installing .apk file in actual device only for testing

Question

I want to test my application on actual device, so how can I go for it? And is it accessory to sign in and use zipalign for this purpose, or they are useful when preparing for publish my application? And is there any way to test my application on actual device without using eclipse?

Solution 1

Yes u can directly install your application into actual device without signing and zipalign. You can install the drivers for your software into your computer and use you device directly for debugging alternative to Emulator

Refer Using Hardware Devices

or you can install using Android adb tool Refer Installing an Application

or you can directly copy your application package file to you sdcard and install

The easy steps to install your apk using File manager :

1. Copy the APK file you want to install to your phone's memory card. And disconnect Phone from USB.
2. Go to Android Market and search and download Astro File Manager.
3. Click on the Install button.
4. After it is installed, open the app (Astro).
5. It will show you your application APK file stored directly in the root directory of your memory card.
6. Just tap on the application you want to install
7. Tap on “Open App Manager”
8. Click Install
9. You are done!

P.S: Don't forget to enable Unknown sources in Settings > Security. And when installing via Eclipse enable USB Debugging > Developer Options

Some tips: http://developer.android.com/distribute/open.html

Solution 2

• download and install Android SDK
• Make usb debugging enabled in your device
• Connect your device to computer
• go to command prompt and write: "adb devices" this will list all the devices connected
• adb install "path/App.apk"

and you are done. Please note that adb command will run correctly from anywhere if you are having a correct path pointing to android sdk / plateform-tools direcory

I hope this will help you