Installation Guide

How to install Interlude on Android 8.0 through Android 15 · Last updated

download Download the latest APK

Before you start

You need an Android phone running Android 8.0 (API 26) or newer. Interlude is distributed as an APK on GitHub Releases — it is not on Google Play. That's normal for open-source clients, and it means you install it yourself.

Step 1 — Download the APK

Open github.com/naklirajveerfr/Interlude-Music/releases/latest on your phone. Under Assets, download the APK whose name starts with Interlude- and ends in .apk.

If you're unsure which variant to pick, use the universal build. It is larger but works on every supported CPU architecture. If you know your phone's ABI (ARM64 is standard on phones from the last five years), pick the matching arm64-v8a build for a smaller download.

Step 2 — Allow installation from your browser or file manager

Android will block the install the first time and show a message like "For your security, your phone is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source." This is expected. To allow it:

Android 8.0 – 9

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Special access → Install unknown apps.
  2. Find your browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) or file manager.
  3. Turn on Allow from this source.

Android 10 – 15

  1. Open Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps.
  2. Tap your browser or file manager.
  3. Toggle Allow from this source on.
  4. Tap Back and re-open the downloaded APK.

Some manufacturer skins (Samsung One UI, Xiaomi HyperOS, OnePlus OxygenOS) place this setting under Settings → Security or Settings → Privacy → Special permissions. If you can't find it, search "unknown apps" in your Settings search bar.

Step 3 — Install the APK

  1. Open your file manager's Downloads folder.
  2. Tap the APK you downloaded.
  3. Tap Install. If a Play Protect warning appears ("Unsafe app blocked"), tap More details → Install anyway. This is a generic warning for all sideloaded apps; it does not mean the APK is malicious, but you should only install builds you downloaded from the official GitHub releases page.
  4. Wait for the install to finish, then tap Open.

Step 4 — First-run setup

Interlude has no account system. On first launch, the app will:

Optional integrations (Last.fm, Discord, Google Cast) are off by default and must be enabled from Settings → Integrations.

Verifying the signature (optional, recommended)

Every release is signed with the project's release key. To confirm your APK is official, compare its signature fingerprint to the one in the README:

apksigner verify --print-certs Interlude-1.3.0.apk

apksigner is part of the Android SDK build-tools. If the SHA-256 fingerprint matches the value published in the repository README, the APK is authentic.

Troubleshooting

error "There was a problem parsing the package"

Fix

The APK is either corrupt or built for a CPU architecture your phone doesn't support. Re-download the universal build from GitHub Releases and try again. Also confirm your Android version is 8.0 or newer — older devices cannot parse the package because it targets a higher API.

error "App not installed" / "App not installed as package appears to be invalid"

Fix

You almost certainly have a build from another fork (Metrolist, SimpMusic, etc.) installed with the same package name but a different signing key. Uninstall the old app first — back up your playlists and downloads because uninstalling clears app data. Then install the Interlude APK.

error "Blocked by Play Protect"

Fix

Tap More details → Install anyway. This warning appears for every sideloaded app because Play Protect cannot verify apps outside the Play Store. If you'd rather not see it, you can temporarily disable Play Protect in the Play Store settings, but we recommend leaving it on and simply confirming each install.

error The install button is greyed out

Fix

You didn't complete Step 2 — the app you're installing from (browser or file manager) doesn't have "Install unknown apps" permission. Go back to Settings → Apps → Special access → Install unknown apps and grant it for the specific app that's opening the APK.

error Playback stops when the screen turns off

Fix

Your phone's battery optimization is killing the playback service. Open Settings → Apps → Interlude → Battery and choose Unrestricted (or the equivalent on your manufacturer's skin). On Samsung devices this may be under Settings → Apps → Interlude → Battery → Allow background activity.

error Lyrics don't load for a specific track

Fix

Open the player's overflow menu and try another provider for that song. If none of SimpMusic, BetterLyrics, or Musixmatch have lyrics for the track, it genuinely doesn't have a synchronized transcript available. The per-song override is explained in the troubleshooting guide.

error Downloads disappear after an app update

Fix

If you originally installed a build from a different fork (different signing key), the update replaces it and the app-private download directory is renamed. This was fixed for Interlude-to-Interlude updates in 1.2.1. For cross-fork migrations, back up downloads before uninstalling the old app.

Next steps