Android Apps and the Google Play Store

Apps are software programs with a specific function. Google Maps, Gmail, Chrome, and the Play Store are apps that are already installed on your phone. There are millions of apps in the Google Play Store (there are about 3.48 million apps in the Play Store as of 2022). You may want to install popular apps like Facebook and Kindle. You can also find apps from your personal bank, your favorite stores, lifelong learning organizations, games you can play alone or online with others, and many more.

Finding the best apps for you

There are millions of free apps, but many free apps contain ads. Some are freemium apps; the basic app is free, but there are additional premium features available for a charge (in-app charges). Use the information and reviews to help you find the best app.

1. Tap Play Store  .
2. At the top of the screen, use the Google Play search box to enter search terms. For instance, you can type the name of a book or movie, “scrabble” or “crosswords.”
3. Swipe to the left to browse collections.
4. Choose from categories, like games or apps from the bottom of the screen.

The Google Play Store is organized to help you find the perfect app:

• Categories, like Games, Movies & TV, and Books
• Recommendations, like Editor’s Choices.
• Groups of apps, like the top-rated or top-selling apps.

Google does a decent job of keeping suspect apps out of the Play store, but no one is perfect. Poorly designed apps can cause your device to run slower or run down your battery prematurely. Here are some things to look for when evaluating an app:

• Beware of apps that have bad ratings from other users.
• If an app is brand new, consider waiting until others have tested and reviewed it.
• Avoid apps with descriptions that include strange grammar and/or spelling errors.

Installing, uninstalling, and updating apps

Apps in the Play Store have information from the developer and reviews and ratings from users. These can really help you find just the right app. Once you’ve found your perfect app, tap  (if free) or the price , give the app the permissions it needs (and confirm the purchase if necessary), and the app will download to your device. The app will also place an icon on a Home screen.

Uninstalling an app

Remove apps that you don’t use to free up storage space on your device:

1. From the Home screen, touch and hold the app you wish to remove. You can do this from any Home screen or All Apps.
2. Move the app slightly toward the top of the screen to open the uninstall option, then drag to Uninstall and release.

Google Play on your desktop

You can also shop for apps using your PC. Go to https://play.google.com/store and sign in. Any apps you choose to download will be automatically installed on your device.