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| How to install Android application (APK) files |
APK files are analogous to other software packages such as MSI packages in Microsoft Windows or Deb packages in Debian-based operating systems like Ubuntu.
APK files are a type of archive file, specifically in zip format packages based on the JAR file format, with .apk as the filename extension. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Android_application_package)
Installing applications from Play Store to your Android:
1. Open Play Store application in the Applications menu.
2. Find/search the application you want to install.
3. Tap on the application you want and more details about that application are displayed (e.g., the number of downloads and user comments).
4. To install the application, just tap the Install button.
5. In the next screen, you will see more details about the application including the different functionalities it needs to access. Tap OK to finish installing the application.
Installing application (APK) files from any web site directly to your Android:
1. First allow your phone to install from “Unknown Sources” (i.e. non-Market apps).
2. Navigate to Menu -> Settings -> Applications and check the box marked “Unknown Sources“ so that you can install an APK file from a location other than the Play Store. A warning message about the phone being vulnerable to attack will be displayed. Select OK to continue if you trust the APK file you are about to download. You can change this setting back after the current installation is complete.
3. Open browser on your Android and navigate to the web page where the application’s APK has been made available for download.
4. Tap the download link on the web site to download the APK directly to your phone’s SD card. You should see a message that says “Starting download”.
5. In the upper left-hand corner of the screen, an animated, downward-pointing arrow will display; when the animation stops, the download is complete. Click on the arrow and you should see the newly-downloaded “application.apk” file name listed in the Notifications section. (Note: if taping on the arrow doesn’t open the Notifications list, return to the home screen and pull down on the Status bar at the top of the screen to see the list.)
6. Tap on the application’s APK file name. A new screen showing the selected application’s name at the top is displayed. This screen gives you more details about the application including the different functionalities it will need to access. To install the application, just click on the Install button on the bottom of the screen.
7. A new screen is displayed once the installation is complete and you can choose to immediately run the application by taping the Open button on the bottom of the screen.
Installing APK Files from your computer
1. Find an APK file that you want. Search online for an APK file and download it to an easy-to-find location on your computer (like your desktop).
2. Install file manager from Play Store. There is a lot of choise, mine used ES File Explorer.
3. On your phone you will need to make sure that third-party apps are allowed on your device. Go to Menu > Settings > Security > and check "Unknown Sources" to allow your phone to install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store.
4. Connect your device to your computer. At this point, you may be asked if you simply want to charge your phone or connect it as a "media device." Choose "media device". Then, find your phone's folder on your computer (it will be in "My Computer" or "Computer" on Windows machines) and copy the APK file into a folder of your choice in your Android smartphone.
5. Using file manager (mine is ES File Explorer) search for the file location in the "my files" folder on your device. Find the APK file, tap it, then tap "install". And you're done.
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