I recently took over a project which is using Appium to do some automated mobile testing. I have a few python scripts that are supposed to be ran with Appium however when attempting to run them I run into "[INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]". After much research on the matter I have included that this is a problem related to Android and it's APK version. However I am new to Android so this makes it challenging to fully understand both what Appium and Android are doing. I am leaning more towards a problem when it is trying to install the application to the device, however I feel I had addressed the steps to troubleshooting that. Some examples are ensuring that I had the latest version of the app, de-installing the app, reinstalling an older version of the app, and finally checking for updates.
Python script traceback:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 310, in <module>
launch()
File "main.py", line 26, in launch
driver = webdriver.Remote('http://localhost:4723/wd/hub', desired_caps)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\appium\webdriver\webdriver.py", line 36, in __init__
super(WebDriver, self).__init__(command_executor, desired_capabilities, browser_profile, proxy, keep_alive)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 151, in __init__
self.start_session(desired_capabilities, browser_profile)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 240, in start_session
response = self.execute(Command.NEW_SESSION, parameters)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 308, in execute
self.error_handler.check_response(response)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\errorhandler.py", line 194, in check_response
raise exception_class(message, screen, stacktrace)
selenium.common.exceptions.WebDriverException: Message: A new session could not be created. (Original error: Command failed: C:\AndroidSDK\platform-tools\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install "C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk"
Failed to install C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]
)
Appium console:
error: Failed to start an Appium session, err was: Error: Command failed: C:\AndroidSDK\platform-tools\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install "C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk"
Failed to install C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]
info: [debug] Error: Command failed: C:\AndroidSDK\platform-tools\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install "C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk"
Failed to install C:\Appium\node_modules\appium\build\settings_apk\settings_apk-debug.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]
at ChildProcess.exithandler (child_process.js:204:12)
at emitTwo (events.js:106:13)
at ChildProcess.emit (events.js:191:7)
at maybeClose (internal/child_process.js:891:16)
at Process.ChildProcess._handle.onexit (internal/child_process.js:226:5)
info: [debug] Responding to client with error: {"status":33,"value":{"message":"A new session could not be created. (Original error: Command failed: C:\\AndroidSDK\\platform-tools\\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install \"C:\\Appium\\node_modules\\appium\\build\\settings_apk\\settings_apk-debug.apk\"\nFailed to install C:\\Appium\\node_modules\\appium\\build\\settings_apk\\settings_apk-debug.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]\r\n)","killed":false,"code":1,"signal":null,"cmd":"C:\\AndroidSDK\\platform-tools\\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install \"C:\\Appium\\node_modules\\appium\\build\\settings_apk\\settings_apk-debug.apk\"","origValue":"Command failed: C:\\AndroidSDK\\platform-tools\\adb.exe -s GCNPCX031761JAV install \"C:\\Appium\\node_modules\\appium\\build\\settings_apk\\settings_apk-debug.apk\"\nFailed to install
C:\\Appium\\node_modules\\appium\\build\\settings_apk\\settings_apk-debug.apk: Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]\r\n"},"sessionId":null}
UPDATE: I restarted my computer and ran it again and it got rid of the [INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE] but now I am getting
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "main.py", line 310, in <module>
launch()
File "main.py", line 26, in launch
driver = webdriver.Remote('http://localhost:4723/wd/hub', desired_caps)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\appium\webdriver\webdriver.py", line 36, in __init__
super(WebDriver, self).__init__(command_executor, desired_capabilities, browser_profile, proxy, keep_alive)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 151, in __init__
self.start_session(desired_capabilities, browser_profile)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 240, in start_session
response = self.execute(Command.NEW_SESSION, parameters)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\webdriver.py", line 308, in execute
self.error_handler.check_response(response)
File "C:\Python\lib\site-packages\selenium\webdriver\remote\errorhandler.py", line 194, in check_response
raise exception_class(message, screen, stacktrace)
selenium.common.exceptions.WebDriverException: Message: An unknown server-side error occurred while processing the command. Original error: Error occured while starting App. Original error: Error executing adbExec. Original error: 'Command 'C\:\\AndroidSDK\\platform-tools\\adb.exe -P 5037 -s GCNPCX031761JAV shell am start -W -n com.rockfordfosgate.perfecttune/com.rockfordfosgate.perfecttune.activity.HomeActivity -S' exited with code 1'; Stderr: 'java.lang.SecurityException: Permission Denial: starting Intent { flg=0x10000000 cmp=com.rockfordfosgate.perfecttune/.activity.HomeActivity } from null (pid=10837, uid=2000) not exported from uid 10127
at android.os.Parcel.readException(Parcel.java:1683)
at android.os.Parcel.readException(Parcel.java:1636)
at android.app.ActivityManagerProxy.startActivityAndWait(ActivityManagerNative.java:3352)
at com.android.commands.am.Am.runStart(Am.java:630)
at com.android.commands.am.Am.onRun(Am.java:388)
at com.android.internal.os.BaseCommand.run(BaseCommand.java:51)
at com.android.commands.am.Am.main(Am.java:121)
at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit.nativeFinishInit(Native Method)
at com.android.internal.os.RuntimeInit.main(RuntimeInit.java:294)'; Code: '1'
Which is seeming to be a permissions problem with ADB.
The first issue you faced ([INSTALL_FAILED_VERSION_DOWNGRADE]) was fixed in recent Appium server version 1.7.1, so if you are using latest server no need to search for workarounds.
The second issue of not able to start Intent is more like problem with your Android app manifext.xml file, you check how it can be fixed here