Nextcloud-Client (Android): Installing from F-Droid fails with INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE (had it from Play Store before)

📱 Desktop & mobile clients
1

I want to use the Android client from F-Droid instead of the Play Store one, but the installation fails. I had the latter one installed until now and uninstalled it normally. When trying to install the version from F-Droid, I get the following error:

INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE: Existing package com.nextcloud.client signatures do not match newer version; ignoring!

I obviously don’t want to reset my device, but also don’t want to go back to the Play Store version with limited functionality (thanks, Google). Does anyone have an idea how I remove the old signature from cache or to make it work in general?

I have a Google Pixel 8a with Android 15.

2

Uninstall the recently installed version from Google play, befor installing the F-Droid version.

3

That’s exactly what I did before starting this thread: I uninstalled the version from the Play Store and tried installing the one from F-Droid.

I’ve also tried restarting my device and deleting the cache of the Google Play Store app.

4

I have exactly the same problem:

INSTALL_FAILED_UPDATE_INCOMPATIBLE: Existing package com.nextcloud.client signatures do not match newer version; ignoring!

I also uninstalled the play store app.
After getting this error I even reinstalled the playstore app, Deleted all Data via android settings and uninstalled it.
Even with this I get the same error message.

I have Samsung Galaxy A54 5G with Android 14 and OneUI 6.1.

5

Ich habe das Problem gelöst.

Allerdings sind tiefere Androidkenntnisse notwendig:

Ich habe via adb und USB-Debugging mit dem PC folgenden Befehl an mein Handy geschickt:

adb uninstall com.nextcloud.client

Nachdem ich die Bestätigung mit
“Success” erhalten habe, konnte ich Nextcloud via F-Droid installieren.

Das ganze Bedarf folgenden Aktionen:

  • Entwickleroptionen am Handy freischalten
  • USB Debugging am Handy aktivieren
  • adb am PC installieren und je nach OS (vom PC) einrichten
  • adb server starten
  • adb uninstall Befehl abschicken

Das ganze ist natürlich sehr aufwändig, weshalb hierfür eine einfachere Methode wünschenswert wäre

Edit:
Here in english :sweat_smile:
I forgot, that this Forum is in English.

I solved the problem.

However, more advanced Android knowledge is required:

Using ADB and USB debugging, I sent the following command from my PC to my phone:

adb uninstall com.nextcloud.client

After receiving the confirmation message
“Success”, I was able to install Nextcloud via F-Droid.

The entire process requires the following steps:

  • Enable developer options on the phone
  • Activate USB debugging on the phone
  • Install ADB on the PC and configure it according to the PC’s operating system
  • Start the ADB server
  • Send the adb uninstall command

This method is, of course, quite complex, so a simpler solution would be desirable.

6

Das sieht alles stark danach aus, als wäre der Client nicht deinstalliert gewesen. Hast du den Playstore zum Deinstallieren der App verwendet, oder sie direkt in den Android-Settings?

7

@Sven_Jung great job, well done