Website to APK: turn any URL into an Android app
Generate a ready-to-build Android project from your website. Signed release APK, Android 14 ready, no install errors. Features a mobile-optimized view, native loading spinner, and file upload support. Your settings and icon stay in your browser.
- Avoids "App not installed"
- Mobile view & upload support
- Native loading spinner
- Nothing uploaded to ToolDeck
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What is a website to APK converter?
In short: a website to APK converter wraps your website in an Android app shell (a WebView) and outputs an installable APK file. The result opens your live site full screen, with its own name and launcher icon, and installs like any other app.
Because the app loads your real website, you do not maintain a second codebase. Publish a new page or fix a typo online and the app shows it straight away. The trade-off is that a WebView wrapper is not a fully native app: it needs a connection, and it has no push notifications or deep device features unless you add them yourself. For many blogs, shops, portfolios, communities and web apps, that is exactly the right level of effort.
ToolDeck’s version differs in two ways. First, it generates the project locally in your browser, so your URL, icon and settings are never sent to us. Second, it is built to install cleanly: a modern target SDK, a proper release signature and minimal permissions, which avoids the most common causes of the dreaded "App not installed" error.
How it works
Three steps, no coding. Most people have a signed APK on their phone about ten minutes after they start.
- 1
Fill in your app details
Enter your website URL (HTTPS), app name, and upload your logo. The package name is suggested for you.
- 2
Download the project ZIP
The tool builds a complete Android project in your browser, including a GitHub Actions workflow.
- 3
Build the APK for free
Push the folder to a private GitHub repository and run the workflow. Download the signed APK and install it.
What makes this different
Avoids "App not installed"
Targets Android 14 (SDK 34), supports Android 7 and up, and is signed with a real release key. These are the usual reasons other generators fail during installation.
Premium app experience
Includes a native Android loading spinner, pull-to-refresh and a forced mobile view. It feels like a real app, not a cheap website wrapper.
File & photo uploads
Includes the Android 13+ media permission and a file chooser, so users can upload photos, PDFs and files from your website inside the app.
Your icon, name and colors
Upload a logo or use an automatic letter icon. All five Android icon sizes are generated center-cropped. Set the package name, version, orientation and theme color.
Clean and readable
HTTPS only, no obfuscation and no hidden ad or tracking SDKs. The app is a plain, readable WebView project that you own and can inspect or extend.
Private by design
Your settings and icon are processed in your browser. ToolDeck never receives your URL, icon or project. The build runs in your own GitHub account or on your computer.
ToolDeck vs other ways to turn a website into an app
There are four common routes from a website to an Android app. This table compares them on the things that decide whether an APK actually installs, who controls it, and what it costs.
| Feature | ToolDeck | Typical online APK generators | Paid app-builder platforms | Manual (Android Studio) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Where your project is made | In your browser. The build runs in your own GitHub or on your PC | On the provider’s servers (your URL and icon are uploaded) | On the provider’s servers | On your computer |
| Account needed | None for ToolDeck (a free GitHub account for the build) | Often required | Required | None (Android Studio install) |
| Cost | Free | Free tier with limits, or paid | Monthly subscription | Free |
| Signed release APK | Yes, signed with a release key in your workflow | Varies. Some give unsigned or debug files | Usually yes | You set up signing yourself |
| "App not installed" risk | Low: SDK 34 target and release signing | Higher with debug-signed or old-SDK builds | Low | Depends on your setup |
| Who holds the source and key | You | Often the provider | The provider hosts it | You |
| Branding or watermark | None | Sometimes (splash screen, badge or ads) | Removed on paid plans | None |
| Loading spinner and pull-to-refresh | Built in | Rarely included | Common on paid plans | You write the code |
| Photo and file uploads | Android 13+ permission and file chooser included | Varies | Usually included | You write the code |
| Ad or tracking SDKs | None | Some add ad or analytics SDKs | Analytics often included | None unless you add them |
| Time to first APK | About 10 minutes | A few minutes | Minutes to hours | Hours the first time |
| Skill needed | None. Follow 3 steps | None | None | Basic Android development |
| Best for | Owners who want a clean APK they control, for free | Quick throw-away tests | Teams that need push notifications and support | Developers who need custom native code |
The other columns describe common patterns across providers, not any single product. Features, limits and pricing vary, so check a provider’s current terms before you choose.
Which route should you pick? Choose ToolDeck if you want a free, clean APK that you own and that avoids install errors. Choose a paid platform if you need push notifications, analytics dashboards or hands-on support. Choose Android Studio if you plan to write custom native code.
Who a website to APK app is for
Blogs and news sites
Give regular readers an icon on their home screen. Because the app loads your live site, every new post appears without rebuilding or re-installing.
Small businesses and shops
Offer customers a branded app for menus, bookings, catalogues or an order page, without paying for a custom native build.
Web apps and dashboards
Wrap an internal tool or SaaS dashboard so your team can open it full screen from the launcher, with pull-to-refresh built in.
Portfolios and agencies
Hand a client a working Android app as part of a website package, signed and ready to install for demos.
Communities and courses
Package a forum, membership area or course site so students and members can reach it in one tap, including photo and PDF uploads.
Testing and prototyping
Check how your responsive site behaves in a real Android WebView before you decide whether to invest in a fully native app.
Before you start: a quick checklist
- A website that loads over HTTPS and is responsive on phones. Check it with the SSL Certificate Checker and Website Speed Test below.
- A square logo, ideally 512 × 512 px PNG. If you do not have one, the tool creates a letter icon for you.
- A short app name (under about 30 characters so it is not cut off under the icon).
- A package name in reverse-domain style, for example com.yourbrand.app. The tool suggests one, and it must stay the same for future updates.
- A free GitHub account (private repositories are fine) for the cloud build, or Android Studio if you prefer to build locally.
- An Android phone running Android 7 or newer, with "install unknown apps" allowed for the app you use to open the APK.
Technical specifications
| Target SDK | Android 14 (SDK 34) |
|---|---|
| Minimum Android version | Android 7.0 and up |
| Output | Signed release APK (an AAB can be built with gradle bundleRelease) |
| Permissions | INTERNET, plus the Android 13+ media read permission used for photo uploads |
| Allowed URLs | HTTPS websites only |
| Interface | Forced mobile view, native loading spinner, pull-to-refresh |
| Icons | All five Android launcher icon densities, center-cropped from one upload |
| Customisation | App name, package name, version, theme color and screen orientation |
| Build method | GitHub Actions workflow (included) or Android Studio / Gradle |
| Data handling | Project generated client-side in your browser. Nothing is sent to ToolDeck |
| Price | Free |
Troubleshooting common problems
Most problems come down to signing keys, HTTPS or the way a site handles embedded browsers. Find your symptom below.
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| "App not installed" when updating | The new APK is signed with a different key than the installed copy. | Uninstall the old version and install the new APK. Keep the same keystore for future builds. |
| "App not installed" on first install | Package-name clash, a damaged download or not enough storage. | Change the package name, download the APK again, free up space and allow installs from your file manager or browser. |
| White or blank screen | The site is not served over HTTPS or blocks embedded browsers. | Use an https:// URL, run it through the SSL Certificate Checker and make sure the site does not block WebViews. |
| Google or social login fails | Some identity providers refuse to sign in inside a WebView. | Offer email-and-password login, or a login method that works in embedded browsers. |
| Photo upload does nothing | The photo permission was denied, or the site has no file input. | Allow photo access in Android settings and make sure the page uses a standard file upload field. |
| Play Protect warning | Apps installed outside the Play Store from an unknown developer can trigger a prompt. | Tap More details, then Install anyway. Publishing on Google Play removes the prompt for everyone. |
| GitHub build fails | The ZIP was uploaded inside an extra folder, or Actions is not enabled. | Upload the project root (the folder with gradlew and .github), enable Actions, then run "Build signed APK". |
Free tools that make your app better
These ToolDeck tools run in your browser too. Use them to check your site, prepare your icon and share your finished APK.
Check your website first
The app is only as good as the site inside it. Confirm HTTPS and speed before you build.
- SSL Certificate CheckerCheck the SSL certificate of any HTTPS website.
- Website Speed TestCheck how fast any website loads from your connection.
- DNS LookupLook up A, AAAA, MX, TXT and other DNS records for any domain.
- Meta Tag GeneratorBuild SEO and social meta tags with a live Google and social preview.
Prepare your app icon
Get a clean, square logo so the launcher icon looks sharp on every phone.
- Image ResizerResize photos to exact pixel or millimetre sizes and keep aspect ratio.
- Aspect Ratio CropperCrop images to any aspect ratio: 1:1, 4:5, 9:16, 16:9, or freeform.
- Background RemoverRemove the background from any photo automatically, right in your browser.
- Image ConverterConvert 18 formats: JPG, PNG, WebP, AVIF, HEIC, GIF, PDF, SVG and more.
- Favicon GeneratorGenerate a full set of favicons for your website from one image.
- Image CompressorShrink JPG, PNG and WebP photos to a target size like 50KB or 100KB.
Share and verify your APK
Send the finished app to testers and prove the file has not been changed.
Browse every tool on the ToolDeck home page.
Questions people ask
What is a website to APK converter?
It packages a website inside an Android app shell, called a WebView wrapper, and produces an APK file you can install on a phone. The app opens your site full screen with its own icon and name.
Does the app look like a mobile app or just a website?
The WebView is forced into mobile view, so your site fits the phone screen without zooming out. A native loading spinner and pull-to-refresh make it feel like an app.
Can users upload photos and files inside the app?
Yes. The generated app includes the Android 13+ media permission (READ_MEDIA_IMAGES) and file chooser handling, so image and file uploads on your website work inside the app.
Why do other APKs say "App not installed"?
Common causes are an unsigned or debug-only APK, an app targeting a very old Android SDK, a package-name clash, or installing a build signed with a new key over an older version. This project avoids them. If you still see the error, uninstall any older copy first.
Do I have to update the APK when my website changes?
Usually no. The app loads your live website, so new pages and content appear immediately. You only rebuild when you change the app itself, such as the icon, name or version.
Does the app work offline?
Not by default. A plain WebView needs an internet connection. If your site is built as a PWA with caching, parts of it may keep working offline, depending on how it is configured.
Does it support push notifications?
No. The generated app is a lightweight WebView wrapper with minimal permissions. If you need push notifications or other native features, you would add them in Android Studio or use a full app framework.
Can I make an iPhone app too?
No. This tool creates Android APK files only. Apple apps use a different packaging and publishing process.
Will Google Play Protect show a warning?
Possibly. Apps installed outside the Play Store from an unknown developer can show an "unknown developer" prompt. Tap More details, then Install anyway. To remove the prompt for everyone, publish the app on Google Play.
Can I show ads inside the app?
Ad networks have separate policies for ads shown inside app WebViews, and these differ from the rules for websites. Check the current Google AdSense and AdMob policies before you rely on ads in the app. The generated project itself contains no ad SDKs.
Is anything uploaded to ToolDeck?
No. The project files are generated in your browser. The build step happens in your own GitHub account or in Android Studio on your computer.
Do I need to know Android or code?
No. Download the ZIP, upload the folder to a private GitHub repository, open the Actions tab and run "Build signed APK". About three minutes later you can download the APK.
Can I publish it on Google Play?
The generated app is a WebView wrapper. Google Play can reject apps that only wrap a website without added value, and Play requires an AAB file, which you can build with gradle bundleRelease.
Which websites work best?
HTTPS sites that are responsive on phones. Sites that block embedded browsers, or login flows that refuse WebViews (some Google and social logins), may not work inside the app.
Is it safe to install the APK?
You build the APK yourself from a readable project with minimal permissions, so you can inspect exactly what is inside. You can also check the file with the Hash Generator and share it with testers through the Drop tool.
Is it free?
Yes. The tool is free, and GitHub Actions has a free tier for private repositories that covers many builds.
Your project stays with you
The Android project is generated in your browser and downloaded as a ZIP. ToolDeck does not receive your URL, icon or files. The final build runs in your own GitHub account or on your computer. See why ToolDeck is different.