Below is a list of the most prominent files and folders: What does an APK file contain?Īndroid packages contain all the necessary files for a single Android program. It also requires that users enable the Hyper-V and Virtual Machine Platform features in Windows settings. As of early 2022, this feature is available to only members of the Windows Insider Program. Windows 11 users can manually install APK files using Windows Subsystem for Android in combination with Android Debug Bridge or WSATools. Windows 11 is the first version of Windows to officially support the ability to install APK files. How do I install an APK file in Windows 11? Make sure that you trust the source of the APK file. You can install APK files manually by following these instructions. How do I install an APK file on my Android device? In this case, you should be careful that you trust the source of the APK file, because malware can be distributed in APK files, just as it can in the case of Windows and.
However, many websites offer direct APK file downloads for Android users who want to install apps manually. Typically, users never see APK files because Android handles app installation in the background via Google Play or another app distribution platform.