Anubis Android App Manager

Skill by ara.so — Daily 2026 Skills collection.

Anubis is an Android app manager that uses Shizuku to completely disable (pm disable-user) app groups based on VPN connection state. Unlike sandboxing solutions (Island, Shelter), disabled apps cannot run code, access network interfaces, or detect VPN presence at all.

Core Concepts

Group Policy	Behavior
Local	Frozen when VPN is active; runs without VPN
VPN Only	Frozen when VPN is inactive; runs through VPN
Launch with VPN	Never frozen; launching triggers VPN activation

Requirements

• Android 10+ (API 29)
• Shizuku installed and running
• At least one VPN client installed

Setup

1. Install and start Shizuku (via ADB or Wireless Debugging):

   adb shell sh /sdcard/Android/data/moe.shizuku.privileged.api/start.sh
   

2. Install Anubis APK
3. Grant Shizuku permission when prompted
4. Grant VPN permission when prompted (needed for dummy VPN disconnect)
5. Go to Apps tab → assign apps to groups
6. Select VPN client in Settings
7. Toggle stealth mode on Home screen

Building

git clone https://github.com/sogonov/anubis
cd anubis

# Debug build
./gradlew assembleDebug

# Release build (requires signing config)
./gradlew assembleRelease

Create signing.properties in project root for release builds:

storeFile=release.keystore
storePassword=${KEYSTORE_PASSWORD}
keyAlias=${KEY_ALIAS}
keyPassword=${KEY_PASSWORD}

Tech Stack

• Kotlin + Jetpack Compose (Material 3)
• Shizuku API 13.1.5 (AIDL UserService pattern)
• Room database with TypeConverters for app groups
• ConnectivityManager NetworkCallback for VPN state monitoring
• ShortcutManager for pinned shortcuts

Project Structure

app/src/main/java/
├── data/
│   ├── AppGroup.kt          # Room entity: group name, policy, package list
│   ├── AppGroupDao.kt       # DAO: CRUD for app groups
│   └── AppDatabase.kt       # Room database setup
├── service/
│   ├── ShizukuService.kt    # AIDL UserService: pm/am shell commands
│   ├── VpnStateMonitor.kt   # ConnectivityManager NetworkCallback
│   └── FreezeManager.kt     # Orchestrates freeze/unfreeze logic
├── vpn/
│   ├── VpnClient.kt         # Enum: SEPARATE, TOGGLE, MANUAL
│   └── VpnClientRegistry.kt # Known clients + custom client support
└── ui/
    ├── HomeScreen.kt         # Launcher grid, VPN toggle
    ├── AppsScreen.kt         # Group assignment UI
    └── SettingsScreen.kt     # VPN client selection

Room Database: App Groups

@Entity(tableName = "app_groups")
data class AppGroup(
    @PrimaryKey(autoGenerate = true) val id: Int = 0,
    val name: String,
    val policy: GroupPolicy,
    val packages: List<String> // stored via TypeConverter
)

enum class GroupPolicy {
    LOCAL,        // frozen when VPN active
    VPN_ONLY,     // frozen when VPN inactive
    LAUNCH_WITH_VPN // never frozen, VPN triggered on launch
}

@Dao
interface AppGroupDao {
    @Query("SELECT * FROM app_groups")
    fun getAllGroups(): Flow<List<AppGroup>>

    @Insert(onConflict = OnConflictStrategy.REPLACE)
    suspend fun insertGroup(group: AppGroup)

    @Delete
    suspend fun deleteGroup(group: AppGroup)

    @Update
    suspend fun updateGroup(group: AppGroup)
}

Shizuku Integration (AIDL UserService Pattern)

Define the AIDL interface:

// IShizukuService.aidl
interface IShizukuService {
    String executeCommand(String command);
    void destroy();
}

Implement the UserService:

class ShizukuUserService : IShizukuService.Stub() {
    override fun executeCommand(command: String): String {
        return try {
            val process = Runtime.getRuntime().exec(arrayOf("sh", "-c", command))
            process.inputStream.bufferedReader().readText()
        } catch (e: Exception) {
            "ERROR: ${e.message}"
        }
    }

    override fun destroy() {
        exitProcess(0)
    }
}

Bind to the UserService:

class FreezeManager(private val context: Context) {

    private var service: IShizukuService? = null

    private val serviceConnection = object : ServiceConnection {
        override fun onServiceConnected(name: ComponentName, binder: IBinder) {
            service = IShizukuService.Stub.asInterface(binder)
        }
        override fun onServiceDisconnected(name: ComponentName) {
            service = null
        }
    }

    private val userServiceArgs = Shizuku.UserServiceArgs(
        ComponentName(context, ShizukuUserService::class.java)
    ).processNameSuffix("service").debuggable(false).version(1)

    fun bindService() {
        if (Shizuku.checkSelfPermission() == PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
            Shizuku.bindUserService(userServiceArgs, serviceConnection)
        }
    }

    fun unbindService() {
        Shizuku.unbindUserService(userServiceArgs, serviceConnection, true)
    }

    suspend fun freezePackage(packageName: String) {
        service?.executeCommand("pm disable-user --user 0 $packageName")
    }

    suspend fun unfreezePackage(packageName: String) {
        service?.executeCommand("pm enable --user 0 $packageName")
    }
}

VPN State Monitoring

class VpnStateMonitor(private val context: Context) {

    private val connectivityManager =
        context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE) as ConnectivityManager

    private val _isVpnActive = MutableStateFlow(false)
    val isVpnActive: StateFlow<Boolean> = _isVpnActive.asStateFlow()

    private val networkCallback = object : ConnectivityManager.NetworkCallback() {
        override fun onAvailable(network: Network) {
            val capabilities = connectivityManager.getNetworkCapabilities(network)
            if (capabilities?.hasTransport(NetworkCapabilities.TRANSPORT_VPN) == true) {
                _isVpnActive.value = true
            }
        }

        override fun onLost(network: Network) {
            // Re-check if any VPN network remains
            val hasVpn = connectivityManager.allNetworks.any { net ->
                connectivityManager.getNetworkCapabilities(net)
                    ?.hasTransport(NetworkCapabilities.TRANSPORT_VPN) == true
            }
            _isVpnActive.value = hasVpn
        }
    }

    fun startMonitoring() {
        val request = NetworkRequest.Builder()
            .addTransportType(NetworkCapabilities.TRANSPORT_VPN)
            .build()
        connectivityManager.registerNetworkCallback(request, networkCallback)
    }

    fun stopMonitoring() {
        connectivityManager.unregisterNetworkCallback(networkCallback)
    }
}

VPN Client Control

enum class VpnControlMethod { SEPARATE, TOGGLE, MANUAL }

data class VpnClientConfig(
    val packageName: String,
    val method: VpnControlMethod,
    val startAction: String? = null,
    val stopAction: String? = null,
    val toggleAction: String? = null,
    val receiverClass: String? = null
)

val KNOWN_VPN_CLIENTS = mapOf(
    "com.v2ray.ang" to VpnClientConfig(
        packageName = "com.v2ray.ang",
        method = VpnControlMethod.TOGGLE,
        toggleAction = "com.v2ray.ang.action.widget.click",
        receiverClass = "com.v2ray.ang.receiver.WidgetProvider"
    ),
    "moe.nb4a" to VpnClientConfig(
        packageName = "moe.nb4a",
        method = VpnControlMethod.SEPARATE,
        startAction = "moe.nb4a.ui.QuickEnable",
        stopAction = "moe.nb4a.ui.QuickDisable"
    ),
    "com.happproxy" to VpnClientConfig(
        packageName = "com.happproxy",
        method = VpnControlMethod.TOGGLE,
        toggleAction = "com.happproxy.action.widget.click",
        receiverClass = "com.happproxy.receiver.WidgetProvider"
    )
)

Start/stop VPN via shell:

suspend fun startVpn(config: VpnClientConfig) {
    when (config.method) {
        VpnControlMethod.TOGGLE, VpnControlMethod.SEPARATE -> {
            val action = config.startAction ?: config.toggleAction!!
            if (config.receiverClass != null) {
                // Broadcast to widget receiver
                service?.executeCommand(
                    "am broadcast -a $action -n ${config.packageName}/${config.receiverClass}"
                )
            } else {
                // Start exported activity (NekoBox SEPARATE style)
                service?.executeCommand(
                    "am start -n ${config.packageName}/$action"
                )
            }
        }
        VpnControlMethod.MANUAL -> {
            // Open app for user to connect manually
            val intent = context.packageManager
                .getLaunchIntentForPackage(config.packageName)
            context.startActivity(intent)
        }
    }
}

suspend fun stopVpn(config: VpnClientConfig) {
    // Step 1: API stop (SEPARATE clients only)
    if (config.method == VpnControlMethod.SEPARATE && config.stopAction != null) {
        service?.executeCommand("am start -n ${config.packageName}/${config.stopAction}")
        delay(1000)
    }
    // Step 2: Force-stop as fallback
    service?.executeCommand("am force-stop ${config.packageName}")
}

Detecting Active VPN Client

suspend fun detectVpnOwnerPackage(): String? {
    val output = service?.executeCommand("dumpsys connectivity") ?: return null

    // Find VPN network owner UID
    val vpnLine = output.lines().firstOrNull { it.contains("type: VPN[") }
        ?: return null

    val uidMatch = Regex("ownerUid=(\\d+)").find(output) ?: return null
    val uid = uidMatch.groupValues[1]

    // Resolve UID to package name
    val pmOutput = service?.executeCommand("pm list packages --uid $uid") ?: return null
    return pmOutput.substringAfter("package:").substringBefore(" ").trim()
        .takeIf { it.isNotEmpty() }
}

Adding a Custom VPN Client

Use APK analysis to discover broadcast actions:

1. Open APK in jadx
2. Resources → find app_widget_name in strings.xml
3. Manifest → find <receiver> with android.appwidget.provider metadata
4. Receiver code → find setAction("...") calls
5. Verify toggle pattern: isRunning ? stop : start

All v2ray/xray forks share the same pattern:

// Discovery template for v2ray forks:
val packageName = "com.example.vpnclient"
val toggleAction = "$packageName.action.widget.click"
val receiverClass = "$packageName.receiver.WidgetProvider"

// Verify manually via ADB:
// adb shell am broadcast -a $toggleAction -n $packageName/$receiverClass

Register custom client in Settings UI:

// SettingsViewModel.kt
fun setCustomVpnClient(packageName: String) {
    val config = VpnClientConfig(
        packageName = packageName,
        method = VpnControlMethod.MANUAL // upgrade to TOGGLE if action known
    )
    preferences.edit().putString("custom_vpn_client", packageName).apply()
}

Pinned Shortcuts

fun createAppShortcut(
    context: Context,
    packageName: String,
    label: String,
    icon: Icon
) {
    val shortcutManager = context.getSystemService(ShortcutManager::class.java)
    if (shortcutManager.isRequestPinShortcutSupported) {
        val intent = Intent(context, LaunchActivity::class.java).apply {
            action = Intent.ACTION_VIEW
            putExtra("package_name", packageName)
        }
        val shortcut = ShortcutInfo.Builder(context, "shortcut_$packageName")
            .setShortLabel(label)
            .setIcon(icon)
            .setIntent(intent)
            .build()
        shortcutManager.requestPinShortcut(shortcut, null)
    }
}

Compose UI: App Group Management

@Composable
fun AppGroupCard(
    group: AppGroup,
    onPolicyChange: (GroupPolicy) -> Unit,
    onAddApp: () -> Unit,
    onRemoveApp: (String) -> Unit
) {
    Card(modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth().padding(8.dp)) {
        Column(modifier = Modifier.padding(16.dp)) {
            Text(group.name, style = MaterialTheme.typography.titleMedium)

            // Policy selector
            Row {
                GroupPolicy.entries.forEach { policy ->
                    FilterChip(
                        selected = group.policy == policy,
                        onClick = { onPolicyChange(policy) },
                        label = { Text(policy.name) },
                        modifier = Modifier.padding(end = 4.dp)
                    )
                }
            }

            // App list with frozen state indicators
            group.packages.forEach { pkg ->
                Row(
                    modifier = Modifier.fillMaxWidth(),
                    horizontalArrangement = Arrangement.SpaceBetween
                ) {
                    Text(pkg, modifier = Modifier.weight(1f))
                    IconButton(onClick = { onRemoveApp(pkg) }) {
                        Icon(Icons.Default.Remove, "Remove")
                    }
                }
            }
            TextButton(onClick = onAddApp) {
                Icon(Icons.Default.Add, "Add app")
                Text("Add App")
            }
        }
    }
}

Freeze Orchestration on VPN State Change

class AppOrchestrator(
    private val freezeManager: FreezeManager,
    private val groupDao: AppGroupDao,
    private val vpnMonitor: VpnStateMonitor
) {
    suspend fun onVpnStateChanged(isVpnActive: Boolean) {
        val groups = groupDao.getAllGroups().first()
        groups.forEach { group ->
            when (group.policy) {
                GroupPolicy.LOCAL -> {
                    if (isVpnActive) freezeGroup(group) else unfreezeGroup(group)
                }
                GroupPolicy.VPN_ONLY -> {
                    if (!isVpnActive) freezeGroup(group) else unfreezeGroup(group)
                }
                GroupPolicy.LAUNCH_WITH_VPN -> {
                    // Never auto-freeze; handled at launch time
                }
            }
        }
    }

    private suspend fun freezeGroup(group: AppGroup) {
        group.packages.forEach { pkg ->
            freezeManager.freezePackage(pkg)
        }
    }

    private suspend fun unfreezeGroup(group: AppGroup) {
        // Safety: never unfreeze while VPN is still transitioning
        if (!vpnMonitor.isVpnActive.value || group.policy == GroupPolicy.LOCAL) {
            group.packages.forEach { pkg ->
                freezeManager.unfreezePackage(pkg)
            }
        }
    }
}

Troubleshooting

Shizuku Permission Denied

// Check and request Shizuku permission
if (Shizuku.checkSelfPermission() != PackageManager.PERMISSION_GRANTED) {
    if (Shizuku.shouldShowRequestPermissionRationale()) {
        // Show rationale dialog
    } else {
        Shizuku.requestPermission(REQUEST_CODE_SHIZUKU)
    }
}

App Not Freezing

# Verify pm disable-user works manually
adb shell pm disable-user --user 0 com.example.app
# Check current state
adb shell pm list packages -d  # lists disabled packages
# Re-enable manually if stuck
adb shell pm enable --user 0 com.example.app

VPN Detection Failing

# Debug dumpsys output
adb shell dumpsys connectivity | grep -A5 "type: VPN"
# Check UID resolution
adb shell pm list packages --uid 1234

Custom VPN Client Toggle Not Working

# Test broadcast manually
adb shell am broadcast -a com.example.vpn.action.widget.click \
  -n com.example.vpn/.receiver.WidgetProvider
# Expected: result=0 (RESULT_OK) or check logcat for errors
adb logcat | grep -i "widgetprovider\|broadcast"

Apps Remain Frozen After VPN Disconnect

• Anubis never unfreezes apps while VPN is still active
• Check VPN is fully disconnected: adb shell dumpsys connectivity | grep VPN
• Manually unfreeze via long-press on app icon → "Unfreeze"

Gradle Dependencies

// build.gradle.kts
dependencies {
    // Shizuku
    implementation("dev.rikka.shizuku:api:13.1.5")
    implementation("dev.rikka.shizuku:provider:13.1.5")

    // Room
    implementation("androidx.room:room-runtime:2.6.1")
    implementation("androidx.room:room-ktx:2.6.1")
    ksp("androidx.room:room-compiler:2.6.1")

    // Compose
    implementation(platform("androidx.compose:compose-bom:2024.02.00"))
    implementation("androidx.compose.ui:ui")
    implementation("androidx.compose.material3:material3")

    // Coroutines + ViewModel
    implementation("androidx.lifecycle:lifecycle-viewmodel-compose:2.7.0")
    implementation("org.jetbrains.kotlinx:kotlinx-coroutines-android:1.7.3")
}