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How to Install Apps in Windows 8.1

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Windows has always boasted an impressive assortment of third-party programs that enhance its functionality. However, until recently there wasn’t a single way for users to get applications. Some applications came installed with PCs, while web browsers and other utilities had to be downloaded from individual sites. Finally, with Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 the process is much easier. Here’s how to install apps in Windows 8.1.

Before you begin, it’s important to understand what version of Windows 8.1 you have. While Windows 8.1 and Windows RT look identical, Windows RT is somewhat different, in that it requires users to install apps from the new Windows Store. While Windows 8.1 users can still install applications to their PCs, devices running Windows RT, like Microsoft’s Surface RT and Surface 2, cannot.

Read: 26 Awesome Features in the Windows 8.1 Preview

Either way, Windows RT and Windows 8.1 users can install apps from the Windows Store, it’s just important to know the difference. This tutorial is solely meant for those installing applications from the Windows Store. The process of installing applications to Windows 8’s desktop – like Office or Firefox – remains the same.

Go to the Start Screen.

Open the Windows Store by clicking on the shopping bag Live Tile with the Windows logo. In our example, it’s the bright green icon labeled Store.

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Inside the Windows Store you can scroll from left to right and browse the showcased apps.

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If you’re looking for a particular app, click on the search bar and type in a term related to the kind of app you’re looking for, or the name of the app you’re looking for. Hit enter or click the magnifying glass.

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You can also swipe from the top to the bottom of the screen on a touchscreen PC, or right click anywhere to see list of all of the Windows Stores app categories. You can also browse the a list of apps you’ve all ready purchased.

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Once you’ve found an app that interests you, click the Install button in the top left corner of the Windows Store. If the app isn’t free you’ll see two more options.

Purchase will allow you to download the application after its cost has been billed to the credit card attached to your Microsoft Account.

Free Trial will allow you to download the application and use some of its functionality for a limited time. Applications aren’t all required to offer free trials, so it’s entirely normal to not see that button on most of the apps you encounter.

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Windows will let you know when the application is installed with a large rectangle on the right of your screen. Click or tap it to go to that application.

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You can open that application anytime, by returning to the Start Screen, and clicking or tapping the arrow on the bottom left of your screen to pull up a full list of apps installed on your device.

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It’s important to remember, that Windows 8.1 syncs installed applications to every computer that you use your Microsoft Account to set up. This means, that you don’t ever have to worry about purchasing apps more than once.

Windows 8.1 will begin going out to Windows 8 users as a free update beginning October 18th. Users who would like to upgrade to Windows 8.1 from older versions of Windows will be able to purchase from Microsoft’s website or a retail location on that date too.

 

 

8 Comments

8 Comments

  1. shelie11

    10/05/2013 at 5:12 pm

    before I saw the bank draft which said $9556, I did not believe …that…my mom in-law was like they say actualy erning money in their spare time on their apple labtop.. there aunts neighbour has been doing this for only about thirteen months and resantly cleard the loans on there condo and purchased themselves a Smart ForTwo. official site……… https://dyi.li/3ed

  2. John Matthew

    10/06/2013 at 1:45 pm

    It looks awesome to me. Microsoft has pretty changed little things in MSFT store for Windows 8.1 users. It is good to see that MSFT is finally taking a shot again on desktop environment in Windows than completely shifting to touch computers.

  3. Nicole

    10/25/2013 at 6:45 am

    Have gone to Store and selected a couple of apps. They are now ‘stuck’ with ‘pending’ next to them. in the upper right hand corner there’s a message that they are ‘installing’ but it’s been hours since the apps were selected. Any idea how to get the installation finished?

  4. Travis Pope

    01/23/2014 at 8:44 am

    Restarting the PC should fix your problem.

  5. Matt Lye

    07/10/2015 at 9:42 am

    how do I get windows to download a program from a third party? It blocks me everytime.

    • Travis Pope

      07/10/2015 at 11:08 am

      Are you using Windows 8.1 or Windows RT? Is your device a Surface or Surface 2? Windows RT, which those devices run, doesn’t allow users to install Desktop apps. If it’s regular Windows than that means something or someone with administrator rights is blocking you.

      • Matt Lye

        07/10/2015 at 11:15 am

        Its my desktop and I have admin rights. how do I check whats blocking it and change it?
        8.1 is new to me and I am having trouble figuring it out.

  6. Hope

    12/29/2015 at 5:24 am

    I’m using a Microsoft 430,windows 8.1 mobile phone and whenever I try to download an app from store,it tells me that it’s downloading then few seconds later it’s stuck saying app needs attention or pending then try again but with no change.how do I fix that?

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