Notes on Google Play Console Reports
Getting total installs for my Timestamp Tracker app on Google Play Console (GPC)
This turned out to be a little problematic. Key parts of related Google Search AI (GSAI) chat are given below:
Me: google play console get sum of device acquisitions for period
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Me: I added total installs as a KPI but it shows the total for last 28 days. I want it for all time
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Me: I could not locate a change date range option on dashboard. Instead if I drill down on any KPI or statistics (using Explore menu item for KPI), I am shown a graph where I can change the date range. But the graph does not show the cumulative sum. I don't want to go through the work of exporting to csv and then seeing the sum - too time consuming.I think I am missing some simple UI way to change date range right on the dashboard itself which then will show me total installs for selected date range.
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Me: In statistics, Configure report for Installed audience, Unique users, there is only one option provided by Edit: Metric calculation: Per Interval OR 30 days rolling average.No other variable can be changed.
GSAI: In the Google Play Console for 2026, the reason you do not see a "Cumulative" option for Installed audience is that it is a "snapshot" metric (it shows how many users currently have the app installed), rather than an "event-based" metric (which counts total actions over time).
To find your all-time total sum without exporting a CSV, you must switch to the User acquisition metric, which tracks every new user added.
Step-by-Step: Getting the Cumulative Sum in UI
- Open Statistics from the left menu.
- Change the Metric: Click the blue down arrow next to "Installed audience" and navigate to:
- Users > User acquisitions > New users.
- Enable Cumulative Calculation:
- Click Edit next to "New users."
- Under Metric calculation, you will now see Cumulative as an option (this option appears for "New users" but not for "Installed audience").
- Select Cumulative and click Apply.
- Set Timeframe: At the top right of the screen, select Lifetime from the date range picker.
- View Total: The graph will now show a continuous line. Hover over the very last point on the right to see your total lifetime unique acquisitions.
Alternative: Instant Summary Table
If you prefer a direct number over a graph:
- Navigate to User acquisition > Acquisition reports in the left menu.
- Select your desired Date Range (e.g., Lifetime) at the top right.
- The Summary Table at the bottom will display a column titled "Acquisitions" or "New users." The value in the Total row at the bottom is the sum for that selected period.
Me: You are right. I got it that way [Step-by-Step: Getting the Cumulative Sum in UI, but chose 90 days]. Great. It is a cumulative graph but I can change the period to 90 days (instead of 28 days) and as my app was put up on Google Play only around 30 days back, that is enough. Now I can go to the last point on the cumulative graph and get the figure of total installs (85 as of now).Now how can I save this setting so that I can see it easily in future.
GSAI: To save your custom cumulative total settings in the Google Play Console for future access, you have two primary options:
1. Save as a "Quick Report" (Best for the Statistics Page)
You can save the exact configuration of your Statistics page—including the Cumulative calculation and Unique Users metric—to a shortcut menu.
- While on your configured Statistics page (with the cumulative graph showing), look for the text Save to quick reports located just under the report's date range.
- Click it and give your report a name (e.g., "Lifetime Total Installs").
- To access it later: Click Saved reports near the top of the Statistics page to reload this exact view instantly.
2. Pin to your Dashboard as a KPI
If you want to see this number immediately upon logging in without navigating to the Statistics page, you can pin it to your main Dashboard.
- Go to your app's Dashboard.
- Scroll down to the Monitor trends section and click Add your KPIs.
- Find Total installs (under "Device growth and loss") or User acquisitions.
- Click Add to pin it.
- Note: Dashboard KPI cards are unique to your login; your selection will not change the view for other team members.
3. Bookmark the URL
The Google Play Console often encodes your report parameters directly into the URL. Once you have the cumulative graph exactly how you want it, you can simply bookmark the page in your browser. Clicking that bookmark in the future will attempt to reload the Statistics page with those same metric and calculation settings.
Me:Pin to your Dashboard as a KPI. I tried this but the total installs shown is limited to 28 days. Can't change that. Saved report. I can reopen it later but the period gets reset to 28 days, which I need to change to 90 days.
GSAI: In the Google Play Console for 2026, saving a specific 90-day or Lifetime date range directly onto the Dashboard KPI cards is restricted, as these cards are designed to show recent performance (usually the last 28 days).
However, you can achieve your goal using the following two workarounds to avoid re-configuring the report every time:
1. The "Bookmark" Trick (Most Effective)
The Statistics page in the Play Console stores your report configuration—including the 90-day range and Cumulative calculation—directly in the browser's URL.
- Set it up once: Go to Statistics, set your metric to New users, calculation to Cumulative, and date range to Last 90 days.
- Bookmark the URL: Simply bookmark this page in your browser (e.g., Chrome or Edge).
- Result: Whenever you click that bookmark, the Play Console will load the Statistics page with those exact filters pre-applied.
2. Access via "Saved Reports"
While "Saved reports" may occasionally default back to a shorter timeframe, it is the only native way to store the Cumulative toggle so you don't have to click "Edit" every time.
- On your configured cumulative 90-day chart, click Save to quick reports (found just below the date range).
- Name it "Total Installs (90 Days)".
- Future access: Go to Statistics > Saved reports (top right) and select it. If the date resets to 28 days, you only need to change the date picker at the top once; the complex "Cumulative" setting will remain active.
Why the Dashboard KPI doesn't work for this
Dashboard KPI cards are intended for "Recent Trends" and comparison data (e.g., comparing the last 28 days to the previous period). They currently do not support a "Lifetime" or "90-day" fixed view directly on the small card; clicking Explore on these cards is the intended path to see longer timeframes.
These guides explain how to use saved reports and browser bookmarks to view long-term app statistics in the Google Play Console:
[Customize the KPIs on your Google Play Console dashboard, https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2021/04/customize-kpis-on-your-google-play.html
View app statistics, https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/139628?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DDesktop ]
Me: The bookmark trick worked! Great workaround soln. Thanks a ton
---- end chat extracts ----
As of 20 Jan. 2026, for:
User acquisition (New users, All events, Cumulative, Daily) All countries / regions
Jan. 19, 2026 graph point is 85.
In other words, as per my understanding, total downloads is 85.
This figure should match what Google Play page for Timestamp Tracker app shows as Downloads (range) which is 50+ now.
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