The Windows Store is an online location where you can find and install Windows 10 apps. When you find an app you like, you must install it on your computer before you can start using it. This chapter explores how to access the Windows Store, how to navigate it, how to install apps, how to look for and install app updates, and how to remove apps.
The Windows Store (shown in Figure 22.1) is a new feature of Windows 8 and Windows 10. It provides an online area where you can download Windows 10 apps for your computer, tablet, or Windows phone. Windows 10 apps are typically single-functioning applications (for example, reading and responding to Twitter feeds) designed for the Windows 10 interface and must adhere to strict application development guidelines before they're approved for the Windows Store. Users can browse the Windows Store for apps.
The Windows 10 interface leverages the touch-based interaction features from Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. But Windows 10 is not only about touch; it's also about simplification and putting applications within easy reach. The Windows Store makes acquiring apps easy and quick. The Windows Store is available online and requires that your computer meet the following requirements:
To use the Windows Store, show the Start menu and click the Store app. You also can click the Store app on the Windows taskbar (shown in Figure 22.2). The Windows Store page appears (refer to Figure 22.1).
Using the Windows Store is pretty straightforward. When you enter the site, the Spotlight area highlights some of the most popular apps. To see the apps and your account, click the account button on the top right of the screen (next to the Search box). The Store menu drops down giving you access to your apps, app categories, and your account. The Store menu is shown in Figure 22.3.
To learn more about an app, click its tile. A page appears that includes information about the app, such as cost (many apps are free), ratings, description, and features.
Figure 22.4 shows an example of the app page for a free calculator.
To learn what other users have to say about the app, scroll to the Ratings and Reviews area (see Figure 22.5). This shows any reviews that have been added for the app. After you download an app, you can add a review as well by clicking a star under the Rate and Review This App heading and then filling out the Write a Review section of the resulting form.
Navigating the Windows Store is like navigating a full-screen web page. All the information for a page is displayed on a single page so you don't have to scroll down very much. Instead, additional Windows Store pages are accessed by scrolling to the right using one of the following methods:
You can navigate back to the main Windows Store page by using the following methods:
The Windows Store displays apps in categories to help you locate them. Apps are available within the following main categories:
Within each category, individual apps are showcased. Some categories also show an All Stars category for apps that have been rated the highest for a category, a New Releases category for just released apps, and a Top Free category that lists top-rated free apps.
In addition to standard apps, the Windows Store provides access to games, music and movies & TV shows.
The costs of apps vary. Typically, the costs fall into one of three payment structures:
Because the Windows Store is itself a Windows 10 app, you can use the Cortana search tool to locate apps in the Windows Store. To do this, access Cortana. In the Search field, type an app name or a keyword for an app and press Enter. The Windows Store returns a list of apps that meet your search criteria. Figure 22.6, for example, shows a screen with the Search field visible and the Windows Store showing the Calculator Free app selected.
When you find an app you like, you must first install it before you can use it on your computer or tablet. Installing apps is easy. Click an app tile to show the app's description page. Next, click the Install button on the left side of the page. The Windows Store shows a message at the top of the page indicating that your app is installing. Windows then displays a message notifying you that the installation is complete.
After the app has been installed on your computer, the install button is no longer available when you go to the app's page in the Windows Store. Instead, the page shows that the selected app is already installed on your computer, as shown in Figure 22.7.
If you already own an app, but have not installed it on a particular device, Windows Store shows a label that says “You own this product” and provides an Install button.
To start using the app, display the Start screen and click the app's tile.
Periodically, app developers provide an update that enhances an app by adding features or improving performance. If updates are available, the Store tile on the Windows Start screen shows a number corresponding to the number of updates available.
Click that tile to open the Windows Store. At the top right of the Windows Store, click the download arrow. You may also see a number next to the arrow showing you the in-progress or pending downloads and updates. On the Download and Installs page, click Check for Updates. Windows searches for updates and begins downloading the available updates for your installed apps. These updates run in the background. When they're complete, a message indicates that the updates have been installed on your computer.
If you no longer want an app installed on your computer, you can remove it by uninstalling it. To do this, follow these steps:
The Windows Store provides access to many different types of apps, including productivity apps, games, news apps, and more.
Here's a quick summary of the main points presented in this chapter: