Google is raising the minimum quality requirements for Android apps. The company will soon remove apps from the Play Store that don’t meet expectations.
According to the internet giant’s latest spam policy update, apps that display “limited functionality and content” such as text-only apps, single-wallpaper apps, or apps designed to do literally nothing will no longer be allowed on the Play Store. This rule will come into effect starting August 31.
These will be added to existing restrictions that block broken apps that are unresponsive, won’t load, won’t crash, or otherwise behave abnormally. Google says it’s adding the additional requirements to “ensure apps meet heightened standards for the Play catalog and engage users through quality functionality.”
Google has taken steps in the past to better control the Android ecosystem
Google has also taken steps in the past to better police apps on its Play Store. The company banned some 2.28 million apps in 2023 for violating policies and compromising user security. Google also said it banned 333,000 “bad” Google Play accounts that year due to repeated serious policy violations and concerns about fraud and malware.