Download the application to open apk files. What is the APK file extension? What is APK

In this article we will tell you how to open an APK file. Follow the instructions exactly and everything will work out.

What is an APK? This is a regular installer or an archive source files any application created for the Android platform. Stands for Android PacKage. Some Android device users complain about problems when installing such files. Let's take a closer look.

Initially, you need to give your phone access to third-party applications (applications downloaded from the Internet, not from Play Market) and allow them to be installed on your phone. To do this, you need to perform several manipulations with the settings: go to “Settings”, then to the “Personal Data” / “Personalization” / “System” section (it’s different on all phones).

Now the phone will install any downloaded applications. Please note that by downloading such “fraudulent” programs, you risk losing valuable information, for example, passwords, numbers bank cards, and just personal data. Hacking and viruses have not been canceled. Be careful and vigilant about downloaded files.

Tip: Be sure to download antivirus program to protect your device.

So, there is access. Now you need to get to the file itself, as in regular computer. Almost any file manager will help you with this. It will allow you to use and open downloaded APK programs.

Download absolutely any one. We prefer X-Plore File Manager (Download). In our opinion, it provides the most detailed and conveniently structured information about smartphone files and, in addition, has excellent functionality.

In most cases, you just need to click on the icon of the downloaded application and it will launch.

But if that doesn’t work, then use the “Open in system” function, which allows you to use absolutely all possible programs to open.

Before installation, be sure to check the application permissions. Some of them request access to personal information. In this case, think 20 times before using such applications.

And in general, it is still better to purchase licensed software and other software.

Dear readers! If you have any questions or comments on the topic of the article, please leave them below.

APK. How to open it?

If you don’t know what kind of format this is - APK and how it can be opened on a computer or phone, then read the text of the article. We will talk in detail about its features, methods for working and modifying its individual elements.

What is an APK?

Read also:[Instructions] How to recover deleted files on Android: Programs for phone and PC

Android Package Kit (APK) - format executable files for the operating system. It is an archive containing the application's source data (program code, compiled resource files, settings, assets, libraries).

Peculiarities:

Cannot be converted to another format.
Archived using JAR-based compression feature.
It is a subset of the ZIP format.
Can be changed from using Google Android SDK, Eclipse with ADT plugin.
Files from the APK archive are not encrypted.

Files with the APK extension are stored in Google Play and other application stores for Android devices. They are unpacked and installed automatically, without the use of additional software. The data is stored in the root folder at /data/app. You can only access them through Explorer.

For Android development Applications with an APK extension use Google's Android SDK. It is available for free download from the official website and is Java-based.

How to open on your phone

Read also: RAR for Android: How to use the archiver on mobile

How to open an APK file on your phone

If a mobile application for the Android platform is downloaded from a third-party resource or computer, then it will have an apk extension. Then you can install it on your phone manually.

How to open apk file from phone:

After this, the application will begin unpacking. Review the terms, grant access to features if necessary, and continue with the installation.

APK format

If you can’t copy the APK package via USB, then send it via Bluetooth or e-mail. Or separately connect a mini SD card to your computer using an adapter and transfer the file to it.

Error opening

Read also: TOP 10 File managers for Android: choosing the best one for yourself | Review of English and Russian versions

How to allow installation from unknown sources

If, after copying the APK file to the device, it cannot be launched, then most likely the ability to install via was disabled by the manufacturer.

Follow these steps to enable it:

Go to the Settings menu and find the Personal Information category here.
Select “Security” and check the box next to it "Unknown sources (allow installation from unknown sources)".
Launch the APK file and continue with the installation.

If an error appears, then in the same menu uncheck the box next to "Check applications". Then Android will not prohibit installations that could harm the device. Use this method only if you are sure that the APK file you are installing is safe.

other methods

Read also: TOP 15 Best free antiviruses for Android gadgets in 2019

If you want to view the contents of the APK file from your phone, you can use mobile version or special software.

Let's look at the most popular programs that allow you to edit apk packages:

APK Editor

APK Editor program interface

Works both with packages and those already installed on the device, . Allows you to change individual manifests, edit resources, replace files. It features a convenient graphical interface and Cyrillic support.

DroidEdit Free

DroidEdit Free program interface

Free mobile app for creating and editing individual manifests. You won’t be able to open the APK itself with its help, but you can already change individual elements(after unpacking) - no problem.

SmartAPKTool

SmartAPKTool interface

Allows you to sign files in APK, ZIP formats. Unpack and package APK. Suitable for pre-editing applications. SmartAPKTool may require additional software (ApkTool, Java virtual machine) to operate.

After this, you will be able to change existing lines of code and notifications. In some applications, you can add additional actions or remove existing ones (for example, displaying ads). Please note that after this it will be different from the original one, so you will no longer be able to update it via Google Play.

How to extract APK

Read also: How to remove a virus from Android on your phone: Instructions 2019

APK Extractor Interface

If you need to get the APK of an application already installed on your phone, you can do this using special software. There are several on Play Market free programs, but we will use APK Extractor for this purpose.

The procedure will be as follows:

How to extract apk using APK Extractor

How to open on a computer

Read also:[Instructions] How to transfer an application to the memory card of an Android smartphone: 4 easy ways | 2019

APK files

You can unzip the APK file to view or edit the contents using a regular archiver. However, you will not be able to install or launch the application. For this you need special software.

How to open APK on different operating systems Oh:

Windows - 7-Zip, WinRAR.
Linux - 7-Zip, unzip.
MacOS - Archive Utility.

If, when installing the archiver, extensions were not configured (which will be associated by default), then the program may not recognize the apk file. Then it will be of an “unknown” format.

To open, click on it with the mouse and select the desired software from the list of suggested programs. After this, you will have access to all the original application data.

Emulators for running APK files on PC

Read also: Installing Android on PC: TOP 10 Emulators on Windows

If you want to install it on your computer, the file will have an APK extension. To install it, you will need a special emulator. They are available for free download.

BlueStacks interface

It has good performance in games and allows you to run resource-intensive applications. main feature- Bluestacks TV feature. Needed for online broadcasts on .

Using an emulator you can run mobile applications You can use apk packages or install them from the Play Market directly. For use Google services You will need to log in using your account.

To launch the apk packages themselves, it is not necessary to connect an account. But if a game or program requires binding to social network or other services, you will need to log in or go through a simple registration.

if you have Android devices oh, then you've heard about APK files and wondered what they are. If you plan to understand in detail how your smartphone works and install applications not only from the Google Play Store, then you need to know about APK files. Today we will figure out what an APK file is, how to download and install it on an Android device.

What is an APK file?

Most likely, you know that on computers running Windows control EXE format programs are used. Similarly, Android uses APK files. APK is the file format used for installation software on the Android operating system.

Why do I need to install an APK file?

Android apps are not limited to the Google Play Store. Third-party developers release their own apps in APK files that offer exciting features. Additionally, some apps on the Google Play Store cannot be installed in your country. However, you can download the APK file and install the right application V Google crawl Play Store.

If your Android device does not have access to the Google Play Store, APK files are the only option for installing applications.

However, you should be careful because third-party APK files can be malicious. Some APK files allow you to download pirated applications. Of course, such APK files should be avoided.

How to install an APK file from a computer

There are a lot of different APK files on the Internet, but, as we said earlier, some of them can be viral. Thus, it is worth choosing reliable sites that you will trust. One such site is APK Mirror. This is an English-language site that provides secure APK files of popular applications, as well as user reviews and comments. Among Russian sites, it is worth noting w3bsit3-dns.com.

Once you have found a reliable site, you can download the APK file of the application you need. Before installing an APK file on an Android device, you need to make sure that installation is allowed third party applications. Go to Menu > Settings > Security > and check the Unknown sources box. This way, you can install any APK file, not just apps from the Google Play Store.

After you have downloaded the APK file to your computer, connect your smartphone to your PC via a USB cable. When you first connect, the default option is USB charging, but you need to select File transfer. After this, you will see your smartphone folder in the root directory of your computer. Go to My Computer – Folder with the name of your smartphone and copy the APK file to any folder on your Android smartphone. The main thing is to remember where you copy the APK file.

Now you can use any file manager on your Android device, such as ES Explorer, find the folder where you copied the APK file and then click on Install. Congratulations! You have successfully installed the APK file on your Android device.

How to install an APK file from an Android device

You don't need to have a computer to install an APK file on your Android device. You can go to any browser from your smartphone or tablet, find the APK file and download it. As soon as the APK file is downloaded, a corresponding message will appear in the notification panel. Open your Downloads folder and click on the APK file. The application will be installed on your Android device.

If you don’t know what kind of format this is - APK and how it can be opened on a computer or phone, then read the text of the article. We will talk in detail about its features, methods for working and modifying its individual elements.

Android Package Kit (APK) is an executable file format for the Android operating system. It is an archive containing the application's source data (program code, compiled resource files, settings, assets, libraries).

Peculiarities:

Cannot be converted to another format.
Archived using JAR-based compression feature.
It is a subset of the ZIP format.
Can be changed using Google Android SDK, Eclipse with ADT plugin.
Files from the APK archive are not encrypted.

For development Android applications The APK extension uses Google's Android SDK. It is available for free download from the official website and is Java-based.

How to open on your phone

How to open an APK file on your phone

If a mobile application for the Android platform is downloaded from a third-party resource or computer, then it will have an apk extension. Then you can install it on your phone manually.

How to open apk file from phone:

Connect the device to your computer using a USB cable.
Copy the APK file to an SD card or phone memory.
Launch Explorer or "File Manager".
Open the desired directory and run the copied APK.

After this, the application will begin unpacking. Review the terms, grant access to features if necessary, and continue with the installation.

APK format

If you can’t copy the APK package via USB, then send it via Bluetooth or e-mail. Or separately connect a mini SD card to your computer using an adapter and transfer the file to it.

Error opening

How to allow installation from unknown sources

If, after copying the APK file to the device, it cannot be launched, then most likely the ability to install via USB was disabled by the manufacturer.

Follow these steps to enable it:

Go to the Settings menu and find the Personal Information category here.
Select “Security” and check the box next to “Unknown sources (allow installation from unknown sources).”
Launch the APK file and continue with the installation.

If an error appears, then in the same menu, uncheck the box next to “Check applications”. Then Android will not potentially prohibit installation dangerous applications which may damage the device. Use this method only if you are sure that the APK file you are installing is safe.

other methods

If you want to view the contents of an APK file from your phone, you can use the mobile version of the archiver or special software.

Let's look at the most popular programs that allow you to edit apk packages:

APK Editor

APK Editor program interface

Works with both packages and programs and games already installed on the device. Allows you to change individual manifests, edit resources, replace files. It features a convenient graphical interface and Cyrillic support.

DroidEdit Free

DroidEdit Free program interface

Free mobile app for creating and editing individual manifests. You won’t be able to open the APK itself using it, but changing individual elements (after unpacking) is no problem.

SmartAPKTool interface

Allows you to sign files in APK, ZIP formats. Unpack and package APK. Suitable for pre-editing applications. SmartAPKTool may require additional software (ApkTool, Java virtual machine) to operate.

How to extract APK

APK Extractor Interface

If you need to get the APK of an application already installed on your phone, you can do this using special software. There are several free programs on the Play Market, but we will use APK Extractor for this purpose.

How to extract apk using APK Extractor

How to open on a computer

APK files

You can unzip the APK file to view or edit the contents using a regular archiver. However, you will not be able to install or launch the application. For this you need special software.

How to open APK on different operating systems:

Windows - 7-Zip, WinRAR.
Linux - 7-Zip, unzip.
MacOS - Archive Utility.

If, when installing the archiver, extensions were not configured (which will be associated by default), then the program may not recognize the apk file. Then it will be of an “unknown” format.

To open, click on it with the mouse and select the desired software from the list of suggested programs. After this, you will have access to all the original application data.

Emulators for running APK files on PC

If you want to install a mobile application for Android OS on your computer, the file will have an APK extension. To install it, you will need a special emulator. They are available for free download.

Most Popular:

Nox App Player

Nox App Player interface

Google Play is pre-installed. The program is not Russified, but Android itself freely switches to Russian through the settings (just like on a phone). Good optimization, there are advanced settings for working with APK files.

Andy

Interface Andy

The program does not support the Russian language. It features a minimal number of settings and good optimization. The shell and programs installed on it launch quickly and work without freezes or lags.

Bluestacks

BlueStacks interface

It has good performance in games and allows you to run resource-intensive applications. The main feature is the Bluestacks TV feature. Needed for online broadcasts on Twitch.

Using an emulator, you can launch mobile applications through apk packages or install them directly from the Play Market. To use Google services, you will need to log in with an account.

To launch the apk packages themselves, it is not necessary to connect an account. But if a game or program requires linking to a social network or other services, then you will need to log in or go through a simple registration.

How to install APK on your computer

If you have downloaded the APK package to your computer and want to run it, then you need to install an emulator to do this. The principle of operation is the same everywhere, so we will look at an example of installing an application via APK via Bluestacks.

The procedure will be as follows:

Go to the official website of Bluestacks emulator and start downloading the program. The full version is available for free download.

Launch the distribution and continue with the installation. When it's finished, restart your computer and open Bluestacks.

Launch Bluestacks

The virtualization engine will start and initial setup emulator. Wait for it to complete, it will open main screen programs. From here you can access pre-installed games, programs and the Play Market.
To install the APK, go to the “My Applications” tab. In the lower right corner, find the plus icon. Click on it.
A new window will appear where you need to select the path to the APK file. Specify it and click “Open”.
The installation of the application will begin. Continue it the same way as on mobile phone.

The application installed via the APK package will appear on the same tab. Click on its shortcut with the mouse to launch it. It will open in a new tab.

How to open apk via Bluestacks

If you want to delete the newly installed APK, then click on the trash can icon here. After that, tell the emulator the application you want to erase from the device.

How to open and modify APK on PC

Working with the smali tool

Even after unpacking the APK, the file is not ready for use and modification. To change anything in XML or any other document, you need to decompile it.

Tools that will be needed to unpack, edit and reverse archive the APK package:

Archiver (7-zip, Winrar or any other). It is needed in order to extract all the necessary resources and manifests from the package.
Translator of the source text of the program, which can convert the bytecode virtual machine(smali).
Edited Asset Packaging and Transformation Tool (aapt).
Tool for digital signature modified APK file (signer). It is necessary that the finished application is perceived by the operating system as safe.

They can be used separately. In order not to look for them and not to complicate the task, use special software that is built on their basis. If you want to download an application to your PC, an emulator will suffice.

Programs for modifying APK packages

Working in Virtuous Ten Studio

Depending on the installed operating system, there are several programs for working with packages in APK format.

Let's look at the most popular:

For devices on Linux based, MacOS - ApkTool

Has a CLI interface (work through the console, using commands). With its help, you can unpack all the resources from the apk package, modify individual components and rebuild the archive with already edited files. The program does not include an additional tool for creating a digital signature, so you will have to launch signer manually.

For devices based on operating systems of the Windows family - Virtuous Ten Studio

Includes ApkTool and features GUI. Allows you to perform all unpacking and decompilation operations in a few clicks. The program is available for free download from the official website.

The software allows you to unpack and modify APK packages. The modified file can be installed on your Android device. After this, you cannot update the installed (modified) application through the Play Market.

Today we sorted out how to open apk file on computer or phone. To extract all the files included in it, a regular archiver will be enough. In order to not just open, but install the application on a PC for further use, you will need an emulator (they are available for free download from the official website).

On mobile phones or tablets, apk packages open by default. This can be done through Explorer or a file manager. But if you want to edit or extract individual resources from it, then use SmartAPKTool or other similar software for the Android OS.

Also, about the APK format, see the video:

VIDEO: Installing .apk files on your computer

Installing .apk files on your computer

APK file format: What is it and how to open it? | [Detailed Review]

To install an application from Google Play on your Android device, you can download the apk file to your computer directly from the application store. Then, the downloaded file needs to be loaded using some file manager to your device and install the application.

You may ask: “Why is this necessary? Isn’t it easier to go directly to Google Play itself through the device and install the desired application or game?”

Yes, indeed, in most cases there is no need to use this method installing applications, but there are several reasons why it is not possible to use Google Play directly:

When you try to install an application or game, a message appears stating that it is not compatible with your Android device. In turn, you are absolutely sure that this application or the game should work on yours mobile device.
The app or game on Google Play is not available for installation in your country or region.
You want to install an application on a device that does not have Internet connectivity or does not support installation from Google Play at all.

How to download an apk file from Google Play to your computer

Now let's figure out how to do this point by point:

2. Find the application or game you need.

3. Go to home page application and copy its address in the browser.

4. Open the apk file downloader page apps.evozi.com in your browser and paste it into the field Package name or Google Play URL the previously copied address.

5. Click the button Generate Download Link

6. After processing the link, information about the downloaded apk file and a button for downloading it to your computer will appear just below. Click it.

That's all. After the download process is complete, you will have a full-fledged apk file to install the application or game on your Android device.

As you can see, downloading an apk file from Google Play to your computer is very simple, but there is one limitation - you can only download free apps and games. This is done in order to prevent the use of this service for the purpose of illegal (piracy) use of paid applications.