gojing: How To Install apk File or ipa File On Your Electronic Device

Saturday, June 2, 2018

How To Install apk File or ipa File On Your Electronic Device

Before we start this piece of cake tutorial today, let me write down the explanation on what is the .apk file extension and .ipa file extension.

Brief introduction on the extensions.

.apk file extension

Android application package (APK) is the package file format used by the Android operating system for distribution and installation of mobile apps and middleware.

APK files can be installed on Android powered devices just like installing software on PC. When a user downloads and installs an Android application from either an official source (such as Google Play), or from some other (unofficial) site, they are installing an APK file on their device.

A user or developer can also install an APK file directly to a device (that is, not via download from the network) from a desktop computer, using a communication program such as adb, or from within a file manager app in a process known as "sideloading".

By default, the ability to install from unofficial sites or directly from a desktop or file manager is disabled for security reasons on most Android devices. Users can enable it by changing the setting "Unknown sources" in the Settings menu.

Source : Wikipedia

.ipa file extension

An .ipa file (iPhone Application archive) is an iOS application archive file which stores an iOS app. Each .ipa file includes a binary for the ARM architecture and can only be installed on an iOS-device. Files with the .ipa extension can be uncompressed by changing the extension to .zip and unzipping.

Source : Wikipedia

Come on, its okay to not know the description of both extensions. The important thing to note is an .apk file is used by the Android OS meanwhile an .ipa file is for iOS. When we download an app from either Google Play or App Store, we are actually downloading these extensions. When the app is installed, the file is actually being compressed so that you can use the app, say, the Instagram, like right now ( a readable app for us the end the users).

How to install an .apk file

Firstly, download the .apk file to your android device. Remember the location where the downloaded .apk file is stored on your device.
Go to your device setting > security > allow installation from sources other than the Play Store tab > tick the checkbox.

Disclaimer: this photo isnt mine. Im just too lazy to screenshot
the whole process and I found this on Google.

Go to the location where the downloaded .apk file is stored. Click on the file. Start the installation process.
When the process is done, you�re good to use the app as the .apk file is completely installed as an app.

How to install an .ipa file

Im gonna explain the easiest method that I always use so far.

Firstly, download the .ipa file and remember the location where the downloaded .ipa file is stored. I would recommend you to download it directly from your PC and store it at any location you could easily access, i.e. save the .ipa file in the Download folder or Desktop.
Connect your iOS device to the PC. Or you can do this step first followed by the step above.
Open up the iFunBox. Follow the instructions as pictures shown below.