Updating CommCare Application on Android
Updating the CommCare application on Android involves installing newer versions of the app to benefit from bug fixes, new features, and security enhancements.
Here are the two main ways to update the CommCare application on your Android device.
1. Online Update
This option is the normal App update workflow and is recommended in most scenarios. Your device will need to have a network/internet connection to update this way.
Log into CommCare Mobile App (it is not possible to update CommCare when using Demo mode)
From the CommCare home screen, open the Settings menu by pressing the three dots in the upper right-hand corner(or your phone's Settings button)
Select Update App and CommCare will look for a new version and download it if available. Click on the latest version of the app and download it. The version of the app that is downloaded will be the most recent starred build.
When the download is complete, select the green update button to complete the upgrade process.
Once the app is updated, you will see a message that reads, App update was successful, and you can log in again to start using the new app version.
Here is another video that explains the Online Update method. Update CommCare on Android
2. Offline Update (Alternative Option)
This option is primarily useful in scenarios where you know that you will not have a network connection when performing the update. Note that you WILL still need a connection to download the .ccz file initially (step 3 below). This option may also be useful if you want to update to a specific version that is not the latest starred build or (for advanced users) to update to a .ccz that you have edited locally.
Log in to your CommCare HQ account on a computer with an internet connection and go to the application that you wish to update on your mobile device.
Click on the name of the application. This will take you to the application's version history page.
Identify the specific version you want to update from the list of versions.
Click on the "Publish" button corresponding to that version.
In the "Download to Android" menu that appears, select "Offline Install."
Click to download the "CommCare.ccz" file to your computer.
Use a USB cable to connect your Android phone to the computer where you downloaded the
.cczfile.Your computer should recognize the phone as a removable storage device (e.g., "Internal Storage" or "SD Card"). Open this drive to view its contents.
Tip: If your phone has both internal memory and a physical SD card, try using the internal memory first.
Confirm you have a file browser installed on your phone. Most Android devices come with a built-in "Files" or "File Manager" app. If not, download one from the Google Play Store (e.g., "Amaze File Explorer") while you have internet access.
Copy the downloaded "CommCare.ccz" file from your computer to an easily accessible location on your phone's internal storage or SD card (e.g., the root directory or a clearly named folder).
Now login to your CommCare mobile application. From the home screen, open the settings menu by pressing the three dots in the upper right-hand corner (or your phone's Settings button)
Select Update App. If you do not have a connection, the app update screen will say, No network connectivity. However, you can open the settings menu on that screen (the three dots in the upper right-hand corner) and then select Offline Update.
Choose the .ccz file that you just downloaded.
Select Update App once more to start the update process.