Apple's App Store lets you search for, download, and install apps and programs for iOS devices.

An app, short for "application," is a piece of software developed primarily for use on a phone, tablet, or other mobile, wireless device.

If you use an iPhone or iPad, you are using an app every time you check the weather, look at your calendar, watch a Netflix show, or hop on Instagram.

Some apps are native to iPhones, meaning they come pre-installed. These include the Clock app, the Compass, the Camera, Calendar, and the App Store.

Some of these built-in iOS apps, like the Phone, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps, can't be deleted. And the App Store app — you can't delete that one, either.

To those basic (but useful) iPhone apps, you can add any of the nearly 2 million apps awaiting you in the App Store.

Here's how to get iPhone apps.

How do I download in the App Store?

On your iPhone, find and tap the App Store app. It is a blue icon with a prominent stylized "A" in its center.

With the App Store app open, tap "Search" at the bottom right corner of the screen, then type in the app you wish to download. Tap the word "Get" beside the app, then follow the on-screen prompt to allow its download.

Then, the app will download, and you can tap the word "Open" to launch the new app and begin using it. It will also have added itself to your iPhone's screen.

How do I search the App Store?

To search the app store, open the App Store app, tap the word "Search" at the bottom of the screen, and type in the name of the app of interest to you.

If you're just browsing rather than looking for a specific app, you can poke around based on app type by tapping "Games" or "Arcade." Tapping "Apps" will take you to a curated list of popular iPhone apps.

You can also look for app types in the "Search" function. For example, if you type in "language learning," you will be served apps like Duolingo, Babbel, Rosetta Stone, and more.

Is the App Store only for Apple phones?

Apple's App Store apps aren't exclusive to Apple iPhones, but they are exclusive to Apple mobile iOS devices. You can download and use App Store apps on iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touch. (The iPod Touch was discontinued as of 2022, but it is still supported at the time of this writing.)

What's the Apple App Store called?

The Apple App store is called the App Store. When first unveiled in the summer of 2008, the App Store was called the iPhone App Store. Today, it's simply called the App Store, which is, of course, different than the Apple Store, the company's brick-and-mortar retail locations.

What is the difference between the Apple Store and the App Store?

The App Store is the app on your phone or tablet to download apps; the Apple Store, on the other hand, is where you buy an iPhone, iPad, MacBook, and other Apple products.

The Apple Store refers to hundreds of physical locations worldwide and on Apple's website.

What are the differences between Google Play and App Store?

In most appreciable ways, Google Play and the App Store are comparable. Google Play is the vehicle by which Android mobile device users download apps, whereas the App Store is the portal for iOS device users.

The main difference is volume: Google Play offers more apps, but the App Store has a longer and more stringent app review process.

Can I delete and reinstall the Apple Store app?

You cannot delete the App Store app; it is one of the few native and permanent iOS apps. You can hide the App Store app and other such permanent apps if you wish.

To do so, tap and hold on the App Store icon, then tap "Remove App" in red letters at the bottom of the popup window. Next, tap "Remove from Home Screen." This will hide the App Store app, but it can be retrieved via search or the "Settings" app at any time.

What happens if you delete Apple apps?

A deleted app can always be redownloaded and reinstalled, and in cases where you had a subscription (paid or not), you may well be able to pick up where you left off with no loss of data or functionality.

However, in many cases, deleting an Apple app can delete all associated data, meaning you would be at square one if you reinstalled it. Deleting apps can also have other impacts, both positive and negative.

For example, deleting apps may free up space and let you store more photos or enjoy faster processing speed, but deleting an app from your phone means it's no longer usable anywhere. For example, removing a music app from your phone can also delete it from an Apple Watch you always used for tunes at the gym.