I have uploaded an Android app in Google Play and the 1st version went live. On the same day I realized and fixed 1 bug and uploaded the new version but it was rejected by Google saying it violates the gambling policy. Then I read all the gambling policies and I found it hard to accomplish as it requires a licences for some countries...
My question is, Can I host the Android app apk on my own website from where the users can download and install it manually? If yes then is there any way the user can directly install the app from my website just like google play store?
Will I still be able to earn from Google AdMob (mediation), reward videos, etc ?
Thanking you
You can host an Android app on your own website, Android is an open ecosystem. There are also other App stores besides Google Play
Any APK file can be downloaded from a website and an Android phone will install it
Most Android phones will require the user to "Enable unknown sources" before they allow the install.
For AdMob see this SO question
Related
The day before yesterday the application in which I work could be installed without errors in all the devices with which we work
Yesterday in some devices came a message from google play protect saying that the app was dangerous but allowed to install it
Today suddenly there is only one error saying that the app was not installed. And to install it you have to disable Google Play Protect on all test devices
The only important modification I can think of is that yesterday I had to format my computer installing unity 2018.2.6. The previous version was 2018.2.5
The app is not yet published and we are testing it by copying it by USB from device to device
Anyone know if there were major changes in Google Play Protect in the last few days, and how can I implement them in my APK to comply with the security guidelines and avoid further problems when publishing the App in the Store?
you can test two way to resolve this problem:
1- change your sign and fill all fields in sign maker form,
2- contact with google play protect team and report this problem to them, you can use below link:
https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/contact/protectappeals
after one or two days test again and try to install your app,if protect team resolve that problem you can install app without any dangerous message.
You now (Android 10? and upwards) need to go into Settings > Security > Google Play Protect > Gear Icon (top right) > Turn off toggle.
Then you'll be able to install your APK. Be sure to see it's Information/Details and manually grant each permission that it may need.
I have developed a game using Unity and I have used Google Play Games in it. It works good for testers and also for public users when I publish it on Google Play Games. The problem is I want to publish it on a local app store (and not Google Play Games) and it does not work this way! Is there any trick about it?
Yes, this is possible. It does even work if you sell your app through google play and on another platform. But the device needs to have the google play games app installed, so it does not work on Amazon devices.
Let’s assume your app is called “TheGame”.
Go to the Google Play Developer Console to “All application”:
Add another app name call it “TheGame (DRM-free)”
Create an empty APK that signed with a keystore and a different bundle identifier (if you already sell it on Google Play)
Upload the APK to alpha or beta testing, but not production.
Complete the Store Listing and Content Rating
Set pricing to free
Publish your app. (no worries it will not appear on Google Play)
Then go Google Play Developer Console to "Game Services:
If you not already have that add new game
Link your app “TheGame (DRM-free)” to you game services under “linked apps”
Make sure you set the “Enable anti-piracy” option to “OFF”
Publish your changes
This work with achievement, leaderboards and multiplayer.
The users don’t need to be testers anymore.
Also multiplayer between your DRM-free and your Google Play app is possible.
You may want to check this document- Alternative Distribution Options
As an open platform, Android offers choice. You can distribute your Android apps to users in any way you want, using any distribution approach or combination of approaches that meets your needs. From publishing in an app marketplace to serving your apps from a web site or emailing them directly users, you’re never locked into any particular distribution platform.
Distributing Through an App Marketplace
Distributing Your Apps by Email
Distributing Through a Website
User Opt-In for Apps from Unknown Sources
Android protects users from inadvertent download and install of apps from locations other than Google Play (which is trusted). It blocks such installs until the user opts-in Unknown sources in Settings > Security, shown in image below. Users need to make this configuration change before they download your apps to their devices.
Users must enable the Unknown sources setting before they can install apps not downloaded from Google Play.
Note that some network providers don’t allow users to install applications from unknown sources.
Also you can check this SO question about : What is the fall back plan for devices without Google Play Services, this may add information to ensure your app should run.
Hope it helps!
Several years ago, Android allowed you to set a permission that lets you install apps from a third party location other than Google's own app store Google Play. Eventually they deprecated that permission and only allowed hardware manufacturers to set that permission. I haven't checked since then whether that is still the case.
What I am wondering though is how I would handle a situation where a company wants to install an APK file on to their own devices but not host the APK file in Google Play. How would they provision this?
Android does allow users to install APK files on to their devices that don't come from Google Play, although that feature has to be enabled. Can that feature be enabled programmatically?
The solution that I can think of to installing company apps is to upload an installer app to Google Play that has been developed specifically by the company and used only for the company, even if it's available to everyone in Google Play. Employees would install this app as they do any app from Google Play. When this installer runs, it would prompt for a username/password. Upon authentication, the app would retrieve the company's apps from its own server and install them.
Is this the solution enterprises are currently using or is there something built into Jelly Bean / KitKat / Lollipop that provides provisioning?
EDIT:
Google states on their Android site:
The application is installed on users' devices. Android does not
currently have an automated provisioning solution. Some of the ways a
sysadmin might distribute the application to users are as follows:
Google Play. Enabling installation from another store. Distributing
the application through other means, such as email or websites.
http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/admin/device-admin.html
Aside from those suggestions, they don't offer anything else. Those solutions wouldn't be acceptable in many organizations.
The solution that I can think of to installing company apps is to upload an installer app to Google Play that has been developed specifically by the company and used only for the company, even if it's available to everyone in Google Play.
I'm pretty certain that only the Play Store app has the authority/permissions to programmatically install apps. Those permissions are not available externally to third-party apps. It would be a lot easier to use one of the following options and simply let the OS handle the installation process.
For enterprise apps, the APK file can be
hosted on a public URL. When downloaded, it installs automatically on the user's phone.
sent as an email attachment. Again, when downloaded, it installs automatically on the user's phone.
In both these cases, the user is asked whether they would like to install an APK that originates from a third-party source.
Also, it is not possible to programmatically change the permission for installing third-party apps. That choice has to be made by the user, and the user is confronted with that choice when they access an APK file in the two ways described above.
There is one more option - using Google Play's private channel:
1. Distribute Android apps in your organization.
2. Use a Private Channel to distribute apps in your organization.
3. Deploy app through Google Play Store in a private channel without Google Apps?.
We have a fleet tracking Android app which is isntalled on around 100 mobiles.
Problem is to update each mobile whenever there is a patch release. And unfotunately we have not set auto-update.
Now we need to call each driver and follow the process of update from google play.
This is becoming very tedious as they have to go to google play, search the application and install/update it.
And the mobiles are located all over the country.
Before it was easy as Goolge play was giving an option to know the apps installed on each mobile.
Need your advice on how do we manage/automate this update issue.
Build an in-app push notification that there's a new version and have an easy link to Google Play from it. However, this does have a bootstrapping problem, and you will have to make everyone install the new version manually (as in you call them and ask them to do it) at least once. Still, this is your only viable option, as Google Play developer agreement prohibits pushing app updates through other channels.
If you have email or IM contact with the drivers, you can also send them a message there's a new version with the direct link to the Google Play. They will have to open it on their device, of course.
The link format should be market://details?id=com.mycompany.myapp, https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mycompany.myapp, or http://market.android.com/details?id=id=com.mycompany.myapp. Either of these three in general should work, though some OEMs have messed up their devices configuration and prevent Google Play app from intercepting the http/https form properly.
You could check a text file located on a server or something like that and then lookup if the current instaleld version is the same as the server version. If not you could download the new apk and open it. As far as I know this is not allowed by Google Play so you must remove the app from google play
I need to do following thing from my android application please give me idea to make it possible.
1.I known package name to install which is on play google market.
now when i execute code it should start that Application to download in my android mobile.
Same thing is done by Play google for example.
In web site of google play if i select facebook to install it will start download in my android mobile So again my question is how i can achieve to direct start download application from Google play by my installed android application.
Finally what i have found to make install android app from developer site is below.
Developer distribution App Intent .
But in that code user have to accept install and term button to start real download Application and i don't want to
Thanks for any help.
If I understand your question, what you want is your app to be a replacement of the google play app in that it can download directly from google play store and without asking the user for permission. This is not possible. It's a security feature that android has to ask the phone user whether or not it's okay to download a certain app. Without this it would be possible to install malicious apps without the user knowing.