Installing apk files on Android. InstallAPK (Installs APK files from your computer to your smartphone)

If you have an Android device, then you have heard about APK files and wondered what they are. If you plan to understand in detail how your smartphone works and install applications not only from the store Google Play Store, then you need to know about APK files. Today we will figure out what an APK file is, how to download and install it on an Android device.

What is an APK file?

Most likely, you know that Windows computers use EXE format programs. Similarly, Android uses APK files. APK is a file format used to install software on the Android operating system.

Why do I need to install an APK file?

Android apps are not limited to the Google Play Store. Third-party developers release their own apps in APK files that offer exciting features. Additionally, some apps on the Google Play Store cannot be installed in your country. However, you can download the APK file and install the right application bypassing the Google Play Store.

If your Android device does not have access to the Google Play Store, APK files are the only option for installing applications.

However, you should be careful because third-party APK files can be malicious. Some APK files allow you to download pirated applications. Of course, such APK files should be avoided.

How to install an APK file from a computer

There are a lot of different APK files on the Internet, but, as we said earlier, some of them can be viral. Thus, it is worth choosing reliable sites that you will trust. One such site is APK Mirror. This is an English-language site that provides secure APK files popular applications, as well as user reviews and comments. Among Russian sites, it is worth noting w3bsit3-dns.com.

Once you have found a reliable site, you can download the APK file of the application you need. Before installing an APK file on an Android device, you need to make sure that installation is allowed third party applications. Go to Menu > Settings > Security > and check the Unknown sources box. This way, you can install any APK file, not just apps from the Google Play Store.

After you have downloaded the APK file to your computer, connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable. When you first connect, the default option is USB charging, but you need to select File transfer. After this, you will see your smartphone folder in the root directory of your computer. Go to My Computer - Folder with the name of your smartphone and copy the APK file to any folder on your Android smartphone. The main thing is to remember where you copy the APK file.

Now you can use any file manager on your Android device, such as ES File Explorer, find the folder where you copied the APK file and then click on Install. Congratulations! You have successfully installed the APK file on your Android device.

How to install an APK file from an Android device

You don't need to have a computer to install an APK file on your Android device. You can go to any browser from your smartphone or tablet, find the APK file and download it. As soon as the APK file is downloaded, a corresponding message will appear in the notification panel. Open your Downloads folder and click on the APK file. The application will be installed on your Android device.

22.03.2017

APK (Android Package) is a special archive of an executable application for running on devices with the Android system. This file contains program code, resources, assets and other elements necessary for the application. Despite the fact that the APK is an archive, it is not encrypted, as there is no need for it. Execution occurs using DalvikVM, a virtual machine.

There are many interesting applications available for Android devices. You can download them directly to your computer different ways, from the Google Play store or from special services. After downloading the file, it is recommended to check for virus code. If you want to try the application directly on your computer, or open the archive itself, then perhaps these recommendations will be useful to you.

Running APK files on your computer

By various reasons users want to run the application in APK format on their computer. Someone wants to try a game with heavy graphics, but the phone parameters do not allow it. Some people are just interested in seeing how the application will look and function. There can be many reasons and there are a lot of programs to implement this plan. Special Android emulators are well suited for this task.

Method 1: BlueStacks

Please note that if you have VirtualBox on your computer, installing Droid4X will remove it.

Method 3: Genymotion

Genymotion is a full-fledged Android emulator that is actively used by developers to test applications and games. To download and work with data software, you need to register an account on the official website. The program is shareware, if you just want to try this emulator, then the option without premium functions is suitable. Available in English and French. For full operation, you will need a virtual machine. For example, suitable VirtualBox.

View APK files

To view the contents of the APK, you will need an archiver. Usually, there is nothing secret in files of this format. They contain various resources for the application or games. There are several ways to open it.

Method 1: 7-Zip

7-Zip is a universal and free archiver that supports several compression algorithms and data formats. Translated to various languages. You don't have to do anything complicated to use it.

Method 2: WinRAR

WinRAR- a popular and multifunctional archiver that supports encryption, creates data to restore a damaged archive. Free for 30 days. Unpacks the APK, but to do this you will have to change the file extensions.

In principle, by changing the file extension, you can open it with any archiver.

Method 3: Total Commander

Total Commander is an advanced file manager that has a built-in archiver and many plugins that expand the capabilities of the program. They can easily unpack the APK archive.

Installing applications and games from the store Google Play usually does not cause difficulties even for inexperienced users. Since the installation process here is as simplified as possible, I clicked on the “Install” button and the application was installed.

However, the creator's policy implies another way to install applications - directly from the device. For this you need download apk file, transfer it to your device and install it. This is for those users who are unable to connect to Google Play Market. Therefore, today we will talk about how this process works in general.

What do we need:

The device itself (smartphone or tablet).
Apk file downloaded to your computer
File manager installed on your device.

By default, on Android the device can be installed APK files only from the app store Play Market. In order to be able to install APK files from computer, you need to allow installation of applications from unknown sources. To do this, go to the settings of your Android device and go to the “ Safety».

After that, enable the " unknown sources».

After enabling this function, you will be able to install any APK files.

After that you copy the file APK either to the main device or to a memory card.

To complete the installation APK file from computer to Android device you need to run this APK file. To do this, you need to use any file manager. Launch the file manager, open the folder where you copied the APK file and run it. After launching the APK file, a window will appear on the screen asking you to install the application. To install the APK file, simply click on the " Further».

After this application will be installed on your Android device. After installation is complete, an icon will appear on the desktop installed application. Also, the new application icon will appear in the list of all applications.

be careful: if the application can make calls or send SMS messages, it is quite possible that it was created to steal funds from the subscriber’s personal account, since the same SMS messages are sent in such a way that the owner of the device will never guess about it, while his personal account is slowly emptied, After all, these messages are paid.

How to install an apk file on Android without a file manager?

Not all users have a file manager on their devices. So, launch any browser and write the following phrase in the address bar: file:///sdcard/. This will open the file system of your device.

Well, then it’s a matter of technology. Click on the apk file and install it. In our case, however, when you click on a file, it is downloaded. Then you need to call up the curtain and in the curtain click on the file again to install it.

In any case, this will not cause you problems.

In this article we will talk about how to install applications or games from *.apk files on Android. Sooner or later, device owners Android control are faced with a situation where the standard functionality of the system becomes boring, and an irresistible desire to expand it appears.

Unlike iOS, where installing applications is based on working with the iTunes Store, Google developers have provided the ability to install programs using standard tools. But to do this, you need to allow the installation of applications from unknown sources, go to Settings -> Applications and check the box next to Unknown Sources.

All applications for the Android operating system come with the *.apk file extension. As for the structure of such files, essentially an apk file is an ordinary archive, the contents of which you can view with any archiver. operating system Android automatically recognizes such files and understands what to do with them. Thus, you can install applications on Android in several ways.

1. Install *.apk file on Android

The first, and in our opinion, the most common way is to install a *.apk file on Android using a file manager. All you need to do to do this is transfer the *.apk file to the SD card of your device. Then use any available file manager with the ability to install applications. We recommend using ASTRO File Manager or ES File Explorer.

Then launch the file manager, find the *.apk file and install the application using the standard Android installer.

In addition, you can install the application without using file managers, using a standard browser. Just enter content://com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/FileName.apk into the address bar and the installation will start automatically. IN in this example The *.apk file is located in the root folder of the SD card.

2. Installation using application manager

The second, easiest way to install *.apk files on Android is to use application managers. These programs were created to simplify the installation of applications via *.apk files as much as possible. And indeed it is! We tested a program called SlideME Mobentoo App Installer, which we recommend to you.

SlideME Mobentoo App Installer will scan your device's SD card as quickly as possible and display a list of all *.apk files found. After which you can easily install the necessary applications in almost one click.

3. Installation via computer and USB

In addition to the above, we know one more, and perhaps the most convenient way - installing *.apk applications using a connection Android devices to the computer via USB cable. We recommend that you use the InstallAPK program and USB drivers.

Just install InstallAPK on your computer, then connect your smartphone via USB cable and double-click the *.apk file. The program will independently identify the *.apk file and start installing the application on your Android device.

Android OS involves the use of numerous applications that allow you to do anything on your device: play games, read, communicate in social networks and much more. You can download these programs different ways, but they are all in apk format. So you need to know how to install *apk file on Android.

Android devices use .apk files as archives for installing programs

APK is a special executable format that was created for Android. The largest database of these archives is provided by the Google Play application store, through which everyone basically installs any software on their devices. But installing apk on Android can be done in other ways, which are also important to know about.

In general, all installation methods are divided into those that are performed without a PC, and those that require a computer. But even this division is conditional. It is quite possible to do without Windows Help when downloading any software. If you don’t know where to install apk files on Android, then don’t worry: everything here is not like with Windows, the system itself will unzip it into the desired directory.

Google Play

Downloading and installing the “app” is the easiest way. To do this you need:

1. Go to the app store.
2. Select the program you are interested in.
3. Click the “download” button.
4. Then click the “install” button.

After this, the application will be installed automatically. You don’t need to do anything else, this method is the main one and is suitable for most software downloaded on Android.

File manager

It happens that the required installer is not available on Google Play. This happens quite rarely, but some software, for example, Kate Mobile, simply does not want to be installed using the standard method. Then it’s worth knowing how to install apk files on Android using file managers. Any such program will do, for example, ES Explorer.

1. Download the required installer through the browser. You can also download the archive via a computer, and then transfer it to a memory card or using a USB cable directly to a smartphone or tablet.
2. We launch ES Explorer and find our installer in one of the folders (usually “Downloads”).
3. Click on it, after which the installation process will start.

That's it, now the required application has loaded. New Androids will not always allow you to install unknown programs. To get around this, you need to check the box next to “Unknown sources” in the settings, in the “Security” section.

In addition, there are special utilities called . If the file manager allows you to simply browse through folders, then the file manager is used as an apk installer for Android. One such utility is SlideME Mobentoo App Installer. Just download it for your device and launch it. And then she herself will check whether there are installers in the SD card or device memory, after which it will be possible to easily download the necessary software.

Browser

Another method is to install apk on Android. You will need any browser for it, standard Google Chrome will do.

1. Open the browser.
2. In the address bar enter: content://com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/[FILE NAME].apk.
3. Press "Enter".

The installation will begin. If this does not happen, you can try typing: file:///sdcard/[FILE NAME].apk. Also check that the archive name is spelled correctly and make sure that it has been downloaded to your device.

QR code

This is the new trendy way to install apps. Very often on billboards or various websites you can see a QR code by which you can install some program. A QR code is a kind of link, by opening which we gain access to the installer. To follow this link, you need it, you can download it through Google Play, there are enough such utilities today. After that, we simply scan the code, then we are most often transferred to Google Play, from where the “app” will be downloaded.

Computer and special programs

Some users may also find it useful to know how to install apk on Android. This can only be done if you have special utilities on your PC. One of these is InstallAPK.

1. Download this program to your computer.
2. We connect a smartphone or tablet to it using a USB cable.
3. On your PC, click on the desired archive.
4. A window appears asking you to install it on your Android device.
5. We agree.

After this, the desired application will be downloaded. As you can see, everything is very easy.

Now you know how to different methods install apk file on android. It is also important to remind you once again that if you are unable to run the installer, then check whether you have a checkmark in the “Security” section. You should not download installers from unknown sources, as this may lead to the appearance of virus software on the system. Download only from sites that are truly safe.

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