[Mattokun]

Hello, first timer and Android noob, so I apologize for the dumb question.
Also, if this has been addressed already, please provide link... Thank you.
Issue:
I have a Nexus 10, several years old and hardly used.
Software is not up to date, and has not been changed ever since purchase.
I have transferred an APK file onto it, but for the life of me I cannot find (and by inference, open) it.
I have another, newer Android device, which had some sort of a file manager app installed. But my Nexus, no.
I read about Settings - Storage - Explore, but that does not show up.
For various reasons, I don't want to connect the Nexus to the internet, so I cannot download any file managers from "outside". All other posts on the web usually say, install a file manager, but I cannot do that.
It seems awfully strange to me that a "full" OS has no means at all to browse files, however primitive that means may be.
Is there really no "native" way on a Nexus 10 to browse files and possibly open an APK?
Thank you.

[Rukbat]

The only way to "open" an apk file (which really just installs the app) is a file manager of some sort, but I don't remember which one Google uses - I've put a few file managers on every phone I've owned, and I don't remember the name of the native one. If I remember, it's Settings/Storage/Files. Once you've found that, I'd suggest finding a file manager of some sort, Total Commander, File Manager+, something, and copy it to the phone. Then "find" it the same way (in Settings), "open" it (by tapping it, so it installs - oh, to install a file that way you have to enable the ability to install files - Android takes you right there), then find the file manager in the app drawer and drag it to the homescreen, so you'll have it available. Then "finding" files will be easy.

[chanchan05]

You can install an apk through adb command lines.

[Mattokun]

Thank you, but like I said, this does not work... nothing along those lines shows up. All it shows is an overview of what uses how much (like Apps, Photos and Videos, etc.). Nice graphics, but no other option available.

[Mattokun]

Thanks. This is ridiculous. Really, an OS with no native way of checking files? I wonder how Android got to where it is these days... Well, not your fault of course. Thanks. It may actually indeed be the only way to do this...

[chanchan05]

Thanks. This is ridiculous. Really, an OS with no native way of checking files? I wonder how Android got to where it is these days... Well, not your fault of course. Thanks. It may actually indeed be the only way to do this...

Well, Samsung is the reason mostly. And Samsung has a built in File manager.

And iOS never had a file manager as well for like, over 8 years I think.

More recent versions of Android ship with Files Go File Manager though. But you're not updating so...

[Ranny99]

Connect tablet to PC and search that way.

How did you transfer apk originally?

[Onkel Per]

Try placing the file in the Download directory.
(I haven't done this for a while, so not sure I remember it 100%)

[Mattokun]

Thanks all. @chanchan05, yes, maybe I should update... but of course, that only works with Internet connection... @Ranny99, I uploaded this from the PC via USB. The problem is just that I cannot run the APK. @Onkel Per (Onkel? not uncle? German?), that's what I tried. BUT of course, there is a Download directory which has 2 files in it (which, I think, were delivered, since they are instruction manuals), and I put the APK there. AND there is a "Downloads" App. But, the app only ever shows those 2 original files, nothing else that is put into the directory. Otherwise, it would be too easy, I guess...

[chanchan05]

Thanks all. @chanchan05, yes, maybe I should update... but of course, that only works with Internet connection... @Ranny99, I uploaded this from the PC via USB. The problem is just that I cannot run the APK. @Onkel Per (Onkel? not uncle? German?), that's what I tried. BUT of course, there is a Download directory which has 2 files in it (which, I think, were delivered, since they are instruction manuals), and I put the APK there. AND there is a "Downloads" App. But, the app only ever shows those 2 original files, nothing else that is put into the directory. Otherwise, it would be too easy, I guess...

You can download the latest image files for the Nexus 10 on a PC, transfer it to the device and install it directly to your device without connecting the device to internet. Google provides these files for Nexus devices.

Although of course I can't say if the official update for the Nexus 10 reached the one with the Files Go add on.

Another option is to look at ROMs on XDA for the N10. You don't need internet connections for that and the latest AOSP ROM would by now probably be for the latest Android version (8.1)

[Mattokun]

Thank you, chanchan05, I'm just afraid that just like APKs, I can upload the images to the Nexus but not open them.

[chanchan05]

Thank you, chanchan05, I'm just afraid that just like APKs, I can upload the images to the Nexus but not open them.

You install them using the recovery menu. All Androids have that. It doesn't need a file manager because the device is technically not running Android then, just the bios.

[Mattokun]

@chanchan05, thanks. That goes to show how ignorant I am about Android. But it still sounds ridiculous to me that any OS would not have a most basic file browser. Oh well. Thanks again.

[Onkel Per]

... @Onkel Per (Onkel? not uncle? German?)...

"Close, but no cigar" just a tiny bit more to the north.
Hmm maybe that only works if you downloaded the file with the tablet.

[Mattokun]

Denmark then maybe... "Per", should have known. Yes, I believe that only a downloaded file will actually show up there, although there are more files in there than are shown on the list. Somehow, it seems to keep track of what was downloaded vs. what was put in there through other means.
I actually have since tried @chanchan05's suggestion using adb, and on another device, this worked. So, let's see! It would be great! Thanks all!