FAQs

Before downloading an application on your smartphone, please be sure you are aware of the current version your operating system is running on. This will help ensure compatibility between the app and your device.  Operating systems for mobile phones are continuously being updated. We recommend you keep your phone’s OS updated. This is highly recommendable not only for the correct installation of the app but also for its general functioning.   You can find the most current OS available for your phone by checking the OS’s website.    The easiest and most accurate way for you to find your OS is by looking at the settings on the device itself. Below are general instructions for several brands of devices. For more detailed instructions about your specific device, locate the User Guide that came with the purchase of your device. Android

1.   Tap on the “Menu” button.
2.   Go to “Settings”.
3.   Tap “About Phone” or “About Device” (varies, depending on device).
4.   Tap “Android Version” to display version information.

  iPhone/iPad

1.   From the Home Screen, tap on “Settings”.
2.   Go to “General” and select “About”.

Have you accidentally given permission to receive notifications from a website or are you tired of getting notification requests? Below, we’ll tell you how to disable them according to the browser you’re using.

Google Chrome (laptop)

To disable Chrome notifications, copy this address chrome://settings/content/notifications and paste it in your browser. This way, you’ll go straight to the “Notifications” section of Chrome Settings. If you want to stop receiving permission requests for notifications, disable the “Ask before sending (recommended)” option to “Block all.” Want to block notifications for a specific website? You’ll see that you’ve got two options: “Block” and “Allow.” Under “Allow,” look for the web page you want to stop receiving notifications for, click on the three vertical dots beside it and then select “Block.” It’s that easy!

Google Chrome (cell phone)

Go to “Settings” (by tapping on the three vertical dots in the top right). Press “Web page settings” and then “Notifications.” If you want to stop receiving permission requests for notifications, disable the “Ask before allowing websites to send notifications (recommended)” option to “Blocked.” Want to disable specific notifications? Below, you’ll have two options: allowed and blocked notifications. Select one that is allowed and then the “Notifications” option to block it. Easy peasy.

Mozilla Firefox (laptop)

To disable notifications on Firefox, copy this address about:preferences#content and paste it in your browser to access the “Content” section of Firefox Options. Here you’ll see the “Notifications” subsection. If you want to stop receiving so many permission requests for notifications and notifications themselves, enable the “Do not disturb me” option. Want to block notifications for a specific web page? Click on “Select.” A list with all the notifications you’ve allowed or blocked to date will show up. Look for the website you no longer want to receive notifications from and select “Remove site.” When you go to that page again, it will once again ask for permission to send you notifications (unless you’ve enabled the “Do not disturb me” option). Select that you don’t want to receive notifications. Case closed. Unfortunately, there’s no easier way to block specific notifications on Firefox.

Mozilla Firefox (cell phone)

For now, there’s only one very basic way to disable notifications for this version of Firefox. You must go to the page that you want to disable notifications for and click on the Control Center (the green lock to the left of the URL). Then select “Edit site settings.” Tap the white square to “check” it and then press “Clear.” This way, the website will stop sending you notifications unless you go back and give it permission.

Apple Safari

To stop receiving notifications for a web page, go to “Preferences” and then click on “Notifications.” Look for the website on the list and select “Block.” If you want to stop receiving permission requests for notifications, don’t leave the “Notifications” section; simply uncheck the box “Allow websites to ask for permission to send push notifications.”

Opera

Click on the “O” menu in the upper left. Choose settings. Choose Sites” from the Settings menu. Search for “Notifications” in the search box. Go to Notifications and adapt to your taste. You can either customize it to be asked before hand you receive any notification (recommended option) or you directly block any notification if you do not want any commercial or editorial notification or updates.

If you are in need of technical support for a specific software program, please contact the program’s developer. If you purchased the program directly from the developer, check your purchase confirmation email for contact information.  You can also find a link to the developer’s website on the Softonic review:  When requesting technical support, it is helpful to include the following information:

• A screenshot or display of any error messages.
• A list of troubleshooting steps you may have already taken.
• Other relevant information related to the issue (i.e. what you were doing when it occurred, how many times you received the error, etc.).

To buy a program, locate the “Buy Now” button on the program’s review site. Please note that not all programs have this option. Clicking the “Buy Now” button will redirect you to a third party website where you will have the option to purchase the software. Please note that Softonic does not sell programs directly. Price and payment methods are handled by the site you are directed to, not Softonic.  In case we only offer the trial version but not the purchase of the program, we recommend you to go to the developer’s website, which you will find in the software review.  

We value our users feedback very highly and encourage you to rate the program you have just downloaded with us. You as a user can also check for current users ratings to have more information from real users when downloading any given program. You can find the option to leave your ratings very comfortably after the license type on the program page.  Bear in mind that once your review is published all users will be able to read it. All comments are moderated, so please do not forget that there are some etiquette rules that must be followed:

• Be respectful when sharing your views. Inappropriate language will not be accepted.
• Please write your opinion as understandable as possible. Avoid abbreviations and writing in capital letters.
• Advertising products in your review is forbidden. We will automatically delete any comments containing ads. However, feel free to recommend other programs listed on Softonic to other users if you think it’s relevant.

How to filter the search results: Filtering the search results will help you find more relevant answers to your queries. To do this, locate the “Filter by” column on the right side of the page: You can filter by the following criteria:

1. License: Display only free programs.
2. Platform: Display only results relevant to the selected platform.
3. Operating system: Display only the results relevant to the selected operating system.

 

Uninstalling a program is fairly straightforward. Depending on your operating system you will need to follow these steps: Windows                                                                                                         

• Go to Control Panel and search for “How to uninstall a program”
• Select the program you would like to remove
• Once selected the program, click “uninstall”

Mac

• Go to Finder at the bottom of your screen. Depending on your settings these icons may appear when you roll over. 
• Within Finder go to Applications
• Your applications will appear on your right 
• Select the application you want to remove
• You can either drag the application to the Trash Can or command iT
• Please remember to empty your Trash Can periodically. 

 

If the app or program you have downloaded is not working, you should check your operating system and if it's running version is compatible.  If it is so, please check the developer’s site to see if the file may have been brought down recently.  For further queries regarding the program or app not working please get in touch with the developer. 

The easiest way to search for programs on the Softonic website is by using the Quick Search Box at the top of our home page. Enter the name of the program you are searching for and hit the search icon.  If you do not know the specific name of a program, you can also search by using keywords, functions and features. Example: If you are looking for a media player but do not have a specific name of one, type “media player” into the search box to bring up results related to those keywords.

You do not have to pay anything in order to download a program from Softonic. Downloading a program on our site is totally free. However, note that the program license might not be free. We recommend you therefore to always check the license type before downloading a program. We do not offer any kind of paid subscription on our website. If money is being withdrawn from your bank account without your consent please contact your bank in order to find out the company responsible for this action so you can cancel the subscription.

A program’s license type can be seen on every program review. You will be able to find it on the search results page: Here you find the most usual license types:

• Free: You can use the program free of charge and there are no time restrictions.
• Trial version: You have an option to test the software for free for a limited amount of time after which you will have to purchase it if you want to use it. Demo: You have access to a limited version of the software that you can use for free (sometimes without time restrictions). Some of the program’s main features are not available if you do not purchase the full version.
• Full version: you will have to buy the program or game in order to download and use it.