Google Is Removing ‘Low Quality’ Android Apps Next Month

Google is raising the bar for apps on the Play Store. The company is raising minimum quality requirements for Android apps and will soon remove those that don’t meet expectations from the Play Store.

According to the company’s latest spam policy update, apps that demonstrate “limited functionality and content” — such as text-only apps, single wallpaper apps, or those that are literally designed to do nothing at all -- will no longer be permitted on the Play Store starting August 31.

Also Read: Will Apple’s AI Gamble For IPhone 16 Pro Boost Sales?

Google Wants To Ensure Apps Meet Standards

These join existing restrictions that barred broken apps that are not responsive, don’t install, crash, other otherwise not functioning properly. Google claims to have added the additional requirements to “ensure apps can meet the uplifted standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality.”

Google has made previous efforts to better gauge the apps on its Play Store. According to Android Authority, as many as 2.28 million apps were blocked from the service in 2023 for violating policies and putting user security at risk. Google also claims to have banned 333,000 “bad” Google Play accounts that same year for repeated severe policy violations and concerns surrounding fraud and malware.

Previously, Google started testing Android 15’s automatic theft detection features. Smartphone theft is among the biggest issues in several countries. That’s the reason why the company has chosen Brazil as its first ground for testing the automatic theft detection features it announced at the I/O conference last month.

The new features come under the umbrella of bigger security and privacy improvements. The company seems to be planning with Android 15. Besides, there are some other features too like a password-locked vault which Google likes to call “private space.” 

Also Read: WhatsApp Wants To Give Users More Control Over Privacy

How Does Android 15’s Anti-Theft Feature Works

The name itself suggests how it works, users can use it to keep their sensitive data safe and secure. However, the theft detection feature for Android that has started testing in Brazil as a part of Android 15 is something different.

The anti-theft detection feature has its Google-version name, the company likes to call it “Theft Detection Lock.” Many people must be wondering how this security feature works and how it tackles smartphone thefts. Firstly, the automatic theft detection feature leverages Google’s AI. 

Using artificial intelligence, the new anti-theft feature detects if someone has stolen a user’s phone from their hand. And, if the feature determines the movement associated with theft, it will instantly lock the phone’s display.