How to download free Android Apps as .APK files using the APK downloader

During our tablet training for teachers in Limpopo and Gauteng last year we needed to easily share free apps with the teachers in a way that the apps wouldn't take up a lot of space on their tablets. This post highlights a great way to share free apps without having to download them again. You download apps from the Google Play store as APK files. This is a manual process.

What is an APK file?
APK stands for Android Package Kit and is the file format that Android uses to distribute and install apps. It contains all the elements that an app needs to install correctly on your device. It doesn't install the app on your device unless you ask it to. The main thing to note about APK files is that you need to be sure they are legitimate and not files from malicious developers that have somehow added their ransomware to the Play store.

How do you download an app as an APK file?All you do is download the apps from Google Play on to an SD card using a special downloader called APK downloader (http://apk-dl.com/), You store them on the SD card as APK files. When they need to be used, you. install them from the SD card on to your Android device.
Here is the process explained more fullyLet's look at this step-by-step.

Step 1: Use your PC for this process and not the Android tablet in this case.

Step 2: Search for the apps you like using the Google Play Store

Step 3. Open APK downloader from http://apk-dl.com/

Step 4: Find the app you are looking for
Search the Google Play store and find the app you want to download to your SD card. In this case for Kidoko Free the URL is http://bit.ly/2IHYFNZ

Step 5: Type this URL into the APK downloader page and press GO.

Step 6: Find the download button

It will take you to a page with plenty of details and where you can download the file.

Watch the file download

Add this file to your folder of Android apps on your computer and then transfer these to your SD card. Whenever the app is to be used click on it in the SD card and install it.

This was a great way to share the relevant apps for each training quickly and effectively on the teachers' Android tablets when needed.