When Samsung updated my S24 FE from v8.0 to v8.5 the clock app was changed. I'm not having any substantial problems with it, but I liked the esthetics
of the previous version better. Is it possible to go back a version for
this one (clock) app, without having to go thru a bunch of phone modifications?
I can't even figure out who authored the app--was it Android, Samsung,
or...?
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Disable the auto-update option for an app in the Play Store app:
- Load Google's Play Store app.
- Tap on your profile pic icon (top right).
- Tap on Manage apps & devices.
- Tap on the Manage tab.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical dot menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Enable auto update option.
The app will no longer be updated unless you accidentally or blithely
tap on Update All when reviewing available updates.
Samsung also has its own Store app. The procedure is similar:
- Load Samsung's Store app.
- Tap on the Menu icon in the navbar at the bottom.
- Tap on My apps.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical button menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Auto update option.
If an app goes on Google's "bad app" list, the Play Store app will
remove it from your phone. If an app is not compatible with your phone
(the app you want is incompatible, or it is a new version of an app you
have but not compatible in the new version), the Play Store won't show
it in an app search. If an existing app on your phone is no longer compatible (the app author upped the sysreqs), the Play Store will
detect the newer version of the app is not compatible with your phone,
and won't update it.
I haven't used nor investigated the Samsung Store app to know what it
does regarding curated apps that are later determined to be bad, or for
apps that are or become incompatible with your phone. But both the
Google Play Store and Samsung Store apps have the option to disable the auto-update, but only on a per-app basis. For N apps you want to block auto-update, you have to go through the above procedures N times.
However, I have read an occasional report stating that the store apps
will override the disabled auto-update option. Don't remember if the override was for curated apps you installed that were later determined
to be evil, or for some other cause sanctioned by Google or Samsung. Of course, the store apps don't list themselves in their app lists, so you
can't get at an auto-update option for them.
I found a shortcut in the Google Play Store app if you want to disable auto-update on ALL apps, not just one app.
- Tap on your profile pic icon (top right).
- Scroll down to tap on the Settings entry.
- Tap on Network preferences.
- Tap on Auto-update apps.
- Select Don't auto-update apps.
You'll probably have to manually initiate a scan for updates, and elect
which ones to install. I haven't used this last method since I've only
had the need in the past to disable auto-update on one app.
Note that it isn't just the store apps that detect if there are newer versions of apps, and will install them. Apps themselves can check for updates. They may continually nag there is a newer version, or cripple themselves if their manifest declares an existing app is incompatible
with your device. I had one from Bryant for remote control of their
smart thermostat that kept nagging me there was a newer version, but the newer version was not compatible with my old Android version, so I could
not update. The store app wouldn't list it, and the play.google.com
website would list the newer version, but flagged it as incompatible, so
I couldn't install it. Disabling auto-update in the store app did not eliminate the app itself nagging there was a newer version. I had to
suffer the nag until I later got a new phone with a later version of
Android moving me from v8 to v15.
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Disable the auto-update option for an app in the Play Store app:
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Is it possible to go back a version for
this one (clock) app, without having to go thru a bunch of phone modifications?
Not only is it possible to downgrade, it's well documented how to do it.
adb install -r -d com.sec.android.app.clockpackage
adb help install
...
-r: replace existing application
-d: allow version code downgrade (debuggable packages only)
...
VanguardLH <V@nguard.LH> wrote:
Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Disable the auto-update option for an app in the Play Store app:
- Load Google's Play Store app.
- Tap on your profile pic icon (top right).
- Tap on Manage apps & devices.
- Tap on the Manage tab.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical dot menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Enable auto update option.
The app will no longer be updated unless you accidentally or blithely
tap on Update All when reviewing available updates.
Samsung also has its own Store app. The procedure is similar:
- Load Samsung's Store app.
- Tap on the Menu icon in the navbar at the bottom.
- Tap on My apps.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical button menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Auto update option.
If an app goes on Google's "bad app" list, the Play Store app will
remove it from your phone. If an app is not compatible with your phone
(the app you want is incompatible, or it is a new version of an app you
have but not compatible in the new version), the Play Store won't show
it in an app search. If an existing app on your phone is no longer
compatible (the app author upped the sysreqs), the Play Store will
detect the newer version of the app is not compatible with your phone,
and won't update it.
I haven't used nor investigated the Samsung Store app to know what it
does regarding curated apps that are later determined to be bad, or for
apps that are or become incompatible with your phone. But both the
Google Play Store and Samsung Store apps have the option to disable the
auto-update, but only on a per-app basis. For N apps you want to block
auto-update, you have to go through the above procedures N times.
However, I have read an occasional report stating that the store apps
will override the disabled auto-update option. Don't remember if the
override was for curated apps you installed that were later determined
to be evil, or for some other cause sanctioned by Google or Samsung. Of
course, the store apps don't list themselves in their app lists, so you
can't get at an auto-update option for them.
I found a shortcut in the Google Play Store app if you want to disable >auto-update on ALL apps, not just one app.
- Tap on your profile pic icon (top right).
- Scroll down to tap on the Settings entry.
- Tap on Network preferences.
- Tap on Auto-update apps.
- Select Don't auto-update apps.
You'll probably have to manually initiate a scan for updates, and elect
which ones to install. I haven't used this last method since I've only
had the need in the past to disable auto-update on one app.
Note that it isn't just the store apps that detect if there are newer >versions of apps, and will install them. Apps themselves can check for >updates. They may continually nag there is a newer version, or cripple >themselves if their manifest declares an existing app is incompatible
with your device. I had one from Bryant for remote control of their
smart thermostat that kept nagging me there was a newer version, but the >newer version was not compatible with my old Android version, so I could
not update. The store app wouldn't list it, and the play.google.com
website would list the newer version, but flagged it as incompatible, so
I couldn't install it. Disabling auto-update in the store app did not >eliminate the app itself nagging there was a newer version. I had to
suffer the nag until I later got a new phone with a later version of
Android moving me from v8 to v15.
Now, if I could just figure out how to get a particular version of the Samsung clock app. With the Google Play Store is seems to be, "get it, or don't get it". And it shows that it's already installed, which it is, but I'd still like to go back to the previous version.
Frank Slootweg wrote:
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
It's trivial to prevent any given app from being updated. In fact,
in the Nova launcher thread is shown how to prevent any app update.
Newsgroups: comp.mobile.android--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
Subject: Nova launcher - wiped out my homescreen & can't find apps like Muntashirakon
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 2026 23:44:25 -0800
Message-ID: <114hjop$13f6$1@nnrp.usenet.blueworldhosting.com>
Frank Slootweg <this@ddress.is.invalid> wrote:
After installing that version, the next problem is how to prevent it
from be updated again to The New Way (TM)! :-)
Disable the auto-update option for an app in the Play Store app:
- Load Google's Play Store app.
- Tap on your profile pic icon (top right).
- Tap on Manage apps & devices.
- Tap on the Manage tab.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical dot menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Enable auto update option.
The app will no longer be updated unless you accidentally or blithely
tap on Update All when reviewing available updates.
Samsung also has its own Store app. The procedure is similar:
- Load Samsung's Store app.
- Tap on the Menu icon in the navbar at the bottom.
- Tap on My apps.
- Tap on an app.
- Tap on the 3 vertical button menu icon (top right).
- Deselect the Auto update option.
If an app goes on Google's "bad app" list, the Play Store app will--- Synchronet 3.22a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
remove it from your phone. If an app is not compatible with your phone
(the app you want is incompatible, or it is a new version of an app you
have but not compatible in the new version), the Play Store won't show
it in an app search. If an existing app on your phone is no longer compatible (the app author upped the sysreqs), the Play Store will
detect the newer version of the app is not compatible with your phone,
and won't update it.
I haven't used nor investigated the Samsung Store app to know what it
does regarding curated apps that are later determined to be bad, or for
apps that are or become incompatible with your phone. But both the
Google Play Store and Samsung Store apps have the option to disable the auto-update, but only on a per-app basis. For N apps you want to block auto-update, you have to go through the above procedures N times.
However, I have read an occasional report stating that the store apps
will override the disabled auto-update option. Don't remember if the override was for curated apps you installed that were later determined
to be evil, or for some other cause sanctioned by Google or Samsung. Of course, the store apps don't list themselves in their app lists, so you
can't get at an auto-update option for them.
Now, if I could just figure out how to get a particular version of the Samsung clock app. With the Google Play Store is seems to be, "get it, or don't get it". And it shows that it's already installed, which it is, but I'd still like to go back to the previous version.
croy <croy@spam.invalid.net> wrote:
Now, if I could just figure out how to get a particular version of the
Samsung clock app. With the Google Play Store is seems to be, "get it, or >> don't get it". And it shows that it's already installed, which it is, but >> I'd still like to go back to the previous version.
The version at the Play Store will be the latest at Google's store. For
now, the version at Google's Play Store is older than the version
offered by the Samsung Store app.
If you already have the same version as offered at the Play Store, there
is no reverse option to get an older version than that.
On 8/4/26 9:15 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
croy <croy@spam.invalid.net> wrote:
Now, if I could just figure out how to get a particular version of the
Samsung clock app. With the Google Play Store is seems to be, "get it, or >>> don't get it". And it shows that it's already installed, which it is, but >>> I'd still like to go back to the previous version.
The version at the Play Store will be the latest at Google's store. For >>now, the version at Google's Play Store is older than the version
offered by the Samsung Store app.
If you already have the same version as offered at the Play Store, there
is no reverse option to get an older version than that.
Actually there is. I just got a new toy, A TCL Tab 10 Gen 4 Android tablet.
I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app on my phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's stayed but my old phone stopped getting updates long ago so YMMV. Anyway I tried it on my new TCL tablet which has Google Clock and it dropped it from Clock
version 9.0 to 8.5. Course I'm not sure how useful that would be as you
can't pick the older version that you get and you have to turn off updates
or it reverts, but for arguments sake, you CAN get an older version in the Play Store... ;)
On 8/4/26 9:15 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
croy <croy@spam.invalid.net> wrote:
Now, if I could just figure out how to get a particular version of the
Samsung clock app. With the Google Play Store is seems to be, "get it, or >>> don't get it". And it shows that it's already installed, which it is, but >>> I'd still like to go back to the previous version.
The version at the Play Store will be the latest at Google's store. For >>now, the version at Google's Play Store is older than the version
offered by the Samsung Store app.
If you already have the same version as offered at the Play Store, there
is no reverse option to get an older version than that.
Actually there is. I just got a new toy, A TCL Tab 10 Gen 4 Android tablet.
I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app on my
phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's stayed but
my old phone stopped getting updates long ago so YMMV. Anyway I tried it on
my new TCL tablet which has Google Clock and it dropped it from Clock
version 9.0 to 8.5. Course I'm not sure how useful that would be as you
can't pick the older version that you get and you have to turn off updates
or it reverts, but for arguments sake, you CAN get an older version in the
Play Store... ;)
AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
VanguardLH wrote:
The version at the Play Store will be the latest at Google's store. For >>>now, the version at Google's Play Store is older than the version
offered by the Samsung Store app.
If you already have the same version as offered at the Play Store, there >>>is no reverse option to get an older version than that.
Actually there is. I just got a new toy, A TCL Tab 10 Gen 4 Android tablet. >> I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app on my >> phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's stayed but >> my old phone stopped getting updates long ago so YMMV. Anyway I tried it on >> my new TCL tablet which has Google Clock and it dropped it from Clock
version 9.0 to 8.5. Course I'm not sure how useful that would be as you
can't pick the older version that you get and you have to turn off updates >> or it reverts, but for arguments sake, you CAN get an older version in the >> Play Store... ;)
I wouldn't say that is getting the old version from the Play Store.
What you did was remove the updates, not uninstall the app. So, without
the updates, you reverted to the bundled version of the app. Apparently
you got a bundled version of the app that cannot be uninstalled hence
the availability of only removing the updates. An old version would be
one that didn't have subsequent updates. You can't get old versions
from the Play Store. If doable, you can remove updates from an app that
gave you the new[er] version.
I simply disagreed because I've done it USING THE PLAY STORE. So there CAN
BE a reverse option. I'm proof. With both the Samsung and Google Clock apps
(on-topic yea). Did I say it always worked? Nope. But you said a DEFINITE
"no reverse option" when it obviously IS possible... ;) ;) ;) ;) ;)
AJL <noemail@none.com> wrote:
On 8/4/26 9:15 PM, VanguardLH wrote:
croy <croy@spam.invalid.net> wrote:
Actually there is. I just got a new toy, A TCL Tab 10 Gen 4 Android tablet. >> I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app on my >> phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's stayed but
my old phone stopped getting updates long ago so YMMV. Anyway I tried it on
my new TCL tablet which has Google Clock and it dropped it from Clock
version 9.0 to 8.5. Course I'm not sure how useful that would be as you
can't pick the older version that you get and you have to turn off updates >> or it reverts, but for arguments sake, you CAN get an older version in the >> Play Store... ;)
I wouldn't say that is getting the old version from the Play Store.
What you did was remove the updates, not uninstall the app. So, without
the updates, you reverted to the bundled version of the app. Apparently
you got a bundled version of the app that cannot be uninstalled hence
the availability of only removing the updates. An old version would be
one that didn't have subsequent updates. You can't get old versions
from the Play Store. If doable, you can remove updates from an app that
gave you the new[er] version.
Normally (Play Store) if an app came in the firmware (or perhaps
bundled) you can remove the updates, then in a last step inhibit it. For >practical purposes (except firmware size) the app is not loaded and it >doesn't run.
There may be apps that truly can not be uninstalled nor disabled.
Normally they are services, not actual apps.
Normally (Play Store) if an app came in the firmware (or perhaps
bundled) you can remove the updates, then in a last step inhibit it. For practical purposes (except firmware size) the app is not loaded and it doesn't run.
I don't know about Samsung apps.
There may be apps that truly can not be uninstalled nor disabled.
Normally they are services, not actual apps.
I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app on my phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's stayed but my old phone stopped getting updates long ago.
I'm posting this with my Chromebook. I'm curious what version of the
Android OS PhoNews thinks this is and will check the headers to find out.
On 8/5/26 8:58 AM, AJL wrote:
I discovered earlier that if I tried to delete the Samsung Clock app
on my
phone in the Play Store it just removed the updates. So far it's
stayed but
my old phone stopped getting updates long ago.
I lied. My 7 year old phone IS getting updates. Today Samsung reupdated my Clock app that I earlier removed the updates when trying to delete it (to 12.1.25.0). And it also told Google because the Play Store shows the app
and says it was "Updated 35 minutes ago". Further a Samsung app called "Samsung Cloud for Wear OS" was also updated "35 minutes ago" according to the Play Store. I didn't know I had that app or even what it does. But I guess I should be happy to still be getting updates after 7 years (maybe)...-a 8-/
(I'm posting this with my Chromebook. I'm curious what version of the
Android OS PhoNews thinks this is and will check the headers to find out.)
Apps get updates for ever.
At least while the designers of each app decide they maintain it and for which Android versions.
Carlos E.R. wrote:
Apps get updates forever.
At least while the designers of each app decide they maintain it and for
which Android versions.
I've never fully understood this but Carlos is correct that an app can be >updated forever just as Google Mainline (Google play system updates) do.
The part that I don't have complete grasp of is how does an app *know* that >it needs to be updated, where, for sure, most people have automatic updates >set on their Google Play store <com.android.vending> and Galaxy Store.
So the first thing I'd ask AJL is whether or not he has automatic updates
set on either his Galaxy, Amazon, or Google Play stores.
Another way apps can update, of course, is by server-side updates.
WhatsApp and Skyica do that, for example.
They can do that because every time you open them, they connect to their >servers, so they can always check which version they're running.
In both those cases, I wait, and in about a week, they block the app from >running, so you're forced to do the update that they want you to do.
But, as Frank noted already, the Samsung clock app has deep hooks.
So I'm not sure how the Samsung clock app gets updated.
On 8/7/26 8:30 PM, Maria Sophia wrote:
Carlos E.R. wrote:
Apps get updates forever.
At least while the designers of each app decide they maintain it and
for which Android versions.
I've never fully understood this but Carlos is correct that an app can be
updated forever just as Google Mainline (Google play system updates) do.
The part that I don't have complete grasp of is how does an app *know*
that
it needs to be updated, where, for sure, most people have automatic
updates
set on their Google Play store <com.android.vending> and Galaxy Store.
So the first thing I'd ask AJL is whether or not he has automatic updates
set on either his Galaxy, Amazon, or Google Play stores.
This Amazon tablet with Google added, all updates off. All my other toys updates are on.
Another way apps can update, of course, is by server-side updates.
WhatsApp and Skyica do that, for example.
They can do that because every time you open them, they connect to their
servers, so they can always check which version they're running.
In both those cases, I wait, and in about a week, they block the app from
running, so you're forced to do the update that they want you to do.
But, as Frank noted already, the Samsung clock app has deep hooks.
So I'm not sure how the Samsung clock app gets updated.
Turns out I bragged too soon. My phone's Samsung clock app was only updated to a 2023 version today. Apparently where it was when I accidentally
deleted the updates in my earlier Clock app delete attempt. So Carlos, it appears my forever arrived a few years back...
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