How to install programs on a mobile phone. Step-by-step instructions: How to install an application on Android from a computer How to install software on Android
Any Google-certified Android device has the Google Play application store. The utility allows you to download games, programs, books and other content, paid or free. However, Google Play is not the only source for installing applications. Android OS has a tool that allows you to install applications downloaded from other sources. We will tell you how to install such programs in this article.
Instructions for installing applications on Android
As an example, let's look at installing programs and applications downloaded from our resource. This technique is universal and applicable to other places where applications are downloaded.
Instructions for Android 7
Step 1. Using the search, find the program or application you need. Enter the exact title or keyword, such as “maps” or “navigation.”
Step 2. Open the page with your preferred result.
Step 3. Click on the "Download APK" button to download the application.
Step 4. For security purposes, the system will inform you about the risks of downloading a file with the “*.apk” extension. Confirm the action only if you knowingly download this utility.
Step 5. After downloading the application, click on the “Open” button if you want to immediately install the program on Android. If necessary, you can always install the program later. Open the Downloads utility, where you select the previously downloaded application.
Step 6. For security purposes and to prevent unauthorized installation of applications, the installation of third-party applications is blocked. To remove the blocking, open the settings section - security, where you should turn the switch next to the “Unknown sources” item. Then return to the “Downloads” program and repeat the installation.
Step 7 During the installation process, for added security, a notification will appear telling you which application downloaded the program to be installed. Confirm the action only if the information matches, otherwise stop the installation.
Step 8 Once the application is installed, a notification will appear with a button to exit or launch the application.
Step 9 Open the settings section - security, where you turn the switch next to the “Unknown sources” item to its original, inactive state.
Instructions for Android 9, also relevant for Android 8
In Android 8, the global granting of permissions for installing applications from unknown sources has been replaced by an individual one. Android 9 and later versions use the same method of granting rights. You must grant the right to install from unknown sources to the program that is used for installation: file manager, browser, download manager, cloud drive, etc.
Procedure:
Open settings.
In the new window, click on “Show all applications”.
In the expanded list, open the program that will be used to install applications.
In the “About the application” menu, click on the “Advanced” item.
In the expanded list, select “Install unknown applications.”
On the next page, enable the “Allow installation from this source” switch.
Select an application.
In the "Open file with..." window, use the "Package Installer".
In most cases, the question of whether it is possible to install applications on Android via a computer refers to a situation where the user does not have access to wireless networks, but has a wired Internet connection on a stationary terminal. Next, we will look at several basic ways to install Android applets using exactly these methods.
How to install applications on Android from a computer: options
Among the simplest ways to install Android applications from a computer, there are several main ones:
- downloading the installation distribution to a mobile device from a PC;
- installation via Play Market storage;
- use of control utilities and emulator programs.
Although all the methods seem quite simple at first glance, in some situations you should pay attention to the nuances of the settings, without which all efforts will be in vain.
Downloading the distribution and transferring it to your mobile device
In the simplest case, installing an application on Android via a computer is quite simple. Let's say a user has access to the Internet only from a fixed terminal with a wired connection. All you need to do is find and download the installation file of an application or game in the standard APK format, recognized by all versions of the Android OS without exception, and then connect your mobile device using a USB cable and copy it from the hard drive to the internal drive or SD card.
Next, on your smartphone or tablet, you just need to launch the transferred distribution and go through the standard installation procedure. But the problem of how to install applications on Android from a computer is not limited to this. The fact is that if you download files from unofficial resources (meaning Play Market), the system may not install the program, considering it unsafe.
To prevent this situation from happening, before starting the installation you should go to the system settings and in the security section enable the permission to install software from unknown sources (in some versions of the system this parameter may be in the section intended for developers). Only after this can any application, no matter where it was downloaded from, be installed without problems.
Using access to Play Market
You can also use direct access to the Play Market storage directly from your computer via a web browser.
In this case, installing applications on an Android tablet from a computer will also be easy. But there are two mandatory conditions: connecting the mobile device to the computer and going through the authorization procedure in the Google Play service itself.
To find the required applet, log into the service, then enter your registered Gmail email address and the password specified during registration. As is already clear, this is done exclusively on a PC. After this, a similar procedure must be performed on the mobile device (if the entry is inactive by default). When both registration records are synchronized, all that remains is to find the desired program and activate the installation start (the compatibility of the installed software with the connected tablet or smartphone will be determined automatically). Next, you need to select your device from the list (it should be marked in gray), click the install button and wait for the process to complete.
Installing applets using emulators and control programs
Another technique that allows you to solve the problem of how to install applications on Android from a computer is to use special programs that can emulate the operation of the Android system in a Windows environment.
Today you can find a lot of such programs on the Internet. One of the most popular is a small utility called BlueStacks. After installing it on your computer or laptop, if everything is done correctly, you can run the installation files in APK format directly on the Windows terminal.
In some cases, when the application also contains a special cache folder, you will have to transfer it to the mobile device manually. This is usually the obb directory, which should be saved in the data directory located in the Android root folder on the internal storage. But do not confuse the name sdcard with a removable card!
How to install Android applications on your computer?
Now another interesting point. Not all users know that you can install programs on your computer that are designed to work on Android systems. But this will require some kind of management utility.
You can use, for example, the Mobogenie program. Its remarkable feature is that it works as an emulator and allows you to run Android applets in its environment. In this case, the environment itself must be installed on both the computer and the mobile device, but there is no need to install installed programs on the mobile device. You can perform testing directly in Windows.
A few conclusions
Probably, many have already noticed that the question of how to install applications on Android from a computer or install Android programs in a Windows environment is solved quite simply. Any final advice? Naturally, the easiest way is to simply copy the required file to your smartphone or tablet and install it on the device itself. But in some cases, the rest of the described methods or programs are also perfect. And don’t forget about some permission settings and manual transfer of cache folders to the internal drive. Without this, the programs either will not install or simply will not work.
Update date: 10.29.16, 00:00Installing applications without using Google Play on Android- the task is quite simple. In addition, it has several types of solutions. With this guide you will learn how to use each of them.
Why do you need to install applications without using them? Google Play? And won't this harm the phone? Among the main reasons why you have to use third-party sources are saving traffic (sometimes you spend more money on downloading a game than buying it), saving money (you can often find free APK files those applications for which Google Play you will have to pay money), and, in addition, the lack of an application on Google Play(some developers distribute their applications bypassing the Store from Google to monetize development with the help of site visitors. Example - streaming video player SopCast). Therefore, the ability to install applications without Google Play will always be useful to you.
Installing third-party apps from trusted sources like , will not harm your phone. All applications on our website are checked for viruses and malicious scripts, and therefore your phone will always remain completely safe. It is worth noting that even installing the application using Google Play does not always guarantee complete security for your device.
In order to smoothly download and install applications from third-party sites, you need to allow your phone to install from unverified sources. This is done simply. In new versions Android the corresponding settings can be made by going to SETTINGS, and further into the section SAFETY. One of the columns in this section is the column "Unknown sources", in which you must check the box and then agree to the changes.
In addition, you will need any file manager. website recommends using for these purposes Total Commander. Click on to download it using Google Play.
That's all! Now you can install applications not from Google Play.
1. The first and easiest way is to install applications directly from your phone.
In order to upload the application to your smartphone, you need to download it immediately. Use your phone's internal browser for this (the screenshot shows an example from Google Chrome for Android). Enter the website address (for example,) into the address bar of your browser, find and download the one you need apk file. On the site, links to download applications are located under the reviews, where you can download them for free.
Next, you need to tap on the link, after which the application file will begin downloading to your device. Usually, by default, the download occurs in the folder sdcard/Download in your phone's internal memory. After downloading, you can exit the browser to proceed to the next step.
Next you need to launch your file manager (in our case it is Total Commander), then find ours in the device’s file system APK file. As already mentioned, it is usually located in the folder Download in the phone's internal memory.
Once you have found the downloaded application file, you need to open it. Total Commander When you click on the application icon, it gives you three options: Install, Open as ZIP and Google Play. Choose "Install". Next, the device itself will ask you about installation again. Press again "Install". We are waiting for the installation process to complete - that’s it! The application is downloaded to your device!
2. The second method that will help save mobile traffic is to install an Android application from a personal computer using USB cable.
We launch any Internet browser from the computer and go to a site with applications, for example, on. We look for the program we like and download it, as in the previous method. Save apk file to any folder on your computer.
Next, connect your device to the computer using USB cable. After that, pull out the “curtain” on the Android device and select “Connect as storage device” or "Media device". After that we go to "My computer" and look for your phone or tablet there.
Copy the previously downloaded APK file to any folder on the Android device and remember it. After copying is completed, the smartphone can be disconnected from the PC.
Using the same Total Commander or any other Explorer, look for the folder in which you saved the application. Found it? You're almost there.
As in the previous method, open APK file, tapping on it and double-clicking "Install". We are waiting for the installation process to complete and rejoice. The application is uploaded to your smartphone!
3. The third way to install applications on Android concerns the installation of games with cache.
The fact is that some developers, in order to reduce the size of the downloaded file, separate some of the game elements from apk file. In this case, you have to install the game separately, and the cache separately. The exception is games that, after installation, themselves “download” the necessary files.
So what do we need for this type of installation? The easiest way is to install using PC. To get started, download apk file application and accompanying cache. Save both files to any folder on your computer. Next, using the second method described above, install the application file (APK).
After that, we move on to the cache. On the site, the installation instructions always describe in which folder you need to put your cache. We search and open it using "My computer". Open the cache file in a separate window. It is usually archived in ZIP or RAR- file. Using the appropriate archiver, extract the cache folder from the archive. After that, copy it to your phone in the folder specified in the review. Most often, this is the folder sdcard/Android/data/obb, however, there are exceptions. For example, the cache sometimes has to be copied to folders sdcard/Android/data/ or sdcard/gameloft/games/(games from Gameloft). In any case, you can't go wrong by downloading applications from. The main thing is to pay attention to the instructions.
After the cache has been copied to the desired folder, disconnect the smartphone from the PC and launch the application. Ready! Good game!
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Unlike iOS and other closed systems, Android developers have provided the ability to install various applications independently, without the participation of Google Play Store and other content stores. Having an .apk file in your hands, you can install a paid application yourself, without paying a penny for it.
"Why resort to self-installation using .apk files?"- you ask, and then that not all applications are presented in the Google Play Store and, moreover, most of them are paid and cost money. All applications for Android have .apk extensions - in fact, this is a kind of archive, the contents of which can be viewed by anyone archivist.
Where to begin?
The first action you need to perform is to allow the installation of applications from unknown sources, go to Settings -> Applications and put a tick next to the item Unknown Sources and click OK.
1. Installing applications using a file manager
After this simple step, you can copy the .apk file to the SD card of your phone. Next, to install the application, you can use any file manager that recognizes and understands apk files. ASTRO File Manager or ES File Explorer are suitable for these purposes.
Launch the file manager, find the apk file, tap on it and install the application using the standard Android installer.
2. Install applications using the application manager
In addition, to simplify the procedure for installing applications for Android, there are special programs - application managers. One such program is SlideME Mobentoo App Installer.
This popular application manager for Android will automatically scan your smartphone's SD card for the presence of apk files and help you quickly, in one click, install the required application. Isn't it convenient?
3. Installing applications using a computer and USB
However, the most convenient way to install Android applications is by connecting your smartphone to your computer via a USB cable. To do this, you will need the InstallAPK program and USB drivers. Install it on your computer, don’t forget about the drivers, connect your smartphone via USB cable and double-click on the apk file.
InstallAPK will automatically identify the apk file and start installing the application on your Android phone. You will only need to agree to install the application and click the "Install" button.
4. Other ways to install Android applications
If you do not want to install any additional programs, then you can install the application from apk files the old-fashioned way. Launch a standard Android browser and enter the following link in the browser's address bar and the installation will start automatically:
content://com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/FileName.apk
This method is not very convenient and is suitable for those who rarely install programs for Android.
Conclusion
In this article, we tried to describe all the methods known to us for installing an Android application from apk files. If you know other ways to install programs, write to us about them in the comments and we will definitely include these methods in this article. Stay with us.
What should a person do who has purchased a smartphone on the Android OS for the first time in his life and does not know how to use it? There are a large number of instructional articles on how to use and configure the device. But there are few places where you can find out how to download applications on Android. The process of downloading, installing and uninstalling applications on any Android smartphone will be discussed and described.
Some facts
It's no longer a secret that the best applications for Android became free a long time ago. Of course, there are their share of developers who require the user to pay, but most often such programs have free analogues. No, this is not a call to use just such applications, but just an explanation of the current situation on the Play Market. Also, Russian applications for Android are becoming very popular these days, which are sometimes no worse than their foreign counterparts.
The main classification of applications available for download on the Play Market consists of the sections “Games”, “Best”, “Editor’s Choice” and “Family”. There is also sorting by sections, which will be discussed in more detail later.
Set of standard applications
So, in your hands lies a treasured smartphone based on the Android OS. It's already turned on, activated and ready to go. It is worth considering all the applications that are provided “bundled” with the operating system. It should be mentioned right away that, depending on the manufacturer, device and version of Android, the set of pre-installed applications may change, but the main ones are most often the same.
Among the main applications it is worth highlighting “Phone”, “Messages” and “Contacts”. The “Music” application for Android will give you the opportunity to listen to your favorite tracks, the “Camera” application will allow you to take pictures of the best moments (if available), and the “Gallery” application, in turn, will show an archive of photos and videos, not only taken on a smartphone, but also downloaded via a USB cable or the Internet. Standard applications also include Clock, Mail, Calendar, Notes and Explorer, which allows you to delete, move and copy various files located on any storage media.
But sometimes this set is not enough. For example, the standard Music application for Android does not suit everyone, so you can always download third-party software. All you need to do is go to the pre-installed Play Market application and download. Below are instructions on how to do this.
Internet connection
The first step is to make sure you have an Internet connection. There are two options here: connecting via mobile data (Internet directly via cellular connection) or via Wi-Fi. While everything is clear with the first choice (you must take into account that the provider may charge a separate fee for using the mobile Internet), the Wi-Fi option requires clarification.
For those who don't know, to connect to the Internet using Wi-Fi you need to have an access point. It can be a router located in the user’s apartment, through which a PC, laptop or TV is connected, or any free access point in public places. As a result, to connect to the Internet, you should go to the “Settings” menu and then select the required item: “SIM card management” - set the “Data transfer” checkbox to the “Enabled” mode, or use the “Wi-Fi” submenu and make a connection to the access point. The first step is completed.
Creating a Google Account
So, after successfully connecting to the Internet, you need to make sure that an account for managing web services, such as Play Market, Gmail and others, is configured on the device. To do this, in the “Settings” menu, you need to select “Accounts and synchronization” (in rare cases, the location of this submenu may change, so you may have to search). All you need to do is click on the “Add” button and select the account type (in this case, Google). After this, following simple and intuitive steps, you should create an account, indicating the desired email address, its password and personal information (full name, date of birth). After completing all the steps, an account will be automatically created and you can start working.
First visit to Play Market
In order to understand how to download applications on Android, you must fulfill the two previous conditions. After that, you can launch the Play Market and plunge headlong into the “sea” of applications with the limitless imagination of developers and unique content.
When you first launch, you should read the privacy policy and terms of use - this will be prompted by the application itself. You also need to decide whether you want to receive Google Play newsletters. The application itself is divided into two parts: “Games and applications” and “Entertainment”, which correspond to tabs at the top of the screen. This article only covers the first tab.
The first thing that appears is the search bar with the words “Google Play”. If you need to download a specific application or know an incomplete name, you can use the search, and the Play Market will automatically present the most suitable applications for the search query.
Below is a block of primary navigation buttons. The best applications for Android, respectively, are located on the “Best” link. In the “Games” section you can find applications of the appropriate direction for every taste and color. Under the “Categories” link there is a list of games and programs that are sorted according to their topics. “For the whole family” - here you can find both games and applications that will interest both children and their parents. The last link is called “Editor's Choice” and is a general list of applications selected directly by Google Play employees for everyday comfortable use.
Installing applications and games
To directly download an application or game, you need to click on the “Install” button and accept the installation conditions. After this, the download process will begin. Its speed depends on the size of the software, the speed of the Internet connection and the performance of the smartphone. The language of the Android application will be selected automatically in accordance with the selected OS interface language. When the installation process is complete, you can click on the “Open” button. The application will launch.
other methods
How to download applications on Android from the Play Market is, in principle, clear. But there is another way - installing games and programs manually. All that is required is to download it to your smartphone via transfer from a PC or from an external flash drive. After this, you need to find the corresponding file using Explorer and click on it to install.
It should be noted that this action will require special permission to install applications from unknown sources. To do this, in the “Settings” menu, you need to select the “Privacy” sub-item and check the “Unknown sources” checkbox.
The first and main advice: you should not install applications that you are not sure about, or they were obtained from unknown resources. After all, among them there may be malicious programs that can disable the operating system and prevent you from using your smartphone. When installing such applications, it should be mentioned that everything is done at the user’s own risk, and no one except himself bears responsibility for this.
It is also necessary to understand that in different versions of Android, the names of certain pre-installed applications and menu items may differ, but the process itself is the same. And I would like to add that figuring out how to download applications on Android is not so difficult. The main thing is to have a little patience, and everything will definitely work out.