Choosing how patched apps are installed

Morphe patches the APK, but something else has to put it on your device. That something is the installer, and which one you pick decides whether installing takes a confirmation dialog or happens silently, whether the original app survives, and what happens when a new version of the app comes out.

The default works everywhere and needs no setup. Read on if you have root or Shizuku, or if Google Play keeps trying to overwrite your patched build.

Where the setting lives

Open Settings → System → Installer → Default installer. The Select installer dialog lists everything available on your device, with the shared options underneath.

Options your device cannot use are greyed out with the reason underneath, for example Requires root access. Pick one and tap Confirm.

The installers

System installer

The Android package installer, and the default. Android shows its usual confirmation screen, and the first time you install anything from Morphe it asks you to allow installs from unknown sources.

This works on every device with no extra software. The trade-off is a confirmation tap for every install, and if the unpatched app is still installed you have to uninstall it first, because the patched build is signed with a different certificate.

Root mount

Only selectable on rooted devices, and only for apps that were patched in root mount mode. See Root mount below, it works differently from every other option here.

Shizuku

Installs silently through Shizuku or Sui, with no confirmation dialog at all. Shizuku has to be installed, running, and have granted Morphe permission, Morphe tells you which of those is missing.

Check Shizuku status opens a breakdown of the current state: mode (Shizuku or Sui), whether it is installed, supported, and running, and whether permission is granted, with buttons to request permission or open the Shizuku app.

Third-party installers

Any installer app detected on your system also shows up in the list. Morphe hands the APK over and waits for that app to report the result.

The shared options

Below the installer list are the settings that apply to whichever installer you selected.

Install as Play Store

Records Google Play Store as the installation source for the patched app. This can help services that check the install source, for example Android Auto, though it is not guaranteed on every app, device, ROM, or Android version.

Morphe shows this warning and asks you to confirm before enabling the option.

Auto-install after patching

Shizuku only. The patched APK is installed the moment patching finishes, without you returning to the app.

Auto-uninstall on conflict

Shizuku only, and off by default. When a silent install fails because the installed app has a different signature, Morphe uninstalls the existing app first and then installs the patched one.

Installer selection prompt

Shows the installer dialog every time a patched app is installed, so you can choose per install instead of committing to one default.

Root mount in detail

Root mount does not install the patched app at all. The unpatched app stays installed, and Morphe bind-mounts the patched APK over it. Android keeps seeing the stock app: same package, same signature, same data directory.

That buys you two things ordinary installs cannot offer:

• Updates without data loss. Since the app's data belongs to the stock app, replacing the patched layer never touches it.
• No GmsCore needed. The patched app runs under the stock app's identity, so patches that normally require GmsCore work without it.

Morphe writes a Magisk-style module for each mounted app, so the mount is restored automatically after a reboot.

Choosing the mode

Root mount is decided before patching, not in the installer settings. On a rooted device Morphe shows a Choose patch mode dialog when you start patching:

• Root mount mode - patches for mounting over the stock app.
• Standard install mode - patches as a normal APK with GmsCore support, and your installer setting is used afterwards.

In root mount mode the APK download step also changes: you do install the original APK, because the stock app has to be present for the patched one to mount over it. In standard mode you leave the downloaded APK uninstalled.

Managing a mounted app

Open the app's info dialog from its card on the Morphe home screen. A mounted app is marked with a Mount chip and offers Remount and Unmount, an unmounted one offers Mount. Unmounting leaves you with the plain stock app, mounting brings the patches back.

Limits and gotchas

• Branding cannot be changed. A custom app icon or display name does not apply to a mounted install, see Creating a custom app icon.
• Versions must match. The installed stock app has to be the exact version the patched APK was built from. If they drift apart, Morphe refuses to mount and tells you which version to install.
• KernelSU and APatch users: disable module unmounting or hiding for apps installed with root mount. Otherwise the stock app may keep running even though Morphe reports it as mounted.
• The Root mount entry in the installer dialog only handles apps that were patched in root mount mode. Standard patched APKs still go through whichever other installer you selected.

Which one should I use?

Situation	Pick
No root, no Shizuku	System installer
You want installs without confirmation taps	Shizuku
Rooted, and you want to keep app data across updates	Root mount (chosen before patching)
A service refuses to work unless the app came from Play	Install as Play Store, and turn off Play updates for that app
You switch between methods often	Enable Installer selection prompt

Troubleshooting

Problem	What to do
"Uninstall required" or a signature conflict	The unpatched app is still installed. Uninstall it, which erases its data, or use root mount instead
Shizuku option is greyed out	Shizuku or Sui is not installed, not running, or has not granted Morphe permission. Check Shizuku status shows which
"Your preferred installer is unavailable"	Fix the underlying issue and retry, or let Morphe fall back to the standard installer
Play Store replaced the patched app with the original	Turn off updates for that app on its Play Store page, then patch and install again
Mount fails with a version mismatch	Install the stock version that matches the patched APK, then mount again
Morphe says the app is mounted but the stock app still runs	On KernelSU or APatch, disable module unmounting or hiding for that app

Next steps

• Patching an app in Simple mode
• Patching an app in Expert mode
• Updating a patched app
• Creating a custom app icon