What is an APK file and how do you install one?

An APK file is an app created for Android, Google's mobile operating system. Some apps come pre-installed on Android devices, while other apps can be downloaded from Google Play. Apps downloaded from Google Play are automatically installed on your device, while those downloaded from other sources must be installed manually.

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Typically, users never see APK files because Android handles app installation in the background via Google Play or another app distribution platform. However, many websites offer direct APK file downloads for Android users who want to install apps manually. In this case, you should be careful that you trust the source of the APK file, because malware can be distributed in APK files, just as it can in the case of Windows and .EXE files.

How do I install an APK file on my Android device?

You can install APK files manually by following these instructions. Make sure that you trust the source of the APK file.

How do I install an APK file in Windows 11?

Windows 11 is the first version of Windows to officially support the ability to install APK files. Windows 11 users can manually install APK files using Windows Subsystem for Android in combination with Android Debug Bridge or WSATools. As of early 2022, this feature is available to only members of the Windows Insider Program. It also requires that users enable the Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Platform features in Windows settings.

What does an APK file contain?

Android packages contain all the necessary files for a single Android program. Below is a list of the most prominent files and folders:

• META-INF/​: Contains the manifest file, signature, and a list of resources in the archive
• lib/​: Native libraries that run on specific device architectures (armeabi-v7a, x86, etc.)
• res/​: Resources, such as images, that were not compiled into resources.arsc
• assets/​: Raw resource files that developers bundle with the app
• AndroidManifest.xml: Describes the name, version, and contents of the APK file
• classes.dex: The compiled Java classes to be run on the device (.DEX file)
• resources.arsc: The compiled resources, such as strings, used by the app (.ARSC file)

How do I view the contents of an APK file?

APK files are saved in a compressed .ZIP format and can be opened by any Zip decompression tool. Therefore, if you would like to explore the contents of an APK file, you can rename the file extension to ".zip" and open the file, or you can open the file directly through a Zip application's open dialog box.

How do I create APK files?

Android apps are developed using Android Studio, the official IDE for Android software developers. It is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it allows users to develop apps and prepare them for upload to a distribution service, such as Google Play. When apps are ready, developers can build them into APK files and sign them for release.

NOTE: See the .AAB description for details on Google's new publishing format for developers.

Programs that open APK files

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Pricing Program Name Platform

X

Windows

Google Android Studio

Android Debug Bridge

BlueStacks

Windows Subsystem for Android

WSATools

Corel WinZip

7-Zip

RARLAB WinRAR

Genymotion

NoxPlayer Nox

Mac

Google Android Studio

Android Debug Bridge

Apple Archive Utility

Smith Micro StuffIt Deluxe Mac 16

Genymotion

BlueStacks

NoxPlayer Nox

Linux

Google Android Studio

Android Debug Bridge

Genymotion

Anbox

Web

ApkOnline

Appetize.io

Android

Google Android

ZDevs ZArchiver

Chrome OS

Google Android Studio

Android Debug Bridge

Updated January 19, 2022