APKMirror Installer is your go-to tool for installing APKs and the newer app bundle formats like .apkm, .xapk, and .apks. It's designed to make your sideloading experience smoother and more straightforward. But wait, there's more! If you run into issues while trying to sideload a regular APK, APKMirror Installer steps in to show you exactly why it failed. This feature has been a game-changer for many users who've been left scratching their heads over unsuccessful installs.
What are Split APKs?
Back in mid-2018, Google introduced a game-changing concept at Google I/O: App Bundles. To really get the hang of it, we recommend diving into this detailed AndroidPolice post, but here's the gist. Before App Bundles, developers were stuck creating either a bulky "fat" APK or juggling multiple APK variants tailored to different devices. Now, with App Bundles, Google takes over the heavy lifting by breaking the app into multiple chunks, or split APKs. Each release now comes as a base APK plus several APK splits. For instance, you might receive a set like this: base.apk, arm64.split.apk, 320dpi.split.apk, en-us.lang.split.apk, and es-es.lang.split.apk. The catch? You can't just tap all these splits to install them; you need the base APK and all the splits to work together, or the app will crash due to missing resources. That's where APKMirror Installer shines, allowing you to install these split APKs seamlessly.
What are .apkm files?
As apps evolve and embrace split APK formats, sharing and installing them without a helper app becomes tricky. APKMirror has risen to the challenge by introducing .apkm files. These files bundle the base APK with the necessary split APKs, making installation a breeze. Once you've got APKMirror Installer on your device, just tap on the .apkm file or let APKMirror Installer find it for you. You'll get a peek at what's inside each .apkm file and can choose which splits to install, helping you save space on your device.
Developing APKMirror Installer and its supporting infrastructure was no small feat, taking months and substantial resources. That's why the app and site are supported by ads. If you'd rather go ad-free and unlock additional features, there are subscription options available to suit your needs.
Issues and Bugs
Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco users running MIUI might run into a snag. Xiaomi tweaked MIUI, affecting the part APKMirror Installer uses for installing split APKs. But don't worry, there's a workaround: disable MIUI optimizations in your developer settings, and you should be good to go. More on this issue can be found on our GitHub page.
Encountered other issues or bugs? Head over to our GitHub bug tracker to report them. Keep in mind, APKMirror Installer is strictly a file manager utility and doesn't offer direct app store features like browsing websites or updating apps, as that would breach Play Store ToS.
