Large Android games are often split in two: a small APK (the app) and a big OBB file (the game data: graphics, sounds, levels). If you install only the APK, the game opens and then tries to download its data, or shows an error. Put the OBB in the right folder and the game starts straight away.
- The game’s
.apkfile and its OBB (a folder likecom.company.gamewith a.obbfile inside, or a zip of it). - A file manager. ZArchiver works well and can also unzip the OBB.
- Enough free space for the APK and the OBB together.
Install APK + OBB in 5 steps
- Unzip the download if it came as a .zip, .rar or .7z. Our unzip guide shows how with ZArchiver.
- Install the APK but don’t open the game yet. If Android blocks it, allow your file manager in Install unknown apps.
- Find the OBB folder. It’s named after the game’s package, for example
com.konami.pesam. Inside is a file likemain.123.com.konami.pesam.obb. - Copy the whole folder to
Internal storage/Android/obb/. The final path must beAndroid/obb/com.company.game/main.xxx.com.company.game.obb. - Open the game. It should load without downloading anything.
The folder name has to be the game’s package name, letter for letter. If you copy only the .obb file into Android/obb/ without its folder, or the folder is called something else (like “OBB” or “data”), the game won’t find it.
“Can’t use this folder” on Android 11 and later
Since Android 11, Google limits access to Android/obb and Android/data. What works depends on your Android version:
| Android version | What to do |
|---|---|
| Android 10 and older | Any file manager can copy into Android/obb. |
| Android 11 and 12 | ZArchiver and some other file managers ask for permission to the folder. Tap Use this folder → Allow. |
| Android 13 and later | Most file managers are blocked. The surest way is a computer: connect the phone by USB, choose File transfer, and copy the folder into Android/obb on the phone from the computer. |
Some phones (Samsung, Xiaomi) still let their own built-in file manager open Android/obb. Try it first before you reach for a computer.
How to install an XAPK file
An XAPK is just a zip with the APK and the OBB inside. You have two options:
- Manually: rename
game.xapktogame.zip, extract it, install the APK, and copy theAndroid/obb/...folder from inside it as in the steps above. - With an installer: open the XAPK with an XAPK installer app, which does both steps for you.
Common problems
- The game still downloads data: the OBB is in the wrong place, the folder name doesn’t match, or the OBB version doesn’t match the APK. Use the APK and OBB from the same download.
- “Download failed because you may not have purchased this app”: Android can’t see the OBB. Check the folder path, then restart the phone and open the game again.
- The game crashes on start: clear the app’s data (Settings → Apps → the game → Storage → Clear data) and open it again. If it still crashes, your phone may not be supported. See App not installed fixes.
- Not enough space: the OBB must fit uncompressed. Delete the zip after extracting it.
FAQ
Where do I put OBB files on Android?
In Internal storage/Android/obb/, inside a folder named after the game’s package (for example Android/obb/com.company.game/). The .obb file goes inside that folder.
Can I put the OBB on an SD card?
Usually not. Most games only look in Android/obb on internal storage. Keep the OBB there even if you move other files to the SD card.
Why can’t I open the Android/obb folder?
Android 11 and later restrict that folder. On Android 11-12 allow access when your file manager asks. On Android 13 and later, copy the folder from a computer over USB.
Join the conversation