Apple lets you set a 30-character title, a 30-character subtitle and a 100-character keyword field, and the App Store indexes those fields for search. Google Play allows a 30-character title, an 80-character short description and a 4,000-character full description, and indexes all of them.
Why metadata limits matter
Both stores rank apps partly on the words in your listing. Each field has a fixed length, so every character needs to earn its place. Writing inside the limits is the base of any ASO work.
App Store fields
- App name: up to 30 characters.
- Subtitle: up to 30 characters.
- Keyword field: up to 100 characters, hidden from users, separated by commas.
- Description: up to 4,000 characters. It is not used for App Store search ranking, but it still influences conversion.
Do not repeat a word across the name, subtitle and keyword field. One appearance is enough, so use the spare characters for different terms.
Google Play fields
- Title: up to 30 characters.
- Short description: up to 80 characters, shown on the listing.
- Full description: up to 4,000 characters. Google Play reads it for search, so natural use of your key phrases helps.
How to use the limits
- List the phrases players use to describe your game.
- Put the strongest phrase in the title, and split the rest between subtitle and keywords on iOS.
- Write the Play descriptions for people first, with key phrases used naturally.
- Check rankings after a change before making the next one.
Store rules change, so confirm current limits in the sources below before you ship an update.
Sources
- Apple Developer: App Store product page (Apple Developer)
- Google Play Console Help
