How To Download Android Apps Without Using Google Playstore
As an Android user, the number one place to get all your applications and software is the Google play store.
This is primarily for its safety. But, there are times when you may need some applications but may not find them on Google playstore.
In such instances, how do you get the apps without having to go through the Google Playstore app?
In this article, we shall guide you through how to download any android app without using the Playstore.
But, before we delve into that, let’s look at some of the reasons why there are some android apps unavailable on the Google playstore.
Why Are Some Android Applications Not Available On Google Playstore?
Google Playstore may look like the home of android applications. But frankly, there are thousands of android applications which are not available on this platform.
So, the big question is: Why?
1.Inability To Pay Developer Fee
You may get to download various applications for free on the Google Playstore. But, apart from Google’s own products on the platform, the owners of every other application you see on the platform had to pay some USD 25.
This may not be really huge for you but for some developers, they don’t see the reason for them to pay this amount just to have their free apps listed on the Playstore.
So, for some funny reasons, they decide to keep their applications away from Google’s Playstore.
2. Google’s Disapproval Of Such Apps
Usually, after getting your developer account with the USD 25, you are entitled to upload as many applications as possible.
But this is only possible if you do things right. If you don’t submit applications which go against Google’s rules and regulations.
So, when you submit your applications, they go to a review process. During this process, Google may either decide to approve your application or throw it out of the window.
For most developers, they already know the rules and regulations governing the use of the Google Play store. So once they realize that their applications may go against the regulations, they keep them away from the store entirely.
Others also submit the applications only to realize later that they go against the rules of the platform.
So, in such situations, the obvious solution is for them to keep the apps away from the Google Play store.
Since we’ve now seen why some applications are kept away from the Google Playstore, it is only appropriate for us to look at how to install such apps on your android phone.
How To Change Your Android Phone Settings To Accept Applications Not On Playstore
To enable your phone to accept and install an external application apart from those on Playstore, you’d have to change your phone’s setting.
So, to do this, kindly follow the steps below:
- Go to settings in your phone menu
- Select ‘Apps and notifications’
- Select advanced
- Select special app access
- Scroll down and select ‘Install unknown apps’
- Select the browser you wish to download the app with
- Press to turn on ‘Allow from this source’
If the steps above don’t work for you, it means you’re using an Android version lower than 8.0. In that case, you should follow the steps listed below instead;
- From your menu, go to settings.
- Select ‘Security’
- Turn on ‘Unknown sources’
Where To Download The Apps
After successfully turning on your phone’s ability to install apps from unknown sources, the next thing is for you to download your apps and start enjoying.
There is practically a large score of sources for downloading and installing applications on your phone. Some of them are applications on their own and some others are just websites.
Here, we shall look at some of the apps which you can use to download APK files on your smartphone without the use of the Playstore.
APK Mirror
APK Mirror is one of the authentic sites and apps for downloading your favourite android applications free of charge.
In fact, it contains hundreds of thousands of applications. It contains applications available on the playstore and those not available too.
For the most part, the APK Mirror is made of older versions or other versions of some popular apps.
Downloading from this platform is entirely legal and is usually as safe as it may be to download from Playstore itself.
APKPure
APKPure is also an alternative to APK Mirror. The APK Pure app, however, provides more categories and more applications for download. It covers a wide range of popular and newer applications than even the Playstore itself.
If you’re seeking to download photo filters and video editors, then APKPure is a good call for you. It’s filled with lots of photo and video editing applications.
Amazon Appstore
The official Amazon Appstore is also a good repository of some cool android apps which you can easily download on your phone.
The Amazon AppStore works almost the same as the Google playstore, in that, it provides a large database of both free and paid applications.
You can also get to download some paid applications for free using Amazon’s promotions and gift cards.
Like APK Mirror, the Amazon application is very safe.
Conclusion
You don’t have to rely on your Google Playstore all the time for applications. You can download thousands of android applications from other sites and applications free of charge.
In this article, we spoke about some of these platforms which allow you to download android apps, how to set your phone to accept such applications and why some apps are not on the Playstore.
It is also important to note that, there are hundreds of other applications and websites out there for downloading android applications. But due to their open-source nature, they are more than likely to contain malware.
So in your attempt to by-pass Google Playstore in downloading your android applications, always make sure to download from trusted sources.
If you have any questions, comments or reservations regarding this article, kindly let us know in the comment box below.
Please, do well to share this article with your friends and family as well.
