Question 601 of 750

Mobile OS and App Troubleshooting →hardMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Android App Crashes Immediately After MDM Deployment: API Level Mismatch

This 220-1202 practice question tests your understanding of mobile os and app troubleshooting. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A company deploys a custom app via MDM to Android devices. Users report that the app crashes immediately upon launch. The app works fine on the developer's test device. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.
Clue: "immediately / without restart"
Why it matters: Time or reboot constraint — the correct answer must take effect right away without requiring a reboot or reload.

A
The MDM profile is corrupt and needs to be re-pushed.
Why wrong: A corrupt MDM profile would likely prevent installation entirely, not cause the app to crash on launch.
B
The app requires a specific Android API level that is not present on the deployed devices.
If the app targets a higher API level than the device's OS, it will crash on launch due to missing system features.
C
The devices have insufficient storage space.
Why wrong: Insufficient storage would cause an installation failure, not a crash after successful installation.
D
The app is not signed with the correct enterprise certificate.
Why wrong: An incorrect signature would prevent installation entirely, not allow installation but crash on launch.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is an API level mismatch, meaning the app requires a specific Android API level that is not present on the deployed devices. This is the most likely cause when an Android app crashes immediately after MDM deployment, because the developer’s test device likely runs a newer OS version than the company’s fleet. The app’s manifest declares a minimum SDK version, and if the deployed devices run an older Android version, the app lacks the necessary system APIs and will crash on launch. On the CompTIA A+ Core 2 220-1202 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of software compatibility and deployment troubleshooting—a common trap is assuming the app is buggy rather than checking OS version requirements. Remember the mnemonic “API = App Platform Incompatibility” to link crashes after MDM push to missing API levels.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

The app requires a specific Android API level that is not present on the deployed devices.

The most likely cause is that the app requires a specific Android API level (e.g., a minimum SDK version) that is not present on the deployed devices. Since the app works on the developer's test device (which likely has a newer or matching API level), but crashes on the target devices, this indicates a compatibility mismatch. MDM deployment does not alter the device's API level, so the app's manifest-defined requirements are not met, leading to an immediate crash on launch.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
The MDM profile is corrupt and needs to be re-pushed.
Why it's wrong here
A corrupt MDM profile would likely prevent installation entirely, not cause the app to crash on launch.
✓
The app requires a specific Android API level that is not present on the deployed devices.
Why this is correct
If the app targets a higher API level than the device's OS, it will crash on launch due to missing system features.
Clue confirmation
The clue words "most likely", "immediately / without restart" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The devices have insufficient storage space.
Why it's wrong here
Insufficient storage would cause an installation failure, not a crash after successful installation.
✗
The app is not signed with the correct enterprise certificate.
Why it's wrong here
An incorrect signature would prevent installation entirely, not allow installation but crash on launch.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The CompTIA A+ exam often tests the distinction between installation-time failures (certificate, storage) and runtime failures (API level, missing libraries). The trap here is that candidates may incorrectly attribute a crash to MDM profile corruption or certificate issues, when the actual root cause is an API level mismatch that only manifests at launch.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Android apps declare their required API level via the `uses-sdk` element in the AndroidManifest.xml, with `minSdkVersion` specifying the lowest API level supported. If the device's API level is below this minimum, the Android runtime (ART) will refuse to run the app, often resulting in a crash with an error like 'INSTALL_FAILED_OLDER_SDK' or a silent crash if the app attempts to call unavailable APIs. In real-world scenarios, this is common when enterprises deploy apps built against newer SDKs (e.g., API 33) to older devices (e.g., API 28) without proper backward compatibility checks.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1202 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1202 question test?

Mobile OS and App Troubleshooting — This question tests Mobile OS and App Troubleshooting — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The app requires a specific Android API level that is not present on the deployed devices. — The most likely cause is that the app requires a specific Android API level (e.g., a minimum SDK version) that is not present on the deployed devices. Since the app works on the developer's test device (which likely has a newer or matching API level), but crashes on the target devices, this indicates a compatibility mismatch. MDM deployment does not alter the device's API level, so the app's manifest-defined requirements are not met, leading to an immediate crash on launch.

What should I do if I get this 220-1202 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely", "immediately / without restart". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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