Apple Store App Now Available in India for Purchases, Training, Support

Nearly two years after launching its first two physical Apple Stores, and over four years after it started offering online shopping in India, the Apple Store app has been updated to support purchases and appointment bookings here. The app, which is preloaded on iPhones in many countries, is now available for users in India to download on iPhones running iOS 17 or later, iPads running iPadOS 17 or later, and Apple Watches running watchOS 9.

The Apple Store app allows users to buy Apple devices online and configure them as required. Some products can be personalised with engraved text or emoji characters. Older iPhones can be traded in, and customers can see financing options and offers. If you give it permission, the app can see what devices are already associated with your Apple account and can show you their trade-in value. 

The configuration and purchase process is the same as what users see on Apple’s website. Purchases can be delivered or picked up from a physical Apple Store. Gifting options will be available in the future, according to an Apple statement.  

Subscription services including Apple TV+, Apple Arcade and Apple Music are promoted through the app. Users will see reminders for unclaimed free trials. The Apple Store app also shows recommended accessories for devices you already own, but when Acko Byte checked, there were some mismatches such as a MagSafe wallet suggested for an iPhone XR which does not have the magnetic ring that would allow it to snap on.

A section called “Go Further” lets users watch video tutorials to help them get their devices set up and learn about features. Those who live near a physical Apple Store can book a slot for a Today at Apple session, hosted by Apple employees or expert guests. Topics include getting started with the basic features of an Apple device, learning better photography tips, and coding simple apps using Swift Playground.

Apple is known to be working on launching additional physical store locations in India. The next one is likely to be in Borivali, Mumbai, in early 2025, followed by one at New Delhi’s DLF Promenade Mall in 2026, and then yet another one in south Mumbai in 2027. The company has also been reported to be scouting for locations in Pune and Bengaluru. Meanwhile, sales are booming here and local production has also been ramping up, with the iPhone 16 Pro series becoming Apple’s first premium models to be assembled in India, and early prototyping for the iPhone 17 series reportedly already under way here. India has also become a huge export hub for iPhones, as the company works to reduce its reliance on the Chinese manufacturing ecosystem.