How to get Pokémon Go in the UK and Australia on Android

Pokémon Go is finally rolling out to Android and iOS smartphones, but while it’s available in Australia and the US, it has yet to be pushed out to the UK. Luckily, players don’t have to wait.

The app already works and there are Pokéstops, Gyms and Pokémon strewn about British streets and parks. If you can’t wait for the official roll out in the UK, and have an Android smartphone, you can dive in right now. (Sorry iPhone users, Apple’s walled-garden approach prevents you from easily side-stepping the geolocation locks.)

Android allows users to perform so-called sideloading, which is simply downloading or transferring an Android app installer (APK) to your device without using the Google Play store or any other app store.

Because doing so operates outside of the confines of the scanned and checked Play Store, sideloading so can put your device at risk of being infected with malware, so proceed with caution and at your own risk.

Here’s how to sideload an app:

1) Download the app

First you need to download the app. Several sites acts as mirrors for the Play Store, hosting APKs for free apps that can be downloaded without going through the Play Store. They are popular with those who live outside of areas covered by the Play Store, who therefore do not have direct access to the biggest source of Android apps. There are several sites around, including ApkMirror.

2) Enable the installation of apps not downloaded from the Play Store

Second, you need to go to Settings > Security > activate Unknown sources. Doing so allows you to install apps that are not downloaded directly from the Play Store, but be aware, it also weakens the security of your device. Once you have installed the app, don’t forget to go back and uncheck Unknown sources to help prevent malware from installing itself.

3) Get the app on your phone

The easiest way to transfer an app to your smartphone is to simply visit the site where you get the APK and download it directly on your Android phone.

Tap the notification that says it has been successfully downloaded, or look in recent downloads or the Downloads folder on your device using either an app such as Solid Explorer or the built-in file manager that many Android devices have and open it to install.

Alternatively you can connect your Android device to your computer using a USB cable and transfer it across like you would to a flash drive.

• For Windows PCs you simply plug your awake and unlocked Android device in and select Transfer files (MTP) on your smartphone if prompted. It will then show up as a drive on your computer.
• For Macs, you simply need to download the Android File Transfer utility before plugging in your awake and unlocked Android phone.

Transfer the file via drag and drop to the Downloads folder on your Android device and repeat the steps above using the built-in file manager or an app such as Solid Explorer.

If that seems like too much effort, the same thing can be achieved with a cloud storage service such as Google Drive or Dropbox. Simply upload it to your cloud service of choice and download it on your device using the appropriate app and open the APK.

4) Find the app on your home screen or app drawer

Once the app has been installed it will appear like any other app you have installed in the app drawer and on the home screen, depending on your settings. If you haven’t already done so, uncheck Unknown sources in Settings to stay as safe as possible.

It’s worth reiterating that if an APK you download is infected with malware or is not what it appears to be, you will be installing something potentially dangerous on your smartphone, so only do this if you’re happy with the risk.

If you’re desperate to play Pokémon GO right now, sideloading the app should work for you, but if you’re concerned about the risk, wait for the official release in the UK.