Do you use OLD apps that do not get updates? Google is removing them, almost 9 lakh of them

Google is removing abandoned apps from the Google Play Store, almost 9 lakhs of them. Here are all the details.

Google and Apple are removing outdated apps from the app stores. (Amritanshu / HT Tech)

If your favourite app on your Android phone has been on it for years and hasn't seen any updates, you could be losing them soon. Google is taking an action on abandoned apps on the Play Store as it wants to hide legacy apps that haven't been updated in nearly two years. The total numbers of these apps amount to 869,000 on the Play Store, all of which could be hidden from the customers, thereby preventing consumers from downloading them further, or getting updates. There is an exception to this though.

In fact, Apple is also doing the same for the dated apps on the App Store. Based on a report from CNET, Google will hide these apps on the app store. Once the developers release any updates for these apps, Google could make them visible on the app stores. Apple's policy for outdated apps is not as clear but one developers said that apps not updated over two years could be deleted from the App Store.

Google, Apple removing old apps

The main reason why both Google and Apple want to hide these apps is duets security reasons. Older apps do not take advantage of the new APIs or development methods mandated by the newer versions of Android and iOS. Thereby, these apps are vulnerable to security flaws and issues that could hurt users in the real world.

What remains to be seen is how developers deal with the new policies. While app developers can update their old apps with the new APIs, game developers could have a hard time to update their products. For example, indie games released from over two years ago won't have much to update, considering the game was made with the intention of just playing. This could out unfair burden on the developers of these games.

Nonetheless, the new policy could help make the app ecosystem on both Android and iOS much safer than ever. There are chances that most apps and games will be updated to stay visible on the app store, while those that were made just for fun could be bid goodbye.

Google is now working on Android 13, which is in its beta mode, and was showcased at the Google I/) 2022. On other hand, Apple could be releasing details on the iOS 16 update at the upcoming WWDC 22 event.