Flutter update app without play store

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How to Update a Flutter App without the Play Store

Updating a Flutter app without using the Play Store involves a few steps. Here’s a detailed explanation with examples:

Step 1: Obtain an APK file

First, you need to generate an APK file of your updated app. This can be done by running the following command in the terminal:

flutter build apk

After the command completes, you will get an APK file in the project’s build directory.

Step 2: Code for app update in Flutter

In your Flutter app, you can implement the update functionality by using a package like “flutter_updater”. This package allows you to check for updates and install them programmatically.

First, you need to add the package to your pubspec.yaml file:

dependencies:
  flutter_updater: ^[version]

Replace [version] with the desired version of the package.

Next, import the package in your Dart file:

import 'package:flutter_updater/flutter_updater.dart';

Now, you can use the functions provided by the package to check for updates and install them. For example, you can use the following code:

void checkAndInstallUpdate() async {
  Updater updater = Updater();
  UpdateStatus updateStatus = await updater.checkForUpdate();

  if (updateStatus == UpdateStatus.updateAvailable) {
    await updater.update();
  }
}

This code checks for updates using the “checkForUpdate” function, and if an update is available, it installs it using the “update” function.

Step 3: Distribute the APK file

Once you have the updated APK file, you can distribute it to your users. There are various ways to do this:

  • Host the APK file on a website or cloud storage and provide a download link to your users.
  • Send the APK file via email or any other secure file sharing method.
  • Use a third-party app distribution service like Fabric or Firebase App Distribution.

Remember to provide clear instructions to your users on how to install the APK file on their devices. They may need to enable “Unknown sources” in their device settings to allow installations from sources other than the Play Store.

Step 4: Update the app

When users receive the updated APK file, they can install it by following these steps:

  1. Open the file manager or the file explorer app on their device.
  2. Navigate to the location where the APK file is saved.
  3. Tap on the APK file to start the installation process.
  4. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

After the installation is complete, the app will be updated to the latest version.

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