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One of the more sensible security features on Android devices is that you’re not allowed to install apps from outside the Play Store. Not by default, anyway. But seeing as there are plenty of great apps you can find outside the Play Store, you may want to venture beyond those walls every now and then.

Luckily, it’s fairly easy to install apps from unknown sources in Android, although the method varies depending on which Android version you’re on. One rule applies for people using Android 7 and below, and another for Android 8.0 Oreo and Android 9.0 Pie (and onwards). Here we’ll show you both ways.

Install Apps without Play Store in Android 8.0 Oreo and 9.0 Pie

As of Android 8.0, the method to install apps from unknown sources changed. Instead of the previous method where you gave permission to download APKs through any existing app on your phone, this version forced you to give permission to specific apps that are allowed to install APKs from unknown sources.

To set these permissions, go to “Settings -> Apps & notifications -> Advanced -> Special app access -> Install unknown apps.”

Here, select the app (usually your Internet browser) that you want to grant permission to install from unknown sources. Then once you’ve tapped it, tap “Allow from this source” to enable unknown sources for that specific app.

Install Apps without Play Store in Android 7.0 Nougat and Older

App packages for Android are packaged in APK files which can also be downloaded from outside the Play Store (such as through your web browser). Before attempting to install APK files, however, you must first allow your phone to install from “Unknown Sources” (i.e. non-Play Store apps).

To do this, navigate to “Settings -> Security,” and check the box marked “Unknown Sources,” then tap “OK’ and “Trust.”

Find APKs Outside Google Play Store

Once you’ve enabled unknown sources, it’s time to download the APKs you want. Maybe you already have a site you trust for downloading APKs. If not, we recommend APKMirror as a good place to find legal APKs of old versions of Play Store apps, free apps, and so on.

You can download APKs directly through the web browser on your phone, at which point you’ll receive a message stating, “This type of file can harm your computer.” Don’t worry, if you’re getting your file from APKMirror or another site you trust, then your phone’s perfectly safe.

Download the file, then open the APK from the pull-down notification menu on your phone or by browsing the “Downloads” folder on your phone’s file manager. Tap Install and your fancy new app should be ready shortly.

You can also download APKs through the browser on your PC, at which point you’ll need to transfer the file over to your phone via microUSB or wirelessly, and install from there.

Install Using Google Drive, Dropbox and Other Cloud Services

Alternatively, if you’re download the APK on a device other than your phone, you should be able to navigate to it on your device, then upload it to a cloud service such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Once you’ve done this, you can access it through Drive or Dropbox on your phone and open it directly from the cloud service, beginning the installation process.

Conclusion

There it is folks, the method of installing apps from outside the confines of the Play Store. There are other methods at your disposal too, however, such as downloading one of the many Play Store alternatives out there. Here we have a whole list of them, though to get most of them you’ll likely still need to install the APKs, so remember to come back to this guide for reference!

Sometimes it's necessary to install the Google Play Store manually. Whether you have accidentally uninstalled it, or you want to revert back to a previous version, or even if your Google Play Store is not working and you just want a fresh install, there's a solution! Here's how to download and how to install the Play Store.

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A note on Google Play Store version numbers

The numbering system for Google Play Store versions may seem a little confusing at first, but it's easy to get your head around. If the jumps between numbers seem odd, that's simply because Google didn't publicly release the versions in between.

How to check your current Google Play version

Updates take time and don't arrive at the same time for all Android devices. This is why sometimes you might want to download and install a newer version of Google Play, especially if your current one is causing you trouble. Before rushing to download the latest Play Store APK, however, you should first check which version of the Play Store app you have installed at the moment. Here is how to do it:

• Go to Settings, then Apps
• Find Google Play and tap it
• Scroll all the way down where you should see the version number on the bottom

If your Google Play app is working normally and the only reason you're sideloading is because you're impatient, you can also check the app version in the Play Store application itself. Open it, tap the three lines (menu button) in the top left corner, go into Settings and scroll all the way down to see the exact number.

Download Google Play Store APK

Please note that the following guide is for owners of an Android device with a licensed version of the Play Store installed. We recognize that is sometimes necessary to re-install or roll back the Play Store app.

Download the latest version of the Google Play:

Looking for a previous version of the Google Play Store?

As usual, most of the changes are under the hood, aimed at making everything run more smoothly. We haven't been able to find significant changes to the user interface or new features in the latest Google Play app version. If you download the update and notice any errors, however, check out our guide to troubleshooting Google Play.

How do I install the Google Play Store?

The simplest method for installing the Play Store will already be quite familiar to you if you're an avid follower of AndroidPIT: just download and install the Play Store APK manually. An APK is the Android equivalent to an .exe program on your computer.

Instead of downloading an app from the Play Store, you simply install it yourself without the Play Store's help. We've even got a handy guide to help you:

This is, of course, extra useful when the app you want to install is the Play Store itself. There are two ways to get the Google Play APK installed on your device: directly on your phone or through your computer. We'll do the easy option first.

Install Google Play with your phone

On older versions of Android (before Oreo) you will need to simply go to your settings menu and enable installing from unknown sources, then open the above link. You'll be prompted whether you allow the download and installation. APKMirror is a safe source, so it's ok to hit Yes.

Twilight breaking dawn part 1 free online. On Android Oreo and above, manually installing the Google Play app is a bit more complicated. Here is what you need to do:

• Head to Settings and find Apps. Once in the apps menu, scroll down until you find your mobile browser - Google Chrome, for example.
• Tap on your browser and scroll down to the Advanced section. There you will find Install unknown apps. Open and select Allow from this source. You can disable this option after you're done.
• Using the browser on your device, go to the XDA Developers forum or APK Mirror website to download the APK for the latest version of the Play Store.
• You may get a message warning that 'this type of file can harm your device.' Ignore it (trust us) and tap OK.
• Open the APK (you can tap the completed download in your notifications menu), read the new permissions (if any) that the new Play Store version requests, then tap Install.

Install Google Play using a computer

If you don't have a data or Wi-Fi connection on your device, you can download the Play Store app APK to your computer instead. The same process applies, but you will need a file manager app installed on your smartphone, if your device doesn't come with a preinstalled one.

• Download a third party file manager app, if you don't have one - FX File Explorer, for example. Allow it to install apps from unknown sources, following the same steps as described for your mobile browser.
• Using the browser on your computer, go to XDA Developers forum or APK Mirror to download the APK for the latest version of the Play Store.
• Connect your device to your computer with a USB cable and copy the APK over to your Android device.
• Find the APK using your file manager app.
• Launch the APK, accept the permissions and tap Install.
• Don't forget to remove the permission to install from unknown sources from your file management app if you don't intend to sideload more APKs.

Once you've reinstalled the Google Play Store app, you shouldn't worry about having to download every following version manually again. As soon as there's a newer version than the one you sideloaded, the Google Play app will automatically update. If you are still experiencing problems, however, it's time to do some troubleshooting.

Google Play Store troubleshooting

Google Services Framework is a crucial service that lets the Play Store communicate with apps on your device, allowing for automatic updates and so on. If these functions stop working, or you experience other problems, then there may be a problem with the service. In such a case, you should clear the cache on both Google Play Store and Google Play Services. To do this:

• Go to Settings > Apps
• Scroll down to Google Play Store, tap it, then tap Clear cache.
• Do the same for Google Play services
• That should fix most problems you'll experience with the Play Store

Note: depending on what type of device you have, it may need to be rooted in order to manually install the Play Store, but that's a tutorial for another day.

What is the one must-have feature you want in the Google Play Store? Do you like the latest updates? Let us know in the comments.