How to Install an APK on Android

Before You Start

• Check your Android version. Most apps list a minimum — VidBlaze needs Android 7.0 or newer. You'll find yours in Settings › About phone.
• Free up some space. You need room for the APK plus the installed app. The current VidBlaze APK is 49 MB.
• Only use the official website. APKs re-uploaded to mirror sites can be outdated or modified. VidBlaze is only distributed from vidblaze.app.

Step by Step: Installing an APK

We'll use the VidBlaze APK as the example, but the steps are the same for any app.

1. Download the APK. Open vidblaze.app in your phone browser and tap Download APK. Wait for the download to finish.
2. Open the downloaded file. Tap the download notification, or open the Files app, go to Downloads and tap the .apk file.
3. Allow installs from this source. Android shows a one-time prompt. Tap Settings, turn on Allow from this source for your browser or Files app, then go back.
4. Tap Install. Tap Install and wait a few seconds. If Google Play Protect asks to scan the app, let it scan.
5. Open the app. Tap Open. The app is now on your home screen and in your app drawer like any other app.

Updates are easier: download the new APK, open it and tap Update. Your settings and downloads are kept.

"Install Unknown Apps" vs "Unknown Sources"

Android 8.0 and newer give the permission per app. Android asks whether the app that opened the APK — usually Chrome, Samsung Internet or Files — may install apps. Only that one app gets the permission.

Android 7 has a single switch for the whole phone: Settings › Security › Unknown sources. Turn it on, install the APK, then turn it off again.

Where to Find the Setting on Your Phone

If you dismissed the prompt, you can give the permission by hand. Menu names differ slightly between Android versions.

Samsung Galaxy (One UI)

Settings › Security and privacy › More security settings › Install unknown apps, then choose your browser or My Files and turn on Allow from this source. On older One UI versions it is under Settings › Apps › ⋮ › Special access › Install unknown apps.

Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO (HyperOS / MIUI)

Settings › Privacy protection (or Additional settings › Privacy) › Special permissions › Install unknown apps. HyperOS may also show a security scan and a short countdown before the Install button becomes active.

Google Pixel and stock Android

Settings › Apps › Special app access › Install unknown apps, then pick the app you used to open the APK.

If Google Play Protect Shows a Warning

Play Protect checks apps installed from outside the Play Store. For a new or less-known app it may ask to scan the app — tap Scan app and it will usually install once the scan finishes.

If you see "Unsafe app blocked" or a similar warning, stop and check where the file came from. If you downloaded it from the developer's official site and the checksum matches (see below), tap More details › Install anyway. If you are not sure where the file came from, don't install it.

Android Developer Verification (2026)

Google is introducing developer verification for apps installed on certified Android devices. From 30 September 2026 it applies in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore and Thailand, and Google plans to roll it out worldwide in 2027. On affected devices, apps from developers who haven't registered with Google no longer install the normal way.

VidBlaze is registered with Google (package name com.vidblaze.vidblaze), so it installs the normal way with the steps above, wherever you are. If you ever see a message about an unverified developer when installing VidBlaze, make sure the APK came from vidblaze.app and check its checksum below. Details are on Google's developer verification page.

Check the APK Is Genuine

A SHA-256 checksum is a fingerprint of the file: if even one byte changes, the checksum changes. Every VidBlaze release lists its checksum, so you can confirm your download is the original file.

VidBlaze 1.0.2: b1f0712404054e017e4fe46dd88719c5a983eacad117293ac17be864c3edfd65

Compare it with a checksum app, or upload the APK to VirusTotal, which shows the SHA-256 and scans the file with dozens of antivirus engines. The changelog lists the checksum of the current release.

Troubleshooting

Is it safe to install APK files on Android?

It is safe when the APK comes from the developer's official website and has not been modified. Avoid mirror and re-upload sites, check the SHA-256 checksum when the developer publishes one, and keep Google Play Protect turned on.

Why does my phone say "App not installed"?

The most common causes are not enough free storage, an older version of the same app signed with a different key, or a download that did not finish. Free up space, uninstall any copy from another source, then download the APK again.

What does "There was a problem parsing the package" mean?

The file is incomplete or corrupted, or the app needs a newer Android version than your phone has. Download the APK again over a stable connection and check the minimum Android version.

Do I have to allow unknown sources every time?

No. On Android 8.0 and newer the permission is given once, per app — for example to Chrome or Files. You can turn it off again after installing and turn it back on when an update needs it.

Can I install an APK without a computer?

Yes. Everything happens on the phone: download the APK in your browser, open it and tap Install. A computer and ADB are only needed for advanced cases.

Turn the Permission Back Off

Once the app is installed you can remove the permission: go back to Install unknown apps, choose the browser or Files app and turn off Allow from this source. Installed apps keep working, and Android will simply ask again next time you open an APK.

Next: Start Downloading Videos

VidBlaze is a free video downloader for 900+ sites, with no ads and no login. Once it's installed, read how to download videos on Android, or check the FAQ.