Android apk installed on device

How to Install APK on Android

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

What to Know

• Allow Chrome to install unknown apps by going to Settings >Apps >Menu >Special access >Install unknown apps.
• Install a file manager (such as Cx File Explorer or File Manager) so that you can find the APK file after you download it to your phone.
• Download an APK file and open it to install it. Alternatively, transfer the APK Installer from your computer using USB.

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 on Google Play. Some of the best options include Cx File Explorer and 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, enable USB Debugging. 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 an FTP client on your computer (like 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 and install the latest version of Minimal ADB and Fastboot on your computer.

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. Three of the most popular are APK Pure, Reddit’s APK Directory, and APK Mirror.

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How to Install APK Using ADB Commands

Besides sideloading APK on Android devices, you can also install APK using ADB commands. In this tutorial, we’ll see how we can sideload APK via ADB easily. Read on to learn more.

Hello folks, how do you install an app on your Android-powered device? Most of my pals answered this question with the most common answers like installing from the Google Play Store app on their Android devices or installing apps by logging into their Play Store on the PC and installing Standalone apps from the SD card by enabling the Unknown Sources option in the device settings. Most of the Android users fall into one of these categories because that’s the simple way to install apps. But what if the UI of your device collapsed and you can’t access any apps on your device?

When you’re playing with some random app, your device may sometime collapse due to that app interfering with your device UI. This most possible scenario is that the device’s launcher is hung and cannot be accessed. As you know without the launcher app, you cannot access anything on your device. Thus, if you need to install any third-party launcher app to get into your device, you have to download the launcher app APK on your PC. If the Google Play Services has collapsed (this usually happens when you try to mod your device), you cannot install the app from Play Store at all.

In that case, the ADB comes to your rescue. ADB is the acronym for Android Device Bridge which acts a bridge between your PC and Android device. You can install apps through this ADB tool, but it is not limited to it, the scope of ADB tool is far higher and even if you know little about Android development you will understand its importance. But for the sake of the topic, we will show you how to install android apps from ADB. So let’s get on with the guide.

Preparations

• Proper Device drivers installed on your PC for your device.
• Either setup ADB and Fastboot on your computer, or download the ADB and Fastboot SDK Platform-Tools.
• Enable USB Debugging on your device. If you don’t know how to do it, follow the instructions given here.

Install APK Using ADB Commands

1. Let’s make the ingredients ready, extract the ADB files to a folder on your PC and place the APK file you want to install (We are installing Whatsapp) You should have the similar files:
   
2. Now open a command prompt in the ADB folder by holding the Shift key and Right Click in the empty space in the folder.
3. Connect your device to the PC and type the following command to verify whether your device is detected by the PC. Install APK via ADB Commands on Android Devices

If detected you will see the output similar to below:

If your device is not shown under the List of devices, check the device drivers on your PC and come back.

Now type the following command to install the app from your PC: Install APK via ADB Commands on Android Devices

Where apk name is the exact name of the app you’re installing. Check this screenshot for example:

If it shows success, the apk is successfully installed on your Android device. There are also many options for the ADB install command:

If you want to uninstall an app, it’s a similar procedure. Type the following command:

But in case you want to Uninstall an app, you need to know the entire package name like com.adobe.reader, which is a little tricky.

That’s it, try this little trick on your device.

Let us know the outcome in the comments section below.

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How to Install APK Files on Android Phones / Tablets / Android TV

Android, being open source, allows users to manually install apps on their phones and tablets. Just like DMG is the file extension for programs on Mac and EXE for Windows, Android has APK files for its apps and you can install APK files manually on any Android device as long as you know the right procedure. In this detailed guide we will be discussing complete procedure on how Android users can manually install, also known as side-load, APK files directly onto their devices: tablets, phones or even TVs.

For many enthusiasts and experienced users, this might seem as quite a usual task but for new Android users especially those shifting from other platforms might find this a bit tricky or difficult. Nonetheless, in this guide, we will be explaining each step in detail along with complete screenshots. Furthermore, rather than just focusing on Android tablets and phones, we will also cover how users can install Android APK on Android TV — Android variant that is pre-loaded on many smart televisions.

What is Android APK file?

Android has its own proprietary file type for its apps. The extension for it is APK which roughly translates to Android Package Kit or Android Application Package. When you go over to Play Store to install any app, the file that your device downloads is the APK file. Similarly, these files can be obtained from sources other than the Play Store and then can be side-loaded (manual installation).

– Where to find APK files?

APK files can be obtained from numerous sources. Be it an unofficial APK repository or developer’s own website, it is easy to find APK files on the internet. For devices with Google Play Store on them, downloading and installing APK files manually does not make much sense. However, in cases where the developer has not published the app on the Play Store, that is when he / she can ask you to download and install an Android APK directly on your Android device. Further, for non-Google Play devices, this APK route is usually the only way to install applications.

There are plenty of online resources like APKMirror and APKPure to download APK files. As per these repositories, all APKs are scanned for any malware or viruses.

– Are APK files safe and secure?

While APK files can be obtained via the internet, are they safe and secure? Well, this is something purely dependent on the source. Whilst many repositories have been tried and tested by users, there are chances you might stumble upon some file that is not secure. To get around this we recommend checking the following points:

• Try to download APK files from an official repository.
• Make sure the APK file has been endorsed by users either by reviews directly on the download site or on forums.
• After installing the APK, run an anti-virus app scan.

– Why install Android APK files manually?

There are various reasons that lead users to manually install APK files on their devices. For starters, there is an app update out which hasn’t been published on the Play Store for your device — can be due to a phased release. To override, you can update manually by installing the latest APK. Next, many apps are region locked which means your Play Store wont list the apps even if you search for them, again manual installation is a great solution.

In terms of customization, you can sideload apps from other phones that are proprietary and can hence get features on your phone. A popular example would be Google Camera APK (GCam Mod) which is now available for various devices as an APK file. Or if you happen to try out early leaks or beta releases of apps i.e. Google Play Store APK, this guide will be helpful.

We have divided our tutorial into two different parts. One is for users wanting to install APK files manually on Android phones and tablets whilst the other focuses on installing APK files on Android TVs. Let’s start the guide with the easiest first — phones and tablets.

How to install APK on Android phones / tablets

Installing APK files on phones and tablets is relatively easier than Android TV. For most part, there are plenty of file managers that support this. In our instructions, we use the built-in Downloads / File Manager / Files app in most Android phones and tablets. You can follow these steps on how to install APK on Android phones:

Step 1 – Download the APK file onto your phone directly or download it on your PC and then transfer it to your device, preferably in the Download folder for later use.

Step 2 – Now, you need to open up a file manager on your Android device. Usually, it is pre-loaded on most phones and navigate to Download folder. However, if your device does not have a file explorer, you can open your web browser and view downloads. From there, you should see the APK file.

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Step 3 – From here, tap on the file. If this is your first time installing an APK or you haven’t changed factory settings, your phone will prompt you that it can not allow installation from unknown sources. Tap on the option that lets you allow.

Step 4 – Enable the setting and allow installation of APK files from your file manager or web browser.

Step 5 – After that is done, tap the back button and now you should see an install option along with the APK name up top. Select it.

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Step 6 – Wait for the app install to finish. Once it does, you can then tap on Open to run the app or Done to quit back. If you click done, you can browse your phone for the app icon and run it from there.

If you are installing an APK which is listed on Play Store, it will be automatically detected and would be kept up to date as per your settings. To verify, search for the app you installed on Play Store and it should show up as Installed (as shown above).

How to install APK on Android TV

Android TVs run Android OS which means they can also run APK files. The process is a bit different as TV sets are built differently from smartphones and have different input and output methods of communicating. However, we have listed below all the ways you can use to install APK on Android TV.

Step 1 – Open the Settings. To do this, browse down to the last row of options and then click on the Gear icon.

Step 2 – In Settings, you should be able to see an option Security & restrictions, click it!

Step 3 – Now, there will be an option listed for Unkown sources, enable it.

This guide works with almost every Android TV set available in markets right now. Once this is done, we have covered two methods to install APK file on Android TV sets. We also cover how to transfer or send APK to Android TV for sideloading.

1. Transfer and install APK via online storage
2. Move and install APK via USB
3. Copy and Install APK with ADB

1. Transfer APK file via online storage

We cover the easiest method first. This is how to install APK on Android TV by downloading off online storage like Google Drive, Dropbox etc. All you would need for this procedure is an internet connection, the APK that you want to send and proper apps to explore internal storage of your Android TV.

Step 1 – Head to the Play Store on your Android TV and install File Explorer.

NOTE: If the above app is not available or you are looking for an alternative, Solid File Manager is a great option. However, it is available as a 14-day trial after which you have to purchase the app to use.

Step 2 – Upload the desired APK file to your Dropbox or Google Drive account.

Step 3 – Open File Explorer on your Android TV and go to Network section and select Cloud.

Step 4 – There should be an option of adding New account. From here, configure the account where you had your APK file uploaded.

Step 5 – After configuration, browse to the uploaded file and open it. The app should now display an option of Install, select it!

Step 6 – Follow the installation wizard till the app is installed.

Your desired app should now be installed. If you don’t know how to launch the app now, we have written about it later in this article. Some manufacturers do not allow running external apps that you have downloaded and installed from unknown sources – like an Android APK file.

2. Transfer APK file via USB

A little bit tedious than the online method we listed but is just as easy to implement. For users without access to drive or internet, this is a great way to install APK on Android TV.

Step 1 – Download your desired APK(s) on your computer and then transfer to USB .

Step 2 – Head to the Play Store on your Android TV and install File Explorer.

NOTE: If the above app is not available or you are looking for an alternative, Solid File Manager is a great option. However, it is available as a 14-day trial after which you have to purchase the app to use.

Step 3 – Open File Explorer on your Android TV and go to section where all storage devices are listed, here you should see your USB device name.

Step 4 – Select your USB, browse to where you stored the APK and select it.

Step 5 – The installation wizard will open up hence allowing you to install the APK.

That’s it, your app should be installed. After installation, you might be wondering how to access the app, we have written about that in the later part of this post.

3. Transfer APK files with ADB

This method is generally for users who are a bit more tech inclined than normal users as it involves a bit of command line.

Step 1 – Open the Settings. To do this, browse down to the last row of options and then click on the Gear icon.

Step 2 – In Settings, you should be able to see an option About, click it!

Step 3 – Now, browse till you see Build number. Click it several times until there is a notification saying You’re a developer now.

Step 4 – Browse back to main Settings menu. There should now be a new section called Developer Options. Select it!

Step 5 – Within this menu, there would be a setting for USB Debugging, you should enable it.

Step 6 – Now, again browse back to Settings menu and go to Network Settings.

Step 7 – From here, find the IP Address (Local IP) of your Android TV.

Step 8 – On your computer, issue the following command:

NOTE: It is assumed you have ADB configured already on your computer. If not, read: How to download ADB for Windows and Mac.

adb connect INSERT_IP_ADDRESS

Step 9 – There would be a pop-up on your Android TV saying Allow debugging? Select Always.

Step 10 – Run this command to install your desired APK. Make sure you are in the correct directory of the APK file.

adb install AppName.apk

That’s it! There should be a Success text once the install is finished on your computer.

How to launch installed apps on Android TV

Once you finish installing, you should install Sideload Launcher from Android TV Play Store. This app will have its own shortcut and within it, it will contain all side-loaded app shortcuts on your Android TV.

As mentioned earlier, some OEMs do not allow users to install and then run apps that were installed manually with an APK file – through unknown sources.

This was in-depth look at how you can install APK files on Android phones, tablets and Android TV sets. Let us know which method worked for you! And if you run into issues or have questions? Drops us a comment below and someone from our team will get back to you.

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