How to open an apk on a computer. How to open an Apk file on your computer. WindowsZIP archiver to open ARC files

You've probably had times when a file could not be opened. Rather, it was possible to open the file, but the program needed to open it was not installed on the computer. Or just came across a file with a previously unknown extension. To solve both problems, you guessed it, you just need to find a suitable program.

Let's simulate the situation. You have downloaded a file, and, as it turns out, there is nothing to open it. And the expansion is still such that I have not seen before. What to do in this situation?

How to open this file?

You can try to ask this question in one of the search engines, but we are not interested in absolutely all the information, at least somehow related to this file extension.

We are interested in one single question: “ How to open this file?»

The structure of the site is extremely simple: a search line, categories for search, a catalog of popular extensions and programs for opening them. So what's my file anyway? We drive its extension into the search bar of the site, and as a response, he will provide us with a description of the extension and directly those programs that work with this extension. You can also try to find the extension you are interested in manually using the alphabet and category search. It's that simple!

Files with the .apk extension (AndroidPackagefile) are intended for devices running the operating system Android... It is usually found on smartphones, tablets, e-books and other electronics.

What is an apk file

Actually, .apk files are archival zip files... They can store control files of the Android system, programs or games. When compiling, any application will be linked into a file with the apk extension, which will store the source code files, archives, necessary resources and the .manifest file. In other words, Android OS custom applications have such an extension.

Such files are usually stored in the app store. Googleplay and are installed on the Android system automatically after downloading. But there are times when you need to open a file on a stationary PC, not a mobile device. For security reasons, it is always worth checking such files for viruses so as not to harm the device.

Do not forget that the apk file is first of all archived according to the algorithm ZIP compression, and it would be quite logical to try to open it with your usual archivers. In the Windows operating system, these programs are WinRAR and WinZIP, in Linux - 7-Zip, on MacOS - ArchiveUtility. Finding each of the above programs will not be difficult. After unpacking the source file, the user can view the contents of the package, source code files, assets, manifest file, other folders and documents, but will not be able to edit any of them. When using the archiver, the file is opened for reading only.

The Android operating system was created by Google and the software product Google's Android SDK, based on the Java language, is used to create applications. With this product, you can not only open apk file, but also edit, make the necessary changes or even alter or create a new program for the Android OS.

An alternative for opening .apk files on a computer is the program MEMU!

MEmu is a quality Android emulator in Russian!

MEmu is an Android emulator that specializes in video games, and thanks to which you can enjoy any of the many exclusive games for smartphones and tablets on your computer. You don't need to set up complicated settings and customize controls, just install MEmu and start playing.

Installing Android games on other emulators can be relatively tricky, but in MEmu, all you have to do is click on the APK button on the right side of the interface, select the APK file of the game you want to install, wait a few seconds and the game will be installed. Clash of Clans, Subway Surfers, Minion Rush and Geometry Dash are just a few of the games you can play on your PC using this emulator.

Installing games isn't the only easy thing in MEmu. The controls are usually pre-configured and you can play any game with your mouse or keyboard, whichever suits you best. And if you don't like the control settings, you can always make changes to them, which is extremely easy to do. You can even use an Xbox 360 controller or similar.

MEmu Is an exceptional emulator that gives you access to the entire list of games for the Android operating system. We're talking about thousands of games that you can enjoy on your computer, all of which are free. And most importantly, for the games to work perfectly, you don't even need a powerful computer.

http: //site/wp-content/uploads/otkryt_apk.pnghttp: //site/wp-content/uploads/otkryt_apk-150x150.png 2019-08-26T22: 18: 08 + 04: 00 Files android, smartphone, filesYou've probably had times when a file could not be opened. Rather, it was possible to open the file, but the program needed to open it was not installed on the computer. Or just came across a file with a previously unknown extension. To solve both problems, you guessed it, you just need to find a suitable program. Let's simulate the situation ... User site - Computer for dummies

An apk (Android Package) file is an archived executable application for Android devices. This format was developed by the Open Handset Alliance in cooperation with Google Corporation.

Any Android application is compiled and packaged into a file that includes the complete program code, assets and resources, as well as a file with the .manifest extension. The application name can be anything, but the extension is only .APK.

Such files are stored in Google Play and can be downloaded from it to a smartphone or tablet for later use. The user can also install a file that has the .apk extension in manual mode. They are not encrypted, they belong to the ZIP archiver format group. In essence, Android Package applications are archives designed to run in a so-called virtual machine.

How to open ".apk" on a computer

In order to open a file with the .APK extension on a personal computer or laptop running Windows, Linux, you need a 7-ZIP, unzip or Winrar archiver. If you have MacBook and MacOS, you will need a program called “Archive Utility”. How to open apk file on computer?

You just need to run one of the available programs that process archives and use it to unpack the Android application. Before unpacking, experts recommend checking the archive for malicious programs - viruses.

Thus, there is no need to download any rare programs; any user usually has applications for unpacking.

APK. How to open?

If you do not know what this format is - APK and how it can be opened on a computer or phone, then read the text of the article. We will tell you in detail about its features, ways to work and modify its individual elements.

What is an APK?

Read also:[Instructions] How to recover deleted files on Android: Programs for phone and PC

Android Package Kit (APK) is an executable file format for the operating system. It is an archive containing the initial data of the application (program code, compiled resource files, settings, assets, libraries).

Peculiarities:

Cannot be converted to another format.
Archived using the JAR-based compression feature.
It is a subset of the ZIP format.
Can be modified using Google Android SDK, Eclipse with ADT plugin.
Files from the APK archive are not encrypted.

APK files are stored on Google Play and other app stores for Android devices. They are unpacked and installed automatically, without the need for additional software. The data is stored in the root folder at / data / app. You can only access them through the explorer.

To develop Android applications with the APK extension, the Google's Android SDK program is used. It is available as a free download from the official website and is Java-based.

How to open on your phone

Read also: RAR for Android: How to use the archiver on mobile

How to open an APK file on your phone

If the mobile application for the Android platform is downloaded from a third-party resource or computer, then it will have the apk extension. Then you can manually install it on your phone.

How to open apk file from phone:

After that, the unpacking of the application will begin. Review the terms and conditions, grant access to features if necessary, and continue with the installation.

APK format

If you cannot copy the APK package via USB, then send it via Bluetooth or e-mail. Or separately connect the mini SD card to the computer using the adapter and transfer the file to it.

Error opening

Read also: TOP-10 File Managers for Android: Choosing the Best for You | Review of English and Russian versions

How to allow installation from unknown sources

If, after copying the APK file to the device, it cannot be started, then most likely the ability to install via has been disabled by the manufacturer.

Follow these steps to enable it:

Go to the Settings menu and find the Personal Data category here.
Select "Security" and put a tick in front of "Unknown sources (allow installation from unknown sources)".
Run the apk file and proceed with the installation.

If an error appears, then in the same menu, uncheck the box opposite "Check Applications"... Then Android will not prohibit installations that can harm the device. Use this method only if you are sure of the security of the installed APK file.

other methods

Read also: TOP 15 Best Free Antivirus Programs for Android (Android) Gadgets in 2019

If you want to view the contents of the APK file from your phone, you can use the mobile version or special software for this.

Let's consider the most popular programs that allow you to edit apk packages:

APK Editor

APK Editor interface

Works both with packages and those already installed on the device,. Allows you to change individual manifests, edit resources, replace files. It features a convenient graphical interface, Cyrillic support.

DroidEdit Free

DroidEdit Free interface

Free mobile app for creating and editing individual manifests. It will not be possible to open the APK itself with its help, and changing individual elements (after unpacking) is no problem.

SmartAPKTool

SmartAPKTool interface

Allows signing APK, ZIP files. Unpack and package APKs. Suitable for pre-editing applications. SmartAPKTool may require additional software (ApkTool, Java virtual machine) to work.

After that, you will be able to change the already existing lines of code, notifications. In some applications, you can add additional actions or remove existing ones (for example, displaying ads). Please note that after that it will differ from the original, so you will not be able to update it via Google Play.

How to extract the APK

Read also: How to remove a virus from Android (Android) on your phone: Instructions for 2019

APK Extractor interface

If you need to get the APK of an application already installed on your phone, you can do this using special software. There are several free programs in the Play Market, but we will use APK Extractor for this purpose.

The procedure will be as follows:

How to extract apk via APK Extractor

How to open on a computer

Read also:[Instructions] How to transfer an application to an Android smartphone's memory card: 4 easy ways | 2019

APK files

You can unpack the apk file to view or edit the contents using a regular archiver. However, you will not be able to install or run the application. This requires special software.

APK than open on different operating systems:

Windows - 7-Zip, WinRAR.
Linux - 7-Zip, unzip.
MacOS - Archive Utility.

If during the installation of the archiver, the extensions were not configured (which will be associated by default), then the program may not recognize the apk file. Then it will be of an "unknown" format.

To open, click on it with the mouse and select the required software in the list of proposed programs. After that, you will have access to all the original data of the application.

Emulators to run APK files on PC

Read also: Putting Android on PC: TOP-10 Emulators for Windows

If you want to install it on your computer, then the file will have the apk extension. To install it, you need a special emulator. They are available for free download.

BlueStacks interface

Differs in good performance in games and allows you to run resource-intensive applications. The main feature is the Bluestacks TV function. Needed for online broadcasts on.

With the help of the emulator, you can run mobile applications through apk packages or install them directly from the Play Market. To use Google services, you will need to log in with your account.

To run the apk packages themselves, you do not need to connect an account. But if a game or program requires a link to a social network or other services, then you will need to log in or go through a simple registration.

By downloading applications for a smartphone through a computer, the user may find that his installation file has the .kap extension. Few people know, but this format can be run not only on Android, but also on Windows, and how to do this will be described later in the text.

What is APK

Before we start looking at ways to run APK files on a desktop device, it's worth telling what this format is all about.

So, its full name sounds like Android Package. Accordingly, already from this we can conclude that it is intended to work within the framework of a mobile operating system. Here you can draw an analogy with the EXE format, which is used in Windows and is the installer of an application. Similarly, an APK is an archive with all the program files, as well as instructions for extracting them. In simple terms, it is an Android app installer.

How to open APK file on computer

At the beginning of the article, it was said that APK files can be run not only on smartphones running Android, but also on Windows. Of course, this will require additional tools. They can be divided into two categories:

to view the list of installed files;
to install the application.

In the first case, any known archiver is suitable, it is with its help that you can open the APK and see what files are in it. But to install Android programs in the Windows operating system, you need to use more serious applications called emulators.

Using archivers

We'll start by looking at how to open an APK file using an archiver. The question may immediately arise, why is this necessary at all. But, as mentioned earlier, in this way you can view all the files of the installed application, and most importantly, make some edits to them, for example, translate the text into Russian.

To perform all operations, the WinRAR archiver will be used, which each user can install for himself, because the application is distributed free of charge.

Click on the APK file with the right mouse button (RMB).
Select the "Properties" option from the menu.
In the window that opens, go to the "General" tab.
Opposite the line "Application" click the "Change" button.
A dialog box will appear in which you need to select a program to open the file. If WinRAR is not in the list, then indicate the direct path to it by clicking on the link "Find another application on this computer".
The file manager window will open. In it, you need to go to the directory with the WinRAR executable file. By default, it is located in the following path: "C: \ Program Files \ WinRAR \".
Going to the folder with the archiver, select the executable file and click the "Open" button.
In the Properties window, click the Apply button and then OK.

After following this instruction, all files that have the APK extension will be launched through the archiver, you just need to double-click on them with the left mouse button (LMB).

Launching the emulator

If the purpose of downloading the APK file to your computer was to install it further, and not open it, then you will need to use an emulator of the Windows operating system. There are quite a few of them on the software market, so everything will not be considered in the article, but only the most popular ones.

BlueStacks

BlueStacks is the most popular Android emulator, so it's wise to start with it. So, in order to install an Android application within the Windows desktop, you need to do the following:

Launch the BlueStacks program.
On the left panel with the list of tools, click on the "APK" button.
A file manager window will open, in which you need to go to the folder with the previously downloaded APK file.
Highlight the Android application and click the "Open" button.
The process of installing the application in BlueStacks will start, wait for it to complete.
The icon of the newly installed program will be displayed in the emulator menu, click on it to start.

Droid4X

Droid4X is its one popular emulator for a mobile operating system, respectively, and it can be used to run Android applications on Windows computers. This is done much easier:

Install the Droid4X program on your computer.
Open File Explorer.
Navigate to the folder with the downloaded APK file.
Right click on it.
In the context menu, select the "Play with Droid4X" item.
The installation process for the mobile application will start. Wait for it to complete.
Click LMB on the icon of the installed program in the emulator menu.

Genymotion

It is much more difficult to install an APK file on a computer using the Genymotion emulator, but it is still a good alternative to the previous methods. However, please note that you must first create an account on the Genymotion website and install the VirtualBox virtual machine.

Start Genymotion.
Click the "Add" button on the top panel.
In the window that appears, click "Next".
Subsequently, after it, also click "Next".
Wait for the download to complete and in the VirtualBox window that opens, click the "Run" button.
Return to the Genymotion window and click the "Start" button.
An emulated Android window will appear. To install the APK, you must first install Genymotion ARM Translation. To do this, open the folder with this file and drag it with the mouse into the emulator window.
Restart the emulator and virtual machine.
Open the folder with the APK file and drag it into the emulator window.

Immediately after that, the application will be launched, and you can interact with it through the emulator window.

An APK file is an Android package used to distribute applications to Android, the mobile operating system from Google.

APK files are saved in a format and are usually downloaded directly to Android devices, usually through the Google Play store, but they can also be found on other websites.

Some of the content contained in a typical APK file includes the file AndroidManifest.xml, classes.dex and resources.arsc; and also the folder META-INF and res.

How to open an APK file

APK files can be opened on a number of operating systems, but they are mainly used on Android devices.

Open the APK file on Android

To open an APK file on your Android device, you just need to download it like any other file and then open it. But? APK files downloaded from outside the Google Play store may not be installed immediately due to security restrictions.

To bypass this download restriction and install APKs from unknown sources, go to "Settings"→ "Security" (or use the search by settings) and check the box Install from unknown sources... You may need to confirm this action.

If the APK file won't open on your Android, try finding it using a file manager like Astro File Manager or ES File Explorer File Manager.

Open the APK file on Windows

You can open the APK file on PC using Android Studio or BlueStacks. For example, if you are using BlueStacks, go to the tab My Apps and select Install apk in the bottom right corner of the window.

Open the APK file on Mac

ARC Welder is a Google Chrome extension for testing Android apps for Chrome OS, but it works on any OS. This means that you can open the APK on your Mac or Windows computer if the application is installed in the Chrome browser.

Open the APK file on iOS

You will not be able to open or install APK files on an iOS device (iPhone, iPad, etc.) because the file is built in a completely different way from the applications used on those devices and the two platforms are not compatible with each other.

You can also open the APK file on Windows, macOS, or any other desktop operating system using the file extraction tool. Since APK files are just archives of multiple folders and files, you can unzip them using a program such as or to see the various components that make up the application.

However, this does not allow you use APK file on your computer. This requires an Android emulator (like BlueStacks) that essentially runs the Android OS on the computer.

How to convert an APK file

While a file conversion program or service is usually required to convert one file type to another, it is not very useful when working with APK files. This is because an APK file is an application designed to only run on certain devices, as opposed to other types of files, such as MP4 or that run on various platforms.

Instead, if you want convert APK file to ZIP, you should use the instructions above. Either open the APK file in a file extraction tool and then package it to a ZIP file, or simply rename the .APK file to .ZIP.

Renaming a file this way is not a file conversion. And this only works in the case of APK files, because the file format already uses ZIP, but it just adds another file extension (.APK).

As mentioned above, you cannot convert APK file to IPA for use on iOS, nor can you convert APK to EXE to use Android app on Windows.

However, you can usually find an iOS alternative that works in place of the Android app you want to install on your iPhone or iPad. Most developers have the same app available on both platforms (both APK for Android and IPA for iOS).

As for the APK to EXE converter, just install the Windows APK and then use it to open the Android app on your computer.

You can convert your APK file to BAR for use with your BlackBerry device simply by uploading the APK file to the Good e-Reader APK to BAR online converter. Wait for the conversion to complete and then download the BAR file back to your computer.