How to Install Blackmagic Camera APK on Any Android Phone

Installing an APK file from outside the Google Play Store is called sideloading. It sounds technical, but it takes less than two minutes once you know the steps. This guide walks you through the entire process on any Android phone running Android 6.0 or later, and covers the most common errors you might encounter along the way.

Before You Start

A few things worth knowing before you download:

• The APK is free. Blackmagic Camera is a completely free app. You should never pay anyone for it.
• It is safe to install. The APK we host is the original, unmodified binary published by Blackmagic Design. We do not repackage or modify it in any way.
• You will need about 300 MB of free storage to download and install the app.
• Android 6.0 or later is required. For the best experience, Android 12 or later is recommended.

Step 1 — Enable Installation from Unknown Sources

By default, Android blocks apps from being installed outside of the Play Store. You need to give your browser (or file manager) permission to install APK files.

On Android 8.0 and Later (Most Modern Phones)

1. Open Settings
2. Go to Apps (or Application Manager on some devices)
3. Tap Special app access
4. Tap Install unknown apps
5. Find your browser (Chrome, Firefox, or whichever you will use to download)
6. Toggle Allow from this source to ON

On Android 6.0 – 7.1

1. Open Settings
2. Tap Security (or Lock screen and security)
3. Find Unknown sources and toggle it ON
4. Tap OK on the warning dialog

You can turn this setting back off after installation if you prefer — it only needs to be enabled while you install the APK.

Step 2 — Download the APK File

1. Open this page in your phone's browser (or tap the link from wherever you are reading this)
2. Go to our download page
3. Tap Download APK — Free
4. Your browser will download the file to your Downloads folder

Wait for the download to complete. You will see a progress notification in your notification shade.

Step 3 — Open and Install the APK

1. Pull down your notification shade and tap the completed download notification
2. Alternatively, open your Files app, navigate to Downloads, and tap the file named something like BlackmagicCamera.apk
3. Android will show an install screen — tap Install
4. Wait 5–10 seconds for the installation to complete
5. Tap Open to launch the app immediately, or Done to return to your home screen

Step 4 — Grant Permissions on First Launch

When you open Blackmagic Camera for the first time, it will ask for several permissions. Grant all of them for the app to work correctly:

• Camera — required to use the camera sensor
• Microphone — required for audio recording
• Storage / Media — required to save footage to your phone

On Android 13 and later, you may see separate permissions for photos and videos rather than a single storage permission. Grant both.

Step 5 — Optional: Sign In with Blackmagic Cloud

You can use Blackmagic Camera completely offline without an account. Sign-in is only needed if you want automatic footage sync to your DaVinci Resolve project via Blackmagic Cloud.

To sign in:

1. Tap the menu icon (three lines) in the top-left corner of the app
2. Tap Cloud
3. Tap Sign In and enter your Blackmagic Design account credentials (or create a free account)

Troubleshooting Common Errors

"App Not Installed" or "Installation Failed"

This usually means there is a conflicting older version already on the device. Uninstall the existing version of Blackmagic Camera first, then try installing the APK again. Your footage files will not be deleted.

"Parse Error"

The APK file may be corrupted or incompletely downloaded. Delete the file and download it again from our download page.

"Blocked by Play Protect"

Google Play Protect sometimes warns about APK files from outside the Play Store. Tap Install Anyway — this warning appears for all sideloaded apps regardless of whether they are safe.

The App Installs But Crashes on Launch

This usually means the app is not compatible with your specific device. Try the Universal Build available on our download page, which targets a broader range of hardware.

Camera Shows a Black Screen

Make sure you granted camera permission. If you denied it by mistake, go to Settings → Apps → Blackmagic Camera → Permissions → Camera and set it to Allow.

Keeping the App Updated

Unlike apps installed from the Play Store, sideloaded APKs do not update automatically. Bookmark our download page and check back whenever you want to update. Install the new APK directly over the existing installation — you do not need to uninstall first, and your settings are preserved.