How to Download and Install Apps Safely
What Is This in Plain English?
Think back to the 1970s and the experience of buying a new record album from a music shop. You would walk into a reputable store on the high street — a shop you trusted, with a knowledgeable owner who curated what sat on the shelves. You would not buy a record from a stranger who knocked on your front door holding an unmarked sleeve, claiming it was the latest hit. The shop was your guarantee of quality and safety.
Downloading an app works on exactly the same principle. Your phone has one official, trusted "record shop" built into it — the App Store on an iPhone, or the Google Play Store on an Android phone. Every app inside these official stores has been inspected and approved before being allowed on the shelf. Downloading from anywhere else is the equivalent of buying that unmarked record from the stranger at the door — it might be perfectly fine, but it might also contain something harmful hiding inside.
This guide will walk you through exactly how to find, assess, download, and manage apps safely — and how to spot the warning signs that something is not quite right.
Part 1: Understanding What an App Actually Is
An app — short for "application" — is a small programme that does one specific job on your phone. Think of each app as a single specialist shop on a high street. One shop sells only newspapers. Another sells only bread. Another sells only medicine.
Each app on your phone works the same way. The Weather app shows you the forecast. The Maps app gives you directions. The Camera app takes photographs. None of them tries to do everything — each one does its one job, and does it well.
When you download a new app, you are essentially inviting a new specialist into your phone. This is why it matters enormously that you only invite trustworthy ones — and only from reputable sources.
💡 Pro Tip: You almost certainly do not need as many apps as you might think. A great many things people download specialist apps for — checking the news, reading recipes, watching videos — can be done perfectly well through your internet browser, with nothing extra to download at all.
Part 2: Finding the Official App Store on Your Phone
On an iPhone (Apple App Store)
- Look on your Home Screen for the App Store app. It looks like a white letter "A" — drawn in a style that makes it look like it is made of a ruler or a drafting tool — on a bright blue background.
- Tap it once to open it.
- You are now inside Apple's official, curated app store. Every app here has been reviewed by Apple before being made available.
On an Android Phone (Google Play Store)
- Look on your Home Screen or in your app drawer — the full list of apps accessed by swiping upward from the Home Screen — for the Google Play Store app. It looks like a colorful triangle — similar to a "play" button on a video player — made up of four colors: blue, red, yellow, and green, pointing to the right.
- Tap it once to open it.
- You are now inside Google's official app store. Apps here have been reviewed by Google before being made available.
🛡️ Safety Alert: If you ever receive a text message, an email, or see a pop-up on a website asking you to download an app by tapping a link — do not tap it. Always find apps by opening your official App Store or Play Store directly, searching for the app by name, and downloading it from there. Links sent to you from outside the official store are a very common method used by scammers to install harmful software on your phone.
Part 3: Searching for an App
Once inside your official app store, finding what you need is straightforward.
- At the top of the screen, you will see a Search Bar — a long white or gray rectangle, sometimes with a small magnifying glass icon inside it at the left end. The magnifying glass looks like a circle with a short handle — the same shape as a physical magnifying glass viewed from above.
- Tap the search bar once. A keyboard will appear from the bottom of the screen.
- Type the name of the app you are looking for — for example, WhatsApp, BBC iPlayer, or Zoom.
- Tap the blue Search key in the bottom-right corner of the keyboard, or the Go key depending on your phone.
- A list of results will appear. The app you are looking for will usually be the first or second result at the top of the list.
Part 4: How to Assess an App Before Downloading It
This is the most important section in this entire guide. Before downloading any app, spend two minutes checking these five things. Think of it as reading the back of a tin before buying it from the supermarket shelf.
Check 1: The Star Rating
Every app in the official stores has a star rating from one to five, given by real users who have downloaded and used it. Look for the row of small gold or yellow stars beneath the app name.
A rating of 4 stars or above from a large number of people is a good sign. A rating of 2 stars or below, or a very small number of ratings, is a reason for caution.
Check 2: The Number of Downloads or Reviews
Next to or beneath the star rating, you will see either the number of people who have reviewed the app or — on Android — the number of times it has been downloaded.
An app downloaded or reviewed by thousands or millions of people is a well-established, trusted piece of software. An app with only a handful of reviews is unknown and unproven — approach with caution.
Check 3: The Developer Name
Just below the app's name in the search results, you will see a smaller line of text showing who made the app. This is the developer.
For well-known apps, the developer name should be immediately recognisable. For example, the developer of WhatsApp should show as WhatsApp LLC. The developer of the BBC app should show as BBC. The developer of a banking app should show as your bank's official name.
Be alert to names that look almost right but are slightly off — for example, "WhatsApp Messenger Plus" or "BBC Player UK" by an unknown developer. These imitations sometimes appear in official stores and are not what they appear to be.
Check 4: The Screenshots and Description
Tap on the app's name to open its full information page. Here you will find:
A description — written text explaining what the app does. Read the first paragraph. Does it clearly explain a single, useful purpose? Does the English read naturally, or does it feel oddly written, full of strange phrases? Poorly written descriptions can be a warning sign.
Screenshots — images showing what the app looks like when you use it. Legitimate, well-made apps will always have several clear, professional-looking screenshots. An app with no screenshots or only vague, blurry images is worth treating with suspicion.
Check 5: The Last Update Date
On the app's information page, look for the date the app was last updated. A legitimate, actively maintained app will have been updated within the last few months. An app that has not been updated in two or three years may be abandoned and could have unresolved security weaknesses.
💡 Pro Tip: When searching for the official app of a company you already do business with — your bank, your energy provider, your doctor's surgery — always find the app's correct name first by visiting that company's official website on your internet browser. Look for a section that says "Download our app" and note the exact name they use. Then search for that exact name in your app store, rather than guessing.
Part 5: Downloading and Installing an App
Once you have assessed the app and are satisfied it is legitimate and trustworthy, downloading it is a simple two-step process.
On an iPhone
- Tap the blue button that says Get — or shows a small cloud icon with a downward arrow inside it, like rain falling from a cloud — next to the app.
- You may be asked to confirm your identity using Face ID (look at the screen), Touch ID (rest your finger on the Home Button), or your Apple ID password. This is Apple's security check — it ensures only you can download apps to your phone.
- The button will change to show a circular progress indicator — a thin ring that fills up like a clock hand moving around a dial — showing the download is in progress.
- When the ring completes, the button will change to say Open. The app is now installed. You will also find its icon has appeared on your Home Screen.
On an Android Phone
- Tap the green button that says Install next to the app.
- You may be asked to confirm your identity using your fingerprint, face recognition, or your Google account password.
- A progress bar — a horizontal stripe that fills from left to right like water filling a glass — will appear beneath the app's name, showing the download in progress.
- When the bar reaches the right side and the button changes to say Open, the app is installed and ready to use.
💡 Pro Tip: Downloaded apps do not always arrange themselves neatly. After installing a new app, if you cannot find its icon on your Home Screen, try swiping downward from the top of your Home Screen on an iPhone — this opens a search bar where you can type the app name. On Android, swipe upward from the bottom of the Home Screen to see your full list of all installed apps.
Part 6: Understanding App Permissions
When you open a newly downloaded app for the first time, it will almost certainly ask for various permissions — access to parts of your phone such as your camera, microphone, contacts, or location. These requests appear as pop-up boxes with Allow and Don't Allow buttons.
Think of these requests like a new tradesperson arriving at your home. A plumber legitimately needs access to your bathroom. But you would find it very strange if they also asked for access to your bedroom, your study, and your bank statements. The same logic applies to apps.
Here is a simple guide to which permissions make sense for which types of apps.
| Type of App | Reasonable Permissions | Suspicious Permissions |
|---|---|---|
| Video calling app | Camera, Microphone | Contacts* only if you agree |
| Navigation / Maps app | Location | Camera, Microphone, Contacts |
| Weather app | Location | Camera, Microphone, Contacts |
| Shopping app | None required to browse | Location constantly, Microphone |
| Torch / Flashlight app | None at all | Location, Contacts, Microphone |
| Banking app | Face ID / fingerprint only | Location constantly, Contacts |
| Recipe app | None required | Camera, Microphone, Location |
When any app asks for a permission that does not make obvious sense for its stated purpose, choose Don't Allow without hesitation. You can always grant the permission later from your phone's Settings if you find you need it.
🛡️ Safety Alert: Be especially cautious if any app asks for permission to become your phone's default SMS app or requests access to your Accessibility Settings. These are unusual permissions that give an app deep control over your phone. Legitimate mainstream apps rarely if ever need these. If an app asks for either of these, decline and consider deleting the app entirely.
Part 7: Free Apps Versus Paid Apps
Some apps cost money to download — you will see a price displayed instead of a Get or Install button. Others are free. And some are free to download but ask for payment later, inside the app. This third category deserves special attention.
Free Apps
Marked with the word Free or a Get button with no price shown. You pay nothing to download or use them.
Paid Apps
A price — such as £2.99 or $4.99 — appears instead of a Get button. The money is charged to the payment method linked to your Apple ID or Google account at the moment you tap to download.
Free Apps With "In-App Purchases"
These are free to download but contain the option to pay for additional features, extra content, or a subscription once you are inside the app. You will see the words In-App Purchases written in small text beneath the app's name in the store.
This model is extremely common and is used by many entirely legitimate apps — newspapers, streaming services, and some games all use it. However, it is also the source of considerable confusion and unexpected charges for new users.
🛡️ Safety Alert: Before downloading a free app that shows In-App Purchases, read the description carefully to understand what is free and what costs money. On iPhones, go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > iTunes & App Store Purchases to require your password for every purchase — this prevents accidental charges. On Android, open the Play Store, tap your profile icon in the top right, go to Settings > Authentication, and turn on Require authentication for purchases.
Part 8: Keeping Your Apps Updated
App developers regularly release updates — improved versions of their apps that fix problems, close security weaknesses, and add new features. Keeping your apps updated is one of the simplest and most effective things you can do to keep your phone safe.
Updating Apps on an iPhone
- Open the App Store — the blue square with the white "A" icon.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner of the screen — it looks like a small circle containing either your initials or a photograph of you.
- Scroll down to a section called Available Updates. Here you will see a list of any apps with updates waiting.
- Tap Update next to any individual app, or tap Update All to update everything at once.
You can also set your iPhone to update apps automatically, so you never need to think about it.
- Open Settings — the gray gear wheel icon.
- Tap App Store.
- Find App Updates and make sure its toggle switch is green and slid to the right — meaning automatic updates are switched on.
Updating Apps on an Android Phone
- Open the Google Play Store — the colorful triangle icon.
- Tap your profile icon in the top-right corner — a circle with your initials or photo.
- Tap Manage Apps & Device.
- Tap Updates Available to see what needs updating.
- Tap Update All to install all available updates at once.
To turn on automatic updates on Android:
- Open the Play Store.
- Tap your profile icon, then tap Settings.
- Tap Network Preferences, then Auto-update Apps.
- Select Over Wi-Fi Only — this updates your apps automatically when you are connected to your home Wi-Fi, without using your mobile data allowance.
💡 Pro Tip: Set a reminder on your phone — or simply make it a habit on the first Sunday of each month — to open your app store, check for updates, and install them all at once. Combine it with your monthly privacy settings review for an efficient, thorough phone health check.
Part 9: Deleting Apps You No Longer Need
Removing unused apps keeps your phone tidy, frees up storage space, and reduces the number of programmes running quietly in the background. Think of it as a periodic clear-out of the kitchen cupboards — removing things that are past their usefulness makes everything easier to find and manage.
Deleting an App on an iPhone
- Find the app icon you wish to delete on your Home Screen.
- Press and hold your finger on the icon for two seconds. A small menu will appear.
- Tap Remove App from the menu.
- A second confirmation message will appear asking whether you want to Delete App. Tap Delete App to confirm.
- The icon will disappear from your screen immediately.
Deleting an App on an Android Phone
- Find the app icon on your Home Screen or in your app drawer — the full list of apps accessed by swiping upward.
- Press and hold your finger on the icon for two seconds. The icon will lift slightly and a small menu may appear, or you will see a Trash can icon — a cylinder with a hinged lid, the universal symbol for a bin — appear at the top of the screen.
- Either tap Uninstall from the menu, or drag the icon upward toward the bin icon at the top of the screen and release it there.
- Confirm by tapping OK or Uninstall in the box that appears.
💡 Pro Tip: Deleting an app does not delete your account with that service, nor does it cancel any subscriptions you may have signed up for. If you have been paying for a subscription through an app — a newspaper, a streaming service, a fitness programme — you must cancel the subscription separately before deleting the app, otherwise you will continue to be charged. Cancel subscriptions through your App Store or Play Store account settings, not through the app itself.
How to Stay Safe When Downloading Apps
Only ever download from the official store. On iPhone, that is the App Store. On Android, that is the Google Play Store. These are the only two sources you should ever use. No exceptions.
Ignore pop-up messages telling you to download something. If a website, advertisement, or pop-up message insists that your phone needs a new app, a security update, or a virus scanner — close it immediately. Real security updates come from Apple or Google through your phone's Settings, never through a website.
Research unfamiliar apps before downloading. If a friend, a family member, or an advertisement recommends an app you have not heard of, spend five minutes searching for it by name on a search engine first. Look for reviews from reputable sources — technology sections of major newspapers, or well-known technology websites. If nothing trustworthy comes up, do not download it.
Check your bank statement periodically for unexpected charges. If you notice a small, unfamiliar charge from Apple or Google, it may be a subscription from an app you downloaded and forgot about. Contact your bank immediately if you see any charge you cannot account for.
If something feels wrong, trust that feeling. If an app asks for unusual permissions, if it behaves strangely after downloading, if it shows excessive advertisements, or if it asks for personal information that seems unnecessary — delete it without hesitation. Your instincts are a valuable tool.
🛡️ Safety Alert: There is a specific scam worth knowing about called a "fleeceware" app. These are apps — often simple things like wallpaper changers, QR code scanners, or horoscope readers — that offer a free trial and then charge very large subscription fees (sometimes £30 or more per week) if you do not cancel before the trial ends. Always read the subscription terms carefully before beginning any free trial, and set a reminder in your calendar for one day before the trial ends so you have time to cancel if you do not wish to continue.
A Quick Reference Card
| I Want To... | What To Do |
|---|---|
| Find the official app store | Look for the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android) icon |
| Search for an app | Tap the magnifying glass icon and type the app name |
| Check if an app is trustworthy | Check star rating, number of reviews, and developer name |
| Download a free app | Tap Get (iPhone) or Install (Android) |
| Deny an unnecessary permission | Tap Don't Allow when the app requests it |
| Update all my apps | Open the app store, tap your profile icon, tap Update All |
| Delete an app | Press and hold the icon for 2 seconds, tap Remove or Uninstall |
| Turn on automatic updates | Settings > App Store (iPhone) or Play Store > Settings (Android) |
| Stop accidental purchases | Settings > Screen Time (iPhone) or Play Store > Settings > Authentication (Android) |
You Are in Control
Your phone's app store is genuinely one of the safest places to find and install new software — provided you use it thoughtfully and stick to the simple checks described in this guide. The vast majority of apps available are exactly what they claim to be: useful, well-made tools created by honest developers.
Take your time. Read before you tap. Trust your instincts when something does not feel right. And remember that deleting an app you are unhappy with is always quick, free, and completely reversible if you change your mind.
If you are ever uncertain about a specific app, the kindest thing you can do for yourself is to pause, close the store, and ask a trusted family member or friend to take a look with you. There is absolutely no urgency that cannot wait for a second opinion.