Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used in violation of your Kik Messenger terms of service. Please consult Kik Messenger’s terms of service for more information.
Though the prolific explosion of app stores across every type of computing device has made downloading apps somewhat simpler, they can still be confusing to navigate, and they’re never identical. When you’re seeking to get Kik Messenger on your device, there are a few ways to go about it that escape the typical app store experience. Luckily, they’ll all point you in the same direction, and the same accessibility in use that Kik is known for is reflected with the app’s installation and setup process!
In the following article, we’ll detail every facet of the setup process, from getting the app on your device to setting up your first user profile. We’ll even briefly gloss the details of how to get Kik running on your desktop or laptop though we’ve written a more nuanced guide for users seeking to do this.
Though it’s a simple process overall, and only deviates slightly from the normal means by which you’d install apps on your smartphone or portable device, I want to cover every angle and answer every question that you might have. In this brief guide, I will:
- Show you how to find Kik in your device’s app store
- Show you how to find Kik through the company’s website
- Walk you through setting up a Kik profile
- Discuss emulating Kik for Android on a Windows PC or Mac
- Provide tips and tricks for your Kik setup experience
Not only will this help you to dive into your Kik experience faster, it will also help to make your messaging experience more enjoyable through knowledge of how the application functions.
In my opinion, the future of mobile is the future of everything.- Matt Galligan
Downloading Kik from the App Store
For many tech-savvy users, this process will be so simple that it hardly requires explanation. Here, I’d like to go over it anyway, to make sure that our instructions are cut-and-dry.
No matter what operating system your device is running–iOS, Android, or Windows Phone–the first step you’ll want to take is to find your device’s App Store.
For Android, this will be the “Google Play” app.
iPhone users will simply look for the “App Store.”
Windows Phone users will look for “Apps for Windows.”
Once you’ve found your way into your device’s respective app store, finding Kik Messenger becomes a similar process for every user! Simply search for “Kik” within the app store and download the app to your device. Be warned that any app purporting to charge you anything at all is most certainly not a legitimate Kik application, and should be avoided. Kik Messenger is free to download and free to use, which is just one of the many things that make it an appealing messaging service.
Now that you’ve downloaded Kik from the app store, you’ve only to find the app from your device’s home screen, give it a tap, and proceed with the initial profile setup process.
Finding Kik on the Web
Perhaps it’s a roundabout method of installation, but it is possible to be directed to the Kik application while you’re browsing the web. The Kik home page has links to every app store that the Kik application can be downloaded from. This includes those three listed above, as well as Amazon’s new app storefront. Simply click the “Download” button at the top right of the page, and you’ll be directed to the necessary places to proceed with your download and installation of Kik.
It should be noted that this is best done by the device that you intend to install Kik on. There is currently no native version of Kik for Windows PCs or Mac computers, and so this particular Kik setup requires different steps than if you were directed from the Kik homepage.
Emulating Kik on Windows PC and Mac
What an apt time to discuss this process! Though it’s explored in greater depth in a separate article that we’ve published, the entire setup process is actually fairly simple and only requires a few additional steps for most users. It does, however, involve sourcing and downloading emulation software for your computer that’s entirely apart from the Kik application itself.
In order to do this, you’ll need to emulate an Android environment on your computer. Since Kik has no native app designed for desktop or laptop computers, an emulated version of Android is required for this process to work. I recommend popular emulation suits such as Bluestacks or Andyroid, but many others exist that will all run Kik Messenger perfectly fine.
Once you’ve set up and installed the Android emulator on your computer, you can simply follow the same steps as you might have to install Kik on an actual Android device. Since an emulator sequesters part of your computer’s memory in order to provide an actual, working Android environment, you’ll technically be running the Android version of Kik Messenger.
Setting Up Your Kik Profile
Now that you’ve installed the Kik app on your device, it’s time to set up your profile. Just as downloading the app itself was painless and easy, so too is getting yourself started on Kik. After opening the app for the first time, you’ll be asked to either “Log In” or “Sign Up.” If you’re a first time user, the choice here should be pretty self-explanatory!
After selecting “Sign Up,” you’ll be asked for remarkably little information while setting up your profile. All that’s required of you as a new user is an email address, a unique username, a display name, and a password. You won’t be asked to provide a phone number, address, or any similar personal information. This is beneficial in that it keeps Kik from being tied to your single mobile device, and it also keeps your private information out of your profile. However, it places a great deal of importance on your unique username. This username is how you’ll share your profile and allow others to message you on Kik, so be mindful of how you share it! Here are a few username tips to enhance your experience:
- Create an username that’s easy to remember, but also difficult for others to discover. Use uppercase and lowercase letters combined with numbers, if possible.
- Set your display name to whatever you would prefer others see you as. This could be your name, a nickname, or some other moniker that’s entirely separate from your username.
- Only share your username in trusted places. Anyone who has it can message you, and nothing tarnishes a fresh Kik experience like a torrent of unwanted spam messages from people that you don’t know.
- Create an alternate email address
With this advice in mind, proceed with setting up your Kik Messenger profile. As soon as you’ve entered the requisite information, you’ll be good to go!
Further Tips & Tricks for Setting Up Kik
Kik is a popular messaging service that has millions of daily users. As such, the features that make it unique are free for you to explore, share, and utilize! I would recommend getting comfy with these features as quickly in your experience as you can.
Adding Contacts
We’ve written a separate guide that details the numerous ways that you can add friends to your list of Kik Messenger contacts, but either way, this is a task you’ll want to delve into. After all, what good is a messaging app that’s devoid of people to talk to?
From the settings menu, you can choose to utilize your “Kik Code” or simply “Share Your Profile” through various other social media platforms that you may have installed on the same device. While being mindful of how you share your username, take advantage of the ease offered through each of these methods and bolster your contact list!
Using the Browser
The built-in web browser that comes integrated with Kik Messenger is something that many users overlook in their rush to simply start chatting. The web browser allows you to surf the web, play games and share myriad types of media with any of your contacts. It’s slightly different than your typical browsing experience but allows you to share the web with your friends more easily than when you have to swap apps and copy/paste links.
Additionally, you can use links from Kik-optimized websites to access content from popular brands and third-party interest more directly than you might through any other web browsing experience.
Wrap Up
Part of the joy of Kik Messenger is its immense amount of accessibility, no matter the platform that you’re running it from. Even if you have to emulate Android OS on your Windows PC or Mac, getting started with Kik is a painless process, and all of its features remain free to use. Between the browser, the app’s reliable, fast read-notification system, and the millions of current users, there’s a lot to dig into!
Though there are many tips, tricks, and techniques you can take further advantage of to make your chat experience more personal, the above guide will certainly put you in a good place to jump in and find new ways to communicate with your friends. Have any other must-know information about getting Kik Messenger on your device? Share it all in the comments below!