title: How to change an APK file package name, either using a PC or an Android device?
body: <h2>Background</h2>
  
  <p>As we all know the package-name of an app is like its ID to the world. however, some apps/devices use it sometimes for "dirty" tricks.</p>
  
  <p>as an example, some devices are cheating on benchmarks by looking at which app is curently on the foreground (link <a href="http://www.anandtech.com/show/7384/" rel="nofollow"><strong>here</strong></a>). </p>
  
  <h2>the question</h2>
  
  <p>suppose i have an apk file, even one that wasn't made by me, how can i change its app's package name?</p>
  
  <p>is it even possible? i mean, changing the package name of an app might surely cause some problems , even when opening activities...</p>
  
  <p>I wonder if it's possible to do so either on a PC or an Android device (or both, even with root permission if needed).</p>
  
  <p>I've heard <a href="https://code.google.com/p/android-apktool/" rel="nofollow"><strong>APK-tool</strong></a> can help with this, but couldn't find out how.</p>
  
  <p>note: i don't mind that the process would create a new APK instead of modifying the original app.</p>