How to turn off Google Play Protect to install the APK
If you see "app not installed" or "harmful app blocked" when you open the file, it is almost never the APK: it is Google Play Protect. Protect flags every app that does not come from Google Play, and all mods fall into that category.
Turning it off for a moment does not leave your phone unprotected: you can switch scanning back on as soon as the install finishes, and we recommend you do.
Step by step
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1
Open Google Play
Launch the Play Store app as you would to download anything else.
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2
Tap your profile picture
Your Google account avatar sits in the top right corner. Tap it.
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3
Open Play Protect
In the menu that appears you will see Play Protect. Open it.
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4
Open its settings
Tap the gear icon in the top right of that screen.
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5
Turn off scanning
Switch off "Scan apps with Play Protect". Android warns you about the risk; confirm.
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6
Install the APK
Go back to the file manager and install. If a warning still appears, choose "Install anyway".
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7
Switch it back on
Once installed, repeat the steps and re-enable scanning. Protect may flag the installed app: you can dismiss that particular notice.
Tips and warnings
- On some Xiaomi and Huawei phones there is an extra manufacturer check: look for MIUI Optimisation or Security and disable app verification.
- If the message says the app is damaged, the file downloaded incomplete: delete it and download again on a stable connection.
- Never disable Play Protect to install files from sites you do not know.
Questions about this guide
Is turning off Play Protect dangerous?
Only for the minutes the install takes, and only when the file comes from a source you trust. Switch it back on afterwards.
Protect keeps warning me after installing
That is normal: it flags any app from outside Google Play. You can dismiss the notice without disabling protection.