Install android apps from PC (SD Card)
August 03, 2011 13:27:22 Last update: August 04, 2011 08:40:50
If your app is not available from Android Market but is downloaded to a PC, you can copy the APK to an SD card and install it following these steps.
The drawback of this method is that you have to know the exact path to the APK file, which may or may not be a problem. Other methods require third party utilities:
Update: On my Samsung Galaxy S, there's a built-in application "My Files". I can use that to browse to the APK file.
- Copy the Android app APK file to the SD card.
- Enable "Unknown sources" on the phone: Menu -> Settings -> Applications -> check "Unknown sources".
- Open the browser ("Internet"), then enter the URL to the APK file like this:
file:///mnt/sdcard/external_sd/theApp.apk
- Select "Package installer" in the popup.
The drawback of this method is that you have to know the exact path to the APK file, which may or may not be a problem. Other methods require third party utilities:
- Use AppsInstaller or ApkInstaller
- Use ASTRO File Manager or Dropbox
Update: On my Samsung Galaxy S, there's a built-in application "My Files". I can use that to browse to the APK file.
