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How to Install Apps & Games in Windows 10

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A large part of the reason you’ll want Microsoft’s Windows 10 operating system is its new app store and platform.

Technology reporters and analysts like to say that each new generation of PCs is inspired by some new activity that users want to do. For Windows 7, users wanted a PC that was as fast as possible but offered modern amenities. Windows 8 buyers wanted a device that embraced modern activities like quickly browsing the internet and using touch instead of a mouse and keyboard. Others would argue that Microsoft’s new Windows 10 operating system is a perfect example of what’s wrong with that theory.

Windows 10 does very little that’s entirely new to computing. Instead, it’s mostly about using apps and services to give users better, more intuitive ways to do the things they were already doing before. To get the best out of Windows 10 you’ll need to install apps for your favorite services. To take advantage of Xbox Live integration you’ll need to get some games.

Here’s how to install apps and games in Windows 10.

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Read: What is Windows 10?

Installing Apps

Microsoft’s Windows 8 operating system got some things wrong. One of the things it got right was the Windows Store. The iPhone and just about every other device has a centralized place where users can go to find safe apps that let’ll them do just about anything they want.

Microsoft didn’t abandon this idea for Windows 10. The Windows Store is back and it’s better than it was before. For starters, the apps that you download can run on a tablet or a desktop, notebook, 2-in-1 or smartphone. Second, Microsoft has added programs to the Windows Store directly, meaning you no longer have to download things similar to iTunes and the full version of Microsoft Office from a web browser.

Please note that to download anything from the Windows Store you need a Microsoft Account assigned to your Windows 10 device. These can end with the suffix, @live.com, @hotmail.com and @outlook.com. If you are upgrading a Windows 8 PC, have an Outlook Mail account, use Skype or own an Xbox One, chances are you already have a Microsoft Account.

Using a mouse and keyboard? Click on the Windows button in the bottom-left corner of your screen. If you’re using a device with touch, press the physical Windows button on your device or tap on the Windows button in the taskbar in the bottom-left.

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Look for the Windows Store Live Tile. In our example it’s the shopping bag icon we’ve highlighted. Tap or click on it.

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Welcome to the Windows Store. From here you can purchase apps, games, music and movies. We’re focusing on apps right now so tap or click on the Apps section if you’re just browsing. If you are looking for a specific app tap on the search bar in the top-right corner to search the Windows Store for that app. For this example, we’re installing Flipboard.

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Once you’ve found your app, tap or click on the Install button below its description. The color of the button changes depending on your theme, so don’t worry if yours doesn’t match what is shown here. On each app page, take note of the app’s reviews and pricing to decide whether it’s worth downloading. The bottom of each store page gives you a breakdown of what platforms the app works on and what languages it supports.

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Wait for the app to install and then click or tap on Open.

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With Tablet Mode turned off your app will work just like any other app in a window. When Tablet Mode is on it’ll take over the entire screen.

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When you install new apps, they’ll automatically appear on your Start Menu or Start Screen. You can right-click on them to pin them to your Start Menu or Start Screen. If you have a touch device, you’ll need to tap and hold to get the pinning options.

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Installing Games

Installing games on Windows 10 from the Windows 10 works exactly the same, but there’s some other things you should pay attention to when making your selections.

First, note that any app with an Xbox Logo on it offers Xbox Live achievements. These achievements are synced to your Xbox Live profile.

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On each games page note the games rating, and whether it has in-app purchases. You also want to look out for the game’s rating. Microsoft now requires that game developers submit a rating before their title goes into the Windows Store. This allows you to determine if the game is appropriate for you and your family.

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Go the bottom of the game’s page to note how big it is, who it’s appropriate for and which devices it’ll run on. Unfortunately, Microsoft doesn’t have an indicator for whether a game specifically supports its Xbox One controller or not.

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What You Need to Know About the Windows Store and More

Many Windows 10 games and apps are completely free. Others will cost you money through outright purchase or through in-app purchases. Often, your data will sync between these apps. Any app or game that you purchase can be installed on up to 10 PCs with your Microsoft Account attached.

Good luck with Windows 10.

14 Comments

14 Comments

  1. ian

    09/15/2015 at 11:16 am

    i need to know how do i save a new app in an other drive. it has been set to c drive only. can you please help.

  2. Peter Waller

    11/04/2015 at 1:14 am

    All the above is pretty obvious but what do you do if it doesn’t work. I unable install anything so far.

  3. O J Hickox

    11/10/2015 at 8:43 am

    When we installed Windows 10 – all my game apps disappeared! Help – how do I get them back with our reading 6 pages of rules and regulations. I had had the same games for years!! HELP

  4. Oni

    11/18/2015 at 5:32 am

    My apps take so long to install. There are two which have been trying to install for two days. Also every time I go to the window store there are always a multitude of updates. Help

  5. pauline

    12/27/2015 at 12:35 pm

    have a hallmark card maker disc so am not purchasing from store. How do I get it to download?

  6. Kevin

    12/29/2015 at 8:43 am

    When i try to install a game it saids that its completed but when i try to click on the game to play it. it goes automatically to the store and then it saids that i have to install it again

  7. ravi

    01/23/2016 at 10:46 pm

    i cant see any install button…what does that mean???

  8. kc

    02/15/2016 at 3:09 pm

    when I put my cd in to install my game nothing happened

  9. Leah

    02/24/2016 at 9:25 am

    Looks like with Windows 10 you use their software, their games, their apps, or nothing. I want to install Works, which I have already. They seem to have blocked the install from a CD entirely. Sweet. And I have to provide my email and NAME (for their future use and sharing) to even comment here. Greed. Can’t get enough pieces of us, MS?

  10. jeanette

    03/24/2016 at 7:43 pm

    I have a cambio windows 10 and I want some apps from play store. Can I NOT do this?

  11. rajkumar

    03/29/2017 at 1:24 am

    Not response to game download contact help

  12. sandeep

    05/07/2017 at 6:24 pm

    how to install call of duty like games ….and other apps….. i cannot find a suitable installer.

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    09/16/2018 at 3:19 pm

    Right away I am going away to do my breakfast, afterward having
    my breakfast coming over again to read additional
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  14. fun games

    07/23/2019 at 7:44 pm

    This was among the best posts from your team it let me learn many new things.

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