A method for downloading an application includes, after learning an application downloaded by a second user equipment, sending, by a first user equipment that has an association relationship with the second user equipment, a downloading request for the application downloaded by the second user equipment to an application server, where the downloading request carries capability information of the first user equipment, and receiving, by the first user equipment, an application to be downloaded, where the application matches the capability information of the first user equipment and is sent by the application server. Using the foregoing technical solution, the application does not need to be manually downloaded for the user equipment, thereby saving manual operation and improving flexibility of downloading an application.