We as a whole know Google Play Store as the official spot for all our application needs on Android yet the truth of the matter is, Google Play is considerably more than just applications. The Store brings applications and amusements as well as films, eBooks, music and so on. That is not all however, as it gives you a chance to deal with your gadgets as well. In this way, on the off chance that you think you know Google Play Store well, reconsider! As, here are some cool Google Play tips and traps that you may have passed up a major opportunity for:

1.   Enable/Disable Auto-update apps

Auto updating apps can be a convenience as well as an annoyance at times. However, Google Play Store lets you enable or disable auto-update apps according to your needs. You can set apps to auto-update at any time or only when your device is connected to a WiFi network or not at all. To set things up, Go to Play Store Settings->Auto-update apps and choose your preference.

If you don’t want a particular app to auto-update, you can do that as well. Just hit the three-dot button when you’re inside the app’s page on Play Store and untick “Auto-update”.

2. Set parental controls

If you have children at home, who love to fiddle with your Android smartphone, you should consider setting parental controls on the Google Play Store. To set parental controls on what apps can be seen on the Store, go to Play Store Settings->Parental controls and turn on Parental controls. If you are using the Parental controls feature for the first time, you will be asked to create a PIN. Once you have entered a PIN, you can set age restrictions for apps and movies.

3. Add content to your wishlist

Google Play Store includes a cool Wishlist feature, which works like a more “Save for later” sort-of feature. You can add apps, games, movies, books etc. to a wishlist in case you are on mobile data and want to install the app when you get home later. It also comes in handy for a paid app, which you want but don’t want to go through the hassle of paying for right then. To add an app to wishlist, hit the three dot button, which rests beside all the apps and tap “Add to wishlist“.

We would certainly love it if Google would notify users when a paid app in the wishlist is running a discount or have gone completely free. Here’s hoping Google brings this feature for free but until then, you can use AppSales, which do exactly that.

4. Check app recommendation through your friends

There was quite an uproar when Google integrated Google+ features in the Play Store but it does bring some cool additions like the ability to see app recommendations based on what your friends are using. To see these recommendations, go to Play Store’s hamburger drawer, available a swipe away from the left edge. Then, go to “People”, where you should see apps from “familiar faces” and “People you follow”.

5. Manually update Google Play Store

Google constantly makes changes to the Google Play Store and we all can’t wait to check them out. However, there are times when a Play Store update is region-based and doesn’t reach everyone at the same time. Well, in that case, you can go ahead and check for the update manually. To check for updates to Google Play Store, go to Play Store Settings and tap “Build version “. If there’s a new update available, you will get the message “A new version of Google Play Store will be downloaded and installed”.

6. Browse through various Categories

If you’re looking for a specific type of app or games or any other content, you should browse Play Store via Categories. At Play Store’s web portal, you get the Categories drop-down button at every section like Apps, Books, Movies etc.

In the Play Store app on Android, you can find the “Categories” button in the scrollable pane below Apps & Games tab. In the Categories page, you will find the top categories like Photography, Family, Music & Audio, Entertainment etc. along with all other categories like Android Wear, Comics, Widgets etc. Google also keeps on adding new cool categories like the new “Indie Corner“, which features games and apps from indie developers.

7. Install Apps from PC

The Play Store Android app can be a little slow at times, so why not install apps right away from your PC instead. Yes, you can do that pretty easily. Go to the Play Store web portal and make sure you log in with the same Google account as your Android device. Then, go to any app’s page and click “Install” button.

After which you should get a prompt to confirm installation on a particular device. If you have more than one Android device using the Google account, you might have to choose the device.

Once done, hit the “Install” button, you should then get the message saying “App will be installed on your device soon “. The app or game should start downloading on your device automatically when connected to the Internet.

8. Filter your searches

While there’s no way presently on the Play Store Android app to filter your searches but you can do that on the Play Store’s web version. Search for any app or game on the web Play Store and you should get filters by price and ratings. You can also filter results based on whether you need an app, game, movie or book.

9. Become a beta tester

Want to be among the users who get access to early features and developments of an app? Well, you should join the beta testers. There are open beta apps and closed beta apps. If an app is available to beta test openly, you just need the link to their beta app and you can install it easily. On the other hand, a closed beta app requires you to register first.

For instance, Google beta apps like Chrome beta is available on the Play Store as an open beta. On the other hand, WhatsApp beta requires you to register, after which you will get an update to the beta version. Be careful though, as beta apps are known to be unstable or have a few bugs.

10. Check your registered devices

If you have used a lot of Android devices in the past, you can manage your registered devices in the Google Play Store web portal. To do so, hit the settings cog icon below your profile icon and click “Settings “.

You will then see the list of all the devices you have ever used with the Google account. You can edit their names or untick the “Show in menus” option to make sure a device you aren’t using anymore does not show up in the devices list when you are installing an app.

Ready to use these Google Play tips and tricks?

These are some cool Google Play tips and tricks that you might have missed out on. There are also other simple options available in Play Store’s Settings page like the ability to remove local search history, enable/disable notifications for updates and more.