Why Google Play and Google Play Store Are Trending in India – September 2026

Why Google Play and Google Play Store are trending in India

On 20 September 2026 Google Trends India recorded a noticeable rise for the queries “google play” and “google play store”. The surge aligns with a report published on 18 September 2026 describing an upgrade to the Sidekick overlay in Google Play Games that gives users a new way to launch the feature.

What the Sidekick activation upgrade adds

Android Authority noted that the Mobile Google Play Games Sidekick is receiving a much‑needed activation upgrade (source). Previously, turning on Sidekick required dragging a handle that appeared on the left or right edge of the screen. The update introduces an alternative method that can be triggered from the notifications panel, reducing the need to interact with the on‑screen handle during gameplay.

Notification‑panel control details

The Play Store settings now contain a new “Configure Sidekick access” option located under Settings > General > Google Play Games (source). This setting presents two choices: “Open only within games” (the original behavior) and “Open only from notifications”. When the notification‑only option is selected, the on‑screen drag handle is hidden and Sidekick can be activated by tapping the corresponding entry in the notifications shade, which helps avoid accidental touches while playing fast‑paced titles.

What Sidekick can do

When active, the overlay lets users instantly view achievements, obtain input on the game through Gemini Live, capture screenshots or record screen clips in supported games. These capabilities remain unchanged; the upgrade only concerns how the overlay is launched.

Under‑development double‑tap handle

An APK teardown of Play Store version 53.1.23 revealed a prototype double‑tap activation for the handle (source). After a single tap the screen displays a “Double‑tap to open” prompt, and the handle adopts a revised circle icon to differentiate it from the standard drag handle. This concept aims to prevent inadvertent launches while preserving the handle‑based experience. Because the code is still work‑in‑progress, the feature has not been released and its rollout timeline is uncertain.

Rollout considerations for Indian users

• The notification‑panel option has been spotted across several Play Store builds, indicating a possible server‑side rollout that may reach devices gradually.
• Availability could vary by device model, Android version, and region within India.
• The double‑tap handle remains under development; no public release date has been announced.

Taken together, these updates explain why Indian users are searching more frequently for “google play” and “google play store” in late September 2026.