What is the apk format? How to open APK files on a computer and what programs can be used to do this

APK. How to open it?

If you don't know What is this for the format - APK And how it's possible open on your computer or phone, then read the text of the article. We will talk in detail about its features, methods for working and modifying its individual elements.

What is an APK?

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

Peculiarities:

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

Files with the APK extension are stored in Play Market and other application stores for Android devices. They are unpacked and installed automatically, without the use of additional software. The data is stored in the root folder at /data/app. You can only access them through Explorer.

For Android development Applications with an APK extension use Google's Android SDK. It is available for free download from the official website and runs on Java.

How to open on your phone

How to open an APK file on your phone

If the mobile application is for Android platforms loaded from third party resource or computer, it will have an apk extension. Then you can install it on your phone manually.

How to open apk file from phone:

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

APK format

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

Error when opening

How to allow installation from unknown sources

If, after copying the APK file to the device, it cannot be launched, then most likely the ability to install via USB was disabled by the manufacturer.

Execute next steps to enable it:

• Go to the Settings menu and find the Personal Information category here.
• Select “Security” and check the box next to it « Unknown sources(allow installation from unknown sources)".
• Launch the APK file and continue with the installation.

If an error appears, then in the same menu uncheck the box next to "Check applications". Then Android will not prohibit the installation of potentially dangerous applications that can harm the device. Use this method only if you are sure that the APK file you are installing is safe.

Other ways

If you want to see the content APK file and from the phone, you can use it for this mobile version archiver or special software.

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

• APK Editor

Interface APK programs Editor

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

How to open on a computer

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 launch the application. For this you need special software.

How to open APK on different operating systems:

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

If, when installing the archiver, 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 desired software from the list of suggested programs. After this, you will have access to all the original application data.

Emulators for running APK files on PC

If you want to install a mobile application for Android OS on your computer, the file will have an APK extension. To install it, you will need a special emulator. They are available for free download.

The most popular:

• Nox App Player

Interface Nox App Player

There is a pre-installed Play Market. The program is not Russified, but Android itself freely switches to Russian through the settings (just like on a phone). Good optimization, there are advanced settings for working with APK files.

• Andy

Interface Andy

The program does not support the Russian language. It features a minimal number of settings and good optimization. The shell and programs installed on it launch quickly and work without freezes or lags.

• Bluestacks

BlueStacks interface

It has good performance in games and allows you to run resource-intensive applications. Main feature- Bluestacks TV feature. Needed for online broadcasts on Twitch.

Using an emulator you can run mobile applications You can use apk packages or install them from the Play Market directly. To use Google services You will need to log in using your account.

To launch the apk packages themselves, it is not necessary to connect an account. But if a game or program requires binding to social network or other services, you will need to log in or go through a simple registration.

Having discovered a file with an unknown extension among Windows files, we often become despondent. The devil knows what this is so unrecognized by the “axis”. Such thoughts come to the minds of many people who see the “apk” extension for the first time. Having an apk file, how can I open this thing on Windows?

Before answering this question, it is necessary to understand what kind of animal is in front of us. The ".apk" file format was developed by Google in order to save executable Android OS applications in this format. The very concept of storing programs and data in one archive is not new. Even at the dawn of the spread of personal computers, packaging programs in an archive was very popular. To run such applications you didn’t even need this archive unpack – system tools did it on their own. This technology It is also popular among developers and users of various types of emulators. Therefore, the idea of ​​Google is not something unusual or unexpected.

“Apk” simply stands for “Android Package”. This is an ordinary archive that can be opened by almost any archiver available for Windows.

The archive contains the following application components:

• Source code of the program.
• Application resources, such as images, sounds, etc.
• A special file called manifest.

Those wishing to open such a file with an archiver will need to follow our further instructions.

We perform an autopsy

Since apk is an archive, we will try to open it with an archiver program. Many multifunctional archiver programs have been developed for Windows that can create and open an archive of almost any format. APK files are no exception. Let us point out two such archivers for Windows that successfully cope with this task: WinRar and 7-zip. If the first of these programs is commercial, then the second is completely free, and you can download it directly from the website of its developer - Igor Pavlov - at: http://www.7-zip.org/ or http://7-zip .org.ua/ru/ .

Install the 7-zip archiver on Windows (unless, of course, this famous program has already found a home on your computer).

Click right click mouse on the required apk file. The context menu should appear as usual.

Select the menu item “7-zip” - a submenu will appear with a choice of action options.

We ask the archiver to open the archive or extract data from the archive. It can be done in different ways by selecting one or another submenu item, for example, the “Open archive” item (only for viewing the contents) or the “Unpack” item. The user will be prompted to specify a folder for unpacking and other optional parameters.

That's all you need to know to open a file with the "apk" extension.

Apk is executable file Android operating system, it stores and distributes applications for this operating system. One of the representatives of the zip family, therefore it can be opened by any archiver. Contains code files (.dex), .ARSC resources and the most main file– AndroidManifest.xml. Since this is an Android executable file, it runs on this system, so just copy it to your device and run it. After installation, it will be available in the applications menu. But if you do not have an Android device, then you can use emulators, and the best of them are presented below.

What free programs can open the .apk file

1. BlueStakcs App Player is perhaps the most best emulator Android for windows. It is easy to install, in latest versions its interface has been redesigned, and now it has become much more convenient and practical. The application supports camera and microphone, mouse control, typing from the keyboard, Internet access, transferring files from Android to Windows and vice versa.
2. – free archiver With a large number capabilities and a simple, intuitive interface. It supports not only the zip family, but also rar and many other compression formats. It allows you to create, edit and unpack archives, set passwords on them, and all this is just a small part of what this archiver can do.
3. Andy – free alternative BlueStakcs and its closest competitor. It provides access to a full-fledged Android shell (unlike BlueStakcs), but at the same time it has Android 4.2.2 on board. Control from a smartphone is supported, and you can also view file system Android (for example using ESexplorer). It is worth noting the possibility of obtaining root rights, which makes it possible to “practice” before receiving them on a real smartphone or simply “play around” with system files.

Senior Technology Writer

Someone sent you a email APK file and you don't know how to open it? Maybe you've found an APK file on your computer and are wondering what it is? Windows may tell you that you cannot open it, or in the worst case, you may encounter a corresponding error message related to the APK file.

Before you can open an APK file, you need to find out what kind of file the APK file extension is.

Tip: Incorrect APK file association errors can be a symptom of other underlying issues within your Windows operating system. These invalid entries can also produce associated symptoms such as slow Windows startups, computer freezes, and other PC performance issues. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you scan your Windows registry for invalid file associations and other issues related to a fragmented registry.

Answer:

APK files have Executable files that are primarily associated with the Active Tutor Project (4C Media Inc.).

APK files are also associated with Android Package (Open Handset Alliance), GameSpy Arcade Service (IGN Entertainment Inc.), Train Simulator Packaged Activity (Microsoft Corporation), and FileViewPro.

Other file types may also use the APK file extension. If you are aware of any other file formats that use the APK file extension, please contact us so we can update our information accordingly.

How to open your APK file:

The fastest and easy way Opening your APK file is a matter of double-clicking on it. IN in this case Windows will choose the necessary program to open your APK file.

In case your APK file does not open, it is highly likely that the required APK is not installed on your PC. application program to view or edit files with APK extensions.

If your PC opens an APK file but in the wrong program, you will need to change the file association settings in your Windows registry. In other words, Windows associates APK file extensions with the wrong program.

Install optional products - FileViewPro (Solvusoft) | | | |

APK Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME):

• mime application/vnd.android.package-archive

APK File Analysis Tool™

Not sure what type of APK file is? Do you want to get precise information about a file, its creator and how it can be opened?

Now you can instantly get all necessary information about the APK file!

Revolutionary APK File Analysis Tool™ scans, analyzes and reports detailed information about the APK file. Our patent-pending algorithm will quickly analyze the file and provide detailed information within seconds in a clear, easy-to-read format.†

In just a few seconds, you'll know exactly what type of APK file you have, the application associated with the file, the name of the user who created the file, the file's protection status, and other useful information.

To start your free file analysis, simply drag and drop your APK file inside the dotted line below, or click "Browse My Computer" and select the file. The APK file analysis report will be shown below, right in the browser window.

Drag the APK file here to start analysis

View my computer »

Please also check my file for viruses

Your file is being analyzed... please wait.

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

Any Android application is compiled and packaged into a file that includes full code programs, 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 with the extension .APK in manual mode. They are not encrypted, they belong to the format group ZIP archiver. Essentially Android applications Packages are archives intended for execution in a so-called virtual machine.

How to open ".apk" on a computer

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

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

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