Google is introducing a swipe gesture in the Play Store aimed at reducing the risk of accidental purchases. While it may seem straightforward to avoid unintentional buying, the 1-tap buy option makes this more common than one would think. This new feature aims to minimize these incidents and enhance user experience. While Google announced the addition of the swipe gesture, there was no specified timeline for its release.

However, reports indicate that the rollout is currently ongoing. According to a user on Telegram, the feature is already accessible for some, indicating that the updates are successfully being implemented. The design of the new gesture button resembles the existing 1-tap option, but now includes a small circle with two arrows and label prompts such as “swipe to buy” or “swipe to subscribe.” To make a purchase, users will need to hold and swipe, which is intended to significantly reduce accidental transactions.

Although it may not eliminate the issue entirely, it should certainly lessen it. It is important to note that the swipe gesture isn’t available to all users at this moment. Reports suggest that some, including myself, haven’t yet seen the new button, despite having the right version of the Play Store app. It seems that the feature will take time to be accessible to everyone as the rollout progresses.

Unlike previous options, the new gesture will completely replace the 1-tap buy feature, providing no choice between the two. The necessity of this update can be debated, but it is likely viewed as a beneficial change for parents whose children use their devices for gaming. Accidental purchases can occur easily, even for adults. While the 1-tap functionality does require some deliberate action, the new swipe gesture remains a step towards minimizing unwanted purchases and reducing refund requests for Google.