Google is introducing a new feature to its mobile search results on
Android that will now prompt users to install an app if it has relevant
content to the user's search query.
Until now, Google's mobile
searches on Android displayed information from apps that were indexed by
the company to users who had the app installed, and were currently
signed-in to Google. However, the latest addition will show
recommendations from apps that are not installed on the device, and
alongside show the option to install such apps right from the search
result page - with an app install button.
If users decide to
install the app, they will be redirected to Google Play, and once the
app is installed, it will automatically open to the relevant content.
(Also see: Google Now Will Soon Show Information From Any App, With New Open API)
The
latest feature is aimed at helping mobile app developers, which will
now benefit further from the expanded App Indexing program.
Announcing
the news Google on its Webmaster Central blog
said, "Starting this week, people searching on Google can also
discover your app if they haven't installed it yet."
"With the
addition of these install links, we are starting to use App Indexing as a
ranking signal for all users on Android, regardless of whether they
have your app installed or not. We hope that Search will now help you
acquire new users, as well as re-engage your existing ones," added
Google.
The company for the first time also revealed that it now
has 30 billion links within apps indexed. Speaking with TechCrunch,
Google's Rajan Patel said
the company was also looking at options to expand the app indexing and
app install suggestions to beyond the Android platform.
Google
alongside also announced that it is updating the algorithms that display URLs in search
results to reflect the name of the website rather than the domain name.
With the move, Google's mobile search results are hoped to be more
readable for the user, and will also showing the URL structure of the
page in a 'breadcrumbs-like format'.
"Today we're updating the
algorithms that display URLs in the search results to better reflect the
names of websites, using the real-world name of the site instead of the
domain name, and the URL structure of the sites in a breadcrumbs-like
format," said Google. The company adds the site name change is US-only
for now and breadcrumbs are rolling out worldwide.
WhatsApp for Android, iOS May Soon Let You Copy Specific Parts of a Message3 June 2025
Search
