Google Play 商店并不是(Google Play Store)Android设备应用程序的唯一来源。也有许多托管Android应用程序的网站。您可以从这些网站下载应用程序作为特殊的APK文件并将它们安装在您的手机上。要安装这些，您需要配置您的手机，因为这些是非官方的Android应用程序。
如果您是APK(APKs)新手，并且不确定如何使用这些APK文件(APK)安装 Android 应用(install Android apps)，我们的指南将帮助您。
什么是 APK 文件？(What Is An APK File?)
APK代表Android Package Kit，它是一个包含应用程序需要安装的所有资源和代码的文件。
例如，如果您下载适用于YouTube的(YouTube)APK，则APK包含YouTube的资源，例如横幅、徽标和其他内容。APK还包含指示应用程序在您按下某个选项时要做什么(what to do when you press a certain option)的代码。
简而言之，APK是Android设备的应用安装程序。您点击一个APK文件，它会在您的手机上安装该应用程序。
为什么要使用 APK 在 Android 上安装应用程序？(Why Use An APK To Install An App On Android?)
您可能希望使用 APK安装应用程序(install apps)有多种原因。
一个常见原因是您要查找的应用程序不在Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)中。您可以从开发者网站下载该应用程序的APK，然后在手机上使用该应用程序。
其他原因包括Google Play 商店(Google Play Store) 限制(restricting certain apps)您所在地区的某些应用程序。APK有助于克服这一限制。
从商店外部安装 APK 有哪些风险？(What Are The Risks Of Installing An APK From Outside The Store?)
使用APK安装Android应用程序存在风险。一个主要风险是您不确定该应用程序将在您的手机上做什么。例如，它可能是一个恶意应用程序，可以窃取您的数据。
由于这些应用程序不会通过Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)的质量和安全检查，因此这些应用程序可以有任何代码，并且可以对您的手机执行任何操作。
但是，大多数应用程序都可以安全使用(most apps are safe to use)。只要您信任从中获取APK的网站或开发人员，您应该没问题。
如何在您的 Android 设备上启用 APK 安装(How To Enable APK Installation On Your Android Device)
在几乎所有Android手机上，安装非官方应用程序 ( APK(APKs) ) 的选项默认禁用。您需要打开此选项才能安装APK(APKs)。
- 在手机上启动“设置”(Settings)应用。
- 向下滚动并点击关于手机(About phone)选项。
- 点击Build number约 7-8 次以启用开发人员选项。
- 返回主设置屏幕，点击开发人员选项(Developer options)，然后启用未知来源(Unknown sources)。
- 如果您没有找到开发人员(Developer)选项菜单，请查找Security或Lock screen and security等选项。此选项因设备而异，但您应该可以找到它。
如何在 Android 上启用特定于应用程序的 APK 安装(How To Enable App-Specific APK Installation On Android)
某些Android手机具有一项功能，您只能启用来自特定来源的APK安装。(APK)在这些手机上，您需要为将用于下载APK(APKs)的每个应用打开APK安装选项。
例如，如果您将使用 Chrome(use Chrome)下载和安装APK(APKs)，则需要为Chrome启用(Chrome)APK安装选项。
- 打开设置(Settings)应用程序并点击应用程序和通知(Apps & notifications)。
- 向下滚动(Scroll)并点击最后一个显示特殊应用访问权限(Special app access)的选项。
- 在以下屏幕上选择安装未知应用程序。(Install unknown apps )
- 选择您将用于安装APK(APKs)的应用。在大多数情况下，它将是您的浏览器或文件管理器。
- 启用允许来自该来源(Allow from this source)选项。
如何使用 APK 安装 Android 应用程序(How To Install An Android App Using An APK)
使用APK(APK)文件安装应用程序是最简单的部分。如果您尚未为您的应用下载APK，请立即下载或浏览一些流行且安全的 APK 下载网站(popular and safe APK download sites)以获取您的 APK。
然后，您有两种方法可以使用下载的APK安装您的应用程序。
使用 Android 调试桥 (ADB)(Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB))
Android Debug Bridge (ADB)可帮助您从计算机远程执行手机上的命令。如果您的APK文件已保存到您的计算机，您可以使用ADB中的命令将(ADB)APK推送到您的设备并安装应用程序。
我们有一个关于如何使用 ADB 安装 Android 应用程序(how to install Android apps using ADB)的综合指南。检查一下，您将了解整个过程。
使用你的安卓手机(Using Your Android Phone)
如果您已经将APK文件直接传输到手机，则可以使用浏览器或文件管理器应用程序安装APK文件。
- 启动您的浏览器或文件管理器，然后点击APK文件。
- 您会看到一个提示，询问您是否要安装该应用程序。点击底部的安装。(Install)
- 您将在屏幕上看到实时安装进度。
- 安装应用程序后，点击完成(Done)关闭当前屏幕或点击打开(Open)启动新安装的应用程序。
如何在 Android 上为 APK 应用程序安装更新(How To Install Updates For APK Apps On Android)
Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)只允许您更新(update the apps)从商店下载的应用程序。要更新您使用APK(APKs)安装的应用程序，您有两种方法。
手动查找和安装更新(Manually Find & Install Updates)
更新APK应用程序的一种方法是下载更新的APK文件并安装它们。这将覆盖您现有的应用程序，但会保留这些应用程序中的数据。
您可以在一些APK下载网站或应用程序的官方网站上找到更新版本的APK应用程序。(APK)
使用应用程序更新您的应用程序(Use An App To Update Your Apps)
您可以使用像APKUpdater这样的免费应用程序来更新您下载的应用程序，就像官方的Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)方法一样。此应用程序会扫描您的设备以查找所有已安装的应用程序，查找这些应用程序的更新，并提供安装更新。
APKUpdater使用多个来源来查找已安装应用程序的最新版本。当发现您的应用程序有更新(an update is found for your apps)时，它还会发送通知。
安装应用程序后如何处理 APK(What To Do With The APK After Installing The App)
使用下载的APK(APK)文件安装应用程序后，您不再需要APK文件。
您可以使用文件管理器安全地从手机中删除APK ，以消除混乱并(APK)释放内存空间(free-up your memory space)。
应用程序未发布到官方Google Play 商店(Google Play Store)的原因有多种。但是，通过使用APK安装(APKs)Android应用程序的能力，您可以在手机上安装任何应用程序，无论如何。您甚至可以使用此功能测试您自己开发的应用程序。
How To Install Android Apps Using The APK File
Google Play Store isn’t the only source of apps for Android devices. There are many sites that host Android apps as well. You can download apps as special APK files from these sites and install them on your phone. To install these, you’ll need to configure your phone since these are unofficial Android apps.
If you’re new to APKs and you aren’t sure how to install Android apps with these APK files, our guide here will help you out.
What Is An APK File?
APK stands for Android Package Kit and it’s a file consisting of all resources and codes that the app needs to install.
For example, if you download the APK for YouTube, the APK contains YouTube’s resources like banners, logos, and other content. The APK also contains the code that instructs the app what to do when you press a certain option.
In a nutshell, an APK is an app installer for Android devices. You tap an APK file and it installs the app on your phone.
Why Use An APK To Install An App On Android?
There are various reasons you may want to use an APK to install apps.
A common reason is that the app you’re looking for isn’t present on the Google Play Store. You can download the APK for that app from the developer’s site and use the app on your phone.
Other reasons include the Google Play Store restricting certain apps in your region. An APK helps overcome that limitation.
What Are The Risks Of Installing An APK From Outside The Store?
Using an APK to install Android apps comes with risks. One major risk is that you aren’t sure what the app will do on your phone. It could be a malicious app that can steal your data, for example.
Since these apps don’t go through the Google Play Store quality and security checks, these apps can have any code, and they can do anything to your phone.
However, most apps are safe to use. As long as you trust the website or the developer you’re getting the APK from, you should be fine.
How To Enable APK Installation On Your Android Device
On almost all Android phones, the option to install unofficial apps (APKs) comes disabled by default. You need to turn on this option to install APKs.
- Launch the Settings app on your phone.
- Scroll down and tap the About phone option.
- Tap Build number for about 7-8 times to enable developer options.
- Get back to the main settings screen, tap Developer options, and enable Unknown sources.
- If you don’t find the Developer options menu, look for options like Security or Lock screen and security. This option varies by device but you should find it.
How To Enable App-Specific APK Installation On Android
Some Android phones have a feature where you can only enable APK installations from specific sources. On these phones, you need to turn on the APK installation option for each app that you’ll be using to download APKs.
For example, if you’ll use Chrome to download and install APKs, you need to enable the APK installation option for Chrome.
- Open the Settings app and tap Apps & notifications.
- Scroll down and tap the last option that says Special app access.
- Select Install unknown apps on the following screen.
- Choose the app you’ll use to install APKs. In most cases, it’ll be either your browser or file manager.
- Enable the Allow from this source option.
How To Install An Android App Using An APK
Installing an application using an APK file is the easiest part. If you haven’t already downloaded the APK for your app, download it now or browse some of the popular and safe APK download sites to get your APK.
You then have two ways to install your app using the downloaded APK.
Using Android Debug Bridge (ADB)
Android Debug Bridge (ADB) helps you to remotely execute commands on your phone from your computer. If your APK file is saved to your computer, you can use a command in ADB to push the APK to your device and install the app.
We have a comprehensive guide on how to install Android apps using ADB. Check that out and you’ll learn the entire procedure.
Using Your Android Phone
If you’ve already transferred the APK file directly to your phone, you can either use your browser or the file manager app to install the APK file.
- Launch either your browser or file manager and tap the APK file.
- You’ll see a prompt asking if you want to install the app. Tap Install at the bottom.
- You’ll see the live installation progress on your screen.
- When the app’s installed, tap Done to close the current screen or tap Open to launch the newly installed app.
How To Install Updates For APK Apps On Android
The Google Play Store only lets you update the apps that you’ve downloaded from the store. To update your apps that you’ve installed using APKs, you have two methods.
Manually Find & Install Updates
One way to update your APK apps is to download the newer APK file and install them. This’ll overwrite your existing app but will preserve your data in those apps.
You can find newer versions of your APK apps on some APK download sites or the official website for the app.
Use An App To Update Your Apps
You can use a free app like APKUpdater to update your downloaded apps just like the official Google Play Store method. This app scans your device for all installed apps, finds updates for those apps, and offers to install the updates.
APKUpdater uses multiple sources to find the latest versions of your installed apps. It also sends a notification when an update is found for your apps.
What To Do With The APK After Installing The App
Once you’ve installed an app using the downloaded APK file, you no longer need the APK file.
You can safely delete the APK from your phone using a file manager to remove clutter and free-up your memory space.
There are various reasons apps aren’t published to the official Google Play Store. However, with the ability to install Android apps using APKs, you can install any app on your phone, regardless. You can even test apps you’ve developed yourself using this feature.
