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Google Play ’s app market place is losing apps .
From the starting line of 2024 to the nowadays , the Android app market went from host about 3.4 million apps worldwide to just around 1.8 million , according to a new psychoanalysis by app intelligence information providerAppfigures . That ’s a decay of about 47 % , represent a substantial purge of the apps that have been available to Android users globally .
The diminution is not part of some gravid global trend , the firm also notes . During the same period , Apple ’s iOS App Store go from hosting 1.6 million apps to now just around 1.64 million apps , for illustration — a slight gain .
In Google ’s case , the decline in apps could be a relief for Android gadget possessor who have had to sort through scammy , spammy , and otherwise poor - calibre apps to determine the practiced ones to put in . The diminution could also help developer who have had to fight for visibility .
Over the years , Google Play ’s less stringent requisite for app limited review have led to the marketplace being overrun with lower - character apps . While Apple continue to implement strict app review measures before publication , Google often relies on automated checks mix with malware scan to rush up the app - review cognitive process . It be given to have a shortsighted app - review flow as a result of its light touch in terms of human review .
In July 2024 , Google annunciate it wouldraise the minimal quality requirementsfor apps , which may have impacted the bit of available Play Store app listing .
Instead of only banning broken apps that crash , would n’t install , or tend properly , the company said it would start banning apps that show “ limited functionality and message . ” Thatincluded static appswithout app - specific features , such as schoolbook - only apps or PDF - file apps . It also included apps that bring home the bacon slight content , like those that only offered a single wallpaper . to boot , Google ban apps that were designed to do nothing or have no function , which may have been test or other desert developer effort .
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attain for comment , Google confirm that its fresh policies were factors here , which also let in an expound determined ofverification demand , required app testingfor new personal developer report , andexpanded human reviewsto check for apps that seek to deceive or nobble substance abuser .
In addition , the company target to other 2024 investment in AI for menace detection , unattackable privacy policy , ameliorate developer tools , and more . As a result , Googleprevented2.36 million policy - violate apps from being put out on its Play Store and banned more than 158,000 developer account that had assay to write harmful apps , it said .
One factor Google did n’t cite was the raw trader status rule enforced by the EU as of this February , which began requiring developers to share their names and addresses in the app ’s list . Those who failed to do so would see their apps off from EU app stores . ( It ’s deserving pointing out that Applealso began requiring trader statusinformation in February and did not see a decline in available apps as a result . )
Appfigures to boot take down it begin seeing a decline in the number of apps on the Google Play Store even before the official start of the purging last summer ; it does n’t yet have an explanation for this change . However , the business firm says there have been 10,400 release on Google maneuver so far this yr , up 7.1 % year - over - year as of April .
