Installing Android apps can be a breeze, or it can be slightly complicated. It all depends on the route you go. When installing from Android Market or another app store, the process is largely automated. When trying to install an app downloaded from the web or somewhere else, it becomes a bit trickier.


With apps downloaded from Android Market or the Amazon Appstore, you only have to decide what app you want to install. Perform a search, find the app you're looking for, and press a button. Both Android Market and Amazon Appstore do all of the dirty work for you, asking you to press one or two buttons that confirm your selection.






However, if you're trying to install an app that is not available in either store, the task is more complex. Suppose you want to install the full version of JetVD, an app that downloads YouTube videos and is no longer available on Android Market. First, you would have to find the file to install it. Android apps are installed files in a format known as APK. Performing a search for the app you're looking for and including the term APK in the search will usually help you find the file you're looking for. If you're using your computer to download the APK file, you'll have to transfer it to your phone's memory. This can be achieved by connecting your Android device to your computer and putting the phone into USB mass storage mode. Once you've done this, you can drag the file from your computer to your phone's memory as if your phone's memory is just another folder on your computer. Alternately, you can use your Android phone's browser to download the APK straight to your device.


Once the APK is on your phone, you'll need to use a file manager to go open the APK. Most Android phones come with file managers. Look in your app drawer for something called 'Files' or 'My Files.' If you cannot find a file manager already installed, simply go to Android Market and install of one of the thousands of file managers. One of the most popular options is called Astro File Manager. Open your file manager of choice, and navigate to where you previously stored the APK on your phone. Simply tap the APK, and a screen will come up with the app's information and an option to install it. Tap on install. The app will install from here, but depending on what type of device you have, you might be prompted to enable app installations from unknown sources. You'll be taken to that screen, and will just need to check the 'Unknown Sources' box. Hit the back key from there, and you'll be taken back to the installation screen, where you can install the app.


Once the app is installed, look for it in your app drawer. Always be careful when installing new apps, especially ones found on the web and not one of the app stores for Android. Other than that, now you know how to install Android apps. Have fun!Article Source:  here to read the rest of  How To Install Android Apps. If you enjoyed this article, you also might like to read about Android App Marketing

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Ever wondered how to properly sideload Android applications? Look no further as this guide explains in detail how to do it the simple way, as well as suggesting some alternative tools that make your sideloading life a bit easier.
The most common method of installing Android applications on your phone is through the Android Market (or Web Market). What makes Android unique, however, is that applications can also be sideloaded. What is sideloading exactly you wonder and how do I properly do it? Read on to find out!
Android applications are packaged in an APK container. This is also the easiest method of recognizing an Android application. What sideloading essentially means is the installation of Android applications from any other source besides the Android Market. We have previously discussed



alternative Android app stores as a means of finding Android applications. However, true sideloading means the manual installation of APK files, from whatever source that may be.
The simplest method to sideload Android apps is by copying the APK files to the SD card. One important precondition here is that your Android device allows sideloading. To enable this setting, browse to Settings, then Applications and 'Development Settings'. Here you have to allow installation from 'Unknown Sources'. Afterwards the steps are as follows:
The above-described method is the most straightforward and unaided method to use. For Dropbox users, there is an even easier method. The steps using Dropbox for Android are as follows:
Using Dropbox for this purpose entirely omits the need to plug in your device as your computer gets synchronized with your phone.

Although the practice of sideloading Android applications is not necessarily too difficult there are custom tools available to ease the process a bit. An interesting tool is called the 'Sideload Wonder Machine', developed by Android Central. You can use this tool to sideload apps as follows:
The Sideload Wonder Machine is perhaps the easiest method to use. It is not only designed to just provide for the easy sideloading of apps but also to allow for sideloading in cases where your carrier has made it impossible to do so. This method works for both rooted and unrooted devices.
Note. Rooted Android device users can also opt for Droid Explorer, which allows for batch installing APK files as well.

The ability to sideload application is what distinguishes the Android mobile platform from other, more restricted, mobile systems. Although Google would ideally want you to stick to the Android Market, there is no denying the openness of Android. Not all developers offer their applications through the Android Market and some users are not capable of purchasing paid applications at all. For those and many other users the ability to install those apps using another method is truly a major benefit of the platform as a whole and a compelling reason to chose Android.
Note. Have you found any other method of sideloading Android apps? Share it in the comments section!