Need assistance installing .apk's on my Note 8

what do you want to know?
if you get to transfer the apk from your computer to your device then its only a matter of enabling UNKNOWN SOURCES under your note security settings

I have no idea how to do this at all. why is a desktop computer involved at all?

you can install apps from the play store or samsung own store, you need to enter your email (gmail) credentials so you can open the play store, then you can instll anything from it, I was under the impression you wanted to install apps from unknown sources (ie not the play store)

that is correct. - unknown sources

Make sure you are sure the apk you are trying to sideload is safe and trustworthy before installing.

On newer phones you should be able to download the .apk directly onto your phone and open the .apk using the default file browser. It should then ask you to make sure you want to install this app from an unknown source and you can click Yes.

You should not need to connect your phone to your computer at all for this.

If you can't just download the .apk and open it to start installing, please let me know what happens when you try to do so.

When I hit the download, nothing happened.  I usually see the little down arrow moving at the top.....but nothing this time.....

https://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=27450

So you want to install those fonts into your note 8?
then just download the file to your device, tap on the downloaded file, you should receive a popup message saying that for security reasons you cannot, and that you must allow installation from unknown souces, so accept that option and check the INSTALL FROM UNKNOWN SOURCES, and try to install it again, this time it should succeed.
Be aware that in this case app comes from a respectable webpage but doing this from other less knwon sources is not reommended for security reasons

Hmm, are you getting anything from your mobile browser when you click the Direct Download link? I guess another option would be to download the APK to a desktop computer and then email it to yourself as an attachment.

I already adjusted the "unknown sources" install setting but still nothing happens....

dont you get any kind of message when trying to install?, are you sure the app file is correctly downloaded?

Try downloading it with another browser if you can (use chrome or firefox or the devices own browser), has happened to me that from some sites I cannot download apks or they download corrupt but his goes without a problem if I try with another browser.

Martin Nguyen.  "Hmm, are you getting anything from your mobile browser when you click the Direct Download link? "  Not sure what that means but I do know that when I click the download on that site nothing happens.  The apk's too big to email so I used Google Drive.

What should I do once it's downloaded?

arana......nope...nothing at all.  Im trying Drive

Got the file on my phone.  Clicked "install" and it says "app not installed" right now

have you tried following the instllation instructions? apparently those fonts are compliment to another app
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/themes/fonts-wings-samsung-fonts-v1-3d-1500-t3717341

Installation & InstructionsWings Green
Downloads:
* SamsungSans : Download from Galaxy Apps (Required for Wings Samsung Fonts v1)
* substratum : Download from Play Store (Optional / Recommended)
* sungstratum ★ substratum samsung addon (NOUGAT Root/Unrooted)
* andromeda ★ substratum stock rootless backend (OREO Unrooted)

Option 2: Install overlays only (No substratum required)
Instructions:
1. Download & Install SamsungSans from Galaxy Apps ( Required for v1 )

this link has the detailed instructions, addditionally you need to type some code since you are modifying system fonts
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/themes/fonts-wings-samsung-fonts-v1-3d-1500-t3717341

Arana, ok.......2 sounds easier.  Does it matter which I choose?  What's "substratum"?

How do I "type code"?

make sure you have the correct version, because the app you need to download depends  on the android version you have, if you dont have OREO (ver 8) and instead have NOUGAT (ver 7) you are downloading the wrong one

My Note 8 has the newest OS whatever that is...

substratum is the main app that allows you to change themes, fonts etc, you have there 2 options : one that need substratum and another that doesnt (but is limited and does not allow every change you are allowed when you do use substratum)

You guys are going to have to slooooow doooown for me for this

in that case, go for option one follow the instructions form the begining, you will be just fine.

Arana, I already have the samsungsans, but cant find "substratum" on GP

Sloooooow Dooooown

Not that slow!  COME BACK EVERYBODY!!

Sorry bout that Mark, I didn't want to jump over arana's instructions if they were going to follow up.

I'm going to provide links for the first option since that doesn't require any type of code, and you'll just be installing some apps from app stores.

First, click on this link from your Samsung phone. If you are viewing this question on your desktop you can Google galaxy apps samsungsans and it will be the first Web Result. This will install Samsung Sans, which I guess will allow editing of the system fonts.

Second, download and install Substratum theme engine from the Google Play store, which will allow you to edit your themes.

Now you can open the Substratum app and install the font package from the font apk you downloaded. 

Last, go to your phone's Settings -> Display -> Screen zoom & font.

All credit to arana for providing the information on requirements to install the fonts.

I see an error in the substratum and I just screenshot but I still can't attach screenshots from the phone app

if you are not using a rooted device use the instructions for NO ROOT  in the lXDA link

Arana, can you repost the url again plz?  Not sure which one.
Thank you,
Mark

Ok.......I paid $1.99 for Oreo unrooted sub thing.  Nowthen, which install instructions should I use?  Baby steps Arana.... Im a Sys Admin, but not a developer

https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/themes/fonts-wings-samsung-fonts-v1-3d-1500-t3717341

be aware that those instructions are for nougat (v7) and oreo (v8) , if you have PIE or marshmallow , they may not work correctly (instructions do not specify)

Arana, how do I find out?  I am up-to-date as of today on my note 8

This page has instructions with screenshots, but you can go to Settings -> About Phone -> Software Information and look for Android version.

7 = nougat

8 = oreo

9 = pie

Google's Play store has 2 (maybe 4?) hour window to return an app. If you have Android version 9 I would return the Oreo unrooted app you purchased since I'm not sure that will work with Pie.

Sorry I didn't thoroughly go through the instructions earlier!

Please let us know which version of Android you are on and we'll work from there.

9

https://www.xda-developers.com/synergy-lets-you-use-substratum-custom-themes-once-again-on-samsungs-one-ui/

Your Samsung Note 8 is on Android 9 (latest version) and it is not possible to install custom themes and fonts as Samsung has blocked it already.

........well that's lame

"Fortunately, the Projekt team found a workaround. They have created a new app called Synergy to install themes on Samsung Galaxy phones running One UI, and it doesn’t need root."

Anyone help me w/that one?

you have all the instructions here
https://www.xda-developers.com/synergy-lets-you-use-substratum-custom-themes-once-again-on-samsungs-one-ui/

go thru them and if you have a question , let us know
and in case that doesnt work for you
there is yet another one
https://www.xda-developers.com/custom-themes-one-ui-samsung-galaxy-s10/

https://www.androidsage.com/2019/04/11/download-and-install-fonts-for-samsung-galaxy-phones-for-oneui-android-9-pie/

The procedure below are copied from the link above. It is a bit complicated even for me.

First enable USB debugging from Developer Options.
You can also install ADB and Fastboot binaries on your Windows PC.
Download the Wing’s Font APK app from above (Use PC to download and transfer it to phone storage and then install it or you may get a parsing error)
Install the Wings font manager APK as normal app. Grant proper permissions.
Launch the app and it will tell you to install the theme. Follow the on-screen instructions.
You will need to connect your phone to PC.
Transfer the Wings Fonts Theme Installer from phone storage to PC inside the folder where you have setup ADB and Fastboot binaries. You can also download it from there.
Keep your device connected to PC and run the Wings Fonts Theme Installer EXE file for PC. You can use the MacOS and Linux folder if you are not using Windows.
Launch the Fonts installer EXE and click on the install theme option.
This will install a theme in the Galaxy Theme Store of your phone.
Now, go to Galaxy Theme store > apply the Wings theme. Use the option ‘try it out’.
Once applied, launch the Wings Fonts manager from app drawer.
Download and install any font from there. We used Google fonts > Product Sans regular.
It will generate an APK and install the font app.
Reboot your phone once.
Later, go to settings > search for fonts > select Fonts and Styles.
Apply the font you just downloaded

Your idea to change the fonts is fantastic and I have not thought about it before.

If you can walk through the procedure and know what is meant by each step, you can be an Android expert too.

Will my basic theme always change?  I dont want to change the theme

I may just try it anyway just to test it out...

thank you guys didn't think it would be this complex