As the go-to app marketplace for Android users, Google makes sure the Play Store is updated frequently to fix bugs and enhance the user experience. Just this week, the company finished rolling out a new privacy feature that makes it easy to delete your account data when uninstalling an app you don’t want to use anymore. Another update appears to be around the corner, and if it comes to fruition, it will shake up the process you use when downloading an app from the platform.
Currently, downloading an app from the Google Play Store is followed by multiple options that let you open the newly downloaded app, uninstall it, or ignore it and continue surfing the Android marketplace.
However, Google seems to be working on a new feature that launches apps immediately after installation, per code spotted by AssembleDebug in a report for Android Authority. While there would still be an option to keep things the old way, the update would save an extra tap every time you want to try out a new app.
According to a new report by Android Authority via AssembleDebug, the latest version of the Google Play Store (version 41.4.19) now allows you to launch an app immediately after downloading and installing it.
One annoyance with the Google Play Store is that it doesn’t auto launch apps after they’ve been installed. Instead, you need to find the app in your library or where ever it gets put on your home screen.
Authority also did a teardown of the latest Play Store version, which showed in-progress code that hints at this feature being introduced in the future.Further, we see strings within the Play Store app pointing to a feature named ‘App Auto Open’ that will automatically open the apps when you download them, instead of manually tapping on the Open button, or launching the app from the home screen.
It appears that as part of this feature, a notification will pop up when App Auto Open activates. It will ring or vibrate your device depending on how it’s configured. The feature also appears to be toggleable as well but looks like it will be looks like it will be on by default.
Android Authority says that despite workarounds they couldn’t get the feature to actually work in their breakdown. Instead, they found the code but it’s not live yet.
Additionally, the App Auto Open feature will be flexible, allowing users to control the downloaded app’s notifications, duration, and sound depending on the device’s settings.
Currently, there’s no exact information about when Google will activate the feature and make it available to the public, many sources have hinted that this feature could go live within the next few months.Coupled with the alleged new notification for the Google Play Store, as seen Android Police, App Auto Open would be a boon.
The notification system sends users a reminder 24 hours after the installation of an app if it is left unopened.
Assuming both features actually release you could automatically get an app opened or be reminded you forgot to open it once it’s installed on your Android smartphone. It could also be combined with the recently released feature that allows for simultaneous downloads.
