In-app updates check whether it is AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE or AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE

Question

Is there any option available in the playstore console to configure this value?

Here is the official doc. code:

// Creates instance of the manager.
AppUpdateManager appUpdateManager = AppUpdateManagerFactory.create(context);

// Returns an intent object that you use to check for an update.
Task<AppUpdateInfo> appUpdateInfoTask = appUpdateManager.getAppUpdateInfo();

// Checks that the platform will allow the specified type of update.
appUpdateInfoTask.addOnSuccessListener(appUpdateInfo -> {
    if (appUpdateInfo.updateAvailability() == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE
          // For a flexible update, use AppUpdateType.FLEXIBLE
          && appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)) {
              // Request the update.
    }
});

How do we know about:

appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)

Where to configure the above type? There is no relevant description available on the official doc.

In the AppUpdateInfo.class:

public final boolean isUpdateTypeAllowed(int var1) {
        if (var1 == 0) {
            return this.f != null;
        } else if (var1 == 1) {
            return this.e != null;
        } else {
            return false;
        }
    }

Where f and e are the PendingIntent and method returns true or false based on their value.

Answer 1

What is the use of appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)?

This is a very common question.

Many (myself included) interpreted this as a value that could be set somewhere dynamically, e.g. in the Google Play Console.

However that appears to not be the case. This is a local check that determines whether conditions on the device have been met to show the dialog.

If you want to dynamically configure whether to show Immediate or Flexible updates, you will need to provide it yourself, e.g. from your backend.

For more info: https://medium.com/@jplipata/undocumented-android-in-app-updates-a95efb9b7bd8?source=friends_link&sk=e8085150daa555ea80d07e8419b5341e