Have you ever wondered what an APK is? Why do you need to install an app or a MOD game using an APK? Here’s everything you need to know about APKs to avoid any issues or complications.
1. About APK
What is an APK?
APK stands for “Android application package,” which is an application installer used on the Android operating system. An APK is essentially a ZIP-based archive, based on the JAR format, and has a .apk extension.
Why do you need APK?
- To experience new games and apps that are not yet available on Google Play.
- To install apps that are blocked or restricted in certain countries on Google Play.
- If you don’t have the Play Store app on your phone or cannot open it.
- Installing apps via APK allows you to access paid apps, which may infringe copyright.
What is OBB?
OBB is an additional data file for certain apps. Some apps require these files to function properly, while others do not. If you find an OBB download link in posts on Apkses, you will need to download it.
What is APKs?
With the introduction of Android App Bundles, the new format from Google Play makes it impossible to share APK files as before. Instead, we now use APKs.
APKs cannot be installed in the usual way. To install APKs, you need to use the Split APKs Installer (see the installation instructions below).
2. Guides
Allow Installing Third-Party Apps on Your Device
To install a game or application via APK, ensure that your phone is set to allow the installation of third-party apps.
You can do this by navigating to Settings > Privacy > and selecting Unknown sources.
Install an APK
Installing an APK file is as simple as pie. Download it from our website, click on it, and when prompted, select Install to install the application on your device.
Install an APKs
Step 1: To install an APKs file, you must first have Split APKs Installer installed on your device. You can find Split APKs Installer on APKSES.
Step 2: Open Split APKs Installer > select Install APKs.
Step 3: Navigate to the location of the downloaded APKs file.
Step 4: Select Select > an installation window will appear, select Install.
Installing an App with OBB Data
If the application you want to install has an OBB file, follow these steps:
- Download the APK from Apkses and install it (do not open it after installation).
- Download the OBB file and unzip it.
- Copy the folder you obtained to
/SDCARD/Android/obb. - Check and open the application.
For example, to install the PUBG Mobile APK, you will need to:
- Download the PUBG APK from Apkses and install it (do not open it after installation).
- Download the OBB file (com.tencent.ig.zip) and unzip it to get the com.tencent.ig folder.
- Copy the com.tencent.ig folder to
/SDCARD/Android/obb. - Ensure the full path of the .obb file looks like this:
/SDCARD/Android/obb/com.tencent.ig/main.11021.com.tencent.ig.obb. - After copying the OBB folder to the correct path, just open PUBG and start playing.
3. Common Problems When Installing APK
1. Error: “App Not Installed”
If you encounter this error, consider the following:
a. You might have another version of the app already installed on your phone. Please uninstall it first!
b. The Play Protect feature may be enabled. Please disable Play Protect!
c. This error might occur if your phone does not support the APK file.
d. If you have tried all the above and still cannot resolve the issue, try restarting your device!
2. Error: “Download Failed Because You May Not Have Purchased This App”
This error typically occurs with apps that require OBB files, indicating that you may have forgotten to download the OBB.
If you have copied the OBB to the correct location and still face this error, try installing the original version from Google Play first, then uninstall it, and attempt to install the APK/OBB again!