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I have an android app in the Google Play Store. I am working on a new rev and want to change the package name. Is that allowed?

My application does not have a big audience yet. Is there a way to replace it? As in, may I discontinue the existing one, and replace it with a new one?

learner
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    A quick jog to the documentation should have given you enough insight: http://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/manifest-element.html – 323go Feb 21 '14 at 14:01
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    duplicate: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17582289/is-it-possible-to-change-the-package-name-of-an-android-app-on-google-play – L. G. Nov 17 '15 at 14:06
  • Possible duplicate of [Is it possible to change the package name of an Android app on Google Play?](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17582289/is-it-possible-to-change-the-package-name-of-an-android-app-on-google-play) – GollyJer Feb 13 '17 at 19:38

2 Answers2

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According to this blog post from Android Developers blog, no, you cannot change package name unless you're okay with publishing it as a new app in Play Store:

Once you publish your application under its manifest package name, this is the unique identity of the application forever more. Switching to a different name results in an entirely new application, one that can’t be installed as an update to the existing application.

Android manual confirms it as well here:

Caution: Once you publish your application, you cannot change the package name. The package name defines your application's identity, so if you change it, then it is considered to be a different application and users of the previous version cannot update to the new version.

If you're okay with publishing new version of your app as a completely new entity, you can do it of course - just remove old app from Play Store (if you want) and publish new one, with different package name.

kamituel
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If you have the code, change the application package name, versionCode, versionName & update your app..

There is no otherway

Anil kumar
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  • your answer seems to contradict @kamitual above. I have updated my post. Will you please clarify? – learner Feb 21 '14 at 14:04
  • @learner - it's `@kamituel` ;) I've updated my answer - you cannot change package name unless you're willing to publish it as a new app in Play Store (which you're fine with, I suppose, seeing your updated OP) – kamituel Feb 21 '14 at 14:07