Verify app files?

[Josh Sadorra]

I'm on a Samsung S7 edge , I was wondering if there is a way to essentially reinstall an app without uninstalling it as a way to repair it if I think there are corrupted files.

A little background: my phone died while on maximum power saving mode. When I booted it up, power saving was off and the resolution was really weird, I think it didn't change back. So I turn max power saving on and off again. The resolution became normal, but a lot of my settings reverted to default. My app data was there and my home screen layout was fine, but things like having icon frames were turned on when they were previously off, and the quick settings panel was completely reset.

Now none of this really mattered except when I opened LINE Messenger, it did not open, and then my phone gave me the message that Line has stopped. So I restarted the app, and then it said it keeps stopping. I did try clearing the cache and even tried opening it in max power saving mode to see if that had an effect. Line customer support has not been of any help, and it's been like this for about 20 days. I would just uninstall and reinstall, but then I would lose my chat history and I really cannot lose that, so I'm trying to fix the app without losing that.

Any help is appreciated

 

[ashune]

I think reinstalling it using its APK file should do the trick. I think this will keep all the app data and chat history. Your phone does not need to be rooted to do this.

Here are the steps:

1. Do not uninstall the app.
2. Download the APK file for the app from a website like APKMirror. You can download the apk file for LINE here (choose the newest version and download it).
3. Enable installation from unknown sources. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown sources > check the box > tap Yes.
4. Find the downloaded file and tap on it. You should be asked if you want to reinstall the app (or update if you downloaded a newer version). Tap Yes.
5. The app should reinstall (or update) and you should be good to go.

Tell us if this worked. If it didn't work, I think you'll need to uninstall and reinstall the app.

 

[Josh Sadorra]

I think reinstalling it using its APK file should do the trick. I think this will keep all the app data and chat history. Your phone does not need to be rooted to do this.

Here are the steps:

1. Do not uninstall the app.
2. Download the APK file for the app from a website like APKMirror. You can download the apk file for LINE here (choose the newest version and download it).
3. Enable installation from unknown sources. Go to Settings > Security > Unknown sources > check the box > tap Yes.
4. Find the downloaded file and tap on it. You should be asked if you want to reinstall the app (or update if you downloaded a newer version). Tap Yes.
5. The app should reinstall (or update) and you should be good to go.

Tell us if this worked. If it didn't work, I think you'll need to uninstall and reinstall the app.

I followed the steps , but the app still refuses to open, it keeps stopping

 

[ashune]

I followed the steps , but the app still refuses to open, it keeps stopping

In my opinion, the app data got corrupted and now prevents the app from opening. You'll probably need to uninstall and reinstall the app (unless someone else has another method). Doesn't LINE periodically backup messages like WhatsApp?

 

[Josh Sadorra]

In my opinion, the app data got corrupted and now prevents the app from opening. You'll probably need to uninstall and reinstall the app (unless someone else has another method). Doesn't LINE periodically backup messages like WhatsApp?

I'm guessing I probably will have to just reinstall, and no, Line stores all of it's messages locally :/

 

[ashune]

One more thing, LINE has a desktop client. Could you install it and see if you can see all messages?
Maybe it has a backup option. I don't know though, I don't use LINE.

 

[Josh Sadorra]

One more thing, LINE has a desktop client. Could you install it and see if you can see all messages?
Maybe it has a backup option. I don't know though, I don't use LINE.

I actually use the desktop client, I haven't touched it in a while but I know it usually syncs with my messages, I didn't think of that!

At this point, I think I will just uninstall and reinstall once I have some wifi, since I am out of the house rn. Unless anyone has a different solution or maybe a way to recover lost chats, please let me know. Otherwise, thank you so much for your help

 

[ashune]

Oh okay, sorry we couldn't figure this out. Just make sure next time to periodically backup your chat history (how-to guide).

 

[Josh Sadorra]

Don't worry about it, i really appreciate your help, I figured it might be hard to find a solution that seems to be pretty specific to the app. Thank you again though! I'll be sure to back it up next time though

 

[Rukbat]

Just a side note:

Installing an app, whether from the Play store, rom downloading an .apk file or from saving an .spk file when the app is working, is all the same. You download an .apk file from the Play store, then automatically run the installer in "quiet mode" (it doesn't ask if it should install). Installing it any other way just give you the choice of which app to use to install it (if you haven't chosen Always for the app installer) and whether to install or not.

The end result is the same - a clean, no-data installation. there's no "repair installation" in Android. (Maybe there should be - a "Reinstall but leave the data?" choice?) But there isn't any yet. If you cxan install without first uninstalling (most apps won't), it's going to wipe the data.

As always, backing up is important. Find an app that will back up the app's data if it doesn't have its own backup function. (Helium seems to have problems with Oreo, or I'd recommend that.)

 

[ashune]

Just a side note:

Installing an app, whether from the Play store, rom downloading an .apk file or from saving an .spk file when the app is working, is all the same. You download an .apk file from the Play store, then automatically run the installer in "quiet mode" (it doesn't ask if it should install). Installing it any other way just give you the choice of which app to use to install it (if you haven't chosen Always for the app installer) and whether to install or not.

The end result is the same - a clean, no-data installation. there's no "repair installation" in Android. (Maybe there should be - a "Reinstall but leave the data?" choice?) But there isn't any yet. If you cxan install without first uninstalling (most apps won't), it's going to wipe the data.

As always, backing up is important. Find an app that will back up the app's data if it doesn't have its own backup function. (Helium seems to have problems with Oreo, or I'd recommend that.)

I think that if you install an apk file for an app that is already installed on your device, the app data doesn't get deleted. It basically is a reinstall/repair.