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How to Download Apps From the Google Play Store

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You've finally done it. You've made the transition to the Google Play Store. Getting used to a new system is exciting—and sometimes challenging—as you learn where to locate what you need. Fortunately, once you master the download process, you'll be filling up your smartphone or tablet with all your favorite apps.

Locate the Google Play Store App

To find the Google Play Store on your device, go to the apps section on your device. In some cases it's as easy as swiping up from the bottom of your screen. If your device doesn't have this as an option, find the triangle-shaped icon in your apps. Tap it to open the Google Play Store directly on the device.

You need a Gmail account to use this service. The app will link to your email account, which makes it easy to backup your apps, photos, videos and other files in Google's cloud storage system. This is particularly handy if you're someone who enjoys getting the newest devices. You can log in to your Google account and have access to your previously downloaded apps and saved files.

Find the Apps You Want to Download

There are several ways to find apps to install on your device. You can search for apps by name or type or try out an app that the store suggests for you. If you know the name of the app you're looking for—like Twitter, Spotify or your bank—type the name in the search bar at the top of the screen. Choose the app you want from the list.

If you're looking for a general type of app, such as a messenger app, type that phrase in the search box. Google Play will give you a list of different apps that are tagged to match your search criteria. When you see one you think you're interested in, click it to download the app. Google sometimes offers you suggestions for apps it thinks you'd like. You can check them out by tapping on them for download.

Install the Apps

After you click the button to select the app, Google Play shows you information about the app, including its creator, tags that relate to it, price, reviews from other users and a green button that says "Install." Press that button, and the device automatically downloads and installs it as long as there is storage space available.

How to Update Your Apps

You should keep your installed apps up to date. From time to time, developers send out notifications when they've updated their apps. These updates range from fixing bugs in the way the app works to adding new features. Some apps update on their own, but others require your permission to complete. Keeping up with these updates ensures that you always have the latest version of the app that the developer supports.

To find out if your downloaded apps have updates, open your Google Play Store. Click the three lines at the top left corner of the screen and locate the "My Apps & Games" section. You'll see three tabs. The first tab takes you to a list of your apps sorted by "recently updated" and "updates pending." From here, you can either update all your apps or choose which apps to update individually.

How to Uninstall Apps

Sometimes you accidentally download an app that you don't really want or need or you want to clear up some space on your device. When this happens, you need to know how to uninstall apps you've downloaded. On many phones, you can do this directly on the phone interface without entering the Google Play Store.

If you'd rather do this in the Google Play Store, open it. Locate the app using the search bar at the top of the screen. Tap the app and find the button to uninstall it. You'll have to confirm this step to indicate that you really want to uninstall the app. Don't worry, though. You can go back in to download it in the future if you need it.