Last year, Apple made installing apps on iPhones easier by allowing people to install apps by performing a simple Spotlight search on iOS 15. With iOS 16, Apple is offering an even faster way to install apps on iPhone: from an app’s website.

In this post, we'll explain how installing an app from a website works, whether it's safe to do so, and whether you should use this method to install apps on your iPhone.

While websites have long been allowed to host links to their apps on the App Store, the new feature will allow users to install an app directly from its official website. The new feature will bring the familiar Get button or Download icon (marked by a cloud and a down arrow) that will give users direct access to the app offered by the website.

When users tap this option, the app will be downloaded directly to their iPhone without ever leaving the website. The new feature thus removes the extra step of being redirected to the App Store when an app’s install link is clicked; so in a sense, the installation happens from the service’s website.