Before you start
You need two things: the Delta Emulator XAPK (51 MB) and a free XAPK installer app from the Play Store. Grab the file from the download page, then continue here. The whole process takes about two minutes on a normal connection.
Step 1: Download the XAPK
Tap the download button on the Delta Emulator APK home page, wait through the short countdown, and save the XAPK file to your Downloads folder. Confirm the file size reads 51 MB before moving on: a short file is the number one cause of install failures.
Step 2: Install an XAPK installer
Search the Play Store for "XAPK installer" and install any well-reviewed free option. These apps exist for exactly one job: unpacking .xapk bundles into a normal install flow. You can remove the installer afterward if you like; it is only needed for XAPK files.
Step 3: Open the file in the installer
Launch the XAPK installer, grant it storage access, and select the XAPK file. Tap Install. If the file does not appear in the list, move it to the main Downloads folder (not a subfolder) and rescan.
Step 4: Allow unknown apps
Android will ask you to allow the installer to install unknown apps. This is standard for anything installed outside the Play Store: enable it for the installer app only, then confirm the install prompt. You can flip the permission back off afterward.
Step 5: Open and grant storage
Open Delta Emulator and grant storage access when asked. Without it, the app cannot see your game files. Drop your ROM files into Downloads or a dedicated folder, rescan the library, and you are playing. If anything in this flow breaks, the not-installing fixes walk through every common error in order.
What to do right after install
Before loading games, open settings and check two things: the control layout (remap the D-pad to your thumbs) and the save location. Point saves at a folder you back up, so a future phone move does not eat your progress. The save states guide explains both save systems in detail.
