[DigitalToday reporter Chi-gyu Hwang (황치규)] Google has introduced a feature that lets people run Android apps they have made privately, without publishing them on the Play Store.

TechCrunch reported on Oct. 13 that users can run personal apps they created on their devices with a regular Google account, while keeping the apps private.

The apps do not appear in Google Play search results or listing pages. They are also not shared with anyone other than the app creator.

Until now, even if users made apps for personal use with AI, they had to publish them on Google Play to use them directly on Android devices. Because that could expose the apps to the Play Store's roughly 3 billion users, many people built web apps instead of Android native apps.

Android users can now build an app using Google AI Studio and run it for personal use. The apps must still follow existing Google Play policies. Initial support covers U.S. users aged 18 and over.

Google plans to support sharing such personal apps with a trusted network of acquaintances in the coming months. Apps built for small groups such as family, friends or a child's T-ball league can be used within a limited circle without being made public on the Play Store. If an app becomes popular, it can be shifted to formal publication on Google Play after a trust and safety review.

Google will also strengthen game recommendation features on Google Play. It is introducing a personalized game recommendation engine called Game Finder, based on user preferences and information from 1.2 billion players in game communities. The feature will be provided first in English-language settings in the United States.