Sideloading

What is sideloading?

Sideloading is the installation of an application on a mobile device without using the device’s official distribution methods such as the Google Play Store, Apple App Store, Microsoft Store, etc.

Traditionally, sideloading has been a term used to describe the action of moving files between two devices, typically achieved through a wired or wireless connection. However, it’s also possible for someone to employ a memory card or an external storage drive to accomplish this file transfer between devices. For instance, a user could move documents from one PC to another using a cable connection. In this context, sideloading is distinct from downloading or uploading, which involve the transfer of files between local devices and remote servers.

With the advent of smartphones, sideloading now primarily denotes the action of installing apps on devices via unofficial sources. Although commonly associated with mobile devices, sideloading can also pertain to other devices like laptops or desktop computers. F-droid is one of the key trusted sources of free and open source apps available for sideloading.

Android instructions

To sideload an app, you first need to download the “Android Package File” (.APK). You can download it directly to your Android device, but some may find it necessary to download the file to a desktop computer and then transfer it to the phone using a USB cable, Bluetooth, or a cloud storage provider like Dropbox or Google Drive.

Locate the file on your phone. Use the Downloads app to find it. Tap on the file name; if a warning pops up asking for your permission to install it, give it permission to do so. If asked, click “Install”.

The app should now install unless there is a compatibility issue with your specific Android device.