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Google Android application package
File type: Mobile phones related file
An apk file extension is used for Google Android application packages for Android-based devices. apk files are renamed zip files used to install Android smartphone and tablet apps.
Found 5 different file type records with the same apk filename suffix.
File type category:
Mobile phones related file
Date updated: September 2, 2025
The apk file extension is associated with the Google Android operating system for smartphones and portable devices.
The apk file (Android Package Kit) is an archive containing source data of an Android application (compiled dex files, arsc files, AndroidManifest.xml file, settings files, source files, graphic files).
APK files are stored in the /data/app directory. The "App" directory is accessible only on rooted devices via File Explorer.
The Android package file is almost a jar file (Java Archive) based on the ZIP compression format. The content of APK archive is accessible by compression utilities such as WinRAR, WinZip, etc. To open the APK archive in a compression utility, rename the file extension apk to zip.
The latest and most popular applications are available on the Google Play Store (formerly the Android Market). Applications from the Play Store are signed and tested, but Android also supports installation of unsigned applications from online services, other online sources, or external devices.
To install the Android apk application on your phone via USB:
Connect your phone to the computer via USB cable and copy the .APK file to your phone storage or memory card.
Use a file manager, for example ASTRO.
Select the APK file and install.
To download an apk file from the Play Store to your computer, for example, you can use APK Downloader web service if you don't need to install an app directly to your device.
Some phone manufacturers disable application installation service via USB on their phones. To enable this option, go to Settings > Applications and set the Unknown sources option to enabled.
Note: Google Android applications distributed through apk files can also run on devices with the Tizen operating system and Chrome OS with App Runtime for Chrome. New Microsoft Windows versions also support running of Android apps.
If you want to play popular Android games on your Windows PC, Google announced Google Play Games software that enables this feature.
The APK (Android Application Package) is the default file format used by smartphones and tablets running the Google Android operating system. The APK files store apps for the Android operating system; you can open or run them on any Android device.
The APK Android package file is an archive file that uses ZIP compression. You can rename the APK file extension to ZIP and open the ZIP file in compression utilities, such as WinZip or WinRAR.
Some tools can transform the Google Android app to another platform, like Tizen, etc., but results may vary. There is no guarantee that the Android application can be easily converted to another operating system. Besides APK file conversion, you can use various Android Emulators to run Android apps on other operating systems.
Software applications that can open apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Linux/Unix
Multiplatform
Google Android
Software applications that can edit apk files:
Multiplatform
Software capable of saving apk files:
Multiplatform
Apps designed for playing apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that create apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Apple macOS / Mac OS X
Multiplatform
Software apps that import apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that export apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that extract apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that recover apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that handle other tasks involving apk files:
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File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: August 10, 2022
The apk file extension is also used by Active Tutor, a media authoring tool from 4C Soft.
The apk file from Active Tutor contains saved project. Seems like Korean software.
You can open and continue to work on these projects in Active Tutor program.
APK projects may be exported to several formats, probably documents or reporting files.
Software applications that can open apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that can edit apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software capable of saving apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software apps that create apk files:
Microsoft Windows
Software applications that handle other tasks involving apk files:
Microsoft Windows
File type category:
Program executable file
Date updated: January 15, 2019
The apk file extension is also associated with the Austor ADM, a Linux based operating system for NAS (network attached storage) devices developed by Asustor.
This particular type of apk file stores package with application developed for ADM. These are not related to Android apps at all.
It is likely that only ADM can be used to open *.apk files.
Unfortunately, we do not know about any possible conversion for this type of *.apk files at this time, it may not even be possible.
Software applications that can open apk files:
Linux/Unix
File type category:
Various data file
Date updated: April 21, 2024
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
File extension apk is used by GameSpy Arcade service, a shareware multiplayer game server browsing utility that allows players to view and connect to available multiplayer games and chat with other players using the service. As of February 21, 2013 the GameSpy service is defunct and no longer available.
These apk files contain service-exclusive data and are not useable in other programs.
These files are not meant to be opened directly.
Software apps that create apk files:
Microsoft Windows
GameSpy Arcade
Software applications that handle other tasks involving apk files:
Microsoft Windows
GameSpy Arcade
File type category:
Game file
Date updated: July 20, 2021
Record marked as obsolete and not updated for a long time.
The apk file extension is also used by Microsoft Train Simulator, a train simulator for Microsoft Windows, released in 2001.
The apk file used in MTS contains saved packaged activity data.
The apk file extension was also used in some old games like Quake 2 for their audio files, but this is unrelated format, just sharing same file extension.
These files are not meant to be opened directly, they just contain resource data for the game.
Conversion to other formats is not possible.
Software applications that handle other tasks involving apk files:
Microsoft Windows
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