Parse error at Installation of APK file

Question

My apk file format is like this:

xxxx-debug.apk
xx-xxx-debug-xxx-1.0.1.apk

I can download the apk files but I cannot install them. I'm facing the following error:

Parse error
    There was a problem while parsing the package.

Code used for Installation:

protected void install(String fileName) {
    Intent install = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
    install.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(new File(fileName)),"application/vnd.android.package-archive");
    startActivity(install);
}

When the apk file are downloaded, a number is appended at the end of the file e.g. some.apk becomes some-1.apk.

What I have tried/checked so far:

check on the option “Unknown sources.”
uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES" tools:ignore="ProtectedPermissions"
android device version is 5.0.1
apk files are not corrupted because I've managed to install it in a different way

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 11 '18 at 11:25

0

Please try disabling instant run and then generate apk.It will work.Hope it helps.

answered Jul 11 '18 at 11:25

Anu Bhalla

422
4
11

And also remove previous APKs from device. – Anu Bhalla Jul 11 '18 at 11:26
I've tried all that unfortunately still same result. :-( – Tony Jul 11 '18 at 11:59
you can try this https://stackoverflow.com/questions/1492401/parse-error-there-is-a-problem-parsing-the-package-while-installing-android – Anu Bhalla Jul 11 '18 at 12:02

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 25 '20 at 11:18

I faced this issue previously. This is how I debugged it. First, install the APK through terminal adb install path_to_your_app/name_of_your_app.apk if you get error message: adb: failed to install name_of_your_app.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_NO_MATCHING_ABIS: Failed to extract native libraries this means that the architecture that you are building mismatches with the emulator architecture.

The way I fixed this issue is by forcing the build architecture in build.gradle

    buildTypes {
        debug {
            ndk {
                abiFilters 'x86_64'
            }

Hope this helps

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jul 12 '21 at 15:16

I had this same problem and for me the issue was the Minimum API Level. I had the minimum API too high, which means some devices were not able to use the app. In Unity go to: Player Settings > Other Settings > Identification >

Minimum API Level: This should be set to the minimum which for me Android 4.4 'KitKat' (API level 19) Maximum API Level: This should be set to the maximum according to Google, see link https://developer.android.com/distribute/best-practices/develop/target-sdk

Nobody said anything about Unity. – Engineer Jul 11 '22 at 17:40 — Engineer, Jul 11 '22 at 17:40

Parse error at Installation of APK file

3 Answers3