What's new in the Google Play Store?

Google has added a search function for app reviews, allowing users to search for specific keywords in reviews instead of manually scrolling.

How do I use the review search feature?

Tap the ratings at the top of any app page, then "See all reviews." Or look for the magnifying lens icon in the Reviews section below the AI-generated summary.

Does the feature work with a single word?

No — you must type a couple of words to fetch results; a single word won't return any

Does the search use semantic understanding or exact word matching?

Currently it only looks for exact matches to your search queries. Google hopes to implement semantic search support in the future.

Google Play Store Now Lets You Search Through App Reviews — Find Any Bug, Feature or Complaint Fast

Q: Which Play Store version includes this feature?

Version 50.7.24-31 of the Play Store

You Can Now Search Through Reviews on the Google Play Store

Not everyone has the time or patience to test out Android apps before committing to them, especially with the overwhelming variety available. App reviews help — but scouring through hundreds or thousands of reviews when looking for a specific answer has been toilsome. That's thankfully being fixed, as Google now offers search functionality for reviews.

The New Feature

With the new search feature, you can now look for specific information in user reviews under app listings. The functionality was spotted being tested back in November, but couldn't be made to work at the time. Google has recently confirmed it's now rolling out with a recent Play Store update.

How to Use It

To access the search function, tap the ratings at the top of any app, then tap "See all reviews." Alternatively, scroll down to the Reviews and ratings section, and right under the AI-generated reviews summary, you'll notice a magnifying lens icon. Tapping it moves the review section to the top of the screen, where you'll find a search bar.

When you type a few words in the search bar and tap the search icon on the keyboard, reviews containing those terms will be listed.

Current Limitations

Currently, reviews don't populate as you type, and the feature only looks for reviews with specific matches to your search queries. It also won't show results if you type a single word — you must type a couple of words to fetch results. Suggestions under the search bar for popular issues are available to help.

How to Update and Get the Feature

The review search is rolling out to all users with version 50.7.24-31 of the Play Store. If you don't see it yet, update the Store by tapping your profile picture on the Play Store homepage, then going to Settings > About > Update Play Store.

Final Thoughts

A simple but genuinely useful addition — instead of scrolling through thousands of reviews, you can now directly search for "ads," "bug," "paywall," or any issue that matters to you before installing an app. Google is incrementally improving the Play Store experience one step at a time.