Best ways to download and install apps outside the Google Play Store
The Android operating system is popular for its limited restrictions and open-source platform. Being an open-source platform and having fewer restrictions, it is easier to download third-party apps on your Android phone. Third-party apps mean downloading and installing apps outside the Google Play Store. Although officially, it is not good for security purposes to download and install third-party apps on your Android phone as Google follows some strong security check-ups while any developer publishes the apps on the Play Store and removes the apps from the Play Store if any apps violate the security standard or steal user data without permission. Besides, some third-party apps are developed for collecting personal information, and even some third-party apps have malware issues. However, some people still prefer to download and install third-party apps on their Android phones.
There are lots of methods to download apps from outside the Google Play Store. In this article, we will discuss the two best ways to download and install third-party apps on your Android phone. Among the two methods, one is downloading the APK file and then installing it, and another one is using the third-party app store. In the below part of this article, you will learn how to download and install third-party apps in these two ways.
- First of all, you have to download the APK file from a different APK file download site. There are plenty of sites to download APK files such as APK Mirror, APK Pure, F-Droid, APK Downloader, and many more.
- After downloading the APK file, you have to allow permission to install the app from these sources. This method can be varied depending on the device. However, the general procedure is the same for all Android devices. While you are trying to install, a pop-up message will be shown to allow the sources from the settings> click on the settings> turn on the allow from these sources. For example, you have downloaded the APK file using Google Chrome and now, want to install the APK file directly from Google Chrome’s download section. In that case, you have to allow permission for the Chrome browser to install the APK.
- Or, after downloading the APK file using Google Chrome, you can go to the file browser of your phone and now, want to install the APK file from the file browser. In that case, you have to allow permission for the file browser to install the APK. That means the app that will be used to install the APK file needs to be permitted to install the app.
- Once the permission of Allow from these sources is done a prompt will appear to install the app.
- Click on the install button and the app will be installed. In this way, you can download and install the APK file on your Android phone. The app will work like any other app, and you will find the apps in the app drawer.
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Revoke permission for security purposes
After downloading the apps, you can remove the permission so that no other apps install without your permission. To do this, you have to follow the below steps:
- Go to settings and navigate to that specific app’s settings.
- Or, you can find this option in Settings> Privacy Protection. Or, you can simply search for the Install unknown apps on the search bar of the settings.
- From Privacy Protection, Tap on Special permissions> Select Install unknown apps> then, go to the app from which you install the APK> click on that APP> turn off the Allow from this source. You can also search in the settings by typing install unknown apps in the search bar of the settings. Â
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How to install and use a third-party app store
There is another easiest way to install the third-party APK on your Android phone. This way is popular as it is like installing apps from the Google Play Store. There are many stores for the Android app such as Amazon Appstore, F-Droid, Aptoide, and many more. But first of all, you have to download the APK file from that app store.
- First of all, download the APK file of the App Store from the website of that store.
- Now, install the APK following the process of the above method that we have discussed in the APK file installation process.
- Once the store is installed, it will work like the Google Play store. You can search on any other specific app and install it. To show you, we have used the Amazon App Store.
- When you click on the get button for any specific app to install, you will get a warning to grant the app permission to install other apps. If you are first time in the Amazon Appstore, click on continue.
- Then, go to Settings> Select Amazon App Store> turn on Allow from this source. (Note that, you have to just go through this process for the first time, and the next time, you can just go to the Amazon App Store and install the app.)
- Return to the Amazon App Store and now, you will be able to install the app by clicking on the Get again.
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Conclusion
As there are many websites and stores present to download and install third-party apps, you have to be careful while downloading and installing from any source. It is the best option to find out the rating and download the app that has a good rating and a trusted developer. You can search on Google to learn about the developer of any specific app.
