android - How to notify the users about an app update?

Android - How to notify the users about an app update?

To notify users about an app update on Android, you can use the following methods:

  1. In-App Update API
  2. Firebase Remote Config
  3. Custom Notification through Push Notifications
  4. In-App Dialog Prompt

1. In-App Update API

The In-App Update API is provided by Google Play and allows your app to prompt users to update directly from within the app. This is the most integrated and user-friendly way to notify users about updates.

Step 1: Add Dependencies

Add the Play Core library dependency to your build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.google.android.play:core:1.10.3'

Step 2: Check for Updates

In your activity, use the AppUpdateManager to check for updates.

import com.google.android.play.core.appupdate.AppUpdateManager import com.google.android.play.core.appupdate.AppUpdateManagerFactory import com.google.android.play.core.appupdate.AppUpdateInfo import com.google.android.play.core.install.model.AppUpdateType import com.google.android.play.core.install.model.UpdateAvailability import android.app.Activity import android.os.Bundle import com.google.android.play.core.tasks.Task class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() { private lateinit var appUpdateManager: AppUpdateManager private val REQUEST_UPDATE = 100 override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState) setContentView(R.layout.activity_main) appUpdateManager = AppUpdateManagerFactory.create(this) // Check for updates val appUpdateInfoTask: Task<AppUpdateInfo> = appUpdateManager.appUpdateInfo appUpdateInfoTask.addOnSuccessListener { appUpdateInfo -> if (appUpdateInfo.updateAvailability() == UpdateAvailability.UPDATE_AVAILABLE && appUpdateInfo.isUpdateTypeAllowed(AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE)) { // Request the update appUpdateManager.startUpdateFlowForResult( appUpdateInfo, AppUpdateType.IMMEDIATE, this, REQUEST_UPDATE ) } } } override fun onActivityResult(requestCode: Int, resultCode: Int, data: Intent?) { super.onActivityResult(requestCode, resultCode, data) if (requestCode == REQUEST_UPDATE) { if (resultCode != Activity.RESULT_OK) { // Handle update failure Toast.makeText(this, "Update failed", Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show() } } } }

2. Firebase Remote Config

Firebase Remote Config can be used to notify users about updates by showing a prompt when a new version is available.

Step 1: Add Dependencies

Add the Firebase Remote Config dependency to your build.gradle file:

implementation 'com.google.firebase:firebase-config:21.0.1'

Step 2: Fetch Configurations

In your activity, fetch the configurations and show a dialog if an update is available.

import com.google.firebase.remoteconfig.FirebaseRemoteConfig import com.google.firebase.remoteconfig.FirebaseRemoteConfigSettings import android.os.Bundle import androidx.appcompat.app.AlertDialog import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() { private lateinit var remoteConfig: FirebaseRemoteConfig override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState) setContentView(R.layout.activity_main) remoteConfig = FirebaseRemoteConfig.getInstance() val configSettings = FirebaseRemoteConfigSettings.Builder() .setMinimumFetchIntervalInSeconds(3600) .build() remoteConfig.setConfigSettingsAsync(configSettings) remoteConfig.setDefaultsAsync(R.xml.remote_config_defaults) remoteConfig.fetchAndActivate() .addOnCompleteListener(this) { task -> if (task.isSuccessful) { val updated = task.result if (updated) { checkForUpdate() } } } } private fun checkForUpdate() { val newVersionCode = remoteConfig.getLong("latest_version_code").toInt() val currentVersionCode = BuildConfig.VERSION_CODE if (newVersionCode > currentVersionCode) { AlertDialog.Builder(this) .setTitle("Update Available") .setMessage("A new version of the app is available. Please update to the latest version.") .setPositiveButton("Update") { _, _ -> // Redirect to Play Store val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=$packageName")) startActivity(intent) } .setNegativeButton("Later", null) .show() } } }

3. Custom Notification through Push Notifications

You can use Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) to send a push notification to users about an app update.

Step 1: Set Up FCM

Follow the Firebase Cloud Messaging setup guide to set up FCM in your app.

Step 2: Send Notification

Send a push notification from the Firebase console or your backend when a new version is available, prompting users to update.

4. In-App Dialog Prompt

You can implement your own logic to check the version and show an update dialog.

Step 1: Check Version from Server

Maintain a version code on your server and compare it with the current app version. If an update is available, show a dialog.

import android.os.Bundle import androidx.appcompat.app.AlertDialog import androidx.appcompat.app.AppCompatActivity import okhttp3.OkHttpClient import okhttp3.Request import org.json.JSONObject class MainActivity : AppCompatActivity() { override fun onCreate(savedInstanceState: Bundle?) { super.onCreate(savedInstanceState) setContentView(R.layout.activity_main) checkForUpdate() } private fun checkForUpdate() { val client = OkHttpClient() val request = Request.Builder() .url("https://yourserver.com/latest_version.json") .build() client.newCall(request).enqueue(object : okhttp3.Callback { override fun onFailure(call: okhttp3.Call, e: IOException) { e.printStackTrace() } override fun onResponse(call: okhttp3.Call, response: okhttp3.Response) { if (response.isSuccessful) { val json = JSONObject(response.body?.string()) val latestVersionCode = json.getInt("latest_version_code") val currentVersionCode = BuildConfig.VERSION_CODE if (latestVersionCode > currentVersionCode) { runOnUiThread { AlertDialog.Builder(this@MainActivity) .setTitle("Update Available") .setMessage("A new version of the app is available. Please update to the latest version.") .setPositiveButton("Update") { _, _ -> val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=$packageName")) startActivity(intent) } .setNegativeButton("Later", null) .show() } } } } }) } }

Summary

Examples

  1. Android app update notification example Description: Notify users about an available app update using a notification.

    // Check for update in your activity or service if (isNewUpdateAvailable()) { // Create a notification channel (required for API 26+) createNotificationChannel(); // Build the notification NotificationCompat.Builder builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(context, CHANNEL_ID) .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_notification) .setContentTitle("New Update Available") .setContentText("Tap to download and install the latest version.") .setPriority(NotificationCompat.PRIORITY_DEFAULT) .setAutoCancel(true); // Open Play Store on notification tap Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + context.getPackageName())); PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(context, 0, intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT); builder.setContentIntent(pendingIntent); // Show the notification NotificationManagerCompat notificationManager = NotificationManagerCompat.from(context); notificationManager.notify(notificationId, builder.build()); }

  2. Android show update notification from background service Description: Trigger an app update notification from a background service or worker.

    public class UpdateCheckService extends Service { @Override public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) { if (isNewUpdateAvailable()) { // Show update notification showUpdateNotification(); } return START_NOT_STICKY; } private void showUpdateNotification() { // Build and show the notification (same as previous example) } // Other service methods... }

  3. Android app update notification with Firebase Cloud Messaging (FCM) Description: Use FCM to notify users about an app update.

    // FirebaseMessagingService class public class MyFirebaseMessagingService extends FirebaseMessagingService { @Override public void onMessageReceived(RemoteMessage remoteMessage) { if (remoteMessage.getData().containsKey("update_available")) { // Show update notification showUpdateNotification(); } } private void showUpdateNotification() { // Build and show the notification (similar to previous examples) } }

  4. Notify users about Android app update programmatically Description: Programmatic approach to notify users about an app update without Firebase.

    if (isNewUpdateAvailable()) { // Show update dialog or notification showUpdateNotification(); } private void showUpdateNotification() { // Build and show the notification (same as previous examples) }

  5. Android in-app update notification example Description: Notify users about an available app update directly within the app interface.

    AlertDialog.Builder builder = new AlertDialog.Builder(context); builder.setTitle("New Update Available"); builder.setMessage("A new version of the app is available. Update now?"); builder.setPositiveButton("Update", new DialogInterface.OnClickListener() { @Override public void onClick(DialogInterface dialog, int which) { // Open Play Store for update Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("market://details?id=" + context.getPackageName())); startActivity(intent); } }); builder.setNegativeButton("Cancel", null); AlertDialog dialog = builder.create(); dialog.show();

  6. Android app update notification with custom update URL Description: Notify users about an app update with a custom URL for downloading the update.

    Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, Uri.parse("https://custom-update-url.com")); PendingIntent pendingIntent = PendingIntent.getActivity(context, 0, intent, PendingIntent.FLAG_UPDATE_CURRENT); builder.setContentIntent(pendingIntent);

  7. Notify users about app update with custom notification icon Description: Customize the notification icon when notifying users about an app update.

    NotificationCompat.Builder builder = new NotificationCompat.Builder(context, CHANNEL_ID) .setSmallIcon(R.drawable.ic_custom_notification) .setContentTitle("New Update Available") .setContentText("Tap to download and install the latest version.");

  8. Android app update notification with release notes Description: Notify users about an app update and include release notes in the notification.

    // Include release notes in the notification content builder.setContentText("Tap to download and install the latest version.\nRelease Notes:\n- Bug fixes\n- Performance improvements");

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