Installing, updating, and uninstalling Windows 8 native applications
Windows 8 has introduced an entirely new way to access, purchase,
and use applications on a Windows-based computer. These new
applications built specifically for Windows 8 are available from
Microsoft through the Windows Store. Rather than being contained on
traditional media, these applications are delivered seamlessly by the
Internet to improve their users’ overall experience and usability.
Obtaining applications is straightforward. A number of applications
are available across many price points and categories in the Windows
Store. To access the store, complete the following steps:
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From the Start screen, select the Windows Store app.
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Browse the store for an app.
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Tap or click the app you want to install.
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Review the information about the app and tap or click Install to install it.
When the app is installed, a notification appears from the top-right
corner of the screen to let you know that the app you selected has been
successfully (or unsuccessfully) installed.
Important
INSTALLATIONS ARE ALLOWED ON MULTIPLE DEVICES
When an app is downloaded from the Windows Store, it can be used on
up to five Windows 8 devices. This enables easy sharing across
computers or other devices when apps are downloaded.
After an application has been installed from the store, the next
time it is selected, the details screen for the app, similar to the one
shown in Figure 1, indicates that you already own the app.
When an app has been downloaded from the store, it appears on the Start screen along with other installed apps. Because apps
are so much easier to access and install from the Windows Store than
from traditional media, it is likely that applications will be tested
more often than might have been the case with traditional software. If
you no longer need an app on a computer, you can uninstall it as easily
as it was installed. To uninstall a Windows 8 native app, complete the following steps:
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From the Start screen, press and hold or right-click the app to be uninstalled.
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From the options bar that appears, select Uninstall to remove the app.
Reinstalling apps that have been removed
When you purchase or install apps from the Windows Store, the apps
are added to a section within the store app called Your Apps, which is
tied to a Microsoft account. Any apps purchased or installed by the
account can be used on other computers with access to this Microsoft
account. In addition to the list of apps that have been downloaded,
this view displays if the apps are installed.
Figure 2
shows the applications that have been downloaded but are not installed
on this particular computer. To open Your Apps, open the Windows Store,
and then press and hold or right-click any area without a tile.
In addition to apps available for installation from the store, any
updates for apps that you have downloaded are displayed in the
top-right corner of the store. Tapping or clicking the Updates option
displays apps that have available updates and allows them to be downloaded by tapping or clicking Install. Figure 3 shows apps with available updates.
Acquiring desktop apps in the Windows Store
Some software manufacturers have chosen to publish their desktop
applications in the Windows Store. These apps must be downloaded from
the publisher’s website rather than from the store, like a Windows 8 native app. Publishing in the Windows Store can increase visibility and customer awareness of these applications.
To install these apps, they must be downloaded from the
publisher’s website directly. When the download is completed, the
application setup file can be executed from the Windows 8 desktop app
and will then appear on the Start screen. When the application is
opened, it will open inside the desktop app.
