When we launch our app on the PlayStore and it goes live, app ratings and reviews become extremely important in terms of generating traffic and downloads to our app. We urge our customers to rate the app via a popup window and redirect them to the PlayStore in order to increase this.
In this article, we will discuss how you can integrate the android in-app review into your app and boost your google play ratings.
1. Pointers on In-App Review API
- In-App Review is available on smartphones running Android 5 (API level 21) or higher, as long as Google PlayStore is installed.
- The API determines how frequently the review widget is displayed to the user; we should not access this API frequently because once a user exceeds their maximum limit, the widget should not be displayed to the user; otherwise, the user experience may be impacted.
- We shouldn’t try to change the API’s design because it controls the review flow. The review flow does not reveal whether or not the user has reviewed our app, nor does it inform us whether or not the user has seen the review widget.
2. Implementation
This API is described by Google as “light.” It’s easy to incorporate into your application. To begin, choose an activity to which you’d like to apply the review flow. The API will take care of the review process after it’s been set up.
Step1: Adding Dependency
In your build.gradle file, include the Google Core Library.
‘com.google.android.play:core:1.9.0’ implementation
Sync to obtain the library and gain access to the classes needed to begin the evaluation process. Always make sure you’re using the most recent library version.
2.1 Creating an instance of a ‘ReviewManager’
The ReviewManager offers the necessary functionalities to start the review process.
They are as follows:
requestReviewFlow() — gets information about an application from the Google Play store.
launchReviewFlow() — this method starts the review process.
Right above onCreate, declare ReviewManager ().
To make a ReviewManager instance, follow these steps:
Right above onCreate, declare ReviewManager ().
Call the create function of ReviewManagerFactory and feed it your application context.
reviewManager = ReviewManagerFactory.create(getApplicationContext());
2.2 Obtaining review information
requestReviewFlow() connects with the Google Play store via the internet to obtain information about your app.
Declare the ReviewInfo property.
ReviewInfo reviewInfo;
This information is stored in ReviewInfo and will be utilized to initiate the review flow procedure for the end-user.
Task<ReviewInfo> manager = reviewManager.requestReviewFlow();
Manager.addOnCompleteListener(task -> {
If (task.isSuccessful()) {
reviewInfo = task.getResult ();
} else {
}
});
2.3 Launching the Review flow
You may now utilize launchReviewFlow to show the user the Review card. After the customer has had enough of your app or game, it is recommended that you provide the review flow.
ReviewInfo reviewInfo = null;
if (reviewInfo != null) {
Task<Void> flow = reviewManager.launchReviewFlow(this, reviewInfo);
flow.addOnCompleteListener(new OnCompleteListener<Void>() {
@Override
public void onComplete(Task<Void> task) {
Toast.makeText(getApplicationContext(), “In App Rating complete”, Toast.LENGTH_LONG).show();
}
});
}
else {
}
2.4 Testing In-App Review
Your app must have already been approved by PlayStore in order to test In-App Review.
It’s not necessary for the app to be publicly available, but you should have a PlyaStore account for internal testing (to release the track and test In-App Review flow) or internal app sharing (used for testing In-App Review flow).
A sample image for In-App Review can be seen here.
3. Conclusion
You can follow these 5 steps to integrate the Android In-App Review API into your app and boost your Google Play ratings.
TechDel is the best mobile app development company based in London. We have a team of talented developers and designers who can specialize in producing exceptional apps that help your business thrive. For more details, please visit TechDel Mobile App Services.