android programmatically update apk and see the result of the installation

Question

I'm writing an app updater for my app. After I make sure I have my apk on the device, this is what I do from within the app I'm trying to update:

Intent promptInstall = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
File f = new File(apkLocation);    
promptInstall.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(f), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
_context.startActivity(promptInstall);

This launches my installer which displays the app permissions and I am able to click "Install". But from here the app simply closes, I get no message whatsoever (I would've expected the dialog telling me the install was successful giving me the option to press "Close" or "Open"). It just goes to the main screen of the device without further notice.

On a side note, the app is indeed updated when I manually open it back. How can I make the installer go all the way as expected? Is there anything to set on the intent?

While writing this, I'm wondering if the reason this happens is that the current app is simply overwritten on the device thus closing it and by extent not getting the result of the intent because it's source was killed?

Answer 1

All you can do is register a receiver with the intent filters like android.intent.action.PACKAGE_INSTALL or android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED from which you can restart your application back again.

<receiver android:enabled="true" android:exported="true" android:label="BootService" android:name="com.project.services.BootService">
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.BOOT_COMPLETED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_ADDED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
        <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_INSTALL"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_CHANGED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
         <intent-filter>
            <action android:name="android.intent.action.PACKAGE_REPLACED"/>
            <data android:scheme="package"/>
        </intent-filter>
    </receiver>
</application>

And

public class BootService extends BroadcastReceiver {
  @Override
  public void onReceive(Context context, Intent intent) {

    if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_ADDED)) {
        Intent serviceIntent = new Intent();
        serviceIntent.setClass(context,Controller.class);
        serviceIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        context.startActivity(serviceIntent);
    } else if (intent.getAction().equals(Intent.ACTION_PACKAGE_REPLACED)) {
        Intent serviceIntent = new Intent();
        serviceIntent.setClass(context, Controller.class);
        serviceIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        context.startActivity(serviceIntent);
    }
  }
}

Answer 2

To successfully update you need to launch intent with URI indicating to your update app as new task.

 final Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
 intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(new File(PATH_TO_APK));
 "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
 intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
 startActivity(intent);

My post below:

Android application update issue

Answer 3

First off, you can't install without prompt, unless you are rooted or have system privileges. I don't think you were asking that, but one of your paragraphs isn't clear.

Secondly, if installing an update version of a running app, the behavior you're seeing is expected: The app is force-closed and updated. You can't update in-place. You can detect when the installation was aborted, because the activity invoking the installer will be resumed.

In order to update a running app AND keep it running, you'll need a separate process (app) to monitor the installation and restart your app.