How To Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO and Get Malamar

Inkay is one of the stranger Pokémon to evolve in Pokémon GO. You may already have enough Inkay Candy, but the evolve button still looks unavailable, which makes it feel like something is broken.

The good news is that Inkay evolution is simple once you know the trick. To evolve Inkay into Malamar in Pokémon GO, you need 50 Inkay Candy and you must turn your phone upside down before tapping the evolve button.

This guide explains the full process, why Inkay evolution may not be working, how to fix it on iPhone and Android, and how to collect more Inkay Candy when you are still short.

How To Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO

To evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO, you need to meet two requirements: have enough Candy and rotate your device correctly. Inkay does not evolve by level, walking distance, time of day, or using a special evolution item.

Follow these steps carefully:

Step 1. Collect 50 Inkay Candy.

Step 2. Open Pokémon GO and go to your Inkay’s Pokémon detail page.

Step 3. Turn your phone upside down, so the top of the screen points toward the floor.

Step 4. When the evolve button becomes available, tap Evolve to get Malamar.

Keep your phone upside down while tapping the evolve button. If you rotate it back too early, Pokémon GO may stop detecting the special evolution condition.

Why Inkay Evolves Upside Down in Pokémon GO

Inkay’s upside-down evolution comes from the main Pokémon games. In those games, Inkay evolves into Malamar when the system is held upside down during evolution.

Pokémon GO keeps that same idea by using your phone’s motion sensors. That is why Inkay feels different from most Pokémon in the game. You are not missing an evolution item—the game simply wants your device to be physically inverted.

This also explains why some players think Inkay evolution is bugged. The game is not only checking your Candy; it is also checking whether your phone is rotated the right way.

Why Can’t I Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO?

If Inkay will not evolve, the problem is usually related to Candy, phone orientation, or device sensors. The evolve button may stay inactive if Pokémon GO cannot confirm that your phone is upside down.

Here are the most common reasons.

You Do Not Have 50 Inkay Candy Yet

Inkay needs 50 Inkay Candy to evolve into Malamar. If you only have 49 or fewer, the button will not work even if your phone is upside down.

Check your Candy count on Inkay’s detail page first. If Candy is the issue, use Pinap Berries when catching Inkay, walk Inkay as your buddy, transfer extra Inkay, or use Rare Candy if you want to evolve it sooner.

Your Phone Is Not Turned the Right Way

“Upside down” does not mean placing your phone face-down on a table. It means rotating the phone 180 degrees while still looking at the screen.

Hold your phone normally, then slowly rotate it so the top edge of the phone points downward. Stay on Inkay’s Pokémon page while doing this. Once Pokémon GO detects the position, the evolve button should become active.

Your Phone Orientation Settings Are Blocking Detection

On some phones, screen rotation or orientation settings can interfere with how the app responds. If the evolve button does not activate, check whether your phone has rotation locked.

Try these quick fixes:

Not every device behaves the same way, so try rotating the phone slowly and waiting a few seconds before tapping evolve.

Your Android Phone May Not Have the Right Sensor

Some Android phones may not have the gyroscope or motion sensor behavior Pokémon GO needs for Inkay evolution. In that case, the evolve button may never activate even when you rotate the device correctly.

If you have tried everything and Inkay still will not evolve, log in to Pokémon GO on another compatible phone and try evolving Inkay there. You can also trade for Malamar if another player already has one.

Battery Saver or App Issues May Interfere

Battery saver modes can sometimes affect motion detection or app behavior. If Inkay evolution is not working, temporarily turn off battery saver in Pokémon GO and in your phone settings.

Then close Pokémon GO completely, reopen it, go back to Inkay, and rotate the phone upside down again. This simple restart often fixes temporary detection problems.

How To Get More Inkay Candy in Pokémon GO

If you do not have 50 Inkay Candy yet, focus on Candy collection before worrying about the upside-down evolution trick. Inkay Candy can take time to build when Inkay is not appearing often.

Catch More Inkay When It Is Available

The fastest way to get Inkay Candy is to catch more Inkay. Use Pinap Berries when catching Inkay to increase the Candy you receive from each catch.

Inkay availability can change with events, seasons, research rewards, and spawn rotations. Before planning a dedicated hunt, check the current Pokémon GO event page or in-game Today View to see whether Inkay is appearing more often.

Set Inkay as Your Buddy

Inkay can earn Candy as your buddy Pokémon. This is useful when Inkay is not spawning around you, but it is slower than catching multiple Inkay during an event.

If you only need a few more Candy, walking with Inkay as your buddy can be enough. It is also a good option for players who want to save Rare Candy for legendary or harder-to-find Pokémon.

Use Rare Candy Carefully

Rare Candy can be converted into Inkay Candy, but it is usually more valuable when saved for rare Pokémon, legendary Pokémon, or high-priority raid attackers.

Use Rare Candy on Inkay only if you really want Malamar now, or if you are close to 50 Candy and do not want to wait for more Inkay spawns.

Transfer Extra Inkay

If you caught several Inkay, transfer the ones you do not need to Professor Willow for extra Candy. Before transferring, check whether you have a shiny Inkay, a high-IV Inkay, or a PvP-friendly Inkay worth keeping.

For PvP, the best stat spread is often not a perfect 15/15/15 IV. Great League and Ultra League Pokémon often prefer lower Attack and stronger bulk, so check your Inkay carefully before sending extras away.

Need More Inkay Candy? Explore Better Pokémon GO Areas with PoKeep Location Changer

Knowing how to evolve Inkay is only half of the problem. If you are still short on Candy, you need more chances to catch Inkay when it appears in the wild, in events, or around active Pokémon GO areas.

PoKeep Location Changer can help you explore Pokémon GO locations more flexibly on iPhone and Android. Instead of staying limited to one small area, you can change your GPS location, use joystick movement, and simulate routes around PokéStops, Gyms, and popular hunting spots.

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This is especially helpful when Inkay is part of an event or spawn rotation. You can use PoKeep to move through active areas, follow custom routes, or revisit saved locations where you often find useful spawns.

How PoKeep Helps with Inkay Candy Hunting

PoKeep does not change Inkay’s evolution rule, and it cannot guarantee that Inkay will appear. You still need 50 Inkay Candy and the upside-down phone method to evolve Inkay into Malamar.

What PoKeep can do is make the Candy collection process more convenient when Inkay is available. Its Pokémon GO-friendly features include:

PoKeep also includes a cooldown timer, which is useful when moving between locations. Before interacting with Pokémon, PokéStops, or Gyms after changing location, pay attention to cooldown timing to reduce soft-ban risk.

Is Malamar Worth Evolving in Pokémon GO?

Malamar is worth evolving for Pokédex completion, collection, and PvP testing. It is not usually treated as a top raid attacker, but it can be more interesting in Trainer Battles.

Malamar’s Dark/Psychic typing gives it a unique role, though it also has clear weaknesses. Bug-type attacks are especially dangerous, and Fairy-type Pokémon can also pressure it.

For PvP, Malamar is often discussed with moves such as Psywave, Foul Play, and Superpower. Move balance can change over time, so check the current in-game move pool and PvP rankings before spending major resources.

FAQ About How To Evolve Inkay in Pokémon GO

Final Thoughts: Evolving Inkay Is Easy Once Your Phone Detects It

Inkay’s evolution looks confusing at first, but the rule is simple: collect 50 Inkay Candy, open Inkay’s page, turn your phone upside down, and tap evolve. If the button does not activate, focus on orientation settings, app restart, battery saver, and device sensor compatibility.

After that, the real challenge is collecting enough Inkay Candy. Catch Inkay during events, use Pinap Berries, walk Inkay as your buddy, and check current spawn rotations. When you want to explore more active Pokémon GO areas for Candy hunting, PoKeep Location Changer can help you move, route, and play more flexibly while keeping the actual Inkay evolution process unchanged.

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