AppBrain FAQ

1. What is AppBrain?

AppBrain is a website for discovering Android apps. In addition to providing search and browse functionality, users of Android phones can download the apps they chose by simply clicking an install button on the site. Appbrain then stores the application in an application wishlist. A companion native android app then lets the user efficiently make all the desired changes on the phone.

2. Will AppBrain distribute applications?

No, all applications will come from the standard Android market. This means that the synching process on the phone consists of a number of successive redirects to the market application. However, as all selection has been done behind the desktop already, each installation is just a single tap on the "Install" button in the market. Similarly, each deinstall will be a single tap on the Remove button.

Note that this means AppBrain can NOT be used as a replacement for the market. If you have a tablet or other type of device that doesn't have the Google Android market, AppBrain will not be of much use, as you can not get the APKs for the apps.

3. Can I buy applications via the website?

No, the installation of non-free application also happens via the Android market application on the phone, with the standard available payment options.

4. I cannot find some apps, what's going on? It always says "The requested item could not be found".

AppBrain lists applications that are available in the US that are available for Android version 1.6 and up for devices with a normal screen size. Developers can restrict availability of apps by country, Android version and screen size. This means that if you're not in the USA, have a device with a small screen size (for instance the HTC Wildfire or Tattoo), or when you're not on the latest version of Android, you may often get the "not found" message from the Android market.

5. I have bought a new phone, or factory reset my old phone. How do I get the apps I saved on AppBrain on there?

Please look at our special page about how to recover your apps on a new Android phone or after a factory reset.

6. I try to install AppBrain, but I keep getting "page not found" or "error 404" when I click the link in the welcome email.

You need to make sure that the device you're trying to install AppBrain on is an Android device with the Google Android market installed on it. The Google Android market icon looks as shown on the right:
If you do not have this icon on your phone, you can not use AppBrain, as all the apps are downloaded through the Google market.

Getting a 404 or "page not found" may be caused by using a special browser on your Android device. If you don't want to switch browsers, you can also get the AppBrain app through the Google market: go into the Google market (by clicking the icon as shown on the right) and do a search for "AppBrain" and install from there.

7. I have more questions, can I contact you?

Yes! We're open to questions or any feedback, both positive and negative. Just use one of the contact options on the about us page.