How to Download Apps on Google Play
The Google Play Store app is built into all Android devices. Here’s how to download apps from the store:
Open the Google Play Store on your smartphone or tablet. Search for the app you want to download or select a category, such as Games or Movies & TV, or other filters like Editors’ Choice or Family. Tap the app’s listing. Tap Install. When the download is complete, Install changes to Open.
Google Play on Desktop
You can manage app downloads on the desktop for any Android phones or tablets you’ve connected to your Google account. Using the Play Store on your desktop is convenient if you use more than one device or manage app downloads for others, such as your children.
In a desktop browser, navigate to play. google. com. Search for the app you want to download or click Categories, Top Charts, or New Releases to browse the library. Once you find the app, click its entry and then Install. If you have more than one Android phone linked to your Google account, you will see a list of smartphones and tablets. Choose your device; if you’re not sure which is which, there’s a “last used” date next to each one. Click Install or Buy and the app should appear on your device within a few minutes.
Samsung Galaxy Apps on Mobile
The Galaxy App store is pre-installed on most Samsung Galaxy devices. It includes Exclusive Apps Made for Samsung (apps explicitly made for Galaxy phones), Galaxy Essentials (curated Samsung apps), and Samsung DeX apps. It also has a sticker shop, live stickers, and fonts.
To get apps from Samsung, open Galaxy Apps and search or browse for the app you want. Tap the app’s listing, then Install.
Google Play Protect
One of the most important things to consider before downloading any apps on Android is security. Like a computer, an infected smartphone can cause performance issues and privacy breaches and even cause you to lose your data.
In response to some high-profile security incidents, which included malicious apps in the Play Store, Google rolled out Play Protect, which regularly scans your device for malware. By default, this setting is on, but you can also run a manual scan if you want.
Go to Settings > Security > Google Play Protect. Tap Scan. Here, you can also see recently checked apps and the time of the last scan.
Downloading Apps From Unknown Sources
If you try to download an app from somewhere other than Google Play using a mobile browser or another app, you’ll get a warning that your device doesn’t allow the installation of unknown apps from this source.
Go to Settings. Tap Apps & notifications > Advanced > Special app access. Tap Install unknown apps. You’ll see a list of apps that can download apps, such as Chrome and other mobile browsers. Tap any app you use to download apps and toggle on Allow from this source.
title: “How To Download Apps On Android” ShowToc: true date: “2022-12-07” author: “Domingo Hopson”
Our guide takes you step by step through finding and downloading apps from the Google Play Store, as well as looking at other sources for apps that you might not know about.
How do I download apps from the Google Play Store?
Open the Google Play appSearch or browse for an appTap Install
It’s very easy to download apps from Google’s Play Store. Almost every Android device (in the West at least) comes with this app already installed, as it’s part of the suite of software that Google includes with Android. Look for the app called Play Store whose icon is a multi-coloured triangle on its side sitting on top of a white background.
Tap the icon and you’ll be taken to the Play Store itself. There will be a few apps featured in the main part of the screen, but you’ll want to check the line of icons along the bottom which separates out the app types into Games, Apps, Movies &… and Books.
Select the one that should include the app you’re after, then if you know its name tap the text box at the top of the page in which you should see the words Search for apps. Now you can type in the title and hopefully you’ll see the intended app appear at the top of the list of results. Tapping on it will open the page for that app, then all you need to do is tap the Install button and the app will immediately begin downloading.
Note that not all apps are free, but many are. If you pick one which costs money, you’ll be prompted to set up a payment method, but note that you can also use Google Play gift cards: it doesn’t have to be a credit or debit card.
If you’re not sure which app you want to download, then you can tap the For you, Top charts or Categories options that appear above the featured apps. These will provide a list of the most popular ones on the store, any of which you can download by tapping its Install button. If you’re new to Android, then our guide to the best Android apps should prove invaluable and save you time trawling through the huge selection on the Play Store.
Is Google Play the only place to get Android apps?
No, but it is one of the safest and most convenient way to download Android apps. There are alternatives available. In some cases, these are necessary, as with the new Huawei devices that come with the company’s own App Gallery due to the dispute with Google and the US government which has banned American companies (such as Google) from working with Huawei, and its sub-brand Honor.
Another alternative, just as you do with many Windows apps, is to download them as a .apk file directly from a website, possibly even the app’s developer. Again, there is a risk that it could contain malware, which is why antivirus software is a good idea if you plan to do this kind of thing.
To install apps from non-Google sources, you’ll first need to adjust the settings on your device. The precise titles mentioned next may vary a little, depending on your handset, but they should be roughly the same no matter what you’re using. So, open the Settings app and navigate to Apps then tap the three dots in the top right corner. From the drop-down menu, select Special access. On the next page, scroll down and select Install unknown apps.
A number of apps will now appear in a list. These are the various ones through which apps could be installed, so select the ones that you’re most likely to use – Chrome should probably be top of your list – then enable the Allow from this source option. That’s it. You’ll now be able to visit those alternative stores and install the apps on your device. Just make sure that you update them regularly so that the security settings remain current.
Read next: Everything you need to know about setting alarms on Android.
Martyn has been involved with tech ever since the arrival of his ZX Spectrum back in the early 80s. He covers iOS, Android, Windows and macOS, writing tutorials, buying guides and reviews for Macworld and its sister site Tech Advisor.
