If you are an Android user, you might have come across APK files that you need to install on your device. An APK file is an Android Package Kit that contains the necessary files to install an application on your device. Once you install the app, you might wonder if it’s safe to delete the APK file or not.
What is an APK File?
Before we dive into the discussion of whether you can delete an APK file after installation, let’s understand what it is and how it works. As mentioned earlier, an APK file is a package file for Android applications. It contains all the necessary files required to install an app on your device.
APK files are usually downloaded from third-party sources or directly from Google Play Store. When you download and install an app from Google Play Store, the APK file gets automatically deleted once the installation process is complete. However, if you download and install an app manually using its APK file, then it’s up to you to decide whether to keep or delete the APK file.
Can You Delete The APK File After Installation?
The short answer is yes; you can safely delete the APK file after installing the app on your device. Once an app is installed on your device, it gets copied to your device’s internal storage or SD card (if present). The installed application works independently of its installation package.
However, keeping the APK file can be useful in certain situations. If for any reason, you need to reinstall or update the app in the future, having a copy of its installation package can save time and data usage.
Pros and Cons of Deleting or Keeping The APK Files
- Pros:
- You can free up some space on your device by deleting unnecessary APK files.
- The deletion of these files will help improve storage space and device performance.
- Cons:
- If you delete the APK file, you won’t be able to reinstall or update the app unless you download it again.
- Keeping the APK file can help save data usage and time spent downloading the app again in case of reinstallation or update.
Conclusion
In conclusion, deleting an APK file after installing an app on your device is safe and won’t affect the app’s functionality. However, it’s always advisable to keep a copy of the installation package in case you need to reinstall or update the app in the future. The decision to delete or keep the APK file depends on your personal preference and device storage capacity.