How to Restore Apps and Games to Your iPad

One of the great benefits of having a digital app collection is the ability to easily restore your purchases without paying for them again. Whether you had an issue with your iPad and rest it to factory default, you upgraded to a new iPad or simply remember a game that you enjoyed months back but had to delete to conserve storage space, it's pretty simple to download an app you've already purchased.

You don't even need to remember the exact name of the app.

1. First, launch the App Store. If you have a lot of apps downloaded to your iPad and don't want to hunt for the App Store icon, you can use the Spotlight Search feature to quickly find and launch any app.  
2. Once the App Store is opened, tap "Purchased" from the bottom toolbar. It is the second button from the right.  This will lead to a screen showing all of your purchased apps. 
3. At the very top, touch "Not on This iPad" to narrow the apps down to those you no longer have installed on the iPad.
4. Scroll down the list until you locate the app and simply tap the cloud button next to the app icon to restore it to the iPad.
5. If you have a 1st Generation iPad or haven't upgraded to the latest version of the iPad's operating system, you may be warned that you aren't on the version supported by the app. You can choose to download the last version of the app that supported your operating system -- which is the best thing to do for a 1st Generation iPad -- or choose to update iOS to the latest version before proceeding to download the app.  

Note: You can also simply search for an app in the App Store. Previously purchased apps will have the cloud button rather than having a price. You can even search for apps in Spotlight Search without opening the App Store directly.