Do I need to uninstall the Play Store version before installing the APK?

Yes. We explicitly recommend this if another version of the same app is already installed on your device. In our FAQ about the error “package conflicts with an existing package,” we explain that this issue is usually caused by remnants of an older version or by an installation inside Secure Folder.

The cleanest approach is this: uninstall any existing Play Store, Free, or older version, also check Samsung Secure Folder, restart the device, and only then install the new APK. If the error still appears, clearing the cache of the “Package Installer” can also help.

In some cases, installing it directly over the existing version may technically work. However, for a clean and stable installation, we clearly recommend a fresh install because it is the most reliable way to avoid package conflicts.