APK Installation error in device

There are various issue which can leads to error “App not installed error” and to fix that we need to identify the reason for that. Read out the reasons written here.

Reason for “App not installed error” in android phone

Dimmer Application – Any dimmer app is running in your android phone then Install button will not work while installing app in your phone

Low storage – Android software and if data such as photos, videos, music, messages, Apps, contacts, emails, etc are stored in the internal memory there is not adequate storage left for another App, leading to Android App not installed error.

Corrupted App file – When you don’t download Apps from the Play Store and choose another platform to do that, Those App files are mostly corrupt and cannot installed on your device. I personally recommend you not to download apk from other sources / website

SD Card not mounted – When your phone is connected to your PC device which can access the SD Card from your device. In that situations if you install an App and choose to save it to your SD Card, you will see Android App not installed error because the App cannot find the SD card as it is not mounted in your device.

App compatibility with Android Version – Some applications on the internet which are only meant to work on some Android versions. Installing these applications on newer android versions will show error.

Application Permission – Application running in the background and App Permission are not new concepts. Such errors can also cause the Unknown Error Code during App installation.

Incorrect file – If you already have an App installed but download another variant with distinct signed or unsigned certificate can also show an error.

Methods to Fix App Not Installed Error | App not installed error solution

Method 1: Allow Apps from Unknown Sources

In android phone to install app which is not downloaded from Playstore you need to tick Install app from unknown source. By default this option is untick fro safety purpose, so if this is untick you will not be also to install app in android phone and will give you Application not installed in android smartphone. So to fix this follow the below path.

Go to Settings → Security → Unknown Sources. Enable Unknown Sources. Now try to install App.

Method 2: Clear Data and Cache of Package Installer

  1. Firstly Open setting of your Android device.
  2. Tap on the option called Apps or Manage apps
  3. Check for the Package Installer App under system Apps
  4. You will find two option of Clear data and Clear cache. (Android Marshmallow 6.0 users check for option Storage to clear data and cache)
  5. Clear the data and cache and you problem is solved.

There is only one answer to this problem, Disable Instant Run. I also faced the same issue and resolved by disabling instant run. Below are steps to disable Instant Run on latest version of Android Studio(3.1.2):

  1. Go to Android Studio Settings

  2. Search Instant Run in search box in top left of Android Studio Setting Window OR Click on Build, Execution, Deployment

  3. Here you will find Instant Run
  4. By default it is Enabled, uncheck Enable Instant Run to hot swap code/resource changes on deploy(default enabled)
  5. Click OK button at the bottom
  6. Restart your Android Studio and try to install apk again

To know more about Instant Run, check official documentation: https://developer.android.com/studio/run/?utm_source=android-studio#instant-run

Here is one old YouTube video as well about this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuerGSylc9A


Disabling Instant run fixed it for me

Go to Preferences>Builld,Execution, Deployment> Instant Run

Then unmark Enable instant Run to hot swap code ...

Sorce from the comments in here

And also don't forget to report the issue to google to be fixed faster.


I have solved this problem by turning off MIUI optimization.

For this go to setting-> developerOptions-> MIUI Optiomization.

Update: Apart from above solution. If you are using Android studio version 3.0 or 3+ then we can not directly use the apk after running on the device from the build->output->apk folder.

instead we need to build apk as stated below.(this is not a signed apk)

go to Build -> Build Bundle(s) / APK(s) -> Build APK(s) then copy the apk from build -> output -> apk -> debug

and then you are good to go.