APK files are stored in ZIP format and are typically downloaded directly to Android devices; users will need an emulator to open the file. This article describes what an APK file is, how to open or install it on specific operating systems, and why file conversion might not be available.
What is an APK file?
An APK file is a package file used to distribute applications on Google's Android operating system. APK files are stored in ZIP format and can be opened on several operating systems, but are usually downloaded directly to Android devices, most commonly via Google Play, but can also be found on other websites.
Some of the contents found in a typical APK file include the AndroidManifest.xml, classes.dex, and resources.arsc files; as well as the META-INF and res folders.
How to open APK files
On Android
To open an Android app on an Android device, users simply download it like any other file, then open it when prompted. However, APK files installed outside the Google Play Store may not install immediately due to a security measure in place.
To bypass this download restriction and install APK files from unknown sources, navigate to one of the following menus depending on your Android version:
- Settings > Apps > Special app access permissions > Install unknown apps
- Settings > Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access > Install unknown apps
- Settings > Apps and notifications
- Settings > Security
Users may need to grant permission to a specific app to install unofficial APK files – for example, after selecting Chrome, you need to enable "Allow from this source." Or, if you see this, enable "Install unknown apps" or "Unknown sources."
If the file doesn't open, try browsing it with a file manager like Astro File Manager or ES File Explorer File Manager.
On Windows
Users can open APK files on a Windows PC using an Android emulator. You can refer to the TOP list of the best Android emulators for Windows to make a choice that suits your needs.
On a Mac
BlueStacks and several other Android emulators also work well on Macs. Users can use these emulators to open APK files on their Mac computers.
On iOS
People cannot open or install APK files on iPhones or iPads because the files are structured in a completely different way than the apps used on those devices, and the two platforms are incompatible. Instead, iOS apps are stored in a format using the IPA file extension.
How to extract APK files
People can also open APK files from their desktop computers using a file extraction tool. Since APK files are simply archives of various folders and files, users can extract them using programs like 7-Zip or PeaZip to view the different components that make up the application.
However, doing so doesn't allow people to actually use the application on a computer; it still requires an emulator, which essentially runs the Android operating system on a computer.
How to convert APK files
While file conversion programs or services are often necessary to convert one file type to another, they aren't very useful when handling APK files. This is because APK files are designed to run only on specific devices, unlike other file types such as MP4 or PDF which work across multiple platforms.