How to Install Android App Bundles on Android?

Android apps come in an APK format, which has been the case since the inception of the OS. However, the developers deal with several other file types before ultimately compiling it into an APK. In this regard, the App Bundles will soon be the go-to choice for app developers for publishing their apps.

But why is there a need for such a change, and how will it affect the users? Using the App Bundles (AAB) format, developers would be able to provide their apps in a more optimized manner with smaller file size. This is because the Play Store will now use the Dynamic Delivery system with each AAB file.

This way, it will automatically pick up only required pieces of code that a particular device would require for that app to run. As a result, on the one hand, the developers wouldn’t have to optimize and manage their apps for every device set, and on the other hand, the smaller app size would benefit the end-user.

Moreover, users wouldn’t have to tinker much with this file set if they install apps from the Play Store. However, many apps aren’t part of this store but are equally beneficial for the user. So what happens when someone stumbles upon a third-party app with a .aab extension?

Well, you wouldn’t be directly able to install it like a normal APK. You would first have to convert it to the APK format and then proceed with the installation. In this regard, there exist two different methods through which you could carry out this task. And this guide shall make you aware of both. Follow along.

Install APKS (App Bundle) via App Bundle Installer

This is a third-party app that comes with an easy user interface to install the AAB files. Here’s how to use it:

1. To begin with, head over to the Play Store and download App Bundle Installer.
2. Then launch the app and tap on Select AAB. It will now ask you to enable Installation Unknown Source.
3. This is needed because the app will install the AAB file onto your device that hasn’t been downloaded from the Store. So make sure you enable this toggle.
   
4. Once that is done, go back to the app and tap on the Select AAB file button. Navigate to that file and select it.
5. The installation process will now begin and could take a few seconds. Once done, launch it, and you may then use it just like any other normal app.

Install App Bundle via BundleTool

BundleTool is an open-source software from Google that many developers use to test their App Bundles before ultimately deploying them for the stable release. Out of its wide array of functions, one of them is the ability to extract the contents of the AAB file, which would then give us the required APK file as well.

1. So head over to GitHub, download the BundleTool, and extract it to any convenient location on your PC.
   
2. Then go to this folder’s address bar, type in CMD, and Enter. This shall launch the CMD window.
   
3. Transfer your AAB file inside this directory. It’s better to rename it to something shorter.
4. As for this guide, we are going ahead with ‘app,’ so the complete name becomes an app.aab.
5. Now execute the below command in the CMD window:

   java -jar bundletool.jar build-apks --bundle=app.aab --output=app.apks

6. You will now get a file named app.apks as the output. We will have to extract this file by converting it from APKS to ZIP.
7. For that, right-click on it and select Rename. Then change its extension from AAB to ZIP. Likewise, click Yes in the confirmation dialog box that appears.
   
8. Once that is done, use a ZIP extractor tool such as WinZIP or WinRAR and extract the contents of this app.zip file.
9. Doing so shall give you a couple of files, including the app.apk. Transfer this file to your device and then install it normally.
10. However, if you get quite a few APK files upon extracting the file and you aren’t sure which one to install, then there is an alternate way out. Rather than using the code mentioned in STEP 6, try out the following command:

    java -jar bundletool.jar build-apks --bundle=nhl.aab --output=nhl.apks --mode=universal

11. You will again get an APKS file, rename it to ZIP and then extract it. This time there should be only a single ‘universal’ APK file that could easily be installed onto your device.
12. Furthermore, if you are an app developer and wish to deploy this APK onto a device, check out some other related codes and flags on the Android Developer Forum page.

Other Popular Android Bundles

Here are the Other Android App Installation Formats Available and Ways to Install the APKs and XAPK

Spit APKs Installer

Google introduced a new way to distribute Android apps called app bundles. While the regular apps contain all necessary resources like screen size, manifest, XML, Config, and architecture in a single APK.

The app bundles only include the components that your specific device needs, organized into split APKs. While app bundles help save storage space and data usage, they are not one-size-fits APK files. You need to use a split APK installer to install app bundles.

In simple terms, APK is split into different APKs which include Base.APK, Config-Archi.APK, and other Files which can only be installed using a 3rd party split installer.

Note: Make sure you have installed all the APK files necessary to install the App using Split APK Installer.

Here are the Steps to Install App Bundles Split APK File Using an Example.

Step 1. Download All the APK Files viz. Base APK, Config Archi APK or any other APK File if Listed.

Step 2. Now Download and Install Split APK from Play Store.

Step 3. Click on Install APKs Button.

Step 4. Locate the Files and Select All the Files.

Step 5. Now Click on Select.

Step 6. Now you will an Installation box, click Install and Done!

XAPK Installer

XAPK is a file extension format which is a standard zip format allowing all the data related to the App to be saved in a single file for quick installation. Android launched app bundles for app installation, they contain all the architecture, codes, and manifest files for the app for specific devices thus reducing the file size.

• Scan and preview all .apk file on your phone and SD Card
• Delete or install APKs automatically

Download XAPK Installer

With that, we round off this guide on how you could install APKS (App Bundle) on Android devices. If you have any queries concerning the aforementioned steps, please let us know in the comments section below.