How to Download Videos, Music, Games, Software for your Mobile Phone

Last Updated: August 4, 2021 Tested

There are a variety of ways to add media and programs to your Android or iOS device. This guide will show you how to get your mobile phone turned into a true multimedia device.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Android OS

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/44\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-1.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1
Visit the Google Play Store. You can access the store from your phone’s Application list, or you can visit it on your computer here . There are many free applications, games, songs, and videos available for download.
- You will need a Google account in order to download from the Play Store.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/94\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-2.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2
Download apps from other sources. In order to install apps from sources other than the Google Play Store, you will need to set your phone to allow non-market apps.
- Press the Menu button on your phone and tap Settings. Scroll down to Security and tap it to open the Security menu. Scroll down and check the “Unknown Sources” box. This will let you install apps directly from the APK file.
- An APK file is the file that Android uses to install a program. If you want to add a program to your phone, it must be APK format.
- Make sure that you download apps from trusted sources. There are a variety of communities that offer applications that aren’t available on the Store, often for free. These can include beta versions of apps that are in progress, or apps that are purchased outside of the store.
- When you download an APK file, you can open it by using the Downloads app on your phone. Tap the APK file and your phone will ask you if you want to install it.
Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6f\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-3.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3
Transfer music, videos, and pictures from your computer. If you have files on your computer that you want to add, transfer them to your phone using the USB cable.
- For Windows, as long as you have Windows Media Player 10 or higher installed, you can transfer files directly to your phone when you plug it in.
- For Mac, you will need to install the Android File Transfer before your phone can be recognized.
- Copy music to the Music folder, videos to the Videos folder, and images to the Pictures folder.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/e\/e7\/Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-4.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-Download-Videos%2C-Music%2C-Games%2C-Software-for-your-Mobile-Phone-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4
Download files from the web. When browsing the web on your phone, you can download files directly to your phone’s storage.
- To download an image, tap and hold the image in your phone’s browser for a second, and then release. A menu will open and you will have the option to save the image to your phone.
- Downloaded files will be stored in your Downloads folder on your phone. You can move these around by either attaching your phone to your computer and moving the files using Windows, or by installing a File Manager app.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

iOS

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/316896-5.jpg\/v4-460px-316896-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/d7\/316896-5.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-316896-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Use the App Store button on your Home screen to browse the apps available to download. There are many free options available.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/316896-6.jpg\/v4-460px-316896-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/bd\/316896-6.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-316896-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

Use the iTunes button on your Home screen to browse available music and videos. Most require a purchase.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/316896-7.jpg\/v4-460px-316896-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/53\/316896-7.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-316896-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

You can use iTunes on your computer to transfer music, videos, and pictures files to your iPhone.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/316896-8.jpg\/v4-460px-316896-8.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6b\/316896-8.jpg\/aid316896-v4-728px-316896-8.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/3.0\/\">Creative Commons<\/a><br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

In order to install Apps from other sources, you will need to jailbreak your iPhone. Check out the wikiHow article on the jailbreaking process.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

What if I want to download a picture in Safari?

Community Answer

You tap and hold down on the picture until a bubble pops up. You then have the option to copy or save the picture. Tap save.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 8

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

When installing apps from outside of the Google Play Store or Apple App Store, be sure that you obtained them from trusted sources. Unknown apps can contain viruses and identity theft software.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Log in

How to Download Videos, Music, Games, Software for your Mobile Phone

Steps

Android OS

iOS

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories