How to use Google Play Store to install apps and games for Android

Ever since Android first saw the light of day, apps and games have ruled the smartphone ecosystem, and Google's Play Store is the go-to place for installing the newest apps and games and accessing other digital content. You can get a new browser, an email client for your messaging needs, your favorite social media app, or the most popular games to compete with your friends. This tutorial teaches you how to find, view details for, and install an app from the Google Play Store on your Android smartphone or tablet:

First things first: Connect to a Google Account to use the Play Store

Google created an app market called the Play Store for its Android operating system. If you want to install a Google-approved app onto your Android device, you need to go through the Play Store. But, to use Google Play Store, you first need to connect to a Google Account on your Android smartphone or tablet. To find out more about that, read How to set up your Google account on an Android device. Once you finish that step and your account is connected, open Google Play Store on your Android smartphone or tablet.

Find the app you want to install in Google Play Store

You can use Google Play Store to find all the apps and games approved by Google, free or paid, categorized and labeled accordingly. When a developer submits an app or game to the Play Store, Google asks for a minimum Android version requirement and any system requirements needed for the device to be able to run it. If your Android smartphone or tablet does not meet the minimum requirements of an app, the Play Store doesn't even show it to you, since you are not able to run it anyway. In a similar fashion, if a category is not available for your country, it's not displayed either. We have three tabs at the bottom of our screen, one for each category available to us: Games, Apps, and Books. You can browse the sections in each category freely. Check out the apps and games recommended or suggested For you, see the Top Charts, sort digital content by Categories, find out the Editor's Choice, and more. If you're not sure what you want, there are plenty of ways to browse the latest apps, games, and digital content until you find something interesting. If you know exactly what app or game you're looking for, you can search for it by tapping on the "Search for apps & games" field at the top and typing in its name. As an alternative, if you prefer using Google Assistant, tap on the microphone icon and say the name of the app or game you want. I typed in Firefox Focus, my favorite mobile browser - and the app used to illustrate most of this tutorial, since the process when installing an app or a game is precisely the same. As you type, the Play Store starts showing you suggestions from the available apps. Tap on the result that interests you or on the Search button at the bottom of the screen. On the next screen, you can Install the app if you're sure of your choice, or you can tap on it to open its Play Store page and learn more about it. Unless you are familiar with an app, our recommendation is to first check the app's additional information and find out more about what you are about to install on your Android device.

What can you find on an app's Google Play Store page?

Every app and game has a page in the Play Store, and you can access it by tapping on the app's name. The page opens, displaying some images or screenshots, together with basic info that can help you get a general idea about the app, like:

• The name of the app, sometimes followed by a brief description.
• The developer of the app. You can tap on this to find out more about the developer and see other apps they made available on the Google Play Store.
• Whether the app contains ads or purchases.
• The app's Play Store rating and its total number of reviews. Tap on it to access all the reviews for the app in the "Ratings and reviews" page.
• The total number of downloads for the app.
• The app's age rating. This is the age recommended for the app's users, and it differs depending on which video game content rating system is used in your country. Tap on it to learn more.
• The Install button. The next section of this tutorial illustrates the installation process initiated when you press it.
• The "About this app" section, where you can learn more about the app.
• The app's category - in our case, Communication. Tap on it for other apps from the same category.

Tap the arrow next to "About this app" to read the app Details. The Details page is filled with information about the app's features and latest improvements. This information is controlled by the app's developer and is usually the best way to see what's special and new about the app. Scroll down to see the app's age rating again. Under it, you can check out the App info section for another batch of useful information including but not necessarily limited to:

• Version - the version of the app currently available in the Play Store.
• Updated on - the last time the app was updated in the Play Store.
• Downloads - the number of times the app was downloaded so far.
• Download size - the amount of data you need to download when getting the app.
• Offered by - the seller of the app.
• Released on - when the app was launched exactly.
• App permissions - the permissions the app might require; tapping on See more displays a list of them.

When you are satisfied with the information you learned about the app, tap the Back arrow to exit Details and return to the app page. Scroll down for the option to "Rate this app," which you should use once you've tried the app and know more about it. The "Ratings and reviews" section displays a graph of the ratings received, together with one positive and one critical review. There are multiple arrows and a link to access the "Ratings and reviews" page, where you can see and sort through all the posted reviews. If you scroll further down, you can tap the arrow next to Developer contact to show or hide a couple of useful links that let you visit the developer's Website, contact the developer via Email, and check the Privacy policy. Scroll down past more ads and recommendations from the Play Store, sorted in different categories. For some apps and games, you get the option to "Join the beta." The last thing of interest is the "Google Play refund policy" (at the bottom of the app's page) that you can tap for more info.

How to install an app or game from Google Play Store

Once you have all the information you need about the app, and you are ready to install it, tap on the Install button from the app's page. TIP: If your app or game is not free to download and install, you need to tap on their price instead. This might require you to set up a payment method, in case you don't have one in place. The system starts downloading the app. Depending on the size of the app and your internet speed, this can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. A progress bar is shown surrounding the app's icon. Once the download is complete, the device begins installing the app. Small apps can install in a couple of seconds while games can take many minutes, even hours, on slow connections. When the app finishes installing, you can use the Open button, which becomes available on its page, to open it right away from the Play Store. And you are done! The app is installed and ready for you to use. You can also access it from your smartphone's All Apps screen.

Giving permissions to apps installed from the Play Store

When you open a new app or game for the first time, you might be prompted to give it certain permissions. You are only asked about permissions if the app needs access to some information, features, or sensors from your Android device in order to run properly. Permissions are Google's way of making sure you know what you're getting yourself into. 🙂 Google's Wallpapers app, for instance, needs access to your device's storage to display the current wallpaper. This makes sense considering the app is used to change your wallpaper, so, in this case, it's ok to Allow access. NOTE: Beware that some dodgy apps require permissions for things they don't need. When you encounter such apps, it might be a good idea to stop using them and uninstall them from your Android smartphone or tablet.

Did you find any astounding apps in Google Play Store?

Now that you know how to use the Google Play Store to find new apps and games, the world holds no limits. The freedom of the digital world is in your hands, so feel free to explore and try. However, keep in mind that too many unnecessary apps installed on your device slow it down progressively, so every once in a while, take time to remove any apps and games you no longer need. We are always in search of new, innovative games and apps so, if you find anything of note, please let us know in a comment below.