How to Download Apps Safely on an iPad: Step-by-Step Guide
An app is just a small program that does one job. The bank, the bus timetable, a video call with the grandchildren, a crossword. On an iPad they all live in one place, the App Store, and that is good news. Apple checks the apps in its store before they go on sale, so downloading one is far safer than clicking a link in an email or a text.
The worry most people have is putting something dodgy on the iPad, or being charged for something they did not mean to buy. Both are easy to avoid once you know what to look for. This guide walks through it slowly, in plain English. For the wider view, our guide to the best tablets for seniors in Australia compares the main options.
Quick answer
Only ever get apps from the blue App Store icon on your iPad. Search for what you want, check it is the real one by looking at the maker’s name and the reviews, then tap Get for a free app or the price for a paid one. You confirm with your fingerprint, your face, or your Apple Account password. You never need to give your card details to anyone else, and a genuine app will never ask you to.
How to download an app, step by step
1. Open the App Store
Look for the light blue icon with a white letter A made of drawing tools. It is usually on the first screen. Tap it once to open it. This is the only place you should ever get apps from, and it is already on every iPad, so there is nothing to install to get started.
2. Search for the app you want
Tap Search in the bottom corner, then tap the search bar at the top and type the name. If a family member suggested an app, type exactly what they told you. Spelling matters here, because a near-miss can bring up a copycat. When the list appears, the real one is almost always at the very top.
3. Check it is the genuine app
Before you download anything, take ten seconds to check it is the real thing. Look at the name of the maker under the app title. For your bank, it should be the bank’s own name, say CommBank or ANZ, not a stranger. Look at the star rating and the number of reviews. A trusted app usually has thousands of reviews. A brand new copycat might have a handful, or none. If something feels off, back out and ask a family member.
4. Tap Get, or tap the price
Most apps worth having are free. A free app shows the word Get. Tap it. A paid app shows a price in dollars instead. Tap that if you are happy to pay. Nothing is bought yet at this point, so there is no harm in tapping to see what happens next.
5. Confirm it is you
The iPad will ask you to prove it is really you before it downloads. Depending on your model, you either rest a finger on the round button, glance at the screen so it recognises your face, or type your Apple Account password. This step is what stops anyone else, including a grandchild, running up charges. Once you confirm, the app downloads on its own and appears on your screen in a few seconds.
6. Open it and have a look
When it has finished, the button changes to Open. Tap it, or find the new icon on your home screen and tap that. The first time you open an app it often asks a question or two, such as whether it can send you notifications. You can usually tap Don’t Allow and still use it perfectly well. If you want a hand getting the iPad set up nicely in the first place, our guide on making an iPad easier to use covers the settings that help most.
How to spot an app that is not safe
Because every app in the App Store has been checked by Apple, the risk is much lower than people fear. The few things worth watching for are simple. Be wary of an app that has copied a famous name but spelled it slightly wrong. Be wary of one with almost no reviews that claims to do something remarkable. And never, ever install an app because a pop-up, an email, or a phone caller told you to. That is a common trick, and it is worth knowing the wider pattern, which we cover in how to spot text message scams.
One reassuring point. Real companies do not ring you and ask you to download an app so they can fix your iPad. Your bank will not do it. Apple will not do it. Telstra and Optus will not do it. If a caller pushes you to install something while they wait on the line, hang up. That alone avoids most trouble.
A few things to check first
- You are signed in with an Apple Account. If you set up the iPad recently, you already are. If not, see our guide on setting up a new iPad.
- You know your Apple Account password, or you have fingerprint or face unlock turned on so you rarely need it.
- Free really does mean free in the App Store. The word Get always means no charge.
- If you are helping a parent, it is worth agreeing together which apps they actually need before you start. Our list of the best apps for seniors in Australia is a good place to begin.
Before you finish
Download the free Family Tech Safety Checklist to help check phone safety, passwords, scam messages, emergency contacts and medical alarm details.
FAQ: Downloading apps on an iPad
Does it cost money to download apps?
Most apps are free, and the word Get means no charge at all. Some apps cost a few dollars to buy, and the price is always shown clearly before you confirm. You will never be charged without proving it is you first.
What if I download the wrong app?
No harm done. Press and hold its icon until a menu appears, then choose Remove App and Delete App. If it was free, you have lost nothing. You can always download it again later.
Why does it keep asking for a password?
The iPad asks you to confirm it is you each time you download something, to stop anyone else buying apps. If typing the password is a nuisance, you can turn on fingerprint or face unlock so it happens with a touch or a glance instead.
Can I get a virus from an app?
It is very unlikely on an iPad. Apple checks every app in the App Store, so as long as you only download from there, you are well protected. The real risk is being talked into installing something by a scam caller or message, which a genuine company would never ask you to do.
An app wants to send me notifications. Should I allow it?
You can tap Don’t Allow and the app will still work fine. Notifications are the little messages that pop up to get your attention. For most apps you do not need them, and turning them off keeps the iPad calmer and quieter.
