Features of the APK format: how to open a file on a computer and Android smartphone

Important information

An APK file is a package for the Android operating system, compiled from codes, data files and resources necessary to install an application on a mobile device.
It is precisely this content that primarily interests us today. For those who are interested in the process and methods of installing APK files, there are detailed instructions in a separate article on our website. Read more: Installing Android applications from APK files

To see what's included in the Android package, read the application manifest, or open code files, we'll have to disassemble it. An APK file is an archive whose format is a subtype of ZIP. Standard tools for opening assemblies of this type are usually not provided in smartphones, so we will use third-party applications and Internet software systems.

Run APK on Windows 10 via emulators

You can find a wide variety of Android emulators on the Internet, but the most popular products are:

• BlueStack;
• Nox Player;
• A.R.C. Welder.

How to open an ISO file on Windows 7 and other OS versions

Again, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of using each in more detail.

BlueStack

BlueStack is a program designed to run Android applications on computers with the Windows 10 operating system. You can download and use it for free, but advertising banners will periodically pop up.

For your information! The main advantage of the program is its full Android emulation, including the ability to download and install applications from Google Play.

Instructions for using the BlueStack program look like this:

1. Launch the program by right-clicking on its shortcut several times.
2. A program window will be displayed into which the user needs to drag the desired document with the .apk extension. It is important to note that the element being dragged must be independent of the cache, otherwise all attempts will fail.
3. After dragging the file into the emulator, it will take a little time for the emulator to unpack it.
4. Once the installation is complete, BlueStack will notify the user that the program is installed.

Features of using the BlueStack program

Important! Finally, to launch the application, you will need to go to the “My Applications” tab and double-click with the right mouse button to launch it.

Nox Player

An equally capable Android OS emulator called Nox Player. Its advantage is that it is undemanding to the technical parameters of the computer hardware.

Instructions for use:

1. Download a file with the .apk extension to your computer, the system will prompt you to open it.
2. If this does not happen, then the user will need to hover the cursor over a specific element and press the left mouse button once. From the drop-down list, select “Open with...”.
3. Among the available programs to open, you need to select Nox Player and click on “Open”.
4. Next, the user will need to right-click and select the “Properties” tab, then “Install”.

Rules for launching the Nox Player emulator

If all actions are performed correctly and sequentially, a standard explorer will launch on the computer, all you have to do is enter the path to a specific document in it and select it by clicking on “Open”.

There are many ways to open .apk format documents on your computer. Which ones to use depends on the user's personal preferences. The vast majority of them have approximately the same set of built-in tools, so it’s definitely not worth purchasing the most expensive product; at first you can limit yourself to free programs or a trial period.

Method 1: File Managers

There are enough file managers in the Google Play Store with the function of unpacking ZIP archives - RS File Manager, X-plore File Manager, MK Explorer, etc. We will show how to open a package for Android using the example of the Total Commander explorer, but in order to view the files contained there with codes, you will need a special editor, for example, the “Code Editor” application.

1. Launch Total Commander, find the downloaded APK file, tap on it, select “Open as ZIP” in the menu and view the list of components included in it.

2. To open a file with code, click on it, then on the menu item “Open with”

   and select Code Editor or any other application for editing codes.

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3. To install the application, select “Install” or “Open” from the menu, provide permissions for this source and confirm the installation.

How to open an APK file on a computer

22.03.2017

APK (Android Package) is a special archive of an executable application for running on devices with the Android system. This file contains program code, resources, assets and other elements necessary for the application. Despite the fact that the APK is an archive, it is not encrypted, as there is no need for it. Execution occurs using DalvikVM, a virtual machine.

There are many interesting applications available for Android devices. You can download them directly to your computer in different ways, from the Google Play store or from special services. After downloading the file, it is recommended to check for virus code. If you want to try the application directly on your computer, or open the archive itself, then perhaps these recommendations will be useful to you.

Method 2: Archivers

Any archiver that works with the ZIP format will be able to parse the APK file into components. Let's show what this looks like using the example of RAR archive management software.

1. Launch the application, find the file, select it and click the “Unpack” icon.

2. The package will not just be opened, as in the first method, but will be unpacked into a separate folder. The path will be selected by default. To change the directory, click “Browse”, find the appropriate directory and confirm the choice.

3. Tap “OK” to start unpacking.

4. The files can also be opened using any code editor.

5. You can install the application directly from the RAR interface. Click on the file, go to the settings section,

   remove the ban on installation from unknown sources and start the installation process.

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View APK files

To view the contents of the APK, you will need an archiver. Usually, there is nothing secret in files of this format. They contain various resources for the application or games. There are several ways to open it.

Method 1: 7-Zip

7-Zip is a universal and free archiver that supports several compression algorithms and data formats. Translated into various languages. You don't have to do anything complicated to use it.

1. Right-click on the desired file.
2. In the context menu, select “7-Zip” - “Open archive”.
3. Afterwards, you will see a list like this. Also, you can unzip, but by selecting the “Extract files” option.

Method 2: WinRAR

WinRAR is a popular and multifunctional archiver that supports encryption and creates data to restore a damaged archive. Free for 30 days. Unpacks the APK, but to do this you will have to change the file extensions.

1. Right-click on the file and select "Rename".
2. Change the extension after the dot to ZIP.
3. Now open it using the archiver by selecting “Open with WinRAR”.

Ready.

In principle, by changing the file extension, you can open it with any archiver.

Method 3: Total Commander

Total Commander is an advanced file manager that has a built-in archiver and many plugins that expand the program's capabilities. They can easily unpack the APK archive.

1. Open Total Commander.
2. Find and select the file you need. Click on the “Unpack files” icon at the top.
3. In the next window, select where to unpack the contents, click “OK”.
4. After the procedure, you can find the data where you indicated in the settings.

Method 3: Online service

You can open the APK file without installing additional software, but using an online service. Not everyone will find this process convenient, but it is also an option that can come in handy. Let's use the ezyZip website as an example.

Go to ezyZip service

1. Go to the service page, tap the “Select files” button, find the desired package for Android in memory, add it and tap “Extract”.

2. A list of the contents of the APK file will open.

3. If we need any components on the device, click “Save”.

   To download all components at once, there is a corresponding button below, but it is only available in the desktop version of the site. Open the “Menu” of the browser and tap the “PC Version” item.

   Scroll to the bottom of the list and click “Save All”. Now we find the saved components in any file manager and work with them.