High-quality apps and games are intuitive and delightful to use, evoking positive sentiments through considered and differentiated design. They also invest in a strong, unique identity and brand, and stand out from their peers.
To build a high-quality app or game, follow these guidelines.
Usability
Android offers standard components for app layout, interaction patterns, and user controls. Use these components to provide a consistent and intuitive user experience. For example:
- Use edge-to-edge layouts for an immersive experience.
- Support multitasking with picture-in-picture, with polished transitions, if your app has embedded videos.
- Enable content sharing with Android Sharesheets, which has built-in support for share targets
- Support backup and restore so that user data and settings are preserved if users add a new device, replace an existing device, or reinstall your app. These features may also help with retention.
Note: Be sure to follow the recommended UX design guidelines for all the form factors that you support: Mobile, Large Screens and Foldables, Wear OS and Android TV
When needed, provide an engaging way for users to learn how to make the most of your app or game, or any new features that you may add. Design your onboarding for your target audience; for example, consider whether you need to cater both to new and expert users. Allow users to configure important aspects of the user experience, such as notifications, privacy and security.
Accessibility, localization, and deep links
With billions of potential users, your app or game may need to support a diverse range of users and environments.
Localize your app or game for the markets you distribute in, providing high-quality translations, culturally and geographically relevant content, and appropriate measurements, metrics, and currencies.
Follow Android's guidance for accessibility, and build for billions where relevant.
If your app accepts traffic from the web or other external sources with deep links, ensure the links resolve directly to relevant content.
Visual appeal and craftsmanship
Your app or game's design provides an opportunity to delight users and differentiate your offering, particularly in competitive categories. Develop an original art style and take a consistent and coherent approach across all of your product surfaces. Use images, color, and white space to express hierarchy, state, and brand identity. Transitions and animation, alongside images, can help to communicate key messages or complex ideas, and make your user experience more dynamic. Follow relevant best practices in the Android UI design hub.
Games depend on emotion and narrative to engage users. To deliver more immersive experiences, integrate visual aspects like animations and your art style with your game's audio, storyline, and controls.
Monetization
There are many ways to monetize your app. A great monetization experience starts with setting user expectations. Before people install your app or game, tell them how and when you bill them.
Ensure that any moments where you choose to monetize are properly integrated into the user experience. For example, don't surprise users with a payment request immediately after your app has loaded, or distract them with ads in the middle of a game level.
If your app or game has a paywall, consider offering free trials for any paid content so that users can make informed decisions on whether to subscribe. If users must pay to make progress in your app or game, make sure you set this expectation prior to installation.
The timing, frequency, and placement of ads are important factors in delivering a high-quality user experience. To ensure that your ads respect users' time, keep their presentation proportional to the rest of your content in duration, frequency, and size. Use careful size and placement to minimize the risk of accidental taps.
Take responsibility for all of the content in your app, including ads, even if you use a third-party SDK to deliver them. Be aware of ad content your app presents to your users and ensure it's appropriate for your audience.
Google Play guidelines
If you distribute on Google Play, follow these additional user-experience guidelines.
Monetization
Google Play allows you to generate revenue from users in a range of ways including subscriptions and in-app purchases.
Discovery and featuring
Google Play considers all aspects of the user experience when evaluating what titles to promote and where. Learn more