How to Install APK Files on Android

This  teaches you how to install an app file onto your Android. App files (known as "APK" files) are useful if you want to install an app that isn't listed on the Google Play Store, but you'll have to enable installations from other sources on your Android before you can download and install an APK. Keep in mind that APK files can house dangerous malware, so you should only install APK files from reputable sites.

Part 1


Enabling APK Installations

  1. Open your Android's Settings. Use two fingers to swipe down from the top of the screen, then tap the "Settings" 
     gear icon in the top-right corner of the resulting drop-down menu.

  2. Scroll down and tap Apps and notifications. Doing so opens the Apps and Notifications menu.
    • On a Samsung Galaxy, you'll instead tap Biometrics and security.
    • If you have an Android running Nougat (Android 7.0), skip to the last step in this part instead.

  3. Tap Install unknown apps. It should be in the middle of the menu.
    • This option may instead say Install other apps.
    • On some Androids, you may first have to tap Special access.

  4. Select a browser. Tap the browser you want to use to download your APK files.
    • For example, if you want to download your APK file from Google Chrome, you would tap the Chrome option here.

  5. Tap the white "Allow from this source" 
     switch.     It's at the bottom of the page. Doing so will cause the switch to turn blue 
     , signifying that the browser will now be able to download and install APK files.
    • On some Androids, you may instead need to tap an "Allow from this source" checkbox.

  6. Tap OK if prompted. This will confirm your decision and enable downloads from unknown sources on your Android. You can now proceed with installing your APK fileif you're installing it from a browser.

  7. Enable APK installation for your Android's file manager. If you want to install an APK file directly from your Android's "Download" folder, do the following:
    • Tap the "Back" button to see the list of apps.
    • Tap the file manager app you want to use to install the APK file (e.g., on a Samsung Galaxy, you might tap My Files).
    • Tap the white "Allow" switch or check box.
    • Tap OK if prompted.

  8. Scroll down and tap Security (or Lock screen and security).
    • Tap the white "Unknown sources" switch (or blank checkbox).
    • Confirm by tapping OK if prompted.
  9. Enable APK installations on Android Nougat. If you have an Android that's running Android Nougat instead of Android Oreo as its operating system, do the following:


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Step 2

Installing an APK File from a Browser

  1. Open your Android's web browser. Tap the app icon for the web browser that you want to use to download your APK file.
    • Make sure you open the web browser for which you enabled unknown downloads.
  2. Go to an APK download site. In your web browser, either type in the name of the app you want to download followed by apk (e.g., "soundcloud apk"), or go to a website that you know hosts APK downloads.
    • APKMirror, AppBrain, and AndroidAPKsFree are all reputable sites from which you can download APK files.
      • Depending on your selected site, you may have to tap the APK file's name, select a download site, and/or navigate through the download site's options before you can tap the "Download" button.
  3. Download an APK file. Select the APK file you want to download, then tap the "Download" button or icon to download it.
  4. Tap OK when prompted. Doing so will confirm that you want to download the APK file and begin downloading it onto your Android.
    • Alternatively, open your Android's file manager app, select your default storage location, tap the Downloads folder, and tap the APK file that you downloaded. You can then tap SETTINGS when prompted and enable installations from unknown sources for your file manager app.
  5. Tap OPEN when prompted. It's at the bottom of the screen. If you miss the OPENnotification, you can instead swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the Download complete (or similar) notification.​
  6. Tap INSTALL. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Doing so will prompt the APK file to begin installing; once it completes, you'll see an OPEN option appear in the bottom-right corner of the screen.

Step 3

Installing an APK File from the File Manager
  1. 1Download the APK file if necessary. If you haven't yet downloaded the APK file onto your Android, do the following:
    • Open your Android's web browser.
    • Go to an APK download site (e.g., APKMirror).
    • Select the APK you want to download.
    • Tap the APK's name or the Download button (depending on the site).
    • Wait for the APK file to finish downloading.
      • For example, if you're using the My Files app on a Samsung Galaxy, you would tap the white folder on an orange background icon.
      • Make sure this is the file manager for which you enabled app installations.
        • If you see a Downloads option on the main page, tap that and then skip the next step.
  2. Open your Android's file manager app. Tap the app icon for your Android's file manager app in the App Drawer to do so.
  3. Select your Android's default storage. Depending on where your Android stores its downloaded files by default, tap either the hard drive or the SD card name. This will open a list of folders on your Android.
  4. Tap Download. It's a blue folder in the middle of the page.
  5. Tap the APK file. You should see the APK file that you downloaded in the "Download" folder, though you may need to scroll down to see it. Tapping it opens the APK file.
  6. Tap INSTALL. It's in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Doing so begins installing the APK file.​
    • You can also tap OPEN here to open the installed app.
  7. Tap DONE when prompted. This is at the bottom of the screen. The APK file's installer will close. At this point, you should be able to find the APK file's installed app in your Android's App Drawer.