There isn’t just one way to install Android apps on a
phone or tablet. Rather, Android’s open nature allows you to get apps from
various sources, and choose how to install and maintain them. The array of
options can be a little daunting, so let’s lay everything out.
The Google Play Store
Most apps
are going to be obtained from the Google Play Store. On your phone or tablet,
tap the Play Store icon (or Play Shop in some locales) to open the store. The
main page in the Play Store will offer you access to books, movies, and music
in addition to apps. Just tap the Apps link to get to the right area.
This page
will show you a selection of featured apps, as well as a few curated lists like
Editors’ Choice. If you want to install and Android app you can pick it from
here, or search for the one you want. Each app has its own details page where
you can check out reviews, ratings, prices, and download size.
For free
Android apps, hit the download button at the top of the page to
install. Paid apps will have a button with the price listed. Tap that and
you will go to the payment interface where you can choose the account you want
to use to pay.
The Play
Store is also online and has many of the same options. You have to click past
all the music and movies on the main page, and you can still pick from lists of
apps or search for them. When you find an app you want to install from the web
interface, you will be asked which device you want it installed on. Choose
your phone from the drop down (for most users there will only be one device in
the list), and hit install.
Paid apps
will go through a payment screen before the app is installed. When you’re done,
the app will be pushed down to your phone automatically.
Sideloading
Some
developers are good enough to sell apps, or give away betas on their websites.
An example of this is the Humble Bundle.If you want to install an Android app
like this,odds are it comes as an application package,or APK.Installing that
APK on your device is called “sideloading”,and it requires just a little
setup.
You will
have to go into your device settings and enable “Unknown Sources,” which is
usually in the Security menu. After that, just put the APK on your phone’s SD
card and use a file manager like Astro or AntTek to find and open it. Another
option is to use Dropbox. Be aware, though, some shady people will package
malware with Android APKs on the open internet.
Android
users in the US have another option for installing Android apps, and that’s the
Amazon Appstore. This is essentially a glorified sideloading system, so you
still need to have Unknown Sources checked. Amazon’s website will send the
Appstore installer to your device to make things easier. Then you can browse
and install apps in the Amazon ecosystem from your phone or the Amazon website.
The files downloaded from Amazon will trigger the same system-level installer
used to sideload apps.
The Google Play Store is the way most users will find
apps, and it has the best experience. The cloud push installs from the web interface
is almost magical. Amazon’s app store works fairly well, but the selection is
poor and it doesn’t integrate well with the system. Manual sideloading is the
most difficult method, but it lets you install literally anything you want,
even if that turns out to be not such a good idea.
see the original article on-Geek
