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Tom1
New Member
June 19, 2025
Question

Play Store number of downloads counter

  • June 19, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 98 views

Hi all,

Just had a question which might seem quite easy, but couldn't find the answer.

I wonder how the number of downloads accompanying an application in the Play store compares to the number of downloads not done manually by a user, but downloads based on apps pushed from an EMM. For several applications, I see relatively low numbers of downloads in the Play store. Based on these low numbers, I can practically guarantee that downloads via Managed Google Play are not included here. In itself plausible, but I have not been able to read anywhere in documentation whether or not this is correct, can anyone confirm this.

 

At the same time if MGP downloads do not count towards the number of downloads listed in the Play Store with the app, are MGP downloads counted separately somewhere?

 

Thank you in advance,

 

Tom

 

1 reply

BenMcc
BenMcc
Level 2.0: Eclair
June 19, 2025

Hi @Tom1 ,

 

Not sure if private apps are counted or not but some general info about the number shown in the Play Store is that it is often lower than what people think it should be. The number is displayed after going through a "cleaning" process to ensure things like duplicate downloads for the same person are removed and more. The number is also ranged so if, for example, you have 1k showing then what it means is somewhere between 1k and 5k. It won't switch to 5k until you pass that number.

 

Ben

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    Tom1Author
    New Member
    June 20, 2025

    Hi  @BenMcc,

    Thank you, some apps have so few downloads that I am quite sure the number can't be right. However it is very likely that these downloads are through the MGP in stead of manual end users downloads from the Play Store. 
    Are these numbers and details how these numbers are counted documented anywhere?

    BenMcc
    BenMcc
    Level 2.0: Eclair
    August 14, 2025

    In addition to the lack of insight into real installs for developers, I see another problem.

    A low number of downloads also sends a signal to companies that want to use apps like this. “What, only 45 users? Maybe we shouldn't buy such a niche product. Who knows how long it'll be supported if the developers aren't making any money.”


    The lack of insight should really be handled by the dev with their own analytics - the Play store number goes through a "de-spamming" process anyway and isn't really that accurate for dev insights. 

     

    The issue of looking like a smaller app (in terms of users) than it is an interesting one but ultimately the same could be argued by users who distribute via other stores as well where the userbase is split. Ultimately this issue comes down to "should play count and display anonymous downloads" which is effectively what is happening. The problem with this is the publicly show download number is unique users and as soon as you count anonymous users that would break the whole thing!

     

    Not sure if there is a good solution for this other than to allow developers to choose to hide the download number on the store. Of course that also has issues.

     

    Ben

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