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I have some older paid apps, mainly games, which I bought through Play Store. These older apps won't meet the requirement of targetSdk >=23 from Android 14:

  • Minesweeper Pro (com.xxstudio.minesweeperpro): Target SDK 3
  • CopyPasteKeyboard Unlocker (com.crane.keyboard.unlock) which is an unlocker for CopyPasteKeyboard (com.crane.keyboard): Both have target SDK 4
  • Guess-Free Minesweeper (com.fstolt.minesweeper): Target SDK 8
  • Call Log Backup And Restore Pro (com.riteshsahu.CallLogBackupRestorePro): Target SDK 21

As the apps are paid apps, it's going to be hard for me to get them in APK format for me to use --bypass-low-target-sdk-block in order to install them on Android 14.

So is there any way for me to install such apps on Android 14?

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  • @Robert you are right, I gave a bad example there as I hadn't noticed the update. I have added more examples and have checked all of them to make sure there is no update available.
    – Kidburla
    Commented Jun 9, 2023 at 20:07
  • Possible dupe: Is it possible to recover purchased apps removed from Google Play?.
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented Jun 9, 2023 at 20:18
  • Just for clarification, are you still able to see them on Play Store? I just checked "Minesweeper Pro", and it seems it has been unpublished (HTTP 404 for those who have never installed it).
    – Andrew T. ♦
    Commented Jun 9, 2023 at 20:28
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    @AndrewT. yes I can confirm I can still see the app. when I open its Play Store page, it appears as normal. I think this is typical for apps that have not been updated for a long time; if you'd previously bought them, you can still see them. Of course, for new users it would be hidden as it doesn't meet Google Play's minimum targetSdk requirement.
    – Kidburla
    Commented Jun 11, 2023 at 20:25
  • @AndrewT. Google has changed Play Store. Before the change the web page of an app in Play Store was always available. Now for old apps the web page is only available if you are logged-in and that account had it loaded/purchased before. Otherwise you get the common Play Store HTTP 404 page. This means the web page of an app can not be used to test if an app is available at all in Play Store.
    – Robert
    Commented Nov 8 at 8:49

2 Answers 2

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So is there any way for me to install such apps on Android 14?

No. By the time the installer enforces the SDK limit, the distinction between free and paid apps has been left behind.

I suspect Google's answer would be to say that if the apps on the Play Store are still targeting those ancient SDKs, the vendor is no longer supporting them.

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It appears that installing of old apps is banned on Android 14. This includes trying to install them from other places than PlayStore.

The biggest news is that Android 14 will block the installation of old Android apps. As Android changes over the years, new APIs and increased security, privacy, or background processing restrictions could break old apps, but Android's backward-compatibility system keeps these old apps running. Apps can declare the newest version of Android they support via a "Target SDK" flag.

To prevent old apps from breaking, new features and app restrictions in, say, Android 12 only apply to apps that target Android 12 or above. Older apps will continue to run with the older set of restrictions they're used to. (A different setting, called "Minimum SDK," determines if a new app can run on an old Android OS.) The system works great for honest developers, but if you're building a piece of malware, it's an easy decision to target a very old version of Android. While you'll get access to fewer features, you'll also be subject to fewer security and privacy restrictions.

From Android 14 Preview 1 is out, will officially ban installation of old apps

A change coming with Android 14 will impose restrictions on the apps that smartphone users can install on their devices, even if they’re sideloading software rather than installing it through the Play Store.

Google’s change should help stop the spread of malware that takes advantage of exploits found in older builds of its Android OS, though if you’re a frequent sideloader it may make it a little harder to use non-Play Store apps.

From Android 14 could stop you from installing older apps – and that’s a good thing

The requirement for targetSDK >=23 is embedded in the Android Compatibility Definition Document for Android 14 CDD, Section 3.1 Software - Managed API Compatibility

[C-0-8] MUST NOT support installing applications targeting an API level less than 23.

So for devices released with Android 14 and Google Play Services, old apps (free and paid) cannot be installed even if side-loaded. Custom ROM developers may ignore such rule but as the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) advances the removal of legacy APIs will make such old apps crash unless the custom ROM developer backports support which does require effort on the part of the custom ROM developer.

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  • That's correct, and that's the entire reason why I asked this question. Unfortunately, your answer does not answer my question, it does not say anything about paid apps.
    – Kidburla
    Commented Jul 28, 2023 at 15:29

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