How to install application APK to android directly without using google Play/Market

Enable Unknown Sources

Before attempting a manual installation of apps using the .apk files, you must first allow your phone to install from "Unknown Sources" (i.e. non-Market apps).

To do this, navigate to Menu -> Settings -> Applications and check the box marked "Unknown Sources".

1. Installing app Using The Conventional Method

Step 1: Install File Manager

Android does not natively come with any method of browsing the data on your SD card, so you will need to install a file manager from a market. There are a large variety of file managers available on Android, but my personal favourite is ASTRO File Manager.

Step 2: Copy .apk file to SD card

Once you have ASTRO File Manager installed, connect your Android device to your PC using your USB cable. Mount the SD card and copy over the .apk file you would like to install.

Step 3: Install .apk

On your Android device, navigate to the .apk file using ASTRO File Manager and select it.

This will open a dialog box allowing you to install the app. Select "Open App Manager".

On the next two pages, select "Install" and "Install" again to install the .apk.

Your new app is now installed.

2. Installing app using Dropbox

Dropbox is really a versatile app and is a waste if we don't fully utilize it. The method is simple. In your computer, download the apk file to your Dropbox folder. Let it finish syncing. In your phone, open the Dropbox app, navigate to the folder where you keep the apk file, click on it. Dropbox will then download the apk file. The usual installation follows.

3. Installing app Using the Online Apk Installer

The online apk installer is a web app created by a helpful XDA-Developers forum member htc-hd2, with the aim to make manual installation of an .apk file much easier. It is useful if you want to share an apk file with a friend.

Step 1: Upload File

First, navigate to www.apkinstall.com.

Here you will see a black "Browse Files…" button. Select this and choose the apk file on your PC.

The apk file will remain active on the website for 15 minutes.

Step 2: Scan QR Code

Once you have uploaded the file, a QR code will appear on the website.

You must scan this QR code with a Barcode Scanner. The website suggests using Barcode Scanner, however I personally prefer using Google Goggles.

Once the QR code has scanned, you can click on the link to download the .apk file straight to your device.

Step 3: Install .apk

After the .apk file has downloaded to your Android device you can install it by simply clicking on it and navigating through the installation pages.

Install APK to Android directly

1. Download and install Google Android SDK

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First, you need to download and install the Google Android SDK (Software Development Kit). Please keep these notes with you when you are in the developer website.

• Make sure that you satisfy the system requirements. Also keep in mind that if you are not programming, you may disregard a few details such as stuff about Eclipse (a programming environment).


• After you download and install into a location (say: D:\android-sdk-windows\), you were directed to "simply unpack the starter package to a safe location and then add the location to your PATH". This means the following step

Right click My Computer for Properties, then…

… get to the Advanced tab. Look for 'Path' in 'System Variables' and 'Edit'. Add in the 'Variable value' your directory with 'tools' folder, all separated by semi-colons.

This is so that you can access 'adb' anywhere in the command line.

2. Download your Android USB Driver

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Once you downloaded the Android USB driver, remember the directory it is under. You'll be placing that path to configure where to search for the driver to connect your Android phone. Please read up on the steps given in that driver download page before continuing. You'll be connecting your phone to the PC via USB on this step.

3. Configure some settings

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Once you have successfully connected to the device:

• Go to Android Settings/SD card & phone storage and disable Use for USB storage. You can enable it again later after you installed your third-party application.

• Go to Settings/Application settings and enable Unknown sources.

4. Type command at command shell to install app

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With your already downloaded .apk file on your local computer, type below this command to install the app.

adb install <Full path of the apk file><apk file name>

Installation should inform you of a successful installation. If you did fail, you may have a previous version of the app that needs manual uninstallation before reinstalling.

Cheers!