Downloading files on android app

[Tgill]

My colleagues and I commonly need to share files, we do so via the team chat.  These files are commonly .apk files.  When I use my phone to try and download the file, the file just downloads into the app.  The app notifies me saying download complete but when I press on it, it just launches the app.  I am wondering how I can actually download the file directly onto my device so I may use the .apk

[JasonHernandez1]

It sounds like the .apk files are being downloaded within the app instead of being saved to your device's file system. To download the .apk file directly to your device, you can try the following steps:

1. Open your team chat app and navigate to the chat containing the .apk file you want to download.
2. Tap and hold on the .apk file to bring up the context menu.
3. Select "Save" or "Save As" from the context menu. This should save the .apk file to your device's file system.
4. Once the download is complete, open the "Downloads" app on your device and locate the .apk file you just downloaded.
5. Tap on the .apk file to begin the installation process.

If these steps don't work, you can try using a different web browser or file manager app to download the .apk file. Additionally, make sure that your device's security settings allow installation of apps from unknown sources, as some .apk files may not be available on the Google Play Store.

[feiteng002]

I’ve had that happen too — sometimes the chat app just opens the file instead of saving it. I usually long-press the file and look for a “download” or “save to device” option so I can access the .apk directly.

[Hariiee]

The app handles downloads internally so the APK is not saved directly. You can try the following. First check the app settings for a save to device option. Second use a file manager to look in Internal Storage / Android / Data / App Name. Third you can open the download link in a browser to save it to Downloads. Make sure Install unknown apps is enabled to install the APK.

[Hariiee]

It sounds like the files are being opened directly in the chat app instead of saving to your phone storage. A few things you can try: Long-press the file and check if there’s a “Save to device” or “Download” option. Open your phone’s Files or Downloads app — often the .apk is already stored there even if it auto-launches. If the chat app doesn’t support proper saving, ask your colleagues to share via Google Drive, OneDrive, or email so you can download it directly. Don’t forget to enable “Install unknown apps” in your Android settings to install .apk files.