How to install third party apps without the Google Play Store

Januari 26, 2022 Posting Komentar

Photo of Google Chrome's warning for installing third party apps

Android is an open-source platform and, thus, you have more than options than you practise with something like iOS. 1 of those freedoms is the ability to install third-party apps from outside of the Google Play Store. It'southward not a practice we recommend considering the Play Store has so many security measures. However, for whatsoever reason, you want to install something from somewhere else. We can definitely still assist with that.

There are two ways to install third-party apps without the Google Play Shop. The first is through third-party app stores similar F-Droid, Amazon's App Store, and others. The second method is finding APKs from websites and manually installing them. We volition go over both methods in this tutorial.

A photo of the install permissions in Android Pie

How to install APKs

Another popular thing to do is install APKs from websites. This is, by far, the virtually dangerous style to install apps. Notwithstanding, at that place are a few sites where we don't mind recommending it, including APKMirror. The process is quite easy and you shouldn't accept too many problems doing information technology.

A photo of Android Pie's permission dialog

This is how APK installations look on Android Oreo and higher.

Android 8.0 Oreo and later

Google changed how APK installations work in Android 8.0 Oreo. Information technology hasn't changed much since. This is how to install APKs on all modernistic versions of Android:

Download the APK yous want to install.
You can either navigate to your Download folder using a file browser app or simply brainstorm the install by clicking on the completed download in your mobile browser.
Android will ask yous to grant permission to either the file browser or your web browser to install the app. Grant the permission and it should bounciness y'all back to the installation screen. If not, navigate dorsum to your Download folder after granting the permission to endeavor over again.
The app should be safely installed.

It volition piece of work like any other app yous download. You can find the icon in the app drawer, open the app, and do whatever. There are some apps that may not install on your device due to compatibility reasons. Many apps with Internet permissions may hound you to download the latest version on the Google Play Store before it'll let you use the app. At that place isn't much you can exercise most that if it happens.

A photo of the installation app permission

Install from Unknown Sources method (sometime method)

Before Android Oreo, users had to enable the Install from Unknown Sources setting to install 3rd-party APKs on their devices. The process otherwise remains generally the same.

Download the APK you want to install.
Navigate to your phone settings menu and then to the security settings. Enable the Install from Unknown Sources option.
Apply a file browser and navigate to your download folder. Tap the APK to brainstorm the installation process.
The app should safely install.

Everything we said before still applies hither. Some apps may but not install for compatibility reasons and apps may hound y'all to get the updated version from the Play Shop before it lets you employ the app. This method only works on devices running versions of Android older than Android Oreo.

A photo of Amazon's Appstore starting up

Third political party app stores

Third party apps stores are another popular way to get apps without the Play Shop. There are a few practiced ones, including F-Droid for yous open up source fans out in that location and Amazon's App Store is decent besides. You tin can check out our listing of the all-time third party app stores past clicking here.

Cull the tertiary party app store yous desire and download the APK.
Follow the steps above to install the APK to your device.
In one case the store is installed, open it up and surf for whatever apps yous want. Download and install them as you would any other app shop.
On devices running Android Oreo or higher, make sure yous grant the app store permission to install apps to avoid issues. Those on older versions of Android need to brand certain the Install from Unknown Sources pick or installs volition neglect.

You should be able to open your new third party app store, download apps, and install them without worries. To be frank, most apps you observe on about third party apps stores are bachelor in the Play Store anyhow. Nevertheless, in that location are some exclusives hither and at that place. Plus, F-Droid in detail is a neat place for some power user tools and stuff like that.