6

I'm having trouble installing some APKs on my ASUS tablet. To avoid confusion with other posts, and to help clarify the specific problem, let me eliminate some things right away.

I do have the Security setting to accept apps from "Unknown sources". I can install many APKs without a problem; I have hundreds on the tablet. I do not have a rooted device, and have never made any system-level changes to my software. And the very same apps that fail on my tablet will install on my Galaxy S4 phone, as well as a different (older) tablet.

It would appear that there is something "intervening" during the install process. When I tap on the APK file (which I have tried from both the internal, as well as external, storage), it begins as normal: I see the Installer come up, I am presented with the Privacy and Device Access parameters, and I tap on "Install". Within a second or two, I get a pop-up saying "App not installed", and the only option is "Done".

The APKs that fail do not come from a single source. Some have come from my Amazon Android library; some have come from well-known Android game sites (e.g., the Humble Bundle site). I am not able to nail down which will, and which won't, install (the list would be too long). However, whenever there is one that will not install on the ASUS tablet, it will NEVER install. (I.e., the error is reproducible.)

And to avoid a few other rabbit trails, I am not re-installing any of these apps; they are all new, with no naming conflicts with existing apps. Some of the apps are installed by sideloading (i.e., copying the APK to the device and clicking on it); the Amazon apps that fail have used the standard Amazon Install process (i.e., the Amazon app on my tablet). I use Lookout to scan my apps, and there are no problems. And all of my devices are running Android 4 -- they range from 4.1 to 4.4.4. All are kept as up-to-date as possible.

Can someone give me an idea of what is happening, what causes the "App not installed" message, and why all of my other devices will install the same app?

Thanks.

Improve this question
3
  • Without root access, that's not that easy to track down. Do you have ADB available from your computer? What OS are you using there? Though you've already ruled that out ("they are all new"), to me it sounds there's an "old installation" in the way and might need to be cleaned up.
    – Izzy
    Commented Jan 30, 2015 at 16:34
  • Does your ASUS tablet have an Intel processor? Were the apps that failed to install designed for ARM devices? If you do have an Intel processor, maybe something's wrong with ARM translator on your tablet? Skim this article maybe
    – Vinayak
    Commented Feb 1, 2015 at 5:48
  • Also, does this help?
    – Vinayak
    Commented Feb 1, 2015 at 5:57

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
1

Please unmount your SD card and attempt the reinstall.

On newer versions of Android, some SD card permissions weirdness started and unmounting on these newer versions seems to fix the install issue on all of my devices.

Improve this answer
0

It is possible that the app is not compatible with your device. Some possible conflicts may involve DPI, RAM, or Android version prerequisites. If your system specifications do not meet the requirements of the manifest of that app, you may not be able to install it at all.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .