How to Sideloads Apps on Android-Sideload Apps Tutorials

If you are an Android user then you will know that there are a ton of apps on the Play Store. That you can download and install to add all kinds of new functionalities to your device. However, not every app that you might want to use is available from the Play Store. In this article, we are going to talk about How to Sideloads Apps on Android-Sideload Apps Tutorials. Let’s start the tutorial.

It depends on the region that you are in and the version of Android that your device is running, some apps may not be available for you in the Play Store. When this happens and you want to install an app, you can manually install the app directly from an installer file in a process called sideloading.

In this article, we will teach you the basics of what website loading is. And what the risks associated with it are so that you can proceed safely. Then we will show you how to sideload apps on Android.

What Is Sideloading?

Sideloading is a term referring to installing apps to your Android device that does not come from the Play Store. Normally, when you want to install an app onto your Android device then you simply go to the Play Store. Search for the app you want, and then install it from the Play Store page. But sometimes you will want to install an app from a source other than the Play Store.

To do this you will need to change some settings on your Android device and then find a .apk file to install the app that you want. This process is called sideloading.

Why Sideload An App? | Sideload Apps Tutorials

Sometimes, there are applications that are not available on the Google Play store. This can happen when an app crashes with the terms of service of the Play Store. Such as by accessing a setting that it should not. Famously, the iOS App Store bans or removes applications all the time with very little explanation of why which is frustrating for both developers and users. The Google Play Store is usually not so bad as the App Store, but still, there are legitimate apps. That is not allowed on the Play Store for some reason. If you want to use one of these apps, you’ll need to sideload it.

Another reason to sideload is that an app may not yet be available in your region. Often apps are released to only some regions, to begin with, and people who live outside these regions will have to wait months or even years to try the app. By sideloading this app, users in these other regions can try it out straight away. At other times, apps cannot be released in some regions at all due to regional restrictions. In this case, the only way that you can use the app is to sideload it. Users also sideload apps is if they have obtained those apps from a download or other grey-legal source.

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You might also sideload an app if you have bought it from a legitimate source other than the Play Store. For example, if you buy games from the Humble Bundle promotions then you get access to those games on Steam, Windows, Android, or other platforms. When you go to redeem the games, you can get a code for Steam use or a downloadable installer for Windows. However, for Android, you cannot access the game through the Play Store. Instead, you must download a .apk file and then use this file to sideload the game onto your device.

What Are The Risks Of Sideloading Apps? | Sideload Apps Tutorials

You will see lots of warnings about sideloading, both from websites that give information about it and from your device when you start the process. This is because there are indeed security risks of sideloading applications that you should be aware of. An app that you sideload has not been checked and approved by the Play Store. Meaning that it could contain malicious code that could harm or even brick your device.

Apps that are downloaded illegally often have this problem. The .apk files that you use to install an app might look legitimate and may even actually work to install the app, but they can include extra hidden malware inside too. This malware can do things like steal your data, insert extra ads into your web browser and other apps or make your device part of a botnet.

This is a major problem for Android users who want to sideload apps as a .apk file can install all sorts of things onto your device. For this reason, you should be very careful to only use trustworthy sources whenever you sideload an app. Think of it this way: you would not hand your unlocked phone to a stranger for them to play with. And installing a .apk file is like letting a program access your unlocked phone. Therefore, you should only install .apks from websites that you know and trust.

How To Sideload An App | Sideload Apps Tutorials

Now that you understand what the process of sideloading is and what the risks involved are. You can decide if you want to continue. In order to start sideloading, you will first need to enable the use of unknown sources in your device. And then you can move onto the actual loading of apps. Do not worry, it is a simple process. Just follow these steps to start sideloading apps to your Android device:

Enable Unknown Sources

To start sideloading apps, you first have to turn off the prevent unknown sources feature in the Android security menu. This option is there to prevent people from accidentally installing software onto their device from untrustworthy sites. If you’re a regular Android user and you know about security then you can turn this option off and be careful only to install apps from sites that you trust.

Here’s how to enable the use of unknown sources to install software on Android:

• Go to Settings
• Go to Security (this menu item is in different places on different devices. On our device it’s under the Lock screen and security section)
• Find the Unknown sources item
• Set the slider to the on position
• You’ll see a warning that installing from unknown sources may be harmful to your device. Click OK to continue
• Now you can install software from locations other than the Play Store and you’re ready to start sideloading apps

How To Sideload An App | Sideload Apps Tutorials

With the unknown settings allowed, we’re ready to start sideloading. This process is actually very easy, but you need to be sure that the .apk file that you are going to use to install the app is safe and that it is from a legitimate, trustworthy source. Be very careful when installing an app from a source that you don’t know or from a dodgy site like those which sell apps for cheap or for free as often these .apk files might contain malware that could harm your device. It’s best to stay on the side of caution when you are installing new software onto a device like your phone which you use a lot.

Once you have found a .apk file from a trustworthy source, here’s how you sideload it:

Steps

• Find the .apk file that you want to sideload. For this example, we’re going to use a game from the Humble Bundle. So you log into the Humble Bundle site and go to your library, then hit the direct download link to download the file to your device
• At this point, Android will warn you that this file type can harm your device. As long as you trust the source of the file, click on OK to proceed anyway
• Now the package installer will open and you’ll see a screen with the name of the app at the top. The screen will ask you if you want to install the app, and it will tell you what files the app will be able to access. If you’re happy with this, click on Install to continue
• You’ll see a screen that says Installing… Wait patiently while the installation happens, as this can take a while for big apps like games
• When everything is completed you’ll see a confirmation screen saying App installed. Click on Open to open up your new app
• Now your app is ready to use. It should work just like any app that you install from the Play Store

Use A VPN To Protect Yourself | Sideload Apps Tutorials

If you use your Android device a lot, and particularly if you are going to go browsing for .apk files on sites that may not be trustworthy. Then you should take steps to protect yourself from security threats. One of the best methods of protection for Android users is to install a VPN. This is an app that you install onto your device and which then encrypts all of the data that your device sends over the internet. Whether you are on your network at home or using public wifi somewhere else. Whenever your VPN is connected it will encrypt your data so that no one can intercept it.

This data encryption protects you from threats like identity theft as it stops people from stealing your data. One common problem on public wifi networks is. That users are vulnerable to hacking from other users who are connected to the same network. Users on the same network have more permissions to access each other’s devices than is usual on the internet. So you need to be careful when you use these public networks.

The VPN encryption will also protect your privacy by preventing your ISP from seeing what sites you visit on your Android device or what files you download. If you download software or media illegally then it is particularly important to use a VPN. Because your ISP can see what you are doing on their network. And if you are caught you could be fined or prosecuted. When you use a VPN, encryption means that no one can see what you do online or whether you are downloading. So you won’t get any nasty surprises to form your ISP.

Conclusion

If you ever want to install an Android app from a source. Other than the Play Store then you’ll need to know how to sideload an app. You should be careful when doing this as you should only install software from sources that you trust. Because you will be letting software have access to the sensitive data on your phone. However, if you know the source of your apps and you trust it, then the process for sideloading is simple and is useful to know.

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