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Google Play is the official store for Android media including apps, games, and e-books. 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 e-book 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 e-books.
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 e-books 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, use the Google TV app 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 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.
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