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Built into the core of Android 12+, Play as you Download allows your users to
get into the experience quickly after a small download while remaining assets
are fetched in the background. To make this happen, Google Play analyzes
crowdsourced first use file system access patterns and automatically
identifies assets to optimize.
Prepare your app
Even with the Play as you Download feature enabled, your users only receive
the benefit once these prerequisites are met:
App is distributed using the Android App Bundle format
App has been updated to the current ads SDKs (if applicable)
App has enough crowdsourced information about first use experiences
App has first-use experiences that are suitable for the feature
If you're using the Android App Bundle format and current ads SDKs, then
you've done the work necessary to enable Play as you Download. By default, all
apps are enabled. If you don't want to take advantage of this benefit, you
can opt-out using the Play as you Download tab on the "Advanced settings"
page of the Play Console.
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Last updated 2025-07-21 UTC.
[null,null,["Last updated 2025-07-21 UTC."],[],[],null,["# Play as you Download\n\nBuilt into the core of Android 12+, Play as you Download allows your users to\nget into the experience quickly after a small download while remaining assets\nare fetched in the background. To make this happen, Google Play analyzes\ncrowdsourced first use file system access patterns and automatically\nidentifies assets to optimize.\n\nPrepare your app\n----------------\n\nEven with the Play as you Download feature enabled, your users only receive\nthe benefit once these prerequisites are met:\n\n- App is distributed using the Android App Bundle format\n- App has been updated to the current ads SDKs (if applicable)\n- App has enough crowdsourced information about first use experiences\n- App has first-use experiences that are suitable for the feature\n\nLearn more about how to [optimize your app for Play as you\nDownload](/google/play/play-as-you-download/best-practices).\n\nEnable your app\n---------------\n\nIf you're using the Android App Bundle format and current ads SDKs, then\nyou've done the work necessary to enable Play as you Download. By default, all\napps are enabled. If you don't want to take advantage of this benefit, you\ncan opt-out using the **Play as you Download** tab on the \"Advanced settings\"\npage of the Play Console.\n| **Note:** Due to device eligibility, not all devices will receive the Play as you Download experience. For example, a device's operating system must be at least Android 12 and there are other technical requirements.\n\nImprove your results\n--------------------\n\nLearn more about how to [optimize your app for Play as you\nDownload](/google/play/play-as-you-download/best-practices)."]]
