How do I download iPhone apps from the Apple iTunes store?

I just downloaded the latest version of iTunes, all excited about being able to finally get to the Apple Applications Store and grab some new stuff for my iPhone, but when I restart, it's not there?!

Dave's Answer:

You aren't the first person to encounter this problem: I did too. The problem is that you appear to have diverged from the default configuration and so you now need to go into your preferences and tweak it to let you see the app store in iTunes. It's there (well, access to it is there) you just aren't showing it.

When I first started poking around, I figured that it'd just be a new category in the iTunes Store, actually, y'know, like podcasts and audiobooks, but it's not (rather confusingly, if you ask me, since in so many other areas the app store is functionally identical to the music store).

Start up iTunes 7.7 or newer and you're probably seeing something like this:

Where's the app store? To find it, you need to go to your Preferences...

As you can see highlighted, you need to ensure that "Applications" is checked. Do so, click "OK" and now there's a new item on the left side of the iTunes window:

Click on it and you'll get a nice big gray box without anything in it:

The key to getting online and visiting the App Store is to click on "Get More Applications" on the lower right corner. Now we're getting somewhere!

I'll click on "Twitterific" since I've been eager to get a better Twitter client (what? You aren't following me on Twitter? For goodness sake! Follow my main account @DaveTaylor and, if you're a movie fan, also follow @FilmBuzz too!)

For any given application, there's quite a bit of information available, as shown here:

You'll want to click on the small "GET APP" button, at which point if you're not already logged in to the iTunes Store you'll need to log in. I also found that I had to agree to some new terms of service wording and go back to click on "GET APP" a second time to actually download the app. Once you do, you'll see:

Kind of fun if you're used to just seeing sync messages, I'd say!

Once you download it -- and maybe another app or two -- your Applications library will be a bit more visually interesting:

As you can see, while some of the apps are downloaded, others are still just "placeholder" icons as they are sucked out of the App Store. It took roughly one minute per app for me to get them downloaded and I expect that'll be shorter as time goes on since today is the first day of the store and everyone's probably going crazy downloading things.

Now that you have apps on your computer in iTunes, you can use "Get Info" to see more about them:

I'm glad to see how small the applications are, actually. Notice that Twitterific is only 1.2MB, which means I don't need to erase all my music to add a few new apps to my iPhone.

Now that you have the apps you want for your iPhone, the next step is to upgrade the iPhone software itself (see how to upgrade your iPhone firmware to verison 2.0) and restart. Then you'll see an "Applications" tab for your phone in iTunes and you can easily select which apps -- or all applications! -- to copy onto your cellphone.

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Categorized: iPhone and Cell Phone Help (Article 8370, Written by Dave Taylor)
Tagged: app store, apple iphone, apple itunes, application store, download iphone apps
Previous: How do I get an OpenID account?
Next: How do I upgrade my Apple iPhone to firmware 2.0?

Reader Comments To Date: 70

chris said, on July 10, 2008 1:27 PM:

do you have to wait untill tommorow to put them on your i phone/ i touch?

Dave Taylor said, on July 10, 2008 4:44 PM:

As far as I can tell, yes. When you can get the new software for your iPhone, then there's an additional tab that shows up in the iTunes app when you're looking at your phone, an "Applications" tab. We'll see how that shakes out tomorrow! :-)

Jim Scolman said, on July 12, 2008 9:20 PM:

Hi Dave, drag and drop them where, how? I have them in my Applications Folder on my Mac iTunes, drag and drop does not work and they don't install during a sync? What step have I missed? Thanks so much, Jim.

Allison said, on September 11, 2008 4:29 PM:

I cannot install Twitterific on my ipod touch because iTunes says its not available in the US. How are you all downloading Twitterific?

Emily said, on October 21, 2008 3:24 PM:

I've downloaded them and they are in my "applications" section on iTunes, but where do i drag them to actually get them on my iPod touch? Thanks so much,
Emily

Chris Brander said, on November 28, 2008 7:53 PM:

I want to transfer purchased applications from itunes to my iphone but get a warning that all my applications existing on the iphone will be erased. Any suggestions how to keep my applications ?

louise said, on January 11, 2009 10:09 AM:

Hey Dave, I've just got the iphone and I've tried to downloading applications from the apps store on my phone and i put in my password and it begins to download it and then it stops and a message comes up saying 'there is a problem with a previous purchase. Go to your itunes store on your computer and click purchase history to resolve the problem.' And when i do so i can't seem to find my purchase history. Any ideas?

Chris said, on February 25, 2009 11:23 AM:

Emily, unlike music, you can not drag and drop applications onto the iPod Touch device in the far left column... it's weird and stupid.

you have click on the device, go to the applications tab, check the Sync Applications button and then check on the selected applications button...

uriel mascorro said, on March 15, 2009 11:03 AM:

i cant find the aplications that i got yesterday from itunes and when i want to download them again it sais that i already got the existing copies.where can i find my applications?therw not on the applications icon.please help

casey said, on March 16, 2009 3:22 PM:

ok. i did what you said, i have the applications thingy on the itunes window, i bought games, but yet they dont update to my iphone. i dont get why?? any help??

sallie said, on May 3, 2009 9:49 AM:

Just got the phone as a gift and am trying to add apps but I forgot my password. It said it would e-mail but has not HELP

brian said, on May 9, 2009 10:56 PM:

Dave: as always, You did a terrific job: Your instructions are very helpful and clear, please keep up the good job and thanks for Your help! I could not use my phone without Your work on this page! Thanks again.

My opinion is: the whole iTunes/iPhone misery is a horrible useless pile of crap: I can't believe Steve Jobs can sell this unreliable, over-engineered, difficult-to-use concept. Why on Earth, did they make this program so difficult to use? Or it is just me?!

zack said, on May 17, 2009 8:59 AM:

i downloaded the apps from itunes and foudn them in the application tab. my phone is updated it says version im using the the current version but i still dont see an application tab in my iphone. help anyone?

aubree said, on June 9, 2009 12:03 AM:

same problem as zach...

jhen said, on June 11, 2009 11:46 PM:

hi dave!
where can i purchase Application
for my iPod touch v1.1.5
It wan a First gen.of iPod touch

Anonymous said, on August 6, 2009 6:42 PM:

i deleted the actual application window that shows on the actual Iphone. and now for some reason although i have purchased all the applications i want through ITunes on my computer and i see them in the application window in the ITunes library itself. i cant seem to upload them to my phone.

note: i did get the latest updates for my phone

whats the problem? plz help

anonymous said, on August 26, 2009 9:18 AM:

hey dave how do i download music from itunes?

honey said, on October 25, 2009 4:11 PM:

i bought an ipod nano 4th generation and then i buy games from itunes store.
then i noticed that the games i downloaded appeared at the "apllication" section
pls help me, how do i insert those games to my ipod?

Dave Taylor said, on October 26, 2009 10:02 AM:

Honey, you're doing the right thing, your games are in the right place. Now plug in your iPod and in iTunes make sure that you have selected that it should sync apps up. Then it'll automatically copy across the games you can play on the Nano.

John said, on October 29, 2009 3:28 PM:

Hi Dave, i hope you can try and help me solve my problem because i had repeatedly tried but failed
For some reason i am unable to put my apps which i bought from itunes onto my iphone because when i try to synchronise my laptop istore with the iphone it says that the computer is not authorised by the store, yet i had already authorised it.
I had tried to authorise and deathorise it several times but it doesnt not seem to help
Can you please help me to solve my problem?

james heff said, on November 8, 2009 3:06 PM:

dave, i have downloaded two apps onto my new i phone from the apps store, but, every time i press them they open for a split second then close.
any ideas??

James

queeny said, on November 10, 2009 2:03 AM:

hi!! pls help my iphone ive just connected to my computer and restore on itunes, my iphone go nothing after being run all my icon was lost and change. only apple itunes i seen on my iphone screen.

what will do do now? how can i get back my iphone software. its being corrupted.pls help....

eddy said, on December 9, 2009 9:05 AM:

dwonload for free

Ayaz Ahmed said, on December 14, 2009 7:44 PM:

Dave,

My new iphone does not have the App store icon on the phone main menu. How do I fix download the app store on my iphone 3g?

Tamora said, on December 18, 2009 7:01 PM:

hi my partner formatted the computer and now everything is gone i was just wondering with the applications on my iphone how do i put them back on itunes without deleting them...i dont want to downlaod them all again but if i have to i will????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? HELP IS MOST NEEDED

anh said, on January 24, 2010 11:54 AM:

hi Dave. My facebook app was acting up on my iPhone today so I deleted it and tried to reinstall it. But for some reason on the iTunes store it shows that it's already installed even though I've deleted it. Any suggestions as to what I can do? Thanks!

Adrian said, on February 10, 2010 5:44 PM:

I have upgraded from a 3g to a 3gs and can sync only some of my apps that I have purchased as only some of my purchased apps are on iTunes. It seems only the old apps are there?

Ajit said, on February 15, 2010 4:22 AM:

how to transfer applications from itunes to iphone without deleting existing applications as the previous applications were from a different computer and a different itunes account ??

Jennie Smith said, on February 19, 2010 7:10 PM:

I am having trouble downloading apps on my iphone. Before, there was no problem. Then one night I tried to download Dictionary by Hampton Catlin, but it did not download correctly. No icon, no installing time. After this, my phone would not download any apps. Would you help me please. I love apps and this is my first cell phone. Was this app defective and did it ruined my cell phone?

Tracy Aguilar said, on February 20, 2010 10:46 PM:

Me and my husband are having to use the same itunes for both of our iphones. I have looked up different ways of having both on there, like getting your own playlist. I have tried everything that I have read to do but as soon as I try and put music on my iphone it pops up there is someone else on the library, do you want to take there folder. also I try and go into my applications and they arent movable or they wont open. Im not sure if I have the new version. Sorry so many questions.

kay said, on February 27, 2010 1:15 AM:

Hi Dave

I want to purchase an app and send it to a friend as a little gift, is this possible? I know i can download onto my computer, but how would i transfer it, or am i being a little too adventurous?

Kay

Dave Taylor said, on February 27, 2010 1:09 PM:

Kay, you can't buy an app and send it to someone, but you can buy them an iTunes gift certificate and they can buy the app with it. Go to the iTunes Store in iTunes and look for the link "Buy iTunes Gifts" on the top right...

noshabah said, on March 6, 2010 6:52 AM:

ive just bought an iphone and ididnt knw how to download apps thnx every1

James said, on April 17, 2010 8:29 PM:

I downloaded like 5 apps off of iTunes to put on my Iphone. But, when I unplugged my phone from the computer, the games weren't on their!! Idk what 2 do?? Plz help. Thanks!!

Dave Taylor said, on April 22, 2010 9:01 AM:

James, I surmise that it's a setting in iTunes that you haven't tweaked properly. Plug in your phone, go to iTunes, click on your phone on the left side, then look for the "Apps" tab in the main window then confirm that "Automatically Sync" is checked in that window. Hmm.... sounds like I should write a quick Q&A about this... ;-)

Nica said, on May 12, 2010 4:55 AM:

hi dave! got free applications. how can i sync it with my iphone? there is no Application menu on my phone. geez. im going crazy with this hahahaha

rolland c said, on May 14, 2010 8:04 AM:

My issue with searching for apps comes when you try & search from a web browser rather than a mobile device. iPhone for example has a very limited approach because you have to download the iTunes Store (hate that). I have come to the conclusion that if I want to search apps on my laptop, I should use other marketplaces. I found the Facebook, AIM, & more on a site called RawApps.com

fabian said, on May 30, 2010 7:23 PM:

i cannot download apps without deleting apps on my iphone. can you help me resolve this?

Rachel said, on June 13, 2010 2:51 PM:

How do I copy an iphone app that I downloaded in itunes, in my iphone...without synch the music library??????/ help

fred said, on September 21, 2010 10:00 PM:

Help pls, i am trying to download free application, after opening app store on my iphone i type the password then go to the free app, i press install the app shows on the screen 2sec later i get a msg saying before u can make purchases you must tap continue to sign in to itune after i get a meggage from my account showing my card details and asking me to enter my security code which i do not have because i received new card from barclays, i opened itune from my laptop went to my account tried to change the card but still isnt allowing me to put the details of my new card, any idea how to do that please. thx in advance

gautam said, on October 12, 2010 5:03 AM:

i hav got an iphome 4 n i have loaded it with apps but it is not showing on the screen n whaen i plug it with itunes it showes all the apps r in the phone pls help me

dent said, on October 26, 2010 11:01 AM:

hello,i have new iphone 3gs..and i already download itunes to my pc..the problem is,how do i install the game from itunes to my iphone?

emily r said, on December 26, 2010 8:32 PM:

hi dave, i got free aps on my computer and i pressed sync and their not on my ipod touch(8g) when i pulled the cord out of my computer.

rebecca said, on December 29, 2010 10:13 AM:

After doing this, how can you buy apps and songs, or can you?

Dave Taylor said, on December 29, 2010 10:47 AM:

Buying apps is identical to getting free ones: you just tap on the price instead of on the word "free". You will need to set up your Apple account with a credit card for it to process the transactions, however.

Sam said, on January 7, 2011 10:36 AM:

I have been following Dave Taylor for quite a while..You provide such a valuable information on different topics.

Thank You for all your efforts.

Iluyemi adewale said, on January 13, 2011 3:01 PM:

I tried to download free games and application from the apple store through my IPhone but is telling me to create an account pls help me out

Angelica said, on January 14, 2011 7:41 PM:

Hey Dave
I am having trouble getting my apps to download from the app store themselves, both on my IPod touch and Itunes. I try to repurchase them in the app store but it say that it is purchased but not yet downloaded and asks me to do it through Itunes. I have been going in circles and am stuck.

mwvv said, on January 25, 2011 1:44 AM:

I have downloaded some free iPhone Apps from iTune Store into my Mac. Can I preview or run them on my Mac before sync to my iPhone? How? All of them appearing like icons in my Apps folder in my iTune in the Mac.

Dave Taylor said, on January 25, 2011 8:39 AM:

Unfortunately, mwvv, you can't run iPhone apps on your Mac or PC. There is a Mac App Store now, however, if you're running Snow Leopard on your computer, and it's pretty cool. Here's an article on how to get the Mac App Store on your computer, if you don't already have it:

http://www.askdavetaylor.com/how_to_download_install_apple_mac_app_store.html

Lauren M said, on February 21, 2011 6:29 AM:

I recently bought a new laptop because my previous one broke. I have managed to get all on my pictures & music off of my iPhone on to my new laptop but I dont want to sync it because im afraid it will wipe my apps & their data! Im not worried about it deleting my free apps; But is their any way to re-download my paid apps for free or will they just stay on there? I havn't synced my iPhone in almost 10 months so it really needs to my done soon, & I dont have a mac, I have a PC! "/ Please Help! :) x

Asharf said, on April 2, 2011 12:39 AM:

Thanks u alot for helping others god pleased u

'Arni Baldvinsson said, on May 10, 2011 9:20 AM:

Hi
I bought and downloaded the GPS software navigon straight to my Iphone. I did not download it to Itunestor and then on to my phone.
Now Im home again and connected to my mack but I can not download the software from my phone to my account at Itune store

Ling Dalma said, on May 26, 2011 10:25 PM:

I downloaded a lot of apps and I don't know how can I put it into my telephone. Can you help me? :)

Angela said, on June 2, 2011 9:24 PM:

Hi Dave Taylor, well, i have this itunes 10 and ipod touch 2.0, i downloaded apps from itunes to my ipod, but when i started the app...it doesn't work it just appears for a few seconds then that's it!!!!!! PLEASSEE HEEEEEEEEELP!!!!!!!!!!!

Michael said, on July 23, 2011 4:43 AM:

I had just purchased an iphone4 but I m not able to download any of the apps since I dont have a credit card.itune stores require credit card file to be registered.How can I download any app without the credit card file?The iphone useless without the apps.

Mannylex said, on July 31, 2011 4:02 AM:

Dave please, i just got an iphone, and my friend has been installing games and apps through his pc, but now he's out of town, how do i install games and applications on my pc without clearing the ones i have already? Please HELP

Ben Bester said, on August 16, 2011 12:33 AM:

Hi Dave,

Please help I cannot download a large aplication >20MB from my Itunes aplications on my PC to my iPhone 4

Regards,
Bennie

Dil said, on October 20, 2011 2:39 AM:

Hi please help me with my problem. I'm trying to download apps thru my app store. And when I search for the program I need it comes up and gives me the option to install. When I press install, nothing happens and I get kicked out of the AppStore and brings me back to the home page. And it doesn't get downloaded either. Please advice me what to do. I'm lost without my apps. Pls help. Thanks

Stephanie Lee said, on November 13, 2011 11:36 AM:

My 3GS will not let me upgrade or download apps. I get a message saying my security code is invalid but it's not. It worked until about 3 months ago and my daughter is using the same card. This is very frustrating? Could you please tell me why it is doing this? I have called every number I can find and no one seems to want to help me. Apple did say they would try to help if I paid 29 dollars. I've already paid for the apps so I refuse to pay to have them updated. I can't even download free apps! Any help would be appreciated!

panner selvam said, on December 7, 2011 3:18 AM:

pls hlp me with tis problem.my prblem is tat when calls cme to my mobile it jst vibrating eventhough ringing volume is full. i hve checkd all sttngs in my bt i couldnt fnd solutiom for tis...pls kindly hpl for tis trouble.

suraj said, on December 22, 2011 10:33 AM:

hey dave im having problem with all my applications...these applications doesnt open..wat is the reason n wat to do plz tell the procedure!! thanku

liezle said, on January 1, 2012 5:34 AM:

hi dave pls help me to solve my problem i hve an i phone 2G i dnt knw how to downloads of picture in my fb.they say that i go in the i tunes or in application store but i cannot connect.. pls help me im so desperate to upload my pix.tnx u

stacey said, on January 9, 2012 6:25 PM:

I had bought games from itunes for my ipod touch and now got an iphone 4 and have no idea how to transfer my games from the ipod to the iphone?? also having problems finding how to get free mp3 music on the iphone!! please help not to good at this sort of thing!! thanks

clam said, on January 10, 2012 6:27 AM:

I wanted to download some apps from itunes10 on my Mac 10.6 to my wifes iPhone 2.1 : error message: "not applicable / not compatible". upgrading to a more recent firmware is also not possible. What can I do short from buying her a new iPhone?

Thank U 4 all answering all these wonderful questions that evolve out of using simple iPhones. :)

ajjie said, on May 23, 2012 12:50 AM:

I have download all the apps i need but now when i download to my I phone it says it will replace all your old apps ? please let me know how i do

Ajjie

tshepo said, on August 2, 2012 10:40 AM:

hi dave i cnt download anythg wit my iphone do u knw y?????pls help

sonnia said, on September 1, 2012 12:31 PM:

how can i download apps and free music on my i phone

ricardo said, on September 23, 2012 12:29 PM:

My 3GS will not let me upgrade or download apps. I get a message saying my security code is invalid but it's not. It worked until about 3 months ago and my daughter is using the same card. This is very frustrating? Could you please tell me why it is doing this? I have called every number I can find and no one seems to want to help me. Apple did say they would try to help if I paid 29 dollars. I've already paid for the apps so I refuse to pay to have them updated. I can't even download free apps! Any help would be appreciated!

Morgen said, on February 21, 2013 9:48 PM:

I have the 4s. Its the dumbest smartphone I've ever owned. That is all.

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!

How do I download iPhone apps from the Apple iTunes store?

Reader Comments To Date: 70

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

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