Downgrade an app in Nougat Well, simple. I want to downgrade an app that has been accidentally updated. I've already read this question but it didn't provide me with a straight instruction. I have the APK I want to downgrade to so that question is unhelpful to me. It's not a test package (saved from Google Play) so option -t doesn't make sense.

Things I've tried so far:


Run in a terminal (with root)

pm install -r -d old.apk
Use adb on a computer

adb install -r -d /path/to/old.apk
Brutally replace the apk in /data/app and manually run dex2oat to force compile it


All of above were to no avail. So I'm quite bothered about this.

I don't want an answer telling me uninstall the new app, then install the old one. I want to retain app data without backing up.
This installs the old version without removing the new one: 
adb install -r -d /path/to/old.apk

The -d flag is to allow a downgrade. -t allows test packages. 

You can also uninstall the application, then install the old apk. This may be necessary, for example, if the application data has changed format in the new version and is not backwards compatible.