The XAPK standard is a packaging format for Android that contains an APK file along with other elements necessary for the app to work correctly. Unfortunately, the package installer included in the Android operating system does not support this format, so a tool that does is required.
Option A - Install the apps from Uptodown App Store
The official Uptodown App Store app is capable of installing the vast majority of existing packaging formats, with the added bonus that the entire process is done without the user having to intervene in any way. The process is as follows:
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From the official Uptodown app, access the tab of the desired app and tap on the green Download button.
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A progress bar will indicate the download status. You can minimize the app during the process, and a tab in your notification bar will alert you when it’s finished.
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Once the download is complete, the Download button will change to green and will now read Install. Likewise, inside the app you’ll see a number in the Downloads section that will indicate the number of apps that have already been downloaded and are pending installation. The process will start when you either tap on the aforementioned blue button or directly on the file listed in the Downloads section.
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After unzipping the APK content and associated resources, you’ll be asked if you want to proceed with the installation. After accepting, you’ll receive a notification when the app installation is complete, and you’ll be able to use it.
Option B - Download the XAPK from the browser and install it using Uptodown App Store
The official Uptodown app is also capable of installing XAPK files even if they haven’t been downloaded from the app itself. For this, you’ll have to follow these steps:
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Go to Uptodown.com and download the app right from the web browser. By default, by clicking on the Download button, our official app will be installed, and once the process is finished, the installation of the desired app will start. By contrast, by clicking on the "All variants" button, the file will be downloaded directly to your terminal.
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Once the XAPK is downloaded, open the official Uptodown app (it must be previously installed on the device) and access the Downloads section. Tap on the downloaded file.
Option C - Using our universal package installer, APK Installer
APK Installer is an alternative app developed by Uptodown Technologies that allows you to install Android apps. Like our official app, it supports several different packaging formats, in addition to XAPK, with the difference being that you can't access Uptodown's app catalog from it. It’s simply a universal package installer. In this case, to install an XAPK hosted on Uptodown you have to follow the steps below:
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Go to Uptodown.com and download the app right from the web browser. By default, by clicking on the Download button, our official app will be installed, and once the process is finished, the installation of the desired app will start. By contrast, by clicking on the "All variants" button, the file will be downloaded directly to your terminal.
- Once the XAPK is downloaded, open APK Installer (it must be previously installed on the device) and access the Downloads section. Tap on the downloaded file.
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(Optional) If the file you want to download is an APK Bundle made up of several APKs, you’ll be asked which of them you want to install. We recommend leaving the options marked by default and just hitting the Install button.
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After unzipping the APK content and associated resources, you’ll be asked if you want to proceed with the installation. After accepting, you’ll receive a notification when the app installation is complete, and you’ll be able to use it.
Option D - Manually copying the required files
It is possible to install some apps packaged as XAPK manually, but only if the content of the app consists of a single APK and additional OBB data files. Any other combination of files involving multiple APKs in the same app will cause an installation error with this method. The process is as follows:
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Use a mobile file explorer to locate the downloaded XAPK and rename it to .zip.
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Unzip in any folder.
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Create a new folder in the local folder system of your device, namely /sdcard/storage/emulated/0/
Android/obb/<OBBname>/ , where <OBBname> is the OBB file name itself without the extension. That is, if the file is called myapp.developer.obb, the folder should be called myapp.developer. -
Copy the OBB to the folder you just created.
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Install the APK that was found in the XAPK as usual.