How to install Android applications via APK

How to install Android APK - The most common procedure for installing an Android application or its update almost always goes through the Play Store or for an alternative store. But the beauty of the green robot also lies in the freedom allowed to the user who can manually install an application starting from APK file.

You've probably heard this term, but what does it refer to? What's a APK file and how is it possible install an APK on our Android device? Let's find out what you need to know in our complete guide.

• What are APK files
• What are APK files for
• Enable APK installation permissions
• How to install APK on Android

What are APK files?

.APK files, extension which stands for Android Package, are nothing more than archives used for the distribution and installation of Android applications and components. The file, which can be opened without problems using a common compression tool (WinZip or WinRAR just to name the most common), usually contains two folders, META-INF and res and the Android Manifest.xml, classes.dex and resources files. arsc, as well as other files and folders entered by the manufacturer according to your needs.

They can therefore be considered as the equivalent of the Windows .exe or .dmg or .app packages of macOS, despite having a decidedly different structure. The simplicity of the structure of an .APK file allows virtually anyone to modify it and that is why these files represent one of the main vehicles of infection of the Android platform. To learn more about this, we refer you to our page dedicated to Android viruses and the precautions to be taken to avoid them.

This obviously does not mean that the applications installed via APK contain viruses or are less reliable but more simply that you have to pay close attention to the sites from which to download them. In our reports you will only find references to highly reliable sources, which have carried out careful checks on the files before making them available to the public.

What are APK files used for?

If we can install an application from the Play Store or an alternative store, why resort to manual installation via APK file? We will not go into issues concerning pirated applications, remaining in the field of legality and the usefulness of this possibility that Android offers us.

There are numerous developers who decide to distribute their application independently, as well as numerous smartphones that do not have the Play Store. Then there are those cases in which developers release updates on the Play Store gradually, and many users want to be able to have the new version immediately to use additional features or to solve some problems.

It must be said that in this case, if the application is installed via APK file, it will update any existing installation and will not in any way preclude the possibility of receiving automatic updates. We also have the case of applications not available in certain countries, due to strategic choices of the developer or others that are not considered compatible for various reasons.

Installation via APK file therefore it becomes in many cases the only viable way to use an application (but also a game) on your Android device.

Enable APK installation permissions

Once the distrust has been overcome and the file downloaded from a secure source, the time has come to install an .APK file, a simple procedure but which requires the granting of specific permissions. In older versions of Android it was enough to flip a switch in the settings, allowing installation from unknown sources.

With the most recent versions of Android, on the other hand, specific permissions have been introduced for each application. This makes it easier to control which applications can install a APK file, for example, preventing the browser or an instant messaging app from doing it.

If you have downloaded an APK file, the simplest method is to open the download folder using a file manager (if you don't have one, we recommend installing Mi File Explorer) and tapping on the downloaded file. If you have not yet granted the permissions, a window will appear that will take you, if you want to grant permissions, to the right settings section.

From here it will be sufficient to move the switch next to the word "Allow from this source" and return to the previous screen. At this point you are ready for the next step, which is to install the new application or update using the APK file.

How to install APK on Android

After having granted the permissions of the app, an operation requested only once and valid until the option is deactivated or the smartphone is reset, you can proceed with the actual installation, a simple and trouble-free procedure that will take very little time. obviously in proportion to the size of the downloaded file.

Tapping on the downloaded file will open the installation interface, which will show the name of the app, the icon and the presence of any special permissions. In the case of an update, it will be reported that the installation will update the existing one.

In the latter case, no data will be deleted from the application, since the procedure performed manually is the same as that performed by the Play Store, but silently. In the same way you can continue to receive updates from the Google store without any problem, in the same way as the applications installed for the first time starting from .APK file.

The new application icon will be added to the Home Page, if the launcher has this option and you can start using it right away. We have therefore come to the end of this guide that explains how install an APK on Android, a simple and convenient procedure. If you have any doubts, let us know in the comments box or using our social networks.