Those installation files are saved on local storage (as base.apk files), but they’re not accessible unless you have root access. Google made it really hard to access system folders with a few recent major Android updates. Many regular users that get apps exclusively on Google Play Store might never run into APK files.
The easiest method is to download the APK file from the web. Then, open the file manager on your phone and go to the Downloads folder. Once there, click on the APK file you want to install. If you are prompted for permission, accept it and then tap the installation button. Besides a file with multiple files and metadata, APKs are also commonly used to distribute and install applications.
Is APKMirror Safe? Before Downloading Anything, Read This
We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008. The selection is rather large on APKMirror and as a consequence, the categorization is kind of a mess. We’d suggest you use the search function to find a specific app instead of sifting through the endless categories to find what you’re looking for. We will email you the first time when Mac monitoring software is launched.
- This site has practically all the APKs of the applications you’re looking for, and it’s constantly adding new versions.
- However, it’s recommended to download a trusted website and read user comments before downloading the file.
- When it comes to downloading apps, it is the most trusted.
- You can change it easily, the .NET Framework supports it out of the box and almost all .NET developers know how it works.
Android devices store a file containing uncompressed native libraries. Hence, to download an app, you must first convert it to an APK file. If you’re looking to download an app for your device, you should choose the APK version.
How to Open an APK File on a Mac
Because Windows supports applications that rely on the web platform, our default web browser is an essential component of our operating system and cannot be uninstalled. Android Studio, the official IDE for Android software developers, is used to create Android apps. It’s available for Windows, Mac, and Linux, and it lets you create apps and prepare them for distribution through services like Google Play.
To download BlueStacks on your computer, reach the link I gave you a moment ago, press the button Download BlueStacksand, on the next screen, click the buttonDownload. After downloading the program installation file (in.exe on Windows or in.dmg on macOS), double click on it and follow the procedure shown on the screen. After that, start Android Studio through its icon that you find on the desktop Windows or the Launchpad of macOS.
What are the Benefits of Using an APK Mod?
Certain Android apps don’t have a web-based equivalent for the browser. Also, gamers love to play on the bigger screen and not on smartphones, or the games might be outdated. In all of those cases the games must be taken from somewhere other than Google Play Store and they will most likely be in the APK format. You need to know how to open APK files on a PC and with which tools to run them.
Android emulators for Windows essentially create a fake Android machine on your Windows PC. You are basically running an Android device from within your Windows device. There are several good emulator programs out there, but I will briefly describe App Store Website two of the more popular options, Nox and BlueStacks. If you’re going to emulate Android on a Windows machine, then you’ll need an APK file for the application you want to run.
