"Package File is Invalid" Android Error Message

[osborne87]

Good evening,

 

I bought a Straight Talk Samsung Galaxy S2, that runs on Android 2.3.6 Gingerbread, in December of 2013.  As I later found out, it was pulled from the markets in January 2014.

 

So I have a phone that is most likely outdated.

 

Now for a while, I would try to download certain apps, and I would get an error message upon installation: "Package file is invalid".  Now more and more apps are doing that.  I have tried several things, including:

clearing data & cache in Play Store,

Uninstalling the updates to the Play Store,

cleared the google services framework data,

clearing the credentials were impossible (saw the option faded out),

erased the proxy in network access points,

did a factory reset,

and lastly, I tried removing my account info and adding a second (dummy) account.  It denied me, saying my primary account synced with apps that only it could (basically only my main account had access to), and before I could do anything else the phone shut itself off and back on (which is a rarity for me.)

 

I'm frustrated.  Help is appreciated.

 

Thanks.

 

-Kel

[awesomes8wc3]

that phone is from 2011 lol.

 

maybe those apps don't like gingerbread? try a newer rom, that phone will still handle newer versions pretty well.

[osborne87]

Rom?  As in, rooting?  

 

I'm not that technical... I was referred to this site, since I couldn't find anything else that worked.

[osborne87]

Thank you for replying 

[Aetherial]

Hey osborne, welcome to the community! 

There are a couple issues that could create an invalid package file, but all of which I know
you seem to have glossed over in attempts to fix it already. This can only mean the remaining
problem is the actual OS itself. The phone, and it's SDK being outdated, can't keep up with some
of the newer technologies that are being used in the apps you're trying to download.

There are no fixes to this issue other than to update your phone I am afraid. 

Apologies that I could not have been of more assistance.



P.S if you find a fix feel free to post it here for others that may have a similar issue! 
It helps both the people with problems, and the problem fixers, to keep an eye out
for newer developments in getting around issues such as these!

[osborne87]

Aetherial, I was afraid of that...

 

Thank you so much for your reply as well.  I figured that eventually I'd have to update or upgrade; I probably should've looked at the Manufacturer date (probably 2011 or before, as awesomes8wc3 suggested) before I bought this one, as I bought it online from WalMart... figures that I'd get some of the last bunch before they were pulled/discontinued...

 

Murphy's law.  :mellow:

 

Thank you both.

 

-Kel