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Have you ever wanted to install an app but got hit with the dreaded “App not installed“, “Application not installed“, or a similar error? Do not freak out! Thankfully, this is a relatively simple error to fix.
Installation errors come in many forms & there are multiple reasons why this occurs. We mostly hear about these errors from people trying to install apps from third-party sources such as online sites & likes.
This blog will run over the various common installation errors and explain what you can do to fix them and solve your nightmares.
App Not Installed
Often you would find yourself wanting to install an app from Google Play or even a third-party app store or market, and then you see the “Application not installed” error, or maybe you will get a popup saying “App not installed“. There are multiple reasons why you may see this error. Here are some of the reasons you are getting this error & the common fixes you can try.
1. Existing App Installed with same Package name
The Fix: Uninstall the old (original) app from your phone and install the one you just downloaded. Alternatively, make a clone of the app if you want to keep both.
This is a common mistake that android users usually make, and thankfully, it is an easy one to fix. As the title suggests, you already have an app with that package name already installed.
For example, let’s say you have installed an android app called APKsAPPs. This app may have a package name such as com. apksapps. android. Now, if you tried to install another copy of the APKsAPPs to your phone, it simply would not work due to conflicts with the package names.
Note that if the package names for APKsAPPs were different, both would have installed fine as android treats com. apksapps. beta and com. apksapps. android as two different package names so that they will not conflict.
This is why having 2 WhatsApp’s installed is not possible unless you clone the app using a tool like Parallel Spaces or Shelter. Also, most Android manufacturers such as Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo & Realme allow their users to set up dual apps, parallel apps, or ‘twin apps’. They use different terminologies for what is essentially a feature that allows users to have two separate copies of the same app, thus allowing you to run 2 of the same apps.
To solve your issue, you can simply uninstall the original copy of the app that is currently installed and then install your copy. Alternatively, you can utilize your device’s clone, parallel, or twin apps feature to keep both. If the stock app does not allow you to make clones of all apps, use an app like Shelter to install your second copy. For tech-savvy users, you can change the package name via editing the .APK file to have both apps installed in the same environment.
2. You have Insufficient Storage
The Fix: Simply uninstall or delete unused apps. Play Store should tell you which apps you have not used in a long time. Simply uninstall these apps and delete those big files you downloaded & you should be fine.
This sounds pretty straightforward, but for many users, storage is not something they check all that often. For those of you using flagship devices or mid-range devices, you probably will not run into this issue as most mid-range devices and flagship android devices come with quite a bit of storage out the box. This point is more for those on lower-tier devices such as the Xiaomi, Realme & Samsung A or J series which usually come with around 64GB ROM (Storage) or maybe even lower.
Simply removing unnecessary apps and deleting old files that you do not plan to use again is a great way to free up some space. Alternatively, if you need some of the files, such as photos or important documents, sign up for a free plan on pCloud and get 10GB FREE Cloud Storage or maybe even their once-off Lifetime Plan. You can use this cloud storage to back up your files or images and remove them from your device. You could also use Google Drive & Google Photos for this purpose.
3. The Sign Key is different from the Installed App
This is a pretty common issue that is faced. In many cases where you download apps from third-party sites, the app you are downloading may have the same name and package name but is an updated version. You may think, “Cool, I will just download it, install it, and my app will be updated!” but sadly, this is not always the case. In some cases, the signing key may have changed and is different on the new version, and therefore, for security reasons, the app simply will not install.
This case is a bit more tricky. One solution would be to uninstall your existing app and install the latest version. This method will almost always work. However, now let’s assume you have a lot of data within the app, and you really do not want to uninstall it. In this case, you should wait for the developer from whom you originally downloaded the app to upload an updated version signed using his own key, which should match the key he used in the previous version.
There was a problem parsing the package
For most users, the Google Play Store is all they use for downloading apps. However, for some users, third-party sources that host APK’s are what they use. For example, some users may want to install an open-source or privacy concern app from F-Droid or GitHub. If you download apps from third-party sites then it is possible that sometimes while installing the app, you might get an error like “There was a Problem Parsing the Package”. There are many reasons why you might get this error and if you do, here’s how you can fix it.
1. You are trying to Install a corrupted APK file
The Fix: Redownload the file and ensure that you have a stable network connection. Alternatively, use a download manager like 1DM, ADM, or similar to download your APK file. This will ensure that your download completes successfully. If the app still does not work after redownloading, it could be that the .APK file itself is corrupted, the APK is not meant for your device (Architecture), you have insufficient storage, you already have an app with the same package name, OR one of the other issues mentioned in this guide.
Your download gets interrupted and does not complete 100%. When you try to install the app, you face an error message that says something like, “There was a Problem Parsing the Package“. If this is the case, simply redownload the APK file using a download manager or ensure that you have a stable network connection and try again. If the problem persists, you likely have an incompatible device OR one of the other issues mentioned in this guide.
2. You are trying to Install a Split APK (.APKS file)
The Fix: If you have downloaded an App Bundle Split APK or a .APKS file, you will need to use a Split APK Installer such as Split APKs Installer (SAI) in order to install this type of file.
A Split APK file or .APKS file is an APK set archive generated by bundle tool – a utility used for creating and managing Android App Bundles (.AAB files). This archive contains a set of APK files that are split based on the characteristics of a device, such as the architecture, language, screen density, and other features of the device.
The advantage of this is that when a developer puts their app on the Play Store, they can upload a .AAB or app bundle that contains a set of APK’s as mentioned earlier on. When users then install the app from Play Store, they can get the best-optimized version for their handset. Another advantage is that Play Store will not have to deliver and make you install a large APK when instead you could use a single set from the bundle file, which would use less storage and be a smaller APK to install.
The downside is that if you were to download a split APK file uploaded elsewhere on the internet from third-party sites, then you would need to use Split APKs Installer, as mentioned above. Some developers on third-party sites may upload each split as an APK to make life easier for their users. This is why you see some developers upload a separate ARMv7 and ARMv8 APK variant.
Pro Tip: ARMv7 apps work on ARMv8 devices, but ARMv8 apps do not work on ARMv7 devices. When unsure about your device architecture, go for ARMv7 to be safe.
Conclusion
Android app installation errors are pretty common if you download apps from third-party sites. That being said, they are not as scary as they may appear. In most cases, a simple fix is needed to ensure a smooth installation of the app. If you ever wondered why your app would not install, now you know why.
If you found this guide helpful, be sure to share it with your friends or anyone that found themselves in this situation.
