What Is APK? How to download and how to install, here’s everything you need to know about this critical term.
If you own an Android device, you may have encountered the term APK before and wondered what it means. While you can use Android without ever learning the meaning of an APK, taking the time to learn about it can help you understand and appreciate the platform even more.
Let’s look at an APK File and why it’s important to Android.
What are APK Files?
An APK file is an app created for Android, Google’s mobile operating system. Some apps come pre-installed on Android devices, while others can be downloaded from Google Play. Apps downloaded from Google Play are automatically installed on your device. Those downloaded from other sources, such as websites or email attachments, must be installed manually.
What does APK stand for?
APK stands for Android Package. It’s the file format that Android uses to distribute and install apps. As a result, an APK contains all the elements an app needs to install correctly on your device.
An APK file is a compacted file that contains multiple files and metadata about them. You are probably familiar with compressed file types such as ZIP and RAR.
Compressed files (such as ZIP) are usually used to combine multiple files in one, to make them more portable, or to compact them to save space. When a file is used to distribute software, it is called the software package.
As it turns out, APK files are a different type of Java Archive file, as much of Android is built in Java. All APK files are ZIP files in essence but must contain additional information to function properly as an APK file.
Therefore, all APK files are ZIP files, but not all are APK files. If interested, you can open the APK file and see what is inside. Use one of the best file extraction tools, such as 7-ZIP, to open it as it would with any old Zip file. You can’t do much with APK files on different android platforms unless installing an Android emulator like Blacks.
What Are APK Files Used For?
APK files allow you to install applications on your Android phone. They are similar to the APPX files used to install store applications on Windows 10 and corresponding package files on other platforms. When opening the APK file on your device, it contains instructions to install it on your phone and provides information about your package on your device.
Usually, when you visit Google Play and download or update an app, the store automatically installs APK for you. This way, the Play Store also acts as a packet manager – a tool for easily installing, updating, and removing software from the device.
However, due to the open nature of Android, Google Play is not the only way to find and install APK files. It is easy to get the APK file from elsewhere, transfer it to your device, and install it manually. Learn how to download applications on Android to get a complete guide.
What Is Base.APK?
You may have found a file on your phone called Base.apk and wondered what it does. You can only see these base files.apk If you have root access to your phone as they are in protected system folders.
This is a file you will find in all application folders. It contains the APK you downloaded from Google Play and used to install the app first. They must match if you compare this file size with the file size informed on the application Play Store page.
These APK file backup apps can be used to create a copy of the applications installed on your phone. You can copy these files manually elsewhere for your own use if you wish. But this is unnecessary to back up your Android device, so don’t worry about these files if you are not rooted. And if you come them, don’t panic, as they are a normal part of Android’s execution.
How to Download Apk?
You can download apk for Android,iPhone, MAC, Pc, and many other operating systems.
How to Download Apk On Android?
If you want to use an application from outside the Google Play Store, install the app file of the app. This article explains how to install APKs on Android 7 or later.
Allow Unknown Apps on Android Before downloading APK files using Chrome or any other browser, you must first allow unknown applications:
- Go to your device settings and tap Apps & Notifications (or Apps in older versions of Android).
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Tap Special access.
- Tap Install unknown apps.
- Tap Chrome (or whichever web browser you use)
- Move Allow from this source to the On position.
You can Downloads Apk by following these simple steps
- Find the download button. The download button can be available at the end or start.
- Click on the Download button
- The Downloading Starts automatically
How to open Apk Files on Android?
Just open the browser, find the APK file you want to download, and touch it – you can see it download on the upper bar of your device. Once downloaded, open Downloads, tap the APK file and tap SIM when requested. The app will begin to be installed on your device.
How to Install Apk on Android?
- Find the downloaded apk on your Android
- Click on apk file
- Install apk
If it does not work, then the next method mentioned below
Install an Android File Manager
Now that you have set up your phone to allow the installation of unknown applications, you will need to find the application file (APK file) on the phone to run it.
Android phones usually come with a file manager app you can use, but if you don’t have one, find one of the best Android file managers on Google Play. For example, you can download CX File Explorer or get a file manager.
Download the APK Installer From Your Android
The easiest way to install an APK file on an Android device is to download the file using the default browser, Chrome.
- Find a site that offers an Android app and click the link to download the APK file. Accept any popups, including “this file type can damage your device.”
- If your phone’s web browser does not offer the option to open the file after download, open the file explorer application, navigate to the Downloads folder on your device and tap the APK file.
- Allow the application to have the required permissions requested. Then, at the bottom of the installer window, click Install.
- You will now see the application on the installed apps list.
How to Update an APK in Android?
When you want to update Apk on your devices with a new version:
- Select the version and open the version page.
- If you want to update the new version only for specific devices, choose actions> Update application.
- If you want to update all applicable devices with the version, choose actions> Update for all devices.
Are Apk Files Safe?
As APK files install applications on your system, they can seriously threaten security. Anyone with malicious intent can modify the APK file before installing it and use it as a digital Trojan horse to install and execute malware. So you need to make sure the site you are using is reliable.
That’s it, the information we provide here is already publicly available.
