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How do I download a new application to my Apple iPhone?

I've been hearing a lot of buzz about the new Skype for the iPhone 3G, but am a bit lost about how to download specific applications onto my phone. Can you show me all the steps?


Dave's Answer:

There are two ways you can download an iPhone app onto your iPhone, the easier of which is probably to just grab it directly from your iPhone. If you prefer, however, you can launch iTunes on your computer, pop over to the Application Store, find it and download the app (Skype in this case) and copy it onto the phone next time you sync.

Let's make things straightforward, though, by documenting how you can find and download an application directly onto your iPhone without using iTunes or any computer at all, actually.

First step is to find the "App Store" icon on your phone:

apple iphone download app 01

Tap it once and you'll see that there are a lot of ways you can navigate through the store and the many thousands of applications available. This is the "Featured" section shown here:

apple iphone download app 02

Along the bottom, tap on "Search" and start typing in the app name you desire. As you go, it'll show you whatever matches it can find. Here I am typing in "Skype":

apple iphone download app 03

Tap "Search" on the lower right and you'll see all the matches shown along with their user ratings and prices:

apple iphone download app 04

It's the last of these that we want, so I'll just tap on "Skype" and get quite a bit more information on the iPhone app:

apple iphone download app 06

That's what we want! To download it, tap on "Free" (if it's an app with a price, you'd see the price here, it's still a button, though).

The "Free" button promptly changes to an "INSTALL" button, as you can see:

apple iphone download app 07

No huge surprise, tap on "INSTALL" and you'll be prompted for your iTunes Store password:

apple iphone download app 08

Once you've entered the password and tap "OK" you'll -- rather confusingly -- leave the App Store and find a new icon on your Apple iPhone desktop screen with an empty download progress bar:

apple iphone download app 09

Wait a few seconds and it'll start filling in. Eventually it replaces the name "Loading..." with the actual application:

apple iphone download app 11

Now you have a new Skype application for your iPhone too.

Doable? I think so!


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Categorized: iPhone and Cell Phone Help   (Article 8824, Written by )
Tagged: apple iphone 3g, downloading iphone apps, iphone app store
Previous: How can I bulk rename Apple iPhone screen captures?
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Reader Comments To Date: 2

Dog Chic said, on April 5, 2009 5:40 PM:

Very nice. My boyfriend just bought me an iPhone and I love it, but was wondering how to add different programs to it.

S Mani said, on May 8, 2010 2:13 AM:

Hi. While Ive downloaded many apps thru the itunes onto the iphone by syncing it, suddenly the Apps Icon is disabled and some apps downloaded on my itunes arent coming into the iphone. Have you addressed such a problem? Solution?
It would be great if you cold provide me with one.

S Mani

Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you, Dave, for all your helpful information by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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