Where are apk files located?

[Eric2]

Like the title says, anyone know where to find them? Or does one need to root the phone?

 

[Jmtegra]

I know you can use astro to back up you apps and it will save a folder on you SD card with all of the .apk's you have installed.

 

[Eric2]

Good to know. How about going the other way, though? How does one find where to put them on the phone's memory?

 

[Jmtegra]

If you mean installing them just open it with astro but if you do this make sure to go to settings>Applications and check "unknown sources"

 

[Eric2]

Well...if one goes to "manage applications", one sees a long list of apps. I am assuming, those are stored in some file location on the internal memory. So I was looking to move this .apk file there, under the assumption that this was how I would get to it (or launch it) when I open up the list of applications via that up-arrow button to the left of the phone button.

So are you saying that if I tap on the .apk file, it will move something into internal memory, and then I launch it in the usual manor?

Thanks!

 

[Jmtegra]

Well put the .apk on your SD card then open it using astro or some file manager. When u open it, it will prompt you to install it. After its installed it will be along side all of your other applications.

Before trying to install it make sure you go to settings>Applications and check "unknown sources" or it will not install.

.apk is just an install file if im not mistaken. Once installed you can launch it.

 

[Eric2]

Gottcha! Thanks!

 

[Jmtegra]

No problem man, glad i could help.

 

[augustya]

Well put the .apk on your SD card then open it using astro or some file manager. When u open it, it will prompt you to install it. After its installed it will be along side all of your other applications.

Before trying to install it make sure you go to settings>Applications and check "unknown sources" or it will not install.

.apk is just an install file if im not mistaken. Once installed you can launch it.

What is someone does not have a SD card ? then where can he put it on the phone ?

 

[doogald]

What is someone does not have a SD card ? then where can he put it on the phone ?

It depends on the phone. For the Eris, the only external storage location - the places where, for example, photos and videos shot by the camera are stored - is on an SD card. However, almost every Android phone made in the last two years has internal storage that is much like an SD card. When you connect your phone to your computer by USB cable, you can mount that storage location to your computer - just as you could if you had an SD card - and copy files to that location.

Now, if your phone, like the Eris, has no internal storage area like that, and the only way to store files is on an SD card, then go buy an SD card - they are pretty cheap.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias=aps&field-keywords=micro+sd+card&x=0&y=0

(I'd get at least a class 4 card.)

 

[derrend]

I can see it been a while but just thought i'd clarify, the folder you want is located in the root directory:

/data/app

FYI - those are the user files. or the system files look in:

/system/app

I advise using 'rootexplorer' by 'speedsoft' in the android market to explore these folders. Commonly promoted alternatives such as 'astro' are s#%t.

Don't know why the rest of you were so secretive and kept drifting off subject about such a straight forward question, defeats the whole purpose of a forum.

If you don't know the answer then don't comment.

 

[b1gbleu]

THX derrend, and I totally aggree with you.

Not to hijack the thread, I'm looking to get rid of smart task manager, I can't install the sprint family program because it's a business account.

 

[scary alien]

I can see it been a while but just thought i'd clarify, the folder you want is located in the root directory:

/data/app

FYI - those are the user files. or the system files look in:

/system/app

Yes, this thread is pretty old...don't actually remember seeing this myself...

I advise using 'rootexplorer' by 'speedsoft' in the android market to explore these folders. Commonly promoted alternatives such as 'astro' are s#%t.

Actually, I've been an Astro File Manager fan since day one (second week of November 2009). I haven't yet needed Root Explorer since most of the tasks can be done via adb. Also, ES File Explorer (free) has a root mode that will allow you to remount / and /system as read-write.

Don't know why the rest of you were so secretive and kept drifting off subject about such a straight forward question, defeats the whole purpose of a forum.

If you don't know the answer then don't comment.

I think the early / original posts might not have known where the files were located (notice that this thread is not in the root sub-forum).

The folks above that did post were trying to be helpful with what they knew...as long as they are on-topic, their contributions are most welcome.

Cheers!

 

[scary alien]

THX derrend, and I totally aggree with you.

Not to hijack the thread, I'm looking to get rid of smart task manager, I can't install the sprint family program because it's a business account.

Welcome to the AndroidForums, b1gbleu.

I don't know too much about Smart Task Manager except that the Market description does indeed indicate its a task killer. If you have an Eris running 2.1, then you most likely shouldn't need this app--its activity is probably making things slightly worse for you.

I know, its counter-intuitive, but Android 2.1 and higher actually does a pretty good job of memory management and handling background tasks and task managers are not really needed.

If you need us to, I can move your posts into its own separate thread, but I'd need to verify which device you have and that your question is not really related to the location of .apk files.

Cheers and let me know.