5 ways to open the Google Play Store on Android

On your Android device, Google's Play Store is the portal to your favorite content, so knowing how to open it can come in handy. You use it to download apps, games, and all kinds of digital content. It also handles updates for your apps. This tutorial teaches you all the ways to open the Google Play Store app on your Android smartphone or tablet:

Contents

1. 1. Open the Google Play Store from the All Apps screen
2. 2. Open the Google Play Store from its Home screen shortcut
3. 3. Open the Google Play Store from the Favorites bar
4. 4. Open the Google Play Store from Android Settings
5. 5. Open the Google Play Store with the Google Assistant
6. How do you prefer to open the Google Play Store?

NOTE: For this tutorial, we used an ASUS ZenFone Max Pro device running Android 9 Pie. The procedures are similar on all Android-powered devices, so you should be good to go even if you have a smartphone from Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, or some other manufacturer. If you do not know your Android version, read How to check the Android version on your smartphone or tablet.

1. Open the Google Play Store from the All Apps screen

The All Apps screen is the fail-safe way to open any app on your Android device. On the Home screen, either tap the All apps button, which is available on most Android smartphones, or swipe up to access the All Apps screen.

Swipe up from the Home screen to access All Apps

On the All Apps screen, find the Play Store app and tap on it. Its icon looks like the symbol for Play in Google's colors. This opens the Google Play Store.

Tap on the Play Store app to open it

TIP: If you can't find the Play Store, you can also type "play store" in the search field displayed at the top of the All Apps screen.

2. Open the Google Play Store from its Home screen shortcut

Some Android smartphones come with a shortcut to the Play Store app on the Home screen for easy access. However, if your Android doesn't have one, you can create it yourself. To begin, swipe up or tap on the All apps button, and find the Play Store app. If you tap and hold on it, and then move your finger, you can easily drag it to an empty space on your Home screen.

Drag and drop the app to add a Home screen shortcut

Drop the shortcut anywhere you want it on your Home screen by lifting your finger.

The Play Store shortcut is placed on your Home screen

You can now open the Google Play Store directly from your Home screen by tapping on its shortcut.

TIP: For more ways to customize your Android Home screen, read 7 ways to personalize the home screen of your Android smartphone or tablet.

3. Open the Google Play Store from the Favorites bar

On your Android device, the Favorites bar is at the bottom of the screen, and you can place your preferred apps on it. You can then see them on all the pages of your Home screen. If you can't get enough new content and want to have the Google Play Store at hand, you can add it to your Favorites. To begin, swipe up or tap on the All apps button. Tap and hold on the Play Store app, and then move your finger to drag it either to an empty spot or to a folder in your Favorites bar.

Drag and drop the app to an empty spot in your Favorites bar

The shortcut is added and can now be used for easy access to the Google Play Store.

Use the shortcut from your favorite apps to access the Play Store

4. Open the Google Play Store from Android Settings

You can also access the Google Play Store from Android's Settings app.

First, open the Android Settings, and then tap on Apps & notifications.

Access Apps & notifications

Access any of the apps you can find on the Google Play Store. We tapped on Chrome.

Tap on a Google Play Store app

In the App Info, tap on Advanced.

Access the Advanced option

Scroll down a bit and, in the Store section, tap on App details.

Access App details

This takes you to the app's page on the Google Play Store. You can either tap the arrow in the upper left corner, next to Google Play, to get to the app's home page, or press the magnifying glass in the opposite corner to start searching for new content.

Get access to new content in the Play Store

5. Open the Google Play Store with the Google Assistant

If you like the Google Assistant, make sure it is listening by either saying "Ok, Google" or tapping on the microphone icon in the Search bar displayed your Android's Home screen.

Tap on the microphone to activate Google Assistant

Then, say "open Play Store" to open the Google Play Store.

TIP: You now know all the ways to open the Google Play Store on your Android smartphone or device. Don't hesitate to take the next step and learn How to install apps from the Play Store on an Android smartphone or tablet.

How do you prefer to open the Google Play Store?

The Google Play Store can offer content that is not only interesting and entertaining, but also useful in your day-to-day activities. How often do you use the Play Store? Which way to open it do you like best? Leave a comment below and let us know.