Google plans major Play Store update, it may soon alert you when apps get removed or delisted
Google may soon start notifying Android users when apps installed on their phones are removed from the Play Store. Currently, the Play Store only alerts
Google may soon start notifying Android users when apps installed on their phones are removed from the Play Store. Currently, the Play Store only alerts users when an app is flagged as harmful or suspended for major security issues through Google Play Protect. However, apps removed for other reasons — such as policy violations, inactivity, or developer decisions — often disappear silently without any notice to users. Read Full Story According to findings spotted in the latest Google Play Store v51.4.19 build (via Android Authority) Google appears to be working on a new notification system that would inform users when an installed app is no longer available on the Play Store.
The feature was discovered through newly added strings inside the app’s code. The reported strings suggest that the Play Store may warn users that removed apps will no longer receive updates through Google’s platform. The wording also reportedly changes depending on whether a single app or multiple apps have been removed from the store. At the moment, Google has not officially announced the feature or revealed when it could roll out publicly. If introduced, the update could help Android users better track apps that are no longer supported or maintained through the Play Store.
Interestingly, Google also appears to be tightening Android’s overall app installation system, especially when it comes to sideloading apps from outside the Play Store. According to earlier reports, the company is preparing a stricter installation flow for apps coming from “unverified developers.” The new process could reportedly require users to manually enable Developer Mode, restart their phones, wait for a mandatory 24-hour cooldown period, and then re-authenticate using biometrics or a PIN before installing certain APK files. Google says the idea behind the move is to reduce scams and malicious app installations that often rely on social engineering tactics.
While the changes may improve security for regular Android users, they could also make sideloading significantly more tedious for power users who frequently install apps outside the Play Store. The new sideloading rules are expected to roll out later this year alongside Google’s broader push toward developer verification on Android. Ends
The BriefWire