You recently bought a new PC and some friends of yours, who know more about technology than you, have praised its features; they then asked you which applications you downloaded on it, but you didn’t know how to answer: the problem is that you are really a beginner with the world of computing, and what’s more, the new PC has an operating system that you never had used before, so you just don’t know how to go about installing apps.
Intended to solve the problem and fill this gap of yours, you then did some online research and landed on this guide of mine. Well, let me tell you, you are in good hands. If you need explanations on how to download applications on PC , know that I can help you and explain everything, step by step.
If you want to learn more about the possibility of downloading applications on Windows or Mac computers, all you have to do is take a few minutes of free time and put my instructions into practice. I assure you that in a little while you will have acquired all the necessary skills to reach your goal and install the applications independently on your PC. Having said that, I just have to wish you good reading and good download!
Index
- How to download applications on PC: Windows
- How to download apps on PC: Windows 11
- How to download apps on PC: Windows 10
- How to download apps on PC: Windows 8
- How to download standard applications on Windows PC
- How to download apps on PC: Mac
- How to download apps from the Mac App Store
- How to download standard applications on Mac
How to download applications on PC: Windows
You are probably no longer in the skin and would like to understand how to download applications on a Windows PC . Well, you should know that starting with Windows 8, Microsoft introduced the Microsoft Store , through which you can download applications to use on your computer in just a couple of clicks, a bit like on smartphones and tablets.
After Windows 8, Microsoft released Windows 10 and Windows 11 , introducing some new features and differences in the use of applications, but don’t worry, in the next chapters I will show you everything in detail. What do you say, let’s get started?
How to download apps on PC: Windows 11
You recently upgraded your PC to Windows 11 and are wondering how to download apps on Windows 11 PC . You should know that even on Windows 11 there is the Microsoft Store , which has been completely redesigned in terms of graphics and has introduced support for Android apps . But let’s go step by step.
Before proceeding, a clarification is necessary: in order to download the apps on a Windows PC, you must log in to your Microsoft account . In case you are still using a local account, you need to switch to a Microsoft account in order to use the Microsoft Store and download apps. If you don’t have one yet, you can check out my tutorial on how to create a Microsoft account , where everything is explained in detail.
Well then, it’s time to take action. On your PC with Windows 11 you will notice that in the bottom bar there is the Microsoft Store icon (the shopping bag). To open it, just click on its icon. In a few seconds the Microsoft Store will open and the main screen will show the most popular apps or the latest ones, while on the left there is a side menu with some items: Apps , Game , Movies and TV , Collection and Guide .
To download a new app, just click on the App icon in the side menu and locate the one you need. Alternatively, if you want to reduce the time, you can use the search field at the top, where you just need to type the name of the app (for example “Netflix” and) tap the Enter key on the keyboard.
The store will offer you a list of apps corresponding to the search made, among which you will surely also find the app you are looking for. Now you just have to click on it, then on the Get button and wait for the app to be downloaded and installed completely automatically.
If, on the other hand, you want to update the apps you have already installed, click the Collection button in the side menu, wait for the list of apps to be updated to load and click the Update all button at the top. In a few seconds the store will start downloading and installing updates for all apps. If, on the other hand, you want to update only a specific app, click the Update button next to each app name.
It doesn’t end there, however. One of the big news coming to the Microsoft Store is support for Android apps , which can be downloaded and used on your PC. These are the same apps that you normally use on your Android smartphone, so you will soon be able to download all your favorite apps, thanks to the arrival on the Amazon Appstore store , which works in a similar way to the Google Play Store.
Unfortunately, at the moment this feature is not yet officially available, but I will update the guide as soon as the Android apps are available on Windows 11.
How to download apps on PC: Windows 10
You have owned a PC with Windows 10 for some time and for the moment you have no plans to upgrade to Windows 11. Now, however, you are wondering how to download apps on a PC with Windows 10 and above all if it works in a similar way to what happens with the new Windows 11.
Windows 10 also owns the Microsoft Store , which can always be reached by clicking on its icon (the shopping bag) in the taskbar at the bottom. Alternatively, just click on the Start button (recognizable by the flag icon), type “store” on the keyboard and click on the Microsoft Store item that appears on the screen.
Exactly as indicated in the previous chapter , also in this case to be able to download the apps through the Microsoft Store you must log in to your Microsoft account . If you already have one, but you are not logged in yet, click on the little man icon at the top right and click on Add account . Next, enter your account email and password and click the Login button . If, on the other hand, you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, you can take a look at my tutorial on how to create a Microsoft account , where everything is explained in detail.
Once logged in, you will find the main screen of the store, in which you will find the highlighted or most recent apps, while at the top there is a bar from which you can access the following links: Home , Gaming , Entertainment , Productivity , Deals and Research .
If you want to download an app, all you have to do is click on the Search button in the top bar, type the name of the app you are interested in and click on the magnifying glass icon , or press Enter , to start the search.
On the next screen you will be shown all the apps that have the word you typed in the name or description: click on the one you are interested in and, on the next screen, click on the Get button . In a few seconds the download of the app will start, which will then be automatically installed on your PC.
How to download apps on PC: Windows 8
How do you say? Do you have an old PC with Windows 8 and are you wondering how to download apps on PC with Windows 8 ?
Even if your PC is not very recent and not updated to the latest versions of Windows, you can still use the Microsoft Store to download apps. The operation is almost identical to that present on Windows 10, so you can follow the same instructions I gave you in the previous chapter .
How to download standard applications on Windows PC
You’ve probably noticed that many of the apps you need aren’t in the Microsoft Store, so you need to download them from the web. You’re probably wondering how to download standard apps on a Windows PC , aren’t you?
In case you need an app not available on the store or you are simply wondering how to download an app on a Windows 7 PC , all you have to do is go to the website of that particular application and download the installation package, usually with the extension .exe or .msi .
My advice is to download application installers only from trusted sources, such as the official websites of the companies that produce certain software. This way you can avoid running into viruses or other threats that could infect your PC.
For added security, I always recommend that you have an antivirus installed on your PC, so that it can protect you from any threats. If you don’t have one, you can check out my tutorial on the best free antivirus for Windows 10 , also compatible with Windows 11 and earlier.
Once you have downloaded the .exe or .msi package , to install a program all you have to do is open it with a double click on it, then follow the instructions on the screen. Generally, it is a question of clicking on the Yes button , relating to User Account Control, and then continuing with the installation by pressing the Next / Next button and then on Finish . Check the boxes relating to acceptance of the terms of use, while unchecking those relating to the installation of any additional promotional software.
How to download apps on PC: Mac
You recently bought a Mac , but you find yourself very confused, because you’ve never had one. The first question you asked yourself was how to download apps on a Mac , right?
Don’t worry, feeling disoriented in this case is normal, especially if you’ve never used a Mac. Over the next few paragraphs I’ll show you how to download apps on macOS, also showing you the differences between standard apps and applications.
How to download apps from the Mac App Store
You need to download an app on your Mac, but you don’t know where to start. The first thing I always advise you to do when you want to download an app is to check that it is present on the Mac App Store , which is the official Apple store and that it works in a very similar way to the one present on the iPhone and iPad.
How do you say? Are you a novice and would like to understand how to download apps from the Mac App Store ? Quiet, that’s what I’m here for. First of all you have to open the Mac App Store , recognizable by the icon with an “A” on a blue background , present in the Dock bar at the bottom.
Once opened, in order to start downloading the apps, you will need to log in to your Apple ID , if you have one, by clicking on the little man icon at the bottom left. To log in, enter your email and password and confirm your access on another device if you have activated 2-Step Verification.
How do you say? Don’t have an Apple ID and would like to create one? No problem, in this case I recommend you take a look at my tutorial on how to create an Apple ID .
Well, once logged in with your Apple ID, all you have to do is search for the app you are interested in downloading using the search field at the top and click on the suggestion that is proposed to you. To start the app download, just click on the Get / Install button and confirm the operation by entering your Mac password or via Touch ID .
After installing the app, you can start it simply by clicking on the Launchpad icon present in the Dock bar, at the bottom, and then on the icon of the app you are interested in starting. If you have many applications installed on your Mac you can also use the Spotlight search (which can be called up by pressing the cmd + space keys on the keyboard). It wasn’t difficult was it?
How to download standard applications on Mac
I know what you’re thinking: how to do when an app is not on the Mac App Store? In addition to the Mac App Store, it is possible to download applications on Mac via packages in .dmg or .pkg format , but a clarification is necessary before proceeding.
Before venturing into the Web in search of these packages, I always recommend that you first check that they are not actually present in the Mac App Store , since the apps in the Apple store are always verified and therefore more secure .
If, however, the application you need is not present on the Mac App Store, you must necessarily search for it on the Web. My advice in this case is always to look for the application you need on the official website of the company that creates it. , in order to be sure of the source of the software you are about to install. But now you are surely wondering how to download standard applications on Mac , right?
Once you have located and downloaded the application you need, you may find yourself faced with two types of packages, .dmg or .pkg . If the app is downloaded with the .dmg package then it does not need to be installed, in fact double clicking on the package will open a screen with the icon of the application just downloaded and with the icon of the MacOS Applications folder . All you have to do is drag the app icon to the Applications folder icon and, in a few seconds, you will notice that by clicking on the LaunchPad iconpresent in the Dock bar, the app will be listed along with any other apps you previously installed. To open it, all you have to do is click on it.
It can often happen that when you start an application that does not come from the Mac App Store, a pop-up may appear on the screen that warns you that the program “comes from an unidentified developer” . In these cases the start of the application is blocked and can be unblocked by confirming with the Open key . If the latter is not present, there is another way to bypass the macOS lock.
When the pop-up in question appears, simply open the System Preferences by clicking on the gear icon on the Dock. Next, click on the Security and Privacy item and then on the General tab . Now all you have to do is click on the padlock icon at the bottom left, enter your Mac password and press the Authorize button that you should see below.
If, on the other hand, the downloaded app consists of a .pkg package (in some cases contained in a .dmg) it needs to be installed, in fact it is an installation package using a wizard, similar to Windows .exe or .msi . To start installing the application, therefore, all you have to do is double-click on the .PKG package you just downloaded and follow the instructions on the screen to complete the installation.
Generally, just click on the Accept , Continue , Install buttons . and confirm the operation by entering the Mac password or using the Touch ID . For more information you can take a look at my tutorial on how to install programs on Mac , in which I explain everything in detail.
