How to install android apk on android

What is an APK file and how to install APKs on Android?

If you own an Android device you will likely have heard of an APK file at some point, and possibly wondered what it even is. Understanding this is essential if you want to start downloading leaked apps or customizing your Android experience further than would be possible using the Play Store alone. In our guide, you’ll learn what APK files are, how to download them, and finally, how to install them.

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What is an APK File?

When you download an APK online, you’re essentially getting an app. Most users get apps from the Google Play Store, without ever seeing the word APK. But there are occasions when you would want to do otherwise.

In 2021, Google started phasing out APK files on the Play Store, replacing them with the more flexible AAB format. But because AAB files are custom-made to each device, they require different steps to install.

Why would I want to install an APK File?

APK files of new Android builds are often leaked ahead of time, giving you early access to all the exciting new features that otherwise wouldn’t be available to you. Also, some apps are restricted to regions outside of your own. App updates can take a frustrating amount of time to arrive automatically over the air. Getting the latest APK for your favorite apps will let you jump the queue. Or you might even not like a particular app after an update, and want to install an older version instead.

And if your Android device lacks access to the Google Play Store, APK files may be your only option for installing apps on your device.

Be careful though, you don’t want to download stolen apps. Some APK services let you download pirated apps. This is illegal and should be avoided. Worse still, sketchy APK files may contain malware, as many who thought they were getting early versions of Fortnite for Android discovered to their dismay. Do some research before you download so you don’t do anything against the law or contaminate your device.

How to install an APK on your Android device

How to install APK Files from your computer

You don’t need a smartphone to download and install APK files. You can also do this on a desktop PC. Here’s how it works.

First, you must find an APK file you want. Search online for an APK file and download it to an easy-to-find location on your computer (like your desktop).

And now you’re done, congratulations, you have your app. Just open it up from your smartphone and make sure it works properly. If it doesn’t, repeat the process with a different APK file. You may have to try a different APK site.

If the operating system on your smartphone is running a version older than Android 8.0, you need to change a system setting to be able to install apps not downloaded from the Play Store:

Do you download APK files? Which do you recommend? Let us know in the comments!

The best APK download sites

There are many sources of APK files across the web, but be sure to choose a site you trust. Some APK files may contain malicious software (malware) which could compromise your phone’s security. It is best to be cautious before downloading or installing any app from outside of the Play Store.

Generally speaking, APK files found on reputable sites like the ones listed here should be safer to download than from elsewhere, but read some reviews and user comments before downloading or installing an APK.

With APKs you can get app versions not yet available on Google Play. / © NextPit (screenshot)

APKMirror is generally regarded as the safest option out there. It is now owned and operated by the Android Police, and those guys know what they are talking about. APKPure is another good option. Security is a priority on this site and you can download APKs without having to worry about spyware and viruses. Finally, Aptoide is a good resource for APKs. It has more than 200 million users, apparently.

How to Install APK Files on Android [also for Android O]

Android app package file (.apk) is a file format used to install Apps and Games on Android and other operating systems that allow for side loading of Android apps, like the BlackBerry Z10. APK files are similar in nature to MSI packages on Windows and Deb packages on Debian-based operating systems like Ubuntu.

icon-cogs HOW TO INSTALL APK FILES ON ANDROID

STEP 1: Enable App Installation from Unknown Sources

Android 2.3 (and below) versions

Go to Settings » Application » check ‘Unknown sources’ box

Android 4.0 (and above) versions

Go to Settings » Security » check ‘Unknown sources’ box.

STEP 2: Install APK file using an APK Installer app OR a File Manager

TIP: The Easy Installer app also lets you select multiple apps at once. It gives you the option install apps one after another without breaks — as soon as installation of one app completes, installation screen for the next app will show up and so on until the last app selected is installed.

With the release of Android O, the process has changed a bit. If you are on Android O, there is actually no such things as ‘Install form other sources’, as you have to manually enable each app using which you are looking to initiate the install procedure.

For Android O users, we have created a separate guide to install apps using their APK file.

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Android 101: How to Install APK on Android (Sideloading Apps)

Sideloading or Manually installing APK files on your phone/tablet can help you get apps that are not available on the Google Play Store. The process is quite easy and could be finished with just a few taps. But there are a few things that you must do first. In this post, you will learn what an APK file is and how to manually install Android APK Files.

The instructions below can be followed for any Android smartphone or tablet running Android 10, Android 9 Pie, Android 8.1/8.0 Oreo, Android 7.1/7.0 Nougat, Android 6.0 Marshmallow, or below.

What is an APK?

Android Package Kit (abbreviated as “APK“) is the standard file format for mobile apps used in the Android operating system. An APK file to Android is what an executable EXE file is to the Windows OS. It is an installer file that you can open in Android to install applications.

When would you need to manually install an APK?

The Google Play Store is filled with millions of Android apps that offer a variety of features that make our lives easy. And it is surely the safest and most recommended way to get apps. But that doesn’t mean that it is the only place where you can download and install apps on your Android phone. There are certain apps that you may not find on the Play Store due to various reasons. Now in such instances, you may need to manually install the Android APK file of the said app(s).

A few of these instances when you’d need to manually install an APK have been listed below:

So whatever your reason may be, you can download and manually install Android APK files pretty easily.

Now before you head below to the instructions; a word of caution.

Download Android APK Files

Warning: Not all apps available outside the Play Store are safe. Make sure that you do not download pirated apps, which may also contain malware. And also, stray away from online websites/resources that might distribute them.

Always download APK files from reputable sources (like the ones we have linked below) or those which are directly distributed by the app’s developer.

Instructions to Install APK on Android

The process of manually installing APK files on Android is also commonly known as “Sideloading” and it’s quite easy. By default, Android prevents you from installing APK files from third-party unknown sources for the sake of integrity.

But if you’re absolutely sure of what you’re installing, then Android does offer a simple option with the settings menu, which when turned on allows the installation of APK files. Once this option is turned on, you can download the APK file of your desired app and use the in-built Package Installer to manually install the Android APK file on your phone.

Now we have covered the complete process in the instructions below.

Step 1: Allow Installation of APK Files

The first step is to enable ‘Install unknown apps’ on your Android phone running Android Oreo and above, or ‘Unknown Sources’ if your phone is running Android Nougat and below. We have split the instructions into two sub-steps depending on the Android version installed on the phone.

Step 1.1: Enable ‘Unknown Sources’ on Android Nougat and Below

Step 1.2: Enable ‘Install unknown apps’ on Android 10, Android Pie, and Android Oreo

With Android Oreo, Google replaced the ‘Unknown sources’ option and introduced a more granular model of controlling which sources are allowed to install apps from unknown sources. The new option can be enabled as follows:

With the option enabled, your phone is now ready are now ready to install Android APK files.

Step 2: Manually Install APK on Android

The installation could take a few seconds to finish. Once it is, the app should be installed. You can now launch it from the app drawer of your phone.

Now before you leave, know that Google Play Store is still the quickest and safest way to install apps on your Android device. It’s Play Protect protection mechanism makes sure that all apps are free from malware even before you install them. So, you should only resort to manual installation if and when necessary. And it would also be a good idea to disable the installation of apps from unknown sources to further prevent any malicious installations.

So, this was our guide to sideload/manually install Android APK files. We hope you found it to be helpful. This post is also a part of the Android 101 series where we cover the basics of using and operating Android devices. If you have any questions regarding the APK files or their installation, feel free to let us know through the comments.

How to install an APK file on an Android phone?

I have a simple «Hello Android» application on my computer (Eclipse environment), and I have built an APK file. How do I transfer the APK file to my Android phone for testing?

My phone is Ideos running Android 2.2 (Froyo). My laptop has Windows Vista. I have the latest Android SDK installed.

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Simply, you use ADB, as follows:

Also see the section Installing an Application in Android Debug Bridge.

If you then access that account from the native Gmail app on the phone it recognises that the attachment is an app and offers an «Install» button.

As per other responses this approach also requires that you have selected USB debugging on the device.

I quote Hello Android because I can’t say it better 😉

You need to enable USB debugging on the phone itself (by starting the Settings application and selecting Applications > Development > USB Debugging), install the Android USB device driver if you haven’t already (Windows only), and then plug the phone into your computer using the USB cable that came with the phone.

Close the emulator window if it’s already open. As long as the phone is plugged in, Eclipse will load and run applications on the phone instead. You need to right-click the project and select Run As > Android Application.

How to Install APK on Android

Have an Android app not on Google Play? Install it from its APK

What to Know

If you want to use an app from outside of the Google Play Store, you can install the app’s APK file. This article explains how to install APKs on Android 7 or later.

Allow Unknown Apps on Android

Before you can download APK files using Chrome or any other browser, you must first allow unknown apps:

Go to your device settings and tap Apps & Notifications (or Apps in older versions of Android).

Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.

Tap Special access.

Tap Install unknown apps.

Tap Chrome (or whichever web browser you use)

Move Allow from this source to the On position.

Install an Android File Manager

Now that you’ve configured your phone to let you install unknown apps, you’ll need a way to find the application file (APK file) on your phone so that you can run it.

Android phones typically come with a file manager app you can use, but if you don’t have one, search for one of the best Android file managers on Google Play. For example, you can download Cx File Explorer or get File Manager.

Download the APK Installer From Your Android

The easiest way to install an APK file on your Android is to download the file using the default browser, Chrome.

Find a website offering the Android app and tap the link to download the APK file. Accept any pop-ups, including “This type of file can harm your device.”

Only download APK files from reputable sources. A quick Google search can often let you know if an app (or company that makes the app) has a questionable reputation.

If your phone’s web browser doesn’t give you the option to open the file after downloading, open your file explorer app, go to the Downloads folder on your device, then tap the APK file.

Allow the app any required permissions it asks for. Then, at the bottom of the installer window, tap Install.

Now you’ll see the app available in your list of installed apps.

Transfer the APK Installer via USB

If you don’t have internet access on your phone, or for any other reason you can’t use a browser to download the file, you can still install apps from your computer. Using your computer web browser, download the APK file just like described above. Once it’s downloaded, connect to your Android phone and transfer the file.

If you’ve never connected your Android to your computer, turn on USB debugging mode on Android. You can then plug your phone into your computer with a USB cable, and it’ll mount the phone like it would a memory stick.

Once your phone is connected to your computer, it shows up as another drive in your computer’s File Explorer. Move the APK file you downloaded from the app website to the /sdcard/download folder on your phone.

Once the file is transferred, use the file explorer app on your phone as described in the previous section to tap the APK file and install the app.

If you don’t have a USB cable, another solution is to install WiFi FTP Server from Google Play. Then, use a free FTP client software program on your computer (for example, download FileZilla), to transfer the APK file from your computer to the /sdcard/download folder on your phone. However, this is an advanced option and requires an understanding of how to use FTP files.

Advanced: Run APK Installer With Minimal ADB and Fastboot

If the APK installer isn’t running when you tap it, there’s an advanced solution that might work. You can install the APK file on your Android from your computer using a tool called Minimal ADB and Fastboot.

Connect your phone via USB and enable USB Debugging.

Download Minimal ADB and Fastboot on your computer, and then install it.

Run the tool, and a command window opens. With your phone connected to your computer with the USB cable, type the command adb devices.

If the tool detects your phone, an ID for the device appears under List of devices attached. Now you’re ready to transfer the APK file.

Using Windows File Explorer, find the downloaded APK file on your computer.

Right-click the file and select Copy.

Using Windows File Explorer, navigate to the Minimal ADB and Fasbtoot folder (typically c:\Program Files (x86)\Minimal ADB and Fastboot\).

Paste the APK file into that folder.

Rename the APK file to something short so that it’s easy to type as a command.

Back in the same command window you had open before, type the command adb install app name (replace with the name of your APK file).

When you see the word Success, the app is installed on your phone.

What Is an APK?

An APK (Android Package Kit) is a type of file that installs an application for Android. It’s just like an executable (EXE) file for Windows or a package installer (PKG) for Mac.

If you’ve ever installed an Android application from the Google Play store, then you’ve used an APK file without realizing it. When you tap the Install button, Google Play automates the process of transferring the APK file to your phone and running it for you.

Why Use an APK?

If the Android app you want to install isn’t available on Google Play, you can download the APK file from the web and install it manually.

Finding APK Installers

There are many websites where you can find non-Google Play apps to install. For example, visit Apk Pure, Reddit’s Apk Directory, or APKMirror.

Possibly. Any file you download online can contain a virus, which is why it’s important to only download APKs from safe sources.

Yes. APK files are only used to install apps, so once the app is installed, you can delete the APK.

ConfigAPK comes preloaded on Android devices. It’s used to run APK files and install apps.