Install or update apps

Get apps

You can download more apps, in addition to the apps preloaded on your phone.

If the app will contain important information (like banking apps), you can install it directly into your secure folder. Otherwise, just put it with your other apps.

Get apps from Google Play Store

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Browse by category or search.

  3. Tap an item to see a description, read reviews, and download it.

TipTo prevent accidental or unwanted purchases, tap your profile icon > Settings. To learn more, read Google's help.

Restore Play Store apps

If you uninstalled an app you got from Play Store, you can reinstall it anytime. Have apps you use infrequently, such as a flight tracker? Delete them and easily reinstall when needed.

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Tap your profile icon > Manage apps & device > Manage.
  3. Tap This device and change to Not installed.
  4. Check the box for each app to re-install, then tap .
  5. If you have multiple Google accounts, tap your profile icon and next to your account tap down arrow. Select the other account and repeat the process to restore apps downloaded in that account.

Get apps from other sources

Before downloading, do some research: check the app's rating and read lots of comments.

To download apps:

  1. Open the Chrome app and go to the appropriate site to download the app.

    If you see a warning, tap OK to continue.

    You'll see in the status bar when the download completes.

  2. Tap the download notification to install the app. Or, open the Files app to install it later.
  3. When installing the app, be sure to review what information the app will access. If you don’t want the app to access this information, cancel the installation. For example, if you're installing an app that makes a shopping list, the app should not require access to your contacts.

Stop adding icons automatically

If you don’t want the app’s icon added to your home screen when you install an app:

  1. Touch & hold a blank space on your home screen.
  2. Tap Home settings > Home screen style > App tray > settings icon.
  3. Turn Add app icons to Home screen off .

Update apps

Updating your apps gives you the latest features and improves security and stability. For best performance, apps are set to update automatically.

If an app changes the information it wants to access on your phone, you'll get a notification to update the app manually and will be required to review and accept the new permissions.

Update Play Store apps manually

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Tap your profile icon > Manage apps & device.

  3. Under Updates available:

    • Tap Update all.

    • Or, to update a specific app, tap See details, then tap Update by its name.

      To read the summary of what changed, tap the app name before you update it.

Update Play Store apps automatically

To control when your apps are automatically updated:

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Tap your profile icon > Settings.
  3. Tap Network preferences > Auto-update apps.

  4. Choose whether apps should:

    • Auto-update over any network
    • Auto-update only over Wi-Fi - save data charges on your cellular plan

If you can't update apps

If you see apps waiting to update or stuck in “Pending” status:

  1. Check your settings related to downloading apps:

    1. Open the Play Store app .
    2. Tap your profile icon > Settings > Network preferences > App download preference.
    3. Set your account to download over any network (especially if stuck on Wi-Fi only mode). This allows your phone to download over your mobile data connection (SIM), in addition to Wi-Fi, so depending on your mobile data plan, you may incur charges.

  2. Update the Chrome app before updating other apps:

    1. On the “Pending downloads” screen, cancel all downloads.
    2. Swipe to Chrome and tap Update.

    3. After Chrome has updated, tap Update all.

      Apps should now update normally.

Turn off Play Store auto-updates

For best security and performance, keep apps set to update automatically.

Stop a specific app from updating automatically

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Tap your profile icon > Manage apps & device.
  3. Tap Manage, then tap the app's name.
  4. Tap more options icon and turn off Enable auto update.

Stop all apps from updating automatically

  1. Open the Play Store app .
  2. Tap your profile icon > Settings.
  3. Tap Network preferences > Auto-update apps > Don't auto-update apps.