Navigating the site The programs listed on this site are divided into different operating systems for easy browsing, including Windows, Mac, Linux, Palm OS, and Windows CE/Pocket PC. There are two methods to find the software you seek: browsing and searching. Browsing: Once you’ve chosen your appropriate operating system, you can browse through the site using a variety of methods. To browse by category, click a category listed on our front page--for example, Internet software, Utilities, and Games. Our audience-based navigation, accessible via tabs at the top of every page, is geared toward Web developers, software developers, business professionals, IS/IT administrators, personal tech enthusiasts, and mobile users. These one-stop resource pages include premium editorial features, essential software collections, and highlighted reviews from our User Opinions. Our lists of Most Popular downloads, New releases, and Our picks are a good starting point for finding high-quality software downloads. Searching: If you have a certain type of download or particular product in mind, you can query our library by using the search box available on each page of our site. Search the whole site by leaving the default "Downloads" selected in the drop-down menu next to the search box. If you're in a particular category and only want to search for software in that category, select the category from the drop-down menu next to the search box. Want to get more specific with your searches? Try using our Advanced Search page. For the latest and greatest downloadable programs, our home page provides collections of software applications that provide solutions for both the beginner and seasoned downloader. On the right side of our home page you’ll find our "Just In" section, which is updated on a daily basis and lists the very latest releases of our more popular program listings. If you want more in-depth software reviews, related resources, or news from around the CNET network, check out the CNET tech sites links at the very top of the page. Some helpful searching tips: Simple one-word searches work the best. If you are searching on a word that is too general, such as "Windows" or "Macintosh," you might not find what you are looking for or you may find too many entries. For the latest and greatest downloadable programs, our home page provides collections of software applications that provide solutions for both the beginner and seasoned downloader. On the right side of our home page you’ll find our "Just In" section, which is updated on a daily basis and lists the very latest releases of our more popular program listings. If you want more in-depth software reviews, related resources, or news from around the CNET network, check out the CNET tech sites links at the very top of the page. If you separate your search terms with a comma or the word "or," you will search for either of the two words. For example, entering "night or day" would return any reference to "night" or to "day." The same applies for "night, day." If your search words are separated by the word "and," an ampersand (&), or a plus sign, your search results will contain all of the words. To use the previous example, only references that mentioned both "night" and "day" would be returned. Spaces must be used between all the words. For multiword search terms, if you include quote marks around the words, the site will search for the exact string of words (such as a phrase, a specific title, or a minimum requirement). If you do not include any quotation marks around the words, it will search for each word individually. Wildcard searching is available with the asterisk symbol. For example, a search on "simulat" may reveal no titles; but using the wildcard "simulat*" will show you all titles mentioning something that simulates or is related to a simulation. However, please keep in mind that a wildcard search may take longer than a normal search and should be used only as a last resort. Software licenses: free vs. trial There are two types of software available on this site: free downloads and trial downloads. Trial downloads can generally be categorized into two types of software: demonstration versions of commercially sold programs, and "try before you buy" software packages that include functionality limitations such as a trial period or disabled features. In the case of "try before you buy" software (commonly referred to as "shareware"), you may download it freely, try it out, and pass it around to people you know. However, after using shareware for a trial period, you are expected to register and pay for it, or delete it from your system. Free downloads are copyrighted, fully functional software that you can download, use, and legally share with colleagues and friends. But while free downloads do not carry traditional registration fees, they may include ad-serving components that display banner advertisements, initiate pop-up ads, and even track user data. Regardless of software license, we strongly suggest that you carefully read the download’s license agreement before installing the software on your computer. Still need help? Have a question that is not addressed in our help pages? Visit our support form.