Google Play is great , but sometimes , it puts restrictions on where an app can be instal . Say you ’ve found an exciting new biz , but upon access Google Play , you ’re informed that it ’s not available in your region . What are you to do ?
While you could expect for the app to be flap out to a wider audience , there is another way ; sideload the app onto the telephone yourself . It sounds intimidating , but it ’s really not . In fact , the open nature of the Android OS means you are devoid to install apps from pretty much any resource – you just take to jump through a few basketball game first .
So , whether you ’re render to get early approach to a popular Modern secret plan or desire to download that extremely niche Android app you ’ve been reading about , here ’s how to sideload apps on anAndroid smartphone .
What you’ll need:
The Short Version
Step 1.
Download the APK you’d like to install
The first stair in sideloading apps onto your Android smartphone is to learn the app ’s APK – essentially its install file . There are no dearth of web site offer APKs for most Android apps , but you ’ve got to be careful about your web site of choice as it ’s well-to-do to slip something malicious into the code – you do n’t have Google Play ’s protection here , after all . That said , there are a handful APK repository online that are trust by the Android community . These include the likes ofAPKMirrorandAPKPure . merely head to the website of your choice in Chrome on your smartphone , and seek for and download the app APK you ’d like to install .
Step 2.
Tap Download Anyway
Once you initiate the APK download , you ’ll get a warning from Google Chrome that the file you are download could be harmful . If you ’ve used a reputable APK storefront , there should be nothing to worry about , so tap Download Anyway .
Step 3.
Open the APK
Once the download is ended , you should see a pop - up allow you to enter the newly - downloaded file . dab Open to keep on .
Step 4.
Tap Settings
If it ’s the first time you ’ve installed an app downloaded via Google Chrome , you ’ll call for to countenance Chrome to “ instal unknown apps ” – aka those from outside the Play Store – to do so . To do this , bug options on the security papa - up that appear on the cover .
Step 5.
Toggle on Allow From This Source
From the options menu , on/off switch on Allow from this source to enable Chrome to deploy the APK you ’ve just downloaded .
Step 6.
Tap Install
Once you ’ve enabled Google Chrome to establish APKs , a pop - up should appear require you if you require to instal your newly download app . Tap Install to deploy the app .
Step 7.
Tap Open to use your new app
Once the installing is complete , water faucet Open to get at your newly sideloaded Android app . It ’s deserving noting that , if the app is n’t usually useable in your part , you wo n’t be able to update it via Google toy like most other apps . rather , you ’ll have to download updated APKs for the app yourself .
Troubleshooting
Some app repositories offer irregular downloads that only work when instal via that depositary ’s Android app . judge download the shopfront ’s prescribed app and assay again .
