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Unlike iOS and other closed systems, Android developers have provided the ability to install a variety of applications on their own, without the participation of the Google Play Store and other content stores. Having an .apk file on hand, you can install a paid application yourself, without paying a penny for it.
"Why resort to self-installation with .apk files?"- you ask, and then that not all applications are presented in the Google Play Store, and besides, most of them are paid and cost money. All Android applications have .apk extensions - in fact, this is a kind of archive, the contents of which can be viewed by anyone archiver.
Where to begin?
The first action that you need to perform is to allow the installation of applications from unknown sources, go to Settings/Settings -> Applications/Application Settings and check the box next to Unknown Sources and click OK.
1. Install applications using the file manager
After this simple step, you can copy the .apk file to your phone's SD card. Further, to install the application, you can use any file manager that recognizes and understands apk files. For these purposes, ASTRO File Manager or ES File Explorer are suitable.
Launch the file manager, find the apk file, tap on it and install the application using the standard Android installer.
2. Install apps using the app manager
In addition, to simplify the procedure for installing applications for Android, there are special programs - application managers. One such program is SlideME Mobentoo App Installer.
This popular app manager for Android will automatically scan your smartphone's SD card for apk files and help you quickly install the required application in one click. Isn't it convenient?
3. Install applications using computer and USB
However, the most convenient way to install applications for Android is by connecting your smartphone to a computer via a USB cable. To do this, you will need the InstallAPK program and USB drivers. Install it on your computer, do not forget about the drivers, connect your smartphone via USB cable and double click on the apk file.
InstallAPK will automatically identify the apk file and start installing the application on your Android phone. You will only need to agree with the installation of the application and click the "Install" button.
4. Other ways to install Android apps
If you do not want to install any additional programs, then you can install the application from apk files in the old, old-fashioned way. Launch the standard Android browser and enter the following link in the address bar of the browser and the installation will start automatically:
content://com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/Filename.apk
This method is not very convenient, and is suitable for those who rarely install Android programs.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to describe all the ways we know how to install an Android application from apk files. If you know other ways to install programs - write to us about them in the comments and we will definitely include these methods in this article. Stay with us.
When buying any device with this OS, the question arises of the need to complete it with a number of applications necessary for full-fledged work and entertainment. Therefore, it is important to know how to install programs on Android. Moreover, their choice is huge, which distinguishes this operating system from others. In addition, applications of not only the native developer company, but also all others can successfully work on this OS. The only need is to know the rules for their installation, common to all.
general information
There are several main installation methods, each of which, of course, has its own characteristics. But any user will master them without any problems, since they are all quite simple. If you learn these basics, then the question of how to install programs on Android will not exist for you. You can easily install both the simplest utility and a very serious application with many functions.
How can you recognize an application for Android among others? It doesn't get easier. Absolutely all file packages have the .apk extension. What does it mean? These are several zipped files that provide the installation of the utility we need. With the help of any archiver, you can always view the contents of the file of interest to us. Now let's take a quick look at these installation methods.
With the help of the Play Market
This is probably the most affordable, easiest and fastest way to solve the issue of how to install programs on Android. No special, special knowledge is needed and no need to look for ways to install this utility. It is initially available on most smartphones of the latest models. What needs to be done? Decide on the Play Market with the choice of the necessary program and just click on the “Install” button. Everything else will happen with almost no user intervention.
Unless you have to accept the terms of the license agreement. This is a very convenient way, which also allows you to track the appearance of updates for installed software. This option has only one drawback: if you like to constantly download new applications, you can go broke on paying for Internet traffic. You will have to use a Wi-Fi connection.
Installing programs from a memory card
Thanks to this method, you can just save a lot of traffic. So how to install programs on Android using memory cards? After all, before something can be launched, it must somehow appear there. In our case, this is a file manager that needs to be downloaded from the Web and activated. Next, download the program we like and save it on your personal computer. The next step is to move this file to the smartphone.
The easiest way to do this is with a USB cable. After that, we specify the path to it in the file manager. It remains to do the simplest. Select the desired file, give the manager a command to install it. Our smart utility will do the rest. All such applications work on the same principle.
Installation using the built-in browser, as well as Gmail
Here we will not consider the option of using the built-in explorer. And we do the following. We create a directory in the memory card with the file name and the apk extension we already know. Then open the browser built into the smartphone. Specify the path to this file directly in the address bar. Press the Enter button, and the desired application will automatically begin to install. That is, we completely managed without a guide. You just need to remember that this method does not automatically update utilities.
You can install the best programs for Android, and not only them, gracefully and simply using Gmail, since this program is able to recognize the apk format. To implement this method, send the required file to your Gmail mail. Then open the letter and click the install button. And, as usual, the application will be installed on the device automatically.
Installing Third Party Applications
There are also cases when the application you need is simply not available on Google Play or the Play Market. And for whatever reason, you can't do without it. For example, certain Russian programs for Android were needed. What to do in this case? There is nothing particularly difficult in such a situation. First you need to allow your device to install software from unknown sources. In the “Security” section, find such an item and tick it. We find the desired utility and download it to a smartphone or personal computer.
The only thing we recommend is to use only trusted sources for this, since there is a possibility of downloading software infected with viruses. When downloading a file to your smartphone, look for it in “Downloads”, click on it and start the installation. The computer is a little more difficult. We copy the necessary utility to the mobile device, and there we already launch it using the file manager.
What are the best programs for “ Android”
As we have already said, this operating system is the most popular and has already received a really huge number of a wide variety of applications throughout its existence. The best programs for Android are those that most users have. After all, this is precisely the sign of popularity. Such software is constantly discussed, and users make their wishes and suggestions to developers.
As a result, such utilities are constantly improving and becoming even more popular. Now we will talk about some of them. By the way, only rather complex software is considered, which, despite being developed for Android, very often meets the requirements for the desktop version of a personal computer. Especially related to information security and data security. So what are the best apps for Android?
ROM Manager and System Tuner
It is the first program that heads our list. It allows you to restore the current, current version of the firmware, as well as create backups. Thanks to its use, not only the safety of data is ensured, but you can also study aspects of the operation of the Android OS. The good thing about ROM Manager is that changing the firmware is very easy, and in case of any failure in the process, it is very easy to restore the version installed before. Also, using this utility, partition the SD card or install the firmware directly from it.
When choosing the best programs for Android, pay attention to System Tuner, the most convenient task manager. In addition to standard functions, it allows the user to select applications for automatic launch, monitor how RAM is being used, and also helps to configure / adjust the frequency of the processor. In addition, thanks to System Tuner, you can assign a convenient memory card cache size, customize applications and move them around the system. By the way, these, like many others, programs for Android are provided for free, which is important for some users.
Readers for Android
Smartphones have developed special programs designed to read documents in the following formats: ePub, FB2, DOC, djvu, PDF. One of the best readers is the Google Play application, which has an intuitive interface that allows the user to master it very quickly. Well-known and such a program for reading on "Android" as Cool Reader. With its help, you can successfully overcome almost any format of books on a tablet or smartphone. With each update, something is sure to be added to make the reading process more comfortable, regardless of the amount of information. View any office documents will also help "Android".
Programs in Russian, such as, for example, Kingsoft Office and OfficeSuite Pro, will provide convenient work both on a smartphone with a small screen and on a tablet with a relatively wide HD display. They support more than two dozen different formats such as ZIP, EML, PDF, PPSM, PPTM, PPSX, PPS, PPTX, PPT, CSV, XLSM, XLSX, XLS, TXT, RTF, DOCM, DOCX, DOC and others. In addition, all these applications are absolutely free, and in terms of functionality they do not differ much from paid ones. The same applies to the program for reading pdf-files on Android - Adobe Reader. Using this utility, you can add comments to documents, synchronize them with other devices, send them to a printer, etc.
Using "Android" as a cracker
The devices we are considering with the most common OS can, like a personal computer, be used as a password cracker for Wi-Fi networks, social network accounts, and much more. For this purpose, there are special programs for hacking on Android. Take for example Wibr + - a utility for connecting to other people's Wi-Fi routers. It is very popular among hackers. But when downloading such an application, be prepared to run into a fake, of which there are a lot, and they are mostly designed for inexperienced users. They can also harm your device.
But some utilities, like Wibr+, can actually help you connect to a poorly secured Wi-Fi network. It is this application that serves as an excellent proof of the possibility of hacking from a regular smartphone and without special professional knowledge. The essence of the work of this cracker is to select the correct password. He will not cope with complex ones, but relatively weak ones are tough for him. However, it is worth remembering that such actions are not only immoral, but also illegal.
Download Master - program for downloading files
In each device, in principle, a file loader is initially installed. But, as often happens, it is not very convenient, not very functional. And many users prefer to install a program for downloading their own, favorite and familiar.
A lot of people liked Download Master - a convenient and powerful tool with which you can not only increase the speed of downloading files, but also resume those that were interrupted, manage (and very efficiently) downloaded files. Also, this manager allows you to download and save videos from RuTube, Google Video, Rambler Vision, YouTube and other similar services. Integrates with all existing browsers, has its own scheduler, search for downloaded files, built-in FTP Explorer and much more.
Today we will talk about the incredible thing - how to install apps on Android, including installing .apk files on your Android device. This can be done in two different ways, we will look at both.
Installing applications from the Treshbox / installing using the apk file
By far, the easiest and most logical way to download games and applications is to download them from the Treshbox.After all, having an Android device, you have the ability to install third-party applications. You just need to set the permission in the settings: check the box next to the item "Unknown sources / Unknown Sources"
Settings - Security - Unknown sources
Let's go directly to the installation:
The first thing you need to do is download the program from the Treshbox. With this, I hope you will not have any problems.
Next, you need to copy the .apk file to a memory card and open the application using any file manager.
In case you want to download directly to your phone, then after downloading, simply launch the file from the notification bar or downloads folder.
The trashbox also supports QR, so if you use expensive mobile traffic on your phone, then you will only need to take a picture of the link and download only as much as necessary.
Installing an app from Google Play
Unbelievable but true - in order to install an application from the Play Market, you need to find it and click on the "Install" button in the selected program or game. The advantage is that by installing the application from the Play Market, you will be aware of all software updates.But Threshbox is not far behind in this - we also have notifications about software updates that you download.
Installing the application from the web version of Google Play
Sign in to the Google Play website with the Google account you use on your android device. Then select the desired application and click "install". The site will determine how many android devices you are using and will offer you a choice: select the one you need, click Install, and the installation will begin.
In order to install the application on Android from a computer, you must have a Google account and access to it.
The installation procedure depends on the speed of the Internet, otherwise it does not differ on different models of gadgets from all manufacturers.
Installing programs on Android from a computer via Google Play
- The first thing to do is go to the official Google Play website through a computer browser. The site is intuitive even for an inexperienced user.
If you already have an account in the service, then you just need to log in to it.
Click on the login button, enter your email address and click "Next"
- Then enter the name of the application in the search bar or find it in the category menu on the left, and then go to the page with the program.
Advice! Any application in the Google Play store can be saved to a wish list, which will be available on all Android devices with this data.
- The page has all the necessary information about it, just like on a smartphone with Android OS.
- In the next step, repeat the procedure directly on your smartphone, sign in to your Google account if this has not been done before.
- When both devices have the same account, the system will automatically determine whether it is compatible with the smartphone.
- After that, you can click the "Install" button. The system prompts the user to select the Android device on which the program will be installed. There may be several of them in the list, depending on how many gadgets are connected at the moment.
Devices that were previously connected to this account, but are not currently in use, can also be shown here, they are marked in gray.
- After selecting the gadget, you need to click the "Install" button and wait until the program is automatically installed on your phone.
Advice! Before installing programs, you need to make sure that there is free space on your phone, otherwise it will display a message that there is not enough memory to download.
Installing applications on Android from a computer via a USB cable
If the application that needs to be installed on the smartphone has already been downloaded, then you can download it using a usb cable.
First you need to make sure that the program has the appropriate .apk extension, and the gadget has enough memory required for installation.
- Since the smartphone cares about the safety of its users and does not allow downloading from unknown sources in order to avoid viruses, therefore, first you need to remove this restriction.
In the settings in the "Security" menu, you need to move the slider to the green mark in the "Unknown sources" item, confirming the action before that.
- The next step is to connect the usb cable to the smartphone.
- After that, through the explorer, the file must be copied to the "Downloads" folder on the smartphone.
- After that, the phone can be disconnected and find the folder with the application on it.
- Click on the file through the right button and in the window that appears, select "Package installer.
- After a while, the application will be installed on your smartphone.
In the first case of installation on Android through a computer, both devices must be connected to the Internet.
In the example of using a usb cable, this is not necessary.
According to this principle, you can install the application through Bluetooth, WiFi and other services capable of transferring files of various formats.
How to install apps on android from computer
Step-by-step instructions: How to install an application on Android from a computer
How to copy an application from a computer to a smartphone and install it? Is it necessary to go to Google Play (Market)? The answers to these questions are in our article.
What to do if there is very little traffic on the mobile Internet, but you urgently need to download and install the application on a mobile device with Android OS? It would probably be nice to download a program or game to a regular personal computer, and then just copy it to a smartphone and launch it there.
We will give several convenient ways to install applications on Android from a computer.
We will give a couple of convenient ways to install applications on Android from a computer.
Method 1. We bring everything down
After you download this handy utility to your PC, you will have an enviable opportunity to install applications on Android devices directly from your computer. This software is perfectly compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8.
All you need is to run the program and connect your phone or tablet via USB. In the smartphone settings menu, we enter the "Security" section ("Applications" for older versions of the OS), where we check the box next to "Unknown sources".
In English: Settings - Application Settings (Security) - Unknown Sources.
Next, double-click on the *.apk file previously downloaded to the computer, after which the installation will be completed.
If after that the installation did not take place, enter the smartphone settings, select "For Developers" and check the box next to "USB Debugging".
For the program to work, sometimes you may need to install special drivers, which you can download for free from the developer's website.
By the way, you can download an Android application that a priori comes with such an extension not only on the Google Market. You will find popular games and programs for smartphones based on the above operating system on our website.
The only drawback is that this program does not work with all phone models. And if your device ended up in a small number of such unfortunate smartphones, then another method will suit you, revealing how to install programs on Android from a computer.
Method 2. Installing the application through the built-in browser
In order for method number three to function, we need to install a file manager. We choose ES Explorer, but you can install any other.
Why do we say "for the next method to work"? Due to the fact that for permanent use this method is too long and inconvenient, and by installing the proposed application, everything will be done in a few clicks.
So, we connect the device to the computer and copy the apk file to the root of the memory card. Next, disconnect the cord, launch the browser and enter content://com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/ApplicationName.apk in the address bar or
file:///sdcard/ApplicationName.apk (depending on your OS version).
Method 3. Working for ES Explorer
For this method, we need a useful program. This is a file manager that allows you to view all the folders on your smartphone or tablet. But the main thing is that it can be used to copy or move files from the communicator's memory to an SD card and vice versa, as well as install games and programs on an Android tablet or smartphone.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
1. install the ES Explorer program on your smartphone;
2. connect the smartphone to the PC and copy the necessary apk file from the computer to the smartphone's memory;
3. disconnect the device from the computer and launch ES Explorer in the smartphone itself, find the apk file and double-click on it to install the program.
Method 4Gmail not only receives mail
This is a very convenient and original way to install a program on Android, which only a few users know about, but, judging by its complexity, we can say that it is disgracefully easy.
So, we send a message to our gmail mail by attaching the apk file to the letter. Having opened it through the Gmail application, we will see that the “Install” button has appeared opposite the attached file (the application automatically detects the file).
By clicking on the button, you will download and install the application.
Important
Note that if you are installing applications not from GooglePlay, a window will appear on the smartphone screen: “Installation blocked”.
The fact is that for security reasons, installation of applications from unknown sources is prohibited on the device. In this case, we do the same as at the beginning of the first method.
Choose: Settings - Personal (Security) - Unknown sources. After that, such an operation as installing a game on Android from a computer or other methods will become quite accessible.
