how to install an APK

Posted by aiodownloaders on May 24th, 2019

You have an APK, but you do not know what to do? Here's how to turn it into a functional app on your smartphone or tablet.

Most users only install their apps from the Google Play Store, the official Android store. However, there are other ways to get applications, usually requiring an .APK file to be manually installed. Even if most users of smart Android devices know the maneuver, let us make a point on this very simple manipulation, but also very useful.

How to install an APK on Android? (short version)

• Go to settings, then Security
• Activate unknown sources
• Find the APK on your phone (using a file explorer for example)
• Launch the APK file and follow the instructions
• (Optional, but recommended) Disable unknown sources

What is an .apk file?

An APK file - for Android PacKage - is, as the name implies, a package containing the files of an application. It is thanks to him that it is possible to install an application on his phone. To put it simply, we can somehow consider this as the equivalent of .exe installers on Windows, .dmg on Mac OS X or deb debian packages.

It can be interesting to install an APK file for various reasons. These include beta programs (although most now go directly through the Google Play Store), but also late releases of updates, geographical restrictions (we think of Pokémon GO madness) or the simple will not go through a Google service and minimize the centralization of information. It can also happen that certain applications are refused on the Play Store, thus obliging to pass by the site of its developer or a third market.read more