To download an app on an iPhone, open the App Store, find the app with the Search tab, and tap Get (for a free app) or the price (for a paid one). Then double-click the side button and look at the iPhone to confirm with Face ID, or use Touch ID or your Apple Account password on older models. The app appears on your Home Screen when it finishes installing.
You need an Apple Account signed in to the App Store and an internet connection. Free apps don’t charge you, but your account may still ask for a payment method or password the first time.
How to download an app from the App Store
- Open the App Store app (the blue icon with a white “A”).
- Tap Search, then type the app’s name. You can also browse the Today, Games, Apps and Arcade tabs.
- Tap the app in the results to open its page. Check the developer name, ratings and screenshots so you get the right app rather than a look-alike.
- Tap Get or the price.
- Confirm the download. On an iPhone with Face ID, double-click the side button and glance at the screen. On an iPhone with a Home button, rest your finger on Touch ID. Enter your Apple Account password if asked.
- Wait for the progress circle to fill. When the button changes to Open, the app is installed.
If you see Open or a cloud icon instead of Get, you already own the app. Tap the cloud to download it again at no charge.
Free apps, paid apps and in-app purchases
An app with a Get button is free to download. Many free apps sell subscriptions or extras inside the app; the App Store page lists these as In-App Purchases near the Get button. A price button means you pay once to download. Any charge goes to the payment method on your Apple Account.
If a free trial or subscription starts inside an app, you can review or cancel it later. Here’s how to find and cancel subscriptions on iPhone.
How to download an app you had before
Anything you’ve downloaded with your Apple Account can be downloaded again for free, even on a new iPhone.
- Open the App Store.
- Tap your photo or the account button at the top of the screen.
- Tap Apps & Purchase History (on some versions, Purchased), then Your Apps if shown.
- Tap Not on this iPhone.
- Tap the download button next to the app.
For more ways to bring back deleted apps and their data, see our guide to restoring apps on iPhone.
Where did the downloaded app go?
New apps land on the next open spot on your Home Screen, or only in the App Library if your iPhone is set that way. To find one fast:
- Swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen and type the app’s name in Search.
- Swipe left past your last Home Screen page to open the App Library, then search or look in its category folder.
To make new apps show up on the Home Screen, go to Settings > Home Screen & App Library and choose Add to Home Screen. Once it’s there, you can move the app where you want it or group apps into a folder.
Why can’t I download apps on my iPhone?
Work through these checks in order:
- Check your connection. Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular. Large apps may ask for approval before downloading over cellular data.
- Check storage. Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage. If it’s nearly full, delete or offload apps you don’t use. Our guide to removing apps from Settings shows how.
- Tap a stuck download. Tap the app icon on the Home Screen to pause it, then tap again to resume.
- Check your payment method. An expired card or unpaid balance can block even free downloads. Update it in Settings > your name > Payment & Shipping.
- Restart the iPhone and install any waiting update in Settings > General > Software Update. Some apps need a newer version of iOS than your iPhone has.
The App Store or Get button is missing
Screen Time restrictions can block app installs, which is common on a child’s iPhone. Apple’s App Store download guide says to allow Installing Apps in Content & Privacy Restrictions:
- Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. Enter the Screen Time passcode if asked.
- Tap the App Store purchases section (called iTunes & App Store Purchases or App Store, Media, Web & Games, depending on your iOS version).
- Tap Installing Apps and choose Allow.
On a child’s iPhone with Ask to Buy turned on, each download sends a request to the parent, who approves it on their own device.
Common questions
Do I need a credit card to download free apps?
Not always. You can create an Apple Account without a payment method, but the App Store may ask you to review your payment information, and you can choose None where that option is offered.
Can I download apps without the App Store?
In most countries, no. Apple allows other app marketplaces only in some regions, such as the European Union, and those come with their own setup steps.
How do I update my apps?
Apps update automatically by default. To update by hand, open the App Store, tap your photo, and pull down to refresh the list of pending updates, then tap Update or Update All.
Matthew Roberts is the founder and editor of ARS Digitech. He started the site to answer the iPhone questions his friends and family kept asking him, and it has grown into a library of iPhone and iOS how-to guides. Matthew writes and maintains every tutorial on the site, checking steps and menu names against Apple’s official support documentation and updating guides when an iOS release moves a setting.