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# Apps

You can share apps as a content pack, via a static website. If you give a
folder the name `appstore` and place it in the root directory of the USB
drive, the **Apps** tile will appear in the Butter Box portal.

**Things To Know**

* If you are sharing apps from Butter Box, you will need to download the app
  files you want to share. Apps are updated frequently. Be sure to manually
  update all of the app files frequently to ensure you are providing the
  highest security for the people who connect to the box.
  * You’ll need a copy of the app’s `.apk` file — make sure it’s from a safe
    and trusted source.
  * Butter won’t automatically verify the source, so it's up to you to
    confirm it's clean and legal to share.
* How to get apk files: There are mobile apps you can use to get access to
  apk files on an Android phone. Alternatively, you can download app files
  directly from the developer's website.

### Go Further: Butter Box Supports Sharing Via F-Droid

Additionally, Butter Box supports app distribution via F-Droid. In your
content pack, you can include the F-Droid `.apk` and a QR code for your
repo. Anyone with access to the Box can then download the F-Droid app while
offline, and add the repo.

As long as they are connected to the Butter Box, they can download any of
the apps within your repo.

If they are connected to the internet later, they can receive app updates
from any apps in your repo that are also included in the official F-Droid
repo. If you update the apps in your repo, they will also have access to
those.

What is a F-Ddroid Repo?

* A hosted library of apps\ Why use it?
* It offers a secure process for sharing apps. The F-Droid team builds apps
  in the official F-Droid repo from the source code themselves. This ensures
  that the app you download exactly matches the code the developer
  published.
* Users installing from F-Droid have access to app updates remotely (away
  from the Butter Box)

Technical skills are required to create your own F-Droid repo. Refer to the
[F-Droid Repo](f-droid-repo) Section for instructions.
