Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: APK Extractor
• Part 2 of 3: Solid Explorer File Manager
• Part 3 of 3: How to Transfer an APK File to Another Android Device
• Tips
• Warnings

This article will show you how to extract an APK file to install an app on another Android device without using Google Play. This is useful when you need to install an old application on a new phone, or install an application that supports a lower screen resolution.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: APK Extractor

1. 1 Open APK Extractor. The icon for this application looks like a white Android (robot) logo on a green background. The APK Extractor application will save the APK file in the smartphone's memory, after which the file can be copied to another Android device.
   • If your device does not have APK Extractor, download this app from the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ext.ui
2. 2 Find the app whose APK you want to extract. This is usually an application that needs to be transferred to another phone or tablet.
   • Do not extract APK files of paid applications as this is considered “piracy”.
3. 3 Click on ⋮. It's to the right of the app's name. You will be prompted to back up the app to your SD card and then a menu will open.
   • On a Google device (such as a Nexus or Pixel), the icon ⋮ will be replaced by a down arrow icon.
4. 4 Click on Share (Share). It's near the top of the menu.
5. 5 Choose the method by which you will share the file. In most cases, the APK file is larger than the maximum file size that can be sent by email, so copy the file to a cloud storage location (such as Google Drive).
   • For example, if you want to upload an APK to Dropbox and you have the Dropbox app installed on your device, tap Dropbox> Add.
6. 6 Download the APK file. After you upload the APK file to the cloud storage, the file can be downloaded to another device (read about this in the last section of this article).

Part 2 of 3: Solid Explorer File Manager

1. 1 Open Solid Explorer File Manager. The icon for this application looks like a blue folder. The Solid Explorer File Manager application will save the APK file in the smartphone's memory, after which the file can be copied to another Android device.
   • If your device does not have Solid Explorer File Manager, download this app from the Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.solidexplorer2&hl=en
   • The app costs $ 1.99 (120 rubles), but you can use it for free for 14 days.
2. 2 Swipe from left to right. A menu will open.
3. 3 Click on Applications (Applications). It's in the middle of the menu.
4. 4 Click User Apps (Custom applications). The applications that were installed by the user will be displayed.
   • Or click “System Apps” to extract the APK of the preinstalled application.
5. 5 Press and hold the app whose APK you want to extract. Several icons appear at the top of the screen.
6. 6 Click on ⋮. This icon is in the upper right corner of the screen.
7. 7 Click on (Share). This icon is in the upper right corner of the screen.
8. 8 Choose the method by which you will share the file. In most cases, the APK file is larger than the maximum file size that can be sent by email, so copy the file to a cloud storage location (such as Google Drive).
   • For example, if you want to upload an APK to Dropbox and you have the Dropbox app installed on your device, tap Dropbox> Add.
9. 9 Download the APK file. After you upload the APK file to the cloud storage, the file can be downloaded to another device (read about this in the last section of this article).

Part 3 of 3: How to Transfer an APK File to Another Android Device

1. 1 On another Android device, open the app that will download the APK file. That is, launch the application of the service to which you uploaded the APK file.
   • For example, if you uploaded a file to Dropbox, open the Dropbox app on another Android device.
2. 2 Select the APK file. This step depends on the service and application you are using, but usually you just need to click on the APK file.
   • In some cases, you need to click “Download” after you click on the APK file name.
3. 3 Click on Install. This option will appear in the lower right corner of the screen.
4. 4 Click on Open. This option will appear in the lower right corner of the screen after the APK file has been installed. When you click "Open", the corresponding application will be launched, which means that it has been successfully installed on the Android device.

Tips

• Use the APK file to install a smartphone app on a tablet, or install an old version of the app on a new device.

Warnings

• The APK file will not work on iOS or any other mobile system, because this type of file is exclusively supported by Android.