How to Download an APK File from the Google Play Store

Last Updated: March 28, 2023 Tested

Want to download APK versions of your favorite Google Play Store apps? Although the Play Store doesn't give you the option to download APKs directly, you can use a free APK downloader to save and install APK files from Play Store URLs. This wikiHow guide will teach you the easiest way to download and extract APK files for Google Play apps on your Android phone or tablet.

Steps

1
Open the Google Play Store
on your Android. This is the sideways blue, green, pink, and orange triangle in your app list.
- If you want to save an APK to your computer instead of your Android, you can go to https://play.google.com/store instead.
- You can only download APKs for free apps—it's not possible to get a paid app's APK.
2
Go to the app you want to download. To search for an app, type its name into the Search bar at the top of the screen, and then press your keyboard's Enter key. When you find the app, click its name to open its details page.

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3
Tap the three-dot menu at the top-right ⋮. This opens a drop-down menu.
4
Tap Share on the menu. This opens your sharing options on a pop-up panel.
5
Tap Copy to clipboard on the Share menu. It's the icon of two overlapping sheets of paper. This copies the app's URL to your clipboard.
- If you're using a computer, just highlight the URL in the address bar of your browser, right-click the highlighted area, and then select Copy.
6
Go to https://apps.evozi.com/apk-downloader in a web browser. Now that you've copied the URL to your clipboard, you can use Evozi's APK Downloader to save the APK to your phone, tablet, or computer.
- Alternatively, you can use a different APK downloader website, such as APK Downloader: https://apkcombo.com/apk-downloader. The steps will be very similar regardless of the APK downloading site you choose. A quick Google search will provide you with a wide selection of third-party APK downloaders.
7
Paste the app's Google Play URL in the box at the top. Tap and hold (or right-click on a computer) the field with the example URL and select Paste when it appears. The copied URL now appears in the field.
8
Tap or click the blue Generate Download Link button. This locates the app you want to download and generates a link for saving the APK file.
- You can only generate one APK download per hour. Not all apps can be downloaded via Evozi.
9
Tap or click the green Click here to download button. You can find this button below the blue Generate Download Link option. This saves the selected app's APK file to your phone, tablet or computer.

Community Q&A

Question

After copying the app to your clipboard from Play Store, what next?

DarkWolf2244

Community Answer

It doesn't copy the app itself, it copies the Play Store link to the app. As the article says, go to Evozi APK Downloader on your web browser, paste the link in the box, click the blue button and then the green button. This saves the APK to your device.
Question

Why does Google make downloads so difficult in the first place?

DarkWolf2244

Community Answer

Downloading an app or game from the Play Store is not difficult at all! Google has attempted to streamline the steps taken to install an app. You just have to hit "Install". This article covers downloading the APK file which contains the app, which is not necessary to install an app normally.