How To Install Non-Market Apps / APKs

So maybe you don’t have the Android Market on your device, or maybe the app you want just isn’t in the Android Market for whatever reason. How do you install an app that isn’t in the Market? Well, Android uses these small files call APK’s to install your app in much the same way you would use a .exe file to install a program on a Windows computer, or a .dmg file to install a program on a Mac computer. When you go to the Market to download an app it downloads that app’s apk file and installs it automatically on your device, but Android can also install these files manually if you want it to.Basically, you find the app’s .apk file that you want to install on the internet or from a friend, etc. Then you save that to your phone’s sd card or internal storage. After that, you use a file manager and select the apk and Android will automatically begin to install it. That simple! Check out the video for more details and feel free to comment here on our site.

This is part of our Android 101 section. Head to the entire collection of Android 101 posts here.