How to fix "App not installed" error on Android

If you are an Android fan and spend most of your time playing around with Apps or testing them, then you must have for sure come across the "App not installed" error. This error is to my knowledge is common and many people, when faced with it, seem to be lost on what steps to take in order to fix the issue. The error could arise owing to may different factors including both hardware and software problems. Trying to sort things out(fixing the "App not installed" error) will require you first have at least a glimpse of the situation.

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If you are an Android fan and spend most of your time playing around with Apps or testing them, then you must have for sure come across the "App not installed" error. This error is to my knowledge is common and many people, when faced with it, seem to be lost on what steps to take in order to fix the issue.

The error could arise owing to may different factors including both hardware and software problems. Trying to sort things out(fixing the "App not installed" error) will require you first have at least a glimpse of the situation.

Below we have listed some common causes of the "App not installed" error encountered on Android devices when trying to install some apps.

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Common causes of the "App not installed" error on Android

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I know when you see this message, most of you what comes to your mind is the idea of your device being infected by a virus(bloatware). If you are asking yourself this question, then note that in many cases a virus or malware can corrupt your device storage partition which is one of the most common causes of the "App not installed" error. The possible virus or malware attack is however not serious enough for you to format/wipe your Android phone so don’t delete all your precious files out of a panic attack.

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Here are some of the common causes of the "App not installed" error which occurs when you try installing some apps;

• Insufficient storage space: 

On some recent Android devices, unlike the old versions, when the device storage destined for the installation of applications is almost full, instead of getting the message "Not enough space" or "Insufficient storage" with the prompt to free more space; you will instead get the message "App not installed".

• Apk certificate clash: 

Some developers do change the signed certificate of their Android package during an update. In such a situation, trying to install an update while the previous version is still installed will result in a certificate clash owing to the difference ins signature, and thus the "App not installed" error.

• Corrupted app (apk file): 

The apk file you are trying to install may be corrupted.

• Permission error: 

The Android phone might be going through a permission crisis. 

• Temporary OS glitch: 

At times, your device may experience a moment of malfunctioning which will lead to you getting the "App not installed" error.

• Installing an unsigned apk: 

Trying to install an unsigned apk could result in this error.

• Wrong app installation location: 

Some apps can only be installed on the device internal storage. In such a scenario, if you had activated the SD Card as your preferred installation location, trying to install such an app will result in this error.

• Unacceptable apk name: 

Renaming some apk files prior to installation has been known to result in this error.

• Corrupted phone storage / SD card: 

This has been pinpointed to be one of the most common causes of the "App not installed" error on Android devices. If the location where an application is supposed to be installed has been corrupted, it only means there will be no place to install the app and definitively, the "App not installed" error.

Now that you know of the common causes of the above-mentioned problem, how do you proceed to fix it? Continue reading the subsequent lines to find out.

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How to fix "App not installed" error on Android

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1.  Rebooting the Android phone could help clear OS errors that might have occurred. This should be the very first step you take when faced with this problem. Proceeding to other "fixes" should be a second alternative! 
2. Remove SD Card and try installing again. If the SD Card was corrupted, then after removing, the App will now install without issues.
3. Format the SD card: In extreme cases, move the contents on the memory card to a different location then format your SD Card to see if the problem persist.
4. Wiping your phone storage could resolve this issue. You could either do a factory reset under Settings or data/factory reset in recovery mode.
5. Ensure to uninstall unneeded apps to create space. Uninstall any apps you don’t need if you check and confirm your device internal storage is running low to fix this error.
6. Double-check the apk file: Check to be sure the apk file was properly copied/downloaded and is the correct size.
7. Uninstall any previous versions on the same app currently installed on the Android phone then proceed with the installation of the new app or update. This will help fix the problem if it was owing to a signed certificate conflict.
8. Change Installation location: You could toggle application install location between phone memory, SD card and automatic.
9. Ensure that the SD card is not mounted/connected to a PC
10. Avoid installing unsigned apks or changing apk file names prior to installation.