How to Open APK File on Windows, Android, Mac OS

Are you looking for ways and tools to open an APK file on your device? This guide will help you to open and install an APK file on any device step by step.

APK (Android Package Kit) files are used to install applications on Android devics but by using certain tools, you can open them on other devices as well.

In this article, I will explore every detail you need to know about APK files, like what  APK files are, how to download, install, and open them on Windows, Android, Mac, and iPhones. I’ll also review the best APK opener tools available.

What is an APK File and its Contents?

APK, which stands for Android Package Kit, is the package file format that is used to distribute and install applications on Android devices. This is a zipped file that contains all the necessary files, such as code, resources, and manifests, that a particular application will need to run it successfully.

An APK basically relates to the .exe file found in Windows or the .dmg file found in macOS. Even though most Android users download their apps from the Google Play Store, the APK file enables one to install apps manually, hence gaining access to apps not found in the Google Play Store.

However, you must always be careful about downloading these files because just like .exe files, malware can easily be distributed in APK files as well.

Contents of an APK File

An APK file contains all the files necessary for an Android program, as shown below:

Enlisted below are the prominent folders and files that are part of an APK file:

• META-INF/ contains the file of manifest along with signature and a resource list in the archive.
• lib/ is the native library running on a certain architecture of the device.
• res/ is the resource that is not compiled into resources.arsc. For example, images.
• assets/ are the raw files of resources bundled with the apps by developers.
• AndroidManifest.xml gives a detailed account of the contents, version, and name of the APK file.
• Classes.dex are the compiled Java classes that are to be run on the device.
• Resources.arsc are the compiled resources used by the app, like strings.

Viewing the contents of an APK file:

Since APK files come in compressed ZIP format, any ZIP decompression tool can open it. So, for viewing the contents of an APK file, all you have to do is rename its extension to .zip and open it. Or, you can open it directly through an open dialogue box of a zip application.

What are the uses of APK files?

The following are some of the uses of APK files:

• Bypass Region or Device Limits: If an app or update isn’t available in your country or doesn’t support your device, APK files let you install it manually.
• Install Apps Not on the Play Store: Some developers don’t publish their apps on Google Play. In such cases, APK files are the only way to download and use them.
• Try Beta or Early Versions: APK files allow users to test beta, early, or experimental versions of apps before they are officially released.
• Customization and Modding: Some users edit APK files to change how an app looks, add extra features, or remove certain restrictions.
• Testing & Development: Developers use APKs to test apps and share beta versions before the final release.
• App Updates: APK files let users install the latest updates, bug fixes, or security patches without waiting for the Play Store rollout.

How to Install APK Files on Android in 2026

Follow the below-mentioned steps:

#1) Set up your device

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To set up your Android device:

• Open Settings on your Android device.
• Go to Security (or Privacy & Security, depending on your device).
• Enable Unknown Sources to allow installation of apps that are not from the Play Store.
• Turn on Verify Apps to get warnings before installing potentially harmful APK files.
• This helps ensure that only safe and trusted APK files are installed on your device.

#2) Find and download an APK file

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Make sure you know which APK file you want to download and choose a trusted source to avoid issues.

• Open your web browser and search for the APK file you want.
• Tap on the APK file to start downloading it.
• Once the download is complete, tap Open to begin the installation.
• If APK installation is disabled, you’ll see a notification.
• Tap Settings and allow installations from unknown sources.
• Go back and tap Install to complete the process.

#3) Download and install APK files from the computer

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Before starting, make sure your computer allows third-party apps from other sources.

• Open Settings, go to Security, and check whether Unknown Sources is enabled.
• Find the APK file you want to download and click Download.
• Choose a suitable location on your computer to save the file.
• Connect your Android device to the computer using a USB cable.
• When prompted, select Media Device (MTP) mode.
• Locate the downloaded APK file on your computer.
• Copy the APK file to any folder on your Android device.
• Safely disconnect your device from the computer.
• Open the APK file on your phone and tap Install to complete the setup.

How to Open an APK File on any device?

Although these files are used mainly on Android devices, you can open them on several Operating Systems.

(i) How To Open APK Files on Android

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For opening an APK file on an Android device, just download it and open it when asked. However, because of the safety blocks, sometimes APK files that are attempted to install outside the Play Store don’t get installed right away. For bypassing this downloading restriction and installing them from unknown sources, a few settings need to be changed.

Depending on the Android version, here are some ways to can open an APK file.

• From settings, navigate to the apps and notifications option. Then select the advanced option and click on special app access. Finally, select install unknown apps options.
• From settings, go to apps and notifications.
• From settings, navigate to security options.

You might need to give a specific app permission to install the unofficial APK files. Or, you might see the option, enable install unknown sources or unknown apps. If it still doesn’t open, you might need a file manager then.

(ii) Opening APK File On Windows

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If you want to open an APK file on Windows, you might need a cross-platform product like Bluestacks or Android Studio. You will find the tabs with options to install APK on Windows.

(iii) How To Open APK Files On Mac

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Some Google extensions are meant for testing Android applications for Chrome OS and other OS as well. So, with those extensions, you can open an APK file not only on Mac but on your Windows PC as well.

(iv) Opening APK Files On iPhone

APK files work in an entirely different manner than the apps used in iOS gadgets. And both of them don’t work with each other. Hence, you can’t open an APK file on an iOS gadget, be it an iPhone or an iPad.

Extracting APK files

With a file extractor tool, you can open an APK file in macOS, Windows, or any desktop OS.

APK files are just the archives of files and folders that you can unzip using various programs like Winzip, WinRAR, etc. But with extraction, you can only see the components of the file, it will not allow you to use that file on a computer. For that, you will need an Android emulator that essentially runs android OS on a computer.

Converting APK files

APK files are meant solely for Android devices and that’s why you can’t change them directly into a file that you can execute on another framework. You can try a file conversion service or program but they aren’t useful when it comes to APK files. You can’t convert an APK file into an EXE or IPA file for Windows and iOS respectively.

You can use Chrome extensions for running these files on Windows and Mac OS.

The best way to run a specific app on iOS is to find the iOS option of the app and get it from the Apple store. But you can convert an APK file into ZIP or JAR files by simply changing its extension. And then you can open that file using WinZip, WinRAR, and other such applications.

For using it with Blackberry, you can convert APK files to BAR using an online converter.

Also read => How to open an XML file.

Top 6 Software Apps to Open APK files (APK Opener Tools)

There are certain tools and software that allow you to open APK files. Here are some of them.

#1) WinRAR

WinRAR is easy to use and an incredibly quick compression software program in the market. Today it has over 500 million users. Over the years, its developers have worked on their kinks to create nearly flawless software. There is no better way to open an APK file than WinRAR. And also it is available free of cost.

Features:

• A powerful compression tool with many additional functions for helping you organize the compressed archives.
• It is faster than any other similar software available in the market.
• Saves transmission costs, disc space, and working time.
• Supports almost all compression formats.
• It is ideal for multimedia files since it automatically selects the best method of compression for each multimedia file.
• With WinRAR, you can split archives into different volumes easily and save them on different disks.

Price: Free

Website: WinRAR

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#2) WinZip

Winzip is extremely compatible and very easy to use. This feature has made it the most popular compression software by far. When it comes to unpacking files and opening APK files, it is extremely efficient. It extracts all the contents within no time. You can try it for free and if you want, you can buy its pro version as well.

Features:

• It unzips almost all major file formats.
• WinZip is an effective compressing software for reducing the size of email attachments.
• It comes with banking-level encryption to protect the files.
• It can access and manage files not only on your PC but also on your networks and clouds.
• You can connect it to your Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, and more.

Further Reading => How to Disable OneDrive Permanently

Price:

• WinZip Standard: $35.34
• WinZip Pro: $58.94
• WinZip Pro Combo: $58.94

Website: WinZip

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#3) 7-Zip

It is a free and open-source file archiver. It is a utility that places groups of files in archivers, also known as compressed containers. It is one of the programs that is widely used to open APK files.

Features:

• It has a high compression ratio.
• It supports almost all the major file formats.
• 7-Zip has strong encryptions for file protection.
• It comes with self-extracting capabilities.
• It comes with Windows Shell integration.
• 7-Zip has a powerful file manager and a command-line version.
• It is available in 87 languages.

Price: Free

Website: 7-Zip

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#4) BlueStacks

Bluestacks is designed to make Android applications run on PCs and Mac. It is one of the best and most free emulators for PC and an incredibly popular tool for both Windows and Mac. It is a safe and legit way to open APK files.

Features:

• It can sync apps between the Windows app and your phone through a cloud connect app.
• Through a shared folder, you can move files between Windows and Bluestacks.
• You can side slope apps from the desktop by double-clicking an APK file.
• It is easy to install and use.
• It doesn’t use much RAM.

Price: Free

Website: BlueStacks

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#5) YouWave

YouWave allows you to run app stores along with Android apps on your Windows PC by creating a virtual Android environment. It is specifically designed as an emulated environment but it also comes in handy if you want to open an APK file. You can either download its free version or buy its Home version.

Features:

• It has a simple interface and hence can be used effortlessly.
• It also offers optimum performance.
• YouWave is compatible with 4.0 IceCreamSandwich and 2.3 Gingerbread.
• It allows you to rotate your screen.
• You can also play Android multiplayer games from your computers with YouWave.
• You can also test your Android app on your PC with this tool.

Price: Home Version $29.99

Website: YouWave

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#6) Google Android SDK

Google Android SDK is a toolset that developers use for writing apps on devices that are Android-enabled. It comes with a graphical interface to emulate a handheld environment driven by Android that allows the developers to test and debug their codes.

Feature:

• It comes with a visual layout
• Its APK analyzer allows you to compare two APK apps to see how the size of your app changes with app versions.
• Google Android SDK also comes with intelligent code editors to work faster and write better codes.
• Its build system allows you to customize the builds and generate multiple variants for different devices.

Price: Free

Website: Google Android SDK

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There are many more software and tools available in the market that allow you to not just open but also edit or convert APK files. But you must be careful about which ones you use as there is quite a few malicious software available in the market that might ruin your laptop and your android device.

Conclusion

If you know how to work with APK files, they are fun. You get all those apps that aren’t available in your location or are leaked before their launch. Sounds cool, right? With them, you can also run your android apps on your Windows laptop or Mac. And if you want to get crafty, you can create your app as well.

If you want to get the APK version of an app that you have previously installed, you can use AirDroid from the Google Play Store. From your PC web browser, use AirDroid to access your phone. From your apps, select the installed one and click the download button to download its APK version.

So, you see, it is easy with APK files to use those android apps even on your Windows laptop or Mac. You can do a lot with APK files if you know how and what to do with them.

Research Process:

• While preparing this article, we tried out several APK opener tools ourselves to see how they actually work on Windows, Android, Mac, and iOS. We also referred to official platform guides and user discussions to make sure the steps are simple, up to date, and practical for everyday users.
• Total Time taken to review, research and publish this guide: 40 Hours (Approx)