204
votes
Accepted
Why can't I press the Install button when installing applications from unknown sources?
Looking at your screenshot, I think you are using screen filtering apps like Twilight, f.lux, CF.lumen or bluelight filter. Try to force stop/uninstall or disable the screen filtering apps and it will ...
68
votes
Install button greyed out on play.google.com
It is possible that you searched for the app using google. Somehow the google result links to the US version of the page, which grays out the install link for non-US people.
Remove the "gl=US&...
23
votes
Accepted
Difference between installing SuperSU using Play Store versus a custom recovery that installs it from a file?
Root access (typically) requires several components that work in concert with one another. A somewhat simplified view of what you need is:
A native su binary. This can be invoked from the command ...
22
votes
Accepted
Is there a way to know the actual permissions of an app now before installing?
You don't need an external tool for this. On the versions of the Play Store with the new "simplified" permissions dialog, you can still find a full list of permissions from the app's store page (the ...
18
votes
How can I make an Android app "forget" that it installed on my phone before?
tl:dr; addressing OP's question - sorry, no way AFAIK. From Android 10 onwards normal apps can't access IMEI number.
Revised answer with additional inputs from Izzy (thanks)
How do apps (Google or ...
15
votes
Installing an app from Play Store using the command line
I was looking for the same answer, i can't find a single command to do this, but i found few options that could be useful in such cases:
A. download the .apk to your computer and install the apk from ...
15
votes
How can I bulk install apps with Play Store or App-Brain?
This might be a new feature of newer versions of Android (I'm using 4.4), but I can easily mass install apps from the Play Store.
How to mass-install apps with the Play Store:
Open the Play Store
Go ...
14
votes
Is there a way to know the actual permissions of an app now before installing?
In his answer, Dan already pointed to my list of apps by real-life topics, which offers some extras as well. Currently, it only covers a small subset of what's available on Google Play, though (for ...

Izzy♦
- 88.9k
14
votes
Accepted
How to install app from command line (terminal)?
Given enough privileges (ADB, root, system application) you can use simple terminal commands to install apps:
On a PC:
Run the simple command
adb install <path to .apk file>
and the app will ...
11
votes
How to install SDK packages offline after download is complete?
of course you can, use below link and Download Offline any package's you need :
http://downloads.puresoftware.org/files/android/
// i think your ip banned from Google.like IRAN Ip :) For Online ...
11
votes
How to block any app from being installed?
First, disable the primary source of installation. On most devices, it is the Google Play Store but your device might have been shipped with a non-Google market app as well. So go to Settings → ...
8
votes
Accepted
Why does Android not include an Add Hardware Wizard?
On desktops and laptops, drivers are a necessary evil. Hardware is often user-serviceable and prone to changes, and there is a huge variety of possible combinations. On phones and tablets, this isn't ...
8
votes
What is MIUI optimization?
According to this thread, this feature (Turn On MIUI Optimization)
enables a plethora of MIUI based settings & optimizations as per the guidelines set by the MIUI developers.
It helps to load ...
7
votes
Are APK files saved on my device when I install from the Play Store?
Try ES file explorer
Under settings select App Manager and select all apps. And select backup on the action bar below.
A backup of all apps apk is created to your SD card probably under backups ...
7
votes
Accepted
Minimal .apks for play store
Well... finding an old package, looking at those files I discovered the answer. Sometimes it takes very long to find it and the solution is simple.
Short Answer
You should also move "Phonesky.apk&...
7
votes
History of installed/uninstalled apps
Logcat won't be much help here, as it only lasts back a limited time (it uses a ring buffer with a fixed size, so older entries get overwritten with new ones). Instead, better focus on the package ...

Izzy♦
- 88.9k
7
votes
Accepted
Is it possible to repack an .apk to install it in an incompatible Android version? ('there is a problem parsing the package'/have 4.0.4-requires 4.1)
Short answer: No.
Simple repacking cannot solve the compatibility problem. If an app requires "at least Android XX", that usually means it needs some conditions not met before it. There are new OS ...

Izzy♦
- 88.9k
7
votes
Discrepancy between sizes of apps listed in Play Store vs. actual installed app size
Apk and zip files are essentially the same, compressed. Before the system can use the file it needs to decompressed. So the file is one size when downloaded and another size when installed.
Also note ...
7
votes
Discrepancy between sizes of apps listed in Play Store vs. actual installed app size
The Google play store, and other app stores, only list the main application (APK) size, not the total app size, which includes the OBB (Opaque Binary Blob) expansion files. OBBs are the extra files ...
7
votes
Accepted
Why would I enable "Install Unknown Apps?"
Starting Android Oreo, sideloading (installing an app from a source other than Play Store) has actually became more secure.
Previously (Naugat or below), when you used to tick "Unknown Sources" ...
7
votes
Creating universal APK form multiple APKs without having *.aab (Android App Bundle) file
Split APK file formats
Various app download sites were confronted with the same problem. They solved by defining custom file formats and installer for apps that consist of multiple APKs files:
There ...
7
votes
Accepted
ADB installs apps for all users. How to force it to install to main user only?
Mention the specific user as an argument for which the package is to be installed. Example:
adb install --user USER_ID YOUR_APK
adb shell pm install --user USER_ID YOUR_APK # alternative command
...
6
votes
Is there a minimal installation of ADB?
I made something for OS X, this may be exactly what you are looking for:
Quick ADB/Fastboot installer: ADB and Fastboot binaries with installer
6
votes
Is it possible to install an app and exclude some of its requested permissions?
The following functionalities will be provided in Android M:
Give specific permissions as needed during rutime;
Show an app's permission;
Show all apps that uses a specific permission.
Documentation ...
6
votes
Accepted
How to run an .APK without installing it on the device with adb?
Running an APK without installing it?
No matter if you won't accept the answer, running an APK is not possible.
It's not an executable, it's an archive containing the application and instructions on ...
6
votes
Accepted
Easy and efficient way to run GNU/Linux on top of Android on an x86 device?
I found way to do this that I'm very happy with.
I used Linux Deploy. (It requires root, but here's an alternative for those who don't want to root.)
Here's a nearly full version of Xubuntu 16.04 (...
6
votes
Accepted
Paid app accidentally deleted and now can't re-download: says I "already own" the app
Well, I figured it out ...
Go to https://play.google.com/apps
Log in with the same credentials that are used on my device
A list of all my installed apps is shown. Find the deleted app and click on ...
5
votes
Is there a minimal installation of ADB?
15 seconds minimal ADB, fastboot and drivers installer.
No need to navigate to the installation folder in CMD.
It can be installed system-wide.
No need to check for manufacturer specific drivers.
...
5
votes
Cannot install unsigned APK file on my phone
Android does not allow installing unsigned applications.
You will need to sign you APK (with a debug or release key). Don't use Android tools->Export unsigned application package, but rather the ...
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