Install Application programmatically on Android

Question

I`m interested in knowing if it is possible to programmatically install a dynamically downloaded apk from a custom Android application.

Answer 1

UpdateNode provides an API for Android to install APK packages from inside another App.

You can just define your Update online and integrate the API into your App - that's it.
Currently the API is in Beta state, but you can already do some tests yourself.

Beside that, UpdateNode offers also displaying messages though the system - pretty useful if you want to tell something important to your users.

I am part of the client dev team and am using at least the message functionality for my own Android App.

See here a description how to integrate the API

Answer 2

File file = new File(dir, "App.apk");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(intent);

I had the same problem and after several attempts, it worked out for me this way. I don't know why, but setting data and type separately screwed up my intent.

Answer 3

Another solution that doesn't not require to hard-code the receiving app and that is therefore safer:

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE);
intent.setData( Uri.fromFile(new File(pathToApk)) );
startActivity(intent);

Answer 4

You can easily launch a market link or an install prompt:

Intent promptInstall = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)
    .setDataAndType(Uri.parse("file:///path/to/your.apk"), 
                    "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(promptInstall); 

source

Intent goToMarket = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)
    .setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=com.package.name"));
startActivity(goToMarket);

source

However, you cannot install .apks without user's explicit permission; not unless the device and your program is rooted.

Answer 5

Yes it's possible. But for that you need the phone to install unverified sources. For example, slideMe does that. I think the best thing you can do is to check if the application is present and send an intent for the Android Market. you should use something the url scheme for android Market.

market://details?id=package.name

I don't know exactly how to start the activity but if you start an activity with that kind of url. It should open the android market and give you the choice to install the apps.

Answer 6

I just want to share the fact that my apk file was saved to my app "Data" directory and that I needed to change the permissions on the apk file to be world readable in order to allow it to be installed that way, otherwise the system was throwing "Parse error: There is a Problem Parsing the Package"; so using solution from @Horaceman that makes:

File file = new File(dir, "App.apk");
file.setReadable(true, false);
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(intent);