Google Play Store

Last updated: September 13, 2022
Please note: UW Google is undergoing several major changes. For more details and regular updates, see UW Google Changes Project.

What is Google Play?

Google Play is a digital distribution service operated and developed by Google.  It serves as the official app store for the Android operating system, allowing users to browse and download applications developed with the Android software development kit (SDK) and published through Google.  Google Play also serves as a digital media store, offering music, magazines, books, movies, and television programs.  The services operating under the Google Play banner are: Google Play Books, Google Play Games, Google Play Movies & TV, Google Play Music, and Google News.

Purchasing content from Google Play using a UW Google account

UW-IT strongly discourages the purchase of content from Google Play using a UW Google account and instead recommends the use of a personal Google account to make purchases from Google Play. The use of a UW Google account is contingent upon an active, ongoing relationship with the University of Washington as a student, faculty member, or employee. If you no longer have an active, ongoing relationship with the University of Washington, your UW Google account and all associated data will be deleted, including Google Play purchases, upon your departure from the University of Washington.

Additionally, Google will not transfer any Google Play purchases made with a UW Google account to another personal Google account.

  • Purchases: do not use personal credit cards to make purchases through Google under a UW Google account. Any apps, content, etc. that are tied to the personal credit card cannot be transferred at a later date to a personal consumer Google account.
  • Accounts: any content and/or apps tied to the UW Google account will be deleted after separation and cannot be recovered.

For more information on the Google Play Terms of Service, click here.