19.38 trouble sideloading app

So you’re able to sideload a starter app but not your own app? By starter app, do you mean an SDK sample, or do you mean an unmodified app created by "Monkey C: New Project"?

When you look at \GARMIN\APPS\LOGS\CIQ_LOG.* on the device, do you see an error message (such as “signature check failed”)?

Is it possible that you’re at the limit for apps on your device? (I realize this is unlikely given you’re able to sideload the starter app). You can check the number of installed apps and the limit in the Connect IQ phone app. You can also use the same app to delete any previously sideloaded apps.

The big changes related to sideloading that I’ve noticed with firmware updates on my FR955 over the past year are:

- all app types are now “hidden” (made completely unavailable) in the file system, rather than just most app types

- it doesn’t seem possible to sideload apps that were built for a different device type anymore (e.g. an app built for fr935 won’t sideload to fr955, afaik, although that def worked when I first bought my fr955)

 I have reverted back to a previous version of my application. It seems in the newer version the items weren't being identified. I don't know why it impacted sideloading, but this implementation does everything I need. to answer your questions  I tested using an unmodified app created by New Project and I delete and resideload apps every time. I really appreciate your help.

Do I understand it well that while it is still possible to change the settings of ciq contents (but only with GE) which are not compatible with the sw versions of the watch, if I accidently delete an app, which I did alas, there is no way to get back the app even if I found it in some of backup file folders?

Sorry I missed this, I'm not sure what happened in your case. Hopefully you got that sorted out now.

Tisztul_A_Visztula said:

while it is still possible to change the settings of ciq contents (but only with GE) which are not compatible with the sw versions of the watch

Not sure what you mean here. Where did you get the app / how did you install it on your device?

Tisztul_A_Visztula said:

if I accidently delete an app, which I did alas, there is no way to get back the app even if I found it in some of backup file folders?

It depends on where you got the app in the first place.

All I'm saying is that:

- you can't copy app PRGs directly from the watch anymore, because they're all "hidden" (inaccessible) when you view the filesystem when the device is connected with a USB cable to a computer

- if you copy a PRG from a different type of device (it would have to be an old device / device with old firmware), it probably (definitely?) won't work on your current device

e.g. In the past I could sideload a PRG copied from a 935 onto a 945 LTE (different type of device).

Today, if I have an PRG from a 935, in my experience, it won't work on any current watch with up-to-date firmware (e.g. 955).

I

FlowState said:

Where did you get the app / how did you install it on your device?

I installed it from ciq app to my Enduro 2 while it was on 18.16, and although it worked after a downgrade to 16.22, but the only way to modify settings was using GE.

——

Yes, I got your message there is no way to make Media folder visible. I tried to use some Ppwershell functions in Windows 10 and I failed.

Tisztul_A_Visztula said:

I installed it from ciq app to my Enduro 2 while it was on 18.16, and although it worked after a downgrade to 16.22, but the only way to modify settings was using GE.

I see. That’s not really what I was talking about — running an app that was installed on newer firmware after downgrading to older firmware. Obviously if it’s already working for you, nothing I said can cause it stop working. It’s interesting that the only way you can change settings is Garmin Express.

I was talking about running an app that was intended for one model (e.g. FR935) on a different model (e.g. FR955) — that is the scenario which I believe is impossible now. It was also a fairly common practice in the past, when users would copy a PRG from an old device to a new device, because the app had not been updated to support the new device.

Tisztul_A_Visztula said:

Yes, I got your message there is no way to make Media folder visible. I tried to use some Ppwershell functions in Windows 10 and I failed.

This is why I think it’s misleading for people to say PRGs are “hidden” (although everyone says it, even me, because it’s the easiest way to talk about it). I always try to clarify that the PRGs are actually completely inaccessible to the end user now.

There have always been things which are inaccessible on Garmin devices, even before Garmin started “hiding” PRGs, such as wi-fi passwords and sensor pairings. They are obviously stored persistently on the device, but there’s no user-accessible file that changes when you change those things, which suggests that are stored somewhere that the user can’t get at them.

FlowState said:

such as wi-fi passwords and sensor pairings.

Yep, they were so well “hidden” that no even Garmin were able to backup them for years :-)  Thanks to God now at least the latter are part of backing up process.