APK files are used by the Android operating system to store application installation packages. The APK package stores the aggregated Android application. It also contains all the resources needed to run the application. This may include organized code, images, content, posts, declarations, and more.
For general guidance on the most efficient way to open APK files and view its contents, follow this guide. Or you can simply change the APK file extension to ZIP or JAR and open it with WinZip, 7-Zip, or another unzip tool. You will almost certainly see the internal structure of the APK file.
How to open an APK file
APK files can be opened on several operating systems, but they are mostly used in Android gadgets.
Open APK file on Android
To open an APK file on your Android gadget, you just need to download it like any other file and then open it on request. However, APK files installed from outside the Google Play Store will likely not install immediately due to security settings.
To bypass this download restriction and install APK files from unknown sources. Go to “Settings” → “Security” and then check the Install from unknown sources checkbox.
There is a possibility that the APK file will not open on your Android, try viewing it using a file manager such as Astro File Manager or ES File Explorer Manager.
Open APK file on Windows
You can open the APK file on PC using Android Studio or BlueStacks. For example, if you are using BlueStacks, go to the “My Apps” tab and select “Install apk” in the lower right corner of the window.
Open the APK file on Mac
ARC Welder is a Google Chrome extension designed to test Android apps on Chrome OS, but it works on any OS. This means that you can open the APK on your Mac or Windows if the app is embedded in the Chrome program.
Open APK file on iOS
You will not be able to open or install APK files on an iOS gadget (iPhone and iPad) in light of the fact that the file works in a completely different manner compared to the apps used on these gadgets and the two platforms are not compatible.
Easy way
The easiest way to install APK on Android is to download it using your mobile browser. Find a site that offers an Android app. On it you will see a download link. A pop-up window may appear asking if you want to allow the browser to save files to your smartphone storage. Please agree. You'll also see a warning that "this file type may damage your device." Just click "OK" and continue.
If your smartphone browser does not allow you to open the file after downloading, open your file manager and find the Downloads folder. Click on the downloaded file and allow the application to perform the necessary actions it requests. Then, at the bottom of the window, click the “Install” button.
You will see a notification that the application has been installed. After that it should appear in the list of programs. If something doesn't work out, try using other methods.
How to work with APK files
- Never open APK files from sites you don't trust. By doing this, you may install a malicious application.
- The APK file configuration is obtained from a Java or JAR archive file.
- An APK file uses a method similar to that used in a ZIP file to compress data.
- An APK file is similar to an MSI file for Windows, a DMG file for Mac OS, and an IPA file for iOS.
To open an APK file and view individual files from it, you can use an application that belongs to a separate group of files. Some resources, such as images, videos, and XML files, can be efficiently viewed using your standard Windows or Mac programs. However, some, such as compiled source code, libraries and certificates, will require special applications targeting these file extensions.
Installing the APK file on your computer
Are you wondering how to open an apk file on your computer? Below is a list that will help you with the installation - it will show you how to open the arc file under any required operating system.
So, how to open APK files under different platforms:
- On Microsoft Windows – BlueStacks, Google Android SDK, IntelliJ IDEA, Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe 2010, Eclipse with ADT plugin, WinRAR, 7zip;
- For Mac OS - Apple Archive Utility, Google Android SDK, BlueStacks App Player for Mac, IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse with ADT plugin;
- For Linux OS - Google Android SDK, Eclipse with ADT plugin, IntelliJ IDEA,
- program to open apk files in Google Android: Google Android
Most programs for opening APK files are needed only by developers
Effective way to install APK file
To install an APK file on your Android gadget, follow these steps:
- Open the internet browser on your Android gadget.
- Find the page with the APK file you need to install.
- Click on the APK file to start downloading
- Once the download is complete, you must click Open to begin the creation procedure.
- If APK file creation is disabled on your Android gadget, you will see a brief description where you can tap on Settings to enhance the device's file management capabilities.
- Click "Install" on the next window to begin the installation procedure.
How to download and install
The largest APK repository is the Play Market. Its peculiarity is that the site does not allow you to download the file itself to your mobile device, but immediately installs it, so the user does not have to think about how and with what to open the APK on Android
If the user needs content that is not on Google Play, he can find the APK on the Internet. It is important to download them only from trusted sites, otherwise there is a risk of downloading malware or infecting your equipment with viruses.
You can find an APK on the Internet and download it to your computer, and then transfer it via cable, Bluetooth or other method to your phone or tablet. Another solution is to download directly to the mobile device’s memory through its browser.
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After downloading:
- Open your smartphone settings.
- Go to the “Security” tab.
- Find the line “Unknown sources” and activate the function to allow installation of software from APK.
- Find the downloaded APK in your phone's memory and click on it to begin installation.
- Confirm installation.
Next, all you have to do is wait for the operation to complete, and then start working with the application or launch the game.
Effective way to convert APK file
APK files are specifically designed to run on gadgets running the Android operating system. For this reason, they cannot be directly converted to a file that can be executed in another work environment. You cannot change an APK file to an EXE for Windows or an IPA file for iOS.
However, it is still possible to run an Android APK file on Windows and Mac OS. To run the APK file on Windows and Mac OS, you can use the Google Chrome extension Arc Welder, available in the Chrome Web Store. Follow the instructions in the Mac OS and Windows OS section of our How to Install an APK File article to run the APK file on Windows or Mac OS .
In case you need to run a specific Android app on your iOS gadget, the most ideal approach is to find a similar iOS app and download it from the Apple App Store. Almost all mobile application manufacturers create versions of their portable applications for Android and iOS.
It is possible to change APKs to ZIP or JAR files, but this conversion is not a change per se. At this point, the APK is already a JAR/ZIP file, and to “convert” it, you just need to change its extension to JAR or ZIP. From this point on, you can open the resulting file using WinZip, WinRar, 7-Zip and some others suitable for opening a JAR or ZIP file.
What is an APK file?
APK file icon for Android
Every Android application consists of many different files. So that it can be installed and work correctly, developers in a special way “collect” all the components of the application into one large archive executable file, which is called APK (Android Package Kit).
Applications packaged in APK format are used by the Android operating system for distribution and installation. Most users use the Google Play Store to download them, but there are other ways.
View APK file contents
An APK file has a similar format to a ZIP file and can be opened using applications that can open ZIP files. Examples of such applications include WinRAR, WinZIP, 7-Zip.
If you extract data from an APK file using an unzipping application, you can view the individual files from the APK package using applications suitable for viewing that particular file type.
Installing APK using an Android device
Samsung Galaxy S10 in hand
To install an APK file, you usually do not need anything other than the Android tablet or smartphone itself, into which you need to install this or that program. To do this, you need to do a little preparation. First of all, go to Settings and select the “Security” tab there. Next, check the box “Allow installation of applications from unknown sources.” This will allow you to install applications not only from the Google Play Store, but also from other sources. Just what you need! In newer versions of Android, the procedure may vary. Sometimes the system, already in the process of installing an application from an APK file, asks whether the user allows this. You need to allow it, otherwise nothing will work.
Now that the preparation is complete, you just need to open your browser, find the desired APK file, download it to your device, and then launch it to install the application. Remember where you downloaded the file. This is usually the Downloads folder unless you select a different path before downloading. Having found the downloaded file, just click on it and then agree to the installation by tapping “Yes”. After this, the application will begin to install. Ready!
