Android Question Install apk from App

[BjoernB]

Hey everyone!


As part of an app update, we wanted to execute the newly downloaded APK file from within the app itself, and later from a separate app, as follows:

Sub Button1_Click
     Dim apkFile As String = File.Combine(File.DirRootExternal & "/Download", "skorb.apk")
     Dim i As Intent  
  
     If phone.SdkVersion >= 24 Then
         Log(Provider.GetFileUri(apkFile))                
         i.Initialize("android.intent.action.INSTALL_PACKAGE", Provider.GetFileUri(apkFile))
         i.Flags = Bit.Or(i.Flags, 3) 'FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION)
         Provider.SetFileUriAsIntentData(i, "skorb.apk")
         i.SetType("application/vnd.android.package-archive")
     Else
        Provider.SetFileUriAsIntentData(i, apkFile)
        i.SetType("application/vnd.android.package-archive")
        i.Flags = Bit.Or(i.Flags, 1) ' FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION
     End If
     StartActivity(i)   
End Sub

In both cases—whether from the app itself or the install-app, at "StartActivity(i)", we receive an error message stating that there is an issue with the package.
A Google search suggests that the permissions to install apps from unknown sources are not granted, but we have definitely ensured that they are enabled. We have checked this for both apps and the B4A Bridge.


A search in the forum led me to the B4A server, but the posts are from 2011 to 2014 and unfortunately no longer apply to modern Android versions.
What can I do to get the installation to work? The method doesn’t really matter in the end. Maybe I’m thinking in the wrong direction—does anyone have any ideas?

 

[Erel]

Whenever you see code with File.DirRootExternal you immediately know that it is broken code.

Check this example: https://www.b4x.com/android/forum/threads/version-safe-apk-installation.87667/#content

 

[joergb]

Hallo Erel

thanks for your quick replay

your demo app run's. But know I have trouble to copy the downloaded file to your install-folder.
I search for it in the forum