# How to side load the PitchPlay app

**URL:** https://makermattdesign.com/t/how-to-side-load-the-pitchplay-app/528
**Category:** PitchPlay
**Tags:** android-app, pitchplay
**Created:** [August 20, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://makermattdesign.com/t/how-to-side-load-the-pitchplay-app/528 "2026-08-20T21:53:56Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Matt](https://makermattdesign.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@Matt](https://makermattdesign.com/u/Matt)
#### Post date: [August 20, 2026, 9:53pm UTC](https://makermattdesign.com/t/how-to-side-load-the-pitchplay-app/528/1 "2026-08-20T21:53:56Z")

</div>

## Install or update

**Requires Android 8+ and arm64 app support.** Forum APK downloads are public—no account needed.

1. **Back up first:** in PitchPlay, open **Settings → Create Backup** and save outside the app.
2. Download the single **.apk** from the release link Matt provides. No ZIP extraction needed.
3. Open it from **Downloads**. If prompted, allow **Install unknown apps** for your browser or Files app.
4. Tap **Install** or **Update** , then open PitchPlay and check your library. You can turn that installation permission off afterward.

**Updating? Keep PitchPlay installed. Never uninstall or clear its data to fix an update error.** A compatible update needs the same signing identity and a newer version; ask Matt if Android refuses it.

## Handy tips

- **Practice:** adjust pitch for your key and speed for difficult passages.
- **Organize:** use tags to group songs into practice sets.
- **Back up regularly:** current backups save library information as JSON; audio is re-downloaded on restore. They are not copies of your audio files.
- **Restore:** use **Settings → Restore Backup** and review the preview before continuing.
- **Installation trouble:** check free space, Android/arm64 compatibility, and that the download finished. Keep your existing app and ask Matt for help.

Reply with your device, Android version, PitchPlay version, and exact error. Don’t attach backups or personal media.

[PitchPlay project and release news](https://makermattdesign.com/t/pitchplay-for-android/530)

**Current beta: [PitchPlay 2026-9-33 — download, release notes, and known issues](https://makermattdesign.com/t/pitchplay-2026-9-33-android-beta-safer-json-backups/533).**