Want to know how to install Android apps on your BlackBerry phone? Here's a guide on how to get more lovely apps
You might know the brand for its inimitable physical keyboards and high-level security features, but BlackBerry has picked up a few new tricks in recent years.
One of those is the ability to download and run Android apps on BlackBerry phones. What’s more, with BB10 devices, you no longer need to go through a cumbersome conversion process to access these apps.
Here’s how you do it.
What you’ll need
You can easily install and run Android apps on any BlackBerry device running BB10.2.1 and later. That includes such devices as the BlackBerry Q10, the BlackBerry Z10, the BlackBerry Z30, and everyone’s favourite square phone the BlackBerry Passport.
Provided you have such a device, there are a number of methods you can turn to in order to download Android apps, but all work by downloading Android application packet files (APKs) - Android applications packaged up in zip files - to your phone’s browser or file manager.
We’ve outlined a couple of these methods because there’s no one comprehensive Google Play Store equivalent out there. You’ll likely want to use a few sources to get the apps that you want.
Disclaimer
Do remember that while your BlackBerry can download and install Android apps, none of them were made with BlackBerry in mind. This means that not all of them will run perfectly on your handset.
That being understood, let’s look at some of the simple techniques for getting Android apps onto your BlackBerry phone.
Method 1: APK downloaders
The most common way to download Android apps to your BlackBerry phone is to download an APK downloader app.
These will let you browse and download app files in their raw APK state. You then simply go into the Downloads folder (or wherever you opted to send the file) and install.
One of the best-established and most comprehensive is the Amazon Appstore. Yep, that’s THE Amazon Appstore, like the one you can get on Android.
If you have a new BlackBerry with BB10.3 installed, you should have the Amazon Appstore already. If not, just point your BlackBerry’s browser to this official Amazon Appstore link and hit the button to download it. Now agree to any further steps, including the enabling of app installation from other sources.
Now you can boot up the app, sign in using your Amazon account (you have got one, right?), and download some Android apps.
Two other well-established APK downloaders are Snap and 1Mobile Market, so do feel free to check those out. They work in much the same was as Amazon - download the app store, find your app, download, and install - and what they lack in polish they make up for in sheer range.
Method 2: APKtrain.com
There’s an easier way to download Android apps than APK downloaders, and that’s APKtrain. It’s a simple web-based interface that allows you to install those apps directly without having to install a specialist app, or ‘sideload.’
In your BlackBerry’s web browser, simply navigate to www.APKtrain.com. Now browse for the app you want, and hit the green download arrow to download.
Navigate to the Downloads folder, locate the APK file, press, and opt to install. Sorted!
Between these various sources, you should be able to assemble a pretty comprehensive range of major Android apps on your BlackBerry smartphone.
There you have it. That's how to get access to more apps on your BlackBerry handset. If you have any questions about the above, let us know in the comments section below.
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