Jul 27, 2023 14:00:00

Google announces that apps that do not support tablets, folding smartphones, etc. will be ranked lower on Google Play

From June to July 2023, Google released the Android tablet '

Google Pixel Tablet ' and the foldable smartphone ' Google Pixel Fold '. With the release of a series of large screen devices, Google announced that it will change the ranking algorithm of the official app store Google Play . A new algorithm reveals that apps that support large-screen devices such as the Google Pixel Tablet and Google Pixel Fold rank higher, while apps that don't support large-screen devices rank lower. .

Android Developers Blog: Introducing a new Play Store for large screens
https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2023/07/introducing-new-play-store-for-large-screens.html

Google says it will start downranking non-tablet apps in the Play Store | Ars Technica

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/07/google-says-it-will-start-downranking-non-tablet-apps-in-the-play-store/

On July 25, 2023, Google will revamp the app content page, improve rankings and quality, streamline store navigation, and split up to make it easier for users to find high-quality apps for large screen devices on Google Play. We announced that we will introduce a screen search experience.

◆ 1: Renewal of the content page of the application
The layout of the app introduction page will be revamped for large screen devices. Some apps will now display a movie at the top of the introduction page.

◆ 2: Ranking and quality improvement
Google said, 'We have changed Google Play's ranking algorithm to promote high-quality apps that look great on the big screen.' According to Google, apps and games that comply with

the large-screen app quality guidelines will rank higher in Google Play search results and on the home screen. On the other hand, apps and games that don't support both portrait and landscape orientations without proper resizing will be ranked lower.

Google's ``Large Screen App Quality Guidelines'' require keyboard, mouse, and stylus support, two-window app display, drag and drop support, and folding display recognition.

On Google Play, even in special features such as Google's recommended application 'Editors' Choice', support for large screens is taken into account, and optimized applications are more likely to be featured.

In addition, Google also touched on the ` ` warning and reduced visibility of app listing information for apps and games that do not meet the technical quality standards '' announced in 2022, and apps and games with a crash rate of more than 8% on devices are ranked. reveals that it is declining. So far, this requirement has been rolled out for smartphones, but now it will be extended to large-screen devices as well.

◆ 3: Streamlined store navigation
Store navigation on Google Play has become simpler than before. On large screen devices such as Google Pixel Tablet, the navigation of categories such as 'Games', 'Apps', 'Books', 'Kids' is placed on the left side, making it easier for users to tap with their thumbs when holding the device sideways.

◆ 4: Split screen search
Large screen devices implement a split-screen search feature. This makes it possible to display search results and app detail pages side by side and compare multiple apps without switching between screens.

'These changes are just the beginning of our journey to create new Google Play experiences tailored for large-screen devices,' Google said. These changes will be rolled out in the coming weeks.