Category: Security tools
Update: June 28, 2018
3553 downloads
Author: Sophos
Category: Security tools
Update: June 28, 2018
After the download is done, open the file location. You will see an icon like below.
Double click the HitmanPro desktop icon. When the tool is opened, you will see a screen as shown in the following example.
Further, click “Next” button to start checking your computer for the SD App extension that created to redirect your browser to an annoying webpage. This process can take quite a while, so please be patient. After Hitman Pro has finished scanning, Hitman Pro will produce a list of unwanted applications adware as shown below.
When you’re ready, click “Next” button. It will open a prompt, click the “Activate free license” button.
Scan and free your computer of SD App extension with Malwarebytes
You can remove SD App extension automatically with a help of Malwarebytes Free. We recommend this free malware removal utility because it can easily get rid of addons, adware, potentially unwanted apps and toolbars with all their components such as files, folders and registry entries.
MalwareBytes Anti Malware (MBAM) can be downloaded from the following link. Save it to your Desktop.
Malwarebytes Anti-malware
276660 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: February 5, 2019
276660 downloads
Author: Malwarebytes
Category: Security tools
Update: February 5, 2019
When downloading is finished, run it and follow the prompts. Once installed, the MalwareBytes will try to update itself and when this process is done, click the “Scan Now” button to start checking your PC for the SD App extension that reroutes your web-browser to undesired websites. This task can take some time, so please be patient. While the MalwareBytes AntiMalware tool is checking, you can see how many objects it has identified as being affected by malicious software. Review the report and then click “Quarantine Selected” button.
The MalwareBytes Free is a free program that you can use to remove all detected folders, files, services, registry entries and so on. To learn more about this malware removal utility, we recommend you to read and follow the instructions or the video guide below.
How to stay safe online
We suggest to install an adblocker program that can block SD App and other annoying sites. The adblocker utility such as AdGuard is a program that basically removes advertising from the World Wide Web and blocks access to malicious web sites. Moreover, security experts says that using ad blocking software is necessary to stay safe when surfing the Internet.
AdGuard can be downloaded from the following link. Save it on your MS Windows desktop or in any other place.
Adguard download
18366 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
18366 downloads
Version: 6.4
Author: © Adguard
Category: Security tools
Update: November 15, 2018
Once the downloading process is finished, double-click the downloaded file to run it. The “Setup Wizard” window will show up on the computer screen as displayed in the following example.
Follow the prompts. AdGuard will then be installed and an icon will be placed on your desktop. A window will show up asking you to confirm that you want to see a quick guidance as shown below.
Click “Skip” button to close the window and use the default settings, or click “Get Started” to see an quick guide that will assist you get to know AdGuard better.
Each time, when you launch your machine, AdGuard will run automatically and block unwanted pop-up ads, as well as other harmful or misleading pages. For an overview of all the features of the program, or to change its settings you can simply double-click on the AdGuard icon, that can be found on your desktop.
How was SD App extension installed on machine?
The SD App extension most likely to occur during the setup of free programs due the fact that potentially unwanted apps like this are commonly hidden in the installer. Thus, if you have installed some free software using Quick(Standard) mode, you may have let a hijacker infection get inside the personal computer. Keep in mind that the Quick mode is unreliable because it do not warn about third-party programs. Thus, optional applications will be installed automatically unless you choose Advanced/Custom mode and uncheck its installation.
To sum up
Now your system should be clean of the SD App extension that alters your startpage and search provider. We suggest that you keep Zemana Anti-Malware (to periodically scan your machine for new extensions and other malicious software) and AdGuard (to help you stop intrusive pop ups and harmful websites). Moreover, to prevent any extension, please stay clear of unknown and third party applications, make sure that your antivirus program, turn on the option to scan for PUPs.
If you need more help with SD App extension related issues, go to here.
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