Installing and downloading

On a computer, open the site in a browser — nothing to install. On a phone there are two paths: iPhone and iPad from the App Store; Android from the download page on our site, or from Google Play where that store is available. The steps below are only for sideloading on Android. iOS and the web do not need them.

Check the signing fingerprint first

The download page publishes the SHA-256 fingerprint of the installer's signing certificate. Only we can produce that signature: if someone repackages the app with their own code added, the fingerprint will differ.

Checking on the phone, after installing: use any "APK signature viewer" app to inspect the installed Athena; its certificate SHA-256 must match the one on the download page exactly.

Checking on a computer (more reliable): with the Android SDK installed, run apksigner verify --print-certs athena.apk and compare the Signer #1 certificate SHA-256 digest line against the download page.

If the fingerprint does not match, do not install it, and please tell us through the contact details on the site.

Installation steps

1. Open the download page in your phone's browser and tap "Download for Android". Some browsers ask whether you really want to download this kind of file; continue.

2. When the download finishes, tap the file in the notification shade, or find it under Files → Downloads.

3. When the system says installing unknown apps is blocked, tap Settings, turn on "Allow from this source" for the browser (or file manager) you are using, then go back and continue. Since Android 8 this permission is granted per source, so opening the installer from a different app means granting it again.

4. Warnings such as "unscanned app" or "this app may be harmful" appear for every app that does not come from a store; choose "Install anyway".

5. Open Athena, sign in, and your library syncs down automatically.

Extra step on some brands

Huawei / Honor: "Pure Mode" blocks every install that does not come from AppGallery and simply reports that installation was blocked. Turn it off under Settings → System & updates → Pure Mode (on some models it lives under Security → More security settings). Doing so requires signing in to a Huawei account and shows a warning screen; you can turn it back on after installing.

Xiaomi / Redmi: the first install runs a forced countdown of a few seconds. If you see "blocked due to security risk", allow your browser under Settings → Privacy protection → Special permissions → Install unknown apps.

OPPO / OnePlus / realme: you may be asked to sign in or enter your lock-screen password before the install is allowed.

vivo: enable your browser under Settings → More settings → Permission manager → Install unknown apps.

Samsung: the warning comes from Play Protect; choose "Install anyway".

Updating later

The app asks our server for the latest version at startup and tells you when a newer one exists. Tapping update opens the browser to download the new installer; installing it over the old one keeps all your local data, because both builds carry the same signature and count as an upgrade.

Occasionally we set a minimum supported version — when a server-side data change would make older builds sync incorrectly. Clients below that version must update before they can continue, and that prompt cannot be dismissed.

iOS and Google Play builds update through their stores. You do not download an installer yourself.

Troubleshooting

"App not installed" or "problem parsing the package": usually an incomplete download, so delete the file and download it again. It can also mean your system is too old — Athena requires Android 7.0 or later.

"Signatures do not match": another app with the same name from a different source is installed. Uninstall it first; builds with different signatures cannot upgrade each other. Note that uninstalling erases that app's local data.

Crashes right after install: check that you have free storage, then restart the phone. If it still fails, contact us with your phone model and system version.

Can't find the downloaded file: most browsers save to the Downloads folder; search for the file name in your file manager.

Limits and cautions

Only take the installer from our download page. An "Athena" from a forum, cloud drive or download site may be a repackaged build, and such a build can read the password you type and everything in your library.

The installer contains no ads or bundled promotions and never silently installs other apps.