How to Download the Google Play Store App – Quick Guide

What do you do when it doesn’t come with your device, or you’ve accidentally deleted the app, or you aren’t sure if it’s on your phone?

The truth is that if the Google Play Store app isn’t installed on your phone already, it’s pretty easy to install it – here’s how.

How Do I Download Play Store App? Here’s how

If you want to download the Google Play Store app onto your device, the easiest way to do this is with an APK.

This is simply the file system used by Android that will allow you to download the Google Play Store app onto your Android device.

It might seem daunting, but even if your phone has no way to install apps from a loader such as the Google Play Store itself, there is a way to download and install apps.

You can find and install an Android Application Package file (APK). Don’t worry, it’s not as complicated as it seems.

However, there are a few steps you need to take to be able to do this, both practically and in terms of device permissions.

But before you do any of that, you need to make sure you can download files in the first place.

Step 1 – Make sure it’s not already installed

Sometimes it can be hard to find out whether you have an app installed on your device or not.

This is because you may have accidentally moved it off your home screen or dropped it into a folder by accident and can’t see it anymore.

Either way, a quick and easy way to double check if you have the app or not is to go to your phone options menu by dragging down your notification bar and clicking the cog wheel at the top right.

From there, go down to “apps” and tap it. You need to keep the Play Store updated to ensure it continues working.

Once in that menu, tap the search icon at the top right and search for “google play store.” If you have the app installed it will show up. If it doesn’t show up, it’s time to download it.

Step 2 – Enable installation from unknown sources

Before you take your first step to downloading the Google Play Store app, there’s something you need to do, and that’s enabling installation from unknown sources.

Normally, your device blocks these types of downloads or installations as a safety feature, preventing offloading or hacking attempts from external sites without your permission. However, right now we need to enable the option.

Without it enabled, we won’t be able to download an APK file to get the Google Play Store.

Open the settings menu on your device and search for “unknown.” Something similar to “install unknown apps” should show up.

If you tap on it, you will be taken deep into your settings. It’s usually in the Privacy or Apps & Notifications folders if your device doesn’t have a search function.

From there, look for your default browser and tap on it to open the settings, then select “enable.” This will allow you to download and install from an unknown source using that browser.

Step 3 – Download the Google Play Store APK file

Next, open your browser and find a mirror site. A mirror site is one which hosts files available from another source.

In this case we are finding the Google Play Store files, and we are going to use APKmirror to download and install those files.

On APKmirror you will be able to find various versions of the Google Play Store app, including the most recent version and date of release.

Find the most recent version and tap “download.” A warning message may pop up asking for your permission to download external files, but this is fine, simply agree to the download and let it do its thing.

Step 4 – Disable unknown sources permission

Now that you’ve downloaded and installed the files that you need, you don’t want to leave the “unknown sources” option open as it presents a security risk.

Simply search for it again and disable the option in the browser that you enabled it for previously.

If you don’t do this, you leave yourself open to potential viruses being installed on your device if you click a bad link or visit a restricted site.

So, it makes sense for you to disable this after you’ve finished downloading the Google Play Store via an APK, as the likelihood is you won’t want to download individual apps from unknown sources anyway.

Is it safe to download the Google Play Store app via APK?

Probably the most common question people have about APKs is whether they’re safe. The answer is that not all of them are, but APK Mirror is the safest you’re going to get.

APKmirror is run by the same people who host AndroidPolice and have a long history of actively promoting safety and security when it comes to Android apps and data.

The site uses cryptographic analysis to scan any and all app files hosted there, and they go through a long vetting process to ensure they are genuine and contain no malware.

They also have a zero-tolerance for pirated or cracked apps, which reduces risks even more and highlights their legitimacy.

Many users only trust this site when downloading Android APKs, but the truth is that you can never be too careful when downloading third party applications.

Once the download has finished, you can either click the popup to open and install the file or go to your “downloads” folder and tap the file to install from there.

If you have an antivirus app, as I do, you may have to temporarily disable it to be able to download from an external source, as this is an additional layer of security.

Once you enable the installation, it should run and finish automatically. Once it’s finished installing, restart your device and then open the Google Play Store to test that it’s working.

Alternatives to APK Mirror

Before you install Google Play Store, you need to download it. As suggested, we recommend APK Mirror, but this isn’t the only place that you can download from.

You can also consider using;

1. APKPure: APKPure offers a wide selection of APK files for Android apps, and the site claims to verify the legitimacy of all its APKs.
2. Aptoide: Aptoide is an alternative Android app store with millions of apps available for download. It has a user-friendly interface and provides a community-driven platform for app distribution.
3. F-Droid: F-Droid is an installable catalogue of FOSS (Free and Open Source Software) applications for the Android platform. The client makes it easy to browse, install, and keep track of updates on your device.
4. Uptodown: This is a download portal with an extensive catalogue of apps available for Android and other operating systems.
5. APK4Fun: APK4Fun provides a large selection of APK files for Android apps, and the site offers detailed information about each app, including user reviews.
6. Amazon Appstore: While not an APK download site per se, Amazon’s Appstore is a popular and trusted platform for getting Android apps.
7. SlideME: SlideME is another alternative Android marketplace with a wide selection of apps and games.
8. GetJar: One of the oldest app stores around, GetJar offers a huge selection of apps for Android and other platforms.
9. AppBrain: AppBrain offers a variety of apps for Android and provides detailed app analytics.
10. Mobogenie: Mobogenie provides a platform for discovering and downloading Android apps.

One of the benefits of using Android devices is that you can easily download apps from APKs. This works well if you don’t have an app, it’s not in the Play Store or you want to get an older version of an app.

Check your Wi-Fi connection

If you aren’t properly connected to the internet, you won’t be able to download the Google Play Store APK in the first place.

Make sure you have a good connection to the internet and can use google, as you will need it to download the Google Play Store App files.

If you are having problems with your connection, try to stay close to your router and there aren’t any thick walls or floors in the way preventing you from connecting.

If not, then you may want to switch over to mobile data to ensure you can download successfully.

Conclusion

Boasting the largest number of apps available to download, the Google Play Store is the largest app library in the world.

It massively simplifies downloading and updating apps on Android phones and is a core part of the user experience. However, you may need to download it again if it’s been deleted.

But if you’re having issues with the Google Play Store not working, an APK could help. After following the tutorial, if you can open the Google Play Store, sign in and download your favourite apps again.

Most people will never have to install an APK, but you’ve managed to do it and get yourself back in touch with millions of apps and essential updates.