Sharing apps on Android and iOS using APK or with family plan

Would you like to share apps with your friends and family? You can do this in two ways: through Android and iOS (iPhone) family sharing plans, or with an Android app that can extract installers.

Sharing apps on Android

Android is the only mobile system that allows the sharing of .apk files, application installers, with other people. You can do it in a simple way by using the APK Extractor application, available from the Google Play Store. It can extract almost any application, even the system (pre-installed) applications.

  1. Install APK Extractor on your Android phone, and open it;
  2. The app will list the apps you can share.
    Tap and hold your finger on the desired one;
  3. A menu will appear. Tap Share;
  4. On the next screen, tap Extract APK;
  5. APK Extractor will extract the .apk file from the application, and save it to your mobile phone.
    The default location is on the microSD card, in the /sdcard/ExtractedApks/folder;
  6. The app will now show sharing options (Bluetooth, Google Drive, Facebook, etc.). Choose the one of your choice and follow the normal file upload procedures for each method.

Before sharing apps, keep in mind that:

  • The feature is geared towards free or system apps, and it is recommended not to share paid apps, as this characterizes crime of fraud;
  • The APK Extractor only identifies active or background apps; applications will not appear among those available.

Sharing apps and media with your family (Android)

Google has a native feature called the Family Library, which allows a user to share their applications, games, books, movies, and other media with up to five people in the family, without additional subscription fees.

  1. Open the Google Play Store app;
  2. Tap the Menu button (the three parallel lines), then tap Account;
  3. Slide the screen to the right, tap the Family menu, and then on Apply Now button;
  4. Tap the Subscribe button;
  5. Follow the instructions to set up family members who will participate in the plan. Everyone must have Google accounts, be more than 13 years old and live in the same country.

And ready.

When you purchase an app or a paid game, book, or movie from the Play Store, and want to share it, do the following:

  1. Open the Google Play Store, Google Play Movies, or Google Play Books;
  2. In the Google Play Store, touch the Menu button, tap My Apps & Games, then tap Installed;
    In Google Play Movies or Books, tap Library at the bottom;
  3. In the Google Play Store or Google Play Movies, touch the app, game, or movie you want, and on the details page, turn on the Family Library option;
    In Google Play Books, touch the More button (the three dots) next to a title, then click Add to Family Library.

Sharing apps and media with family (Apple)

iOS (iPhone) also has a family – friendly share of apps and media, where up to six people can access content paid only by the account holder.

To configure the feature on iPhone, do the following:

  1. Open the Settings app;
  2. Tap your name, and then tap Family Sharing;
    In iOS 10.2 or earlier, the function will be in Settings > iCloud;
  3. Tap Start, and then follow the on-screen instructions to set up your family members. Everyone must have an Apple ID and access to Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, Apple TVs, and Macs), or a Windows computer with iTunes installed.

That simple.

All content purchased by the responsible is available to family members. To download them on iPhone, do the following.

  1. Open iTunes, App Store or Books;
  2. In iTunes, touch the Menu button (the three dots) and then Purchased;
    In the App Store, touch your photo, then tap Shop;
    In Books, touch your photo;
  3. Touch the name of the relative, and see the contents of it;
  4. To download an item, touch the download button next to it.

And ready.

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