Can i download apps without google play

There are plenty of reasons to look for apps outside of Google's store. Odds are if you're here, you already have at least one, but there are some reasons you might not be aware of. For one, Google sometimes removes apps from its venue based on content , functionality , or as a matter of censorship to comply with local laws.

Sometimes apps are kicked to the curb for perfectly legitimate and valid reasons, like containing malware or violating user privacy, but that isn't always the case.

For better or worse, Android gives you the freedom and associated responsibility to get your apps anywhere you like. Another good reason to download apps from APKMirror is simply that they aren't even present on the Play Store to begin with.

For example, the popular Lawnchair 2 alpha wasn't available on the Play Store before its formal release. Other times, apps that are distributed on the Play Store roll out updates progressively, so when it comes to playing with the latest cutting-edge features you might read about in our coverage, you may not have access to them yet. We're all beholden to the slow Play Store roll-out. Lastly, sometimes updates aren't always for the better, and APKMirror can provide a way to roll back to previous versions of an app in the event you run into an issue.

Whatever your motivation and there are plenty , if you've resolved to get an app elsewhere, you can probably get it at APKMirror. And, it's also the safest choice. While Google might be responsible for the ads you see at APKMirror, we've done our best to make a good quality, easily navigated repository of Android applications. It might take you a minute to learn to navigate things like the different APK versions based on hardware platform or "DPI," but it's generally straightforward to get what you need.

The apps that you download from APKMirror are unmolested and securely signed by their developers. We make sure that all APK cryptographic signatures are verified to match the originals either previous updates or versions distributed on the Play Store , and we match new applications to known signatures from developers.

In the event we can't verify an app's signature, APKMirror won't have it. For the non-technically minded, that all means we're as sure as we can be that the apps we're distributing are safe. Three, there is absolutely zero pirated content on APKMirror. While you might be able to get around geographic restrictions or censorship, APKMirror doesn't provide "cracked" or pirated versions of apps though we do host some modified apps, like Google apps tweaked to work with more devices.

Android Police and APKMirror are here to help developers, not make their lives harder or take away their ability to earn a living. Connecting with our previous point regarding safety and security, many apps modified to provide paid or premium features for free also have malware or spyware hiding inside them, which you don't want.

Lastly, even if you disagree with these arguments on the premise that we have a vested interest in promoting our own services, other impartial sources also trust APKMirror.

Ostensibly a senior editor, in reality just some verbose dude who digs on tech, loves Android, and hates anticompetitive practices. His only regret is that he didn't buy a Nokia N9 in Email tips or corrections to ryne at androidpolice dot com. How to download and install apps from APKMirror Disclosure: APK Mirror is owned and operated by Illogical Robot, LLC, which also owns and operates Android Police If you're the sort of person that prefers video instructions, we've put together a quick six-minute walkthrough on the process that you can watch just below.

Image Gallery 1 Images. Image Gallery 2 Images. Before you start sideloading apps, you have to modify the system settings on your Android device. There are a few different methods, depending on your Android version. The above steps enable your browser to get apps from sources other than Google Play. Android 8 controls the installation permissions through individual apps rather than all of them at once, so you need to allow the browser to perform installations.

With older Android versions 7. Instead, you have to trigger an option for downloading files from all available sources. Using the above steps, you will have access to any APKs you want to install , as long as they are compatible with your device. This option can put your device at risk since it allows all unknown sources to store files rather than on an app-by-app basis. If your smartphone is not protected enough, it could get infected.

However, updates for the app may require the option to be enabled again. The Play Store downloads and installs them automatically for you. You can check out our list of the best third party app stores by clicking here.

You should be able to open your new third party app store, download apps, and install them without worries. To be frank, most apps you find on most third party apps stores are available in the Play Store anyway.

However, there are some exclusives here and there. Plus, F-Droid in particular is a neat place for some power user tools and stuff like that. You should be able to easily install APKs and third party app stores now. If we missed anything, let us know in the comments!

How to install third party apps without the Google Play Store There are plenty of other ways to get apps from outside of Google Play. Here is how to install apps from APKs and other third party app stores! How To By Jose. Android is an open-source platform and, thus, you have more options than you do with something like iOS.

One of those freedoms is the ability to install third-party apps from outside of the Google Play Store. However, for whatever reason, you want to install something from somewhere else. We can definitely still help with that. Android 8. You can either navigate to your Download folder using a file browser app or simply begin the install by clicking on the completed download in your mobile browser.