"Syntax error" on Android devices: how to fix it? Error "Failed to parse package" Android - reasons and solutions What does a parsing error mean?

The popularity of Android is largely due to the open source code of the operating system, which opens up almost limitless possibilities for developers. Due to such properties of the OS, users are faced with various errors. One of the most common is "Failed to parse package". Most often it occurs when you try to install inappropriate software or a damaged file. Let's consider the reasons and methods of solution in more detail.

Methodology for solving the error "Parse package failed" on Android.

The error is very popular and usually means trying to download on Android from the Google Play Store. There are many reasons for the pop-up message, as well as ways to solve the problem. Here are the most common ones:

The error can be caused by corrupted manifest files during a cloud OS upgrade or custom software.
The APK file can be damaged due to incorrect or incomplete download.
Permission is required to download and install programs from unknown sources. Without this permission, the chances of a packet failure increase.
Some apps are not compatible or supported in the latest and updated versions of Android.
Antivirus and other cleaning applications are also the main cause of the error.

But the reasons described are independent of the application. A parsing error can occur for one or more of them. But it is more important to get rid of the problem.

How to fix the problem

What to do if you receive the error "Packet parsing failed"? Before attempting to troubleshoot a parsing problem, it is advisable to make a backup to minimize the risk of data loss. Fixing any Android issue could result in the loss of your personal documents and files. Today there are many software products that allow you to back up data from your phone. Let's look at the procedure using dr.fone - Android Backup & Restore as an example. The main functions and advantages of the application:

Selectively back up only the most important files from your Android device.
Download backups from your iCloud account and selectively extract data from them.
All your data will be securely transferred without the risk of being damaged or erased.
fone can manage text messages, photos and videos, contacts, apps and many other types of data.
Preview of the data being backed up or restored.

After backing up your Android device, you no longer have to worry about losing data. If you lose the data saved on the gadget when you try to fix the package parsing error, just run dr.fone - Backup & Restore and restore the backup to the device.

How to back up Android:

Download and install dr.fone - Backup & Restore on your computer. This can be done from the developer's site.
Connect Android device with USB cable to PC and launch dr.fone.
Click "Backup & Restore" in the main menu and select "Backup".
In the window that opens, select the type of data you want to save.
Click "Backup" and in a couple of minutes the operation will be completed.

In a few minutes of wasted time, you can ensure the safety of your smartphone's personal data.

Use the old version of the app

You can use the old version of the app as they might be compatible with your device. In many cases, newer versions of apps are not compatible with older versions of Android OS. Therefore, it is better to download any old version of the program. Usually this can be done on the official website of the developer, in the Play Market or on large forums of programmers.

Installing the app from sources other than the Google Play store is not allowed by default. To resolve this issue, enable "Allow installation of the application from other sources." Here's what to do:

Now check the box to allow installation of the application from unknown sources.

For many, USB debugging is not needed, although it provides access to some additional functions, capabilities and settings of the gadget that are not available to the average user. To enable USB debugging to fix the "Failed to parse package" error, follow these steps:

Go to "Settings" and select "About device".
Now press Build Number seven times continuously.
When you see a pop-up that says "You are now a developer", go back to "Settings".
In this step, select "For Developers" and enable "USB Debugging".

This should fix the problem. If not, move on to other methods.

Check the APK file

Incomplete and incorrect installation of the application can damage the .apk file. Make sure you download the entire file. If necessary, delete the existing application or its .apk file and reinstall the software from the Google Play Store. This is necessary for it to be compatible with your device's software.

Use file managers

Some devices display the message "Failed to parse package" when installing applications to SD card. Using file managers like AndExplorer or Root Explorer, or installing the correct and appropriate APKs should also fix this problem.

Check your app manifest file

Corrections in .apk files may result in a parsing error. Changes to an application file can be made by changing its name, program settings, or more complex configurations. To prevent corruption of the application file, make sure you roll back any changes and restore it to its original state.

Disable antivirus and other cleaning apps

Antivirus software and other cleaning applications are very useful for protecting your device from being damaged by malicious utilities. However, sometimes such programs also prevent other secure applications from being used. You do not need to permanently remove the antivirus, you just need to disable it during installation. For this:

Go to "Settings" and select "Applications".
Select your antivirus application, click Uninstall, and then click OK.

Now download and install the desired application again. Once that's done, don't forget to install your antivirus again.

Delete the Play Store cache and cookies

Clearing the Play Store cache significantly offloads the Android Market platform by deleting all unnecessary data. To clear the Play Store cache, follow the instructions below:

Launch the Google Play Store.
Go to "Settings".
Select "General settings", then "Clear history" / "All time".

The cache, cookies and other unnecessary Play Market files will be removed and the problem should go away.

Clean up corrupted package installer data

The package manager is an application inside the Android OS that installs external apk files. This package manager usually stores no more than a few kilobytes of data, but sometimes this data can also get corrupted. To fix this, we will clear its data in the cache.

Reboot your device.

Check application and OS version compatibility

If the package parsing error still persists, then you need to make sure that the application you are trying to install is actually compatible with the Android version on your device. It's pretty easy to do this:

Open the Play Store and go to the page of the app you are trying to install.
Scroll down to the MORE INFORMATION section and find the line "Required Android version". Here's what version of Android is required for this app. If this version does not match the Android version you are using on your device, the application will not be installed or launched.

This is technically impossible to fix, but you can try contacting the developer for more help from the Developer section of the MORE INFORMATION. You can also see if there are alternative programs with similar functions in the Play Store.

Transferring data from your device

Unfortunately, there is a small chance that none of these fixes will fix the problem. This usually means that the hardware of the device is defective. In this case, you need to contact the service center, where a specialist will be able to assess the problem and identify the malfunction. If so, then you will need to transfer data from your smartphone. Let's look at the procedure using the example of using the Transfer function of dr.fone.

Functions and capabilities of the Transfer command:

Transfer iTunes media files to Android device.
Extract data from an Android or iOS device and add it to your iTunes library.
Manage all data (photos, videos, music, contacts, apps, etc.).
View and retrieve specific files from your device storage.
Uninstall multiple apps at the same time, including third-party and pre-installed apps.
Browse all files using the Explorer function.

How to extract data from Android:

Install and launch dr.fone.
Connect your Android device and select "Transfer" from the main menu of the program.
In the navigation bar at the top of the window, click the Photos tab.
Use the sidebar to browse your photo albums and select the photos you want to save to your PC.
Click the export icon above your photos and select Export to PC.
Finally, choose a folder to export your photos to. Repeat this process with any other available data types (e.g. music, videos, contacts, etc.).

All you need to do is install dr.fone - Android Transfer, connect your device, mark the data you want to save, and choose a save destination. And you're done!

Factory reset Android

Factory reset Android should be the last method. Be sure to back up all your data to your Google account or Pen Drive, because this method removes all media, content, data and other files, including your device's settings. To reset the device, follow these steps:

Go to "Settings".
Select "Backup and reset".
In this step, select "Factory data reset" and then "Reset device" to confirm the factory reset.

The entire process of restoring an Android device to factory settings may seem tedious, risky and cumbersome, but it helps fix Android SystemUI that was stopping the error 9 out of 10 times. Therefore, think carefully before using this remedy.

All the described recommendations will not only help you get rid of the package parsing error in Android, but also prevent its occurrence in the future. If you have already encountered a solution to such an error in another way, share with our readers in the comments under this article.

Phones and tablets on the Android operating system often give errors when performing an action. Because of this, the device becomes either completely useless, or performs only part of the required tasks. But you should not immediately carry the phone to the service, many errors are corrected very easily, their solution is within the power of an ordinary user, without special education, and does not incur monetary costs. For example, to fix an error while parsing an Android package, just follow the instructions below.

What is an "error while parsing an Android package"

Before you start solving a problem, you need to know what it is. An error occurred while parsing the package - a problem during the installation of the program. If during the installation of the application the device for some reason cannot continue this process, it will automatically display this message and stop the installation. It will look like this:

Causes of the problem

There are only a few reasons why something could go wrong when installing the application:

The version of Android for which the program to be installed is written does not match the version of Android installed on your phone. For example, you have a phone with operating system version 3.0, and the program was written for version 4.0.3. If the version of your Android is higher than the version for which the application was written, no error will occur.

At the time of installation, the application was not fully downloaded or downloaded with an error in the installation apk file.

There are viruses on the phone that interfere with the installation process.

Elimination

The solution to the problem will depend on the reason for which it appeared.

Difference in firmware versions

Let's start with the case when the firmware version of your phone is lower than the version for which the program was written. To see if this is the problem, first look at which version of your Android.

Scroll down and go to the "About phone" item.

Click on the item "Device Information".

Here is the item "OS Android version", which contains the numbers we need.

Now on the site from which the application was downloaded, we are looking for the words "Required Android version". It usually looks like this:

If a version higher than yours is required, try to find the same application for your other firmware version, or update your phone. Follow these steps to update:

Open the phone settings.

We pass to the item "About phone".

Press the button "System update". If your phone model supports a newer version, it will be found and installed automatically.

Installation file problems

A syntax error can occur if the file is damaged by downloading or unpacking. Perhaps it was written with a mistake in the code originally. In this case, one solution is to download the file again or from another source. If the situation repeats, try changing the browser or bootloader you are using.

An error occurs due to viruses

If the previous methods did not help, you should think about the presence of viruses on your phone. It is very easy to check this:

We go to the Play Market and look for the free application “Dr. Web Light ".

Install and open it.

Press the Scanner button.

Press the Full Scan button.

If the antivirus detects a virus, remove them and continue using your phone. If you tried all the methods and none of them solved the error, then one thing remains - to carry the device to the service, to be checked by specialists.

Video Tutorial: How to Fix Package Parse Parse Error on Android

A syntax error may occur due to the incompatibility of the phone version with the one for which the program was written, due to a damaged installation file or viruses in the phone. For each reason, there is a solution that will help get rid of problems, but sometimes you should still use the services of a specialist from the service.

The Android operating system has a large number of bugs and shortcomings that are only fixed over time. Until this comes to the "hands" of the developers themselves, users have to come up with their own solutions for each problem. One of the common mistakes on Android to this day is an error when installing applications, when, instead of installing, a "Syntax error" message appears on your screen. What it is? Why does it arise? How to fix? Unclear! And here we will reveal all the secrets to you!

From the article you will learn

Reasons for the appearance

Basically, this problem appears with programs that are not installed through the official Google Play service, but from third-party sources and are downloaded as separate apk files. In the service, the system automatically checks each file downloaded to the device, and can warn the user in advance that the application is not suitable for his phone. In this case, downloading a program or game to a smartphone will not be available at all.

Here are the main reasons for an error when parsing a package:

The file you are trying to download is not fully downloaded;
The phone is prohibited from installing applications from unknown sources;
The application version does not match the operating system version.

In all cases, the problem can be solved in different ways, which will be discussed later.

First, you need to determine what the problem is, and why this or that apk file is not installed. To do this, we carry out all the actions in stages, starting with the simplest ones.

Allow installation from unknown sources

By default, in the Android operating system, installation from unknown sources is prohibited so that the user cannot harm his smartphone. The fact is that third-party applications and games may contain viruses, Trojans, and other malicious codes.

You need to allow the installation of such applications.

Attention! The actions described above may harm your device. We recommend downloading apk only from trusted sites and be sure to scan each file through an antivirus on a computer, for example, Kaspersky.

Better yet, upload the apk to the Virustotal website. It allows you to scan 50 popular antiviruses at once.

And so, now we check if the syntax error has disappeared or not. Not? Then let's move on!

Try downloading the file from other sources, or use a different downloader to download data from the internet. Since apk applications are, in fact, a kind of archive, sometimes they are not fully loaded, which is why problems arise.

If, after downloading applications from other sources, the same problem occurs, proceed to the next step.

Checking the application version

Each apk-file, like applications on Google Play, has its own minimum version of the operating system, in the presence of which the installation will be carried out. If the Android version is lower than the recommended version of the apk being installed, then it is quite understandable why a syntax error occurs.

There are 3 ways to solve this problem:

Find the version of the program that will match the version of your Android;
Update the OS on the device to the maximum version corresponding to the application;
Artificially change the version requirements through a dedicated tool.

I think that everything is clear in the first two options. We will specifically consider the third option using a separate program that will allow us to change the required version of the operating system and correctly install the apk file. This is mainly suitable for those users who have an older version of the OS installed.

Editing a file with APK Editor

The APK Editor is required to work. It is available in two versions. We need a Pro version, since it is in it that the editing function of the parameters we need is activated. The cost at the moment is 159 rubles. That's a small price to pay for such a great toolbox.

APK Editor Pro is a versatile and powerful apk file editor. Allows you not only to change the minimum versions for applications, but also:

remove unnecessary advertisements;
change the background of images, layouts, resolution;
Russify the interface and menu items;
change the text;
add some custom buttons and tabs.

For simple operations, no special skills are required, but for a complex modification of an application, professional skills in working with such tools and knowledge of the architecture of applications for our OS are already needed.

Procedure:

Go to Google Play and download the Pro version to your smartphone. Open the program.
Then click on the "Select apk file" tab and specify the path to the application that is not installed on your smartphone.
Click on this file and hold your finger for a few seconds to bring up a context menu. In it, select the "Edit Resources" item. Attention! The error "Unable to parse apk file" may appear here. This is normal and does not affect our procedure. Just ignore this alert.
You will see a large number of lines and signatures in English, but you need to click on the "Manifest" tab, which is located in the lower right corner of the screen.
Wait for the system to download all the files. A large list of strings and various parameters will appear.
You need to find the "uses-sdk android: minSdkVersion" parameter. It can be either at the beginning of the list or in the middle. But usually occurs at the beginning. Click on it to bring up the edit menu. Two tabs will appear here, in which a two-digit number will be written. This number indicates the minimum version of the Android operating system with which the phone will work.

Below we have provided a table so that you can understand which values you need to change these parameters to.

Operating system version	Code (API)	Version code (OS name)
Android 5.1	22	LOLLIPOP_MR1
Android 5.0	21	LOLLIPOP
Android 4.4W	20	KITKAT_WATCH
Android 4.4	19	KITKAT
Android 4.3	18	JELLY_BEAN_MR2
Android 4.2, 4.2.2	17	JELLY_BEAN_MR1
Android 4.1, 4.1.1	16	JELLY_BEAN
Android 4.0.3, 4.0.4	15	ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH_MR1
Android 4.0, 4.0.1, 4.0.2	14	ICE_CREAM_SANDWICH
Android 3.2	13	HONEYCOMB_MR2
Android 3.1.x	12	HONEYCOMB_MR1
Android 3.0.x	11	HONEYCOMB
Android 2.3.4 Android 2.3.3	10	GINGERBREAD_MR1
Android 2.3.2 Android 2.3.1 Android 2.3	9	GINGERBREAD

How do I use this table? For example, your smartphone has operating system 4.2.2, and the application you download requires a minimum Android version of 5.0. In order for the apk file to be successfully installed on the smartphone, in the editor, you need to change the parameters to 17 in both lines. And so you can customize any application for any version of the operating system. But keep in mind that no one guarantees stable work on very old Androids!

Have you changed the values? Excellent! Now press the "Save" button, after which the system redirects back to the screen with other lines and parameters. Here, in the upper right corner, once again you need to click on the "Save" tab and wait until the system rebuilds the file and saves it.

The process of assembling a file directly depends on the amount of information that is stored in it. The more the apk-file weighs, the longer it will take the program to compile the application, so wait until the end and don't think that the phone is frozen!

At the end, a notification will appear that the apk file has been saved, and the full path of this application will be next to it. You can try to install it from the same menu, since there will be a "Install" tab, or you can go through the file manager to the save folder and try to install the application from there. If you did everything correctly, then the installation will be successful.

Attention! The file is saved as a duplicate of your apk, so don't confuse them! The old file will still give a syntax error, so you need to install a new one created in the APK Editor Pro program.

Additional ways to solve the problem

There are several more ways that provide the ability to install an application or game from apk, if all of the above methods could not solve the problem.

Turn on USB debugging. In some cases, this approach can solve the problem, but this is not a panacea, and the chance is not very great. To enable this option, you need to go to the "Settings" of your device and click on the "About phone" tab. Scroll down until you find Build Number. Click on it 7 times to activate developer mode. Now go back to "Settings" and scroll down again until you reach the item "Developer menu". Find the item "USB Debugging" in it and activate it.
Disable antiviruses. Sometimes the installation fails due to the antivirus that is installed on your smartphone. Sometimes the signatures provided by the antivirus are false, and the file is blocked just like that. But these are isolated cases. If you are really sure that the apk file is safe, disable your antivirus and try installing the application.

Attention! Menu items in Android may differ, and in some versions "USB Debugging" may be located in other directories or tabs, called by other actions, but in all versions of Android it is present!

What other sources are silent about

Another little tip. If all the described methods did not help, most likely the problem is in the application you are trying to install. Perhaps the developer has "assembled" a file with broken files or made a mistake in the code, which is why such problems arise.

Be sure to search the Internet if any of the users managed to install this program on their smartphone or not. Most likely, there are many of you!

Conclusion

We have listed the main ways to fix a syntax error on a smartphone running Android, and in 99% of cases one of them will definitely help solve the problem. But at the same time, we advise you to download applications only from Google Play or from sites that have a good reputation (you can understand from user reviews).

If the problem is still not resolved, write in the comments your phone model, Android version and the name of the application that you decided to install!

Android is the most popular mobile operating system. The reason this OS has spread so widely to the masses is its versatility, convenience and ease of use. Most smartphone owners give their preference to it, since most of the software today is aimed specifically at Android.

But even his popularity does not mean that some problems cannot arise with him. Each user wants to install the application he likes, but sometimes when downloading it, an error occurs, which says that the package has failed to parse.

The reasons for this problem

A package can fail to parse in the following situations:

you downloaded the APK file Currupted or it was not fully downloaded;
there is a possibility that the permissions do not have a checkmark next to the item “Allow installation of applications from unverified sources”;
if the application does not fit the existing android version.

How do I fix the problem?

It is not uncommon for users to have a failure to parse the android package, what to do in this situation will be prompted not only by Internet resources, but also by service centers if the phone is under warranty.

The solution to this problem can be quite simple:

First, you need to allow the installation of applications from all known sources. As a rule, all smartphones are predisposed to downloading applications from, but if the same document is on another source, then the phone may give an error.
It is best to install from Google Play, even though many of them ask for extra information. The reason for this is that files on extraneous resources are often unverified, and therefore some damage and shortcomings on them are a common problem.
If the android version is not compatible with the selected application, then it is enough to try to install it on another smartphone with a more “fresh” update of the operating system.

Failure to parse an andoroid package is a common problem on many smartphones that can be solved in a few clicks. If you cannot deal with the problems that have arisen on your own, then you need to contact the service center for more detailed information.

Android has some of the best features of a mobile operating system today, but there are times when even such a perfect system fails. If we exclude the human factor, then many software errors remain, such as Parse error: Failed to parse packet... This is a rather unpleasant problem that manifests itself when installing various software. Let's consider everything in more detail.

Reasons for this failure

Failure to parse a package in Android in itself indicates the impossibility of unpacking the installed application. For various reasons, the installation file no longer meets the required requirements. Sometimes the reason for this is the corny not open option to install a third-party application, because in new versions of Android there is also such an item. Another source of conflict may come from a substandard utility that was damaged deliberately or while downloading from the Internet. The last option is operating system incompatibility.

Correcting the error "Failure to parse the package"

Fortunately, there is nothing terrible for users. An error that occurs simply indicates the inability to continue with the installation process, and not a system failure. In general, everything continues to work as it should in the phone. It is fully operational.

If the error crashes during installation from Google Play, then clear all possible reasons: delete the update, cache and restart the Play Store. Sometimes it also becomes a cause of conflict.

Finally, it should be said that "Data parsing error: Package parsing failed" in 90% of cases occurs due to incompatibility of the installed software, which means that everything is in order with the phone. Do not rush to repair your smartphone, just change the source or version of the program.