Install the Android APK
News Dashboard publishes a native Android APK that wraps the web app using a Trusted Web Activity (TWA). It renders the PWA full-screen with no address bar, supports adaptive icons and Material You theming, and behaves like a real installed app.
The APK always loads news.lihor.ro (or the domain your self-hosted instance is configured with). It is not a standalone reader — it requires network access to the server.
What you need
- An Android device running Android 6.0+ (API 23+)
- A network connection to reach the server
- Permission to install apps from outside the Play Store (see below)
Where to get the APK
The signed APK is published as part of every GitHub Release.
- Open the Releases page.
- Find the latest release (highest version number).
- Under Assets, download the file named
news-dashboard-<version>.apk.
Note: The APK is not distributed through Google Play or any app store. You must download it from GitHub and install it manually.
How to install
1. Allow installation from unknown sources
Android blocks apps installed outside the Play Store by default. You need to enable Install from unknown sources (sometimes called Install unknown apps) for the app you will use to open the APK file (usually your file manager or browser).
Depending on your Android version:
- Android 8+: When you open the APK, Android will prompt you to allow installation from that source. Tap Settings and enable Allow from this source.
- Android 6–7: Go to Settings → Security → Unknown sources and enable the toggle.
2. Open the APK file
Transfer the downloaded .apk file to your device (if you downloaded it
directly from the device browser, it will be in the Downloads folder).
Open the file. Android will show a confirmation screen with the app name and permissions.
Tap Install.
3. Launch the app
Once installed, tap Open to launch News Dashboard. You will see a sign-in screen — see Create a web account if you do not have one yet.
Verifying the installation
The app icon should appear in your app drawer under the name News Dashboard. Tapping it opens the sign-in page in a full-screen Chrome view with no address bar.
Updates
To update, download the latest APK from the Releases page and install it over the existing app. Android will preserve your app data and session.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Likely cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| "App not installed" | APK is corrupted or incompatible | Re-download the APK and check that your Android version is 6.0+ |
| "Parse error" | Incomplete download | Delete the file and download again |
| "Blocked by Play Protect" | Google's safety check | Tap Install anyway (the APK is signed and safe) |
| White screen / doesn't load | No network or wrong server URL | Check your connection and ensure news.lihor.ro is reachable |
Building the APK yourself
Developers and self-hosters can build the APK from source. See the Android build guide for instructions.