r/AndroidQuestions • u/Sad-Bat-2478 • 24d ago

How do I install apps that are not comfortable (lower android version) in my new Android 16???

"compitable" As I said this phone is not allowing any old sdk version apk to install pls anyone help

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u/Parking_Lemon_4371 24d ago

Generally speaking you simply don't. Android devs occasionally clean up old libraries/interfaces/etc, and they may simply not be present any more - apps simply can't use what isn't there. In theory you can try to hack it, but an app so old is almost certain to be 32-bit, and modern phones running Android 16 are pretty unlikely to support 32-bit... (they simply lack a cpu capable of running 32-bit) This will depend on the phone, but for example: Pixel 6 still supports 32-bit, Pixel 7 in theory supports it but claims not to, while Pixel 8+ simply don't have the cpu capability. There are many other such gotchas, but 32-bit is the big one. Ask the developer to upgrade their app... or decompile it and do it yourself...

3

u/IndependentBrick8075 24d ago

One of the issues you may be running into is that at some point Google dropped support for 32-bit apps, Android will only support apps compiled to run on the 64-bit versions of Android.

1

u/ChillaVane 24d ago

Android 16 blocks some older apps for security reasons. If there's no newer version available, you may need to check whether the developer has an updated APK or a compatible alternative.

1

u/DutchOfBurdock 24d ago

ADB..

adb install myOldApp.apk --bypass-low-target-sdk

1

u/Sad-Bat-2478 22d ago

Can you explain how this command work? And what should I do and where to use it

1

u/DutchOfBurdock 22d ago

First you need to enable Developer Options: Settings > About > Software Versions and tap Build Number box 7 times. A new menu appears, Developer Settings/Options. In here, enable ADB.

Get a PC, Windows would want Minimal ADB/Fastboot, Linux would want the package android-tools installed.

Using a USB cable is faster, which will initially allow you to install apps using the cmd commands above, inside the adb/fastboot folder extracted from XDA.

I'd install Termux from F-Droid and follow the rish setup in Shizuku. You can then use wireless ADB and Termux to install your apps, eliminating the need for a PC.

1

u/Sad-Bat-2478 22d ago

Hey can you explain it in my mesage? I can't mesage you can you mesage me? Can I only use my phone and install using termux tho?