xapkapksapkmsideloading

How to Install XAPK, APKS, and APKM Files on Android

To install XAPK, APKS, and APKM files on Android, you need an installer like Split APKs Installer (SAI) that can process split app bundles simultaneously. Standard system package installers only support single APK files.

3 sen 2026 · 8 daqiqalik oʻqish · 157 marta oʻqildi
How to Install XAPK, APKS, and APKM Files on Android

To install XAPK, APKS, and APKM files on Android, you must use a dedicated bundle utility like Split APKs Installer (SAI) because Android's stock installer only accepts standard single APK packages. These split container formats bundle base code, CPU architectures, assets, and language files together, requiring an installer that submits all components to the system package manager at once.

Key takeaways#

  • Standard Android package installers fail when opening XAPK, APKS, or APKM files directly because they can only process single .apk packages.
  • Split APKs Installer (SAI) is an open-source, rootless application that unpacks and installs multi-part app bundles on Android 5.0 and above.
  • Unencrypted .apkm and .xapk files can be installed directly through SAI, while encrypted .apkm files require the APKMirror Installer app.
  • XAPK files with game assets can also be installed manually by renaming the file extension to .zip, extracting the .obb folder to Internal Storage/Android/obb/, and running the base APK.
  • Xiaomi devices running MIUI or HyperOS require disabling "MIUI Optimization" or switching SAI to Shizuku mode to avoid system installer blocks.

Method comparison for split APK bundles#

Before starting, choose the installation approach that fits your file format and device setup.

Installation MethodSupported FormatsRoot Required?Best For
Split APKs Installer (SAI).xapk, .apks, unencrypted .apkmNoMost users and non-encrypted bundles
APKMirror InstallerEncrypted .apkm, .apks, .apkNoAPKMirror encrypted bundle downloads
Manual ZIP Extraction.xapk (with OBB data)NoUsers avoiding third-party installer apps

Prerequisites before installation#

You must grant your file manager or installer app permission to sideload packages before attempting installation.

  1. Open your phone's Settings app.
  2. Navigate to Apps > Special app access > Install unknown apps.
  3. Select the app you will use to locate or install files (such as SAI or your file manager).
  4. Toggle on Allow from this source.

Granting "Install unknown apps" permission is required by Android security policies so the installer can pass extracted packages to the system installer API.

How to install split files using Split APKs Installer (SAI)#

Split APKs Installer (SAI) is an open-source tool published under the GPL-3.0 license by developer Aefyr. SAI version 4.5 runs on Android 5.0 (API Level 21) or higher and supports installing split APK bundles using standard Android APIs, Shizuku, or Root access.

  1. Download and open Split APKs Installer (SAI) on your device.
  2. Tap the Install Files button at the bottom of the main screen.
  3. Select either Internal File Picker or System File Picker based on your file manager preference.
  4. Browse your device storage and select the downloaded .xapk, .apks, or unencrypted .apkm file.
  5. Review the app split configuration options, such as base APK, CPU architecture like arm64-v8a, screen DPI, and language packs.
  6. Tap Select or Install to prompt SAI to unpack the files.
  7. Confirm the installation when the system package installer dialog appears on screen.

SAI version 4.3 and newer natively supports opening .apk files and processing unencrypted .apkm bundles without requiring file conversion.

How to install XAPK files manually via ZIP extraction#

If an .xapk file contains large game data assets, you can extract and position the files manually without relying on an automated bundle installer.

  1. Open your Android file manager and locate the downloaded .xapk file.
  2. Rename the file extension from .xapk to .zip.
  3. Extract the contents of the .zip archive to a folder on your local storage.
  4. Locate the inner folder containing the .obb file (usually named com.publisher.gamename).
  5. Move this entire folder to Internal Storage/Android/obb/.
  6. Return to the extracted archive folder and tap the base .apk file to install it using the stock package installer.

How to install encrypted APKM files#

While SAI handles unencrypted .apkm packages, encrypted .apkm files generated by APKMirror require the official APKMirror Installer companion app. APKMirror Installer version 2.0.3 features a Material 3 UI and requires Android 6.0 or higher.

  1. Install APKMirror Installer from the Play Store or official APKMirror downloads.
  2. Open the app and grant storage browse permissions when prompted.
  3. Tap Browse Files and locate your .apkm bundle.
  4. Tap Install app to let APKMirror Installer decode and parse the bundle configuration.
  5. Tap Watch ad and install app or use a subscription option if prompted by the proprietary installer interface.
  6. Confirm the system package installation prompt to complete setup.

Fixing installation errors on Xiaomi, MIUI, and HyperOS#

Xiaomi devices running MIUI or HyperOS enforce strict framework restrictions that cause standard Android split-APK installation APIs to fail or throw "App not installed" errors.

  1. Open Settings > About phone and tap OS version or Build number seven times to enable Developer Options.
  2. Navigate to Settings > Additional settings > Developer options.
  3. Scroll to the bottom and turn off MIUI Optimization.
  4. If the toggle is missing on newer HyperOS builds, tap Reset to default values at the bottom of Developer Options several times until the switch appears.
  5. Alternatively, open SAI Settings, tap Installer options, and switch the installation mode to Shizuku to install split bundles without modifying system optimization switches.

Disabling MIUI Optimization resets specific system app permissions, scaling settings, and notification UI preferences across your device.

Why can't Android natively install XAPK files?#

Android's default system installer cannot natively open XAPK, APKS, or APKM files because it only accepts single .apk binaries. Container formats are compressed ZIP archives containing multiple split APKs (for screen densities, CPU architectures, and languages) or OBB assets, requiring specialized utilities like SAI to unpack and pass all components to Android's PackageInstaller API simultaneously.

FAQ#

What is the difference between APK, XAPK, APKS, and APKM files?#

An APK is a standard single package installer file. XAPK is a container bundling split APKs and game OBB data, APKS is a split bundle format exported by tools like Google's bundletool or SAI, and APKM is APKMirror's proprietary split bundle format.

How do I fix "App not installed" error when installing split APKs in SAI?#

This error typically occurs when an older version of the app exists on your device signed with a different key. Uninstall the existing version of the app completely, verify that your device has sufficient free storage space, and attempt the installation again through SAI.

Can I install XAPK files manually without using an installer app?#

Yes, according to tutorials on manual extraction, you can rename the .xapk extension to .zip, extract the archive, place the enclosed OBB folder into Internal Storage/Android/obb/, and install the base .apk file manually.

Why does SAI fail to install split APKs on Xiaomi devices?#

Xiaomi's custom system framework blocks Android's standard split-package installation API. You must disable "MIUI Optimization" in Developer Options or configure SAI to use Shizuku mode to route installation requests around Xiaomi framework blocks.

To safely manage and install your split Android packages, download the latest release of Split APKs Installer (SAI) from its official GitHub repository and ensure your device permissions are configured before opening your first bundle.

xapkapksapkmsideloadingsaiandroid