As more and more developers submit their apps to Google Play, it can be difficult to sort through the options. The Android store has come a long way in making its app browser user-friendly, especially if you learn a few simple shortcuts.
If you’re new to Google Play or have trouble finding what you’re looking for, these tips should get you in and out of the Android store quickly, unless you like to window shop.
The information below applies to any Android device, including Samsung, Google, Huawei, and Xiaomi.
How to Update Google Play Services
Use the search tool
If you’ve heard of an awesome app you want to try, use the search tool at the top of the Play Store screen to enter the app’s name. If you can’t remember the exact name, enter as many words as possible or terms that describe what the app does.
Search the Google Play Store
Suppose you have heard that Cardio Trainer is a great running app and you decide to install it. However, the time to install it, you no longer remember its name. In this case, type cardio, fitness or running to display a list of apps that match your search criteria. The more you type in the app name, the more likely you are to find the exact app. The search tool is smart and powerful enough to deliver results that closely match your criteria.
If you’re looking for a popular app, like Spotify, the Play Store suggests it first, even showing its logo, as soon as you start typing something similar. This way, finding popular apps is much faster.
You can also search for a particular task or function that you are looking for an app for, even if you don’t have a specific app in mind. In the example shown above, a search for buying tickets yielded a series of applications for buying tickets online for various events.
Searches by category
Each app in Google Play is categorized into a specific category. If you’re looking for a new game, choose the Games category, then scroll through all the apps that match that category.
Each app is listed by name, developer, and total customer rating. Applications are sorted by rows of categories. The most common categories are: Recommended, Top Rated, Top Paid, and Top Free. Depending on the category, you will find other ways to sort and order the lists.
Google Play Store Categories
If you want a more precise breakdown, choose the Categories section within the category. Under Games, you’ll find all sorts of game genres that can narrow your search and allow you to find something you might not have thought you’d find.
When you find an app that looks interesting, select it to read a brief description of the app, watch screenshots, and read customer reviews. If you rely on customer reviews as your primary resource, be sure to read plenty of reviews. There are many who write great reviews but only give the app one star. Others give low ratings because they expected the app to do something the developer never said it would do.
Apps on the home screen
When you first launch Google Play, you land on the home screen. This screen is divided into rows that show relevant content, like apps you’ve recently installed on other devices and new apps from a category you like. You can keep scrolling through the feature lists because you might find something worth downloading.
Google Play Store home screen
The home screen also offers other ways to find apps. Use the menu at the top of the screen to take a look at the Top Charts. These are the top or newest free and paid apps. These apps and games get the most attention.
You can also defer to publishers in the Play Store with the Editor’s Choice section. These are people who review apps professionally and generally know what to look for. The page is divided into common app categories to help you find what you’re looking for.
Don’t forget the Offers tab
The “Deals” tab, located at the bottom of the Google Play Store, is another good place to search for new apps. In this section, you will see available, time-limited offers for add-ons, game items, and special promotions.
If you’re looking for a good app to order food, for example, you can check the “Deals” tab to see if any of them offer promotions for free delivery. The Deals tab also offers discounts on books, movies, and other media.