In 2019, the Google Play Store received a material theme redesign followed by a dark mode. The next big overhaul is here and sees new navigation, as well as updated settings.
Once rolled out, a blue overlay will appear to highlight your profile avatar in the top right corner. Your current account will be shown at the top with others hidden until you tap expand. Below that, Google displays your Play points status with a progress bar.
The My Apps & Games page is unchanged, but Library is new and includes links to Wishlist, Google TV / Play Movies & TV, and Play Books. “Payments and Subscriptions” is merged into one page, with “Play Protect” on the next. Notifications and Offers and Play Pass have been moved down from the previous navigation drawer placement. However, the number of warnings is displayed briefly in the search bar when you first open the app. Settings and Help & Feedback complete the list.
Overall, this new navigation reflects how Google is gradually phasing out navigation loads on Android, given their general incompatibility with gesture navigation.
Elsewhere, the Settings menu has been revamped. It’s still technically one long list, but the four main sections are hidden by default. There are no new preferences, but everything, including ‘Family’, is centralized here.
- General: Account, auto update, preferences
- User control: Fingerprint, purchase verification
- Family: Parental Controls, Parent Guide
- About: Play Store, Build Version, Device Certification
Some users have had this Play Store redesign in recent weeks, but Google is now rolling it out widely. If it doesn’t show up automatically on the next install, long press the home screen icon to open the app info page and ‘Force Quit’. After that, the revamp should appear.
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