App store optimization on Google Play is full of recycled advice from 2019 and keyword-stuffing tactics that now trigger metadata rejections. The developers who rank consistently do a small set of unglamorous things exceptionally well.

App Store Optimization on Google Play combines relevance, conversion, and quality signals.

This is a practical, current guide to app store optimization for Google Play — keyword use in titles and descriptions, the conversion factors that matter, and where to spend limited time for real ranking movement.

How Google Play Search Actually Works

Google Play's search algorithm weighs three signal groups:

Text relevance — how well your title, short description, and long description match the query

Conversion signals — installs, install velocity, retention, and rating behavior for that query

Quality signals — crash rates, ANRs, uninstall rates, and policy standing

The critical insight: text relevance gets you considered for a keyword; conversion and quality signals decide…