Google Play Store: 6 tips and features you should definitely know

Every year we have the right. new smartphones More powerful than ever and with more features than ever before. But while we tend to follow suit and change phones regularly, our experience remains the same for the most part. First of all, it is affected by the applications we choose to download on our phone. With Android, it’s the Google Play Store direction we naturally turn. But did you know that it’s not just a simple app store?

Today we will teach you how to use some hidden tricks and features to further improve your Android mastery. Are you ready to become Play Store professionals? Follow the leader !

Install a Play Store app not available in France

Recently, instances of apps that are available on the Play Store but not in France have been piling up. For example, we can mention Pokémon Duel, which is currently only available for certain countries, as it was for Pokémon Go on a temporary basis.

using a VPN

However, this limitation is relatively easy to circumvent: all you have to do is use one of the many VPNs available on Android! Besides being able to secure your connections, they give you the ability to: almost change the country to access certain limited content. What’s true for Netflix is ​​also true for the Play Store! The advantage of this solution is that you are sure to benefit from updates to your apps in real time.

By downloading APKs directly

If using a VPN scares you, another solution is available for you: Download it outside of the Play Store on sites that provide .APKs for them, like APKMirror. Be careful though: This is not recommended because many hackers take advantage of it to break the security of your smartphone, as in Super Mario Run. So, prefer known sources or sources that verify APKs like we do for example.

Once you have the APK you want on your phone, navigate to:

• Settings
• Security
• Tick ​​“Unknown sources”

In this way, you can now install applications outside of the Play Store. Be careful though: they don’t update automatically, so you risk infecting yourself again by downloading updates. It is better to opt for a VPN for the security of your data.

Manage your apps directly in Play Store

Managing your apps can quickly seem restrictive on Android for anyone who doesn’t like navigating through their settings or doesn’t have an overlay to make the task easier. Know that you can manage your apps directly from a familiar interface: Play Store!

To access the list of your apps, simply do the following:

• Click the menu icon in the top right (or swipe from left to right on the homepage)
• Go to “Apps & games”
• Select “My games & apps”

Update or uninstall an app

In this menu you will see primarily installed apps needs an update or recently received an update. An opportunity to check if your phone has the latest versions of your apps. But that’s not all: with this menu you can also click on an application and choose to uninstall it. This simpler and clearer way to manage your software might work better for you, especially if a smartphone seems a bit too complex at first glance.

Find a previously used app

Have you just changed your smartphone and can’t find an app you had before? Do you regret later uninstalling an app but can’t find its name or find it in the store? No problem: in the same menu, select the “All” category at the top of the interface. This category lists all the apps you have installed on any of your Android phones, based on the Google account you use.

Set parental controls on your smartphone

Being a parent also often means letting your child play with your smartphone when they’re bored. There is no problem with this, but care should be taken not to do this at a very young age, otherwise it will hinder its development. But don’t forget to configure it if you don’t want to be one of those parents who end up with a big bill for purchases made by their children, or if you want to prevent them from accessing violent apps and games. parental control.

To do this, all you need to do is:

• Go to Play Store menu
• Choose “Settings”
• Scroll down to the “User Commands” category
• Tap on “Parental Controls”
• Enable feature

From there you will need to Configure PIN, and restriction rules. If your child wants to access restricted content, this code will be requested! Note that you can also configure this on your child’s smartphone and disable it when he/she is old enough.

Get a refund for an app from the Play Store

Getting a refund for a paid app on the Play Store is extremely simple, there is only one limit: You must request it within 2 hours of purchase. So be aware.

After installing a paid app, there will be 2 options on the Play Store page: “Open” or “Refund” instead of the Uninstall button. Also note that if you remove it from your phone within 2 hours of purchase, you will be refunded. You can have your account request more frequent ID requests to avoid further frustration, especially when it comes to children using your phone. For him:

• Go to Play Store menu
• Choose “Settings”
• Scroll down to the “User Commands” category
• Tap on “Require Purchase Verification”
• “For all purchases […]”

So you will be asked for your password with every purchase. No more fear!

Build a family library to share your purchases

Even though your family members each have their own Google Account, that doesn’t mean you can’t share some of your virtual assets with them. Whether you want to buy a game for your son, a book for your wife, or ship yours to your family, all you have to do is set up a family library.

be a procedure a little longer More than the rest of these tips, we point you to our dedicated setup guide. But keep in mind that it is possible to decide exactly which apps and purchases to share or not to prevent daddy adult games from ending up on the little kid’s phone!

Stop automatic Play Store updates

This automatic updates Let your apps get the latest versions without worrying. For some reason you may not want to take advantage of it anymore. Fortunately, it is possible to easily stop this attempt, which Google has enabled by default, by doing a little digging in the settings. Here are the steps to follow.

• go to settings
• Later on “Automatic app updates”
• And finally “Do not update apps”