Does the Google Play Store not offer the app you want? We explain how to install apps/APK files from outside the Play Store.
The Android operating system has always distinguished itself by its willingness to let folks color outside the lines. As a rule, Android smartphones have highly customizable user interfaces, a wide variety of unique models and flavors of Android to choose from, and — perhaps most significantly — the ability to install apps from anywhere you like, not just Google’s official Play Store.
This means it’s important to only install APKs from reasonably trustworthy sources. Established alternative marketplaces are generally safe bets. APKs are also sometimes distributed directly by reputable developers on their own websites, such as Epic Games’ Fortnite or companion apps for hardware accessories like Android Auto adapters.
How to get your Android phone ready for APK downloadsSince installing APKs from unknown sources isn’t without risks, Google and other Android device makers want to ensure you know what you’re getting yourself into before letting you sideload apps. As a result, the ability to install apps from unknown sources is blocked by default. This also helps prevent bad actors from finding loopholes that might let them sneak illegitimate apps onto your phone without your knowledge.
Step 8: Lastly, it's a good idea to make sure that Google's Play Protect is doing its job. This should nearly always be on by default unless you've deliberately turned it off, but you can double-check by opening the Settings app and selecting Security and Privacy > App Security. If it's not enabled, you'll see a warning with a big red button you can select to turn it on.
Nevertheless, an alternative marketplace must still be downloaded as an APK and manually installed before you can use it to fetch other apps from its repository. You’ll typically find a prominent link as soon as you visit one of these sites that you can use to download the catalog APK like you would any other file.
Android Android Security APK Sideloading Tier 4
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