Android apps are subject to ongoing maintenance required to remain compliant with Android’s API levels; Google requires developers to display potentially personal information in their app listings; and Due to other factors, it is disappearing from Google Play Store.
iA Writer, a popular distraction-free writing tool, recently ended development on its Android version after five months of back-and-forth with Google over file read and write permission issues. Independent game developer Frozen Fractal is complying with new rules on publishing contact information and giving Google permission to remove its Android app in exchange for providing passport information. Syncthing, a popular open source file syncing service, has been shut down due to “a combination of Google forcing Play to publish something between difficult and impossible, and a lack of active maintenance.” Remove Android version.
The best efforts of three Android app developers may not be enough to establish a trend, but the same factors will influence other apps as well, if they haven’t already. One big issue is the company’s new required information rules, which require developers to include a physical address (do not have P.O. Box), phone number, and email contact information will be published on Google Play.
Google displays your legal name, your country (according to your legal address), and the developer’s email address on Google Play. If you decide to monetize with Google Play, Google will display your full address. In certain regions, developers must provide additional information that may be displayed on Google Play, such as a phone number or full address. For more information, see this Help Center article.
This isn’t a problem for large companies with offices, but for most individuals and some self-employed people, it’s the same thing as Google asking developers to list themselves in the list of all apps. It will be. Developers who do not comply will eventually have their apps removed from the Play Store if they have not already been removed.
Google also just increased the target API level requirements for apps on the Google Play Store, but if app developers request an extension, they have until November 1, 2024. The target API level is the latest version of Android that your app is built on, and each new API level changes permissions and other core functionality. To be clear, this is different from the minimum API level, which is the oldest version of Android that your app supports. Google hasn’t stopped anyone from creating apps that work on ancient phones and tablets, but the apps do Must support all features of new versions of Android.
This API-level change happens every year, so it’s not too surprising, but it does make it difficult to maintain apps that aren’t updated frequently anyway. For example, if a developer created a simple app three years ago that still works, but the app needs a new icon or a minor bug fix, the developer also needs to rewrite it to comply with the new API level. . The scope of that work varies depending on the functionality of the app.
Starting November 1, 2024, new apps and updates to existing apps must target Android 14 or will be available in the Play Store only on devices that match the app’s target API. . For example, if a game hasn’t been updated in several years and uses API level 30 of Android 11, the game can only be installed on devices running Android 11 and earlier versions.
Frozen Fractal explained in a blog post why it’s difficult for small developers.
Each API update includes numerous deprecations and breaking changes to an already arcane build system. And even if you don’t want to update your app, Google will eventually start hiding your app from users if it doesn’t target a minimum API version. This means you can’t just publish your app and leave it there. Keeping up with the latest demands from Google requires several days of work per year per app. Again, this is fine for companies where apps are their core business, but bad for indie or hobbyist developers who just want to make something cool, get it out there, and move on to the next project. This is news.
There are good reasons for the new requirements. Listing your developer information increases transparency to your users and makes your app more secure for your users when it’s built with a new target API version with improved security. However, for developers with less time and resources, all the requirements become a headache, and one of your favorite apps may suddenly disappear from the Play Store.
