Guide

How to install MeDiario on Android step by step (and why it isn’t on Google Play)

If you’ve searched Google Play for the medication reminder app MeDiario and come up empty, you didn’t miss it: it isn’t there, and that’s not an oversight. On Android, MeDiario is installed by downloading the app file directly from its official website. This guide explains why, plainly and honestly, then walks you through the install step by step so you can be up and running in a few minutes, safely.

It’s written mainly for the person who sets the app up for an older relative: a son or daughter managing a parent’s or grandparent’s medication. If you’re the one doing the sideload, this is your guide.

Why MeDiario isn’t on Google Play (the honest version)

The reason is dull, but it’s worth stating exactly as it is. Google classifies MeDiario under the health category, and to publish health apps on Google Play it requires an organization account behind them: a registered legal entity with a D-U-N-S number, not an individual person.

MeDiario is built by a solo developer, not a company. The Google route was attempted: the closed-testing phase was passed and production access was requested. Google turned it down definitively over that organization-account requirement. This isn’t about app quality or a content-policy strike — it’s a structural wall for anyone who isn’t an incorporated business.

That left two choices: drop Android, or distribute the app another way. We chose the second. On Android, MeDiario is downloaded as an APK file from the official website, mediario.sggyamg.com. This is a perfectly legitimate method that Android has supported forever; it just takes a couple of extra steps, which we cover here.

On iPhone it’s different: MeDiario is on the App Store and installs with no friction. This guide is Android-only.

Before you start: what you’ll need

The free version covers up to 3 medications with confirmation alarms, the box scanner, vital signs, an appointments calendar and both usage modes (Simple and Full). Premium (unlimited medications and a printable PDF chart) is optional and paid separately.

Installing MeDiario on Android, step by step

Step 1 — Download the APK from the official website

Open your phone’s browser (Chrome, for example) and go to mediario.sggyamg.com. Tap the “Download for Android (APK)” button.

A single file will start downloading. When it’s done, tap it to open it (or open it from the notification tray or your Downloads folder).

Step 2 — Android will ask permission to “install apps from this source”

The first time you open the file, Android will show a warning along the lines of “For your security, your phone can’t install unknown apps from this source.” This is normal and expected behavior.

Tap Settings in that same prompt and turn on “Allow from this source” for the browser you downloaded with. Then go back.

Step 3 — Understand what that warning means (and why it’s safe here)

That message doesn’t say the app is dangerous. It says the app comes from outside Google Play, and Android wants you to confirm it deliberately. It’s a safeguard so nobody can slip an app onto your phone without you knowing.

It’s safe in this specific case because:

The only real risk with sideloading is downloading the file from a site that isn’t the official one. That’s why the next section matters.

Step 4 — Install

With permission granted, go back to the file and tap Install. In a few seconds MeDiario will be in your app drawer.

Step 5 — Open the app and set it up

Open MeDiario. If you’re setting it up for a relative, do it yourself from Full Mode (where you add medications, box scanner included) and leave them Simple Mode: one dose on screen, large text and a single green button to confirm. That split is exactly the app’s strength for the caregiver–elder relationship.

Make sure you’re downloading the genuine app

One simple rule: only download MeDiario for Android from mediario.sggyamg.com. Not third-party APK sites, not forums, not links sent to you in a message. If a site that isn’t the official one offers you a “MeDiario APK,” don’t trust it.

An APK you get from a third party may have been tampered with. The one on the official website is the file the developer actually publishes and maintains.

Security and privacy: why you can trust it

MeDiario is local-first by design. That’s not a slogan: your medications, your doses and your vital signs are stored on your phone only. There’s no mandatory user account, no third-party cloud, no server receiving your medical history.

For a category as sensitive as an older person’s health data, this architecture is a real guarantee, not a vague promise.

Updates: the app tells you

Outside Google Play there are no automatic background updates. So you’re never left behind, MeDiario itself notifies you inside the app when a new version is available. When the prompt appears, just download the new APK from the website and install it over the top; your data is preserved. It’s the same gesture as the first time, minus the permission steps (you’ve already granted those).

Frequently asked questions

Is it safe to install an app from outside Google Play?

Yes, as long as you download from the official source. Installing an APK (“sideloading”) is a standard Android mechanism. The “unknown source” warning is a system precaution, not a virus alarm. Risk only appears when you download from unofficial sites. With MeDiario, always download from mediario.sggyamg.com and you’ll be fine.

Does MeDiario update itself on Android?

Not in the background, because it isn’t on Google Play. Instead, the app notifies you when an update is available. You then download the new APK from the website and install over the top; your medications and history stay intact.

What happens if I change phones?

The free version reinstalls with no trouble on the new phone by following this same guide. With Android Premium there’s an important detail worth knowing up front: the subscription is tied to the device it was activated on (single-device license). If you switch phones, you’ll need to buy a new Premium subscription. This is stated clearly on the website. On iPhone the model is different (an App Store subscription with Family Sharing).

How much does MeDiario cost on Android?

The app is free for up to 3 medications with all the alarms and core features. Premium (unlimited medications and the printable PDF chart) costs €2.49/year, or €1.49/year with the refer-a-friend discount. It’s slightly pricier than on iPhone because of the payment provider’s fees (Stripe), and the website explains this. The current prices are whatever the website and the payment gateway display.

Why not just publish it on Google Play?

Because Google requires an organization account (a company with a legal entity) to publish health apps, and MeDiario is built by a solo developer. It was attempted and Google declined over that requirement. Direct APK distribution is the honest alternative that keeps the app available on Android.

Important notice: MeDiario is a personal medication reminder app. It is not a medical device and does not replace a prescription or the advice of a healthcare professional. If you have any doubts about your treatment, consult your doctor or pharmacist.

Ready to install? From your Android phone, go to mediario.sggyamg.com and tap “Download for Android (APK).” On iPhone, find it directly on the App Store.