Changing Target SDK for app compatibility

[trunks_slash]

I am following up on an article I read by @jasonbayton  that was about using adb to force install apps that would otherwise be incompatible. In the article you mentioned that there were no other ways to bypass SDK restrictions, but would it not be possible to change values in the app manifest to accomplish the same thing? Thanks for your time and information!

https://bayton.org/android/android-14-minimum-sdk/#is-it-possible-to-test-the-changes

[jasonbayton]

Hey @trunks_slash 

You can of course change the target SDK version in the app's manifest. That wasn't explicitly stated as by doing so to a newer SDK version, you no longer have an app which targets a too-low API level 🙂

So yes, unequivocally, updating the app to increase this and publishing a new release version would resolve this. Just keep in mind with newer SDK levels come additional requirements and limitations on deprecated APIs, so some things you've relied on in the past may not work in future. 

Here's some reading on SDK targeting if you're interested - 

https://developer.android.com/guide/topics/manifest/uses-sdk-element

[trunks_slash]

Oh I see, would you say that using adb would be a better option for compatibility? My test app is crashing consistently at the menu, but I edited the targetsdk and could have put in the wrong variables.

[jasonbayton · Accepted solution]

You'll have to pull debug logs to understand why that is, could be anything from a typo in the changes you made to a security exception using APIs you no longer have access to. 

ADB is for testing, it's not a production solution. Keeping your app secure and up to date is favourable 🙂

[trunks_slash]

Awesome! Thanks for your help!