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How To Downgrade and Revert to an Older Version App on Android Devices

Downgrading or reverting to an older version of an app on Android devices can be useful in several situations. Here is a detailed guide on how to downgrade apps on Android.

Reasons To Downgrade an App

There are a few common reasons you may want to downgrade an app on your Android device:

  • A recent update introduced bugs or issues
  • A recent update removed features you relied on
  • An update made the app incompatible with your older Android version
  • You prefer the interface and functionality of an older version
  • Downgrading as a troubleshooting step before updating again

Downgrading to a previous version can often resolve issues introduced in newer updates.

Before You Downgrade an App

Before downgrading, keep a few things in mind:

  • Downgrading will remove all app data, settings, and account information. You’ll be starting fresh.
  • Some apps prevent downgrading to very old versions due to compatibility issues.
  • Downgraded apps may have unpatched security flaws or lack features from newer versions.

Make sure you have backed up any important app data you may need later. Also check if the app version you want to revert to will work properly on your Android OS version.

Downgrade Methods

There are a couple methods to downgrade apps on Android devices:

Uninstall Updates

The simplest approach is to uninstall any updates:

  1. Go to Settings > Apps & notifications
  2. Select the app
  3. Tap Uninstall updates

This will revert the app to the factory version pre-installed on your device.

Note: This doesn’t work for all apps, and won’t allow downgrading to very old versions.

Manual APK Install

For more control and flexibility in downgrading, you can manually install an older APK:

  1. Uninstall the current version of the app completely
  2. Download the specific version APK you want
  3. Enable “Install from Unknown Sources” in device settings
  4. Install the older APK file on your device
  5. Disable “Install from Unknown Sources” when done

Be sure to only download APKs from reputable sites like APKMirror to avoid malware.

Downgrading System Apps

The process is a bit different for pre-installed system apps. These apps can only be downgraded by advanced users with root access:

  1. Unlock bootloader and either root device or install custom recovery
  2. Backup system app with Titanium Backup or similar utility
  3. Flash older firmware or factory image via custom recovery
  4. Restore backed-up system app to downgrade it

Downgrading system apps in this manner requires wiping device data. This complex process is not recommended for most users.

Troubleshooting App Downgrades

If you run into issues downgrading an app:

  • Check app info for a “Minimum Version” listing. The app may be too old to run on your Android version.
  • Try clearing all app data/cache before installing older APK.
  • Very old apps may crash constantly on newer Android versions. Unfortunately, you may be out of luck downgrading those apps.

Be prepared to troubleshoot bugs and crashes when using downgraded app versions. Features may be broken or missing.

Conclusion

While occasionally useful, downgrading apps on Android has risks. Make sure to backup data, research version compatibility, and read app reviews before proceeding. And never downgrade an app unless you have a specific reason to do so.

Following the uninstall updates or manual APK install methods carefully will allow successful app downgrades in most cases. Just be ready to troubleshoot issues or revert to a newer version if too many problems arise.

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