If you’ve had an Android smartphone for a while, you’ve probably wondered “Will downloaded apk save with Google Play?” While you won’t be able to download certain apps from the Google Play Store, that doesn’t mean you can not have them.
You can install and run apps on your Android smartphone by using Google Play Store alternatives or by downloading the Apk file from websites that offer them. You can also get the APK files from the Google Play Store if you wish.
Download APK File and Applications
Most of the applications on your computer are likely to have come from the internet—for example, you may have downloaded iTunes from Apple’s website to listen to music or Steam from Valve’s website to play games.
Perhaps you rely on a variety of internet-based utilities to control your computer. You’ve most likely installed applications on Windows or MacOS using.exe or.dmg files, respectively.
Each of these file types enables the operating system to load, use, and install the associated application.
Similarly, your Android phone runs on its own installable software. An APK file is used to install any application downloaded from the Play Store on your device. On the Android operating system, that is an installable archive file.
So, even though you’re searching through millions of Android apps and games via a store interface, the process is nearly identical to installing an application on Windows or MacOS.
Android can also install APKs from third-party sources, making it an operating system that is as expandable as Windows 10.
Getting APK from Google Play Store
Though Google does not explicitly state this, it is possible to download APK files directly from the Google Play Store’s desktop site in order to share and use them.
While you won’t be able to bypass Play Store restrictions for any paid app you haven’t purchased, the ability to directly download APKs from Google is still useful.
However, it allows you to circumvent geographic restrictions on applications, test apps on Chrome or and even share apps with other users.
While this isn’t a feature that everyone uses, knowing how to download APKs directly from play store is a useful Android tip to keep handy when you need it.
There are two major methods for directly downloading APK files from Google’s site, and the best approach for you really depends on if you want to download a lot of applications or a specific app that isn’t available in your geographic location or your phone model.
They can use both methods from a desktop computer, but if you’re trying to download an APK from your mobile phone, we suggest the second option listed below. Here’s a step-by-step guide to downloading an APK from Google Play.
Chrome or Firefox Extensions
If you intend to download APK files frequently, this is the simplest method. Rather than having to manually find the APK files online via Google search, using an extension for Chrome (on desktop) enables you to quickly access the APK file of any free app on the platform.
Therefore, the best extension we have found, is the “APK Downloader,” and is available to both Chrome and Firefox—though Chrome users. Also, will need to settle for the web-based version rather than the extension, which has been removed from the Chrome Web Store.
This only works with free apps on the Play Store, whether you bought them, so you can’t use it to share paid APKs online with other internet users or friends.
However, you will use the app to emulate free apps, manually transfer APKs to your phone, or do anything else that requires the use of a downloaded APK.
APK Downloader uses the same file from the Google Play Store, complete with the same MD5 certificate that is included with all Google-certified downloads.
Firefox Extensions
It’s a safe website, but it’s not without flaws. A few of the apps we tried failed, displaying an error message and showing that it could be a paid app when it was, in fact, free.
APK Downloader also timed out on us several times, resulting in a full page refresh. Extraction of the APK via their service can take as long as three minutes, though it was usually much faster
However, the app can only be accessed about 1,000 times per day before Google limits the accounts used to do so, so if they flood the service with users early in the day, you’ll not be in luck come nightfall.
Another important limitation is that the service uses cached versions of APKs to help you circumvent download limitations, which means you should double-check your version number to make sure you have the most recent application.
If the site provides you with an older version than what is available on Google Play, do an app refresh after installing it.
Using Alternate APK Websites
If don’t have access to a computer, or if you want a simpler way to access APKs from Google Play, there are two websites that can help.
Though you won’t download the APK directly from Google, both APKMirror and APKPure are trusted websites that allow you to download APKs of any app that is free on the Play Store.
APKMirror and APKPure, like the extension described previously, cannot be used to download paid applications; both sites have restrictions on providing any type of pirated software. You can, however, download previously uploaded software versions that are not in the Play Store.
This includes applications that cannot be hosted on Google Play for a variety of reasons (such as application restrictions) as well as beta versions of applications that have been uploaded to the Play Store.
Either website will suffice for your needs, but we found APKMirror to be the superior option, with a design that makes it simple to browse through common and recent APK files.
Whereas APKPure looks like an app store, with a rotating carousel of outlined apps and a list of “hot” apps and games, APKMirror is more of permitting users to side load applications for latest updates or third-party software.
Things to be Mindful of When Downloading APKs
We advise caution when downloading anything on the internet, particularly when using third-party torrent services. Although file sharing/mirroring is a great way to speed up downloads, there is always the risk that something malicious has been added to it.
Most APK sites are not safe for most users. Avoid the site if it appears to be providing pirated applications or shady file types. Stick to methods that allow you to download files directly from Google.
Android Emulator
The Android Emulator emulates Android devices on your computer, allowing you to test your app on a range of devices and Android API levels without having to own each physical device. The emulator provides the following benefits:
Flexibility: besides simulating a wide range of devices and Android API levels, the emulator includes predefined configurations for many Android phones, Wear OS, tablets, and Android TV devices.
High fidelity: The emulator emulates nearly all the features of a real Android device. You could even simulate incoming phone calls and text messages, specify the device’s location, test different network speeds, test rotation, hardware sensors, and much more.
Speed: Testing your app on an emulator is faster and more efficient than testing it on a physical device. For example, you can transfer data to the emulator quicker than to a USB-connected device.
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Conclusion
They blurred the line between phones and computers more than ever. So whether you intend to use them on computers or Android phones. However, APK files for free apps can be downloaded from the Google Play store using the methods described above.
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