How to Easily Install APK on Android Phone
Android is an open-source platform, and thus, you have more options than you do in iOS. For example, one of the things you can do on android is the ability to install third-party apps on other platforms apart from the Google Play Store. This article will discuss how to install APK on Android phones easily.
There are two ways to install third-party apps without the Google Play Store. The first is through third-party app stores like F-Droid, Amazon’s App Store, and others. The second method is to look for APKs from websites and install them manually.
How To Install APK On Android Phone
If you want to use an app from outside the Google Play Store, you can install the app’s APK file. The first step is to allow unknown apps on your Android.
- Go to your device settings and tap Apps & Notifications.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Select Special access.
- Tap Install unknown apps.
COPYRIGHT_NOVA: Published on https://www.novabach.com/i/how-to-install-apk-on-android/ by Daniel Barrett on 2022-06-13T15:38:25.000Z
Don’t miss: How to Scan a QR Code on Android or iPhone
- Choose Chrome (or whichever web browser you use)
- Move Allow from this source to the On position.
Install an Android File Manager
Now you’ll need a way to find the application file (APK file) on your phone and run it. Android phones typically come with a file manager app you can use but search for one on Google Play if you don’t have one.
Download the Android Package Installer trom Your Android
- Find an Android app website 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.
- 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.
Transfer The APK Installer Via USB
You can install apps to your computer using your computer web browser and download the APK file just like described above. Once it’s downloaded, connect to your Android phone and transfer the file.
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.
Advanced: Run Android Package Installer With Minimal ADB and Fastboot
If you notice that the APK installer isn’t running when you launch it, there’s an advanced solution that might help you out. You can install the APK file on your Android from your computer using 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.
- 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 a word that is easy to type as a command.
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.
Also read: How to Connect Multiple Bluetooth Speakers to One Android Phone
What is an APK?
An APK (Android Package Kit) is a file that installs an application for Android. It’s like an executable (EXE) file for Windows or a package installer (PKG) for Mac.
Every app you installed from the Google play store is an APK file. When you tap the Install button, Google Play automates the process of transferring the APK file to your phone and runs it for you.
Why Use it?
If the Android app you want to install isn’t available on Google Play, you can get the APK file from the web and install it manually.
Editor’s picks:
