It is not always necessary to rely on either Google Play Store or Apple Store to download the apps of your choice. But if you want to know how to enable unknown sources on Android and iOS and experience it practically, we advise you to proceed very carefully.
If you are one of those who follow news on a regular basis, you must have noticed the news going around about banning apps and news reports very clearly states the policies that app stores run by Google and Apple need to follow. You might have come across the word ‘sideloading’ apps. It means installing apps that are not part of either Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.
Sideloading apps is comparatively easy to install especially on Android. It gives access to apps you wouldn’t get otherwise on Google Play Store or Apple App Store. They can do it simply because they disband the app store policies. It can give you access to try out the early versions of apps even before they reach to the masses.
However, ‘sideloading’ apps always involve risks. You must know that Apple App Store or Google Play Store provide the security protections that sideloading apps is not capable to offer. Stalkerware might try to steal your data thereby it makes your device weak. By installing apps from unknown sources you are breaking the safeguards. So, double-check the background of the apps and the developers before you click on the ‘Install’ button. And if you have a tinge of doubt, then don’t go for it. So, buckle up and go through the article to know how to enable unknown sources on Android and iOS.
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How to enable unknown sources on Android?
Before discussing about How to enable unknown sources on Android or iOS it is important to know that sideloading apps on Android is not very difficult. However, one needs to keep in mind the security considerations mentioned above. Though it is true that it expands the capability of your smartphone, it is also a good choice only if the installation is done from a trustworthy site.
To get started with enabling unknown sources on Android, you need to go to a trusted site that stores APK (Android Packages). One of the trusted sites is APKMirror. It is one of the most reliable sites that you should keep in mind if you want to know how to enable unknown sources on Android and iOS.
When you find the APK to install on your device, you need to click on the ‘Download APK’ button. Once you tap on that button, you will find a confirmation box asking you to confirm your decision. Press ‘OK’ to send a confirmation. After that, it will send you a message implying that the unauthorized apps can harm your device. When you see the message, make sure you know whether you want to proceed further or not. Click on the ‘Open’ button if this is your first APK installation. You will require to go to ‘Settings’ of your device to confirm that you want to install ‘unknown apps’ from the source.
Although users should keep in mind that Just they should only do this through their web browser and then toggle on ‘Install’ to run the APK. Now you can install the app on your device.
If you feel the need to get access to the install unknown-apps settings again, you can go to settings of your phone. You will find an option named ‘Apps and notifications’. Select the option by clicking on it and select the app of your choice and Advanced and Install unknown apps. There is another way to install apps. You can do the same by using file-syncing services like Dropbox. But there is a condition to do so. You need to enable this feature for the app you want to install.
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How to enable unknown sources on old Android versions? (Lollipop 5.0, Marshmallow 6.0, Nougat 7.0)
If you are not using Android 10 version, the process of enabling unknown sources might be a little different than the last one we have mentioned above. However, the condition remains the same; first you will have to check the background and the developer of the apps that you are installing on your phone. To begin with the installation process, you need to open your Android settings first. From there navigate Security. When you find the option ‘Unknown sources’ among others, enable it. Right after you enable the option a message will pop up on the screen implying the risks about installing apps from unknown sources. Tap on ‘OK’ and select ‘Trust’ to go ahead with your installation process.
But if you are one of those who is using Android 9.0, you will require to allow unknown sources for each app that you are willing to install on your device.
Lastly, there is another option that can help you to enable unknown sources on Android. That option is Web apps. Sometimes web apps can help you to get access to the apps that are not available in the official Google store. Even if the app that you are willing to install is on the Google Play Store, you can always use this web apps option to get access to some apps like: Twitter, Facebook, if you don’t want these apps to occupy space in your device. If you are able to find an online version of the apps, you can get them through your Android web browser.
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How to enable unknown sources on iOS?
Unlike Android, Apple’s iOS and iPadOS are very strongly locked. You can easily allow some unknown sources to give you the access to any app, but Apple does not believe in making things so simple for its consumers. There is no safety or security switch that you can press to simply give access to the unknown sources to help you download apps. However, it does not go out of options. You still have several options to get access to unauthorized apps on your iPhone.
TestFlight is one of the most famous ways to install apps that are not available in the Apple App Store. This is a lot more reliable than anything else. It is a program which officially sanctioned by Apple. But, one thing is to note here, it is not very often that you come across a program like this unless you are eagerly looking for it.
TestFlight is a tool that the developers use to test beta versions of their apps before going forward with the launching. Downloading TestFlight is quite easy. Anyone can download the program. But before you rush to download the program you need to keep something in mind; you can not go and install every pre-release app package. In order to do so, you need to be invited to join a beta test sent to you via a link. Though Beta releases give you access to apps and features but be ready to encounter some serious bugs and issues on the way.
If you are still interested to go forward, you can find the necessary details at WABetaInfo and on Reddit.
If you are not fond of TestFlight, then there is another way to enable unknown sources on iOS. The process is to jailbreak your phone. By using this method, you can smash the lock that Apple puts on iOS. By applying jailbreak on your phone you are unlocking your phone on your own by using the software provided on internet. It is equivalent to rooting the Android device.
Applying jailbreak comes with certain level of freedom indeed. It basically allows the user to install any app on their iPhone. You can install apps of your choice that can change the look of the interface, make apps overlaid on top of each other, you can get access to file system more easily than before. Apart from that, applying jailbreak on your Apple device allows you to do much more than that.
But let’s not forget, every action has consequence. And so does the jailbreak. Besides coming with freedom, it also has its own share of disadvantages that a user needs to face after applying the jailbreak on his/her phone. Let’s start with the fact that it is quite difficult to do and it void the warranty period of your device. It stops the user from upgrading the phone like any normal iPhone. It causes new security threats every now and then.
Moreover, if you are eager to upgrade your device, you simply cannot do that like you have done before. You need to patiently wait for the next iOS version to be hacked before you upgrade your phone. In other words, your device loses any normalcy that you are supposed to get.
Though Apple is very keen on abolishing the practice as soon as possible, but a wide range of information is available to the users right now about how to jailbreak your iOS device thanks to the internet. To do it, you need to connect your device to Windows or macOS and you can run the jailbreaking tool from there. But before you go ahead with the idea of applying jailbreak on your device make sure you are aware of its privacy and security implications.
These are some of the ways you can follow if you want to know how to enable unknown sources on Android and iOS. But as it has been mentioned before, we advise you to beware of the consequence and make sure that the apps you are installing on your device are safe and secured.
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