Google removes low-quality Android apps from Play Store to increase engagement

Google on August 31 started removing some Android apps from its Play Store, with the aim to provide “a stable, responsive, and engaging user experience”. The move is part of the company’s latest update Spam and Minimum Functionality PolicyThere is an issue that may affect developers.

Apps with “limited functionality and content,” such as those that are static without app-specific functionalities, will be removed. This includes apps with only text or PDF files and apps with a small amount of content that do not provide an engaging user experience, such as single wallpaper apps, the policy says.

Google is also removing apps with poor functionality, such as apps that “crash, freeze, force close or otherwise act abnormally.” This includes apps that:

• Do not install.
• Install but do not load.
• It loads but is unresponsive.

The company declined to comment further on the move.

Less freedom for developers

Andrew Cornwall, a senior analyst at Forrester, told TechRepublic that while Apple’s App Store on iOS “has traditionally rejected apps that don’t meet its quality guidelines, Google, on the other hand, has allowed developers to publish a lot more.” He added that more apps mean more options, which benefits Google.

Cornwall said many developers first published on Google Play with low-priced test apps. “However, the developer never intended for anyone to download the app,” he said.

He said some people have used free app-building tools to create apps that were nothing more than an advertisement for a service. “The creators of these apps often used app store optimization techniques to boost downloads, resulting in a poor user experience.” For example, Cornwall said, “users would see ads when searching, not apps that did what they needed.”

Another use case, he said, involved authors who sometimes published books as apps on Google Play, and used in-app purchases as a payment method.

“These probably should have started as e-books rather than apps,” Cornwall said.

Will this move affect security?

Cornwall stressed that the policy change won’t have a significant impact on security — it’s simply aimed at improving the user experience.

“It’s possible that this policy change will exclude some single-pane apps that simply install adware or mimic another app’s login process and do nothing more,” he added. “However, they will fall under the scope of the Privacy, Deception, and Abuse policy anyway.”

He said that Google has updated it. Play Console Requirements “Ensuring that financial products and services, health, VPNs, and government apps are from registered organizations, not individual developers, can help users prevent private information from being leaked to an untrusted source.”

Another policy change is coming that will add audio to Google’s manipulated media clause. Privacy, Fraud, and Abuse Policy “It’s more about keeping Google out of trouble than end-user safety,” he said.

Previous steps to address Play Store violations

This is not the first time Google has regulated apps hosted on its Play Store.

According to a Google report, in 2023, the tech giant blocked 2.28 million apps that violated its policies from being published on the Play Store. Blog Posted last April, Google credited investments in “new and improved security features, policy updates, and advanced machine learning and app review processes” as steps taken.

Google also said at the time that it had strengthened its developer onboarding and review processes and now requires more identity information when a Play account is first set up. The company wrote that investments in its review tooling and processes enabled it to “more effectively identify bad actors and fraudsters.” Subsequently, 333,000 “bad” accounts were banned from Play for violations including “confirmed malware and repeated severe policy violations.”

Additionally, Google said it has enhanced the privacy posture of over 31 SDKs affecting more than 790,000 apps by partnering with software development kit providers to limit access and sharing of sensitive data.

Consequences for users

Cornwall said Google’s updated minimum functionality policy is aimed at keeping these low-value apps out of Google Play, as Apple already does for the App Store.

“Users probably won’t notice any difference, except that search will improve,” he said.

“In the case of book publishers, they will have to find another payment or distribution method,” he said. “Spammers will move to another low-cost channel. App developers can practice with Google Play’s internal testing options.”

Cornwall said that by updating the spam and minimum functionality policy, Google will remove a lot of spam from Google Play.

“This is good news for users, who will discover useful apps more quickly,” he said. “Legitimate developers shouldn’t worry. If you’re hoping to release the next ‘I’m Rich’ app and then retire on the proceeds, you have to make it something interesting first.”

Google has compiled a comprehensive list Tips To help developers publish their apps on Play.