diff --git a/AndroidManifest.xml b/AndroidManifest.xml
index 89a1c6008..6cfa16531 100644
--- a/AndroidManifest.xml
+++ b/AndroidManifest.xml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.RAISED_THREAD_PRIORITY" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_IGNORE_BATTERY_OPTIMIZATIONS" />
     <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.FOREGROUND_SERVICE" />
+    <uses-permission android:name="android.permission.REQUEST_INSTALL_PACKAGES" />
 
     <application android:name=".ApplicationContext"
                  android:icon="@mipmap/ic_launcher"
diff --git a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/connect/ApplicationDcContext.java b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/connect/ApplicationDcContext.java
index 231305fb0..ef842596f 100644
--- a/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/connect/ApplicationDcContext.java
+++ b/src/org/thoughtcrime/securesms/connect/ApplicationDcContext.java
@@ -9,15 +9,16 @@ import android.net.NetworkInfo;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.Environment;
-import androidx.annotation.IntDef;
-import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
-import androidx.core.content.FileProvider;
-
 import android.preference.PreferenceManager;
+import android.provider.Settings;
 import android.util.Log;
 import android.webkit.MimeTypeMap;
 import android.widget.Toast;
 
+import androidx.annotation.IntDef;
+import androidx.annotation.NonNull;
+import androidx.core.content.FileProvider;
+
 import com.b44t.messenger.DcChat;
 import com.b44t.messenger.DcContact;
 import com.b44t.messenger.DcContext;
@@ -220,7 +221,7 @@ public class ApplicationDcContext extends DcContext {
         Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
         intent.setDataAndType(uri, mimeType);
         intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_GRANT_READ_URI_PERMISSION);
-        activity.startActivity(intent);
+        startActivity((Activity) activity, intent);
       } else {
         Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_SEND);
         intent.setType(mimeType);
@@ -234,6 +235,17 @@ public class ApplicationDcContext extends DcContext {
     }
   }
 
+  private void startActivity(Activity activity, Intent intent) {
+    // request for permission to install apks on API 26+ if intent mimetype is an apk
+    if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.O &&
+              "application/vnd.android.package-archive".equals(intent.getType()) &&
+              !activity.getPackageManager().canRequestPackageInstalls()) {
+            activity.startActivity(new Intent(Settings.ACTION_MANAGE_UNKNOWN_APP_SOURCES).setData(Uri.parse(String.format("package:%s", activity.getPackageName()))));
+            return;
+      }
+      activity.startActivity(intent);
+  }
+
   private String checkMime(String path, String mimeType) {
     if(mimeType == null || mimeType.equals("application/octet-stream")) {
       path = path.replaceAll(" ", "");