How to Install and Delete Apps On Various Operating Systems
iOS
Install
Apps on iOS are mostly downloaded through Apple's built-in App Store, but a few websites on Safari have mobile optimizations when added to the Home Screen from a web browser.
To install an app from the App Store:
1. Open the App Store.
2. The App Store is organized by featured stories, games, non-game apps, Apple Arcade, and search.
3. Select an app to download. To view more details before purchasing, tap the icon. Otherwise, move to the next step.
4. In both the detailed view and the list view is a price button. Tap this to change from price to "Install". Tap this to begin downloading.
5. Your credentials will be requested to complete the transaction. Apps larger than 100 MB will prompt you to allow the download to continue.
6. A cloud icon will appear in place of the price if the app was previously purchased. Tap this once to begin the installation.
To install a web app:
1. Locate the website which supports Apple's web app framework. The website should prompt users to add the site to the Home Screen if it does.
2. In Safari web browser, tap the square icon with an arrow (share button). This should open an action sheet.
3. Locate the option "Add to Home Screen." Tap on it.
4. Enter a name for the icon that will be added. Keep it short, otherwise it will be cut off.
5. The web app should now appear on the Home Screen. Tapping it will give a different interface than the website.
Delete/De-Install
Prior to iOS 13:
1. Tap and hold an icon until it starts wiggling.
2. Tap the "x" on the icon and confirm by selecting "Delete".
iOS 13+:
1. Tap and hold an icon until a drop down menu appears.
2. Select "Delete App" and confirm.
3. On iOS 14, this is labeled "Remove App." Tap "Delete App" on the popup that appears.
Android OS
Install
Android has options to use third party app stores, but most people are likely to use the Google Play store to get their content.
1. The Google Play store is organized into sections of digital content. Select the apps section of the store.
2. Here, apps are displayed that Google would like to highlight. You can also perform a search using the search bar at the top of the page. Apps show an icon, the name, and a price.
3. Tap the icon or name to see more details on the application before purchasing, if you wish.
4. Whether in the detailed view or list view, tap the price button. The price should now say "Install." Tap this to begin installation. You may be asked to enter your credentials to complete the transaction.
5. Installed apps will appear on your Android menu and in the app menu.
Delete/De-Install
1. Go to the settings app on your device.
2. Scroll to your applications manager in settings. This will list all the applications installed on your device.
3. Select the application you want to delete by tapping the name. This will present you with more information about the app, such as storage and permissions.
4. Tap the uninstall button to remove the application. This will ask you to confirm the removal of the app. Select uninstall on the popup that appears.
5. Give the system time to remove the application and its data from the device.
Alternatively, you can delete apps from the app menu.
1. Open the app menu to show all the apps installed on your phone.
2. Drag the app you want to delete to open the edit mode.
3. At the top of your screen is a list of options for the app. Drag the icon to "Uninstall."
4. Release the icon and confirm.
Windows Phone OS
Install
1. Scroll to the Microsoft Store.
2. The store will present featured applications first. In the menu bar, apps will be organized by non-games and games. There is also a search icon to perform searches
3. Once you find an application, you will see the icon with a price. Tap the icon to open the information panel on the app.
4. This panel will present the price as a button. Tap this button to initiate the purchase of the app, then tap again to confirm.
5. You will be prompted to enter your credentials. Once you do this, the app will install to the Windows home menu
Delete/De-Install
1. Navigate to your Apps list and locate the app to delete.
2. Tap and hold on the app to make a dropdown menu appear.
3. Select "Uninstall."
4. Select "Yes" from the confirmation prompt.
Windows 10
Windows software can be installed from the Microsoft Store or the internet.
Install
From the Microsoft Store:
1. Open the store. It is organized by featured apps, games, entertainment, productivity, deals, and a search icon.
2. Navigate to the app you want to download.
3. Click the app name to view the details, then click the "Buy and Download" button to pay for the application. You may be prompted to enter your credentials.
From the internet:
1. The website should have a download button, with the file being either a zip file (.zip) or as a Windows executable (.exe) file.
2. Right click the .zip file and select "Extract." This should reveal a .exe file.
3. Double-click the .exe file to run the app installer and follow the on screen prompts.
4. The app should now be in the start menu.
Delete/De-Install
To remove an app from Windows 10:
1. Locate the app in either Settings or Control Panel.
2. In Settings, select "Uninstall," then "Yes" to confirm.
3. In Control Panel, right click on the name and select "Uninstall" from the dropdown menu that appears.
5. Select "Yes" to confirm.
macOS
Install
Apps for the Mac can be downloaded either through the Mac App Store or the internet.
From the Mac App Store:
1. Open the App Store.
2. The App Store presents highlighted apps, Apple Arcade apps, creation apps, work apps, games, developer apps, and categories to locate the app to download. There is also a search bar.
3. Apps are listed with the icon and price. Tap the icon to view more information on the app, or do nothing if you just want to download it.
4. Click the price button to present and "Install" button. Click it to begin the installation. You may be prompted to enter your Apple ID credentials to purchase it.
5. For previously purchased apps, a cloud icon will appear instead. Click this once to install the app.
6. The downloaded app will appear in Launchpad and the Finder. Your Launchpad will show the install progress on the app icon with the amount downloaded. The Mac App Store will also show progress in terms of storage and time remaining.
Apps downloaded from the internet will likely come as a zipped (.zip) file or as a mountable package (.dmg), with the application package stored inside.
1. Double click the downloaded item to either unzip or mount it.
2. Open the folder that is presented after unzipping or mounting the file.
3. Most folders include an app icon or an executable file. Either drag the icon to the applications folder or double click the file to install the required packages.
4. Delete the zip file (if it doesn't prompt to delete first) or eject the mounted image.
5. Right click the trash can in the dock and select "Empty Trash" if the zip file was deleted.
Delete/De-Install
Deletion options on Mac include doing so from the Launchpad or the Finder, depending on whether the app was downloaded from the Mac App Store.
From the Launchpad:
1. To delete one app at a time, hold the "Option" key on the keyboard, causing the icons to wiggle.
2. Some icons will have an "x" appear in the corner. Click this to delete, and confirm the choice on the popup that appears.
3. The Launchpad may need to be reopened to delete multiple apps via this method. To avoid this issue, click and hold on an icon in the Launchpad until it starts to wiggle.
4. The "x" button will appear and the apps can be deleted as before.
Not all icons will have an "x" on them, however. Use the Finder method to delete these apps.
From the Finder:
1. Open a new Finder window by clicking on the Finder icon in the dock. Locate the application in the Applications folder.
2. Right click the application and select move to trash. Alternatively, press Command+Delete to move a highlighted application to the trash.
3. Right click on the trash can and select "Empty Trash" to finish removing the contents.