Google Play Store is refining how users interact with their installed apps by enhancing the ‘Collections’ feature. Initially introduced last year, Collections offers a categorized feed to streamline content discovery. Now, the App Library within Collections is taking center stage, making it even more useful for managing and accessing apps efficiently.
What is Google Play Collections?
Collections is a feature in the Google Play Store that curates content from supported apps and organizes it into seven categories: Watch, Game, Read, Listen, Food, Shop, and Social. This helps users find relevant apps and services quickly without sifting through endless app lists.
The Improved ‘App Library’ Feature
Alongside Collections, Google Play includes an App Library, which automatically organizes installed apps into intuitive folders such as:
- Business
- Communication
- Creativity
- Food
- Games
- Health & Fitness
- Listen
- News
- Productivity
- Read
- Reference
- Smart Home
- Social
- Travel & Local
- Utilities
- Watch
At the top of the App Library, users now see ‘Top Used’ and ‘Recently Added’, allowing them to access frequently used or newly installed apps instantly.
Key Update: App Library Now More Prominent
Previously buried at the end of the Collections carousel, the App Library is now the first item in the lineup, starting with Play Store version 45.4. This change ensures users no longer need to scroll to the end or tap a small 3×3 grid icon to locate their apps.
Why This Matters?
For users like me, Collections hasn't always been a go-to feature, but the refined App Library makes it more valuable. The ‘Recently Added’ section is particularly handy when trying to locate an app just installed but forgotten amidst hundreds of icons.
While I don’t actively use every Collection, I’ve found the ‘Listen’ category helpful for accessing YouTube Music and Pocket Casts. If you want to tailor your Collections, simply tap the profile icon, navigate to ‘Collections Settings’, and rearrange or hide carousel items to match your preferences.
Google Play Store Is Becoming More User-Centric
Beyond Collections, Google is pushing updates that enhance user experience, such as:
- Removing P2P ‘Share Apps’ functionality to streamline security.
- Enhancing Android widgets with a new Play Store filter.
- Making Play Protect non-disableable during phone and video calls for added security.
Google Play Store’s Collections and App Library updates make navigating installed apps smoother and more intuitive. While the feature still has room for growth, its improved positioning and accessibility are steps in the right direction. If you haven’t explored Collections yet, now might be the time to give it another look—it could change how you interact with your apps daily.
Would love to hear what you think—have you started using Collections more often? Drop your thoughts in the comments!
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