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I’m trying to install an Android app on a batch of Samsung A17 phones through Google Play, but some devices show that the app is too old or not supported on this Android version. The confusing part is that the phones are the same model, and the app appears to have installed fine on a few of them. The affected devices are running Android 16. Is this something Hexnode can fix, or does the app need to be updated?
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Marked SolutionPending Review
Hexnode Expert
2 hours ago
Nov 02, 2026
Marked SolutionPending Review
This behavior is most likely related to Google Play’s target SDK requirements for newer Android versions.
Starting August 31, 2026, Google Play prevents apps that target older API levels from being installed on devices running newer Android versions. For Android 16, apps must generally target API level 35 or higher to be installed through Google Play.
If the app targets API level 34 or lower, Google Play may show an error such as the app being too old or unsupported on the device, even if the hardware model is the same.
Recommended fix:
- Contact the app developer or vendor.
- Ask them to update the app to target API level 35 or higher.
- Once the updated version is published to Google Play, deploy the app again through Hexnode.
Workaround:
If the developer can provide the APK directly, you can upload it to Hexnode as an Android Enterprise App and deploy it outside Google Play. This bypasses the Google Play target SDK restriction, although the app itself must still be compatible with Android 16.
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