Updating My Android App Outside the Play Store
Hey everyone! I’ve got a question about updating my Android app. I made this cool app just for my friends and don’t want to put it on the Play Store. Is there a way to give them updates without using the store?
I was thinking maybe I could use something free like Google Drive or Dropbox. Has anyone tried this before? How would I set it up so the app can check for and download updates from these services?
I’m not sure if this is even possible or if there are better options out there. Any advice or tips would be super helpful! Thanks in advance for your ideas.
I’ve actually done something similar for a small group of beta testers. What worked well for me was setting up a private Firebase project, which is free for small-scale use and provides secure file hosting. I uploaded my APK to Firebase Storage, implemented a simple version check in my app that queried Firebase, and when a new version was available, prompted users to download and install it. This approach allowed me to roll out updates gradually and even try A/B testing if needed. Note that users will have to enable installation from unknown sources, so it’s important to guide them through that process. Overall, this method was smooth and effective for managing updates.
There are a few ways to distribute app updates outside the Play Store, but you’ll need to be mindful of security. One approach is to implement your own update mechanism within the app. You could host the APK files on a server you control and have the app periodically check for new versions. When an update is available, prompt users to download and install it.
Another option is to use a third-party distribution platform like F-Droid or Amazon Appstore. These allow you to publish updates without going through Google Play.
Keep in mind that users will need to enable installation from unknown sources to install updates this way. You should also implement proper signing and verification to ensure the integrity and authenticity of updates. While it’s doable, managing your own update process does come with more complexity and responsibility compared to using an established app store.
hey, you could try using github releases for this. just upload ur apk there and add a simple update checker in ur app. it’ll fetch the latest version and prompt users to download. its pretty straightforward and free. just make sure ur friends know to enable unknown sources in their settings.