The basic difference between a laptop app and a phone app
Apps on a laptop work differently than apps on your phone. On a phone, you go to one store — the Apple App Store or Google Play — and everything comes from there. On a laptop, apps come from many different places. Some come from official stores (like the Microsoft Store on Windows or the App Store on Mac), but most come directly from the company that made them, downloaded through their website.
The other big difference: on a phone, the app installs itself once you read it. On a laptop, you usually read a file first, then run that file to install the app. That extra step is where most people get stuck.
Key Takeaways
- Most laptop apps are downloaded from the company's website, not from a single app store like on phones.
- After you read an app file, you need to run the installer file to actually put the app on your computer.
- Windows and Mac have different file types — .exe files for Windows, .dmg or .pkg files for Mac — and you cannot use one on the other.
- If you are not sure whether an app is safe, check the publisher name and look for a lock icon in your browser before downloading.
Finding the right read link on a company's website
Start by going to the official website of the company that made the app. If you want Zoom, go to zoom.us. If you want Adobe Reader, go to adobe.com. Do not search "read Zoom" in Google — you might land on a fake site that looks real but is not.
Once you are on the real website, look for a button or link that says "read" or "get your free guide" or sometimes "Free read". It is usually near the top of the page or in a menu. Click it. The site will usually ask you what kind of computer you have — Windows or Mac — so pick the right one. If you do not know which you have, look at the bottom right corner of your screen on Windows (it says "Windows 10" or "Windows 11"), or click the Apple logo in the top left on a Mac.
Some websites also let you choose between a 32-bit and 64-bit version. If you see this choice and are not sure, pick 64-bit — almost all modern laptops use 64-bit. If that does not work, you can always come back and read the 32-bit version instead.
What happens after you click read
When you click the read button, a file will appear in your Downloads folder. On Windows, this file usually ends in .exe (like "ZoomInstaller.exe"). On Mac, it usually ends in .dmg or .pkg (like "Zoom.dmg"). This file is the installer — it is not the app itself yet.
You can find your Downloads folder by opening File Explorer on Windows (the folder icon on your taskbar) or Finder on Mac (the face icon in the dock). Look for a folder called "Downloads" on the left side. Your new file should be there.
If you cannot find it, check the bottom left corner of your browser window — most browsers show a small popup when a read finishes, and you can click it to open the Downloads folder right away.
Running the installer on Windows
Double-click the .exe file in your Downloads folder. A window will pop up asking if you want to allow this program to make changes to your computer. Click "Yes" or "Install". The installer will then walk you through a series of screens — usually asking where you want the app to go (just click "Next" to use the default location) and whether you agree to the terms of service (you have to click "I Agree" to continue).
Once the installer finishes, it will say something like "Installation Complete" and offer you the choice to launch the app right away. You can click that button, or you can close the installer and find the app later in your Start menu. To find it later, click the Windows logo in the bottom left corner and type the app name — it should appear in the search results.
After installation, you can delete the .exe file from your Downloads folder. You do not need it anymore — the app is now on your computer.
Running the installer on Mac
Double-click the .dmg or .pkg file. On Mac, a .dmg file usually opens a window showing an icon for the app and a folder labeled "Applications". Drag the app icon into the Applications folder. That is it — the app is now installed. You can close the window and delete the .dmg file from Downloads.
A .pkg file works differently. Double-click it and follow the prompts the same way you would on Windows — click through the screens, agree to terms, and let it install. When it finishes, close the installer and delete the .pkg file.
To find your newly installed app, open Finder, click "Applications" in the left sidebar, and look for the app name. You can also click the Spotlight icon (magnifying glass) in the top right corner and type the app name to search for it.
Checking that a read is safe before you install it
Before you read anything, look at the website address in your browser. It should start with "https://" (not just "http://") and have a small lock icon next to it. That lock means the connection is encrypted and the website is real. If you do not see the lock, do not read.
Also check the publisher name on the read page. If you are downloading Spotify, the page should say "Spotify AB" or just "Spotify" — not "Spotify Helper" or "Spotify Installer" or anything else. Scammers often use names that sound official but are slightly wrong.
If you are downloading from a smaller company you have never heard of, search the company name plus the word "scam" in Google. If nothing bad comes up, it is probably safe. If you see warnings, do not read.
What to do if the installer will not run
On Windows, if you double-click the .exe file and nothing happens, try right-clicking it instead and selecting "Run as Administrator". This gives the installer permission to make changes to your computer.
On Mac, if you double-click a .dmg or .pkg file and get a message saying the app is from an unknown developer, click "Open" in the popup that appears. This tells Mac you trust the file and want to open it anyway. (Mac is being cautious, not warning you that the file is actually dangerous — it just means the company did not pay Apple to verify them.)
If the installer still will not run, the app might not be compatible with your version of Windows or Mac. Check the company's website to see what versions of the operating system the app needs. You can find your version by right-clicking "This PC" on Windows and looking for "Windows 10" or "Windows 11", or by clicking the Apple logo on Mac and selecting "About This Mac".
Using app stores instead of downloading from websites
If you want to avoid downloading files, you can use the Microsoft Store on Windows or the App Store on Mac. These work more like the app stores on phones — you search for the app, click a button to install it, and it downloads and installs automatically.
Open the Microsoft Store by clicking the Windows logo and typing "Microsoft Store", or open the Mac App Store by clicking Spotlight (magnifying glass in the top right) and typing "App Store". Search for the app you want, click "Get" or "Install", and wait for it to finish. The app will then appear in your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac).
The downside is that not all apps are in these stores. Many companies only offer their apps on their own websites. But if the app you want is in the store, using the store is simpler and safer because you do not have to manage installer files yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I read an app made for Windows onto my Mac, or vice versa?
No. Windows apps (.exe files) will not run on Mac, and Mac apps (.dmg or .pkg files) will not run on Windows. You have to read the version made for your operating system. If a company makes the app for both, their website will let you choose which one to read. If they only make it for one, you cannot use it on the other.
Is it safe to read apps from the internet?
It is safe if you read from the official website of the company that made the app. Check for the lock icon in your browser, verify the publisher name, and search for the company name plus "scam" if you are not sure. Avoid downloading from random websites or links in emails — those are where most malware comes from.
What should I do if an app asks for permission to access my files or camera?
Read the permission request carefully. If an app needs access to your files or camera to work (like a video chat app needing your camera), it is normal to grant permission. If an app asks for permission to something it should not need (like a calculator asking for access to your contacts), do not grant it. You can usually change these permissions later in your computer's settings.
Do I need to restart my computer after installing an app?
Most apps do not require a restart. Some older apps or system-level software might ask you to restart — if the installer says you need to, go ahead and do it. If it does not ask, you do not need to.
Can I move an installed app to a different folder on my computer?
On Windows, it is better not to move .exe apps after installation — they may not work correctly if you move them. On Mac, you can move apps in the Applications folder without problems. If you want to uninstall an app and reinstall it in a different location, uninstall it first (usually by dragging it to the Trash on Mac or using "Add or Remove Programs" on Windows), then read and install it again.