In today’s world where the Internet is widespread, there are many situations where it is necessary to download data, both for work and private purposes. However, some people may have various questions such as “I don’t know how to download” or “I don’t know if it’s okay to download this content.”
When downloading data from the Internet, it is important to properly download safe content.
In this article, we will explain the meaning of downloading, how to do it, precautions, offline viewing, etc.
What is download?
Here, let’s take a look at how downloading works, how it differs from installation, and the meanings of words related to downloading.
What is download?
Downloading refers to transferring data itself between computers in a connected environment. This is a conceptual approach, and in practice, it is commonly used to copy data and files on the Internet and save them on devices such as smartphones and computers. Files refer to data such as images, videos, music, apps, and software. The word “download” is a combination of “down” and “load.” Therefore, downloading is sometimes expressed as “dropping” in Japanese.
How downloading works
Videos, images, and other data on the Internet are stored on systems that have software or computer functions called “servers.”
A server is a data storage location on a network that provides data in response to user requests over the Internet. To store your data, you must be connected to the Internet and access our servers. The data on the server is then transferred to a smartphone, computer, etc., and saved as a file. Therefore, an Internet connection is required for downloading.
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Differences from installation
A word that is often confused with download is install.
Installation is the process of setting up an application or software downloaded to a smartphone or computer so that it can be used on the device. While the meaning of downloading is “saving a file,” installation refers to “setting up the downloaded file so that it can actually be used.” In other words, you cannot use an app or software just by downloading it, so you must also install it after downloading it.
Please note that data such as videos, images, music, etc. can be viewed immediately after downloading, so no installation is required. However, you will need to install software to save images and play music.
By the way, the Internet is required to download, but installation may be possible without the Internet. For example, transferring data from physical storage such as an external hard disk or DVD-ROM to a computer is also called installation.
What is upload?
Uploading refers to the transfer of existing data between connected computers. This is a conceptual approach, and in practice it involves saving files existing on the device on a server on the Internet and making them available for download. “Upload” is often expressed as “putting something on the internet” and is used as a companion word to “download”.
In recent years, services that allow data to be stored on the Internet, called online storage services, have become popular, and opportunities for individuals to upload photos and videos have increased. Once you upload your files to an online storage service, you can download them any time you are connected to the Internet.
Using online storage services has the advantage of having fewer storage capacity limitations and being able to access your data from anywhere as long as you have an internet connection. However, if a problem occurs with the online storage service provider, access may become unavailable, and there is also a risk of information leakage. Please understand these disadvantages before using the service.
What is streaming?
Streaming is a method of connecting to the Internet and receiving and playing data such as music and videos. Play content on the distribution app without saving music or video data on your device.
A feature of streaming is that you can download while playing at the same time. You can start watching immediately without having to wait for the content to download. For example, on video distribution services such as YouTube, the video starts playing as soon as you press the play button. This is due to the use of the streaming function. Streaming can be said to be a familiar feature as we use it frequently in our daily lives, even if we are not consciously aware of it.
In addition, in order to use streaming services, communication speed and stability that can continue to receive data are required. In addition, the communication capacity required for music varies depending on the sound quality and video quality depending on the image quality, but it consumes a lot of communication capacity. When using a streaming service in a place where Wi-Fi is not available, be careful about the capacity consumption.
Related terms for download
Next, we will introduce terms related to downloading. All of these terms are words that we often hear, but few people seem to understand their detailed meanings. I think there are some people who don’t feel like asking anyone now. I hope this is helpful.
download site
A download site is a website on the Internet where you can download music, videos, documents, apps, etc.
download folder
The download folder is a specific folder on a device such as a smartphone or computer where downloaded files and data are saved. Each folder has a certain storage capacity. Delete unnecessary data frequently to reduce capacity shortage.
download app
A download app refers to application software for smartphones and tablet devices that is downloaded and used from a content distribution service.
In recent years, applications that provide a variety of services have been developed, and the number of users continues to increase. It has become indispensable not only for entertainment but also for daily life, with apps that help with games, schedule management, learning, and health management.
By the way, you can use the app by downloading and installing it on your device.
Video download
Video download refers to downloading videos that exist on the Internet.
This is an expression used when downloading video files from video distribution services, video sharing sites, etc.
Notes on downloading
The Internet is full of a lot of interesting content. However, just because you’re curious doesn’t mean you can download it without permission. Also, it is necessary to check whether it is safe or illegal. Here, let’s take a look at the things to keep in mind when downloading files.
Is the content safe?
Make sure the content is safe before downloading. If you download from a well-known company’s official website or a reliable web page, it can be said to be highly reliable. However, there are also fake pages that are cleverly created to imitate famous sites. It is important to carefully check whether the site is official or not.
Additionally, some software that is provided for free, called freeware, may infect your computer with a virus just by downloading it. Therefore, we recommend that you use security software to scan the files you download for viruses.
Additionally, downloading content from some advertisements, spam emails, etc. is also dangerous. Avoid downloading files of unknown origin, as there is a risk that they may contain malicious programs or that you may suddenly be charged a large amount of money.
Isn’t it illegal?
Some websites that distribute images, music, videos, and other files for free may contain illegally uploaded content (protected by copyright).
Please be aware that if you download content that you know has been uploaded illegally, you may be subject to criminal penalties.
When downloading files, be sure to check that the content you are trying to download is not illegal before downloading.
By the way, illegally copied content is also called “pirated edition.”
Do you have the capacity of your device?
Before downloading a file, make sure you have enough space (storage) on your device. If you download a lot of files, the space will become full and you will not be able to download them. In particular, long video data has a large capacity, which is one of the causes of storage pressure. To prevent your storage from becoming full, organize your data on a daily basis by deleting infrequently used apps and data, or saving it to a cloud service or external memory.
Is there a problem with communication volume?
When downloading content on your smartphone, be careful about the amount of data you use.
Files with a large amount of data require a large amount of data communication, which consumes a large amount of mobile line communication. If you have a monthly communication data limit, you may exceed the limit if you download frequently. If your communication data capacity is limited, your communication speed will be significantly slower, and you will need to pay an additional fee to remove the limit. Therefore, when downloading content that requires a large amount of data, be sure to check the available communication capacity before downloading.
How to download
Next, let’s actually download it. Here, we will show you how to download each content on your computer, Android, or iPhone.
files and images
How to download files on your computer
Open the website that distributes the file you want to download and click the link that says “Download file.”
Specify the save destination folder and save.
Please note that the text written on the button you click varies depending on the website.
How to download images on your computer
Right-click the image on your browser.
Click “Save image as” from the menu that appears.
How to download files on iPhone
Open the file you want to save in your browser and tap the “Share” button with a square and an up arrow mark.
Next, select “Save to file”, select a save location on the “File” app, and tap “Save”.
How to download images on iPhone
Long press the image on your browser.
You can download the image by selecting “Add to Photos” from the menu that appears.
How to download files on Android
From your browser app, open the site where the file you want to download is distributed.
Long press on the content you want to download and tap “Download link” or “Download” button to save.
How to download images on Android
Long press the image on your browser.
You can download the image by selecting “Download image” from the menu that appears.
app
How to download apps on your computer
Open “Microsoft Store” from Start (Windows button).
Open the page for the app you want to download and select “Get”.
Please note that you must obtain a free Microsoft account and sign in to download the app.
How to download apps on iPhone
From the home screen, tap the App Store app.
Open the page for the app you want to download and select “Get”.
For paid apps, the amount of the app is displayed instead of “Get”, so tap on the amount.
Authenticate with Face ID or enter your password to start downloading.
How to download apps on Android
From the home screen, tap the “Google Play” app.
Open the page of the app you want to download and tap the “Install” button.
For paid apps, the price of the app is displayed, so tap the price to purchase.
music and videos
When downloading music or videos, be careful not to commit illegal activities. What you need to understand when downloading music and videos is copyright handling. Downloading means copying music or video from a music or video distribution service to your device, but this act itself is recognized as an exception to copyright. However, this is only for “private use”, that is, downloading for personal enjoyment.
You can also download content legally if you download it using the officially provided methods. Here we will show you how to download music from Apple Music and videos from YouTube for offline viewing.
How to download music from Apple Music (iPhone/Android)
Open the Apple Music app and search for the song you want to download.
Tap the add button (+) or the details button “…” at the top right of the album, then tap Add to Library.
Next, tap the download button (↓) at the top right or the details button “…” and tap Download.
How to download music from Apple Music (PC)
Open Apple Music or iTunes and search for the song you want to download.
Click the Add button to add songs.
Next, click the download button (↓) displayed next to the song or at the top of the album to download the song.
How to download videos from YouTube (common to all devices)
From the YouTube site or app, open the page for the video you want to download and click “Offline” at the bottom of the playback screen.
If you are asked which image quality you want to save, check the desired settings and click “Temporarily save offline.”
When saving is complete, the icon will change from “offline” to a blue mark “temporarily saved”.
To watch videos saved offline on your computer, open the menu from the three lines at the top left of the YouTube page and click “Offline.” Videos saved offline will be displayed in the list, and you can watch them by clicking on them.
To watch videos saved offline on your iPhone or Android, tap “Library” at the bottom right of the app, then tap “Offline.” Then, videos saved offline will be displayed in the list, and you can watch them by tapping them.
Where to save downloaded files
Next, we will show you where to save the files downloaded to each device.
PC
When you download files from the Internet to your computer, they are saved in your Downloads folder. Open Explorer from the taskbar or Windows icon, and select “This PC” and “Downloads” in the left bar.
iPhone
When you download a file on your iPhone, it is saved in the “Files” app.
From the Files app, tap “Browse”, “iCloud Drive”, and “Download” in order to view the downloaded files.
Also, if you have just downloaded the file, you will see a down arrow at the bottom of the Safari browser, then tap Download to open the downloaded file.
Android
When you download a file on your Android device, it is saved in the “download” folder of the internal storage. You can open the downloaded file by opening “File by Google” and tapping “Download” or by searching for the file name from “Search in Files”.
How to watch offline
If you download content, you can watch it even when you are offline. Offline viewing does not require an internet connection, so it has the advantage of saving communication capacity even when you are out and about. Here, let’s take a look at how to watch offline with Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Netflix
To watch Netflix offline, you need to download videos, but first you need to search for downloadable videos.
On an iPhone or Android device, open the Netflix app and select My Netflix, Downloads, and Find Downloads.
If you are using a computer, click “Other” on the left side of the screen, then “My Downloads” and “Search for downloadable works.”
To watch a downloaded video, select “My Netflix” and “Downloads” on your iPhone or Android device, then play it.
If you are using a computer, click “Other” and “My Downloads” on the left side of the screen, then press the play button.
Amazon Prime Video
On Amazon Prime Video, you can download movies, TV shows, etc. to your device by tapping “Download” on the video details screen.
Downloads are available for each episode and each series. If you want to download each episode, tap “Download” under “Play” on the page of the video you want to watch offline.
If you want to download a series of videos, tap “Download Season ○○” under “Play” on the page of the series you want to watch offline.
After the download is complete, tap the “Download” button at the bottom of the app to view the list of videos that are currently being downloaded or have already been downloaded.
You can watch the video offline by pressing the play button for the number of episodes you want to watch.
summary
Downloading means copying a file from the Internet and saving it to your device.
Files on the Internet are stored in storage locations called servers, and in order to download them, you need access to the server. When downloading, use only trusted sites and download safe content to prevent virus infection and unauthorized access to your device. You also need to check the capacity of your device in advance.
When consuming content, understand the difference between downloading and streaming and choose the method that suits you best.