Libraries not installed when copying APK to /system/app on KitKat

Question

I'm attempting to add an APK to /system/app on KitKat.

After mounting the /system partition, copying an APK over, and rebooting, it seems the APK libraries are not getting copied into /data/app-lib.

Weirdly, reinstalling 'over' the APK via ADB causes the libraries to be copied, and it works.

I've encountered the same behaviour when building the APK as part of the ROM.

How do I get the system to install libraries for system apps?

Answer 1

When you add an APK to /system/app, you should also extract its libraries and put it in /system/lib, reference: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/android-ndk/v86sYS3Orow

As far as I know this has always being the case and not 4.4 specific

Answer 2

I had a similar problem with a 3rd party app, the library could not be found even it was placed in the /system/lib/ folder. The solution was to move it into the /system/vendor/lib/ folder.