Install Application programmatically on Android

Question

You can easily launch a market link or an install prompt:

Intent promptInstall = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)
    .setDataAndType(Uri.parse("file:///path/to/your.apk"), 
                    "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(promptInstall); 

source

Intent goToMarket = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW)
    .setData(Uri.parse("market://details?id=com.package.name"));
startActivity(goToMarket);

source

However, you cannot install .apks without user's explicit permission; not unless the device and your program is rooted.

File file = new File(dir, "App.apk");
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(intent);

I had the same problem and after several attempts, it worked out for me this way. I don't know why, but setting data and type separately screwed up my intent.

The solutions provided to this question are all applicable to targetSdkVersion s of 23 and below. For Android N, i.e. API level 24, and above, however, they do not work and crash with the following Exception:

android.os.FileUriExposedException: file:///storage/emulated/0/... exposed beyond app through Intent.getData()

This is due to the fact that starting from Android 24, the Uri for addressing the downloaded file has changed. For instance, an installation file named appName.apk stored on the primary external filesystem of the app with package name com.example.test would be as

file:///storage/emulated/0/Android/data/com.example.test/files/appName.apk

for API 23 and below, whereas something like

content://com.example.test.authorityStr/pathName/Android/data/com.example.test/files/appName.apk

for API 24 and above.

More details on this can be found here and I am not going to go through it.

To answer the question for targetSdkVersion of 24 and above, one has to follow these steps: Add the following to the AndroidManifest.xml:

<application
        android:allowBackup="true"
        android:label="@string/app_name">
        <provider
            android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="${applicationId}.authorityStr"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/paths"/>
        </provider>
</application>

2. Add the following paths.xml file to the xml folder on res in src, main:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path
        name="pathName"
        path="pathValue"/>
</paths>

The pathName is that shown in the exemplary content uri example above and pathValue is the actual path on the system. It would be a good idea to put a "." (without quotes) for pathValue in the above if you do not want to add any extra subdirectory.

3. Write the following code to install the apk with the name appName.apk on the primary external filesystem:

   File directory = context.getExternalFilesDir(null);
   File file = new File(directory, fileName);
   Uri fileUri = Uri.fromFile(file);
   if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= 24) {
       fileUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(context, context.getPackageName(),
               file);
   }
   Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, fileUri);
   intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_NOT_UNKNOWN_SOURCE, true);
   intent.setDataAndType(fileUri, "application/vnd.android" + ".package-archive");
   intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TASK | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
   intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
   context.startActivity(intent);
   activity.finish();
   

No permission is also necessary when writing to your own app's private directory on the external filesystem.

I have written an AutoUpdate library here in which I have used the above.

Well, I dug deeper, and found sources of PackageInstaller application from Android Source.

https://github.com/android/platform_packages_apps_packageinstaller

From manifest I found that it require permission:

    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.INSTALL_PACKAGES" />

And the actual process of installation occurs after confirmation

Intent newIntent = new Intent();
newIntent.putExtra(PackageUtil.INTENT_ATTR_APPLICATION_INFO, mPkgInfo.applicationInfo);
newIntent.setData(mPackageURI);
newIntent.setClass(this, InstallAppProgress.class);
String installerPackageName = getIntent().getStringExtra(Intent.EXTRA_INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME);
if (installerPackageName != null) {
   newIntent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME, installerPackageName);
}
startActivity(newIntent);

I just want to share the fact that my apk file was saved to my app "Data" directory and that I needed to change the permissions on the apk file to be world readable in order to allow it to be installed that way, otherwise the system was throwing "Parse error: There is a Problem Parsing the Package"; so using solution from @Horaceman that makes:

File file = new File(dir, "App.apk");
file.setReadable(true, false);
Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
startActivity(intent);

This can help others a lot!

First:

private static final String APP_DIR = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory().getAbsolutePath() + "/MyAppFolderInStorage/";

private void install() {
    File file = new File(APP_DIR + fileName);

    if (file.exists()) {
        Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
        String type = "application/vnd.android.package-archive";

        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N) {
            Uri downloadedApk = FileProvider.getUriForFile(getContext(), "ir.greencode", file);
            intent.setDataAndType(downloadedApk, type);
            intent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
        } else {
            intent.setDataAndType(Uri.fromFile(file), type);
            intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK);
        }

        getContext().startActivity(intent);
    } else {
        Toast.makeText(getContext(), "ّFile not found!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
    }
}

Second: For android 7 and above you should define a provider in manifest like below!

    <provider
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="ir.greencode"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/paths" />
    </provider>

Third: Define path.xml in res/xml folder like below! I'm using this path for internal storage if you want to change it to something else there is a few way! You can go to this link: FileProvider

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path name="your_folder_name" path="MyAppFolderInStorage/"/>
</paths>

---

Forth: You should add this permission in manifest:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES"/>

Allows an application to request installing packages. Apps targeting APIs greater than 25 must hold this permission in order to use Intent.ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE.

Please make sure the provider authorities are the same!

---

Do not forget to request permissions:

android.Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE 
android.Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

Add in AndroidManifest.xml the provider and permission:

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES"/>
...
<application>
    ...
    <provider
        android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
        android:authorities="${applicationId}"
        android:exported="false"
        android:grantUriPermissions="true">
        <meta-data
            android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
            android:resource="@xml/provider_paths"/>
    </provider>
</application>

Create XML file provider res/xml/provider_paths.xml

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <external-path
        name="external"
        path="." />
    <external-files-path
        name="external_files"
        path="." />
    <cache-path
        name="cache"
        path="." />
    <external-cache-path
        name="external_cache"
        path="." />
    <files-path
        name="files"
        path="." />
</paths>

Use below example code:

   public class InstallManagerApk extends AppCompatActivity {

    static final String NAME_APK_FILE = "some.apk";
    public static final int REQUEST_INSTALL = 0;

     @Override
    protected void onCreate(@Nullable Bundle savedInstanceState) {
        super.onCreate(savedInstanceState);

        // required permission:
        // android.Manifest.permission.WRITE_EXTERNAL_STORAGE 
        // android.Manifest.permission.READ_EXTERNAL_STORAGE

        installApk();

    }

    ...

    /**
     * Install APK File
     */
    private void installApk() {

        try {

            File filePath = Environment.getExternalStorageDirectory();// path to file apk
            File file = new File(filePath, LoadManagerApkFile.NAME_APK_FILE);

            Uri uri = getApkUri( file.getPath() ); // get Uri for  each SDK Android

            Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE);
            intent.setData( uri );
            intent.setFlags( Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK );
            intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_NOT_UNKNOWN_SOURCE, true);
            intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_RETURN_RESULT, true);
            intent.putExtra(Intent.EXTRA_INSTALLER_PACKAGE_NAME, getApplicationInfo().packageName);

            if ( getPackageManager().queryIntentActivities(intent, 0 ) != null ) {// checked on start Activity

                startActivityForResult(intent, REQUEST_INSTALL);

            } else {
                throw new Exception("don`t start Activity.");
            }

        } catch ( Exception e ) {

            Log.i(TAG + ":InstallApk", "Failed installl APK file", e);
            Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), e.getMessage(), Toast.LENGTH_LONG)
                .show();

        }

    }

    /**
     * Returns a Uri pointing to the APK to install.
     */
    private Uri getApkUri(String path) {

        // Before N, a MODE_WORLD_READABLE file could be passed via the ACTION_INSTALL_PACKAGE
        // Intent. Since N, MODE_WORLD_READABLE files are forbidden, and a FileProvider is
        // recommended.
        boolean useFileProvider = Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N;

        String tempFilename = "tmp.apk";
        byte[] buffer = new byte[16384];
        int fileMode = useFileProvider ? Context.MODE_PRIVATE : Context.MODE_WORLD_READABLE;
        try (InputStream is = new FileInputStream(new File(path));
             FileOutputStream fout = openFileOutput(tempFilename, fileMode)) {

            int n;
            while ((n = is.read(buffer)) >= 0) {
                fout.write(buffer, 0, n);
            }

        } catch (IOException e) {
            Log.i(TAG + ":getApkUri", "Failed to write temporary APK file", e);
        }

        if (useFileProvider) {

            File toInstall = new File(this.getFilesDir(), tempFilename);
            return FileProvider.getUriForFile(this,  BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID, toInstall);

        } else {

            return Uri.fromFile(getFileStreamPath(tempFilename));

        }

    }

    /**
     * Listener event on installation APK file
     */
    @Override
    protected void onActivityResult(int requestCode, int resultCode, @Nullable Intent data) {
        super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data);

        if(requestCode == REQUEST_INSTALL) {

            if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
                Toast.makeText(this,"Install succeeded!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            } else if (resultCode == Activity.RESULT_CANCELED) {
                Toast.makeText(this,"Install canceled!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            } else {
                Toast.makeText(this,"Install Failed!", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
            }

        }

    }

    ...

}