With the vast number of Android apps available, users often rely on reviews to make informed decisions without testing each app themselves. However, sifting through thousands of reviews to locate particular information can be time-consuming and frustrating. In a significant development, Google has introduced a new search feature within the Play Store that allows users to search for specific terms inside app reviews.
This functionality, initially observed during testing in November, is now officially rolling out through a recent update to the Play Store. To use the feature, users can tap the ratings section at the top of any app page and select “See all reviews.” Alternatively, scrolling down to the Reviews and ratings area reveals a magnifying glass icon beneath the AI-generated summary of reviews. Selecting this icon brings the review section to the top and displays a search bar.
By entering a few words into the search bar and pressing the search icon on the keyboard, users can filter reviews that contain those exact terms. Notably, the search does not provide real-time suggestions as you type and only matches exact phrases. Additionally, the feature requires at least two words to generate results, as single-word queries will not return any matches. Users can also utilize the suggested common issues listed below the search bar to refine their queries.
The search capability is available to all users running version 50.7.24-31 of the Google Play Store. If the feature is not visible, users can manually update the Play Store by tapping their profile picture on the homepage, navigating to Settings > About > Update Play Store.
