If you’re an Android developer, you may have encountered the dreaded “INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_MANIFEST_MALFORMED” error when trying to install your app on a device or emulator. This error message can be frustrating and confusing, but it usually indicates a problem with your app’s AndroidManifest.xml file. In this article, we’ll discuss some common causes of this error and how to fix them.
- Malformed XML syntax
One of the most common causes of the “INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_MANIFEST_MALFORMED” error is a syntax error or typo in your app’s AndroidManifest.xml file. This can happen if you accidentally delete or modify a closing tag, misspell an attribute name or value, or introduce some other syntax error. To fix this, carefully review your AndroidManifest.xml file and check for any syntax errors. - Missing or incorrect package name
Another common cause of this error is a mismatch between the package name in your app’s source code and the package name declared in the AndroidManifest.xml file. The package name should be the same in both places. If you recently renamed your app’s package, make sure to update the package name in the AndroidManifest.xml file as well. - Duplicate activity or service names
If you have defined two or more activities or services with the same name in the AndroidManifest.xml file, you will encounter this error. Each activity or service should have a unique name defined using the android: name attribute. Check your manifest file for any duplicate activity or service names and rename them to be unique. - Incorrect permissions or features
If your app requires certain permissions or features, they must be properly declared in the AndroidManifest.xml file using the <uses-permission> and <uses-feature> elements. Make sure that you have declared all the necessary permissions and features, and that they are spelt correctly. - Unsupported API level
If your app is targeting an API level that is not supported by the device or emulator, you may encounter this error. Check the API level in your app’s build.gradle file and ensure it is compatible with the version of Android running on the device or emulator.
Once you have identified the cause of the error, fix it by making the necessary changes to your AndroidManifest.xml file. Then, clean and rebuild your project in Android Studio to ensure that all files are up to date and properly compiled. Once you have fixed the error, you should be able to install your app without encountering the “INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_MANIFEST_MALFORMED” error.