The easiest way to install an app on an Android phone is to download it from the Google Android Market. But what if your device doesn’t have access to the Market, or if you want to install an app that’s not available from the Market? That’s where APK files come in. These are installer packages that you can copy to your phone to install.

But that usually requires finding a download link from your phone’s browser or manually copying from a computer to your phone, finding with a file explorer, and then tapping to install manually.

Or you can use APKinstall, a new web site that kind of, sort of, makes the process easier. Say you’ve downloaded an APK installer file from a web site and you’re not sure what to do next. You visit APKinstall.com and upload your file. The web site will generate a QR code, which you can scan with your phone’s camera to download the app with your phone’s web browser. Just tap on the downloaded app once the download is complete and the install process should begin.

Of course, in order for this to be the easy way, you’ll still need to have a barcode scanner installed on your phone. But that sure beats carrying around a USB cable so you can connect your phone to a PC, doesn’t it?

via xda-developers

Brad Linder

Brad Linder is editor of Liliputing and Mobiputing. He's been tinkering with mobile tech for decades and writing about it since...