diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index 2574ea07b5..85819b4604 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ Features ✨:
  -
 
 Improvements 🙌:
- -
+ - Add ability to install APK from directly from Element (#2381)
 
 Bugfix 🐛:
  - Message states cosmetic changes (#3007)
diff --git a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/api/util/MimeTypes.kt b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/api/util/MimeTypes.kt
index c74999b4ab..182b37f2ad 100644
--- a/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/api/util/MimeTypes.kt
+++ b/matrix-sdk-android/src/main/java/org/matrix/android/sdk/api/util/MimeTypes.kt
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.extensions.orFalse
 object MimeTypes {
     const val Any: String = "*/*"
     const val OctetStream = "application/octet-stream"
+    const val Apk = "application/vnd.android.package-archive"
 
     const val Images = "image/*"
 
diff --git a/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml b/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
index 6c6ea46626..9322adbe04 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/vector/src/main/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
     <!-- Needed for incoming calls  -->
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.SYSTEM_ALERT_WINDOW" />
 
+    <!-- To be able to install APK from the application -->
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES" />
+
     <!-- Jitsi libs adds CALENDAR permissions, but we can remove them safely according to https://github.com/jitsi/jitsi-meet/issues/4068#issuecomment-480482481 -->
     <uses-permission
         android:name="android.permission.READ_CALENDAR"
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/utils/SystemUtils.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/utils/SystemUtils.kt
index 2348b07c7b..b12c1b7369 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/utils/SystemUtils.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/core/utils/SystemUtils.kt
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import android.os.PowerManager
 import android.provider.Settings
 import android.widget.Toast
 import androidx.activity.result.ActivityResultLauncher
+import androidx.annotation.RequiresApi
 import androidx.annotation.StringRes
 import androidx.core.content.getSystemService
 import androidx.fragment.app.Fragment
@@ -132,6 +133,17 @@ fun startAddGoogleAccountIntent(context: Context, activityResultLauncher: Activi
     }
 }
 
+@RequiresApi(Build.VERSION_CODES.O)
+fun startInstallFromSourceIntent(context: Context, activityResultLauncher: ActivityResultLauncher<Intent>) {
+    try {
+        val intent = Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_UNKNOWN_APP_SOURCES)
+                .setData(Uri.parse(String.format("package:%s", context.packageName)))
+        activityResultLauncher.launch(intent)
+    } catch (activityNotFoundException: ActivityNotFoundException) {
+        context.toast(R.string.error_no_external_application_found)
+    }
+}
+
 fun startSharePlainTextIntent(fragment: Fragment,
                               activityResultLauncher: ActivityResultLauncher<Intent>?,
                               chooserTitle: String?,
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailFragment.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailFragment.kt
index b7e2e189d3..13e9fb18b0 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailFragment.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailFragment.kt
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ import im.vector.app.core.utils.registerForPermissionsResult
 import im.vector.app.core.utils.saveMedia
 import im.vector.app.core.utils.shareMedia
 import im.vector.app.core.utils.shareText
+import im.vector.app.core.utils.startInstallFromSourceIntent
 import im.vector.app.core.utils.toast
 import im.vector.app.databinding.DialogReportContentBinding
 import im.vector.app.databinding.FragmentRoomDetailBinding
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.room.timeline.getLastMessageContent
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.widgets.model.Widget
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.session.widgets.model.WidgetType
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.util.MatrixItem
+import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.util.MimeTypes
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.api.util.toMatrixItem
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.internal.crypto.model.event.EncryptedEventContent
 import org.matrix.android.sdk.internal.crypto.model.event.WithHeldCode
@@ -589,20 +591,53 @@ class RoomDetailFragment @Inject constructor(
     }
 
     private fun startOpenFileIntent(action: RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile) {
-        if (action.uri != null) {
-            val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).apply {
-                setDataAndTypeAndNormalize(action.uri, action.mimeType)
-                addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
-            }
-
-            if (intent.resolveActivity(requireActivity().packageManager) != null) {
-                requireActivity().startActivity(intent)
-            } else {
-                requireActivity().toast(R.string.error_no_external_application_found)
-            }
+        if (action.mimeType == MimeTypes.Apk) {
+            installApk(action)
+        } else {
+            openFile(action)
         }
     }
 
+    private fun openFile(action: RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile) {
+        val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).apply {
+            setDataAndTypeAndNormalize(action.uri, action.mimeType)
+            addFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION or Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK)
+        }
+
+        if (intent.resolveActivity(requireActivity().packageManager) != null) {
+            requireActivity().startActivity(intent)
+        } else {
+            requireActivity().toast(R.string.error_no_external_application_found)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private fun installApk(action: RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile) {
+        val safeContext = context ?: return
+        if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O) {
+            if (!safeContext.packageManager.canRequestPackageInstalls()) {
+                roomDetailViewModel.pendingEvent = action
+                startInstallFromSourceIntent(safeContext, installApkActivityResultLauncher)
+            } else {
+                openFile(action)
+            }
+        } else {
+            openFile(action)
+        }
+    }
+
+    private val installApkActivityResultLauncher = registerStartForActivityResult { activityResult ->
+        if (activityResult.resultCode == Activity.RESULT_OK) {
+            roomDetailViewModel.pendingEvent?.let {
+                if (it is RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile) {
+                    openFile(it)
+                }
+            }
+        } else {
+            // User cancelled
+        }
+        roomDetailViewModel.pendingEvent = null
+    }
+
     private fun displayPromptForIntegrationManager() {
         // The Sticker picker widget is not installed yet. Propose the user to install it
         val builder = AlertDialog.Builder(requireContext())
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewEvents.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewEvents.kt
index 9f801e7272..b326700d5e 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewEvents.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewEvents.kt
@@ -67,9 +67,8 @@ sealed class RoomDetailViewEvents : VectorViewEvents {
     ) : RoomDetailViewEvents()
 
     data class OpenFile(
-            val mimeType: String?,
-            val uri: Uri?,
-            val throwable: Throwable?
+            val uri: Uri,
+            val mimeType: String?
     ) : RoomDetailViewEvents()
 
     abstract class SendMessageResult : RoomDetailViewEvents()
diff --git a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewModel.kt b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewModel.kt
index f4d3c8138c..e21428921f 100644
--- a/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewModel.kt
+++ b/vector/src/main/java/im/vector/app/features/home/room/detail/RoomDetailViewModel.kt
@@ -141,6 +141,9 @@ class RoomDetailViewModel @AssistedInject constructor(
     // Slot to keep a pending action during permission request
     var pendingAction: RoomDetailAction? = null
 
+    // Slot to keep a pending event during permission request
+    var pendingEvent: RoomDetailViewEvents? = null
+
     private var trackUnreadMessages = AtomicBoolean(false)
     private var mostRecentDisplayedEvent: TimelineEvent? = null
 
@@ -1142,9 +1145,8 @@ class RoomDetailViewModel @AssistedInject constructor(
         if (isLocalSendingFile) {
             tryOrNull { Uri.parse(mxcUrl) }?.let {
                 _viewEvents.post(RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile(
-                        action.messageFileContent.mimeType,
                         it,
-                        null
+                        action.messageFileContent.mimeType
                 ))
             }
         } else {
@@ -1169,9 +1171,8 @@ class RoomDetailViewModel @AssistedInject constructor(
                     // We can now open the file
                     session.fileService().getTemporarySharableURI(action.messageFileContent)?.let { uri ->
                         _viewEvents.post(RoomDetailViewEvents.OpenFile(
-                                action.messageFileContent.mimeType,
                                 uri,
-                                null
+                                action.messageFileContent.mimeType
                         ))
                     }
                 }