Download APK using DownloadManager and start installation automatically - Android 7.0 Nougat compatible

DownloadManagerActivity.java

public void downloadUpdate() {
        DownloadManager dm = (DownloadManager) getSystemService(DOWNLOAD_SERVICE);
        String destination = Environment.getExternalStoragePublicDirectory(Environment.DIRECTORY_DOWNLOADS) + "/";
        String fileName = "your_app.apk";
        destination += fileName;
        final Uri uri = Uri.parse("file://" + destination);

        File file = new File(destination);
        if (file.exists())
            file.delete();

        DownloadManager.Request request = new DownloadManager.Request(
                Uri.parse(getIntent().getStringExtra("url")));
        request.setDestinationUri(uri);
        dm.enqueue(request);

        final String finalDestination = destination;
        final BroadcastReceiver onComplete = new BroadcastReceiver() {
            public void onReceive(Context ctxt, Intent intent) {
                if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.N) {
                    Uri contentUri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(ctxt, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID + ".provider", new File(finalDestination));
                    Intent openFileIntent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                    openFileIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
                    openFileIntent.addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
                    openFileIntent.setData(contentUri);
                    startActivity(openFileIntent);
                    unregisterReceiver(this);
                    finish();
                } else {
                    Intent install = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
                    install.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);
                    install.setDataAndType(uri,
                            "application/vnd.android.package-archive");
                    startActivity(install);
                    unregisterReceiver(this);
                    finish();
                }
            }
        };
        registerReceiver(onComplete, new IntentFilter(DownloadManager.ACTION_DOWNLOAD_COMPLETE));
    }

what is BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID + ".provider" ?

I face this error on android N:
java.lang.NullPointerException: Attempt to invoke virtual method 'android.content.res.XmlResourceParser android.content.pm.ProviderInfo.loadXmlMetaData(android.content.pm.PackageManager, java.lang.String)' on a null object reference

Yes, because you need to define a provider in your Manifest.

This is what I use in my AndroidManifest.xml

<provider
            android:name="android.support.v4.content.FileProvider"
            android:authorities="${applicationId}.fileprovider"
            android:exported="false"
            android:grantUriPermissions="true">
            <meta-data
                android:name="android.support.FILE_PROVIDER_PATHS"
                android:resource="@xml/paths"/>
        </provider>

You also need to create a XML that contains paths.
My xml/paths.xml is:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<paths>
    <files-path
        name="internal"
        path="."/>
</paths>

In my code I do:

File apk = new File(getFilesDir(), "update.apk");

Uri uri = FileProvider.getUriForFile(UpdateActivity.this, BuildConfig.APPLICATION_ID + ".fileprovider", apk);

Intent install = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW, uri)
                                    .addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION)
                                    .addFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_CLEAR_TOP);

                            UpdateActivity.this.startActivity(install);

I hope it will help you.

for me package manager has stopped
what should i do in this status?

if my apk is signed, how can I get it to update? Or is that just not possible?
sorry for that question; I hadn't slept in 30 hours when I asked it...

permission write storage is necessary or not?

This helped me a lot man. Thanks!! you're a lifesaver, two days finding a way to download and install an apk, and only this code worked for me. Just for adding something, for android 7+ you need to set permissions for REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES to work. Thanks again.

For me it works, as well. But after download the apk file is not clickable. I download same file using browser, everything is fine.
I tried this also: request.setMimeType("application/vnd.android.package-archive") . But the result is same :(

Karlos said the solution of your problem. You have to add REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES to your androidManifest.xml. Without this permission, .apk files are not clickable.

android Q does not expose getExternalStoragePublicDirectory() due to security concern, so it is requested to replace 'getExternalStoragePublicDirectory()' with 'getExternalFilesDir()' for new/old version of android for downloading (i.e. writing) and reading file