r/AndroidQuestions • u/TMCThomas • Aug 18 '24

Other Can't install apk, pressing install does nothing, no error message.

Hey everyone, got an issue while trying to install an apk. For some reason when I click on install during the apk installation proces nothing happens. No error, no permission message, no installation message etc. Just nothing. I've got a video of what happens when I try to install an apk over here: https://youtube.com/shorts/ZK2RDYpXBY0?feature=share

In the past i've installed many apk's before without issues. Now interestingly if you watch the video carefully you can see another screen pop up. Before giving me the installation option. That screen has the title "unknown" and says 'executing app" I don't remember seeing that before. Maybe it's part of the problem?

Thinks I've tried so far: -Rebooting the phone -Clearing packet installer cache -wiping all system cache (through recovery mode) -trying different apk's

Now interestingly when I use the app that the top comment of this older reddit thread recommands (https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/va4nbq/apks_wont_install_on_android_11/) to install apk's it works just fine. While it's nice that that works I would prefer to install apk's the normal route without an extra app. Anyone got any idea what's going on and how I might fix it?

Phone: s21 ultra Software: Android 14, one ui 6.1, 1 july security patch

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1

u/BaneChipmunk Blinding!!! Aug 18 '24

Probably a bug. Is auto-blocker off on your phone?q

1

u/TMCThomas Aug 18 '24

Yep should have mentioned it but that was the first thing i've checked.

1

u/theablanca Aug 18 '24

Is is a newer app that you're downloading from apkmirror or such? Depending on where the app comes from, it might not be the whole install package. A new thing that google have started with.

Don't read old comments for newer things. It can possibly be this https://9to5google.com/2024/08/04/android-apk-install/

1

u/TMCThomas Nov 01 '24

Still no fix unfortunately

1

u/Murky-Calendar9570 Feb 13 '25

I fixed it, disable and force close then CLEAR CACHE then uninstall using canta

1

u/TMCThomas Feb 13 '25

Which application did you do this for? And what is canta?

1

u/Murky-Calendar9570 Feb 14 '25

Aren't you using revanced manger for YouTubeless ads? Canta is basically an app to delete apps your normally not able to delete

1

u/Murky-Calendar9570 Feb 14 '25

No special app to clear cache and disable, directly in settings then app info

1

u/lfohnoudidnt Nov 05 '24

yeah going through the same things. Playsore decided to auto update all my apps, when i already had that option to NEVER, still did it. Not happy about that. Now my old versions wont install.

1

u/AD-LB Mar 13 '25

Perhaps it's trying to use the old installation API.

If you want, you can try this app I've created, which should show a message in case of an error:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lb.app_manager

If it's a simple APK file, you can install via the app's APK-list screen.

If it's APKS/APKM/XAPK, you can open the file via almost any file manager you wish, and choose to use my app when doing so.

1

u/TMCThomas Mar 13 '25

Thanks for your reply! I eventually decided to do a system reset so the problem is fixed for now, if I run into it again I'll certainly try this!

1

u/coolguyxd777 Apr 10 '25

i have the same problem, got a fix?

1

u/TMCThomas Apr 13 '25

Unfortunately not, I decided to do a factory reset after some tries to fix it failed, which did work.