How to fix Parse Error “There was a problem parsing the package”? Android

You might have encountered the parsing error on android while installing the apps on Android. Whenever you attempt to download and install an app from Play store a pop-up error “There was a problem parsing the package” is propagated and keeps you from installing the app. Learn to fix the parse error on android.solve-there-was-a-problem-parsing-the-package

No, matter what version of Android you’re using or what model and make of the Android phone you are using the parsing error might come up every now and then. But, how to fix “There was a problem parsing the package” on Android and install the apps on Android” Let’s find the solution.

Whats causes the “There was a problem parsing the package” Error

Before we head to the solution, it is suggested to spare some time to understand the error and the causes behind the parse error on Android. However, there are series of problems that can cause Andriod to show a parse error pop-up, but here are the main reasons for Android to display the parse error.

 1. App Not suitable With Current version of Android OS

One of the primary reasons to encounter the parsing error on Android might be related to version conflict between the APK files and the current version of Android OS on the device.

An app designed for latest version of Android might cause the parsing error while installing the app on Android running on an older version of OS. e.g. An app designed for Android Nougat might display the parsing error pop-up if you try to install it on the Android running on Lolipop.

To solve the error it is recommended to update the Android OS to the latest version and try reinstalling the app.

 2. Incomplete APK download

Corrupt or incomplete downloaded APK packages might also be the reason for your android to display the  “There was a problem parsing the package” error pop-up while installing the app.

Make sure to download the complete APK file before you attempt to install it. Also, make sure that the APK you are installing is not corrupt.

3. Security Issues

In order to secure the data and privacy, the Android system imposes some security measures and that can also cause the parsing error while installing the app on Android.

As the Android system is designed to allow the app installation from a trusted source like Playstore.

An attempt to install an app from a third-party source or directly by APK may alert the Andriod security system and this blocks the essential package files and hence showing the parsing error.

Methods To Solve There was a Problem Parsing the Package Problem

There are series of solutions you need to apply in order to solve the parse error and stop android from showing the “There was a problem parsing the package” pop-up while installing the apps. Here are all the methods listed you can try.

Method 1. Enable Unknown source Installation


you might encounter the parsing error when you install the app using an APK file that is download from outside the play store.

In order to fix the parsing error, all you need is to enable “Unknown Source” to allow the installation of apps from unknown sources under developer options on Android.

  1. Open Settings on Android
  2. Tap on the Biometrics and security option
  3. Scroll down and find “Install unknown apps”
  4. Toggle the button on to allow the app installation from Unknown sources.
  5. Restart the device and install the app to check if the parsing error is gone!

Method 2. Enable USB debugging


Users have reported that enabling the USB debugging has solved the parsing error on their Android phones. It is suggested to try enabling the debugging mode and install the app if the above method didn’t work for you. To enable the debugging mode you are required to enable the developer options first.

  1. Open settings on Android
  2. Go to About
  3. Scroll down and find ‘Build Number’ and tap 7 times to enable developer options.
  4. Once activated, go back to settings and scroll down to find ‘Developer options’
  5. Open ‘Developer options‘ and find ‘USB Debugging mode’
  6. Toggle button ‘on’ to ‘enable the USB debugging’
  7. Restart the device and see if the problem is resolved.

Method 3. Check the APK file for Errors


Sometimes a corrupt APK file can also return you the parse error while installing. APK app downloaded from third-party source is sometimes tend to contain malware as well. The best option is to try downloading the app from an official source like play store.

You can also see the download file size to confirm if the file is not incomplete or corrupted. Install the app on PC using an emulator like Bluestack to see if the apk file does not contain any error.

Method 4. Clear Play Store Cookies


Over time the cache partition of the Play store gets corrupted which keeps the APK file from installation and showing the “There was a Problem Parsing the Package” pop-up error. you can easily solve the error by clearing the cache partition of Play store. Follow the steps below

  1. Go to Settings on Android and tap on Apps
  2. Open Google Play store from the list
  3. Go to the Storage section
  4. Click on clear cache and clean storage to clear the cookies and cache
  5. Restart the device and try installing the app.

Method 5. Download the compatible version


As we discussed earlier, the app made for a newer version of Android OS phones may not run on the older version of Android OS.

So, to avoid getting the parsing error while download the APK file on your Android device it is recommended to download the compatible version of the app. You can find the older version of the app from some alternative apk store.

Method 6. Update Android OS


As we know by now that the apps built for newer versions of OS Android OS cannot run on older Andriod. SO, in order to solve the parsing error while installing an app on your android phone, you might need to update the OS.

This is an automatic task and can be easily performed by simply going to the setting>about>check for update section on your Android phone. This is how you check for your Android OS update.

You can also try installing a custom ROM to see if the problem is resolved.

Method 7. Disable Google Play Protect


Google Play Protect is a security measure for Android devices that helps the Android system to detect potentially harmful apps automatically. This measure can often end up detecting an app as malware especially the apk file installed from a third-party source.

In order to solve the parse error while installing the app, you need to disable the Google Play Protect.

To Disable Play Protect on Android

  1. Open Play Store App on android
  2. Tap on three horizontal lines to open the hamburger menu and open “Play Protect”
  3. Here tap on the “Settings” gear icon on the top right corner of the app
  4. Now, toggle off the “Scan apps with Play Protect” and “Improve harmful app detection”
  5. Go back and restart the Android. Try installing the app to check if the error is resolved.
disable play protect to fix parse error
disable play protect to fix parse error

Android Parsing Error- FAQ

What does it mean there is a problem parsing the package?

The error means that the Android installer is not able to parse the installation file and process the APK package file to install on Android. This can be caused by a corrupt apk file, invalid APK package, Google Security measures, etc.

How do I fix there is a problem parsing the package?

You can use the methods explained above to solve the parsing error on Android. There is not a certain method to solve the error however, you can try each method one by one and see which one worked for you.

Final Words:

The parse error on Android while installing the app on Android using an APK file. This is probably caused by a corrupt APK app package or lack of required permissions. Any attempt to install the app on Android triggers a pop-up “There was a Problem Parsing the Package” and installation fails. In such, you can use the methods explained above to solve the error and install the app successfully.

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