mealmate Download

Install MealMate on Android

For the Rajshahi pilot. Download the app, then follow the steps. It takes about two minutes.

How to install

For Android 8 to Android 16. Button names can differ a little between phone brands.

  1. Download the file

    Tap Download MealMate. Use Chrome if you can.

    Chrome may warn "File might be harmful". Tap Download anyway. Chrome shows this for app files that don't come from Google Play.

  2. Open the downloaded file

    When the download finishes, tap Open in Chrome or tap the download notification.

    Missed it? Open your Files app (on Samsung: My Files), go to Downloads and tap mealmate.apk.

  3. Allow installs from Chrome (first time only)

    Android will say it isn't allowed to install unknown apps from this source. Tap Settings, turn on Allow from this source, then go back.

    If you don't see the prompt, turn it on yourself:

    Settings › Apps › Special app access › Install unknown apps › Chrome › Allow from this source

    Opened the file from your Files app? Then allow Files (or My Files) instead of Chrome. On some phones Special app access is under Advanced or the ⋮ menu. Searching Settings for Install unknown apps always finds it.

  4. Tap Install

    Android asks "Do you want to install this app?" Tap Install.

  5. If Google Play Protect asks

    Play Protect checks apps that don't come from Google Play. Because this is a new test build, you might see one of these:

    • Send app for scanning? Either choice is fine. Tap Scan app to let Google check it, or Don't send to skip.
    • Unsafe app blocked or App blocked to protect your device. Tap More details, then Install anyway. Your phone may ask for your fingerprint or PIN.

    There's no need to turn Play Protect off.

  6. Open MealMate

    Tap Open, or find MealMate on your home screen. Sign in with your phone number.

After installing. You can turn Install unknown apps back off for Chrome (same place as step 3). You'll be asked to allow it again when you install an update.

On Android 7. There's one switch instead of a per-app setting: Settings › Security › Unknown sources. Turn it on, install, then turn it off again.

Samsung, Xiaomi and other phones

Some brands add their own security check on top of Android's.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI): Auto Blocker

Auto Blocker stops installs from outside Galaxy Store and Google Play. It's on by default on many newer Galaxy phones. If a pop-up says the install was blocked:

  1. Open Settings › Security and privacy › Auto Blocker and turn it off. You'll confirm with your PIN or fingerprint.
  2. Install MealMate.
  3. Turn Auto Blocker back on if you like.

Samsung's "Install unknown apps" setting is at Settings › Apps › ⋮ › Special access › Install unknown apps. While Auto Blocker is on, apps from outside the stores can't be updated, so turn it off again when you install a new version.

Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO (HyperOS / MIUI)

The phone may run its own security scan before installing. Let it finish, then continue the install. If you aren't taken to the permission switch, search Settings for Install unknown apps and allow the app you opened the file with.

Oppo, Realme, vivo, Tecno, Infinix and others

Some show an extra warning or scan before installing. Read it and continue. Menu names vary, so the quickest way to the permission is to search Settings for Install unknown apps.

About Google's developer verification. Google is starting to require that Android apps come from verified developers. Since 30 September 2026 this applies only to apps installed from certain app stores in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand. It doesn't cover apps installed from a file like this one, and it isn't in effect in Bangladesh. Google plans to roll it out worldwide in 2027. You don't need to change anything in Developer options to install MealMate.

Updating to a new version

  1. Download the new APK

    Use the same button on this page. The link always points to the latest test build.

  2. Install it over the top

    Open the file and tap Update (or Install). You don't need to uninstall first, and your data is kept.

See "App not installed" or "package conflicts with an existing package"? Updates must be signed with the same key as the version on your phone. If they don't match, uninstall the old app first (Settings › Apps › MealMate › Uninstall), then install the new one. Uninstalling deletes the app's data on your phone, so you'll need to sign in again. Your plan and credit are kept on MealMate's side.

Which version do I have? Open Settings › Apps › MealMate. The version is at the bottom of the App info screen. Compare it with the version in the download panel.

Verify the download

Optional. To be sure the file wasn't changed or cut short, compare its SHA-256 fingerprint with the one in the download panel. They must match exactly.

On your phone: use a file manager or hash-checker app that can show a file's SHA-256.

On a computer: open a terminal in the folder with the file and run:

macOSshasum -a 256 mealmate.apk
Linuxsha256sum mealmate.apk
Windowscertutil -hashfile mealmate.apk SHA256

Troubleshooting

Tap a problem to see what to do.

"App not installed"
  • An older MealMate is installed with a different key. Uninstall it (Settings › Apps › MealMate › Uninstall) and install again. You'll sign in again; your plan and credit are kept.
  • Not enough storage. Free up some space and try again.
  • The download didn't finish. Delete the file and download it again.
  • Samsung phone? Auto Blocker may be on. See Samsung.
"There was a problem parsing the package"
  • The download is incomplete or damaged. Delete mealmate.apk and download it again on a steady connection. You can check the SHA-256 to be sure.
  • Your Android is too old. MealMate needs Android 7.0 or newer. Check Settings › About phone › Android version.
Blocked by Google Play Protect

On the warning, tap More details, then Install anyway. If you're asked to send the app for scanning, you can choose Scan app or Don't send.

If there's no Install anyway option, don't turn off Play Protect. Write to us at [contact email] and tell us your phone model.

Samsung: "blocked by Auto Blocker"

Go to Settings › Security and privacy › Auto Blocker, turn it off, install MealMate, then turn it back on if you want. Turn it off again when you install an update.

I can't find the downloaded file

In Chrome, tap ⋮ › Downloads. Or open Files (Samsung: My Files) › Downloads.

Search for mealmate. If you downloaded it more than once, it may be called mealmate (1).apk; use the newest one.

Nothing happens when I tap the file

Allow Install unknown apps for the app you're opening it from (see step 3). If you opened it from a chat or email app, save it to Downloads first and open it from Files.