Over time, the owner of a smartphone running Android OS begins to miss the functionality with which the manufacturer equipped the phone. To the glee of all fans of devices running on Android, there are a great many programs for this operating system.
All Android applications and games have the .apk extension. If you do not go into technical details, a file with this extension is the most common archive containing a game or application file, as well as instructions for installing this program. If you have a desire to find out what is inside the archive (.apk), you can open it with any archiver program.
There are several options for installing applications on Android. Some methods involve making changes to the settings of the device, namely - allow the installation of applications from other sources. To give this permission, open "Settings" / "Applications" and check the box "Unknown sources", thereby giving permission to the system to install applications not from the Market.
How to install applications on Android from Android Market?
Android Market (today Google Play) is an online store of applications for Android devices that allows you to search, view and install programs from a huge catalog of games and applications.
Today, users of Android devices have the opportunity to install applications on the site https://play.google.com/store. Register your device by logging into the site with your account, and you can install the application you like.
How to install applications on Android using specially designed utilities?
In the same Google Play, you can find software that can be used to install programs on your device. Moreover, both paid and free. When the toolbox is selected, install the desired application. The next step is to choose a safe and affordable way to transfer the package file to your device. You can stop the transfer via Bluetooth or connect the device to the computer via a usb connection.
Run the installer. Sometimes you may need to specify the path to the desired package.
How to install applications on Android using the file manager?
Google Play offers a wide variety of both paid and absolutely free file managers, which greatly simplify the installation of applications on Android. The most popular are Total Commander, ES File Explorer, Android Assistant, AirDroid. Find the previously copied package with the file in the file manager and run it. You will be prompted to start installing the selected program.
Installing Applications on A ndroid from a PC
It also provides several options. The easiest way to install the application on Android from your computer is to use special programs from the device manufacturer. For example, HTC, together with its phones, delivers a program called HTC Sync. In addition to the fact that this application allows you to synchronize browser contacts and bookmarks between your PC and phone, you can use it to install programs on Android devices.
The next way to install applications from your desktop computer to an Android device is to use a kit from developers, namely Android USB drivers and Android SDK. After installing them, connect your phone to the PC, enter: adb install path / file.apk.
There is a third option - installing applications using Total Commander, but for its implementation you will need BusyBox, the root rights installed on the computer ADB USB Driver and Android SDK. What is the beauty of this method? You can easily and elegantly manage programs on your Android device, install and remove games and applications.
Installing programs on Android using the built-in browser
First you need to copy the package file (.apk) to the device’s card, and then enter the following command in the address bar of the web browser: content: //com.android.htmlfileprovider/sdcard/com.program.apk. As you probably understood, instead of program you need to enter the name of the program that you are going to install.
Android apps with Android Market