Which app is required to open apk file?
There are many apps available for Android users that can help you to open APK files. However, not all of them are free. You can try ES File Explorer, which is a free app that allows you to open APK files on your device.
The app has a lot of other features and options, so it’s worth checking out if you’re looking for more than just the ability to open APK files.
As you may know, an apk file is a compressed file that can be installed on Android devices. This is what allows you to download apps from the Google Play Store and install them on your phone. The best way to open an apk file is using an app called APK Extractor. It’s free, it doesn’t require any downloads, and it works with all versions of Windows.
Android APK files are used to install apps on your Android device. If you want to open an APK file, you’ll need an app that can handle the task.
Take out time to surf through our catalog right here on Quyasoft for more information on Installing Unknown Source Apps on Android 10 and Later, Software Tools for Opening APK Files, How to Fix the “Can’t Open File” problem on Android? and so much more. You don’t want to miss this!
Installing Unknown Source Apps on Android 10 and Later
Android has a number of safety mechanisms to try and protect you from installing rogue app files. Unknown source apps, for instance, are apps that are installed manually from a source it doesn’t trust. This usually means an app that isn’t from the Google Play Store or from a third-party marketplace like the Amazon Appstore.
If you try to install an unknown source app from an APK file, Android will block you. To bypass this, you’ll need to allow Android to install unknown source apps on your device.
The steps to do this will vary slightly, depending on your version of Android and your device manufacturer. This guide assumes you’re running a device running Android 10 and later.
To install unknown source apps on Android:
- Open the Settings app on your Android device.
- In the Settings menu, tap Apps.
- Tap Special app access (or Advanced > Special app access).
- Tap Install unknown apps.
- Select an app to use to install an APK file—your browser and file management apps are the best option here.
- Tap the Allow from this source slider to allow APK files to be installed via that app.
Installing Unknown Source Apps on Samsung Devices
Samsung devices run Android, but the company likes to do things a little differently. If you want to install unknown source apps on a Samsung Galaxy smartphone, for instance, the steps are different.
To install unknown source apps on Samsung devices:
- Open the Settings app.
- In Settings, tap Apps.
- Tap the three-dots menu icon.
- Tap Special access.
- In Special access, tap Install unknown apps.
- Tap the slider next to your web browser or file management app in the list to allow APK installation from it.
Where to Download APK Files on Android
At this point, you should be able to install APK files on Android. Your next step is to find the files to install.
Before you begin, however, consider this piece of advice. APK files can be dangerous, especially if they ask for permissions that can log your personal data, control your device settings, or perform tasks (such as call or text your contacts).
You should only download and install APK files from a source you completely trust. If you’re unsure, stop. There are third-party marketplaces that offer some protection, but you may want to look elsewhere. If you’re willing to risk it, your best bet to download APK files is to find an APK download site.
Some sites are better than others. In particular, sites like APKMirror (owned by Artem Russakovskii, the founder and former owner of the Android Mirror news website) should be trustworthy enough to use. APKPure is another long-standing alternative that offers APK downloads.
You should also make sure that the APK file you’re installing is from a trusted developer. Check any reviews and do a quick Google search to confirm this before you proceed.
When you’re ready, use sites like APKMirror or APKPure to locate the APK files you want to install and download them. Once the APK files are on your Android device, you can install them using a file explorer app.
How to Install an APK File on Android
Once you’ve downloaded an APK file on Android, you can install it. This should be a fairly straightforward process and the steps should remain the same for most versions of Android.
To install an APK file on Android:
- Open your Android device’s file explorer app. If you can’t find it, download and install the Files by Google app first.
- Locate your APK file in your file explorer app and select it.
- The APK installer menu will appear—tap Install. On Samsung devices, this may appear as a pop-up.
- Allow time for the app to install.
- Tap Done or Open once the installation is complete.
You may also see additional steps, depending on your device and the permissions the app requires. Follow any additional on-screen instructions, as required.
Using Your Android Device Safely
The steps above show you how to install APK files on Android, but as we’ve mentioned, it isn’t always the safest option. You should only download APK files from sources you trust. If you’re unsure, use a trusted third-party marketplace like the Amazon Appstore instead.
This article is only useful if you’re looking to sideload APK files on Android. It’s much harder to install newer AAB app files and, at the moment, we’d recommend only trying to install apps that use this format via a marketplace like the Google Play Store. You may also be able to find an alternative APK for an AAB app file using an APK download site instead.
Important contents of an APK File
For an app to run successfully on an Android device, it must certain commands and codes specific to Android devices.
These commands are grouped and put together in folders and files. All Android apps and APKs contain these files.
Below is a list of files that are part of every single Android app.
- META-INF/ – Contains the manifest file, and a resource list in the archive.
- lib/ – Contains the compiled code specific to a software layer of a processor. Also contains more folders such as armeabi, armeabi-7a, x86, and MIPS.
- res/ – Contains resources that were not compiled into resources.arsc
- assets/ – Contains raw resource files that can be retrieved by AssetManager
- AndroidManifest.xml – An additional Android manifest file that describes the name, version, access rights, and referenced library files for the APK file.
- classes.dex – Contains classes compiled in dex format by Dalvik virtual machine
- resources.arsc – Contains pre-compiled resources like the binary XML
How to Fix the “Can’t Open File” problem on Android?
Here’s how to fix the “Can’t Open File” notification on .xapk files on Android.
Step 1) Download and install ZArchiver
Find ZArchiver on the Google Play Store and download it.
Step 2) Give ZAchiver access permissions
Click open and give the app access permissions by clicking allow button.
Step 3) Rename the file to .zip
Locate the file with the error and long press to rename it by removing the .xpak and adding .zip at the end. Click OK to save changes.
Step 4) Extract to convert APK files
Locate the renamed .zip file and tap “extract here” to start extracting APK files.
Step 5) Click to install
The archiving process is now complete, and the .xapk is now converted into an APK file.
Find the file that starts with “com.” And ends with “.apk” Click to open it and install on your device.
How to Open APK on iPhone?
APK files are not designed to be used on iPhones. That’s why it’s impossible to open them directly on an iOS device. To open them on an iOS device, you have two alternatives:
- Find a corresponding app on Apple Store.
- Get an app from the developer using an IPA file.
IPA is the APK file version for the iOS operating system. IPA file formats are written for Apple iOS devices such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch and are only found in the Apple iTunes App store.
How to open APK file on Windows/PC?
You cannot directly open an APK file on a Windows PC because it’s not in the exe file format. However, you can use an emulator to open APK files on your computer even if it’s not in the exe file format.
List of emulator tools that support opening APK files on PC:
- LDPlayer
- Bluestacks
- Android studio
- Nox Player
Please check our list of Best Android Emulators.
Opening APK files without Emulator tools
While APK files can be opened on a PC with a windows APK opener or emulator tool like BlueStacks, downloading and setting up such tools can be daunting.
Additionally, opening via emulator tools slows down your PC. But there are other ways to open APK files without emulator tools.
- With Android x86
- With Chrome Extension – Android emulator
How to open APK files on Mac
Like iOS, Mac OS is also not meant to open APK files. However, the ARC Welder tool can help open APK files on Mac. The tool itself is a Chrome extension used for testing Android apps for Chrome.
While we won’t be testing Android applications, so long as you have the app installed within the Chrome browser, you can open the APK file on your Mac OS.
A list of emulator tools that support opening APK files on Mac OS
Software Tools for Opening APK Files
APK files cannot be opened by themselves in any operating system other than Android.
Windows and Mac computers cannot decode these files. So, to open and run them in Windows and Mac, you need tools and software to make this possible.
Below are software and tools that allow users to open APK files. Most of the tools in this list will enable you to open, edit and view any Google Android Package file type.
1) LDplayer
Best for using virtualization technologies and helping users access Android Operating System on their computers.
LDPlayer is one of the fastest Android emulators in the market today. It enables users to experience Android on their PC without worrying about hardware limitations.
Features:
- It has a drag-and-drop installation feature.
- It offers keymapping and mouse support features that enable users to play games from their keyboard instead of touching a fake GPS Mapping screen.
- LDplayer has a simple and clean interface.
- The software assists users in having a smooth gaming experience.
- It has loads of functions, including the ability to create multiple profiles, and access to key mapping tools.
2) BlueStacks
Best for enabling Android apps to run on PC and Mac OS.
BlueStacks is one of the most popular emulators for Windows and Mac OS because it’s simple to install and use. The platform has over 300 million users.
Features:
- You can move files between BlueStacks and Windows through a shared folder.
- It can sync apps between Windows app and your phone through cloud connect.
- It is easy to install and use.
- It doesn’t use much RAM.
3) WinRAR
Best for Multimedia files because of its ability to select the best compression method for each file.
WinRAR is one of the easy-to-use software for opening APK files. The file extractor tool enables users to compress uncompressed files in large formats. The compression software is super-fast and is incredibly popular with over 500 million users.
Features:
- It offers additional functions that help you organize archives.
- It is among the fastest software in the market today.
- It supports nearly all compression formats.
- It saves on disc space, transmission costs, and working time.
- It gives you the ability to split archives into different volumes and save them on different disks.
4) WinZip
Best for its bank-level encryption and efficiency in reducing the size of email attachments.
Winzip is easy to use. Its incredible speeds and efficiency in unpacking and opening Android Package Kit files make it one of the most popular files. WinZip can access files on your PC and remotely on networks and clouds like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox.
Features:
- It supports almost all file formats.
- It is effective in compressing files which makes it best for reducing email attachment sizes.
- It has incredibly solid encryption for protecting files.
5) Google Android SDK
Best for its toolsets for building an Android application.
Android Studio software is an efficient tool for writing apps and is popular among Android software developers. Its abilities include a graphical interface that emulates a handheld environment and enables developers to test and debug codes.
Features:
- It has a visual layout editor that allows app developers to drag and drop UI elements to app layouts.
- It comes with code templates that allow coders to work faster and write better codes.
- It has an app analyzer that allows comparing two APK apps, enabling you to compare app size changes with different app versions.
- It has a Google Cloud Platform and Github integration feature that allows developers to import code and publish projects.
Link: https://developer.android.com/studio
6) 7-Zip
Best for file protection. It’s known for its self-extracting abilities and its strong encryptions.
The software is free, open-source, and is used to compress and archive data. 7-zip groups file into a single archive and reduce files’ size for quick transfers.
Features:
- Supports many major file formats.
- The 7z archive format 7Zip uses has a higher compression ratio than .zip.
- Has solid encryptions for file protection.
- It comes with windows Shell Integration.
- 7Zip has self-extracting capabilities.
- It has a powerful file manager and a command-line version.
- 7Zip is available in 87 languages.
Link: https://www.7-zip.org/
Troubleshooting Opening APK Files
There are many reasons why APK files may not open. Here, we examine and provide some common solutions to these problems below:
Use an app for bundle installation:
Some APK files come in bundles, and you need an installer like Split APKs Installer to have them installed on your device.
By looking at the file extension name, you can distinguish Split APKs from regular APKs. Files with APKM, XAPK, and APKS are not regular APKs and will need a file extension like the Split APKs Installer.
Perform a clean install, don’t update:
You could update to a newer version that works optimally. But that doesn’t always work. How about uninstalling the original app and performing a clean install instead of overwriting by updating it?
Make room:
Lack of space is not the most common reason for an app not opening, but it’s common. Ensure there is storge space before by doing the following:
- Using an SD card for media like music, videos, and photos.
- Make use of Google Photo’s unlimited storage.
- Use Google Drive or other 3rd party cloud service
- Clear data from apps
- Uninstall used apps
Make sure the file is not corrupted:
Some third-party apps often come corrupted and unsafe. And when they are in this state, they don’t run and are unstable. So, you should always download from known and trusted third-party sites like APK Mirror and similar sites that check apps before making them available.