android programmatically update apk and see the result of the installation

Question

I\'m writing an app updater for my app. After I make sure I have my apk on the device, this is what I do from within the app I\'m trying to update:

Intent pr         


        

Answer 1

To successfully update you need to launch intent with URI indicating to your update app as new task.

 final Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
 intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(new File(PATH_TO_APK));
 "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
 intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
 startActivity(intent);

My post below:

Android application update issue

Answer 2

First off, you can't install without prompt, unless you are rooted or have system privileges. I don't think you were asking that, but one of your paragraphs isn't clear.

Secondly, if installing an update version of a running app, the behavior you're seeing is expected: The app is force-closed and updated. You can't update in-place. You can detect when the installation was aborted, because the activity invoking the installer will be resumed.

In order to update a running app AND keep it running, you'll need a separate process (app) to monitor the installation and restart your app.

Answer 3

All you can do is register a receiver with the intent filters like android.intent.action.PACKAGE_INSTALL or android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED from which you can restart your application back again.

<receiver android:enabled="true" android:exported="true" android:label="BootService" android:name="com.project.services.BootService">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ADDED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_INSTALL"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_CHANGED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>
</application>

And

public class BootService extends BroadcastReceiver {
  @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {

    if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED)) {
        Intent serviceIntent = new Intent();
        serviceIntent.setClass(context,Controller.class);
        serviceIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        context.startActivity(serviceIntent);
    } else if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_REPLACED)) {
        Intent serviceIntent = new Intent();
        serviceIntent.setClass(context, Controller.class);
        serviceIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        context.startActivity(serviceIntent);
    }
  }
}