How to Open an XAPK File on an Android Phone or Tablet

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Install apps from .xapk files with an installer or by extracting files

Written by Travis Boylls

Last Updated: December 31, 2025 Fact Checked

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Using XAPK Installer

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Installing Manually

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Video

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Warnings

XAPK files are an extended version of Android package (.apk) files. They are basically zip files that contain a standard APK file as well as a folder for opaque binary blobs (OBB) data, where additional data, such as graphics and media files, are stored. XAPK files are often used to install larger applications, such as games.^{[1]
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Research source} Unfortunately, the standard Android package installer is not designed to handle XAPK files. To install them, you need a third-party installer. You can also install them manually. This wikiHow article teaches you how to open and install an XAPK file on an Android device.

Installing an XAPK File: Overview

You can install XAPK files using a third-party installer like XAPK Installer, which is available from the Play Store. You can also rename the ".xapk" file extension to ".zip", use your file manager to open the ZIP, copy the OBB file inside to the OBB folder on your Android, and then install the APK file.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using XAPK Installer

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A free app called XAPK Installer makes it easy to open XAPK files on your Android. To get it, open the Google Play Store and search “XAPK Installer.” Tap the XAPK Installer app, then tap Install to install it.
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Open XAPK Installer and tap X on the ad. This allows you to continue with the free version. You can use the free version of XAPK Installer to install XAPK files, although you may see some ads during the process.^{[2]
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- If you want to subscribe to the paid version and remove all ads, tap Start Free Trial at the bottom, then follow the prompts to enter your payment information and start your free trial.
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Tap Install .XAPK File. It’s the green button, the first option in the menu.
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Allow XAPK Installer to access your files. The first time you use the app, you will need to grant it permission to access your files. When prompted, tap OK. Then, tap the toggle switch next to “Allow permission,” and tap the back arrow in the upper-left corner to return to the previous screen.
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Tap Install. It’s in the pop-up that appears at the bottom of the screen. This will install the XAPK file.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Manually Installing an XAPK File

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You’ll need an app that can open ZIP files on your Android, like ZArchiver or RAR. Alternatively, if you have the Files by Google app installed, you can skip downloading an extra app and use that instead.
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Navigate to the location of the XAPK file in your file manager. Use Files by Google or My Files (or a third-party file manager) to navigate to the location of the XAPK file. It will most likely be in the Downloads folder.
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Rename the XAPK file to a ZIP file. Tap and hold the XAPK file, tap Rename, and change the “.xapk” extension to “.zip”. This will turn the XAPK file into a ZIP file.
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Extract the contents of the ZIP file. Tap the zip file you just created, then tap the option to extract the contents. This should create a new folder with a standard APK file and an OBB folder on the inside.
- If you installed an archive app, you can also use that to extract the contents of the ZIP file.
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Copy the OBB folder. To do so, tap and hold the folder and tap Copy.
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Paste the folder into the OBB folder. Use the My Files or Files by Google app to navigate to Internal Storage > Android > OBB. Tap and hold, and tap Paste to paste the copied folder into this location.
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Return to the extracted folder. Use Files by Google or My Files to navigate back to the folder you extracted from the ZIP file you created.
You should find a regular APK file inside the extracted folder. Tap the APK file and tap Install. This will install the APK file using the standard Android package installer.^{[3]
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Warnings

Be careful when installing APK or XAPK files from sources other than the Google Play Store. They may contain viruses and malware that can be harmful to your device.

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