What is a syntax package. An incomplete or damaged installation file

23.06.2019 Reviews

Have you downloaded the app but can't install it? The downloaded file does not open, but the system gives an error? This is a common occurrence when the download file is damaged or you are downloading an application not for your version of Android. There are at least four ways to fix an error while parsing an Android package.

An error while parsing an Android package - what does it mean and when it can happen

If you downloaded the application not from the Play Market, but from a third-party site, when you open the download file, you may see the following:

This means that the system cannot analyze the package, recognize the file properly.

This happens if the apk file is damaged or the OS versions of your device and the application you want to download do not match. If it is for a newer version.

Causes of occurrence

The most common reason for a "when parsing a package" error is a mismatch between the OS version of your device and the version for which the application is written. For example, you can unknowingly download an application for Android 4.4 when the OS version of your device is Android 2.3.

Also, an error when opening the apk file may occur in the following cases:

Network outages. The file did not load completely or was damaged.
Incorrect file extension. It was originally inoperative.
Accidental renaming of apk file.
Problems in settings. The system does not allow downloading files from outside sources.
Antivirus program work. Any third-party applications are blocked.
Modifying the manifect. Reduced operating system requirements.

How to fix a problem

If you have superuser rights, then you can edit apk files using applications.

Video: Troubleshoot a Package Parse Issue with APKTool

If you do not have root access, then you can try to solve the problem in another way.

Video: fixing an error without root rights.

If for some reason you cannot watch the video, then you can try any of the following methods.

How to fix the problem

First, check the compatibility of the application version with the version of your operating system. To see what version of OS you have installed go to "Settings", scroll down to the "System" section and select "About phone".

If the version of the application is higher than the one you see in the settings, then it does not suit you. Try to find the version that suits you in the Play Market, or if it's not important for you to download this particular application, look for something that can replace it.

Based on the reasons for the error, there are at least 4 ways to fix it.

Reload the app and use a different bootloader or browser

The most common problem with package parsing occurs when uploading files via Opera Mobile. Try to install another browser and download the application again.

To download it:

Open the Play Market.
In the search bar, write "browser", in the lower right corner, click on the button with the magnifying glass (or on the "browser for android" from the list).
Choose the one that suits you.
Click on "Install".

You can also search the Play Market for a file downloader. Probably the problem is with him.

Important! After downloading, be sure to check that the dimensions of the downloaded file match the dimensions indicated on the download site, and the file extension must be named .apk. If you have network interruptions, the file will be downloaded as it is downloaded, without any notifications.

Setting permission to download files from third-party sources

To get permission to download "unsafe" files ("unsafe" means "downloaded from outside the official store") you will need:

Disable antivirus

Antivirus is disabled in the same way as other applications. If you have previously installed any other antivirus application, then you should disable it too.

To solve the problem with running the apk file this way, do the following:

Open "Settings" from the menu. Find the section "Device" in the list and in it - "Applications".
Scroll down the Applications tabs to All. Find Clean Master in the list. (your default junk cleaner app) Click on it.
Click on the "Stop" button.
In the window that opens, click "OK".
The anti-virus will be forcibly stopped. You can turn it on whenever you want. To do this, you need to go to "Settings", find in the "Applications" section, on the "All" tab, Clean Master, scroll down to the "Launch Application" section and click on the "Launch" button. If you have another antivirus application, don't forget to disable that too.

Modifying the manifest file

This method will be useful for you if you edited manifest files and in some way made changes to the AndroidManifest.xml application file. If you really renamed any of the apk-files, rename it back. For example, if you renamed a file to File1.apk when its original name was File.apk, then you will need to erase one of the names.

A few more methods to fix the error

Download file from PC to smartphone

If you are unable to download the apk file to your mobile device, then try downloading it to your PC, and then transfer it. For this:

Open the Google Play website from a PC or laptop.
Select the app you would like to download. Copy its address in the address bar.
In a new tab open https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/
Paste the copied address into the Google Play URL field, click on the generate download link button.
You will see the file name, size, version and download button. Click on it.
Connect your mobile device to your laptop or PC.
Place the downloaded file in a folder on your phone using Explorer.
Start it up.

If you have any difficulties downloading the apk file from the proposed site, you can use the others:

https://apkpure.com/
https://apk-dl.com/
http://www.apkmirror.com/
http://apkleecher.com/
https://apkplz.com/
https://apkpure.co/apk-downloader/

Debug via USB

This is not a necessary fix for a parse error, but sometimes it can be effective.

To debug a device over USB, you need to acquire developer rights. To do this, do the following:

Clean up the system with Clean Master

Sometimes a reliable way is to clean the system of residual data and apk files. Cleaning can be done both with the standard Clean Master application, or with any that you use.

To clean the system with the Clean Master utility, you should:

Reset to factory settings

There are several ways to reset Android settings. The most common:

enter the reset code in the "Contacts" menu.
programmatically restart the system through the "Settings".
restart it via Recovery by pressing certain buttons and selecting menu items.

Enter reset code

This method does not give a 100% guarantee that the system will be restarted, but it is the easiest. To enter the code, do the following:

Open the app you are using to make calls. "Telephone" or something else.
Enter the secret code: * # * # 7780 # * # * - for instant reset to initial settings (Hard Reset), only applications will be deleted; * 2767 * 3855 # - to completely reinstall Android.
Press the call button.

If you want to know the secret codes for your device, download the Secret Codes app. Can be found on the Play Market.

Restart the system programmatically

This will allow you to perform a factory reset using the OS itself.

In the "Settings" find the item "Restore and reset".
Find the "Factory Reset" section. Click on "Factory data reset".
In the "Reset settings" window, you will see all the accounts with which your device is synced. Click on the "Reset phone settings" button.
Confirm your choice by clicking "Erase everything".

Restart the system via Recovery

This method is suitable for you if you cannot recover the password or cannot turn on the device in principle.

Important! There are several combinations for a factory reset:

"Turn up the volume" + "Turn on";
"Turn up the volume" + "Turn on" + "Home";
"Turn up and turn down the volume at the same time" + "Turn on".

Also, the volume control buttons and the on / off button can be used to navigate through menu items and make selections. "Volume control" - "Up / Down", "Enable" - "Select". In some cases, the menu can be touch-sensitive.

What do we have to do:

Turn off the device.
Hold the buttons until you see the device turn on. If it doesn't work, hold down the other keys.
From the ClockworldMod Recovery menu select "wipe data / factory reset".
Click OK if prompted. Give permission to delete all user data by clicking on "Yes - delete all user data".
Restart the system by choosing "reboot system now".

Features of error elimination for Android versions below 4.0

In the event that an earlier version of Android is installed on your device, then when downloading the apk file, you may encounter other difficulties.

Check the name of the downloaded apk file carefully. The system may keep it incorrect. For example, instead of "greader_2.4.8.apk" you can get "greader_% 282.4.8% 29.apk". Remove any extra characters.
You may have problems connecting your device to your PC using the USB cable.
Chances are high that you will not be able to download updates from Google Play. In this case, the best option would be to upgrade the OS version to a higher version.

The problem of parsing the Android package can be fixed in different ways, and in the future if this happens again, you will know what to do with it.

When downloading applications and launching them, Android users sometimes come across this text: "Package parsing error" , and the application itself completely refuses to work. The reasons for this are as follows:

The smartphone and its operating system do not meet the requirements.
Application files are corrupted during download or installation.
The original.apk file has been changed.
Antivirus work.
Disabled developer mode and not enabled USB debugging.

“The appearance of the interface and settings in the screenshots may differ from yours. My device: Samsung J5 2016 with Android version 6.0.1. The difference in appearance does not affect the sequence of actions. "

How to fix?

There is a whole chain of ways to fix it. Let's start with the easiest ones.

Does your phone meet the requirements?

Not all developers are attentive to users. Therefore, in the description of some applications, the requirements for the Android version may not be specified. Thus, having Android 5.1.1 installed and downloading the application for Android 6.0.1, you will most likely receive a parsing error. Therefore, it is recommended to find out which version of Android is required for a particular program.

Most often, the system requirements for a smartphone or tablet can be found in the “additional information” tab in the application description. Also, some developers indicate system requirements in the text of the description itself.

"The text in the screenshot was translated using the program"

Disable your antivirus

It was the included antivirus that often led to the fact that applications were installed incorrectly, and then knocked out a parsing error. You can disable the antivirus in the menu of the antiviruses themselves.

Antivirus software was originally designed to combat malware. But, today the developers of security software strive to protect users as much as possible. Therefore, any downloaded APK file immediately falls under suspicion. At best, the antivirus will simply not allow it to run, and sometimes even remove it without asking permission. It is the obstacles to running APK files that cause the parsing error.

Enable the ability to install apps from unknown sources

This function blocks the installation of applications downloaded from third-party sites in the form of APK files. If you try to install an application downloaded from a third-party resource without such permission, you will most likely get a parsing error.

The function of blocking the installation of applications downloaded from other sources is made to protect your smartphone or tablet from malware. When activated, you can only download applications from the Google Play Store.

In order to allow installation from unknown sources, you need to change this parameter in the settings. Therefore, select “Lock screen and security” or simply “Security” depending on your version of Android. Next, just click the switch to “Unknown sources”. Agree to the warning in the pop-up window. Ready!

Enable USB Debugging

USB debugging is one of the anomalous issues that prevents some applications from installing and working for unknown reasons. A large number of users commented that after turning it on, the parsing error disappeared and the applications worked fine.

To do this, you first need to enable developer mode. To do this, go to the settings, select the "About device" item. Next, go to the "Software Information" tab. We need the "Build number".

Now just hold and hold “Build Number” for 5 seconds. After that, a message will appear stating that the developer mode is enabled or has already been enabled earlier. The mode itself does not void the device's warranty and is completely safe. After the completion of the operation, you do not need to leave it, since it does not affect the device if you have not changed the settings in it.

Now enable USB debugging

To do this, in the settings you need to go to the "Developer options" item. In it, make sure the top switch is in the “On” position. Next, enable USB debugging itself.

Make sure to fully download the APK file and it is not corrupted

To do this, you can compare the downloaded file size and the estimated file size. It is also advisable to fully control the download process. If at some point it is interrupted, you will receive a corrupted APK file and the application will be installed with an error.

It is also recommended to change the source from which you download the APK file. Some websites may have corrupted and broken application files. It is best to download the app from popular sites with a large audience and reviews.

For greater assurance, you can delete the already downloaded file and download it again.

Don't modify the APK file after downloading

There is no need to rename the file or somehow change it after downloading. This can introduce a parsing error and prevent it from being installed. Therefore, if you changed the name of the file, rename it back.

If you changed something in the file itself, then you need to return everything to the past state. If this is not possible, then download the application again. Quite often, using Root access or special applications, users make small changes that lead to errors in the application. For example, some programs can only work when they are showing ads.

Transfer an already installed app from another device

This can be done using the SHAR Eit utility. It allows you to transfer any files from one smartphone to another, including installed applications. The utility itself is absolutely free and available in the Google Play Store.

Outcomes

The parsing error is one of the Android operating system issues that developers still need to work on. But, it is also often the fault of the application developers or the users themselves.

Solving the problem of a parsing error does not take much time and does not require special knowledge. By following the steps given in the instructions, you can solve this problem.

Applications and games can be installed on an Android smartphone not only from the store, but also from executable APK files containing all the application code, resources, libraries and manifest. In this form, Android applications are found mainly on third-party sites, torrents and other specialized Internet resources. There are utilities that allow you to download APK packages directly from Google Play. This is, for example, the portable utility Raccoon.

Installing an application from an APK file is very simple, just open it with the standard Android Explorer, after making sure that installation from unknown sources is allowed in the phone settings. Alas, the installation is not always smooth, and in the process you may encounter various errors, of which the most common is an error when parsing an Android package. By the way, the user is not insured against it even when installing applications from the Google Store.

There are several reasons for the error. You will have to face it if:

due to a disconnected Internet connection, the APK did not load completely;
the installation file has been damaged or modified;
the version of the application is incompatible with the version of the operating system or does not meet the hardware requirements;
the settings do not allow installation from unknown sources;
the file extension contains Cyrillic characters;
the manifest file was compiled incorrectly.

The failure can also be caused by the antivirus blocking the installation procedure, unintentional renaming of an APK file, or an attempt to install from a file transmitted as an email attachment. In general, an error occurred while parsing a package means that the operating system could not correctly recognize the installation file. Is the situation hopeless? Not always. In some cases, the problem can be fixed, in others you will have to look for another download source, it all depends on the original cause.

Checking Compatibility Settings

So, how to fix an error while parsing a package on Android? If this is your first time installing an app from an APK file, or after a system reset, check if you have permission to install software from unknown sources enabled. To do this, go to Settings - Security and set the "Unknown sources" switch to the "On" position.

Is this setting okay? Let's move on to checking the compatibility of the installation file with the operating system. On Google Play and on popular sites with Android software, in addition to the version of the application or game, the minimum system requirements are indicated. For example, the site states that the application works on Android 5.0 and higher.

We go into the device settings, select "About phone" or "About tablet" and see the version.

If it is lower than what is required on the site, you will not be able to install the application in the usual way, look for an older version for your system or install a fresh firmware. There are also programs that require a corresponding hardware module on the device. If the latter is not present, a parsing error may occur during installation. However, if the application is installed, it will not be useful.

Installing apps in compatibility mode

Alternatively, you can try to "trick" the system by changing the minimum requirements specified in the application manifest file. To do this, you will need a table of correspondences between the Android version of the API SDK and a special editor APK Editor Pro... The first step is to determine the API version of your operating system. We go to the site docs.microsoft.com/en-us/xamarin/android/app-fundamentals/android-api-levels, we find the OS version in the table of correspondences (it is indicated in brackets) and immediately look at the API index.

For example, Android 6.0 corresponds to API 23, and Android 5.1 to API 22. We remember it, run the APK Editor Pro application and open the APK installation file in it. Select the "Edit Resources" option, click the "Manifest" button at the bottom of the window and find the line in the manifest file (usually AndroidManifest.xml) ... We replace the value of the minSdkVersion parameter, in this example 22, with the version of the API of your system and save the changes.

After a few seconds, the editor will report the name and location of the new APK file. That's all, you can try to install the program "tailored" for your version of Android.

Broken and renamed installation files

If the error "There was a problem parsing the package" error and further does not allow installing the application, download the installation file from another resource, it is possible that the one from which you are trying to install the program is damaged. If the file cannot be downloaded directly to your mobile device, download it to your computer, and then transfer it to your phone using a cable or memory card. Before that, you can eliminate problems with the name and extension of the installation package. Manually rename the file extension to apk, and at the same time make sure that the name of the installation file matches the name of the program on the website.

when installing the APK file: reasons

First of all, you need to pay attention to the most elementary things. So, for example, the option is not excluded that the installation file itself is either not downloaded or is simply damaged. Most often this applies to situations when the file is not taken from the Market), but downloaded from the Internet.

However, the most common phenomena can be called, say, the moment that the APK installation file is not designed for the version of Android OS currently used on the device, as well as the fact that the system settings simply block the installation of third-party files not obtained from an official source (in in our case, this is the Play Market service).

If we consider the default settings, it is easy to guess that the "operating system", in fact, prohibits the installation of user applications. So it turns out that on "Android" it becomes impossible due to the current restrictions on the part of the system itself. However, there is always a way out, as they say.

Syntax error: how to fix (Android)?

In some cases, the appearance of an installation error with the blocking of the corresponding file may be accompanied by a notification about the lack of free space. Don't be upset. Everything is in order with the gadget. It's just that the syntax error itself when installing the APK file manifests itself in this way.

To fix access to the installation, you need to perform simple steps. It all comes down to turning off bans. In its simplest form, you need to use the settings menu, where you select security options. There is a special field "Unknown sources" here. Its activation (checkmark opposite) and involves setting permissions for installing applications from third-party distributions.

If the syntax error appears again when installing the APK distribution kit (most often it is associated with the parsing of the installed application), you should pay attention to the state of the package itself. You can try downloading it again and reinstalling it.

Along the way, you need to look at which version of the system this program is designed for. For example, an application is designed for use on Android 5.1 Lollipop, and the user is trying to install it on 4.2 Jelly Bean or 4.4 KitKat. It is clear that the operating system itself will simply not accept it (it will not recognize that it will work in this environment). An analogy with Windows can be made here. Not a single application, for example, for Windows 7 or 8 in the Windows XP environment will not start, but will not even be installed (this is to make it clear). The same is the case with Android modifications.

In this case, you will need to find an installation file designed specifically for the version of the system that is used on the gadget. By the way, sometimes this situation may appear in the case of self-installation of some types of firmware. Here, no one can guarantee that the installation will be successful.

Outcome

However, as we can see, the error situation can be corrected quite simply. True, in most cases this applies to non-flashed Android systems. As for the rest, the most basic settings allow you to avoid errors in the future.

At the time of its inception, it could not boast of stable operation, which caused a smile from competitors whose devices were running iOS, Windows Mobile and Symbian. However, time has put everything in its place. Today, most mobile gadgets are powered by the Android system, which has evolved from a glitchy misunderstanding into a reliable debugged software tool.

Unfortunately, even now, sometimes errors can occur during the functioning of Android devices. In the informational article below, we will figure out how to fix an error that occurs when parsing a package on an Android device. A general description of the problem will be given and ways out of this situation will be suggested.

Reasons for an error when parsing a package in Android

An error related to parsing the syntax of an Android package can be caused by a number of different factors. Below are the main methods for solving the problems caused by this problem.

It's important to know

The error most often occurs due to rash actions of the user, although sometimes it occurs due to the settings of the mobile system. In addition, one should not exclude the action of security programs and various factors associated with downloading (installing) applications in the Android operating system.

Let's look at various methods for solving the problem.

Method 1: Revert the manifest file in the Android package to its original form

Advanced Android users know that the final APK installation package of an application can be modified. The main interest is usually the so-called manifest-file containing information about the program. Often, experimenting enthusiasts change the contents of this important container in order to reduce the system requirements for the hardware and install it on a device that was not initially supported by the developer.

It is not hard to guess that quite often such abuses of the manifest file during the installation of a modified application lead to an error when parsing the Android package. How do I fix it? The procedure for this situation is simple:

As a rule, after the above manipulations, problems with installing the package do not arise.

Will be useful

In order not to suffer for a long time with editing the contents of the manifest file when returning it to its original form, it is easier to make a copy of it before starting the "experiments", which can be easily returned to its place if necessary.

Method 2. Allow installation of applications from unknown sources

If you install the application not from the official Google Play Market, but run the APK file downloaded separately, you can get a syntax error on Android. How to fix the situation in this situation? Maybe, the reason lies in the system settings and you just need to allow it. To do this, you will need to perform the following manipulations:

Method 3. Disable anti-virus protection

If the installed anti-virus utility blocks the installation of suspicious files, a syntax error may occur on Android. Let's figure out how to fix it in a similar situation. In fact, this is quite simple to do. Let's consider the procedure using the example of the DrWeb antivirus program:

note

It is recommended to disable the real-time protection provided by the antivirus module only if the user is completely sure of the "cleanliness" of the installed application, otherwise you can seriously harm the mobile device.

Method 4. Eliminate the use of a damaged or underloaded APK installation file

Quite often, an error in parsing an Android package occurs when trying to install an application from a corrupted distribution file. The APK container can be damaged during the process of downloading the program or writing it to the memory of the mobile device. If the file is not fully downloaded, it is easy to calculate by comparing the size of the downloaded APK with the size indicated on the web page from which the distribution is downloaded.

In this case, you just need to repeat the download of the APK package and restart the installation process.

Method 5. Enabling USB debugging in developer mode

In theory, it shouldn't affect the installation of apps, but according to many mobile users, it was the activation of this mode that helped them get rid of the error when parsing the Android package.

The order of actions required to enable USB debugging is as follows:

Method 6. Check the compatibility of the system requirements of the application with the parameters of the gadget

Many modern applications may simply not support the outdated hardware of the mobile device they are installing on. This situation can cause an error when parsing the syntax of the Android package. It is recommended that you carefully read the system requirements before installing, provided on the web page from which the program installation file is downloaded.

Of course, the discrepancy between the system requirements does not necessarily mean that the program will refuse to work with the proposed hardware component of the Android device. An attempt to install and run a game or utility you like will not damage your mobile device.

Method 7. Checking the device for malicious files

All electronic devices are susceptible to infection by viruses with a careless attitude of the user to security and protection issues. Sometimes the activity of electronic pests can cause an error during the installation of the application when parsing the Android package. Let's see how to fix the situation in this situation.