Google is introducing an easy app shortcut within the Play Store. This aims to make it easier to get to Play Collections, Play Collections’ curated lists of apps and games,

This new shortcut is intended to offer quicker and simpler means of gaining access to handpicked apps and games without trimming the needle. 

This update can encourage users to interact with the Play Store’s curated content. The feature simplifies navigation and offers a better overall user experience. 

What are Play Collections?

Play Collections are specially curated lists of apps and games selected by Google Play editors. So that users can discover apps and games curated by them. These collections cover many themes, such as productivity apps for students, fitness tools, creative apps, and more. 

Play Collections organizes apps in thoughtful groups to help users find apps that fit their needs and tools to help with their daily tasks. This is a simpler way of discovering apps. However, it also allows the user to see top-rated and relevant apps.

The Problem

Certainly, Play Collections are a good resource. However, finding them on the Play Store has not always been the most straightforward task. 

Usually, the collections were found by users navigating through various menus or from recommendations. 

The limited easy access to these curated lists helped prevent them from having a wide enough reach and making a needed impact.

The Solution

Now, Google has remedied this discoverability problem through a new Play Collections-specific shortcut app. 

This shortcut, which is probably available if you press the Google Play Store icon, might lead to the entity Play Collections section of the store without any fuss. 

This simple change drastically reduces the number of steps needed to browse collections, making it much easier.

Benefits of the App Shortcut

Improved Discoverability: The app shortcut makes Play Collections more discoverable and easier to find, increasing the number of users who visit It.

Streamlined Process: The shortcut gives users quicker access to the feature, especially when the workload grows. It enhances the user experience on the Play Store, as it automatically shows shortcuts to discover.

More open to Engagement: Google may also experience more engagement with the curated lists of Play Collections. They are made more accessible to users and developers with apps within those lists.

How to Use the Shortcut

The exact method of accessing the shortcut could vary slightly depending on the Android version and launcher. However, they will typically follow one of the following:

The shortcut should appear when you long-press the Play Store icon on the home screen or in the app drawer.

Tapping the “i” (info) icon on the Play Store icon might also offer access to app shortcuts in the app info menu.

Looking Ahead

A small but important change to this app shortcut for Play Collections may help discover. It may also engage with Play Store apps. 

It represents Google’s continued push to tweak the Play Store experience and simplify the process of finding a good app or game. 

If Google introduces some of these other shortcuts for other Play Store sections in the future, app discovery could become even simpler.

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