Programs for installing or opening APK files are a great help when the official application is not available.

In this article we would like to talk about APK files and how they can be opened on a phone with the Android operating system.
Let's start by explaining APK files. APK file (Android Package Kit) is a simple installer or otherwise it is a file format that is used on Android to install applications.

Problems may arise when working with APK files. For example, the user did everything correctly, but he was still unable to open the file on Android, because the program gives an error in the form “it is impossible to open the android apk file.” Today we will tell you in detail how you can open an APK file on Android and how to open it correctly.

How to open an APK file on a smartphone

Programs or games can be downloaded from the network through a browser. Sometimes we have to do this if the application we need is not available on Google Play. Or we want to play hacked games. When you download a file through a browser, it is placed in the Download on your mobile device. So to open it:

1. By default, all versions of Android have protection for installing applications not from the official Google repository. To remove it, open the settings;
2. Click on a line Safety;

   
   Security item in Android settings

3. Find the Unknown sources and check it so that you can install applications without restrictions; Check the Unknown sources box
4. Open the menu on your smartphone and find the file manager. It cannot be that your device does not have this program. The program icon most likely looks like a folder;

   
   File Manager Shortcuts in Android

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5. Then open your phone memory and find the Download . Open the Download folder

It will contain the file that you downloaded through the browser. Or transmitted via a computer via a USB cable. To launch the installation package, you need to select it and agree to installation.

A little theory and the essence of the problem

Before talking about the methods, let's find out what this apk file is. This is the format of the installation package for the Android operating system. The extension is an abbreviation for the English Android Package. In fact, this file is the most ordinary archive, which contains various pictures, program code and other components that are essential for the correct operation of the program. If you want to see what's inside, just use the most common file manager, for example, Total Comander.

However, many users use the word “open” to mean “install” the application. Here everything is a little more complicated, since you need to use the installer so that all the contents are correctly unpacked. When downloading from the Play Store, this is done automatically. But if you manually downloaded the apk file, then you need to open it in a different way.

How to open an APK file on a Windows computer

If you download the Android .apk installation package on your computer, it will not be able to recognize the file. In order to open the APK on Windows, you need an emulator. This is a program with which we can install Android applications and work with them via a computer. Many users also install all new games on their computer so that they can be controlled with a mouse and keyboard.

You can find several emulator programs on the Internet: BlueStacks, Nox App Player, etc. These programs are installed in Windows traditionally: launch the launcher and specify the installation folder. After installation, you can find program shortcuts on your desktop. One is for launching the emulator, the other is for launching multiplayer. It will help you run several different accounts in different emulator windows.

BlueStacks emulator shortcuts on desktop

Once the emulator is installed on the system, you can open and install the APK of any applications and games. To immediately open the downloaded file from the browser after the download is complete, select the name of the emulator when downloading.

Selecting a program to open the file

If you download the APK to your computer folder, it will also accept the emulator shortcut.

APK file downloaded via browser

And when you open it, the emulator itself will start first. Afterwards its installation will begin.

Using third party software

If the procedure seems extremely complicated to you, and you have any difficulties, try using a file manager. The Play Market store has a huge selection of such managers. We recommend using ASTRO File Manager or one of the most popular - ES Explorer.

They have a nice interface and also allow you to quickly and easily open the required APK file. The instructions are practically no different from those described above:

1. Download the installation file to your SD card.
2. Launch the file manager, and then find the file on the card.
3. Click on it to start the installation.

An alternative option is application managers. They are more “tailored” for working with programs, so they are ideal for opening an apk. You can use SlideME Mobentoo App Installer. It's worth choosing it for one simple reason - it automatically scans your memory card and then finds available installers. You won't have to look for them for long. Just select the desired apk and click on it.

APK file does not open - what to do

Android program files install without any problems in most cases. But in some cases they may not open. Or a system error occurs when opening them. You need to check in the settings whether you have allowed your system to install applications bypassing Google Play. We already did this in the section above. So go back and check this setting again.

If your security settings are fine, the APK file you downloaded may be damaged. For some reason its integrity has been violated. As a result, errors appear. Try finding another game file or program on the Internet. The website https://uptodown.com has almost any application. And even those that are not in the Play Market.

APK download site uptodown.com

If you can't open an APK file on Android, make sure your device meets the app's system requirements. You can also find many analogues of both games and programs on the Internet. Restart your mobile device (or computer, if you are installing on it). And try opening the APK file again.

Using a personal computer

If you do not want to install any explorers or managers, use your computer. You can open and install the apk file using a standard USB cable. First you will need to download and install the InstallAPK program on your computer. Also, when connecting the device to a PC, drivers should be installed. If this does not happen, find them on the Internet for your model, and then install them.

Next you should do the following:

1. Download the apk installation file to your computer.
2. Connect your phone via USB. Make sure the computer sees it.
3. Double-click on the file with the apk extension. InstallAPK will automatically identify it and, accordingly, will immediately begin installation on the gadget.

This is naturally fast and convenient. You also don’t have to download the installer to your smartphone and then search for it among numerous directories. Always be careful when downloading files from the Internet. There is a very high risk of catching a virus that can steal your personal data or disrupt the system. In the worst case scenario, you will have to reflash the gadget to restore its functionality. Read comments and reviews from people so as not to stumble upon malware.

Where to download APK files of a game or program

The Google Play mobile market has requirements for the application, which are added to the market by developers. Many of these applications do not pass verification according to one or another parameter. The following do not pass the test (or do not even try to pass it): programs for hacking smartphones, games, hacked games, tracking applications, and others. In general, what interests us. They can be found on the following resources:

• https://4pda.ru/ is the largest site and forum about mobile devices in RuNet. Here you can find any tool for flashing your smartphone. And the custom and official firmware themselves. To be able to download files, register; Website w3bsit3-dns.com main page
• https://apkpure.com/ru/ - is an alternative to Google Play. There are also a lot of applications for Android mobile devices. At the bottom of the main page there are categories;
• https://www.apkmirror.com/ is an English-language site with a lot of APK files, but in English.

There is no guarantee that these resources distribute files that are safe for your devices. Therefore, it is recommended to check them for viruses before opening the APK on your Android device.

How to download APK (APK file) from Play Market

Via Evozi APK Downloader service

The first site in this review is Evozi. The process of using it is as simple as possible:

1. Launch the Play Market application or open this site in a browser;

2. Go to the page of the program you want to download. Tap the button with three dots located in the upper right corner;

3. Select the “Share” action;
4. Click "Copy";

5. Launch the browser and the website https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader/;
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6. Paste the application URL from Google Play and tap “Generate Download Link”;

7. Wait until the search is completed and select “Install”;

8. Open the application when downloading is complete. You can also simply minimize this window by tapping “Done”.

The process of copying a link from the Play Market is the same for any applications and services discussed throughout the article, which is why these steps are not repeated in the instructions presented later on this page.

Via APK-DL service

The next site is similar to the previous one, so it is also easy to use.

1. Enter the link to the file in the Play Market and tap the magnifying glass icon;

2. After a few seconds, you will be redirected to the program download page. Here use the “Download APK File” button;

3. Tap “Start Download”;
4. Click the "OK" button in the window called up by the browser;

5. Open the installer;

6. Select Install. Launch the application after installation is complete;

APK Downloader Browser Extension

The addon for popular browsers Chrome and Firefox automatically retrieves download links from the Play Store. All you need to do is go to the program page and then click on the extension icon. This way you can download the file directly, after which all that remains is to “transfer” it to the device using a wired connection, Bluetooth, ShareIt or any similar solution. If you suddenly have problems connecting to a computer, read why the computer does not see the phone via USB .

Download APK Downloader for Mozilla Firefox / Google Chrome

1. Open the plugin download page (using Firefox as an example). Use the “Add to Firefox” button;

2. In the window that appears at the top of the screen, select “Add”;

3. Wait for the installation to complete and click “Okay”. If you wish, allow the addon to work in private browsing mode by checking the appropriate box;
4. Go to the Play Market to the page with the application description. Click the addon icon and click “Download APK”;

5. The standard boot procedure will begin. When it finishes, you can move the file to your mobile device.

Via APKCombo APK Downloader service

APKCombo acts as an application directory, just like APK Pure. On one of its pages there is a form that allows you to extract a download link from the Google Play Market.

Open APKCombo APK Downloader website

1. Follow the link above. In the appropriate form, insert the URL to download the program from the Play Market;
2. Select the device configuration if you know it. In this case, you can download the latest release suitable for your device. Tap “Generate Download Link”;

3. Find the appropriate version (if the configuration is not specified, then most likely there will be several of them) and tap the download button to the right of its name;

4. Click “OK” in the warning window that the browser displays;
5. Launch the Installation Wizard;
6. Tap “Install”;

7. Open the program when possible.

Direct APK Downloader

This utility was previously available in the Chrome Extension Store, but over time it stopped receiving updates and was removed. You can use third-party sites to download it, but this is not recommended - it is unknown how safe it is to launch executable files from such sources.

This solution works similarly to the APK Downloader addon for Firefox and, again, Chrome: just open the download page from the Play Market in the browser, then click the plugin icon and download the Installation Wizard. Next, you will need to move it to the device’s memory, using any solution: from a simple USB connection to cloud storage such as Yandex.Disk, Google Drive and similar services.

APK Mirror

This site is somewhat different from the resources discussed above, since there is no form where you could paste a link to the program in the Play Market and get the APK from there. The service is a catalog of software and games that are suitable for devices running Android OS. The files available here are automatically imported from Google Play, and are also added by ordinary users - a special form is provided for this.

Go to APK Mirror website

1. Once on the APK Mirror website, use the catalog of new application releases presented on the main page, or open the search form by tapping the magnifying glass icon;

2. Enter the name of the application and press the “Go” button on your keyboard;
3. Tap the download icon;

4. By going to the version page, select the program build that suits you;

5. Download the program suitable for your device configuration;
6. Click "Download APK";

7. Select "OK" in the window brought up by your browser;

8. Launch the installer application;

9. Tap “Install”;
10. Click “Finish” to hide the window indicating the successful completion of installation, or “Open” to launch the newly downloaded software.

APK Pure

The service is similar to the previous one and is one of the most popular marketplace sites that allows you to download applications from Google Play using a browser. There is also advertising here, however, there is not as much of it as in many “competitive” services.

Go to APK Pure website

1. Open the website using the link above. Go to the download page from the main page, if the application is located there, or open the search form (to do this, tap the magnifying glass icon);

2. Enter your request, then press the button with the magnifying glass icon again or tap the corresponding key on your keyboard;

3. Find a suitable application in the list of software;
4. Use the “Download APK” button;
5. The download will begin immediately after you are redirected to a special page. The browser will display a window asking you to confirm the download. Click “OK” in it;

6. Tap “Open”;
7. Install the software;

8. Open the software or game, or simply select “Done” to hide this window.

The installation process is simple, but sometimes this site drops XAPK applications. They are installed using third-party software, which is XAPK Installer. It is available for devices running Android 4.1 and higher.

APK Monk

This site falls into the same category as APK Pure, being an excellent platform with free programs that any Android user can download on their device. The installation process here is as simple as on the above-mentioned platform.

Go to APK Monk website

1. Open the website using the link above. Download the application by finding it on the main page, or use the search form;

2. Enter a request, send it to the server;

3. Select a program from the list if more than one option is found. Once on the download page, tap “Download APK”;

4. The download will begin within a few seconds. The browser will ask for confirmation of the operation - provide it by selecting “OK”;

5. Tap “Open”;

6. Install a program or game;

7. Launch the application.

Other app markets

You may want to use Google Play Market equivalents. Reliable platforms are services owned by device manufacturers. For example, Galaxy Store from the South Korean company Samsung or App Gallery from Huawei. Additionally, you can try:

• Malavida;
• Aptoide;
• "Trashbox";
• Nine Store;
• TapTap;
• Aurora Store.

Some of the above services are simple websites, while others are applications that can be downloaded to an Android device for quick access to interesting games and software. The TapTap platform, which is aimed at mobile gaming connoisseurs, deserves special attention.

Raccoon

The program is a very interesting product in the world of mobile software, being presented as an option for installing incompatible applications. With its help, you can, for example, install a game located in the Play Market on an old Android phone. The utility is designed for computers and is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Android.

1. Follow the link above. Select your operating system and download Raccoon. Run the utility after downloading it;
2. Enter your Google profile username and password. The developers themselves recommend getting a separate account for Raccoon for greater security, so you will need to create one. To do this, go to this page in your browser's Incognito mode;
3. Select a scenario for how the software will work: whether you need to create a virtual device for it or whether you should use an already linked device. If no smartphone or tablet is linked to your Google profile, use the first option;
4. Find the application you are interested in and download it;
5. At the end of the process, the file will be saved in the memory of your computer. You can transfer it to your smartphone using any convenient method, including the QR code available in this software.

Extract APK from an application on your smartphone

Another rather atypical method is to extract an APK from an already installed application. It is suitable if you want to move some software to another device, but cannot find it anywhere - this happens with various unpopular games or applications that have been removed according to the rules of the sites (for example, “ES Explorer Pro”, which disappeared from Google Play). By the way, you can read here how to find deleted applications on an Android .

Another case is that the device where you plan to move the program simply does not have access to the Internet: you did not insert a SIM card and did not connect it to Wi-Fi.

To extract APK, you can use various applications, including the multi-functional Lucky Patcher utility. One of the simplest solutions is APK Extractor. It is available on the Play Market, as well as in third-party application stores.

In other words, whatever the reason for choosing this particular option, you can always use the guide:

1. From the link above, click “Download APK”;

2. Wait a few seconds for the browser to display a window asking you to confirm the download. In it, click “OK”;

3. Launch the Installation Wizard;
4. Select the “Install” action;

5. Open APK Extractor;

6. Find the program you want to get the APK from and tap on it;

7. Grant access to the device's file system;
8. At the end of the procedure, which took no more than two seconds on the Galaxy S20, the path to the file will appear on the screen. You can find the installer using the default file manager on your device and share it.

Results

The presented programs allow you not only to easily open Word files, but also to edit them, changing the font, layout, etc. From the point of view of saving free space on the device, it is advisable to consider Docs To Go and Polaris Office. In addition, they are well suited for working with tables and presentations. Smart Office is the most functional of the list, but has the disadvantage of requiring an Internet connection to function properly. Regardless of which utility you install, you will always have a full-fledged office for reading and editing Microsoft files at hand.

Knowing how to open files on Android, you can view documents, archive and unarchive information, and even run applications designed for a regular computer.

It is much more convenient to work with data without sending it to a PC. All that is required to start is to download the appropriate programs, a wide selection of which can be found in the Google Play market.

Extracting APK files from the play store

Another way to get the APK file is to do it directly from the Play Store database. You can do this on your computer using APK Downloader.

Simply enter the Play Store app to copy the address from your browser's address bar and then paste it into the APK Downloader.

This way, the APK file will be downloaded directly from Google servers. This file can be installed on our device even if it was shown as incompatible in the store.

Error #2: The file cannot be opened

This happens because you open the downloaded file from the “Download Log”, but you should open it from the “Downloads” or “Downloads” FOLDER.

(how this error is displayed on the screen)

SOLUTION.

In case of such an error, just go to the “Main Menu” and “My Files”, then open the “Device Memory” or “All Files” folder (in general, select the folder where all the files of your device will be shown) and go to the “Downloads” or “ Downloads". And then launch the required APK file - see the screenshots:

Still have questions? Write in the comments.

27.08.2019

In order to open work files with Microsoft Office extensions (Word, Excel, etc.), special mobile programs are required. Since there are quite a lot of similar applications, let’s look at the most popular of them and find out what is the most convenient way to open doc on Android.

Application screenshots

An updated, fully functional mobile phone with which you can open and edit Microsoft Word files and more. The application is absolutely free and does not require superuser rights.

What is the application about?

Smart Office is rightfully considered one of the best mobile offices with a simple interface and constant updates. In addition to viewing, the user gets the opportunity to insert a picture, edit text, font, paragraphs and much more. The list of supported formats of the utility contains more than 15 popular extensions, including: docx, xlsx, pptx and pdf. Also, the program can be used to open vector graphics files and diagrams.

Smart Office supports synchronization with cloud services Dropbox, Box, Google Drive. This way, saved files can be uploaded to the cloud. And in order to quickly send them to another person, support for the Email mail client has been implemented. The list of utility functions also includes printing via a wireless data channel. Thanks to this, the user does not need to connect his smartphone or tablet via a USB cable to the PC to print a document.

Advantages and disadvantages

The benefits of Smart Office are as follows:

• Supports all Microsoft Office file formats.
• Wide range of document editing capabilities.
• Wireless printing function implemented.
• Supports 24 languages.

The disadvantages include the following:

• Inconveniences associated with the need to press a separate button to enter information into a cell.
• An Internet connection is required for full operation.

Before downloading a convenient program for reading and editing office documents - Smart Office, we recommend watching a training video.

Questions and answers

Why can't I open PDF files on my Android phone?

Sometimes opening a PDF file on Android can be difficult. In such a case, follow these steps:

• try using a different PDF viewer. A simple Google Play Store search for "PDF" shows many results, including a Google PDF Viewer option;
• If you still cannot open the file despite using other PDF readers, make sure that you can open such a file on your computer. Otherwise the file may be damaged;
• If you are sure that your file is not corrupted but still unable to open the PDF file on your Android device, use it on your desktop/laptop to open it.

Where are my PDF files?

Finding and opening a downloaded file on your Android phone can sometimes be a headache. By default, files downloaded from your Android phone's browser should be saved or can be located in the download folder of your Android device.

If the downloaded file you are looking for is not there, using a file manager app can help you find the downloaded files on your Android device.

My PDF file is on my PC, how do I transfer it to my Android phone?

The easiest way to transfer files from your computer to your Android phone is to connect both devices using the appropriate USB cable.

The PDFs I need are stored on another Android phone. How to transfer them to my Android phone?

The easiest way to transfer files from another Android phone is to use a Bluetooth connection. To do this, turn on Bluetooth on both Android devices and pair them. Once paired, you can long press the desired file and select Bluetooth sharing. Select the device you want to share the file with, in this case, your phone. Your Android phone should receive the files that were transferred to it.

How to Open PDF Files on Amazon Android Devices

If you have a Fire tablet or any Amazon device running Android optimized for Amazon, you can download the relevant apps from the Amazon app store or directly from amazon.com itself.

Downloading APK files from websites

The first way is to get the APK file from a site that provides such installers, such as APKMirror.

It verifies the authenticity of applications by verifying the digital signature of the manufacturer.

After logging into the site, you can simply use the search engine in the top right corner - enter the name of the application you want to download.

Once you have found the title, you can select the specific version and then download using “Download APK”.

The use of alternative sources is XDA Developers - they often contain applications that do not exist in the Play store.

XDA users create their own and make them available online for free.

In this case, it is worth looking through the comments and uploading only those that have already gained popularity. Then you will have confidence that they are safe.

Method 2: PDF Reader

Librera PDF Reader.
Like the Adobe Reader app, the PDF Reader app is also one of the best PDF reader apps for Android that can be downloaded from the Google Play Store (optional is Librera PDF Reader). This PDF reader application is easy to use and comes with a number of settings. It has night and full screen modes. PDF Reader also allows you to translate text using online dictionaries.

1. Download and install the PDF Reader app on your Android smartphone or tablet. A free version of the application without ads is also available. The Pro version has a function for filtering search results.
2. Make sure the PDF you want to open is saved on your Android device.
3. Using the file manager:

• go to the folder where the PDF files are saved on your Android device;
• click on the file;
• PDF Reader will open the PDF file.

You can also open a PDF file after launching PDF Reader manually. For this:

• On the Scan , find the PDF files stored on your Android device;
• click on the PDF file you want to open;
• you can also find and open the file manually by going to the Browse and navigating to the folder where the PDF file is stored on your Android device.

Screenshot of PDF Reader.