[Request] True zero-interaction background updates during sync on Android 12+ (Session installer)

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Assessment

Difficulty
3/5
Estimated time
1-2 days
Newbie friendliness
52/100
Issue type
Feature
Clarity
Clearly specified
Activity status
Active
Tech stack
android, kotlin
Domain
mobile-dev

Research direction

Start with SyncWorker and the Settings > Sync & Updates flow, then inspect the app manifest for installer permissions. The feature needs an opt-in setting, Android 12+ installer-of-record and user-action checks, and a fallback notification path. It is done when Droid-ify-installed apps can update silently during sync while apps requiring user action still produce a standard notification.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Description

enhancement
Guidelines
  • I have searched the issue tracker for open and closed issues that are similar to the feature request I want to file, without success.
  • I'm not requesting app support for a specific repo — that's up to repo maintainers
  • I understand this might not get built (Droid-ify is maintained by a single person)
Problem

Right now, when using the Session installer on Android 12+, background updates are only semi-automatic: Droid-ify syncs in the background and posts a notification, but I still have to open the app and tap "Update all" to actually download and install them.

On GrapheneOS (where short auto-reboot timers make ADB/Root workarounds impractical), it would be great to have true "set and forget" background updates out of the box—just like the official F-Droid client, Neo Store, and Obtainium do.

Proposed solution

Add an option in Settings -> Sync & Updates to automatically download and install updates in the background during the sync job.

Since Android 12+ (API 31+) allows the original installer of an app to update it silently without user prompts, Droid-ify can do this natively during SyncWorker for any app it originally installed:

  • Declare <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.UPDATE_PACKAGES_WITHOUT_USER_ACTION" /> in the Manifest.
  • Check if Droid-ify is the installer of record (getInstallSourceInfo), and if so, use setRequireUserAction(USER_ACTION_NOT_REQUIRED) on the SessionParams to commit the update silently in the background.
  • If an app was installed by another source (or requires user action), just fall back to a standard notification instead of failing/crashing.
Extras
Benefits
  • True "Set and Forget" UX: Matches the zero-interaction background update experience of the official F-Droid client, Neo Store, and Obtainium.
  • No Root / No Shizuku needed: Works out of the box on stock Android 12+ and GrapheneOS across reboots.
  • Minimal cognitive load: Users only get a passive notification "3 apps updated in the background" (or nothing at all, if configured), keeping Droid-ify's clean Material You philosophy.

Related to #1275, #1273, #900, and #1158.

Dominant language
Kotlin
Stars
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Forks
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First steps

  1. Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
  2. Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
  3. Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
  4. Open a pull request that references the issue number.

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