The Google Play Store could soon see a decline in the number of apps for download, as the search giant gets ready to remove nearly one-third of Android apps that haven’t been updated for at least two years.
According to a report from CNET, Google’s Play Store has almost 869,000 apps, while Apple’s App Store has around 650,000 that have been abandoned for more than two years. In the case of Google, these apps will remain hidden and will be downloadable to users only after the developers make the necessary updates.
For those unaware, last month, Google announced that existing apps that don’t target an API (application programming interface) level within two years of the latest major Android version will be removed from the Play Store starting November 1, 2022. Such apps will not be available for discovery or installation for new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than the apps’ target API level.
Similar measures were also announced by Apple wherein app developers were sent out warning letters asking them to update their apps that are more than two years old or risk having them removed from the App Store.
The major reason for Google and Apple to take such measures is to ensure users’ security. Older apps without the latest Android and iOS updates are more likely to have security flaws and be prone to exploits, as they don’t take into account new APIs and development methods. Newer apps, on the other hand, are functional and up-to-date providing better protection.
Neither Google nor Apple has commented on the matter. What do you think of the move by the tech giants? Do let us know in the comments section below.
