in your geographic area or on your specific phone model. There are two main ways to fetch APK files directly from Google's site, and the best method for you really depends on whether you're looking to download a lot of apps or if you're looking for a specific app that isn't offered. While it might not be a feature everyone uses, knowing how to download APK files directly from Google is a great Android pro tip to keep hidden when you need it. While it won't let you bypass Play Store restrictions for any paid apps you haven't purchased, the ability to directly download APKs from Google is still handy, letting you bypass geo-restrictions on apps, test applications on Chrome OS or in an emulator on Windows, and even share applications directly with other users. Android also has the ability to install APKs from external sources, making it just as extensible an operating system as something like Windows 10.Īlthough Google does not specify this, it is possible to grab APK files directly from the Google Play Store desktop website in order to share and use these files. So even though you use a store interface to search through millions of Android apps and games, the process is basically the same as installing an app on Windows or Mac OS. It is an installable archive file on the Android operating system. Any app you download from the Play Store installs on your device using an APK file.

Likewise, your Android phone also operates using its own installable software. Each of these file types allows the operating system to load, use, and install a corresponding application. Anyway, you have no doubt installed applications on Windows or Mac OS using. Perhaps you rely on several different utilities downloaded from the Internet to control your computer. For example, you've probably found yourself downloading iTunes from Apple's website to listen to music or downloading Steam from Valve's website to play games. Most of the apps on your computer are probably from the web. So, let's start with what they are and how to download them from the Google Play Store. These apps use APKs and you may need to download them directly to get this app on your phone or other device. Like your computer, your phone works with a series of applications to load data, connect to the Internet, stream music, and more.

More than ever, phones and computers have blurred the boundary between them.

Download apk from google play