Getting Apps on Windows 11: From a Real User’s Fair Dinkum Take
Installing apps on Windows 11 can be a bit of a mixed bag, mate. On one hand, it’s meant to be dead easy — Microsoft’s reckonin’, “Go on, make your machine yours!” But sometimes it feels like navigating a maze, right? Whether you’re new to this or just need a quick refresh, here’s the lowdown on getting those apps sorted.
Finding the Microsoft Store
First up, you’ve gotta find the Microsoft Store. It’s built into Windows — no need to scab it from the internet. Click the Start button, which sits at the bottom centre of your screen, and look for that Store icon. If it’s hiding, just type “Microsoft Store” in the search bar. No surprise if it acts up now and then. If it won’t open, a quick restart or update might do the trick — Windows loves to throw a spanner in the works every now and then, fair dinkum.
If the Store’s still giving you gip, you can try firing up Windows PowerShell as an admin and running this command:
Get-AppXPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsStore | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode -Register "$($_.InstallLocation)\AppXManifest.xml"}
That basically re-registers the Store — might help if it’s acting all dodgy.
Searching for Your App
Once you’re in, look for that search bar at the top and type in the name of the app you’re after. If you’re not 100% on the name, the suggestions usually aren’t too bad — they might lead you to a cracker or something similar. But a heads-up: check the publisher info. Not every app in there is a gem, and some might not be well-maintained. It’s a good idea to read reviews too, especially if you’ve been caught out before by dodgy apps. Better to be cautious, hey?
Clicking on the App
Found the app from the list? Beauty. Click on it to see all the details — screenshots, reviews, info about what it does. Take a bit of time to have a squiz; reviews might warn you if it’s a dud or asking for dodgy permissions. Be a bit cautious — some reviews are over the top and might be fake. Better to have a look first than get caught out blindly clicking away.
Also, have a gander at the Compatibility or About sections on the app page. You don’t want to get caught with pet requirements you didn’t see coming.
Installing the App
Got your app ready? Hit the “Install” button and let it do its thing. Download times can vary depending on your internet speed and the size of the app. While it’s downloading, you can have a stickybeak at other apps, or just kick back and watch that progress bar. Sometimes they hang or take ages — probably background stuff gobbling up your resources. Happens all the time, so just let it run its course or give the Store a refresh.
If you’re keen to see what’s going on under the hood, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), go to Details, and look for Microsoft.WindowsStore.exe or similar processes to see how it’s tracking.
Opening the App
Once it’s finished installing, you’ll usually get a prompt to open it. Or it’ll be sitting in your Start menu or on the desktop if a shortcut was made. If it’s playing hide and seek, just do a quick search in the Start menu. For easy access going forward, right-click the app icon and choose Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar. That way, you won’t have to hunt for it every time.
Alternatively, you can check out your new apps by heading to Settings > Apps > Installed Apps if you prefer a more hands-on approach.
The whole process usually doesn’t take long if everything’s working smoothly. But don’t forget to check the source of the app and read reviews — it’s always worth it. Better to be safe than sorry, right?
I reckon this should save a fair few hours for someone who’s been stuck trying to figure it all out. Good luck, and happy app hunting!
- Find the Microsoft Store in your Start menu.
- Type in the app name.
- Read reviews and check permissions.
- Hit “Install” and sit back.
- Open the app and pin it for easy access later.