What is INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES error?
I was trying to change my default/main/startup (whatever you call it) activity by editing the androidmanifest.xml file. All i did was change the android:name property. however, this completely broke the entire app. when I try to install it fails and reads.
Installation error: INSTALL_PARSE_FAILED_NO_CERTIFICATES
When I tried to change it back to its previous state, it was still giving me the same error... What have I done?
Answer
I found that this error can now also occur when using the wrong signing config. As described here, Android 7.0 introduces a new signature scheme, V2. The V2 scheme signs the entire APK rather than just the JAR, as is done in the V1 scheme. If you sign with only V2, and attempt to install on a pre-7.0 target, you'll get this error since the JARs themselves are not signed and the pre-7.0 PackageManager cannot detect the presence of the V2 APK signature.
To be compatible with all target systems, make sure the APK is signed with both schemes by checking both signature version boxes in Android Studio's Generate Signed APK dialog as shown here:
If only 7.0 targets are anticipated, then there is no need to include the V1 signature.