Google's about to delete millions of Play Store apps

Let the purge begin (in 6-ish weeks).

Google previewed its mass app deletion plans over the weekend. The plan is to scrub millions of apps deemed to be useless or spam from the Play Store (formerly the Android Market) from August 31.

It's all part of a big update to Google's Spam and Minimum Functionality Policy. But it's also about saving some face, given Apple's much stronger reputation for app security and safety.

Purging purposeless apps

The Play Store isn't the wild west it's made out to be. Google Play Protect has done well keeping users safe from nasty apps and the incoming Android 15 OS will use AI to detect them even faster. However, there's still the question of how those apps got onto the Play Store in the first place!

That's where the purge comes in. Google's saying it will 'ensure apps meet uplifted standards ... and engage users through quality functionality and content user experiences.'

According to Google, types of apps being targeted include ones 'that are static without app-specific functionalities, for example, text only or PDF file apps, apps with very little content and that do not provide an engaging user experience ... and apps that are designed to do nothing or have no function.'

How crap is your app?

Though it's aimed at apps 'that crash [and] do not have the basic degree of adequate utility as mobile apps,' it also means legit but low-quality apps will be struck down too. And this could include yours.

So take this news as a friendly reminder to clean up your business' apps. Update them, test them regularly, and for goodness' sake give them more use cases than just at the check-out!

By Google's standards, as long as your apps give users an engaging experience, they should survive August 31 and live to see another day!

-Devin, Copywriter