since November 2021 I have been unable to manually install software from .apk packages on my FP3. Prior to that it had worked pretty well.
I am running a FP3 without a google account. With a few exceptions, among which are the official Corona Warn App from German Robert-Koch-Institut or the alternative camera app “simple camera”, I solely use the pre-installed apps, .
Until last November I had extracted the package using APK analyzer on another FP3 and then sent the .apk file to the FP3 without the Google Account. At the beginning of the installation process I could grant the permission.
Unfortunately, this procedure is no longer working. When tapping an .apk file, e.g. an update to an existing app, I am still prompted to grant the permission to install - once or permanent - but when I click it nothing happens. No setup/installation is being carried out.
My first thought was that the package was corrupted but the phone won’t let me install any other .apk file, too.
Is this a known issue? Is it down to the latest security patch?
I’ve browsed through all the settings in my phone but can’t find anything helpful.
I wonder why you went with this difficult route, given both those apps are available (in slightly modified form in CWA’s case) on F-Droid. And the F-Droid website also lets you download .apk files directly if you don’t want to use the F-Droid app (CWA, Simple Camera). Seems much easier.
No clue why you’re having this problem though, I wish I could help instead of just suggesting a workaround.
Sophos Intercept X security software was the culprit. Sophos scans apps at some point during the installation process. All that used to happen in the background eventually showing a notification of the scan result.
I guess Sophos was updated recently as now, after tapping the .apk-file, I’ve got to choose Sophos instead of package installer. Sophos then scans the .apk and shows a button that opens an option to install a package from an unknown source, just like before. So it’s just an intermediate step.
