How to Install APK Files on Android (Step by Step)

By Editorial Team · Oct 28, 2026

What is an APK file?

An APK (Android Package) is the file format Android uses to install apps. When you install an app from a store, your phone downloads an APK in the background. Installing an APK yourself is called sideloading. It is useful when an app is not available in your country, when your device has no Google Play, or when you want a specific version.

Before you start

Download APKs only from sources you trust, and prefer the original file from the developer or a repository such as F-Droid.
Check that your phone runs the Android version the app requires. It is listed on every app page.
Make sure you have enough free storage: the app usually needs two to three times the APK size during installation.

Step 1: Download the APK

Tap the Download button on the app page and wait for the file to finish. Your browser shows a notification when it is done, and the file is saved in the Downloads folder.

Step 2: Allow installing unknown apps

On Android 8 and newer, permission is given per app. The first time you open an APK, Android shows a message such as “For your security, your phone is not allowed to install unknown apps from this source”. Tap Settings, turn on Allow from this source, and go back. Our guide on allowing unknown apps shows the exact menus for each Android version.

Step 3: Install

Open the downloaded file and tap Install. Installation takes a few seconds. When it finishes, tap Open or find the app on your home screen. You can turn the “unknown apps” permission off again afterwards; installed apps keep working.

Updating an app installed from an APK

Download the newer APK and install it over the existing app. Your data is kept, as long as the new file is signed with the same key as the old one. Files from the same source (for example, always from F-Droid) share the same signature.

Common errors and fixes

“App not installed”: the new file is signed with a different key than the installed app. Uninstall the old version first (this deletes its data), then install again.
“There was a problem parsing the package”: the download is incomplete or your Android version is too old. Download the file again and check the requirements.
The file is .xapk or .apks: these are bundles, not single APKs. Follow our XAPK install guide.
Not sure the file is original? Compare its SHA-256 checksum as explained in how to verify an APK.