Do you feel like your expenditure on Google Play apps is getting out of control? Well, this is a problem that many people grapple with. We have all gone on an in-app buying spree at one point in our lives. But this is not going to break the bank anymore because Google wants to give you more control over your digital spending. Google is adding a new budgeting feature to Android to enable users to track their spending and set a monthly budget for apps and media. Similar to the way you might use a bill pay program to keep up with your monthly expenses and utility bills, the new budgeting feature can give you a better idea of your spending habits. The new feature applies to games, applications, TV shows, movies, and ebooks, among other digital content.
The feature is not active yet, but you should expect to have it on your devices soon. Google’s new budget feature on Android will alert you when you approach your spending limit.
As we wait for the Play Store budgeting feature to roll out, we can learn how to set it up and how it works.
How to Set Up the New Budgeting Feature in Android?
Steps for activating the feature are relatively straightforward. All you need to set up a budget limit is to navigate the Play Store menu in the upper left corner of your Android device and then follow these instructions:
Setting Up Your Play Store Budget
- From the Play Store menu, select Account > Purchase History (previously ‘Order History’). Google is currently testing the budget feature, and the rollout seems to move in stages, so don’t freak out if your Play Store app still reads: Order History.
- From here, you will see a new ‘budget’ option.
- Select the ‘Set Budget’ option and enter the maximum amount you are comfortable spending on apps and other digital content. Android users can set and remove budget limits from this option.
Changing Your Play Store Budget
- Open the Play Store app.
- On the left pane, choose Account > Purchase History.
- After that, select Edit budget.
- Set a new limit and click Save.
Removing the Budget
- Once you have opened the Google Play Store app, go to the menu and select Account > Purchase History.
- Click the Remove budget button.
On top of this, you can also check how much you have spent from the ‘Purchase History’ option.
How the Play Store Budgeting Feature Works?
The new budgeting feature in Android works via notifications. It informs users when they approach the user-defined limit. So, the next time you buy a book, movie, song, app or any other item on the Play Store, you will get a message informing you that you are getting close to (or are over) your spending limit.
Unlike Google’s Family Link parental control, the new budgeting feature won’t stop you from making purchases once you have surpassed your limit. Google’s new budget feature on Android centers on empowering users to make better decisions. The best part is that it is doing so without being overbearing. With the new budgeting feature, you still have the freedom to purchase whatever you want, only that you are doing so without spending too much on in-app purchases. It is also worth noting that the new budgeting feature will only allow you to set the upper spending limit in the currency of the nation linked to your Google profile.
The new budgeting feature in Android is especially valuable to anyone with kids, who can easily rack up huge bills on several captivating ‘free-to-play’ games. You will agree with me that the Google Play Store has several apps with expensive in-app extras. Most of them are disguised as ‘free’, but it usually costs you money to unlock their core features.
The Play Store budgeting feature builds on Google’s existing purchase controls. Most of them require user authentication (like a fingerprint or password) before making or canceling a purchase on the Google Play Store. Meanwhile, the Family Link feature allows parents within a group to manually review all purchases made through the Play Store.
In recent times, overspending on digital goods has been a big issue, especially in cases that involved young children. By way of example, the US Federal Trade Commission ordered top tech companies, which included Google and Apple, to refund parents whose kids had made unauthorized in-app purchases. Now that the budgeting feature is rolling out to Google Play, overspending-related cases will most likely take a dive.
Improve Overall User-Experience on Android
Controlling your in-app purchases is one part of managing your Android account. The other important part is ensuring your device is fast, safe, and free from viruses. That way, you are sure of making purchases without hitches.
While there are several booster apps that can help you tune your Android device, only a few of them can extend the life of your Android phone and optimize it for top performance. For the best outcome, use AndroidCare. It is a cleaner, battery saver, booster, and VPN all packaged into a single application. This free application is compatible with all Android-based gadgets.
Are you excited about the new budgeting feature in Android? Please share your thoughts in the comments section.