InstantAppsClient

AI-generated Key Takeaways

• The InstantAppsClient class, which provides APIs for Android instant apps, is deprecated and will no longer work from December 2025.

• Developers are encouraged to direct users to their regular app or game using deeplinks as an alternative to instant apps for user growth.

• The InstantAppsClient allows checking if a device supports instant apps and retrieving data specific to the caller's instant app.

• The retrieved instant app data is in a Zip file format and includes shared preferences, files from internal storage directories like getFilesDir() and getDatabasePath(), but excludes temporary or excluded files like cache.

• To retrieve instant app data, your instant app and installed app must be signed with the same key(s).

public class InstantAppsClient extends GoogleApi<Api.ApiOptions.NoOptions>

This class is deprecated.
Starting December 2025, Instant Apps cannot be published through Google Play, and all Google Play services Instant APIs will no longer work. To continue optimizing for user growth, we encourage developers to refer users to their regular app or game, and using deeplinks to redirect them to specific journeys or features when relevant.

Main entry point to APIs for Android instant apps.

Example use:

InstantAppsClient client = InstantApps.getInstantAppsClient(context);
 Task<ParcelFileDescriptor> fileTask = client.getInstantAppData();
 fileTask
     .addOnCompleteListener(fileTask -> readData(fileTask.getResult()))
     .addOnFailureListener(exception -> handleException(exception));
 

Public Method Summary

Task<Boolean>	areInstantAppsEnabledForDevice() Checks whether this device satisfied all preconditions to run instant apps.
Task<ParcelFileDescriptor>	getInstantAppData() Retrieves a ParcelFileDescriptor to the caller's instant app's data.

Inherited Method Summary

From class com.google.android.gms.common.api.GoogleApi

String

getApiFallbackAttributionTag(Context arg0)

From class java.lang.Object

Object	clone()
boolean	equals(Object arg0)
void	finalize()
final Class<?>	getClass()
int	hashCode()
final void	notify()
final void	notifyAll()
String	toString()
final void	wait(long arg0, int arg1)
final void	wait(long arg0)
final void	wait()

Public Methods

public Task<Boolean> areInstantAppsEnabledForDevice ()

Checks whether this device satisfied all preconditions to run instant apps. Default is false.

public Task<ParcelFileDescriptor> getInstantAppData ()

Retrieves a ParcelFileDescriptor to the caller's instant app's data.

The file format is Zip, which is compatible with Android's native ZipOutputStream and ZipInputStream.

What is in the Zip file?

• Shared preferences files.
• Files in the directory returned by Context.getFilesDir().
• Files in the directory returned by Context.getDatabasePath(String), which also includes files created with the SQLiteOpenHelper class.
• Files in directories created with Context.getDir(String, int).

Note: Since instant apps cannot access external storage, no information from external storage will be returned.

Files in directories returned by Context.getCacheDir(), Context.getCodeCacheDir(), or Context.getNoBackupFilesDir() are excluded. The files saved in these locations are only needed temporarily, or are intentionally excluded from transfer operations.

Security Requirements:

• You may only request data for your own package. The package name is implied from calling Context.getPackageName() within your app.
• You must sign your instant apps and your installed apps with the exact same key(s). i.e. If your instant app has two certificates, your Installed App must as well.