Many apps were lost when Apple stopped supporting 32-bit apps in 2017. Google’s upcoming Play Store app requirements may result in a milder version of this situation, albeit with a reasonable explanation.
Google will begin hiding apps on the Play Store that do not support recent Android API versions this fall. The measure is intended to prevent users from downloading apps that do not meet the most recent security standards.
Beginning November 1, Android users will no longer be able to view or download Play Store apps that do not target an API version released within two years of the most recent major Android OS.
Because Android 13 is expected to be released by then, apps that do not support Android 11 or later will be archived. The deadline advances as newer Android versions are released.
This rule only applies to devices running an Android version that is newer than the one targeted by the app. Users with older devices that do not support recent Android releases will still be able to access older apps that have been abandoned by developers. Similarly, users with the most recent operating system can see and redownload outdated apps as long as they have previously installed them.
The new rule expands on Google’s existing requirement that new apps and updates support Android versions no more than a year old. Beginning August 1, any new app must target Android 12, which was released in October.
Including such requirements will inevitably render some apps inaccessible. According to Google, the majority of Play Store apps already meet the new requirements. It is in the process of notifying developers, but it is unlikely that all will be notified. Some developers may have gone out of business or no longer consider updating older apps to be cost-effective.
