Can't sideload official Samsung apks, so how to update? - Samsung Galaxy S9+ Questions & Answers

Hi there,
I subscribed to the Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. RSS feed on APKMirror so I see every update of the Samsung apps that get posted, but I've never been able to sideload the apks of Samsung's system apps.
From what I understand of my readings here and there, Samsung decided to lock the apks of their system apps so that they can't be downloaded from websites like APKMirror and be sideloaded.
Still, those apps don't always get updates from the Galaxy Store or Google Play Store.
If I take the example of the Samsung Gallery app only, on my device (which I updated to the latest security patch on Feb. 22nd), I got version 10.0.01.19, while APKMirror already has version 10.0.01.22 dated Feb. 23rd and even version 10.0.03.7 dated Feb. 24th (all of which being supposedly compatible with my device as they are "noarch" and "nodpi")!
So my questions are:
- when the hell do they get updated? (Possibly bundled with monthly security updates?)
- how can I install the latest versions if the updates are not listed in Galaxy Store and/or Google PlayStore?
- why are there frequent updates if they can't be installed?
Hope someone can answer those questions, I really can't wrap my head around this.

Related

[Q] Purchased Apps Forever Include Updates/New Versions?

Hey guys, sorry for the rookie question here but it seems so general that I'm having difficulty finding the answer.
So I'm new to android and read that your purchased apps are forever linked to your google account, so that you can always and forever use paid apps on all your devices.
I just want to know, will you always have updates to the newest version of the apps you paid for?
I've had weather bug elite since the middle of 2010, xda premium, and titanium backup since last year. Not the most updated apps but I still get updates.
Sent from my Hot Cream Sandwich
The short: Yes
The long: Only if the dev isn't a ****
An app gets a UUID of sorts when it's added to the market, so not only are those IDs tagged to your google account but assuming the dev updates the app the ID won't change.
Of course this doesn't stop a developer from renaming the app something else and uploading it to the market again.

How does google know if a rom was built after March 16th, 2018?

I saw the article about google blocking uncertified devices/roms from using google apps including the play store if said rom was compiled/built after March 16th, 2018 but I was wondering how they would know that. According to the article they use ro.build.fingerprint but I have checked that value in several roms and there doesn't appear to be any kind of timestamp in the fingerprint string.

Restricted user app selection after Oreo not working

I use restricted user profiles on the S3 to only allow my children to only access a restricted list of apps I download from the Play Store. It seems that any NEW apps that I download from the play store after the Oreo update do not show up in the list of apps (Settings > Cloud and accounts > Users, select a restricted user).
I did a factory reset this morning, and still no luck. Now only stock apps show up.
I chatted with Samsung this morning, and they want me to take it to the local walk-in Samsung clinic to have it looked at. This seems like a software issue - not a hardware issue. Perhaps Oreo changes the way this feature works - and it is an android issue not a Samsung one?
As a troubleshooting step, would any of you be willing to setup a restricted account on your S3, download a few play store apps and see if they show up to be able to enabled for the restricted account? No matter what I do, only the stock apps show up. It would be helpful to know if others have the problem as well.
I'm having the same problem, we're you able to find a solution? Only happened after the oreo update.
Nigle said:
I'm having the same problem, we're you able to find a solution? Only happened after the oreo update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for reporting your experience with this to this thread. No solution as of yet. Now that I know someone else is having the same issue, I will try Samsung support again and let them know it is a problem with Oreo for all users - not just my tablet. Unfortunately, I'm guessing the best we can hope for is that it gets Samsung's attention to be included in the next update - which will likely be some time from now.
Update: I installed the Smart Tutor app from the Play Store which allowed a Samsung Support rep to see the issue. They agreed that it was not working as it should and opened issue ticket #2194272620. Hopefully this ticket will allow the issue to be noticed and fixed in a future update.
bthurber said:
Thank you for reporting your experience with this to this thread. No solution as of yet. Now that I know someone else is having the same issue, I will try Samsung support again and let them know it is a problem with Oreo for all users - not just my tablet. Unfortunately, I'm guessing the best we can hope for is that it gets Samsung's attention to be included in the next update - which will likely be some time from now.
Update: I installed the Smart Tutor app from the Play Store which allowed a Samsung Support rep to see the issue. They agreed that it was not working as it should and opened issue ticket #2194272620. Hopefully this ticket will allow the issue to be noticed and fixed in a future update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick follow up! It's good that they finally acknowledged the issue at least.
Stumbled upon pretty much the same issue when I wanted to create a new restricted user account.
Before the update to Oreo; I had already a restricted account. That one has still the possibility to change the 'run' permission for apps. Not sure if it also works for new installed - I haven't tested that.
de_perre said:
I had already a restricted account. That one has still the possibility to change the 'run' permission for apps. Not sure if it also works for new installed - I haven't tested that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience was that new installed apps would not show up for the existing restricted accounts.
It will be interesting to see if the Tab S4 has this same problem
Hi all together!
Same problem here! This is a mandatory feature for me to share the tablet with my kids. Seems that the oreo update ****ed it up.
The bored Samsung support guy asked me to do a factory reset, and now, after 3 hours of configuration it still doesn't work.
Grrr !!! before the factory reset I had at least these apps working in the restricted profile I configured under android 7.
And ideas? Any update from Samsung ticket you opened?
Regards from cologne, Germany
Sui
No new ideas. I am USA but I noticed the korea build was a bit newer so I tried installing that. That didn't help but was interesting.
My understanding from the Samsung rep was that others could call and give the ticket number to get status and add a
"Me too" to it and that may help it get more attention
Having same issue on my Galaxy Tab S3 after Android 8.0.0 install. Did factor reset and still not working. Contacted Samsung using a Samsung Community of "Restricted Profile - New Apps not listed in App and Content Access Menu" and after Samsung suggesting a factory reset, which did not fix problem, they private messaged me to contact Google. I am struggling as there appears to be no way to contact Google for a response other than the mounds of help websites that do not acknowledge or provide fixes. As a parent who is trying to restrict my children's use of tablet to choke off internet and inappropriate items, I am at a loss for now and my kids are whining that they cannot play on any new apps without bugging me to let them use my signon; totally unacceptable.,
Same problem (Samsung Galaxy Tab A6, android oreo 8.1). Completely ruins my restricted account setup for the kids. They're not happy and neither am I!
Solution
"Same problem (Samsung Galaxy Tab A6, android oreo 8.1). Completely ruins my restricted account setup for the kids. They're not happy and neither am I!"
Give restricted account permission to use chrome and search for the app you require as an apk. Then install from that.
99% of apps can be found as an apk so it works as a solution until android gets there acts together and sorts it out.
Same here. I just upgraded my Galaxy Tab 10 A6 T580 to Oreo 8.1.
My kids keep asking when they can get the tablet back...
Same problem here after the Oreo update.
Old restricted accounts still have their previously enabled apps, new restricted accounts only get standard Google/Samsung apps.
New apps installed under Oreo from the Play Store do not show up in the app restrictions list.
Somehow, as restricted users also cannot use the Play Store directly, how are they supposed to get any app other than the standard ones?
This is a bug, not a feature.
If it should prevail, I will dump my Android devices and get Apple iOS phones/tablets for the rest of the family.
Same problem here too. I installed few apps after i upgraded my Galaxy Tab 10 A6 T580 to Oreo 8.1. They are not shown..so even resetted the device. Now all is gone on the redtricted users...
My kids also want to get the tablet back...
If anyone has a solution...pls let me know how!
I talked to the Samsung Germany support on Thursday. They know about and acknowledged the problem, however, there is no cure. The technician I talked to hypothesized about the upcoming Android P (roll-out to Samsung devices is planned for 2019) may fix the issue.
The point is, restricted users may also not use the Play Store to install new apps, so in effect, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY to get any apps except the standard stock apps into a restricted user's account. That does not make any sense at all.
Unless this is really intended (making the restricted account option useless), this looks like a gross oversight in QA on behalf of Samsung.
I'll see how this develops. My immediate solution is to use MobileFence to restrict my kids' accounts on mobiles and tablets (working with normal user accounts).
--j.
Scott_B1 said:
Having same issue on my Galaxy Tab S3 after Android 8.0.0 install. Did factor reset and still not working. Contacted Samsung using a Samsung Community of "Restricted Profile - New Apps not listed in App and Content Access Menu" and after Samsung suggesting a factory reset, which did not fix problem, they private messaged me to contact Google. I am struggling as there appears to be no way to contact Google for a response other than the mounds of help websites that do not acknowledge or provide fixes. As a parent who is trying to restrict my children's use of tablet to choke off internet and inappropriate items, I am at a loss for now and my kids are whining that they cannot play on any new apps without bugging me to let them use my signon; totally unacceptable.,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem, Galaxy Tab A 10.5 (2018), Android 8.1.0 - massively frustrating!
Same problem here - is there any point in contacting Samsung to log this?
Any work around anyone can recommend? We use the tablets for a lot of lessons and set reading and the kids can't even access Kindle on it any more. I saw someone recommended Mobile Fence already, thanks.
It's causing major family tension because of how it's affecting Minecraft too. Huge frustrations.
Same here. I wonder why restricted user feature persists, it is useless now. A can assign only application installed before upgrade to Android 7.x, now on 8.1 and still no new app for assigning to restricted user.
Samsung Tab A6 (2016).
Same problem, subscribing to thread just to be able to see if there is any resolution.

Manage security by not updating Google and some other apps - is it a good idea ?

Hi, I'm increasingly concerned by snooping and overreach from Google and State actors, and thought one way to limit their reach into my device is by not updating their apps and staying on older stable versions - I think I understand the balance between missing out on new security/bug fixes/features/etc.
I'm using an Android One phone which I do update when security patches are released, so it's only the apps that are backward versions.
What do others think about this approach, or is there an alternative method to keep Google and 5/14 Eyes out of my junk?

Question No option to share screenshot of ticket barcode with Google Pay

I've tried uninstalling and reinstalling goole pay to no avail
any ideas
following these instructions https://support.google.com/googlepay/answer/10312100?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android
Thanks
You're not crazy -- it's February 2022 and I cannot remember this feature ever working with a screenshot. I have not tried very often since COVID came into effect and I've not had a lot of ticket\events\planes the past two years, but here's the info I can dig up to help you ou and feel better about it. You made me dig into it again and look at my old Google Pixel 1 to see if I could make it work on there.
In the meantime, this app was mentioned on XDA a few years ago and I have found it to be useful still for making custom Google Pay cards to add:
Pass2Pay - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=color.dev.com.tangerine
I am in the Beta, have not used it really in a while but it works when the Google Pay method is either "broke" or if the app developer has never implemented it correctly.
Here is some info I found to the Google Pay "boarding pass" problem.
By 2020, the Board Pass \ other tickets should have been able to add to Google Pay through a screenshot on a Pixel 3 or 4. I have not been able to replicate nor remember this ever appearing for me.
Sources
Google Pay to support adding flight boarding passes w/ screenshot, only on Pixel - Mar. 2nd 2020 | 9to5Google.com
Google support for Google Pay, as linked to by OP.
Walkthrough from NerdsChalk.com with screenshots, but missing the most important: the "save to Google Pay" mentioned in the Support page from Google.
Add loyalty card info from Google support page:
https://support.google.com/pay/merchants/answer/6288965?hl=en
Additionally, there are "two" Google Pay apps still accessible online. You do not need the "old" one in the USA to access the same information:
There is a "GPay" \ Google Pay (OLD app) that is still accessible at the Play Store with the old icon -- however, Google Play Services on Android has removed the rest of the old app so you access only the same "page" you can see in the root\heart of the phone.
Current app, uses the method below to save\access cards somtimes: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.nbu.paisa.user
Old app, just takes you to the Google Play Services' card storage encrypted in your phone: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.walletnfcrel
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some discussion on Reddit searching may help:
* https://www.reddit.com/r/googlepay/
Wow,
Thank you so much for the comprehensive reply.
I'll work through the links when I have a moment
Cheers

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