Suggest users to update Android app with Google Play (Google In-App Update Support)

Question

I saw this dialog always appears when I open old version of Tokopedia app. Tokopedia suggests me to update the app.

The dialog gives me two methods to update the app:

• Update now
• Update when Wi-Fi available

If I select Lain Kali (Cancel), the dialog appears again on the next app open. But, if I select the second option, I open Play Store and see this behavior:

It really do update on background until my device is connected to Wi-Fi.

I want to mimic the same action like Tokopedia did, because some version of my app contains critical bug. I want to give users a better user experience.

Do you know how to show the dialog above?

Answer 1

This is possible using In-App Update provided by Google.

In-app updates works only with devices running Android 5.0 (API level 21) or higher, and requires you to use Play Core library 1.5.0 or higher. There are two types - 1.Flexible and 2. Immediate.

Follow this link and implement In-App Update as per your requirement.

https://developer.android.com/guide/app-bundle/in-app-updates

Answer 2

You can achieve this by using Support in-app updates

• It only work from Android 5.0 (API level 21) or higher.

• There are two types of Update Available with UX for in-app updates:

  • Flexible
  • Immediate

To Check for update availability

// 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.
    }
});