With Google’s ambitious plan to move away from APKs to Android App Bundles (AAB) as the new standard for apps uploaded to the Play Store, you might be wondering how to sideload AAB files on your Android device. Is the process of sideloading AAB files as easy as installing an APK? That’s exactly what we will discuss in this article and explain how to install App Bundles on an Android device.
We have added methods to download app bundles and install them in this article, along with a brief explainer on what are Android app bundles. Make sure you read on till the end to know everything about installing Android app bundles on your device.
- What are Android App Bundles?
- How to Download Android App Bundles
- Install Android App Bundles on Your Device
- Install .apkm Files Using APKMirror
- Install .apks and Split apk Files Using SAI
- Install .aab Files on Your Device Using App Bundle Installer
What are Android App Bundles and How they Compare to APKs?
Google first announced Android App Bundles at Google I/O 2018 as part of its efforts to reduce the size of Android apps. With App Bundles, Google Play generates APK files based on different device configurations like CPU architecture, DPI, and languages. These individual APK files serve a specific purpose are called split APKs. And Google Play then delivers the appropriate configuration of the app (one that works best for your device) through a process called Dynamic Delivery. Image Courtesy: Google
So, how does the move to AAB affect app sideloading on Android devices? Well, with the rise of app bundles, the process of sideloading apps has become complicated. Instead of a single APK install file, we now have different formats such as .apks (a combination of .apk file and all split apk files), .xapk (APK file + OBB data file), and .apkm (App bundle from APKMirror website).
As there is no official centralized repository to download AAB files on Android phones, we will have to rely on third-party app hosting sites like APKMirror for sideloading app bundles. However, there’s a catch when you use APKMirror for app bundles. The APKMirror website uses its own format for app bundles called .apkm. As a result, you will have to use the APKMirror Installer companion app to install .apkm files.
Install Android App Bundles on Your Device
Once you have downloaded an Android App Bundle, you can install it using a dedicated app bundle installer app. Now, if you would like to install a .apkm file, you should use APKMirror Installer. However, if you have the base APK and specific split APKs, you can use the open-source app Split APKs Installer (SAI) to install an Android App Bundle.
- After downloading the .apkm file from APKMirror, open the APKMirror Installer app (Free, with in-app purchases). Then, select the .apkm file from the “Browse files” option. Tap on the .apkm file name, followed by a tap on “Install package” from the pop-up menu.
You can install .apks, .xapk, split apk files, and unencrypted .apkm files using the Split APKs Installer (SAI). SAI is considered the gold standard for installing app bundles in the Android community. Here’s how to use the SAI app to install split apks:
Method 3: Install .aab Files on Your Device Using App Bundle Installer
Because of the nature of .aab files, a general user is unlikely to come across apps with the .aab filetype. However, if you manage to get your hands on a .aab file, you can use an app called App Bundle Installer to install it. In this demonstration, I will be using the .aab file of Power Menu Controls, a powerful app to customize the Android 11 power menu. Here’s how to install .aab files on your Android phone:
- The app will now show you a prompt to tell you how it works. It uploads the .aab file, converts .aab to .apk, signs the .apk file, and downloads it to your device. Since it is a third-party implementation, proceed at your own risk.
So, that brings us to the end of our guide on how to install Android App Bundles (AAB) on your device. As you can clearly see, sideloading apps as Android App Bundles is not as simple as installing an apk file using the native package installer. It will be interesting to see how the power users adapt to the switch to App Bundles in the coming months. Now, if you are someone interested in modding, go ahead and check out articles on installing ADB on Windows, running ADB from your web browser, and removing bloatware from Android phones.
