Installing F-Droid on Android takes less than 5 minutes. Download the F-Droid APK, enable installation from unknown sources on your Android device, open the downloaded APK file, tap Install, and you are done. F-Droid will then automatically sync its repository and give you instant access to over 1,200 free and open source Android apps completely free of charge.

What You Need Before Installing F-Droid

Before you start the installation process make sure you have the following things ready on your Android device.

You need an Android device running Android 6.0 or above — although F-Droid also supports older Android versions going all the way back to Android 1.5 through older compatible versions. You need approximately 12 MB of free storage space for the F-Droid APK file itself plus additional storage for the apps you will install afterward. To download the F-Droid APK and sync the F-Droid repository upon initial launch, you must have a functional internet connection. Additionally, in order to allow installation from unknown sources, you must have access to your Android device’s settings, which we will go over in depth in the instructions below.

How to Install F-Droid on Android — Step by Step

Now let us walk through the complete F-Droid installation process step by step. Follow these instructions carefully and you will have F-Droid up and running on your Android device in under 5 minutes.

Step 1: Open Your Android Browser and Go to the Official F-Droid Website

The very first step is to open your preferred browser on your Android device and navigate to the official F-Droid website at f-droid.org. It is extremely important that you visit the official website directly and do not download the F-Droid APK from any other source. The official f-droid.org website is the only completely safe and verified source for the official F-Droid APK download.

As soon as you reach the f-droid.org site, you’ll see a big blue “Download F-Droid” button in the middle of the page, along with a QR code that you may scan with a different smartphone if you’d like. The most recent stable F-Droid APK release’s version number and file size are displayed on the download button.

Step 2: Download the Official F-Droid APK

Tap the Download F-Droid button on the official website to begin downloading the official F-Droid APK file to your Android device. The file size is approximately 12 MB so the download should complete in under one minute on a standard WiFi connection and in under two minutes on a typical mobile data connection.

Once the download begins you will see a download notification appear in your Android notification bar at the top of your screen. You can pull down the notification bar to monitor the download progress. Wait for the download to complete fully before proceeding to the next step.

When your browser prompts you to decide whether to save or delete the downloaded file, click Make sure you want to store the F-Droid APK on your device. A warning that the file might be dangerous may appear in some browsers; this is a common alert that Android browsers display for all APK downloads and does not indicate that the F-Droid APK is dangerous.

Step 3: Enable Installation From Unknown Sources

Before you can install the F-Droid APK on your Android device you need to allow your device to install apps from sources other than Google Play. This setting is called Unknown Sources or Install Unknown Apps depending on your Android version and is disabled by default on all Android devices for security reasons.

Here is how to enable unknown sources on different Android versions.

On Android 8.0 and above the unknown sources setting works differently from older Android versions. Instead of a single global setting Android 8.0 and above requires you to grant unknown sources permission to specific apps individually. When you tap the F-Droid APK file to install it Android will automatically prompt you to grant your browser or file manager permission to install unknown apps. Simply tap Settings in the prompt and enable the Allow From This Source toggle for your browser app. Then tap the back button to return to the installation screen and proceed with the installation.

There is a single global unknown sources setting that applies to all apps on Android 7.1 and lower. To activate it, launch the Android Settings app, scroll down, select Security or Privacy, depending on your device, locate the Unknown Sources toggle, turn it on, and then click OK in the resulting warning dialogue. Once enabled, installing the F-Droid APK doesn’t require any more permission adjustments.

It is important to understand that enabling unknown sources does not make your Android device permanently less secure. You are simply telling Android that you trust a specific source — in this case the official F-Droid APK — to install apps on your device. Once F-Droid is installed you can optionally disable the unknown sources permission for your browser again for extra security as F-Droid will have its own separate permission to install apps on your device.

Step 4: Open the Downloaded F-Droid APK File

Once the download is complete and you have enabled installation from unknown sources it is time to open the downloaded F-Droid APK file to begin the installation. There are two ways to open the downloaded APK file on your Android device.

The easiest way is to pull down your Android notification bar and tap the completed download notification for the F-Droid APK file. This will immediately open the APK file and launch the Android installation screen.

Alternatively you can open your device’s file manager app, navigate to the Downloads folder, find the F-Droid APK file, and tap on it to open it. The file will be named something like F-Droid.apk or F-Droid-1.20.0.apk depending on the version you downloaded.

Step 5: Review and Confirm the Installation

Once you open the F-Droid APK file Android will display the installation confirmation screen showing you the app name, the app icon, and a brief description of the app. On some Android versions this screen also shows the permissions that F-Droid requires to function properly on your device.

When you’re ready, touch the Install button to start the installation after reviewing the details on the installation screen. On the majority of Android devices, the installation process is completely automatic and usually takes less than 30 seconds. When the installation is finished, a confirmation message will appear along with a progress bar that displays the installation’s progress.

If Android shows you a Google Play Protect warning saying it does not recognize the app developer this is completely normal for all APK files installed outside of Google Play. Tap More Details and then tap Install Anyway to proceed with the F-Droid installation. This warning does not mean F-Droid is harmful — it simply means Google Play Protect does not have data about this specific APK because it was not distributed through Google Play.

Step 6: Open F-Droid for the First Time

Once the installation is complete tap the Open button on the installation confirmation screen to launch the F-Droid app for the very first time. Alternatively you can find the F-Droid app icon in your Android app drawer and tap it to open it.

When you open F-Droid for the first time you will see a welcome screen followed by an automatic repository sync process. This initial sync downloads the complete list of all available apps from the F-Droid repository to your device so that F-Droid can display them for you to browse and install. The initial sync may take between 2 to 5 minutes depending on the speed of your internet connection. Do not close the app or interrupt the sync process — wait for it to complete fully before searching for or installing any apps.

Step 7: Allow F-Droid to Install Apps

After the initial repository sync is complete F-Droid may ask you to grant it permission to install apps on your Android device. This is a separate permission from the unknown sources setting you enabled earlier and is specifically for the F-Droid app itself.

When asked, select Settings and turn on the F-Droid app’s Allow From This Source toggle. F-Droid can install and update apps on your Android device automatically thanks to this permission, saving you the trouble of manually approving each installation through a different permission dialogue each time. After granting this permission, you have the option to return to your browser’s settings and, for added protection, turn off the Install Unknown Apps permission.

Step 8: Browse and Install Your First Apps

Congratulations — F-Droid is now fully installed and ready to use on your Android device. You now have access to over 1,200 free and open source Android apps completely free of charge with no account, no payment, and no personal information required.

To browse available apps tap the Categories tab to see all available app categories or tap the Latest tab to see the most recently added and updated apps. To search for a specific app tap the search icon at the top of the screen and type the name of the app you are looking for.

When you find an app you want to install simply tap on it to open the app detail page, read the description, check the screenshots, review the permissions, and then tap the Install button to download and install it on your device. F-Droid will automatically download and install the app and you will receive a notification when the installation is complete.

If you are not sure which apps to install first we strongly recommend checking our complete list of the best F-Droid apps — a handpicked selection of the most popular, highest rated, and most useful apps available on F-Droid organized by category.

What to Do After Installing F-Droid

Now that F-Droid is installed on your Android device here are the most important next steps to take to get the absolute best experience from your new open source app store.

Add Trusted Third Party Repositories

The default F-Droid repository has 1,200+ apps but you can significantly expand your app selection by adding trusted third party repositories. We strongly recommend adding IzzyOnDroid which adds over 700 additional free and open source apps and Guardian Project which adds essential privacy tools like Tor Browser and Orbot.

To add a repository open F-Droid, go to Settings, tap Repositories, tap the plus icon, and enter the repository URL. The new repository will sync automatically and all its apps will immediately appear in your F-Droid library.

Enable Automatic Updates

To ensure that you always have the most recent and safe versions of your installed apps, go F-Droid Settings and make sure automatic update notifications are enabled. Every time a new version of any installed software becomes available, F-Droid will automatically search for updates.

Install Your First Essential Apps

We recommend installing these five essential apps immediately after setting up F-Droid. NewPipe gives you an ad free YouTube experience without any Google account. Fennec F-Droid gives you a powerful privacy focused browser with full extension support. Bitwarden gives you a completely free and secure open source password manager. Aegis Authenticator gives you a secure and private two factor authentication app. And TrackerControl lets you see and block all trackers running on your Android device in real time.

How to Install F-Droid on Different Devices

The installation guide above covers the standard installation process for Android smartphones. F-Droid can also be installed on several other Android powered devices. Here is a brief overview of how to install F-Droid on different devices.

How to Install F-Droid on Amazon Fire TV Stick

To install F-Droid on an Amazon Fire TV Stick you need to first enable apps from unknown sources in your Fire TV settings by going to Settings, My Fire TV, Developer Options, and enabling Apps from Unknown Sources. Then install the Downloader app from the Amazon App Store, open it, and enter the official F-Droid download URL to download and install the F-Droid APK directly onto your Fire TV Stick. The entire process takes approximately 10 minutes.

How to Install F-Droid on Android TV

To install F-Droid on an Android TV device you can use either a file manager app or ADB to sideload the official F-Droid APK onto your Android TV. Enable unknown sources in your Android TV settings first, then use your preferred sideloading method to transfer and install the F-Droid APK. Once installed F-Droid works perfectly on Android TV with full remote control navigation support.

How to Install F-Droid on Old Android Devices

The most recent version of F-Droid is not compatible with Android 5.1 or lower. Rather, you must download an older version of F-Droid that works with your Android version. With direct download links for each suitable F-Droid version, our comprehensive guide for outdated Android devices covers every supported Android version.

How to Install F-Droid via ADB

Installing F-Droid via ADB is the most advanced installation method and is recommended for developers and power users only. Enable Developer Options and USB Debugging on your Android device, connect it to your computer via USB, and use the ADB command line tool to push and install the F-Droid APK directly onto your device. This method works even when Google Advanced Protection Program is enabled on your device.

Troubleshooting Common F-Droid Installation Problems

If you encounter any problems during the F-Droid installation process here are the most common issues and how to fix them quickly.

F-Droid APK Won’t Download

If the F-Droid APK download keeps failing or getting stuck switch from mobile data to a WiFi connection and try again. If the problem persists clear your browser cache and cookies then attempt the download one more time from the official f-droid.org website.

F-Droid APK Won’t Install

If the F-Droid APK downloads successfully but refuses to install make sure installation from unknown sources is properly enabled for your browser or file manager app in your Android settings. Then try opening the APK file again and tapping Install.

Google Play Protect Blocking Installation

If Google Play Protect shows a warning and blocks the installation tap More Details and then tap Install Anyway. This warning is standard for all APK files installed outside Google Play and does not mean F-Droid is harmful in any way.

Install Button Greyed Out

If the install button appears greyed out after opening the APK file you most likely have a screen overlay app running on your device such as Twilight or a blue light filter. Disable all overlay apps temporarily and try the installation again.

F-Droid Not Opening After Installation

If F-Droid installs successfully but crashes or refuses to open restart your Android device completely and try opening F-Droid again. If the problem persists uninstall F-Droid, restart your device, and reinstall the latest version from the official f-droid.org website.

Repository Not Syncing on First Launch

If the F-Droid repository sync fails on first launch check your internet connection. If your connection is working go to F-Droid Settings, tap Repositories, disable and re-enable the main F-Droid repository to force a fresh sync.

Frequently Asked Questions About Installing F-Droid

Do I need to root my Android device to install F-Droid?

No, you do not need to root your Android device to install or use F-Droid. It works perfectly on any standard unrooted Android device running Android 6.0 or above without requiring any system modifications whatsoever.

Can I install F-Droid alongside Google Play?

Yes, you can install and use F-Droid alongside Google Play on the same Android device without any conflicts. Many users run F-Droid and Google Play simultaneously to get access to both open source apps and commercial apps on the same device.

Will installing F-Droid void my warranty?

No, installing F-Droid will not void your Android device warranty. You are simply installing an additional app on your device which does not modify the operating system or any system level components in any way.

How do I update F-Droid after installing it?

F-Droid updates itself automatically. Simply open the F-Droid app and it will notify you when a new version of F-Droid itself is available. Tap the update notification and follow the instructions to install the latest version.

Can I uninstall F-Droid if I don’t like it?

Yes, you can uninstall F-Droid at any time just like any other Android app. Go to your Android Settings, tap Apps, find F-Droid in the list, and tap Uninstall. Note that uninstalling F-Droid will not automatically uninstall any apps you installed through F-Droid.