What Is Google Play?

Google Play is the official store for Android media including apps, games, and ebooks. You can download content directly onto an Android device through the Play Store app or send content to a device from the Google Play website.

The Google Play Store app is on every Android device by default regardless of the manufacturer (Samsung, Google, Huawei, Xiaomi, etc.).

Google Play Apps and Games

The Google Play Store is home to millions of apps and games. They’re organized by device, so you can find Wear OS apps for your watch, normal apps for your phone/tablet, Windows-compatible games, and others that work on your TV, Chromebook, and car (check out these Android Auto apps!).

For kid-friendly apps and games, Google offers the Kids area of Google Play, where you can find appropriate content for ages 5 to 12.

Google Play Pass is a subscription service that gives you unlimited access to hundreds of games in the Google Play Store.

Google Play Books

The Books section of Google Play is an ebook distribution service where you can read books and listen to audiobooks on your Android device. There are millions of titles available, including some free audiobooks and ebooks.

Since Google Play also has apps, you can access a wider range of titles through third-party book-reading apps, such as Amazon’s Kindle and Audible apps.

Google Play’s ebooks are different from Google Books, which contains a library of scanned books from the collections of public and academic libraries.

Google Play Movies and TV

The Movies & TV section of Google Play lets you rent and buy movies and shows. Subsections let you browse just the movies, TV shows, or family-friendly content. While it’s available on the Google Play website, the Google TV app is used for renting and buying videos on your phone.

The Google Play Offers Tab

On the mobile version of the Google Play Store, you’ll also see an Offers tab. This section shows you apps that have sales and promotions going on, including discounts on in-game items and media, free demos, and more.

Google

Google Play’s History

Google Play launched on March 6, 2012, bringing together the previous Android marketplaces (Android Market, Google Music, and Google Books) under one brand. Google used to offer a Devices tab in the Play Store, but as its device offerings expanded and required more customer support, the company spun off devices into its storefront called the Google Store. Now, Google Play is for downloadable apps and content.

Google Play used to offer Chrome apps. However, those are now available through the Chrome Web Store.

FAQ

- How do I get Google Play credit?
  
  When you redeem a gift card, the amount is added to your Google Pay balance, which you can use to buy apps and other digital content and pay for subscriptions. You can also drop by a convenience store and pay cash to add to your Google Pay credit balance.

- What is a Google Play gift card?
  
  Google Play gift cards can be used to buy content on Google Play. You buy them for others in your life or for yourself online or in some convenience stores. You (or the recipient) redeem the gift cards online at Google Play, where the amount goes into your Google Pay balance.

- What is Google Play Services?
  
  Google Play Services is a background app that is necessary for downloading software and updates from the Google Play store. If you are having problems with an app, it could be because you need to update Google Play Services.

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