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larryroy890
Inspiring
September 16, 2024
Solved

Keyword search not working from headset or mobile platforms

  • September 16, 2024
  • 9 replies
  • 3009 views
After the App Lab and the Main App store were combined, it was then possible to enter keywords as part of the metadata for my app.
 
One of my keywords is “breakout”.
 
When I search for “breakout”, I only get 1 match, and that app is not “Close Encounters” or "Close Encounters Demo".
 
Do the keywords take some period of time to kick in?
 
Also, when I scan the list under Apps->Games->See All, I never see my app.
 
I’m wondering if I have done something wrong.  
 
My app appears to be invisible to the general public!
    Best answer by larryroy890

    Ok guys, this information may be helpful to some of you indie developers.

    I worked with tech support for the last 30 days or so, and got exactly nowhere with my questions and comments regarding searching for apps on the store.

    However, I did some extensive testing on a Meta Quest headset and the Meta Horizon Mobile App, and here is what works, and what doesn't work, as of today:

      • Meta Quest Headset
        • Search apps using filters
          • Sort by price
          • Filter by genre
          • Show apps under $9.99
          • This search works and my app appears in the listing!
      • Meta Horizon Mobile App (iPhone, iPad, etc.)
        • Search apps using filters
          • Sort by price
          • Filter by genre
          • Show apps under $9.99
          • This filtered search returns exactly 1 app: Jungle Zoo Ocean…
        • Search apps using filters
          • Sort by price
          • Show apps under $9.99
          • This filtered search returns a small subset of available apps (my app does not appear)
        • Search apps using keywords
          • This search does not return apps with the specified keywords
            • Search apps using keywords
              • This search does not work, and apps do not appear using keywords (many developers on the meta forum are reporting this also)
        • Meta Horizon Mobile App Summary
          • Many apps are not discoverable using filters or keywords while using the Meta Horizon App on mobile devices.
     
    •  

    9 replies

    NumenaAIC
    New Participant
    September 16, 2024

    Same issue here. Our app does not appear if someone searches for our keywords. We have contacted support with this issue in August but still waiting for a fix. Not sure how widespread this issue is. 

    AIC
      ONoItsRico
      New Participant
      September 19, 2024

      Same for our app as well. Support just told us there is no update/fix at this time as of the end of last week.

        larryroy890Author
        Inspiring
        September 21, 2024

        No answer from Meta tech support as of end-of-day Friday, Sept 20th.

          ONoItsRico
          New Participant
          October 7, 2024

          Still not working for us. It would be nice to get an update. All I've heard is they are making changes.

          It has been over a month since our app has been on the Meta Quest Store and the keyword search still doesn't work.

            larryroy890AuthorAnswer
            Inspiring
            October 23, 2024

            Ok guys, this information may be helpful to some of you indie developers.

            I worked with tech support for the last 30 days or so, and got exactly nowhere with my questions and comments regarding searching for apps on the store.

            However, I did some extensive testing on a Meta Quest headset and the Meta Horizon Mobile App, and here is what works, and what doesn't work, as of today:

              • Meta Quest Headset
                • Search apps using filters
                  • Sort by price
                  • Filter by genre
                  • Show apps under $9.99
                  • This search works and my app appears in the listing!
              • Meta Horizon Mobile App (iPhone, iPad, etc.)
                • Search apps using filters
                  • Sort by price
                  • Filter by genre
                  • Show apps under $9.99
                  • This filtered search returns exactly 1 app: Jungle Zoo Ocean…
                • Search apps using filters
                  • Sort by price
                  • Show apps under $9.99
                  • This filtered search returns a small subset of available apps (my app does not appear)
                • Search apps using keywords
                  • This search does not return apps with the specified keywords
                    • Search apps using keywords
                      • This search does not work, and apps do not appear using keywords (many developers on the meta forum are reporting this also)
                • Meta Horizon Mobile App Summary
                  • Many apps are not discoverable using filters or keywords while using the Meta Horizon App on mobile devices.
             
            •  
            larryroy890Author
            Inspiring
            October 23, 2024

            Update to my previous post:

            Filtered searches on the Meta Horizon Store web portal is also broken, and only returns a subset of apps on the store for any given set of filters.

             

              ONoItsRico
              New Participant
              October 23, 2024

              I don't know if I would call that a solution unfortunately.

              If I use the search keyword 'break' in the app, I see new games released on the Meta Quest Store such as Tangle Breaker and Escape Simulator that were released in October. So the search keywords work on newer games. The question in my mind is "does the search keywords work on every new game" or is it just the ones converted from AppLab. If we can find games converted from AppLab that are searchable, it would seem that there is some sort of "selection" for which games the search keywords work on.

                larryroy890Author
                Inspiring
                October 24, 2024

                I agree that my post is NOT a solution! I accidentally clicked on “Accept as Solution”, and can’t figure out how to uncheck it!

                  BunnyJoker
                  New Participant
                  November 29, 2024

                  We have the same problem. We have a snowboard game called Slowp, and none of our keywords (that includes "snowboard" works! When we search for snowboard, all other games appear but ours don't. 

                  We have seen many other new games released after that, and they all appear on search, but ours don't. No one on Meta seems willing to help. 
                  It has been like this for almost 3 months now. A ticket with support won't do anything.

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