Play Store gets ‘auto-open’ feature for newly downloaded apps

Google is rolling out a handy new feature to the Play Store that will allow you to auto-open new apps whenever you download a new one. This should make it quicker and easier to launch new apps. Google is adding this toggle in the Play Store, making it more visible. The new Android feature is reportedly rolling out more widely this week.

Play Store auto-open apps feature appears below the install progress bar

Play Store’s new “auto-open when ready” toggle will open applications as soon as they are fully installed. This new toggle will appear below the install progress bar in the Play Store as soon as the installation has begun. However, the feature is not on by default.

When the feature is on, it opens the app automatically, as you’d expect. However, it is not quite as soon as the installation is complete. Instead, you get a notification with a 5-second countdown before the app opens. This gives you a chance to stop auto-opening in case you don’t want it to.

The functionality is rolling out more widely

9to5Google reports the functionality is live on their Galaxy Z Fold 7 and a few other devices as well. However, the publication reports seeing another UI for the same toggle on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. This apparently only appears for games.

This new addition makes sense to have in emergencies when you want to get into the app right away, as soon as the installation is complete. For example, a restaurant or a travel app. You can go back to using your previously active app while the new application downloads, installs, and opens automatically. This way, you are not caught up in other things and miss the new app.