Play Store Cleanup: Google to Remove Low-Quality Apps Starting August 31

Google is set to enhance the quality of apps available on the Play Store, the application store for Android devices. Starting August 31, many low-quality apps will be removed.

Google to remove low-quality Android apps from Play Store starting August 31

Google is committed to improving the overall quality of the Play Store, the application and content store for Android devices. Beginning August 31, a process of eliminating apps with limited or non-operational functionalities will start, cutting everything that doesn’t meet the new regulations. Several thousand apps could disappear, including some legitimate ones.

Which apps will be removed?

Outdated and no longer updated apps, those with very limited or no functionalities, such as apps with only text or poorly designed and unengaging user interfaces, will be eliminated. Apps that do nothing useful or promise features they fail to deliver will also be removed. Finally, all applications that fail to properly perform their intended functions, crash, or cause stability issues for the device will be considered.

Aim of the new regulations

The idea behind the new Spam and Minimum Functionality Policy is to get rid of low-quality applications once and for all, those that are usually downloaded and immediately deleted or forgotten in memory with various permissions granted for access to personal data.

Impact on legitimate apps

Not only apps developed for illicit purposes, such as scam or user activity monitoring apps, will be removed. Many legitimate software may no longer meet the minimum requirements and be removed from the Play Store. The work to be done will be long and challenging, but the ultimate goal is to clean up the store from low-quality content for a more satisfying and secure user experience.

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