A new Google Play Store interface is now being rolled out to all Android users. It looks mostly the same as before, but reorganizes the store’s layout and streamlines the menus, so finding your way around the app will be different. Here’s a quick tour of the new design of the Google Play Store app, showing where the different sections are now.
A new navigation menu
The first thing you’ll notice is the new search bar and profile menu. Your Google account profile is still displayed in the top right corner, but the hamburger menu that used to be next to the search bar has disappeared. Instead, now tap on your profile icon to open a new menu overlay.
At the top of this menu is your Google account information. Tap the down arrow to switch to, add or manage the other accounts on your device. Here you will also see any warning messages when you open the Play Store.
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Further on in the new menu window are shortcuts to other sections, including:
- My apps and games
- Library
- Payments and subscriptions:
- Pay protect
- Notifications and offers
- Play pass
- Play points
- Settings
- Help and feedback
Almost all of these pages look the same, with a few exceptions, including the new ‘Library’ menu, where you’ll find a link to your Play Store wishlist and shortcuts to view your video purchases in the Google TV app and your ebooks in Play Books (note that this Library menu is different from the Library section in the “My apps and games” tab, which displays all of your Play Store purchases).
Overhauled settings menu
The other changes can be found in the Settings menu, which has been reorganized into four separate sections with different submenus:
- General: Includes account preferences, notification settings, download preferences, dark / light mode themes and other app-related options.
- User control: Options for customizing purchase verification requirements and whether apps install automatically after purchases.
- Family: Parental controls, parent guide information and family group management.
- About: View the app version, Play Protect certification status, and other license information
The four sections are collapsed by default; tap the header to see all the preferences and information in each.
Browse and buy is still the same
As for navigating the Play Store itself, the experience is much the same as before: you select between games, apps, movies and TV and books from the tabs at the bottom of the screen, or slide between categories like recommendations, top lists, new releases and more below the search bar, which you can use to search for specific products by keyword.
The new Google Play redesign is part of the latest app update and should appear after the new version is installed. If not, long press the Play Store app icon on your splash screen and tap the “I” icon and select “Force quit.” Restart the app and you should be in the new digs of the Play Store.
[9to5Google]