The fastest way to get apps on your Samsung
Most Samsung phones come with the Google Play Store already installed, and that is where you download almost every app you will use. Open the Play Store app (it has a white triangle on a colorful background), search for the app you want, tap the button that says "Install", and wait for it to finish. Once it is done, the button changes to "Open" — tap that to start using the app right away.
Some older Samsung models or phones sold in certain countries may have the Samsung Galaxy Store instead of or alongside Google Play. The process is identical: find the app, tap the install button, and wait. Both stores are free to use, and most apps are free to download, though some charge a one-time fee or a monthly subscription.
If you cannot find an app in either store, or if you want to move apps between phones, there are other ways to get them. But the Play Store is the safest and simplest route for almost everyone.
Key Takeaways
- Open Google Play Store, search for the app by name, and tap "Install" to download it to your phone.
- You need a Google account to use the Play Store, and you should use the same account on all your devices so your apps stay in sync.
- Apps download in the background, so you can use your phone while they install — the notification bar at the top shows progress.
- If an app will not install, check that you have enough storage space and that your phone's date and time are set correctly.
- Never download apps from websites or links in text messages unless you trust the source completely — the Play Store is safer because Google checks apps before they appear.
Finding and installing apps from Google Play Store
Tap the Play Store icon on your home screen or in your app drawer. If you do not see it, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to open the app drawer, then look for the colorful triangle icon. When the store opens, you will see a search icon at the top (it looks like a magnifying glass) — tap it and type the name of the app you want.
As you type, the store shows suggestions. Tap the one you want, or finish typing and tap the search button. The app's page opens and shows a description, screenshots, reviews from other users, and the size of the download. Tap the button that says "Install" (or the price if the app costs money). Your phone may ask you to confirm that you want to install it — tap "Install" again if it does.
The download starts right away. You will see a progress bar on the app's page, and a notification at the top of your screen shows how much has downloaded. You can close the Play Store and use your phone normally while the app installs in the background. When it finishes, the "Install" button changes to "Open" — tap that to start the app, or just find it in your app drawer later.
Setting up your Google account for the Play Store
The first time you try to install an app, your phone asks you to sign in with a Google account. If you do not have one, you can create one for free at accounts.google.com on any computer or phone. You need a valid email address (you can use Gmail, or an email from another provider) and a password you create yourself.
Once you have an account, go to Settings on your Samsung phone, scroll down to "Accounts and backup", tap "Accounts", then tap "Add account". Choose "Google", enter your email and password, and follow the prompts. Your phone may ask permission to sync your contacts, calendar, and other information — you can turn any of these off if you do not want them synced.
Using the same Google account on all your devices means your apps, purchases, and settings stay in sync. If you buy an app on your phone, you can install it on a tablet or another phone with the same account without paying again. If you want to use a different account on a different device, you can add multiple accounts to your phone in the same Accounts menu.
When an app will not install
If you tap "Install" and nothing happens, or if you see an error message, the most common reasons are not enough storage space, an incorrect date or time, or a problem with your internet connection. Check your storage first: go to Settings, tap "Storage", and look at how much space is free. If you have less than 1 gigabyte free, delete some photos, videos, or old apps you do not use anymore, then try installing again.
Next, check your date and time. Go to Settings, tap "General management", then "Date and time". Make sure "Automatic date and time" is turned on. If it is already on, turn it off and back on again. This sounds odd, but it fixes many installation problems because the Play Store checks that your phone's time matches the real time.
If you still cannot install, restart your phone by holding the power button until a menu appears, then tap "Restart". Wait for it to turn back on, then try installing the app again. If the app still will not install after all this, the problem may be with the app itself — check the reviews on the Play Store to see if other people are having the same issue, or try a different app that does the same thing.
Installing apps from the Samsung Galaxy Store
Some Samsung phones have the Galaxy Store in addition to Google Play. It looks like a shopping bag with a blue background. The process is exactly the same: open the store, search for the app, tap "Install", and wait. Most apps are available in both stores, so you usually do not need to use Galaxy Store unless you cannot find an app in Play Store.
Galaxy Store sometimes has exclusive apps or early versions of apps that are not yet in Play Store. If you are looking for a Samsung-specific feature or an app made by Samsung, Galaxy Store is a good place to check. You sign in with your Samsung account rather than your Google account, though many people have both.
Downloading apps without the Play Store
If you want to install an app that is not in the Play Store, or if you want to move an app from one phone to another, you can download the app file (called an APK) from other sources. This is riskier than using the Play Store because Google does not check these apps for security problems. Only download APK files from sources you trust completely — the official website of the app maker, or a well-known tech website you have used before.
To install an APK file you downloaded, go to Settings, tap "Apps", then tap the three dots in the top right corner and choose "Special access". Tap "Install unknown apps", find the app or browser you used to download the file, and turn it on. Then open your file manager, find the APK file you downloaded, tap it, and follow the prompts to install it. When you are done, go back to Settings and turn off "Install unknown apps" for that app.
A safer alternative is to use your Google account to back up your apps. If you get a new Samsung phone, sign in with the same Google account, and the Play Store automatically installs all the apps you had on your old phone. You do not have to download them one by one.
Keeping your apps up to date
Apps get updates regularly to fix problems, add new features, and patch security issues. By default, Google Play automatically updates your apps when you are connected to WiFi and your phone is plugged in. You can check for updates manually by opening Play Store, tapping your profile icon in the top right corner, and choosing "Manage apps and device". Tap the "Updates available" tab to see which apps have new versions, and tap "Update all" to install them all at once.
You can also turn on automatic updates over mobile data if you want apps to update even when you are not on WiFi, though this uses more of your data plan. Go to Play Store, tap the three horizontal lines in the top left, tap "Settings", then "Network preferences", and choose "Auto-update apps". Select either "Over WiFi only" or "Over any network".
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Google account to download apps?
Yes, you need a Google account to use the Play Store. Creating one is free and takes a few minutes. You can use any email address, including one from Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or another provider. Without an account, you cannot download or install apps from the Play Store.
What should I do if an app keeps crashing after I install it?
First, try clearing the app's cache: go to Settings, tap "Apps", find the app, tap "Storage", then "Clear cache". If it still crashes, uninstall it and reinstall it from the Play Store. If it crashes again, the app may not work well with your phone's version of Android — check the reviews on the Play Store to see if others are having the same problem, or contact the app maker for help.
Can I install the same app on multiple Samsung phones with one account?
Yes. Sign in to each phone with the same Google account, and you can install any app you have bought or downloaded on all of them. The Play Store keeps track of which apps you own, so you do not pay twice. Your app data (like game progress or saved settings) syncs across devices if the app supports it.
Is it safe to download apps from websites instead of the Play Store?
It is riskier. The Play Store checks apps for malware and security problems before they appear. Apps from other websites are not checked the same way. Only download APK files from the official website of the app maker or from sources you trust completely. When in doubt, use the Play Store instead.
How much storage space do apps take up?
It varies widely. Small apps like a calculator or a note-taking app take a few megabytes. Games and photo editors can take hundreds of megabytes or even a gigabyte or more. The Play Store shows the size of each app before you install it, so you can check how much space it needs. You can also move some apps to an SD card if your phone has one and supports it.