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Installing on Android

The same UI compiles to a native Android package. There's no Play Store listing yet, so you build the app yourself (or install an APK someone built for you).

What you'll need

  • An Android device on Android 6.0 (API 23) or newer.
  • A PC with the .NET SDK 10. The Android head targets net10.0-android.
  • The .NET Android workload plus an Android SDK and a JDK. Installing Android Studio gets you the SDK and JDK; then add the workload:
dotnet workload install android

If a build can't find the Android SDK, set AndroidSdkDirectory or the ANDROID_HOME environment variable.

Option A — install to a plugged-in phone

  1. Unlock Developer options: Settings → About phone, tap Build number seven times.
  2. In Settings → System → Developer options, turn on USB debugging.
  3. Connect the phone over USB and accept the Allow USB debugging? prompt.
  4. From the repository root:
dotnet build src\Collectary.UI.Android\Collectary.UI.Android.csproj -t:Install -f net10.0-android

Collectary then appears in your app drawer.

Option B — build an APK and sideload it

  1. Publish a release build:
dotnet publish src\Collectary.UI.Android\Collectary.UI.Android.csproj -c Release -f net10.0-android
  1. The signed APK is at:
src\Collectary.UI.Android\bin\Release\net10.0-android\publish\com.collectary.app-Signed.apk
  1. Get the file onto the phone (USB, Drive, email).
  2. Tap the APK. Android asks permission to install from unknown sources the first time; allow it, then confirm.

It's signed with a debug key

The publish APK is signed with a development key — fine for your own devices, but not a store-ready production build, so don't distribute it widely.

First launch

On first run Collectary creates its local database, runs migrations, and asks you to create an account. Everything is stored on the device. For the same collections on phone and computer, set up Sync through a shared folder.

The back button saves your work

On a phone the system back button (gesture or button) is the natural way to step out of a screen, so Collectary treats it the same as the on-screen back control rather than as "quit". While you're editing an item, a collection, a list entry, or the shared-field library, pressing back saves what you've typed and returns to the previous screen — you won't lose a half-finished entry by reflexively swiping back. From a detail screen it takes you home, and pressing back once more from the home screen sends Collectary to the background like any other app. Nothing is ever discarded silently.

Dialogs and prompts

Confirmations ("Delete this item?"), error messages, the cloud-folder picker and the sync-conflict resolver all appear inside the app window as a dimmed overlay — they are no longer separate desktop-style pop-up windows. That's what lets them work on a phone, where the operating system only gives the app a single window to draw in. The exact same overlay is used on the desktop, so the two platforms behave identically: tapping outside the buttons does nothing, and you dismiss a dialog by choosing one of its actions.

Troubleshooting

Symptom Likely fix
error XA5300: Android SDK not found Install Android Studio, or set ANDROID_HOME.
Build can't find a JDK Install the JDK from Android Studio, or set JAVA_HOME.
Device not detected over USB Re-accept the USB debugging prompt; try another cable/port; run adb devices.
"App not installed" when sideloading Uninstall the old debug-signed copy first, then install the new APK.