The getInstallerPackageName method is useful when assessing, for example, whether a PRO-KEY app (one that unlocks premium features in another app) was installed from the Google Play store or it was pirated.
That method is also useful for any app to assess whether it was installed from Google Play or it was side-loaded.
When apps are installed from Google Play, they are updated when Google Play has a newer version.
I would like to know whether even a sideloaded app is updated when Google Play has a newer version. I am asking for this because the above mentioned method yields another value for the sideloaded app.
sideloaded app is updated when Google Play has a newer version
Yes, it is.
Related
A latest version of the app has been released in the play store, but in the google play console statistics we can see that the users are able to download the previous version of the app. During which criteria is this possible?
The target version has been changed and the previous version has been retained before rolling out the new version.
Remember that google play takes some time to Publish the new version to play store. Because it reviews each time you upload a new apk. The previous APk will be retained after the new apk goes live.
As well as installing from the Play Store, Google also helps with safe, offline P2P sharing. You can read more in the blog post here
I suspect these installs are coming from people sharing the app via Files Go by Google, ShareIT or Xender. If they appear in the Play Console statistics it means that the apps count as a Google Play install, and will be updated by Google Play.
You will be able to download the past version of any app if both the old and new version is in ACTIVE state in play store. See the example scenario in this SO post.
If you "deactivate" old apk file in developer console - your app will
we able for downloading only for API 5+. There will not be any effect
for people with API 4 and already installed app.
If you keep both old and new apks in market in "active" state, then
market will offer old one for people with API 4 and new one for people
with API 5+. Also they will be offered to update your app.
So I've made this little app, and shared it among friends. It's on google store.
I've updated newer version of an app today (replaced APK and those little chors I had to do with it). Will my friends recieve my newer version? They still havent.
Did I skip any step? Do I need to somehow initiate the update beside updating apk?
If your friends have the old version of the app installed form the Google Play store, they will get the update of your app after you publish the update of your app properly in the play store.
It generally requires around an hour for the app to get published after you upload the apk to the play store.
You don't need to do anything, other then just to increase the version number and code and signing the app with same key store. Google play services will manage everything after that.
Some people turn on option update apps only on wifi.
It may take some time to publish new version on google play.
So,if you did as above, i would suggest you to wait and watch. or visit the play store and check the current version.
I prepared my own I published in android apps on Google Play. Downloading app. However, I publish every new device is installed after the application version is not automatically updated. I tried on all devices. I activated the automatic update option from the Google Play app.
Unfortunately, I get the same results. Is there that might help?
Solution.
Add validation code inside your own app to check application version and open Google Play if newer is released. You can store version somewhere in your own server.
Automatic application updates are not popular in Android devices. Sad but true.
Do not forget whether your enabled this option in your device https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/113412?hl=en
I have a Sony Xperia running Android 4.4.4 (KitKat), and Google Play Services 4.4.52. My app is built against the latest Play Services v7.3.0, and as such, is correctly requesting the user to upgrade to the latest Play Services. My questions are:
Why has Android not automatically downloaded this update? I recently reset the phone back to factory, and it is prompting me to update a handful of other apps, but it appears Play Services is not being automatically updated. It has wifi internet access. I'm concerned that other users will experience this problem, preventing them from using the app until they update. The Google APIs for Android overview page here indicates updates are done silently and within days of each release.
Why can't I find Google Play Services through a search on the Play Store? It seems can only find it with a direct link to it via the play store.
Thanks all
Why has Android not automatically downloaded this update? I recently
reset the phone back to factory, and it is prompting me to update a
handful of other apps, but it appears Play Services is not being
automatically updated. It has wifi internet access. I'm concerned that
other users will experience this problem, preventing them from using
the app until they update. The Google APIs for Android overview page
here indicates updates are done silently and within days of each
release.
I'd suggested you to update Google Play Services to 7.5.0, as it is the latest version. This should fix the update issue.
Why can't I find Google Play Services through a search on the Play
Store? It seems can only find it with a direct link to it via the play
store.
Check your android manifest for app's permissions and min/target sdk versions. There might be something that do not allow you to see your app at Google Play (e.g. something that is not present in your Sony Xperia 4.4.4)
I published a new version of my application on Google Play store and it was available to be downloaded by users after couple of hours. But the problem is with the users who already have the older version of the application. Google play does not show update option for all those users. Any suggestion what could be the reason? Just to mention versionCode(1170 earlier it was 1095) and versionName (1.6.1 earlier it was 1.5) both are higher than the previous published version.
So this was a bug in Google Play and now they have fixed it and now users of my application can see that there is new updated version available.