A new version of the open source privacy-friendly F-Droid app for Android is now available. F-Droid offers an alternative to Google Play. It features only free and open source software, and includes apps that are not allowed on Google Play due to Google policies.
F-Droid 1.19.0 is the latest version. It introduces a much requested feature: the ability to update apps automatically.
While F-Droid 1.19.0 is already available, it is not pushed to user devices yet. It is necessary to seek the update manually to install it.
To do so, open F-Droid on your Android device. Run a search for F-Droid and select the F-Droid result from the list of search results. Scroll down and expand Versions on the page. There you find version 1.19.0 listed. Expand the version and select the install option to start the upgrade.
F-Droid: apps auto-updates
The main new feature of F-Droid 1.19.0 is auto updating for installed apps. The feature works only on Android 12 or newer devices.
The team notes:
On Android 12 or later, apps will be autoupdated after the first install or first update, no root, no unlocking, no PrivExt needed.
Some older apps can not be updated automatically. F-Droid continues notify users about these apps so that they may be updated manually.
F-Droid users who prefer the old way — inform about updates, but do not auto-install — may restore the classic functionality.
This is done in the following way:
- Open the F-Droid application on the Android device.
- Select Settings.
- Scroll down to the “Other” section and enable Expert mode there.
- Scroll all the way down and enable “Force old installer”.
This option disables the new installer and thus also automatic background updates. You may undo the change at any time by toggling the force old installer preference.
Managing other repositories
F-Droid supported using other repos for adding and managing apps for some time. The functionality was limited to adding and removing repositories.
F-Droid 1.19.0 introduces a new option to add repositories. This is done either through the repositories URL or by scanning a QR code. The app fetches repository information and displays the listed apps before the repo is added to the database.
The team writes:
In short, paste repo link or use QR code, see list of apps before adding it, see apps from a single repo, all new features that make repositories a joy to use. Mirrors like to keep things chill and in the background, but they are expanding and getting easier to control, as plain servers, Tor .onion hosted or via IPFS gateways.
Other changes
The new version includes lots of improvements. Lots of apps got updated, and 11 new apps are now available in the main repository.
You may check out the official announcement of the new release here.