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  • Updated for 2022

Sometimes, you demand to install an before version of an app on your phone. Be it because the new one is crashing, has introduced a new feature or option that'due south cleaved, or simply because you don't like the latest changes, in that location are ample reasons to revert an update. On Android, reverting an app to an older version is fortunately a pretty straightforward procedure, and we'll guide you lot through it here.

If you're rolling back to set an effect, the first step is to let the developer know about the problem with a study. That way whatever issue you ran into can be addressed in a future update, and you don't end upward stuck on an outdated version — which can be a security concern for some of your favorite apps.

Also, if you're enrolled in Google's Avant-garde Protection Program, you lot won't be able to sideload apps. That ways while you'll be able to uninstall the electric current version of a given app, y'all won't be able to re-install an older version manually, and there's no simple workaround. In that case, this guide will not work.

UPDATE: 2022/02/23 08:48 EST BY STEPHEN PERKINS

Updated for 2022

This guide has been checked and updated for Android 12. The steps outlined below volition work the same for Android 10 through Android 12, minus a few visual differences betwixt each version.

Step 1: Uninstall the current version

To start, you'll need to uninstall the app in question, and sometimes that's more easily said than done. Most third-party apps tin can be easily removed, just system apps your telephone came with may not be uninstallable. The best you can exercise, in those cases, is to uninstall whatever updates may rest on top of the original app (we'll get to that afterwards).

System or otherwise, the easiest and most universal way to uninstall an app is via the Settings app. It's possible to uninstall 3rd-party apps or updates via other avenues, like long-pressing app icons in some launchers or through the Play Store, but this method should work on nigh all Android devices. Feel free to skip this office if you have a different method you'd prefer to apply.

Navigating to the Apps section of Settings in Android x (though it volition look similar in before versions).

For stock-like versions of Android 8.0 Oreo and later (including Android 9, 10, 11 and 12), get to Settings -> Apps & notifications, and either select the app if it'south in the recently opened apps list or select "Come across all ## apps" and discover information technology. In Android 5.0 through seven.1—including Nougat, Marshmallow, and Lollipop—that listing is accessible via Settings -> Apps. For earlier versions of Android or more heavily-skinned software, that workflow can exist a bit different, merely an option related to apps is usually found somewhere on the first screen of the Settings menu, following which you may accept lists of apps sorted by tabs.

Show system apps option in App info list for Android ten (left), info for a single app (right).

You may too need to enable an option to testify organization apps if the application you'd like rolled back shipped with your phone. In that instance, you lot can typically display those apps via the three-dot bill of fare at the tiptop right of the complete app list folio (though they may too be in a separate tab).

When y'all've found the app y'all want, tap it to enter the App info screen.

In the relevant "App info" screen, which should be displayed, you lot'll want to practise ii things. First, select "Forcefulness Stop" to ensure the app isn't running while we're messing with information technology. (This isn't e'er required, but meliorate safe than sorry.) Notation that it may sometimes be useful if troubleshooting to have a note of the current version by scrolling to the bottom of the App info pane (later on tapping "Advanced" in some Android versions) and taking a screenshot of the current version number, or even just writing it down. However, it isn't required.

Once it has stopped, we'll need to determine how to uninstall the current version. For 3rd-party apps, information technology's as simple as selecting "Uninstall," adjacent to the "Force Cease" button. Follow the simple prompts from there, and the app should be gone.

Organisation apps have a slightly different workflow, as they can't be entirely uninstalled.

For preinstalled system apps, you'll need to instead select the slightly hidden "Uninstall updates" pick in the iii-dot carte at the top right. A like prompt volition announced letting you know the factory version volition replace the currently installed update, and all data will exist removed. Proceed in heed: you probably won't exist able to curl back to an earlier version of the app than this factory version.

Pace 2: Install the version you lot want

Again, we demand to bespeak out that if you're in Google'southward Avant-garde Protection Program, you won't be able to practice the steps described beneath. This whole process won't work for you because you won't be able to sideload apps.

Once the app is uninstalled, it's time to re-install the version y'all want. If only there were some vast, historical repository of almost every Android APK you could want or need for easy installation. Oh, wait, there is, and information technology's called APK Mirror.

APK Mirror is pretty like shooting fish in a barrel to navigate.

Just head over there and search for the app that you need. If you don't know which version yous want and you lot're rolling back to fix an issue, try to remember what appointment you first started having a trouble, and await a version or ii backside that time. Also consider reaching out to the developer with a written report of your outcome, and cheque back in later that it's been fixed — you don't desire to stay on an older version for too long, it can be a security problem.

Some apps also have multiple versions for different architectures and DPIs, so yous'll need to do a tiny bit of inquiry to determine which you need. Nigh modern phones will exist arm64. If you lot even so can't detect which version you lot need, we have a guide on finding the correct APK version.

In Android 8.0 and after (including Android 9 and ten), installing from unknown sources is a per-app setting.

When you've found the version of the app y'all need, installing it is sometimes equally uncomplicated every bit downloading it from APK Mirror and, well... installing information technology. But tap the download notification to brainstorm the procedure.

On older versions of Android (Pre-Android 8.0 Oreo — consider upgrading for your own security if your phone is this sometime), y'all'll accept to manually enable a dissever toggle to install apps from unknown sources. That's commonly in Settings -> Security, or you lot can search in the Settings app for "Install apps" or "Install unknown apps."

In Android 8.0 Oreo and after, this is treated as a per-app permission. Your phone may indirectly ask if you lot'd similar to modify that for a given app, prompting you to enter settings and toggle the "Permit from this source" setting, at which indicate you lot can then back out to the installation screen and go along. In earlier versions of Android, such as Nougat, you'll have to manually toggle a global setting that allows installing from "Unknown sources" in Settings (Settings -> Security -> check the box or slide the toggle for Unknown sources.).

When you've enabled that feature, back out and endeavour to install the app once more, and it should work.

Nonetheless, if the app y'all need is labeled equally an "APK Package", so you'll need the accompanying APK Mirror app to install it, and the process is a lilliputian fleck more dull. (Don't blame us, arraign Google.)

How to install App Bundles

To install an App bundle, select "Download APK Bundle" for the app y'all need at APK Mirror, and a file will be saved locally on your device. Then you'll demand to brand sure you have the APK Mirror Installer app installed on your telephone. Yous can go it from the Play Store, or y'all can install it from the APKMirror site — either is fine, only the Play Store is easier.

Once the APK Mirror Installer is, well, installed, then you tin can try to open that APK Bundle file. Y'all can do that through the notification you may still have from the completed download, or you tin can navigate to your download binder in a file browser. If y'all used Chrome, you tin can also access it via the three-dot menu -> Downloads.

Opening an app bundle file from APK Mirror.

Subsequently opening the APK Mirror installer app, tap "Browse files" and confirm the media permission by pressing "Allow" if needed.

When prompted, open the file with the APK Mirror Installer app. APKMirror Installer will feed you a pile of details regarding the app yous're installing, like which architecture and DPI you need, but y'all can ignore nigh of that, it'due south merely at that place if you know you demand to change something nigh the installation to suit your device. The default settings volition likely exist fine.

Installing an app bundle with APK Mirror Installer.

Tap "Install app." On recent versions of Android, you'll be prompted to let the APKMirror Installer app as a source for app installations as an like shooting fish in a barrel toggle (visible above). While you lot shouldn't enable this setting for just whatever app, it's okay to practise information technology for APKMirror. But it is there to protect you from apps that might install malware.

On older versions of Android (Pre-Android viii.0 Oreo — consider upgrading for your own security if your telephone is this old), you'll have to manually enable a separate toggle to install apps from unknown sources. That's usually in Settings -> Security, or you tin search in the Settings app for "Install apps" or "Install unknown apps."

In Android viii.0 Oreo and later, this is treated as a per-app permission. Your phone may indirectly inquire if you'd like to change that for a given app, prompting y'all to enter settings and toggle the "Let from this source" setting, at which bespeak you can and then back out to the installation screen and go along. In earlier versions of Android, such as Nougat, you'll have to manually toggle a global setting that allows installing from "Unknown sources" in Settings (Settings -> Security -> bank check the box or slide the toggle for Unknown sources.).

Once the permission has been granted, you tin navigate back until you lot're back in the APKMirror app, which will continue the installation process, or yous tin start over, attempting to run/install the app you lot downloaded from your browser or file director.

APKMirror will gear up the installation, and then your telephone will ask (over again) if you'd like to install the app,. Tap "Install" to continue, and you're basically done. One time APKMirror Installer has finished installing the app, you'll exist prompted to open it, just you should be running the version that y'all installed.

If you meet any problems during this process, APKMirror Installer will allow you know, spitting a large warning if the app installation fails for any reason.

Step #3: Disable updates, if necessary

One time the version of the app yous want is installed, your goal has been reached. However, y'all will need to proceed in mind that subsequent updates are probable to supplant the rolled-back version you have installed. Again, this tin can turn into a security trouble if you end upward stuck on a too-onetime version, but you tin disable automated updates to ensure the app isn't accidentally replaced.

Disabling auto-updates in the Play Store. (This may await slightly different depending on which UI you lot accept for the Play Shop.)

That setting can be changed on a per-app basis in the Play Shop by tapping the three-dot overflow menu at the acme right of a given app listing and unchecking "Enable auto update." Note that this could exit y'all open to security vulnerabilities that may afterwards exist patched in a given app, and without updates, you lot'll never encounter the fixes.

If you're rolling dorsum because of a problem, make sure yous accomplish out to the developer with a written report regarding your issue, and cheque back in regularly to see if it's been fixed, that way you don't stay stuck on the one-time version of an app for too long.

And that's all there is to it. Yous should exist rolled back onto whatsoever version yous demand for a given app.

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About The Author

Ryne Hager (2975 Articles Published)

Ostensibly a senior editor, in reality just some verbose dude who digs on tech, loves Android, and hates anticompetitive practices. His only regret is that he didn't buy a Nokia N9 in 2012. Email tips or corrections to ryne at androidpolice dot com.

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