Simple Guide to Installing Android APK Files

This tutorial will show you how to install APK - Android Package files on your Android Phone. Various methods are discussed and easy to follow, step-by-step instructions are provided.

• Android is one of the most promising mobile platforms currently available on the market. Many more new Android smartphones are expected in the coming year and they are getting more and more powerful. One of the best features of the Android OS is the availability of third party applications.
  There are various ways to install third party applications on your Android based phones:
  

  • The first way is by installing applications through the online Android Market, which we have already covered (check out this basic tutorial on How To Install Apps and Games on Android).
  • The second way is to manually install APK applications developed using the Android SDK on your Android phone.

  APK applications are basically Android package applications. If you don't want to use the Android Market app on your phone then you can try these solutions. The easiest methods are described in the easy alternative ways to install APK files section below.
  

• Through the Android Market

  To install APK applications on your Android phone do the following:
  

  1. Copy the APK file you want to install to your phone's memory card and insert the card into your Android phone.
  2. Go to Android Market and search for the Apps Installer, App Installer, z-App Installer or Fast Installer application.
  3. Open it and click on the Install button.
  4. After it is installed, just open it. It will show you all the APK files stored directly in the root directory of your memory card.
  5. Just click on the application you want to install and it will be installed.

  You could also just install a file manager app like Astro File Manager and then browse to the APK and install it.