How-toWindowsWindows 10

Windows 10: how to install software and apps

Install apps on Windows 10 from the Microsoft Store, from a maker's own website or with winget, and learn how to check a download first and remove it later.

  • Updated
  • 10 min
  • Beginner
Applies to
  • Windows 10

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Add programs to a Windows 10 PC in one of three safe ways, check a download before you open it, and remove a program you no longer want. It is written for anyone, including people who have never installed anything before.

Windows 10 no longer gets free security updates

Microsoft ended free updates for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That makes careful downloading more important, because a flaw in Windows is no longer fixed for free. Keep your security software on, and see what the end of support means.

The three ways to install

Where to get software on Windows 10
SourceGood forThings to know
Microsoft StoreEveryday apps; updates handled for youNot every program is in the Store
The maker's own websitePrograms not in the Store, such as a printer's softwareYou must make sure the website is the real one
winget (a built-in command-line tool)Capable users who want a fast, exact installWindows 10 version 1809 and later include it through App Installer
Where to look for a program, in orderA top-to-bottom flow chart with 5 boxes. Work through them in order and stop when the problem is fixed. The full text follows the picture.Where to look for a program, inorderNoNo1Search the MicrosoftStore2Found the real app by theright maker?Yes: Install it from the Store3Go to the maker's ownwebsite4Is the address the maker'sofficial one?Yes: Download it thereNot sure? Stop and checkbefore you download.
Start at the top and go down only if the program is not there.
Text version of this diagram
  1. Step 1: Search the Microsoft Store
  2. Question 2: Found the real app by the right maker? If yes: Install it from the Store. If no, go on to the next item.
  3. Step 3: Go to the maker's own website
  4. Question 4: Is the address the maker's official one? If yes: Download it there. If no, go on to the next item.
  5. If nothing worked: Not sure? Stop and check before you download.

Install from the Microsoft Store

  1. Select the search box on the taskbar, type Microsoft Store, and open it.
  2. Select the search box at the top of the Store, type the app's name, and press Enter.
  3. Open the result. Check the name of the maker shown on the page matches the company you expect.
  4. Select Get or Install.
  5. When it finishes, open the app from the Start menu.

Free apps may still contain adverts or paid upgrades. Read the page before you pay for anything, and never type card details anywhere that you reached through a pop-up.

Install from a maker's website

Most desktop programs, such as a web browser or your printer's software, come from the company that makes them.

  1. Type the company's web address yourself, or use its link in the product manual, instead of clicking an advert. Adverts at the top of search results can lead to copycat sites.
  2. Find the download page and select the version for Windows. To pick the right version, open Settings then System then About and read System type. It says whether the PC is 64-bit or 32-bit.
  3. Save the file. It usually lands in your Downloads folder.
  4. Before opening it, right-click the file and select Properties. Check the file name matches what you expected and the size looks sensible.
  5. Double-click the file to run it. If Windows asks Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?, check that the publisher name is the maker, then select Yes.
  6. Follow the installer. Read each screen: many offer extra programs or toolbars you can untick.

Warning signs

Stop if a page says your PC is infected, if a download comes from a site that is not the maker's, or if a download tells you to switch protection off, which a trustworthy program does not do. Never run a program "cracked" or "activated" by someone else. See how to download safely and spot fake driver sites.

If Windows shows a blue screen headed Windows protected your PC, read what the SmartScreen warning means before choosing anything.

Install with winget

winget is Microsoft's Windows Package Manager. It installs programs from a catalog by name. It is aimed at confident users, and Microsoft says it is supported on Windows 10 version 1809 or later, through the App Installer package. If a command is not recognized, update App Installer in the Microsoft Store.

  1. Right-click Start and select Windows PowerShell.
  2. Search for the program, then press Enter. Replace name with the program's name: 
    winget search name
  3. Read the Id column in the results, such as Publisher.App, and check the publisher is right.
  4. Install it using that Id: 
    winget install --id Publisher.App -e

The -e option means exact match, so winget installs only the Id you typed. Replace Publisher.App with the real Id from step 3. Do not paste commands you were given by a stranger or a pop-up.

Remove a program

  1. Open Settings then Apps then Apps & features.
  2. Select the app in the list.
  3. Select Uninstall, then confirm. Some classic programs also appear in Control Panel under Programs and Features.

Some built-in apps cannot be removed. Uninstalling a program does not delete files you made with it.

Check that it worked

  1. Open the Start menu and find the program in the list or by typing its name.
  2. Open it once and make sure it starts.
  3. If the PC behaves strangely afterwards, uninstall the program, then run a scan with Windows Security. See how to run a malware scan.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need antivirus software?

Windows 10 includes Windows Security. Keep it on. Leave it on during installs too. A trustworthy program does not need you to switch it off.

Why does my PC ask for permission to install?

Windows asks before a program changes your system. That prompt is protection, so read the publisher name before you select Yes.

Which web browser should I install?

See how to install a web browser for the steps and official download pages.

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Official resources used

Pages consulted while preparing this guide. Check them for the latest details.

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