Google Play enhances widget discovery to drive engagement with your app

Posted by Yinka Taiwo-Peters – Product Manager

Android developers, we've heard you. Historically, one of the challenges with investing in widget development has been discoverability and user understanding. You've asked for better ways for users to find and utilize your widgets, and we're delivering. Google Play now offers significant enhancements to widget discovery, creating a prime opportunity to re-engage with your users on a deeper level.

We understand that the effort required to build and maintain widgets needs to be justified by user adoption, that’s why we’ve designed these key improvements, which are coming soon to Google Play on Android phones, tablets and foldables:

• Dedicated Widgets Search Filter: Users can now directly search for apps with widgets using a dedicated filter on Google Play. This means your apps/games with widgets will be easily identified, helping drive targeted downloads and engagement.
• New Widget Badges on App Detail Pages: We’ve introduced a visual badge on your app’s detail pages to clearly indicate the presence of widgets. This eliminates guesswork for users and highlights your widget offerings, encouraging them to explore and utilize this capability.
• Curated Widgets Editorial Page: We're actively educating users on the value of widgets through a new editorial page. This curated space showcases collections of excellent widgets and promotes the apps that leverage them. This provides an additional channel for your widgets to gain visibility and reach a wider audience.

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What this means for you:

• Increased User Engagement: Enhanced discoverability may translate to more users finding and using your widgets, leading to increased app engagement and user retention.
• New Opportunities for User Interaction: Widgets offer a unique way to provide value and interact with users on their home screens, fostering a deeper connection with your app.
• Renewed Investment Justification: The improved discoverability features make widget development a more viable and rewarding investment.

We encourage you to revisit your app strategy and consider the potential of widgets. With these new discovery tools, Google Play is making it easier than ever for users to find and love your widgets. Now is the time to leverage the power of widgets and enhance your Android app experience.

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This blog post is part of our series: Spotlight Week on Widgets, where we provide resources—blog posts, videos, sample code, and more—all designed to help you design and create widgets. You can read more in the overview of Spotlight Week: Widgets, which will be updated throughout the week.