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I just bought a Samsung Galaxy Mini S, but I don't have 3g or wi-fi internet - I have internet only on my computer. Is there any way to install android apps without internet, via bluetooth or using the USB cable? (I do have bluetooth on my computer).

If it's possible to install the apps than where could I download the apps? The Market doesn't let me download them to my computer.

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1  
And you haven't considered something like Internet Connection Sharing to get your phone on your laptop's internet connection? That would be the easiest way IMO. – Soumya Jun 5 '11 at 7:42
Two questions: 1. how to install 2. Where to get. – Denis Nikolaenko Jul 28 '11 at 20:04

4 Answers

up vote 17 down vote

Yes: you can connect the phone to your computer via USB, click the notification on your phone to mount the USB storage to the PC, move downloaded apps from your computer to your phone (easiest if you put them on the SD card), and browse on your phone to where you put the apps and click on them to install them.

Your phone should have a file browser, but if it doesn't I recommend Explorer. You'll need to enable Unknown Sources in Settings -> Applications as well. You can download apps to your PC most easily from alternative markets like GetJar.

If you have installed something like Download Crutch so that you can download any type of file, or are using a non-stock browser that will ignore Android's restriction on downloads, then you can of course just download the .apk's directly to your device and skip the PC.

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You can also transfer the files from PC to device via Bluetooth, and then those files will be in the folder /sdcard/bluetooth. – Nicolás Apr 28 '11 at 20:07
up vote 1 down vote

I also faced the same problem when I brought the Android Smart Phone.

There is no way to download the apps to your Computer from Android Market. You should have internet on your mobile to download the apps directly to your mobile.

There are some websites where you can download the apps into your Computer.

For Ex: Mobiles24, GetAndroidStuff, etc..

And more over some of the Android Apps need internet connection to work.

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Ha ha its is too funny(Giving the down vote). I am here to not to earn the points. But to share the knowledge. Pl mention whats wrong with the answer. – X10MiniPro May 12 '11 at 8:03
up vote 2 down vote

If your computer has internet access via ethernet, and also has a wireless adaptor, you can use Connectify to set up your own wifi hotspot for your phone to connect to. You can then download and install apps normally.

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up vote 1 down vote

If you have Windows7 running the computer which would allow for an AP configuration of Connectify, then it will work. But for Windows XP or Vista running computers, the only mode Connectify can be configured is Ad-Hoc, which unfortunately is not compatible with Android devices:

Quote:

A number of recent devices do not support Ad Hoc mode (but do support Access Point mode) such as:

  • Android Devices (there are hacks to get rooted phones on Ad Hoc, but they will not do it out-of-the-box)
  • Blackberry Devices (running 5.0 or later software)
  • Amazon Kindles (can see the network but cannot connect)

http://support.connectify.me/entries/20307637-does-connectify-run-on-windows-vista-or-windows-xp

http://support.connectify.me/entries/20316691-access-point-mode-vs-ad-hoc-mode

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