APKMirror Installer (Official)

APKMirror Installer is an invaluable tool designed to enhance your experience with installing various types of app files on Android devices. It supports the installation of .apkm, .xapk, and .apks app bundles in addition to standard APK files, making it a versatile utility for users looking to sideload applications.

One of the standout features of APKMirror Installer is its ability to provide detailed feedback on why an APK installation might fail. If you encounter issues while sideloading, the app will pinpoint the exact reason for the failure, allowing you to address the problem more effectively.

Understanding Split APKs

The concept of split APKs emerged from Google's introduction of App Bundles at Google I/O in 2018. For a clearer understanding, we recommend checking out this detailed post by AndroidPolice, which includes helpful illustrations.

In essence, App Bundles enable developers to offload the management of different app variants to Google. Instead of bundling all resources and libraries into a single "fat" APK or manually managing multiple APK variants, the app is now divided into a base APK and several APK splits. This means a single release might consist of multiple files, such as base.apk, arm64.split.apk, 320dpi.split.apk, en-us.lang.split.apk, and es-es.lang.split.apk.

However, you can't simply install these split APKs by tapping on them. Attempting to install only the base APK will result in the app crashing due to missing resources. This is precisely where APKMirror Installer steps in, facilitating the installation of these split APKs.

What Are .apkm Files?

With more apps transitioning to the split APK format, APKMirror developed the .apkm file to ensure users can still easily and safely sideload applications. An .apkm file contains a base APK along with several split APKs. After installing APKMirror Installer and downloading an .apkm file, you can tap on it or use APKMirror Installer to locate it. This allows you to view the contents of the .apkm file and selectively install only the necessary splits, helping you save space on your device.

The development of APKMirror Installer and its supporting infrastructure required significant time and resources, which is why the app and site are supported by ads. For those who prefer an ad-free experience, various subscription options are available, which also unlock additional features.

Issues and Bugs

Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco users running MIUI might face issues with APKMirror Installer due to MIUI's modifications to Android's installation process. A workaround that often works is disabling MIUI optimizations in the developer settings. More details on this issue can be found in this GitHub discussion: https://github.com/android-police/apkmirror-public/issues/116.

For any other issues or bugs, please report them to our GitHub bug tracker. It's important to note that APKMirror Installer is strictly a file manager utility and does not include app store functionalities such as browsing websites or updating applications directly, as that would violate the Play Store's Terms of Service.