How to search for specific collections in the App Store

March 15, 2015

Don't know exactly what you're searching the App Store for? Let collections help you find the perfect app!

App Store search can be hit or miss depending on what you're looking for. If you know an app's name, you can of course search for that. But what if you don't? And instead you want an app that has a specific feature or characteristic? Try aiming for an app store collection instead. Here's how!

Searching collections in the App Store seemed to appear for me sometime after iOS 8.1. The feature it a little finicky at present but it does work for more broad and general searches. For example, you have to search for a specific category of app or a feature of iOS. If Apple has a collection already built, they should filter in. I'm sure the results will get better over time as Apple updates categories with new search terms.

For now, here's how you can try your luck:

How to search the App Store for a specific collection

Launch the App Store app on your iPhone or iPad.
Tap on the search icon in the bottom navigation.
Type in a general search term that focuses more on a feature or category, such as "Apple Pay" or "Touch ID".
If there are any collections that match your search, they'll filter in at the top above individual app results.