Last Updated on March 28, 2017 by Mathew Diekhake
If you are customizing your Android device with root access or a custom recovery, you may need to enable the Unknown Sources option. We know some one-click rooting tools like the Framaroot application must come to us from outside Google Play Store. Thus we need to enable Unknown Sources before we can install it and root our device. Those instances are common when using a site like ours that focuses on Android device customization options, but the same Unknown Sources option is also required for many other occasions.
The Unknown Sources option is also required if you are installing general APKs that Google does not allow to be in the Google Play Store. It’s also handy if you are wanting to install an app that Google is fine with being in the Google Play Store but the application developer hasn’t got it available from the google Play Store. Luckily there is an option built into the Android operating system that allows us to work around that very problem and it’s called the Unknown Sources option available from your Settings menu.
Enabling the Unknown Sources option so you can install third-party apps outside of Google Play
- Turn on the Android tablet or smartphone and scroll to the Settings app from the home page.
- Tap on the Settings application and then tap on the Security option.
- Check the Unknown Sources box from the Device Administration area of the Security section.
In conclusion, that’s all you need to turn on the Unknown Sources option so your Android device can begin installing the applications that are not available from the Google Play Store.