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Featured: Download & Install The Unreleased Gmail 4.2 .apk & T

Featured: Download & Install The Unreleased Gmail 4.2 .apk & Try The New Features

By Alexander Maxham
October 12, 2012

Yesterday we wrote about the new version of Gmail (version 4.2) which is still not released yet, but adds some new features like Pinch-to-Zoom, and swipe to Archive/Delete the message. And thanks to Android Police we now have the .apk so we can install it over the previous version of Gmail on our devices. The fellas over at Android Police has also put together a video showing off Gmail version 4.2, have a look below.

As always with beta .apk’s we are not responsible for any damage caused to your device. You take full responsibility.

Instructions (From Android Police)

  1. Download Gmail 4.2 from one of the mirrors above.
  2. Rename it to Gmail2.apk.
  3. Make a Nandroid backup in case something goes wrong (this is always a good thing to do before messing with your device).
  4. Remount /system for writing (via your favorite root-aware file explorer).
  5. Delete (or move if you want to save the APKs) all other versions of Gmail.
    Update: We’ve seen multiple successful reports of simply uninstalling Gmail using Titanium Backup or ROM Toolbox instead of performing this and the next step. If that works for you, go directly to step 7. If not, proceed below.
    Usually there are 2 or 3 copies. One will be in /system/app (that’s the original Gmail that was pre-installed on the device) and there may be a few in /data/app (these are the updates installed from the Play Store). They’ll be called “Gmail.apk,” or “com.google.android.gm-[number].apk,”  An easy way to tell is to look for the Gmail icon.
  6. You may need to delete the .odex files matching the APKs in step 5 too, if you have them. Neither I nor Artem had to do this, but there are many different ROMs out there, and we’re trying to cover all bases. Ignore this step and only come back to it if something doesn’t work later.
  7. Reboot. Once you do, you should have no Gmail as far as Android is concerned.
  8. You can try to install the Gmail 4.2 APK you downloaded at this point by tapping it in your favorite file explorer (move the APK to your device first, of course). If that doesn’t work, or if you prefer ADB, fire up a command line and type adb install Gmail2.apk.

Also once the update is live in the Play Store you’ll want to delete or disable this version of Gmail so you can get the Play Store version and continue to get updates. So install this .apk at your own risk. We’ve got some download links below.

Downloads:

Big Thanks to Ron Amadeo of Android Police for the instructions, and download links.