{"id":249878,"date":"2026-01-17T17:19:10","date_gmt":"2026-01-17T17:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/249878\/"},"modified":"2026-01-17T17:19:10","modified_gmt":"2026-01-17T17:19:10","slug":"7-most-annoying-google-play-store-issues-ruining-the-experience","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/249878\/","title":{"rendered":"7 most annoying Google Play Store issues ruining the experience"},"content":{"rendered":"

At the end of 2025, Google announced several changes aimed at improving how users find and install apps on Android. These changes included cracking down on unsigned apps<\/a> from developers using alternative app stores and highlighting apps on the Play Store for regular battery misuse<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both measures are presented as pro-consumer, but if Google truly wants to improve users\u2019 lives, it should address the myriad issues that are immediately apparent when opening the Google Play Store itself.<\/p>\n

The Play Store is a guaranteed headache, and every time I open the app, I\u2019m overwhelmed by the confusing UI with conflicting visual elements. But this isn\u2019t its only issue. Below, I outline some of the more apparent Play Store problems that Google should remedy in 2026.<\/p>\n

What is your primary problem with the Google Play Store?<\/p>\n

47 votes<\/p>\n

Excessive ads.<\/p>\n

45%<\/p>\n

Poor search functionality.<\/p>\n

4%<\/p>\n

Lack of useful app information.<\/p>\n

6%<\/p>\n

Inadequate changelogs.<\/p>\n

21%<\/p>\n

Unclear pricing details.<\/p>\n

13%<\/p>\n

Absence of a rollback feature for app versions.<\/p>\n

4%<\/p>\n

Ineffective user review system.<\/p>\n

4%<\/p>\n

Other (elaborate in the comments).<\/p>\n

2%<\/p>\n

Please, Google \u2014 there are enough ads<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start at the top. It\u2019s no secret that I have a complicated relationship with ads in apps. I\u2019m well aware that developers need to earn a living, and I completely respect that, but there is a point where the sheer number of ads detracts from an app\u2019s usability. The Google Play Store is a prime example of this.<\/p>\n

Immediately upon opening the Play Store, I\u2019m greeted by a flurry of ads urging me to download apps I don\u2019t want. Google just can\u2019t help but shove ads into practically every nook and cranny of the Play Store, making finding the app I actually want more difficult than juggling water.<\/p>\n

How bad is the ad situation on the Play Store? Well:<\/p>\n

Open the app: the lion\u2019s share of the first screen is just ads.
\nTap on the search icon: there\u2019s an ad.
\nActivate the actual search screen: more ads!
\nSearch results? There\u2019s an unrelated ad for an app I didn\u2019t search for.<\/p>\n

The Play Store experience in 2026 involves dodging ads more than downloading apps. This shouldn\u2019t be the case.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not just a problem for usability, either. These ads generate additional revenue for Google, but they also trick unsuspecting or inexperienced users into downloading random apps. Given my experience helping my dad navigate an ad-related snafu on his device, I can\u2019t help but feel that this is a very slippery slope.<\/p>\n

The search company still gets search wrong<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Google is still a generic trademark for most search-related activities on the internet, so it\u2019s remarkable that a company that made its name in this field is so resistant to delivering a comprehensive search experience on its apps.<\/p>\n

The half-hearted search in Google Keep and the poor search function on the Pixel Launcher are just two examples. However, once again, the Play Store is the best example.<\/p>\n

Google makes it more difficult than it should be to initiate a search in the Play Store. Users are forced to tap the search icon twice<\/a> to open the keyboard, which is simply unnecessary. The experience doesn\u2019t improve beyond this, though.<\/p>\n

Google makes it more difficult than it should be to initiate a search in the Play Store.<\/p>\n

Far too often, search terms highlight an entirely different app than expected. This is common on a desktop. The top of search results also includes a massive ad that occupies a third of the page on the app, which, once again, can easily fool the undiscerning user into installing something else entirely.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t want to miss the best from Android Authority?<\/p>\n

\"google\"google<\/a><\/p>\n

This also has other related problems. Developers often name their apps to game search rather than providing an adequate explanation or giving them a unique title. You can test this yourself by searching for PDF apps<\/a>. The sheer number of duplicates makes picking the right app an absolute nightmare for experienced users. Can you imagine how overwhelming this is for newcomers?<\/p>\n

The Play Store could greatly benefit from filtered search, allowing users to filter out low-rated apps, those released within the previous week, search within specific genres, and various other key details. A great example of an app that outclasses the Play Store in this regard is App Finder<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Quality over quantity of information<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

I\u2019d argue that individual app pages on the Play Store show far too much information, but it\u2019s not the quantity that\u2019s the problem \u2014 it\u2019s the quality.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t say that I\u2019ve ever downloaded an app because of its download total, the top \u201crelevant\u201d review, or the size of the app itself. Sure, all these details are important to some degree, but they could certainly be presented in a more useful manner.<\/p>\n

Here are a few concepts that would benefit users:<\/p>\n

I\u2019d love to see details about download trends rather than an overall total. This would allow me to judge how popular an app is in a certain period, making trending apps easier to find. It would be a much better indicator of popularity than Google\u2019s popular lists and also provide some context to that nebulous \u201c50k downloads\u201d indicator.
\nA review score trend would allow me to visualize whether an app has improved (in the eyes of its users) over the past month or since its latest version update. A simple green up arrow or red down arrow to indicate a change in rating month-to-month. This can be placed in the reviews section on the app\u2019s main page.
\nA note on update frequency would be useful to gauge a developer\u2019s commitment to addressing issues and implementing new features in their apps. We have a \u201clast updated\u201d notice, but it would be even more useful if Google added a frequency indicator. It could be a \u201cx updates this year\u201d or a \u201cx updates per month\u201d detail.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m sure regular Play Store users could think of several additional information snippets they\u2019d prefer seeing over the current meaningless figures. Please share your ideas in the comments section.<\/p>\n

Demands for more standardized, accurate, and useful changelogs<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Speaking of app updates, I\u2019m not quite done here. As they currently stand, changelogs on the Play Store serve little informational purpose. They\u2019re not standardized, so it\u2019s up to the developer to choose what to include within them. This means that, more often than not, these integral textual updates, which should inform the user about new features, fixed problems, and future app progression, do nothing of the sort.<\/p>\n

Changelogs should explain to users what has been added, removed, changed, and planned in an app.<\/p>\n

I\u2019d like to see a set of key points addressed in every changelog for every Play Store app, including what has been changed or fixed, details of features added, any items that have been removed, and plans for future versions.\u00a0This should be standardized and mandated for every app on the Play Store \u2014 including Google apps. Google has been among the key offenders in this regard in recent years. It needs to set a better example.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, detailed changelogs would allow users to make a more informed decision about how an update will affect their experience, or if the app they\u2019re about to download has a clear roadmap.<\/p>\n

App Store-like pricing details<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

The Apple App Store doesn\u2019t get enough credit for providing users with clear and concise pricing information for the apps it hosts. I can easily open the app on an iPhone and see exactly how much an app will cost me, either one-time, monthly, or annually, along with the names of these subscription tiers. Currently, the Play Store only details the range of in-app purchases, not any one-time payments or ongoing payments.<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t think I need to explain why this is an incredibly important detail, especially since many apps offer free trials before dumping pricing demands on users. Outlining these details from the outset would enable consumers to avoid any unexpected credit card surprises.<\/p>\n

Would you stick with Android if the Play Store was your only option for apps?<\/p>\n

245 votes<\/p>\n

Yes, I have no problem with getting all my apps from the Play Store.<\/p>\n

32%<\/p>\n

Yes, I’d find other ways of installing the apps I want.<\/p>\n

28%<\/p>\n

Maybe, if Google cleans up the Play Store.<\/p>\n

5%<\/p>\n

No, I might as well leave for Apple.<\/p>\n

27%<\/p>\n

I have a more complex opinion (elaborate in the comments).<\/p>\n

8%<\/p>\n

A roll-back to the previous app version facility<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Google might malign third-party app stores, but these repositories do so many things right. Let\u2019s take F-Droid<\/a> as an example. One of its more useful features that\u2019s often overlooked is its offering of older app versions, allowing users to roll back to previous app builds if necessary. This might not sound like a must-have feature, and it isn\u2019t, given the other problems I\u2019ve outlined above, but it does allow users to temporarily sidestep any new bugs or issues that arise in new versions of apps.<\/p>\n

I understand the technical demands of such a feature might not warrant the benefits, but even if it\u2019s a single previous version for the apps available on the Play Store, or the option made available to developers themselves, I can see the value for users.<\/p>\n

A review of the reviews system<\/p>\n

\"google<\/p>\n

Andy Walker \/ Android Authority<\/p>\n

Lastly, let me touch on another key element of every marketplace: user reviews. Opinions from those who have used an app before you are critical for understanding if that product is indeed for you, its pitfalls, and its strengths. A well-written review is sometimes all I need to hit that download or buy button, but these are few and far between.<\/p>\n

Granted, this can be attributed to the content users provide, but Google could also improve the way the information is presented.<\/p>\n

To use Deezer\u2019s Play Store entry as an example, the first review listed by Google was posted by a user from 2020. Now I agree that six years ago certainly feels like yesterday, but that is an eternity for an app. So much could\u2019ve changed for the better or worse, and this review simply won\u2019t take that into account. I\u2019m not sure how Google regards this review as \u201cMost relevant,\u201d given its age.<\/p>\n

I believe a more effective solution would be a templated review system that asks users specific questions about aspects of the app, such as performance, UI, stability, and whether it\u2019s worth its price. These details could then be better collated using the current AI tools, providing potential users with a quick list of pros and cons. It would also help developers understand where their app might need further improvement.<\/p>\n

I will say that I do like the Play Store\u2019s Maps-like keyword cloud for reviews, but there\u2019s still room for more improvement.<\/p>\n

The Google Play Store is one of Google\u2019s older properties and is now almost unrecognizable from its early days as Android Market. This is certainly a good thing if you\u2019re an advertiser looking to promote your product on the Play Store, but it\u2019s a horrible experience for those seeking high-quality apps for their Android phone.<\/p>\n

These problems I\u2019ve outlined have existed for some time now, but given Google\u2019s clear intention to make third-party apps from external app stores more difficult to install in the future, it\u2019s more important than ever that Google addresses the issues on its own marketplace. This would also benefit consumers \u2014 developers have plenty to gain from a cleaner, swifter, and smarter Play Store experience.<\/p>\n

Thank you for being part of our community. Read our\u00a0Comment Policy<\/a> before posting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At the end of 2025, Google announced several changes aimed at improving how users find and install apps…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":249879,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[1711,20302,61,60,202,80],"class_list":{"0":"post-249878","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-mobile","8":"tag-google","9":"tag-google-play-store","10":"tag-ie","11":"tag-ireland","12":"tag-mobile","13":"tag-technology"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/249879"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}