Facing the Challenge of Updating Sideloaded Apps on Android
The Google Play Store is home to millions of Android apps across various categories, meeting the needs of average users. However, did you know that some of the best apps are not available on the Play Store? Many of these apps can be found on alternative app stores or code repositories like GitHub. While downloading and installing apps from these sources is not too difficult, the real challenge arises when you need to update them. If you rely on many non-Play Store apps, you surely understand how troublesome this process can be.
Solution: Obtainium to Simplify App Updates
This is where Obtainium comes in as a solution. Obtainium is a free and open-source sideload manager designed to simplify the update process for non-Play Store apps on Android devices. I have personally used Obtainium on my Android phone and experienced how much easier my life has become.
The process of updating sideloaded apps can be very complicated, depending on where you downloaded the app from. If the app comes from an alternative app store like F-Droid, you can update it in the same way as apps downloaded from the Play Store. However, if the app was downloaded from a code repository like GitHub or a developer’s website, the process can become very exhausting.
Manual Steps That Are Troublesome
To update apps downloaded from other sources, you have to perform several manual steps. First, you need to check the latest version of the app. This usually involves visiting the source site, navigating various menus, and searching for the updated APK file. If a new version is available, you need to download and install it manually. This becomes very troublesome, especially if you have many non-Play Store apps installed on your phone. Additionally, you must regularly check for updates for each app, which is clearly an extra task.
Advantages of Obtainium and How to Use It
Obtainium removes most of the complicated steps from this process. After a one-time setup to add sideload app sources to the tracking list, Obtainium runs in the background and monitors those sources to check for the availability of the latest versions. When app updates are available, Obtainium sends notifications so you can install them immediately. Some Android apps even support automatic updates, where Obtainium will automatically install the latest updates in the background without your intervention.
To get started, you can visit the Obtainium website, download the latest APK file, and install it on your phone. Once installed, you need to add the apps you want to track for updates. Make sure you use the correct source link when adding an app, for example using the F-Droid link if you installed the app from there. Otherwise, Obtainium will not be able to update it.
Interesting Features in Obtainium
Obtainium offers various configuration options to enhance the user experience. For example, there is an option to only check for updates without downloading or installing them, as well as filter options to find specific releases. If you find the many configuration options overwhelming, you can take advantage of app configurations contributed by the Obtainium community, which makes the process of adding apps faster and easier.
After adding apps, Obtainium checks for updates every six hours, with an option to adjust the interval according to your needs. If updates are available, the app will download and install them automatically, unless you have enabled the Track-only option for certain sources. However, some apps may not support automatic updates; in such cases, Obtainium will only send notifications when a new version is available.
Overall, Obtainium greatly simplifies the process of updating sideloaded apps on your Android phone. Although there are some limitations, such as dependence on sites that do not offer APIs to check for new versions, this app remains a very valuable tool for users who rely on apps outside the Play Store.
Source: https://www.androidauthority.com/obtainium-how-to-add-update-android-apps-3677522/
