Check app downloads android

Edit this Article. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. By using our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Cookie Settings. Learn why people trust wikiHow. Download Article Explore this Article methods. Related Articles. Article Summary. Method 1. Open the app drawer. This is the list of apps on your Android. You can usually open it by tapping the icon with 6 to 9 dots at the bottom of the home screen. The name of this app varies by device. See this wikiHow to learn how to install one.

Select a folder. If you only see one folder, tap its name. Depending on your settings, your Downloads folder may be in either of these two locations. Stack Overflow for Teams — Collaborate and share knowledge with a private group.

Create a free Team What is Teams? Collectives on Stack Overflow. Learn more. Asked 8 years, 1 month ago. Active 4 years, 4 months ago. Viewed 2k times. Improve this question. Prabhunath Yadav Prabhunath Yadav 1 1 silver badge 14 14 bronze badges. What about the parent company? Looking at the developer's other apps can also give you clues.

If the developer only has a small number of apps, but ridiculous download numbers, it's a red flag. If they have lots of apps, but the only clear difference is the name or icon color, it's also a red flag. Honest developers won't have clones or knock-offs of other people's apps, either.

If the developer is imitating more popular products or saying their app is a discounted version, don't click! The real developer would simply issue a sale, not release a separate download. Some malicious or spam apps sneak things by you through the terms and conditions. These sneaky developers know that most people will click "Accept" without reading.

So they get you to consent to data mining, data sharing, pop-ups, and all kinds of other things. The solution is to read carefully. If the app presents you with terms and conditions when you open it, read them.

If it's too hard to understand, try using a plain-language translator like Rewordify. If it's still too dense, you might be better off just closing it and uninstalling.

Apps that want you to agree to a lot of extra stuff might be trying to steal your data. Be especially cautious if they don't seem interested in helping you understand why they need it. Your personal data is valuable and worth your time to protect. These steps can also save you trouble with spam advertising. With just a moment or two of reading and some common sense, you can feel confident in your downloads.

But apps aren't the only ways malicious developers can access your data. Make sure you perform regular phone maintenance, and use a good virus-scanner! Do these quick checks on your Android phone to make sure your privacy and security are never compromised. Natalie Stewart is a writer for MakeUseOf. Play Protect should be enabled by default on your Android device, but it's a good idea to visit the above settings page and double check.

During the installation of an app from the Play store, you'll find the Play Protect badge underneath the progress bar, reassuring you the app has been "Verified by Play Protect" and is safe to install at the time of install.

After an app is scanned and approved for the Play store, that doesn't mean a bad actor won't slip something nefarious into a future app update. Thankfully, Google will show you at the top of the Updates section in the Play store whether or not pending updates are safe to download. Be respectful, keep it civil and stay on topic.