How to test an upgrade version of a android project?

Question

I have an application already in Google play and I'm developing a new version for it.

If I install mine new version with Google play version already installed it gives me INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE. I changed version on manifest but the error is the same.

I need to have the official version installed because the new version changes some old data and I want to test if it's ok.

How could I proceed?

Answer 1

You need to make sure that versionCode is increased. It is a numerical value and each version has to have it higher than the previous one (not necessarily by 1, just higher, you can go, e.g. from 10 to 20).

versionName is what is displayed to the user in Google Play. It can be any value, necessarily numeric. You can even say "next version" or "the most awesome version".

android:versionCode="4"  <- this one needs to be increased and is numeric
android:versionName="1.0.4"  <- this is for display to the user, this is not numeric