Download and Install updated APK from own Server

Question

Download and Install updated APK from own Server

Bradley Stevens 1

I've got a requirement to download and install an updated APK from my own server. The app will not be published to the Google Play store but I still need a way to ensure users can get the latest version of the app. How can this be accomplished. Is there any tutorial any can assist me with please.

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2 answers

Answer 1

JessieZhang-MSFT 7,721 Microsoft External Staff

Hello,

Welcome to our Microsoft Q&A platform!

but I still need a way to ensure users can get the latest version of the app. How can this be accomplished.

You can develop an API on your server specifically for detecting new versions.. When you open your app, ask the server to check the latest version number. If it is higher than the current version on your phone, a prompt box will pop up to remind the user that the latest version of the app has been released and guide the user to install it.

We've done this before with new releases.

Best Regards,

Jessie Zhang

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Bradley Stevens 1 Reputation point

2021-03-09T10:14:16.103+00:00

Hi what I actually need to do is download and install the APK from the server. How do I go about doing this. I currently have a button on a form and when that button is pressed I want the app to start the download and install the updated apk.
JessieZhang-MSFT 7,721 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-03-11T02:26:07.697+00:00

Hi what I actually need to do is download and install the APK from the server. How do I go about doing this.

You can upload your apk to your server and implement several api in your server like the following, an interface for comparing the Android version , and an interface for downloading the APK and so on.
Bradley Stevens 1 Reputation point

2021-03-11T06:06:41.64+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I'm new to this, so I need a quide on how to do what you've said. Code samples on how to download and install the apk specifically
JessieZhang-MSFT 7,721 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-03-11T06:16:59.547+00:00

The relevant interface of the backend service is the backend development work, requires the relevant backend development knowledge, you can use C# or use Java to implement, these are not the content of our discussion in this forum. The development work related to the client side can be discussed in this forum.
For how to create a web api ,you can enter keywords how to develop web api in c# in your browser, you could find many tutorial about this.

Hope it can help you.
Bradley Stevens 1 Reputation point

2021-03-11T12:18:35.677+00:00
Hi thanks but you are not answering my question. I can query and develop the api to determine whether or not the latest version of the app is installed. I can compare the retrieved value with the installed version as well. What I want to achieve is on my application:

II have a button that will be pushed to download the update

The apk file must be downloaded from a specified server

Once the download completes I start running and re-install the app. Prompting the user for re-install is fine.

Updated app must be installed

I need the code for item 2 - 4

Hope this makes it clearer
JessieZhang-MSFT 7,721 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2021-03-14T07:19:53.833+00:00

Hi @Bradley Stevens , one problem, one thread. We can try to resolve your problem one by one .

The apk file must be downloaded from a specified server

For this one, could you elaborate on your question? What specific features have you implemented so far? And what exactly went wrong?

Bradley Stevens 1

Hi so far I have created an apk from my app. I have now also been able to download the app to the test android emulator via code I wrote using Xam Download Plugin. What I need now is the code to run the install of the app. The download is placed in my downloads folder. Nothing has gone wrong. I dont know how to do it. Below my sample code that makes use of the plugin to download the file from the server

    public async void DownLoadFile(string Filename)
    {
        var downloadManager = CrossDownloadManager.Current;
        var file = downloadManager.CreateDownloadFile(Filename);
        await Task.Yield();
        await Task.Run(() =>
        {
           downloadManager.Start(file, true);
            while (isdl)
            {
                isdl = isDownloading(file);
            }
       });
       if(!isdl){await DisplayAlert("File Status", "File Downloaded", "OK");}}

Bernd Quambusch 6 Reputation points

2021-03-15T16:27:59.153+00:00

I have my first app on my webserver and the user can install it with one click :

https://www.finderwille-frankfurt-main.de/finderwille-einsatz-app-betaversion/

It's german, but you will understand it.

Greetings Bernd
cheong00 3,491 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2021-03-16T02:21:37.343+00:00

For now I don't see any built-in .NET core libraries enable you to call Intent, so you'll need Xamarin SDK or build the "call ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE intent" code in Java to be called by your package.

Answer 2

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