How to find purchased apps on the Google Play Store

Keeping track of all our apps is almost impossible, especially when switching devices or performing a factory reset. Google makes it pretty painless to reinstall all your apps on a new or wiped device, but things get a little complicated if you’re looking for a specific app that you may no longer remember the name of. Here’s how to find old purchased apps on the Google Play Store.

Finding old apps on the Google Play Store

Before looking specifically at purchased apps, let’s look at how Google keeps track of your old apps. However, this method for finding apps isn’t beneficial when finding purchased apps unless you already know what you’re looking for.

How to find the apps you’ve downloaded from the Google Play Store:

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Select Manage apps & device.
4. Tap on the Manage tab.
5. Tap on the drop-down menu that reads This device.
6. Select Not installed.

You’ll see a list of all the apps you’ve downloaded using your Google Account, including both paid and free apps.

Finding your purchase history

Notably absent is any way to distinguish between free and purchased apps in both these sections. You’re also out of luck if you don’t know the name of what you’re looking for (and then you can search for it). Finding purchased apps, in particular, requires a few extra steps.

How to find your purchase history on the Google Play Store:

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap on your profile icon in the top-right corner.
3. Go into Payments & subscriptions.
4. Select Budget & history.
5. The next page will show a list of all your Google Play purchases.

This list also includes books, movies, TV shows, songs, albums, and all in-app purchases. Depending on your order history, it may take a lot of scrolling, but you will find all the apps you’ve bought here. You might have an easier time if you use a browser on a PC.

How to find your Google Play purchase history using a browser:

1. Using your browser of preference, go to play.google.com.
2. Click on your profile icon, in the top-right corner.
3. Go into Payments & subscriptions.
4. Click on the Budget & order history tab.
5. You can now go through your list of purchases. You can also expand the drop-down menu that reads All orders and narrow down your list to Apps, Movies & TV, or Books.

If you filter the list by apps, the list will include in-app purchases, as well as free app downloads. At the very least, it will be narrowed down to fewer items, though.

Check the Google Payments Center

Previously, app purchases used to be listed in the Google Wallet activity. This is no longer the case, and Google has moved this information to the Google Payments Center. This section won’t include contactless payment transactions, but it will include apps, in-app purchases, subscriptions, etc. These are arranged in chronological order.

How to check your purchase history on the Google Payments Center:

1. Using your browser of preference, go to payments.google.com.
2. Log in. You may need to verify your identity.
3. Ensure you are on the Activity tab. You’ll land there by default, but make sure, just in case.
4. You’ll see a list of your recent transactions. Scroll down and click on View more transactions to browse through all your purchases.

Most purchases are generalized. For example, app purchases and subscriptions will show up as Google Play Apps. Movie rentals and purchases will show up as Google Play Movies. That said, there will be a description of the purchase in smaller text, right under.

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