Installing APK with OBB

Last updated : 26/1/2022

- Introduction -
- Guide (Legacy & nutshell) -
- Guide (Root) -
- Guide (ADB) -

Introduction

This is my own guide for installing Android games that comes with OBB files, such as GTA (CTW, SA), Battleheart Legacy. & Animus : Stand Alone.

As this guide is not yet tested against A12, here's hoping A12 (and PDAs released with A12 OOTB) won't fuck stuff up even worse...

Guide (Legacy & nutshell)

This is the guide for older Android builds (Pie & A10, for example), which won't work with A11 & beyond.

  1. Using your file manager, browse to the directory containing the OBB folder of the game you'd like to install.
  2. Copy the OBB folder to /Android/obb
  3. Once it's done, simply install the corresponding APK (if it's split APK, use SAI).
  4. If the app runs within expectations, this guide's done; enjoy using (or getting used by) your app.

Guide (Root)

Requires root & a file manager with the ability to use root access (SD Maid is a good example, if you grant it root access).

  1. Using your root-using file manager (or SD Maid's Explorer with root), browse to the directory containing the OBB folder of the game you'd like to install.
  2. Copy the OBB folder to /Android/obb
  3. Once it's done, simply install the corresponding APK from any file manager (if it's split APK, use SAI).
  4. If the app runs within expectations, this guide's done; enjoy using (or getting used by) your app.

Guide (ADB)

This section doesn't require root, but it requires USB debugging enabled & a PC with adb & fastboot binaries (or the androidtools package if running Arch / Artix).

  1. Enable USB debugging in your PDA (Settings > System > Developer options >USB debugging)
  2. Plug your PDA into your PC
  3. In the PC, open terminal / powershell / commandprompt (depending on the OS in your PC)
    4. With Windows (powershell / commandprompt), you will need to open it in the platform-tools directory.

  4. Type in adb devices, which activates adb daemon & prompts you to allow USB debugging on the PDA.
  5. adb push your obb folder to /Android/obb
    6. Example : adb push com.tenbirds.animus /Android/obb

  6. Install the corresponding APK, from either adb install or through the PDA's file manager (or SAI if split APK)
  7. Disable USB debugging in your PDA once you're done with it, & unplug the PDA from your PC
  8. If the app runs within expectations, this guide's done; enjoy using (or getting used by) your app.
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