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Overview
A BAR file (extension: .bar) is an archive containing all the files required to install a BlackBerry 10 application. BAR files can be installed directly on a device without going through BlackBerry World or BES deployment through a procedure known as "sideloading". This article explains how to sideload an application on any BlackBerry 10 device.
Sideloading an application requires the following:
- a Windows PC or a Mac
- the application's BAR file, saved on the PC/Mac
- a BlackBerry 10 device
- a USB cable compatible with the device (usually, a Micro-B USB cable)
Developer mode
Sideloading applications requires enabling Developer Mode on your BlackBerry 10 device. If your device was provided by your employer, Developer Mode may be forbidden by corporate policy: in that case, you will not be able to sideload applications.
Installing the required software on your PC/Mac
The procedure requires the following software to be installed on your PC/Mac:
- Oracle Java; this is required for running the installation tool
- BlackBerry Link; this is required for connecting to your BlackBerry 10 device from your PC/Mac via USB cable
Downloading the BlackBerry Native SDK tools for your PC/Mac
Windows PC
- Download http://downloads.blackberry.com/upr/developers/update/bbndk/ndktarget_10.3.0.698/ndktargetrepo_10.3.0.698/packages/bbndk.win32.tools.10.3.0.2702.zip
- When the file is fully downloaded, right-click it and select "Extract all..."
- ...
Mac
- Download http://downloads.blackberry.com/upr/developers/update/bbndk/ndktarget_10.3.0.698/ndktargetrepo_10.3.0.698/packages/bbndk.macosx.tools.10.3.0.2702.tar.gz
- We'll assume the file was downloaded to your Downloads directory with the name
bbndk.macosx.tools.10.3.0.2702.tar.gz - Open the Terminal application (it's under Applications → Utilities)
- In Terminal:
- type the command
cd ~/Downloadsand press Enter⏎ - type the command
tar xfbbndk.macosx.tools.10.3.0.2702.tar.gzand press Enter⏎. This could take a while
- type the command
- When the last command terminates, you should have a directory called
host_10_3_0_2702in your Downloads directory
Preparing your BlackBerry 10 device
Developer mode
Sideloading applications requires enabling Developer Mode on your BlackBerry 10 device. If your device was provided by your employer, Developer Mode may be forbidden by corporate policy: in that case, you will not be able to sideload applications.
...
- Connect the device to your PC with the USB cable
- On the device, open the Settings application
- In the Settings application, navigate back to the main screen if necessary, and then to Security and Privacy
- From Security and Privacy, navigate to Developer Mode
- Enable Developer Mode; enter the device password for confirmation
- Note down the IP address of the device: it should be in the form of
169.254.x.y(usually,169.256.0.1)
Installing the application
...
- (on Windows) Press Windows+R; type
cmdand press Enter⏎. This should open a command window - (on Mac) Open Applications → Utilities → Terminal. This should open a command window
enter the command
cd <full path to the host_10_3_0_2702 directory>and press Enter⏎. To easily enter the full path to thehost_10_3_0_2702directory, you can drag and drop it on the command window- (on Windows) enter the command
cd win32\x86\usr\binand press Enter⏎ - (on Mac) enter the command
cd darwin/x86/usr/binand press Enter⏎ - enter the command
blackberry-deploy -installApp -device 169.254.x.y -password <device password> <full path to the BAR file>(where169.254.x.yis the IP address of the device), and press Enter⏎. To easily enter the full path of the BAR file, you can drag and drop it on the command window - ...