The Google Play Store is becoming more personalized with local recommendations

of Google Play Store It’s where most Android users go to download new apps and games. While many of the most popular apps and games are available worldwide, some software is only available in certain regions, a phenomenon known as region lock. This is possible thanks to the Play Store Check what country you are in To serve region-specific content, but beyond that, the store doesn’t check if a user is in a particular city or state before recommending content. But that could soon change as Google Play Store rolls out a feature that uses your device’s location to recommend local content.

When you open the Google Play Store app Galaxy Z Flip 6 The other day, a pop-up appeared saying:[ed] “To see local recommendations on Google Play,” it says. It also says, “Play may use your device’s location to recommend apps, offers, and other local content that are relevant to your location.”

After tapping ContinueAndroid has always asked whether to allow the Google Play Store app to access your device’s approximate location, but this is a little-used permission that was introduced back in 2000. Android 12According to Google documentation, apps that are allowed to access the device’s approximate location will be able to estimate the device’s location to within about 3 square kilometers (about 1.2 square miles). This level of location accuracy should be more than sufficient for Google Play to provide locally relevant information.

In addition to showing locally relevant promotions and app recommendations, the Google Play Store will use a device’s approximate location to “enforce local content and distribution guidelines.” Support pageIt’s unclear exactly how this will affect app availability, but it’s possible that Google Play will hide certain apps based on your current (approximate) location, regardless of whether the apps are available in the country where your Play Store account is set up.

If you want to disable Google Play’s local recommendations feature, go to the Play Store settings page, expand the General dropdown, and Use device location Alternatively, you can remove Play Store’s access to your device’s location from the Android Settings app.

So far, I’ve only seen the feature on one device; I asked a few other users if they’d received it, and they all said no. I don’t know if Google is rolling it out more broadly, but given that a support page already exists, it’s possible we’ll see it appear on more users soon.