Are APK apps illegal?
9 minute(s) read
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Published on: Mar 26, 2023
Updated on: Mar 28, 2023
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When a new Google Something app is released that does something new and everyone wants to use it, its APK file is freely distributed around the world. ... technically, this is piracy because you only have permission to use the app if you downloaded it from Google Play on that device.
Can apps be illegal? These apps are either illegal or infected with viruses and malware. In addition, some of these Android apps collect users' personal information illegally.
What is an APK file?
An APK file is a software package designed specifically for Android. Maybe most of us don't know which company created Android. In fact, Android is an operating system designed by Google for smart phones, which is mostly used by large phone companies. (This is why apps such as Hangout, Gmail, Google map, etc., which are affiliated with Google) (Android phones have it installed by default.)
This file is designed to run only on an operating system that supports Google Android. Therefore, you should not expect the applications of an Android phone to run on iPhone phones and the iOS platform. An this file is a package that contains all the information, code, source, and everything an application needs to install and run.
APK is an abbreviation of three words Android Package Kit, which means the file format that can be used and installed in Android phones. Like exe files. For Android on Windows operating system, this files must also be installed. Files are actually software installer files (games) in the Android operating system. When you download an app, you are obviously downloading a file. Most users never see the word APK when they download their desired software from Google Play Store.
How to view the contents of this file?
As mentioned, the file is a package that contains various codes, resources, licenses, etc. From this, we can conclude that the file is a place to compile files and run them. As a result, the file is a compressed file or ZIP. APK file is structurally similar to JAR (Java archive), both of which are in ZIP format.
You can access the content of any file with apps like WinRAR. Example: We want to access the APK content of a chess game for Android, which cannot be run on Windows by default.
zip at the end of its name to access its contents. enter. To do this, right-click on the file and select the Rename option. You may encounter a Rename warning, in which case click on the yes option. (In fact, this warning tells you that by doing this, the desired file format will be changed.) Note: WinRAR or similar software must be installed on your system.
Then click on the new file to open it. Here you can access all the files in an APK package. Of course, there are a series of special apps for viewing the content of an APK file, but the easiest way to view the content of a file is this method.
Why should we install this file?
The file of Android software is usually released before new versions of Android are released, so users can access the basic features of the app sooner. Additionally, some software is region-restricted, so it may take some time for them to auto-release. In the meantime, downloading the latest version of the file of the desired software allows us to use it earlier than others. Also, sometimes, for some reason, we may not want to install the latest version of an application or not allow its update, and we want to go to its older versions.
In addition, this app allows us to access the latest Google updates, which are very tedious to be placed in the Google Play Store and are associated with a lot of delays. On the other hand, if your device does not have access to Google Play Store, the best option for installing apps is to download it. Of course, you should be careful that the application you install is not stolen. Some publishers provide you with files without the permission of the manufacturer, which should not be installed at all because it is illegal to do so. Even worse can happen because sometimes APK files contain malware. For example, many people downloaded the early version of fortnite before it was released, but didn't know they were downloading the problematic app.
Therefore, before downloading a file, it is better to do thorough research so that you do not do something illegal and unethical and do not infect your phone with malware.
How to download and install this files from an Android phone?
- You can download and install files from the browser of your Android phone or tablet.
- To do this, first run the internet browser, then find the desired file and download it. The start and end of the loading process will be visible in the notification bar.
- After the software is completely downloaded, tap on the uploaded file in the Downloads folder and select the word Yes in the message that appears.
- Finally, the desired application will be installed on your phone.
How to download and install this type of file through the computer?
There are many sources of APK files on the web but make sure you are using reliable sources to download this app. Some files may contain malicious software such as malware, which is very dangerous for the computer or phone. Before downloading or installing any app from outside the Play Store, it is best to be very careful. Downloading files from sites like APK Mirror is highly secure, but before you download and install this app, be sure to read the opinions of people who have installed this app before you to ensure that the file is safe.
To find the file, search online and download it to an area that is easy to access, such as your desktop. Before you install this app on your phone, make sure that the third-party apps you have on your phone are allowed. To be more sure, go to Menu > Settings > Security and check the unknown sources that allow your phone to install apps from sources other than Google Play Store.
After downloading the file, connect your phone to it through the system. In this situation, a message may appear stating whether you want to charge your phone or connect it to 'media device', select the media device option and then find your phone's folder on the computer. You can find the phone folder in Windows 'My Computer'. Now you can copy the APK file to a folder on your Android smartphone.
Now you can search for the location of the file in My files folder on your device and install it after finding it.
Other methods can also be used to install the file directly through the computer on the phone
One of these methods is to install the snap pea software on the computer. After installing this software, when you connect the phone to the computer, it will recognize your phone, and you just need to double-click on the files on your computer to go directly to your phone be installed.
What are the solutions to the problem of not opening the Android APK file?
Android apps may not open after downloading due to reasons such as not being compatible with the phone's Android version or file corruption. Solutions to solve this problem:
- Reset all phone settings.
- Reset the Package Installer.
- Use APK Bundle.
- Restart the phone.
- Disable the Google play protect option.
- Change the app code.
Is it illegal to download files on Android devices?
Do you own the copyright to files? Can anyone who owns the copyright to files distribute them for free? Have you purchased a license to download them?
If you answered no to any of these questions, it is illegal. Because doing things that are illegal is illegal.
If you want to download an app on Play Store it costs money, it is illegal. Many developers upload files on their websites, like WhatsApp, of course, downloading and installing them is not illegal. It is important to check who uploaded the file. If it is illegal, there will be no option to install apps without using Play Store. In the case of APK, the same applies to copyright law.
Therefore, you can download the APK that is released under a free license. If you have purchased the app, you can download it. But if you want to get hold of a file you shouldn't have, it's illegal.
If you want to know if you can download files from APKMIRROR or another website and not be fined by the authorities for doing so, just use any Peer-Peer service for example (Torrent) to download those files. do not do.
Unfortunately, the determining factor is the content and copyright on it. You can use peer-to-peer services for all content that you can legally share, such as Linux, as well as other things where the copyright owner allows you to do so. So if the copyright owner gives permission to share the files, there will be no problem and also you will not be fined by the authorities.
If you have done illegal content sharing/copyright infringement, it is better not to use peer-to-peer services, because the lawyer (IT engineer hired for that) will have trouble getting your IP from normal downloads.