Everyday Computer Skills · Installing & Removing Apps · Lesson 1 of 5

App Stores vs Websites

Learn the two ways to get apps, and why the store is the safer one.

Getting an app from the store

An app is a program that does one job, like editing photos or playing music. Putting a new app on your computer is called installing it.

The safest place to get apps is an app store. An app store is a shop built into the computer where you find and install apps. Many apps there are free.

On Windows, it is the Microsoft Store. You can open it from the Start menu. Microsoft checks the apps in its store before they are listed.

Getting an app from the store is short and simple:

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Type the app's name in the search box at the top.
3. Click the app to see its page. Check the name and the company that made it.
4. Click Get. The store installs it for you.

There are no extra boxes to click through. When it is done, the app appears in the Start menu.

On a Mac, the store is the App Store. You find it in the Dock or the Applications folder. Click Get, then Install. Apple also checks the apps it lists.

On the practice computer, search the Store for "Paint Studio" and click Get. Then open it from Start.

Apps from a maker's website

Not every app is in a store. Some companies only offer their app on their own website. A website is a set of pages you visit on the internet.

On a website, you click a Download button. This saves a file called an installer to your Downloads folder. An installer is a small program that puts the app on your computer. You open it and follow its steps. The next lesson shows you how.

Getting apps from websites can be fine. But it needs more care, because anyone can make a website.

Fake sites copy the look of real ones. Some ads on search pages lead to bad downloads. A bad download may carry malware. Malware is harmful software that can spy on you or damage your files.

That is why the store is safer:

• The company that runs the store checks the apps first.
• You don't have to judge if a website is real.
• Store apps are easy to remove later.

If you need an app from a website, go to the maker's official site. Type its address yourself, or ask someone you trust for it. Skip ads and pop-ups that offer the app.

On a Mac, the same advice applies. Use the App Store when you can.