Google Play is the Android application store where you can also buy music and movies. Google Play can be accessed to download applications both from your smartphone and computer by opening the store.google.com/ store site.
The apps that are installed using the computer on the Google Play site are immediately downloaded to the Android phone or tablet if it is connected to the internet.
To better manage downloads, choices, searches, purchases and Android devices, cellphones and tablets, register, we see here 13 tips and tricks regarding Google Play, to explore all its features and options including the lesser known ones .
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1) How to shop on Google Play
To shop in the Google Play Store just add a credit card which can also be a simple PostePay or other prepaid.
There is no risk and you can manage transactions and payment methods on the Google Wallet site.
To view app orders or other purchases, open the Play Store web page, click on the gear at the top right and then press on " my orders ".
As you can see in point 4, you can shop on the Play Store even without a credit card .
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2) Force the use of the password before each purchase (from the mobile phone)
To avoid that a wrong touch by us or by someone who takes our smartphone, leads to the purchase of an app, it is better to impose the typing of the password first.
To limit purchases with a password, open the Play Store app on your Android smartphone or tablet, swipe from left to right on the screen and open Settings to find the password option for each purchase.
3) Filter the Apps
The apps on Google Play have a rating in terms of maturity, in the sense that some apps such as violent games or those with gambling are not for children.
From the Google Play app, open the settings and set the Content Filter according to your preferences.
4) Gift cards.
If you don't want to link your credit card to your Google Account, you can buy a gift card and buy credit for the Play Store.
To use the card, after buying it, open the Play Store app, swipe from left to right for the main menu and use the promo code option.
5) Add App to the Wish List
It is possible to add applications to a wish list to remember them in the future, perhaps for a future purchase.
To do this, just find the app and then touch the + on the top of the screen (you can also do the same via the web).
To view the wish list, tap the gear at the top right on the Google Play site or scroll the main menu on the left in the Play Store app.
6) Disable notifications of updates
By default Play Store automatically updates all Android applications if there is a new version available.
This is important, but it must be done only under wifi connection, in order not to waste data traffic.
Every time an app is updated, a notification appears that can be deleted.
Open the Play Store on Android, go to Settings and uncheck the notifications option.
7) Do not add new application icons on the main screen
All applications downloaded from the App Store, put a link on the homescreen which, over time, will be filled with these icons.
You can disable this option in the Settings .
8) View all Android devices used on the Play Store with the same Google Account
Any mobile phone or tablet connected to a Google account and used to access the Play Store will be automatically added to the profile.
You can see these devices from the Google Play site, by pressing on the gear on the right and then on Settings .
From the screen you can give a name to the various devices in order to better recognize them (useful if you have two identical mobile phones for example) and you can make sure that they do not appear in the installation menu or download an app from the Google Play site.
9) Android device management
From the Google Play site, by pressing on gear, you will notice the option Android Device Management, a recent novelty of the system.
It is a small burglar alarm integrated in the system of all smartphones and tablets, in order to find, ring or delete the memory of an Android phone.
To find out all about this, go to the "Android device management" guide article , the app to find your mobile phone
Note that on the page you can manage all the Android devices owned and used with the same account.
To select them, press on the triangle to the right of the name at the top left.
10) Search only for apps optimized for tablets
When doing a search on the App Store, the list is generic.
You can still filter searches by asking to display as results only optimized applications also for Android tablets from the Play Store (no longer exists).
In another article, the top 20 free apps for Android tablets
11) Refund Requests for purchased apps
When you buy an app, you can try it for 2 hours for free.
In fact, on the newly purchased application page the Remove button is called Refund and allows you to recover the money spent.
In order not to make a mistake, after a wrong purchase, you can open the Google Play site on the browser, click on the gear and go to the tab of my orders to find the latest apps purchased; from here report a problem in the menu and ask for a refund.
After two hours, no refunds can be made.
Further instructions are on this page.
12) The most downloaded apps ever
On the Google Play site there are many categories, some all new and some dedicated to games.
However, the statistics of the most downloaded apps ever from the Play Store are missing, which instead we managed to find here at Navigaweb.
13) You can activate the family group on the Play Store to share bought apps and movies
14) With Play Instant, it becomes possible to try a game before downloading it, with the aim of facilitating the game discovery process, without worrying about the space required in the internal memory and not to waste time installing and uninstalling applications.
For the moment only some games can be tried before installing them including Clash Royale, Words with Friends 2, Bubble Witch 3 Saga, Final Fantasy XV: A New Empire, Solitaire, Mighty Battles.
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