How to find apps installed outside the Play Store on Android

APK files and other stores skip Google Play's checks. Here's how to see which apps came in that way.

Updated 8 October 2026

Most apps come from Google Play, but not all of them. Apps can also arrive as an APK file from a website or a chat, from another store such as Galaxy Store, or through your employer. That isn't wrong in itself – but those apps don't go through Google Play's review, so it's good to know which ones they are.

Check where an app came from

1. Open Settings → Apps and tap the app.
2. Scroll to the bottom. Under App details or Store it says where the app was installed from, for example App installed from Google Play Store.

Android shows this per app only, so checking all your apps this way takes a while.

See which apps may install other apps

1. Go to Settings → Apps → Special app access → Install unknown apps.
2. Every app that is Allowed can install new apps, for example a browser or file manager that downloaded an APK.
3. Switch it off for apps that don't need it.

Let Play Protect scan your phone

Open the Play Store, tap your profile picture and choose Play Protect → Scan. Play Protect also checks apps that didn't come from Google Play.

Spot new ones with UpdateMonitor

UpdateMonitor marks every install and update that came from an APK file, a USB connection or another store, together with its source. You can filter the history to show only those apps, and turn on a warning so you hear about it straight away. Apps your employer installs through a company portal aren't flagged.

Frequently asked questions

Is an app from outside the Play Store dangerous?

Not necessarily. Galaxy Store, F-Droid and company portals are common, trusted sources. The point is to know which apps came in that way, so an unexpected one stands out.

Why does an app say "installed from unknown"?

Android records no installer when an app was installed over USB, or when the installer has since been removed. UpdateMonitor shows this as an unknown source.