What is Deodexed ROM?

A “deodexed” ROM is one where data that would be optimized in the . odex files has been more or less merged back into the . apk files (meaning it is not optimized but basically platform agnostic), thus the . apk files are self-contained and there are no . odex files.

How do you check if ROM is Odexed vs Deodexed?

look in the folder /system/app if you see any files that say . odex and . apk then you are still odexed. if you only see files that say .

What are odex files?

An ODEX file is created by the Android operating system to increase the boot speed of an Android app (an . APK file). It is located alongside an APK file and contains optimized code that speeds up the app load process.

What’s the difference between odexed and deodexed Android ROMs?

Android versions which come directly from manufacturers are in most cases odexed. Custom ROMs on the other hand are deodexed nine times out of ten, which allows them to take up less room and offer more customization possibilities.

Which is the advantage of deodex over Odex?

The advantage of deodexing is in modification possibilities. This is most widely used in custom ROMs and themes. A developer building a custom ROM would almost always choose to deodex the ROM package first, since that would not only allow him to modify various APKs, but also leave room for post-install theming.

Where does the Odex file go in Android?

In normal cases, where an Android firmware is odexed, the .odex files for each /system APK (which are stored outside of the APKs themselves) are written into the Dalvik Virtual Machine when the OS boots up.

Are there disadvantages to using an ODEX file?

The disadvantages are 1) That it takes up some extra space and 2) An odexed app won’t run properly if it’s put onto another device, and it must have the associated .odex file to run at all.