On the Google Play Store, you can find a ton of apps. Statista estimates that there are 3.5million apps in the Play store.
On the Google Play Store, you can find a ton of apps. Statista estimates that there are 3.5million apps in the Play store. An outdated app isn't meant to damage your device but Google wants to make things even safer for its users.
Google is upgrading the requirements for the Play Store API. The newly released apps already contain "target an Android API level within one year of the major Android OS version release". If not, they will not be published.
Google's statement-
Users with the latest devices or those completely caught up in Android updates expect to realize the full potential of all the privacy and security protections Android has to offer. Expanding our target-level API requirements will prevent users from installing older apps that may not have these protections. Starting on November 1, 2022, existing apps that don’t target an API level within two years of the latest major Android release version will not be available for discovery or installation for newly registered users with devices running Android OS versions higher than apps’ target API level.
Users with the latest devices or those completely caught up in Android updates expect to realize the full potential of all the privacy and security protections Android has to offer. Expanding our target-level API requirements will prevent users from installing older apps that may not have these protections. Starting on November 1, 2022, existing apps that don’t target an API level within two years of the latest major Android release version will not be available for discovery or installation for newly registered users with devices running Android OS versions higher than apps’ target API level.
The issue only affects newly registered users who have never installed the apps before. They won't show up in the search results or the recommendations section.
Don't worry if you rely on an old app. You'll still be able to use it and get updates. Your phone will only get into this situation if you clean format it or if you install it on your new device. To be more specific, apps that target Android 10 and earlier will be included in the blocking list.
Don't worry if you rely on an old app. You'll still be able to use it and get updates. Your phone will only get into this situation if you clean format it or if you install it on your new device. To be more specific, apps that target Android 10 and earlier will be included in the blocking list.
Google states that this policy change is intended to protect users from installing older apps. That don't have the latest security protections. According to Google a vast number of apps already abide by these standards.
Source- 9 to 5 Google
Author - Ayush Ray