How to install APK file on Android. How to install apk file on Android

You will probably be faced with the issue of opening the application distribution package, which is located in the APK file. Or perhaps you need to open such a distribution to view the files (for example, for subsequent modification). We'll tell you how to do both.

How to open an APK file on Android

How to open APK files

The APK format (short for Android Package) is the main format for distributing application installers, so by default, when you run such files, the installation of the program begins. Opening such a file for viewing is somewhat more difficult, but still doable. Below we will describe methods that will allow you to both open APKs and install them.

Method 1: MiXplorer

MiXplorer has a built-in tool to open and view the contents of an APK file.

1. Launch the application. Navigate to the folder where the target file is located.

2. Single click on the APK will bring up the following context menu.

We need the item " Explore", which should be pressed. The second point, by the way, will start the process of installing the application from the distribution, but more on that below.

3. The contents of the APK will be open for viewing and further manipulation.

The trick to this method lies in the very nature of the APK: despite the format, it is a modified version of the GZ/TAR.GZ archive, which, in turn, is a modified version of compressed ZIP folders.

If you want to install the application from the installer rather than view it, do the following.

1. Go to " Settings" and find the item " Safety"(otherwise it may be called " Security Settings»).

Go to this point.

2. Find the option " unknown sources» and check the box next to it (or activate the switch).

3. Go to MiXplorer and go to the directory where the installer package in APK format is located. Tapping on it will open the familiar context menu, in which you need to select the item “ Package installer».

4. The installation process of the selected application will begin.

Many other file managers have similar tools (for example, Root Explorer). The algorithm of actions for another explorer application is almost identical.

Method 2: Total Commander

The second option for viewing the APK file as an archive is one of the most sophisticated explorer applications for Android.

1. Launch Total Commander and navigate to the folder with the file you want to open.

2. As with MiXplorer, single clicking on a file will launch a context menu with opening options. To view the contents of the APK, select " Open as ZIP».

3. Files packaged in the distribution will become available for viewing and manipulation.

To install an APK file using Total Commander, do the following.

1. Activate " unknown sources", as described in Method 1.
2. Repeat steps 1-2, but instead of " Open as ZIP» select option « Install».

Method 3: My APK

You can speed up the process of installing applications from an APK distribution by using an application such as My APK. This is an advanced manager for working with both installed programs and their installers.

1. Enable installation of applications from unknown sources using the method described in Method 1.
2. Launch May APK. At the top center, click on the " apks».

3. After a short scan, the application will display all APK files available on the device.

4. Find the one you need among them using the search button at the top right or using filters by update date, name and size.

5. Once you find the APK you want to open, tap on it. The advanced properties window will appear. Review it if necessary, then click on the three dots button at the bottom right.

6. A context menu will open. In it we are interested in the item “ Installation" Click on it.

7. The familiar application installation process will begin.

My APK is useful when the exact location of the APK file is unknown or you really have a lot of them.

Method 4: System Tools

To install a downloaded APK using system tools, you can do without a file manager. It's done like this.

1. Make sure you have enabled the option to install applications from unknown sources (described in Method 1).

2. Use your browser to download the APK file from a third-party site. When the download is complete, click on the notification in the status bar.

Try not to delete this notification.

3. Clicking on download will launch the standard Android application installation process.

As you can see, everyone can handle this. You can install any other APK file in the same way; you just need to find it on your drive and run it.

We looked at existing options with which you can both view and install APK files on Android.

Android devices are used by millions of people. There are a huge number of applications and games for this system. You don’t have to spend a lot of time to find the program you need, because almost all of them are collected in the Play Market. The app store is installed by default on most modern smartphones. It contains paid and free content, divided by topic. But you can use the application not only on mobile devices, since the Play Market is available for your computer.

In order to enter the Store, you must go to the official website of the application. Here you will be asked to log in to an existing account or create a new one. In the line that opens, you must enter your login and password. After this, the user is taken to the Application Store, where he can find the desired utility or simply view what is offered by the developers.

Google Play for your computer allows you to download files in .apk format. This extension is intended for devices running Android OS, so you won’t be able to open documents and install applications from the archive on a Windows PC. What should the user do to install the file on the computer?

To do this you will need to install an emulator. These programs are designed to enable users to work with Android applications on a PC. Among the most popular of them are Droid4x, as well as BlueStacks, but the developers have also presented other utilities that can be used for this purpose. For Mac OS it is better to use IntelliJ IDEA or Apple Archive Utility.

When the installation of the emulator is completed, the program will open. It looks like a familiar Android screen. In it you can change settings, resolution and other parameters. Many emulators are equipped with additional functionality. In them you can change the location in various applications and take screenshots.

After installing the emulator, you can unpack .apk files downloaded from the Internet or directly from the Google Play store. To do this, just go to the emulator and find the required file. You should click on its name, after which the installation of the program will automatically start. You should not download .apk files from unverified resources; in order to find the application, it is better to turn to the Play Market, where a huge collection of various utilities is collected.

On Android, this is installation from the official Google Play application store. For most users, this method is the only one, because... In principle, there are a great variety of programs on Google Play, for every taste.

However, sometimes you need to install an application that is not on Google Play, but is available on third-party resources that distribute Android software in the form of APK installation files. This situation may arise, for example, when a user for some reason wants to install an old version of the application, which can no longer be installed from the official store. In this material we will tell you how to install an .apk file on Android.

Allow installation of applications from unknown sources

By default, the Android operating system disables the ability to install from unknown sources, in order to protect the user from viruses entering his device. To install an application from a downloaded apk file, the user needs to give permission for such installation. This is done as follows:

Now you can install applications that you downloaded as apk files.

Install the application from the APK file

If a file was downloaded from the Internet directly to a smartphone or tablet, then using any file manager, find where it was downloaded and simply run it for installation by its name. If you don’t know where the file was uploaded, then the article “” will help you find it.

If the apk was downloaded using a computer, then your device to the computer’s USB port
and copy the file to any convenient location in the internal memory of the device, where you can run the .apk for installation using the file manager.

At the beginning of the process, a window will appear asking you to familiarize yourself with the permissions that the installed application requires to operate.

To complete the apk installation, click the “ Further" or " Cancel» in case you change your mind. When the installation is complete, the application icon will appear on the desktop.

At the end of the article, I would like to warn you that downloading Android applications from dubious sources increases the risk of infecting your smartphone or tablet with viruses. Download apk files only from well-known and well-established sites.

Usually it does not cause any 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.

But when the user is faced with the task of installing an application from an APK file located on the computer, this can already create some difficulties. If you find yourself in such a situation, then this material should help you, here you can find out how to install APK from a computer to Android.

Step No. 1. Allow the installation of applications from unknown sources in the settings of your Android smartphone.

By default, the Android device can only be accessed from the Play Market application store. In order to be able to install APK files from your 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 “Security” section.

After that, enable the “Unknown Sources” feature.

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

Step No. 2. Transfer the APK file from your computer to the memory of your Android device.

The next step is to copy the desired APK file from your computer to the memory of your Android device. To do this, you can connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable. If you wish, you can use other methods to transfer the APK file. For example, you can reset it using Bluetooth.

With this, you can copy the APK file to any folder on your device. The main thing is that you remember where you copied the APK file.

Step No. 3. Launch the APK file on your Android device.

In order to complete the installation of the APK file from your computer to your Android device, you need to run this APK file. To do this, you need to use any file manager. If your device does not have a file manager, then you can install it from the Play Market. There are many free file managers available there.

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 “Next” button.

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

In connection with the proliferation of mobile devices running on the Android operating system, many novice users have a reasonable question about how to install ARK on Android. However, some of them have no idea what this file is.

What is an APK file for Android

In fact, an ARK file is a special installation file that is intended exclusively for the Android OS. Some of its analogues in Windows can be considered the exe file familiar to many. And ARC is, strictly speaking, an ordinary archive. Therefore, you can unpack it using almost any Windows archiver. For example, the most ordinary Win RAR.

But the usual exe file will still not be found in it. So trying to launch by double-clicking the left mouse button still won’t work. Inside this file there are all kinds of software resources necessary for the operation of the mobile application. In a word, when they talk about downloading an ARK file, they mean downloading this or that program for the Android OS.

Installing ARK applications on Android

Since the ARK format is “native” for Android, there are no special recommendations on how to install the APK file on Android or run it. Everything said below will apply to absolutely all applications recorded in this format.

The installation process itself depends largely on how exactly the file was received on the mobile device. After all, this can be done:

• By downloading the program from the official Google Play store at: https://play.google.com;

• By downloading it from third-party sites or even from a torrent;
• Finally, you can get your hands on the ARK file and download it from somewhere using your phone.

The easiest way is to get the program on Google Play. You will first need to go through a simple registration process. Then log into your account and type the application you are looking for (its name) in the search bar. You can also search in the relevant sections of the store.

Then you will need to click on the screen button “ Install" In advance, you can also read reviews about the program, view screenshots, and read the description. A warning will be displayed indicating that the program will gain access to certain phone functions. This is fine. We have to agree. And then everything will happen by itself: the smart system will download the file and install everything itself.

It's another matter if the file is transferred to the computer first. Then you will need to connect the phone to the computer using a special cable, or connect via a wireless network. Next, open the folder on your PC with the downloaded file and open the mobile device, which is recognized by the computer as a regular disk drive. Transfer the downloaded file to any folder on your phone. Close all folders and disconnect the phone from the computer.
Then you will need to find the transferred ARC file in any file manager. All you have to do is click on it and run the installation.

Installation process

The installation of ARK on Android itself, as a rule, takes place in a fully automatic mode and does not require any intervention from the user at all. All you need to do is find the folder with the ARK file and click on it. Then all you have to do is wait and watch the installation progress bar fill up.

Upon completion of the installation, one or another application icon usually appears on the display, clicking on which launches the program.

How to install APK on Android