The test comes two years ago after Apple made a similar move with the addition of a new ad slot that appeared on the store’s Search tab itself, instead of only at the top of search results, as before.
Similar to Apple, Google is also testing an ad slot that appears when Android users navigate to the Play Store’s search menu, where they can type in keywords to find apps. The test was first spotted by the Android news site, Android Police , which noted that Google had been testing app “recommendations” in this slot as of late last year. When queried about those app promos at the time, Google had clarified they weren’t ads, just personalized suggestions.
Now, that’s changed as the same spot includes both app recommendations and suggestions that are actually labeled as ads. (A few examples can be found in this Twitter thread here .) The ads aren’t yet showing for everyone, however, which indicated this was likely a test, as Google has since confirmed.
Users have reported seeing the test in multiple markets worldwide, so it’s not a U.S.-only update.
Yes. Google Play Store is showing ads in search bar. pic.twitter.com/Pmf0Q1EPb8
— Sumanth
