In this guide, we will show you the steps to fix the “App not installed as App isn’t compatible with your phone” error. While installing apps from the Play Store is usually the go-to choice for the masses, however, there could be a few instances wherein you would have to sideload the app from a third-party site. For instance, if you want to download an older version of the app or the app isn’t available in your region, then sideloading is the best route forward.
However, over the past few years, there have been some major changes to the way one could sideload the APK. First and foremost is the CPU architecture wherein most Android devices come with 64-bit whereas most of the older APKs still follow the 64-bit arch. So if you try installing such an app, you’ll be straightaway greeted with the INSTALL_FAILED_NO-MATCHING_ABIS error message. And wait, there’s more.
There’s also been a minimum level restriction below which sideloading is not permitted. Beginning with Android 14, you cannot install an app that targets SDK/API Level 23 or below, or in simpler words, Android version 6 or below. When you try to install such an app, you’ll be straightaway greeted with the “App not installed as App isn’t compatible with your phone” error.
But fret not. There still exists a nifty workaround using which you could install an older APK on your device, bypassing the “App not installed as App isn’t compatible with your phone” error. And in this guide, we will make you aware of that tweak. So without further ado, let’s check it out.
Fix App not installed as App isn’t compatible with your phone
There exist four different methods that will help you get this job done. Go through each of these methods once as well as their perks and drawbacks and then try out the one that is in sync with your requirements.
METHOD 1: Via ADB Commands
Benefit: Shorter and Easy to carry out. Requires the use of a PC for carrying out this tweak. So you'll have to take the help of a PC every time you install an old APK, which is asking for quite a lot of effort.
- To begin with, download and extract Android SDK Platform Tools on your PC.
- Now enable USB Debugging on your device and connect it to your PC via USB.
- After that, open the Command Prompt window inside the platform tools folder.
- Then type in the below command in the CMD [replace app-name accordingly]:
adb install --bypass-low-target-sdk-block app-name.apk
- That’s it. The older app will now be installed on your device without any error.
METHOD 2: Via Shizuku
Benefit: Does not require root. Drawback: The initial Shizuku setup process is a tad bit lengthy.
- First off, download, install, and set up the Shizuku app on your device.
- Then download and install the Install with Options app from GitHub.
- Now launch it and tap on Allow in the Shizuku prompt that appears.
- Then check “Bypass Low Target SDK Block” and tap on Choose File.
- Navigate to the desired APK file that you wish to install and select it.
- Finally, tap on Install and the app will be installed onto your device.
METHOD 3: By Decompiling the APK
Benefit: Does not require PC or root. Drawback: Comes with a relatively lower success rate when compared with other methods listed in this guide.
- First off, download and install the APK Editor on your device.
- Then launch it and tap on Select an APK File.
- Now navigate to the desired APK file and select Common Edit.
- Then change the Target SDK Version corresponding to your current Android version.
- You may take the help of the below table to get the job done.
- For instance, if you want to install an old app on your Android 14 device, then input the value as 34.
- If that doesn’t work out, then try using a value a couple of lower than that, such as 33 or 32.
- The new APK will be compiled and saved on your device’s Internal Storage.
- You may now install the app using that APK and there will be no issues this time around.
METHOD 4: Via Root
Benefit: Easy to carry out Drawback: Requires Root, and this in itself is the biggest drawback that hardly needs any further discussion.
- To begin with, root your device via Magisk.
- Then install and set up the LSPosed Framework on your device.
- Now download and install the Disable Target API Block module.
- Then launch LSPosed and go to the Modules section.
- Now enable the toggle next to Disable Target API Block.
- Then restart your device for the module to be activated.
- You may now install the desired older APK without any issues.
That’s it. These were the various methods to fix the “App not installed as App isn’t compatible with your phone” error. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, do let us know in the comments. We will get back to you with a solution at the earliest.
