How to install mobile applications  programs and games using APK, XAPK and APKM files

Mobile applications and games can be installed not only from the Play Store or some other directories, but also using APK, XAPK or APKM installation files. Let’s consider in what cases this may be useful and how to do it

• What are APK files?
• Why install applications using APK files?
• How to install applications and games using APK files?
• What are XAPK and APKM files?
• How to install applications and games using XAPK files?
• How to install applications and games using APKM files?

What are APK files?

APK file (Android Package) is a standard application format for Android. Essentially, an APK file is a compressed archive that includes resources and code for a mobile application. Application and game developers upload these files to the Google Play Store, and later, users can install these applications on their smartphone and tablet.

For one application of a certain version, several APK files may be available, each of which is intended for devices of a certain architecture, operating system version and with different screen resolutions. The more options for APK files the developer provides, the less data will be downloaded when installing or updating the application, since the file will be downloaded without code and data intended for other devices.

Currently, APKs are released for four architectures: armeabi-v7a (arm), arm64-v8a (aarch64), x86 (i386) and x86_64. Many developers also release a comprehensive installation file that includes support for multiple architectures, but is larger in size. If you open the app’s page in the Play Store, you will see the version number and size of the app for your device. Legacy devices may offer older versions of the app if the update is not supported or has not yet been released for your device.

Why install applications using APK files?

Sometimes, installing using an APK is the only way to get an application or game on your device. For example, the app does not comply with Google’s guidelines and is not available on the Play Store. In such cases, they can be downloaded from the sites and forums where the author posted them and installed manually.

In some cases, you may want to use an older version of the app, for example if the newest version is missing or doesn’t work properly, or you don’t like the new design. Or, after updating the application, it does not launch at all, and you will need to roll back to the previous version, while only the new one is offered in the Play Store.

Also, some applications may not be available in your region and you will not be able to install them from the Play Store.

Also, some applications may not be available in your region and you will not be able to install them from the Play Store.

Experienced users or mobile device repair technicians may need to install an antivirus on an infected device, and often an APK file may be the only option to scan and disinfect the system. Many viruses for Android can fill the screen with advertising banners or block the Internet, and in this case, in order to avoid resetting or flashing the device and losing all data, installing an antivirus for Android using an APK file will be a good option for treating the system.

How to install applications and games using APK files?

Since APK is a standard application format in the Android operating system, installing them is simple and does not require any additional software. You just need to download the file to your smartphone or tablet, find its location in any file manager, click on it and select “Install”.

The only limitation that may prevent installation is the operating system blocking the installation of applications from unknown sources. In this case, follow these steps:

6.  What are XAPK and APKM files?

7. Due to some restrictions imposed by Google for publishing applications on the Play Store, the size of an Android application cannot exceed a certain size. Developers of large applications, such as mobile games, can use additional files with resources that are necessary for the application or game to work and will be downloaded after it is installed and launched for the first time.
8. The community of developers and users have come up with new formats for distributing mobile applications that allow you to store all the necessary resources and files in one file. XAPK and APKM files are archives that can include multiple APK files and additional resources (cache). These formats are gaining popularity on software portals, such as apkpure.com and apkmirror.com, especially for downloading mobile games.

How to install applications and games using XAPK files?

There are several ways to install mobile applications and games using XAPK files. Let’s consider three options.

Option 1 – using mobile applications . You can use the APKPure Android mobile app to install XAPK.

Download APKSure for Android

To install XAPK using APKPure for Android:

1. Open APKSure Android app.
2. Go to the main menu by clicking the icon in the upper right corner.
3. Switch to the “APK/XAPK Management” tab.
4. The application will scan the device memory and display a list of APK and XAPK installation files found. Click “Install” next to the application you need and wait for the cache files to unpack and copy.
5. After this, the installation of the extracted APK installer will begin. Confirm the action by clicking “Install” and follow the instructions for installing AKP written above.

Also, after installing the APKSure application for Android, the .xapk files will be associated with the APKSure application, which will allow you to install them in a few clicks by clicking on them in any file manager.

Option 2 – use a USB cable and a computer . You can use the Pure APS Install app for Windows to install XAPK .

Download Sure APK Install

To install XAPK using Pure APK Install:

1. Enable USB debugging on your mobile device (find instructions for your version of Android on the Internet).
2. Connect your mobile device to your computer using a USB cable.
3. Open the Pure APK Install application on your computer.
4. Drag the .xapk or .apk file into the Sure APK Install program window, or use the “Open APK file” button and specify the path to the file.
5. Information about the selected application will appear: name, version, size and minimum requirements. Select the application installation location: built-in storage (Internal android memory), memory card (External SD card) or leave “Auto select”.
6. Click the “Install” button.
7. On your mobile device, wait for the message and confirm access from your computer.
8. Wait for the installation to complete and click “OK”.

9. Option 3 – Extract APK file from XAPK. Download the XAPK file you need and open it with an archiver such as WinRAR or 7-Zip . For convenience, you can first change the file extension from .xapk to .zip.

9. Extract the file with the .apk extension from it and install it following the instructions written above. Also, copy the contents of the “Android” folder, which contains the application cache, to the corresponding folder on your device.

10. 1.  How to install applications and games using APKM files?

    2. To install mobile applications and games using APKM files, the official mobile application from the developers of this format is available – APKMirror Installer.

    Install the APKMirror Installer mobile application and download the necessary APKM files to any folder on your device or installed memory card. APKMirror Installer app will scan your mobile device and display a list of APK and APKM installation files found. Most APKM installation files have installation options available, such as architecture, included languages, and screen resolutions.