Apple has reportedly sent a warning email to some app developers regarding certain apps on the App Store. According to a report by The Verge, certain app developers have received an email from Apple with the subject “App Improvement Notice.”
In the email, Apple warned developers that it will remove outdated apps from the App Store. A developer took to Twitter and shared the screenshot of the email. Apple told the developer in the email that “You can keep this app available for new users to discover and download from the App Store by submitting an update for review in 30 days.” It further warned the developer that, “if no update is submitted in 30 days, the app will be removed from sale.”
Apple will remove the apps from the App Store but users who have downloaded the apps will remain unaffected as it will remain on their devices.
The report further states that on its App Improvements Page, Apple has mentioned that, “We are implementing an ongoing process of evaluating apps, removing apps that no longer function as intended, don’t follow current review guidelines, or are outdated.”
Interestingly, Google also did something similar earlier this month. Google said that it is expanding Play Store’s Target Level API requirements. What this means is that new apps and updates already have to “target an Android API level within one year of the latest major Android OS version release,” or they cannot be published.
In a blog post on its Developer Community page, Google further explained, “Starting on November 1, 2022, existing apps that don’t target an API level within two years of the latest major Android release version will not be available for discovery or installation for new users with devices running Android OS versions higher than apps’ target API level.”
Google also has made it clear that the change will be applicable to new app users — ones who never downloaded the app. Those users will not see any outdated version of apps if and when they search for them on the Play Store.
