Google is constantly optimizing and tweaking its apps through various A/B tests, and the latest one for thePlay Storehas us scratching our heads quite a bit. We’ve noticed that the familiar and handy install button is disappearing for some in the Play Store’s search results, which means that you actually have to tap through to the full app listing to install an app. This behavior isn’t in place for all results and apps, though, making the tweak feel arbitrary and random.
In the past, and as is still the case for many people right now, the Google Play Store showed an installbutton next to every result you would get for any search. While it’s a small convenience, it still makes it easier to quickly install an app you’ve found without having to look at any extra details about it. Recently, Google even added a drop-down menu to this install button, making it possible to choose which of your Android devices to download the new app on.
The install button was available for all regularly listed apps, whether they’re the ad result at the very top, the best result listed right below, or further results farther down the screen. The install button was never available for apps listed in the “Related to your search” and “You might also like” carousels that are usually added between the first result and the rest.
With the latest iteration of search we’ve spotted, things are getting more complicated. When you know exactly what app to search for, like “Adobe Acrobat” to get the familiar PDF reader, the expected “Adobe Acrobat Reader” result will be accompanied by an install button. However, when you scroll down below the carousels, you’ll see that none of the other results have an install button anymore. Instead, there is a chevron that makes it possible to look at the screenshots attached to the listing, but to jump the gun and install the app in question, you have to tap the listing and select the download button there.
While Google hasn’t publicly acknowledged this change, we can speculate why the company is testing it. When you search for an app’s specific name, you likely already know what you want to get, and you probably just want a quick way to install it without going through any hassles. However, if you have a more generic term or if you’ve confused one app for another, it might make sense to first take a proper look at the detailed listing in order to avoid installing the wrong app or, worse, a phishing or scamming app (some will always slip through Google’s malware and abuse scanners). In those cases, Google likely wants to enforce this extra tap to make sure to at least give you the chance to read up on the app, its description, and its reviews before you tap that install button.
The annoying side effect here is that if you’re someone who often installs and uninstalls apps, you have to be more precise with your queries to avoid an extra tap. Either way, it’s not clear if the change is rolling out widely already, so Google is likely still only testing the tweak, with the results open. It’s very well possible that the company scraps the experiment altogether.
