The Google Play Store is finally adding a digital gift cards feature

It has always been a bit of a strange omission; for years, if you wanted to give someone the gift of Google Play credit, you had to physically go to a store and buy a plastic gift card. In a world where everything is digital, it felt like a relic of a bygone era.

Well, that is finally changing. As reported by 9to5Google, a new update is rolling out to the Google Play Store on Android that finally allows you to directly buy and send digital gift cards right from the app.

How the new feature works

The new, long-overdue feature is simple and seamlessly integrated. If it has rolled out for you, you’ll find a new “Gift cards” item in your profile menu (when you tap your picture in the top-right corner).

From there, you can choose a Google Play gift card in values ranging from $15 to $100, or you can browse a carousel of gift cards from other top brands across categories like retail, dining, and entertainment. The sending process is just as easy as you’d hope. You simply:

1. Select a virtual card design.
2. Choose the amount.
3. Enter the recipient’s email address.
4. Add a custom gift message.

The recipient will then get an email or text message with a link to their new gift card. The whole process is powered by a partnership with Blackhawk Network.

This is a fantastic and incredibly convenient feature that makes giving the gift of apps, games, movies, and books from the Play Store easier than ever. It’s a simple quality-of-life improvement that we’re thrilled to see finally arrive. The new feature is currently rolling out, so be sure to check your Play Store app for the new option.