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The Android Developers team has unveiled a new policy to hide Play Store apps that have fallen behind on OS releases. This includes apps that are over two years behind the existing OS release. The policy wants to ensure apps are adherent to the “latest privacy and security features,” said Krish Vitaldevara, the Director of Product Management at Google.
This rule will come into effect starting November 1, when Android 13 is likely to be commercially available. So app developers will have to ensure their apps are compatible with Android 11 or newer by then (via Android Central). Any apps lagging behind the deadline will disappear from the public eye until the developer makes the necessary changes.
Google is effectively forcing developers into compliance by hiding apps that haven’t been updated for a while. Dormant apps are usually vulnerable to cyberattacks, so this is undoubtedly a step in the right direction. Users who want to download older apps can “discover, re-install, and use the app,” according to Google.
Developers who place a request can get a six-month extension on the deadline
Vitaldevara notes that the “vast majority of apps on Google Play already abide by these standards,” so its impact probably won’t be felt by everyone. To help developers who cannot meet the deadline, Google may also grant a six-month extension upon request.
This isn’t a perfect solution to stop the scourge of inactive apps on the Play Store. But it’s certainly a start. Restricting app visibility will go a long way in encouraging developers to ensure their apps are adherent to the latest Android API levels. Moreover, any new app on the Play Store has to support either the existing version of Android or its predecessor.
The Google Play Store has seen numerous changes over the years. Expectedly, the app also went through some design changes with the arrival of Material You. We learned this week about additional changes coming to Android’s premier app hub, with one feature focused on privacy.
The Play Store will no longer permit apps that leverage the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission to scan other apps. However, Google may permit app launchers or device backup tools to access this particular permission for functionality purposes. This week, developers who use the QUERY_ALL_PACKAGES permission have received emails from Google about the changes.