Linking to Google Play

Google Play provides several link formats that let you bring users to your products in the way you want, from Android apps, web pages, ads, reviews, articles, social media posts, and more.

The link formats let you link to the following:

• An app's store listing.
• A developer's page.
• A search result of your choice.
• A collection.
• A Google Play Instant experience.

Linking to a store listing

Use the format below to deep-link directly to an app's Store listing page, where users can see the app description, screenshots, reviews and more, and then install it.

To create the link, you need to know the app's fully qualified package name, which is declared in the app's manifest file. The package name is also visible in the Google Play Console.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=<package_name>

Here's an example:

http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.maps

For details on how to send the link in an Android app, see Linking from an Android App.

Linking to a developer page

Use the format below to link users to your developer page. On this page you can provide more details about your brand, feature an app, and provide a list of other apps you've published.

To create the link, you need to know your publisher name, which is available from the Play Console.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=<developer_id>

Here's an example:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/dev?id=5700313618786177705

For details on how to send the link in an Android app, see Linking from an Android App.

Linking to a search result

Use the format below to link users to a search query result on Google Play. The search result page shows a list of apps (and optionally other content) that match the query, with ratings, badges, and an install button for each.

To create the link, you just need a search query string. If you want the query to search beyond the Google Play app listings, remove the &c=apps part of the link URL.

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=<search_query>&c=apps

Here's an example:

https://play.google.com/store/search?q=maps&c=apps

For details on how to send the link in an Android app, see Linking from an Android App.

Linking to a collection

If your app is featured or appears in one of the Google Play top charts or collections, you can use the format below to link users directly to the collection. The collection shows a ranked list of apps in the collection, with ratings, short descriptions, and an install button.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/<collection_name>

Here's an example:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/collection/topselling_free

For details on how to send the link in an Android app, see Linking from an Android App.

Table 1. Collections on Google Play.

Linking to Editors' Choice Pages

If your app is featured or appears in articles in Editors' Choice, you can use the format below to link users directly to the Editors’ Choice page.

The URL for the main Editors' Choice page is:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/topic?id=editors_choice

And you can find each page's URL from the Editors' Choice page.

Here are some examples:

• Get Motivated With These 5 Fitness Apps
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/topic?id=editorial_fitness_apps_us
• Map It Out: Navigate Anywhere With These 5 Apps
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/topic?id=editorial_navigation_apps_us
• Winning Sports Games to Enjoy Any Season
  https://play.google.com/store/apps/topic?id=editorial_sports_games_us

Linking from an Android App

If you want to link to your products from an Android app, create an Intent that opens a URL. As you configure this intent, pass "com.android.vending" into Intent.setPackage() so that users see your app's details in the Google Play Store app instead of a chooser.

The following example directs users to viewing the app containing the package name com.example.android in Google Play:

val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).apply {
    data = Uri.parse(
            "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.example.android")
    setPackage("com.android.vending")
}
startActivity(intent)

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
intent.setData(Uri.parse(
        "https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.example.android"));
intent.setPackage("com.android.vending");
startActivity(intent);

Launching a Google Play Instant experience

If you have published an instant app using Google Play Instant, you can launch the app as follows:

val uriBuilder = Uri.parse("https://play.google.com/store/apps/details")
        .buildUpon()
        .appendQueryParameter("id", "com.example.android")
        .appendQueryParameter("launch", "true")

// Optional parameters, such as referrer, are passed onto the launched
// instant app. You can retrieve these parameters using Activity.intent.data.
uriBuilder.appendQueryParameter("referrer", "exampleCampaignId")

val intent = Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW).apply {
    data = uriBuilder.build()
    setPackage("com.android.vending")
}
startActivity(intent)

Intent intent = new Intent(Intent.ACTION_VIEW);
Uri.Builder uriBuilder = Uri.parse("market://launch")
    .buildUpon()
    .appendQueryParameter("id", "com.example.android");

// Optional parameters, such as referrer, are passed onto the launched
// instant app. You can retrieve these parameters using
// Activity.getIntent().getData().
uriBuilder.appendQueryParameter("referrer", "exampleCampaignId");

intent.setData(uriBuilder.build());
intent.setPackage("com.android.vending");
startActivity(intent);

Summary of URL formats

The table below provides a summary of the URIs currently supported by the Google Play (both on the web and in an Android application), as discussed in the previous sections.