We often talk about APK files when discussing Android phones. But what are APK files, how do they work, and why should you care about them? Let's explain.

An APK file is an archive of all of the assets an Android app needs to install and run, including not just its main code but things like certificates, resources, and a manifest file.

Sometimes, not every Android app will be available on the Google Play Store in your region, which means you'll need to install the APK file instead.

The prospect of smartphone app ecosystems opening up has gotten lots of folks interested in sideloading apps. Here's how to do it on an Android smartphone.

First, you'll need to download the APK file for the app you want to install. I'm going to use F-Droid, an alternative app store that only carries free and open source applications, to demonstrate ...

How to install an APK on Android: Find the APK you want to download and then download it. Find the downloaded APK file. Select it to initiate the installation. Any file explorer will do.