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You are here: Home / Knowledge / Before Downloading Android Apps From Third-Party Sites (Other Than Play Store)

Before Downloading Android Apps From Third-Party Sites (Other Than Play Store)

Updated On: October 28, 2024 by Selva Ganesh 51 Comments

Did you know? 95% of the paid apps, you download for free from Third-Party sites are Malware Injected. If you already know that, What a Pro you are…So, back to the topic, Even if the apps from Play Store is the only safe way. Some situation For using Old versions, We can’t install apps from Play Store. In those situations, We need the Third party Guys. Users of Android devices have the Google Play Store, the safest and easiest way to download applications on their device. However, there are other sources to download apps. You may need to search for other sources if the apps you need are not available in the Play Store or your nation local Play Store. In such situations, you can also download the APK of this application and use it on your very own device.Selecting record disc

Today, we will explain in detail the steps necessary to download applications from sources other than the Google Play Store. We’re also going to tell the risks associated with downloading those applications and how to determine if you are downloading malware-free apps.

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Avoid Applications Infected With Malware

Before downloading and installing third-party applications, you must know how to keep malware out of applications; you have to take some precautions for the same. First, you must verify the permissions that the application requires of you, you noted that the game applications requested your very own permission to access the contacts, call records or perhaps emails, which does not make sense.

Some applications have a long list of permissions; it is always better to verify the permissions than to regret something later, you need to get the antivirus software installed on your mobile phone. Although the debate about antivirus software still exists, it is better to use one to verify that the application you installed is free of malware.

How do I Know the app is Suspicious

Easy Part is check app’s Data Usage. If the Calculator app using Lots of Data, you know, It is Suspicious. Does the App also need your location? What? Who are you? You are going to tell me that the Value of 1 is Going to change based on the location. So, Check Data usage and Permissions that’s all.

Google Photos Data Usage and Permissions Screenshot

You already Understand this, But Our David can’t understand this. So, Let’s take a Scenario. Here we are taking Google Photos as an example. Google Photos use Backup service. So, It uses Data. No problem. When coming to permissions, It needs Location to organize photos, Storage permission to store pictures. And contacts permission for sharing. So, It is a Good app…:) Good Boy.

Configure Your Device To Download

install unknown apps screenshot

To download applications other than the Play Store, you must make some minor changes to the configuration of your device. To do this, you need to go to Settings and then Security. Here you have an option ‘Allow installation of unknown sources.’ You must enable this option to install APK files on your device. You will be asked in a pop-up window if you are ready to install applications from unknown sources, and you must allow it. Allowing individual applications in the sequence is safe. In Latest versions, you have to enable it in Google Chrome.

How to install Third-Party Apps Other Than Play Store

The next step after activating your device to install applications from unknown sources is described in detail here. You must use the web browser on your Android device to open the third-party application store. Then find the desired application and download it, open the File Explorer, locate the downloaded APK and install it.

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Again, You Need To Be Careful

By default, Android does not allow downloading and installing applications from unknown sources, as this is not secure. If you choose to download apps that are not Google Play Store on your Android device, you risk damaging your device. You must be careful when downloading applications from third-party Other than Play Store sources, some applications or APK files may contain malware that is harmful to your device and the data stored on it. Some malicious applications silently download malicious software on your device, if you download an app infected with malware from unknown sources, you must uninstall it as well as perform a factory reset until the phone is working correctly.

Download Android Applications From A Trusted Third-Party Sources (See Below).

We Below recommend some Sites, that we Trust and We use personally. They have users more trust and Reputed sites.

APKMirror

My First and favorite choice. This site, which is run by the people behind the popular Android Police Blog, is one of the most trusted sites, although it has some limitations. All applications loaded in APKMirror will be reviewed before you can download them. If you download an app from the website and install it on the phone with the Play Store, all future updates will be automatically downloaded from Google.

However, APKMirror does not maintain a complete list of all Android applications. Instead, it offers a curated list of popular applications that make it easier for users to download an app that is not otherwise available.

Not only APKMirror facilitates the installation of applications if you don’t have Play Store. This will give you early access to applications that are not yet available through the Play Store due to phase or maybe regional restrictions.

Aptoide

As with most other stores, the Aptoide may mean you will not be able to access all the applications available in the Google Play Store. However, you can find some apps that are not in the Play Store by searching for multiple repositories. It is worth noting that some of these repositories can control applications that have been illegally loaded like Tubemate (According to Youtube), be careful when using the store.

The functions of Aptoide include the option to download updates automatically, choose to download only applications through Wi-Fi or perhaps mobile data, hide Inappropriate content as well as allow the installation of the root. Is it bad why you are Suggesting to me? Here we are choosing Less Bad, other than Play Store; there are no Good Guys.

Amazon Appstore

This is the application and game store that Amazon uses for its Fire TV tablets and boxes. However, you never need an Amazon Fire device to use the Amazon Application Marketplace. You can download and install the APK on almost any Android device that supports the installation of applications from unknown sources.

You can also install the official Amazon Shopping app for Android, sign in to your Amazon account and open AppStore from the navigation menu.

The Amazon store includes hundreds of thousands of apps and games, including some (but not all) of the most popular apps available on the Play Store. But sometimes the Amazon Appstore versions update more slowly than their Play Store counterparts.

Other Sources

The above list is by no means exhaustive, but it provides several reasonably safe places to find Android APK files (provided that the Aptoide developers never have real control over what is loaded into third-party repositories).

There are some other third-party solutions to get Android apps. The last time I put together a list, it was much, much longer. However, some of the solutions on such list are no longer available; others are no longer your best options.

Last words

It is good to have the ability to install applications other than the Google Play Store on your device for a personalized experience. But you have to be careful, the right kind of personalization is essential to keep your very own data safe as well as private. If you know other sites, Comment below, we will include them in future If it is an actually Trusted site.

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Selva Ganesh

Selva Ganesh is the Chief Editor of this Blog. He is a Computer Science Engineer, An experienced Android Developer, Professional Blogger with 8+ years in the field. He completed courses about Google News Initiative. He runs Android Infotech which offers Problem Solving Articles around the globe.

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Filed Under: Knowledge Tagged With: Play Store

Reader Interactions

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Comments

  1. Penelope Rogers says

    June 7, 2025 at 9:23 pm

    Educational and important—thanks!

    Reply
  2. Anthony Morris says

    June 6, 2025 at 10:42 am

    Will uninstall all shady apps today.

    Reply
  3. Riley Sanchez says

    May 31, 2025 at 3:25 pm

    Eye-opening stuff, appreciate the post.

    Reply
  4. Gabriel Stewart says

    May 22, 2025 at 7:44 am

    Bookmarking this to share with friends.

    Reply
  5. Ellie Collins says

    May 15, 2025 at 7:38 am

    So many scams out there—stay alert!

    Reply
  6. Isaac Edwards says

    May 10, 2025 at 8:01 am

    Great write-up on app safety.

    Reply
  7. Nora Evans says

    May 8, 2025 at 3:56 pm

    Thanks for highlighting this overlooked danger.

    Reply
  8. Levi Parker says

    May 2, 2025 at 11:10 am

    The tips in this post are gold.

    Reply
  9. Zoe Campbell says

    April 28, 2025 at 12:44 pm

    Nice breakdown of risks and solutions.

    Reply
  10. Julian Phillips says

    April 25, 2025 at 6:47 pm

    I once had to factory reset because of a bad app.

    Reply
  11. Hannah Turner says

    April 25, 2025 at 10:43 am

    A must-read for all Android users.

    Reply
  12. John Carter says

    April 23, 2025 at 8:36 am

    Really useful info in this article.

    Reply
  13. Lily Roberts says

    April 20, 2025 at 3:42 am

    Even tech-savvy users can fall for bad apps.

    Reply
  14. Wyatt Perez says

    April 11, 2025 at 5:53 am

    Never trusting random APK sites again.

    Reply
  15. Chloe Mitchell says

    April 4, 2025 at 8:59 pm

    I deleted a third-party app yesterday after reading this.

    Reply
  16. Owen Nelson says

    March 30, 2025 at 7:04 pm

    Fake apps are everywhere these days.

    Reply
  17. Grace Baker says

    March 22, 2025 at 7:20 pm

    This topic needs more awareness.

    Reply
  18. Carter Adams says

    March 21, 2025 at 11:37 pm

    I’ll definitely think twice before sideloading.

    Reply
  19. Aria Green says

    March 16, 2025 at 7:04 am

    Very well explained. Thanks for the warning.

    Reply
  20. Samuel Scott says

    March 15, 2025 at 3:08 am

    App safety matters. Thanks for this.

    Reply
  21. Victoria Hill says

    March 1, 2025 at 12:00 pm

    Downloaded a game once, lost all my data.

    Reply
  22. Joseph Lopez says

    February 11, 2025 at 2:09 pm

    App security is too often overlooked.

    Reply
  23. Scarlett Wright says

    February 1, 2025 at 6:07 pm

    I’ll be more careful from now on.

    Reply
  24. David King says

    January 28, 2025 at 2:24 pm

    Never thought app sources mattered so much.

    Reply
  25. Elizabeth Hernandez says

    January 27, 2025 at 2:40 am

    I’ve had apps spy on me before—never again.

    Reply
  26. Sebastian Young says

    January 24, 2025 at 9:10 am

    Google Play isn’t perfect, but it’s much safer.

    Reply
  27. Emily Allen says

    January 22, 2025 at 5:33 am

    Trust is important, and third-party sites don’t have it.

    Reply
  28. Jackson Hall says

    January 16, 2025 at 3:51 pm

    Thanks for this wake-up call.

    Reply
  29. Abigail Walker says

    January 10, 2025 at 8:26 am

    One bad app can ruin your phone.

    Reply
  30. Matthew Lee says

    January 9, 2025 at 10:08 am

    I used to download from unknown sites but not anymore.

    Reply
  31. Evelyn Lewis says

    January 6, 2025 at 1:32 am

    This article should be pinned for all Android users.

    Reply
  32. Daniel Rodriguez says

    January 4, 2025 at 7:22 pm

    Thanks for making this clear with examples.

    Reply
  33. Harper Clark says

    January 4, 2025 at 2:37 pm

    I thought all APKs were fine—this post changed my mind.

    Reply
  34. Alexander Robinson says

    January 3, 2025 at 10:47 pm

    Very eye-opening! Thank you.

    Reply
  35. Amelia Martinez says

    January 3, 2025 at 11:54 am

    Better safe than sorry when it comes to app sources.

    Reply
  36. Henry Garcia says

    January 3, 2025 at 2:22 am

    I’ve started checking permissions more carefully now.

    Reply
  37. Charlotte Thompson says

    December 30, 2024 at 9:31 pm

    Just because an app works doesn’t mean it’s safe.

    Reply
  38. Lucas Martin says

    December 30, 2024 at 6:25 am

    Even some known APK sites aren’t completely safe.

    Reply
  39. Mia Harris says

    December 25, 2024 at 10:49 pm

    Useful advice, especially for Android newbies.

    Reply
  40. Benjamin White says

    December 19, 2024 at 5:24 am

    I wish more users would read articles like this.

    Reply
  41. Isabella Jackson says

    November 28, 2024 at 11:20 pm

    People underestimate the risks of third-party app stores.

    Reply
  42. James Thomas says

    November 28, 2024 at 2:18 am

    Security should always come first when installing apps.

    Reply
  43. Sophia Taylor says

    November 23, 2024 at 11:33 pm

    Very informative post. Appreciate the caution.

    Reply
  44. Elijah Moore says

    November 23, 2024 at 6:03 am

    I once got a virus from a third-party app. Never again.

    Reply
  45. Ava Anderson says

    November 20, 2024 at 12:10 pm

    This is why I never install APKs from unknown sites.

    Reply
  46. Noah Miller says

    November 16, 2024 at 8:11 am

    Malware is a real threat when sideloading apps.

    Reply
  47. Olivia Davis says

    November 11, 2024 at 10:52 am

    Thanks for sharing this important warning.

    Reply
  48. Liam Wilson says

    November 6, 2024 at 10:05 am

    These third-party sites can be really shady.

    Reply
  49. Emma Brown says

    November 6, 2024 at 2:57 am

    Good reminder to avoid third-party apps.

    Reply
  50. Michael Smith says

    November 5, 2024 at 1:19 am

    I prefer sticking to official sources to stay safe.

    Reply
  51. Alice Johnson says

    October 30, 2024 at 11:44 am

    Always risky downloading apps from outside the Play Store.

    Reply

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